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Doha stands out as a unique model for smart cities, noted a professor of Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) highlighting that smart cities must prioritise people and planet over profit.“Doha stands out as a unique model for smart cities, having embraced a long-term vision for empowerment and education. The Qatari capital’s massive urban development has always been coupled with capacity building, giving locals meaningful and empowering opportunities to grow the GDP per capita of $69,000,” says, Dr Azzam Abu-Rayash assistant professor at the College of Science and Engineering, HBKU in an article published on HBKU website.A recent study by HBKU found that cities like Toronto, Osaka, and Sydney outperformed the likes of London, Moscow, and New York because they chose to focus on environmental sustainability, social cohesion, and governance instead of digital infrastructure development.Through a multidisciplinary model that evaluates 32 performance indicators across 20 global cities, the research demonstrates that a city's intelligence goes beyond its technological features. It also emerges when societies achieve equilibrium between social justice and environmental stewardship, together with economic resilience, and putting people and planet above financial gains.As for Doha emerging as an ideal smart city, Dr Abu-Rayash explains: “The distinction lies in integrating technology development, hand in hand with investments in education and local capacity building. Qatar Foundation and its emphasis on STEM education is a stark example of empowering future generations through education first, followed by technology. Doha, ranked 7th in this study, yet still has room for further innovation by prioritising environmentally friendly and sustainable infrastructure.”The academic who is also a governor at Ontario Tech University noted that smart cities are often portrayed as technological hubs where innovation drives development. “This limited perspective nevertheless risks converting urban development into an efficiency-based transactional process. The revolutionary nature of AI and IoT is derived from its tools, but these technologies do not represent the ultimate purpose,” he continues.HBKU’s research highlights three changes that must take place immediately to create genuinely smart cities. It says: “Policymakers and developers need to rethink what exactly constitutes a ‘smart’ city in the first place. Doing so will require greater incorporation of multidimensional indices that gauge equity, sustainability, and wellbeing, augmenting metrics like GDP and tech adoption rates in the process. Greater emphasis should be placed on democratising innovation and public engagement in planning processes”It highlights Helsinki's "Co-Creation Model," in which citizens use blockchain technology to vote on urban projects, increased civic trust by 40%.“Aspiring smart cities should also prioritise investment in their invisible infrastructure. This reflects that the foundation of resilience is social capital, which includes cultural venues, healthcare facilities, and educational institutions. Cities like Copenhagen, which devotes a quarter of its budget to social programs, demonstrate how these expenditures boost innovation and productivity,” added Dr Abu-Rayash.

The Indian expatriate community in Qatar celebrated their homeland's 79th Independence Day on a grand scale Friday.The official ceremony at the Indian Cultural Centre (ICC) in the morning saw ambassador, Vipul offering floral tributes to the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi and hoisting the national flag amidst the rendering of the national anthem.Other diplomats from the embassy as well as several leaders of the community along with a large number of community members joined the envoy on the occasion in a great display of patriotic pomp and fervour.Following by the flag hoisting, ambassador Vipul read out excerpts from the address of the President of India, Droupadi Murmu to the nation delivered on the eve of Independence Day.Addressing the nation, Murmu said: “Our Constitution contains four values as the four pillars upholding our democracy. They are - justice, liberty, equality and fraternity. These are our civilisational principles that we re-discovered during the Freedom Struggle.”“At the heart of them all, I believe, is the notion of human dignity. Every human being is equal, and everyone deserves to be treated with dignity. Everyone should have equal access to healthcare and education. Everyone should have equal opportunity. Those who had been traditionally at a disadvantage needed to be given a helping hand,” President Murmu, highlighted in her speech.Speaking at the ICC event, ambassador Vipul highlighted the deepening of the diplomatic ties between India and Qatar and stressed the establishment of strategic partnership between the two countries during the highly successful visit of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani to India in February this year.“There were some very significant decisions taken during His Highness's visit including declaring our bilateral relations as strategic partnership. Two agreements and several MoUs were signed during the visit which should take forward our relations in several areas such as trade, investment, business networks, technology, energy, culture and sports,” he said.“I would request all members of our community, especially those in influential positions, to do their best to take forward our relations to newer heights as envisaged by our leaderships. In particular, I would request all businessmen to look into how we can further enhance trade between our two countries. We also need to promote more cultural and tourism exchanges between India and Qatar,” continued the ambassador.The Indian envoy expressed gratitude to His Highness the Amir and the Government Qatar for their continued support and patronage to the Indian community. Applauding the role and contributions of the Indian community, ambassador said, " Indians in Qatar play a pivotal role in India's development and growing ties with the world.” He also commended the various Indian community organisations for their unwavering support in advancing community welfare and progress.The formal function was also marked by several cultural performances including patriotic songs and dances presented by various Indian organisations in Qatar. The ceremony came to a conclusion as the ambassador along with leaders of the apex bodies under the embassy cut a cake to celebrate the occasion.ICC president A P Manikantan welcomed the gathering and general secretary Abraham K Joseph proposed a vote of thanks.

