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Joe Biden said yesterday that he is ready to face off against his White House challenger Donald Trump in a debate ahead of their likely presidential rematch in November.Candidate debates have been important milestones in US presidential elections for decades, helping make or break voters’ opinions of the contestants’ personal style and demeanour as much as their policy chops.However, Biden’s team has for months been non-committal about his willingness to participate in the tradition, which is usually held in front of an audience and moderated by a well-known journalist.“I am happy to debate him,” Biden told radio host Howard Stern yesterday. “I am, somewhere. I don’t know when.”“Ok, let’s set it up!” Trump campaign adviser Chis LaCivita said on X in response to Biden’s comments.Presumptive Republican nominee Trump declined to face off against his primary opponents in any debates during the 2024 cycle.However, he has indicated his eagerness with the man who beat him in 2020, saying on social media earlier this year that he was ready to hold a presidential debate with Biden “ANYTIME, ANYWHERE, ANYPLACE!”Biden, who has branded Trump as a threat to democracy, told reporters last month that any agreement to debate the real estate mogul “depends on his behaviour”.The nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) has already arranged three dates and locations for Trump and Biden to go head-to-head for the 2024 fight, at US universities throughout the country in September and October.However, Trump bashed the CPD as being biased toward Democrat Biden when in 2020 it planned to move a third and final debate to a virtual format amid the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.Then-president Trump had himself shown up to the second 2020 debate against Biden only three days before testing positive for Covid-19.Biden at the time had said he would not participate in another in-person debate with Trump while the Republican was still ill.A verbal spar could be a useful opportunity for both the 77-year-old former president and 81-year-old current president to display stamina, as Biden is still dogged by Trump’s old “Sleepy Joe” nickname – and Trump faced online teasing when he appeared to nod off during his criminal trial in New York last week.Biden has a lead among registered voters of 41% to 37% over Trump, a Reuters/Ipsos poll found earlier this month.Asked during a trip to Las Vegas in early February about Trump calling for Biden to debate him, Biden said: “If I were him, I would want to debate me too. He’s got nothing to do.”

Two athletes sharing Olympic gold in a near-empty stadium in Tokyo caught the imagination of an expectant audience across the world, which was at the time ravaged by the Covid-19 pandemic. Mutaz Essa Barshim embraced his old friend Gianmarco Tamberi at the end of the men’s high jump as the judges confirmed the double gold for the Qatari and the Italian who have known each other for years dating back to competing as youths. “To be honest, it will never happen again,” Barshim said in an interview. “That moment, we’ll never share that again. It was a one-time thing. Coming back from injuries and a dark place, I wanted to do something different, something with a different meaning. I’m glad it touched so many people’s hearts, but we are sportspeople, we are professionals, we always want to be the best, we have that fire, ‘I want to beat you, you want to beat me’.” Barshim said he felt “lucky” to have shared the gold with Tamberi. “We’ve been competing since 2010 and came to pro level together,” he explained. “As professional athletes we deal with a lot. There’s one thing which is the biggest thing and that is injury. In 2018, I injured my left Achilles, broke both my ligaments and it was a very dark time for me, mentally and physically. One second you are the best and a few moments later you’re on a wheelchair and they’re dragging you out of the surgery room. Gianmarco, my friend, had a similar injury in 2016 just before the Rio Olympics which prevented him from being there. “When the bar was 2.37 metres in Tokyo and me and him cleared at the first attempt, we looked back and there was no one left, it was emotional. So it was a tie. I asked ‘can we share?’. The reply was ‘yeah it’s possible’ and that was it! We didn’t even discuss things. I looked at Gianmarco’s eyes, he looked at me, we jumped, we hugged and the rest is history, that’s one of the moments that will stick forever.” Barshim joked that World Athletics plans to award every event winner prize money of $50,000 (46,000 euros) would also guarantee no further shared gold. “It’s not happening, 50 or 500, no sharing!” said the 32-year-old, who also has three world outdoor titles to his name. “Anything offered in terms of a prize is good for the athletes, it’s motivation. These athletes work really hard and sacrifice and this sort of prize is very important. Prize money in athletics doesn’t compare to football or basketball, for example. It’s a good start, you have to start somewhere.” Barshim kicked off his outdoor season with second place at the Xiamen Diamond League meeting last week and will stay in China for the Suzhou of the elite one-day circuit today before returning home to Doha for the next instalment there on May 10. “After I’ll take some time off and hopefully peak at the Olympic Games,” Barshim said, adding that he was looking forward to the return of fans to the quadrennial showpiece of sports after the Covid-blighted Tokyo Games. “In terms of having the Olympics with fans back again, it’s amazing. I love adrenaline, when the crowd is back, the sound of clapping or shouting, it’s like a battle feeling,” he said. “We didn’t have that in Tokyo because of Covid but somehow we felt so ready because it was already postponed for one year. There was a lot of circling, but when it finally happened we were like kids going to Disneyland. We didn’t need fans to feel the hype.” Today, Barshim will be keen to get back to winning ways after being beaten on countback in his season opener in Xiamen by USA’s Shelby McEwen, with both men clearing 2.27m. They’ll renew their rivalry in Suzhou in a field that includes world indoor champion Hamish Kerr of New Zealand. “My current form is good, I was hoping to get more solid jumps last weekend but it was really risky and I can’t afford to have any more injuries,” said Barshim. “I’m trying to play it safe. I want to wake up and go out there and do my best, enjoy every competition. Hopefully the weather will stay like this.”

