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Taylor Frankie Paul didn’t hold back on Mother’s Day, taking to social media with a lengthy and emotional post that appeared to call out people in her inner circle. "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives"
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Brianne Howey Out & About Days Before Baby No. 2 Announcement!!! Published May 10, 2026 2:02 PM PDT Brianne Howey was out celebrating just days before confirming her pregnancy with baby number 2 ... and
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Higher education in Qatar is a cornerstone of human development and the knowledge-based economy, as it aims to prepare national cadres with the required skills, promote scientific research, and meet labour market needs.It also fosters cultural diversity and international exchange through scholarships and by attracting international universities and students, thereby providing a global educational experience.Qatar and its leadership’s growing attention to higher education and the continuous development of its quality reflect the country’s strong commitment to human development.By recognising education as a key driver of economic and social progress, Qatar has established numerous universities, colleges, research and training centres, while attracting international schools and universities, fostering successful global partnerships, and encouraging private educational institutions through continuous support.The establishment of the College of Education for male and female teachers in 1973, in co-operation with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco), marked the foundation of the country’s first national university, Qatar University (QU), which was officially established in 1977.Today, the country’s higher education landscape includes a diverse range of universities, colleges, and institutes totaling around 27 entities, including eight public institutions and 19 private ones.The latest university was established this year.The Tamim Bin Hamad University for Military and Technology Sciences serves as an advanced academic umbrella integrating the expertise of military colleges while combining field professionalism with advanced technological knowledge.In the same context, His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani issued Amiri Decision No. 51 of 2022 establishing and regularising the Police Academy.The academy aims to train security personnel according to international standards, consolidate training and academic units under one umbrella, and integrate the Police College into its structure to advance legal and police training.The expansion of higher education institutions in Qatar coincides with the continued increase of academic programmes, reaching nearly 350 accredited programmes covering diploma, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees.According to data from the Higher Education Affairs Sector at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE), Qatar’s higher education institutions currently accommodate 52,564 students, including 47,326 undergraduate students and 5,238 postgraduate students.In remarks to the Qatar News Agency (QNA), Assistant Undersecretary for Higher Education Affairs at the MoEHE Dr Hareb Mohamed al-Jabri said that the rapid development of Qatar’s higher education system aligns with Qatar National Vision 2030, supporting the pillars of a comprehensive national development.He stressed that higher education contributes directly to human development, community development, environmental sustainability, and economic diversification, in addition to transforming scientific research outputs into startups and projects incubated within Qatar’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, thereby supporting the national economy.Dr al-Jabri added that higher education forms the foundation for preparing qualified national cadres capable of meeting labour market demands in terms of both specialisations and skills.Meanwhile, graduation ceremonies are currently being held throughout May, marking the end of the academic year, celebrating student achievements, and preparing graduates for a new chapter, the beginning of their professional careers.In this context, Qatar University celebrated the graduation of its 49th cohort, comprising 4,024 students, including 3,122 female students and 902 male students.In similar remarks to the QNA, QU Vice-President for Student Affairs Dr Mohammed Diab said this year’s graduation ceremony carried a significant milestone with the graduation of the first cohort from the College of Nursing, reflecting the evolution of academic programmes and their responsiveness to national priorities, particularly in the healthcare sector.He added that the large number of graduates this year reflects the scale of the QU’s impact on society, noting that more than 2,500 graduates are Qatari nationals, underscoring the university’s central role in preparing national competencies, alongside nearly 1,500 non-Qatari graduates, which further enhances academic and cultural diversity within the university.In a related context, the eight partner and local universities of Education City celebrated the graduation of the Class of 2026, the largest in its history, with 1,100 graduates from the various universities that make up the institution’s system, including 444 Qatari graduates representing 40% of the total number of graduates, and 660 graduates from 78 countries.Education City was officially inaugurated on October 13, 2003, under the supervision and initiative of the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF), which