Suu Kyi can not be stripped of prize, says Nobel institute

In this June 16, 2012 file photo, Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, holds her speech during the Peace Nobel Prize lecture at the city hall in Oslo as she formally accepts the prize she won while under house arrest in 1991. (AP)
Updated 09 September 2017
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Suu Kyi can not be stripped of prize, says Nobel institute

COPENHAGEN: The organization that oversees the Nobel Peace Prize said Friday the 1991 prize awarded to Myanmar’s Aung Sang Suu Kyi cannot be revoked.
Olav Njolstad, head of the Norwegian Nobel Institute said in an email to The Associated Press that neither the will of prize founder Alfred Nobel nor the Nobel Foundation’s rules provide for the possibility of withdrawing the honor from laureates.
“It is not possible to strip a Nobel Peace Prize laureate of his or her award once bestowed,” Njolstad wrote. “None of the prize awarding committees in Stockholm and Oslo has ever considered revoking a prize after it has been awarded.”
An online petition signed by more than 386,000 people on Change.org is calling for Suu Kyi to be stripped of her Peace Prize over the persecution of Myanmar’s Rohingya Muslim minority.
Suu Kyi received the award for “her non-violent struggle for democracy and human rights” while standing up against military rulers.
She became the country’s de facto leader after Myanmar held its first free election in 2012 and she led her party to a landslide victory.
On Thursday, former South African archbishop Desmond Tutu urged her to intervene to stop the persecution of the Rohingya. In an open letter, he told his fellow Nobel Peace Prize winner that it is “incongruous for a symbol of righteousness” to lead a country where violence against the Rohingya is being carried out.
Rohingya have described large-scale violence perpetrated by Myanmar troops and Buddhist mobs — setting fire to their homes, spraying bullets indiscriminately and ordering them to leave or be killed.
Suu Kyi has dismissed the Rohingya crisis as a misinformation campaign.


15 Turkish-backed fighters killed in north Syria clashes with Kurdish-led forces

Updated 4 min 12 sec ago
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15 Turkish-backed fighters killed in north Syria clashes with Kurdish-led forces

  • SDF fighters “infiltrated positions of the Turkish-backed” troops in the Aleppo countryside, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor said
  • The SDF is a US-backed force that spearheaded the fighting against the Daesh group in its last Syria strongholds before its territorial defeat in 2019

BEIRUT: At least 15 Ankara-backed Syrian fighters were killed Sunday after Kurdish-led forces infiltrated their territory in the country’s north, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor said.
Fighters from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), who controls swathes of the country’s northeast, “infiltrated positions of the Turkish-backed” fighters in the Aleppo countryside, said the Observatory, which has a network of sources inside Syria.
“The two sides engaged in violent clashes” that killed 15 of the Ankara-backed fighters, the monitor said.
An AFP correspondent in Syria’s north said the clashes had taken place near the city of Al-Bab, where authorities said schools would be suspended on Monday due to the violence.
The SDF is a US-backed force that spearheaded the fighting against the Daesh group in its last Syria strongholds before its territorial defeat in 2019.
It is dominated by the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), viewed by Ankara as an offshoot of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) which claimed the attack on Ankara.
Turkish troops and allied rebel factions control swathes of northern Syria following successive cross-border offensives since 2016, most of them targeting the SDF.


Israel moving towards a ceasefire deal in Lebanon, Axios reports

Updated 24 min 42 sec ago
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Israel moving towards a ceasefire deal in Lebanon, Axios reports

BEIRUT: Israel is moving towards a ceasefire agreement in Lebanon with the Hezbollah militant group, Axios reporter Barak Ravid posted on X on Sunday, citing a senior Israeli official.
A separate report from Israel's public broadcaster Kan, citing an Israeli official, said there was no green light given on an agreement in Lebanon, with issues still yet to be resolved.

 


Russia plane evacuated in Turkiye as engine catches fire

Updated 33 min 53 sec ago
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Russia plane evacuated in Turkiye as engine catches fire

  • “Eighty nine passengers and six crew members on board were safely evacuated at 9:43 p.m. (1843 GMT) and there were no injuries”

ISTANBUL: More than 90 passengers and crew were evacuated from a Russian plane Sunday after one of its engines caught fire while landing at an airport in southern Turkiye, the transport ministry said.
The incident involved a Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SU95) operated by Russia’s Azimuth Airlines.
They plane had just landed at Antalya airport on Turkiye’s Mediterranean coast when a fire broke out in one of its engines, a ministry statement said.
“A SU95 type and RA89085-registered aircraft of Azimuth Airlines traveling from Sochi airport in Russia to Antalya airport had an engine fire during landing,” it said.
“Eighty nine passengers and six crew members on board were safely evacuated at 9:43 p.m. (1843 GMT) and there were no injuries.”
All further scheduled landings at the airport would be canceled until 3:00 am, it added, saying other planes waiting to depart would use the airport’s military runway for takeoff.
An airport official told Anadolou state news agency that the fire had affected its left engine but had been quickly extinguished.

