Algerian protesters demand Thursday’s election be canceled

A demonstrator holds a sign reading "No vote", during a protest rejecting the presidential election in Algiers, Algeria December 11, 2019. (Reuters)
Short Url
Updated 11 December 2019
Follow

Algerian protesters demand Thursday’s election be canceled

  • Shadowy leaders seek to outflank protest movement
  • Protesters see vote as a charade to keep status quo

ALGIERS: A big crowd of protesters marched through central Algiers on Wednesday to demand Thursday’s presidential election be canceled, chanting that they would not vote in a poll they regard as a charade.
They chanted “No election tomorrow” and held up banners reading “You have destroyed the country” as riot police stood blocking roads and a helicopter circled overhead. In one place, a column of police barged through the crowd.
The election is shaping up to be a pivotal moment in the months-long struggle between the shadowy network of military, security and political leaders known as the “pouvoir,” who have ruled for decades, and a leaderless street protest movement.
While the military, the dominant force in the pouvoir — “the power” — has cast the election as the only way to end the stalemate on the streets, the protesters reject it as a sham designed to maintain the status quo.
They say no election can be free or fair while the old guard of rulers remain in power and the military stays involved in politics. No foreign observers are in Algeria to monitor the vote.
Whoever is elected after Thursday’s first round and a potential run-off later this month will face a series of hard decisions, with declining energy revenue leading to a planned 9% cut in public spending next year.

DEADLOCK
The deadlock between the enormous protest movement and a state increasingly dominated by the military has put at stake the political future of Africa’s largest country, a nation of 40 million people and a major gas supplier to Europe.
All five of the state-approved candidates running on Thursday are former senior officials linked to the former president Abdelaziz Bouteflika whom the army forced aside in April in response to the protests.
“Algerians want radical change. They are fed up,” said student Ahmed Kamili, 25, wrapped in the national flag.
In the Kabylie region, the fiercest arena of the 1990s civil war between the state and Islamist insurgents, almost all businesses and government offices are closed in a general strike in support of the protesters and against the election.
“The baker and pharmacy are the only open shops in the village,” said Mezouane Azouz, a resident of Haizer in the Kabylie region.
Army chief Lt. Gen. Ahmed Gaed Salah, who has emerged as Algeria’s most powerful political player since Bouteflika was ousted, has pushed for Thursday’s vote as the only way to resolve the political crisis.


Authorities issue rain, snowfall alert for upper parts of Pakistan

Updated 3 min 4 sec ago
Follow

Authorities issue rain, snowfall alert for upper parts of Pakistan

  • Local authorities, emergency responders and public have been asked to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions
  • Residents of hilly areas should exercise caution while traveling due to slippery roads and reduced visibility, authorities say

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued a weather alert for upper parts of the country, predicting rain, thunderstorms and snowfall as a result of a westerly wave.
The western and upper parts of the country are likely to experience rain, wind and thunderstorms, with snowfall expected in mountainous areas, according to the NDMA.
"Upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Malakand and Hazara divisions, is expected to receive rain and thunderstorms, along with snowfall in [areas with] higher altitudes," the NDMA said in a statement.
"The plains of Punjab will largely experience dry conditions, although smog and fog are likely to persist, especially during early morning and nighttime."
Rain and thunderstorms are also expected in the Pothohar region and its surroundings.
The NDMA said it had advised local authorities, emergency responders and the public to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions.
"Residents in northern and hilly areas should exercise caution while traveling due to the risk of slippery roads and reduced visibility," it said.
"Farmers are encouraged to safeguard their crops against potential weather impacts."
Additionally, the NDMA asked people in smog-affected areas to minimize outdoor exposure and take protective measures during low-visibility conditions.


Iraq tries to stem influx of illegal foreign workers from Pakistan, other nations

Updated 5 min 33 sec ago
Follow

Iraq tries to stem influx of illegal foreign workers from Pakistan, other nations

  • The Iraqi labor ministry says the influx is mainly from Pakistan, Syria and Bangladesh, also citing 40,000 registered immigrant workers
  • Authorities are trying to regulate the number of foreign workers as Iraq seeks to diversify from the currently dominant hydrocarbons sector

