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HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani chaired the Cabinet’s regular meeting yesterday at the Amiri Diwan. Following the session, HE the Minister of Justice and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Ibrahim bin Ali al-Mohannadi said the Cabinet opened its proceedings by commending the participation of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani in the GCC Consultative Summit, which was convened on Tuesday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The Cabinet further praised the outcome of talks held between the Amir and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa during the latter’s recent working visit to Doha. The two leaders reviewed avenues for advancing bilateral ties, alongside pressing regional and international issues. The Cabinet underlined that the discussions had reinforced relations between the two brotherly countries and would help carry co-operation to wider horizons across multiple sectors, in service of the shared interests of their peoples. Turning to its agenda, the Cabinet was briefed on the Shura Council’s endorsement of a draft law amending several provisions of Law No 4 of 2008 on real estate leases. Drawn up by the Ministry of Municipality, the draft seeks to bolster the campaign against illegal subdivisions of property units, mitigate the consequences of unregistered tenancy contracts, lower the fees levied on registering such contracts, and expedite the settlement of rental disputes.  The Cabinet also gave its approval to a draft law exempting spare parts for civil aircraft used within airport premises from customs duties. Prepared by the Ministry of Finance in coordination with the General Authority of Customs, the measure is designed to fulfil relevant international and regional commitments and to support the civil aviation sector, in keeping with the Authority’s wider strategy to modernise the customs framework and streamline procedures. In addition, the Cabinet sanctioned a draft co-operation programme between the Ministry of Justice of Qatar and the Ministry of Justice of the Kingdom of Morocco covering the period 2026-2027, a draft master agreement between the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and the Qatar Research, Development, and Innovation Council, and a draft Memorandum of Understanding on judicial assistance for victims of human trafficking between the National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking and the Qatar Lawyers Association. The session closed with a review of the two annual reports submitted by the Standing Population Committee, on which the Cabinet took the appropriate decision. Qatar Media Corporation (QMC) has announced the launch of a new economic television channel called QBC, the first of its kind in Qatar. The channel will broadcast in 4K and will be supported by accompanying digital platforms, providing in-depth economic coverage, connecting Qatar to global markets and audiences. HE Sheikh Khalid bin Abdulaziz al-Thani, chief executive officer of Qatar Media Corporation, said the launch responds to the nation’s ambition to support the national economy and highlight its growing achievements across key sectors. He noted that the channel will reflect developments across the Qatari, Gulf, and global economies, stressing that investment in media is a cornerstone of sustainable development for future generations. He added that the launch marks a strategic milestone in the QMC’s media plan to expand its portfolio of specialised channels. Issa Abdullah al-Hetmi, acting director of QBC, said the channel’s test transmission will start on May 5 at 9am. He added that QBC will feature a wide range of economic programmes and specialised news bulletins, with real-time reports and in-depth analysis spanning key sectors including energy, finance, technology, stock markets, and real estate. This will enhance its credibility among investors, decision-makers, and the wider public.Al-Hetmi said the channel marks a major milestone in strengthening business and economic journalism.  He noted that QBC has brought in a hand-picked team of specialists, built a network of correspondents across leading global financial centres, and deployed the latest broadcast technologies to deliver accurate, exclusive content. He added that the channel has secured strategic partnerships with leading global economic agencies to provide direct market updates, further strengthening its standing as a pioneering platform that empowers audiences and opens up new horizons for future economic opportunities.Qatar Media Corporation said it remains committed to growing its portfolio of specialised media platforms to reflect national priorities and strengthen its professional presence across the media landscape, guided by a vision that responds to today’s needs while anticipating future opportunities. 

