Latest Qatar government News

How it happened: Two seismic weeks that toppled Syria's government

Dec. 08, 2024 13:35 PM EST

LONDON (AP) — Half a century of rule by the Assad family in Syria crumbled with astonishing speed after insurgents burst out of a rebel-held enclave and converged on the capital, Damascus, taking city after city in a matter of days. Opposition forces swept across the country and...

Syria latest: Syrians celebrate Bashar Assad's fall as his whereabouts remain unknown

Dec. 08, 2024 08:32 AM EST

Crowds gathered in Syria's Damascus on Sunday to celebrate the fall of Bashar Assad’s government with chants, prayers and the occasional gunfire after opposition fighters entered the capital following a stunning advance. Rami Abdurrahman of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights,...

Thousands flee as Syrian insurgents advance to the doorstep of the country's third-largest city

Dec. 06, 2024 17:30 PM EST

BEIRUT (AP) — Thousands of people fled the central Syrian city of Homs, the country’s third largest, as insurgents seized two towns on the outskirts Friday, positioning themselves for an assault on a potentially major prize in their march against President Bashar Assad. The move,...

Hamas official says Gaza ceasefire talks have resumed after weekslong hiatus

Dec. 06, 2024 00:41 AM EST

ISTANBUL (AP) — A Hamas official said Thursday that international mediators have resumed negotiating with the militant group and Israel over a ceasefire in Gaza, and that he was hopeful a deal to end the 14-month war was within reach. Ceasefire negotiations were halted last month...

Princess of Wales joins royals as Qatari state visit to the UK starts

Dec. 03, 2024 21:13 PM EST

LONDON (AP) — The Princess of Wales helped kick off the emir of Qatar’s trip to Britain on Tuesday as the U.K. government enlists one of the most popular royals to ensure the success of a state visit by the leader of a key ally, even as the princess recovers from cancer treatment. ...

Qatar suspends its mediation efforts on Gaza and the Hamas office there may have to leave

Nov. 09, 2024 20:55 PM EST

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Qatar has suspended its key mediation efforts between Hamas and Israel, it said Saturday, after growing frustration with the lack of progress on a cease-fire deal for Gaza. It wasn't immediately clear whether the remaining Hamas leadership hosted by...

Qataris votes to end limited polls for legislative seats in shadow of US election

Nov. 05, 2024 21:32 PM EST

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Qatar voted Tuesday to end its limited elections for legislative seats, passing a measure to end the country's short-lived experiment in electing members of the advisory Shura Council. Voting took place as the world's attention focused on the...

Here's a look at what came out of Blinken's 11th trip to the Middle East

Oct. 26, 2024 08:07 AM EDT

LONDON (AP) — Secretary of State Antony Blinken's weeklong trip to the Middle East ended unexpectedly in London on Friday, but the lack of a cease-fire breakthrough for Gaza came as no surprise to U.S. and Arab officials, who described the growing regional conflicts as a “nightmare.” ...

Middle East latest: Blinken in Doha to discuss Gaza cease-fire with Qatari officials

Oct. 24, 2024 18:09 PM EDT

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in Doha on Thursday to meet with Qatari officials who have been key mediators for Hamas, as the U.S. struggles to break the logjam of cease-fire negotiations between Israel and the militant group. Blinken is on his 11th trip to the Middle...

Qatar's ruler says his nation will vote on abandoning legislative elections after just one poll

Oct. 15, 2024 10:54 AM EDT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Qatar's ruling emir said Tuesday his small, energy-rich nation will hold a referendum on ending a short-lived experiment in electing members of the country's advisory Shura Council. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani offered no immediate timeline...