Page 5 - Qatar

Qatar to invest $1.3 bn in climate tech in Britain, Rolls-Royce to benefit

The announcement was made during a two-day state visit to Britain by Qatar's emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani

UK regulator fines Barclays $51 mn after it drops Qatar dealings appeal

The interests of the bank, its shareholders and other stakeholders were best served by the withdrawal, Barclays said, adding that there was no material financial impact from the fine

Qatar suspends mediation efforts on Gaza, Hamas office may have to leave

Qatar has suspended its key mediation efforts between Hamas and Israel, it said Saturday, after growing frustration with the lack of progress on a cease-fire deal for Gaza. It wasn't immediately clear whether the remaining Hamas leadership hosted by Qatar must leave, or where it would go. Hamas has good relations with Iran and Turkiye, and some of its leaders are now in Lebanon. However, Qatar is highly likely to return to mediation efforts if both sides show serious political willingness to reach a deal, according to an official with Egypt, the other key mediator. Qatar told Israel and Hamas it can't continue to mediate as long as there is a refusal to negotiate a deal in good faith and "as a consequence, the Hamas political office no longer serves its purpose in Qatar, a diplomatic source briefed on the matter said. Qatar told Hamas it will have to leave if it isn't ready to engage in serious negotiations, the source said. In Washington, a US official said the Biden administratio

'Serves no purpose': Why Qatar won't mediate between Israel and Hamas

Officials say Qatar has decided to suspend its key mediation efforts between Hamas and Israel. However, Qatar is highly likely to return to the efforts if both sides show serious political willingness to reach a deal on the war in Gaza, according to one official. A diplomatic source briefed on the matter said both Israel and Hamas, along with the United States, were informed after the decision was made. The source added that as a consequence, the Hamas political office no longer serves its purpose in Qatar. The announcement comes after growing frustration with the lack of progress on a cease-fire deal.

Qatar pledged to invest $3 bn in Pakistan during Shehbaz Sharif's visit

Pakistan's Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Friday announced that Qatar pledged to invest USD 3 billion in Pakistan during the visit of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The prime minister returned home on Friday after completing a two-day visit to Doha during which he had important meetings with the top leaders of Qatar and its business community. Before Qatar, he also paid a two-day trip to Saudi Arabia to attend a conference. Tarar addressing a press conference presented an overview of the visit of the prime minister to Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Qatar and Pakistan have agreed to enhance cooperation in diverse sectors, including trade, investment, culture and economy, he said, adding that the pledged investment of USD 3 billion will further strengthen Pakistan's economy. Tarar said an exhibition about Pakistani art and architecture was held during the prime minister's visit to Doha, which is a significant development in the Pakistan-Qatar relationship. He said the prime minis

Qatar to hold referendum for abandoning elections to Shura Council

Qatar's ruling emir said Tuesday his small, energy-rich nation will hold a referendum on ending a short-lived experiment in electing members of the country's advisory Shura Council. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani offered no immediate timeline for the referendum in an annual address to the Shura Council, which drafts laws, approves state budgets, debates major issues and provides advice to the ruler. The body does not have sway over matters of defence, security and the economy. However, it marks yet another rollback in the hereditarily ruled Gulf Arab states in its halting steps to embrace representational rule, however tentative, following efforts by the United States to push harder for democratic reforms in the Middle East after the Sept 11, 2001, attacks and hopes for democracy in the region rose in the wake of the 2011 Arab Spring. From its perspective, Qatar saw the one-time 2021 vote likely as increasing tensions between tribes and families in the country just months after a .

EAM S Jaishankar meets counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Qatar today

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday met his counterparts from Saudi Arabia and Qatar, taking stock of the progress of bilateral relations and discussing ways to further deepen them. Jaishankar arrived here in the Saudi capital on Sunday on a two-day visit to attend the first India-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) foreign ministers' meeting. He met Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and discussed the "progress" in the bilateral relations. "Delighted to meet FM @FaisalbinFarhan of Saudi Arabia today in Riyadh. Took stock of the progress in our bilateral relationship and shared perspectives on global and regional issues. Look forward to welcoming him in India," he said in a post on X. Jaishankar also met Qatar's Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, who also holds the portfolio of the foreign minister. "Began the day with a good meeting with (the) PM & FM of Qatar @MBA_AlThani_. Discussed taking India-Qatar bilateral ties ...

Biden adviser meets Qatari leaders to discuss Israel-Hamas negotiations

President Joe Biden's top Middle East adviser on Tuesday held talks in Doha with senior Qatari leaders on the efforts to complete a cease-fire and hostage deal between Israel and Hamas as well as Qatar's prime minister meeting this week with Iran's president, according to a US official. White House senior adviser Brett McGurk's talks with Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Foreign Affairs Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani come after the prime minister's Monday visit to Tehran to meet with Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian. The talks also come as cease-fire talks aimed at winning at least a pause in the war between Israel and Hamas are shifting to Doha this week after several days of intense negotiations in Cairo. A round of high-level talks ended Sunday without a final agreement. But talks continued at lower levels Monday in an effort to bridge remaining gaps. Those working-group level talks are now expected to resume Wednesday in Doha. It was not