Two athletes sharing Olympic gold in a near-empty stadium in Tokyo caught the imagination of an expectant audience across the world, which was at the time ravaged by the Covid-19 pandemic.Mutaz Ezza Barshim embraced his old friend Gianmarco Tamberi at the end of the men's high jump as the judges confirmed the double gold for the Qatari and the Italian who have known each other for years dating back to competing as youths."To be honest, it will never happen again," Barshim told AFP in an interview."That moment, we'll never share that again. It was a one-time thing. Coming back from injuries and a dark place, I wanted to do something different, something with a different meaning."I'm glad it touched so many people's hearts, but we are sportspeople, we are professionals, we always want to be the best, we have that fire, 'I want to beat you, you want to beat me'."Barshim said he felt "lucky" to have shared the gold with Tamberi."We've been competing since 2010 and came to pro level together," he explained."As professional athletes we deal with a lot. There's one thing which is the biggest thing and that is injury. In 2018, I injured my left Achilles, broke both my ligaments and it was a very dark time for me, mentally and physically."One second you are the best and a few moments later you're on a wheelchair and they're dragging you out of the surgery room."Gianmarco, my friend, had a similar injury in 2016 just before the Rio Olympics which prevented him from being there."When the bar was 2.37 metres in Tokyo and me and him cleared at the first attempt, we looked back and there was no one left, it was emotional. So it was a tie."I asked 'can we share?'. The reply was 'yeah it's possible' and that was it! We didn't even discuss things. I looked at Gianmarco's eyes, he looked at me, we jumped, we hugged and the rest is history, that's one of the moments that will stick forever."Barshim joked that World Athletics plans to award every event winner prize money of $50,000 (46,000 euros) would also guarantee no further shared gold."It's not happening, 50 or 500, no sharing!" said the 32-year-old, who also has three world outdoor titles to his name."Anything offered in terms of a prize is good for the athletes, it's motivation. These athletes work really hard and sacrifice and this sort of prize is very important."Prize money in athletics doesn't compare to football or basketball, for example."It's a good start, you have to start somewhere."Barshim kicked off his outdoor season with second place at the Xiamen Diamond League meeting last week and will stay in China for the Suzhou of the elite one-day circuit on Saturday before returning home to Doha for the next instalment there on May 10."After I'll take some time off and hopefully peak at the Olympic Games," Barshim said, adding that he was looking forward to the return of fans to the quadrennial showpiece of sports after the Covid-blighted Tokyo Games."In terms of having the Olympics with fans back again, it's amazing. I love adrenaline, when the crowd is back, the sound of clapping or shouting, it's like a battle feeling," he said."We didn't have that in Tokyo because of Covid but somehow we felt so ready because it was already postponed for one year. There was a lot of circling, but when it finally happened we were like kids going to Disneyland. We didn't need fans to feel the hype."

The under-fire World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said on Thursday it would launch an independent review over its handling of a case that allowed 23 Chinese swimmers who tested positive for a banned substance to avoid punishment.The investigation will be led by Swiss prosecutor Eric Cottier, a former attorney general of the canton of Vaud, who WADA said will have access to all files and documents related to the case and will be free to consult any independent experts.Cottier will begin his work in the coming days and is expected to deliver his findings within two months.“WADA’s integrity and reputation is under attack,” said WADA president Witold Banka in a statement. “In the past few days, WADA has been unfairly accused of bias in favour of China by not appealing the CHINADA case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport,” he said referring to China’s anti-doping agency and sport’s highest court respectively.“We continue to reject the false accusations and we are pleased to be able to put these questions into the hands of an experienced, respected and independent prosecutor.”Calls for an independent investigation have grown since a New York Times report on Saturday said 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive for the banned drug trimetazidine (TMZ) months before the Covid-delayed Tokyo Olympics in July 2021.The swimmers avoided sanctions after an investigation by Chinese authorities ruled the adverse analytical findings, or AAFs, were the result of being inadvertently exposed to the drug through contamination.A report determined all the swimmers who tested positive were staying at the same hotel where traces of trimetazidine (TMZ), which is found in heart medication, were discovered in the kitchen.WADA has defended its handling of the case, saying it had no evidence to challenge China’s findings and that external counsel had advised against appealing them.The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has led the call for an independent investigation along with an overhaul of WADA to restore confidence in the global body ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics.USADA chief Travis Tygart has accused WADA of being involved in a “potential cover-up” and the global anti-doping has responded by threatening legal action.

British pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca on Thursday said net profit jumped 21 percent in the first three months of the year thanks to strong growth in sales of cancer drugs.Profit after tax climbed more than one fifth compared with the first quarter last year to $2.18 billion, AstraZeneca said in a results statement."AstraZeneca had a very strong start in 2024," chief executive Pascal Soriot said in the statement, which noted a 26-percent increase in revenue from oncology treatments.Total group sales increased 19 percent to $12.7 billion in the first quarter."Our strong pipeline momentum continued and already this year we announced positive trial results for Imfinzi and Tagrisso that were unprecedented in lung cancer," added Soriot.AstraZeneca's share price jumped 5.7 percent to £120 following the update."Cancer treatment sales remain buoyant, generating two-fifths of overall revenues in this latest quarter," noted Keith Bowman, equity analyst at Interactive Investor."Astra continues to win new drug approvals, sales on a geographical basis are diverse including growing sales in China, while takeovers such as its 2021 purchase of rare disease focused Alexion have expanded its diversity of drug treatments."The first quarter saw the company agree to buy US biopharma firm Fusion for up to $2.4 billion, in its latest expansion into cancer treatments.Fusion is developing next-generation radiotherapy to treat cancer via precise targeting that minimises damage to healthy cells.AstraZeneca's latest push into oncology comes after its net profit almost doubled to $6 billion last year as a strong cancer division helped offset a wipeout for sales of its Covid treatments.Also in the first quarter, the group struck a deal to purchase French biotech specialist Amolyt Pharma for about $1 billion, bolstering its rare diseases division Alexion.

Inter Milan sealed the Serie A title on Monday after beating AC Milan 2-1 and creating an unassailable lead at the top of the league with their sixth straight derby victory. Goals from Francesco Acerbi and Marcus Thuram gave Inter a 17-point advantage over closest challengers Milan and secured their 20th league crown with five matches of the season remaining.Inter last won Serie A in 2021, followed by AC Milan in 2022 and Napoli last year. For Simone Inzaghi it was the first league title as a manager and on a cold, soaking wet evening at the San Siro he strode proudly in front of a clutch of Inter’s “away” fans in the 75,000 crowd as they roared in delight and fired fireworks from the stands at the final whistle.Milan made a fight of it in the final moments after Fikayo Tomori pulled one back with 10 minutes remaining but Inter held out to kick off a title party after a stormy ending to the match which featured three red cards. “I feel like crying because we worked so hard, we deserve this joy,” said tearful captain Lautaro Martinez. “It’s been wonderful but we have to keep going because we’ve already won a lot of trophies and we want to win many more.”Inter have become the second team to win 20 Italian league titles, and will have a second star stitched onto their jersey, after Juventus who are way out in the lead with 36 league crowns.Inzaghi’s team did it style, laying waste to the rest of the division and becoming the first team to claim the title by winning the Milan derby and leaving his opposite number Pioli on the verge of the sack. “He was struggling 14 months ago according to the media and look what he has achieved since. I am happy here, I work well and I think the team has margin for improvement,” insisted 2022 Scudetto winner Pioli.With outgoing champions Napoli crashing and burning early in the campaign and Milan falling away in the autumn Inter raced off into the distance at the turn of the year. Juve looked like putting up a fight but they collapsed in February just as Inter strung together a run of 13 wins which also gave them hope of repeating a deep run in the Champions League.Inter failed in that mission as they were knocked out of the Champions League by Atletico Madrid in mid-March, but by that time the domestic damage had already been done. The future looks bright too as Inzaghi, Martinez and Italy midfielder Nicolo Barella are all set to renew their contracts while smart work in the transfer market and increased revenue have helped mitigate significant financial harm wrought by the Covid-19 pandemic.Piotr Zielinski and Mehdi Taremi will arrive from Napoli and Porto as free agents in the close season while big stars like Thuram should stay. “Crazy feeling, crazy game. We wanted to do it for our fans and we did it. It’s my first league title and I’m very proud of it,” said Thuram.The nominal away side on Monday, Inter were on their way to a title party in the 18th minute when Acerbi was left completely free to head home Benjamin Pavard’s flick-on. Inter should have been two ahead seven minutes later through Lautaro Martinez who lost his footing when Federico Dimarco’s perfect cut-back fell to the Argentina striker.And his strike partner Thuram was equally at fault for Inter not increasing their lead seven minutes before the break as he shot a great chance just wide after being set up by Nicolo Barella. But shortly after half-time Thuram made up for that miss with a brilliant individual goal which took his tally for his debut Serie A season to 12.France forward Thuram collected Alessandro Bastoni’s long pass on the left and eventually cut inside before drilling home at Mike Maignan’s near post. Yann Sommer did well to keep out Theo Hernandez’s well-struck shot as Milan fans let go a barrage of flares in the stands.The resulting smoke mixed with the persistent rain to create an misty atmosphere around the San Siro, and just as Inter looked set to see the match out Tomori made sure it would be a grandstand finish when he headed home on the rebound. However instead of levelling the match Milan lost their heads, with both Theo Hernandez and Davide Calabria receiving straight red cards in stoppage time. Inter’s Denzel Dumfries was also sent off in the closing minutes, but that will matter less to his team who danced and bounced in front of joyous fans.

