Covering breaking news, politics, business, culture and life in and around Qatar since 2009.
Doha, Qatar
Joined March 2009
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The @AmiriDiwan has announced the passing away of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.
#Qatar is mourning the loss of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the #FatherAmir of the State of Qatar, who passed away at the age of 74. Sheikh Hamad led the country's transformation into a global hub for diplomacy, energy, education and sport during his reign as Amir from 1995 to 2013. His passing marks the end of a defining chapter in the nation's history.
#Qatar Red Crescent Society [@QRCS] has urged the public to #donate to #support displaced #Palestinian families in #Gaza as they face freezing temperatures in makeshift tents offering little protection from the #winter cold.
With little more than tent fabric separating families from the elements, #QRCS is seeking donations to provide essential winter supplies and ease the suffering of those affected by the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
Princess Sarah, wife of Brunei Darussalam’s Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah, visited the Shafallah Centre for Persons with Disabilities in #Qatar.
The visit follows Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah’s meeting with Qatar’s Amir Sheikh @TamimBinHamad Al Thani at the @AmiriDiwan on Monday, during his visit to the country.
Princess Sarah was received by Qatar’s Minister of Social Development and Family Buthaina bint Ali Al Jabr Al Nuaimi and briefed on the centre’s services and programmes.
#Israel will return the body of 17-year-old Palestinian Walid Ahmad to his family, 19 months after he died in Israel’s Megiddo Prison and following a legal battle through the High Court.
Walid was starved to death in Israeli custody, where he was held for nearly six months without charge, and his cellmate said pleas for medical help were refused as his condition deteriorated.
#Qatar’s Ministry of Municipality [@albaladiya] has warned that selling goods on roads or using homes as shops without the required licences is a legal violation punishable by law.
It clarified that a home business #licence allows sales only under approved conditions and does not permit turning a residence into a shop. The ministry urged businesses to use licensed sales channels and comply with regulations.
Music, history and memories of a longstanding friendship between #Qatar and #Cuba came together at Katara Drama Theatre on Sunday, as @EmbaCuba_Qatar marked the 100th anniversary of #FidelCastro’s birth.
The event brought together Qatar’s former Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh @hamadjjalthani, former non-resident Ambassador to Cuba Nassir bin Abdulaziz Al Nasser, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director of Protocol Ibrahim Yousif Fakhro, Cuban Ambassador to Qatar @EEnriquez62 and other members of the diplomatic corps.
A documentary revisited Castro’s political legacy, Cuba’s development and his support for the #Palestinian cause, while an exhibition highlighted the historic relationship between Doha and Havana, including visits to Cuba by the late Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.
The celebration also featured live performances of traditional #Cuban music, bringing the evening to a close with a tribute to Castro’s legacy and the friendship between Cuba and Qatar.
Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani has been elected Vice-President of the @qatar_olympic [QOC]. The QOC’s General Assembly elected her during its 2026 Extraordinary General Assembly on Monday, chaired by QOC President Sheikh @JoaanBinHamad Al Thani. Mohamed bin Yousef Al Mana was also named Vice-President, following Thani bin Abdulrahman Al Kuwari’s decision to step down from the position.
The assembly also finalised the composition of the #QOC’s Board of Directors and reviewed the results of Qatar’s national teams at the Aichi–Nagoya 2026 #AsianGames, as well as preparations for upcoming multi-sport events.
#Qatar is expected to host U.S. Vice President @JDVance and Secretary of #Iran's Supreme National Security Council Mohsen Rezaei next week for talks aimed at advancing negotiations between #Washington and #Tehran, Middle East Eye has reported.
Speaking at a conference in Ankara on Monday, Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalın said Qatar would host JD Vance and Mohsen Rezaei next week, describing the planned meeting as an important opportunity for a breakthrough in negotiations, Middle East Eye reported.
Canadian music took centre stage at the Qatar National Convention Centre [QNCC] on Sunday evening, as the @qatar_phil harmonic Orchestra performed as part of the Qatar-Canada Year of Culture.
The #orchestra performed under the baton of renowned conductor Charles Olivieri-Munroe, winner of First Prize at the prestigious Prague Spring International Conducting Competition.
The programme celebrated Canada's musical heritage through works by composers Oskar Morawetz, Pierre Mercure and Jacques Hétu. It featured Morawetz's Carnival Overture and Symphony No. 2, Mercure's Kaleidoscope and Hétu's On the Banks of the Saint-Maurice River.
@Qatar_Museums Chairperson Sheikha @almayassahamad and #Canada's Ambassador to #Qatar @kmorcos_ attended the event alongside other distinguished guests.
Scattered showers left streets in Lusail wet on Monday as rain fell across parts of #Qatar. The Qatar Meteorology Department [QMD] said the showers could turn thundery at times, bringing sudden strong winds and reduced visibility.
The QMD expects a noticeable drop in temperatures later this week as northwesterly winds strengthen, with daytime highs of 25°C to 33°C and night-time lows of 18°C to 22°C.
