Sep 18 Taliban replace ministry for women with 'virtue' authorities By Kathy Gannon, Associated Press It was the latest troubling sign that the Taliban are restricting women's rights as they settle into government, just a month since they overran the capital of Kabul. During their previous rule of Afghanistan in the 1990s, the Taliban had… Continue reading
Sep 12 Qatar sends high-level delegation to Afghanistan By Associated Press Taliban political spokesman Suhail Shaheen tweeted Sunday about the high-level delegation, saying it included Sheikh Mohammad bin Abdur Rahman Al-Thani, the deputy prime minister who is also Qatar’s foreign minister. Continue reading
May 26 Qatar pledges $500 million for postwar construction in Gaza By Samy Magdy, Josef Federman, Associated Press Qatar has contributed hundreds of millions of dollars in humanitarian and development aid to Gaza in attempts to support past cease-fires with Israel. Continue reading
Jan 05 Gulf Arab leaders sign declaration to ease rift with Qatar By Aya Batrawy, Amr Nabil, Associated Press Saudi Arabia also said it was restoring full diplomatic relations with Qatar, although it was not clear how soon the step would be followed by the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt. Continue reading
Jan 05 Qatar ruler lands in Saudi Arabia for summit to end blockade By Aya Batrawy, Isabel Debre, Amr Nabil, Associated Press Qatar's ruling emir arrived in Saudi Arabia and was greeted with an embrace by its crown prince on Tuesday, following an announcement that the kingdom would end its yearslong embargo on the tiny Gulf Arab state. Continue reading
Jan 04 Saudi Arabia to lift Qatar embargo, opening air and land borders By Aya Batrawy, Isabel Debre, Associated Press Kuwait's foreign ministry said Saudi Arabia will open its air and land borders with Qatar, in the first steps toward ending a diplomatic crisis that has deeply divided regional U.S. allies since 2017. Continue reading
Mar 12 U.S.-Taliban peace talks in Qatar yield 'progress,' both sides say By Fay Abuelgasim, Kathy Gannon, Associated Press The nearly two weeks of talks produced two draft agreements between the militants and the U.S. government on a "withdrawal timeline and effective counterterrorism measures," American envoy Zalmay Khalilzad wrote on Twitter. Continue reading
Jan 13 Pompeo: Qatar diplomatic crisis 'has dragged on too long' By Matthew Lee, Associated Press U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Sunday an ongoing boycott of Qatar by four of America’s allies in the Middle East “has dragged on too long,” though he gave no sign of any coming breakthrough in the dispute. Continue reading
Dec 03 Qatar to pull out of OPEC amid friction with Saudi Arabia By Jon Gambrell, Associated Press The surprise declaration could make Qatar the first Middle East nation to leave the cartel since its founding in 1960. Continue reading
Mar 26 Watch 5:00 News Wrap: Site of deadly Russian mall fire had 'flagrant' safety violations, say investigators By PBS News Hour In our news wrap Monday, the death toll in a Russian shopping mall fire rose to 64. Investigators are asking why fire escapes were blocked and a movie theater was locked shut. Also, there's word the United Arab Emirates may… Continue watching