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani's visit to Nepal will give the two countries opportunities for further multi-field co-operation and boost the bonds of friendship, said President of Nepal Ram Chandra Poudel, stressing that the two countries have a longstanding relationship, enriched by friendliness and co-operation which is steadily growing and also expanding with the passage of time.Speaking to Qatar News Agency (QNA), he added that His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani is making his first official visit to Nepal, hailing His Highness the Amir as a "visionary leader" and said this is clear in the enormous progress of Qatar and efforts in establishing peace in the Middle East under His Highness' leadership. He added: "This visit shall provide us (with) strides in our socio-economic engagements and also an occasion to strengthening bonds of friendship." He hailed the cordial Qatar-Nepal relations based on "friendliness, mutual trust, support and co-operation" since the establishment of their diplomatic relations in 1977. He added that "the Government of Nepal always attaches high importance to its relation with Qatar."Highlighting Qatar's unwavering support for his country, he expressed appreciation for Doha's assistance when "Nepal was devastated by the earthquake in 2015 followed by Covid-19 pandemic", a gesture of deep and warm relations between the two countries. "I'd like to thank His Highness and the government of Qatar once again for this assistance," he said.Commenting on the future of bilateral relations and important areas of co-operation between the two countries, he highlighted the great successes in their co-operation in the areas of labour employment, air connectivity, tourism, legal, economic and technical co-operation, as well as the exchange of high-level visits and the strengthening of relations between the people of the two countries. "We will give continuity to these domains of co-operation, yet with higher degree of zeal," he said.He added that bilateral co-operation will cover other global issues, primarily the environmental challenges. He said, "On top of that, the issue of climate change has been a major concern for both of us and also to protect the mother Earth collectively. "The global warming has adversely been affecting the Mount Everest and adjoining Himalayas, a major source of fresh water in the region. All this (co-operation) will help elevate our bilateral relations to the next level".Regarding his evaluation of bilateral agreements to protect workers' rights, improve their conditions, and the contribution of Nepalese workers to supporting the Nepalese economy, he hailed Qatar's extensive reforms to strengthen labour laws and to increase protection for workers, spotlighting the reforms' positive impact on the protection of workers and promoting their interests, as well as regulating the supply of Nepali manpower to Qatar."As a result, Nepali migrant workers have largely got benefit from the reforms and thereby an ensuing positive effect in the Nepalese economy by dint of their remittances," he said.At the end of his interview, he referred to an agreement signed by Qatar and Nepal in 2005 concerning Nepali manpower employment in Qatar and its additional protocol signed in 2008.

Qatar’s stellar track record as a mediator has earned its lots of praise from across the world. But, of late Qatar has found itself at the centre of geopolitical tensions, facing attempts to distort its image and undermine its role as a mediator in regional conflicts. Such efforts, reflect a broader trend of political maneuvering and propaganda. Against this backdrop, Qatar stands firm in defending its reputation and commitment to impartial mediation.The attempt to tarnish Qatar's image is denounced as a disingenuous tactic, with private discussions differing starkly from public accusations. Drawing from personal experiences, Qatar highlights the insidious nature of such propaganda campaigns, which have intensified during crises such as the Covid-19 pandemic, preparations for the World Cup, and political upheavals.Despite serving as a mediator in various conflicts, Qatar asserts that it does not benefit from such endeavors. Instead, the primary beneficiaries are the conflicting parties themselves and external actors, including the US. Qatar refuses to succumb to congressional pressure or electoral propaganda, rejecting any involvement in tarnishing its national reputation.It should be noted that Qatar and the United States are strategic allies. Qatar has been designated a major non-NATO ally by the United States.Qatar's partnership with the US has indeed strengthened over the years, with both countries engaging in various sectors beyond oil and gas. Qatar has been a trustworthy partner for the US in the Middle East. It has supported U.S. military operations in the region and hosts the Al Udeid Air Base, one of the largest U.S. military bases in the Middle East.The trade relationship between Qatar and the US has flourished, with trade exceeding $200bn. Qatar is a significant market for US. exports, particularly in sectors such as aircraft, machinery, and technology. The US is also a key destination for Qatari exports, including liquefied natural gas (LNG) and petrochemicals. Qatar has been a major buyer of aircraft from the US aerospace company Boeing and the F16 fighter. These purchases have contributed to the US. economy and job creation in the civil and military aerospace industry. The military relationship between Qatar and the US extends beyond hosting military bases. Both countries engage in military exercises, training programmes, and defence cooperation agreements. This partnership enhances regional security and interoperability between Qatari and US. military forces. The sixth US – Qatar Strategic Dialogue was held in Washington DC in March this year, highlighting the breadth and depth of the 50-year relationship between both countries, from economic and security cooperation to emerging technology and fostering connections among cities and communities. Qatar and the US collaborate closely on security issues, including counterterrorism efforts and intelligence sharing. Qatar has taken steps to combat terrorism financing and extremism, aligning its efforts with US priorities in the region. According to the State Department, the US and Qatar have continued to increase counter-terrorism cooperation since the signing of a bilateral counter-terrorism memorandum of understanding in July 2017.Beyond traditional