KARBALA: Rami, a Syrian worker in Iraq, spends his 16-hour shifts at a restaurant fearing arrest as authorities crack down on undocumented migrants in the country better known for its own exodus.
He is one of hundreds of thousands of foreigners working without permits in Iraq, which after emerging from decades of conflict has become an unexpected destination for many seeking opportunities.
“I’ve been able to avoid the security forces and checkpoints,” said the 27-year-old, who has lived in Iraq for seven years and asked that AFP use a pseudonym to protect his identity.
Between 10 in the morning and 2:00 am the next day, he toils at a shawarma shop in the holy city of Karbala, where millions of Shiite pilgrims congregate every year.
“My greatest fear is to be expelled back to Syria where I’d have to do military service,” he said.
The labor ministry says the influx is mainly from Syria, Pakistan and Bangladesh, also citing 40,000 registered immigrant workers.
Now the authorities are trying to regulate the number of foreign workers, as the country seeks to diversify from the currently dominant hydrocarbons sector.
Many like Rami work in the service industry in Iraq.
One Baghdad restaurant owner admitted to AFP that he has to play cat and mouse with the authorities during inspections, asking some employees to make themselves scarce.
Not all those who work for him are registered, he said, because of the costly fees involved.
Some of the undocumented workers in Iraq first came as pilgrims. In July, Labour Minister Ahmed Assadi said his services were investigating information that “50,000 Pakistani visitors” stayed on “to work illegally.”
Despite threats of expulsion because of the scale of issue, the authorities at the end of November launched a scheme for “Syrian, Bangladeshi and Pakistani workers” to regularise their employment by applying online before December 25.
The ministry says it will take legal action against anyone who brings in or employs undocumented foreign workers.
Rami has decided to play safe, even though “I really want” to acquire legal employment status.
“But I’m afraid,” he said. “I’m waiting to see what my friends do, and then I’ll do the same.”
Current Iraqi law caps the number of foreign workers a company can employ at 50 percent, but the authorities now want to lower this to 30 percent.
“Today we allow in only qualified workers for jobs requiring skills” that are not currently available, labor ministry spokesman Nijm Al-Aqabi told AFP.
It’s a sensitive issue — for the past two decades, even the powerful oil sector has been dominated by a foreign workforce. But now the authorities are seeking to favor Iraqis.
“There are large companies contracted to the government” which have been asked to limit “foreign worker numbers to 30 percent,” said Aqabi.
“This is in the interests of the domestic labor market,” he said, as 1.6 million Iraqis are unemployed.
He recognized that each household has the right to employ a foreign domestic worker, claiming this was work Iraqis did not want to do.
One agency launched in 2021 that brings in domestic workers from Niger, Ghana and Ethiopia confirms the high demand.
“Before we used to bring in 40 women, but now it’s around 100” a year, said an employee at the agency, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity.
It was a trend picked up from rich countries in the Gulf, the employee said.
“The situation in Iraq is getting better, and with salaries now higher, Iraqi home owners are looking for comfort.”
A domestic worker earns about $230 a month, but the authorities have quintupled the registration fee, with a work permit now costing more than $800.
In the summer, Human Rights Watch denounced what it called a campaign of arbitrary arrests and expulsions targeting Syrians, even those with the necessary paperwork.
HRW said that both homes and work places had been targeted by raids.
Ahmed — another pseudonym — is a 31-year-old Syrian who has been undocumented in Iraq for the past year and a half.
He began as a cook in Baghdad and later moved to Karbala.
“Life is hard here — we don’t have any rights,” he told AFP. “We come in illegally, and the security forces are after us.”
His wife did not accompany him. She stayed in Syria.
“I’d go back if I could,” said Ahmed. “But life there is very difficult. There’s no work.”


Taiwan says 41 Chinese military aircraft, ships detected ahead of Lai US stopover

Updated 11 min 6 sec ago
Follow

Taiwan says 41 Chinese military aircraft, ships detected ahead of Lai US stopover

  • The figure was the highest in more than three weeks, according to a tally of figures released daily by Taiwan’s defense ministry

TAIPEI: Taiwan said Friday it had detected 41 Chinese military aircraft and ships around the island ahead of a Hawaii stopover by President Lai Ching-te, part of a Pacific tour that has sparked fury in Beijing.
The figure was the highest in more than three weeks, according to an AFP tally of figures released daily by Taiwan’s defense ministry.
China insists self-ruled Taiwan is part of its territory, which Taipei rejects.
To press its claims, China deploys fighter jets, drones and warships around Taiwan on a near-daily basis, with the number of sorties increasing in recent years.
In the 24 hours to 6:00 a.m. on Friday, Taiwan’s defense ministry said it had detected 33 Chinese aircraft and eight navy vessels in its airspace and waters.
That included 19 aircraft that took part in China’s “joint combat readiness patrol” on Thursday evening and was the highest number since November 4.
Taiwan also spotted a balloon — the fourth since Sunday — about 172 kilometers west of the island.


Pakistan reiterates ‘unwavering’ support for Palestinians’ right to self-determination

Updated 13 sec ago
Follow

Pakistan reiterates ‘unwavering’ support for Palestinians’ right to self-determination

  • The statement comes on International Day of Solidarity with Palestinian People that aims to grant sovereignty to Palestinians
  • PM Shehbaz Sharif calls on international community to act 'decisively' to impose immediate halt to Israel's atrocities in Gaza

