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Qatar Tribune
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Qatar Tribune
Daunting new stage to kickstart Jordan Rally action
Tribune News Network Dead Sea (Jordan) A first pass through the daunting new 32km Tal Hilali special stage will kickstart the action at the 2025 Jordan Rally on Friday morning. Competitors led by 16-time event winner Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah and his Spanish co-driver Candido Carrera will then tackle a further 11 gravel stages over two days before the ceremonial finish at the lowest place on earth on Saturday afternoon. Twenty-one FIA cars and an additional seven crews competing only in two separate national rallies will compete this weekend. The event was officially flagged away from a new start venue at the Royal Automobile Club of Jordan (RACJ) after the pre-event press conference on Thursday evening. Teams had put their cars through customary technical scrutineering at the Dead Sea where a couple of potential front-runners were upbeat about their chances for the weekend. Oman's Abdullah Al Rawahi won the event outright in 2023 on his way to the MERC title. He said: 'This year has been very tough for us. We haven't had the results I was expecting. We have been trying really hard to push and close the gap to Nasser in terms of pace. Every year we try to learn more and more. The first three rallies didn't go as expected, especially in Oman. The first day we had to retire, in Qatar we got faster and faster and then we had punctures in Saudi Arabia. 'Jordan is where I started. It is different to other years but I love the terrain and the stages. They are tough. It is very slippery and the notes have to be precise. We are coming here to try and take the win. I am prepared better than last year where we were leading and had to retire.' Defending regional champion Abdulaziz Al Kuwari praised the condition of the rally tracks. The Citroën C3 driver said: 'I would like to thank the people who prepared the stages. They are amazing.' Thirty-five-year-old Rakan Al Rashed is taking part in the event for the third time after retiring a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX in 2016 and 2017 alongside Finnish co-driver Jarkko Kalliolepo. He is aiming for a podium finish on Saturday evening to continue his quest to become the regional champion. Rashid Al Muhannadi could mathematically confirm the FIA MERC4 title this weekend with two rounds to spare in the absence of rookie rival Mohammed Al Marri. The Qatari said: 'This is my first time in Jordan. The stages are nice but quite demanding and technical. I like the rally. I am looking to forward to it and I hope to win the championship.' On Friday, the opening Tal Hilali special starts at 09.44hrs and features a small section of the former Bahath special in the Jordan Valley and precedes runs through a high-speed Karameh (11.08km) stage and a special at the Baptism Site (11.34km) close to the Dead Sea. The three stages will then be then repeated in the afternoon after a return to the Dead Sea for a midday regroup and service. Follow the race live:
Qatar Tribune
2 days ago
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
Syria signs $7 bn power deal with Qatar's UCC Holding-led consortium
Tribune News Network Damascus Syria has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with a consortium of international companies led by Qatar's UCC Holding to develop major power generation projects with a foreign investment valued at $7 billion. The agreement involves building four combined-cycle gas turbine power plants with a total capacity of 4,000 megawatts, plus a 1,000-MW solar power plant in southern Syria. This initiative aligns with the agenda to rebuild Syria's core infrastructure, enhance energy security, and support economic development. The consortium is led by UCC Holding, through its subsidiary UCC Concessions Investment, a Qatari company specializing in energy concessions and Construction. The consortium includes: • Power International USA LLC– American company specializing in strategic energy investments • Kalyon GES Enerji Yatırımları AS – Turkish renewable energy investor and developer • Cengiz Enerji San. ve Tic. AS – Turkish energy development and operation company This strategic alliance reflects the vision and leadership of His Highness Amir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in supporting Syria's economic recovery and contributing to the reconstruction of a renewed Syrian state through impactful initiatives aimed at energizing the national economy and advancing the country's path toward power self-sufficiency. The agreement covers the development of four combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power plants in Traifawi (Homs), Zayzoun (Hama), Deir-Azzour, and Mehardeh (Hama), with an approximate installed generation capacity of 4,000 MW, using American and European technologies, and a 1,000 MW solar power plant in Wedian Alrabee, located in the southern region of Syria. page 2
Qatar Tribune
3 days ago
- Sport
- Qatar Tribune
NZ, Philippines excel on opening day
Tribune News Network Doha New Zealand and Philiphines claimed opening day honours at the FIBA 3x3 Youth Nations League 2025 - Asia-Pacific 1 - Stop 1 which commenced at the Qatar Basketball Federation (QBF) Hall in Al Gharafa on Wednesday. In the men's division, team Qatar, comprising Zineeddine Bedri, Nazar Mahmoud, Ahmad Saeid Mohamad and Hamad Yassin Mousa, also made a strong start, securing two convincing wins. Qatar dominated their opener against Chinese Taipei, securing a 22-8 win, and followed by a hard-fought 22-14 victory over Singapore. However, Qatar's momentum was halted in the final later, when New Zealand cruised to a 21-12 win to take full points on the opening day while staying unbeaten. Qatar's U-23 women's team, consisted of Salha Ismail M H Al Ali, Mona Abdelmonem A Elsayed, Sama Mahmoud E Gasir and Lamis Gamal Hanafi, faced a challenging day, going up against formidable opponents. They suffered heavy defeats to the Philippines (2-21) and New Zealand (2-21), ending their day without a win. In the women's final, Philippines defeated Chinese Taipei 21-10 to go top of the table. While New Zealand led the men's standings after Day 1 with a 3-0 record and a points average of 20.3, Qatar finished in second place with a 18-point average. The Philippines and Singapore each had won a game each while Chinese Taipei and Indonesia failed to secure wins. On Thursday, Qatar men will take on Indonesia and the Philippines, while the women's team battle against the Philippines and Singapore.
