Qatar: Human rights group calls in US for boycott of Qatar Airways ahead of Logan debut - by Katheleen Conti

A human rights watchdog group has launched a targeted local advertising campaign calling for a boycott of Qatar Airways days before the carrier begins daily service out of Boston.

Washington-based Alliance for Workers Against Repression Everywhere, or AWARE, began running radio ads, including on WBZ news radio, Monday denouncing alleged human rights violations against workers by the airline and the State of Qatar, which owns it.

Qatar Airways is slated to debut nonstop flights between Logan International Airport and Doha, the capital of Qatar, on March 16. The rapidly expanding luxury airliner is running a promotional radio blitz of its own leading up to the service launch in Boston.

In the radio ad and an accompanying release, AWARE points to reported abuses in the country, including withholding wages from workers and preventing them from unionizing or organizing protests.

Most recently, the international spotlight has turned on Qatar over reports of poor working conditions for migrant workers building stadiums there as the Arab nation prepares to host the 2022 World Cup.

Representatives from Qatar Airways did not respond to requests for comment.

“Qatar Airways is owned by the country. They’re very heavily subsidized by the country, and our feeling is that the United States should be much tougher on human rights violations as we’re starting to do a lot of business with these folks in Qatar,” said Mike Lux, advisory board chair of AWARE.

“Bostonians should boycott companies owned and operated by nations that commit serious human rights abuses,” Lux said.

Massport declined to comment on the group’s efforts.

Qatar Airways is the latest international airline to come to Logan, as the airport continues to expand service to the Middle East and beyond. Over the past decade, the airport has added 26 new international destinations for a total of 53, said Matthew Brelis, Massport’s director of media relations. Last year, Logan served 5.5 million international passengers, up from 4.9 million in 2014.

Qatar Airways, one of the fastest growing airlines, has expanded daily service to a number of cities in the United States, including Los Angeles in January and Atlanta starting June 1. The airline will fly its flagship A350 XWB plane between Logan and Doha, featuring 36 business class seats and 247 economy seats.

Note EU-Digest:  Politics of the United Arab Emirates takes place in a framework of a federal, presidential, absolute monarchy. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a federation of seven constituent monarchies: the Emirates of Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah, and Umm al-Qaiwain. According to convention, the ruler of Abu Dhabi is President of the United Arab Emirates, the head of state, and the ruler of Dubai is the Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, the head of government.

The United Arab Emirates, a federation of seven individual emirates, slowly has widened the role of an elected Federal National Council. However, the council serves mainly an advisory role. The country's president is the ruler of oil-rich Abu Dhabi and there has been no widespread dissent in this nation following the 2011 Arab Spring.

The Emirates is one of the most important U.S. military and political allies in the Persian Gulf. Biden visited the country's Al-Dhafra Air Base  recently, which hosts U.S. and Emirati troops battling the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria.

The Emirates also hosts regional offices for numerous American companies in industries including aerospace, energy, technology and hospitality. Dubai state-owned airline Emirates is the largest operator of Chicago-based Boeing Co.'s 777 wide-body jet.

Despite those close ties, the Emirates and Saudi Arabia remain concerned about Shiite power Iran's influence across the region following the deal it struck with world powers including the U.S. over its contested nuclear program. Saudi and Emirati troops are now fighting in Yemen against Shiite rebels there.

Read more: Human rights groupin US calls for boycott of Qatar Airways ahead of Logan debut - The Boston Globe

The Super Bowl seen through the eyes of a European Soccer fan - by RM

American football -the Super Bowl is here again on Sunday, February 1, 2015

As a "foreigner" It's Interesting watching the news here in the US. For more than 10 days now we have been "pummeled" non-stop with news about a deflated football and its effect on the "Super Bowl" - for the uninformed this is the final game of an American football competition between 4 divisions around America.

For some outsiders American Football looks like Rugby except for the fact that its not about great athletics, but rather about a heavily padded group of guys who keep running into each other for about 3 hours until the least exhausted and battered team wins. 

The winning team is called "the World Football Champion" - world hmm ? For those outside the US who consider "the other football" - called soccer in America - as the real thing, it seems ridiculous. But hey, this is America, the world,s number 1 Superpower 

They are "the boss" when it comes to calling the shots around the world, at least for now. Anyway, I will be watching "the Seattle Seahawks" playing the "Boston Patriots" this Sunday", with my special interest focused on the usually spectacular half-time variety show - and may the best team win.

EU-Digest 

Gun Control - Terrorism - USA: Harvard investigates explosives report, evacuates 4 buildings

Harvard has ordered students and staff to evacuate four campus buildings as authorities investigate a report of explosives this morning.