Researchers from the College of Law at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) have proposed a new model of governance billed 'True Lifecycle Approach' (TLA) for the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare.TLA is premised on the idea that AI should be governed across all stages of its research, design, implementation, and oversight," noted Dr Barry Solaiman, assistant professor of law and associate dean for academic affairs, College of Law, HBKU in a recent article in Diplomatic Courier, a global affairs media network.“At its heart is a simple concept: patients must come first. Governance should embed medical law and ethics throughout, and not ignore the patient,” he said.The article states that as the technologies continue to evolve, the frameworks that govern their use remain fragmented. ‘Law, as usual, is slow to catch up to technological innovation. This raises a serious question: how do we ensure that AI in healthcare is safe, ethical, and worthy of patients’ trust? And therefore, the proposal for this new model.Though there are already governance frameworks for AI, by several regulatory bodies, these approaches focus narrowly on approving AI medical devices to market, the academic pointed out.“Devices that pose greater risks to the public must undergo more checks and approvals before seeking approval. The problem is that these frameworks have not been designed with the full complexity of healthcare AI in mind. They overlook important issues like informed consent, malpractice liability, and other patient rights,” he argues.The College of Law faculty member also notes that these frameworks regard AI as a technical tool, not as something that deeply impacts human lives."TLA is grounded in healthcare law and ethics, emphasising the importance of the standard of care in medicine, patient confidentiality, matters of consent, and respect for cultural and religious differences. These values are particularly relevant among GCC countries, which are home to diverse expat populations.”According to the writer, TLA has three core phases of governance, starting with research and development. This phase sets the foundation for legal and ethical AI in healthcare from the very beginning of its conception. In Qatar, HBKU worked in partnership with the Ministry of Public Health to create the “Research Guidelines for Healthcare AI Development.”“These encourage developers to follow detailed processes and document the purpose, scope, and intended use of AI systems. Importantly, researchers should consider ethics and law from the outset, such as compliance with data protection law as it pertains to medical data,” he continues.The second phase considers systems approval. While not all healthcare AI tools require regulatory approval, regulators should nevertheless have broader powers to ensure that healthcare AI meets robust safety standards.TLA’s final phase focuses on AI once it is used in practice. Rules should govern not only researchers and developers, but also healthcare providers, insurers, and any other entity using AI downstream.Dr Solaiman highlights that GCC countries are prioritising AI investment, including healthcare AI governance and developers and deployers of AI in healthcare settings must remember that AI is not just a technological project but a human one.“While policymakers and lawmakers decide how to regulate the technology, TLA provides a principled roadmap that encourages discussions on how best to govern the technology, putting patients at the centre,” he adds.

Several leading international publications, of late have highlighted the emergence of Qatar as a top tourist destination with a number of unique features. These include some of the leaders in the industry such as Travel And Tour World (TTW), CNN, Times of India among others.According to a recent article by Travel And Tour World, “Qatar is the perfect destination for those seeking cultural charm, luxury experiences and winter sunshine all in one place.” The digital magazine notes October to May as the best time to visit the country with the best weather of enough sunshine and cool winter.It also highlights several unique features of Qatar as the main attractions to visit the country. Some of the features noted by the magazine are: Safety for travellers; Culinary experience of diverse flavours; Qatari hospitality; Unmatched desert beauty; Rich blend of tradition and modern art among others. The magazine says that Qatar is known for its outstanding safety, making it one of the most secure destinations globally.TTW points out: “Qatar is the perfect destination for travellers looking to experience a seamless blend of cultural charm, luxury, and winter sunshine. With its rich history, thriving arts scene, and traditional hospitality, Qatar offers a captivating cultural experience.”The publication also notes that the modern luxury with world-class hotels, gourmet dining, and exclusive shopping as other plus points of the country. “The country’s mild winter weather, with clear skies and pleasant temperatures, makes it an ideal place to explore outdoor adventures or simply unwind. Whether you’re looking to immerse yourself in the local culture or indulge in a luxurious getaway, Qatar provides the best of both worlds, making it a must-visit destination for every traveller,” adds the magazine.CNN in a recent article says that the beachfronts and water parks; mangroves nature reserves, unforgettable desert experiences among others as some of the best experiences that Qatar offers for the visitors.According to CNN “until recently, Qatar was considered an ‘emerging’ destination. That all changed when the country hosted the 2022 World Cup, bringing it into the global spotlight. Tourist numbers surpassed five million for the first time in 2024, up 25% on the year before.”The television major continues that Qatar has everything families could want: Year-round sunshine, beautiful beaches, dedicated holiday resorts with plenty of activities for kids and unforgettable landscapes in which to enjoy safe and convenient experiences that leave travellers wanting to come back time and again.Times of India last week hailed Qatar saying it “is emerging as a major travel destination”. The newspaper notes that Qatar is a top tourism destination that offers visitors with several attractions and points out that the best time of the year to visit the country is November to March for pleasant weather.The daily says: “Qatar isn’t just sand and skyscrapers anymore (although it does those very well). This Gulf gem has become a serious travel destination complete with five-star everything, world-class museums, and a growing list of events.”“Even if you visit in the off-season, Qatar has plenty to offer indoors, from luxury shopping to world-class spas to Michelin- starred meals. No matter when you go, just come curious and leave room in your suitcase, because Qatar blends tradition and modern glam in ways that just might surprise you,” the news paper adds.

