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His Excellency Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Republic of Austria and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Vienna, Ambassador Jassim Yaqoub Al Hammadi affirmed that Qatar's hosting of the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) for the second time represents a significant milestone in its continued efforts to spearhead collective international action against corruption.His Excellency explained that this hosting aligns with Qatar's strategic vision to reinforce multilateralism, support the United Nations and its affiliated institutions and conventions, and uphold the rule of law in international relations. These efforts, he noted, aim to confront global challenges while harnessing shared opportunities for sustainable and inclusive development.Speaking to Qatar News Agency (QNA) on the sidelines of the 11th session of the Conference of the States Parties to UNCAC, currently underway in Doha, HE Ambassador Al Hammadi expressed Qatar's pride in its outstanding record in preventing and combating corruption. "The State of Qatar is proud of its distinguished achievements in countering corruption," he stated, "which are underpinned by a comprehensive and robust legal and institutional framework, reinforced by a society deeply rooted in authentic Arab, Islamic, and humanitarian values that promote integrity and unequivocally reject corruption."He further underscored Qatar's unwavering support for regional and international anti-corruption initiatives, foremost among them the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption.His Excellency also highlighted the pre-conference ceremony marking the presentation of the Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani International Anti-Corruption Excellence Award, which has been conferred annually since 2016 upon distinguished individuals and institutions from around the world in recognition of their impactful contributions to the global fight against corruption. He emphasized Qatar's determination to ensure that the 11th session of the Conference, hosted in Doha, serves as a pivotal turning point that broadens horizons for international solidarity in combating corruption.This objective, he explained, will be advanced through the deliberations and resolutions adopted to strengthen the effective implementation of the Convention at national, regional, and international levels. Among these are two draft resolutions submitted by Qatar, one concerning the extension of the Convention's review mechanism, and the other focusing on enhancing international cooperation, technical assistance, capacity-building efforts, and the strategic use of artificial intelligence in the fight against corruption.HE Ambassador Al Hammadi cautioned against the grave and far-reaching consequences of corruption, describing it as a global scourge that depletes approximately five percent of global GDP and inflicts severe human, social, and ethical damage across societies and economies worldwide.He further stressed that corruption constitutes a major impediment to sustainable development, noting that the United Nations Convention against Corruption remains the only legally binding global instrument dedicated to combating this crime. He also highlighted the Convention's near-universal adoption by 192 States Parties, underscoring its global legitimacy and importance.The Ambassador noted that the 11th session of the Conference of the States Parties to UNCAC, hosted by the State of Qatar from December 15 to 19 under the theme "Shaping the Integrity of Tomorrow," is addressing a wide range of issues related to anti-corruption efforts in member states, including legal frameworks and enforcement mechanisms. Particular attention is being devoted to the role of emerging technologies — especially artificial intelligence — in addressing the increasingly complex nature of corruption in the modern era.Qatar's hosting of this landmark session, he concluded, reflects its deep-seated commitment to strengthening multilateral cooperation with international partners and consolidating a system of good governance that fosters integrity, transparency, and the development of effective anti-corruption policies.The Conference is widely regarded as the most significant and comprehensive global forum dedicated to combating corruption and promoting integrity and transparency. It brings together all 192 States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption, alongside more than 2,500 participants, including government officials, representatives of regional and international organizations, anti-corruption experts, private sector leaders, and civil society stakeholders.

Sri Lanka declared a state of emergency Saturday and appealed for international assistance as the death toll from heavy rains and floods triggered by Cyclone Ditwah rose to 153, with another 191 reported missing. The extreme weather system has destroyed more than 15,000 homes, sending 78,000 people to state-run temporary shelters, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake invoked emergency laws, granting him sweeping powers to deal with the devastation after a week of torrential rain across the island. “We have 153 confirmed dead and another 191 missing,” DMC Director-General Sampath Kotuwegoda said, adding that relief efforts had been bolstered with the deployment of the army, navy and air force. The military rescued 69 bus passengers on Saturday, including a German tourist, who were marooned in the Anuradhapura district after a 24-hour operation involving a helicopter and naval boats. One of the passengers, speaking to reporters at a local hospital, said navy sailors had helped them climb onto the roof of a nearby home after using ropes to help them safely wade through flood waters. “We were very lucky... while we were on the roof, a part of it collapsed... three women fell into the water, but they were helped back onto the roof,” Shantha said. A helicopter had to abort an initial rescue attempt as the downdraft from the rotors threatened to blow away the roof they were perched on, he said. They were later rescued by naval boats. Roads in the central district of Badulla remained inaccessible, leaving many villages cut off and relief supplies unable to get through. “We lost two people in our village... others are sheltering at a temple and a house that is still standing,” said Saman Kumara from the village of Maspanna in Badulla, one of the worst-affected districts. “We can’t leave the village and no one can come in because all roads are blocked by earth slips. There is no food and we are short of clean water,” he told media website News Center by telephone. Officials said about a third of the country was without electricity and running water as power lines had collapsed and water purification facilities were inundated. Internet connections were also disrupted in many areas. Cyclone Ditwah moved away from the island Saturday and was heading towards neighbouring India to the north. India’s Chennai Airport has cancelled 54 flights in view of the cyclone’s approach, with the weather department forecasting extremely heavy rainfall and strong winds over the next 48 hours. Fresh landslides hit the central district of Kandy, 115km (71 miles) east of Colombo, with the main access road underwater at several locations. The government has issued an appeal for international help and asked Sri Lankans abroad to make cash donations to support affected communities. Officials said Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya had met Colombo-based diplomats to update them on the situation and seek assistance from their governments. India was the first to respond, sending two plane loads of relief supplies, while an Indian warship already in Colombo on a previously planned goodwill visit donated its rations to help victims. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences over the loss of lives in Sri Lanka and said New Delhi was ready to send more aid. Flooding in low-lying areas worsened on Saturday, prompting authorities to issue evacuation orders for those living along the banks of the Kelani river, which flows into the Indian Ocean from Colombo. Rain had eased in most parts of the country, including the capital, but the island’s north was still experiencing showers due to the residual effects of Cyclone Ditwah. The cyclone is Sri Lanka’s deadliest natural disaster since 2017, when flooding and landslides killed more than 200 people and displaced hundreds of thousands of others. The worst flooding Sri Lanka has experienced since the turn of the century occurred in June 2003, when 254 people were killed. 

