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On the sidelines of Al Jazeera Conference on Artificial Intelligence in Media, Zakir Ismailagic, Director of Training at Al Jazeera Media Institute, gave an exclusive interview to Gulf Times on the future of AI and its transformative impact on training media specialists.He said: “Today, we are trying to create a melting pot between the technologies, and this is why we have big tech companies here, and the media outlets and agencies. Al Jazeera has been pioneering technology for a long time, and for some time we have been using AI tools, and we want to exchange information from other technology and media companies and share what we learn with them. We are going to share our own findings with the world. We want to make sure that everybody in Qatar and elsewhere will benefit from this event. Over 25% of the participants flew into Qatar for the conference, so it is getting to become an international conference, for sure we will continue this next year.”Concerning the AI impact on media professionals, Ismailagic said: “We cannot predict in which way and what is going to happen, we are using tools and we are being cautious. AI is definitely cutting down the time when it comes to research, editing, and packaging. Sometimes, AI cuts the time of some tasks from days to hours, sometime into minutes, but we are using it cautiously, and we are not going to jeopardise our editorial or ethical values.”As far as challenges are concerned, Ismailagic said: “When it comes to challenges of implementing AI, we need to understand ethical, and legal issues, then AI information accuracy issue when it comes to differentiate between true and fake news. On the top of all of this, professionals need to be upskilled to use AI tools, and this is where Al Jazeera Media Institute can be the bridge between all these initiatives and training later on. We are opening AI training programs for media personnel in Qatar and abroad.”With the participation of a high-level international experts in this conference, Ismailagic said: “We are going to get some recommendations and we will turn them into training programs obviously. The experts that we are going to use are a combination between technology and the media. Right now, we combine the practical side with theory in our current training programs and we are going to continue doing exactly the same."Right now, we are using around 200 experts at the institute, some of them come from Al Jazeera, and others from the worldwide. We are collaborating with a variety of organisations to make sure that what we are going to offer in terms of AI training programmes is going to be developed first of all between technology companies, practitioners and academia too.”

On the sidelines of the conference Abran Maldonado, Open AI Ambassador and expert in AI and the metaverse, and the conference keynote speaker, gave an exclusive interview to Gulf Times on the future of AI and its transformative impact on the media industry. He stressed that: “We have to adapt and adapt, we have to try things and accept that this is where it is heading, and if we just sit back, we are going to fall behind. We have to learn new skills, AI is just another skill that we need to learn.”Concerning his views on developments in Qatar, Maldonado said: “I knew the reputation of Qatar from working with smart cities exports, that it was at the top of the list when it comes to smart cities and embracing innovations and being at being at the cutting edge as a whole city. When I came here in person I saw that to be true. So, I know that when it comes to embracing new technologies, that Qatar is likely more ahead than other cities, even in the USA. I can name seven cities in the USA that are behind Qatar, when it comes to embracing innovation.”Maldonado went on to say: “You are not scared here in Qatar to try new technologies and try innovations, you embrace it and it works. I am fully confident that Qatar will be ahead of anybody else in that respect.”On the impact of AI in higher education, Maldonado said: “I speak a lot to educators about AI, soon we are getting to a point where personalizing education with a differentiation, i.e. every student will have their own curriculum, personalized to them. We are very unique learners, so why should there be one syllabus, one curriculum for a hundred students, there should be a hundred curriculums for a hundred students."That is time consuming, it very hard to do that manually, AI can do it in seconds. It will democratize education. Generation Z are going to be the on demand generation, they are not going to wait passively and watch what you decide they think or they should watch. They are going to prompt and generate what they want to watch. So, we have to create more tools to allow them to pick and generate their own new stories, to pick the topics, everyone will have their own individual algorithm.”Maldonado predicted that in the 2040 “there will be completely different jobs, it is going to be the number one in demand job in this field as from now either being an AI engineer or an AI consultant,” he said.

