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Qatar

The latest news, analysis and opinion on Qatar. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

Capital

Doha

Head of State

Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani

Head of Government

Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani

Iran

Open Questions | Trita Parsi on why US air strikes strengthened Iran’s hand

Iranian-born and Washington-based expert analyses Tehran’s leverage, China’s non-intervention strategy and shifting Persian Gulf alliances.

31 Aug 2026 - 10:04AMvideocam

China-Middle East relations

China’s Middle East policy at a crossroads 6 months into US-Israeli war on Iran

29 Aug 2026 - 7:40PMvideocam

US, Israel war on Iran

Iranian leaders admit economic toll of war with US as trade drops 35%

29 Aug 2026 - 11:23AMvideocam

Malaysia

Why Malaysia’s push for 15 million Muslim tourists is no sure thing

With disruption to long-haul flights, Malaysia may not draw more Muslim visitors at the expense of the travel hubs in Dubai and Doha.

28 Aug 2026 - 8:00PM

A view of Kuala Lumpur’s city skyline. Photo: Shutterstock

US, Israel war on Iran

Hormuz deal presses pause on Iran conflict, but fears of ‘forever war’ remain

Tehran is likely to stick to its guns in the hopes that the US midterms will bring about a Republican defeat, analysts say.

28 Aug 2026 - 1:00PMvideocam

US, Israel war on Iran

US starts returning staff to some Middle East missions after war evacuations

US move signals lower risk of immediate regional escalation, though select missions will cap capacity at 75 to 85 per cent.

26 Aug 2026 - 8:59AM

Hong Kong transport

Mable Chan uses Qatar Airways office opening to drop Central Asia route reveal

SCMP has learned that Cathay Pacific Airways is the airline behind plans to launch direct route to Almaty, Kazakhstan.

19 Aug 2026 - 9:29PM

Qatar Airways has also signed a memorandum of understanding with the Airport Authority. Photo: AFP

US, Israel war on Iran

Trump posts map with Hormuz as ‘new US territory’, says no Iran talks planned

This is not the first time the US president, faced with a foreign policy obstacle, has threatened to annex foreign territory.

19 Aug 2026 - 4:24AM

Israel-Gaza war

US envoy Kushner meets Hamas leader in push for Gaza road map

Israeli PM Netanyahu last week rejected the US-backed 15-point plan in a rare public show of defiance against the Trump administration.

17 Aug 2026 - 2:22AM

US, Israel war on Iran

Iran urges Qatar to release pilots shot down in Middle East war

The trio were allegedly captured after their Su-24 fighter jets went down during a sortie to the Gulf state in March.

16 Aug 2026 - 3:07AM

Two Russian Sukhoi Su-24 attack aircraft are seen in the Baltic Sea in April 2016. The Iranian pilots were also flying Su-24s. Photo: US Navy via AP,

Donald Trump

How US staged Air Force One departure to hide Trump’s secret exit from Turkey

A report said the US president secretly swapped planes while leaving a Nato summit due to an Iranian assassination threat.

11 Aug 2026 - 11:31AM

US President Donald Trump waves as he switches planes at an airbase in Suffolk, eastern England, on his way back to Washington from the Nato summit in Turkey last month. Photo: AP

US, Israel war on Iran

Trump demands Iran pay compensation as hopes fade for Hormuz agreement

US president says the issue must be included in future negotiations after Tehran sought damages for US and Israeli strikes.

11 Aug 2026 - 5:55AMvideocam

Saudi Arabia

How Saudi-Turkey-Pakistan pact acts as ‘insurance’ over US disengagement

The Mecca deal may emerge as a third geopolitical ‘centre of gravity’ in the Middle East, with more members joining, analysts say.

9 Aug 2026 - 4:00PMvideocam

US, Israel war on Iran

How US became trapped in ‘dreadful situation’ of its own making over Iran war

With Iran holding firm to its grip on the Strait of Hormuz, Trump faces one of two choices: capitulate or risk a ‘forever war’, experts say.

6 Aug 2026 - 3:21PMvideocam

US President Donald Trump addresses the nation from the East Room of the White House on July 16. Photo: Getty Images

Israel-Gaza war

Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ conditions Israel’s Gaza withdrawal on Hamas disarmament

US-backed panel seeks to calm Israeli pushback over framework for war-torn enclave.

