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☆ I tried Qatar's gourmet business class meals — including the airline's limited-time FIFA World Cup menu — and found the restaurant-grade food is sure to impress travelers
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-30 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

"Say we have a flight from Doha to JFK in 12 hours, then we start producing the meals then," Bonnaud said during the media event. "We cook it, freeze it down, and then portion it." A Qatar Airways aircraft being loaded with meals. Qatar Airways

☆ No kissing in Qatar? Fears grow of crackdown on LGBTQ fans at World Cup
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( Matt Lavietes | Matt Lavietes Is A Reporter For Nbc Out. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

More than a million soccer fans from around the world are expected to gather in Qatar for next month's FIFA World Cup, but as the global competition nears, concerns over how the Gulf nation will treat its LGBTQ visitors are rising. “These are the basic rights that should be afforded to all and will ensure continued progress in Qatar,” one of the players said. But for years, the Gulf nation's government and FIFA have sought to reassure fans that LGBTQ fans are welcome and will be safe attending the World Cup. Scrutiny over how Qatar treats its own LGBTQ people has also gained traction in the lead-up to the World Cup. Rasha Younes, a researcher who studies LGBTQ rights in the Middle East and North Africa for Human Rights Watch and author of the new report, said she hopes that the displays of LGBTQ solidarity will influence Qatar's domestic policies.

☆ British LGBT activist urges captains to speak out in Qatar
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Oct 28 (Reuters) - British activist Peter Tatchell said he hopes team captains at this year's World Cup in Qatar will follow the example set by Australia and reaffirm the rights of LGBTs, women and migrant workers during the tournament. Homosexuality is illegal in the conservative Muslim country, and some soccer players have raised concerns for fans travelling for the event, especially LGBT individuals and women. On Thursday, Australia's national team spoke out against Qatar's record. Human Rights Watch on Monday said security forces in Qatar arbitrarily arrested and abused LGBT Qataris as recently as last month. World Cup organisers did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

☆ Qatar's Sheikha Moza bint Nasser discusses the most pressing issues facing education
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( Tania Bryer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailQatar's Sheikha Moza bint Nasser discusses the most pressing issues facing educationTania Bryer talks with Qatar's Sheikha Moza bint Nasser. Her Highness discusses her philanthropic work to protect education and describes a trip to Iraq in 2003 that opened her eyes to the issue.

The 2022 World Cup kicks off on November 20 and runs through December 18 in the Gulf state. Khalifa International Stadium — The Khalifa International Stadium was the first of the Qatar 2022 World Cup venues to be completed. The Khalifa International Stadium was the first of the Qatar 2022 World Cup venues to be completed. It officially opened on May 19, 2017, and can hold 48,000 fans after being expanded for the World Cup. Neoscape Al Thumama Stadium — The 40,000-seat Al Thumama Stadium will host matches up to the quarterfinals of the 2022 World Cup.

☆ Qatar's Sheikha Moza bint Nasser discusses her philanthropy and her legacy
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( Tania Bryer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailQatar's Sheikha Moza bint Nasser discusses her philanthropy and her legacyHer Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser tells CNBC's Tania Bryer what more needs to be done to help protect education and what she hopes her legacy will be.

☆ Exclusive: Thousands of workers evicted in Qatar's capital ahead of World Cup
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( Andrew Mills | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

World soccer's governing body FIFA did not respond to a request for comment and Qatar's World Cup organisers directed inquiries to the government. "DELIBERATE GHETTO-ISATION"Around 85% of Qatar's three million population are foreign workers. Most were in neighbourhoods where the government has rented buildings for World Cup fan accommodation. He said labourers who built up the infrastructure for Qatar to host the World Cup were being pushed aside as the tournament approaches. (This story has been refiled to clarify that apartment blocks being emptied are in the same areas in Doha where visiting soccer fans will stay during World Cup, in the lead paragraph.)

☆ Qatar's foreign ministry summons German ambassador over minister's World Cup remarks
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

[1/2] German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser speaks during an interview with Reuters in Berlin, Germany, October 17, 2022. REUTERS/Christian/File PhotoCAIRO, Oct 28 (Reuters) - Qatar's foreign ministry summoned on Friday the German ambassador and handed him a protest memorandum over interior minister Nancy Faeser's comments regarding Qatar's hosting of the 2022 football World Cup. The minister criticized Qatar's human rights record during an interview with a local broadcaster. Reporting by Ahmed Tolba Writing by Lilian Wagdy; Editing by Toby ChopraOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Australian footballers call for reform in Qatar ahead of next month’s World Cup
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-27 | by ( Jacob Lev | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Australia’s men’s footballers, the “Socceroos,” have called for reform in Qatar ahead of next month’s World Cup. In a video message produced by Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) and released on Wednesday, 16 Socceroos called on the host country to recognize and legalize same-sex marriage and improve the rights of migrant workers. The PFA also released an open letter to Qatar expressing the need for reform. The report – “categorically” denied by tournament organizers – did not connect all 6,500 deaths with World Cup infrastructure projects and has not been independently verified by CNN. The 2022 World Cup kicks off on November 20 and runs through December 18 in the Gulf nation.

☆ Barrack testifies he told Trump to use Khashoggi murder to end Qatar blockade
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-27 | by ( Luc Cohen | Thomson Reuters | Reports On The New York Federal Courts. Previously Worked As A Correspondent In Venezuela | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Barrack, 75, is not charged with acting as a Saudi agent, but the country is close with the UAE. U.S. intelligence says the murder of Khashoggi, a Saudi insider-turned-critic, was approved by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto ruler. The blockade of Qatar by Saudi Arabia, the UAE and others began in 2017. Prosecutors say that during the blockade, Barrack told Rashid Al Malik - an associate also accused of being an Emirati agent - that the United States was considering hosting a summit to resolve the conflict. Al Malik, who is at large, then told UAE officials about the possible meeting, prosecutors say.

☆ Australian players call out Qatar's human rights record ahead of World Cup
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Australia's national soccer team spoke out against World Cup host Qatar's record on human rights and same-sex relationships in a video released on Thursday, adding to criticism of the country in the weeks ahead of the tournament. Qatar, the first Middle Eastern country to host the World Cup, has come under intense international pressure for its treatment of foreign workers and restrictive social laws. A separate statement from Football Australia, the peak soccer body, on Thursday acknowledged reforms but said the games had been associated "with suffering for some migrant workers and their families." Disquiet over the country's human rights record has led to calls for teams and officials to boycott the games. Australia will play against France, Denmark and Tunisia after the World Cup kicks off on Nov. 20.

☆ LGBTQ activist says he was 'seized' in Qatar ahead of the World Cup
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( Matt Lavietes | Matt Lavietes Is A Reporter For Nbc Out. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

British LGBTQ activist Peter Tatchell said he was held in Qatar on Tuesday after protesting the Gulf nation's human rights record, just weeks before it is set to host the FIFA World Cup 2022. The pioneering LGBTQ rights activist said nine security officials and police officers surrounded him and one of his colleagues on the curbside and then proceeded to interrogate and hold them for 49 minutes. Despite criticism over the Gulf nation's human rights record, relations between Qatar and the West have recently been on an upswing. A brutal regime that persecutes LGBTQ people should not have been allowed to host the World Cup." "The purpose of this protest was to shine a light on Qatar's human rights abuses," Tatchell said.

☆ Qatar voices concern over disruption to global energy supplies
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Oct 25 (Reuters) - Qatar's energy minister on Tuesday said that recent disruptions to global energy supplies have caused great concern over energy security and accessibility. Saad al-Kaabi, who is also head of QatarEnergy, added that energy crisis drove natural gas to forefront of global energy discussion. Reporting by Moataz Mohamed Editing by David GoodmanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ White House says reports about national security reviews of Elon Musk's Twitter deal and Starlink network were 'not true'
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( Kate Duffy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The White House has said reports of national security reviews for Elon Musk's deals were false. The White House press secretary said in a briefing: "The national security review, that is not true." Bloomberg reported last week the US was weighing national security reviews for some of Elon Musk's ventures. Those reportings are not true," White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a press briefing on Monday. "The national security review, that is not true."

