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Qatar Finland International School (QFIS) on Wednesday witnessed a gathering of students, staff and parents for a charity fundraising event in solidarity with Gaza.'Art Night the Children of Palestine' featured various programmes including poem recitation, art exhibition as well as art and craft activities for children. Parents along with the local residents volunteered to prepare dishes and cakes to support the initiative.Donning the iconic Palestinian keffiyeh and waving the Palestinian flag, parents and students supported the event by donating money. Artworks and paintings were on display to resonate with the global rage against the war and the plight of Gaza children. The event also had traditional Palestinian attire available for sale. Many donated by buying the artworks and crafts on display. The students’ choir of QFIS also performed in support of Gaza.“It’s time to stand with Palestine and express our support. The students have come up with the idea to show solidarity by giving vent to their creativity and collecting funds for the struggling children,” said Susanne Mortensen, Chair of the QFIS Parents Association.Salina Ballout, co-chair of the association, said all essentials for the event were contributed by individuals and companies. “Parents and students along with staff volunteered to organise the event. The food was prepared by the parents while some companies donated lighting and other arrangements,” she said. Funds raised will go to Gaza through Qatar Charity, Ballout added.

Doha Forum 2023 Monday discussed ways to bring an end to the Sudan’s ongoing civil war, which has 'already killed thousands and displaced millions'. Moderated by Dr Comfort Ero, president and CEO, International Crisis Group, the panel discussion 'Sudan at War' hosted Hanna Tetteh, UN Special Envoy to the Horn of Africa; Michael Hammer, US special envoy for the Horn of Africa; Kholood Khair, founding director of Confluence Advisory; and Murithi Mutiga, Africa Programme director of International Crisis Group.The discussion noted that the conflict has protracted instability in Sudan and could reverberate further afield. It explored avenues for securing a lasting ceasefire and contemplated steps necessary to kickstart a meaningful political process while identifying ways to reduce the conflict’s impact in neighbouring states and the wider region.Tetteh noted that the war is a conflict between two military establishments and not between the Sudani people. “It has to be an unconditional ceasefire and there are no terms or preconditions that ought to come into play before that happens. But it is also important to recognise that the government of Sudan will have to reflect the country and hence the civilian actors should be consulted as part of that process to get the outcome that is desired,” Tetteh said.Hammer underlined the need to stop the foreign support for the warring parties in Sudan. “We, as the US, along with the UN, are working to support the Intergovernmental Authority on Development' efforts in conjunction with the African Unon and our Saudi partners, for a ceasefire and humanitarian assistance,” he added.

Palestine occupies a significant place in Qatar's foreign policy and the country has promptly acted on the Israel-Gaza crisis, HE the Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz al-Khulaifi told Doha Forum 2023 on Monday.While addressing a session on 'Palestine Has Become a Global Crisis - Does It Have a Global Solution? he explained that Qatar speaks through action, not just words while demonstrating the country’s commitment to peace by actively engaging in conflict resolution from day one of the conflict.“We are disappointed that the Security Council failed to secure a ceasefire despite the UN Secretary-General invoking Article 99 to prompt decisive action,” Dr al-Khulaifi said noting that there is a need to find a resolution to the current situation. “A ceasefire is a must,” he said.Dr Husam Zomlot, the Head of the Palestinian Mission to the UK, called for international intervention in the issue and urged steps to recognise the rights of Palestinians.“We must leave the question of who will govern to the Palestinian people. The issue in Gaza is not just the slaughter. It’s the mass degradation and humiliation of an entire nation. Think of fathers and mothers who can't provide basic services for their children,” he said.“This is the first time Israel has applied the concept of equality in terms of its mass murder of our people. The normalisation of mass murder will haunt our humanity,” he added.Daniel Levy, president of the US / Middle East Project noted that there are Jewish voices who are saying, ‘not in my name’. “Things will get worse the more the US indulges Israel. Israel has been on a clear trajectory towards more extremism,” he said.Dr Comfort Ero, president and CEO of International Crisis Group, criticised the international community by saying “silence in the face of destruction has a cost”. “The day of reckoning for those who remained complicit in Gaza's suffering is inevitable,” she said.Dr Huiyao Wang, founder and president of the Centre for China and Globalisation, said China wants to see a ceasefire, provide humanitarian aid, protect civilians and amplify the diplomatic intervention. The session was moderated by Becky Anderson, managing editor and anchor of CNN's Connect the World.

