Breaking News
2 months ago
The Sri Lankan government announced visa-free access to citizens from 35 countries, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and India to the island nation for six months. The Sri Lankan Cabinet decision on this will be effective from October 1, the Daily Mirror reported, quoting Adviser to the Ministry of Tourism, Harin Fernando. The policy is for six months, Fernando said. The other countries on the list include the UK, China, the US, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Australia, Denmark, Poland, Kazakhstan, Nepal, Indonesia, Russia, Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, France, Canada, the Czech Republic, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Israel, Belarus, Iran, Sweden, South Korea, Qatar, Oman and New Zealand also figure in the list, PTI reported. Earlier, controversy surrounded increased fees for on-arrival visas in Sri Lanka, which were being handled by a foreign company. Visitors from India, China, Russia, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia received tourist visas free of charge to the country.
2 months ago
Continuing Doha Film Institute’s remarkable track record of showcasing Arab talent to an international audience at the world’s leading film festivals, a captivating slate of 12 films from the region supported by the Institute have been selected for the 81st Venice International Film Festival, taking place from August 28 to September 7, 2024. With the mission to transform the way people see the world through film, the 2024 edition of the high-profile festival will feature some of the most celebrated names in world cinema, offering diverse perspectives in storytelling. The selected films will screen in key programming sections of the festival, including Orrizonti and Orrizonti Shorts, along with the sidebar events of Critics Week, Giornate degli Autori, Final Cut and the Venice Gap-Financing Market. The selection includes films from Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Tunisia, and Yemen, highlighting the diversity of the Doha Film Institute’s support for independent voices in cinema. Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, Chief Executive Officer of the Doha Film Institute, said: “We are proud to continue a successful festival season with a strong showcase of films by Arab talent at Venice. These films offer fresh perspectives on life that reflect human hopes, aspirations and challenges, presenting important voices […]
2 months ago
Beginning this autumn, Qatar Airways will increase the flight frequencies on four of its busiest routes. Due to increased traveler demand for the winter season, the carrier is boosting services to Miami, London, Tokyo, and The Maldives. A oneworld connection Three of the destinations announced today are significant thanks to their status as hubs for carriers in the oneworld alliance. From its hub at Doha Hamad International Airport (DOH), Qatar Airways is adding an eighth daily flight to London Heathrow (LHR). One of the most notoriously slot-constrained airports, the space came from a recent deal with Romanian Flag carrier TAROM, which gave up its daily rotation to Bucharest from the British capital. The new flights to Heathrow begin on October 27th and supplement two daily services operated by Qatar’s joint business partner, British Airways. Thus, there will be a total of 10 daily flights between London Heathrow Airport and Doha. Qatar Airways is scheduled to use its Boeing 777-300ER on this route, with the departure times as follows: Across the UK in November, the carrier has up to two daily flights from Doha to London Gatwick (LGW), a daily connection to Birmingham (MHX), double-daily flights to Edinburgh (EDI), and triple-daily flights to Manchester (MAN). Qatar Airways Chief Commercial […]
2 months ago
beIN Sports has announced coverage plans for the English Football League until 2028. beIN MEDIA GROUP has renewed its exclusive rights to broadcast more than 300 matches from the English Football League (EFL) for a further four years in 27 countries across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), France, Australia, and New Zealand. The multi-year media rights extension kicked off alongside the 2024-25 season this past weekend and will run until the end of 2027-28. English Football League on beIN Sports Each year beIN SPORTS will have the exclusive rights to broadcast: beIN has been the exclusive rights holder of the EFL for more than 14 years. Mohammad Al Subaie, CEO of beIN MENA, said: “In addition to being the oldest football league in the world, the EFL is also one of the most competitive football ecosystems globally. beIN is proud to see its relationship with the EFL extended until the end of the 2027-28 season, by which time we will have been together for more than 18 years. “We look forward to four more years of drama and tension, talent and determination, and delighted to continue to provide our subscribers access to the finest moments and greatest matches from every […]
2 months ago
The Washington Post (WaPo) reported on Saturday that Qatar was secretly mediating a partial Russian-Ukrainian ceasefire before Kiev’s sneak attack against Kursk, which would have seen both sides agree not to target each other’s energy infrastructure. The Kremlin hadn’t commented by the time of that article’s publication nor this present one so it’s unclear how truthful it is. In any case, it’s worthwhile taking a look at what WaPo’s sources said, which might help discern whether or not this is believable. The first tidbit is that “Some involved in the negotiations hoped they could lead to a more comprehensive agreement to end the war, according to the officials”. This was followed by the claim that “Russia ‘didn’t call off the talks (after Kursk), they said give us time,’ the diplomat said.” The Ukrainian “presidential office” then alleged that talks in Doha were indeed scheduled but were postponed until 22 August “due to the situation in the Middle East” and will now “take place in a video conference format”. WaPo went on to cite “senior officials in Kyiv” who “had mixed expectations about whether the negotiations could succeed, with some putting the odds at 20 percent and others anticipating even worse prospects” even before Kursk. They still explored the reportedly Qatari-mediated partial […]
2 months ago
Qatar Airways is adding caviar to menus on flights to destinations around the world. The 11-time Skytrax World’s Best Business Class award winner is enhancing in-flight meals with the introduction of caviar service on its menu offering. The offering will be available to passengers in Business Class to 13 routes around the world, starting immediately. Qatar Airways adds caviar to menus The luxurious service will be offered to passengers flying to: The airline’s award-winning Business Class service features extensive food and beverage options, as well as on-demand dining where passengers can dine at their preferred meal time. The new caviar service can be enjoyed as a standalone option or part of the onboard meal courses. Qatar Airways Senior Vice President Product Development and Design, Xia Cai, said: “As the world’s only 11-time winner of the Skytrax ‘World’s Best Business Class’ award, Qatar Airways takes pride in providing the best premium business class travel experience. “The introduction of caviar service, commonly available only in first class cabins, further elevates Qatar Airways’ award-winning business class experience. “We are committed to continuously enhance our onboard services to elevate the industry’s standards and delight our passengers.”