“Alert: Unconfirmed reports of explosives at four sites on campus: Science Center, Thayer, Sever, and Emerson. Evacuate those buildings now,” the official Harvard Twitter account posted at 9:14.

Federal investigators, bomb squad and K9 state police troopers from the state fire marshal’s office, Cambridge police, Transit Police K9s and Special Operations officers and Harvard University police are on the scene. A Department of Homeland Security Federal Protective Service truck is parked on campus as officers investigate.

There have been no reports of explosions.

The science building was cordoned off, and Harvard Yard is eerily empty as police investigate.
Access to Harvard Yard has been restricted to Yard residents with Harvard IDs.

“Out of an abundance of caution, the buildings have been evacuated while the report is investigated,” the Harvard University police department wrote on its website. “Harvard’s focus is on the safety of our students, faculty and staff. We will update the media when we have more information.”

Read more: Harvard investigates explosives report, evacuates 4 buildings | Boston Herald

Boston - Terrorism: Chris Matthews blames radical right for Boston Marathon bombings

While Boston police, city officials and the FBI were just beginning their investigation into the cause of the bombings – which killed at least three people and injured at least 150 – Matthews was busy adding his own two cents as to whom the perpetrator may have been.

“Normally, domestic terrorist people tend to be on the far right, although that’s not a good category,” Matthews said on Monday’s show. “Extremists, let’s call them that. Do they advertise after they do something like that? Do they try to get credit as a group or do they just hate America so much, or its politics, or its government, that they just want to do the damage – that they don’t care if they get public credit if you will.”

Fortunately, his guest – NBC terrorism analyst Michael Leiter – quickly shifted the focus of his answer away from Matthews’ outlandish assertions. He rightly said that that while many groups, including al-Queda, will likely take credit for the bombing, it is the job of the FBI and the Boston police to determine if the claims are actually real.
While Boston police, city officials and the FBI were just beginning their investigation into the cause of the bombings – which killed at least three people and injured at least 150 – Matthews was busy adding his own two cents as to whom the perpetrator may have been.

“Normally, domestic terrorist people tend to be on the far right, although that’s not a good category,” Matthews said on Monday’s show. “Extremists, let’s call them that. Do they advertise after they do something like that? Do they try to get credit as a group or do they just hate America so much, or its politics, or its government, that they just want to do the damage – that they don’t care if they get public credit if you will.”

Fortunately, his guest – NBC terrorism analyst Michael Leiter – quickly shifted the focus of his answer away from Matthews’ outlandish assertions. He rightly said that that while many groups, including al-Queda, will likely take credit for the bombing, it is the job of the FBI and the Boston police to determine if the claims are actually real.

Note EU-Digest: On the other hand Chris Matthews might have a point. No terrorist group (and they usually are quick to claim it) has taken the "credit" for the Boston bombings. Even the Taliban went out of their way to say they had nothing to do with the bombings.


Read  more: Chris Matthews blames radical right for Boston Marathon bombings

Solidarity and Security Concerns in Europe after Boston Marathon Bombs

In the wake of bombings at the Boston Marathon on Monday afternoon, European leaders on Tuesday expressed their sympathy and solidarity with the United States. Practical concerns were also on the minds of sporting event organizers, who said they would be adjusting their plans to suit fresh security concerns.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel released a statement on Tuesday, expressing her "horror" at the events in Boston, which killed at least three and left some 176 injured, more than a dozen critically. Her thoughts are with the victims and their families, she said. "Nothing justifies such a malicious attack on people who have gathered for a peaceful sporting event," she wrote. "I hope that those responsible will soon be brought to justice."

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle also said he was "deeply shocked" by the bombing, which an anonymous White House official said was being treated as a terrorist act. "What should have been nothing more than a happy sporting event with long-standing tradition for tens of thousands of runners from Boston and around the world has turned into a tragedy," he said on Tuesday.

Read more: Solidarity and Security Concerns in Europe after Boston Marathon Bombs - SPIEGEL ONLINE

Terrorism: USA Terrorist Bombings? Obama informed of Boston explosions, pledges administration assistance - First Read

President Barack Obama was briefed by his homeland security adviser and several other senior members of his staff following dual explosions Monday afternoon near the finish line of the Boston marathon.

Lisa Monaco, the president's top homeland security aide, notified Obama of the incident -- the causes of which were not immediately clear -- shortly after 3 p.m. ET, according to a White House official.

Obama spoke with Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, the official said, and had directed his administration to provide necessary assistance in the investigation and response.

The violent explosion, which Boston Police said had resulted in some fatalities and even more injuries, shook the political establishment on Monday. The White House took additional security precautions, moving tourists further beyond its normal perimeter. The U.S. Capitol appeared to proceed with its existing security procedures in the meanwhile.

Read more: Obama informed of Boston explosions, pledges administration assistance - First Read