‘Deeply creepy’: Enormous brooding banner of Trump now hangs next to Lincoln outside Department of Agriculture
President Donald Trump and his UAE counterpart Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan meet at Qasr Al-Watan in Abu Dhabi, May 15, 2025.
Islam is furious that Lord Trump of Arabia wants to rename the Perion Gulf – The Arabian Gulf? Is our Dictator getting ready to grab some Arabian land, like Qatar – that males $380 billion a year off oil – that we pay for when we gas up? Perhaps – its our turn! Rather than conquer Canada, a fellow Democracy, we overrun Qatar, move their citizens into Saudi Arabia, and move America’s homeless into those lovely high-rises? One hundred billion will be used to take care of the three million homeless Americans, and two hundred billion will go to make California, Oregon, and Washing – BEAUTUFUL AGAIN!
The Oil Royals took away our American Innicence with Terrorism and high gas prices. We deserve to live as is our custom. We aren’t rabid Bible Thumpers. We are – Twisters, Beats, and Beatniks!
There will be a standing vo;entters army Alas Americas will have something to fight and die for! Leave Canada, and Greenland be. Come home to……QATAR!
John Presco
Qatar is surrounded by water on three sides, making it an ideal beach destination, even if you wouldn’t immediately think of it as one.
After hosting the 2022 World Cup in men’s soccer and the 2024 World Aquatics Championships, Qatari officials have set their eyes on the Olympic Games (again).
Qatar has been ruled as a hereditary monarchy by the House of Thani since Mohammed bin Thani signed an agreement with Britain in 1868 that recognised its separate status. Following Ottoman rule, Qatar became a British protectorate in 1916 and gained independence in 1971. The current emir is Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who holds nearly all executive, legislative, and judicial authority in an autocratic manner under the Constitution of Qatar.[16] He appoints the prime minister and cabinet. The partially-elected Consultative Assembly can block legislation and has a limited ability to dismiss ministers.
Cuts to public arts funding are now a one-two punch.
On Wednesday, May 14, Gov. Gavin Newsom released a budget proposal eliminating the $11.5 million allocated to the state’s small nonprofits arts organizations through the Performing Arts Equitable Payroll Fund, or PAEPF. The fund, painstakingly created from leftover pandemic-era relief dollars allocated to the arts, sought to help organizations with budgets under $2 million comply with AB5, the gig work bill that makes it harder to classify workers as independent contractors.
Iran’s leaders slam Trump for ‘disgraceful’ remarks during Middle East tour
The pushback comes after the US president accused Tehran’s leadership of being ‘corrupt and ineffective’.
Published On 17 May 202517 May 2025
Tehran, Iran – Iran’s political and military leaders are pointing the finger back at Donald Trump after the United States president sharpened his rhetoric during his first major tour of the Middle East.
In a speech to a group of teachers gathered for a state ceremony in Tehran on Saturday, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said some of Trump’s comments were not even worth responding to.
“The level of those remarks is so low that they are a disgrace for the one who uttered them and a disgrace to the American nation,” he said, to chants of “Death to America” and others from the crowd.
Khamenei added that Trump “lied” when he said he wants to use power towards peace, as Washington has backed “massacring” Palestinians and others across the region. He called Israel a “dangerous cancerous tumour” that must be “uprooted”.
Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also told a gathering of navy officers on Saturday that Trump is extending a message of peace while threatening destruction at the same time as backing Israel’s “genocide” in the Gaza Strip.
Islam is furious that Lord Trup of Arabia wantst to rename the Perion Gulf – The Arbian Gulf? Is our Dicator getting read to grabe some Arabian land, like Qartar?
