The majority of Qatar’s listed endangered species are marine ones. This is contrary to the global trend, wherein terrestrial species predominantly make up the endangered group, said the Doha-based environmental expert Dr Iain Macdonald.
Macdonald, of the Safety, Environment and Quality Department, QatarGas, said Qatar is home to at least 955 marine species. Of this, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has included 27 in its “Red List” of threatened species. The IUCN is the world’s oldest and largest global environmental network.
Among some of the more commonly known endangered species in Qatari waters are various species of sea turtle. Sharks are well represented on the endangered list.
In addition to marine pollution, land-based pollution has significant impact on marine biodiversity in Qatar. Qatar, along with its neighboring states, faces this issue due to the structure of the Gulf and the high number of coastal industries in the region. Read the rest of this entry »
THE Land Qatar in association with Qatar Sotheby’s International Realty will be sponsoring a reception and private viewing for Sotheby’s first-ever major international auction series in the Middle East, to be held in Doha on March 16 to display the Porto Vista tower at the Pearl Qatar.
Qatar Sotheby’s International Realty are providing brokerage services to The Land, who own the development. General manager for sales and marketing at Qatar Sotheby’s, Jasmine Smith told Gulf Times that sales were going well so far, and the response to the development had been strong.
Smith was speaking at an open event the company hosted at the Doha Golf Club yesterday.
“We are highly diligent and selective in the products and residential properties we list for sale, therefore we are proud to collaborate with such a reputable and professional developer as The Land Qatar,” said Smith.
“Porto Vista is a spectacular world class 20-storey residential tower with amazing views from almost every apartment and excellent finishes, featuring one, two and three bedroom apartments and penthouses, with each master bedroom having an exclusive spa-bath, thoughtfully planned space and utilities, and elegantly designed interiors,” she said. Read the rest of this entry »
QATAR may see a quantum jump in arbitration cases this year in view of the worsening global financial crisis, according to an international law firm.
“Qatar is likely to see a significant increase in the number of disputes going to arbitration, largely caused by the world economic situation which is affecting the region and the construction industry in particular,” said Ben Knowles, international arbitration lawyer at Clyde and Co. The firm is registered with the Qatar Financial Centre Authority.
Arbitration is a legal technique for dispute resolution outside the court system, wherein arbitrators (who effectively act as judges) are selected by the parties themselves and by whose decision the parties in dispute agreed to bind. Read the rest of this entry »
Mark Cavendish (Columbia Highroad) of Great Britain and Tom Boonen (Quick Step) of Belgium, will renew their rivalry for world’s top sprinting honors beginning Sunday in the Tour of Qatar.
Cavendish was one of the main stories of the 2008 cycling season. He had18 victories and arguably arrived as the world’s best sprinter.
Boonen, who has twice won the Tour Qatar, is the 2005 world road titlist. He has 14 Tour of Qatar stage wins while racing in five editions of the race, dating to its inception in 2002.
The six-day, 685-kilometer race, Feb. 1-6, will feature 17 teams of eight riders, including American ProTour teams Garmin-Slipstream and Columbia Highroad and U.S. Pro Continental team BMC. Read the rest of this entry »
Qatar is set to shift its investment focus back to domestic projects as the economy slows sharply and firms face higher financing costs, the country’s top financial regulator said on Friday.
Qatar, which is the world’s biggest liquefied natural gas exporter, has been investing windfall oil revenues overseas, snapping up stakes in international companies with the economy expanding 20 percent in the past few years.
“This year we are having to manage with growth at under half of that … In many ways there’s a chance to catch your breath. A little bit less growth is healthy at this stage,” Phillip Thorpe, chairman and chief executive of the Qatar Financial Centre Regulatory Authority, told Reuters. “The government is now looking at a significant programme of domestic investment … rather than looking for assets in other markets. My expectations are a much greater emphasis on internal infrastructure investments,” said Thorpe, who is a former managing director at the UK Financial Services Authority. Read the rest of this entry »
The Qatar Foundation has selected architect Antoine Predock to design the facility for Northwestern’s campus in Qatar.