was established in 1995, to become a global centre for higher education.It now includes eight prestigious international partner and local universities, including the HBKU.All of these universities offer diverse and specialised academic programmes in various fields of knowledge, which has provided ample opportunities for Qatari students and other resident and international students to pursue their higher education in universities that are among the best of their kind in the world.The president of Higher Education and education adviser at the QF, Francisco Marmolejo, explained in a statement to the QNA the role that QF plays in supporting graduates after graduation, noting that each university within the system, along with the QF, works through specialised teams to follow up with them and support them in their career path.Marmolejo noted that a survey conducted during the Education City Job Fair 2026 showed that about 70% of graduates feel highly confident in their readiness to enter the labour market in Qatar, while employer surveys indicated that QF graduates have a high level of competence, particularly in communication skills, professional conduct and leadership.Regarding the sectors that attract the most graduates in Education City universities, he explained that artificial intelligence (AI) fields are witnessing increasing demand at the present time, as the QF is working in co-operation with its various universities to provide diverse educational opportunities in this field and others.He pointed out that Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar will offer an advanced AI programme ranked among the best in the world during the next academic year, and Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar will offer a new programme in motion photography, while the Media and AI major at Northwestern University in Qatar is one of the most popular majors among students.Amid the momentum that Qatar is witnessing these days with the graduation of new batches of graduates, University of Doha for Science and Technology (UDST), which replaced what was known as the College of the North Atlantic in 2022, to be the first national university specialising in applied and technical education in the State of Qatar, will celebrate on the graduation of more than 1,200 students on May 19 in various technical and professional disciplines.In a similar statement to the QNA, UDST President Dr Salem bin Nasser al-Nuaimi pointed out that the university currently has more than 9,000 students in various programmes belonging to more than 86 nationalities, which reflects a diverse international educational environment.He noted that Qatari students constitute 25% of the total university student body, a figure that is an essential part of the student community, in support of national talent.Dr al-Nuaimi pointed out that this cultural diversity reflects the richness of the educational experience and enhances the exchange of experiences among students.Lusail University, the first private national university in Qatar, will also celebrate the graduation of its third batch of students on May 18-19.All who gave statements to the QNA emphasised the successful and well-thought-out expansion of higher education institutions in Qatar, and the flexibility, opportunities, and academic and professional options it has provided for students, enhancing their motivation to learn.This results in continuous growth in qualified national cadres, in line with the state’s strategy aimed at supplying the labour market with specialised competencies.Considering the development of Qatar’s higher education system and its remarkable local and international scientific achievements, the nation occupies advanced positions in the Education Quality Index issued by the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, as well as in other competitive indicators and prestigious Arab and international rankings.In this regard, the QU has maintained its position as one of the best universities in the region and the world, according to the 2026 QS World University Rankings, rising to 112th globally and second in the Arab world.This ranking brings Qatar University much closer to joining the ranks of the top 100 universities in the world, especially considering its jump of 61 places compared to the 2024 ranking, in which it held the 173rd position globally.According to this ranking, some universities within Education City, such as the Hamad Bin Khalifa University and Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, were also among the top institutions.Furthermore, scholarships play a pivotal and strategic role in strengthening the higher education system in Qatar.They are key tools for developing national talent and building a knowledge-based economy, in line with Qatar National Vision 2030 and national development strategies, while also meeting the needs of the Qatari labour market.In this context, the MoEHE announced on April 21 the government scholarship plan for the 2026-27 academic year.This plan is based on four overarching strategic objectives: economic growth, equal opportunities, diversity and inclusion, and talent development, in alignment with the country’s national vision and the Third National Development Strategy.The plan marks a significant shift in the country’s strategy for building national competencies, introducing new features, most notably the Disability Track, which guarantees the right to higher education globally for this group through scholarships to universities that provide accessible environments and specialised programmes that support their independence and academic excellence.