A panel discussion at Doha Forum Sunday underlined the need for the international community and Islamic scholars to engage with the Taliban to address the woes of women and girls in the country.“Muslim countries are initiating steps to ensure Afghan women their rights and education,” said Dr Nilab Mobarez, advisor, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, while addressing the session ‘Afghan Women as a Source of Afghan Stability’.She said the scenario remains grim for girls and women noting that intervention and engagement with the Taliban may result in changes. She noted girls are banned from secondary school. “This means there won’t be enough workforce in the future in the health sector,” she said adding that there is a huge shortage of health workers in the country and the families are migrating due to the denial of education to girls.Moderated by journalist Kimberly Dozier, the panel discussion was attended by Rina Amiri: Special Envoy for Afghan Women, Girls and Human Rights, US Department of State; Richard Bennett, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, United Nations- Education and Prof Ian Bickford. President of American University of Afghanistan.Amiri said there is a need for international intervention to address the grim scenario in Taliban ruled Afghanistan noting that ultimately it will be the Afghans who will create change and not the international community.“Women were at the forefront of inspiring changes and they have been let down. Afghanistan would be an economic and security concern and is going to bleed out into the region. The world is going to come back to Afghanistan without making the mistake of walking away from the Afghan people,” she said adding that the US isn’t going to normalise the relations with the Taliban until it addresses the situation of Afghan women and respects the rights of Afghan people. Bennett noted that the Afghan women feel that they were betrayed by the international community.Bickford said support is extended by the international community including Qatar when it comes to the education of Afghan students. “Students are taken to other countries for education and they are given scholarships to continue their education,” he said.

The Palestinian cause is a universal problem and not Arab centric, a panel discussion at Doha Forum Sunday was told. The session ‘The Imperative of Palestinian Political Renewal’, discussed the plight of Palestinians while narrating the sufferings of Israeli invasion torn Gaza.Addressing the session, Dr Safwan M Masri, dean of Georgetown University in Qatar, underlined the need for the Palestinian cause to be perceived through a broad perspective. He noted that the residents of Gaza are in dire straits and one child dies ten minutes.The session shed light on the dimensions of the current crisis for Palestinians with a focus on the unfolding catastrophe in Gaza. The session underscored the need for a renewed focus on the carrying capacity of current Palestinian political structures in terms of governance and the ability to effectively articulate and advocate for Palestinian political aspirations, the country’s freedom and the people’s rights.Masri said the Palestinian Authority has failed its people and lost its credibility and legitimacy. “It’s illegitimate in some parts of Palestine,” he said.Moderated by journalist Mehdi Hasan, the session was attended by Rula Shadeed, programme and advocacy director, Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy; Wadah Khanfar, president and co-founder of Al Sharq Forum; Sami Abu Shehadeh, chairman of the National Democratic Assembly Party; Omar H Rahman, research fellow, Middle East Council on Global Affairs.“We can’t treat any situation without the right diagnosis. This is ethnic cleansing, it is mass killing, it’s confiscation of land and expansion of settlements" Rula Shadeed said.Sami Abu Shehadeh pointed out that the Palestinians are getting a raw deal even from their government, noting that the Palestine leadership ignored its people and the refugees abroad while signing the Oslo Accords.Wadah Khanfar said the Palestinian Authority is the tool of Israeli occupation and the Fatah Party will lose its credibility if the party fails to do anything effective to resolve the current situation.

Authorities have warned against illegally partitioning residential units citing that any such practice would draw certain fines and action. Salem Hamoud al-Shafi, Director of the Municipal Control Department at Doha Municipality, told Qatar Radio that partitioning the residential units without permission is illegal and causes danger to the occupants. “Partitioning should be carried out legally while following the rules. Illegal partitioning pauses threat to occupants’ lives in case of emergencies like fire outbreaks,” al-Shafi said.“In case of fire outbreaks, casualties are caused if the Civil Defense doesn’t have a map of the building after partition. Kahramaa and infrastructure services are affected due to the illegal partitioning and accommodating excessive occupants. The resident units with illegal partitions affect an entire neighbourhood due to misuse of Kahramaa services and the disproportionate number of residents,” al-Shafi said. “If the building is designed to be used by 20 people, it can’t be used by 200 people. It affects the condition of the building and the expected lifespan of the building,” the Doha Municipality official said.Al-Shafi explained that the officials, during checks, impose fines of QR 500 per sqm and QR 400 per linear metre. In case of corrections, the fines are cut by 50%.Al-Shafi warned against illegal encroachment on state properties noting that using state lands and fencing them off as garages or warehouses are illegal. He explained that violations can be reported by calling 184 and legal measures would be taken immediately after violations are registered.

