Page 3 - Qatar

Dhami meets Capt Saurabh released from Qatar; veteran expresses gratitude

Captain Saurabh Vashisht is one of the eight Indian Navy veterans who were detained by Qatar on espionage charges. He returned home after months of captivity

We survived because of our defence training: Navy vet released from Qatar

Ragesh Gopakumar, one of the eight Indian Navy veterans released by the Qatar government, expressed joy and gratitude over returning home and being reunited with his family after spending months in captivity in the tiny gulf nation. "We are just happy to be alive... happy to be home," a relieved Gopakumar said, adding that he and his colleagues survived only because of their Defence training. He was freed along with seven other former Navy personnel by Qatar two days ago after their death sentences were commuted to jail terms of varying duration. Gopakumar arrived in Balaramapuram, a suburb located over 16 km away from Kerala's capital city, on Monday and tearfully hugged his family members. Speaking to PTI, the ex-Navy man said, "Prison and confinement is something terrible." Whenever someone enquired what the plight of his family had been when he was in prison, he would ask them to imagine a situation where a husband who used to speak to his wife at least five times a day ...

Reprieve in Qatar

Development shows the relevance of effective diplomatic engagement

PM Modi's two-day bilateral visit to UAE, Qatar: 5 things on agenda

PM Modi's UAE trip: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold key bilateral talks in UAE, Qatar and also inaugurate the first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday

Highlights of the day: Farmers to go ahead with 'Delhi Chalo' march

LIVE updates: Catch all the latest updates from around the world here

PM Narendra Modi to visit Qatar as Navy veterans return to India

May ink pacts on energy, ports, fintech in Doha; to inaugurate temple in UAE

Anurag Thakur welcomes release of 8 Navy vets facing death row in Qatar

Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Monday welcomed the release of eight Navy veterans who were facing death row in Qatar and said it strengthened the belief in seriousness and the ability of the Modi government to protect its citizens at any cost. Qatar released eight jailed former Indian Navy personnel nearly three-and-a-half months after they were handed down death sentences in a case of suspected espionage. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said seven of them returned to India in the early hours of Monday. "This homecoming of our Navy veterans is a moment of happiness and this further strengthens our belief in the seriousness and ability of the Modi government to protect its citizens at any cost," Thakur said on X. "Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi means the guarantee of life, limb and liberty of the people of India across the globe," he said, adding that the veterans were detained "under some false charges". The Navy veterans were on October 26 given death sentences by Qata

PM Modi is Pradhan Rakshak: Scindia after Qatar freed Indian Navy veterans

In a major diplomatic triumph for India, eight veterans of the Indian Navy who were sentenced to death in Qatar were released on Monday

Cong joins entire nation in relief: Ramesh on Qatar releasing ex-Navy vets

The Congress Monday expressed relief and happiness at Qatar releasing eight former Indian naval personnel nearly three and a half months after they were handed down death sentences, and it greeted them and their families. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said seven of them have returned to India. It said India appreciates the decision by the Amir of Qatar to enable the release and home-coming of the Indians. The Navy veterans were on October 26 last year given death sentences by Qatar's Court of First Instance in a case of suspected espionage. In a post on 'X', Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, "The Indian National Congress joins the entire nation in its relief and happiness that the eight former Indian Navy personnel earlier sentenced to death by a court in Qatar have been released and are back home." "It sends its greetings and good wishes to them and their families," he said. The Court of Appeal in the Gulf nation on December 28 last year commuted the capital

Wouldn't have been possible: Freed Navy vets praise PM on return from Qatar

Their death sentence was later commuted to an extended prison term following sustained diplomatic interventions and legal assistance from New Delhi

Rs 750 cr stuck in Qatar projects due to delays in payments: Voltas CEO

Tata Group firm Voltas is facing a major headwind in Qatar as around Rs 750 crore has been stuck due to delays in the realisation of overdue receivables and execution timelines, said its MD and CEO Pradeep Bakshi. In some projects, bank guarantees were "unethically" encashed by some contractors, which was an "uncalled" action to make quick money, derailing the international project business of Tata Group firm in the December quarter, he added. "Unprecedented things are happening in that area, especially in Qatar, wherein, unfortunately, our dues are not being paid to us timely, and inordinate delays are happening. We have completed the project and handed it over, and despite that, payments are not made," Bakshi told PTI. Voltas has already approached the Indian government for help on the issue and also approached the Embassy in Qatar. MEP (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing) contractor Voltas has completed the projects in Qatar and handed them over as per the contract. However, i

