Latest news with #Qatari
Ammon
32 minutes ago
- Politics
- Ammon
US Middle East envoy Witkoff says Gaza talks going well
Ammon News - US President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, said that negotiations for a ceasefire in Gaza were going well on Wednesday. "We have some good news on Gaza and some other things that we are working on," Trump announced at a bill signing ceremony in Washington, while thanking Witkoff. Earlier, a meeting was held between the Israeli delegation and the Qatari and Egyptian delegations, during which Israel presented new maps reflecting additional flexibility on its part. A source involved in the negotiations told The Jerusalem Post: 'The focus now is no longer on the Morag Corridor; it's on the Israeli presence in the Rafah area. That's where the discussions are currently centered.' According to the source, the mediators are optimistic (not for the first time) and believe the new maps significantly advance the chances of reaching a deal soon. Trump hoped ceasefire talks would be 'straightened out' this week Trump said on Sunday he hoped talks for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas would be "straightened out" this week. The US is backing a 60-day ceasefire with a phased release of hostages, Israeli troop withdrawals from parts of Gaza, and talks to end the conflict. Trump told reporters, "We are talking and hopefully we're going to get that straightened out over the next week." The Jerusalem Post
Malaysian Reserve
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Malaysian Reserve
Trump says there is 'good news' on Gaza as he prepares to meet Qatari premier
WASHINGTON — United States (US) President Donald Trump said Wednesday that there is 'good news' on Gaza as he prepares to sit down with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani at the White House, Anadolu Ajansi (AA) reported. 'We have some good news on Gaza and good news on a couple of things that we're working on at a very high level, but you've done a fantastic job,' Trump told his envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, during a White House bill signing event. The president did not offer further details, but the comments come as he prepares to host Sheikh Mohammed for dinner at the White House. The event is currently listed as closed press, but past dinners have been opened to the press for brief remarks in the past. The dinner comes amid ongoing negotiations for a ceasefire in the besieged Gaza Strip. Israeli media reported Tuesday that there has been 'dramatic progress' over the past 24 hours in indirect negotiations being hosted in Qatar between Israel and Hamas, according to reports. The talks started July 6 in the Qatari capital of Doha, as negotiators seek to reach an agreement that includes a ceasefire and a prisoner exchange between the parties. Since Oct 7, 2023, Israel has waged a devastating military campaign in Gaza, killing nearly 58,500 people, mostly women and children. Over 10,000 are still missing, and hundreds of thousands have been displaced, amid widespread famine. Israel estimates that around 50 hostages are still held in Gaza, 20 of whom are presumed alive. In contrast, Israel holds more than 10,800 Palestinians in its prisons, many of whom face reported torture, starvation, and medical neglect, according to both Palestinian and Israeli human rights organisations. Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former Defence Minister, Yoav Gallant, for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave. — BERNAMA-ANADOLU
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Business Standard
6 hours ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Trump hosts Gulf leaders as Israel-Syria violence clouds peace efforts
President Donald Trump is hosting a pair of Arab Gulf leaders at the White House on Wednesday as violence between Israel and Syria renewed doubts about his pledge to impose peace in the Middle East. Trump held a meeting in the Oval Office with Bahrain's crown prince and was set to have dinner with Qatar's prime minister. The Republican president has lavished attention on the Gulf, a wealthy region where members of his family have extensive business relationships. He has already visited Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates on the first foreign policy trip of his second term. With little progress to share on the region's most intractable