 


Diriyah bags two ‘Mostadam’ sustainability certifications

Updated 44 min 54 sec ago
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Diriyah bags two ‘Mostadam’ sustainability certifications

Diriyah Company has been awarded two prestigious Mostadam (Ajwad) certifications for sustainability by the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing. The dynamic mixed-use developer was recognized for the Northern Diriyah Area and the Ritz-Carlton Residences development projects. The announcement was made at the Cityscape Global real estate event themed “The Future of Living,” held in Riyadh from Nov. 11-14.
The certification — in line with the Kingdom’s Quality of Life Program — a central aspect of Vision 2030 — is granted to residential buildings and communities based on ratings that measure the sustainability of these projects. This is achieved by applying sustainability and quality of life standards, such as increasing green spaces, providing safe pathways for pedestrians as well as cyclists, and reducing water waste by reusing it for irrigating the gardens and green areas of the project.

The Diriyah project is fully committed to sustainability.

Jerry Inzerillo, Group CEO of Diriyah Company

The Ajwad initiative has registered 74 projects, with five Diriyah projects included under the program to date, of which two have successfully attained this highly sought-after certification:
• Diriyah North (Masterplan certification — Diamond Level)
• The Ritz Carlton Residences (Asset certification — Gold Level)
The remaining three projects are scheduled for certification next year.
Diriyah North achieved 86 points on the Mostadam certification scale for its master plan, achieving Diamond level, the highest level of Mostadam certification. This accomplishment underscores Diriyah’s commitment to sustainability and enhancing the community’s quality of life. Additional Diriyah districts will apply for the Mostadam Diamond certification in the coming months.
Diriyah North’s sustainability achievements include meeting 100 percent of irrigation demand by Treated Sewage Effluent, providing 46 percent shaded walkways for pedestrians, and dedicating 25 percent of the area to parks and open space.
Jerry Inzerillo, group CEO of Diriyah Company, said: “The Diriyah project is fully committed to sustainability. These latest accreditations are a significant endorsement of our dedication to employing the highest standards of environmental protection in construction and design, enabling us to deliver a brand-new concept in urban development with a unique people-first urban regeneration project for everyone to enjoy.”
The latest recognition follows a series of sustainability accolades recently awarded to Diriyah. Diriyah received LEED Platinum certification in 2023, for the first phase of the Diriyah masterplan, becoming the first project in the Middle East to achieve the highest level of certification at masterplan level. Additionally, the Wadi Safar masterplan received the region’s first SITES Gold precertification. Moreover, Bujairi Car Park and Samhan Car Park were also awarded Parksmart GOLD pre-certification in 2022 and 2023 respectively, for sustainability best practices.

 


Abeer announces soft launch of ‘Lavender Health’

The soft launch took place at the Global Health Exhibition, attended by high-profile guests.
Updated 44 min 21 sec ago
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Abeer announces soft launch of ‘Lavender Health’

Abeer Medical Group has announced the soft launch of Lavender Health, a premium speciality healthcare facility dedicated to provide value-based healthcare services. The soft launch took place at the Global Health Exhibition, attended by high-profile guests including Dr. Ibrahim Alomar, assistant deputy minister for health investment, along with officials from the Ministry of Health and senior leadership from Abeer Medical Group. The event marked a significant milestone in the group’s ongoing commitment to providing exceptional healthcare services, emphasizing quality and a delightful experience for everyone.
Alungal Mohammed, president of Abeer Medical Group, said: “As we embark on the 25th year in the Kingdom, I am happy to introduce Lavender Health, a new vertical with a selected set of specialities for the niche group. This facility is a testament to our dedication to high-quality healthcare and our mission to meet the evolving needs of our care seekers.”
Dr. Alomar said: “The launch of Lavender Health is a commendable initiative that aligns with our continual efforts to enhance healthcare accessibility and quality in the Kingdom. We applaud Abeer Medical Group for their initiative and dedication to improving the health and well-being of our citizens.”
Lavender Health is set to offer a wide range of healthcare services equipped with state-of-the-art technology and skilled healthcare professionals, ensuring that care seekers receive the highest standard of care.