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday reiterated his country's "unwavering" support for the Palestinians' right to self-determination, Sharif's office said, on the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People is a UN-organized observance, with events held at the United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York and its offices in Geneva, Vienna and Nairobi.
In a statement issued from his office, Sharif said the last one year marked a "deeply disturbing moment" in the history of Palestine in the wake of Israel's brutal aggression in Gaza and the West Bank since October 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas.
"The Palestinian people have been bravely enduring a campaign of unending genocidal violence with indiscriminate attacks, ethnic cleansing, and collective punishment that constitute a flagrant violation of human dignity, human rights, and international law," he said.
"On behalf of the people of Pakistan, I reaffirm our complete solidarity with the valiant and resilient Palestinian people. We will continue to stand by you in your just and rightful pursuit of peace, dignity, and right to self-determination."
Pakistan does not recognize nor have diplomatic relations with Israel and calls for an independent Palestinian state based on “internationally agreed parameters.”
Since the beginning of Israel’s war on Gaza that has claimed over 43,000 lives, Pakistan has repeatedly raised the issue at the UN, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and other multilateral platforms and demanded international powers and bodies stop Israeli military actions in Gaza. The South Asian country has also dispatched several aid consignments for the Palestinians.
Sharif said Israel's violations of international humanitarian law had crippled the humanitarian response in Gaza, calling on the international community to act "swiftly and decisively" to impose an immediate halt to Israel's atrocities, including indiscriminate attacks on civilians, hospitals, schools, and critical infrastructure.
"The repeated assaults on humanitarian aid convoys and essential services are unconscionable. The failure to hold Israel accountable for these grave war crimes and violations of human rights will perpetuate the impunity, with which Israel has unleashed its destruction in Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon," he said.
"Pakistan further calls for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza and stresses the urgency of ensuring unhindered humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people."


Liverpool look to deepen Manchester City crisis, Amorim seeks first Premier League win

Updated 29 min 51 sec ago
Follow

Liverpool look to deepen Manchester City crisis, Amorim seeks first Premier League win

  • All three teams who have enjoyed a lead of eight points or more at this stage of the season in Premier League history have gone on to win the title
  • The visit of struggling Everton to Old Trafford offers the Red Devils the perfect chance to kickstart life under their new boss

LIVERPOOL: Liverpool can take another giant step toward just a second English top-flight title in 35 years against fragile Manchester City on Sunday as Ruben Amorim aims for a first Premier League win as Manchester United manager.

The top-of-the-table clash at Anfield offers Arsenal, who face West Ham, and Chelsea, who host Aston Villa, the chance to gain ground.

Here are some of the key talking points ahead of this weekend’s action:

Arne Slot’s rampant Reds go into the weekend off the high of beating Real Madrid 2-0 to top the Champions League table.

Liverpool have barely put a foot wrong in the Premier League either, surging into an eight-point lead after just 12 games.

All three teams who have enjoyed a lead of eight points or more at this stage of the season in Premier League history have gone on to win the title.

City are there for the taking.

Winless in six matches, the English champions are physically and mentally “fragile,” according to manager Pep Guardiola, who is experiencing the worst run of his career in the dugout.

“It has been, is being and will be a tough season for us. We have to accept it for many circumstances,” he said.

Even at their best during a glorious era under the Catalan, City have failed to tame Anfield, with their last win there in front of a crowd coming back in 2003.

Amorim did not hold back after seeing Manchester United labor to a 1-1 draw at lowly Ipswich in his first match in charge last weekend.

“We are going to suffer for a long period,” said the Portuguese coach. “This will take time, but I know we have to win games.”

The visit of struggling Everton to Old Trafford offers the Red Devils the perfect chance to kickstart life under their new boss.

The Toffees (10) are one of only three sides to have scored fewer Premier League goals this season than United’s 13.

Sean Dyche’s men are just two points above the relegation zone and have not beaten United away from home since 2013.

United, who sit 12th, need to make the most of home advantage to move swiftly back up the table with daunting trips to Arsenal and City to come in two of their following three league games.

Aston Villa are another side struggling for form. A 0-0 draw against Juventus in midweek extended their winless run to seven games in all competitions.

Unai Emery’s men are still well placed to progress to the knockout stages of the Champions League in their first taste of Europe’s elite competition for four decades.

But their European exertions are beginning to take a toll domestically. Villa have taken just seven points from their past seven league games to slip to eighth.

Next up is a difficult trip to Chelsea, who are flying high in Enzo Maresca’s first season in charge.

The Blues sit third, ahead of Arsenal on goals scored, and could easily end the weekend as Liverpool’s closest challengers should City fail to end their winless run at Anfield.

Arsenal have bounced back to form with comprehensive wins over Nottingham Forest and Sporting Lisbon and will go second for 24 hours at least with victory at West Ham on Saturday.

Fixtures (all times GMT)

Friday

Brighton vs. Southampton (2000)

Saturday

Brentford vs. Leicester, Crystal Palace vs. Newcastle, Nottingham Forest vs. Ipswich, Wolves vs. Bournemouth (all 1500), West Ham vs. Arsenal (1730)

Sunday

Chelsea vs. Aston Villa, Manchester United vs. Everton, Tottenham vs. Fulham (all 1330), Liverpool vs. Manchester City (1600)