Qatar

The Qatari-Bahraini Follow-up Committee held its third meeting in Doha Wednesday. Qatar's delegation at the meeting was headed by HE the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr Ahmed bin Hassan al-Hammadi, while the Bahraini delegation was headed by Undersecretary for Political Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Dr Abdulla bin Ahmed al-Khalifah.The meeting discussed the items on the agenda and reviewed the outcomes of the second meeting of the joint legal committee and the joint security committee.The work of the Qatari-Bahraini Follow-up Committee comes as a continuation of its previous meetings, in an implementation of the Al Ula Declaration and in accordance with the will of the two countries' leaderships to meet the interests and aspirations of the two brotherly peoples.

The University of Calgary in Qatar (UCQ) celebrated the Convocation Ceremony for the Class of 2023 Wednesday under the patronage of HE the Minister of Education and Higher Education Buthaina bint Ali Al Jabr al-Nuaimi at the St Regis Doha.Recognised on the occasion were the 14th graduating class of the Bachelor of Nursing programme and the 9th graduating class of the Master of Nursing programme. The milestone event, marked by joy and pride, saw a diverse graduating class of 95 students, including 78 Bachelor of Nursing graduates and 17 Master of Nursing graduates.Reflecting the university's diversity, the Class of 2023 were from Qatar, Bahrain, Chad, Egypt, Eritrea, Germany, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Morocco, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Philippines, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Syria, the UK, and Yemen among others.Key figures and decision-makers in both Canada and Qatar’s academic landscape took part in the ceremony. They includedUCQ president and CEO Prof Hala Sultan Saif al-Easa, board of trustees chair Dr Sheikh Khalid bin Jabor al-Thani, dean and professor Dr Deborah White and University of Calgary (UC) president and vice chancellor Dr Ed McCauley, provost and vice president academic Dr Penny Werthner, registrar Dr Amy Dambrowitz, vice president research Dr Bill Ghali, and nursing faculty dean and deputy provost Dr Sandra Davidson.The other dignitaries at the event included the Canadian ambassador to Qatar Isabelle Martin, Qatar Ministry of Public Health's Public Health Department director Dr Sheikh Mohamed bin Hamad al-Thani, Ministry of Education and Higher Education's acting undersecretary for Higher Education Dr Khalid al-Ali and Gulf Times Editor-in-Chief Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka.In her speech, Prof al-Easa, told the graduates: “Your education at UCQ equips you to be vital contributors to Qatar’s national healthcare agenda. As you step into the next chapter, you bring with you not just a degree, but the power to make a difference. Your journey is just beginning, and I am confident that you will make us and the State of Qatar very proud. "Dr McCauley also expressed his admiration for the graduates: “Each one of you embodies the highest standards of the nursing profession. Your accomplishments represent not just personal success, but your contributions to a community of caring. We are proud to celebrate this momentous occasion with you.”Dr Sheikh Khalid bin Jabor al-Thani congratulated the graduates for their accomplishments and urged them to continue striving for excellence: "Your tenacity and drive have brought you here, and these will be the same qualities that will lead you to excel in your field. Remember, each step you take towards growth contributes to the growth of our nation's healthcare."Distinguished UCQ alumna Alanoud Hamad al-Marri, executive director of Nursing/Midwifery Workforce and Wellbeing at Hamad Medical Corporation, applauded the graduates for their accomplishments and offered them sincere advice for their future endeavours. The Gold Medal Award was presented to Angela Nicole Gregoria Fauni, for the highest distinction in scholarship.