2 months ago
Arab athletes won 17 medals at the Paris 2024 Olympics, according to the official Olympics website. These medals were claimed by athletes from seven countries: Bahrain’s athletes won the highest number of medals, securing four in total—two gold, one silver, and one bronze. Arab athletes at Paris 2024 Olympics Algeria followed in second place with three medals: two gold and one bronze. Egypt and Tunisia each earned three medals as well, with one gold, one silver, and one bronze per country. Morocco ranked fourth with two gold and one bronze medal, followed by Jordan in fifth place with one silver medal, and Qatar in sixth place with one bronze medal. Notably, the highest medal tally for Arab athletes in Olympic history was achieved in the previous edition, “Tokyo 2020,” where they won 18 medals.
3 months ago
Qatar Airways has increased its order of Boeing 777X aircraft by 20 Boeing 777-9 planes on the second day of the Farnborough International Airshow 2024. This addition brings the airline’s total order to 94 Boeing 777X commercial and cargo aircraft. The deal includes a commitment for 40 additional GE9X engines and spare engines, along with a long-term services agreement. “Qatar Airways is proud to announce an expansion to the existing Boeing 777X aircraft order with an additional 20, totalling 94 Boeing 777X aircraft. We, as the World’s Best Airline, are an industry leader and operate one of the youngest fleets, offering unparalleled innovation and quality. Keeping an eye on the future, we continue to ensure that all Qatar Airways passengers are only met with the best products and services available in the industry,” Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer said. On the first day of the airshow, Qatar Airways unveiled its Qsuite Next Gen, which will be featured on the newly ordered Boeing 777-9 aircraft. The updated business class suite includes features such as movable monitors with Bluetooth connectivity and larger lie-flat beds. “Qatar Airways is a leader in our industry, and we are honored the airline added 20 […]
3 months ago
assengers searching for the best way to experience Business Class haven’t long to wait to see the next generation of Qatar Airways’ much-loved Qsuite – which the Doha-based carrier has appropriately dubbed the Qsuite Next Gen. Qatar Airways has confirmed that it will officially unveil the Qsuite Next Gen at the Farnborough Airshow, which will take place between the 22nd and 26th of July. The latest generation of the carrier’s long-haul Business Class product will form the centrepiece of the airline’s presence at Farnborough, although Qatar Airways isn’t giving too much away over what passengers should expect to see. The airline did, however, tease on Wednesday that the Qsuite Next Gen will feature “further advancements in comfort, collaborative and social design elements and passenger dining experiences.” What could that mean in practice? Well, Qatar Airways is likely to build in the latest device charging capabilities like USB-C and wireless charging, along with Bluetooth headphone functionality and potentially personalised mood lighting. The Qsuite is already a pretty collaborative seat with a special quad design that allows four people to dine, work or socalise together if they book four centre seats together. Could Qatar Airways, therefore, be looking at incorporating some sort of ‘buddy […]
3 months ago
India’s NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) announced teaming up with Qatar National Bank (QNB) to allow UPI payments in Qatar. The tie-up will allow both non-resident Indians (NRIs) and Indian travellers to make payments for their shopping and other activities in the Gulf country. QNB Group is the largest bank in the Middle East and Africa, operating in over 28 countries, offering a wide range of financial services and have more than 5,000 ATMs. Since Indians are one of the largest groups of visitors to Qatar, the payment tie-up will make transactions much easier and more convenient for them. Shops and businesses in Qatar will also benefit from this partnership. Anubhav Sharma, Deputy Chief – Partnerships and Business Development, NPCI International said enabling UPI acceptance in Qatar will offer substantial benefits to the large number of Indians visiting the country, simplifying their transactions, and ensuring a hassle-free travel experience abroad. He said merchants in Qatar will also greatly benefit from UPI, gaining access to a wider customer base and more efficient payment and collection processing. Adel Ali Al-Malki, Senior Executive Vice President, QNB Group Retail Banking said the bank is thrilled to embark on this pioneering journey with NIPL to […]
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