The second edition of the Al Jazeera Conference on Artificial Intelligence in Media kicked off Saturday at the Grand Sheraton Hotel in Doha, gathering an international group of experts and specialists in AI, technology, and media. The conference aims to explore the use of AI in newsrooms, its role in enhancing media content, analysing big data, and developing innovative tools for editing and production.In his opening remarks, Dr Mostefa Souag, Acting Director-General of Al Jazeera Media Network, underscored the urgency of adapting to technological advancements, warning that those who fail to keep pace may be left behind. “We are here today to continue exploring the profound impact of artificial intelligence on the journalism profession.”Dr Souag highlighted Al Jazeera’s legacy as a trailblazer in adopting cutting-edge media technologies, including AI tools and their varied applications. He noted that the network has strategically adapted these innovations to support its mission, recognising their crucial role in enhancing journalistic performance.He also praised the significant contributions of the Al Jazeera Media Institute, emphasising its leadership in harnessing AI through initiatives such as the inaugural edition of the conference. Together with the publication of numerous articles and videos addressing AI in newsrooms, and the implementation of advanced training programmes designed to equip journalists with the technical skills and ethical guidance needed for responsible AI use.“The organisation of this conference reflects our unwavering commitment to fostering serious discussions about AI technologies, critically assessing their potential, and thoughtfully considering their adoption in media workflows,” Dr Souag said. “We understand that AI is not merely an additional tool; it represents a profound transformation that will shape both the present and the future of journalism, placing significant responsibilities on us all.”He called for a balanced approach to AI, urging participants to acknowledge both the opportunities and the challenges it presents. Dr Souag expressed his hope that the conference would serve as a platform where journalists, academics, and technology experts can collaborate to develop a comprehensive vision for using AI to support and elevate journalism.In the keynote address, Abran Maldonado, Open AI Ambassador and expert in AI and the metaverse, discussed the future of AI and its transformative impact on the media industry. He explained how AI enhances efficiency through advanced data analysis and content production while addressing key ethical concerns, such as algorithmic bias and privacy issues. Maldonado emphasised the importance of innovative and responsible strategies for integrating AI technologies in media practices. The first session, was moderated by Samantha Johnson, focused on showcasing the latest artificial intelligence tools developed by leading tech companies for use in media. The session highlighted pioneering AI programs and featured a distinguished panel.The first day also featured a panel discussion moderated by journalist Waleed al-Mahdi titled “The Development of Arabic AI and Its Challenges.” The discussion shed light on a groundbreaking initiative in Arabic AI: the Manar platform, developed by the Qatar Computing Research Institute (QCRI) at Hamad Bin Khalifa University, with support from Qatar’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. The session explored how the platform operates, the technical and cultural challenges encountered during its development, and the future of Arabic AI.The second main session, moderated by broadcaster Izdihar Shuaisha, was titled “Leveraging AI in Al Jazeera Media Network.” It addressed the growing role of AI in advancing media workflows within Al Jazeera, highlighting the smart applications and tools used across the network’s channels and divisions. The session focused on how Al Jazeera’s newsroom leverages AI to gather, process, and disseminate news efficiently, while also discussing technical challenges and contingency plans to handle unforeseen issues.As part of the conference activities, the Al Jazeera Media Institute organised a training workshop in collaboration with Google and Zeotap to explore AI technologies and their applications in enhancing content and audience engagement.Another workshop, led by Dean Arnett from the Thomson Foundation, introduced AI-powered video editing tools, demonstrating how these tools can save time and streamline workflows.The second edition of the Al Jazeera Conference on AI in Media aims to shed light on the transformative impact of AI technologies on the journalism profession, fostering dialogue and collaboration to shape the future of media in the digital age.

Dr Majid bin Mohammed al Ansari, Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Tuesday that Qatar has been continuing its efforts 'in various ways and means' in order to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.Al-Ansari stressed in the weekly media briefing organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), that all mediators (Qatar, the US and Egypt) are making great efforts to end the war in Gaza.Regarding the ongoing indirect negotiations in Doha, al-Ansari stressed that the negotiations are being held at the technical level, whether in Doha or Cairo.Regarding the Syrian issue, al-Ansari said that Qatar welcomed the US administration’s decision to suspend some sanctions on Syria, hoping that they would be lifted completely and permanently. He said: “We welcome the suspension of some US sanctions on Syria, and this is a partial step,” hoping that the sanctions would be lifted permanently to facilitate the economic cycle. Regarding the Qatari role in this context, he said that there is a general regional position to work on lifting the sanctions on Syria, and the Qatari effort is part of this regional effort.Al-Ansari pointed out that reports of transporting Qatari gas to Syria are media speculation, stressing that the state’s focus at this stage is on providing humanitarian aid to the Syrian people. He said that Qatar is committed to supporting the Syrian people from both the humanitarian and technical aspects. He referred to the statements made by HE Dr Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh al-Khulaifi, Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during the visit of the Syrian delegation to Doha, and his confirmation of the continuation of the air bridge and the resumption of flights to Syria’s international airport on Tuesday.The official spokesperson stressed that the state’s current focus is on ensuring stability in the sisterly Syrian Arab Republic. "Ensuring the realisation of the aspirations of the Syrian people who are emerging from a war that has destroyed many of their capabilities. As well as ensuring that Qatar supports the freedom and stability of the Syrian people and the interim administration, and that this administration keeps pace with the aspirations of the Syrians."Regarding Qatar's technical support for the rehabilitation of the Syrian airport, al-Ansari confirmed that in response to the request of the brothers in the Syrian Arab Republic, a technical delegation from Qatar Airways was assigned to assess the condition of the airport and identify the obstacles that were standing in the way of the re-opening of Damascus International Airport. The team provided technical assistance, he added.The official explained that the total Qatari aid to Syria through the air bridge has reached 231 tonnes, and this airlift is ongoing. He pointed out that the relevant authorities in Qatar are working with their counterparts in Syria to resolve the electricity issue there.HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, will meet tomorrow with Ian Borg, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Tourism of Malta, he added.

