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Qatar driver Ghanim al-Madheed made a dominant start to the 2025 QTCC 2K Championship at the Lusail International Circuit, winning both races in Round 1 in his Lotus Elise. In Race 1, he claimed victory over 10 laps with a total time of 27:37.912, setting the fastest lap of 2:23.794 on lap six, while Abdulla Ali al-Khelaifi finished second and Palestine’s Omran Karama claimed third. Al-Madheed was even quicker in Race 2, stopping the clock at 26:24.163 and posting a best lap of 2:22.897 on lap eight to complete a clean sweep, with al-Khelaifi again in second place and Ali Emadadhi securing third. The second round of the championship will take place on September 26-27.

Jake Franklin clinched a commanding victory in Race 2 of the 2025 FIM MiniGP Qatar Round 4 at the Lusail Circuit, setting the fastest lap of the race with a time of 1:02.378 on his way to completing the 15 laps in 15 minutes 48.039 seconds.Mohammed Adel al-Mutawa secured the second place, finishing 9.654 seconds behind the race winner, while Anas Boukabache completed the podium in third place. Fadhili Kraemer and Oscar Browne rounded off the top five. The FIM MiniGP action returns for the final round on October 10-11.

The Qatari Businessmen Association (QBA) has hosted a dinner in honour of Swedish Minister for International Development Co-operation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa and his accompanying delegation.On the sidelines of the luncheon, both parties held a meeting to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral co-operation, particularly in trade and economic sectors, as well as exploring the investment climate and opportunities available in both countries. The discussions also addressed the role of the private sector in promoting mutual and joint investments and enhancing trade exchange.The minister was accompanied by CEOs and representatives of various Swedish companies operating across multiple economic sectors, including Swedish ambassador Gautam Bhattacharyya.QBA board members Sheikh Nawaf bin Nasser al-Thani and Sherida al-Kaabi welcomed the minister and his delegation in the presence of QBA members Khalid al-Mannai, Ibrahim Jaidah, Ashraf Abu Issa, Yousef al-Mahmoud, Dr Mohamed Althaf, and QBA deputy general manager Sarah Abdallah.During the meeting, Sheikh Nawaf affirmed the QBA’s commitment to developing and expanding co-operation, partnerships, and knowledge exchange between the two countries, and exploring available investment opportunities.He noted that Qatari-Swedish relations have witnessed remarkable growth in recent years, particularly in the fields of technology, innovation, renewable energy, and healthcare. He also highlighted the Qatari private sector’s interest in strengthening partnerships with its Swedish counterpart, whether through joint ventures or the exchange of expertise and modern technologies, contributing to sustainable economic development in both countries.Sheikh Nawaf emphasised that Qatar and Sweden enjoy strong and rapidly growing relations, especially in commercial and economic fields. At the private sector level, there are numerous opportunities for partnership and collaboration between Qatari and Swedish companies, particularly in technology and innovation-driven sectors.The minister lauded the significant progress Qatar has achieved across various sectors. He noted that holding a business forum between entrepreneurs from both countries reflects a shared commitment to expanding co-operation to broader horizons. He also invited Qatari companies to invest in Sweden’s technology sector, pointing out that the country ranks among the top countries globally in innovation.

