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Featuring insights from international journalists, it covers local and global events in business, culture, sports, and more, offering readers balanced perspectives on both Qatar and world affairs.

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Doha                                                                                                                                                                                                     30 June 2018

Qatar Petroleum President & CEO Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi met in Washington with U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry.

Discussions during the meeting centred on various aspects of bilateral energy cooperation between the United States of America and the State of Qatar, particularly in the LNG industry.

Al-Kaabi and the accompanying delegation also held talks with the Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Energy Resources, Francis R. Fannon, which tackled energy cooperation between Qatar and the United States.

Qatar Petroleum’s CEO held similar talks, on the sidelines of his participation in the World Gas Conference, with a number of Representatives in the US Congress and their assistants, who included member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee Rep. Joe Barton, member of the House Ways and Means Committee Rep. John Larson, member of the House Armed Services Committee and House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Rep. Rick Larsen, member of the House Agriculture Committee and House Education and the Workforce Committee Rep. Rick Allen, and member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and House Veterans' Affairs Committee Rep. Gus Bilirakis.

Similar meetings were held with the Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee Rep. Greg Walden, and member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee Rep. Richard Hudson.

Al-Kaabi also met with member of the House Appropriations Committee and its subcommittees on Defense and Homeland Security Rep. Henry Cuellar, and member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and its subcommittees on Energy and Health Rep. Kurt Schrader.

Discussions during the meetings centered on issues of mutual concern, foremost of which was the energy industry and Qatar’s partnerships with American companies in the fields of exploration and natural gas production.

Qatar Petroleum’s President & CEO also met in Washington with Paik Ungyu, the Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy in the Republic of Korea and senior officials at the ministry for a wide-ranging discussion of bilateral cooperation in the field of energy.

Al-Kaabi’s meetings in the American Capital also included a number of discussions with Presidents and CEOs of leading American energy companies, including ExxonMobil, ConocoPhillips, and Occidental Petroleum.

         Ankara                                                                                                                                                                                                    29 June 2018                                                                                                                                                                                       (Reuters)

Washington has told its allies to cut imports of Iranian oil by November, a senior State Department official said this week, as President Donald Trump looks to cut off funding to Iran. Trump in May said his administration was withdrawing from the “defective” 2015 nuclear deal agreed by Iran and six world powers.

“If the United States’ decisions are aimed at peace and stability, then we’ll support them, but we don’t have to follow every decision. Being allies doesn’t mean following every decision word for word,” Cavusoglu told broadcaster NTV in an interview.

“Iran is a good neighbour and we have economic ties. We are not going to cut off our trade ties with Iran because other countries told us so.”

Turkey, a NATO ally, is dependent on imports for almost all of its energy needs. In the first four months of this year, Turkey bought 3.077 million tonnes of crude oil from Iran, almost 55 percent of its total crude supplies, according to data from the Turkish energy watchdog (EPDK).

President Tayyip Erdogan last year said Turkey was looking to raise the volume of its annual trade with Iran to $30 billion from $10 billion.

Cavusoglu also said that there were no problems with the procurement of F-35 warplanes from the United States so far, and he did not think there would be any problems in the future.

A U.S. Senate committee passed its version of a $716 billion defence policy bill last month, including a measure to prevent Turkey from purchasing Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jets.

The amendment to the bill would remove Turkey from the F-35 programme over its detention of U.S. pastor Andrew Brunson. Brunson, a Christian pastor, faces up to 35 years in prison on terrorism and spying charges, which he denies.

Cavusoglu said Turkey had conveyed discomfort about the issue to Trump, who said necessary steps would be taken.

Washington/Riyadh                                                                                                                                                                           30 June 2018                                                                                                                                                                                      (Reuters)

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that Saudi Arabia’s King Salman had agreed to his request to increase oil production “maybe up to 2,000,000 barrels,” an extraordinary amount not confirmed by the kingdom and which would push the OPEC leader to a level of production never tested before.