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His Excellency the Minister of Sports and Youth Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed al-Thani inaugurated the official digital platform for the project documenting the history of Qatari football (1948-present), marking the launch of a landmark national initiative aimed at preserving the legacy of football in Qatar through a modern institutional framework that combines scientific methodology with digital innovation. The project reflects a firm belief that football in Qatar has long served as a social and cultural pillar that contributed to shaping public consciousness and mirrored the transformations of Qatari society across different historical periods. In this context, the initiative seeks to transform decades of sporting heritage, milestones, and iconic moments into a credible national archive that preserves the past while ensuring its continuity for future generations. Speaking during the launch ceremony, the chairman of the Committee for the Documentation and Archiving of Qatari Football History, Ali Dawood, said that the achievement was the result of sustained institutional work that began in August 2020, driven by the conviction that documenting the history of Qatari football is a national responsibility equal in importance to the achievements themselves, as it preserves and sustains them. He said that the committee focused on collecting, verifying, and archiving a vast body of historical material, including documents, photographs, oral testimonies, and rare footage, all reviewed according to rigorous scientific standards. Dawood added that documentation, research, and technical teams succeeded in building a comprehensive knowledge base that has been organised, indexed, and digitised to serve as a reliable national reference for researchers, media professionals, and future generations. He stressed that the accomplishment was the product of integrated teamwork carried out in accordance with the highest standards of quality and governance. He noted that the committee’s attainment of ISO 9001:2015 certification within a record period for a documentation project reflects its commitment to institutional excellence and sustainable professional practices. The committee adopted a comprehensive organisational structure comprising specialised teams in historical documentation, oral history, archiving, digitisation, verification, and review to ensure accuracy, governance, and quality outputs. Its work began with the collection of rare documents, photographs, and video materials, alongside recording testimonies of pioneers and key figures in Qatari football, followed by cross-referenced historical verification, digitisation of content, and the development of an interactive database based on the latest international standards. The committee stated that the project has reached an advanced stage, noting that the digital platform currently contains nearly 15 terabytes of historical data and content and continues to undergo expansion and updates. The volume of content is expected to nearly double during upcoming phases as part of a phased strategy designed to ensure the project’s comprehensiveness, sustainability, and status as a living national reference for the history of Qatari football. The committee also announced the publication of several specialised documentary books as part of the archiving project, covering pivotal milestones in Qatar’s football journey. These include publications on the early beginnings of football in Qatar, the national team’s participation in the Gulf Cup, and Qatar’s journey in FIFA World Cup tournaments, within a vision aimed at delivering verified knowledge content that combines historical narrative with scientific methodology. Among the publications is The Story of the Beginning, which documents the formative years of football in Qatar, tracing its emergence within early labour communities before spreading across Doha neighbourhoods and evolving into clubs, teams, and stadiums. Another publication, Qatar in the Gulf Cup: Legacy and Impact, chronicles Qatar’s participation in the Arabian Gulf Cup since the tournament’s inception, highlighting the technical, organisational, and fan-related transformations that accompanied its football journey within the broader Gulf sporting landscape. The book Qatar in the World Cup: Journey and Milestones documents the evolution of Qatari football from its early qualification attempts to the historic hosting of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and the national team’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The publication offers both historical and analytical perspectives on a long journey marked by ambition, challenges, and achievement. Related Story
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An outbreak of the deadly hantavirus on a Dutch-flagged cruise ship is reviving conspiracy theories about vaccines, alleged depopulation campaigns and miracle cures that flourished during the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.The multilingual misinformation, which dominated online discourse and disrupted public health responses to the coronavirus, resurged even as the World Health Organisation (WHO) insisted this week that there remained minimal risk to the general public from passengers of the MV Hondius.“LOCKDOWN ALERT: Globalists Launch Covid 2.0 As Hantavirus Spreads Worldwide,” InfoWars founder Alex Jones said on X. “Just Like A Light Switch.”A flurry of similar posts declared the outbreak a “plandemic” – borrowing from the title of a widely discredited pseudo-documentary from 2020 that pushed falsehoods about Covid-19.A passenger is believed to have contracted the rare respiratory disease before boarding the ship in Argentina and infecting others on board.Yet, an AFP analysis found widespread claims alleging a sinister plot to force vaccines on the masses, coerce people into lockdown, or sway America’s November elections by justifying expanded use of mail-in ballots - voting method that election deniers have insisted without evidence is rife with fraud.