Unplanned green transition hurts smaller nations: Qatar, Guyana ministers

Says renewables won't produce petrochemicals, need focus on oil demand reduction

Qatar PM says Hamas had positive response to Gaza cease-fire proposal

Qatar's prime minister said on Tuesday that Hamas' reaction to the latest plan for a cease-fire in Gaza and the release of hostages was generally positive" as he met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who was making his latest visit to the Middle East. Qatar, which has long mediated with Hamas, has been working with the US and Egypt to broker a cease-fire that would involve an extended halt in fighting and the release of the over 100 hostages still held by Hamas after its October 7 cross-border raid that ignited the war nearly four months ago. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani did not provide any details on Hamas' response but said the group had comments. Blinken confirmed that officials had received Hamas' response and said he would brief Israel's leaders when he visits the country on Wednesday. Hamas said in a statement that it responded in a positive spirit to the latest proposal from the US and Mideast mediators. But the militant group said it still seeks a ...

Petronet signs a new long-term agreement to source LNG from Qatar

An existing deal for another 7.5 MMTPA of LNG from Qatar, signed back in 1999, was also recently extended by the company till 2028

Govt saves $6 bn on Qatar LNG deal renewal, signs $78 bn pact for 20 years

India on Tuesday signed a USD 78 billion deal to extend LNG imports from Qatar by another 20 years till 2048 at rates lower than current prices. Petronet LNG Ltd, India's biggest liquefied natural gas (LNG) importer, in a statement said it has signed a pact with QatarEnergy to extend the deal to buy 7.5 million tonne a year of gas for producing electricity, making fertilizers and converting it into CNG. The deal was signed on the sidelines of India Energy Week (IEW) here. Sources said the renewal is at a "significantly" lower price than the current deal. At current prices, India will save about USD 0.8 per million British thermal unit at the renewed terms. This translates into savings of USD 6 billion over the contract period. Petronet imports 8.5 million tonne per annum (MTPA) of LNG from Qatar under two contracts. The first 25-year deal is to expire in 2028 and has now been extended for 20 additional years. The second deal for 1 MTPA entered into in 2015, will be negotiated ...

India to sign billion dollar deal to extend LNG imports from Qatar

India is likely to sign on Tuesday a multi-billion dollar deal to extend LNG imports from Qatar till 2048 at rates that are lower than current prices, sources said. Petronet LNG Ltd will sign the deal with QatarEnergy to extend import of 7.5 million tonne a year on sidelines of India Energy Week here. Sources said the price will be "significantly' lower than current price. Petronet currently imports 8.5 million tonne a year of LNG from Qatar under two contracts. The first 25-year deal is to expire in 2028 and is now being extended for 20 additional years. The second deal for 1 million tonne a year entered into in 2015, will be negotiated separately, sources said. India, the world's third biggest energy consumer, sees natural gas as a transition fuel for migrating to net zero carbon emissions by 2070. As part of this, the government is targeting to raise the share of natural gas in the country's energy mix to 15 per cent by 2030 from 6.3 per cent now. Sources said the current deal

Qatar hits major LNG growth market India, to hold talks with Gail, IOC

The Persian Gulf producer will hold high-level talks with Gail India Ltd. and Indian Oil Corp. during India Energy Week in Goa, according to traders with knowledge of the discussions

'Good progress' in talks on freeing hostages and Gaza ceasefire: Qatari PM

According to Al Thani, Hamas needs to reach "to a place where they engage positively and constructively in the process"

Israel notes 'significant gaps' after cease-fire talks with US, Qatar

Israel said significant gaps remain after cease-fire talks Sunday with the United States, Qatar and Egypt but called them constructive and said they would continue in the week ahead, a tentative sign of progress on a potential agreement that could see Israel pause military operations against Hamas in exchange for the release of remaining hostages. The US announced its first military deaths in the region since the war began and blamed Iran-backed militants for the drone strike in Jordan that killed three American service members amid concerns about a wider conflict. The statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office on the cease-fire talks did not say what the significant gaps were. There was no immediate statement from the other parties. The war has killed more than 26,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, destroyed vast swaths of Gaza and displaced nearly 85 per cent of the territory's people. Israel says its air and ground offensive has killed

US, Qatar lead high-stakes talks in Paris on Gaza hostage, ceasefire

Recent reports indicate a potential deal is closer, envisioning a two-month suspension of fighting in Gaza. The release of hostages would occur in two or three phases