In an early morning tweet, Trump said Saudi Arabia’s expanded production would help offset a decline in supply from Iran, after the United States pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal in May and moved to reimpose oil sanctions.

“Just spoke to King Salman of Saudi Arabia and explained to him that, because of the turmoil & disfunction in Iran and Venezuela, I am asking that Saudi Arabia increase oil production, maybe up to 2,000,000 barrels, to make up the difference ... Prices to high! He has agreed!” Trump tweeted.

He did not specify if the figure was barrels per day (bpd), the normal measure for oil production.

New York                                                                                                                                                                                               29 June 2018

Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs met here on Friday with Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres.

The meeting discussed means to promote bilateral cooperation between the State of Qatar and the United Nations in addition to the latest regional and international developments.

             Paris                                                                                                                                                                                           29 June 2018

As part of its ongoing review of compliance with the AML/CFT standards, the FATF identifies the following jurisdictions that have strategic AML/CFT deficiencies for which they have developed an action plan with the FATF. While the situations differ among each jurisdiction, each jurisdiction has provided a written high-level political commitment to address the identified deficiencies. The FATF welcomes these commitments.

A number of jurisdictions have not yet been reviewed by the FATF. The FATF continues to identify additional jurisdictions, on an ongoing basis, that pose a risk to the international financial system.

The FATF and the FATF-style regional bodies (FSRBs) will continue to work with the jurisdictions noted below and to report on the progress made in addressing the identified deficiencies. The FATF calls on these jurisdictions to complete the implementation of action plans expeditiously and within the proposed time frames. The FATF will closely monitor the implementation of these action plans and encourages its members to consider the information presented below.

Pakistan

In June 2018, Pakistan made a high-level political commitment to work with the FATF and APG to strengthen its AML/CFT regime and to address its strategic counter-terrorist financing-related deficiencies.

Pakistan will work to implement its action plan to accomplish these objectives, including by:

(1) demonstrating that TF risks are properly identified, assessed, and that supervision is applied on a risk-sensitive basis;

(2) demonstrating that remedial actions and sanctions are applied in cases of AML/CFT violations, and that these actions have an effect on AML/CFT compliance by financial institutions;

(3) demonstrating that competent authorities are cooperating and taking action to identify and take enforcement action against illegal money or value transfer services (MVTS);

(4) demonstrating that authorities are identifying cash couriers and enforcing controls on illicit movement of currency and understanding the risk of cash couriers being used for TF;

(5) improving inter-agency coordination including between provincial and federal authorities on combating TF risks;

(6) demonstrating that law enforcement agencies (LEAs) are identifying and investigating the widest range of TF activity and that TF investigations and prosecutions target designated persons and entities, and persons and entities acting on behalf or at the direction of the designated persons or entities;

(7) demonstrating that TF prosecutions result in effective, proportionate and dissuasive sanctions and enhancing the capacity and support for prosecutors and the judiciary; and

(8) demonstrating effective implementation of targeted financial sanctions (supported by a comprehensive legal obligation) against all 1267 and 1373 designated terrorists and those acting for or on their behalf, including preventing the raising and moving of funds, identifying and freezing assets (movable and immovable), and prohibiting access to funds and financial services;

(9) demonstrating enforcement against TFS violations including administrative and criminal penalties and provincial and federal authorities cooperating on enforcement cases;

(10) demonstrating that facilities and services owned or controlled by designated persons are deprived of their resources and the usage of the resources.

Nicosia                                                                                                                                                                                                   29 June 2018

During their weekly meeting held yesterday, President Mustafa Akıncı and Prime Minister Tufan Erhürman discussed the Maronite community residing in the TRNC, as well as preparations towards opening the Derinya and Aplıç crossing points.

In his statement to the press following the meeting at the Presidential Palace, Prime Minister Tufan Erhürman stated that one of the tenders for works at the crossing points had been completed and the other one will be finalised in mid- July. However, he added that it is not necessary to wait for the tenders to be completed before opening the crossing points.