Chairman of the Central Municipal Council (CMC) Mohamed bin Hammoud al-Shafi has affirmed that Qatar is accelerating toward strengthening democracy, especially with the presence of the Shura Council as another elected council, noting that the CMC elections fulfil aspirations to expand popular participation through candidates, whether male or female.In an interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA), Al Shafi added that the rise in popular participation is an embodiment of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani's vision towards a better tomorrow that Qatar and its people deserve, adding that the wise government strives to provide all guarantees for the success of the initiatives that achieve this vision.The 7th CMC elections coincide with the 20th anniversary of the referendum on the constitution of Qatar, a good omen as it established the principle of democracy and popular participation with its organisational and institutional elements. Citizens can exercise their role in popular participation from registering voters to voting day, he said.The CMC chairman pointed out that the organisation of the electoral process is carried out at the highest level and in accordance with the highest standards in terms of providing a modern database, registering voters, preparing voter lists in each constituency, eliminating those who do not meet the conditions of the voter, approving the voter lists, accompanied by effective performance and active monitoring, then receiving and examining the applications of the candidates, and allowing those who have reasons, whether the voter or the candidate, to challenge those who do not meet the requirements for candidacy until the lists of candidates are filtered.Al Shafi stressed the keenness for all state institutions to put CMC's proposals and recommendations into practice and to co-operate with the council to make its legally mandated role a success, within the framework of participation and co-operation.He stressed that the council and the state institutions are united by one goal, which is to achieve the greatest amount of good and public good that benefits the country and the citizen.Concerning the role of women in the previous sessions of the Council, their contributions to the success of its work, and their expectations of them in the next session, Al Shafi said that Qatari women participated very effectively in the CMC elections from the get-go by going to the voter registration committees and registering as voters and then as candidates. Their participation was crowned with success, becoming a member of the Council from its second session until now. They contributed, along with their male counterparts, to the success of the Council's work.He pointed out that everyone witnessed the Qatari women's activity, vitality, and active participation in the Council's performance of its role assigned to it. Qatari women have proven their ability to compete in representing citizens in municipal work. Therefore, it is not surprising to expect women to win in the elections of the next (seventh) session.He explained that this matter has become one of the postulates of municipal elections, hoping that it will continue because the advancement of the country requires the participation of all its members, men and women.The CMC Chairman pointed out that the Council achieved many achievements in its previous session in terms of activating its role in oversight and providing opinion, advice, and useful proposals in all areas of its competence in municipal and agricultural affairs, noting that the executive authorities in the country were always on time and covenant, whether in the field of infrastructure, land, street, garden road, and transportation planning. In this regard, the Council contributed to achieving a boom in the municipal and agricultural fields.He referred to the Council's contribution and role in the success of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar by working to facilitate the lives of citizens in light of the infrastructure projects that affected all regions of Doha by saying that the organization of the World Cup, which was a pride for all, everyone to come together to appear in the best possible image.The Council had an effective role with the executive authorities in achieving the wonderful image of all municipal services and agricultural growth through the recommendations and proposals that it presented was implemented by the Ministry of Municipality, the Public Works Authority (Ashghal), and the relevant authorities, so that Qatar appears in its most wonderful and best image witnessed by it the whole world not only inside the areas of sporting events but in all the regions, streets, buildings and aesthetics of the country, without exception. Those in charge of implementing all the work have the utmost appreciation for making us proud of our country for organizing this global event for the first time in the Arab region.

The Ministry of Culture has said it is mandatory to obtain Civil Defence and security systems licences as prerequisites to conduct artistic and cultural events in order to ensure the safety and security of participants in these events.The ministry stated that the authorities concerned required the submission of certificates that qualify the venues for conducting events and activities to safeguard security and safety. Accordingly, essential requirements have been added to obtain artistic permits for events and activities that are held at different kinds of venues, such as hotels, halls, shopping malls and others, to ensure the provision of security and safety.Issuance of the essential licence to hold events - which is finalised through the Ministry of Culture's portal - requires compulsory security licences to finalise entry of the events' data to obtain the required licences, as well as a licence from Qatar Tourism for restaurants, shopping malls and others, the ministry noted.The key objective of this mandatory procedure is to ensure the safety of all people and make sure that events are conducted in a safe atmosphere, the ministry stressed.From January until June, the Ministry of Culture has issued roughly 3,000 licences to hold cultural, artistic and social events.

The Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) is to host the 5th Global Conference on Primary Health Care — Qatar 2023 from November 9-12 under the slogan "Primary Care Today: Lessons Learned and Future Action to Achieve Sustainability". The conference will have participation of close to 1,000 people consisting of speakers, healthcare professionals, influential policymakers, researchers and others from around the world. Various topics are set to be discussed in the conference which will include six workshops and 33 sessions, in an aim to encourage exchanging experiences and best medical practices in this field. Managing Director of PHCC Dr Mariam Ali Abdulmalik said that hosting the conference in Qatar will bring together an impressive and diverse elite of experts, with the aim of co-operation and sharing experiences, ideas and visions that encourage development in the field of primary health care. She pointed out that the organising committees worked hard in preparation for this event to ensure the highest standards of hospitality and organisation are met and would best reflect Qatar's reputation. Dr Abdulmalik also stated that topics discussed in the conference will cover several areas such as health promotion, resilience of health care in the face of global crises, developments in clinical practices, quality improvement, capacity building and artificial intelligence innovations. In addition to topics focused on monitoring and combating infectious diseases, testing and managing mental health, the science advancement in the field of health education and research, ways to improve health and well-being through lifestyle medicine and many other topics will be discussed. Participants at the conference will have the opportunity to obtain Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points, while specialists and experts can participate in the conference by submitting their scientific research abstracts through the PHCC portal; iphcc2023.phcc.gov.qa The Global Conference on Primary Health Care is considered to be one the most prestigious medical gatherings in the Middle East. It aims to provide a platform that supports intellectual creativity and exchange experiences in the field of primary health care.

The first clinic in Msheireb Downtown Doha (MDD) is to open in the first quarter of 2024, Msheireb Properties and Aman Hospital announced in a statement Wednesday.Services offered by the Aman Clinic in MDD will follow the patient-centric model of care, including comprehensive medical check-ups, it was explained.Msheireb Properties CEO engineer Ali al-Kuwari and Aman Hospital CEO Adrian Brady signed an agreement in this regard.Aman Hospital, a member of International Affiliate Network, is a 100-bed facility that offers a wide range of medical and surgical services across numerous specialties, from cardiology to ophthalmology to obstetrics.Aman was also the first hospital to join the prestigious Imperial Private Healthcare’s international network, a part of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, one of the UK's leading academic hospital groups.Al-Kuwari said: "Aman Clinic's mission of offering unparalleled medical expertise and deluxe hospitality fits perfectly with our vision of creating a modern luxury lifestyle destination that caters to the needs of our residents and visitors."Brady said: "Our mission at Aman is to redefine the healthcare experience by combining the highest quality medical services in a luxurious setting and personalised care to our patients and their families.”The new Aman Clinic, in Sikkat Alwadi Street in MDD, will offer patients access to a team of highly skilled consultants with extensive experience and education from the best medical schools and institutions around the world, including Johns Hopkins, Cleveland Clinic, Harvard Medical School, and Mayo Clinic.The clinic will also feature state-of-the-art equipment and innovative technologies, ensuring patients receive the best possible care, the statement added.

