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Gabon star Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored four goals and was sent off in African 2026 World Cup qualifying, while minnows Benin built a two-point lead in the ‘group of death’.Aubameyang kept Gabon in contention for a first appearance at the global showpiece as his goals gave Gabon a 4-3 victory over the Gambia, and they trail Group F leaders Ivory Coast by one point. Group C leaders Benin won 1-0 in Rwanda to go two points clear of South Africa, who could only draw 0-0 with Zimbabwe.Nigeria moved within three points of Benin, who they host on Tuesday, by defeating Lesotho 2-1. Losses eliminated Rwanda and Lesotho, turning the group into a three-team contest for first place. Algeria, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia have already won groups to claim four of the nine places reserved for Africa. There could be a 10th representative after inter-continental play-offs next March.The final matchday, from Sunday to Tuesday, will decide the other five places, with Senegal, Benin, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast and Ghana the current table toppers. Benin won thanks to an 80th-minute goal from Aiyegun Tosin to retain first place in a group that Nigeria and South Africa were expected to dominate.Mohau Nkota and Lyle Foster hit the woodwork in a disappointing performance by South Africa, who sorely missed injured striker Iqraam Rayners. Both teams finished with 10 men after Zimbabwe striker Knowledge Musona and South Africa defender Mbekezile Mbokazi were sent off in the second half having been shown two yellow cards.Captain William Troost-Ekong, from a penalty, and substitute Akor Adams scored in the second half for Nigeria before Hlompho Kalake halved the deficit. Both Zimbabwe and Lesotho were handicapped, playing in South Africa as they do not have FIFA-approved stadiums.Africa Cup of Nations holders Ivory Coast triumphed 7-0 away to the Seychelles, having won the first match between them 9-0 in Abidjan two years ago. Seven different players scored, starting with Nottingham Forest midfielder Ibrahim Sangare on seven minutes and finishing with substitute Franck Kessie in the final minute of regular time.Seychelles, who are 159 places below Ivory Coast in the world rankings, have conceded 46 goals while losing all nine qualifiers. Gabon remained one point behind the Ivory Coast in Group F with a dramatic victory over the Gambia in Nairobi.The Gabonese led twice, then trailed before Marseille striker Aubameyang scored two more goals. He was yellow-carded twice in the closing stages, leading to his dismissal on 86 minutes. Ivory Coast have 23 points and Gabon 22 ahead of the final round next week, when both teams will enjoy home advantage. The Ivorians play Kenya and the Gabonese face Burundi.Senegal maintained a two-point lead over the Democratic Republic of Congo in Group B after the contenders had contrasting away victories.Seeking a third straight appearance at the World Cup, Senegal hammered South Sudan 5-0 in Juba, where Crystal Palace striker Ismaila Sarr netted twice.Veteran two-time African Footballer of the Year Sadio Mane was also among the goals as Senegal turned a 1-0 half-time lead into a decisive victory. A solitary goal, scored by veteran striker Cedric Bakambu after seven minutes, earned DR Congo a tense 1-0 win in Togo.Senegal have 21 points and DR Congo 19 ahead of their final fixtures. The Senegalese host Mauritania while the Congolese will be at home to Sudan. Sudan drew 0-0 with Mauritania in Dar es Salaam, a result that eliminated them from the race for a World Cup place.

HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani received a phone call Friday from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. During the call, they discussed developments in the Gaza Strip and the occupied Palestinian territories in light of the agreement on provisions and mechanisms for implementing the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement and means to ensure its full implementation.HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs stressed that the success of the first phase of the agreement is a collective responsibility to ensure its implementation and achieve peace and stability in the region. He also affirmed that Qatar will spare no effort in fulfilling its humanitarian, historical, and diplomatic duty towards the Palestinians.For his part, the UN Secretary-General appreciated the pivotal diplomatic role played by Qatar in facilitating the negotiations and its tireless efforts that contributed to reaching the agreement.