4 Aug 2026 - 3:20PM

A Palestinian boy stands beside a marker designating the 'Yellow Line' set by the Israeli military in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip. Photo: AFP

US, Israel war on Iran

Trump claims ‘last chance’ for Iran to strike deal in latest warning

US president also says negotiations with Tehran are ‘going on right now’ despite Tehran’s insistence no direct talks were under way.

4 Aug 2026 - 5:24AMvideocam

US, Israel war on Iran

Trump says new talks with Iran set to begin after calling off attack

US president said negotiations would start Monday, but offered no details on the location or participants.

3 Aug 2026 - 12:51PM

US, Israel war on Iran

Iran’s foreign minister warns of any ‘adventurous action’ by US

Abbas Araqchi said Iran would retaliate if the US follows through on Trump’s threat of fresh attacks on the country.

2 Aug 2026 - 7:01AMvideocam

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi in Baghdad, Iraq on June 28. Photo: Reuters

US, Israel war on Iran

US embassies urge citizens to consider departing Middle East

The warning by embassies including those in the UAE, Qatar, Israel, Oman and Bahrain came after Trump threatened to hit Iran ‘very hard’.

2 Aug 2026 - 12:57AMvideocam

United States

‘Show must go on,’ Trump tells press gala 3 months after assassination attempt

Speech to White House press corps dinner included jokes about a third term, jibes at opponents and the media – and praise for Xi Jinping.

25 Jul 2026 - 12:30PMvideocam

Food and Drinks

How Doha’s Mila is giving modern Levantine offerings a local spin in Hong Kong

Marc Mahfouz of Michelin-recognised restaurant is serving makdous, velvety hummus and other Middle Eastern plates in the city until August 9.

25 Jul 2026 - 7:33AM

A mezze spread of small dishes at the Mila pop-up at Rosewood Hong Kong. Photos: Handout

Donald Trump

US prosecutors dropping New York Times subpoenas over Trump plane reporting

The newspaper had reported that Trump left Turkey ‌on the old Air Force One because a new plane donated by Qatar lacked defensive ⁠features.

24 Jul 2026 - 4:09AM

US President Donald Trump arrives at Dobbins Air Reserve Base on Air Force One on Wednesday. Photo: AP

China energy security

China’s June Gulf crude imports plunge amid slump in demand, higher prices

Chinese imports of liquefied natural gas rose 8.3 per cent year on year in June, while the country purchased nearly 30 per cent more coal in the month.

20 Jul 2026 - 8:30PM

Donald Trump

Trump’s new Air Force One to be ‘maxed out’ following missile defence fears

The upgrades were completed ⁠so quickly that some experts expressed concern that the plane might not be as secure as the previous one.

20 Jul 2026 - 12:04PM

US, Israel war on Iran

2 US troops dead, 1 missing after Iran attacks base in Jordan

These are the first American service members killed due to direct Iranian fire since the opening days of the war.

19 Jul 2026 - 8:50AM

This screen grab made on Saturday from handout video footage released by the US Central Command (CENTCOM) shows what the US military says is the latest wave of precision strikes on strategic Iranian military sites. Photo: US Central Command / AFP

US, Israel war on Iran

US and Iran attack infrastructure, raising fears of escalation

Two oil tankers exploded and caught fire after passing through a mined route south of Hormuz, Iranian media reported.

18 Jul 2026 - 8:07PMvideocam

Footage shows what Iranian state TV says is the aftermath of overnight US strikes on two bridges in Bandar Khamir County, near the Strait of Hormuz. Photo: IRINN via AFP

China trade

Helium squeeze: China vows trade controls on gas to shield critical industries

A by-product of LNG production, helium is critical for hi-tech industries including semiconductors, medical equipment and aerospace.

16 Jul 2026 - 5:33PMvideocam

Law

Legal Tales | Everything you never wanted to know about hosting the World Cup

Why lawyers have to keep their eye on the ball when nations become eager to host the next Fifa World Cup.

16 Jul 2026 - 9:30AM

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Qatar

.css-1f6sr3w{color:#727272;}Open Questions | Trita Parsi on why US air strikes strengthened Iran’s hand

Iranian-born and Washington-based expert analyses Tehran’s leverage, China’s non-intervention strategy and shifting Persian Gulf alliances.

China’s Middle East policy at a crossroads 6 months into US-Israeli war on Iran

Iranian leaders admit economic toll of war with US as trade drops 35%

Why Malaysia’s push for 15 million Muslim tourists is no sure thing

With disruption to long-haul flights, Malaysia may not draw more Muslim visitors at the expense of the travel hubs in Dubai and Doha.