Qatar Aeronautical Academy (QAA) and the University of Doha for Science and Technology (UDST) yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding of co-operation in the education and higher education sectors.QAA director-general HE Sheikh Jabor bin Hamad al-Thani and UDST president Dr Salem Al-Naemi signed the MoU in the presence of HE the Minister of Transport Jassim Saif Ahmed al-Sulaiti.The objective is to help develop the academic and research co-operation between the two sides based on mutual benefit. Areas of co-operation include redesigning the foundation programme, and jointly upgrading the diploma programmes, currently offered by the QAA, to a bachelor’s degree and making them available for admission at both entities with a certificate to be issued by the UDST. Co-operation areas also cover scientific research, student affairs, marketing, and training.HE the Transport Minister said the agreement will reflect positively on building up and improving students’ knowledge in a way that supports human development and the goals of the Qatar National Vision 2030.“The Ministry of Transport (MoT) supports all forms of co-operation with educational institutions to optimise the work of the QAA further thereby building promising generations capable of meeting the requirements of the civil aviation industry,” HE al-Sulaiti said. He thanked the two parties for their efforts to sign the MoU noting that it would serve students’ learning paths according to their aspirations and desires.The QAA director-general lauded the signing of the MoU, which lays the foundation of a strategic partnership with UDST.“The MoU will achieve the desired benefit for both parties, most importantly, enabling QAA students to enrol at UDST,” he said, noting that the co-operation with UDST will open promising prospects for future co-operation, exchange of expertise and development of work between the two sides, thereby creating new opportunities to obtain higher degrees.Al-Naemi emphasised the importance of the MoU in terms of empowering the QAA’s students, sharpening their skills, and allowing them to complete their academic path at UDST. He praised the faith the academy has placed in UDST through the efforts of the MOT and the QAA administration.He also pointed out the potential good outcomes of this MoU such as the exchange of expertise and conducting joint research within the framework of the national strategic pillars, which help meet the needs of the country and national industries and contribute to developing the national economy within the framework of the QNV2030.

Featuring the latest data and Artificial Intelligence (AI) innovations to ensure sustainability, build climate resilience and protect nature, Microsoft Monday opened its booth at Expo 2023 Doha.Expo 2023 Doha secretary general Mohamed Ali al-Khoury inaugurated the booth in the presence of US embassy's commercial officer Harold “Lee” Brayman and Srinivasa Murthy, Commercial Specialist representing the Foreign Commercial Service.Al-Khoury said the agricultural and horticultural sectors are currently experiencing tremendous technological transformation. “Technology plays a crucial role in establishing sustainable systems that will assist us in addressing the most pressing environmental challenges. We are proud to collaborate with the world's leading technical company to introduce the world to technology-powered agriculture,” he explained.Microsoft Qatar general manager Lana Khalaf emphasised Microsoft's commitment to advancing climate change initiatives in line with Qatar National Environment and Climate Change Strategy. She stressed the need for a balance between economic growth, social development, and environmental preservation. She underscored Microsoft's efforts to continue to innovate with organizations in Qatar, offering learnings, resources, and technology – including the power of data and AI – to help them make data-driven decisions to set and achieve their own climate goals while driving business growth and innovation.“Microsoft believes, as the Government of Qatar does, that economic prosperity and environmental awareness go hand in hand. That’s why in 2020, we began a process to transform our company’s work on sustainability. This is achieved by reducing our own environmental footprint and by accelerating research, helping our customers build sustainable solutions and advocating for policies that benefit the environment,” she said.Located inside the Innovation Centre, Microsoft booth at Expo 2023 Doha features an impressive lineup of solutions such as Microsoft Cloud for Sustainability, the Emissions Impact Dashboards for Azure and M365, and Microsoft Sustainability Manager, in addition to a range of solutions by Microsoft partners including QMIC, Siemens, Techvista, Alight, Click2cloud, Bravent, TCS, and Accenture/Agerpoint.From renewable energy and vertical farming to carbon capture and climate monitoring, each of these solutions has been designed to help organisations cut energy and water consumption, reduce physical footprints and design sustainable products themselves.The solutions also demonstrate the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in unlocking tremendous opportunities for sustainability. Microsoft has recently shared Accelerating Sustainability with AI: A Playbook, highlighting AI’s three game-changing capabilities to overcome bottlenecks and accelerate progress in climate action, which are AI's ability to measure, predict, and optimise complex systems, Accelerate the development of sustainability solutions and empower the sustainability workforce with solutions such as Microsoft Copilot.

