(Eagle News) — The Department of Labor and Employment has suspended the deployment of Filipino workers to Qatar amid a diplomatic crisis that has engulfed the region, this as the head of the Philippine Embassy in Doha called on all Filipinos there to “remain calm.” Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the suspension of the deployment was effective today, June 6. There are 141,000 documented Filipino workers in Qatar. Meanwhile, in an advisory, Ambassador Alan TImbayan called on […]
Tag: qatar
Panicked Qatar shoppers stock up as Gulf rift bites
by David Harding Agence France Presse DOHA, Qatar (AFP) — Shoppers in Doha were taking no chances on Monday despite Qatari officials reassuring residents there was no need to panic after Saudi Arabia imposed a de facto food blockade. Qatar shares its only land border with Saudi Arabia, and relies heavily on food imports, much of it from Gulf countries. Arab nations including Saudi Arabia and Egypt on Monday cut ties with Qatar, accusing it […]
Iran urges ‘dialogue’ to resolve Gulf row over Qatar
TEHRAN, Iran (AFP) — Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Monday urged Qatar and neighboring Gulf Arab countries that have severed diplomatic ties with it to engage in dialogue to resolve their dispute. “Neighbors are permanent; geography can’t be changed. Coercion is never the solution. Dialogue is imperative, especially during blessed Ramadan,” Zarif tweeted, referring to the Muslim month of fasting. Zarif also phoned his Qatari counterpart to discuss the latest development, and also […]
Qatar minister calls for calm as diplomatic crisis spirals
DOHA, Qatar (AFP) — Qatar’s foreign minister on Tuesday called for dialogue and insisted ties to the United States would remain strong despite a diplomatic storm that has seen Saudi Arabia and others cut ties with Doha. In a speech broadcast on the Doha-based satellite channel Al-Jazeera in the early hours, Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani also called for “a dialogue of openness and honesty” to resolve the crisis. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, […]
Saudi and allies cut Qatar ties in diplomatic crisis
by Ian Timberlake with David Harding in Doha Agence France-Presse RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Saudi Arabia and several of its allies on Monday cut relations with Qatar, accusing it of supporting extremism, in the biggest diplomatic crisis to have hit the region in years. Bahrain, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Yemen and the Maldives also severed ties with gas-rich Qatar, which Riyadh accused of supporting groups, including some backed by Iran, “that aim to destabilize […]
Football: Gulf crisis could hit Qatar 2022
by David Harding Agence France-Presse DOHA, Qatar – The diplomatic crisis sweeping the Gulf could invigorate a campaign by critics of Qatar to strip Doha of the 2022 World Cup, experts said Monday. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Egypt and Yemen were among those to cut diplomatic ties with Qatar on the grounds that Doha supported extremist groups “that aim to destabilize the region.” One of the areas that could feel the impact […]
Saudi, Bahrain, Egypt, UAE cut ties with Qatar over ‘terrorism’
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AFP) — Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates announced on Monday they were severing diplomatic ties with Qatar, as tensions escalate in the region over accusations Doha sponsors terrorism. Saudi news agency SPA said Riyadh cut diplomatic ties and closed borders with its neighbour to “protect its national security from the dangers of terrorism and extremism.” A Saudi official cited by SPA said the country decided to “sever diplomatic […]
Qatar launches investigation into cyberattack against its state news agency
DOHA , Qatar (Reuters) – Qatar has launched an investigation into a cyberattack against its official state news agency, an official said on Thursday, after the news agency was hacked. The website of the news agency was hacked early Wednesday morning by hackers who posted a false statement attributed to the country’s Emir, Sheikh Tamin bin Hamad Al-Thani, which seriously deviates from Qatar’s foreign policy. In addition, the Twitter account of the head of the […]
“Most productive trip ever”– President Duterte back from MidEast visit with repatriated OFWs; more than $925M-worth of trade deals signed
(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte arrived from his successful Middle East trip early Monday morning, saying this was his “most productive trip ever” with signed business deals worth more than $925 million in the three countries visited. He also came home together with the overseas Filipino workers who had been given pardon by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, fulfilling his earlier promise that he would come back home with his fellow Filipinos. They were […]
DTI chief: Philippines signs $200m worth of trade agreements with Qatar
DOHA, Qatar –The Philippines and Qatar have signed trade agreements worth $200 million during the final leg of President Rodrigo Duterte’s Gulf tour, Manila’s trade and industry secretary told reporters in Doha Sunday. Ramon Lopez said 6,000 jobs would be created in the Philippines as a result of the 13 agreements signed between private companies at the weekend, which covered areas such as health, defense and tourism. “The private firms in Qatar have shown great […]
Pangulong Duterte, nakipag-usap sa mga OFW sa Saudi
Ni Meanne Corvera Eagle News Service Isa-isang inalam ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte ang kalagayan ng mga Overseas Filipino Workers sa Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, kung saan siya ay naka-state visit simula pa noong Lunes. Sa pagbisita ng Pangulo, naging emosyonal ang mga OFW. “My first question is, where is the Department of OFWs? That is the first question–the Department of OFWs. We want it,” sabi ng isa. Sagot naman ni Duterte, “A (Department of OFWS) is […]
President Duterte leaves for Middle East; closer relations sought with Saudi, Bahrain and Qatar
(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte departed on Monday, April 10, for state visits to three Middle East countries — Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Qatar — saying it was important to “reinforce” ties with the Gulf states where the largest group of Filipinos are working. In his departure speech, President Duterte said this would be first meeting with the “esteemed leaders” in the Gulf, stressing how this is important as “there is much […]





