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Years of Culture is joining 'From the Homeland,' an exhibition organised by the Ministry of Social Development and Family (MSDF), to present a cross-cultural exchange celebrating family heritage, craftsmanship, and creativity.As part of the upcoming Qatar-Argentina-Chile 2025 Year of Culture, the initiative introduces a series of interactive experiences connecting Qatari traditions with Latin American artistry and shared community values.Taking place from November 12–15 at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center Hall 03, this year’s exhibition explores the power of family and community as the foundation of creativity.The Years of Culture booth highlights how Qatari craftsmanship and cultural heritage intersect with Argentinian and Chilean artistry, promoting mutual understanding and exchange.Key experiences at the exhibition include the Coffee and Mate Exchange corner. This cultural ritual blends Qatari Arabic coffee and Yerba Mate, symbolising hospitality and friendship. Hosted by Norma Rolón, the daily experience features Arabic coffee provided by MSDF alongside Yerba Mate prepared by Argentinian guests.Another highlight is the Makers Meet – Witral Weaving Exchange, led by Chilean artist Lisbeth Pino Westermayer. This experience celebrates Qatari Al Sadu and Chilean Chilean Witral weaving as parallel expressions of native creativity. Visitors can explore visual panels, maps, and materials that highlight each loom’s origin and symbolism while learning about traditional craftsmanship and its cultural significance.Visitors will also be treated to musical performances, including a special instrumental set today, November 14, at 4pm, featuring four violinists and cellists from the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra.The exhibition opening hours are: November 14, from 2pm to 9pm; and November 15, from 9am to 9pm.

The Ministry of Social Development and Family (MSDF) held the sixth edition of the Productive Families Incentive Award, and the Productive Families Exhibition — From the Homeland, where the winners of the award for the year 2025 were announced. **media[381115]** The ceremony was attended by Her Excellency the Minister of Social Development and Family Buthaina bint Ali al-Jabr al-Nuaimi, His Excellency the Minister of Public Health Mansoor bin Ebrahim al-Mahmoud, Her Excellency the Minister of Education and Higher Education Lolwah bint Rashid bin Mohammed AlKhater, a number of senior officials and representatives of supporting entities, in addition to productive families, media professionals and guests of the exhibition, which reflects national creativity in the field of home and craft products, and embodies the journey of empowering productive families in Qatar. **media[381116]** Assistant Undersecretary for Family Affairs at the MSDF Sheikha Shaikha bint Jassim al-Thani delivered a speech in which she indicated that the journey of productive families in Qatar extends for more than three decades since the launch of the first market dedicated to them in 1986, noting that the MSDF has supported more than a thousand productive families through training, empowerment and marketing, and the number of direct beneficiaries has now reached 680 families, in addition to the families that have established independent brands known today as “ministry-friendly families.” **media[381117]** Sheikha Shaikha emphasised that the incentive award represents an important milestone in the journey of supporting and empowering productive families, in line with the National Strategy for Social and Family Development 2025-2030, which is based on the slogan “From Welfare to Empowerment,” noting that the ministry is continuing to empower families and open new horizons for them to actively participate in the national economy. Dr Nadia Hamad al-Mannai, owner of the Al Mashmom Clothing Workshop project, also gave a speech on behalf of the participants, in which she expressed her gratitude to the MSDF for its continued support for productive families, noting that her passion for Qatari heritage products was the driving force behind the establishment of her project, which has developed to participate in local and international events. She emphasised that the MSDF’s support has been a fundamental pillar in empowering Qatari women and enhancing the presence of national products. The support of the Social and Sport Contribution Fund (Daam) for this award comes as an extension of its role in promoting social and economic development initiatives in the country. Daam has contributed through its support to providing award allocations for productive family projects, believing in the necessity of relying on local energies among members of society and enabling them to produce, in line with its vision of supporting people and investing in their capabilities, to be an active partner in achieving comprehensive development in Qatar. The ceremony included a video presentation introducing the winning projects, which showcased the families’ experiences and products, and concluded with the announcement of the winners in the categories of Best Productive Family and Best Product, where HE the Minister of Social Development and Family honored them amidst a festive national atmosphere. Fatima Yousef al-Sulaiti’s project won the first place in the Best Productive Family Award, receiving a prize of QR100,000. Nawal Hilal Ramadan’s project came in second with a prize of QR70,000, while Saud Mubarak’s project came in third place with a prize of QR50,000. She also crowned the winners of the Best Product Award, where the Juma Mubarak al-Kuwari’s project won first place with a prize of QR100,000. Iman Abdullah Ali al-Kuwari’s project won second place with a prize of QR70,000, while the Al-Jazi Fahd al-Hajri’s project won third place with a prize of QR50,000, in recognition of their creativity and the quality of their production, according to precise judging criteria that included quality, innovation, creativity, and professional presentation. Following the honouring ceremony, Her Excellency inaugurated the accompanying exhibition, “Productive Families Exhibition — From the Homeland,” at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre, which runs until Nov 15 and includes a range of distinguished national projects.