In a significant recognition of Qatar's administrative expertise, FIFA has announced its new slate of standing and independent committees for the 2025-2029 cycle. The appointments, decided at a recent meeting in Zurich, feature a prominent Qatari presence, underscoring international confidence in the nation's capability to contribute to the global development of football.Leading the Qatari appointments is HE Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed al-Thani, the Minister of Sports and Honorary President of the Qatar Football Association (QFA). He has been selected as a FIFA Council member and the Council's delegate to the men's national teams competitions committee.Further solidifying Qatar's influence, Jassim bin Rashid al-Buenain, President of the QFA, has been appointed as the Chairman of the FIFA Club Competitions Committee. In the legal domain, Salman Ahmed al-Ansari was chosen as a member of the Appeal Committee, one of FIFA's supreme judicial bodies responsible for reviewing disciplinary and arbitration decisions.The realm of refereeing also sees continued Qatari leadership, with FIFA renewing its confidence in Hani Taleb Ballan. The Head of the Referees Committee at the QFA and AFC has been reappointed as Deputy Chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee, a position he has held since 2019.Additional appointments include Mansoor Mohammed al-Ansari, General-Secretary of the QFA, who will serve on the Development Committee. Fatima Ali al-Nuaimi, Communications and Media Executive Director at the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, joins the FIFA Media and Communications Committee.

Horwitz Bishop Rapid Chess Tournament was held on October 3rd at the Integrated Indian Community Centre (ICBF), Al Thumama, attracting nearly 150 young chess players across two categories: Under-15 and Under-10. A total of 20 prizes were awarded, recognising both overall champions and top performers in specific age groups.In the U-15 section, played over 6 rounds, Kishore Arunagiri was crowned champion, while Prince Lieven secured the first runner-up position. In the Under-10 category, conducted over 7 rounds, Edwin Idiculla Sanju took the championship title, with Daya Vasanthakumar finishing as the first runner-up.The tournament also honoured standout young talents with special category prizes for: Best Boy & Best Girl in U-12, U-11, U-9, U-8 and U-7 categories.Games were played with a 20-minute time control plus a 5-minute sudden death, creating a fast-paced and competitive environment. The event was organized under the leadership of Tournament Director Jaise Joseph, with Chief Arbiter Rayan Joseph Jaise and Deputy Chief Arbiter Ismath Nahan MP ensuring fair and smooth conduct throughout the day. The prize distribution was conducted by Srikanth L Kanakakumar and Aswani Ashok, Physical Education teachers from Birla Public School, Qatar.

Qatar won three awards at the GCC e-Government Award 2025, held in the State of Kuwait Wednesday, in recognition of its distinguished government initiatives in digital transformation and smart service development. These awards reflect the country’s continuous progress in implementing pioneering digital projects.The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) was recognised with the Outstanding Project Award in the Best Government Competencies Building Initiative Award category for its initiative ‘Qatar Digital Academy’. The award recognises the ministry’s efforts in raising awareness of emerging technologies and empowering all segments of society to actively participate in Qatar’s national digital transformation initiatives.This achievement marks a milestone in the MCIT’s ongoing efforts to implement projects and programmes that promote digital culture and advance digital inclusion across Qatar, in alignment with the objectives of the Digital Agenda 2030 which aims to build an integrated digital society where individuals and institutions participate equally.The Ministry of Social Development and Family received the Outstanding Project Award in the Best Digital Inclusion Initiative Award category for its project “Sokoon” application to digitise Sign Language. Meanwhile, the National Planning Council earned the first place in the Open Data Initiative category for its project “Qatar Open Data Platform.”This achievement reaffirms Qatar’s leading position in digital government, driven by continuous investment in digital infrastructure, national talent, and regional collaboration in innovation and the digital economy. HE the Minister of Information and Communications Technology Mohammed bin Ali al-Mannai emphasised that Qatar’s winning of three awards at the Digital Government Award 2025 reflects the success of the national strategy for digital transformation and underscores the country’s pioneering role in advancing the GCC digital integration process.

