Qatar

HE Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Ahmed bin Hassan Al Hammadi met in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia Mohamad Alamin.During the meeting, the two sides discussed aspects of cooperation between the two countries and ways to support and develop them, as well as a number of topics of joint interest.The meeting was attended by HE Ambassador of the State of Qatar to Malaysia Salah bin Mohammed Al Sorour, and the accompanying delegation.

The Ministry of Culture announced Tuesday the launch of the Doha Photography Award, which comes within the activities of the first edition of the Doha Photography Festival and aims to activate Qatar's role in various fields of arts, with a special focus on the art of photography.HE Minister of Culture Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad Al-Thani, Assistant Undersecretary for Cultural Affairs at the Ministry of Culture Dr. Ghanem bin Mubarak Al Ali, several officials, and dignitaries attended the award launch ceremony.In a speech on the occasion, Director of the Qatar Photography Center, Jassim Ahmed Al Buainain, said that the award comes to translate the vision of the Ministry of Culture in continuing to achieve artistic and cultural momentum in society and creating a great interaction between the components of the photography industry, with the aim of supporting and encouraging photographers in the field of photography among different age groups, refining young Qatari talents, and developing their aesthetic sense and photographic taste.He noted that the objectives of the competition, which has been allocated valuable cash prizes, go beyond supporting talents and innovators to directly contribute to supporting the tourism movement in the country through a special axis in the award categories, focusing on highlighting the beauty of the State of Qatar and introducing its tourism components and famous landmarks in an artistic and attractive way, which contributes to encouraging tourism in Qatar at the local and international levels.Al Buainain added that the Qatar Photography Center is keen to enhance the participation of many segments of society in this distinguished award, calling on those interested in the field of photography, young talents, innovators, and professionals to seize the opportunity to participate in the award categories as the center is keen to expand the participation to contribute to promoting art and culture in the country.In a statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Director of the Fire Station Artists' Residence Khalifa Al Obaidli said that the Doha Photography Festival is one of the distinguished festivals that cares about art and photography, describing it as an "encouraging station" for Qatari photographers who were allowed by the festival to display their works in an organized and coordinated manner, noting at the same time that displaying the image in such beautiful festivals gives it great momentum and highlights it from all aspects, which makes its idea reach more widely.Al Obaidli noted that the festival was full of a group of lectures and workshops with the participation of international photographers who meet with each other to exchange experiences and participate effectively in it.The Doha Photography Award includes several categories and axes. It has opened the door for the participation of two categories:- The first category: for the age group under 18 years, and consists of one category (general), and participation is limited to those inside Qatar with all types of photos without being restricted to a specific axis.The first-place winner will receive QR 30,000, the second-place winner will receive QR 20,000, and the third-place winner will receive QR 10,000.- The second category: The adults category, is for those over 18 years old, and includes five axes:1- Qatar axis: It allows all photographers to participate in highlighting the beauty of the State of Qatar in an artistic and attractive way.Three prizes were allocated for the axis: First place QR 300,000, second place QR 200,000, and third place QR 150,000.2- Story axis: It allows photographers to submit 6 to 10 photos that tell a complete story. Three prizes were allocated for the axis: First place QR 150,000, second place QR 100,000, and third place QR 75,000.3- Special axis: It is determined by the competition committee affiliated with the Qatar Photography Center and changes it every year, and witnesses the organization of courses and workshops throughout the season to develop the skills of photographers.Three prizes were allocated for it: First place QR 150,000, second place QR 100,000, and third place QR 75,000.4- Video axis: Allows photographers to participate with creative video clips.Three prizes are allocated for it: First place QR 150,000, second place QR 100,000, and third place QR 75,000.5- General axis: It is divided into the color photos section and the black and white section, with three prizes for each section, for a total of six prizes: first place QR 150,000, second place QR 100,000, and third place QR 75,000.The activities of the Doha Photography Festival continued for the fifth consecutive day, as part of the cultural season activities, with a large attendance and participation of those interested in the arts of photography, as it is the appropriate destination for photography lovers and the largest event in the Qatari photography community.Through it, you can learn about the latest equipment and devices and acquire them through the pavilions of participating international companies.The day's activities witnessed the presentation of a group of lectures on the main stage, presented by a group of Qatari and international photographers, such as the lecture (Qatari Environment) by Hamad Al Khulaifi, (Exceptional Art of Photography) by Graham Kerry, (Newborn Photography) by Reem Al Badr, and concluded with the lecture (Chasing Stories in the Himalayas) by Niroj Sedhai.The day also featured the presentation of three training workshops: the (Speed Light) workshop by trainer Abdullah Hamdan Al Mannai, (Video Content Creation) by trainer Amir, and (Wedding Photography) by trainer Martina.The festival, which is located opposite Darb Al Saai in the Umm Salal area, concludes its activities on Wednesday, within the framework of promoting the art of photography in Qatar and highlighting the importance of this type of photography as a means of expression and documentation, in addition to inspiring the community with the stories and experiences of photographers, and promoting photographic tourism in the country.