sectors, Qatar and the US also collaborate in commercial ventures such as infrastructure development, finance, and technology. Qatari investment in the U.S. spans a range of industries, including real estate, hospitality, and entertainment.While Qatar is known for its significant reserves of oil and natural gas, the relationship with the US extends beyond energy exports. Qatar has invested in U.S. energy projects and companies, and there is ongoing cooperation in many energy research and technology development projects.Yet another solid example of Qatar’s deep-rooted ties with the US is cooperation in the education field. Qatar Foundation’s Education City, is home to branch campuses of several elite American universities from where thousands of students have graduated over the years. Further, a large number of Qatari students have graduated from many American universities and many are studying currently.Overall, the partnership between Qatar and the US is multifaceted and extends across economic, military, and security domains, contributing to stability and prosperity in the region and beyond.That said, Qatar recently rejected US congressman Steny Hoyer’s comments regarding the Gaza hostage crisis and his threat to ‘reevaluate’ the US relationship with Qatar. Hoyer said that Qatar, which along with Egypt is mediating negotiations for a ceasefire in Gaza, should tell Hamas there will be ‘repercussions’ if it continues to block progress. In response Qatar said Hoyer’s comments were not ‘constructive’. The Qatari embassy in the US said “it is useful to remember that Qatar’s mediation role exists only because we were asked by the US in 2012 to play this role, since regrettably, Israel and Hamas refuse to speak to each other directly.” It was reiterated that “Qatar is only a mediator.” Needless to say, such false accusations destroy relationships.In November last year, Republican senator Ted Budd (N.C) and the Qatari ambassador to the US,.Meshal Hamad al-Thani argued back and forth on social media, with the U.S. lawmaker criticizing the Gulf country for hosting Hamas while at the same time negotiating for the release of hostages held by the group in the Gaza Strip. The Qatari envoy reminded Budd that he had earlier explained that the channel of communication between Qatar and Hamas was set up at the request of the U.S.It was only because of Qatar’s historic mediations that the US could withdraw its troops from Afghanistan. Qatar sponsored the negotiations between the US and Afghanistan for several years. Qatar’s role as a facilitator of dialogue between all parties in Afghanistan during the two-decade war is widely considered one of the Gulf state’s most prominent mediation efforts. Qatar has been involved in talks both before and after the Taliban captured the Afghan capital, Kabul, on 15 August 2021. Later assuming a more pivotal role by evacuating more than 100,000 Afghans and foreigners from the country, in what has been described as history’s largest airlift of people.With regard to the ongoing Israeli incursion into Gaza, Qatar hosted all the American and Israeli parties and the Hamas movement, and the first phase was crowned with success. If the negotiation process had continued, we would have stopped the war of genocide and ethnic cleansing and saved the lives of thousands of innocent children, women, civilians, and also Israeli prisoners.The idea of demonising Qatar is a ridiculous and despicable idea that we have become accustomed to, and it has several factors, including political gains and the failure of all parties to reach a solution. The reason is a desire for ultimate revenge and also the disgusting international support for Israel by obstructing the Security Council by issuing any resolution against Israel. We return to mediation. I applaud my country's role in the courage to continue in the role of regional mediator, but we will not accept the affixation of accusations and the transmission of the narrative of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the failed, fanatical politician and his fascist government that uses religious texts, such as ISIS and others, that Qatar supports Hamas and is conveyed by members of the US Congress for unscrupulous political gain. Qatari public opinion supports the government's approach to reconsider mediation because we do not accept that there will be political gain based on our country's reputation, and enough of the political hypocrisy.It should not be forgotten that the Hamas office in Qatar is under special arrangement by the US. Financial transfers to Gaza were part of the global Qatari humanitarian aid. Qatar's role in Gaza has always been developmental and supporting the Palestinian brothers in Gaza and all of Palestine. Some of Gaza's projects are in supporting schools, including the Al-Fakhoora programme, developing communications network, and urban development, building housing for people with limited income, and hospitals in Gaza, including Hamad Hospital. All of these projects are working with the knowledge and coordination of all parties, it is not a secret.In the face of political obstinacy, Qatar singles out Netanyahu for his intransigence, driven by internal ideological agendas and religious fervor. It underscores the limited international support for Israel's actions, with only a handful of countries backing its stance in international forums such as the International Criminal Court.Qatar reaffirms its commitment to mediation based on principles of mutual respect and trust. It emphasises that genuine mediation requires integrity and a willingness to uphold impartiality, rather than succumbing to internal political skirmishes or external pressure. Qatar's track record as a respected mediator, trusted by all parties, underscores its dedication to fostering peace and stability in the region.Despite facing criticism, Qatar contemplates the possibility of withdrawing from mediation altogether, calling upon the international community, particularly superpowers, to bear their moral responsibility. Qatar suggests that relinquishing its role as a mediator would compel powerful nations to assume greater accountability on the global stage, resonating with the sentiments of the Qatari public.In conclusion, Qatar's response to political pressure and propaganda underscores its unwavering commitment to mediation integrity and impartiality. As the nation navigates geopolitical challenges, it remains steadfast in upholding its reputation as a trusted mediator and advocate for peace on the world stage.