The economy of Qatar is one of the highest in the world based on GDP per capita, ranking generally among the top ten richest countries on world rankings for 2015 and 2016 data compiled by the World Bank, the United Nations, and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).[13][14] The country’s economy has grown despite sanctions by its neighbors, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Mainly because the country exports primarily to Japan, South Korea, India and China, making the sanctions effectively redundant as neither Saudi Arabia nor the United Arab Emirates have imposed trading penalties such as tariffs or embargoes on any of these countries for trading with Qatar, or offering incentives such as discounts for their own energy exports to reduce Qatari exports.
| West Bay, Doha, the financial centre of Qatar | |
| Currency | Qatari riyal (QAR, QR) |
|---|---|
| Trade organisations | WTO and GCC |
| Country group | Developing/Emerging[1]High-income economy[2] |
| Statistics | |
| Population |  3,098,866 (2024)[3] |
| GDP |  $240.217 billion (nominal, 2025)[4] $369.24 billion (PPP, 2025[4] |
| GDP rank | 55th (nominal, 2024)60th (PPP, 2024) |
| GDP growth | 4.1% (2022)[5] 1.2% (2023)[4] 1.5% (2024f)[4] |
| GDP per capita | $72,760 (nominal, 2025)[4] $118,760 (PPP, 2025)[4] |
| GDP per capita rank | 8th (nominal, 2024)4th (PPP, 2024) |
| GDP by sector | agriculture: 0.2%industry: 50.3%services: 49.5%(2017 est.) |
| Inflation (CPI) |  3.1% (2023)[4]2.6% (2024f est.)[4] |
| Human Development Index | 0.875 very high (2022)[6] (40th)N/A IHDI (2022) |
| Labour force | 2,035,269 (2023)[7] |
| Unemployment |  0.6% (2017 est.) |
| Main industries | Liquefied natural gascrude oilammoniafertilizerpetrochemicalsreinforcing steelcementship repair |
| External | |
| Exports | $128.709 billion (2023 est.) |
| Export goods | Liquefied natural gas, Petroleum Products, Fertilizers, Steel |
| Main export partners |  Japan 17.1% South Korea 15.6% India 13.6% China 13.4% European Union 7.64% Singapore 7.05% Thailand 3.77% Taiwan 3.28% Pakistan 2.6% United Kingdom 2.5% United States 1.64% (2019)[8] |
| Imports | $26.69 billion (2017 est.) |
| Import goods | Machinery and Transport Equipment, Food, Chemicals |
| Main import partners | European Union 29.13% United States 14.6% United Kingdom 9.35% China 8.56% India 4.17% Turkey 3.65% Japan 3.6% Oman 2.67% (2019)[9] |
| Gross external debt | $168 billion (31 December 2017 est.)[10] |
| Public finances | |
| Government debt | 44.5% of GDP (2022) |
| Revenues | $297.70 billion (2022) |
| Expenses | $208.70 billion (2022) |
| Credit rating | Standard & Poor’s:[11]AA (Domestic)AA (Foreign)AA+ (T&C Assessment)Outlook: Stable[12]Moody’s:[12]Aa2Outlook: Stable |
| All values, unless otherwise stated, are in US dollars. | |
Petroleum and natural gas are the cornerstones of Qatar‘s economy and account for more than 70% of total government revenue, more than 60% of gross domestic product, and roughly 85% of export earnings. Qatar has the world’s third largest proven natural gas reserve and is the third-largest exporter of natural gas.
Qatar’s economy has been shaped by a unique development model that leverages revenues from its natural gas and oil sectors to drive modernization and economic diversification. Through initiatives like Qatar National Vision 2030, the country aims to reduce its reliance on hydrocarbons while promoting sustainability, human development, and private sector growth. This strategy includes significant investment in state-led projects, such as infrastructure development and sovereign wealth funds, which have supported diversification and global competitiveness. Qatar’s approach distinguishes it from traditional resource-dependent states by prioritizing strategic investments and fostering a diversified, knowledge-based economy. This model emphasizes sustainability, innovation, and global competitiveness, reflecting a long-term commitment to development and economic resilience that extends beyond reliance on natural resource wealth.[15]
Energy sector
Main article: Energy in Qatar
| This section needs additional citations for verification. (September 2021) |
Before the emergence of petrol-based industry, Qatar was a poor pearl diving country. The exploration of oil and gas fields began in 1939.[16][17] In 1973, oil production and revenues increased dramatically, moving Qatar out of the ranks of the world’s poorest countries and providing it with one of the highest per capita incomes in the world.