Northwestern University in Qatar (NU-Q) has appointed Refqa Abu-Remaileh, Sarah Kaskas, Lila Hassan, and Shakeeb Asrar to its expanding faculty, further strengthening the university’s profile in journalism, film, literature, and investigative reporting.With diverse experiences spanning academic research and professional practice, the new faculty bring fresh perspectives that will enrich teaching, research, creative scholarship, and student learning across programmes, a statement said.“I am proud to welcome another stellar faculty cohort to Northwestern Qatar,” said Marwan M Kraidy, dean and CEO. “Their appointments bolster our great faculty, strengthening our academic programmes and enriching the intellectual life of our community, while also advancing knowledge production about the world in ways that reflect our core values of excellence, community, collaboration, and sustainability.”Abu-Remaileh, who joins as associate professor in residence in the Liberal Arts Programme, is a leading scholar of modern Arabic literature and Palestinian cultural production. Author of the award-winning Country of Words: A Transnational Atlas for Palestinian Literature and former principal investigator of the European Research Council–funded PalREAD project, her courses and research will focus on Arab literature and culture in regional and transnational contexts, opening new entry points into the digital humanities and cross-cultural approaches to literature and film.Kaskas, assistant professor in residence in the Communication Programme, is an award-winning filmmaker, Emmy-nominated producer, and educator. Her films, which have screened at international festivals including Tribeca and the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam, explore resilience and the lived experiences of marginalised communities in Lebanon. With a focus on socially engaged cinema, she brings distinctive expertise in film as both a creative medium and a critical tool for examining inequities and advancing cultural dialogue.Hassan joins the Journalism and Strategic Communication Programme as assistant professor in residence. Hassan is an investigative journalist whose reporting has appeared in The Washington Post, The Guardian, FRONTLINE, and ProPublica. Recognised with top industry honours, including a Pulitzer Prize, a George Polk Award, and a Peabody, she adds world-class investigative reporting expertise to the growing journalism faculty.Asrar, a NU-Q alum, also joins the Journalism and Strategic Communication Programme as an assistant professor in residence. With professional experience at Al Jazeera English, Jigsaw Productions in New York, and award-winning documentary projects, he is the latest addition to the community of faculty who combine academic training with frontline media experience.“These appointments reflect the richness of Northwestern Qatar’s academic community and our commitment to advancing excellence across disciplines,” said Zachary Wright, professor and associate dean for faculty affairs. “The expertise Professors Abu-Remaileh, Hassan, Kaskas, and Asrar bring will enhance classroom learning and open new avenues for scholarship and collaboration that extend beyond our campus.”With these additions, NU-Q further consolidates its position as home to one of the highest concentrations of scholars dedicated to the study of Arab media and culture. As the university expands its faculty body, it continues to enrich its intellectual life while contributing to global conversations on media, storytelling, and cultural expression, the statement added.

The annual Healing Hands essay competition of Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) has recognised four Qatari high school students for their outstanding 800-word essays on the social consequences of obesity.The winners were Almayasa Waleed Alkhal (Qatar Academy High School), Shamma Mubarak al-Nuaimi (Gulf English School), Fatima Mohammed A M al-Rashid (American School of Doha), and Amna Khalid al-Hajri (Swiss International School in Qatar).The programme is designed to inspire young nationals to pursue careers in medicine and biomedical science. Many previous winners of the Healing Hands contest have gone on to join WCM-Q as students.Each of the four winners received the WCM-Q Doctors of the Future Scholarship, which offers an opportunity to spend a week gaining hands-on research experience in one of the college’s state-of-the-art core laboratories. Two of the winners completed their placements at the Proteomics Lab under the supervision of Prof. Dr Frank Schmidt, professor of biochemistry and director of the proteomics core at WCM-Q.An awards ceremony was recently held at WCM-Q, where each of the four winners was presented with a certificate and a prize. A further eight students received honourable mention certificates in recognition of the high quality of their essays, and 13 students received participation certificates.The essays of the four winners and those who received honourable mentions were noted for the originality of their ideas, their command of written English, the soundness of their supporting arguments, and the coherent structure of their essays. The judges also acknowledged the high level of the participants’ essays, noting the generally high standard of all of the entries this year.Noha Saleh, director of premedical administration, student outreach and educational development, said: “We are confident that this experience will inspire these students to consider a future in medicine."Dr Rachid Bendriss, professor of English as a second language, assistant professor of education in medicine, and associate dean for foundation, student outreach and educational development programmes, said: “We were extremely impressed by this year’s essays, which included such a sophisticated level of innovative and thought-provoking arguments and ideas."

