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The State of Qatar participated in the Yemen Maritime Security Partnership Conference held in Riyadh under the auspices of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom. The State of Qatar's delegation was headed by Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Bandar bin Mohammed Al Attiyah.

"At this particular time and stage, the main focus and top priority is to maintain the sovereignty and security of our country Qatar and guarantee that such attacks by Israel never happen again," stressed Advisor to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr Majid bin Mohamed al Ansari.Speaking at the weekly media briefing of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday, he pointed out that Qatar will remain committed to the process of peace, mediation and arriving at peaceful settlements for the all the conflicts around the world and in particular Gaza and Palestinian issue. However, it is clear from the reckless action, the recent Israeli attacks on Doha and in particular on Hamas peace negotiators, that Israel does not want peace and is not serious about reaching a peace deal with Hamas. They even seem to be no longer caring about the wellbeing and safe return of the Israeli hostages.Regarding the current visit to Qatar by US Secretary of State Mark Rubio, Dr Al-Ansari stressed that the defence agreement and treaties between Qatar and the US has been a long term relationship and the recent events could only expedite such agreements and further enhance them. Yet, the relationship and defence relations has always been active and effective as the US President has described Qatar as a key and important ally and partnerIn the meantime, he noted that so long as Israel is persisting on targeting the peaceful negotiators and the mediator as well, there will be no validity for continuing the negotiations in such circumstances. This does not mean that Qatar will undermine its peaceful efforts for Gaza or other places of conflict around the world.Dr Al- Ansari Ansari further stressed the humanitarian efforts and humanitarian and basic medical aid is a continuous process for Qatar, as recently the due aid was delivered to Syria and Afghanistan in cooperation and coordination with the partners and friends.Regarding the outcome of the Emergency and Islamic Summit held in Doha on Monday, he confirmed that it sends to the world a strong message of solidarity and support with Qatar to maintain its sovereignty, condemning the irresponsible Israeli attacks on Doha, and demanding a strong international response against Israeli aggression.

Romania's Foreign Ministry on Sunday summoned the Russian ambassador to Bucharest over the entry of a Russian drone into its airspace during an attack on Ukraine. Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Toiu said that Russia's ambassador to Bucharest, Vladimir Lipaev, was summoned to the ministry and that Romania conveyed its strong protest against this act, adding that Moscow's actions pose a "new challenge" to Black Sea security.Earlier today, Romania strongly condemned the entry of a Russian drone into its airspace during an attack on neighboring Ukraine. The incursion comes days after Poland said it had shot down Russian drones that had violated its airspace.In a statement, Romania's defense ministry said it "strongly condemns the irresponsible actions of the Russian Federation and emphasizes that they represent a new challenge to regional security and stability in the Black Sea area."

The President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, who is on a visit to the UAE, discussed ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation.The two sides also exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual concern, including the Israeli attack on the State of Qatar. Both sides reiterated their countries' condemnation of the attack and expressed their solidarity with Qatar, emphasizing that such acts undermine regional security, stability, and prospects for peace.

Japan on Wednesday strongly condemned Israel's strikes on a residential compound in Doha that targeted several Hamas leaders, describing the attack as a threat to Qatar's sovereignty and regional security.Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said the attack represented a "hindrance to diplomatic efforts" aimed at securing a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages. He expressed Japan's solidarity with Qatar and urged Israel to return to negotiations.Hayashi underlined Qatar's pivotal role in mediation efforts to achieve a ceasefire and facilitate the release of hostages, warning that the Israeli strikes could undermine the negotiating process and further complicate efforts to achieve peace in the region.

