Editor of WQ

Greece wants immediate technical talks on reforms for bailout program Greece is calling for immediate, technical talks with its lenders on reforms which would help end its current bailout program and allow for fresh loans. Eurozone finance ministers are set to meet next week. If Greece can conclude its current bailout, it would be able to claim loan funds remaining from...

Iraqi troops push 'Islamic State' out of key towns Government soldiers and tribal militias have driven "Islamic State" out of two strategic towns in one day. The push is part of a large-scale offensive to retake the cities of Tikrit and Mosul from the militants. Iraqi government forces alongside allied tribal militia have retaken the town of Al-Baghdadi from "Islamic State"...

Qatar ranked among friendliest nations for Muslim travelers Tourists have chosen Qatar as the fifth friendliest vacation destination in the world for Muslims, according to the latest edition of an international index that tracks “halal-friendly travel.” The Persian Gulf state has moved up three spots on the Global Muslim Travel Index 2015 since last year, when it was scored eighth out...

Survey: Qatar residents hope job growth will help offset rising costs People in Qatar are the most upbeat in the region when it comes to expected job opportunities and upcoming economic growth, despite continuing to battle against a rising cost of living, according to a new study. More than half (58 percent) of employees here said they expected the state’s economy...

King Salman holds talks with John Kerry in Riyadh King Salman receives U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in Riyadh. (SPA) King Salman bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia held talks with visiting U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in Riyadh on Thursday, discussing bilateral relations and the security situation in the region, Saudi Press Agency reported. During his visit Kerry also held...

'Indiana Jones' star Harrison Ford injured in plane crash American actor Harrison Ford has reportedly suffered head injuries in a light plane crash. The plane came down on a golf course in Los Angeles. Celebrity website TMZ and other media reported the 72-year-old actor was piloting a vintage two-seater plane, crash landing Thursday afternoon on Penmar golf course in Venice, California. Pictures...

South Korea probes US envoy attacker's links with North Korea South Korean police have launched an investigation into possible connections between a knife attack on the US ambassador in Seoul and the assailant's links to North Korea. He could face charges for attempted murder. "We are investigating whether there is any connection between the suspect's visits to North Korea and the...

Jihadist Nusra Front commander reportedly killed in Syria Members of the Nusra Front, pictured in Syria The militant Nusra Front group says its military commander has been killed in an air strike. A number of the group's other prominent leaders are also believed dead. The Nusra Front, al Qaeda's Syrian affiliate, said on Thursday its top military commander, Abu Hommam al-Shami, had...

Qatari-Russian Joint Committee Holds First Meeting in Doha Doha, March 04 (QNA) - Qatari -Russian joint committee for trade, economic, scientific and technical cooperation held its first meeting here today, said a press statement released today by the Ministry of Energy and Industry. Chaired by HE Minister of Energy and Industry Dr. Mohammed bin Saleh Al-Sada, and Russian Energy Minister...

Minister of Culture Meets Turkish Counterpart Doha, March 04 (QNA) - HE Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kuwari met today with Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism Omer Celik and his accompanying delegation. The meeting focused on the special arrangements taken to hold the activities of Qatar Turkey 2015 Year of Culture as well...

Economy Minister Meets Crown Prince of Grand Duchy of Luxembourg Doha, March 04 (QNA) -HE Minister of Economy and Commerce Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim Al -Thani met here today with Prince Guillaume Jean Joseph Marie, the Crown Prince of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , and his accompanying delegation, currently visiting Qatar. Discussions during the meeting dealt with bilateral relations between...

Qatar Airways to extend its A350 XWB service Akbar al-Baker with Qatar Airways senior vice-president Jonathan Harding, and country manager Günter Saurwein, at the airline’s press conference at ITB 2015. Qatar Airways Group chief executive Akbar al-Baker yesterday announced the extension of the A350 XWB service throughout 2015. The announcement came during the airline’s press conference, the first to take place on...

Liberia's last confirmed Ebola patient released from hospital Liberia's last known Ebola patient has been released from hospital. But the WHO said Ebola remains "widespread" in Sierra Leone and Guinea. Healthcare workers, government officials and aid workers saluted the last confirmed Ebola patient as she left the Chinese-built Ebola treatment center in a suburb of the capital, Monrovia. Beatrice Yordoldo, the patient...

GCC backs Qatar's World Cup DOHA - Member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has pledged their backing for the FIFA World Cup in 2022 once again. The four-day GCC National Olympic Committees (NOCs) meeting ended in Doha on Wednesday with the youth and sports ministers of the region discussing the 2022 World Cup and ways to reinforce efforts to...