Protect Social Media Activists to Safeguard Rights: NHRC
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BUSINESS | Page 1 QATAR | Page 3 QBA and QFZA sign MoU to support economic goals Al Khor Family Park opens published in QATAR since 1978 MONDAY Vol. XXXX No. 11461 February 17, 2020 Jumada II 23, 1441 AH GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals In brief Amir meets British ambassador Kuwait cabinet Protect social reshuffl ed Kuwaiti Amir Sheikh Sabah al- Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah issued an Amiri decree yesterday to carry out a limited cabinet reshuff le. Under the decree, Barrak Ali Barrak media activists al-Shitan was appointed as Minister of Finance and Mohamed Hejji Bushehri as Minister of Electricity and Water, Head of the Center for Government Communication and Off icial Spokesman for the Kuwaiti to safeguard Government Tareq al-Mezrim said in a statement, reported by Kuwait News Agency (KUNA). Dr Khaled Mohamed Ali al-Fadhel was named as Minister of Oil and Maryam Aqil Hashem al-Aqil as Minister of Social rights: NHRC Aff airs and Minister of State for Economic Aff airs, Al Mezrim added. By Joseph Varghese tional Federation of Journalists and the Global Staff Reporter Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions. “Restrictions on individual liberties neither Man dies as storm bring stability nor establish peace. Furthermore, sweeps across UK ighlighting the need for freedom of ex- ways to achieve prosperity, development and de- pression, the National Human Rights mocracy are only possible when freedom is real- HCommittee (NHRC) chief yesterday ised in a way that would allow expression, criti- called for a global declaration to protect social cism and creativity,” HE Dr al-Marri said in his media activists. opening speech. His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani met at the Amiri Diwan off ice yesterday with HE Dr Ali bin Smaikh al-Marri was addressing “Therefore, we demand: a global declaration the outgoing UK ambassador to Qatar Ajay Sharma. The Amir granted the ambassador Al Wajbah the opening session of International Conference to protect social media activists; to take into ac- Decoration in recognition of his role in contributing to enhancing bilateral relations, wishing him success on ‘Social Media: Challenges and Ways to Pro- count civic space and protection of activists, in his future missions, and the relations between the two countries further progress and prosperity. For mote Freedoms and Protect Activists,’ at Ritz- when developing or adopting new human rights his part, the ambassador expressed thanks and appreciation to the Amir and the state’s off icials for the Carlton Doha. agreements; to bring more international atten- co-operation he received that contributed to the success of his work in the country. Page 20 Cars are swept away by floodwaters The two-day conference, held under the aus- tion to this cause and to place it as one of the after the River Wye broke its banks, pices of HE the Prime Minister and Minister of main issues in global dialogues and agendas of in Hay-on-Wye, Wales, Britain, Interior, Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz international organisations, including meetings yesterday. al-Thani, was opened in the presence of several of the Human Rights Council at the United Na- ministers, diplomats, other dignitaries and over tions and the Subcommittee on Human Rights in A man died after falling into a 500 delegates from around the world. the European Parliament and the Global Alliance MoCI, QDB launch ‘Land and river yesterday as Storm Dennis The event is organised by the NHRC in co-op- of National Human Rights Institutions to devote swept across Britain with the army eration and co-ordination with the Offi ce of the attention to the issue of ‘expanding the civic drafted in to help deal with heavy United Nations High Commissioner for Human space and protecting activists’ in its strategy and flooding and high winds. The man Rights, the European Parliament, the Interna- action programmes,” explained HE Dr al-Marri. Industrial Loan’ initiative fell into the River Tawe, in south The NHRC chairman noted that during the Wales, police said. The storm also past year, Qatar has launched numerous initia- battered much of France, with tives to combat cybercrimes and piracy and this he Ministry of Commerce and Industry The initiative aims to provide support for Qatari some 60,000 people suff ering conference comes to support these initiatives (MoCI) in co-operation with Qatar De- investors and encourage entrepreneurs and small power cuts in the northwest of the and global initiatives in the context of respecting Tvelopment Bank (QDB) has launched the and medium-sized companies to easily invest in country. Page 13 human rights and identifying responsibilities. ‘Land and Industrial Loan’ initiative under the the industrial sector in a relatively short time by “This