A Qatar-based study involving 121,700 patients has underscored the importance of the post-vaccination monitoring to optimise vaccine administration and ensure patient safety.The study by a group of researchers from Hamad Medical Hospital, Primary Health Care Corporation and Qatar University is titled ‘Adverse events of Covid-19 vaccines: Insights from primary health care centres in Qatar’ and was published recently in the Qatar Journal of Public Health and featured on the Qscience.com.The study emphasises the need for comprehensive surveillance and analysis of vaccine safety especially in the context of Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent efforts at vaccination of the population globally.The research highlights the significant role of vaccination in curbing the spread of the virus and mitigating severe outcomes especially in the context of Covid-19. It also points to the swift development and deployment of Covid-19 vaccines which raised concerns about potential adverse events, underscoring the importance of the need for complete monitoring and deeper analysis of vaccine safety.The research compares the prevalence and types of adverse events reported following the administration of different Covid-19 vaccines such as AstraZeneca, Moderna, Pfizer, Pfizer Paediatric across various doses. The objective was to delineate patterns in both local and systemic symptoms, including severe reactions such as anaphylaxis, to enhance understanding of the safety profiles of these vaccines.The study included 121,700 patients, of whom 28,715 (23.6%) reported at least one adverse event following vaccination. According to the findings, Moderna exhibited the highest prevalence of any symptoms after the second dose (34.3%), while AstraZeneca demonstrated a significant increase in symptoms after the third dose (96.9%). Injection site pain was most prevalent with AstraZeneca’s third dose (57.1%), and anaphylaxis was most commonly reported with Pfizer Paediatric’s first dose (0.9%). The Pfizer Paediatric vaccine had the lowest rates of symptoms after the third dose (0.5%). Systemic symptoms, including fever and fatigue, were frequently reported across all vaccines.The researchers conducted a retrospective analysis of Electronic Health Records from Qatar’s Primary Health Care Corporation, focusing on individuals aged six months and older. Adverse event data were gathered using the “Covid-19 Post Vaccine Assessment Form,” which captures both local and systemic symptoms. Data were analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, with frequencies and percentages summarised.According to the researchers, the study reveals significant variability in adverse event profiles among different Covid-19 vaccines and doses.Moderna and AstraZeneca showed higher rates of both local and systemic symptoms, with AstraZeneca’s third dose exhibiting the highest overall symptom prevalence. Pfizer Paediatric had lower adverse event rates, though anaphylaxis and systemic symptoms like fever were more notable after the first dose.The study has concluded that the findings emphasise the importance of ongoing post-vaccination monitoring to optimise vaccine administration and ensure patient safety.

Traditional media has the legacy and infrastructure to lead on responsible Artificial Intelligence (AI) integration and journalists must develop both technical fluency and ethical discernment, a faculty member at Qatar Foundation partner Northwestern University in Qatar told Gulf Times."Traditional media is at crossroads. The future of journalism will depend not on whether it uses AI, but how. Institutions that centre on transparency, editorial accountability, and audience trust will remain relevant. Those that delegate these responsibilities to machines may struggle to maintain public confidence,” said Dr Eddy Borges-Rey, associate professor in residence at the Department of Journalism & Strategic Communication Programme.While traditional media has the legacy and infrastructure to lead on responsible AI integration, it faces commercial and political pressures that may encourage short-term gains over long-term credibility, he felt.Journalists need to understand how AI systems are trained, what their limitations are, and how their outputs should be verified and contextualised. “Equally important is critical thinking: journalists need to question not just what AI says, but why it says so, and whether the assumptions built into those tools align with the values of their communities,” Dr Borges-Rey said.The global media landscape is diverging and in the Global North, AI is largely positioned as a tool for efficiency and innovation, the academic pointed out.“However, in the Global South, the stakes are different. The risks of cultural erasure, algorithmic bias, and entrenched digital inequality are far greater. Through our ongoing research on digital citizenship in the Global South -particularly in Qatar - we have found that media consumption and digital engagement are profoundly shaped by local cultural values, religious norms, and state-society relations,” he continued.The professor highlighted that citizens in the Global South do not engage with digital technologies in ways that mirror Global North assumptions and instead, their interactions often reflect context-specific logics of trust, visibility, and agency.“After just a few years of generative AI's introduction, it is difficult to predict with certainty how journalism will evolve. What is clear, however, is that AI risks undermining journalism’s essential function in helping the public understand the world and make informed decisions. The future of the global media landscape will hinge on whether we can design and govern AI systems that protect pluralism, amplify underrepresented voices, and remain sensitive to the complex realities of non-Western societies,” he highlighted.Dr Borges-Rey was of the view that seeing AI as just another tool is reductionist. “I see it rather as a transformative force that challenges our assumptions about knowledge, authority, and responsibility. If journalism is to remain a meaningful institution, we must be proactive in shaping how AI is adopted. That means investing in education, building internal safeguards, and centering voices from the Global South in global debates. We should be cautiously optimistic."“We are still to see what AI will mean for journalism, but if we do not proceed with critical awareness, we risk repeating the same mistakes. The stakes are not only professional—they are civic, epistemic, and ethical,” he added.