The innovations and trends in sustainable urban development were discussed at the Smart City Expo Doha 2023 yesterday. The session ‘Accelerating Towards a Sustainable Urban Future’ focused on the best practices to build sustainable cities while shedding light on the ways to reduce harmful impacts on lives.Moderated by Dr Leslie A Pal, dean at College of Public Policy of Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), the session featured Dursun Yıldırım Bayar, head of Smart Cities Department, Ankara; Kamal Zian, chief cybersecurity and privacy officer at Gulf North Representative Office, Huawei, Qatar' and Sebastien Turbot, director of content, communications and external affairs, Earthna.The discussion covered crucial areas including public spaces, resource management, sustainable buildings, climate change adaptation, green areas, clean technologies, nature-based solutions and urban biodiversity.A need to create sustainable cities by implementing green infrastructure and cutting-edge smart city solutions was noted. The session also examined the driving forces behind sustainability in urban areas, exploring innovative pathways for urban resilience while analysing the role of science, innovation, and data-driven approaches in fueling the transition toward a more sustainable urban future.The panelists shared their ideas and solutions on how to create a better more sustainable future for cities while giving examples and practices within the entities they represented at Smart City Expo Doha 2023.

The Smart City Expo Doha 2023 has underlined the need for a transformation in order to ensure the sustainable development of cities."Environmental consideration should be on the top of the priorities along with societal expectations, and technological advancements," said Safder Nazir, senior vice president of public sector for the Middle East and Central Asia at Huawei Technologies.In his keynote session on ‘Metropolis to Ecopolis’, Nazir explained the idea of Ecopolis- the ecologically and economically restorative city. The session was instrumental in delving into the developmental trajectory of cities, examining the intricate connections between environmental considerations and other key priorities.The Huawei official explained the need to adopt the principles of sustainability, circularity and resilience as a key priority for the city transformation.“According to UN-Habitat, cities consume 78% of the world’s energy and produce more than 60% of greenhouse gas emissions. Yet, they account for less than 2% of the earth’s surface,” he said.“Smart City requires massive, real-time data, so the sensing system is essential, then we can build city twins from the physical world to the digital world. This can be achieved through implementing technological innovations,” Nazir said adding that technology needs to be more sustainable and tech strategy needs to be resilient.

Parking private vehicles in the undesignated spaces and Park and Drop points at Metro stations will draw action, a Ministry of Interior (MoI) official has warned. “The spaces near the metro stations are only for picking up and dropping off the passengers. Parking private vehicles at these points and spaces allocated for public transport will draw action,” said Capt Fahad Majed al-Qahtani, head of the Training and Qualification Section of the Public Transport Security Department at the Ministry of Interior (MoI).Attending the ‘Police with You’ programme by Qatar Radio on Monday, Capt al-Qahtani said the department drafts and implements an annual plan in co-operation with companies and other stakeholders in order to ensure public security and safety. He explained that exercises are held to check the security preparedness and asses the needs.He asked the passengers to follow safety and security measures while using the public transport. “Safety directions are written in metro stations in Arabic and English apart from various languages for the benefit of various communities. The passengers can reach the authorities in case of losing their personal belongings during the journey through designated number 105,” Capt al-Qahtani said. He noted that the department follows up on the complaints regarding the lost objects.First Lt Ahmed Mohamed al-Mutawa, officer at Emergency Services 999, said determining the exact geographical location when calling the emergency service 999 ensures speedy response. He urged the public to provide the address with the number of street and building as written on the blue board. He said the call to 999 links various entities such as the rescue department Al Fazaa, Traffic Department, Civil Defence, Coast Guard, Internal Security Force and the ambulance.