The foreign ministers of Qatar, Jordan, the UAE, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt have condemned repeated Israeli violations of the historical and legal status quo of Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, particularly ongoing settler incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque under police protection and the raising of the Israeli flag within its courtyards.In a joint statement, the ministers called the provocations a flagrant violation of international law and international humanitarian law, and an unacceptable affront to Muslims worldwide. They rejected any attempts to alter the existing status quo in Jerusalem, while acknowledging the special role of Jordan's historic Hashemite custodianship over the holy sites.The ministers reaffirmed that the entire 144-dunam area of Al-Aqsa Mosque is a place of worship exclusively for Muslims, and that the Jerusalem Waqf and Al-Aqsa Mosque Affairs Department — affiliated with the Jordanian Ministry of Awqaf — holds exclusive legal jurisdiction over the mosque's administration and access.They also condemned Israeli settlement expansion, including approval of more than 30 new settlements, as a violation of international law, UN Security Council resolutions, and the International Court of Justice's 2024 advisory opinion, and denounced escalating settler violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, including attacks on schools and children, calling for accountability.The ministers stressed that Israel holds no sovereignty over occupied Palestinian territory and that annexation attempts and forced displacement are wholly unacceptable, warning that such measures undermine the two-state solution and obstruct peace efforts.They called on the international community to compel Israel to halt its escalation, and reiterated their unwavering support for Palestinian self-determination and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state along the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. 

The State of Qatar participated in the 43rd session of the Council of Arab Interior Ministers, held Wednesday via videoconference.His Excellency Minister of State for Interior Affairs Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Faisal bin Mohammed Al-Thani led the State of Qatar's delegation participating in the session.During the meeting, HE Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Faisal bin Mohammed Al-Thani affirmed that the convening of this session comes amid the complex security conditions witnessed by the State of Qatar and countries in the region as a result of the ongoing war and the damages - both human and material - caused by the Iranian aggression against the affected Arab states. This has doubled the responsibilities placed on security agencies, which have exerted additional efforts to safeguard public security and confront security threats, carrying out their duties with competence and efficiency.His Excellency added that the current phase, with its complexities and overlapping interests and regional and international influences, necessitates that Arab countries intensify efforts to develop joint security cooperation frameworks, strengthen channels for exchanging information and expertise, and activate training and capacity-building initiatives in line with the nature of contemporary threats. This is in addition to enhancing the highest levels of security coordination and unifying efforts to preserve the security of our countries and protect the achievements of their peoples..His Excellency affirmed the State of Qatar's commitment to supporting all initiatives aimed at strengthening joint Arab action.Their Excellencies, and distinguished officials also discussed during the meeting various security issues and challenges facing Arab countries, in addition to reviewing the recommendations issued by previous conferences and meetings within the framework of the General Secretariat, the outcomes of joint meetings with Arab and international bodies, and ways to enhance security cooperation and coordination among Arab security agencies. 

Qatar has extended remote working arrangements for government employees for an additional day, the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers announced Sunday.The measure, which will remain in effect through today, covers staff across all ministries, government bodies, and public authorities and institutions. It builds on a previous directive issued by the Secretariat putting remote work measures in place, and follows what has been an evolving situation requiring continued precautionary steps.However, the arrangement does not apply universally. Employees in the military, security, and health sectors, as well as those whose roles require them to be physically present at their workplace, are exempt from the measure and are expected to report to work as usual.The General Secretariat also took the opportunity to urge both citizens and residents to rely exclusively on official sources for updates, and to adhere to all safety and security guidance issued by the relevant authorities. 

In light of current regional developments, the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers announced that it has been decided to adopt remote work starting today for all employees in all ministries, government agencies, public bodies and institutions. This decision excludes employees in the military, security, and health sectors, as well as employees whose work requires their presence at the workplace. The General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers urges all citizens and residents to obtain information from reliable sources and to follow the security and safety guidelines issued by official state authorities. 

