Qatar

A collection of 29 posts

US and Qatar Block Iran from $6B Fund for Prisoner Swap

According to a US official, the US and Qatar have come to an agreement that Iran will not be able to access the $6B in Iranian funds that were unblocked as part of a prisoner swap in September....

World

US, Taliban to Hold Talks in Doha

The US State Department announced Wednesday that US diplomats will meet with Taliban representatives in Doha, Qatar, before the end of July to discuss "critical interests," including humanitarian support, economic stabilization, security, and women's rights.

Politics

Erdoğan Arrives in Saudi Arabia for Gulf Tour

Turkish Pres. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan traveled to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Monday to kick off a Gulf tour that will also include the UAE and Qatar as he looks to attract foreign investment in his country’s ailing economy. Erdoğan was accompanied by around 200 businesspeople, with business forums ...

Politics

EU Lawmaker Cozzolino Charged in Corruption Probe

Belgium's prosecutor office on Wednesday said that EU parliament member Andrea Cozzolino had been extradited to Belgium and charged with public corruption, criminal organization, and money laundering in relation to alleged involvement in the cash-for-influence “Qatargate” scandal.

Politics

Soccer: New Zealand Quits Qatar Match After Alleged Racism

On Monday, the New Zealand national men's football team walked away from its friendly [i.e. non-competitive] match with Qatar alleging on-field racial abuse and a failure to act by Qatari officials. Following halftime, with a 1-0 lead, New Zealand refused to return to the pitch.

Sports

UAE, Qatar Restore Diplomatic Ties

Qatar and the UAE's respective embassies and consulates resumed operations on Monday after a six-year pause in diplomatic ties.

Politics

Report: Qatar, Manchester United Negotiating Exclusivity

The British Premier League club Manchester United is discussing granting exclusivity to the consortium led by Qatar's Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani in $6B-plus sale talks, Reuters reported Thursday.

Sports

Backlash As Qatar Allowed To Chair ILO Meet

The UN’s labor rights watchdog, the International Labour Organization (ILO), is being criticized for nominating Qatar’s minister of labor, Ali bin Saeed bin Samikh al-Marri, to preside over its upcoming annual conference in Geneva.

Social issues

Qatar Seeking to 'De-Escalate Situation' in Israel-Palestine

A Qatari official said on Friday that the Gulf nation is working to de-escalate the situation in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza, as tensions have soared in recent months, saying that Qatar is acting as a mediator....

Qatar

Al Jazeera: Rise in Hindu Festival Violence Since BJP Retook India's Maharashtra

On Friday, Al Jazeera published a report claiming that India's western state of Maharashtra — home to almost 13M Muslims, or 11.5% of its population — has seen a rise in Hindu rallies that allegedly spread anti-Muslim sentiment and often lead to violent clashes since PM Narendra Modi's Bharat...

Politics

FIFA Confirms Expanded 2026 World Cup

On Tue., ahead of its congress in Kigali, Rwanda, FIFA announced that the 2026 World Cup will have a record 104-game program as the tournament will expand from 32 to 48 teams....

Qatar

Amnesty Urges Premier League to Review Newcastle's Saudi Deal

On Thursday, Amnesty International urged the English Premier League to re-examine the legally binding promise made by Newcastle United’s Saudi owners, which stated that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) was separate from the country’s government....

Saudi Arabia

Report: US and Iran in Indirect Talks on Prisoner Swap

An NBC report published on Wednesday claimed that the US is holding indirect negotiations with Iran over a possible prisoner swap to secure the release of US citizens detained in the country....

Metaculus

Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay Submit Joint 2030 FIFA World Cup Bid

Officials from Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay launched a collective bid on Tuesday to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which will take place exactly a century after the inaugural tournament was held in Montevideo, Uruguay.

Egypt

Qatar Airways, Airbus Settle Contentious A350 Case

On Wednesday, Qatar Airways and Airbus announced they have reached an "amicable and mutually agreeable settlement" ending an 18-month dispute over the safety of A350 jets and averting a potentially damaging UK court trial.

World

Qatar-EU Corruption Scandal: Italian Suspect Cooperates

Antonio Panzeri, a former Italian Member of the European Parliament (MEP), has struck a plea deal with Belgian prosecutors over the alleged bribery scheme between MEPs and foreign governments. Panzeri was among four EU lawmakers detained for their alleged involvement.

World

Algeria Slams EU Gas Price Cap

On Tuesday, Algeria, Africa's largest gas exporter, criticized the EU's recent decision to cap natural gas prices as an intervention disrupting the international energy market....

Ukraine

Argentina Defeats France in World Cup Final

On Sunday, in what has been widely described as the greatest World Cup final of all time, Argentina defeated France to win soccer's greatest prize for the third time in the country's history.

Sports

France Defeats Morocco In Politically Charged Game, Reaches World Cup Final

Defending football world champion France defeated Morocco 2-0 on Wednesday to reach the 2022 FIFA World Cup final, which will be played on Sunday against Argentina. Morocco will face Croatia in the third-place match on Saturday.

Sports

UAE President Visits Qatar in Sign of Regional Thaw

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan (MBZ), the UAE's de facto ruler for years before becoming president in May, met with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani for a brief visit on Monday before returning to Abu Dhabi, where he is due to meet Israel's president.

World

Qatar Says Up to 500 World Cup Migrant Workers Died

In an interview with British journalist Piers Morgan that aired Monday, Qatar World Cup chief Hassan Al-Thawadi said that between 400 and 500 migrant workers have died working on projects linked to the tournament, a larger figure than previously reported by Qatari officials.

World

Qatar Inks 15-Year Gas Deal With Germany

On Tuesday, state-owned QatarEnergy and the US company ConocoPhillips signed two sales and purchase agreements to supply liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Germany for 15 years starting in 2026. It's the first deal to Europe from Qatar's North Field expansion project.

World

World Cup: European Teams Scrap "OneLove" Armbands

Seven European soccer associations have pulled out from plans to wear LGBTQ-supporting "OneLove" armbands at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar due to the threat of players receiving yellow cards.

World

World Cup: Beer Won’t Be Sold at Stadiums in Qatar

Just two days before the start of the World Cup, Qatari officials have decided to prohibit the sale of alcoholic beer at games during the month-long event. Soccer’s world governing body, FIFA, confirmed that alcohol won't be sold at the eight stadiums that host the tournament’s 64 matches

World

World Cup: FIFA Says to 'Focus on Football'

In a letter to all 32 teams due to compete at the World Cup in Qatar beginning Nov. 20, FIFA — the world soccer governing body — told them to "now focus on football," as the host country faces criticism for its human rights record.

World