“The almost-immediate resurrection of Covid-19 era conspiracy theories is a reminder that misinformation doesn’t simply disappear once the crisis that yielded them is over,” said Yotam Ophir, head of the University at Buffalo’s Media Effects, Misinformation and Extremism lab.During the Covid-19 pandemic, health misinformation became more entwined with political identity, he said, so the election-rigging narrative “primes existing beliefs”.Other posts pointed to past coverage of potential vaccines for hantavirus, Covid-era comments from billionaire Bill Gates and a fictional 1990s television show as evidence the hantavirus was intentionally released to reduce the population or make money for vaccine manufacturers.Some further claimed the hantavirus was a side effect of Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccines, misrepresenting a document that showed only that it was one of many “adverse events of special interest” subjected to monitoring, not something caused by the shot.Ophir said many of the conspiracy theories now resurfacing have a long history, tracing to centuries-old fears that diseases were manufactured by elites.However, they spread faster now, boosted by social media algorithms and sometimes entertained by anti-vaccine voices installed in high-ranking offices by President Donald Trump.There are no approved vaccines or known cures for the hantavirus, which is usually spread from infected rodents and can cause respiratory and cardiac distress as well as haemorrhagic fever.However, online, anti-establishment physicians and some politicians immediately touted the anti-parasitic drug ivermectin and other medications as cures.Former US representative Marjorie Taylor Greene – who posted that the virus was a “bioweapon” unleashed so pharmaceutical companies could profit off “poison” vaccines – amplified ivermectin claims from Texas otolaryngologist Mary Talley Bowden, whom AFP has fact-checked for spreading misinformation.Bowden later posted an offer to sell ivermectin, while Florida Governor Ron DeSantis reupped support for failed legislation aimed at making ivermectin available without prescription.“There is extreme misinformation about ivermectin,” John Lednicky, a virologist at the University of Florida College of Public Health and Health Professions, told AFP. “Outside of laboratory tests, ivermectin has not proven effective in treating infections.”Ophir, from Buffalo, said the promotion of Covid-era conspiracy theories could be an effort to curry political favour – and may also be financially motivated.Amid anxiety and confusion over the outbreak, he told AFP that “online influencers, social media groups, or AI-operated users, may seize the chance to make some money”. – AFP
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Groups of passengers and crew disembarked from a cruise ship hit by a deadly hantavirus outbreak yesterday to be evacuated to their home countries where they will isolate according to national protocols to prevent further spread of the disease. Government planes carrying Spanish and French nationals landed in Madrid and Paris yesterday afternoon, where the passengers were transported to hospital, according to the two countries’ governments.One of the five French passengers showed symptoms during the repatriation flight, French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said on X. Planes to Canada, the Netherlands, Turkiye, the UK, Ireland, and the US were due to depart by 2030 local time (1830 GMT) yesterday, with the final flights departing today by 1900 local time.The passengers will be tested upon arrival and then either taken to local hospitals or quarantine facilities or transported home for isolation. The World Health Organisation has recommended a 42-day quarantine for all passengers from the boat from yesterday, its director of epidemic and pandemic management Maria Van Kerkhove said in a briefing. The Spanish passengers will be kept in hospital for the full 42 days, while French passengers will be hospitalised for 72 hours then allowed home to self-isolate for a further 45 days, according to the respective governments. “Our recommendation is daily health checks, at home or in a specialised facility. It’s up to countries to develop their policies but our recommendations are very clear,” Van Kerkhove said, highlighting that the incubation period for the virus was up to six weeks. The virus, usually spread by rodents but also transmittable person-to-person in rare cases of close contact, was first detected by health officials in Johannesburg on May 2 treating a British man who fell ill and was taken into intensive care, 21 days after another passenger had died. The man’s health has since improved, a WHO official said yesterday. The WHO said the first passenger who died on the ship may have been infected before boarding, possibly during travel in Argentina and Chile.Eight people no longer on the ship have fallen ill, according to a WHO tally from Friday, of which six are confirmed to have contracted the virus. Three have died – a Dutch couple and a German national. Four remain hospitalised in South Africa, the Netherlands and Switzerland. On the remote island of Tristan da Cunha, a British overseas territory, a suspected case is being treated by a team of medical specialists parachuted in by the UK military. Still, health officials urged calm, reminding a public scarred from the experience of the Covid-19 pandemic that this virus was far less contagious and posed little risk to the general population.A woman in Spain who was tested for the virus after sharing a flight with one of the victims tested negative. “This is not Covid and we don’t want to treat it like Covid,” acting US CDC Director Jay Bhattacharya said in an interview with CNN yesterday, adding the 17 US passengers from the ship would be given the choice of isolating at home or at a facility in Nebraska. Spain’s health ministry also downplayed the risk to the broader population. It added that rodents had not been detected aboard the ship.The luxury cruise ship left for Spain on Wednesday from the coast of Cape Verde after the WHO and European Union asked the country to manage the evacuation of passengers after the outbreak was detected. Passengers were taken from the ship to shore in small boats and transported to Tenerife airport in military buses, without coming into contact with the public.Thirty crew members will remain on board and sail to the Netherlands today evening where the ship will be disinfected.“Thank God we are all fine... I hope we’ll get through the quarantine process smoothly and be able to see family and friends again,” Turkish birdwatcher Emin Yogurtcuoglu, a passenger on the ship, wrote in a public post on Instagram.