Weather inshore until 6:00 pm on Wednesday will be misty to foggy at first, and relatively hot daytime with some clouds, and mild by night, the Department of Meteorology said in its daily weather report, warning of poor horizontal visibility at most places at first.Offshore, the weather will be hazy and will see some clouds at times, the report added, expected strong wind and high sea.Wind inshore will be northwesterly at a speed of 05 - 15 KT, gusting to 24 KT at times at places.Offshore, it will be northwesterly at a speed of 10 - 20 KT, gusting to 26 KT at times.Sea state inshore will be 2 - 4 ft, rising to 5 ft at times; while offshore will be 3 - 6 ft, rising to 8 ft at times.Visibility inshore will bee 4 - 8 km/ 2 km or less at places at first, while offshore will be 4 - 9.

Qatar will launch the Action Plan (2024-2030) on Obesity, Diabetes and Modifiable Risk Factors for ASCVDs (Atherosclerotic cardiovascular Diseases) at the World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH) 2024 Thursday, coinciding with World Diabetes Day.Prof Abdul-Badi Abou-Samra, co-chair, National Diabetes Committee and director, Qatar Metabolic Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, revealed some of the details of the plan at a diabetes care symposium at the University of Doha for Science and Technology.“The Action Plan aims to prevent and optimally manage diabetes, obesity and modifiable risk factors. It plans to empower the public, patients, and the healthcare professionals to address the challenges of obesity, diabetes and modifiable risk factors,” said Prof Abou-Samra.The official noted that the action plan aims at several areas such as obesity reduction, enhanced diabetes management and risk factors control among others. He explained: “The Action Plan 2024-2030 includes 58 projects targeting diabetes and obesity prevention and management in Qatar combining ongoing efforts such as screenings, primary care empowerment and guidelines update with newly proposed projects. Each project is assigned to specific institutions responsible for structured implementations. The National Diabetes Committee will monitor the progress of the projects, ensuring alignment with health priorities and achievements of the expected outcome.”According to Prof Abou-Samra, the Action Plan 2024-2030 targets reduction in obesity prevalence among Qatari population from 39.7% to align with the non-Qatari levels (32.2%) focusing on proactive management and comprehensive public health efforts across all age groups.“It also aims to enhance diabetes management by stabilising diabetes prevalence through advanced treatments, weight management and new tools for blood glucose monitoring. Qatar aims to reduce complications for both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes supported by initiatives like Qatar Genome Project for Precision medicine,” continued the official.With 37% adults having three or more risk factors in the country, the action plan aims to decrease it to 30% by empowering primary care, expanding national screening and intensifying prevention programmes to reach 75% of the targeted population.“As we advance toward implementing the action plan, we are focussing on comprehensive strategies to address the root causes of obesity and diabetes in Qatar. Our approach aims to empower individuals, families and communities with the knowledge and resources to make healthier choices while strengthening preventive healthcare services and enabling primary care to deliver care closer to home,” highlighted Prof Abou-Samra.He said that there were two consultation workshops to prepare the action plan.“We had six months of development, six drafts and 50 subject matter experts reviewed the draft. International consultants have also reviewed the document, and we have had multidimensional diabetes committee meetings, and eight key committee and the department engagements,” he added.