Hormuz deal presses pause on Iran conflict, but fears of ‘forever war’ remain

Tehran is likely to stick to its guns in the hopes that the US midterms will bring about a Republican defeat, analysts say.

US starts returning staff to some Middle East missions after war evacuations

US move signals lower risk of immediate regional escalation, though select missions will cap capacity at 75 to 85 per cent.

Mable Chan uses Qatar Airways office opening to drop Central Asia route reveal

SCMP has learned that Cathay Pacific Airways is the airline behind plans to launch direct route to Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Trump posts map with Hormuz as ‘new US territory’, says no Iran talks planned

This is not the first time the US president, faced with a foreign policy obstacle, has threatened to annex foreign territory.

US envoy Kushner meets Hamas leader in push for Gaza road map

Israeli PM Netanyahu last week rejected the US-backed 15-point plan in a rare public show of defiance against the Trump administration.

Iran urges Qatar to release pilots shot down in Middle East war

The trio were allegedly captured after their Su-24 fighter jets went down during a sortie to the Gulf state in March.

How US staged Air Force One departure to hide Trump’s secret exit from Turkey

A report said the US president secretly swapped planes while leaving a Nato summit due to an Iranian assassination threat.

Trump demands Iran pay compensation as hopes fade for Hormuz agreement

US president says the issue must be included in future negotiations after Tehran sought damages for US and Israeli strikes.

How Saudi-Turkey-Pakistan pact acts as ‘insurance’ over US disengagement

The Mecca deal may emerge as a third geopolitical ‘centre of gravity’ in the Middle East, with more members joining, analysts say.

How US became trapped in ‘dreadful situation’ of its own making over Iran war

With Iran holding firm to its grip on the Strait of Hormuz, Trump faces one of two choices: capitulate or risk a ‘forever war’, experts say.

Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ conditions Israel’s Gaza withdrawal on Hamas disarmament

US-backed panel seeks to calm Israeli pushback over framework for war-torn enclave.

Trump claims ‘last chance’ for Iran to strike deal in latest warning

US president also says negotiations with Tehran are ‘going on right now’ despite Tehran’s insistence no direct talks were under way.

Trump says new talks with Iran set to begin after calling off attack

US president said negotiations would start Monday, but offered no details on the location or participants.

Iran’s foreign minister warns of any ‘adventurous action’ by US

Abbas Araqchi said Iran would retaliate if the US follows through on Trump’s threat of fresh attacks on the country.

US embassies urge citizens to consider departing Middle East

The warning by embassies including those in the UAE, Qatar, Israel, Oman and Bahrain came after Trump threatened to hit Iran ‘very hard’.

‘Show must go on,’ Trump tells press gala 3 months after assassination attempt

Speech to White House press corps dinner included jokes about a third term, jibes at opponents and the media – and praise for Xi Jinping.

How Doha’s Mila is giving modern Levantine offerings a local spin in Hong Kong

Marc Mahfouz of Michelin-recognised restaurant is serving makdous, velvety hummus and other Middle Eastern plates in the city until August 9.

US prosecutors dropping New York Times subpoenas over Trump plane reporting

The newspaper had reported that Trump left Turkey ‌on the old Air Force One because a new plane donated by Qatar lacked defensive ⁠features.

China’s June Gulf crude imports plunge amid slump in demand, higher prices

Chinese imports of liquefied natural gas rose 8.3 per cent year on year in June, while the country purchased nearly 30 per cent more coal in the month.

Trump’s new Air Force One to be ‘maxed out’ following missile defence fears

The upgrades were completed ⁠so quickly that some experts expressed concern that the plane might not be as secure as the previous one.

2 US troops dead, 1 missing after Iran attacks base in Jordan

These are the first American service members killed due to direct Iranian fire since the opening days of the war.

US and Iran attack infrastructure, raising fears of escalation

Two oil tankers exploded and caught fire after passing through a mined route south of Hormuz, Iranian media reported.

Helium squeeze: China vows trade controls on gas to shield critical industries

A by-product of LNG production, helium is critical for hi-tech industries including semiconductors, medical equipment and aerospace.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Legal Tales | Everything you never wanted to know about hosting the World Cup

Why lawyers have to keep their eye on the ball when nations become eager to host the next Fifa World Cup.

Open Questions | Trita Parsi on why US air strikes strengthened Iran’s hand

Legal Tales | Everything you never wanted to know about hosting the World Cup