problems, including the war in Gaza, Trump was more focused Wednesday on promoting diplomatic ties as a vehicle for economic growth. Anything they needed, we helped them, Trump said in the Oval Office while meeting with Bahrain Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa. And anything we needed, they helped us. Meeting with Bahrain's crown prince Bahrain is a longtime ally that hosts the US Fifth Fleet, which operates in the Middle East. Like other Arab leaders, Al Khalifa was eager to highlight the lucrative potential of diplomatic ties with the US, including USD 17 billion of investments. And this is real, he said. It's real money. These aren't fake deals. According to the White House, the agreements include purchasing American airplanes, jet engines and computer servers. More investments could be made in aluminum production and artificial intelligence. Bahrain's king, the crown prince's father, is expected to visit Washington before the end of the year. An important part of the relationship will be an agreement, signed on Wednesday, to advance cooperation on civilian nuclear energy. Dinner with Qatari prime minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, the prime minister of Qatar and a member of the country's ruling family, is scheduled to attend a private dinner with Trump on Wednesday evening. Trump visited Qatar during his trip to the region, marvelling at its palaces and stopping at the Al Udeid Air Base, a key US military facility. The base was targeted by Iran after the US bombed the country's nuclear facilities. One ballistic missile made impact, while others were intercepted. Trump wants to use a luxurious Boeing 747 donated by Qatar as his Air Force One because he's tired of waiting for Boeing to finish new planes. However, the arrangement has stirred concerns about security and the ethics of accepting a gift from a foreign government. Aaron David Miller, who served as an adviser on Middle East issues to Democratic and Republican administrations, said the Gulf represents everything that Trump believes is right about the Middle East. It's rich, it's stable, it's populated by authoritarians with whom the president feels very comfortable, he said. Fighting in Syria The fighting in Syria began with clashes between Sunni Bedouin tribes and Druze factions in the country's south. Government forces intervened, raising alarms in Israel, where the Druze are a politically influential religious minority. On Wednesday, Israel launched strikes in the Syrian capital of Damascus. A ceasefire was later announced, but it was unclear if it would hold. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was in the Oval Office for Trump's meeting with the crown prince of Bahrain, said the fighting was the result of an unfortunate situation and a misunderstanding." He said we think we're on our way to a real de-escalation that would allow Syria to get back on track to rebuilding after years of civil war. Despite an international outcry over its punishing military operations in Gaza, Israel has successfully weakened its enemies around the region, including Hezbollah and Iran. There's a growing concern that Israel been a bigger sense of unpredictability," Brian Katulis, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, said. He also warned that "there's still no game plan to deal with the loose ends of Iran's nuclear program and its other activities in the region, such as support for the Houthis.
Politico
8 hours ago
- Business
- Politico
Dems move to rein in presidential library fundraising
With Daniel Lippman DEMS TARGET LIBRARY DONATIONS: More than two dozen congressional Democrats have signed on to a new bill aimed at injecting transparency into funding for presidential libraries — a move that comes as President Donald Trump rakes in tens of millions of dollars in pledges from corporations whose business Trump has immense say over. — Unlike with fundraising for political campaigns, there are virtually no restrictions on when and how presidents can raise money for their libraries. And there are no disclosure requirements apart from the rules that govern all tax-exempt nonprofits. That makes the endeavor rife with ethics concerns, according to Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Reps. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) and Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.), the co-authors of the Presidential Library Anti-Corruption Act. — 'Allowing wealthy donors that may seek policy benefits from a sitting President to bankroll the President's legacy raises serious ethical concerns,' the lawmakers wrote in a one-pager on their bill. 'Presidential Libraries should be monuments to history, not backdoor vehicles for influence.' — The bill would ban presidents from raising money for their future library (except from 501(c)3 groups) while in office, which the lawmakers note was the standard adopted by the Obama Foundation. There would be an additional two-year cooling off period for donations from foreign nationals, lobbyists, contractors and pardon seekers, and a ban on straw donations. — It would require quarterly disclosures of contributions of more than $200 for five years after a president leaves office and bar the use of library donations on personal expenses. — The measure, of course, won't be going anywhere in the GOP-controlled Congress. But a report from Warren's office this week found that less than six months into Trump's second term, his library coffers are already flush with commitments of at least $63 million, thanks to eight-figure settlement payments from companies like Paramount, ABC and Meta. — Trump has said the luxury plane gifted to him by the Qatari government earlier this year will be donated to his presidential library after he leaves office, adding another $400 million in in-kind donations. Cash left over from Trump's inaugural fundraising bonanza and the proceeds from high-dollar candlelight dinners with Trump are also expected to flow to the library. — Warren's report didn't just single Trump out. It notes that Bill Clinton and George W. Bush dealt with influence-peddling scandals of their own related to library fundraising. But the frenzy surrounding Trump makes 'glaringly clear the need for common-sense guardrails around donations,' the report adds. Happy Wednesday and welcome to PI. Send lobbying tips: Add me on Signal at caitlinoprysko.17, email me at coprysko@ and be sure to follow me on X: @caitlinoprysko. MCGINLEY BACK ON K STREET: Bill McGinley has registered to lobby for Meta on trade issues in his return to the lobbying world following a stint in the Trump administration. — McGinley was cabinet secretary during Trump's first term before joining the Vogel Group and its sister law firm Holtzman Vogel. He was initially Trump's pick for White House counsel before the president-elect tapped him to be the top lawyer for Elon Musk's cost-cutting effort, DOGE. But McGinley announced just days after Trump was inaugurated that he would be heading back to the private sector. In February, he took the helm of the legal arm of the American Free Enterprise Chamber of Commerce. — McGinley began working for Meta in June under the firm McGinley LLC, according to a newly filed disclosure. At the time, Silicon Valley was pressing the Trump administration to intervene on its behalf to push for a rollback of punishing tech competition rules in the EU. After Meta was hit with a €200 million fine in April, top lobbyist Joel Kaplan quickly labeled the fine a 'tariff.' — The day after McGinley started lobbying for Meta, Silicon Valley appeared to notch a big win when Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick explicitly tied the EU antitrust rules to the outcome of the Trump administration's trade negotiations with the bloc. 'If you want to have a trade deal with us, you're going to take your foot off the necks of the great American companies,' Lutnick said of Trump's trade demands. — Big Tech's trade wins have piled up in the weeks since, with Canada and then the EU both backing away from digital services taxes that would punish U.S. tech giants as part of a global trade war. ANNALS OF CAMPAIGN FINANCE: 'IRS Commissioner Billy Long's political action committee paid more than $20,000 to two political research firms in the lead-up to his confirmation hearing,' POLITICO's Jacob Wendler reports. — 'Believe in Life Liberty Yourself, or the BILLY PAC, sent a $19,500 payment to research firm Remington Research Group and $2,500 to Cannon Research Group, both on April 14, according to the leadership PAC's quarterly filing submitted to the Federal Election Commission on Monday.' — 'Long's leadership PAC now has just over $1,650 on hand, having spent the lion's share of its coffers during the filing period.' The research payments from Long's leadership PAC came around the same time as Long was facing questions about another PAC he controlled that raked in more than $100,000 after Trump nominated Long as to lead IRS — 'enough to wipe out the six-figure debt he had racked up on his unsuccessful 2022 Senate bid,' Jacob notes. 