Vice-President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al-Nahyan met Tuesday with HE the Speaker of the Shura Council Hassan bin Abdullah al-Ghanem as part of the meeting with the Speakers of the legislative councils of the GCC countries participating in the 18th Regular Meeting of the Speakers of the Shura, Representatives, National and Ummah Councils of the GCC states, hosted by Abu Dhabi. The meeting discussed a number of topics related to joint Gulf action, and ways to enhance and develop it.

HE the Minister of Labour Dr Ali bin Smaikh al-Marri met Tuesday with Sudanese ambassador to Qatar Ahmed Abdel-Rahman Siwar al-Dahab. The meeting discussed bilateral relations in the field of labour and ways to support and develop them.

Speakers of the Shura, Representatives, National and Ummah Councils in the GCC countries congratulated Qatar on the success of the constitutional amendments referendum.This came in the final statement of their 18th regular meeting which was held Tuesday, in Abu Dhabi.The statement lauded the salient role performed by the Shura Council of Qatar during its presidency of the 17th regular meeting, emphasising that it has strengthened the path of co-operation and co-ordination among the Gulf legislative councils, and positively impacted the joint Gulf action.The conferees expressed their grave concern over the ongoing crisis in Palestine, underscoring the importance of the international community's obligation to uphold its responsibility toward protecting the Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the remainder of the occupied territories.Additionally, they stressed the need for lifting the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip and called for unconditional opening of all crossings immediately to ensure the delivery of essential humanitarian, relief, and medical assistance to meet the fundamental needs of residents of the Strip, affirming that they stand in solidarity with the brotherly people of Lebanon and called for stepping up regional and global efforts to end the war in Lebanon and provide the emergency humanitarian support to mitigate the suffering of civilians.The Speakers agreed to select the topic of the legislative role of the Gulf legislative councils in governing Artificial Intelligence: Reality, challenges, and future prospects as the common Gulf topic for 2025, which will be discussed within the framework of the councils' sessions.The statement hailed the recommendations of the symposium on cultural diversity and the role of the Gulf legislative councils in protecting Gulf identity, which was organised by the Shura Council as part of the Gulf topic of the previous session, and accordingly they took a number of critical decisions related to reinforcing the parliamentary relationship among the GCC states and lending impetus to the Gulf parliamentary co-operation at numerous levels.Moreover, the statement commended the outcomes of the first GCC-EU summit, which was held in Brussels. They also welcomed the Saudi Arabia's hosting of the first Global Alliance dedicated to advancing the two-state solution, noting the convention of the Joint Arab-Islamic Summit in Riyadh to discuss the ongoing Israeli aggression on the occupied Palestinian territories and Lebanon, along with the current developments in the region.

HE the Speaker of the Shura Council Hassan bin Abdullah al-Ghanim stressed Qatar's keenness on the unity of the Gulf ranks, supporting joint Gulf action, consolidating the values, and preserving the Gulf identity in a way that contributes to building a bright future for the GCC countries.This came during HE al-Ghanim's speech at the 18th meeting of the Speakers of the Shura, Representatives, National, and Ummah Councils in the GCC countries, held Tuesday in Abu Dhabi.He said that Qatar, with its wise leadership, is keen on preserving the authentic Gulf identity, which reflects the heritage and culture of the GCC countries.In this context, he pointed out the role of the Shura Council and its continuous efforts to enhance joint Gulf parliamentary work, as it concluded its chairmanship of the 17th meeting of the Speakers of the Shura, Representatives, National, and Ummah Councils in the GCC countries, with fruitful co-operation between the member states, which contributed to achieving several common goals that seek to raise the level of cooperation at all levels.HE the Speaker stressed that the Shura Council's efforts seek to enhance Gulf integration in a way that meets the aspirations of the GCC citizens. In a related context, he emphasised the importance of strengthening parliamentary diplomacy to support the foreign relations of the GCC countries, noting that this diplomacy provides an opportunity to clarify the stances of the Gulf countries and convey the voice of the Gulf citizens to the international community, which supports the common interests of the GCC countries.He addressed the developments of the Palestinian issue, in light of the ongoing Israeli war, stressing the council's support for the Palestinian issue and the rights of the Palestinian people to establish their independent state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with the Arab Peace Initiative and international legitimacy resolutions.HE al-Ghanim stressed the importance of continued Gulf parliamentary support for the rights of the Palestinian people, urging the international community to assume its responsibilities in stopping the crimes of genocide, ethnic cleansing, and forced displacement committed by the Israeli occupation forces in the Gaza Strip, and to take all measures to prosecute and hold accountable this entity and its officials for committing these crimes.Regarding the Lebanese issue, HE the Speaker voiced the Council's condemnation of the Israeli aggression on Lebanon, calling for the necessity of obligating Israel to abide by international legitimacy resolutions to protect lives and ensure security in the region.HE al-Ghanim congratulated Member of the Federal National Council of the UAE Mohammed bin Ahmed al-Yamahi on his election as Speaker of the Arab Parliament, stressing that this step represents a real opportunity to enhance the pioneering role of the UAE at the Arab parliamentary level, and contributes to supporting the Gulf stances on vital issues affecting the region and supports joint parliamentary work.HE the Speaker of the Shura Council voiced his confidence in the success of the UAE in leading the current session of the meeting, hoping that these efforts will contribute to enhancing cooperation between the GCC countries and achieving the aspirations of the peoples of the GCC.

