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The UN Security Council rejected Friday a last-ditch effort to delay the reimposing of sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program. The Council's decision came a day before Tehran's deadline, after Western countries announced that weeks of meetings with Iranian officials had not yielded "tangible" progress toward an agreement.The decision also comes a day before the so-called snapback mechanism, under which international sanctions on Iran would be restored as stipulated in the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, is due to take effect.Russia and China sought to delay the reimposing of UN sanctions on Iran in the 15-member UN Security Council, after only four countries voted in favor of the draft resolution they submitted, nine voted against, and two abstained.For its part, Iran warned that if the trigger mechanism is activated, it will end its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency.Last Friday, the UN Security Council failed to adopt a draft resolution to extend the suspension of international sanctions on Iran.

The State of Qatar participated in the annual ministerial consultative meeting of the Council of the Arab League at the level of foreign ministers, on the sidelines of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The State of Qatar's delegation was headed by His Excellency Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi.

Qatar's economy-maintained growth in the second quarter of 2025 despite a challenging global context, with real GDP rising by 1.9% compared to the same period in 2024. This growth was driven primarily by non-hydrocarbon activities, which expanded by 3.4%.According to a statement issued by the National Planning Council (NPC) on Sunday, Qatar's economy registered real GDP growth of 1.9% year-on-year, reaching QR181.8bn at constant prices, compared to QR178.5bn in Q2 2024.Non-hydrocarbon activities accounted for 65.6% of real GDP, with value added reaching QR119.3bn in Q2 2025, compared to QR115.4bn in the same period of 2024. This reflects a year-on-year increase of 3.4%, underscoring the effectiveness of diversification policies outlined in the Third National Development Strategy (NDS3) and Qatar National Vision 2030.Within the non-hydrocarbon economy, the fastest-growing activities on a year-on-year basis were: agriculture, forestry and fishing (+15.8%); accommodation and food services (+13.4%); arts, entertainment and recreation (+8.9%); wholesale and retail trade (+8.8%), and Construction (+8.7%).These broad-based gains reflect ongoing investment in tourism, services, and specialised infrastructure, and strengthen the role of private sector activities in Qatar's economy.In total, 11 of 17 economic activities recorded positive real growth in Q2 2025, demonstrating the resilience of Qatar's economic base. Service-related activities such as accommodation, food services, and entertainment continued to expand strongly, reflecting sustained momentum in tourism and domestic demand.NPC noted that its National Statistics Center continues to refine its methods for measuring GDP, with recent revisions applied to Q1 2025 and Q2 2024 estimates. As part of ongoing efforts to align national accounts with international best practices (System of National Accounts 2008/2025), a comprehensive revision of Qatar's national accounts is underway and scheduled for completion by Q1 2026.NPC Secretary-General Dr Abdulaziz bin Nasser bin Mubarak al-Khalifa emphasised the strength and resilience of Qatar's economic performance, noting the sustained expansion of non-hydrocarbon activities."These indicators reflect the progress of Qatar's economy, with non-hydrocarbon sectors recording notable growth that demonstrates the increasing diversification and stability of our national economy," he said."The current growth rates also point to additional opportunities for advancement. There remains significant potential that we aim to unlock through the Third National Development Strategy, which will continue to drive sustainable economic growth and create distinctive investment and entrepreneurial opportunities for the private sector," al-Khalifa added.

The Statistical and Data Training Centre at the National Planning Council (NPC), in co-operation with Qatar Foundation (QF), has concluded a specialised training programme entitled ‘Economic Statistics for Managers: From Data to Decisions’.The initiative, held at QF headquarters, was part of national efforts to enhance government efficiency and advance knowledge-based sustainable development, a statement said.The aim is to qualify government leaders in economic fields, empowering them to effectively utilise data and statistics to impact public policies.The programme focused on developing skills for using data efficiently as a fundamental element in improving institutional performance and enhancing decision-making effectiveness.It is also a significant step towards qualifying national cadres and developing their capabilities in statistical leadership, as well as building integrated, collaborative systems for data exchange among various entities. The programme emphasised the importance of building trust in government data as a cornerstone for ensuring effective governance.It highlighted the pivotal role of integration and data exchange between institutions, and encouraged the adoption of modern tools and techniques in future planning.This reinforces the concept of leadership empowerment in the field of data, which enables leaders to support national decisions with accurate and reliable information. The intensive six-day programme covered several key themes, including: fundamentals of data and statistics, national statistical system, statistical literacy for executive leaders, data integration and ethics, statistical data management, strategic leadership, and roadmap design.Hessa Ali al-Malki, director of the Statistical and Data Training Centre at NPC, said: “Organising the programme with Qatar Foundation strengthens our partnerships with the country’s leading academic institutions.”QF’s talent management director Sheikha Ghalia al-Thani, said: “This initiative is part of our strategic co-operation with national institutions, reflecting QF’s steadfast commitment to enhancing national capabilities through knowledge exchange and leadership development across various sectors.”