Alaraby TV network has launched new social media accounts under the name "Alaraby TV – Syria," coinciding with its special coverage of the rapidly evolving events in Syria which led to the fall of Bashar al-Assad regime.The new accounts aim to provide around-the-clock coverage of events across all Syrian regions through extensive reporting by a network of correspondents inside Syria and in neighbouring countries. Additionally, these pages feature infographics and video designs that accurately present developments on the ground.Shaker Almasri, Senior social media and Digital Marketing Specialist at Alaraby TV Network, emphasised that “"Alaraby TV - Syria" accounts cater to the newfound freedom of Syrian audiences, who can now access content on social media platforms without restrictions after years of censorship and limited Internet service. These dedicated pages are crucial for providing accurate information, particularly to those inside Syria”.Moreover, Alaraby TV has dedicated special coverage for developments in Syria. In addition to 24/7 news reporting, it airs a daily programme titled "Damascus Dialogues" at 9pm Jerusalem time from the Syrian capital. Where it hosts key figures in the Syrian political scene and offers in-depth analysis of events with a distinguished panel of experts through the following links:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlarabyTvSYInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/AlarabyTvSYX: https://x.com/AlarabyTvSYTelegram: https://t.me/AlarabyTvSyTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@AlarabyTvSYYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AlarabyTvSY

Al Jasra Cultural and Social Club, affiliated with the Ministry of Culture, has announced the launch of its new digital platforms at the beginning of 2025, as part of ongoing efforts to employ technology to promote Qatari heritage and interact with a diverse global audience.The project highlights Qatari culture by providing distinctive content on various aspects of local arts and Qatari heritage.These digital platforms will enable the most wonderful Qatari cultural images to be displayed before global cultural institutions, contributing to enhancing cultural exchange and openness to other societies.The project includes a number of axes, including broadcasting cultural weeks, in which the club revives, through its digital platforms, memories of cultural weeks that were held in global capitals and cities during the 1990s, allowing the public to explore Qatari heritage in a new way.This project, the club said, is an important step in transmitting Qatari culture from local forums to the international arena through the tools of the digital age.Meanwhile, Al Jasra Cultural Club continues to present its intellectual content through its cultural salon, with a new lecture by Dr Sharif Shukran tomorrow on “Biological Communication through Silent Dialogue”.

The Katara Cultural Village has organised a poetry morning that brought together an elite group of creative Gulf female poets, with the participation of poets Badriya al-Badri, Dr Noura al-Wahaimid and Moza Abdul Rahman al-Misnad. It was moderated by journalist Ishraf bin Murad.The event witnessed a large turnout of poetry and literature lovers, as the poets presented their poems that varied between love of the homeland, wisdom, description and elegy. The poems were distinguished by their touch on deep human and social aspects, inspired by the Gulf environment and its rich culture.In this field, the distinguished Omani poet Badriya al-Badri presented various poems about love for Qatar and on various topics that combined linguistic beauty with sweet meaning. She switched between classical and Nabati poetry to confirm her poetic prowess. Al-Badri won the Katara Prize for the Poet of the Messenger in its fifth edition in 2021. In addition she won the second place in the Burda Prize for the category of popular poetry in 2023.As for Dr Noura al-Wahmid, she recited her poems in Nabati poetry, including “In the Name of God, the Most Gracious,” “The Sheikhs of the Tribe,” “A Source of Pride,” and an elegy for Sheikh Sabah Khaled al-Kubaisi titled “The Morning Has Gone.” Al-Wahmid also recited verses about the love of sisters. The morning was an occasion in which Dr Noura revealed her talent in composing poetry since her early childhood and her influence by her grandfather, the popular poet Muhammad Al-Jassim al-Wahmid.Distinguished poet Moza Abdul Rahman al-Misnad presented wonderful poems about the love of the homeland, dazzling the audience with her powerful words and high meanings in various poetic verses. She concluded her participation with a touching poem dedicated to Palestine.The morning concluded with the presentation of certificates of appreciation to the participating poets, expressing Katara’s appreciation for their creativity and efforts in enriching the local, Gulf and Arab literary scene.

Katara Cultural Village has revealed the names of the winners of the fine arts competition it held on Qatar National Day (QND).The competition witnessed participations that reflected the spirit of the homeland and its authenticity, highlighting the aesthetics of Qatari art through creative visions inspired by heritage and national identity.Iman al-Haidos won the first prize, while the second place went to Muhannad Attia, and Huda Basahel got the third place prize.Al-Haidos presented a distinctive painting in which she portrayed camels walking between the towers of the modern Dafna area, in a scene that embodies the blending of heritage with modernity. The painting expressed the great transformation that Qatar has witnessed while preserving its authentic identity. Al-Haidos sought to highlight the cohesion between the past and the present.Muhannad Attia participated with a painting depicting a little girl wearing traditional Qatari dress in dazzling colours, reflecting the joy and strength of Qatari heritage.As for Huda Basahel, she presented a painting using the Mola technique, in which she combined various heritage elements such as old houses and pottery, expressing her nostalgia for the past in a distinctive artistic style.

