Qatar

World Cup fans could bring political tensions to quiet Qatar

(AP) --- Qatar is a devoutly apolitical place, with speech and assembly heavily restricted and a large population of foreign workers who could lose their livelihoods if they cause a stir.

But that could change next month, when an estimated 1.2 million soccer fans descend on the tiny Gulf Arab nation for the World Cup. Authorities may face calls for labor rights, LGBTQ equality and other causes in the glare of an international spotlight like no other.

Qatar in talks with Egypt to buy $2.5b of state-held stakes in Vodafone Egypt

20 October 2022; MEMO: Qatar is in talks with Egypt to buy $2.5 billion of state-held stakes in Vodafone Egypt, according to Bloomberg.

The Qatar Investment Authority, the Gulf state's sovereign wealth fund, plans to buy 20 per cent of Telecom Egypt's stake in Vodafone and several other unlisted companies.

Qatar: Reported 6,500 deaths by UK paper ahead of World Cup was 'disinformation', expert says

19 October 2022; MEMO:A report in the Guardian which claimed that 6,500 migrant workers had died in connection with the World Cup in Qatar has been slammed as "the most pervasive and re-occurring pieces of disinformation." A report in the UK newspaper in February 2021 had implied that the shocking number of deaths was connected to the World Cup. Though the a

Qatar World Cup ticket sales near 3m

18 October 2022; MEMO: Ticket sales for the soccer World Cup are approaching the three million mark ahead of the tournament kicking off in Qatar on 20 November, FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, and event organisers said on Monday, Reuters reports.

The top 10 purchasing countries of the 2.89 million tickets sold are Qatar, the United States, Saudi Arabia, England, Mexico, the United Arab Emirates, Argentina, France, Brazil and Germany, FIFA's World Cup Chief Operating Officer, Colin Smith, told a news conference in Doha.

World Cup ticket sales top 90% of stadium capacity in Qatar

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Nearly 2.9 million tickets have been sold for the World Cup in Qatar, FIFA and organizers said Monday, leaving about 7% of seats still available.

People living in the United States, Saudi Arabia and England topped the list of international ticket buyers, while Mexico was the biggest market outside Qatar for corporate hospitality sales.

More tickets will become available before the tournament starts on Nov. 20, FIFA’s tournament director Colin Smith said at a news conference in Doha held with Qatari organizers.

Airbus and Qatar Airways face off again in court over A350

14 October 2022; MEMO: Airbus and Qatar Airways clashed, once again, in court on Friday, as a dispute over damage to A350 jetliners descended into a tug-of-war over confidential documents, while the sums at stake in their unprecedented falling-out topped $1.5 billion, Reuters reports.

Qatar Airways is suing Airbus over damage to the painted surface and anti-lightning system on A350 jets, saying safety could be at risk from a design defect.

Qatar interested in Eastern Mediterranean oil exploration - Lebanon

14 October 2022; MEMO: Qatar is interested in joining French firm, TotalEnergies, and Italy's Eni in exploring for oil in two areas in Lebanese waters, the Lebanese Energy Minister said on Friday, Anadolu News Agency reports.

Qatar wants to join the consortium to explore for oil in blocks 4 and 9 in the Eastern Mediterranean, Walid Fayad said after a meeting with Prime Minister, Najib Mikati.

Flight bookings to Qatar boom for World Cup

11 October 2022; MEMO: Flight bookings to Qatar are booming for the soccer World Cup being held in November and December, with particularly strong demand from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), as fans work round a shortage of accommodation in Doha, a study showed on Tuesday, Reuters reports.

Flight bookings to Qatar from the UAE and nine other countries have risen ten-fold compared with before the pandemic, travel analysis group, ForwardKeys, said.

Qatar receives Typhoon jets to secure skies during World Cup

10 October 2022; MEMO: The Qatar Emiri Air Force yesterday received the No 12 Squadron Typhoon which will help support air security at the FIFA World Cup next month, the Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported.

The state-run agency added that the No 12 Squadron was established on 24 July 2018 with the aim of enhancing cooperation between the Emiri Air Force and the British Royal Air Force.

Qatar population surges 13.2% in year leading up to World Cup

9 October 2022; MEMO: Qatar's population has surged by 13.2% over the last year, official data showed, as the tiny Gulf Arab state recruits thousands of overseas workers ahead of hosting the soccer World Cup next month to cope with an unprecedented influx of fans, Reuters reports.

The wealthy gas producer's population stood at 2.94 million after some 370,000 additional people moved to Qatar over the last year, based on data collected in September and released by Qatar's statistics authority last week.

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