Nepal's Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal said the visit of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani to the country is a testimony to the strength and friendly relations and cooperation between the two nations.This visit will broaden relations between Doha and Kathmandu and lead them to new horizons, Dahal added, describing the visit by His Highness the Amir as "historic."In an interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA), Dahal expressed his firm belief that the visit of His Highness the Amir will elevate relations between the two countries to new heights, adding: "We are equally hopeful that several agreements will be signed during this visit. Furthermore, in-depth discussions on important areas of bilateral cooperation will also be pivotal in enhancing our cooperation in various areas."Dahal expressed confidence that the visit of His Highness the Amir will herald a new beginning for friendship and that it will set another milestone in the diplomatic relations between the two nations.The prime minister stressed the importance of enhancing cooperation between the two countries in areas including health, education, infrastructure development, and economic empowerment.He hailed the level of development Qatar is witnessing at various levels, as it represents an exemplary experience, adding, "We are impressed to see Qatar's phenomenal development."Nepal looks forward to learning from Qatar's experience in this regard, especially since it aspires to achieve better development indicators within a short period of time," he added."It is my understanding that we have many avenues in which we can collaborate and learn from each other's development efforts," Dahal said, adding, "we can forge pragmatic collaboration for developing partnership for assisting in bridging the gap in the developmental processes."He pointed out the importance of future co-operation and collaboration between the two countries in regional and multilateral forums to serve the general interest of humanity, including unifying efforts to confront climate change.Dahal said a collective voice can be raised, and efforts in regional and multilateral forums can be unified to confront climate change, adding, "It is high time to consolidate our individual efforts into collaborative ones for the benefit of humanity. I have been raising the issue of climate change at different forums, and I look forward to working closely with like-minded countries in the future."Dahal expressed appreciation for the humanitarian support provided by Qatar to Nepal, especially during the 2015 earthquake. "Qatar has always lent generous support in the humanitarian sector in Nepal. The government of Qatar has provided invaluable support and goodwill to Nepal in the aftermath of the 2015 earthquake as well as in instances of other natural disasters," he said.Dahal extended his thanks to the government of Qatar for its assistance during the Covid-19 pandemic, expressing his heartfelt gratitude for taking care of Nepali workers in Qatar during the pandemic.The prime minister hailed the role played by Qatar in resolving conflicts and promoting peace and security around the globe, emphasising his country's appreciation for Doha's efforts in resolving differences through negotiations and diplomacy.He underscored Nepal's belief that peace should prevail for humanity to prosper.Given the turbulent situation in the Gulf region, the diplomatic acumen and leadership by Qatar in thawing tensions is highly commendable, he added.Dahal expressed his country's "high regard for Qatar for playing a significant role as a mediator in the ongoing conflict in Gaza," adding "the facilitation for negotiations and securing temporary ceasefires in the past has been of great importance."I have been keenly following the situation in the Middle East. We are worried about the scenario of further escalation in hostilities and the worsening plight of the civilian population. We wish for an end of war and restoration of peace in the region as soon as possible," he added."It is indeed heartening to see Qatar's leadership pitching hope and arduously trying to bring the warring parties to table to negotiate for peace and humanity," the premier pointed outThe Gulf region has its own political, economic, and cultural significance, Dahal said adding: "It is my ardent hope that the region will come to a long-term solution while embracing the values of peaceful co-existence."