Artificial Intelligence ( AI), in the coming years, could reshape journalism’s essential function, noted a professor from one of the Qatar Foundation partner universities while highlighting some of the substantial risks of AI integration in journalism.“As AI becomes more involved in content creation, it could begin to reshape journalism’s essential function in helping the public understand the world and make informed decisions. This is particularly critical in regions like the Global South, where AI systems may not recognise or value local perspectives,” Prof Eddy Borges-Rey, associate professor in residence, Northwestern University in Qatar told Gulf Times.Prof Borges-Rey said that currently journalists are cautiously experimenting with AI for specific tasks such as transcription, translation, summarisation, and initial drafts.“If the current trends continue, we may see a newsroom workflow where human editors are managing AI-generated drafts, optimising content for algorithms rather than audiences. The most radical shift will not be technical, it will be conceptual,” he explained.However, the professor cautioned that these experiments are occurring amid growing concerns and involve substantial risks.“Tools like ChatGPT and Gemini can produce plausible-sounding but inaccurate content, and generative outputs often lack context and editorial judgment. The BBC recently conducted a study asking major AI platforms to summarise 100 news stories; 51% of the results contained significant issues. These findings reflect a broader trend: while journalists explore automation, the risks remain substantial,” he said.The academic said that AI is rather a transformative force that challenges people’s assumptions about knowledge, authority, and responsibility. He stated : “If journalism is to remain a meaningful institution, we must be proactive in shaping how AI is adopted. That means investing in education, building internal safeguards, and centering voices from the Global South in global debates. We should be cautiously optimistic, but more importantly, we must move away from the rhetoric of ‘falling behind’.”Prof Borges-Rey noted the media faces several profound challenges in integrating AI. “First, there is the problem of bias — most large language models are trained on English-language data from the Global North, which can marginalise other cultures and viewpoints,” he said. “Second, the lack of transparency in how AI makes decisions raises questions about accountability.“Third, editorial authority is being blurred: when a machine suggests a headline or summary, who is ultimately responsible for its accuracy or ethical framing? And finally, there is mounting pressure to adopt AI quickly, often without adequate safeguards in place.”Prof Borges-Rey also highlighted some of the advantages and risk factors of integrating AI into journalism.“It can reduce the burden of repetitive tasks, improve accessibility through automated translations and voiceovers, and help identify patterns in large datasets for investigative reporting. It can also support local journalism by generating summaries or story alerts for underserved communities. But these benefits must be weighed against the ethical and professional risks. Used wisely, AI can support journalism’s mission. Used blindly, it can undermine the very trust it is meant to foster,” he added.

Qatar is a leader in the region in providing all the legal support for domestic workers, noted a senior officer of International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Qatar Mission.“When we look at the legal framework in support of the migrant workers, Qatar is among the best in the region. We hope it will continue because if anything will change for better, it will actually be in Qatar,” said Roula Hamati, migration management officer for the IOM Mission in Qatar.She was speaking to Gulf Times on the sidelines of a conference to mark the International Domestic Workers Day organised by the National Human Rights Committee earlier this month.“We are very happy about the reforms undertaken in Qatar to protect the rights of the migrant workers. Qatar is a special case in the region. If there is anywhere in the region where there is a lot of momentum for change, for positive improvements, for a lot of things to happen, it is actually in Qatar. The country has led the way in many regards when it comes to migrant workers’ rights,” explained Hamati.The official said that IOM has recently started to engage more extensively on the domestic work portfolio.She noted: “We have launched a programme on domestic work and it has a number of objectives. They include changing the societal view on domestic work, raising awareness on domestic workers issues, working with domestic workers themselves to build their capacities but also to be consulted and involved in every decision that involves them. And the aim of one of our programmes is to improve access to justice for domestic workers and support them in that regard.”Hamati highlighted that IOM programmes are focusing on an issue that is normally not tackled very often which is topic of access to justice.“There has been a lot of measures in Qatar in terms of the promotion of rights of migrant workers and domestic workers but I think the last barrier is the issue of access to justice because there are always challenges when it comes to access especially when we talk about domestic work, because of the nature of this work that happens behind closed doors inside people’s homes,“ she continued.Hamati remarked that efforts are on with all the stakeholders and discussions are held about access to justice and help improve the situation.“Of course we hope that there will be many partnerships that will come out of the discussions in terms of tangible outcomes but IOM is actually continuing its work to support domestic workers in Qatar. One key takeaway is that we have a very robust legal framework. We have all the good legal reforms and I think the issue moving forward is how can we form more partnerships to ensure the support of the implementation of the legislation,” added the official.

To enhance and protect the rights of the domestic workers in Qatar, the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) has released a detailed booklet in 11 languages about their rights and duties as well as general information about the country, vice chairman Dr Mohammed bin Saif al-Kuwari told Gulf Times.“We distribute the booklet to all the workers to make them aware of the country, its culture, as well as the details and nature of their work,” he said on the sidelines of a recent event, organised by NHRC to mark Domestic Workers Day.The NHRC vice chairman said that before coming to Qatar, the countries of the workers can educate them on their jobs. He stressed that educating and informing domestic workers about Qatari legislation, including their rights, redress mechanisms, and legal assistance, before they leave their home countries, is primarily the responsibility of their countries.Dr al-Kuwari, explained: “You need to educate the people. I advise the government, and the countries, to educate the people about their rights and duties. They can also distribute the booklets to the workers and can check the website of NHRC for further details. If the workers can be briefed about their duties and rights before they travel to Qatar, it will help them to be familiarised with the nature of their job as well as about the culture of Qatar.”The NHRC vice chairman highlighted Qatar's initiative to establish 14 visa centres in labour-sending countries to ensure workers are not exploited, highlighting the importance of expanding these centres to other countries.The official noted that NHRC conducts workshops for the domestic workers. “I advise the domestic workers to attend these workshops, and they can discuss their issues with the representative from NHRC as well as some of the government entities such as Ministry of Labour or the Ministry of Interior. In future, we will be conducting more workshops and forums to give opportunities for the domestic workers to interact with the officials.Dr al-Kuwari stated that the Ministry of Labour and NHRC constantly monitor the working atmosphere of the labourers. He also highlighted the important role of the NHRC in protecting the rights of domestic workers as embodied in the international human rights system, analysing and expanding good national practices, and advocating for the adoption of international best practices.“We along with the officials from the Ministry of Labour monitor and visit the houses of the workers where they are employed to make sure that the workers are well taken care of. We communicate with the people, and ask them, if they have any challenges or have any other issues,” he added.