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President Donald Trump yesterday rejected Iran’s response to a US proposal for peace talks to end the war, as two ships were allowed to pass through the blockaded Strait of Hormuz.“I have just read the response from Iran’s so-called “Representatives.” I don’t like it — TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE,” Trump posted on Truth Social, without giving further detail. Iranian state media said the response focused on ending the war on all fronts, especially Lebanon, and on the safety of shipping through the strait, Iranian state TV said, without indicating how or when the vital waterway might reopen. It followed a US proposal to end fighting before starting talks on more contentious issues, including Iran’s nuclear programme.Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency said Tehran’s proposal included an immediate end to the war on all fronts, a halt to the US naval blockade, guarantees of no further attacks on Iran and the lifting of sanctions onIran, including a US ban on Iranian oil sales. The Wall Street Journal quoted unnamed sources saying Iran proposed diluting some of its highly enriched uranium and transferring the remainder to a third country.Pakistan, which has been mediating talks over the war, forwarded the Iranian response to the US, a Pakistani official said. There was no immediate US comment. Despite a month-old ceasefire in the conflict and after some 48 hours of relative calm, hostile drones were detected over several Gulf countries yesterday, underlining the threat still facing the region. Still, the QatarEnergy-operated carrier Al Kharaitiyat passed safely through the strait and was heading for Pakistan’s Port Qasim, according to data from shipping analytics firm Kpler. It was the first Qatari vessel carrying liquefied natural gas to cross the strait since the US and Israel started the war on February 28. Sources said earlier the transfer, which offered a modicum of relief to Pakistan after a wave of power blackouts caused by a halt to gas imports, had been approved by Iran to build confidence with Pakistan and with Qatar, another mediator. In addition, a Panama-flagged bulk carrier bound for Brazil that had previously attempted to transit the strait on May 4 passed through, using a route designated by Iran’s armed forces, Tasnim reported yesterday.With Trump due to visit China this week, there has been mounting pressure to draw a line under the war, which has ignited a global energy crisis and poses a growing threat to the world economy. Tehran has largely blocked non-Iranian shipping through the narrow Strait of Hormuz, which before the war carried one-fifth of the world’s oil supply and has emerged as one of the central pressure points in the war. Addressing whether combat operations against Iran were over, Trump said in remarks aired yesterday: “They are defeated, but that doesn’t mean they’re done.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the war was not over because there was “more work to be done” to remove enriched uranium from Iran, dismantle enrichment sites and address Iran’s proxies and ballistic missile capabilities. The best way to remove the enriched uranium would be through diplomacy, Netanyahu said in an interview with CBS News’ 60 Minutes, without ruling out removing it by force.Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a social media post that Iran would “never bow down to the enemy” and would “defend national interests with strength”. Despite diplomatic efforts to break a deadlock, the threat to shipping lanes and the economies of the region remained high. Yesterday, the United Arab Emirates said it intercepted two drones coming from Iran, while Qatar condemned a drone attack that hit a cargo ship coming from Abu Dhabi in its waters. Kuwait said its air defences had dealt with hostile drones that entered its airspace. Recent days have seen the biggest flare-ups in fighting in and around the strait since a ceasefire began: the UAE came under renewed attack on Friday and sporadic clashes were reported between Iranian forces and US vessels in the strait. Clashes have also continued in southern Lebanon between Israel and Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, despite a US-brokered ceasefire announced on April 16. Hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah reignited on March 2 when the Lebanese group opened fire after Tehran came under US-Israeli attack. The latest talks between Israel and Lebanon are due to start in Washington on May 14. Though Washington imposed its own blockade on Iranian vessels last month, Tehran has taken its time before responding to calls to end a war that surveys show is unpopular with US voters facing ever-higher gasoline prices. With the Trump administration facing US voter discontent less than six months before congressional elections, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright told NBC’s Meet the Press that the Trump administration was “constantly looking for different ideas” to lower gasoline prices. The