Doha’s decision makers have a choice to make. They can lead their country to the fold of civilised nations, or continue down a destructive and isolating path, says Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber.  EPA / Yoan Valat
Doha’s decision makers have a choice to make. They can lead their country to the fold of civilised nations, or continue down a destructive and isolating path, says Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber. EPA / YoaShow more

Qatar must stop changing the subject and start changing its behaviour



In the two weeks that have passed since the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Bahrain decided to cut diplomatic ties with Qatar, Doha’s response has been to try to change the subject. But what needs to happen is a change in behaviour.

No amount of deflection alters this inconvenient truth. For too long, the State of Qatar has allowed money to flow to terrorist organizations, including Al Qaeda affiliated groups, Al Nusra Front, Hezbollah, Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood. It has provided shelter and support for known terrorists and directed its media assets to promote extremism.

This activity represents a clear and present danger to the stability and security of not only its neighbours, but the wider region and indeed anywhere the terrorists operate.

But please don’t take my word for it. For the last three years in succession, the US Treasury and State Department have consistently singled out Qatar for facilitating terrorist financing. In 2014, the US Treasury warned, “Qatar has become such a permissive terrorist financing environment that several major Qatar-based fundraisers act as local representatives for larger terrorist fundraising networks.”

The following year, the State Department asserted that nothing had changed, noting, “entities and individuals within Qatar continue to serve as a source of financial support for terrorist and violent extremist groups.”

Last year the picture was distressingly similar, with the Treasury concluding that Qatar “still lacks the necessary political will and capacity to effectively enforce their counter financing of terrorism laws.”

The pattern of behaviour is clear. Despite multiple promises, Qatar has failed to deliver and our patience has run out.

The time has come for the State of Qatar to follow through on the promises it made in 2014, when it signed the Riyadh agreement in response to our last determined effort to persuade the Doha Government to mend its ways: namely to cease acts of subversion and interference in the domestic affairs of GCC countries and other countries in the region; to prevent its media from being used as a platform for terrorist sympathisers and regional destabilisation; and forbid incitement by religious figures. Critically we want Doha to stop its revenue streams from being recycled to finance terrorist, extremist and related organisations.

However, despite Qatar’s pledges, unfortunately nothing has changed. When Qatar continues to allow extremist clerics to defend suicide bombings it should come as no surprise that it leads some people down a path toward evil, be they in Manchester, London, Paris or Kabul. Equally, when Qatar pays a billion dollar cash ransom to Hezbollah affiliates in Iraq and Al Qaeda affiliates in Syria, an uptick in terrorist incidents around the world is inevitable.

People should know that our decision to cut ties was taken with a heavy heart. It has consequences that its neighbours must bear alongside the State of Qatar. Our people have friends and relatives in Qatar, who have been affected by this. However, we all risk a much greater peril were we not to act.

Doha claims that the action taken by its neighbours is uncivilised. This is disingenuous. There is no blockade on the State of Qatar. The airport and seaports are open to the world, just not to bilateral trade with countries that, in the interest of national security, have suspended diplomatic and economic relations.

Yes, there is an impact to the measures we have taken, but it is one shared by all parties, and it pales in comparison to the human cost of the terror enabled by the State of Qatar.

We want nothing more than to resume normal, respectful and friendly relations with Qatar. A diplomatic solution is attainable, but the key to that outcome lies with the government of Qatar. Doha’s decision makers have a choice to make. They can lead their country to the fold of civilised nations, or continue down a destructive and isolating path. I truly hope they change course and choose wisely.

HE Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber is Minister of State

This article first appeared on CNN.com

UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

LA LIGA FIXTURES

Friday Celta Vigo v Villarreal (midnight kick-off UAE)

Saturday Sevilla v Real Sociedad (4pm), Atletico Madrid v Athletic Bilbao (7.15pm), Granada v Barcelona (9.30pm), Osasuna v Real Madrid (midnight)

Sunday Levante v Eibar (4pm), Cadiz v Alaves (7.15pm), Elche v Getafe (9.30pm), Real Valladolid v Valencia (midnight)

Monday Huesca v Real Betis (midnight)

The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre turbo

Power: 181hp

Torque: 230Nm

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

Starting price: Dh79,000

On sale: Now

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Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances

All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.

Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.

Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.

Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.

Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.

Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.

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The specs

Engine: 2.3-litre, turbo four-cylinder

Transmission: 10-speed auto

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If you go

The flights

There are direct flights from Dubai to Sofia with FlyDubai (www.flydubai.com) and Wizz Air (www.wizzair.com), from Dh1,164 and Dh822 return including taxes, respectively.

The trip

Plovdiv is 150km from Sofia, with an hourly bus service taking around 2 hours and costing $16 (Dh58). The Rhodopes can be reached from Sofia in between 2-4hours.

The trip was organised by Bulguides (www.bulguides.com), which organises guided trips throughout Bulgaria. Guiding, accommodation, food and transfers from Plovdiv to the mountains and back costs around 170 USD for a four-day, three-night trip.

 

Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction

Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.

Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.

Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.

Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.

Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.

What are the guidelines?

Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.

Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.

Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.

Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.

Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.

Source: American Paediatric Association
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THE SPECS

Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine 

Power: 420kW

Torque: 780Nm

Transmission: 8-speed automatic

Price: From Dh1,350,000

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The Farewell

Director: Lulu Wang

Stars: Awkwafina, Zhao Shuzhen, Diana Lin, Tzi Ma

Four stars

Company Profile

Founders: Tamara Hachem and Yazid Erman
Based: Dubai
Launched: September 2019
Sector: health technology
Stage: seed
Investors: Oman Technology Fund, angel investor and grants from Sharjah's Sheraa and Ma'an Abu Dhabi