Qatar Tribune
3 days ago
- Politics
- Qatar Tribune
NPC hosts workshop on population, housing and establishments census
Tribune News Network Doha On Wednesday, 28 May 2025, the National Planning Council, represented by the National Statistics Centre, organised a national workshop for various government entities concerned with administrative records in the State of Qatar. The workshop focused on the upcoming Simplified General Census of Population, Housing and Establishments 2025, under the theme 'Digital Records, Robust Automation and National Data Partnership'. This census is the first of its kind to be conducted in Qatar by relying entirely on administrative records without the need for any traditional field surveys. This strategic step aims to modernize the national statistical system and improve the efficiency and quality of data. The new administrative model leverages existing administrative records in government entities, which enhances data reliability and supports planning and decision-making processes at the national and sectoral levels. The implementation phase of the census is expected to begin by the end of this year. The workshop featured a series of specialized technical presentations by experts from the National Statistics Centre, covering key aspects of the administrative census. Topics included the presentation of the national vision and the roadmap towards transitioning to the administrative census model, leading to the 2030 census. Presentations also discussed the technical methodology of the census, and mechanisms of inter-agency integration, data provision requirements, quality assurance and security, in addition to reviewing the role of technical work groups and determining the entities' needs from census data. The workshop also shed light on the challenges associated with the traditional model, and the role of the modern administrative model in supporting public policies. Participants included representatives from government data teams, technical groups, and planning and policy departments engaged in administrative records related to population, housing, labour, establishments and economic data. The workshop opened with a keynote by Ahmad Hassan Mohammed Al Obaidli, director general of the National Statistics Centre, who emphasized that the 2025 census constitutes a turning point in the production of official statistics in Qatar, as it is the first census to rely entirely on administrative records, which enhances data accuracy and enables timely access to high-quality information for all government agencies, ultimately strengthening public policy development. In turn, Saud Matar Al-Shammari, director of Statistical Operations Department at the NSC, presented a comprehensive overview of the roadmap to the implementation of Qatar's first fully administrative census. He explained the methodology used, expected outputs and the critical role of partner entities in this transformation. He also highlighted the importance of the census as a supporting tool for the implementation of the Third National Development Strategy and achieving the aspirations of Qatar National Vision 2030. The workshop concluded with a call for strengthened collaboration and coordination among all government entities to ensure the success of the 2025 Census. Emphasis was placed on maximizing the country's advanced digital infrastructure and activating an integrated statistical system that supports decision-makers and fosters a culture of data-driven planning.
Qatar Tribune
3 days ago
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
Qatar's trade with Malaysia grows 80% to QR5.2 billion: QC
Tribune News Network Doha Trade relations between Qatar and Malaysia have witnessed remarkable growth, with bilateral trade increasing by 80 percent in 2024 to reach QR5.2 billion, up from QR2.9 billion in 2023, according to Rashid bin Hamad Al Athba, second vice chairman of Qatar Chamber. Al Athba made the announcement during the ASEAN-GCC-China Economic Forum held in the Malaysian capital on Wednesday. The event brought together senior government officials, business leaders, and investors from ASEAN, GCC countries, and China to explore economic cooperation and strategic investments across key sectors. Qatar Chamber participated in the forum with a delegation headed by Al Athba and included board members Eng Ali bin Abdul Latif Al Misnad and Nasser bin Suleiman Al Haidar. The forum featured high-level sessions on boosting investment between ASEAN, GCC, and China, the role of artificial intelligence in transforming industries, and accelerating growth in energy and logistics sectors across the ASEAN region. On the sidelines of the forum, Al Athba held bilateral meetings with regional leaders to strengthen economic ties. He met with Minister of Finance and Economy of Brunei Dato Amin Abdullah where both sides discussed opportunities for collaboration and the signing of new cooperation agreements with the Brunei Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Al Athba also met with Malaysia's Deputy Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Liew Chin Tong. The two discussed ways to deepen trade and economic cooperation between Qatar and Malaysia, as well as enhancing mutual investments in diverse sectors. Speaking to the media, Al Athba emphasised the readiness of Qatar's private sector to expand cooperation with ASEAN countries. 'ASEAN is one of the world's fastest-growing economic regions, strategically located on global trade routes and home to a population of approximately 690 million. These attributes make it highly attractive to Gulf investors looking to scale their global footprint,' he said. He called on business leaders in ASEAN countries and China to explore Qatar's dynamic business environment, benefit from the investment incentives on offer, and form commercial alliances with Qatari companies. The forum reaffirmed Qatar Chamber's commitment to advancing economic collaboration between Qatar, ASEAN countries, and China, while also promoting Qatar as a leading hub for trade and investment in the region.