Al Majd Law Firm in collaboration with Mercedes-Benz Qatar organised a training workshop on combating cases of infringement of intellectual property rights, where the trainees were given practical training on how to identify original Mercedes-Benz products and auto parts and spot the counterfeited and faked products simultaneously.The participants were employees of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the Customs Department in addition to a number of lawyers and legal experts and law professors.In his address at the opening of the workshop, lawyer Mohamed bin Lahdan al-Hassan al-Muhannadi, chairman of Al Majd Law Firm, stressed that the topic of the workshop is of immense importance as protecting intellectual properties is considered vital for the progress of economy not only for the public and private companies but also for the national and global economy in general.He pointed out that respecting intellectual property rights and protecting them would certainly lead to the growth of the various economic sectors while undermining these would certainly weaken the economies locally and internationally.He said that in the vehicle industry in particular, the issue involves the protection of human life and safety, besides protecting creativity and innovation in the automotive field. He stressed that the protection of intellectual property rights in the automotive field is considered a guarantee of innovation and quality of the product.Besides, it enhances fair market competition, where companies can pour their investment without the fear of loss due to counterfeit or stealing their design brands.However, he stressed that the automotive industry faces immense challenges in regard to the protection of intellectual property rights, such as the sophisticated methods used by counterfeiters, which make it hard to distinguish between the original and counterfeited products.In addition, differences in laws and legislations among different countries make it challenging to enforce unified procedures to counteract such fake products. He pointed out that international trade in counterfeited auto parts could be estimated at billions of dollars annually.Al-Muhannadi said there are a number of solutions and recommendation to tackle the involved issues such as raising consumer awareness on how to spot counterfeit products, updating related laws and legislations to be more effective, co-operation among the stakeholders and governments, and holding international conventions in this regard.The workshop included a hands-on training on some samples of Mercedes-Benz auto parts and how to identify the original parts and single out any counterfeit through various indicators.Meanwhile, a panel discussion was held on the legal and regulatory solutions to combat infringements on the intellectual property rights, with a number of lawyers, academics and custom officials giving their views on the issue.

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani issued Tuesday Amiri Decision No. 73 of 2024, appointing Mohammed Saif Saeed al Suwaidi as CEO of Qatar Investment Authority.The decision is effective as of the date of issue and is to be published in the official gazette.

