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The President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon arrived in Doha on Monday to participate in the Second World Summit for Social Development, hosted by the State of Qatar from 4 to 6 November.Upon arrival at Hamad International Airport, Rahmon and his accompanying delegation were welcomed by HE Director of Protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ibrahim bin Yousif Fakhro and the Ambassador of the Republic of Tajikistan to the State of Qatar, Nurmurod Mahmadali.

The President of the Republic of Iraq Dr. Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid, arrived in Doha Monday to participate in the Second World Summit for Social Development (WSSD), hosted by the State of Qatar from November 4 to 6.Upon his arrival at Hamad International Airport, Dr. Rashid and his accompanying delegation were welcomed by HE Director of the Protocol Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ambassador of the Republic of Iraq to the State of Qatar. Mohammed Jaafar Al Sadr.

Iran has demanded a $170 million fine from the owner of a cargo ship that it seized in Gulf waters last year and accused of having ties to Israel, a judicial official said Tuesday.The Revolutionary Guards, the ideological arm of Iran's military, intercepted the MSC Aries in April of 2024 and detained its 25 international crew members.At the time, the official IRNA news agency said the Portuguese-flagged vessel was "managed by Zodiac, which belongs to the Zionist capitalist Eyal Ofer".On Tuesday, Iranian judiciary spokesperson Asghar Jahangir said charges had been filed and the case was before the courts, though no date had been set for a trial."A fine of $170 million has been demanded against its owner, of Israeli origin, accused of financing terrorism," Jahangir said.At the time, the United States denounced the seizure of the ship as an act of piracy and called for its crew to be released.Israel's foreign minister called on the European Union to designate the Revolutionary Guards a "terrorist organisation" in response.At least some of the crew were later freed.Jahangir said the ship, excluding its cargo, was valued at $170 million and claimed that Ofer -- an Israeli billionaire and shipping magnate -- was an "influential figure" within the Israeli government.The ship's seizure came months into the war in Gaza, where Israel was fighting Iran-backed Palestinian militants Hamas, whose October 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel sparked the conflict.

Donald Trump arrived in Japan on Monday, on the next leg of an Asia tour that could see the US president and China's Xi Jinping end their bruising trade war. Speaking on Air Force One, Trump said he was hopeful of a deal when he sees Xi on Thursday, while also indicating he was willing to extend his trip in order to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un."I have a lot of respect for President Xi and we are going to I think... come away with a deal," Trump told reporters en route from Malaysia, where comments from US and Chinese negotiators raised hopes of an accord.As dozens of people gathered at Haneda Airport to take photos, the presidential plane -- also bearing Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent -- touched down at sunset. Sporting a golden tie, Trump then boarded a helicopter to take him into the bright lights of the Japanese metropolis in time for an evening audience with the emperor. On Tuesday, Trump is expected to meet new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and make a speech on the USS George Washington aircraft carrier, docked at the US naval base Yokosuka."I hear phenomenal things. (Takaichi) was a great ally and friend of Shinzo Abe, who was my friend," Trump said, referring to the assassinated former premier."That really helps Japan and the United States, I think she's going to be great."Markets watchingTrump's Asia trip, his first tour of the region since returning to office, kicked off in Malaysia on Sunday with a flurry of agreements. That included rewarding neighbours Cambodia and Thailand with trade agreements after co-signing their ceasefire pact on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit. He also agreed a trade and minerals deal with Malaysia, and moved to mend fences with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.But the greatest prize for Trump-and for global markets remains a China deal.Trump is due to meet Xi on Thursday in South Korea for their first face-to-face talks since the 79-year-old Republican's return to the White House. Before Trump's arrival in Malaysia, Bessent and China's Vice Premier He Lifeng held two days of trade talks. China's vice commerce minister, Li Chenggang, said a "preliminary consensus" had been reached.Bessent said on Air Force One on Monday that they had agreed "a framework for President Trump (and) President Xi to decide". "It's going to be great for China, great for us," Trump told reporters in Kuala Lumpur.Hot trucks On Friday, Takaichi announced in her first policy speech that Japan would be spending two percent of gross domestic product on defence this fiscal year. But Washington, which has around 60,000 military personnel in Japan, wants Tokyo to spend even more, potentially matching the five percent of GDP pledged by NATO members in June. Most Japanese imports into the United States are subject to tariffs of 15 percent, less painful than the 25 percent first threatened. But Trump also wants Japan to import more American products, including rice, soybeans and cars, as well as "hot" Ford F-150 pickup trucks.Questions also surround Japan's commitment to invest $550 billion in the United States, as specified in their July trade deal."What I expect is that, since he (Trump) is someone who acts decisively, things might move in a positive direction for Japan," said Tokyo resident Sayaka Kamimoto, 45.Kim meeting? Trump is due in the South Korean port city of Busan on Wednesday ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, and will meet President Lee Jae Myung. Trump has also fuelled speculation that he could meet North Korea's Kim while on the Korean peninsula. The two leaders last met in 2019 at the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ), the border area separating the two Koreas."I would love to meet with him if he'd like to meet. I got along great with Kim Jong Un. I liked him. He liked me," Trump said on Air Force One.Asked if he would extend his trip to enable a meeting, he said: "Well, I hadn't thought of it, but I think the answer would be yeah, I would, I would do that, sure."

