Qatar

Qatar has decided to suspend its key mediation efforts between Hamas and Israel, officials said Saturday. The announcement comes after growing frustration with the lack of progress on a deal.

Trouble brews in the run up to every global, mega sporting event — such as buses not running on time, or venues seemingly not ready for action. But it melts away when the games begin. But what lasts?

In 92 years of soccer's biggest event, a host team had never lost its opening game. The World Cup opened Sunday with Qatar getting outplayed and embarrassed in a 2-0 loss to Ecuador.

Ever since FIFA awarded the world's biggest sporting event to Qatar in 2010, the soccer tournament has been clouded by bribery, migrant deaths and questions about the country's human rights record.

In an extraordinary opening news conference before the World Cup, FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended the host country's decision to ban beer at stadiums and Qatar's human rights record.

The World Cup starts with host country Qatar playing against Ecuador on Sunday. Here's everything you need to know about how to catch the tournament's 64 matches.

A FIFA boss once said, "Alcoholic drinks are part of the FIFA World Cup." But that was then. A beer ban in stadiums is just one of the changes fans face in Qatar.

Just two days before the World Cup is set to kick off, FIFA announced that only non-alcoholic beer will be sold at the 64 matches in Qatar. The tournament is sponsored by Budweiser.

FIFA's choice of Qatar to host the World Cup has long been marred by criticism over human rights abuses, the safety of migrant workers and the logistics of holding a soccer tournament in desert heat.

Government officials from six foreign nations — including Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and Turkey — spent over $750,000 at the Trump International Hotel during his presidency, according to new documents.