conference is extremely important and guidance of HE the Prime Minister and Minis- enabling investors to apply through a single plat- vital, as it aims to discuss the opportunities that ter of Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Ab- form, namely the Single Window Services. Americans disembark social media have created for promoting human dulaziz al-Thani. While the ministry is seeking to meet all re- from virus-hit cruise rights, and to explore recurrent forms of interfer- The initiative is in the “context of the state’s quirements for promising industrial projects, American passengers were taken ence in the use of social media,” he noted. ongoing eff orts to improve the ease of doing QDB is focused on providing fi nancing for indus- off a cruise liner yesterday to fly HE Dr al-Marri affi rmed that the restrictions business in Qatar and bolster the investment trial projects. home after being quarantined for on freedom of expression and opinion cannot go environment for owners of small and medium Outlining the registration procedure, the MoCI two weeks off Japan, while China beyond the limits permitted by the international enterprises and entrepreneurs”, the Ministry of statement said investors must fi ll out and submit the said the rate of new coronavirus and regional human rights conventions, and the Commerce and Industry said yesterday. application electronically through the ‘Single Win- cases had slowed, calling that proof United Nations Human Rights Committee inter- Under the initiative, investors will be able to dow Services’ website on singlewindow.gov.qa. its steps to fight the outbreak were pretations. apply through the ‘Single Window’ platform of Investors must also provide all the required docu- working. Canadian, Italian, South The NHRC chief also said that he looks for- the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to secure ments (a complete feasibility study - the engineering Korean and Hong Kong passengers ward to reach outcomes that address issues of industrial licences and land plots in the Small and plan - a copy of the audited fi nancial accounts) and were expected to follow soon. HE the NHRC chairman Dr Ali bin Smaikh al-Marri concern, support freedom, and protect activists Medium Industrial Area and complete fi nancing any other documents that may be requested during Page 12 addressing the conference yesterday. and human rights defenders. Pages 2, 7 procedures through the same application. the application review period. To Page 20 Fog, poor visibility hit Qatar Road traffi c accidents and fatalities drop in Qatar By Shafeeq Alingal injuries while the accidents of severe Staff Reporter injuries accounted for 0.3% and those resulting in deaths, 0.1%. In 2019, a total of 154 deaths were reported, as atar’s eff orts to reduce road against 168 in 2018. accidents and fatalities have Traffi c accidents decreased in 2019 by Qyielded results with a drop of 16.2% and the traffi c accident severity 2.8% and 8.3%, respectively, during index decreased by 15.8% compared to 2019, it was announced yesterday. the same indicator registered in 2018. Fatal accidents also decreased in While comparing various global in- 2019, by 13%. The fi gures were an- dicators of traffi c accident with other nounced at a press conference, con- countries, al-Sulaiti said that all of vened by the General Directorate of them were lower than global averages. Traffi c. Major General Mohamed Saad “The accident death rate for every al-Kharji, Director General of Traffi c, 100,000 people in Qatar is 4.4 deaths, along with directors and offi cers from which is lower than the global average various departments. of 18.2 deaths by 5.8%. It is also less Brigadier Ibrahim Saad al-Sulaiti, than the rate recorded in the high-in- head of the Statistical Analysis Offi ce come countries by 47%. Similarly, the at the Ministry of Interior (MoI), ex- traffi c death rate per 100,000 vehicles plained that the achievement was pos- in Qatar is lower than the global aver- sible despite the country recording an age by 85.5% and the traffi c accident increase in the number of vehicles by severity index in Qatar is lower than the Fog and low visibility were reported from around Qatar yesterday, and similar conditions have been forecast for this morning as well. The Qatar Met department said poor 4.3% and the number of licences going global average by 46.7%. It also shows visibility is expected in most areas due to misty to foggy conditions. Visibility may drop to 2km or less in the morning. A minimum temperature of 10C is expected today up by 5.5%. a decrease in the traffi c death rate per in Dukhan, followed by 11C in Abu Samra, 13C in Wakra, Mesaieed and Ruwais, 16C in Al Khor and 18C in Doha. The maximum, on the other hand, will range from 22C in As many as 97% of the accidents, 1,000sq m from the global average at a Wakra, Mesaieed and Dukhan to 27C in Abu Samra, with Doha expected to see a high of 25C.