The Doha Film Institute (DFI) has announced that applications for its spring 2025 funding cycle are now open until January 5.The DFI’s grants programme aims to find new cinematic talents and voices, and discover stories that can resonate globally.The spring 2025 cycle opened on December 22 and will close on January 5 at 5pm.The institute’s approach is to champion projects that aim to explore, expand and cultivate authentic storytelling, with a keen interest in propelling forward the medium of cinema.The programme provides creative and financial assistance for short and feature-length films, subject to eligibility criteria, by Qatari and international first- and second-time directors, as well as established Mena (Middle East and North Africa) directors.Financial support is also available for TV and Web series helmed by Mena scriptwriters and directors, subject to eligibility criteria.The TV fiction and creative documentary series development grant aims to assist independent screenwriters/producers from the Mena region in developing original serialised content intended for international audiovisual markets.The Web fiction and creative documentary series grant will support independent directors/producers from the Mena region in financing the production of original serialised content for the Web.The DFI seeks to strengthen and empower Qatari voices in filmmaking that have the potential to make significant contributions to the art of cinema.Its focus on the growth and evolution of Qatar’s film community includes providing creative and logistical support, as well as financial contribution to filmmakers from Qatar.In addition to applying for funding through the Grants Programme, Qatari filmmakers with short and feature-length projects at any stage of evolution are invited to contact the Institute year-round at [email protected] to discuss grants, co-financing possibilities, internships with international productions, creative development seminars, mentorship initiatives and exhibition opportunities.Development, production and post-production funding is available to first- and second-time directors from the Mena region for feature-length projects.Short films are eligible for production funding only.Established Mena directors may apply for post-production funding for feature-length projects.Development funding is available to screenwriters from the Mena region for TV series.Production funding is available to directors from the Mena region for Web series.Post-production funding is available for feature-length films by first- and second-time non-Mena directors.Interested candidates can apply via the following website: https://www.dohafilminstitute.com/financing/grants/guidelines

The documentary film "Mattila" won the "Bronze Tanit" Award in the official documentary competition at the 35th Carthage Film Festival, which concluded its activities on Sunday, Dec 22, in Tunisia. The film, directed by Tunisian Abdullah Yahia and produced by Al Jazeera Documentary, tells the story of Rayan, a Tunisian teenager who was forced to face the challenges of the world of crime and delinquency after leaving school at an early age. In the absence of his parents who left the country illegally during the events of the Tunisian revolution in 2011. Over the course of 3 years of filming, "Mattila" follows the journey of Rayan who found in football a safe haven away from delinquency and marginalization. The film also depicts his ambition to travel to France to meet his parents after a separation of more than 12 years. The film "Mattila" is a testament to the social difficulties facing Tunisian youth, and highlights the strength of hope and determination in striving for a better future, despite the harsh circumstances.

The documentary film “Gaza: The Sound of Life and Death” from the original production of the Al Jazeera 360 platform won the Anhar Award at Karama (Arabic for dignity) Human Rights Film Festival held in the Jordanian capital, Amman.The film “Gaza: The Sound of Life and Death” highlights the idea of sound as a documentary work by shedding light on the daily life of audio technician Mohammed Yaghi during the ongoing war of extermination since October 7, 2023. Yaghi records all sounds in the Gaza Strip and documents the crimes committed by the occupation there.The film gains its strength from the fact that it was produced during the war, and its editing was done from inside a tent in one of the refugee camps, where the director, photographer and sound technician are. The sound technician is the character of the film through which he transmits sounds that cannot be heard from Gaza due to the massacres that the occupation is constantly committing.The head of the original production department at Al Jazeera 360, Awad Jumaa, confirms that the idea for the film came during the filming of an episode of the program "Diary of a Fighter" in Gaza before the war. While dealing with the sound engineer, he was inspired to document the life story of the sound engineer, who confirmed that he recorded all the sounds in Gaza, from the cry of a newborn to the death throes.In turn, the film's producer, Shada Salhab, confirmed that the film is a cinematic icon that was able to transform sound into a witness to a tragedy and a human holocaust that has been ongoing for more than 14 months. She added that cinema is an act of resistance, and that the film is part of the Palestinian narrative that has changed in each era to suit the nature of the stage.The festival witnessed several screenings of original productions on the platform, such as an episode of the program "Victims and Heroes", the film "Eyes of Gaza", in addition to the documentary film "Al-Shifa Hospital", and the award-winning film "Rivers of Gaza" "The Voice of Life and Death".The Karama Festival is the first international human rights film festival to be established in Jordan. Since its first edition in 2010, Karama Human Rights Film Festival is a 9-day international film festival held in Amman, Jordan. With a global partnership that aims to promote dialogue, engage in debate, build capacity and launch high-impact programs to address pressing human rights issues in the Middle East and North Africa region. Over the past 11 years of Karama, the festival has screened over 600 films from 66 countries. The films ranged from documentaries, feature films, short films and animation. animation.