An awareness workshop led by cybersecurity trainer Farhan Alsadi underscored the need for individuals and organisations in Qatar to strengthen their digital defences amid rising cyber threats.The session, held under the framework of the National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA), at the Qatar Press Center on Sunday highlighted the fast-evolving risks to personal data, critical infrastructure, and national digital assets.Alsadi cautioned that cybercrime today poses challenges not just to governments and corporations but also to everyday users navigating an increasingly connected world.He explained that cybersecurity is more than firewalls and passwords. “It is a structured set of practices and technologies designed to protect systems, networks, and information from malicious attacks,” he said. This includes securing data, preventing unauthorised access, and adopting swift response mechanisms in case of breaches.Participants were introduced to the central objectives of cybersecurity, beginning with the fundamental aim of protecting data from unauthorised access or exploitation. They learned that safeguarding sensitive information is the first line of defence in a digital world where personal, corporate, and even national assets are increasingly targeted. Closely linked to this is the need to secure networks and digital infrastructure against cyberattacks, ensuring that the systems underpinning communications, commerce, and governance remain resilient.Encryption was highlighted as a vital tool for maintaining the confidentiality of information as it moves across networks, effectively shielding it from interception or misuse. Alongside this, the importance of establishing strong security policies was emphasised, particularly in combating the persistent threat of malware that can cripple operations or compromise trust. Finally, participants were reminded that breaches, despite precautions, remain a reality; therefore, rapid response measures are essential to contain damage, restore functionality, and prevent repeat attacks.Together, these objectives framed cybersecurity not as a single action, but as an ongoing, multi-layered effort to build digital trust and resilience.The workshop stressed that protecting cyberspace is not only about technology but also about people. Raising awareness, Alsadi noted, is central to building a cyber-resilient society. Training sessions, awareness campaigns, and institutional programmes remain the first line of defence.He also pointed to the NCSA’s efforts in training national cadres on the latest cybersecurity tools, alongside supporting research to keep Qatar abreast of global challenges. International co-operation with leading countries and organisations was cited as key to keeping pace with the ever-changing threat landscape.Alsadi drew attention to the NCSA’s role in safeguarding personal data. Initiatives include educating users on their privacy rights, developing institutional training programmes, and adopting best practices based on international standards. Multiple reporting platforms are available for citizens to flag breaches swiftly, ensuring transparency and protection.The workshop also clarified how the NCSA and the Ministry of Interior work hand in hand. While the Agency focuses on awareness, prevention, and technical expertise, the Ministry investigates cybercrimes, gathers digital evidence, and coordinates with international bodies such as Interpol. Together, the two entities form a comprehensive shield for Qatar’s digital environment.Concluding the session, Alsadi urged participants to adopt a proactive stance. “Cybersecurity is not a one-off task but an ongoing responsibility,” he reminded. “Every click, every password, and every data transaction carries a risk — and also an opportunity to protect.”

Qatar has an important role to play in ensuring Gulf security, especially in the emerging scenario since the open war between Iran and Israel because of its role as a conflict resolution player, noted a Middle East security expert.“The effort that Qatar is making alongside Egypt in bringing Israel and Hamas to a ceasefire in Gaza is extremely significant to de-escalating tensions in the region. So, I think that is an important role that Qatar plays,” Hasan Alhasan, senior fellow for Middle East Policy, International Institute for Strategic Studies told Gulf Times.He was interacting with Gulf Times on the sidelines of a panel discussion ‘Rethinking Gulf Security Following the Iran- Israel War,’ organised by the Middle East Council on Global Affairs.“Qatar is a member of the GCC and obviously it received a lot of GCC support and solidarity during the Iranian attacks at the height of the war. So, I think Qatar is an important diplomatic player and it is using its good offices to broker de-escalation in conflict resolution,” explained the official.As for the readiness of the GCC countries to face any emerging security threats, Alhasan noted that there is significant military modernisation in the Gulf States including Qatar.He feels that the recent war between Iran and Israel has direct security destabilising spillover effects for the Arab Gulf states and the Arab Gulf states are beginning to perceive it increasingly.“I think Israel actually presents more of a direct threat because of the fact that it seems to have embraced the view of the region as an open battleground. This has direct security destabilising spillover effects for the Arab and the Gulf States,” he said.Alhasan highlighted there is a significant improvement in GCC defence and military capabilities over the past few years.“However the GCC states may not be capable of addressing the threat posed by Israel specifically as they continue to rely on Western defence technology. They continue to rely on their defence and security partnership with the US and those might not prove fully effective in deterring and defending against potential, theoretical and hypothetical threats,” he continued.The expert stated that Qatar and the other GCC states are already part of a defence and security alliance, which is called the GCC. “The GCC has a mutual defence undertaking that unites all of the GCC states together. So, the GCC states already have this sort of commitment to defending one another against external threats,” he underlined.“The question is whether the GCC states are actually taking concrete steps and measures for further defence integration to make sure that they can act as a single army in case of conflict. And this is where I think a lot of the work will have to be done to bring GCC military and defence capabilities more closely together to operate cohesively as a single military unit in case of any conflict,” added, Alhasan.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that any Western troops deployed to Ukraine would be legitimate targets for Moscow to attack.Putin was speaking a day after French President Emmanuel Macron said 26 countries had pledged to provide postwar security guarantees to Ukraine, including an international force on land, sea and in the air.