Kothari Industrial Corporation lines up expansion plans across segments: MD

Armed with a new promoter on board, the diversified conglomerate Kothari Industrial Corporation Ltd has drawn up aggressive expansion plans across various segments, a top official said. The company would focus on footwear, fertilisers, food, drone technology, synthetic textiles, solar in the coming years, creating huge job opportunities, Vice- Chairman and Managing Director J Rafiq Ahmed said here. Detailing his vision plan for the city based group at an interaction, Ahmed who became the Vice Chairman and Managing Director in 2018, said he became an investor in 2014 after being into the steel business. Ahmed currently has a 47.08 per cent stake in the entity. After the completion of the open offer on equity shares, his holding in the group could go up to 73.07 per cent. After getting delisted from the stock exchanges in 2000, the company got relisted recently. Elaborating about the plans for the company, Ahmed said, "We are going to grow very aggressively. The old glory that Kotha

Iran rejects European leaders' call to refrain from retaliatory attacks

The European leaders also endorsed the latest push by mediators from Qatar, Egypt and the United States to broker an agreement to end the Israel-Hamas war

US, other frustrated mediators call on Israel, Hamas to resume Gaza talks

Leaders of the United States, Egypt and Qatar jointly demanded Israel and Hamas return to stalled talks on the war in Gaza next week, saying Thursday that only the details of carrying out a cease-fire and hostage release remain to be negotiated. There is no further time to waste, nor excuses from any party for further delay, they said in a joint statement. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said Thursday that it had accepted the invitation. President Joe Biden, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Qatari Emir Tamim al-Thani, mediators in indirect negotiations to end 10 months of devastating war in Gaza, set the talks for August 15, to take place in either Doha, Qatar, or Cairo. A senior US official, speaking to reporters on condition of anonymity to discuss the push by mediators, said only four or five areas of disagreement over implementation remained to be resolved between the two opponents. The official cited the timing of a planned swap of Palestinian ..

US, Egypt, and Qatar call for Israel-Hamas ceasefire talks next week

The three countries acting as mediators said that they are prepared to present a final bridging proposal

Indians travelling to Qatar will now be able to use UPI for payments

The move will allow UPI payments in Qatar via the QNB merchant network, benefiting Indian travellers visiting and transiting through the country

Hamas drops objections to US-backed cease-fire proposal as talks continue

An Israeli delegation led by Mossad chief David Barnea was in Qatar earlier Friday for the talks, and returned home late in the day

Mossad chief goes to Qatar for talks with Hamas over Gaza ceasefire

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet discussed Hamas' latest offer on Thursday. He then held a 30-minute call with US President Joe Biden

UN meeting with Afghan Taliban not recognition of their govt, says official

A United Nations-led meeting held in Qatar with the Taliban on increasing engagement with Afghanistan does not translate into a recognition of their government, a UN official said on Monday. The gathering on Sunday and Monday in Qatar's capital of Doha with envoys from some two dozen countries was the first time that representatives of the Afghan Taliban administration attended such a UN-sponsored meeting. The Taliban were not invited to the first meeting, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said they set unacceptable conditions for attending the second one, in February, including demands that Afghan civil society members be excluded from the talks and that the Taliban be treated as the country's legitimate rulers. Ahead of Doha, representatives of Afghan women were excluded from attending, paving the way for the Taliban to send their envoys though the organisers insisted that demands for women's rights would be raised. I would like to emphasise that this meeting and this ..

EAM Jaishankar to visit Qatar on Jun 30, review aspects of bilateral ties

During the visit, S Jaishankar will meet the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani

Taliban's delegation to attend UN-led meeting in Qatar on Afghanistan

The Taliban on Tuesday confirmed their delegation will attend an upcoming UN-led meeting in Qatar on Afghanistan after the organisers said last week that women would be excluded from the gathering. The meeting on June 30 and July 1 is the third UN-sponsored gathering on the Afghan crisis in the Qatari capital of Doha. The Taliban were not invited to the first and the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said they set unacceptable conditions for attending the second meeting, in February, including demands that Afghan civil society members be excluded from the talks and that they be treated as the country's legitimate rulers. On Tuesday, the Foreign Ministry in Kabul said the chief Taliban government spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, will lead the Taliban delegation at the two-day meeting, starting Sunday. The ministry said the strategy for the Doha gathering was discussed at a meeting chaired by Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi that touched on several topics, including international

India, Qatar hold talks on sale of 12 used Mirage-2000 fighter jets

If the deal goes through, the Indian Air Force's fleet of Mirage fighter jets will jump to 60. They have been part of several key missions, including the Balakot airstrikes

Thanks for the Memories: Stimac pens farewell note to 'Blue Tigers'

Bitter with the All India Football Federation (AIFF) but full of praise for the players he coached for five years, Igor Stimac on Wednesday said he never expected to be "so personally invested" in the country when he first joined and lauded his wards for their "courage and character". Stimac, who was terminated after India lost to Qatar in its final second-round group match to bow out of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, has threatened the AIFF with legal action if it failed to clear his dues in the next 10 days. He has also accused AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey of breaching his contract multiple times and held him squarely responsible for the Indian team's failure to progress. The Croat has said that his stint here left him with serious health problems and he never wants to hear from the AIFF again. However, he expressed his affection for the players and fans in a note of thanks on his X page. "To all Indian football fans and my blue tigers, it's been an honour to serve you over the