- Sheikh Hamad, Qatar’s transformative former emir, has died at 74 — he famously and peacefully abdicated in 2013, handing power to his son Sheikh Tamim.
- He turned tiny Qatar into a global brand: founding Al Jazeera, buying Harrods, building Qatar Airways and Doha’s airport, and winning/hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
- His independent foreign policy — ties to Iran, outreach to Hamas and the Taliban, and backing for Islamist movements — brought influence but also regional friction and criticism.
The news, distilled into what matters.
Get the full experience in the app — topics, comments, and audio summaries.