26 Sept 2013

Qatar's World Cup 'slaves'

Dozens of Nepalese migrant labourers have died in Qatar in recent weeks and thousands more are enduring appalling labour abuses, a Guardian investigation has found, raising serious questions about Qatar's preparations to host the 2022 World Cup.

2022-Qatar

This summer, Nepalese workers died at a rate of almost one a day in Qatar, many of them young men who had sudden heart attacks. The investigation found evidence to suggest that thousands of Nepalese, who make up the single largest group of labourers in Qatar, face exploitation and abuses that amount to modern-day slavery, as defined by the International Labour Organisation, during a building binge paving the way for 2022.

According to documents obtained from the Nepalese embassy in Doha, at least 44 workers died between 4 June and 8 August. More than half died of heart attacks, heart failure or workplace accidents.

Full story on The Guardian

24 Sept 2013

Pope Francis 'Excommunicates Priest Over Views On Gay Marriage And Women'


An Australian priest has been excommunicated by the Vatican over his liberal views, according to reports. Greg Reynolds has reportedly been both defrocked and excommunicated over his support for women priests and the gay community. The excommunication document - written in Latin and giving no reason - came directly from Vatican under the authority of Pope Francis, who just recently said that the Church focuses too much on gays and abortion, International Business Times reported.
 

18 Sept 2013

Is war biggest crime committed in Syria against Syrians?

As the UN Independent Commission on Syria releases yet another report, one thing is painfully clear: both sides have committed countless war crimes and atrocities, with no end in sight to the hostilities. How independent and impartial can the Commission be, with so much at stake? Vitit Muntarbhorn, one of the authors of the report, joins Oksana in this special edition of Worlds Apart.

8 Sept 2013