The Ministry of Culture organised a seminar to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, as part of the cultural events at the 32nd Doha International Book Fair (DIBF), under the theme "With Reading We Rise".The seminar was attended by HE the Minister of Culture Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad al-Thani, intellectuals and audience.During the seminar, speeches were delivered by HE the Permanent Representative of Qatar to the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) Dr Nasser bin Hamad al-Hanzab, Director of Unesco Doha Office for Gulf States and Yemen Salah El Din Zaki Khaled, and Heritage Expert at the Ministry of Culture Mohamed Saeed al-Balushi. The seminar was moderated by the author and journalist Jassim Salman.At the start, Dr Nasser bin Hamad al Hanzab talked about the Unesco history and its main goals in preserving international peace and security through education and culture. He noted that since Qatar's accession to Unesco in 1972, it has become a key actor at the international level in promoting peace, security, education, culture and other sectors.He highlighted Qatar's commitment to achieving the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030 and how this vision aligns with the Unesco objectives, as the National Vision clearly emphasises the importance of culture as a source of development and the preservation of traditions and values. He mentioned that Qatar joined the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2008. Additionally, he noted the existence of two other international conventions related to heritage, namely the 1972 Convention concerning the Protection of World Heritage and the 2001 Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage.Qatar's Permanent Delegate to Unesco also highlighted Qatar's current membership in the World Heritage Committee, which consists of 21 countries. He affirmed Qatar's support for Unesco in all sectors and underlined its significant contribution in establishing the Heritage Emergency Fund by donating $10mn during Qatar's hosting of the 38th session of the World Heritage Committee in 2014.Dr Nasser al-Hanzab emphasised Qatar's interest in registering heritage elements, whether shared with other countries or part of the national heritage, in co-ordination with Gulf and Arab countries. In this regard, he mentioned the signing of a co-operation agreement between the Ministry of Culture and the Saudi Ministry of Culture during the opening of the DIBF to co-ordinate and collaborate in achieving these goals. He also pointed out that one of the main current projects of the Ministry of Culture is the traditional Qatari Bisht (traditional men's cloak), which gained global prominence during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, as well as the Qatari Ardha (traditional sword dance).He also addressed the major challenges facing tangible and intangible cultural heritage, such as wars, conflicts, climate change, and others.HE Director of the Unesco Regional Office for the Gulf States and Yemen Salah El Din Zaki Khaled expressed his gratitude to the Ministry of Culture for allocating a pavilion at the DIBF to display Unesco publications.He also spoke in detail about the importance of the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, stressing that Qatar is a long-term partner of Unesco, especially in the 2003 Convention. Since its ratification in September 2008, Qatar has launched many initiatives to promote living heritage in Qatar and cross-border co-operation in this field, indicating that all four elements included in the Unesco Representative List of the Intangible Heritage of Humanity have been submitted with the participation of Qatar in multinational nominations and in co-operation with other countries. These elements were represented in the palm tree, its knowledge, skills, traditions, and practices, falconry, Arabic coffee, a symbol of generosity, and the Majlis, a cultural and social space.The continuous co-operation between the Unesco office in Doha and the Ministry of Culture resulted in the implementation of a number of training related to capacity building for workers in the field of intangible cultural heritage, including training in preparing periodic reports and community inventory of intangible heritage and organising events to raise awareness on the importance of preserving the intangible cultural heritage among the young generations, and participating in seminars aimed at introducing Qatari culture, he explained.He added that 20 years after the adoption of the 2003 Convention, more than 180 countries have ratified it, highlighting the growing interest of the States Parties, proposing ways to win over different societies and to protect the cultural diversity of traditional people, their social practices, and ceremonial events.A heritage expert at the Ministry of Culture, Mohamed Saeed al-Balushi, discussed the ministry's efforts in preserving and collecting the Qatari heritage, a continued effort started by the Qatari Book House since its establishment in the '50s. Then came radio and television where the Department of Culture and Arts in the ministry through the Folklore Arts and Industries section collected many radio and television materials before the Arab Gulf States Folklore Centre, which was supported and strengthened through Qatar's accession to the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2008.Qatar, since its accession, carried out a national inventory process for heritage elements and committees were formed to study the elements that can be registered from the National Heritage List, which covers the five axes included in the agreement, and reviewing the most important files that have been registered on the Unesco Intangible Cultural Heritage List so far.The Ministry of Culture is currently working on preparing new files, the most important of which are the Sadu, henna, and Arabic calligraphy files, with the last two completed for registration. Meanwhile, the Sadu, 'Ardah', the Qatari Folk Dance, the Bisht, and some types of popular food are currently in the process of being registered, pointing to the existence of joint files with other countries and Qatari files. He appreciated the efforts of the Ministry of Culture in preserving the Qatari heritage and spreading cultural awareness of the importance of preserving it.

