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International trade unions have stepped up pressure on Qatar with a series of demands, a majority of which the Gulf state could implement without having to reform its autocracy or threaten the privileged position of its citizenry who account for a mere 12 percent of the population and fear that change could cost them control of their culture and society.
Al Jazeera English program “101 East” honored with two Asian TV awards for journalism • 101 East wins Best Current Affairs programme • 101 East Presenter Steve Chao wins Best Current Affairs Presenter Al Jazeera English is celebrating winning two awards at the Asian TV Awards in Singapore. The program “101 East” won “Best Current…
Words but no actions. That is Amnesty International’s evaluation of promised Qatari labour reforms on the fifth year of the awarding of the 2022 World Cup hosting rights to the Gulf state
Embattled World Cup host Qatar sends mixed messages By James M. Dorsey Embattled World Cup host Qatar is sending contradictory messages as it struggles with demands to improve migrant labour conditions and mounting questions about the integrity of its successful FIFA bid, confronts the fall-out of dropping energy prices, and seeks to project itself as…
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Hassan Dominates While Yaman Outscores Fawzy on Dramatic Stars of Science Episode on MBC4, DOHA, Qatar The Stars of Science candidates Hassan Albalawi of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Yaman Abou Jieb of Syria, outshone the competition in the first design episode of Stars of Science on MBC4, landing them in the finale of…
First Lady Michelle Obama is traveling to Qatar and Jordan and penned this first blog post about the State Visit from November 1 through November 7, 2015. Mrs. Obama will post daily on her trip. This is her first post By First Lady Michelle Obama (Nov. 2, 2015, Qatar, UAE) — This post is part…
By James M. Dorsey A panel in Doha of religious scholars, officials of Qatar’s government-sponsored human rights committee, and international labour activists has called on Qatar to radically alter its controversial labour policies. The call serves to support Qatari government promises of labour reform in response to World Cup-related international criticism and increases moral pressures…
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International sporting associations struggle to balance adherence to human rights with hosting events in autocratic countries
Access to soccer fields not available to everyone in Qatar where economic and social class distinction is still the rule. Migrant worker populations continue to increase, but not the benefits By James M. Dorsey Walking around Qatar’s monumental Aspire Dome sports academy, coach Fred Engh noticed kids playing soccer on an indoor field big enough…
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The Arab image and image of the Muslim world is a shambles in America, bludgeoned and “slibeled” nearly every day by paid anti-Arab activists and by the mainstream American News Media. The media is in a pro-Israel headlock that prohibits and discourages full and accurate information about the Arab that might expose Israel’s governments atrocities through critical…
By Ray Hanania Ever since al-Jazeera (AlJazeera, Al Jazeera) launched as a mouthpiece for the Government of Qatar in 1996, Arab governments have been slowly assessing the power of an in-house and controlled news media. Although al-Jazeera (“The Island”) claims to be objective the Qatar-based government run news channel has drifted far away from professional…
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Qatar Airways unveils new aircraft at lavish celebrations in Doha Qatar Airways last night welcomed the airline’s first A350 XWB aircraft, as global launch customer, at a spectacular ceremony in Doha. The event was inaugurated in the presence of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs, His Excellency Mr. Ahmad bin…
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By Ray Hanania View image | gettyimages.com An Egyptian court on June 23, 2014, handed out jail terms ranging from three to ten years each to 18 people, including four foreign Al Jazeera journalists convicted of ‘fabricating news’, eleven defendants including three foreign correspondents including Egyptian-Canadian Mohamed Fadel Fahmy (L), were sentenced in absentia to ten…
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Egyptians insult Qatar Emir’s mother at Arab Summit By Ali Younes In a vicious attack on Qatar and its Emir, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad, Egyptian talk show host, Mohammed Al-Gheiti blasted him for sitting “inappropriately” while Egyptian interim president Adly Mansour was speaking during the Arab Summit now convened in Kuwait. The host said to…
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AlBalooshi, Langdon, Qatar Al-Anabi Racing top fuel team eager for Florida victory GAINESVILLE, Florida – The 44th annual Amalie Motor Oil Gatornationals, considered “A Major” on the NHRA tour by many, is named for the Florida Gators, the mascot of the nearby University of Florida, and the Qatar Al-Anabi Racing Top Fuel Team is due…
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Qatar’s Policy towards Egypt threatens Arab Gulf alliance By Ali Younes In an unprecedented diplomatic row between conservative Arab Gulf monarchies, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Bahrain have withdrawn their ambassadors from Qatar in protest of what they deemed as an “ interferences” by Qatar in their internal affairs. The move followed a stormy meeting last…
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