Former Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani dies at 74

Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the former Emir of Qatar, has died at the age of 74. He transformed Qatar from a small Gulf state into a regional and global power, founding Al Jazeera, securing the 2022 FIFA World Cup and pursuing an assertive foreign policy. He voluntarily abdicated in 2013, handing power to his son Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.