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OilCrude prices recovered from a midday dip on Friday on hopes Hungary can use Russian crude oil as US President Donald Trump met Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban at the White House.Brent crude futures settled at $63.63 while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude finished at $59.75. For the week, both benchmarks fell by around 2%.Hungary has maintained its reliance on Russian energy since the start of the 2022 conflict in Ukraine, prompting criticism from several European Union and Nato allies.Private reports also pointed to a weakening US labour market. US Labor Department employment reports are not being issued because of the government shutdown.Meanwhile, Opec+ decided on Sunday to increase output slightly in December. However, the group also paused further increases for the first quarter of next year, wary of a supply glut.GasAsian spot liquefied natural gas (LNG) prices were flat this week, as ample supplies and soft demand kept a lid on gains.The average LNG price for December delivery into northeast Asia held at $11.10 per million British thermal units (mmBtu), industry sources estimated.**media[378974]**Spot charter rates have continued to rise, which has been the primary driver behind a wider spread between Asian and European prices, with Asian prices having to hold a larger premium to continue attracting the same flows, analysts said.In Europe, the Dutch TTF price settled at $10.57 per mmBtu, recording a weekly gain of 1.0%. Gas inventories in Europe have remained around 83%, as gas demand is still weak due to weather conditions, but LNG imports have remained high.This article was supplied by the Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Attiyah International Foundation for Energy and Sustainable Development.

Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation (QF) and Education Above All Foundation (EAA), met Monday with the visiting Colombian President Gustavo Petro.Talks during the meeting centred on the ongoing projects with EAA in Colombia, aimed at reducing the number of out-of-school children, alongside co-operation with QF in the domains of innovation, scientific research, and sustainability.

The President of the Republic of Armenia Vahagn Khachaturyan arrived in Doha on Monday to participate in the Second World Summit for Social Development, which Qatar is hosting from November 4 to 6.Upon his arrival at Hamad International Airport, Khachaturyan was welcomed by HE Ibrahim Yousef Fakhro, Director of the Protocol Department, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Tigran Gevorgyan, Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia in Doha.

The President of the Union of the Comoros, Azali Assoumani 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, Assoumani and his accompanying delegation were welcomed by HE Director of Protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ibrahim bin Yousif Fakhro.

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.