Prime Minister Erhürman stated that he hopes the Greek Cypriot side will show the same determination and commitment towards the opening of the crossing points to enable the borders to be open by the end of the summer, as planned.

Erhürman said that the Turkish Cypriot side has clearly expressed their will to open the Derinya crossing point, and Erhürman noted that works are continuing at the same pace for the Aplıç crossing point as well.

Doha                                                                                                                                                                                                       28 June 2018

'' Majlis-e-Frogh-e-Urdu Adab and other local Urdu literary figures have expressed profound grief over the death of renowned humourist / satirist writer - Mushtaq Ahmed Khan Yousufi, who was the Chairman of Jury which decides the name of Majlis' Aalmi Frogh-e-Urdu Adab Award winner from Pakistan, from 1996 to 2012.

Yousufi contracted pneumonia a few days ago, after which he was admitted to a hospital in Karachi. He was placed on a ventilator after his condition worsened. According to his family, he did not suffer from any serious disease but he would often fall ill because of his old age. He breathed his last on Wednesday last week. He is survived by his two sons and two daughters. His wife had expired more than 10 years ago.

Yousufi was born in a learned family of Jaipur, Rajasthan, on 4th September, 1923. His father, Abdul Karim Khan Yousufi was Chairman of the Jaipur Municipality and later Speaker of the  Jaipur Legislative Assembly. Yousufi had topped and obtained first position through out from Intermediate, Bachelor's degree from Agra University and in Master's Degree in Philosophy  in first position. He was holding degree on Law in first division from Aligarh Muslim University.

He joined Indian Civil Services and was serving as Deputy Commissioner, Tonk at the time of 1947 partition, his family moved to Pakistan and settled in Karachi.

He joined Muslim Commercial Bank in 1950 and reached to the position of Deputy General Manager. Later, he served in Allied Bank and served as Managing Director in 1965. He served as President of United Bank in 1974 and Chairman of the Pakistan's Banking Council in 1977.

He also served in Bank of Credit & Commerce International, London and its subsidiaries/ affiliates from 1979 to 1990. He was awarded Quaid-e- Azam Memorial Medal on recognition of his services in Banking sector.

Yousufi to his profile has following five books, 'Chiragh Taley' (1961), 'Khakam -badahan' (1969), 'Zarguzasht' (1976), 'Aab-e-Gum' (1990), and 'Sham-e-Shair-e-Yaaran' (2014).

Yousufi is recipient of the following awards :

'Sitara-e-Imtiaz' (1999) and 'Hilal-e- Imtiaz' (2002), highest literary awards by the Government of Pakistan .

'Adamjee Best Book' Award on his books 'Khakam Ba Dahan' and 'Zarguzasht' in 1969 and 1976 respectively.

Pakistan's Academy of Letters 'Hijra Award' as Best Book' on 'Aab-e-gum' in 1990.

His hobbies included  writing, photography and music.

Dr. Mohammad Tahir (Alig.) of Shibli National College, Azamgarh, India wrote a book '' Mushtaq Ahmed Yousufi ki Adabi Khidmat '' in 2002.

Majlis-e- Frogh-e-Urdu Adab, Qatar held 'Jashn-e-Yousufi' in November 1994 at the Al-Ghazal Club, Doha.

Majlis started in 1996 Annual Award 'Aalmi Frogh-e-Urdu Adab Award' from Qatar on the suggestion of renowned writer, author Dr. Gopi Chand Narang from India. This award is given to one from India and one from Pakistan to creative fiction writers.  Awards are presented on the recommendations of designated jury members  of their respective countries.

The scope of the Award was later extended to include  research and criticism. The Award comprised of gold medal and a Cash Award of Rs. 100,000, later increased to Rs. 150,000 to each winner.

The Majlis has been holding annually ''Aalmi Frogh-e-Urdu Adab Award'' function since 1996 and Urdu Mushairas' since 1994.