HE Minister of Interior and Commander of the Internal Security Force "Lekhwiya" Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani met Thursday with Minister of Interior of the Syrian Arab Republic Anas Khattab and his accompanying delegation, currently visiting Doha.The meeting reviewed co-operation relations in security fields and ways to enhance and develop them, in addition to a number of issues of common interest.

National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA) announced that QIIB has become the first bank in Qatar to be awarded the National Information Assurance (NIA) certificate.The bank successfully achieved the electronic compliance certificate for NIA certification number 10023.QIIB is now officially listed as a certified entity on the NCSA's website.QIIB Chief Executive Officer Dr Abdulbasit Ahmad al-Shaibei stated, “Receiving the first NIA certification in the banking sector in Qatar marks a pivotal milestone in the journey of our institution and reaffirms our position as a pioneer in adopting the highest standards of cybersecurity.“This achievement was made possible through the constructive collaboration with the National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA) and the supervisory authorities, most notably the Qatar Central Bank.”“This certification is a clear testament to our strict adherence to advanced information security practices and reflects our alignment with the national cybersecurity strategy of the State of Qatar. It further strengthens our clients’ confidence in the security and reliability of our digital banking services.”He further noted: “We extend our sincere gratitude and appreciation to the National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA) for its continuous support and valuable guidance throughout this certification process. Their role has been instrumental in helping us reach this remarkable milestone.”“With this certification, we reaffirm our commitment to investing in the latest cybersecurity solutions and technologies to ensure highly secure and resilient digital banking services. This reflects our dedication to meeting our clients’ expectations while contributing to the national efforts of building a safe and integrated digital ecosystem in Qatar,” al-Shaibei added.NCSA emphasised the importance of compliance with the National Information Assurance (NIA) Standard as it contributes to the protection of national information assets and strengthens the cybersecurity posture across sectors.NCSA said it looks forward to other banks and financial institutions, government entities and organisations within critical sectors obtaining the National Information Assurance (NIA) Certification, which will fundamentally enhance and contribute to raising the level of cyber resilience across the nation.

Iraqi security forces announced Friday the arrest of two prominent members of the ISIS organization during a security operation in Kirkuk Governorate, northern Iraq.The Iraqi Military Intelligence Directorate stated that security forces managed, during a special operation, to apprehend two ISIS members, noting that one of the detainees was responsible for logistical tasks, while the other participated in several attacks targeting Iraqi security forces.The statement added that the operation comes as part of ongoing efforts to enhance security and stability in the governorate and to pursue remnants of the ISIS organization.Iraqi forces continue to pursue ISIS remnants and sleeper cells across various provinces of the country.

US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to end collective bargaining with federal unions in some agencies that have "national security missions", the White House said.The order would apply to unions in agencies such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa), the Patent and Trademark Office, the National Weather Service and others, the White House said in a statement.Trump also signed a presidential memorandum aimed at preventing federal grant money from going toward political lobbying, the White House said.The memo directs Attorney-General Pam Bondi to investigate whether funds from federal grants "are being illegally used to support lobbying activities and to take appropriate enforcement action", according to a White House fact sheet.