Qatar

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.

6 Oct 2019; MEMO: Thousands of fans flocked to the Khalifa International Stadium to watch local hero Barshim take gold last night in Doha, Qatar.

DOHA, Sept 30 (NNN-QNA) – Qatar and Jordan discussed Qatar’s initiative to secure 10,000 jobs for Jordanians in the Gulf country.

Visiting Jordanian Minister of Labour, Faisal Nidal al-Batayneh, met in Doha with Qatar’s Minister of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs, Yousef bin Mohammed Al Othman Fakhroo, exchanging views on means to boost cooperation between the two countries in the field of labour.

DOHA, Sept 23 (NNN-QNA) – Qatar and Turkey, on Sunday, discussed means to boost military and defence relations, the Qatari Ministry of Defence said.

“The two sides took up bilateral cooperation in the military sphere, during a meeting between Qatari Minister of State for Defence Affairs, Khalid bin Mohammad Al Attiyah and Turkish Chief of General Staff, Yasar Guler, who is currently on a visit to Doha.”

Qatari-Turkish relations have seen a strong push in all fields and the two sides have become close allies in the political, economic and security domains.

DOHA (Reuters) - Qatar has shortlisted international oil firms for a stake in its expanded North Field megaproject, Qatar Petroleum’s chief executive told Reuters, but may still choose to go it alone unless majors offer it significant value.

The expansion of tiny but gas-rich Qatar’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities, already the world’s largest, is one of the energy sector’s most lucrative projects, and the world’s top oil and gas majors have been racing to secure a stake.

5 Sep 2019; MEMO: Amid widespread speculation and anticipation by football fans, Doha has launched the official logo of FIFA World Cup “Qatar 2022.” The emblem was started by simultaneously being displayed on several buildings and towers in Doha, Qatar and several Arab and international capitals.

Hundreds of people gathered in areas of Souq Waqif, Katara, and Doha towers to witness the launch of the logo, which is considered an important milestone on the road to the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

29 Aug 2019; MEMO: Qatar’s reserves grew 18.82 per cent year-on-year in July, setting a new record.

According to data released by the Central Bank of Qatar today, the value of reserve assets amounted to 196.169 billion riyals ($53.92 billion) as of July.

Reserve assets rose from 165.091 billion riyals ($45.38 billion) in July 2018.

The rise is the 17th in a row since March 2018.

15 Aug 2019; MEMO: Turkey will open a new military base in Qatar this autumn, daily Hürriyet reported yesterday.

“A new Turkish base has been built near Qatar’s Tariq Ibn Ziyad military base,” Hürriyet correspondent, Hande Fırat, said, adding that the military base’s inauguration ceremony was expected to be “unveiled by the Qatari Emir and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.”

9 July 2019; AFP: Dozens of influential Afghans concluded two days of talks with the Taliban on Monday in Doha, laying the foundations for renewed negotiations between the United States and the militants.

The encounter ended with a joint statement pledging a "roadmap for peace" based on the opening of a monitored peace process, return of internally displaced people, and non-interference by regional powers in Afghanistan.