Featuring budding writers, the “Children’s Book Designer” initiative started Saturday at the International Zone of Expo 2023 Doha.With the book exhibition by young Qatari writers in the vicinity of Qatar’s pavilion, the initiative is aimed at promoting reading, introducing the writers and instilling the basic values of Arab and Islamic culture and Qatari identity by supporting these writers.The book exhibition is open to the public from 4pm-8pm until December 2.Expo 2023 Doha director of programmes management Lolwa al-Mohannadi, in her opening remarks, said that various activities are held as part of the “Children’s Book Designer” initiative at Expo 2023 Doha.“Expo 2023 Doha is the most prominent event in the country. Therefore we were keen from the beginning to direct our efforts towards programmes that support social responsibility and the children’s involvement with us is a major priority in our various programmes,” she said.Al-Mohannadi noted that children’s activities in the expo include workshops, educational presentations and agricultural and recycling activities in addition to entertainment programmes and performances that highlight the environment and sustainability, and contribute to motivating students and activating their role in creating a greener and more sustainable future.“Children are our sustainable investment always and forever,” she pointed out.The official said that the “Children’s Book Designer” initiative is an ideal opportunity to embody the concepts of environment and gardening.“We see these two concepts from the perspective of children in innovative and distinctive stories and drawings,” al-Mohannadi added.

Lending a delicious opportunity to savour hot beverages and dishes, the Coffee, Tea and Chocolate Festival began yesterday (Thursday) at Expo 2023 Doha's Events Area at the Family Zone. Running until February 12, 2024, the festival is open to the public from 2 pm- 10 pm daily.Among the featured drinks are varieties of coffee and tea from across the world. Bubble milk tea, classic milk tea, Karak, Tai tea, brown sugar Boba milk team, Toro milk tea and Macha latte are among the most sought after.The Coffee, Tea and Chocolate Festival offers an array of coffee and chocolates along with burgers, sandwiches, shawarma, doughnuts and kebabs. There are exclusive shops for Spanish, Thai, Filipino and Indian cuisine.The delicacies include deep-fried fish balls, Phad Thai, Phad Woon Sen, Thai garlic fried chicken, Samosa, Vada Pav, Dabeli and Momos. Farm-fresh honey from Saudi Arabia and juices of various fruits are also available.Adjacent to the festival, entertainment activities are also being presented in addition to kids' zones with rides.

The Hayya Card system will also act as an entry platform for the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023, to be held from January 12 to February 10, 2024, an official has said. Saeed Ali al-Kuwari, CEO, Hayya Platform, told Al Rayyan TV on Monday that the Hayya Card can be used for all events in Qatar.“Anyone who wants to visit Qatar must apply on the platform and choose the appropriate visa. These include entries for the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023, the World Aquatics Championships - Doha 2024 and other events.The tourist visas launched on the Hayya platform can be used, according to the conditions,” he said.Earlier this year, Qatar Tourism revamped the Hayya platform making it the go-to portal for travellers who require a visa to enter Qatar. It was announced that the Hayya platform will become the country’s single portal for all tourists to enter the country.Three new categories of visitors are eligible for Qatar’s e-visa. Hayya e-visa will categorise visitors based on nationality, residency or other international visa that a traveller already has. The categories are A1, A2 and A3. As per the earlier announcements, A1 category includes all nationalities who do not qualify either for visa on-arrival or visa-free entry into Qatar.The A2 category is for GCC residents of all professions. The A3 category is for international visitors with visa or residency from Schengen, the UK, the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. They will be eligible for Qatar’s e-visa. The A3 category does not require health insurance if the stay does not exceed 30 days.Al-Kuwari said the process of developing the idea of the Hayya card from a fan visa to a tourist visa and from a platform for the fans to a platform for events in Qatar is successful. “Now many events held in Qatar use the Hayya platform,” he added.

Expo 2023 Doha has recorded more than 650,000 visitors since the exhibition opened on October 2, secretary-general Engineer Mohamed Ali al-Khoury told Gulf Times Monday.Speaking on the sidelines of the inauguration of the Gulf Engineering Union’s pavilion at the International Zone, he said that the expo has drawn visitors, including school students, to learn about preserving the environment, sustainability, Qatar’s future plans, and the cultures and customs of the participating countries.The Gulf Engineering Union, through its pavilion, will educate visitors about the latest trends in sustainability and techniques in the farming and irrigation sectors.The pavilion encompasses four vital areas, with an exclusive area for engineers to exchange experiences.The educational area features engineering techniques in developing agriculture, including smart irrigation methods, and vertical agriculture while highlighting the use of robots in farm management.There are also entertainment and sport areas.“The Gulf Engineering Union pavilion has programmes for school students,” al-Khoury said. “Three schools will be received on a daily basis ... the number may increase in the future.”He noted that more than 80% of the expo’s pavilions are now open, with a number of the countries taking part in the expo for only a few months.Al-Khoury said that the exhibition also offers lectures by local universities and seminars organised on the event’s sidelines.Engineer Khaled al-Nasr, chairman of the Board of Directors of the Qatar Society of Engineers, highlighted that the Gulf Engineering Union has made many contributions to the development of agriculture.