Qatar made their path to the 2026 World Cup more difficult after being held to a drab 0-0 draw by Oman in the opening match of the fourth round of Asia’s World Cup qualifiers Wednesday at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium.It was a below-par performance from both teams, as neither Qatar nor Oman showed the urgency expected in such a crucial fixture. The result leaves Qatar and Oman tied on a point each in Group A. To stay in contention for automatic qualification, Qatar will need to defeat the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday and rely on the outcome of Saturday’s encounter between Oman and the Emiratis.Only the group winners will earn automatic qualification for next year’s World Cup, to be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States. The runners-up will advance to a playoff against the second-placed team from Group B, which is being contested in Saudi Arabia, where Iraq and Indonesia are the other sides.Akram Afif squandered Qatar’s best chance early in the second half, while substitute Mohammed Muntari failed to get enough power on his shot as a resolute Oman held firm to secure a point.Qatar coach Julen Lopetegui had spoken beforehand about the pressure his side is facing in trying to qualify for the World Cup on merit for the first time. The 2022 World Cup hosts have historically struggled in the qualifiers, and that inconsistency resurfaced last night in a disjointed display.Lopetegui, who kept his squad selection under wraps on the eve of the match, handed debuts to 20-year-old Al Gharafa defender Ayoub Aloui and 25-year-old Al Rayyan goalkeeper Mahmoud Abunada. He also left strikers Almoez Ali and Muntari on the bench, opting instead to start with Ahmed al-Ganehi and Edmilson Junior in support of mercurial star Afif.The Spaniard later said his playing XI decisions were influenced by injuries in the squad. “The starting lineup was ideal given the injuries, and all the players gave their best to achieve the desired result,” Lopetegui said after the match.Qatar dominated possession in the first half, with Sultan al-Brake and Edmilson causing early problems for Oman. But it was Carlos Queiroz’s side — seeking their first-ever World Cup appearance — who had the best opportunity when a wayward backpass from al-Brake almost caught out Abunada, forcing the debutant goalkeeper to concede a throw-in under pressure from Issam al-Sabhi.Boualem Khoukhi, who captained Qatar on the night, had the first look at goal in the 13th minute, but the defender’s shot flew wide of the target. Al-Sabhi continued to be Oman’s biggest threat, skipping past his marker with a neat turn in the 27th minute before seeing his powerful left-footed effort comfortably saved by Abunada.Qatar almost capitalised six minutes later when Mohammed al-Mannai slipped a clever ball through to Afif, who tried to catch Oman napping, but goalkeeper Ibrahim al-Rushaidi was alert to the danger and made a solid intervention.Nasser al-Rawahi came close for Oman, glancing a header just over the bar from a corner, while Qatar’s best effort before the break came from Afif, whose shot was easily dealt with by the Omani defence.Afif should have put the hosts ahead soon after the interval when the visitors gifted him possession inside their own half, but the Asian Player of the Year uncharacteristically side-footed wide of the post.Oman nearly punished Qatar in the 69th minute when Abunada rushed off his line to clear a cross, leaving his goal momentarily exposed, but Abdullah Fawaz’s long-range attempt failed to find the target. Almoez was introduced in the 57th minute for al-Ganehi, while Muntari also had a chance in the added time, but both could not inspire Qatar to victory as the teams settled for a share of the spoils.After the match, Lopetegui remained defiant, insisting his team had done enough to win. “We performed well throughout the match against a stubborn team that defended well and closed down spaces. Despite that, we created several opportunities but couldn’t convert them into goals,” the former Spain and Real Madrid coach said.“We will continue to pursue our dream of qualifying for the World Cup. Today’s draw against Oman hasn’t negatively impacted the team or added pressure ahead of the UAE match,” he added.Oman coach Carlos Queiroz — who previously had a brief stint with Qatar — was satisfied to take home a point. “We performed well and managed to stop Qatar’s attacks, which we expected given they were playing at home,” the Portuguese veteran said.“We knew the match would be tough, so we played with high spirit. Despite our solid defence, we also created chances but couldn’t score. A draw is the best result for both teams today. A loss would have hurt our chances of World Cup qualification. We don’t have much time before facing the UAE, but we’ll prepare well to keep our World Cup dream alive,” he added.

HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani met Wednesday Army Commander of the sisterly Republic of Lebanon Brigadier General Rodolphe Haykal, who is visiting the country.Discussions during the meeting reviewed aspects of bilateral cooperation and means of enhancing and advancing them, in addition to the latest developments in Lebanon and a number of issues of mutual interest.HE Sheikh Mohammed reaffirmed Qatar's support for Lebanon's army and state institutions, as well as its continued solidarity with the brotherly Lebanese people.

Lulwa al-Marri, the first Qatari woman to complete a full Ironman, has come back from a knee injury with a blend of modern medical precision with holistic, patient-centred recovery at the Korean Medical Center (KMC).A triathlete, cyclist, mountaineer, and presenter, Lulwa is no stranger to high performance. But when a knee injury abruptly pulled her out of training, she found herself confronting a different kind of endurance; the kind it takes to heal.Rather than opt for surgery or sit on the sidelines, Lulwa turned to KMC in Lusail, where a comeback plan was devised through a science-based system that focused not just on pain relief, but also on restoring mobility and enhancing performance.Her journey began with a full-body scan on the Exbody system, an advanced Korean innovation that uses motion analysis technology to understand how muscles, joints, and body posture work together, a statement explained.“This machine doesn’t guess or estimate,” Lulwa explains. “It showed me exactly what was going wrong, even in places I couldn’t feel yet.”The Exbody report revealed muscle imbalances and poor load distribution, a chain reaction from her knee injury that even affected her spine and hips. Armed with data, the KMC team built a recovery plan tailored to Lulwa’s unique biomechanical needs.Lulwa’s treatment at KMC was a hybrid of clinical innovation and traditional Korean therapies: shockwave therapy, cryotherapy, ultrasound-guided manual therapy, dry cupping, and acupuncture.“My first cryotherapy session? Really, really cold,” she laughs. “But I came out feeling like my body had renewed vitality, and I got addicted to KMC’s cryotherapy machine, the biggest I’d seen in the country.”KMC’s approach is rooted in its belief that movement is freedom; a philosophy deeply embedded within its Mobility care unit, which encompasses orthopaedics, rehabilitation, and pain management.“For most patients, mobility is about daily function,” says Dr Louis Holtzhausen, sports and exercise medicine physician at KMC. “But for athletes like Lulwa, it’s about reclaiming performance. That means optimising, not just treating, how the body moves.”What makes KMC different, Lulwa says, is the loop between data and feeling. “We’d do another scan after a few weeks, and the progress was right there. I wasn’t just feeling better. I was seeing clear proof that I was regaining my strength.”Guiding her recovery was Dr Youngwoong Back, head of the Spine & Joint Center at KMC and an expert in musculoskeletal rehabilitation. His focus wasn’t just on the knee, but the kinetic chain.“An injury is rarely isolated,” Dr Back explains. “At KMC, we look at the body as an integrated system. We aim not only to restore range of motion, but to correct underlying patterns and prevent recurrence.”For Lulwa, this meant learning new movement strategies that would protect her joints under pressure, crucial for an athlete always preparing for her next race.Today, Lulwa is back in training, but with a new kind of awareness. Her recovery at KMC was restorative on a deeper level. “So often, women, especially female athletes, are told that our pain is just part of the game, or worse, that it’s in our heads,” she says.“We’re expected to push through, to stay quiet, to bounce back fast. But at KMC, my symptoms weren’t minimised, they were measured. My body was heard. Every imbalance was treated as real, and every treatment was backed by data.”For Lulwa, that level of validation was transformative. “This wasn’t about returning to where I was. It was about returning stronger, smarter, and with a deeper appreciation for how my body works.”Her message to other athletes, especially women navigating injury and uncertainty during their recovery, is clear: “You don’t have to suffer in silence or settle for guesswork. Pain is your body’s way of communicating, and you deserve a system that listens.”At KMC, she found that system, one that combined clinical rigour with deep human insight.