US has found little international support, with Nato allies refusing calls to send ships to open the Strait of Hormuz without a full peace deal and an internationally mandated mission. Domestically, Trump has had to fend off attempts by congressional Democrats to force an end to the war through War Powers Act legislation. “This is a situation that has been made much worse by the actions of Donald Trump, and now he’s floundering around trying to figure out a way to get out of it,” US Senator Jack Reed, the senior Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, told Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures show. Britain, which has been working with France on a proposal to ensure safe transit through the strait once the situation stabilises, said on Saturday it was deploying a warship to the Middle East in preparation for such a mission, following a similar move by France. Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said on social media that any stationing of British, French or other warships around the Strait of Hormuz under the pretext of “protecting shipping” would be an escalation and would be met by force.In response, French President Emmanuel Macron said France was standing ready to help the international mission, but “we have never envisaged a military deployment to re-open Hormuz.” Related Story
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Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay (left) holds the hand of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during a swearing-in ceremony as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai,yesterday. (Reuters) Indian film star C Joseph Vijay was sworn in as chief minister of Tamil Nadu state yesterday after his new party brokered a coalition in the southern industrial hub. The swearing-in ceremony followed days of high drama in the state capital Chennai, where Vijay’s fledgling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party initially struggled to secure support from smaller parties after state elections. Vijay’s TVK, founded only two years ago, emerged as the single largest party after the vote with 108 seats in Tamil Nadu’s 234-member legislative assembly, short of a simple majority.However, it won support from other parties, including the opposition Congress, to take its number of seats to 120, making it possible for Vijay to claim the top job. Thousands of supporters gathered in Chennai’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium yesterday, chanting “Mudhalvar”, or “chief minister” in Tamil, to watch Vijay take his oath of office.“I am not from a royal political background, just a common man,” the 51-year-old told the crowd. “My primary focus will be on basic issues such as education, ration supplies, healthcare, drinking water, roads and bus facilities,” he said.Vijay’s first set of policies included measures to ease electricity prices and improve women’s safety. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Vijay, saying the central government would work with his administration to “improve the lives of people”. Vijay, born to a Christian father and a Hindu mother, began his career as a child actor in 1984 in a movie directed by his filmmaker father.Known for his charismatic screen presence and mass appeal, his fans dubbed him “Thalapathy”, or “leader” in Tamil. His blockbuster hits blended action, social messaging and populist themes, burnishing his reputation as a voice for the common man. He cultivated his public image over the years by taking on roles that touched on subjects ranging from farmers’ issues to electoral manipulation. He launched the TVK in 2024 with a promise to end corruption and strengthen social justice. Tamil Nadu is one of India’s most significant economic engines, with its industrial sector producing everything from automobiles to electronics. The state is also India’s smartphone manufacturing hub, including for Apple iPhones. Related Story
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The 4th GCC Games Doha 2026 opened in spectacular fashion at Al Shaqab Indoor Arena Monday, with a vibrant ceremony celebrating Gulf unity and highlighting the multi-event’s role as a platform for the region’s young athletes to showcase their talent.The Games will bring together 1400 athletes and officials where athletes will compete across 17 sports over 11 days of competition, which aim to strengthen sporting ties and inspire the next generation across the Gulf. His Excellency Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani, President of the Olympic Council of Asia and Qatar Olympic Committee and Chairman of the Organising Committee for the GCC Games Doha 2026, officially declared the Games open and wished success to all participating athletes.HE Sheikh Joaan said: “Doha is proud to host this fourth edition of the GCC Games, bringing together athletes and friends from across our region. At a time when the world faces many challenges and uncertainties, these Games reaffirm the important role sport can play in strengthening dialogue, cooperation and