The American Express Times
Tuesday, August 4, 2026
Trump threatens Iran with ‘last chance before decapitation’
President Donald Trump announced that negotiations with Iran are ongoing to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, despite Tehran's denial of direct talks with Washington. This effort, encouraged by Gulf states, represents a critical chance to ease regional tensions before the U.S. considers harsher actions against Iran.
★ Featured Stories
Firefighters work against clock to contain wildfires
Firefighters near Athens reinforced containment lines amid a temporary calm in winds as wildfires continued to force evacuations and disrupt coastal communities. Authorities warn that…
QM unveils iconic Pink Convertible Big installation at Place Vendome
Qatar Museums has installed Austrian artist Erwin Wurm’s oversized pink car sculpture, Pink Convertible Big, at Place Vendome as part of his Fat Car series.…
Ann Cleeves and Brenda Blethyn Discuss Final Vera Novel
Ann Cleeves has completed the final novel in her Vera Stanhope detective series and confirmed that the character will not be killed off. This ensures…
Orthodox on Course for Prix Morny
Orthodox, a leading juvenile sprinter trained by Clive Cox, is set to compete in the Group One Prix Morny in France on August 23 after…
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Hong Kong jails prison guard over assault on inmate: media
A former Hong Kong prison officer, Tam Lik-chung, was sentenced to three years in jail after pleading guilty to assaulting an inmate with a wooden…
MoEHE concludes student activities at summer centres for 2026
The Ministry of Education and Higher Education concluded its 2026 summer centre programme, engaging over 950 students across five government school centres with more than…
Broad Peak avalanche tragedy demands enhanced climbing safety
An avalanche on Broad Peak in Pakistan on July 27 killed 10 climbers, including renowned British-Nepali mountaineer Nirmal “Nims” Purja, highlighting ongoing safety challenges in…
Trump slips further in approval ratings amid Iran tensions
A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll shows President Donald Trump’s approval rating has dropped to 35%, near the lowest of his presidency, amid rising tensions with Iran.…
Supreme Judiciary Council auction sales exceed QR1.3bn in Q2
Qatar’s Supreme Judiciary Council reported that online judicial auctions in Q2 2026 sold assets worth over QR1.3 billion across 1,304 items, closing 3,308 enforcement cases…
Spain defends sovereignty of Ceuta after migrant rush
Spain asserted its control over the North African exclave of Ceuta after around 60,000 migrants crossed into the territory from Morocco in a few days.…
Qatar, partners condemn Israeli strikes breaching Gaza truce
Qatar, Egypt, and Turkiye jointly condemned recent Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, citing breaches of the ceasefire and harm to healthcare facilities and civilians. Their statement…
New Cancer Patients Treatment Endowment launched by Awqaf ministry
The Ministry of Endowments has launched the “Cancer Patients Treatment Endowment” to provide ongoing financial support for individuals undergoing cancer care. This fund will generate…
Russian officials report 11 killed in Ukrainian strikes
Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian territory killed 11 people and injured dozens, targeting a Black Sea resort village in Krasnodar and the annexed Crimean Peninsula.…
Poland sees strong potential for Qatari investment in tourism and hospitality sector
Poland is actively courting Qatari investors to expand its tourism and hospitality sector, focusing on premium hotels, wellness resorts, and mixed-use developments supported by economic…
Kidnapped Nigerian judge freed, police say
High Court judge Faruku Hassan Bunza was released on August 3 after being kidnapped from his home in Kebbi state on July 26 by unidentified…
Survivors recall blasts before deadly Indonesian ferry fire
A fire broke out on an Indonesian ferry traveling from Surabaya to Makassar, resulting in at least five deaths and several passengers still missing after…
Applications open for Katara’s 10th Holy Qur’an Recitation Award
Katara Cultural Village has opened applications for the 10th Holy Qur’an Recitation Award, accepting entries until September 30, 2026, to recognize outstanding Qur’anic reciters. Winners…
England and Wales experience driest and sunniest July on record
England and Wales recorded their driest and sunniest July ever, with Southern England experiencing its lowest rainfall since 1836 and the UK marking its second-hottest…
Work continues on Semaisma rainwater pump station to enhance infrastructure
Qatar’s Public Works Authority is constructing a new rainwater pump station in Semaisma to improve the efficiency of the area’s drainage network and support sustainable…
Venezuela ex-leader Maduro welcomes path to dialogue
Former Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro, detained in the U.S. on trafficking charges, expressed support for upcoming political talks between Venezuela’s government and opposition scheduled to…