The Shura Council participated in the parliamentary session as part of the World Trade Organization's (WTO) Public Forum titled 'Promoting Multilateralism Through Digital Trade: What Role for Parliaments' organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Union in collaboration with the European Parliament, the session brought together parliamentarians and legislators from around the world, as well as representatives from the digital industry.HE member of the Shura Council Issa bin Ahmed al-Nasr represented the Council at this two-day event, which concluded at the WTO headquarters in Geneva. The parliamentary session discussed the contributions of parliamentarians and their role in formulating digital technology policies that promote inclusive growth and global cooperation, as well as modernizing trade governance.The session also highlighted the responsibilities of parliaments in designing legislation that supports cross-border digital trade, ensures equitable access for all, and reinforces the multilateral framework in an economy that increasingly utilizes digital technology.

The Shura Council participated in the parliamentary session as part of the World Trade Organization's (WTO) Public Forum titled "Promoting Multilateralism Through Digital Trade: What Role for Parliaments" Organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Union in collaboration with the European Parliament, the session brought together parliamentarians and legislators from around the world, as well as representatives from the digital industry. His Excellency member of the Shura Council Issa bin Ahmed Al Nasr represented the Council at this two-day event, which concluded today at the WTO headquarters in Geneva. The parliamentary session discussed the contributions of parliamentarians and their role in formulating digital technology policies that promote inclusive growth and global cooperation, as well as modernizing trade governance. The session also highlighted the responsibilities of parliaments in designing legislation that supports cross-border digital trade, ensures equitable access for all, and reinforces the multilateral framework in an economy that increasingly utilizes digital technology.

Qatar Research, Development, and Innovation (QRDI) Council has welcomed a delegation from Media City Qatar to its headquarters for a strategic engagement session bringing together Media City Qatar’s group of licensed companies and stakeholders alongside representatives from local large enterprises (LLEs), universities, and research institutions.The visit aims to provide an overview of QRDI Council’s national innovation priorities, encourage collaboration opportunities, and build connections across Qatar’s RDI ecosystem.Bader al-Saai, Director of Strategic Partnerships at QRDI Council, said: “As we advance Qatar’s innovation agenda, strategic dialogues like this are key to unlocking new value across emerging sectors.“Engaging with Media City Qatar and its partners allows us to surface shared ambitions, identify opportunities, and encourage the kind of cross-sector partnerships that accelerate national progress. At QRDI Council, our focus remains on enabling systems that turn ideas into impact, and positioning Qatar at the forefront of global innovation.”Thair Khaled al-Anani, Director of Business Development at Media City Qatar, added: “Media City Qatar is home to over 250 companies, including a significant number of startups, working alongside leading local and international media organisations. At its core, Media City Qatar prioritises supporting these companies by providing a comprehensive work environment, stimulating opportunities, and fostering productive and thriving partnerships.“The ability to keep up with cutting-edge technologies and innovative approaches remains a significant challenge for startups, as they seek to produce high-quality, impactful content that reinforces Qatar's position as a regional and global hub for the media industry. In this context, our partnership with QRDI Council, which leads efforts to organise and develop the research and innovation ecosystem in the country, comes as a fundamental step towards empowering media startups and SMEs. This partnership focuses on launching targeted programs that offer technical and financial support to pioneering media projects, in line with Qatar National Vision 2030."The agenda featured opening remarks by al-Saai and al-Anani, followed by a presentation on QRDI Council’s strategy and priority innovation clusters. QRDI Council’s Open Innovation team presented key funding and piloting opportunities, along with details on eligibility and application processes.A panel discussion on open innovation and agentic AI brought together voices from across the media sector, featuring Mohammad Ali Abbaspour, Founder and CEO of Sponix Tech; Ashrith Makam, Digital Director at WPP Media; and Ali Abbas, Founder and CEO of Arigatou. The day concluded with a networking session designed to encourage meaningful dialogue between Media City Qatar stakeholders and Qatar’s broader research and innovation community.This visit is an example of QRDI Council’s commitment to creating an interconnected RDI ecosystem in Qatar. By facilitating knowledge exchange and cross-sector collaboration, QRDI Council continues to advance its strategic goal of positioning Qatar as a global hub for research, development, and innovation, driving national impact through partnerships that accelerate discovery, commercialisation, and technological progress.

The UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on Monday unanimously adopted a resolution to hold an emergency debate today, on Israel's September 9 attack against Qatar. This emergency debate was requested during the 60th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva by Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN in Geneva Bilal Ahmad, on behalf of the Member States of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Group and Permanent Representative of the Kuwait Naser Al Hayen, on behalf of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

The Supreme Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) held an extraordinary session Monday in Doha, chaired by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani.The session was attended by Vice President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan; Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Personal Representative of King of the Kingdom of Bahrain; Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud; Deputy Prime Minister for Defense Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman Shihab bin Tarik bin Taimur Al Said; Crown Prince of the State of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, and GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi.The GCC Supreme Council discussed the repercussions of the Israeli aggression against the sisterly State of Qatar and the blatant violation of its sovereignty by Israeli occupation forces, which targeted residential facilities housing members of the negotiating delegation from the political bureau of Hamas. This occurred during the current round of negotiations and the mediation undertaken by Qatar to reach an agreement regarding Gaza. The attack resulted in the martyrdom of Badr Saad Mohammed Al Humaidi Al Dosari, a member of the security services, and caused civilian casualties.he attack also endangered the lives of civilians in a residential area crowded with schools, diplomatic missions, and kindergartens. This constitutes a flagrant assault on the efforts of the international community and its organisations aimed at achieving a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of hostages and detainees, and is a blatant violation of international law.Here is what they agreed upon: 1. The Supreme Council condemned in the strongest terms the Israeli aggression and the flagrant violation of the sovereignty of Qatar, affirming that this act of aggression represents a dangerous and unacceptable escalation, and a grave breach of the principles of international law and the Charter of the UN.2. The Supreme Council affirmed the complete solidarity of the GCC states with Qatar in all measures it takes to confront this aggression. It stressed that the security of the GCC states is indivisible, and that any attack on one of them is an attack on all, in accordance with the Basic Statute of the GCC and the Joint Defense Agreement, and the readiness of the member states to harness all capabilities to support the sisterly State of Qatar and protect its security, stability, and sovereignty against any threats.3. Proceeding from the principle emphasised by the Basic Statute of the GCC that the security of the Cooperation Council is indivisible, the leaders have directed the GCC Joint Defense Council to hold an urgent meeting in Doha, to be preceded by a meeting of the Higher Military Committee. The purpose is to assess the defense posture of the member states and the sources of threat in light of the Israeli aggression against the sisterly State of Qatar, and to direct the Unified Military Command to take the necessary executive measures to activate joint defense mechanisms and Gulf deterrence capabilities.4. The Supreme Council affirmed that the brutal Israeli aggression against the sisterly State of Qatar constitutes a direct threat to joint Gulf security and to regional peace and stability. The council believes that the continuation of these aggressive policies undermines efforts to achieve peace and the future of existing understandings and agreements with Israel, due to the serious repercussions this carries for the stability of the entire region.5. The Supreme Council warned that Israel's persistence in its criminal practices and its flagrant disregard for all international norms, laws, and the Charter of the UN, will lead to serious repercussions that threaten regional and international peace and security. The Supreme Council called on the Security Council, the international community, and influential nations to assume their full responsibilities and take firm and deterrent measures to stop these violations, which have undermined the prestige of international law and the authority of its institutions. The Supreme Council underscored that these actions represent a dangerous precedent that should not be overlooked or allowed to pass without the imposition of deterrent international sanctions.6. The Supreme Council stressed the necessity for the international community to fulfill its moral and legal responsibilities and to act urgently to deter Israel and put an end to its repeated violations of international law and international humanitarian law, which constitute a direct threat to the security of the region and to international peace and stability. It called on all countries and international organisations to condemn this sinful aggression and to take deterrent measures that ensure respect for the sovereignty of Qatar and the protection of civilians, both citizens and residents.7. The Supreme Council commended the efforts made by the security authorities, the Civil Defense, and the competent agencies in Qatar for their immediate handling of the incident, containing its repercussions, and safeguarding the safety of citizens and residents.8. The Supreme Council affirmed that this attack obstructs the tireless efforts undertaken by Qatar and its role in mediating a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, the release of hostages and detainees, and the alleviation of the suffering of the brotherly Palestinian people. It underlined that the repeated Israeli aggressions against several countries in the region constitute a serious obstacle to international and regional efforts aimed at establishing security, peace, and stability.9. The Supreme Council stressed the necessity of adhering to the foundations and principles stipulated in the Charter of the UN, international treaties and agreements, the principles of good neighbourliness, respect for the sovereignty of states, non-interference in their internal affairs, resolving disputes by peaceful means, and refraining from the use or threat of force.10. The leaders expressed their thanks and appreciation to the brotherly Arab and Islamic nations, and to friendly countries in the international community, which were quick to condemn the brutal Israeli aggression and declare their solidarity with Qatar. They affirmed that these positions reflect a collective commitment to rejecting the violation of states' sovereignty and to supporting efforts aimed at protecting regional and international security and stability.11. The Supreme Council called upon the peace-loving nations of the world to condemn the brutal Israeli aggression against Qatar and its attempts to obstruct international efforts and diplomatic solutions aimed at stopping Israeli attacks and the crimes of genocide it practices in the Gaza Strip. These crimes, the Supreme Council underscored, include systematic policies of displacing and starving the population, disrupting the work of international relief and humanitarian organisations operating in the Gaza Strip, and killing journalists, medical and ambulance crews, rescue teams, and humanitarian workers. The Supreme Council stated that this requires the consolidation of all international efforts to deter these criminal acts.