Mushtaq Ahmed Khan Yousufi has participated in Award and Mushaira events on the invitation of The Majlis in 1996 and 1997 where he presented his papers on literary contributions of  Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi and Ashfaq Ahmed, Awardees of Majlis Award for those years.

Many years ago, Ibn-e-Insha, himself an Urdu satirist and humorist, wrote about Yousufi : '' …. if we could give a name to the literary humour of our time, then the only name that comes to our mind is that of Yousufi ''. Another scholar, Dr. Zaheer Fatehpuri, wrote :

' We are living in the ''Yousufi era'  of Urdu literary humour….''. The Yousufi era started from 1961 when Yousufi's first book  Chiragh Taley  was publishedSo far, 11 editions of this book have appeared. It has a foreword titled '' Pahla Pathar'' written by the author himself plus 12 satirical and homourous articles. In 2008, he was living in Karachi and often appeared in TV programmes as well as seminars. His fifth book Shaam-e-Shair-e-Yaaran was launched at the Arts Council of Pakistan in Karachi in 2014 at a ceremony presided over by a reputed writer and poet, Zehra Nigah who said at the event - ''Neither Yousufi saheb nor any of his books will ever get old. … Yousufi had always been careful about his diction''. She further said that it's a rarity when the subtle element of surprise was added to humour, something that Yousufi was very good  at. Another distinguished writer and poet, Iftikhar Arif said he had never seen anyone so meticulous about the usage and application of words as Yousufi. '' He is an extremely well-read man. He is not just a great

homourist ; he is a great prose writer.'' Artist Zia Mohyeuddin said on the occasion, while we enjoyed Yousufi's writings immensely,

it is his learnedness that is no less astounding. There would be hardly any writer in the world whom he hadn't read or not known about. He articulated that humour stemmed from human weaknesses; however, Yousufi's characters made the reader laugh at them as well as become fond of them. A major English daily newspaper in Karachi called him '' a wordsmith par excellence''.

After his death, Iftikhar Arif said about Yousufi -- He was the greatest [ Urdu] prose writer after Ghalib. In the presence of

Shafiq ur Rehman , Petras Bukhari, Col. Mohammad Khan , Ibn-e-Insha, he was the tallest. He was unique and his contemporaries

wholeheartedly acknowledged his greatness. People remember his paragraphs [ not just sentences or words ] like the way they

memorise good couplets. Journalist and poet, Mahmood Shaam was of the view that although the 'Yousufi era ' of humour has come to an end, his writings will live on. He was the kind of humourist and satirist who is known and recognized in all those regions of the world

Prof. Dr. Gopi Chand Narang, Chairman, Indian Jury of Majlis' Aalmi Award since 1996 said 'Yousufi saheb was an extremely sophisticated person, so was his wit and humour very urbane and erudite fine use of inversive poetry.  His death has created a void as there is no writer who can write humour in literature the way he did.

Mohammad Atiq, Majlis Chairman, said : '' Yousufi saheb's death is not only a big loss to his family and Pakistan, but also to Urdu literature and our Majlis. He was widely admired in the literary circles for his unique way of writing and subtle satire. He was the most luminous, par excellence cultural icon.''

Seoul / Tokyo                                                                                                                                                                                       29 June 2018                                                                                                                                                                                       (Yonhap)

Korean Air Lines Co. said Friday that one of its jets suffered a landing gear breakdown and was forced to stop on the taxiway at Japan's Narita International Airport.

The incident happened around 12:35 p.m. when a B777-300 was moving on a taxiway to pull into a gate after making a normal landing at the airport near Tokyo, the carrier said.

Korean Air said 319 passengers and 16 crew members were on board the Tokyo-bound plane from South Korea's Incheon, but none of them were injured because of the mishap.

The carrier said the passengers waited for about 90 minutes before they got off the plane through airstairs instead of at the gate.