Both Qatar and Japan can take advantage of each other to provide assistance for Gaza and Syria in many areas such as education, reconstruction and humanitarian assistance, noted the Japanese ambassador, Naoto Hisajima. Hisajima was interacting with Waleed Ziad, associate professor of History at Georgetown University in Qatar ( GU-Q) , after he addressed a gathering at the university as part of GU-Q’s “Ambassador Speaker Series.” “Japan has been continuing its humanitarian assistance for a long time in Palestine and Syria. The reconstruction of the infrastructure will take years in Gaza and Syria. And there are many areas that Japan is good at, particularly, like education and building schools, or health sector and hospitals,” said the ambassador. “So, there are many opportunities, actually, for Japan to contribute to the reconstruction and humanitarian relief in both Gaza and Syria. And Qatar is obviously a neighbouring state and very active in this region. We know the parties in question very well. So, there are many chances for two countries taking advantage of the strength of each country and supporting Palestine and Syria,” said the ambassador. During his talk, ambassador Hisajima highlighted the long-standing relationship between Qatar and Japan and prominent areas of collaboration between the countries. “Japan was the first country to import Qatar's LNG in 1997. And not just Japan importing Qatar's LNG, Japan also co-operated with Qatar to develop Qatar's natural gas resources so that it could be exported to foreign countries,” he highlighted. “And since then, Qatar has been a longtime stable and reliable supplier and partner for Japan. Other than the relationship regarding natural gas, Japan's co-operation with Qatar in economic areas is particularly seen in the building of various infrastructure. There are some examples as Japan has collaborated with Doha Metro, Hamad International Airport, water desalination projects and both power plants,” he said. The Japanese envoy also highlighted that the number of visitors from Japan and Qatar is on the rise as there is a steady increase in the number in recent years with Qatar Airways operating daily flights between Japan and Qatar. “It is such a convenience that we have direct flights between Japan and Qatar. I myself have had the privilege of being on the plane direct from Tokyo to Doha. And there are daily four flights between either Tokyo, Osaka, and Doha,” added the ambassador. **media[383100]** The lecture was followed by a ‘Japanese Cultural Evening' event, where Japanese food, martial arts, drum performances and several other cultural performances took place.

Jordan announced Sunday the arrival of 45 individuals from various countries aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla to Jordan along the King Hussein Bridge. The Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it facilitated their passage and provided them with the necessary assistance, in cooperation with relevant Jordanian authorities. The ministry's spokesperson, Fouad Al-Majali, indicated that coordination has been made with the embassies of countries to organize and facilitate the departure of their citizens from Jordanian territory. The Global Sumud Flotilla, which set sail in late August, represents the latest attempt by activists to challenge the Israeli naval blockade of the Gaza Strip, which has been subjected to a genocidal campaign by the Israeli occupation forces, resulting in the martyrdom of over 67,000 people, tens of thousands more wounded, widespread destruction of infrastructure, and an unprecedented humanitarian disaster.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed on Thursday the agreement on the first phase of the peace plan presented by US President Donald Trump.Modi expressed hope that the release of the hostages and increased humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza would bring much-needed relief, paving the way for lasting peace in the region.US President Donald Trump announced earlier today that Israel and the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) had signed the first phase of the peace plan. He expressed his thanks to the mediators from the State of Qatar, the Arab Republic of Egypt, and the Republic of Turkiye.

Jordanian Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, currently visiting the United States, met with US State Department Under Secretary for Foreign Assistance and Humanitarian Affairs Jeremy Lewin.During the meeting, they discussed efforts to restore comprehensive calm and achieve peace in the region, as well as the importance of supporting Syria and Lebanon's efforts to preserve their stability, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.