Voters in Qatar approved major proposed changes to its constitution in a referendum on Tuesday, including the scrapping of elections for the advisory Shura Council.
Doha approved the changes after 90.6 per cent of votes were cast in favour of the amendments, the state-run Qatar News Agency cited the interior minister as saying.
Besides ending elections to the Shura Council, which drafts laws, approves state budgets and advises the country's Emir, the constitutional changes will allow all Qatari citizens to hold ministerial positions, previously reserved for Qatar-born citizens. The move comes three years after Qatar held its first election to choose two-thirds of the 45-member council, which was first proposed in 2003 but was repeatedly postponed.
“Qataris celebrated today the fruits of what the forefathers planted … by participating in the general referendum on the draft constitutional amendments to the country's permanent constitution,” Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani said on X after the results.
Sheikh Tamim, who announced plans to hold the referendum last month, said the changes will “protect and preserve” values of “unity and justice”. Last October, he called the legislative elections an "experiment" and proposed constitutional changes to scrap them.
An official holiday has been declared on Wednesday and Thursday to mark the referendum results.
On Tuesday, state media said a “historic turnout” was expected for the vote, describing the amendments as an important milestone and “widely welcomed” by the population. It was the first referendum to be held in Qatar for more than 20 years.
The country has also held municipal council elections every four years since 1999.
AUSTRALIA%20SQUAD
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About%20My%20Father
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Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
'Cheb%20Khaled'
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Marathon results
Men:
1. Titus Ekiru(KEN) 2:06:13
2. Alphonce Simbu(TAN) 2:07:50
3. Reuben Kipyego(KEN) 2:08:25
4. Abel Kirui(KEN) 2:08:46
5. Felix Kemutai(KEN) 2:10:48
Women:
1. Judith Korir(KEN) 2:22:30
2. Eunice Chumba(BHR) 2:26:01
3. Immaculate Chemutai(UGA) 2:28:30
4. Abebech Bekele(ETH) 2:29:43
5. Aleksandra Morozova(RUS) 2:33:01
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Full Party in the Park line-up
2pm – Andreah
3pm – Supernovas
4.30pm – The Boxtones
5.30pm – Lighthouse Family
7pm – Step On DJs
8pm – Richard Ashcroft
9.30pm – Chris Wright
10pm – Fatboy Slim
11pm – Hollaphonic
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
How the bonus system works
The two riders are among several riders in the UAE to receive the top payment of £10,000 under the Thank You Fund of £16 million (Dh80m), which was announced in conjunction with Deliveroo's £8 billion (Dh40bn) stock market listing earlier this year.
The £10,000 (Dh50,000) payment is made to those riders who have completed the highest number of orders in each market.
There are also riders who will receive payments of £1,000 (Dh5,000) and £500 (Dh2,500).
All riders who have worked with Deliveroo for at least one year and completed 2,000 orders will receive £200 (Dh1,000), the company said when it announced the scheme.