 

Incheon                                                                                                                                                                                                  29 June 2018                                                                                                                                                                                        (Yonhap)

The South Korean World Cup team returned home to a warm welcome on Friday, its two early losses long forgotten after a stunning win over Germany.

South Korea shocked the football world by blanking the world No. 1 and defending World Cup champions 2-0 on Wednesday to close out Group F play at the FIFA World Cup in Russia. Though the Taeguk Warriors still missed out on the round of 16, they were widely lauded for the valiant effort in pulling off the monumental upset against the European giants. Both South Korean goals came in second-half stoppage time.

Thanks to one of their biggest World Cup victories ever, South Korea finished third in the group with three points, behind Sweden and Mexico. Germany also had three points but lost out to South Korea in goal difference tiebreaker.

The improbable win helped turn the tide of public opinion on South Korea, which had taken a beating from a notoriously fickle and demanding fan base after losing to Sweden and Mexico.

The reception that this year's team received at Incheon International Airport contrasted sharply with what the 2014 World Cup squad faced upon its return. South Korea managed one draw and two losses in Brazil four years ago, and fans greeted then-coach Hong Myung-bo and his players with toffees -- an insult in Korean culture -- and shouted slurs at them.

But on this day, toffees were replaced with flowers, insults with accolades and shouts of encouragement from a few hundred fans, who were also busy taking pictures with the cell phones and trying to get a glimpse of their favorite football heroes.

There were still a few disgruntled fans who threw eggs and toffee-shaped pillows toward the players before the start of the welcoming ceremony. But they were easily outnumbered by the team's supporters, who shouted at the malcontents to stop throwing objects.

Head coach Shin Tae-yong thanked the crowd gathered at the airport, saying their support helped carry his team through the ups and downs of the World Cup.

"I didn't want to come home until July (with the knockout stage in play), and it's disappointing to be back home in June," Shin said. "I'd like to thank our fans for their love and support. Without our fans, we wouldn't have been able to create the miracle that we did."

From the 23-man roster, all but captain Ki Sung-yueng arrived back home. Ki flew to England for what the Korea Football Association (KFA) said were "personal reasons."

Ki did not play in the Germany match due to injury, and forward Son Heung-min wore the captain's armband in Ki's stead. He said he'll cherish his second World Cup experience.

"I am sorry to our fans that we didn't live up to our promise of reaching the knockout stage," Son said. "But I think we all saw some hope from the win over Germany. But we won't be drunk with that bit of success, and we'll continue to work hard."

Saudi Arabia                                                                                                                                                                                        28 June 2018                                                                                                                                                                                        (AlJazeera News)

Malaysia's defence minister has said that his country's new government will withdraw its troops from Saudi Arabia.

In a statement made to local media, Mohammed Sabu said on Wednesday that maintaining a military presence in the kingdom risked dragging Malaysia into a regional conflict.

Sabu noted Malaysian troops were not partaking in operations underway in Yemen, referring to a Saudi-led intervention in the neighbouring country.

"Malaysia has always maintained its neutrality. It has never pursued an aggressive foreign policy," Sabu told the government-owned Malaysian National News Agency.

The decision was made last week, Sabu said, adding that talks with the foreign ministry to determine the timing of the troops' return would soon begin.

Saudi Arabia, together with several other Arab nations, launched a military campaign in 2015 in support of Yemen's internationally recognised government, aiming to roll back advances made by Houthi rebels after they overran much of the country in 2014.

Most countries have since withdrawn their forces from the US-backed coalition, with only Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates conducting attacks in Yemen.

Earlier this week, the United Nations said the Saudi-led coalition was responsible for more than half of child deaths and injuries in war-torn Yemen last year.

It is unclear how many Malaysian troops are currently stationed in Saudi Arabia. In 2015, former Prime Minister Najib Razak sent troops to the Gulf country to facilitate the evacuation of Malaysian nationals in Yemen.

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