Bilateral relations between the State of Qatar and the People's Republic of Bangladesh are progressing at a firm and steady pace toward broad horizons of cooperation and fruitful partnerships.The two countries, which have established diplomatic relations since the 1970s, are linked by deep and rooted fraternal ties, nourished by common history, culture, religion, and values.Relations between the two countries have witnessed remarkable development in recent years through mutual visits at various levels, and have also witnessed fruitful cooperation in all fields, which reflects the keenness of the leadership of the two countries to develop these relations and advance them into strategic partnerships and further progress and prosperity.Within the framework of the keenness to strengthen bilateral relations, the official visit carried out by HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani to the People's Republic of Bangladesh comes as part of His Highness's Asian tour. During the visit, HH the Amir will meet with HE President of the People's Republic of Bangladesh Mohammed Shahabuddin and HE Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed to discuss bilateral relations between the two countries and ways to support and develop them and move them to advanced stages of fruitful strategic partnerships in a way that serves the interests and aspirations of the two countries and their friendly peoples.Diplomatic relations between the State of Qatar and the People's Republic of Bangladesh date back to the 1970s. The State of Qatar opened its embassy in Dhaka on 1/15/1980, while the Bangladesh embassy opened in Doha on 12/29/1981.Cooperation between the two countries includes a wide range of fields, including economic, artistic, commercial, investment, and the employment of the Bangladeshi workforce in Qatar, in addition to cooperation in the fields of education, tourism, culture, sports, and human resources development.To achieve greater cooperation between the two countries, HE Prime Minister of the People's Republic of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina Wazed visited Doha in May 2023 to participate in the 3rd edition of the Qatar Economic Forum, where she was received at the Amiri Diwan by HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani. During the meeting, they discussed the bilateral relations between the two countries and ways to strengthen and develop them, in addition to a number of issues of common interest.HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani also met with HE Sheikh Hasina Wazed on the sidelines of the 3rd Qatar Economic Forum.During the meeting, they discussed bilateral cooperation relations between the two countries and ways to support and develop them, especially in the field of energy and joint work in the technology sector. They also discussed a number of topics of common interest.In her speech before the Potential of Trade and Investment in Bangladesh Forum, held in Doha in March 2023, with the participation of the Qatar Chamber (QC), the Qatari Businessmen Association (QBA), and the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC), HE Sheikh Hasina Wazed called on Qatari businesspersons and investors to invest in Bangladesh. She indicated that Bangladesh offers tremendous incentives and facilities for investors, affirming the strong performance of the Bangladeshi economy and the significant growth of the GDP despite the repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic on the global economy.On his part, HE QBA Chairman Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al-Thani said that the forum represented an opportunity to learn about the investment opportunities available in Bangladesh. He also stressed that Qatari businesspersons are keen to enhance the investment and partnership relations with companies in the countries with which the State of Qatar has extended and strong relations, indicating that the agricultural, industrial, and tourism sectors are always a priority.In March 2023, QFC took part in the Bangladesh Investment Summit titled "Trade and Investment potentials in Bangladesh", held in Doha. The summit showcased the potential investment opportunities in Bangladesh across various sectors.In his keynote speech, QFC Chief Executive Officer Yousuf Mohamed Al Jaida said: "Bangladesh and Qatar have been enjoying a healthy economic relationship for over four decades, which has significantly grown in recent years. This is evidenced in the exponential growth of the two nations' trade volume rising from QR 948 million in 2017 to more than QR 10 billion in 2022."Al Jaida added: "Beyond ICT, energy and human capital, there are numerous areas where we can expand mutually beneficial investment and partnerships, such as agriculture, technology education, tourism, culture, sports, and finance."In September 2018, QFC, one of the world's leading and fastest growing onshore business and financial centers, officially welcomed the Bangladesh Forum Qatar (BFQ) as a registered business council on the QFC platform.As a business council, the QFB will play a key role in facilitating bilateral investment between Qatar and Bangladesh. The BFQ is a non-profit business council aimed at promoting the continued growth and development of trade and investment between the two countries. The QFC endeavors to promote Qatar as an attractive business destination for companies looking to expand their operations in the Middle East region and take advantage of the opportunities available in the country.Within the context of the economic relations between the two countries, the "Made in Bangladesh" exhibition, organized by the BQF kicked off in January 2020 at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC). The three-day exhibition brought together 100 companies covering 18 major sectors in Bangladesh specializing in information technology, energy, cement, telecommunications, food and beverages, fisheries, etc.Within the framework of political coordination between the two countries, a round of political consultations was held in Doha in September 2022 between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the two countries. During the round of political consultations, they reviewed bilateral cooperation relations, in addition to several issues of common interest. Following the round of consultations, an agreement was signed on abolishing visa requirements for holders of diplomatic, official, and special passports.Through various mutual visits between senior officials of the two countries, areas of cooperation between the two parties are being discussed in many fields, especially in the energy sector, economy, labor affairs, banks, culture, and others.The State of Qatar is the largest supplier of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Bangladesh as there are several agreements between the two parties in this regard, the most recent of which was signed in January between QatarEnergy and Excelerate Energy to supply Bangladesh with LNG for 