ISRAEL: Netanyahu Bans Aljazeera TV; Biden Condemns

[world politics news]

The Biden administration lashed out Monday, after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signaled that he will ban Aljazeera, a Qatari government-controlled news channel, in Israel because of the lies it has told about the October 7 terrorist attack and because some of its journalists are said to have participated in the attack.

Israeli lawmakers in the Knesset passed a measure in a lopsided, 71-10 vote Monday, giving Netanyahu the authority to ban the organization.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#EU: Euro Parliament Bans Lobbying By Qataris After Suspected Bribery Attempts

[world politics news]

Members of the European Parliament voted on Thursday to suspend access to the body's premises to Qatari representatives as the Gulf country is suspected of having offered "large sums of money" and "substantial gifts" to MEPs and assistants in a bid to influence European decision-making.

Lawmakers also decided to halt all pending legislation involving Qatar.

The investigation by Belgian police into undue influence by a Persian Gulf state widely believed to be Qatar has sent shockwaves through Brussels and thrown into question the parliament's transparency and lobbying rules.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#QATAR: Amir Appoints Two Women To Legislature

[world politics news]

Two women have been appointed to Qatar's legislative assembly, two weeks after an election selected 30 members, all men.

Qatar’s Amir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, appointed the remaining 15 Shura Council members, completing the country’s legislative body.

The amir also issued a decree inviting the Shura Council to hold its first ordinary session on 26 October.

According to the list released by the Qatar News Agency, the new Shura Council will include two women.

The decision was made almost two weeks after eligible citizens voted in 30 members of the Shura Council in the country’s first-ever judicial body.

The Shura Council, consisting of 45 members, has now been concluded. Thirty were elected, and 15 now appointed. Two hundred thirty-three candidates across 30 districts ran in which there was a high voter turnout (63.5%).

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#QATAR: New Law Seeks To Draw In Foreign Investment, Diversify Economy; Limits Foreign Ownership To 49% In Ventures

[world politics news]

The new year brought a new law in the Gulf state of Qatar regulating investment of non-Qatari capital invested in the emirate. The law seeks to promote economic development, attract foreign investment in all economic activities, and lure 100% foreign capital inflows, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said in a release.

The law also aims to accomplish economic diversification in the oil-rich nation in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030, as well as facilitating foreign investors’ access to the market and bolstering the country’s confidence and investment security index.

The law allows non-Qatari investors to own a percentage not exceeding 49% of the share capital of listed companies, provided that the ministry approves the proposed percentage. A non-Qatari investor may also hold a higher percentage after the approval of the Council of Ministers

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#QATAR: Rouge Sheikh Tears Into Rulers For Preventing Qataris From Attending Islamic Pilgrimage

[world politics news]

In a tweet, Sheikh Sultan bin Suhaim al-Thani, a member of the Qatari royal family, called preventing Qataris  from performing the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca in neighboring Saudi Arabia an "injustice," and that the nation's rulers "held accountable for their crimes." The sheikh has urged his nation to "purge" terrorists and sever tries with Iran, ties that led to a diplomatic break with Saudi Arabia last year. The sheikh's assets were frozen by the government last year after he held a gathering of those who wish to overthrow the government, which he says has lost the right to rule.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#QATAR: Gov't Will Introduce Minimum Wage Law To Settle Labour Org Complaint

[world politics news]

The UN's International Labour Organisation has closed a complaint over the treatment of migrant workers in Qatar, after the nation said it would introduce a minimum wage and allow its labor practices to be monitored by trained inspectors. It is now expected that Qatar will sign a bilateral agreement with the UN protecting laborers, making it the first Gulf country to do so.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#QATAR: Saudi-Led Bloc Gives Qatar 10 Days To Meet "Anti-Terror" Demands Blockade/Cut Relations

[world politic news]

A Saudi-led bloc had given Qatar a 10 days to comply with 13 demands, which included shutting down the Al Jazeera Media Network, closing a Turkish military base and scaling down ties with Iran. In the document, the countries also demanded that Qatar sever all alleged ties with the Muslim Brotherhood and with other groups, including Hezbollah, al-Qaeda and ISIS. Qatar has dismissed a list of demands submitted by four Arab nations as neither reasonable or actionable.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#QATAR: Neighboring Nations Cut Ties With Qatar Over Iranian & Alleged Terror Ties

[world politics news]

Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Yemen have cut ties, claiming the energy-rich monarchy is undermining stability in the region by supporting in the Iran-aligned militant groups. Authorities gave Qataris living in and visiting their countries two weeks to leave.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#QATAR: "Nutrition Facts" Label Becomes Mandatory For Imports After Grace Period

[world politics news]

Food products without the "nutrition facts" label will no longer be imported to Qatar, as the Ministry of Public Health made the label mandatory from January 1. The ministry said it had notified traders about the new requirements in May last year. Under the new labeling system, each dietary elements in the food item should be specified along with the calories. This is intended to help consumers choose food based on the contents, dietary needs and calculate the calories.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#SCOTLAND: Frmr. First Min. Tried To Sell Edinburgh Airport To Qatar, Trade Agenda Shows

[world politics news]

Selling Edinburgh Airport to the rulers of Qatar was top of Alex Salmond’s agenda during a 2011 trade mission, according to civil servant papers. Briefing documents drawn up before the former first minister traveled to the oil-rich Gulf nation in 2011 have revealed that promoting the airport was a priority. The air hub, Scotland’s busiest, was on the market at the time.

#QATAR: Ambassador To Iran Recalled As Tensions Worsen In Gulf Over Saudi-Iran Conflict

[world politics news]

Qatar recalled its envoy to Tehran on Wednesday in protest over the attacks targeting Saudi Arabia’s missions in in Iran. The response is similar to action taken by other countries in the Gulf following the attack on the Saudi missions, carried out by protesters angry at Riyadh's execution of Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr.

Pictured: Qatari Foreign Minister Khalid al-Attiyah

QATAR

Gulf Countries to Blacklist Hezobollah As Terrorist Group [world politics news]

The Gulf Cooperation Countries - Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman - are beginning to stake steps to officially blacklist Hezbollah, the Lebanese group that has declared allegiance to Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad and has been seen as a threat to several Gulf countries. Bahrain blacklisted Hezbollah in April.

QATAR

Will New Emir Give Tribes More Liberties Than Father? [world politics news]

QATAR: Greek, Turkish Leaders Hold Surprise Summit in Doha, Qatar [world politics news]