'The Senate confirmed him by a 53-44 vote in June.' FIRST IN PI: Americans for Tax Reform and its 501(c)3 affiliate the Tholos Foundation have ponied up to purchase the downtown D.C. building where the groups are headquartered. The Grover Norquist-led anti-tax group and its research arm have been posted up in the historic Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company Building, which opened on 12th Street NW in 1904, since 2009. HOW PHILANTHROPY ESCAPED FROM OBBB: 'Two Republican senators and a broad bipartisan coalition of funders and nonprofits prevented a 600 percent increase in taxes levied on the endowments of the largest private foundations' as part of the GOP reconciliation law, according to the Associated Press' Thalia Beaty. — Thanks to Sens. Todd Young (R-Ind.) and James Lankford (R-Okla.), 'when Trump signed the bill into law on July 4, taxes went up on the endowments of the largest universities, but not on the endowments of philanthropic foundations.' — 'The move reveals both the power of philanthropic groups, especially conservative ones, to sway legislators and a split in the administration's coalition between those who want to protect the independence of private philanthropy and those who think the sector supports resistance to the president's agenda.' FAMILY MATTERS: 'A senior National Institutes of Health leader was fired Monday amid an investigation into a contract on autism and other topics that could have benefited his spouse, according to three officials familiar with the incident who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly,' per the Washington Post's Carolyn Y. Johnson, Hannah Natanson and Dan Diamond. — 'A $3.3 million NIH contract to a Louisiana company, Argo Chasing, named Trish Duffy Schnabel, the wife of the NIH's chief operating officer on its list of staff, according to the officials. The award, made in early July, supports work on several matters including autism, a topic that is a priority of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.' — 'On Monday afternoon, NIH's chief operating officer, Eric Schnabel, was escorted out of the building just three months into his new job, according to the officials. … On Wednesday morning, Schnabel texted a Post reporter, identifying himself as the former chief operating officer of the NIH. 'I need your help. I didn't do what they said I did,' he wrote. 'This was a political hit job. Please call me.' Schnabel did not answer a follow-up phone call nor a question asking him to expand on his statements.' SPOTTED last night at the Spanish Embassy for an event to honor the NFL's first game in Spain, which will take place in November between the Washington Commanders and the Miami Dolphins, per a tipster: Spanish Ambassador Ángeles Moreno Bau, Reps. Vicente Gonzalez (D-Texas), Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.) and Pete Sessions (R-Texas); D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, Brendon Plack and Kenneth Edmonds of the NFL, Shawn Whyte of Diageo, ShaShrina Thomas of Reynolds American, Cristina Antelo of Ferox Strategies, Chuck Rocha of Solidarity Strategies, Estuardo Rodríguez of the Friends of the Museum of the American Latino, Brent Wilkes of the Hispanic Federation, Ruben Barrales of Wells Fargo and Bill Anaya of Coupang. — And at The Duck & The Peach for a reception hosted by Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld to welcome Kelly Ann Shaw to the firm, per a tipster: Josh Snead, David Giordano and Kyle Perel of the House Ways and Means Committee, Molly Newell of the Senate Finance Committee, Matthew Fontenot and Peyton Harvey of House Speaker Mike Johnson's office, Stephen Simonetti of Sen. Marsha Blackburn's (R-Tenn.) office, Alex Schroder of Rep. Nicole Malliotakis' (R-N.Y.) office, Jacob Danegger of Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso's office, Emma Chance of Sen. Jerry Moran's (R-Kan.) office, Stephanie Lester of The Gap, Jose Mercado of DoorDash, Nickie Currie of Amgen, Zach Sentementes of PhRMA, Chris Ternet of Stanley Black & Decker, Drew Wayne of Siemens Corporation and Abid Qureshi, Dan Walsh, Hunter Bates, Brian Pomper, Virgil