HE the Minister of State for Energy Affairs, Saad bin Sherida al-Kaabi, also the President and CEO of QatarEnergy and Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies, met in Baghdad on Sunday Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, Prime Minister of Iraq, to announce the start of construction of the Common Seawater Supply Project (CSSP) and Phase 2 of the Artawi Oil Field Redevelopment project (Artawi Phase 2 Project).The two projects represent the final major components of Iraq’s Gas Growth Integrated Project (GGIP), a multi-phase initiative aimed at enhancing the country’s energy infrastructure, currently being developed by the GGIP partners: QatarEnergy (25%), TotalEnergies (45%, operator), and Basra Oil Company (30%).The signing took place during a special ceremony held under the patronage of Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and attended by HE al-Kaabi, Hayyan Abdul Ghani al-Sawad, Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister for Energy Affairs and Minister of Oil, and senior Iraqi officials and executives from the three project partners.At the same ceremony, QatarEnergy and its partners, TotalEnergies and Basra Oil Company, signed a joint statement with the Government of Iraq, represented by al-Sudani, and the Iraqi Ministry of Oil, represented by al-Sawad regarding the GGIP, to reaffirm the strong partnership between the parties and their joint commitment to the successful execution of the various projects comprising the GGIP.Commenting on the occasion, HE al-Kaabi said: “This milestone marks a pivotal step in our shared journey with Iraq toward energy resilience and sustainability. The launch of the CSSP and the Artawi Phase 2 Project reflects our deep commitment to Iraq’s energy sector and economic growth.”HE al-Kaabi added: “We are proud to collaborate with TotalEnergies and Basra Oil Company on this transformative initiative, and we extend our sincere appreciation to the Iraqi leadership and authorities for their continued support and partnership in making this vision a reality.”The CSSP will process and transport 5mn barrels of seawater per day to the main oil fields in southern Iraq. It will significantly reduce freshwater abstraction from the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, helping alleviate regional water stress and support agricultural sustainability.By freeing up 250,000 cubic metres of freshwater daily, the project contributes to Iraq’s long-term water security. The plant will be operated by the Basra Oil Company.The Artawi Phase 2 Project will increase oil production from the Artawi field to 210,000 bpd starting in 2028. Upon completion, the project will position Artawi as one of Iraq’s lowest-emission oil production sites.With total investments exceeding $13bn, the GGIP is designed to enhance the development of Iraq’s natural resources to improve the country’s electricity supply.It comprises a number of mega-projects for the recovery of gas that is currently flared at three oil fields in southern Iraq to supply electric power plants, the redevelopment of the Artawi oil field, the construction of a 1 GWac (1.25 GWp) solar farm and for the treatment of significant quantities of seawater to be used for pressure maintenance in a number of oil fields.

HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani met Sunday with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran Dr. Abbas Araghchi, on the sidelines of the preparatory ministerial meeting for the Emergency Arab-Islamic Summit, scheduled for Monday in Doha.Both sides discussed ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation, as well as regional developments - particularly the recent treacherous Israeli attack targeting Doha.HE Sheikh Mohammed affirmed that Qatar will take all necessary measures to safeguard its security and uphold its sovereignty in response to the brazen Israeli assault.For his part, the Iranian Foreign Minister reiterated his country's solidarity with Qatar, strongly condemning the attack as a blatant violation of international law and norms and a serious threat to the security of Qatar and the wider region.

HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, met Sunday with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkiye, Hakan Fidan, on the sidelines of the Preparatory Ministerial Meeting for the Emergency Arab-Islamic Summit, scheduled for Moonday in Doha.They discussed ways to further strengthen cooperation relations between the two countries, as well as developments in the region - particularly the treacherous Israeli attack that targeted Doha.HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs affirmed that the State of Qatar will take all necessary measures to safeguard its security and uphold its sovereignty in response to the blatant Israeli attack.For his part, the Turkish Foreign Minister reiterated his country's solidarity with the State of Qatar, strongly condemned the Israeli attack, and categorically rejected any aggression that threatens the security and safety of the State of Qatar, as well as the stability of the region.

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani received on Sunday a phone call from the President of the Republic of Cyprus Dr. Nikos Christodoulides.During the call, the President of Cyprus expressed his country's solidarity with the State of Qatar and its strong condemnation of the Israeli attack that targeted residential buildings, stressing that such an act constitutes a flagrant violation of international laws and norms and poses a serious threat to the security of the State of Qatar and the countries of the region.For his part, His Highness the Amir affirmed that the State of Qatar will take all necessary measures to safeguard its security and sovereignty in the face of the treacherous Israeli attack. His Highness expressed gratitude to the President of Cyprus for his sincere sentiments and for Cyprus's valued solidarity with Qatar and its people.