Britain's King Charles III Sunday led commemorations for the nation 's war dead, along with other senior members of the royal family including his son William and his wife Catherine.The 76-year-old monarch, who is still undergoing treatment for an undisclosed cancer, laid the first wreath at a sombre ceremony at the Cenotaph memorial in central London after the traditional two-minute silence at 11am (1100 GMT).Queen Camilla and Catherine, now in remission after her own cancer diagnosis, watched from the balcony of the Foreign Office overlooking the memorial.Crowds lined the Whitehall area of the capital as political leaders, including Prime Minister Keir Starmer, current and former members of the armed forces, and war veterans, paid their respects to British and Commonwealth soldiers killed in two world wars and other conflicts.Around 10,000 armed forces veterans took part in a march-past, including around 20 who served in World War II.Among those who took part was 101-year-old Sid Machin, one of the last survivors of the Burma (now Myanmar) campaign, who served as part of a special forces unit.Other members of the royal family including Prince William also laid wreaths.Prince Harry, 41, who is largely estranged from his family after quitting royal duties along with his wife Meghan in 2020, was not present.Days ahead of the Remembrance Sunday events, however, he penned a piece released by his US office in which he expressed his pride at being British and urged people not to forget veterans.The younger son of the king, who did two tours of duty in Afghanistan, said he had witnessed "courage and compassion in the harshest conditions imaginable"."But I also saw how easy it can be, once the uniform comes off, for those who gave everything, to feel forgotten," he said.On Saturday evening, William and Catherine's eldest son, Prince George, 12, attended his first tribute for soldiers killed in action at the Royal Albert Hall in London.It was the first time George, second in line to the throne, had attended the Festival of Remembrance event organised annually by the Royal British Legion, an association dedicated to supporting veterans and their families.The event, always attended by the monarch and senior members of the royal family, featured readings, prayers, videos and musical performances -- including a performance by Rod Stewart.

The Ministry of Social Development and Family (MSDF) participated in a high-level international event held on Tuesday under the theme "Digital Pathways Towards Regulating the Social and Solidarity Economy," as part of the activities of the Second World Summit for Social Development. Representatives from several Arab and international organizations were also in attendance.In his address, Assistant Undersecretary for Social Development Affairs, Fahad bin Mohammed Al Khayarin, emphasized that an economy combining family solidarity, social development, and digital transformation embodies the core vision of Qatar.He noted that global experience has proven that the government sector alone cannot meet all developmental needs.He added that the social and solidarity economy, as a strategic approach, promotes social development and equal opportunities. He explained that the State of Qatar places great importance on empowering vulnerable groups by creating decent job opportunities for youth, women, and people with disabilities, and by supporting productive family projects and transforming them into organized economic entities.This contributes to strengthening family and community cohesion and providing a sustainable social and economic safety net.The two options highlighted the importance of utilizing digital tools to organize productive families by building digital platforms that enable registration, market access, and efficient and transparent management of financial operations.This includes facilitating smart financing and equitable access to accessible financial solutions that support the growth of small businesses and open up opportunities for cross-border trade.He emphasized the necessity of building the digital capacities of those working in the social sector, particularly young people, and empowering them with the skills needed to use modern technologies and transform their ideas into innovative projects that support the national economy.He pointed out that the family represents the nurturing and driving environment for the social economy, and that small businesses often originate within homes and rely on family solidarity.He affirmed that the success of these projects means empowering the entire family and strengthening its vital role in achieving sustainable development.Assistant Undersecretary for Social Development Affairs at the Ministry of Social Development and Family, Fahad bin Mohammed Al Khayarin, affirmed the State of Qatar's commitment to continuing regional and international efforts to accelerate the transition towards a social and solidarity economy and enhance the integration of social and economic policies. This will make the family a central pillar in building a cohesive and prosperous society capable of keeping pace with transformations and achieving social justice and comprehensive development in the region.

