Kavan Amarasinghe, an 18-year-old student of Stafford Sri Lankan School Doha, has won a gold award in the 2025 Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition (QCEC). Amarasinghe’s achievement marks his third consecutive recognition in the world’s oldest international writing competition, having previously earned a silver award in 2023 and a bronze award in 2024. The 2025 edition of the competition received more than 50,000 entries from students across the Commonwealth’s 56 member nations. Only a select group of young writers attain Gold status each year, placing the Doha-based student among the top emerging voices in global youth literature, a statement added. 

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani inaugurated the 23rd edition of the Doha Forum 2025, held under the theme ''Justice in Action: Beyond Promises to Progress'' at the Sheraton Doha Hotel Saturday.The opening ceremony was attended by a number of heads of state and government, and chiefs of regional and international organisations.**media[390369]**The ceremony was also attended by His Excellency Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani, His Excellency Speaker of the Shura Council Hassan bin Abdullah al-Ghanim, a number of ministers, heads of diplomatic missions accredited to Qatar, and forum guests.**media[390371]**During the ceremony, His Highness the Amir presented the Doha Forum Award to Alex Thier and Saad Mohseni, recognising their contributions to supporting children's education in Palestine and Afghanistan, in partnership with the Education Above All Foundation.HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani delivered a speech on the occasion.**media[390370]**Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, also delivered a keynote address on this occasion. His Highness the Amir affirmed that this year's Doha Forum is held amid regional and international circumstances that require the concerted efforts of all to reduce tensions and support peace and sustainability in the region and the world.His Highness said, in a post on his official account on X, that this year's Doha Forum is held amid regional and international circumstances that require the concerted efforts of all to reduce tensions and support peace and sustainability in the region and the world, by consolidating justice, promoting human development, and upholding the principles of peaceful solutions to various conflicts.His Highness the Amir wished the forum's guests success and prosperity, and welcomed them to Qatar.

Qatar will open their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign against Switzerland at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on June 13. The Asian champions will then face co-hosts Canada in Vancouver before moving to Seattle to take on the winner of European Play-Off A, which features Italy, Northern Ireland, Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina.At the draw ceremony in Washington on Friday night, Qatar avoided the big guns from Pot 1, though they could still face four-time winners Italy, who are favourites to emerge from European Play-Off A despite struggling in the qualification stage. Italy finished as Group I runners-up and have been forced into the qualifying play-offs for the third consecutive time. The Azzurri will play Northern Ireland in the semi-final on March 26, 2026, in Bergamo. If they progress, they will face the winner of Wales versus Bosnia and Herzegovina in the final.The 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar secured their first-ever qualification on merit in October, edging the United Arab Emirates 2-1 in Doha to top Group A of Asia’s fourth-round playoffs. Goals from Boualem Khoukhi and Pedro Miguel sent fans into raptures at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, marking a milestone for a team who had previously appeared only as hosts.The Qataris will aim to improve on their debut World Cup performance, where they lost all three group games and scored just one goal. Their prospects have been boosted by the arrival of Spanish coach Julen Lopetegui in May. The former Spain and Real Madrid coach replaced Luis Garcia after a poor start to Asian qualifying. Under Lopetegui, Qatar have enjoyed a fine run to secure a spot at the global finals.This will be Lopetegui’s first time coaching a team at the World Cup. He led Spain to Russia 2018 but was famously dismissed on the eve of the tournament after it emerged he had already signed a deal to take over at Real Madrid.Meanwhile, reigning champions Argentina will face Algeria, Austria and first-time qualifiers Jordan in group J. Five-time winners Brazil play 2022 semi-finalists Morocco as well as Scotland and Haiti in group C, while France are in Group I take on Senegal, Norway and a qualifier from the playoffs. 2026 World Cup draw - the 12 groupsGroup A: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, a qualifierGroup B: Canada, a qualifier, Qatar, SwitzerlandGroup C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, ScotlandGroup D: United States, Paraguay, Australia, a qualifierGroup E: Germany, Curacao, Ivory Coast, EcuadorGroup F: Netherlands, Japan, a qualifier, TunisiaGroup G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New ZealandGroup H: Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, UruguayGroup I: France, Senegal, qualifier, NorwayGroup J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, JordanGroup K: Portugal, a qualifier, Uzbekistan, ColombiaGroup L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama