By Lawrence Delevingne, Nathan Layne and Karen Freifeld WASHINGTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) – There was much bonhomie as a few dozen people, including members of Congress and U.S. administration officials, gathered last week for dinner in a posh Washington neighbourhood in honour of Qatar’s foreign minister. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin sat next to the minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani. “You have been a great friend to the United States,” Mnuchin told Thani, praising Qatar for its cooperation on counter-terrorism financing efforts. The scene was a stark contrast from just a year ago. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt severed ties with Qatar in June 2017, accusing it of fomenting regional unrest, supporting terrorism and getting too close to Iran, all of which Doha denies. At the time, a dinner with Qatari officials at a Washington steakhouse to garner support from members of Congress was a muted affair, without anyone … [Read more...] about Inside Qatar’s charm offensive to win over Washington
Qatar
Gabi quits Atletico for Qatar
Gabi greets supporters aboard an open-top bus during a parade celebrating the team's Europa League victory in Madrid in May Long-time Atletico Madrid captain Gabi on Tuesday announced his departure for Al Sadd in Qatar where he will link up with former Barcelona great Xavi Hernandez. "This is a difficult and emotional day for me," said Gabi, who won six titles at Atletico: one La Liga, two Europa Leagues, one UEFA Super Cup, one Copa del Rey and one Spanish Super Cup, lifting five as the club's skipper. "It's been the hardest moment of my career. This club is a lifestyle for me." Gabriel Fernandez, known by his nickname of Gabi, made his senior debut for the La Liga outfit in 2004 and went on to play a total of 417 official matches over 11 seasons. The 34-year-old, who was never capped by Spain, was loaned out for a season to Getafe and also played five seasons for Zaragoza, returning to Atletico in 2011. READ ALSO: Who's to … [Read more...] about Gabi quits Atletico for Qatar
Qatar to buy New York’s Plaza Hotel for $600M: Report
Published July 03, 2018 News Reuters Facebook Twitter Comments Print article FILE PHOTO: Flags fly over the entrance of The Plaza Hotel in midtown Manhattan in New York August 19, 2015. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo ( Reuters ) LONDON (Reuters) - The tiny but ultra-rich Gulf state of Qatar has agreed to buy one of New York's most iconic buildings, the Plaza Hotel, for around $600 million, adding a development that was once owned by U.S. President Donald Trump to its luxury property portfolio. Continue Reading Below Qatar's state-owned Katara Holding is buying full ownership of the hotel, including a 75 percent stake from Indian business group Sahara India Pariwar, a source familiar with the deal told Reuters. Katara and Sahara were not immediately available to comment. The source declined to be identified because the deal was not public. Qatar has been buying top hotels and luxury properties in the West over the past decade as part of a … [Read more...] about Qatar to buy New York’s Plaza Hotel for $600M: Report
Qatar to buy New York’s Plaza Hotel for $600 million: source
LONDON (Reuters) - The tiny but ultra-rich Gulf state of Qatar has agreed to buy one of New York’s most iconic buildings, the Plaza Hotel, for around $600 million, adding a development that was once owned by U.S. President Donald Trump to its luxury property portfolio. FILE PHOTO: Flags fly over the entrance of The Plaza Hotel in midtown Manhattan in New York August 19, 2015. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo Qatar’s state-owned Katara Holding is buying full ownership of the hotel, including a 75 percent stake from Indian business group Sahara India Pariwar, a source familiar with the deal told Reuters. Katara and Sahara were not immediately available to comment. The source declined to be identified because the deal was not public. Qatar has been buying top hotels and luxury properties in the West over the past decade as part of a drive by its $300 billion-plus sovereign wealth fund to diversify the wealth it accumulates from gas and oil exports. Qatar, … [Read more...] about Qatar to buy New York’s Plaza Hotel for $600 million: source
Qatar urges UN’s top court to end UAE ‘climate of fear’
The United Arab Emirates has spread a "climate of fear" among Qataris living there, splitting families and causing "substantial pain" during a year-long blockade, the UN's top court heard on Friday (Jun 29). Qatar, a small peninsula nation, found its only land border closed, its state-owned airline barred from using its neighbours' airspace, and Qatari residents expelled from the boycotting countries. (Photo: AFP/Karim Jaafar) As the bitter Gulf crisis moves to the world tribunals, Doha is appealing to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague to order emergency measures to lift restrictions imposed on Qataris in June 2017 by Abu Dhabi. "Many Qataris still resident in the UAE live in perpetual fear, they live in the shadow of the UAE's expulsion order," leading British barrister Peter Goldsmith, acting for Doha, told the court. On Jun 7, 2017, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE and other allies severed ties with Qatar, accusing it of backing terrorism, and imposed … [Read more...] about Qatar urges UN’s top court to end UAE ‘climate of fear’