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No matter how much is written, and no matter how eloquently words are crafted, they can never do justice to our father and leader, His Highness the late Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, may Allah have mercy upon him. He was no ordinary man. He was an extraordinary leader who made history, shaped the future of a nation, and through his vision and wisdom stood years ahead of many of the world’s leaders. Yet it was not his political achievements alone that defined his greatness. His humanity was even greater than the world knew. Countless acts of kindness were carried out quietly, and countless hands were extended in generosity without ever seeking recognition, gratitude, or praise. Among the most difficult moments of my diplomatic career, and indeed of my life, was standing at the embassy of Qatar to receive those who came to offer their condolences following the passing of HH the Father Amir, may Allah have mercy upon him. It was far more than an official duty, it was an emotional test unlike any other. I received words of sympathy while striving to remain composed before the magnitude of our loss. With every handshake and every tribute, I felt that our grief was too profound to be captured by words. We were not simply bidding farewell to a leader; we were bidding farewell to an era that transformed the history of our nation and to a man whose legacy touched the lives of millions. Throughout the days of mourning at the embassy, I received politicians, parliamentarians, journalists, researchers, doctors, lawyers, and people from every walk of life. What moved me most was that every single one of them, without exception, carried a personal memory, a humanitarian encounter, or an unforgettable story about HH the late Father Amir. It was then that I truly understood that great men never depart with the passing of their earthly lives. Their influence remains alive in the hearts of people, and their stories continue to be told by those who knew them or whose lives were touched by their generosity. Those were days that weighed heavily upon the heart and burdened the soul, not because of the number of mourners, but because every story reminded us anew of the enormity of our loss. Those who came did not offer condolences merely out of diplomatic courtesy or protocol. They came with genuine affection and heartfelt gratitude for a man whose influence extended far beyond the borders of his homeland and whose generosity and humanity reached people across the world. Just as HH the late Father Amir’s legacy did not end with his own generation, it has also reached the younger generation, many of whom did not personally witness the defining milestones of his leadership, yet inherited a deep love for him and immense pride in his legacy. The sorrow we witnessed in the eyes of young people and children was not merely grief for a historical figure, but for a father and a leader who remained alive in their hearts through the stories they had heard of his justice, compassion, vision, and the profound impact he had on countless lives. Our greatest source of consolation following his passing is his enduring guidance and testament, which will forever remain a beacon illuminating our path under the wise leadership of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, may Allah protect him. With unwavering loyalty and devotion, we shall continue preserving and building upon the remarkable legacy entrusted to us by HH the late Father Amir.May Allah have mercy upon HH the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, and may all that he offered to his nation, the Arab and Islamic worlds, and humanity be counted among his greatest good deeds. His name will forever remain alive in the memory of generations, for the legacy of truly great leaders never fades.They live on through the values they instilled, the institutions they built, the legacy they left behind, and the love and prayers they continue to inspire in the hearts of people.

During remarks at the inauguration of Board of Peace, US President Donald Trump singled out Qatar’s leadership, describing His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani as “a great leader... doing an incredible job.”Trump described Qatar as a “close ally of the United States” that was “working very hard and bravely... to broker peace.”The comments were widely interpreted by observers as recognition of Qatar’s sustained mediation efforts across regional conflicts and humanitarian negotiations in recent years.Qatar’s inclusion among core participants reflected Washington’s acknowledgement of Doha’s role as a trusted intermediary capable of maintaining dialogue across multiple political actors and conflict parties.Qatar’s engagement aligns with its established approach of facilitating negotiations, supporting ceasefire initiatives, and contributing humanitarian assistance in conflict zones.Participating countries collectively pledged billions of dollars toward reconstruction efforts discussed at the meeting, with Qatar joining international partners supporting recovery and stabilisation frameworks.Analysts view Qatar’s prominent role at the Washington gathering as further evidence of its evolving position as a central diplomatic actor bridging regional and global stakeholders. 

Beyond the TarmacThe use of biometrics at airports — such as facial recognition, iris scans or fingerprint verification — is increasingly widespread and delivers significant benefits for passengers, airports and airlines globally.That said, there are also important caveats and challenges to consider, industry analysts say.Recently, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) noted that biometric adoption is accelerating globally, highlighting the key findings of its 2025 Global Passenger Survey (GPS).The use of biometrics and digital identity is expanding to enable more seamless airport processing, and travellers like it, IATA said. Its utilisation (at airports) is expanding, and passenger satisfaction with biometrics has reached its highest level yet.The IATA survey revealed that half of passengers (50%) have used biometrics at some point in their airport journey, up from 46% in 2024.Usage is most common at security (44%), exit immigration (41%), and entry immigration (35%). Notably, biometric use has risen by nearly 20 percentage points since 2022.Passengers who have used biometrics report high levels of satisfaction with 85% saying they are happy with the experience.74% of travellers say they would be willing to share their biometric information if it means they can skip showing a passport or boarding pass at checkpoints like check-in, security, border control, and boarding.Privacy remains a concern, but there is room to build trust; 42% of passengers who are currently unwilling to share their biometric info say they would reconsider if data privacy was assured.IATA’s Senior Vice-President (Operations, Safety and Security) Nick Careen noted: “Passengers are already using biometrics for different stages of their journey, from check-in to boarding. But to make the international travel experience fully digital, governments need to start issuing digital passports and enable their secure recognition across borders.“When that becomes common practice, travellers, governments, and airlines will all see the benefits of digital identity with an experience that is even more convenient, efficient, and secure.”Biometric systems have seen to enable faster, smoother processing and enhanced security and identity assurance, resulting in improved overall travel experience.They facilitate identity verification in seconds rather than minutes, reducing wait times at check-in, security screening, immigration and boarding.Some airports report up to 30% faster processing due to biometric self-service and fewer manual document checks.Because passengers don’t always need to present a passport/boarding pass at every step (once enrolled), the journey feels more seamless and less stressful, industry analysts say.Biometric data (face, iris, fingerprint) is unique to each person, making impersonation, document fraud or identity theft harder compared to relying solely on passports or IDs.By matching a traveller’s presence through multiple airport touch-points (check‐in, bag‐drop, and boarding), airports can maintain a higher integrity of identity verification.For many travellers, biometrics create a more convenient, “touchless” experience that aligns well with modern expectations.During crowded or peak times, reduced queues and friction make travel less tiring, especially for frequent flyers, families, or those with mobility issues.There is also the potential benefit of more dwell time in retail or food and beverage zones, when processing is faster—meaning better airport experience overall!That said, using biometric data involves personal information that is sensitive. There are concerns over how it’s stored, how long it’s retained, who has access and how it’s used.Also, some travellers may feel uneasy about enrolment, opting in/out, or that biometric data might be used for purposes beyond border or airport control.While long‐term benefits often outweigh costs, the initial setup of biometric infrastructure (cameras, kiosks, software and integration) is significant.Analysts say achieving “end-to-end” biometric coverage (check-in, bag drop, security, immigration, and boarding) is more complex than just a single touch-point!

