Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 02:26pm on 12 Jul 2026,Sunday International
Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the former Emir of Qatar who transformed the Gulf nation into a global economic and diplomatic power, has died at the age of 74. He ruled from 1995 to 2013 before voluntarily handing power to his son, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, in a rare peaceful transition. During his reign, Qatar expanded its liquefied natural gas industry, launched the influential Al Jazeera network, and secured hosting rights for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Qatar has declared four days of national mourning to honor his legacy. (PC: AP)
