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This Month

Thousands of displaced Palestinians walk towards their homes in northern Gaza, via the Netzarim Corridor.

Thousands of Gaza residents stream back to the north on foot

Palestinians began returning to the ravaged territory and what was left of their homes and families, after Israel and Hamas agreed to keep a ceasefire in place.

  • Nidal al-Mughrabi and Maayan Lubell
Demonstrators in Tel Aviv call for the release of all hostages held captive by Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Israel delays Gaza ceasefire over hostage list

Benjamin Netanyahu said the truce would not go ahead until militant group Hamas provided the names of hostages to be released.

  • Updated
  • Maayan Lubell and Nidal al-Mughrabi
Steve Witkoff, pictured at a Trump rally last year, is the president-elect’s Middle East envoy and was key to the deal.

A Sheikh, a mogul and a diplomat: the unlikely trio behind Gaza truce

The Qatari prime minister worked with both President Biden’s envoy and President-elect Donald Trump’s representative to bring about a deal.

  • Patrick Kingsley, Adam Rasgon and Michael D. Shear
Israeli protesters in Jerusalem block a road during a demonstration against the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.

Hamas set to release first hostages under ceasefire deal, Israel says

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said hostages would be released on Sunday as cabinet meets to approve the deal with Hamas.

  • Updated
  • Andrew Mills, Nidal al-Mughrabi and James Mackenzie
Relatives and friends of people killed and abducted by Hamas and taken into Gaza react to the ceasefire announcement.

Gaza hostage deal brings joy – but four painful months lie ahead

While for some families the peace deal will bring immediate joy, for others the process will dash the last embers of hope as loved ones are returned broken or in body bags.

  • Paul Nuki
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Steve Witkoff, pictured during Trump’s court case last year, is the president-elect’s Middle East envoy.

How Trump’s ‘salty’ envoy may have forced Israel’s hand on a deal

“Aggressive businessman” Steven Witkoff shakes up year-long negotiations and the pressure is on Benjamin Netanyahu to agree ceasefire with Hamas.

  • Ben Farmer

December 2024

Israeli soldiers cross the security fence moving towards the so-called Alpha Line that separates the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights from Syria, in the town of Majdal Shams.

Israel to close Ireland embassy over Gaza tensions

The decision to close the embassy came in response to what Israel’s foreign minister has described as Ireland’s ‘extreme anti-Israel policies’.

  • Wafaa Shurafa and Natalie Melzer
The Australian Consumer and Competition Commission has given preliminary approval for Virgin’s plan to “wet lease” Qatar planes staffed by overseas crews.

Qantas’ misdeeds shouldn’t scuttle Virgin-Qatar deal

The TWU stoush with Bain Capital over the next Virgin boss highlights corporate Australia’s wider reputational issues that have fuelled the populist backlash against business.

  • The AFR View

November 2024

Virgin will start operating flights with Qatar.

Virgin will partner with Qatar for long-haul flights

ACCC gives interim approval for Virgin Australia and Qatar Airways’ agreement; the 11 Treasury bills that passed the Senate; Peter Dutton hugs Bill Shorten. How the day unfolded.

  • Updated
  • Lucy Slade
Qatar Airways has proposed to take a 25 per stake in Virgin Australia. That deal still needs Foreign investment Review Board approval.

Virgin’s plan to fly Qatar planes poised for ACCC green light

The Bain-backed airline hopes to fly the Gulf carrier’s Boeing 777s to Doha in a return to long-haul international services from the middle of next year.

  • Ayesha de Kretser
Qantas was the only party that objected to the proposed expansion by Qatar Airways.

There are plenty of dangers for Qantas in Virgin’s Qatar tie-up

The flying kangaroo says it welcomes competition – except from the Gulf airline – as investors fear the deal could cause havoc with its international division.

  • Ayesha de Kretser
Palestinians survey destruction from an Israeli air and ground offensive in Jebaliya in the Gaza Strip.

Qatar halts Gaza ceasefire talks, citing deadlock

The announcement by the Gulf state reveals the frustration about the warring parties’ failure to agree to an end to war in Gaza.

  • Adam Rasgon, Aaron Boxerman and Julian E. Barnes
Planes on the tarmac at Canberra Airport.

Virgin-Qatar tie-up could break Qantas’ grip on Canberra

Canberra Airport says the combination of Virgin and Qatar would help to end politicians’ preference for flying Qantas.

  • Ayesha de Kretser
Airports say Virgin shouldn’t cut Singapore Airlines out of flights to Europe when tying up with Qatar.

Airports say don’t cut Singapore Airlines out of Virgin-Qatar tie-up

The Australian Airports Association has warned the ACCC that passengers will lose a crucial route to Europe if the Qatar-Virgin tie-up is approved in the proposed format.

  • Ayesha de Kretser

October 2024

Ukrainian servicemen fire towards Russian positions in Kherson region at the weekend.

Ukraine and Russia in talks about halting strikes on energy plants

An agreement would mark the most significant de-escalation of the war since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in early 2022.

  • Max Seddon, Christopher Miller and Andrew England
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Up for sale: The Chrysler building is one of the most iconic skyscrapers in Manhattan.

Tussle for control of New York’s famed Chrysler Building

Legal disputes and ruthless manoeuvres are commonplace in the cutthroat world of New York real estate. Now the fate of a famous skyscraper hangs in the balance.

  • Philip Kaleta
A protester holds a sign during a demonstration calling for an hostages deal on October 17, 2024 in Tel Aviv, Israel.

What now for Netanyahu’s war?

The US says the killing of Yahya Sinwar is an opportunity to negotiate a ceasefire, but fresh militant leaders could take his place.

  • James Shotter and Neri Zilber
The Cathay Pacific Aria business class suite - with sliding privacy door - is now flying aboard just one retrofitted Boeing 777-300ER, with more retrofits underway.

Art gallery, luxury loos: Cathay’s business class goes next level

Hong Kong’s flagship carrier has unveiled its new business-class offering with an on-board art gallery, sliding privacy doors and touchless flush loos.

  • Fiona Carruthers
Qantas is running flights for free but Qatar Airways has struck a commercial agreement.

Qantas flights from Lebanon for free, while government pays Qatar

The Gulf carrier will get paid by the government for its eight flights, while the national carrier runs three for free.

  • Updated
  • Ayesha de Kretser
Neil Perry’s newly opened Song Bird will host a gaggle of Qantas executives – and the nation’s leading journalists.

Qantas to wine and dine journos the week of Aston book launch

For the national carrier, this is the oldest trick in the book.

  • Updated
  • Myriam Robin

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/topic/qatar-eiv