The Ministry of Labour, represented by the Labour Market Information and Research Department, hosted a roundtable with several prominent research institutes and study centres across the country. The meeting served as a platform for participants to explore opportunities for strengthening collaboration and to discuss strategies for improving research and studies to optimise the efficiency of programmes and initiatives aimed at the development of the labour market. Hussain Ali al-Hababi, Director of the Labour Market Information and Research Department, emphasised that the roundtable meeting aligns with the Ministry of Labour's ongoing efforts to strengthen strategic integration and collaboration with partners across various sectors. The goal is to support the implementation of projects and initiatives within the Labour Market Information and Research Department, based on reliable data-driven studies and research. This will enhance the effectiveness of policies and programmes aimed at driving transformative changes in line with the National Strategy for an Effective and Highly Productive Workforce 2024-2030, which seeks to create a workforce ready for the future. The meeting included an overview of the operational framework and strategic objectives of the Labour Market Information and Research Department. Additionally, participants explored how to leverage the accurate data and comprehensive analyses produced by these institutes to support the execution of targeted projects within the departments plans and initiatives. During the roundtable, the participants discussed the importance of scientific methods in labour market analysis and how academic expertise can be leveraged to design innovative strategies for the labour sector. The discussion also highlighted the need to strengthen collaboration based on the exchange of information and expertise to achieve common goals.

The Board of Directors of the Workers' Support and Insurance Fund held its regular meeting Tuesday, chaired by HE the Minister of Labour and Chairman of the Board Dr Ali bin Smaikh al-Marri.The meeting addressed several important agenda items, including cases submitted to the fund. Significant decisions and recommendations were made to improve the fund's performance and effectiveness, with the overarching goal of enhancing the work environment.

HE the Minister of Municipality Abdullah bin Hamad bin Abdullah al-Attiyah met on Tuesday with Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs of the Republic of Korea Song Miryung, during his participation in the World Health City Forum 2024.During the meeting, they discussed aspects of cooperation between the State of Qatar and the Republic of Korea in fields of common interest, especially in the fields of agriculture, food security, smart agriculture, and recycling, and ways to enhance and develop them.

Doha Bank and Ooredoo have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) making the former the Official Bank Sponsor for the 13th edition of the Doha Marathon by Ooredoo, scheduled for January 17, 2025. The MoU, signed by senior representatives of Doha Bank and Ooredoo, outlines a range of exclusive joint initiatives designed to benefit both Ooredoo and Doha Bank customers, a statement said. Key offerings include co-branded cards, special telecom and banking packages for employees and customers, and a 0% payment plan on Doha Bank cards for mobile purchases via Ooredoo’s website. The collaboration will introduce innovative products aimed at new residents in Qatar, along with financial solutions and enhanced digital services for SME and corporate clients. Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Fahad bin Faisal al-Thani, Group CEO of Doha Bank Group, said: “Our partnership with Ooredoo represents a significant step in Doha Bank’s mission to deliver transformative solutions that meet the evolving needs of Qatar’s vibrant economy." Sheikh Ali bin Jabor al-Thani, CEO of Ooredoo Qatar, stated: “The collaboration between Doha Bank and Ooredoo marks a key milestone in both companies’ efforts to drive innovation in Qatar’s financial and telecommunications sectors. The partnership will leverage customer analytics for personalised services, introduce a points-conversion programme, and expand cross-selling opportunities."

HE the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Dr Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki al-Subaie inaugurated Qatar's pavilion at the exhibition accompanying the Conference of the Parties (COP29) hosted by Azerbaijan's capital city, Baku.At its pavilion, Qatar's ministry organised a discussion session in which it tackled the importance of natural solutions in adapting to climate change and their impact on achieving sustainable development, enhancing the resilience of ecosystems, supporting communities, and protecting the economy from climate challenges.

Qatar Charity (QC), through its office in Pakistan, organised a three-day medical camp to perform cataract surgeries and to provide comprehensive medical care and eye check-ups in the Naseerabad district of the Balochistan province.The camp, held in collaboration with Al Shifa Trust Eye Hospital, benefited 1,820 individuals, including elderly people, people with disabilities, women, and children. Qatar Charity, through this medical camp, aims to provide early diagnosis and treatment for patients. As a result of this initiative, 134 cataract surgeries were successfully performed, and 734 pairs of eyeglasses were provided. The remaining patients received medications for eye allergies and other conditions.The medical camp is part of Qatar Charity's Ibsar (Eyesight) initiative, a specialised health initiative focused on combating blindness and improving eye health for vulnerable communities in various countries. Qatar Charity, through this initiative, provides free medical check-ups, medicines, and eye glasses, in addition to performing cataract surgeries. The medical camp not only provided comprehensive eye care, but also promoted personal hygiene, environmental health, and preventive eye care measures.Local officials expressed great satisfaction with the medical camp organised by Qatar Charity. Deputy Commissioner of Naseerabad Munir Ahmed Khan Kakar appreciated Qatar Charity's efforts in providing eye care to patients, noting that the camp brought great relief to many needy patients."I urge Qatar Charity to expand its health interventions in the region," he added, highlighting the organisation's role in supporting flood victims and marginalised communities through important projects.