Miller, Scott Parven, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Zach Rudisill, Chris Treanor, Jamie Tucker, Tony Pierce and Hans Rickhoff of Akin. Jobs report — John Nagle has joined the Pacific Legal Foundation as a federal policy manager. He most recently was a legislative assistant for Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-Wis.) and is a Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions and Stand Together alum. — Michael O'Brien has joined APCO as a senior director. He was previously a partner and the head of U.S. health care public relations at ICR Healthcare. — Melinda Garrett is now director of working families in the Human Capital program at the Bipartisan Policy Center. She previously was senior adviser for the CHIPS for America strategy team in the U.S. Department of Commerce. — Allison Peters is now the head of U.S. public policy for Discord. She previously was deputy assistant secretary of state for human rights, democracy and labor at the State Department. — Matthew Murray is joining Cozen O'Connor Public Strategies as a principal in the strategic communications practice. He was most recently an executive speechwriter, social media strategist and editor at WPP and is a CQ Roll Call alum. — Lily Adams is joining Orchestra as managing director for the executive advisory practice. She most recently was assistant secretary of the Treasury for public affairs, and is a Democratic campaign and Hill veteran. — Maggie Angel is joining the Illinois governor's office in D.C. as director of federal affairs. She previously was a legislative assistant for Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.). — Gordon Larsen is joining 50 State as vice president. He previously was senior adviser to Utah Gov. Spencer Cox. — Seven Letter is adding Ashley Smith as senior director of paid media, creative specialist Toni McCullough and paid media specialist Shammah Moise to its Seven Letter Labs arm, Madi Mannes to Seven Letter Insight and Lauren Rinderle as manager of administration. — The American Cleaning Institute has added Emily Trentacope as vice president of sustainability. She was most recently associate national program director for EPA's Safe and Sustainable Water Resources research program. New Joint Fundraisers Josh Cortez Victory (Josh Cortez For Congress, Texas Leadership PAC) New PACs Faith Votes South (PAC) HEIGHTS FOR ALL (Super PAC) Lone Star Futures (Super PAC) New Lobbying REGISTRATIONS Actum I, LLC: W.K. Kellogg Foundation Adams And Reese, LLP: Tracer Validation, Inc. Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld: Mayne Pharma (USa), Inc. Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP: Banco Itau International Article One Group, LLC: Actum I, LLC Article One Group, LLC: Data Foundation Axadvocacy Government Relations: Sh130 Concession Company Ballard Partners, LLC: Dr. Jonathan Walker Berni Consulting, LLC: Lilette Advisors On Behalf Of Audubon Nature Institute B Hall Strategies, LLC: Tiber Creek Group On Behalf Of Astellas Pharma US, Inc. B Hall Strategies, LLC: Tiber Creek Group On Behalf Of Beone Medicines USa, Inc. B Hall Strategies, LLC: Tiber Creek Group On Behalf Of Daiichi Sankyo, Inc. B Hall Strategies, LLC: Tiber Creek Group On Behalf Of Gilead Sciences, Inc. B Hall Strategies, LLC: Tiber Creek Group On Behalf Of Jazz Pharmaceuticals B Hall Strategies, LLC: Tiber Creek Group On Behalf Of Merck & Co., Inc. B Hall Strategies, LLC: Tiber Creek Group On Behalf Of Myriad Genetics, Inc. B Hall Strategies, LLC: Tiber Creek Group On Behalf Of Organon, LLC B Hall Strategies, LLC: Tiber Creek Group On Behalf Of Phlow Corporation B Hall Strategies, LLC: Tiber Creek Group On Behalf Of Takeda Pharmaceuticals America, Inc. B Hall Strategies, LLC: Tiber Creek Health Strategies, Inc. Obo Fresenius Medical Care North America B Hall Strategies, LLC: Tiber Creek Health Strategies, Inc. On Behalf Of Amgen, Inc. B Hall Strategies, LLC: Tiber Creek Health Strategies, Inc. On Behalf Of Eli Lilly And Company B Hall Strategies, LLC: Tiber Creek Health Strategies, Inc. On Behalf Of Genentech, Inc. B Hall Strategies, LLC: Tiber Creek Health Strategies, Inc. On Behalf Of Grail, LLC B Hall Strategies, LLC: Tiber Creek Health Strategies, Inc. On Behalf Of Novartis B Hall Strategies, LLC: Tiber Creek Health Strategies, Inc. On Behalf Of Phrma Boundary Stone Partners: Tokamak Energy Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP: Desri Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP: Parts Distribution Express North, Inc. Chartwell Strategy Group LLC: The Cohasset Group On Behalf Of Bluestar Medical Checkmate Government Relations: Kidney Care Access Colaition, Inc. Checkmate Government Relations: Patientsact Cogent Strategies LLC: Satoshi Action Fund Conscience Point Consulting, Inc.: Zeel Networks, Inc. Corcoran & Associates, Inc. Dba Corcoran Partners: Hogan Lovells O/B/O La Societe Du Rhum Barbancourt, S.A. Covenant Government Affairs, LLC: Olin Corporation Cove Strategies: The Mcpherson Group LLP Eis Solutions: Pueblo County Eis Solutions: Teller County Emergent Strategies: Union Pacific Corporation Goldstein Policy Solutions LLC: Federal Hall Policy Advisors, LLC On Behalf Of Solana Policy Institute Healthsperien: Healthtech Partners, Hobbs, Straus, Dean & Walker, LLP: Kawerak, Inc. Hobbs, Straus, Dean & Walker, LLP: Rocky Boy Health Board Kadesh & Associates, LLC: Aerlogics, LLC Mcallister & Quinn, LLC: Los Angeles Urban League Mcallister & Quinn, LLC: Planned Parenthood Advocacy Project Los Angeles County Mcginley LLC: Meta Platforms, Inc. Megan Mcelwain: The Canadian Chrome Company Michael Best Strategies LLC: Sarepta Therapeutics Ml Strategies, LLC: Giner, Inc. A/K/A Giner Labs Neale Creek, LLC: Coretsu Inc. Perspective Strategies: Ohio Coating Company Ridge Path Strategies: International Registries, Inc. Rio Tinto Services, Inc.: Rio Tinto Services, Inc. Rutledge Policy Group, LLC: Brownstein (Bhfs, LLP) Obo Policy And Taxation Group Sidley Austin LLP: Annexon Biosciences The Kpm Group Dc LLC: Inozyme Pharma The Kpm Group Dc LLC: Rezolute The Kpm Group Dc LLC: The Hs Coalition The Mckeon Group, Inc.: Blr Aerospace, LLC Ulman Public Policy & Federal Relations: Wia Wireless Infrastructure Association Washington Navigators: Vanderbilt University Winning Strategies Washington: Atlanticare Winning Strategies Washington: Centrastate Healthcare System Winning Strategies Washington: Virtua Winning Strategies Washington: Visiting Nurse Association Health Group New Lobbying Terminations Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP: Acuity International Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP: Airglades International Airport Cassidy & Associates, Inc.: Cheniere Energy Covenant Government Affairs, LLC: Continental Resources, Inc. Edmund Graber: Quad City Manufacturing Laboratory Fgs Global (US) LLC (Fka Fgh Holdings LLC): B Lab Fgs Global (US) LLC (Fka Fgh Holdings LLC): Rainbow Media Holdings, LLC (Amc Networks Inc.) Fgs Global (US) LLC (Fka Fgh Holdings LLC): The Big Ten Conference, Inc. Govbiz Advantage, Inc.: Fortress North America Government Affairs Solutions, LLC: National Utility Contractors Association Hogan Lovells US LLP: Growth Energy Impression Strategy, LLC: The Everglades Trust, Inc. Lilette Advisors: Puerto Verde Holdings, LLC Lmh Strategic Solutions: Orchard Therapeutics North America Miller & Chevalier Chartered: Crossharbor Capital Partners LLC The Desner Group, LLC: Commonwealth Fusion Systems The Mckeon Group, Inc.: Caldera Holdings LLC The Mckeon Group, Inc.: Caucasus Democracy Project (Fka Save Armenia) The Mckeon Group, Inc.: Santa Clarita Community College (College Of The Canyons) Woodland Resources: Whitfield Hospital
Qatar Tribune
9 hours ago
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
QC discusses economic ties with Turkish planning association
Tribune News Network Doha Qatar Chamber (QC) Acting General Manager Ali Bu Sharbak Al Mansouri met with Turkish Association for Economic Planning (EPIAD) President Ahmad Yahya Matar to discuss ways to strengthen Qatari-Turkish economic ties. The meeting focused on enhancing trade exchange, joint investments, and cooperation between private sectors in both countries. Al Mansouri reaffirmed Qatar chamber's commitment to boosting ties with Turkish institutions and highlighted existing agreements with key Turkish economic bodies. Matar expressed the Turkish side's interest in deepening cooperation, particularly in tourism and business, and called for greater private sector engagement to promote bilateral trade. The two sides also explored prospects for organizing joint business forums and trade delegations, aimed at facilitating direct partnerships between Qatari and Turkish companies across a wide range of sectors including construction, real estate, manufacturing, and services.