understanding between peoples. Sport continues to be one of the strongest platforms for unity and optimism across the Gulf region. We witnessed this clearly during the Asian Beach Games Sanya 2026, where all 45 National Olympic Committees of Asia came together in a remarkable celebration of sport and friendship.”He added: “In Qatar, we strongly believe in the power of sport to build healthier, more connected and more united societies. Over the past two decades, Qatar has welcomed athletes, fans and delegations from around the world and hosted more than 20 World Championships. This legacy, which dates back to the Doha 2006 Asian Games, has provided us with world-class venues and expertise that today serve the ambitions of athletes from across the Gulf. We extend our appreciation to the GCC Federations, partners and organisers for their support of this event, and to every athlete competing in Doha 2026 — we wish them success in showcasing the true spirit of Gulf sport.” The 30-minute opening ceremony combined sport, art and culture in a visually striking production that departed from traditional formats through its youthful and modern presentation. Symbolic performances reflected the shared identity and unity of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.A highlight of the evening was the operetta “One Gulf, One Heart”, which celebrated the solidarity and common heritage of the GCC nations. Conceived, written and composed by Faisal Ibrahim al-Tamimi, the production blended music, theatre and choreography in an emotional tribute to Gulf brotherhood.The show impressed with its seamless mix of melodies, coordinated movements and visual storytelling, creating an engaging atmosphere for spectators inside the arena and viewers watching elsewhere. Advanced lighting, giant screens and visual effects enhanced the spectacle while complementing the heritage-inspired performances, underlining Qatar’s expertise in staging major international sporting events. Children and young girls from Qatar also featured prominently in the performances, adding an emotional and human touch through displays that highlighted values of identity and belonging.Large group performances involving participants of different age groups showcased remarkable precision and harmony, reinforcing the themes of teamwork and unity that defined the ceremony.The Games feature competitions in handball, table tennis, athletics, padel, fencing, boxing, taekwondo, karate, swimming, billiards, snooker, 3x3 basketball, shooting, archery, volleyball, equestrian and bowling. Hosts Qatar are represented by a delegation of around 300 athletes. The opening ceremony was attended by a number of Ministers, Presidents of the GCC Olympic committees, and senior sports officials, including Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki al-Faisal, President of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee; Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, President of the UAE National Olympic Committee; Sheikh Fahad Nasser Sabah Al Ahmad al-Sabah, President of the Kuwait Olympic Committee; Sayyid Azzan bin Qais al-Said, President of the Oman Olympic Committee; and Sheikh Isa bin Ali al-Khalifa, Vice President of the Bahrain Olympic Committee, alongside a number of GCC sports leaders.Jassim bin Rashid al-Buainain, Secretary-General of the Qatar Olympic Committee and Vice-Chairman of the Organising Committee, said Doha’s hosting of the Games reflected Qatar’s continued commitment to supporting Gulf sport and strengthening cooperation among GCC nations.He described the Games as an important gathering that combines competition with fraternity, while also strengthening bonds between Gulf peoples and promoting the values of solidarity and unity. Al-Buainain added that the organising committee had worked closely with all stakeholders to ensure the best technical and organisational standards for the event, while confirming that Qatari athletes were fully prepared to compete for medals across all sports.Mohammed Issa al-Fadala, Chairman of the Sports Committee of the Games, praised the technical and organisational quality of the opening ceremony, saying it successfully projected Gulf identity through a world-class production befitting Doha’s standing as a regional sporting capital. “We witnessed an exceptional ceremony that conveyed the message of unity and shared destiny among the peoples of the Gulf, while reflecting Qatar’s outstanding organisational capabilities in hosting major sporting events,” al-Fadala said.He added that the organising committee had reached full readiness across all operational and competition venues ahead of the start of events.Competitions officially begin Tuesday, with swimming at the Hamad Aquatic Centre and 3x3 basketball at Al Gharafa Club Hall.
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A motorcyclist was taken to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries after a collision in British Columbia left the bike suspended from a traffic signal above a busy intersection on Saturday afternoon.Delta Police said officers