15 years starting as of January 2026, at a rate of approximately one million tons annually. There is also an agreement between the two parties signed in June 2023 to supply LNG to the Bangladesh Oil, Gas & Mineral Corporation (Petrobangla) at a rate of up to 1.8 million tons annually and to be delivered to the ports of Bangladesh as of January 2026 for 15 years.Within the context of the interest in labor affairs, in December 2018, the State of Qatar launched two visa centers in Bangladesh, one in the capital, Dhaka, and the other in the city of Sylhet, as part of Qatar's efforts to facilitate and simplify the procedures for bringing expatriates to work in the State of Qatar.Bangladesh is located in the southeast of Asia and is bordered by India on all sides except the far southeast, where Myanmar borders it. It has an area of more than 147,000 square kilometers and its population exceeds 174,000,000 people. It is called the land of rivers because it is home to more than 57 transboundary rivers.In recent years, Bangladesh has succeeded in rising as an economic power. In 2019, HE Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina wrote an article in which she said that in addition to self-sufficiency, Bangladesh is now the fourth-largest producer of rice, the second-largest producer of jute, the fourth-largest producer of mangoes, the fifth-largest producer of vegetables, and the fourth-largest producer of inbound fisheries.Bangladesh aims to become a developed country by 2040 and has established around 100 economic zones to attract foreign investment.Bangladesh relies on the export of textiles, clothing, seafood, fish, and agricultural products such as bananas, mangoes, potatoes, tropical fruits, onions, rice, tea, jute, pineapples, etc. There are also some job opportunities available for investors in areas of export-oriented industries such as textiles, leather products, electronic components, chemicals, petrochemicals, and agricultural-based industries, in addition to the tourism sector and light industries, and in infrastructure projects such as power generation, oil and gas exploration, minerals, communications, ports, roads, and many other sectors, which can attract foreign investors. (QNA)

At least seven people were killed and another 21 wounded when a race car ploughed into spectators at a packed motorsport event hosted by Sri Lanka’s army yesterday, police said.A driver crashed into the crowd on an unprotected stretch of the track at the Fox Hill circuit, which is maintained by the Sri Lankan army.A video shared widely on social media showed track marshals waving yellow flags to warn other drivers to slow down after a car overturned on the track.The drivers are seen speeding past in clouds of orange dust until a red car slams into the crowd, and people are heard screaming.“A total of 27 people were taken to hospital and seven of them succumbed to their injuries,” spokesman Nihal Thalduwa said, adding that an eight-year-old girl was among the dead.Shortly before the crash, army chief Vikum Liyanage announced that the gates had been opened to spectators free of charge to promote motorsports, with the event being held for the first time in five years due to the Covid pandemic and the island’s economic crisis.

Karim Beguir launched the artificial intelligence start-up InstaDeep in Tunisia in 2014 with just two computers and $2,000.By 2023, it was an international operation bought by German laboratory BioNTech for $700mn.“For the first time, we saw that a start-up launched in Africa with very limited resources could become a major international player,” the French-Tunisian CEO, who co-founded the company with Tunisian self-taught IT enthusiast Zohra Slim, told AFP.It gives young Africans the “hope of being part of tomorrow’s innovation and technology,” he said.InstaDeep specialises in decision-making artificial intelligence (AI) that helps businesses develop applications to optimise cost and efficiency.It made a name for itself at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic by creating a system with BioNTech — which developed one of the earliest Covid vaccines — to identify dangerous variants “on average two months before they are reported”, according to data published in scientific journals.InstaDeep put “Tunisia and Africa on the map (in AI). It showed that this kind of story was possible”, added Beguir, 47, who is CEO of the company now based in London.“At the time, when I said we were going to do things at the level of the big boys like Meta, Google, DeepMind and others, everyone laughed in my face,” Beguir said of its initial launch.As well as researching personalised cancer vaccines with BioNTech, InstaDeep is working on projects to fully automate routing for Germany’s national rails, improve operations management at Frankfurt airport and predict cricket invasions in Africa.The company claims to be “already profitable” with sales of more than €10mn ($11mn), though the company did not want to disclose the precise figure.InstaDeep grew from 60 employees in 2018, to 350 employees across Africa, the Middle East, Europe and America.It has offices in Tunis, Lagos, Cape Town and Kigali, along with London, Dubai, Paris, Berlin, Boston and San Francisco.“Thanks to the movement that we have helped start, young Africans can hope of being part of tomorrow’s innovation and technology, and in particular AI, which is the technology of our generation,” said Beguir. He said artificial intelligence presents an opportunity for African economies to go beyond simply exporting fuels and minerals, and make inroads into higher value-added activities.“Selling raw natural resources is not enough. We really need to create things with a much greater added value,” he said.Beguir grew up in the southern Tunisian city of Tataouine before studying in France and then the United States.He went on to work in financial engineering for major US players like JPMorgan and the Bank of America, before embarking on entrepreneurship in Africa.Senegalese teacher and AI researcher Seydina Ndiaye, one of 38 experts selected by the UN to form an AI think tank, has said Africa needs to be more involved in AI development because otherwise “the greatest threat is colonisation by AI.”Experts have regularly pointed out gender and race biases in models designed by major tech companies.“If young Africans develop applications for African communities, you are much less likely to see bias towards these populations than if they were developed in Silicon Valley or Asia,” said InstaDeep’s Beguir.When can Africa expect to see other AI champions emerge?“If we manage to channel this living force into high-level innovation, I would say we will have 10 InstaDeeps in 10 years,” predicted Beguir, provided we resolve obstacles such as the freedom of movement for researchers across the continent.“As crazy as it may seem, in some cases it is easier for a young African with technology skills to come and work in France than to go to another African country,” he warned.