Qatar National Bank, the country's largest lender, made a first quarter net profit of QR1.0bn ($275m), 10 percent more than a year ago as the bank said it had effectively managed risk.

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said today that it has assigned its 'AA-' rating to the $3 billion global bond issue by the State of Qatar (AA-/Stable/A-1+).

The annual global ranking, compiled by Forbes Asia, surveyed 50 countries and assessed whether a jurisdiction’s tax policy attracted or repelled capital and talent by calculating its Misery score. The score is the sum of the corporate, personal, social security and sales tax rates.

Hotels throughout Doha are preparing to celebrate Easter by offering a number of special packages and dining events for guests, most of which include entertainment and activities for children.

Cruise ships brought in around 3,000 tourists to Qatar during the last three months, a senior Qatar Tourism and Exhibition Authority (QTEA) official told Gulf Times.

Barwa and Qatari Diar, in partnership with America’s University of Pennsylvania, have developed the first performance-based sustainability rating system in the Middle East.

For the first time, Doha will celebrate World Press Freedom Day on May 2 and 3 in an event at the Intercontinental hotel. The celebration, being organised jointly by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and the Doha Center for Media Freedom, will focus on the media and its role in promoting dialogue, mutual understanding and reconciliation.

Qatari and American musicians performed last night at a private concert at the American ambassador’s residence in Onaiza.

The Prime Minister and Foreign Minister H E Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani said differences in stances between Qatar and the US administration have become less than what they had been during the Israeli war on Gaza.