The Spanish Human Rights Association, in its 42nd edition, awarded the 2024 Honorary Human Rights Prize to Palestinian journalists, victims of the genocide in the Gaza Strip. The award was received on behalf of the Palestinian journalists by Alaraby TV correspondent in Madrid, Muath Hamed, who appeared visibly moved during the ceremony.He stated: "There are no words that can describe the suffering of my fellow journalists in the face of death, nor words that can capture their determination to bring the truth to the world. These are the true heroes who face death at every moment."Hamed used the opportunity to present detailed statistics on the number of journalists who have been martyred, imprisoned, and injured in the Gaza Strip, along with documentation of media institutions destroyed during the genocide. He also conveyed a special message from journalists working in Gaza to the conference attendees, stating: "Our mission continues to carry the voice of Gaza to the world."The Association for Human Rights in Spain (APDH-E) has held its 42nd Human Rights Awards ceremony for 2024, which was attended by societal and political figures, including members of parliament and ministers from the Spanish government. The event featured praise for the commitment and contributions of prominent individuals and institutions in defending human rights.It is worth noting that the Association for Human Rights in Spain (APDH-E) is one of the oldest human rights organizations in Europe. Founded in 1948, it has been committed since its inception to defending human rights in general and supporting journalists in particular, recognizing them as the frontline in exposing violations.

The Qatar Press Center (QPC) has condemned in the strongest terms the killing of journalist Iman al-Shanti and her family on Wednesday, in the Israeli occupation's bombing of her apartment in a building in the Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood, northwest of Gaza City.The centre renewed its call on the international community, UN, human rights and media organisations to condemn the targeting of journalists and their families in Gaza with killing, arrest and intimidation. The QPC also called for the prosecution of the Israeli occupation and holding it accountable for war crimes against journalists and media professionals, and to pressure it to stop the crimes of genocide and stop the assassination of Palestinian journalists.The centre called on the international community to pressure Israel to release journalists detained in Israeli prisons, who are suffering from dire conditions that deprive them of the most basic rights of prisoners stipulated in international laws and conventions.The centre expresses its surprise at the continued international silence of the United Nations, human rights and media institutions regarding the deliberate and systematic targeting of journalists and media professionals in Gaza, bringing the number of martyrs to 193 journalists since the beginning of the brutal aggression on Gaza, which has been ongoing since October 7, 2023.The number of Palestinian journalist martyrs who died as a result of the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip has risen to 193, after the announcement Wednesday of the martyrdom of journalist Iman.Local sources said that Iman, who worked as a broadcaster on the local Al-Aqsa Voice Radio, was martyred along with her husband and three children, while a number of the injured were transferred to hospital. The last words the martyr wrote three hours before her death on her official account on the “X” platform were: “Is it possible that we are still alive? May God have mercy on the martyrs.”The occupation forces deliberately target journalists and media institutions. During the aggression, about 400 journalists were injured and 40 others were arrested. The occupation forces also destroyed most of the headquarters of local and international news institutions operating in the Gaza Strip and forced all local radio stations to close due to displacement and the lack of the elements of journalistic work, especially electricity and the Internet.

Qatar National Archives is participating with a distinguished pavilion in Darb Al Saai as part of the agency's commitment to enhancing community awareness of the importance of national archives and their role in documenting the country's history and connecting new generations with its national heritage.The agency opened its pavilion Wednesday in the presence of HE Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad al-Thani, Minister of Culture, HE Ghanem bin Shaheen al Ghanem, Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, Mohammed bin Ali al-Mannai, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, HE Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid al-Mahmoud, former Speaker of the Shura Council, HE Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Qatar National Archives, HE Abdulaziz bin Nasser bin Mubarak al-Khalifa, President of the Civil Service Bureau and Government Development, Secretary-General of the National Planning Council, HE Dr Hassan al-Derham, former president of Qatar University, and a number of Their Excellencies the ambassadors accredited to Qatar.The Qatar National Archives presented a comprehensive vision of the importance of documents in preserving the national identity. The pavilion offers a unique experience for visitors, through a virtual journey that takes them between prominent stages in Qatar's history using the latest digital technologies.Activities in the pavilion include a mural that highlights statistics on the urban and population renaissance in Qatar, in addition to a collection of rare documents that shed light on the stages of the country’s development throughout the ages. The pavilion also offers educational and interactive programmes for children, such as the “Play and Learn with Dar” competition, which combines entertainment and education, and the “Bishtakhta Dar” competition (Bishtakhta is an old term of non-Arabic origin, means gramaphone) which encourages children to explore documents in an innovative and fun way.One of the most prominent activities of the National Archives at Darb Al Saai is the co-operation with the Center for Empowerment and Elderly Care (Ehsan), with the attendance of prominent figures as guests of honour at the National Archives’ pavilion, due to the importance of their distinguished role, and as one of the most important pillars of society on which the national identity is built.In this regard, Dr Ahmed Abdullah al-Buainain, Secretary-General of the Qatar National Archives, stated: “Our first participation in Darb Al Saai reflects the commitment of the Qatar National Archives to protect the documentary heritage of Qatar as a fundamental pillar of the national identity. Through this initiative, we seek to build sustainable awareness of the importance of documents as a strategic tool for understanding our present and documenting our past which supports the national development process and enhances our vision to achieve the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030. This participation is not just a celebration of the National Day, but rather a step towards enhancing the role of documents in preserving the nation’s memory and building a sustainable future.”The activities of the Qatar National Archives also include presenting a working paper titled “Qatar Statistics in the Ottoman Archives,” which sheds light on rare historical sources that provide accurate data about Qatar during the early stages of its history.

