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His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and President of the Republic of Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan co-chaired Wednesday the 11th meeting of the Qatari-Turkish Supreme Strategic Committee at the Amiri Diwan. At the outset of the meeting, His Highness the Amir welcomed the Turkish president and his accompanying delegation, wishing them a pleasant stay in Qatar and wishing the strategic relations between the two countries continued development and growth across all areas of partnership to achieve the interests of the two fraternal peoples. He pointed out that the 11th meeting of the Supreme Strategic Committee reflects the strength of the relationship between the two countries, stressing his keenness to strengthen and develop relations to broader horizons. **media[372048]** For his part, the president of Turkiye voiced his thanks and appreciation to His Highness the Amir for the warm welcome and generous hospitality, noting that bilateral relations between the two countries are witnessing remarkable development in various fields, and looking forward to strengthening them to achieve the supreme interests of the two fraternal peoples. During the meeting, they discussed strategic cooperation relations and ways to enhance and develop them across several areas, especially in defence, trade, investment, energy, and information technology. **media[372045]** They also discussed key regional and international issues and developments, as well as the current situation in the Gaza Strip and the occupied Palestinian territories, particularly those related to consolidating the ceasefire, supporting peace, and the flow of humanitarian aid to the Strip. HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani, HE Chief of the Amiri Diwan Abdullah bin Mohammed al-Khulaifi, along with a number of ministers and senior offcials attended the meeting. **media[372534]** On Turkiye's side, the meeting was attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan, along with a number of members of the official delegation accompanying the president. Earlier, His Highness the Amir and the president of Turkiye held a bilateral meeting, where they exchanged views on a number of topics and issues of common concern. **media[372532]** His Highness the Amir held a luncheon banquet in honour of the president of Turkiye and his accompanying delegation. President Erdogan was accorded an official reception ceremony upon arrival to the Amiri Diwan.

HE the Minister of State for International Co-operation Dr Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser al-Misnad conferred with Egyptian Minister of Social Solidarity Dr Maya Mursi, during her visit to Egypt.The meeting explored bilateral relations and ways to support and develop them, particularly in providing humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip. It also discussed opportunities for implementing future joint projects between the two countries, besides topics of common interest.

Several member states of the Executive Board of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) have commended Qatar's role in promoting peace in the region, in co-ordination with Egypt, Turkiye and the US.The praise came during the closing session of Unesco's 222nd Executive Board meeting, where representatives from countries including Turkiye, the United Kingdom, South Africa and Oman highlighted Qatar's role in promoting peace during discussions on agenda items related to the Gaza Strip.In a statement delivered during the session, Qatar's Permanent Representative to Unesco, HE Dr Nasser bin Hamad al-Hanzab, emphasised that education is a shared responsibility of the international community and a critical pillar for stability and peace in Gaza, underscoring the role of Unesco in this regard.In a related development, the Committee on Conventions and Recommendations, chaired by HE Dr al-Hanzab, held two public sessions to review items related to the implementation of Unesco's legal and regulatory instruments. The committee addressed mechanisms for enforcing and monitoring these conventions and recommendations among member states, with HE Dr al-Hanzab presenting a report to the Executive Board.The committee also worked to ensure the monitoring of all Unesco-related agreements and recommendations was fully implemented.Furthermore, the committee discussed several human rights issues within Unesco's mandate and examined ways to strengthen international human rights protections, in accordance with the Executive Board's resolutions and Unesco's legal instruments on human rights.

HE the Minister of Finance, Ali bin Ahmed al-Kuwari met separately with the Minister of Finance of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Ahmed Shide; the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Economy and Finance of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Jamshid Kuchkarov; and the Minister of Oil and Gas of the State of Libya, Dr Khalifa Rajab Abdulsadiq.The meetings were held on the margin of the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group, held in Washington, DC. During the meetings, bilateral relations were discussed, areas of joint co-operation were explored, and key economic, investment, and trade developments were discussed, in addition to a number of topics of common interest.

Qatar and Bhutan have signed a joint communiqué establishing diplomatic relations.The communiqué was signed at the Qatar's Permanent Mission to the UN in New York by HE Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif al-Thani, Qatar's Permanent Representativeto the UN, and Bhutan's Permanent Representative Pema Lektup Dorji.Following the signing ceremony, the two sides affirmed their desire to strengthen and develop friendly and co-operative relations between both countries.They emphasised the importance of being guided by the principles of the Charter of the UN and international law, respecting and promoting international peace and security, equality among states, and due respect for national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of the Education Above All (EAA) Foundation met Monday with Nigeria's First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.During the meeting, the two parties discussed ways to enhance existing partnerships between EAA and Nigeria, to reduce the number of out-of-school children, and empower the youth through employment and training opportunities.

HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani met Sunday with Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to Qatar Walid Fahmy al-Faqi.The meeting discussed ways to enhance cooperation between the two countries, as well as issues of mutual interest. The ambassador conveyed Egypt's condolences over the death of three members of the Amiri Diwan in a traffic accident in Sharm el-Sheikh while performing their official duties, and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

In a significant recognition of Qatar's administrative expertise, FIFA has announced its new slate of standing and independent committees for the 2025-2029 cycle. The appointments, decided at a recent meeting in Zurich, feature a prominent Qatari presence, underscoring international confidence in the nation's capability to contribute to the global development of football.Leading the Qatari appointments is HE Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed al-Thani, the Minister of Sports and Honorary President of the Qatar Football Association (QFA). He has been selected as a FIFA Council member and the Council's delegate to the men's national teams competitions committee.Further solidifying Qatar's influence, Jassim bin Rashid al-Buenain, President of the QFA, has been appointed as the Chairman of the FIFA Club Competitions Committee. In the legal domain, Salman Ahmed al-Ansari was chosen as a member of the Appeal Committee, one of FIFA's supreme judicial bodies responsible for reviewing disciplinary and arbitration decisions.The realm of refereeing also sees continued Qatari leadership, with FIFA renewing its confidence in Hani Taleb Ballan. The Head of the Referees Committee at the QFA and AFC has been reappointed as Deputy Chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee, a position he has held since 2019.Additional appointments include Mansoor Mohammed al-Ansari, General-Secretary of the QFA, who will serve on the Development Committee. Fatima Ali al-Nuaimi, Communications and Media Executive Director at the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, joins the FIFA Media and Communications Committee.

Qatar made their path to the 2026 World Cup more difficult after being held to a drab 0-0 draw by Oman in the opening match of the fourth round of Asia’s World Cup qualifiers Wednesday at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium.It was a below-par performance from both teams, as neither Qatar nor Oman showed the urgency expected in such a crucial fixture. The result leaves Qatar and Oman tied on a point each in Group A. To stay in contention for automatic qualification, Qatar will need to defeat the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday and rely on the outcome of Saturday’s encounter between Oman and the Emiratis.Only the group winners will earn automatic qualification for next year’s World Cup, to be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States. The runners-up will advance to a playoff against the second-placed team from Group B, which is being contested in Saudi Arabia, where Iraq and Indonesia are the other sides.Akram Afif squandered Qatar’s best chance early in the second half, while substitute Mohammed Muntari failed to get enough power on his shot as a resolute Oman held firm to secure a point.Qatar coach Julen Lopetegui had spoken beforehand about the pressure his side is facing in trying to qualify for the World Cup on merit for the first time. The 2022 World Cup hosts have historically struggled in the qualifiers, and that inconsistency resurfaced last night in a disjointed display.Lopetegui, who kept his squad selection under wraps on the eve of the match, handed debuts to 20-year-old Al Gharafa defender Ayoub Aloui and 25-year-old Al Rayyan goalkeeper Mahmoud Abunada. He also left strikers Almoez Ali and Muntari on the bench, opting instead to start with Ahmed al-Ganehi and Edmilson Junior in support of mercurial star Afif.The Spaniard later said his playing XI decisions were influenced by injuries in the squad. “The starting lineup was ideal given the injuries, and all the players gave their best to achieve the desired result,” Lopetegui said after the match.Qatar dominated possession in the first half, with Sultan al-Brake and Edmilson causing early problems for Oman. But it was Carlos Queiroz’s side — seeking their first-ever World Cup appearance — who had the best opportunity when a wayward backpass from al-Brake almost caught out Abunada, forcing the debutant goalkeeper to concede a throw-in under pressure from Issam al-Sabhi.Boualem Khoukhi, who captained Qatar on the night, had the first look at goal in the 13th minute, but the defender’s shot flew wide of the target. Al-Sabhi continued to be Oman’s biggest threat, skipping past his marker with a neat turn in the 27th minute before seeing his powerful left-footed effort comfortably saved by Abunada.Qatar almost capitalised six minutes later when Mohammed al-Mannai slipped a clever ball through to Afif, who tried to catch Oman napping, but goalkeeper Ibrahim al-Rushaidi was alert to the danger and made a solid intervention.Nasser al-Rawahi came close for Oman, glancing a header just over the bar from a corner, while Qatar’s best effort before the break came from Afif, whose shot was easily dealt with by the Omani defence.Afif should have put the hosts ahead soon after the interval when the visitors gifted him possession inside their own half, but the Asian Player of the Year uncharacteristically side-footed wide of the post.Oman nearly punished Qatar in the 69th minute when Abunada rushed off his line to clear a cross, leaving his goal momentarily exposed, but Abdullah Fawaz’s long-range attempt failed to find the target. Almoez was introduced in the 57th minute for al-Ganehi, while Muntari also had a chance in the added time, but both could not inspire Qatar to victory as the teams settled for a share of the spoils.After the match, Lopetegui remained defiant, insisting his team had done enough to win. “We performed well throughout the match against a stubborn team that defended well and closed down spaces. Despite that, we created several opportunities but couldn’t convert them into goals,” the former Spain and Real Madrid coach said.“We will continue to pursue our dream of qualifying for the World Cup. Today’s draw against Oman hasn’t negatively impacted the team or added pressure ahead of the UAE match,” he added.Oman coach Carlos Queiroz — who previously had a brief stint with Qatar — was satisfied to take home a point. “We performed well and managed to stop Qatar’s attacks, which we expected given they were playing at home,” the Portuguese veteran said.“We knew the match would be tough, so we played with high spirit. Despite our solid defence, we also created chances but couldn’t score. A draw is the best result for both teams today. A loss would have hurt our chances of World Cup qualification. We don’t have much time before facing the UAE, but we’ll prepare well to keep our World Cup dream alive,” he added.

HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani met Wednesday Army Commander of the sisterly Republic of Lebanon Brigadier General Rodolphe Haykal, who is visiting the country.Discussions during the meeting reviewed aspects of bilateral cooperation and means of enhancing and advancing them, in addition to the latest developments in Lebanon and a number of issues of mutual interest.HE Sheikh Mohammed reaffirmed Qatar's support for Lebanon's army and state institutions, as well as its continued solidarity with the brotherly Lebanese people.

Oman coach Carlos Queiroz acknowledged the tough test awaiting his side against hosts Qatar at the fourth round of the Asian Qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World, but said his players are ready and confident.Oman will take on Qatar at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium Wednesday in their Group A opener, with the UAE completing the three-team group. Only the group winner secure a direct berth in the next phase, while the runner-up will move into a two-legged play-off for a final shot at qualification.“We’re excited to begin our campaign against Qatar,” said Queiroz at the pre-match press conference Tuesday. “The team has prepared well and we believe in our ability to get a positive result to kick off our journey.”In the past, the 72-year-old has taken South Africa, Portugal and Iran twice into the World cup but doing so with Oman would be his biggest achievement yet. Wednesday’s match will be Queiroz's first against Qatar since he was sacked by the in the lead-up to last Asian Cup, a tournament won by the Portuguese coach's former team under his replacement, Marquez Lopez."In my opinion, if I was still the head coach, Qatar would not have been playing tomorrow," said Queiroz with a smile. "Qatar would have already qualified for the World Cup."The veteran coach expressed his delight at returning to Qatar. “It’s always a pleasure to be back in Qatar after having spent a wonderful time here. We hope to play at a level that reflects the aspirations of our fans in Oman.”Queiroz acknowledged the pressure that comes with high-stakes qualifiers but said his players are ready to rise to the occasion. “Pressure is part of football, you take risks, you gamble at times. But I have full trust in my players and their ability to stay focused and avoid costly mistakes in such an important match.”Meanwhile, veteran Omani defender Ali al-Busaidi expressed his team’s determination to fight for qualification. “We’re fully prepared for this stage. We understand the responsibility on our shoulders and are committed to doing everything we can to qualify for the World Cup,” he said.Al-Busaidi praised the Omani supporters for their unwavering backing and vowed to deliver a performance they can be proud of. “Our fans have always stood by us. We’ll give everything on the pitch to make them proud in these qualifiers. The level among the three teams is close. Every match will be a battle,” he said.Oman are seeking a maiden FIFA World Cup appearance. Six teams have already qualified from Asia – Japan, Iran, South Korea and Australia as well as the two debutants, Uzbekistan and Jordan.

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and Jordan's King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein discussed the fraternal relations between the two countries and the latest developments in the Gaza Strip and the occupied Palestinian territories.This came during a phone call the Amir received Monday from the Jordanian king. The call also explored the latest updates in the US plan to end the war and ongoing efforts to achieve a comprehensive ceasefire and ensure the protection of civilians.