President of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and Senior Vice-President of the FIFA Council Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa expressed his full solidarity with the State of Qatar following the brutal aggression on Doha on Tuesday.In his remarks to Qatar News Agency (QNA), the AFC President said that the Asian football family stands with the State of Qatar, praising the country's position on the international map and its noble roles in establishing the values of love and peace around the world, asking Allah to protect Qatar and its people, to perpetuate the blessings of security and stability, and to always remain an oasis of security, peace, and prosperity.

Expressing solidarity with Qatar, the Indian Business and Professionals Council (IBPC) Wednesday said Doha will emerge stronger as it has the natural ability to overcome challenges with strength. "We express our profound sorrow and condemn the recent attack on Qatar's sovereignty and territorial integrity. We stand in unwavering solidarity with the people and the visionary leadership of Qatar," Thaha Muhammed Abdul Kareem, president, IBPC Qatar said. Highlighting that Qatar has been a beacon of peace and a welcoming second home for the expatriates, where shared dreams have flourished; he said the Indian diaspora in Qatar holds a deep love and affection for this country, its culture, and its people. Qatar's commitment to global peace and mediation efforts has been exemplary, facilitating dialogue in regional conflicts and promoting humanitarian aid worldwide, according to him. "Qatar's resilience during difficult times has always been truly commendable, showcasing its ability to navigate complex challenges and emerge stronger. We have full faith in Qatar's ability to overcome this challenge with grace and strength," he said, adding "the Indian business and professionals community in Qatar is dedicated to contributing to Qatar's growth, strengthening bonds of friendship and commerce between our nations. Together, we champion peace and build a prosperous future for all."

Qatar and Oman Wednesday called for efforts to activate the business council and develop a joint executive action plan to boost trade as Muscat outlines 78 investment opportunities for Qatari investors in variegated fields.Oman showcased investment opportunities in fisheries, food and pharmaceutical industries, manufacturing, technology, minerals, renewable energy, tourism, and agriculture at a meeting hosted by Qatar Chamber (QC) with Qais bin Mohammed al-Yousef, Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion of Oman, and his accompanying delegation.Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim al-Thani, Qatar Chamber chairman, who received the delegation, said the bilteral economic relations have witnessed remarkable development in recent years, as the volume of trade exchange between Qatar and Oman reached about QR6.2bn in 2024, recording a growth of 17% on an annualised basis.Apart from exploring the possibility of organising an annual Qatari-Omani trade exhibition, the meeting "underlined the need to activate the Qatari-Omani business council and to develop a joint executive action plan aimed at boosting trade exchange and expanding areas of cooperation."Highlighting the promising and diverse opportunities in both countries, Sheikh Khalifa said they provide a solid foundation for enhancing cooperation and implementing joint projects of added value.He called on business owners in both countries to explore the investment opportunities available in both sides.The Omani minister said the Qatari-Omani business forum, held on the sidelines of the visit of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani to Oman, had a significant impact on strengthening relations between the business communities of the two countries and paved the way for further cooperation between companies on both sides.He said that the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are in the process of entering into several free trade agreements with a number of countries, which will create greater opportunities for cooperation between Qatari and Omani investors to access foreign markets.The Omani delegation highlighted that the 22 free economic and industrial zones provide investment opportunities in logistics, food industries, tourism, mining, education, innovation, technology, health, and additional sectors.Rashid bin Hamad al-Athba, second vice-chairman of the Qatar Chamber, said Qatari businessmen enjoy strong ties with their Omani counterparts and highlighted the shared desire to further enhance this cooperation, with the aim of contributing to stimulating mutual and joint investments and strengthening trade exchange between the two countries.