The foreign ministers of Qatar, Turkiye, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the UAE have welcomed the invitation extended to their leaders by US President Donald Trump to join the Board of Peace. The ministers announced their countries’ shared decision to join the Board of Peace. Each country will sign the joining documents according to their respective relevant legal and other necessary procedures, including Egypt, Pakistan, and the UAE, who have already announced to join. The ministers reiterated their countries’ support for the peace efforts led by President Trump, and reaffirm their countries’ commitment to support the implementation of the mission of the Board of Peace as a transitional administration, as set out in the Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict and endorsed by United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803. The resolution is aimed at consolidating a permanent ceasefire, supporting the reconstruction of Gaza, and advancing a just and lasting peace grounded in the Palestinian right to self-determination and statehood in accordance with international law, thereby paving the way for security and stability for all countries and peoples of the region.

His Excellency Secretary-General of the Council of Ministers, Hamad bin Ahmed al-Muhannadi, met with Secretary-General of the Council of Ministers of Saudi Arabia, Khaled bin Mohammed al-Abdulkarim, as part of his visit to the kingdom.During the meeting, they reviewed ways to develop co-operation and exchange expertise in areas within the remit of the General Secretariats of the Councils of Ministers in both countries.Al-Muhannadi also met with Head of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Sulaiman al-Ajaji, along with the bureau's team of experts, where he was briefed on its working mechanisms. Al-Muhannadi commended the shared commitment of the countries in strengthening and advancing frameworks of bilateral co-operation in a manner that serves mutual interests.  

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan discussed developments in the Gaza Strip, as well as ways to enhance bilateral relations, during their meeting on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa.The two ministers emphasised the importance of implementing the latest United Nations Security Council resolution on the Gaza Strip and enabling the International Stabilisation Force to carry out its duties.The meeting also reviewed Egypt's efforts to consolidate the Sharm El-Sheikh peace agreement and to support the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip. In addition, the ministers discussed a number of regional issues of mutual interest, ways to implement the outcomes of the recent Joint Planning Group meeting held in Ankara, Turkiye, and preparations for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to Cairo to chair the second meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council, scheduled for 2026. 

Qatar participated in the 41st session of the Arab Ministers of Justice Council, held Wednesday at the headquarters of the Arab League in Cairo. The Qatari delegation was led by His Excellency Minister of Justice and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Ibrahim bin Ali bin Issa al-Hassan al-Mohannadi. In his speech, he reaffirmed Qatar's commitment to strengthening Arab legal and judicial co-operation. He highlighted Qatar's initiatives aimed at building sustainable justice for future generations, focusing on investment legislation, emerging technologies, governance, and dispute resolution mechanisms. The minister emphasised the role of the judicial sector in supporting investment and praised the Doha Political Declaration adopted at the Second World Summit for Social Development 2025 in Doha as a roadmap for promoting social justice, peace, security, and human rights. **media[381108]** His Excellency al-Mohannadi also expressed Qatar's gratitude to the Arab League and national committees on international humanitarian law for their collaboration in developing Qatar's proposal to establish a permanent Arab committee on international humanitarian law. He described the initiative as a milestone in Arab joint action, giving the Arab world a unified legal voice in defending justice and human dignity in conflict zones. During the session, the council discussed a range of Arab legal and legislative initiatives, including the Arab convention on combating terrorism, the Arab convention on combating money laundering and financing of terrorism, the Arab convention on cybercrime, and the Arab anti-corruption convention. The meeting also reviewed draft Arab model laws, including legislation on hate speech, protection and assistance for displaced persons, refugee status in Arab states, and the protection of children from recruitment in armed conflicts. Ministers additionally discussed measures to enhance Arab co-operation, including co-ordination between the Arab Ministries of Justice and Interior, the creation of an Arab excellence award in applied legal sciences, and the review of recommendations from the 74th meeting of the Arab Ministers of Justice Executive Office.

Qatar Tuesday participated in the 38th Session of the Council of Arab Ministers of Transport, in Cairo.The Qatari delegation was headed by His Excellency the Minister of Transport Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdullah bin Mohammed al-Thani.The meeting discussed several topics on the areas of pan-Arab ground, maritime, air, and multimodal transportation, including regulating the road transportation of passengers and goods between and across Arab countries, creating a comprehensive Arab e-platform for road, rail, maritime and multimodal transportation, and unifying Hazmat transportation protocols.The meeting also discussed a study on approving the components of smart and sustainable transportation as a reference for developing transportation strategies, in addition to developing and sharing information on transportation, warehousing and logistics transportation strategies, promoting the use of clean energy in ground transportation, exchanging lessons learnt and expertise, and assessing the efficiency of goods and passenger transportation across the member states.