☆ The clock is ticking for Elon Musk to buy Twitter — and he's running out of time
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

ET to close his deal with Twitter or a trial date will be set. If Musk becomes Twitter's new owner, Twitter will undergo a chapter of major change and likely layoffs. When Musk initially filed to end the court case and buy the company at the original price, Twitter appeared wary of the billionaire's intentions. The company has said it will not close the deal until Musk can prove he has funding in place. Last week, The Washington Post reported that Musk planned to cut about 75% of the company's staff.

☆ Qatar police stop protest by British LGBT activist
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( Andrew Mills | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Veteran British LGBTs rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, holds a sign in front of the National Museum of Qatar reading "Qatar arrests, jails & subjects LGBTs to 'conversion' #QatarAntiGay", in Doha, Qatar, October 25, 2022. REUTERS/Obtained by ReutersDOHA, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Qatari police on Tuesday stopped a one-man protest by British LGBT activist Peter Tatchell outside the national museum of the Gulf Arab state which hosts soccer's World Cup next month. "Rumours on social media that a representative from the Peter Tatchell Foundation has been arrested in Qatar are completely false and without merit," it said in a statement. Human Rights Watch on Monday said security forces in Qatar arbitrarily arrested and abused LGBT Qataris as recently as last month. Qatar expects 1.2 million visitors during the tournament, creating an unprecedented logistical and policing challenge for the tiny state.

☆ Qatar energy chief says oil and gas trade should be depoliticized
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

DOHA, Oct 24 (Reuters) - Saad al-Kaabi, the head of Qatar's state-run energy company, said on Monday all oil and gas trade should be depoliticized, calling for policies to move away from sanctions and anti-free market agreements. The Group of Seven countries agreed last month to cap Russian oil sales at an enforced low price by Dec. 5. The European Commission also last week proposed its latest set of emergency measures to tackle high energy prices, but steered clear of an immediate cap on gas prices as EU countries remain split over the idea. More than 15 EU countries, including Italy, Poland, Greece and Belgium, have called for an EU gas price cap, but disagree on its design. Germany and the Netherlands warn capping gas prices could leave countries struggling to attract fuel from global markets during a winter with scarce Russian supply.

☆ Elon Musk responds 'good point' to tweet saying there was less uproar over Jeff Bezos buying The Washington Post than Musk buying Twitter
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-23 | by ( Sarah Jackson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Elon Musk's deal to buy Twitter has drawn concern about the management of free speech, misinformation, and dangerous content on the platform if it happens. A Twitter user said people weren't worried about Jeff Bezos' purchase of The Washington Post the way are about Musk's Twitter deal. The government is reportedly considering reviewing Musk's deal as it appears to near the finish line. Musk also reportedly told investors he planned to slash 75% of Twitter's 7,500-strong workforce, according to The Washington Post. The US government is reportedly considering national security reviews of Musk's Twitter takeover, Bloomberg reported earlier this week, citing people with knowledge of the matter.

☆ 'Elon, The Everywhere' — Elon Musk is worrying government officials with his growing presence in global affairs, report says
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-23 | by ( Hannah Getahun | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Elon Musk's influence in global affairs has some officials worried, The Washington Post reported. Musk has kept in touch with foreign officials while staying away from Washington, per the Post. Musk has publicly met with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, and other foreign leaders, raising conflict of interest questions. Government officials have bolstered Musk's competitors in an effort to reduce their reliance on his businesses, the Post report said. The Post report notes, however, that there is still a large interest from the US government to work with Musk.

☆ The US government is considering a national security review of Elon Musk's $44 billion Twitter acquisition, report says. If it happens, Biden could ultimately kill the deal.
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-21 | by ( Kate Duffy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

US officials are looking at a national security review for Elon Musk's Twitter deal, sources told Bloomberg. The CFIUS carries out security reviews if a "transaction threatens to impair the national security of the United States," according to federal regulations. If the Twitter deal is reviewed by CFIUS for national security reasons, as reported by Bloomberg, Biden has the ability to stop the acquisition from going ahead. The people with knowledge of the matter told Bloomberg that the discussions about security reviews were at an early stage. SpaceX's Starlink internet network could also be subject to a national security review, the people said.