Reform UK plans military operation to stop migrant boats
Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, has announced plans to deploy the Royal Navy to intercept and return migrant boats in the English Channel if…
How Mathaf evolved into a global home for Arab modern and contemporary art
Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art in Qatar has marked over 15 years as a leading institution dedicated to preserving, studying, and showcasing Arab modern…
Brazil’s former first lady Bolsonaro launches Senate bid with nomination
Brazil’s Liberal Party officially nominated former first lady Michelle Bolsonaro as a Senate candidate amid a public family dispute with her stepson Flavio Bolsonaro, the…
Reform UK deputy Richard Tice under investigation by watchdog
Richard Tice, deputy leader of Reform UK, is being investigated by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards over a potential failure to declare an interest during…
Gunmen kidnap at least 52 people in northwest Nigeria
Gunmen abducted at least 52 people, including children, during an overnight attack on a village and military base in Zamfara state, Nigeria. This incident highlights…
Spider-Man records $355mn opening in North America
Sony and Marvel's "Spider-Man: Brand New Day," starring Tom Holland, earned an estimated $355 million domestically during its opening weekend, the second-highest U.S. debut ever…
The Gulf is building alternate routes around Hormuz strait
Nearly 15 million barrels of crude oil per day passed through the Strait of Hormuz in 2025, prompting Gulf producers to revive plans for alternative…
Qatar participates in 2nd International Conference to Combat Discrimination Against Islam and Muslims
Qatar is participating in the Second International Conference to Combat Discrimination Against Islam and Muslims in Cairo, represented by officials from the Doha International Centre…
New study chronicles Qatari women’s role in sustainable development
The Al Jazeera Centre for Studies published *Qatari Women and Sustainable Development* by Dr. Al Anoud Ahmed al-Thani, analyzing the expanding roles of Qatari women…
MoPH and healthcare entities launch blood cancer awareness campaign
Qatar’s Ministry of Public Health, alongside major healthcare entities, has launched a month-long campaign in August to raise public awareness about blood cancers, focusing on…
Flavio Bolsonaro closes in on Lula in Nexus/BTG poll for Brazil election
A recent Nexus/BTG Pactual poll shows Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Senator Flavio Bolsonaro nearly tied, with Lula at 46% and Bolsonaro…
Trump demands lower gas prices from oil firms
Former President Donald Trump urged Chevron CEO Mike Wirth to lower gasoline prices and credited his administration’s policies for supporting the U.S. oil industry, citing…
Malaysia’s Sarawak grapples with rising crocodile encounters
The crocodile population in Sarawak has rebounded to over 25,000, leading to increased attacks that have resulted in 22 deaths between 2023 and 2025. In…
Qatar Charity project boosts food security and livelihoods in northwest Syria
Qatar Charity and Attaa Humanitarian Relief Association have launched a year-long project to improve food security and support livestock breeders, especially women, in northwest Syria’s…
US signs deal to boost production of Patriot, THAAD missile parts
The U.S. government has signed a contract worth over $3 billion with Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman to significantly boost production of Patriot and THAAD…
Korean Peninsula heatwave sparks emergency response
A historic heatwave has engulfed the Korean Peninsula, with South Korea’s Yangsan reaching 42.5°C—the highest temperature ever recorded in the country—and both Koreas implementing emergency…
Magnitude 5.6 earthquake strikes near Egypt’s Suez
A magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck near Suez, Egypt, early Monday, prompting emergency measures despite no reported casualties. The tremor was widely felt, leading to evacuations…
China evacuates residents as heavy downpours hit northwest, southwest
Heavy rainfall in China has forced the evacuation of over one million people across multiple provinces, including Shaanxi and Sichuan, due to flooding, landslides, and…
Aung San Suu Kyi meets Red Cross delegate in Myanmar
Former Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi held her first publicly confirmed meeting with a foreign official since her 2021 detention, greeting a representative from…
Bangladesh measles outbreak drives families into debt
Bangladesh is facing a severe measles outbreak that has killed at least 844 children and hospitalized over 112,000 people since March, overwhelming families with medical…
Trial Launched for Twice-Yearly Jab to Control High Blood Pressure
A global phase three trial has begun to test zilebesiran, a twice-yearly injection that silences a liver gene to lower blood pressure by reducing angiotensinogen…