Many employees of the Ministry of Transport (MoT) participated Wednesday in a blood donation campaign held in conjunction with the Ministry of Public Health. Held at the MoT headquarters, the campaign marked the World Blood Donor Day, observed on June 14 every year. “The campaign saw a large turnout from ministry employees and aimed at supporting the blood bank stock of Hamad Medical Corporation in line with a nationwide effort,” a MoT statement noted.

While observing the World Blood Donor Day, the Public Works Authority (Ashghal), in co-operation with the Hamad Medical Corporation, has held a blood donation campaign. During the campaign named ‘Qatar....it’s in Our Blood’, Ashghal employees donated blood to cover the urgent needs of HMC’s Blood Donor Centre.

The Public Prosecution in co-operation with the Blood Donor Center at Hamad Medical Corporation took part in a blood donation campaign on the occasion of World Blood Donors' Day. A number of deputies of the Attorney General and other employees participated.

Qatar Central Bank (QCB) has kept interest rates for deposits, lending and repurchases unchanged, based on an evaluation of Qatar's current monetary policies. QCB has set the Deposit Rate at 5.5%, Lending Rate at 6%, and Repo Rate at 5.75%, according to a statement Wednesday.The statement said QCB would continue the assessment of the country's economic conditions to address all aspects that may affect financial stability, and review its monetary policy when necessary to deal with any changes in economic requirements.

The Old Doha Port and Doha Marine Sports Club are set to organise the first Kayak Fishing Tournament on Friday and Saturday between 3pm and 7pm.The event will be held in the Al Bandar area of Old Doha Port as a starting point and the fishing zone will be the port basin, opposite to the waterfront of the Al Mina area. Contestants will be using special one-seat fishing kayaks and any of the traditional fishing equipment and tools, such as rods, fishing lines or hooks accepted by the tournament jury.________________________Read also:Kayak Fishing tournament postponed________________________The jury will measure and weigh the fish caught by each contestant during the two days to decide the winners. The Old Doha Port and the Doha Marine Sports Club will award in-kind prizes to the winners and participants, in support and encouragement of traditional fishing enthusiasts who go to such activities.The competition is part of the strategy of the Old Doha Port to activate marine tourism and support marine sports, which is a major part of the activities available in the country, during the summer period.

Qatar's Ministry of Culture hosted the sixth meeting of cultural co-operation between the GCC and Jordan.The meeting was held in co-operation with the GCC General Secretariat, represented by the Human and Environment Affairs - Department of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities.Members of the cultural committee in Qatar, the rest of the GCC countries, and Jordan participated in the meeting, which was held on the sidelines of the 32nd Doha International Book Fair (DIBF).The Ministry of Culture was represented by Director of the Department of Culture and Arts at the Ministry of Culture Maryam Yassin al-Hammadi.The meeting reviewed the committee's decisions made by high-ranking officials at the GCC and Jordan's Ministries of Foreign Affairs, as well as the decisions of the GCC Ministers of Culture in their 26th meeting regarding the co-operation with Jordan. Various related topics were also discussed, most notably co-ordinating stances between the GCC states and Jordan and supporting it in international organisations and forums, co-ordinating joint cultural co-operation plans during the upcoming period, strengthening and promoting cultural diversification and heritage, and strengthening innovative industries.Participants in the meeting also discussed the future strategy in support of the joint cultural action.In the same context, the Ministry of Culture hosted the fifth meeting of joint cultural co-operation between the GCC and Morocco, in co-operation with the GCC General Secretariat, represented by the Human and Environment Affairs sector - Department of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities.Members of the cultural committee in Qatar, the rest of the GCC countries, and Morocco participated in the meeting. The meeting reviewed the joint committee's decisions made by high-ranking officials at the GCC and Morocco's Ministries of Foreign Affairs, as well as the decisions of the GCC Ministers of Culture in their 26th meeting regarding the joint co-operation with Morocco.