Predock is based in Albuquerque, N.M., with studios in Taipei and Los Angeles. He has previously designed buildings including the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg, the Tacoma Art Museum and the San Diego Padres ballpark.
Richard Roth, senior associate dean of journalism in Qatar, and three other NU-Q faculty members will soon accompany Predock on a trip around the U.S. to look at other journalism facilities, Roth said. They will first visit the NU campus in Evanston on February 10.
About two months after returning, Predock is scheduled to create three possible designs for the NU-Q building. The construction process will likely begin in spring 2009, and it will take three to four years until the building is complete and ready for use, Roth said. Read the rest of this entry »
QATAR Airways are sponsoring the umpires who will officiate in the Riffa Views Inter-Gulf Netball Championship.
Eight ‘Talent and Youth’ umpires from England Netball will travel to Bahrain, courtesy of Qatar Airways, to referee at the two-day tournament which will be held at the Bahrain Rugby Football Club in Saar.
The competition is scheduled to take place on March 13 and 14.
The umpires are part of a development programme at England Netball. It is part of a long-term aim of producing internationally accredited umpires under the age of 25.
They will attend the tournament with two mentors who will monitor their performance and provide support and feedback over the weekend. Read the rest of this entry »
Italian fashion company Stefano Ricci, in association with United Fashion Company (UFC), a United Development Company subsidiary, has opened its first Middle East showroom at The Pearl Qatar.
“We have found a great business partner in UFC and strongly believe in the Pearl-Qatar project,” said the Italian company’s CEO Niccolo Ricci in the presence of its founder Stefano Ricci.
He said the decision to open Stefano Ricci boutiques in different parts of the world had given its brand increased visibility and was aimed at connecting with the tastes and needs of different cultures.
Expressing his delight at Stefano Ricci choosing Pearl-Qatar as their showcase in the Middle East region, UDC managing director Khalil Sholy said the project distinguished itself for being a centre of excellence, quality, style and glamour. Read the rest of this entry »
Israel’s President Shimon Peres had launched a fiery defense of his country’s assault on Gaza over the past month and, with a raised voice and pointed finger, questioned what Erdogan would do if rockets were fired at Istanbul every night.
As the debate, which also included United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and Arab League chief Amr Moussa, was ending, Erdogan was cut short as he tried to respond.
“I don’t think I will come back to Davos because you don’t let me speak,” the Turkish prime minister said, as he stood up and walked out of the conference hall in the Swiss ski resort.
“The president spoke for only 25 minutes. I have only spoken for half of that.”
Turkey’s state-run Anatolian news agency quoted Erdogan as saying to Peres: “When it comes to killing you know very well how to kill. I know very well how you killed children on the beaches.”
In a hastily-called news conference, Erdogan later explained that he had been upset with both the moderation of the debate and Peres’ manner.
“My reaction was directed at the moderator. I think that if we have moderation in this way, we won’t really get out of Davos what we all come here to get out of Davos, and it would cast a shadow over efforts to reach peace,” Erdogan said.
“President Peres was speaking to the prime minister of Turkey — I am not just some leader of some group or tribe, so he should have addressed me accordingly,” he told reporters.
Qatar will maintain a strong economic performance this year thanks to income from natural gas, and its riyal currency appears to be in line with economic fundamentals, the IMF said on Wednesday.
“The key challenges facing the authorities are to lower Qatar’s high rate of inflation, continue to shield the economy from the global financial crisis, ensure that rapid credit growth does not undermine bank soundness, and diversify the economy,” the International Monetary Fund said in a statement.
The Persian Gulf nation grew by 16 percent in 2008, thanks to expansion in oil and natural gas, but inflation was 15 percent amid rising food and rental costs, the IMF estimated in a regular assessment of the country’s economy.
It forecast growth to be at least as strong this year while inflation should fall, and it endorsed Qatar’s currency regime, which targets the dollar. Read the rest of this entry »