Qatar has made significant progress in protecting the rights of domestic workers guaranteed in the Permanent Constitution, a senior official of National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) stated Monday.“Qatar has made significant strides in protecting and promoting the rights of domestic workers which is reflected in the legal reforms culminating in the enactment of Law No (15) of 2017 regarding domestic workers,” said Dr Mohammed bin Saif al-Kuwari, vice-chairman, NHRC.He was addressing an event organised by NHRC and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) to mark the International Domestic Workers’ Day, observed annually on June 16.Held under the theme ‘Advancing Access to Justice for Domestic Workers: Enhancing Legal Support and Strengthening Accountability Mechanisms,’ the event saw several discussions with participants from the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Interior along with several experts.Dr al-Kuwari said: “There are about 168,626 individuals performing domestic work in Qatar, according to the 2022 Labour Force Survey report issued by the Planning and Statistics Authority in 2023. These individuals represent 8.39% of the total non-Qatari workforce, which has made this work an integral part of our economic and social life in Qatar. We continue our efforts in education, awareness and advocacy with our partners and stakeholders.”He highlighted that these workers have left their communities in search of livelihood opportunities that ensure a decent life for them and sustainable development for their communities.“From our perspective, protecting the rights of domestic workers is a protection of human rights guaranteed in the Permanent Constitution of Qatar, which stipulates that Qatari society ‘is based on the pillars of justice, benevolence, freedom, equality, and noble ethics.’ These are the fundamental components that reflect Qatari society’s vision of domestic workers as an integral part of the Qatari family, based on values of giving, respect and goodness for all its members,” he explained.Roula Hamati, in charge of IOM Mission in Qatar, in her address emphasised the importance of the event, the first joint event of its kind between NHRC and IOM.Hamati said: “Qatar has made remarkable progress in legislation aimed at protecting the rights of migrants in general, and domestic workers in particular. The labour policy reforms implemented by Qatar since 2020, starting with ensuring freedom of movement in the labour market, changing employers, and the minimum wage, have constituted a qualitative leap in working and living conditions for hundreds of thousands of workers including domestic workers.” The event included three accompanying sessions. The first session addressed legal pathways and institutional frameworks, with presentations by Nasser Marzouq Sultan al-Marri, director of the Legal Affairs Department, NHRC who provided a presentation from the Committee, and Captain Mohammed Nasser al-Jaber, from the Research and Follow-up Department at the Ministry of Interior, whose speech included a presentation on the protection and redressal mechanism for domestic workers in vulnerable situations.Dr Lena Moller from Qatar University’s College of Law discussed the challenges and opportunities in implementing the 2017 Domestic Workers Law and international best practices and Margaret Kabue, chairperson of the Kenyan Domestic Workers Association also presented her perspectives at the session. The second session focused on enhancing accountability mechanisms; improving law enforcement and strategic co-ordination for legal assistance and identifying policy and recommendations to promote justice. The session saw the participation of several officials and experts. The closing session covered a summary of the main points of the discussion, compilation of its outcomes, reaffirmation of stakeholder commitments, and identification of next steps and concluding remarks by the IOM and NHRC.