The President of the State of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas arrived in Doha on Sunday to take part in the Emergency Arab-Islamic Summit, scheduled to be held on Monday.President Abbas and the accompanying delegation were welcomed upon arrival at Hamad International Airport by HE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Affairs Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan Al-Thani and the Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Qatar Fayez Majed Abu Al Rub.

Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman al-Safadi and his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, discussed Saturday via phone the Israeli aggression against Qatar, which they condemned as a violation of international law and an escalation that will only increase tensions and conflict in the region. The two ministers stressed their full solidarity with Qatar, affirming its security, stability, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the safety of its citizens.Al-Safadi and Fidan also emphasized the importance of the emergency Arab-Islamic summit to be hosted by Qatar on Monday, which aims to create a unified Arab and Islamic stance against the ongoing Israeli aggression that threatens regional security and stability.During the call, the ministers also discussed the latest developments in the region.They reaffirmed the need for coordinated efforts to halt the Israeli aggression on Gaza immediately, to reach a prisoner exchange agreement, and to ensure the immediate and sufficient delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, which is suffering from an unprecedented humanitarian disaster exacerbated by the ongoing aggression.

Qatar opened their 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship campaign with a determined performance but ultimately fell short against a strong the Netherlands side, losing 3-1 (25-18, 25-23, 26-28, 25-23) in their Pool B opener in Quezon City, Philippines Saturday.Despite the loss, Qatar pushed the European team to the limit, showing grit and composure especially in the third set, where they fought back to win 28-26 and extend the match.The Qatari squad matched the Netherlands in kill blocks (9 each) and committed fewer unforced errors (26 compared to 29), highlighting their discipline and defensive effort.Opposite Youssef Oughlaf led the scoring for Qatar with 17 points, while seasoned outside hitters Ribeiro Renan and Nikola Vasic chipped in with 11 points apiece.The Netherlands, however, made the difference from the service line, firing nine aces to Qatar’s two.They also edged Qatar in attack with 57 spike kills to 52.Dutch opposite Michiel Ahyi topped all scorers with 20 points, while Tom Koops sealed the victory with the match-winning point in the fourth set.Qatar now turn their focus to their next match against world powerhouse Poland tomorrow, followed by their final Pool B game against Romania on September 17.