☆ A Europe with zero Russian gas flows is unimaginable as Asian competition for supplies heats up, Qatar's energy minister says
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( Zahra Tayeb | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Qatar's energy minister told the FT he can't envisage a future with zero Russian gas flows to Europe. State energy giant recently Gazprom threatened to cut more supplies to Europe if Western price caps on Russian gas and oil are imposed. The Qatari energy minister said he couldn't envisage a future with zero flows of Russian gas to Europe. According to Kaabi, Europe's rush to secure long-term supplies of natural gas has put the region in "huge competition" with Asian importers. At last check Wednesday, European natural gas prices were up 3.33% at 117 euros ($114) per megawatt hour.

☆ U.S. urges Qatar to be patient and tolerant with World Cup fans
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( Andrew Mills | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Preview - Doha, Qatar - October 18, 2022 U.S. ambassador to Qatar, Timmy T. Davis talks to journalists at the U.S. Embassy in Doha REUTERS/Imad CreidiDOHA Oct 18 (Reuters) - The U.S. ambassador to Doha has urged Qatar's police and authorities to be patient, tolerant and transparent in managing more than a million soccer fans expected to visit during the month-long World Cup, he said on Tuesday. Tournament organisers have not publicly clarified their approach to policing during the competition, and the U.S. Embassy and others have told fans they could face punishment for behaviour that would be tolerated elsewhere. Organisers have told diplomats and police from qualified countries they intend to show flexibility for fans who commit relatively minor infringements, Reuters reported last month. "Change is part and parcel of hosting people from all over the world ... in a big burst like a World Cup, Davis said. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting and writing by Andrew Mills; Editing by Nick MacfieOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Qatar to stage 2023 Asian Cup, most likely in early 2024
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa and President of Qatar Football Association (QFA) Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani pose during an announcement ceremony of 2023 Asian Cup at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia October 17, 2022. Asian Football Confederation/Kamarul Akhir/Handout via REUTERSKUALA LUMPUR, Oct 17 (Reuters) - Qatar will stage the next Asian Cup in place of original hosts China, the Asian Confederation (AFC) announced on Monday, with the tournament likely to be moved from mid-2023 to early 2024 to avoid the heat of the Gulf summer. The Asian Cup is held every four years. The QFA is proposing all eight be used for the Asian Cup, Al Salat said. Qatar was also one of three nations bidding to stage the 2027 edition of the Asian Cup after Iran and Uzbekistan withdrew expressions of interest.

☆ Credit Suisse approached Middle Eastern fund for capital injection - source
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-17 | by ( Paritosh Bansal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

NEW YORK, Oct 17 (Reuters) - Credit Suisse Group AG (CSGN.S) has approached at least one Middle Eastern sovereign wealth fund for a capital injection, according to a source familiar with the situation, as the Swiss bank looks at ways to restructure its operations. Credit Suisse's approach indicates that the sale of assets alone may be insufficient to cover the costs of an imminent overhaul. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterA spokesperson for Credit Suisse declined to comment, reiterating that it will update on its strategy review when it announces third-quarter earnings. Bloomberg reported separately that Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia were weighing, through their sovereign wealth funds, whether to put money into Credit Suisse's investment bank and other businesses. Qatar's sovereign wealth fund, the Qatar Investment Authority, is also one of the largest investors in Credit Suisse.

☆ Japan's SoftBank agrees to sell stake in THG
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Oct 17 (Reuters) - THG (THG.L) said on Monday a trading arm of Japan's SoftBank Group Corp (9984.T) has agreed to sell its holding in the British e-commerce group to THG Chief Executive Matthew Moulding and Qatar's sovereign wealth fund. SB Northstar, the fourth largest shareholder in THG, will sell its 80.6 million shares, which represent about 6.4% of the British company's capital. THG and SoftBank had agreed to terminate their collaboration in July due to challenging global market conditions. read moreMoulding's purchase will take his direct and indirect holding in THG to 320.9 million shares, about 25% of the group's capital. Shares of London-listed THG were up 12.9% at 45.8 pence at market close.

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