Fanar, an Arabic AI language model developed by the Qatar Computing Research Institute (QCRI) and a national project involving several institutions in Qatar aims to enhance and protect Arabic language in the digital space. QCRI, part of Hamad Bin Khalifa University has developed this special tool to bridge Arabic language and culture with the latest advancements in AI. Dr Mohamed Eltabakh, principal scientist at QCRI, at a recent conference in Doha highlighted that this project aims to revive and preserve the Arabic language in the digital age. Dr Eltabakh said: “With the emergence of ChatGPT in 2022, it was clear that it would have a tremendous impact across various fields, including medicine, education, health, the judiciary, and the media. This technology stood out from all its predecessors for its generative capabilities and interactive nature.” He noted that studies have shown that these language models, despite their sophistication, carry a significant risk of bias. “They tend to favour English over Arabic, thus reflecting Western cultures and excluding other cultures, particularly Arab and Islamic culture. Furthermore, the training methods for these models often do not align with the specific requirements and needs of Arab societies,” explained, Dr Eltabakh. According to the scientist, one of the most important goals of the project is to preserve the Arabic language and its various dialects. Built on a robust linguistic framework and powered by advanced algorithms, Fanar excels in Arabic-centric thinking, understanding nuanced meanings, and capturing subtle linguistic distinctions. These features make it an ideal tool for overcoming linguistic and cultural barriers, fostering effective communication, and promoting knowledge exchange. Its extensive capabilities include text and multimodal data generation, content creation, translation, and knowledge fact-checking. One of Fanar’s goals is to provide high-quality Arabic content that enhances the status of the Arabic language in the digital space. “Achieving cultural compatibility is among the platform’s most important objectives as the Arabic language is not merely a means of communication; it carries Arab identity, history, culture, and values, which are fundamentally different from Western culture,” he continued. Dr Eltabakh underlined that digital sovereignty in Arabic content is also of key importance for the platform. He noted: “Complete reliance on Western technology reduces us to mere consumers. The Fanar project demonstrates that we can be creators of this technology and to own its tools. Ownership here is not just technical – it also encompasses sovereignty over knowledge, content, and communication.” Dr Eltabakh emphasised the importance of capacity building as most countries find themselves unable to build local capabilities in the field of artificial intelligence. However, the presence of Arab expertise that can develop these models, and directing them according to our needs, is of paramount importance. “The Fanar project is not merely a linguistic initiative, but rather a comprehensive vision for an independent Arab digital future that reflects our culture, protects our language, and empowers us to contribute to shaping technology, rather than being victims of its biases,” added the scientist.

Nathania Lela Vipin, a 13 year-old Qatar resident, is making her presence felt in the social and academic circles through her relentless pursuit of learning and excellence in various fields, braving many obstacles.Nathania has been recognised of late by the India Book of Records for ‘'Maximum topics covered in a presentation for five-minutes by a teen.’“I want to become the voice of the voiceless and provide guidance to many like me. I hope my life will be a motivating factor for many of them live a better life” Nathania told Gulf Times in an interaction.Nathania was prematurely born at the sixth month of pregnancy at Hamad Medical Corporation. To add to the troubles, the premature birth resulted in cerebral palsy. The doctors were sceptical if the child would live long as baby Nathania weighed just 650gm at her birth.She had to fight for her life in an incubator at the hospital for over four months. Her parents, Vipin and Neethu underwent a tough ordeal as they also had to take care of Nathania’s brother, Naithan, who is just nine months elder to her.Fighting the obstacles and overcoming them, Nathania was not willing to give up on life and decided to challenge herself to be someone different. As she grew into a teen, she is brimming with confidence and ably supported by her parents, teachers and friends and among others.Today, Nathania has grown into an eloquent speaker and a motivational figure for others to emulate. Her determination is paying off as she started to address small gatherings.“A few years ago, I had a surgery and had to wear an iron cast on my leg. For six months I had to be carried by others and then the thought came up in my mind how people with handicaps need to depend on others for their daily activities,” Nathania recalled.“This made me think that I should tell others that life has to be faced with all the realities and one should never give up. I wanted to tell this to the world and this made me become a motivational speaker,” she stressed.Today, Nathania is a sought after speaker at various platforms in Doha. Her meeting with the renowned illusionist and motivational speaker, Gopinath Muthukad was another turning point in her life that made her all the more determined to continue with greater strides.Then came the India Book of Records for covering the maximum number of topics in a presentation. Nathania covered 14 topics in five minutes. The citation on the India Book of Records says she covered various subjects “including ‘A warrior’, ‘A Social Issue’, ‘Special Education’, ‘Positive Thinking’ and ‘Water’, among others, at the age of 13 years and four days, as confirmed on March 27, 2025.”Nathania, all confidence personified, is looking ahead for greater involvement in every aspect of her life. “I am just a little girl. I feel my life should be a lesson for others to face life with great confidence. Every person has a mission and purpose in this life and they should realise their potential accordingly. If I can be of little help and motivation for others, that gives me immense joy,” added the little champion.

An ongoing art exhibition at Mathaf, Arab Museum of Modern Art, is a peek into the art history of Qatar and how the thriving art scenario in the country has emerged.‘Qatar: Close to My Soul ’ from the collection of Abdulla bin Ali al-Thani exhibition presents works from the late 1960s onward providing a broad overview of Qatari art, artists, movements and ideas that have shaped modern and contemporary art from the country.Curated by Fatima Mostafawi, the Middle East and West Asia curator at Mathaf, the exhibition open until August 9 is a testament to the diversity and development of Qatar’s visual culture and a poetic journey into the past and present of the nation.The modern and contemporary art in Qatar emerged as a visual extension of the political, economic and sociocultural context of the country in the second half of the twentieth century. Featuring a significant number of artists and artworks, the exhibition reveals the distinct thematic approaches that have emerged and converged over different generations.The exhibition highlights how with the establishment of a formal education system in Qatar in 1952, the first artistic initiatives flourished. It notes that the art classes in schools played a major role in nurturing the artists who would become the pioneering generation, and from the early 1960s onward, exhibitions were continuously held in schools and public spaces, exposing art to a wider audience.These early efforts culminated in the return of the pioneers after pursuing academic art studies in neighbouring Arab countries. Since then, the Qatari art scene has grown rapidly, actively engaging with local cultural vocabularies and regional artistic dialogues.The exhibition is divided into three thematic sections. The first, O’mri Qatar, explores how artists draw inspiration from traditional architectural and natural landscape. The second, Dewdrops, features works portraying society, and the third, Boundless Expanse, presents various experiments in abstraction and hurruffiya, an art form incorporating Arabic letterforms. Through the exhibited works, texts and archival material, visitors will gain a deeper insight into the history of modern and contemporary art in Qatar.The title and narrative of the exhibition are inspired by a well-known poem and song, entitled Allah Ya O’mri Qatar, written by Abdullah al-Hammadi in 1975 and performed by Mohammed al-Saai in the following years. The poem is widely regarded as a profoundly emotional expression of the poet's love for his homeland.Since the late 1970s, the poem's simple yet demonstrative language has garnered widespread popularity, evoking nostalgic sentiments across all generations in Qatar. This poem intertwines with Sheikh Abdulla bin Ali al-Thani’s collecting practices, reflecting his discerning appreciation and passion for art. It serves as a clear means of expressing his profound love for his homeland and his unwavering commitment to preserving Qatar's artistic legacy.

The potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to breach into human rights are very huge, a top official of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) told Gulf Times Tuesday. “AI has the capacity to get into human rights in a big way and data protection is a big challenge in the era of AI. There is the possibility of AI machines and algorithms to produce information which does not stick to reality or influence electoral processes,” Dr Mary Kawar, director, Arab States Regional Hub, UNDP, told Gulf Times.She was speaking on the sidelines of the International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights organised by Qatar National Human Rights Committee.“Since the capacity of AI to breach human rights are huge we need to put the citizens at the centre and have policies and strategies that are human rights based and designed around human beings,” explained, Dr Kawar.The official said that AI unleashes several opportunities for development, for efficiency of governments, for service delivery, for improving the quality of life of citizens. “But at the same time it comes with some deep risks in terms of data breaching, in terms of replacement of human capabilities for the labour force and in terms of control.So, the overall goal of this conference is to bring people together to strategise an opportunity to make AI benefit communities and not be a challenge and a risk to our life,” she continued.Dr Kawar noted that at the level of strategies, policies and technical support, there should be efforts of making sure that there is awareness of human rights risks in this sphere. “This goes from support to governments and in terms of building coalitions that bring different stakeholders together and finally at the global level through initiatives, resolutions and global movements. They are all geared towards making sure that AI is at the service of citizens.”“Also, at UNDP, we had a recent report, the Human Development Report, which focused on AI and digitalisation. The idea was that how we can accelerate the implementation of the sustainable development goals, how digitalisation and AI can be for the benefit of human development, especially in terms of health and education and basic rights,” she highlighted.Dr Kawar stated that the conference will be a pointer to the way forward in protecting human rights while making use of AI.“The event will end with a declaration that will set the way forward and that is why it is very important. Through the sessions people from around the globe will share best practices and will discuss avenues for making use of AI in a way that is sensitive to human rights. These all discussions will end up in a declaration that will help all the stakeholders to define the way they believe artificial intelligence should be designed and approached,” she added.

Storytelling is part of the culture and tradition of the Arab world and Qatar and the region can become a gateway for international production in content creation and film making, noted HE Hassan al-Thawadi, managing director, Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) Wednesday.Speaking at the ongoing Qatar Economic Forum 2025 he highlighted that FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 has emerged as a catalyst for positive change both in the country and within the region, accelerating human capabilities.Al-Thawadi noted that the Egyptian film industry is one of the oldest film industries as old as Hollywood or even older. “But I think, today, unfortunately, we don't have our stories or our content being created such as the blockbusters that other nations have been able to create. So I think what we want to do is, create a collaborative effort amongst ourselves,” he said.He stated that recently at Cannes he had great meetings with a number of people working within the industry and some of the neighbouring countries. “We are looking at areas of collaboration and working together in terms of, becoming a gateway for international production, because that always gives the exposure towards improving our storytelling capabilities in a way that international audience consumes it.”The SC managing director also spoke about harnessing the talent of the people and the content creators of the region to make the content. He stated: “If you look at the East, there are significant markets that have already established themselves or are establishing themselves, and there's room for our content to travel there. So the idea for us is to, initially talk about the region, the Mena region and the Arab world. It can very quickly evolve towards Global South, where we create content for ourselves, to be consumed by ourselves, and then push it to become globally consumed.”Al-Thawadi noted ahead of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, the organising committee had realised the challenges. “We wanted this event to be an accelerant, a catalyst for positive change both in the country and within the region. We worked towards that goal. We realised the challenges that were ahead of us and one of the most important legacies that we wanted to leave was the human capabilities in terms of delivering such an event and we worked diligently towards the goals,” said the official.He also pointed out that the Qatar 2022 has been one of the best sporting event the world has seen so far as it turned out to be a global carnival.“Initially, our view was this is an Arab World Cup and the Arab world will be welcoming the rest of the world. But then it evolved and manifested itself in terms of the Global South being very present over here and the Global North embracing that diverse culture and it became a global carnival,” he added.