Qatar University (QU) Press is participating in the ongoing 32nd Doha International Book Fair (DIBF) to underscore QU's strategic vision for education and research, aligning with the mission to serve the local community and to contribute to the advancement of knowledge.The event, with the theme, 'With Reading We Rise,' and running until June 21 at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre, features over 500 publishers from 37 countries, serving as a prominent platform for promoting literature, knowledge and cultural exchange.QU Presss director Prof Fatima al-Suwaidi, said: “The publishing house aims to support QU's vision and achieve its mission of excellence in research and education by meeting the approved scientific publishing standards and attracting distinguished authors in all fields to meet the needs of the university and the community.”QU Press is not only a platform for books but also as a means to instill social awareness, and to enhance the competency of the younger generation, she added. The DIBF, established in 1972, was initially held biennially and transitioned to an annual event in 2002.

The Ministry of Endowments (Awqaf) and Islamic Affairs organised a symposium titled 'A Wise Reading', as part of the activities of the 32nd Doha International Book Fair, with the attendance of HE the Minister of Endowments (Awqaf) and Islamic Affairs Ghanem bin Shaheen al-Ghanim.Moderated by Sharia researcher Moaz al-Qasimi, Hossam al-Din al-Samarrai, from the ministry, spoke during the symposium.Al-Samarrai discussed a number of axes, most notably: the historical dimension of reading, the evolution of reading after the spread of Islam, the benefits of reading, obstacles to reading, and ways to make reading wise.The preacher explained that reading is a physical, psychological and emotional interaction between the book and the reader, a calm dialogue between the two that leads the reader to analysis and to draw conclusions, as well as dwelling in the world of imagination.

Qatar National Library (QNL) hosted Qatar Museums Chairperson HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani on Tuesday, along with other VIP attendees and dignitaries, as part of the 'Read to Lead' programme under the Qatar Reads initiative.The session saw HE Sheikha Al Mayassa discuss her recent publication, 'The Power of Culture', which reflects on the wide range of initiatives that have shaped and enriched Qatar’s cultural landscape and creative economy.The event also served as a platform for participants to share their perspectives on leadership, with a broad range of experiences drawn from diverse sectors.Commenting on the vision behind her new publication, HE Sheikha Al Mayassa said: “My book, 'The Power of Culture', is not only about the achievements of Qatar Museums, but rather about the achievements of a whole nation in an exceptional year for Qatar, where it was the first Arab country to host the FIFA World Cup."Many men and women had a significant and important role to make this international event a reality, which changed the world’s perception of Qatar.”The event successfully underscored the critical role of libraries, museums and creative hubs in creating platforms for inspiration, innovation and creativity, demonstrating their power to bring artists, architects, writers, designers and creators together to maximise their impact and expand the potential for achievement on a local, regional and international stage, QNL said in a press statement.The ‘Read to Lead’ initiative seeks to foster a proactive and positive work culture in Qatar, harnessing the transformative power of reading. This is achieved by equipping participants with new knowledge to pass onto others, thereby strengthening the leadership capacity and development of the Qatari workforce.The event is a testament to the commitment of Qatar's leaders to enhance their leadership skills, build robust networks and contribute to Qatar's social progress through reading.The ‘Read to Lead’ programme will continue to offer influential events to nurture a dynamic culture of reading, leadership and knowledge sharing in Qatar.

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani will head Thursday to the Republic of Iraq, on an official visit, at the invitation of the Prime Minister Muhammad Shia Al Sudani.His Highness the Amir and Iraqi Prime Minister will discuss the consolidation of fraternal relations between the two countries, in addition to regional and international issues of common interest.

