Qatar amends terrorism laws in a bid to dispel charges of supporting terrorism

Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani issued a decree on Thursday amending the country’s anti-terrorism laws in a bid to “dispel charges it supports terrorism,” Reuters reports. The move earned Doha some praise from the UAE, whose minister of state for foreign affairs said it is a “positive step,” but maintained that Qatar’s policies must change before the Arab quartet can begin direct talks to end the regional rift, Bloomberg reports. The UAE also unblocked BeIN channels from being aired, according to CNN Money. The US and the UK each praised Qatar for its “commitment to combat terrorism,” and called for an end to the blockade of Qatar.