Japan’s Self-Defence Forces (SDF) 70th anniversary celebration in Doha on Monday highlighted the recent advances in bilateral security co-operation and the growing strategic partnership with Qatar.In his farewell address, Japanese ambassador Satoshi Maeda underlined the significant progress made in defence ties between the two nations – initially focused on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) trade – and broadened substantially since Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s visit to Qatar in 2023.“Now our focus has gone beyond the LNG towards a comprehensive policy aiming to strengthen ties in a wider range of areas. Security co-operation indeed is one of the important pillars of this policy, and it is becoming more and more active, these days,” the envoy said.He described the first Qatar – Japan defence ministerial meeting in Singapore this June at the Shangri-La Dialogue as a crucial step, resulting in “a very constructive discussion on various matters regarding security issues of mutual concern”.Further solidifying this progress, Maeda said the visit of Japan’s Maritime SDF destroyer “Murasame” to Doha Port recently, a first in 12 years, served as a symbolic milestone in the growing bilateral relations. He thanked the Qatar government and its Armed Forces for their support during his tenure.Colonel Ryo Tatsukawa, first resident Japanese defence attaché to Qatar, whose posting commenced in June 2023, said the history of Qatar–Japan defence ties began in 2010 with initiatives such as Arabic language training for Japanese personnel and student exchange programmes.The establishment of the defence attache’s office, Tatsukawa stressed, significantly enhanced the level of engagement, noting that the first Military-to-Military Dialogue in November 2023 further cemented the foundation for enhanced co-operation.He said the presence of three Japanese international students at the Ahmed Bin Mohammed Military College underscores the ongoing people-to-people exchange vital to strengthening bilateral bonds.Tatsukawa vowed to strengthen ties within the defence attaché community and expressed his dedication to fostering mutually beneficial relationships.The reception was attended by high-ranking Qatari military officials, including Brigadier General Hamad Salmeen al-Jabri of the Amiri Naval Forces and Brigadier General Ahmed Mohamed al-Dahi of the Amiri Signal Corps, as well as other Qatari and Japanese dignitaries.

The 2024 edition of Doha Healthcare Week (DHW) concluded Tuesday, marking a successful six-day community festival focused on promoting health and wellbeing throughout Qatar.DHW was a prelude to the World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH) – Qatar Foundation’s global healthcare initiative – which begins Wednesday.DHW featured a diverse range of activities that engaged residents of all ages in health-focused initiatives. ConocoPhillips was the sponsor of DHW for which WISH collaborated with 19 partners, including the Ministry of Public Health, the Ministry of Sports and Youth, Qatar University, Msheireb Properties, and Qatar National Library.The events saw robust community participation, starting with the launch of the DHW wellness days, which offered free health checkups and screenings to a large number of individuals including school students and expatriate workers.In partnership with Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts Qatar, WISH arranged an art therapy workshop for stress management, designed specifically for HMC healthcare professionals.The children’s athletics championship programme, organised by Qatar School Sports Association, invited 100 students aged 8-11 to compete in activities including athletics, football and basketball. Other activities including spin classes, yoga and breathing techniques, and wellness workshops were also popular amongst the public.Aljawhra al-Mana, acting director, Partnerships and Outreach at WISH said: “The success of Doha Healthcare Week highlights the growing commitment wthin our community to prioritise health and wellness.”The two-day WISH conference 2024, with the theme: ‘Humanising Health: Conflict, Equity and Resilience,’ aims to highlight the need for innovation in health to support everyone, especially among vulnerable societies and in areas of armed conflict.This year, WISH has entered into a strategic partnership with the WHO, collaborating in the development of a series of evidence-based reports and policy papers, as well a post-summit implementation strategy.The summit will feature more than 200 experts in health speaking about evidence-based ideas and practices in healthcare innovation to address the world’s most urgent global health challenges.

The Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra (QPO) is set to present a unique concert, 'Animated Vol. 1 Remastered,' featuring the work of Qatari artistes at the UVenue Theatre in Al Murkh on November 15. Conducted by Giovanni Pasini, this performance shines a spotlight on the artistes’ remarkable skills in production and screen artwork as it marks the vibrant worlds of gaming and anime. In a press statement, QPO noted that this much-awaited event will “bring together talented musicians, vocalists, a dynamic choir, and a lively cosplay contest in a spirited tribute to beloved fandoms”. The concert will start at 7.30pm, featuring iconic anime music in Arabic, English, and Japanese. Qatar’s thriving pop culture scene, fuelled by growing anime and manga popularity and increased cultural co-operation with Japan, provides a favourable context for this QPO performance, it is learnt. A crowd-puller event, ‘Geekend’, in September at Geekdom’s building at Lusail Boulevard, featured various activities. According to QPO, anime music has been intrinsically linked to the genre’s identity since its inception. The 80s and 90s witnessed a huge popularity with series such as Dragon Ball and Sailor Moon, highlighting the importance of memorable soundtracks, and laying the groundwork for the diverse musical styles today. QPO noted that legendary composers like Yoko Kanno, Yuki Kajiura, and Joe Hisaishi have established their places in anime history, crafting powerful and evocative scores that significantly elevate the storytelling in iconic series like Cowboy Bebop, Madoka Magica, and Studio Ghibli films respectively. Beyond its commercial success, QPO added that anime music also fosters a strong sense of community with fans expressing their passion through cover songs, remixes and dedicated conventions.

The writing process, the interplay of politics and cultural production, and maintaining values in the face of social change and unrest were discussed by celebrated writer, commentator, and activist Dr Ahdaf Soueif at Georgetown University in Qatar's (GU-Q) Qalam series.The event was conducted by internationally acclaimed novelist and GU-Q's inaugural writer-in-residence Kamila Shamsie. Dr Soueif is a cultural and political commentator and activist who has been named one of Egypt’s most influential novelists by Harper’s Magazine. She writes about Egyptian and Palestinian politics and history through award winning fiction and non-fiction novels, short stories, and translations.“The Map of Love was short-listed for the Booker Prize, translated into 30 languages, and sold a million copies. It is impossible to overstate what a very big deal it was...It was the book of the year, the one everyone was reading on the subway,” Shamsie recalled.This in turn gave Dr Soueif a prominent platform which she used to write about the second Infitada and the War on Terror in publications such as The Guardian at a time when there were very few voices speaking in the Western media from the perspective of people from the region.Her reputation as a political commentator grew when she covered the Arab spring, first via journalism and later in the book Cairo: My City, Our Revolution. When asked to give advice to writers and activists today, she responded: “I would say speak out, don’t shout, and don’t compromise, and use any space that comes your way, but be true to what you actually believe.”A former trustee of the British Museum, who resigned that position on ethical grounds, Dr Soueif has always been committed to the role of culture in society. She spoke about her time spent in Doha in 2010 to produce an innovative book with Bloomsbury Publishing that gathered 25 prominent writers and intellectuals from different disciplines, and asked them to “fall in love with one piece” from the Museum of Islamic Art’s collection.The result was a confluence of Eastern and Western perspectives on the collection titled Reflections on Islamic Art. “I thought this was an opportunity to bring interesting people and objects from both worlds together,” recalled Dr Soueif, and the result was a volume that instead of reinforcing orientalist stereotypes about Islamic art offered insight on the importance of both art and Islam in the modern world.At every stage of her career, Dr Soueif has inspired others to try to make a difference through the example of her innovative fiction, her fearless non-fiction and her founding of the Palestine Festival of Literature which has taken hundreds of writers from around the world to Palestine since 2008.