The Ministry of Social Development and Family (MSDF) on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the International Disability Alliance (IDA). The MoU aims to enhance collaboration in the field of supporting and empowering persons with disabilities.The signing took place on the margins of the preparatory events for the Global Disability Summit 2028, held at Multaqa (Education City Student Center) of Qatar Foundation, under the theme: from commitments to change: the journey toward Doha. HE Minister of Social Development and Family Buthaina bint Ali al-Jabr al-Nuaimi said the signing of the MoU comes as part of the State of Qatar's enduring commitment to advancing the rights of persons with disabilities and enabling their full participation across all spheres of life.The memorandum intends to support persons with disabilities, hone their skills, and safeguard their dignity and autonomy, in addition to strengthening programs and initiatives that foster their access to employment opportunities, healthcare, and community participation, al-Nuaimi highlighted.Al-Nuaimi explained that the move aligns with the MSDF's vision of building an inclusive society founded on dynamic national and international partnerships.She announced that the State of Qatar will host the fourth Global Disability Summit 2028 in Doha, noting that this hosting will build upon the achievements realized through cooperation with regional and global partners. For his part, President of IDA and President of the Arab Organization of Persons with Disabilities (AOPD), Dr Nawaf Kabbara, affirmed that this partnership represents a phenomenal model of international cooperation that can contribute to advancing the rights and empowerment of persons with disabilities worldwide.He commended the leading role assumed by Qatar in this domain, noting that his visits to several institutions concerned with persons with disabilities in Qatar revealed advanced experiences and exemplary practices that reaffirm the nation's steadfast commitment to promoting inclusion and meaningful participation of this group, emphasizing that Qatar has emerged as a regional and global role model.He added that the national efforts in Qatar embody dynamic leadership and a genuine desire to ensure that persons with disabilities are partners in development and prosperity, noting that this approach serves as an inspiring model for many countries and international organizations.Dr. Kabbara, in his capacity as President of AOPD, touted the progress materialized across the Arab region in empowering persons with disabilities, emphasizing that such strides reinforce the prospects for achieving inclusive and sustainable development on both the national and regional stages.The program of the event, which brought together international and regional officials and experts, featured a series of panel discussions and specialized workshops, most notably a session on global horizons: from Berlin to Amman 2025, a session on innovation in inclusion, and a workshop on the invisible majority: bridging the disability data gap. The program also included specialized workshops titled: from disability to participation and integrating children with disabilities, organized in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Unicef program.

Family Food Centre, Qatar’s oldest organised supermarket chain, has marked its 47th anniversary, celebrating over four decades of trust, value, and togetherness with the people of Qatar.Since opening its doors in 1978, Family Food Centre has grown from a single store into a household name, serving generations with a commitment to quality, variety, and exceptional customer care.To commemorate the milestone, Family Food Centre has launched a special ‘Shop & Win’ anniversary promotion, giving customers the chance to win one of three brand-new Jetour T2 SUVs.For every QR50 spent at any Family Food Centre or Family Mart branch, or when shopping online at www.family.qa, shoppers will receive an e-raffle coupon to enter the draw. The promotion will run from September 25 to December 24, 2025, with the grand draw taking place on December 25, 2025, at the Family Food Centre branch in Al Kheesa.In addition to the exciting giveaway, the anniversary season features exclusive promotions highlighting products from around the world and locally sourced favourites — a hallmark of Family Food Centre’s diverse and ever-growing range. Family Food Centre remains true to its founding promise: to bring families together through quality products, fair prices, and friendly service.Join the celebration at any of the Family Food Centre outlets in Al Kheesa, Al Rayyan, Al Nasr, Old Airport Road, or Family Mart at Doha Souq Mall, and be part of Qatar’s most trusted shopping tradition.Shoppers can also enjoy exclusive online promotions and home delivery through www.family.qa or the Family Qatar app, available on both iOS and Android.

In collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), the Primary Health Care Corp (PHCC) has launched the Family Medicine Certificate Programme, which aims to prepare a new generation of general practitioners specialising in family medicine, qualified to provide comprehensive community healthcare in any public or private healthcare facility in Qatar.The programme launched on September 1, welcoming its first cohort of 15 medical school graduates, children of residents. It will continue for one full-time year.The programme focuses on building a solid scientific and practical foundation through intensive clinical training, evidence-based practice, and multidisciplinary collaboration across health centers.Executive Director of the Clinical Affairs Directorate at PHCC Dr. Hanan al-Mujalli said the new programme reflects Qatar's strategic direction toward strengthening primary care, a long-term investment in community health.She pointed out that graduates of this programme will contribute to early diagnosis and prevention of diseases, thus promoting health in the community.