Omar Chatriwala

I don’t know about you, but as a freelance journalist, I often find I get requests for freelance work at inconvenient times, especially when I’m travelling or just overloaded. 

Usually though, I don’t want to simply say no - I’d rather help find someone who can do the work.

To this end, it seems most useful to put together something of a network of freelance journos who can help each other out, share tips for newbies, and find work. 

So, I’d like to introduce Freelance Qatar - a group made for just that purpose. If you’re a journalist in Qatar and would like to join, go to groups.google.com/group/freelanceqatar/ and click apply. 

*Note: As this is a private group expressly for journalists, you must share details of your journalism experience and links to your work to be eligible for membership. 

Credit: Photo by Kevin Harber

Interesting choice, but there’s no evidence he’s yet achieved the widespread influence his predecessor Wadah Khanfar achieved. It seems a stretch to name him most powerful person in the country.

dohanews:

The Middle East magazine Arabian Business has launched a new list of powerful people in Qatar business, putting Al Jazeera’s director general Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim Al Thani in the top spot.

It says the list intentionally excludes members of the ruling family (like the Emir and…

The two main Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah have agreed to form a unified interim government led by President Mahmoud Abbas after just one day of dialogue in Qatar.

Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, witnessed the signing of a “Doha Declaration” this morning between Abbas, who leads Fatah, and the political chief of Hamas, Khaled Meshaal.

Under the declaration, an interim Palestinian government comprised of ”independents and  technocrats” will pave the way for elections in the West Bank and Gaza, AFP news agency reports. Abbas would replace Salam Fayyad as the prime minister in the new government.

No new date was announced for elections, but under a unity deal the two signed last year, both presidential and parliamentary elections would be held in May. 

The two Palestinian territories have been governed separately for nearly five years: The West Bank and East Jerusalem by the Palestinian Authority under Fatah leadership, and the Gaza Strip by Hamas.

Previous efforts to form a unified interim government had stalled over who would lead it. Al Jazeera reports that Qatar’s emir proposed Abbas for the position in negotiations yesterday at the Emiri Diwan. 

Credit: Photo by Omar Chatriwala