The Qatari Businessmen Association (QBA) held a meeting with Qais bin Mohammed al-Yousef, the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion of Oman, and his accompanying delegation in Doha Saturday.The meeting, held on the sidelines of a luncheon hosted by QBA deputy chairman Sheikh Dr Khalid bin Thani al-Thani, discussed bilateral co-operation, especially in commercial, economic, and investment sectors, as well as the role of the private sector in boosting mutual trade and joint investments.QBA chairman HE Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim al-Thani welcomed the minister and his delegation in the presence of board members Sheikh Nawaf bin Nasser bin Khaled al-Thani and Saud al-Mana.Also in attendance were QBA members Ibrahim Jaidah, Ashraf Abu Issa, Faisal al-Mana, Nabil Abu Issa, Maqbool Habib Khalfan, Yousef al-Mahmoud, Dr Mohammed Althaf, and QBA deputy general manager Sarah Abdallah.Sheikh Faisal noted that the brotherly relations between the two countries serve as a distinguished model within the GCC, highlighting the increase in reciprocal visits aimed at strengthening economic partnerships between Doha and Muscat.He also proposed the formation of a joint technical committee to study potential investment opportunities in various developmental projects across Oman, whether in industries, tourism, and the medical and pharmaceutical sectors, among others. This committee would aim to identify clear projects for both sides, paving the way for meaningful investments in agreed sectors, he said.The Invest Oman Authority, affiliated with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, presented investment opportunities to Qatari investors in diverse sectors, such as fisheries, food and pharmaceutical industries, manufacturing, technology, mining, renewable energy, tourism, and agriculture.Sheikh Khalid emphasised the strength of the brotherly ties between Qatar and Oman, describing them as a model of constructive cooperation. He affirmed the commitment of both leaderships to deepening strategic ties, especially economically, based on the belief that these partnerships significantly contribute to the countries’ development visions through active involvement of the private sector — the cornerstone of a successful economy.He further stated that Oman is an important economic and trade partner for Qatar, highlighting the recent visit of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani to Oman, accompanied by a large delegation of businessmen. This visit marked a step forward in advancing cooperation in strategic sectors, such as tourism, manufacturing, food security, education, and logistics — all representing projects of mutual economic value.For his part, al-Yousef thanked the QBA for hosting the ministry’s delegation and praised the bilateral relations between the two sides. He invited QBA members to visit Muscat to explore the various available investment opportunities.He welcomed QBA’s proposal to form a joint technical committee under the supervision of his ministry, aimed at laying the necessary groundwork to turn ideas into real projects. He stressed that building sustainable economic partnerships between the two countries is a strategic necessity and emphasised his ministry’s commitment to intensifying efforts and communication to eliminate any challenges facing investors.He also praised the QBA’s positive role in supporting joint efforts to enhance economic and trade co-operation. The minister also praised Qatari investments in Oman and expressed Oman’s desire to see more Qatari private sector investment.The Omani side presented a detailed overview of investment opportunities across several sectors and outlined the incentives provided to foreign investors, along with key indicators and facilitations in the business environment.They pointed out that Oman has 22 free and industrial economic zones, offering significant investment opportunities in various sectors, including logistics, food industries, tourism, mining, education, innovation, technology, healthcare, and more.Trade volume between the two countries increased by nearly 20% last year, reaching over QR6.2bn.