Experts on geopolitical scenarios of the Middle East discussed the evolving landscapes in the region, especially in the aftermath of the visit of US president Donald Trump at the ongoing Qatar economic Forum (QEF) 2025.“It is a new Arab world. It is different, but there is much more in common among Arabs than there are differences. Therefore, I want to see more success,” said Nabil Fahmy, Egypt's former foreign minister and ambassador to the US, and chairman, Lynx Business Advisors while highlighting the rapidly changing scenario in the region.US Army retired General David H Petraeus, chairman, Global Institute & KKR Middle East and partner, KKR, noted that during the visit of President Trump in addition to aviation and military business deals, there was a focus on technology.“It is not the traditional fossil fuels only or petrochemicals or the rest of that was part of the technology discussions. There is a huge economy that is developing out here in the states that are promoting innovation, data centres, AI, and all that goes along with that in a very significant way. The ability to sell the most advanced chips here is one that is also very important,” he explained.The experts also delved on the current situations in Syria, Palestine, Ukraine, Iran and other political developments that are taking place in different parts of the region and beyond.As for the current situation in Syria, Petraeus said: “And let's give the new leader every opportunity. So the US lifts the sanctions. Other countries out here have been providing financial assistance, dealing with some of their debts, etc. I think that is a very significant development in the region.”Fahmy noted that what is happening in Syria is the beginning of the story and not the end of it. He explained: “Syria, for the first time, came to the Arab summit and attended a summit with President Trump. At the same time, they were asked to do a number of things, but the incentive was put up front.”He continued that while the US has lifted the sanctions, countries in the region have offered to provide assistance to Syria . “That being said, all of those who met the Syrians, be them the Arabs or the Americans, though I am speaking more on the Arab side, want a better Syria. They don't want an extremist Syria. They don't want, frankly, a revisionist Syria either. So the incentive's out there, but there has to be something to be delivered in response by the Syrians. It has to be for all the Syrians.” he added.The panellists also discussed Palestine and Ukraine and highlighted the major issues facing this region as well as Europe. The discussion was moderated by John Micklethwait, editor-in-chief, Bloomberg.

Qatar has emerged a trusted and credible mediator, capable of playing pivotal roles in complex issues, that demand wisdom, neutrality, and influence, noted HE Dr Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh al-Khulaifi, Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.“Qatar has embraced dialogue as both a political practice and a strategic principle, rooted in its constitution and reflecting a steadfast vision that peace can only be achieved through justice and the preservation of human dignity," he stated Monday.HE Dr al-Khulaifi was speaking at the opening session of the International Conference on Debate and Dialogue organised by QatarDebate, founded by Qatar Foundation. The second edition of the two-day conference got underway at Qatar National Convention Centre Monday.“With this approach, Qatar has established itself as an established international mediator earning international trust, which enables it to play a pivotal role in issues that require wisdom, agility and the ability to act. Diplomacy and dialogue are the best way to build a more stable and secure world," explained the minister.The minister also spoke about the crucial roles that Qatar has undertaken to earn the trust of the international community.“Qatari diplomacy has become an influential force and a credible voice amid global transformations, taking the initiative to chart paths toward solutions and build bridges of dialogue at times when traditional channels have collapsed and positions have grown more polarised,” he continued.He highlighted the deep-rooted connection between debate and diplomacy, noting that debate is not merely about presenting ideas, but also serves as an effective means of resolving intellectual differences through wisdom and constructive dialogue.Dr al-Khulaifi emphasised that the conference represents a valuable opportunity to explore the practical dimensions of dialogue and debate, examining their tools and methods, which contributes to fostering a culture of constructive discourse, mutual respect, and understanding within societies.He also stressed the deep relationship between debate and diplomacy. ” They are not two separate fields, but they complement each other in essence, as all of them are based on good dialogue, effective communication, and the ability to convince without help, and expression without anger or aggression,” he stated."Hence, the profound relationship between debate and diplomacy is evident; both are grounded in dialogue and require attentive listening, thoughtful responses, and the ability to present opinions with well-reasoned arguments and sound logic. Debate, like diplomacy, serves as a forum for the exchange of ideas where minds are sharpened and respect for differing views is cultivated," Dr al-Kulaifi added.

The World Table Tennis Championship Finals Doha 2025, which begins Saturday will be an exceptional one, The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) president Petra Sörling told Gulf Times in an interview."We had the World Championships here in 2004 and since then we have had many major events in Qatar. So we know that we can expect a very high level of delivery in this edition of the championship,” Sörling, explained.Sörling was interacting with Gulf Times on the sidelines of the Sports and Science Congress, which concluded Thursday at the Aspetar.“Qatar Table Tennis Association under the leadership of Khalil al-Mohannadi, has a lot of experience. So we are excited because we know it will be a championship of next level,” continued, Sörling.As for the championship, the president said that there will be a lot of innovations this time. “We will use two venues and I expect that as a new innovation. We know that we will have a full house, some sessions are already sold out and I think that can also bring another level of excitement to the event here in Doha, “she explained.The official said that Doha has become a city of sport and the championship provides visibility for the local players.“Each championship motivates and encourages local players. We have seen in previous editions that a lot of players emerge from the host countries into world scenario and I am sure that will take place here in Doha. I am very happy to see that the young players coming from here are more and more successful . So I think that there will be a lot of local players emerging into the world scene with the world championships being a catalyst, ” said, Sörling.The ITTF president also said that Doha is a great destination for International sports events including table tennis and for the related activities . “When I look at it today, we have the Sports and Science Congress, which is for us very important in table tennis. And then also, we had last year the Men's Tour Finals and I know that there is also a lot of youth events coming up,” she added.ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals Doha 2025 runs until May 25 at Lusail Sports Arena and Qatar University.