Under the patronage of HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani, Qatar, represented by the Human Rights Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, celebrated the 10th anniversary of the GCC Declaration of Human Rights, in the presence of HE the Minister of State for International Co-operation Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser al-Misnad and GCC Secretary-General Jassim Mohammed Albudaiwi.The celebration was held Tuesday in Doha, and coincided with the International Human Rights Day, which is marked on December 10 of each year. It was attended by a number of Their Excellencies ministers, officials and heads of diplomatic missions accredited to Qatar.On the sidelines of the celebration, Albudaiwi launched a report on the efforts of the GCC countries in supporting and protecting the family entity from a human rights perspective, in a move that reflects the interest of the GCC countries in the family as the basic nucleus of societies.In her opening speech, HE al-Misnad, considered the GCC Human Rights Declaration, which was adopted during the 35th Gulf Summit in Doha in 2014, a qualitative leap at the level of the GCC countries. Noting that this declaration strengthens the commitment of the GCC countries to human rights as a fundamental pillar for building a bright future. HE al-Misnad highlighted that the declaration represents one of the fundamental pillars for consolidating the values of justice and human dignity, and affirms the unity of destiny and shared responsibility towards preserving human rights. She noted Qatari efforts in establishing institutions concerned with promoting human rights, such as the National Human Rights Committee, which works to spread the culture of human rights and to strengthen regional and international partnerships.HE al-Misnad referred to what His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani emphasised in his speech before the 79th session of the UN General Assembly in September 2024, when he said, "Qatar will spare no effort in working with its international partners and the United Nations to consolidate the pillars of peace, security, sustainable development, human rights and the rule of law at all levels."The GCC Secretary-General expressed his thanks and appreciation to His Highness the Amir for hosting this celebration in Qatar. Praising the Qatari leadership's interest in human rights issues and providing the elements of a decent life for the people of the GCC countries. Albudaiwi stressed that the declaration reflects the extent of the GCC countries' commitment to human rights values, which are an integral part of the religious, cultural and social identity of the GCC countries. It was also pointed out about what the Islamic law includes for all the basic elements of human rights and the elements of a decent life.He said that the GCC Human Rights Declaration is a celebration of authentic Gulf values and reflects the commitment of the GCC countries to promote these values at all national, regional and international levels, stressing that this anniversary is an opportunity to renew the pledge and enhance GCC co-operation in the field of human rights.The GCC Secretary-General also stressed the tangible achievements made by the GCC countries in promoting and protecting human rights. Including supporting women, children's rights, people with disabilities, and combating human trafficking. He stressed that strengthening these efforts requires continued joint work to achieve further progress and prosperity for the people of the GCC countries.Dr Reem bint Ali Ibrahim al-Derham, acting director of the Human Rights Department, affirmed Qatar's commitment to supporting and promoting human rights inspired by the country's constitution, noting that Qatar's achievements in the field of human rights include multiple areas, such as education, health and infrastructure, in addition to its humanitarian efforts in supporting refugees and those affected by armed conflicts.Al-Derham stressed that promoting and protecting human rights represents a strategic choice for Qatar and a fundamental pillar of the comprehensive reform policy pursued by the State, affirming that hosting the 17th meeting of heads of government agencies concerned with human rights in the GCC countries reflects Qatar's keenness to enhance Gulf co-operation in this field.