Qatar Foundation's Pre-University Education (PUE) held its annual forum as part of the “World Teachers' Day” celebrations, honouring the dedication of teachers and educators.The event not only highlighted the achievements and milestones within the educational community but also showcased the inspiring experiences and success stories of graduates.The event also marked the launch of Qatar Foundation (QF)’s Pre-University Education Strategy 2040.It featured a range of engaging segments, where students and graduates – including sponsored staff through the Al Masar programme under the PUE, who joined QF schools in the current academic year – shared testimonials highlighting their experiences on both their academic and professional journeys.The programme included an awards ceremony honouring outstanding teachers and students in recognition of their contributions, alongside interactive activities that encouraged the sharing of experiences.An accompanying exhibition provided a platform to showcase educational initiatives and student innovations, highlighting the diversity and creativity within the educational system."As we celebrate Teachers' Day, we extend our deepest appreciation and respect to every teacher in our family,” said PUE president Abeer al-Khalifa.“You are the ones who turn challenges into opportunities, ideas into creativity, and who make a difference every day in the minds of our students,” she said. “Through your contributions, promising generations are built; through your efforts, our ambitions are renewed and our aspirations are achieved.”"This year, we celebrate educational achievements that reflect our commitment to innovation and to responding to the needs of our community,” al-Khalifa continued. “Among the most notable are the launch of the Islamic Civilisation Curriculum to strengthen our students’ sense of identity and belonging, the academic expansion projects at Qatar Academy Sidra and Renad Academy to meet the growing demand for school places, as well as the integration of the Military Secondary School with Qatar Leadership Academy, a strategic step that reflects our partnership with the Ministry of Defence.""Our gathering coincides with the 30th anniversary of the QF, three decades of dedication, achievement, excellence, innovation, and leadership,” she stressed. “This milestone inspires us and provides renewed strength as we shape the features of the Pre-University Education 2040 Strategy.""Through this strategy, we aim to build an integrated educational system that fosters the holistic growth of learners, instills in them a love for lifelong learning and pride in their identity and local culture, while enabling them to excel in a rapidly changing world,” al-Khalifa stated. “We also place great importance on teachers and experts, as role models within an inclusive and innovation-driven learning environment, and as essential partners in this inspiring journey, a key factor in realising its vision, achieving its goals, and turning it into a tangible reality."She concluded her remarks on the Pre-University Education 2040 Strategy by saying that "we reaffirm our deep commitment to protecting the Arabic language, strengthening identity, and instilling pride in local culture, through long-term partnerships at both the regional and global levels".

Qatar, under the leadership of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, pursues a holistic approach to countering terrorism and violent extremism that is based on addressing the root causes of this phenomenon through development, justice, and respect for international law, HE the Shura Council Speaker Hassan bin Abdullah al-Ghanim has affirmed.HE al-Ghanim highlighted that Qatar has made support for education, funding of development programmes, and provision of job opportunities for young people in crisis-battered zones a core priority in its efforts to counter extremist ideology.Hewas speaking at the opening session of the Global Parliamentary Conference on Counter-Terrorism, hosted in Istanbul, Turkiye, with the participation of a host of speakers of parliaments, legislative councils, as well as representatives of international organisations.The conference convenes at a critical time, as the need grows to unify efforts, strengthen international peace and security, and co-operate in confronting the scourge of terrorism that imperils societal stability and undermines development opportunities, he said.He noted that Qatar pursues a firmly rooted policy against terrorism and violent extremism, one that goes beyond mere security measures to address the economic, social, and political factors that lead to marginalisation and exclusion, the very environment in which extremist ideology takes root.Doha is preparing, as part of its efforts to support sustainable development and strengthen global parliamentary work, to host the second World Summit for Social Development in November. The summit will feature a parliamentary forum organised in partnership between the Shura Council and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) on investing in people and institutions: the role of parliamentarians in social development, HE al-Ghanim noted.He further indicated that the forum will serve as a parliamentary platform to exchange experiences and best practices, and to discuss policies and legislation that bolster social development, thereby