The Hiwaraat symposium by Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q) Saturday highlighted the role of education and engagement in tackling societal and humanitarian challenges in Afghanistan. Titled ‘Afghanistan Regional Symposium: Confronting the Impasse’, the symposium underscored the need for comprehensive efforts are needed for education to truly be the vehicle for peace, prosperity and social justice.“The people of Afghanistan face an oncoming humanitarian and economic crisis that is more urgent than ever,” said the dean of GU-Q, Dr Safwan Masri, in his opening remarks. “While international support for humanitarian aid is essential, it alone cannot fully address the underlying causes of Afghanistan's deteriorating situation that include the nation's political strife, ongoing conflicts, and the intervention of external factors and actors,” he added.“Having this particular conversation in Doha is especially important given the mediation role that Qatar has played in Afghanistan. There is a moral and pragmatic demand for the international community to assume responsibility for the country's recovery,” he noted.The one-day symposium brought together leading experts, scholars, and policymakers to share deep insights on the fundamental challenges facing the country, particularly the consequences of the unsettling impasse between Afghanistan and the rest of the world since the Taliban regained government control in 2021. Discussions advanced valuable analysis on solutions that can support the social and economic aspirations of the Afghan people. They highlighted the need for engagement and dialogue with all stakeholders in the country and for the international community to step up its efforts, in coordination with Afghans and partners on the ground.The suspension of girls’ education was a crucial focus during a panel exploring the systemic challenges of education in Afghanistan. Speakers reflected on what constitutes and is required of a modern education system for the country, and on the need to revive the historical legacy of education within Afghan society.Fatima Gailani, peace negotiator and former President of the Afghan Red Crescent Society, underscored the need for engagement and support for women and girls to access the educational institutions and pathways that are still available to them, while Suleiman bin Shah, founder and CEO of the Kabul-based Catalysts.Af, noted the need for a transformative shift in education amid the multiple challenges facing the country, including quality educational content and delivery.Ambassador Melanne Verveer, director of the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security, drew attention to a recent international assessment that found that measures to safeguard the basic rights of women, including the right to education, are critical to building the state’s capacity for long-term development, economic growth, peace, and security.A concurrent session, “Reporting from Conflict Zones: Media Resilience in Afghanistan,” examined the difficulties facing journalists operating in Afghanistan over the last 20 years, both from a security perspective and the challenges of accessing information. Ali M Latifi, Asia Editor, The New Humanitarian and a Kabul-based Al Jazeera English correspondent, said that despite the sector’s economic collapse and censorship, the media has still found ways to function and report on important issues such as girls’ education. However, Sana Safi, a broadcast journalist at the BBC World Service, pointed to the misinformation and disinformation that has arisen in the absence of local voices and access to information.Other sessions included “Afghanistan Imagined by Afghans,” which explored the diverse narratives of Afghanistan, emphasizing the power of storytelling to enhance understanding of the nation's complex social, historical, and cultural dynamics. “Climate Change and Natural Resource Governance” highlighted the pressing environmental challenges facing the country. Compounded by other complexities, the escalation in livelihood insecurity and food scarcity is leading to an expanding humanitarian crisis.GU-Q will continue focusing on pressing natural resource challenges at its “Sustaining the Oasis: Envisioning the Future of Water Security in the Gulf” conference, which is open to the public from November 12 through 13 at the Four Seasons Hotel. A collaboration between GU-Q and the Earth Commons Institute at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, the influential global gathering of experts, policy-makers, and practitioners will explore the historical and future significance of water in the region, addressing both human and ecological needs in the face of a changing climate.The Hiwaraat Conference series brings together scholars, experts, and the public for an exploration of shared global challenges in order to create a better future through dialogue and discussion. Each conference in the series offers an inclusive space that encourages community engagement, knowledge creation, and the search for innovative solutions to present and future challenges.