Qatar asserted that it had achieved many milestones for persons with disabilities at the local level, along with its interests in backing regional and international efforts in this respect.This came during the inaugural remarks delivered by HE the Minister of Social Development and Family, Chairperson of the 42nd Meeting of the Council of Arab Ministers of Social Affairs Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser al-Misnad before the 16th Session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (COSP16) that kicked off on Tuesday at the UN Headquarters in New York. The session is running for three days.Her Excellency said Qatar gives a special attention to the rights of persons with disabilities both at the national, regional and international levels and was the first country that ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2008.She pointed out that Qatar has managed to make numerous achievements for persons with disabilities at the legislative and executive levels, adding that one of the most outstanding achievements is the creation of high-quality professional centers for the service of persons with disabilities.Her Excellency affirmed that Qatar has invested its presidency of the 42nd Meeting of the Council of Arab Ministers of Social Affairs in adopting several initiatives that support full integration for persons with disabilities, including Arab Decade for persons with disabilities 2023-2032 and Arab Classification for Persons with Disabilities, pointing out that the two initiatives epitomize the most crucial accomplishment for the Arab region in this respect.In a related context, HE al-Misnad revealed that Qatar hosted the Day of Persons with Disabilities, which coincides with Dec 3, each year, in co-ordination and partnership with the Secretariat-General of the League of Arab States.She revealed that Doha hosted the 2nd edition of "Living Independently for Persons with Disabilities," initiative that was initiated by the United Arab Emirates, recalling that Qatar is set to host the fourth Global Disability Summit 2028, in co-operation and partnership with International Disability Alliance.Meanwhile, Qatari youth Ghanim al-Muftah delivered a speech on his capacity as representative of Qatari society organizations for persons with disabilities and said that he is proud to represent Qatar in the international conference being convened at the UN Headquarters.He expressing his utmost pleasure to participate in the opening ceremony of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 tournament, describing it the best edition ever in the history of world cup tournaments, in terms of facilitations that were offered to fans especially persons with disabilities who flocked to Qatar from all over the world and enjoyed the tournament's events that witnessed unprecedented and dazzling preparation and organisation in the history of one of the most prominent tournaments in the world.The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) is an international mechanism that reviews this convention and lays out the stances of states with respect to national policies pertinent to persons with disabilities' integration.This year session is poised to discuss many files, including reproductive health and possibility of accessing it, along with promoting health services deserved by a segment of persons with disabilities.

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani Wednesday participated in the official funeral of former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi in Milan.His Highness the Amir offered his condolences to Italian President Sergio Mattarella, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, the family of the late prime minister, and several senior Italian officials. A number of heads of state and government and senior officials participated in the funeral.In a tweet on his official account, His Highness the Amir said he participated in Berlusconi's funeral and affirmed that the former Italian prime minister was a friend of Qatar who was keen, during his tenure, to develop bilateral co-operation between the two countries. On this occasion, His Highness extended sincere condolences to the friendly Italian government, and to the family and friends of the deceased.

Qatar and Kuwait have launched a project to share the traffic violation data, with effect from June 13 this year. This was announced Wednesday by Qatar's Ministry of Interior (MoI), following a meeting of officials from both countries.“The team responsible for sharing traffic violation data between the ministries of interior in Qatar and Kuwait held a bilateral meeting, which also emphasised the importance of leveraging best practices to reduce traffic accidents and save lives and property,” the statement said.Lt Col Abdulaziz al-Asmar al-Ruwaili, director of the Systems Development Dept at the General Directorate of Communications and Information Systems at MoI, represented Qatar in the meeting. Brig Osama al-Wahib, acting director general of the General Directorate of Information Systems, represented the Kuwaiti official delegation.Earlier, a bilateral meeting of Qatar and Saudi Arabia was held to discuss a project to share the traffic violation data. The General Directorate of Traffic stated the meeting was held within the framework of the joint cooperation between the two countries in traffic related issues.