The Education City Arabic Lecture Series hosted Dr Hassan Ali al-Nimah, writer and poet, in a panel discussion held by Qatar Foundation titled “How does cultural heritage contribute to building advanced societies?”This session highlighted cultural heritage as a fundamental pillar of social progress, and the importance of empowering young people to preserve this heritage in order to build a promising future.Dr Hassan Ali al-Nimah stressed that: “There is no alternative for this generation to reading, and there is no way to acquire knowledge and science except through exerting effort.”The effort and hardship suffered by previous generations is nothing compared to the opportunities available to the current generation, which must seize them to acquire knowledge and science in order to build a brighter future for themselves, he said.Addressing the youth, Dr Hassan Ali al-Nimah said, “Today, you have good opportunities that are different from those that were available in our past,” adding, “It is important that these opportunities be a starting point for the youth to build from, and to draw from what they like of the heritage of Arab, cultural, Islamic and human thought as well. Our Arab nation has contributed greatly to the world heritage. These days are giving us opportunities to learn about the heritage of humanity. It is more appropriate and worthy to draw from these tributaries and add to them.” He continued, “These are our traces that guide us, so look after us.”He explained the importance of the young generation being eager for knowledge, saying, “The new generation is to be blamed, and it is their duty to draw from knowledge.”Commenting on the impact of digital and technological development on the acquisition of knowledge among young people, Dr Hassan Ali al-Nimah said: “It is true that technological developments have occurred rapidly, but we must subject this technological development to the benefit of science and culture. This development should not be a distraction, but rather a reason for acquiring science and culture.”He pointed out that “there is no excuse for the new generations to acquire and benefit from knowledge,” stressing that “the new generation is to blame, and it is their duty to read, then read, and read, in order to acquire and establish thoughts.”During this session, which was moderated by Mohammed al-Janahi, Director of the Primary Stage at Al Awsaj Academy, affiliated with Pre-University Education, Dr Hassan Ali al-Nimah addressed the impact of economic development on social progress, the importance of preserving cultural heritage over the years, and the necessity of adhering to this heritage, saying: “There have been very significant changes in the process of social development in Qatar. Naturally, like what happened in other Gulf countries, these changes represented a shift in the ways of life since the pearl extraction stage, then the drought and material hardship that the region witnessed, up to the stage of oil extraction, and with it the economic recovery that brought rapid changes in people’s lives.“These changes have brought about a major social shift in people’s lives in terms of ideas, emotions and lifestyles, which are different from what they were in the past. However, adherence to the best values is still present, visible and commendable,” he added, stressing that “material development is merciless towards any other values, because values change in societies in conjunction with material developments,” stressing the importance of adhering to constants at every stage of social progress in the future.Regarding the role of youth in building their future from constants amidst the changes sweeping the region, Dr Hassan Ali al-Nimah concluded: “I am one of those who believe, and we all do, in the fact that we are part of the Arab Islamic nation, and that what pleases it pleases us, and what harms it harms us. No matter how volatile the whims may be, the fate we will meet will be the same no matter how different the paths are.”He added: “This is a fact. We have no room to be exploited, neglected, or believe that we are immune from the fate of our nation. The nation must realise that the grudges that occur among its members are the work of those who expect us to fail and disappoint along the way. Therefore, the youth must adhere to our Arab and Islamic constants.”

Dr Ghiyath Nakshbendi is an experienced sovereign wealth funds professional. Also, a proponent of alternative (Islamic) finance education in the US, he serves as a special representative for foreign investors seeking a cost-effective and discreet means of managing corporate and personal business activities in the US.He has solid experience in the Gulf Co-operation Countries (GCC) in this field. He is a senior professorial lecturer of finance at Kogod School of Business, American University, Washington, DC.On the occasion of his participation in the Doha Forum 2024, Dr Ghiyath in an exclusive interview to Gulf Times said: “I have been privileged to come to Doha on so many occasions, including the honour to be invited to Doha Forum.“It is a very important for me to attend and hear what is happening in the world from experts and VIPs. The forum is always up to date and I enjoyed the discussed topics during the last two days. It touched on various topics, including diplomacy, diversity, and sustainability, etc. It is a very rewarding experience to hear about the latest news on start-ups.”On the prominent role of Qatari soft diplomacy Dr Ghiyath said: ”I usually follow up the news dealing with Qatar on a weekly basis, so I am very much aware of what is going on. In Washington we definitely listen to the contributions of Qatar, dealing with so many issues, including finance, diplomacy, being mediator of world conflicts which is a very admirable role that Qatar has been playing for years in that arena.”On striking the right balance between economic development and sustainability in Qatar, Dr Ghiyath said: “I would like to commend the activities and the straight forward plans and their execution by Qatar Investment Authority which is one of the largest 15 sovereign wealth fund in the world. I follow that very carefully because it falls in my area of expertise.”On his sovereign fund involvement Dr Ghiyath said: “I decided to offer a conference at the American University dealing with sovereign wealth fund, last October (2024). It was the 11th conference on this particular subject. I would like to point out that the Qatar’s embassy in Washington has been the major co-sponsor of this conference for the last 11 years.”In the context of sustainability and the Qatari advancement on environment and climate change issues Dr Ghiyath said: “Investment in green economies has been a buzz word all over the world, but I think that Qatar is doing a wonderful job in that arena. Consequently, Qatar is a major advocate for sustainability, they are definitely working very hard to diversify their economy and investing in world market. In addition to a distinguished focus on development inside Qatar. To boost the economic growth, in addition to creating employment opportunities. I must add that in the last couple of years, they have been working very hard in terms of providing the necessary funding to encourage entrepreneurship. By definition it is going to help young Qataris to start their own businesses and provide them with the necessary resources to be successful in their mission.”In relation to the Qatari government’s focus on the younger generation Dr Ghiyath said: “It is one of the early initiatives, to the best of my knowledge, in the GCC, paying attention to this very important sector and this very important economic resources to provide the young Qataris with the available opportunities to participate in building and advancing the Qatari economy, and they are doing a wonderful job in that arena.”He added that: “The focus on education in Qatar is extremely important, let’s not forget that Qatar was the first GCC country that started to invite well known universities, in different specialties, to establish branches for these institutions here in Qatar, like Texas University, and George Town University for instance... I had the privilege of having Qatari students for the last 15 years to study at the American University, including the Kogod School of Business...”On the importance of entrepreneurship and the Qatari younger generation Dr Ghiyath said: “It is part of my advice to young scholars including students from Qatar, it is fine to work as an employee, but it will be much better, after getting some experience by working for another company, is to start thinking very carefully about the possibilities of starting your own business. There are some majors by which you can start your own activity, like computer science, or business, or finance, or engineering. It is always preferable for young graduates to think seriously about having their own businesses, but not necessarily after leaving college. They should work somewhere and learn from their mistakes, before they will be in charge of their own destiny by having their own businesses.”Dr Ghiyath added: “I would like to introduce you to a programme that I have presented at Kogod School of Business in 2014 as my first Islamic Finance course, then in 2017. I introduced and created the first Graduate Islamic Finance Certificate in the US. When I meet my friends from Qatar Islamic Bank which has been established since the 1970’s I try to encourage them to have at least a window in Washington DC to advance and to introduce Islamic finance. I hope your listeners/readers will support me to advance Islamic finance, which is less risky than conventional finance,” Dr Ghiyath concluded.