Antigua and Barbuda is working to improve air connectivity between the Middle East and the #Caribbean, with plans to position the country as a gateway for travellers from the region.
Speaking to @DohaNews on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting [CHOGM] 2026, Antigua and Barbuda’s Tourism Minister Henry Charles ‘Max’ Fernandez said the government is working through diplomatic channels to explore flight connections to the Middle East.
Antigua and Barbuda expects to welcome around 1.2 million visitors by air and cruise ship this year, with a target of reaching 1.5 million before the end of 2030.
.@MOPHQatar [MoPH] has told parents to stop using Babies’ Magic Tea #Baby Sleep Gripe Water (4 oz / 120 ml), warning that it contains undeclared alcohols that may pose health risks to children.
The product is not registered in #Qatar but is sold online. The ministry urged anyone who has it to dispose of it immediately and to seek medical advice if a child develops symptoms after using it.
JW Marriott Marquis City Center #Doha welcomed guests to its annual Garden Party on Saturday, celebrating the connection between hospitality and wellness. In collaboration with saffron wellness brand #ByBelo, the event featured saffron-inspired details, including culinary creations and specially curated giveaways showcasing ByBelo’s signature saffron-infused Moroccan beauty products, according to the hotel.
Taking place poolside, the gathering brought together members of the Qatari media and corporate partners for an outdoor dining experience centred around a long table decorated with fresh herbs sourced from the hotel’s homegrown JW Garden. Drawing inspiration from nature and mindful living, the event highlighted the hotel’s approach to cuisine, with an emphasis on fresh ingredients, regional heritage and well-being.
Adding to the experience, the tables were set with seed-paper menus, while guests were invited to pen their wishes on seed-paper cards.
#Qatar’s Amir Sheikh @TamimBinHamad Al Thani met with #Brunei Darussalam’s Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah, and his accompanying delegation on Monday during their visit to the country.
The Crown Prince conveyed greetings from Brunei Darussalam’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah to the Amir, along with his wishes for Qatar’s continued progress and prosperity. Sheikh Tamim, in turn, asked him to convey his greetings to the Sultan and extended his wishes for continued progress and prosperity to the people of Brunei.
The meeting reviewed bilateral relations between Qatar and Brunei Darussalam and ways to strengthen cooperation across various fields. The two sides also discussed key issues of mutual interest.
The meeting was also attended by Deputy Amir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani, Chief of the @AmiriDiwan Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khulaifi, and several ministers and senior officials.
.@QatarEmb_Cairo has expressed #Qatar’s condolences to the government and people of #Egypt and to the families of the victims of a train collision in Al-Ayyat, Giza Governorate.
Two passenger #trains collided in the area on Sunday, killing seven people and injuring 125, according to @mohpegypt.
The embassy affirmed Qatar’s solidarity with Egypt, prayed for mercy for those who died and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
.@MOI_Qatar has announced the second edition of the Doha International Music and Marching Festival, known as #DohaTattoo. In a post on X, the ministry said the festival will bring together #military music and field formations performed by bands from around the world.
The first edition, held at @kataraqatar Cultural Village from 16 to 20 December 2025, featured bands from #Qatar and six other countries.
#Qatar has officially designated Umm Al Houl Naval Base Port and Dukhan Air Base Airport as new entry and exit points under a decision issued by Minister of Interior Sheikh @KHK Al Thani.
Published in the Official Gazette on 8 November, Ministerial Decision No. 40 of 2026 amends a 2023 decision regulating the country's designated entry and exit points. The amendment adds Umm Al Houl Port to the list of maritime entry points and Dukhan Air Base Airport to the list of air entry points.
The decision takes effect on Monday, 9 November.
Reports claiming to reveal details of the proposal shared with the U.S. and #Iran, including claims about uranium enrichment, the release of frozen #Iranian assets and mediation efforts in #Yemen, are “categorically false”, according to a #Qatari official.
Negotiations are ongoing, and both sides are talking with mediators on the details of a deal, the official said, urging the public and media outlets to avoid circulating unverified information and to rely on official government sources for updates on diplomatic efforts.
.@qatarenergy has signed an agreement to acquire a 25% stake in an offshore exploration block in #Namibia from Chevron Namibia Exploration II Limited, a subsidiary of @Chevron further expanding its international #energy portfolio.
The agreement covers Petroleum Exploration License 0082 [PEL82], spanning an area of approximately 11,444 square kilometres, with water depths ranging from 350 to 2,300 metres.
Qatar’s Minister of State for Energy Affairs and #QatarEnergy’s Vice Chairman, President and CEO Saad bin Sherida Al Kaabi said the agreement would strengthen ties with Chevron and expand the company’s presence in Namibia, as both sides work to advance exploration activities.
Once completed, #Chevron will retain a 55% stake as operator, while Namcor E&P and Custos Energy will each hold 10%.