Slovenian President Dr Natasa Pirc Musar urged nations to move beyond geopolitical divisions and uphold international law, describing her nation’s recognition of Palestine as an important step towards realising a two-state solution and securing lasting peace in the Middle East.“When Slovenia recognised Palestine a year and a half ago, it was not an easy decision. We were one of the first three European countries, alongside Spain and Ireland, to take that step after many years. But it was the right thing to do, to be on the right side of history,” Dr Pirc Musar told the audience during her lecture, “The Realities of Multipolarism vs the Need for Multilateralism”, at Hamad Bin Khalifa University Monday.The lecture formed part of her official visit to Qatar and reflected HBKU’s ongoing commitment to advancing international dialogue on diplomacy and governance. Elected in 2022 as Slovenia’s first woman head of state, Dr Pirc Musar discussed global power dynamics, the erosion of multilateral co-operation, and the moral responsibility of states to act in defence of humanity.Dr Pirc Musar noted that 150 out of 193 United Nations member states now recognise Palestine, calling the move “a necessary first step” towards equality and dialogue. “If you advocate for a two-state solution,” she said, “don’t you think it is hypocrisy to recognise one state and not the other?”She stressed that Slovenia’s support for Palestine stems from both moral conviction and historical experience. Drawing parallels with the 1995 genocide in Srebrenica, she recalled how the tragedy in the Balkans continues to shape her nation’s empathy toward people suffering under conflict.“The sympathy we have for those who suffer is still alive because of Srebrenica. Watching the situation in Palestine brings back those painful memories,” the Slovenian president said.She also condemned political polarisation within Europe, questioning why human rights and humanitarian principles have become issues of left and right.“Are human rights left or right? They are not,” she said, recounting how she was criticised by right-wing parties after describing the situation in Gaza as genocide before the European Parliament.“I am neither pro-Palestinian nor pro-Israeli. I am for humanity. If we neglect international law, what’s left? Chaos,” Dr Pirc Musar said.Noting that peace requires both justice and equality, she said that recognising Palestinian statehood is not a solution in itself but “a first step” toward building a fair and lasting peace.She pointed out that Israel “deserves to have a state,” but condemned the violations of international law following October 7, questioning Israel’s claims of self-defence on foreign territory.“You have the right to self-defence on your own territory. On foreign territory, the answer is no,” she stressed. Dr Pirc Musar warned that the world today faces more than 65 armed conflicts, the highest number since World War II, and lamented the global community’s inability to stop wars in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, and elsewhere. “That’s where we are today in the 21st century,” she said. Dr Pirc Musar underlined Slovenia’s diplomatic stance as a nation without colonial history and “without hidden agendas.” She called on world leaders to restore faith in multilateralism, pursue dialogue grounded in international law, and commit to peace not as a slogan, but as a shared obligation.“If we want permanent peace and justice, we must offer statehood for Palestine. That is the only way forward,” she said.

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani awarded the Hamad bin Khalifa sash to His Excellency Ali bin bin Saeed al- Kumait al-Khayarin in recognition of his role and efforts throughout the period of his service. This took place during His Highness the Amir's meeting with His Excellency al- Khayarin at his office in the Amiri Diwan Monday. For his part, His Excellency al-Khayarin expressed his happiness, gratitude, and thanks to His Highness the Amir for this honour.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas welcomed the official announcement by France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta, Andorra, and Monaco of their recognition of the independent and sovereign State of Palestine. In his remarks, Abbas called the move a significant and necessary step toward achieving a just and lasting peace in accordance with international legitimacy.Abbas emphasized that the recognition of Palestine's right to self-determination, freedom, and independence would pave the way for the realization of the two-state solution.Abbas also underscored that the immediate priority is to secure a ceasefire in Gaza, allow humanitarian aid to reach those in need, release all hostages and prisoners, ensure a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, enable the State of Palestine to take full responsibility for its affairs, start recovery and reconstruction, and halt settlement activity and settler terrorism.France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta, Andorra, and Monaco made their official recognition of the State of Palestine during the High-Level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, held at the United Nations headquarters in New York.