Under the patronage of HE the Minister of Interior and Commander of Lekhwiya Force Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, the Watan Exercise 2023 will be held from November 6-8, showcasing the readiness of the security bodies to secure mega events in Qatar.Military and civilian agencies in the country will be part of the exercise, and the details were announced Wednesday at a press conference at Lekhwiya headquarters at Duhail.Ministry of Interior's public relations director and Watan Exercise 2023 Media Cell commander Brig Abdullah Khalifa al-Muftah, Lekhwiya Force assistant commander for logistics and administration and Watan Exercise 2023 commander Lt Col Mubarak Sherida al-Kaabi and Control, Command and Scenario Preparations Cell commander Maj Mohamed Ahmed Jaber Abdullah were present.The Watan Exercise 2023 includes office and field exercises that address events, situations and scenarios based on all types of potential risks and challenges after study and selection by specialists and experts.Brig al-Muftah said the exercise aims to raise and test readiness in normal and emergency situations during mega sporting events and activities.“This is to measure the speed of response to various events and activate the mechanism of command, control, and joint co-operation to achieve integration of roles and implement the required tasks as quickly as possible. Also, the aim is to enhance close co-operation, exchanging of experiences and identifying the best procedures among the participating parties,” he said.Brig al-Muftah pointed out that the previous Watan exercises yielded many positive results and lessons that were used within the security and public safety plans in co-ordination with civil authorities. “These contributed to the success of securing and hosting the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. The previous editions received local, regional and international media attention,” he said.Lt Col al-Kaabi said the current edition of Watan exercise has the participation of all military authorities and more than 30 institutions, authorities and government agencies, in addition to the private security and service agencies.“The exercise aims to measure the plans, procedures, and readiness of the agencies and to raise the level of joint work. It seeks to achieve other goals, including measuring the speed of response of all agencies, activating the joint leadership system in emergency events, strengthening the communication system between all agencies, and experiencing the normal tasks and emergency situations of the participating entities. In addition, the exercise aims to test all systems to work in more than one event at the same time, strengthen the logistical work mechanism in emergency events and joint work, and to stand on proactive measures to reduce risks,” he said.Lt Col al-Kaabi pointed out that the exercise seeks to achieve a number of outcomes, the most prominent of which are identifying and strengthening the positives and improving procedures and communication mechanisms between all parties concerned.Maj Abdullah said the general timeline of the exercise has six stages including determining the locations, coming up with a media plan, command approval of the scenarios, preparing the instruction booklet and operations order, activating the evaluation unit, preparing the exercise sites, circulating the instruction booklet and operations order, holding office exercises and implementing the field exercise, coming up with the outcomes of the exercise, presenting the final summary and submitting the results to the leadership.The office exercises that precede the field exercise will be held from October 30 to November 1. The office exercises simulate emergencies and incidents, scenarios for events and malfunctions in systems and programmes.The exercise sites include vital military and service facilities, land, sea and airports and tourism sites, in addition to operating rooms, residential areas and main roads, Maj Abdullah added.

The UN Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Kelly T Clements has pledged support for the Palestine humanitarian efforts.She was attending a discussion on “Setting the Stage for the Global Refugee Forum: From Challenges to Opportunities” yesterday at Centre for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies.“We will do what we can do to support the Palestine humanitarian efforts. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) is operating in Gaza. We stand completely behind the statement of UNRWA Emergency Relief Coordinator,” Clements said noting that UNHCR has contributed to support the relief activities carried by the Egyptian Red Crescent.“We need a humanitarian ceasefire and we need the suffering to be stopped,” she said while underscoring the need for massive efforts and agendas to ensure the welfare of refugees and urged better refugee response and advocacy.“There is a need for strong international solidarity for the refugee cause,” the UN official asserted. She pointed out the necessity of more innovative ways and measures to ensure the protection of the refugees.“There should be ways to support the refugees effectively while making them able to provide themselves livelihoods. So we have to be thinking about responses in new situations of displacement as not short-term relief only. We have to be thinking about different systems and different ways to be able to protect and aid with a longer-term perspective from the beginning."There are glimmers of hope when it comes to the refugee humanitarian cause. The condition of refugees is improved through strengthening education, climate, health and energy systems and implementing humanitarian mechanisms."But Clements stated that the number of refugees is going up. “There are 110mn refugees across the world out of which 62mn are internally displaced people. Shedding light on the current grim scenario in the region where conflicts and unrest continue to prevail in various countries, the UN official observed that “This region is fragile”.The Global Refugee Forum is an opportunity to review the measures and plan the steps, Clements added. Centre for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies director Dr Ghassan Elkahlout was present.