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani sent a cable of congratulations to the Federal President of the Republic of Austria Dr. Alexander Van der Bellen on the occasion of his country's National Day.

US President Donald Trump said he would like to meet with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin only when a productive summit can be expected. Trump had previously announced that he had agreed with Putin to hold a new summit to discuss ending the war in Ukraine in the Hungarian capital, Budapest, following a phone call that lasted more than two hours and which he described as constructive. Trump did not comment on media reports Tuesday that the scheduled meeting with Putin had been postponed or suspended, but in response to a reporter's question about the upcoming summit and his position on the potential sale of long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, he said, "I don't want to have a wasted meeting. I don't want to have a waste of time, so I'll see what happens." He indicated that no decision had been made yet, and it was unclear whether he was referring to the potential meeting with Putin or to the issue of selling long-range missiles to Ukraine. During his recent meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Trump expressed reservations about supplying Ukraine with Tomahawk missiles, which are capable of striking deep into Russian territory. Several US media outlets previously reported growing doubts about the possibility of the planned meeting between Trump and Putin in Budapest.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino congratulated Qatar for qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. Infantino said this achievement comes after Qatar hosted the World Cup, which he described as the best edition ever, as Qatar qualified for the World Cup finals for the first time through direct qualifying. "After your historic hosting of the tournament in 2022, your team returns to the world stage, ready to demonstrate your growth and ambition, especially as this is the first time you have made it through the Asian qualifying competition. A great footballing achievement," Infantino said. He added, "Fans from Qatar will bring color and energy to North America in 2026, and all eyes will be on the next chapter of your football history." Infantino said this qualification represents a turning point in the history of Qatari football.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Tuesday he discussed his country's air defence needs with his Finnish counterpart Alexander Stubb after recent Russian strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure. Zelenskiy, who is due to meet Donald Trump in Washington on Friday, also said it was important that the U.S. president had managed to stop the war in Gaza. "Of course, the right steps by America could also work to end Russia's war against Ukraine. We have a vision for this," Zelenskiy said, adding that he and Stubb were "coordinating" their positions.

Germany called on US President Donald Trump to increase pressure on Russia to end the war in Ukraine following his successful mediation to end the war in the Gaza Strip. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said, during a meeting with his Bulgarian counterpart Georgi Georgiev in Sofia, that Trump has made a decisive contribution to the agreement on the Gaza Strip, and "Germany is calling on him to continue his efforts to secure negotiations between Russia and Ukraine." Wadephul added that the German government has high expectations of the US administration, as President Trump has convincingly demonstrated his interest in participating in concluding peace agreements in various parts of the world. He indicated his country's readiness to support Trump in such a peace initiative, stressing that "it is worth making every effort to launch a new attempt at a peace process in Ukraine now, before large-scale fighting flares up again." The US president has sought to end the war in Ukraine since taking office. He sent his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, to Russia several times and met with Russian President Vladimir Putin to reach a peace agreement between the two sides, but without any success due to the wide gap in the two countries' positions.

Haseef (Al Mourtajez x Ghazwa), carrying the Wathnan Racing’s silks, won the UAE President Cup - Central European Derby (Gr3 PA), run over 2000m at Sluzewiec, Poland, on Sunday, 28 September. Ridden by FalehBughenaim, the four-year-old colt scored for trainer Damien de Watrigant, decisively pulling clear in the closing stages of the race reserved for four-your-old and up Purebred Arabians. Katrain de Ghazal (Gazwan), trained by Élisabeth Bernard for Helal Alalawi and ridden by Mickaël Forest, managed to hold off Power Bolt (Al Mourtajez) for second place. Haseef had previously finished second in the French Arabian Breeders’ Challenge Sprint (Gr3 PA), narrowly beaten by the smart Al Wakrah (TM Fred Texas), owned by Al Shaqab Racing. Before that, he had recorded a commanding success in the Prix Damas (Gr3 PA). Damien de Watrigant said: “The fast ground and strong pace suited him. Under these conditions, he remained calm and was able to see out the 2,000 meters. As for the next stage of his campaign, we’ll need to discuss it with the Wathnan team, but today he showed us that traveling does not unsettle him. He could therefore travel abroad this winter. I am pleased to see their colours shine. He keeps on improving. Last time, he was beaten because the 1,400 meters were too short.”