Palestinian political analysts and experts agree that the upcoming emergency Arab-Islamic summit, scheduled to be held in Qatar capital, Doha, on Monday, represents a crucial opportunity to coordinate Arab and Islamic response to the Israeli entity's arrogance and blatant violations of international law and state sovereignty. The most recent example is the Israeli aggression targeting residential compounds housing several Hamas leaders in Doha.In separate interviews with Qatar News Agency (QNA), speakers noted that the summit is expected to formulate a unified stance to confront Israeli encroachments on Arab sovereignty and to reach a decision supporting Arab, international, and UN efforts to halt the ongoing genocide perpetrated by Israel in Gaza Strip over the past two years, as well as to oppose the Judaization, annexation, and expropriation projects Israel has begun implementing in the West Bank.Political analyst and academic at Al-Azhar University in Gaza, Dr. Samir Abu Madlala, stated that the Arab and Islamic countries participating in the summit are called upon to stand with Qatar in defending its national sovereignty. He emphasized the need for these countries to reassess their relationship with Israeli occupying entity, considering it a colonial expansionist state that poses a threat to the interests of Arab nations and peoples - a stance that Israel's far-right government continues to flaunt.Abu Madlala stressed in an exclusive statement to QNA that the expected Arab and Islamic political support for Qatar must translate into concrete practical steps, including halting cooperation and coordination with Israel, suspending trade relations, and taking measures to prevent Israeli flights from crossing the airspace of these countries.He added that Palestinian and Arab interests must be prioritized, separate from relations with Israel. Without practical action, the occupation will continue its plan to destroy Gaza Strip, carry out its bloody project of displacing its residents, and continue its aggression against Arab countries, as seen in recent attacks on Syria, Yemen, Iraq, Tunisia, Palestine, and most recently, Qatar.Abu Madlala also commended Qatar's support for the Palestinian people, both materially and morally, including development projects in Gaza following the 2014 aggression, which amounted to over 400 million USD and contributed to strengthening Palestinian resilience. He reaffirmed that Qatar consistently stands with the Palestinian people in their right to return, freedom, and the establishment of an independent state.The Palestinian analyst and academic highlighted the vital role of Qatari and Egyptian mediation between the Palestinian resistance and occupation, particularly since the outbreak of Israeli aggression on Gaza, during which Israel has carried out organized state terror against the population under US sponsorship.He said that Qatar's role, alongside Egypt, is crucial in mediation. This mediation succeeded in achieving a ceasefire and truce in January of this year. However, when Qatar sought to continue this role at the US request, Israeli entity attacked Qatar's sovereignty and attempted to assassinate the negotiating delegation, demonstrating the state's policy of organized terror against the Palestinian people.Abu Madlala emphasized that through this attack, Israeli entity proves it has no intention of reaching a truce or agreement to recover its prisoners from the resistance; rather, it seeks to continue its bloody project in Gaza, destroying it entirely and displacing its residents.He concluded that the Qatari and Egyptian mediation roles are central and crucial at this time, expressing hope that Qatar can achieve a ceasefire and halt hostilities as soon as possible, to strengthen Palestinian resilience and preserve what remains of Gaza Strip, given that Israel's project in Gaza targets the Palestinian people, while in the West Bank it targets Palestinian land for annexation and Judaization.Writer and political analyst, Mohammed Abu Qamar, considers that the upcoming Arab summit will witness crucial discussions on mechanisms for a collective response to Israeli aggression, as well as on options for Arab and Islamic action in the coming phase, amid Israeli arrogance.In a statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Abu Qamar noted that the emergency Arab-Islamic summit in Doha comes at a sensitive and critical time, coinciding with Israeli aggression against Qatar sovereignty and the occupation's attempt to undermine all efforts to stop the ongoing bloodshed in Gaza, which continued for over 700 days. He also highlighted the expansion of Israeli threats across the Arab region, targeting Palestinian territories, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, Iraq, and reaching as far as Qatar, while Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu openly revealed his ambitions for what he terms "Greater Israel."Abu Qamar emphasized that Qatar's persistent diplomatic efforts since the first day of Gaza aggression - including successfully negotiating ceasefire agreements in February 2024 and January 2025 - have not been tolerated by Israel, which seeks to continue its campaign of killing and destruction. He explained that the recent attack on Qatar territories, targeting Hamas negotiating delegation, was an attempt by Israel to undermine Qatar's mediation efforts and obstruct progress toward an agreement to end war in Gaza.Against this backdrop, Abu Qamar stressed the importance of the summit in taking a decisive stance against Israeli aggression in the region, which now threatens Arabian Gulf. The summit is expected to forge an urgent position aimed at halting attacks on Arab states, ending the war in Gaza immediately, and stopping settlement expansion in West Bank, which eliminates any chance for a Palestinian state.He highlighted that Arab countries hold all the leverage necessary to achieve these objectives through decisive measures if Israel's aggression against Palestinian territories and Arab states is not stopped. Eyes of the region are on the Doha summit, with hope that it will adopt a unified position capable of countering Israel's far-right government, which has taken actions and decisions that risk igniting the entire region.In the same context, political researcher, Ahmed Abu Zahri, noted that choosing Qatari capital - which recently suffered an Israeli attack - as the venue for the summit sends a strong message to Israel: Arab and Islamic response to Israeli violations transforms the targeted state into an active arena for political and diplomatic confrontation with the occupation.Abu Zahri told QNA that the high-level representation expected at the summit from the Gulf, Arab, and Islamic world sends a clear message that Israel's targeting of a Gulf state constitutes a threat to the entire region. This gives the summit a mandate to act as a unifying Arab platform, extending beyond traditional expressions of solidarity.He affirmed that the Israeli attack on a residential compound in Doha was primarily aimed at undermining Qatar's role as an effective mediator in Gaza conflict, preventing it from exercising diplomatic and political pressure to implement a ceasefire. As a result, Gaza issue and ending war have become central items on the agenda of the emergency Arab-Islamic summit.