HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani received yesterday evening a telephone call from Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi.
Discussions during the call dealt with bilateral relations and developments in the region.  
Abadi affirmed Iraqi Government’s determination to continue its endeavours to release the rest of Qatari citizens abducted in Iraq and take appropriate measures to ensure their safety and their return to their homeland as soon as possible.  
The two sides also affirmed their condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and stressed the need to intensify efforts to combat it in order to maintain the security and stability of the region.

Diplomatic Institute conducts course
The Diplomatic Institute of the Foreign Ministry has concluded a training course on “Diplomacy in the Digital Age.”
The key speaker was former Spanish foreign minister Miguel Angel Moratinos.
The training course included topics on shifts in modern diplomacy, the dynamics of soft power diplomacy, strategies and techniques of digital diplomacy, the end of secret diplomacy, the diplomatic crisis in the digital age, diplomacy and the freedom of the Internet, diplomacy and security challenges and risks, and diplomats and the prospects for 21st digital century.
Moratinos praised the efficiency of the Qatari diplomats participating in the course and their ability and discipline. He thanked the Diplomatic Institute for organising the course, and expressed his willingness to co-operate in all matters of common interest.
The training course is part of the Institute’s plan aimed at the development of the Foreign Ministry staff, especially on modern trends in contemporary diplomacy.

Iranian man accused of fraud
A Doha criminal court has been reviewing the case of an Iranian man accused of fraud and misappropriating luxury goods worth QR400,000 from a local retailer.
Local Arabic daily Arrayah reported yesterday that a shop owner on Salwa Road had accused the Iranian of taking from him traditional men’s headwear and incense worth QR400,000 and paid him with a cheque that had the name of well-known businessman. However, when the shop owner went to the bank to cash the cheque, the bank refused because the signature was different from the approved one.
The seller tried to contact the defendant but he received no answer, so he reported the issue to the police. The defendant was eventually arrested and the seized goods were found at his accommodation.

Real estate transactions
The total value of trading in real estate contracts registered with the Real Estate Registration Department at the Ministry of Justice from April 10 to 14 is worth QR414,497,600.
According to the weekly bulletin issued by the department, the list of properties that were traded includes multi-purpose plots of land, houses and multi-purpose buildings and a residential compound, which are located in the municipalities of Doha, Umm Salal, Al Khor, Al Dhakira, Al Rayyan, Al Shamal, Al Daayen and Al Wakrah.

QU appoints head of Strategy and Development
Qatar University has appointed Dr Darwish al-Emadi as head of Strategy and Development.
Dr al-Emadi previously held the post of director of QU Social and Economic Survey Research Institute and recently, acting vice-president of research.
A 1979 graduate of QU Department of English and Modern European Languages, Dr al-Emadi obtained his doctorate in Sociolinguistics in 1986.
He has held several senior administrative posts at QU, including dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences from 1995 to 2000 and dean of the graduate school from 2001 to 2003.