Qatar’s economy was in a downturn from 1982 to 1989. OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) quotas on crude oil production, the lower price for oil, and the generally unpromising outlook on international markets reduced oil earnings. In turn, the Qatari government’s spending plans had to be cut to match lower income. The resulting recessionary local business climate caused many firms to lay off expatriate staff. With the economy recovering in the 1990s, expatriate populations, particularly from Egypt and South Asia, have grown again.
Oil production will not long remain at peak levels of 500,000 barrels (80,000 m³) per day, as oil fields are projected to be mostly depleted by 2023. However, large natural gas reserves have been located off Qatar’s northeast coast. These offshore gas fields also may contain significant oil and condensate reserves. For example, the state owned QatarEnergy corporation found two offshore oil fields in the 1960s. At the time production was too expensive. However, technological development led to production over 30 years later.
The gas condensate can be refined to usual oil products in specialised refineries. The costs are a bit higher but it is normal today for companies to use the gas condensate too. Oil offshore production in 2008 for PS-2 and PS-3 blocks was about 31.1 million barrels (84,995 b/d). Joint Ventures facilities (PS-1, ALK, K & A): Combined oil production from these three joint venture production facilities in 2008 was 57.4 million barrels (156,873 b/d).[18] Like with gas fields there are more offshore blocks which need to be explored and could increase the oil output. So the 500,000 bpd peak and a depletion in 2023 is delayed. With higher oil prices it is expected that the offshore exploration of oil and/or natural gas fields will go on. Oil production in June 2016 seemed to be around 670,000 barrels per day, a bit down from February 2016 production of 692,000 barrels per day. Taking all liquids together Qatar is already far beyond a million barrels per day.
Qatar’s proved reserves of gas are the third-largest in the world, exceeding 7000 km3 (250 trillion cubic feet). The economy was boosted in 1991 by completion of the $1.5-billion Phase I of North Field gas development. In 1996, the Qatargas project began exporting liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Japan. Further phases of North Field gas development costing billions of dollars are in various stages of planning and development.
Qatar’s heavy industrial projects, all based in Umm Said, include a refinery with a 50,000 barrels (8,000 m³) per day capacity, a fertilizer plant for urea and ammonia, a steel plant, and a petrochemical plant. All these industries use gas for fuel. Most are joint ventures between European and Japanese firms and the state-owned QatarEnergy corporation (formerly QGPC). The U.S. is the major equipment supplier for Qatar’s oil and gas industry, and U.S. companies are playing a major role in North Field gas development.
Qatar pursues a vigorous program of “Qatarization“, under which all joint venture industries and government departments strive to move Qatari nationals into positions of greater authority. Growing numbers of foreign-educated Qataris, including many educated in the U.S., are returning home to assume key positions formerly occupied by expatriates. In order to control the influx of expatriate workers, Qatar has tightened the administration of its foreign manpower programs over the past several years. Security is the principal basis for Qatar’s strict entry and immigration rules and regulations.
Industry
The government considers industry to be an integral part of its plan to diversify the economy and maximize its huge natural gas reserves, which serve as the primary feed stock for the sector. Accordingly, careful planning has gone into industrial development. With an eye towards exports, development has been clustered around the ports of Ras Laffan Industrial City and Mesaieed Industrial Area, which are key centers of energy. The result has seen considerable growth over the years. Industries Qatar (IQ), a producer of petrochemicals, fertilizers and steel, is a regional powerhouse, surpassed only in size by Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), the Middle East’s largest chemical producer. In 2007 the manufacturing sector made the third-largest contribution to GDP among non-oil and gas sectors, equivalent to about 7.5% of GDP. Industry in Qatar is regulated by the Ministry of Business and Trade.[19]
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