enhancing the role of parliaments in advancing communities and building human and institutional capacities.He averred that the ongoing practices of the Israeli occupation reflect yet another face of terrorism, noting that occupation forces have committed blood-soaked massacres in the Gaza Strip, claiming the lives of tens of thousands of innocent civilians, including children, women, and the elderly, in an egregious breach of international law and human values.The Israeli aggression has extended to target Qatar, which is mediating and spearheading international efforts to secure a ceasefire and alleviate the suffering of civilians in the Gaza Strip, he said, stressing that attacking the negotiating delegation at a civilian-safe location in Doha, which houses schools and embassies, constitutes state terror and a direct threat to civilian lives, in unconscionable violation of international law and diplomatic norms.HE al-Ghanim further added that silence in the face of such violations encourages impunity and undermines the international legal framework, noting that the arbitrary policies of the occupation not only threaten global peace and security but also help foster a fertile environment for the spread of violence and extremism, exacerbating instability across the region and the world.He called on the international community and all parliaments to assume their moral and legal responsibilities, condemn these crimes, hold Israel accountable, and work to suspend the Israeli Knesset’s membership in regional and international parliamentary organisations until it complies with international law and the principles of legitimacy, especially following remarks by the Speaker of the Knesset in which he described the aggression as a message to the Middle East, in presumptuous defiance of the international community and parliamentary values.Qatar has placed counter-terrorism at the forefront of its foreign policy priorities through its active engagement in international coalitions, contribution to shaping global strategies, and support for development programs that address the root causes of terrorism, HE al-Ghanim underlined, before noting that Doha hosts the Office of Parliamentary Participation in Preventing and Combating Terrorism, in partnership with the UN.This office serves as a comprehensive platform for parliaments from around the globe to co-ordinate international parliamentary efforts and organise conferences, seminars, and workshops that enhance legislative and oversight cooperation in this field, he outlined.He called on national parliaments, regional parliamentary associations, and the IPU to intensify efforts and co-ordinate closely with the aforementioned office in support of its programmes and objectives, and to activate its role in forging practical partnerships that contribute to achieving global peace and security, and in reinforcing the values of justice and respect for human rights.HE al-Ghanim hoped that the conference would yield effective outcomes in countering terrorism and violent extremism through concurrence on a comprehensive and precise international definition of terrorism, which draws a clear line between the legitimate struggle of peoples against occupation, as an inherent right, and the terrorist acts carried out by certain states and organisations.Parliamentary unity remains the most effective means to enhance international co-operation, achieve peace and security, and safeguard the future of coming generations, he stressed.For his part, Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkiye, Numan Kurtulmus, underscored the depth of the brotherly relations and strategic co-operation between Qatar and Turkiye, lauding the Shura Council's role in combating terrorism and boosting international cooperation in this field.Kurtulmus called out the double standards of certain nations that claim to fight terrorism while supporting it through proxy wars. He pointed out that the most perilous form of terrorism is state terror perpetrated by Israel against the Palestinian people, amid the silence of the international community.The conference is organised in partnership between the Shura Council and the Doha-based UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) on Parliamentary Participation in Preventing and Combating Terrorism, in collaboration with the Grand National Assembly of Turkiye and the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT).It intends to bolster the role of parliaments in supporting legislative and oversight frameworks for combating terrorism and violent extremism, and in coordinating efforts between parliaments and relevant international organisations to formulate integrated policies grounded in respect for the rule of law and human rights.The agenda includes panel discussions addressing a wide range of issues, foremost among them the absence of a unified international definition of terrorism and its implications, the nexus between terrorism and organised crime, and the impact of occupation and armed conflicts in fueling extremism.Additional sessions will focus on parliamentary oversight in enhancing transparency, ensuring a balance between security and the protection of rights and public freedoms, culminating in the adoption of a final statement containing practical recommendations for the development of the next UN strategy for counter-terrorism.