Iran president speaking at UN General AssemblyGaps remain between Iran and E3 as deadline loomsEuropean powers offering delay if Iran makes concessionsIran has no intention to build nuclear weapons, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, just days before international sanctions could be reimposed on his country over Tehran's nuclear ambitions."I hereby declare once more before this assembly that Iran has never sought and will never seek to build a nuclear bomb. We do not seek nuclear weapons," Pezeshkian said.On August 28, Britain, France and Germany launched a 30-day process to reimpose UN sanctions that ends on September 27, accusing Tehran of failing to abide by a 2015 deal with world powers aimed at preventing it from developing a nuclear weapon.The European powers have offered to delay reinstating sanctions for up to six months to allow space for talks on a long-term deal if Iran restores access for UN nuclear inspectors, addresses concerns about its stock of enriched uranium, and engages in talks with the United States.Pezeshkian criticised the move by European powers as "illegal", saying it was made at "the behest of the United States of America".The United States, its European allies and Israel accuse Tehran of using its nuclear programme as a veil for efforts to try to develop the capability to produce weapons. Iran says its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes only."In doing so, they (the E3) set aside good faith. They circumvented legal obligations. They sought to portray Iran's lawful remedial measures ... as a gross violation," Pezeshkian said.But amid the looming threat of sanctions and last-ditch talks on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, gaps remain between Tehran and European powers over a deal to avert the snapback of sanctions.Still, both sides have left the door open to further negotiations. While the E3 says Iran's clerical rulers have so far failed to meet the conditions it set, Tehran says it will not offer concessions.Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the last say on key state matters such as foreign policy and Iran's nuclear programme, has ruled out negotiations with the United States under threat.If Tehran and the E3 fail to reach a deal on an extension by the end of September 27, then all UN sanctions will be reimposed on Iran, where the economy already struggles with crippling sanctions reimposed since 2018 after President Donald Trump ditched the pact during his first term.The so-called "snapback" process would reimpose an arms embargo, a ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing, a ban on activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, a global asset freeze and travel bans on Iranian individuals and entities.Soon after the US and Israeli attacks on Iranian nuclear sites in June, Iran's parliament passed a law suspending cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency.However, the IAEA and Tehran reached a deal on September 9 to resume inspections at nuclear sites and UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi said on Tuesday a team of inspectors was on its way to Iran should Tehran and the E3 strike a deal this week to avert revival of sanctions.

President of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) Annalena Baerbock said that thousands of orphans in Gaza are hovering among the rubble and debris, eating sand and drinking polluted water.She added that in the face of the tragedies of the women of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Rohingya children, and others, we cannot celebrate and must question the role of the United Nations.In her address to the annual General Debate of the United Nations General Assembly's 80th session, currently being held in New York, Baerbock added that UN bodies must do the right thing to prevent evil from triumphing in the world.She said that true leadership should not mean imposing one's will on others, as helping others makes our countries stronger. She asked, when the principles of the UN Charter are ignored, has the UN failed The Charter has not failed. The UN as an institution has not failed. The strength of the Charter is only achieved by the willingness of member states to abide by it.She added that our future as an institution will also be shaped by the selection of the next UN Secretary-General.She said that here we must pause and reflect. In nearly eighty years, this organization has never chosen a woman for this position. One might ask: How could not a single woman be found among the four billion potential candidates Of course, the choice lies with the member states.She pointed out that this process is not only about equal representation, but also about the credibility of this organization.Baerbock emphasized that reform must come from all the world's capitals, not just from New York, home to the United Nations. She noted that the planet is now globalized and subject to digitization, and that we must come together for dialogue to address the most difficult problems.She indicated that the world stands at a crossroads, and all countries must rise to the occasion, emphasizing that sustainable peace cannot be achieved without sustainable development.Baerbock concluded her remarks by saying that just as we were 80 years ago, we stand at a crossroads. It is up to us, every Member State, to live up to the leadership shown by our predecessors. To act when action is necessary, to show people around the world that the United Nations is here, today, tomorrow, and for the next 80 years.