Sheikh Hamad Award for Translation and International Understanding has organised an event titled (A Decade of Achievement) in cooperation with the Qatar Press Center (QPC). HE Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz al Kuwari, Minister of State and President of Qatar National Library, gave a speech titled “Ten Years of the Sheikh Hamad Award for Translation and International Understanding. Translation is the Compass of Civilizational Appeal.” The event was attended by Saad bin Mohammed al Rumaihi, Chairman of the QPC, and a number of academics and media professionals. It was moderated by Dr Hanan al Fayadh, the award’s media advisor. HE Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz al Kuwari said: What we are experiencing today, ten years after the establishment of the Sheikh Hamad Award for Translation, is a renewed event for the activity of Arab thought as it interacts with the human balance of knowledge through translation.He pointed out that the Sheikh Hamad Award for Translation and International Understanding is a victory for the Arab personality, which has not despaired of dialogue with other cultures and has not been stingy in building bridges of communication.Al Kuwari stressed that continuing this great project is one of the most prominent manifestations of the dynamism of the contemporary Arab personality, and one of the factors of its renewal, especially since it makes the Arabic language a language of dialogue with the languages of the world.He added: This award comes at the forefront of the Arab cultural project, far from the state of crisis experienced by a part of the Arab cultural elite. He said: The award has expanded the circle of languages from and to which it is translated, as new languages are added in each session to the list of languages approved for translation until the award covered 37 languages around the world within ten years, which expands the scope of cultural interaction. Pointing out that one of the advantages of translation is saving human culture from loss, fading, burning, destruction, marginalization and exclusion, as it is a continuous preservation, rather like a memory that stands firm in the face of time and advocates of intellectual isolation. Translation has preserved the creativity that peoples have contributed to in thought, art and science.His Excellency praised the efforts of translators, so the award seeks to honour them and appreciate their role in acquaintance between peoples, transferring knowledge between civilizations, and extending channels of communication between nations. Stressing that the Sheikh Hamad Award for Translation and International Understanding has restored the translator's honourable status and provided him with a creative environment that motivates him to contribute to this civilizational project.His Excellency pointed out the award's interaction with the Cultural Years Initiative and soft diplomacy in general in order to enhance cultural understanding and rapprochement between peoples. This interaction confirms the award's ability to be a soft power for Qatar, saying: "I am very happy and I dream, like other Arab intellectuals, of restoring the glory of our civilization. We stand optimistic about the fruits of the translation award, confident in its civilizational role." Dr Al Kuwari concluded his speech by emphasizing the cultural status that Doha has now reached to be a capital of culture in every sense of the word. As Doha, with its institutions, cultural monuments and soft diplomacy, has become a radiant culture and art and plays a distinctive role in the Arab world and everywhere under the leadership of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.During his speech, Dr Al Kuwari expressed his thanks to the award officials who succeeded in achieving major accomplishments that enhance communication between cultures, peoples and countries, and give us hope for civilizational resumption. His Excellency also praised the prominent cultural and media role played by the QPC.Dr Hanan al Fayadh, gave a presentation in which she reviewed the definition, vision and objectives of the award, which was launched in 2015, as well as the most important results achieved by the award over the past ten years, showing with statistics the distribution of participants in the award in its various categories, and the percentage of countries with the highest participation, as 214 winners representing 48 countries have won the award since its launch, and the award has covered 37 languages around the world over the course of ten years.