Qatar

08 Dec 2019; MEMO: The Taliban on Saturday resumed formal peace talks with the US in the Qatari capital, Doha, the group confirmed in a statement, Anadolu reports.

Suhail Shaheen, the insurgents’ Qatar office spokesman, said on social media that Mualla Baradar Akhund, the group’s deputy head, led the Taliban delegation.

“Talks with the US negotiating team began from where they left off,” he said.

08 Dec 2019; MEMO: In principle, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia this week should end with a return to normal relations between its six-member states. That’s why the invitation extended by Saudi Arabia’s King Salman to the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, seemed a welcome step in the right direction.

DOHA, Dec 4 (NNN-QNA) – The Qatari Emir received an invitation from the Saudi King, to attend the 40th Gulf Cooperation Council summit.

Qatari Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, received a written invitation from King Salman bin Abdelaziz Al Saud, to attend the 40th session of the GCC Supreme Council, to be held in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, on Dec 10.

The invitation was first received by Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Qatari minister of foreign affairs, during his meeting with Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, secretary general of the GCC.

17 Nov 2019; MEMO: Signs of an imminent end for the crisis between Qatar and the other Gulf States have been emerging, likely through Kuwaiti mediation.

Kuwaiti newspaper, Al-Qabas, reported that the Kuwaiti Emir sent a message to the Saudi King, urging him to end the crisis.

14 Nov 2019; MEMO: Qatar’s cabinet yesterday approved a draft law regulating press, publications, media activities and arts and referred it to the Shura Council.

The draft law will replace Law No. 8 of 1979 on Publications, and Decree Law No. 16 of 1993 on the Regulation of advertising, public relations and artistic production and works.

In May, Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani issued a law on the establishment of a Media City.

11 Nov 2019; MEMO: Qatar Petroleum (QP) yesterday announced the launch of the Egyptian Refining Company (ERC)’s in the Mostorod refinery plant located in the north of the Egyptian capital city of Cairo.

“QP is pleased to announce a successful launch of the ERC’s refinery project in Mostorod,” the company told Russia’s Sputnik. QP owns 38.1 per cent of the Arab Refining Company, which in turn owns 66.6 per cent of the ERC.

8 Nov 2019; MEMO: Qatar’s emir has ordered that a committee be established to organise the country’s first ever elections to the Shura Council, state news agency QNA reported.

The committee will be chaired by the prime minister, QNA said.

6 Nov 2019; MEMO: Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani said yesterday that there would be no peace in the Middle East without recognising “legitimate” Palestinian rights, Quds Press reported.

During a speech at the opening of the Qatari Shura Council, the Emir said that the establishment of a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital is the most important Palestinian right.

28 Oct 2019; MEMO: Head of Qatari Committee for the Reconstruction of Gaza Strip, Mohammed Al-Emadi, announced that the committee has begun paying cash assistance to 75,000 families in the Gaza Strip.

In a statement, he said that the beneficiaries would receive $100 cash assistance from the post offices across the coastal enclave.

DOHA, Oct 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Qatar announced plans to scrap key aspects of its controversial “kafala” labour rules, including the requirement for some workers to obtain employers’ permission to change jobs and exit permits to leave the country.

Qatar has made a series of reforms to its employment regulations since being selected to host the 2022 World Cup, which set motion a vast construction programme employing foreign workers.

Rights groups have long said the system fuels abuses.