Qatar, represented by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, participated in the meetings of the 36th session of the Council of Arab Ministers Responsible for Environmental Affairs, hosted by the Mauritanian capital, Nouakchott. The Qatari delegation to the meetings was headed by HE the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Dr Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki al-Subaie, who affirmed in his address Qatar’s unwavering commitment to supporting joint Arab environmental efforts and strengthening regional and international co-operation to achieve the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and protect natural resources for the benefit of future generations. On the sidelines of the session, HE the minister held meetings with a number of ministers and heads of participating bodies. He discussed with them aspects of environmental co-operation, co-ordinating Arab positions in international forums, and prospects for partnership in regional and international initiatives aimed at combating desertification and addressing the challenges associated with drought, particularly in developing countries.

Under the patronage of HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, the 6th Session of the Islamic Conference of Labour Ministers (ICLM) concluded Saturday in Doha, reaffirming the commitment of member states to strengthen cooperation on employment, social protection, and human capital development.Chaired by HE Minister of Labour and Chair of the 6th ICLM, Dr. Ali bin Samikh Al Marri, the closing session brought together labour ministers, heads of delegations, and representatives from international and regional organisations, alongside experts and civil society, to adopt the final communique of the conference.In his remarks, HE Dr. Al Marri praised the "constructive engagement and shared vision" demonstrated by all delegations, which, he said, had "enriched the discussions and strengthened the spirit of partnership among OIC member states.""The exchange of ideas and best practices over the past two days has shown that when we work together, we can turn shared challenges into shared progress," he said. "Our collective efforts today lay the foundation for fairer, more resilient labour markets across the Islamic world."Dr. Al Marri expressed appreciation for the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Secretariat, the technical committees, and all participating institutions whose contributions ensured the success of the conference. He also reaffirmed Qatar's steadfast support for collaborative initiatives that advance labour standards, job creation, and sustainable development.The final communique welcomed Qatar's proposal, in partnership with the OIC Labour Centre, SESRIC, the Arab Labour Organisation, and the International Labour Organisation (ILO), to launch joint regional training programmes aimed at developing unified regional guidelines for the recognition of professional skills and qualifications.The document underscored the importance of investing in skills development, promoting decent work, and supporting private sector growth to enhance competitiveness among OIC member states. It also encouraged closer cooperation in the fields of occupational safety and health, agricultural skills development, and the use of digital technologies to shape the future of work."The Islamic world stands at a turning point in the transformation of labour markets," Dr. Al Marri said. "Embracing innovation while upholding the dignity of work will be key to achieving inclusive and sustainable growth for all."The ministers reiterated their collective support for Palestine's right to full membership in the International Labour Organization and other international bodies, highlighting the importance of ensuring decent work and economic opportunities for the Palestinian people.Delegates also commended SESRIC for its regular assessment of the OIC Labour Market Strategy, which helps track progress, identify challenges, and promote knowledge exchange among member states.The final communique further welcomed initiatives to foster networks of small and medium enterprises, women-led cooperatives, and investment promotion agencies, aimed at empowering entrepreneurship and women's economic participation.The conference called on member states to leverage artificial intelligence and digital technologies to enhance labour market governance, while ensuring ethical and inclusive approaches to technological change.In closing, the participants expressed their deep appreciation to the Government of Qatar for its generous hospitality and excellent organisation of the 6th ICLM, which they described as a milestone in advancing cooperation and solidarity among OIC member states."Qatar is proud to host this platform for dialogue and unity," Dr. Al Marri concluded. "Together, we are shaping a future of work that is just, inclusive, and centred on human dignity."