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His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani crowned Morocco as the winners of FIFA Arab Cup 2025 here at the Lusail Stadium last night.**media[395421]**Morocco clinched the title with a 3-2 win over Jordan after extra time in the final witnessed by a record crowd.The closing ceremony was also attended by His Highness Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani, the Personal Representative of the Amir, His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Thani, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al-Thani.**media[395422]**Also present were His Excellency Hassan bin Abdullah al-Ghanim, Chairman of the Shura Council, and a number of Their Excellencies, the Sheikhs and ministers.**media[395424]**The closing ceremony was also attended by Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, Crown Prince of Jordan, Gianni Infantino, president of FIFA, HE Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim al-Khalifa, President of the Asian Football Confederation, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal al-Saud, Saudi minister of sports, and president of the Arab Football Federation, a number of senior officials from brotherly and friendly countries, heads of delegations, heads of Olympic committees and Arab and international federations, Their Excellencies, the heads of diplomatic missions accredited to the country, and a large audience.

This week in Doha marked a significant moment in the global fight against corruption as two major international initiatives converged with a shared purpose: The 11th Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (CoSP11), organised by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), brought together governments and international stakeholders from across the world, while the Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani International Anti-Corruption Excellence Award (ACE Award) recognised outstanding contributions in the field of anti-corruption.Together, these events underscored the importance of unity and collective responsibility in addressing one of the most pressing challenges of our time: the fight against corruption.The United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) conference remains the principal global platform for advancing international co-operation against corruption.It provides a structured space for states to assess progress, strengthen legal frameworks, and exchange best practices aimed at preventing corruption and enhancing institutional accountability.Throughout the conference, discussions emphasised a peaceful perspective: collaboration over confrontation.Resolutions considered by the Parties to the Convention focused on addressing the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in preventing and combating corruption, strengthening the integrity of children and young people, enhancing transparency in the financing of political parties and election campaigns, and examining the role corruption plays in facilitating other crimes, including migrant smuggling and environmental crimes (UN Information Service Vienna).Within this multilateral framework, the ACE Award added a vital human dimension to the week’s proceedings.The award recognises individuals and institutions that have demonstrated exceptional leadership and tangible impact in advancing transparency and combating corruption – often going far beyond their professional duties and, in some cases, risking their lives in pursuit of a better future for their societies.Beyond recognition, it serves as a moral statement: ethical leadership and principled action are not only necessary, but worthy of global acknowledgment.Seeing individuals and institutions come together with a shared determination to defend human rights and combat corruption restores confidence in the international system and the values that guide it.It highlights the presence of committed people working consistently for the public good, as well as countries, such as Qatar, willing to recognise and strengthen these efforts in the pursuit of a fairer and more transparent world. The writer is a presenter at Gulf Times. 

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani attended the award ceremony of the 9th Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani International Anti-Corruption Excellence (ACE) Award at Katara Hall in the Fairmont and Raffles Hotels in Doha Sunday.Also attending were His Excellency Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani; His Excellency Speaker of the Shura Council, Hassan bin Abdullah al Ghanim; President of FIFA, Gianni Infantino; and a number of Their Excellencies ministers, heads of diplomatic missions accredited to Qatar, alongside high-ranking officials and distinguished guests.During the ceremony, a film was screened documenting the award and its history and evolution in countering corruption, as well as the ongoing efforts by the award winners and their outstanding contributions through presenting exemplary models and demonstrating leadership, innovation, and commitment to combating corruption.His Highness the Amir honoured Professor Nikos Passas and Dr. Marianne Camerer, winners of the Academic Research and Educational Materials Award, as well as Gloria Pallares-Venials, Tatenda Chitagu, and Andiswa Matekenka, winners of the Innovation and Investigative Journalism Award.**media[393709]**In addition, His Highness honoured Mar Niang and Motiullah Wesa, winners of the Youth Creativity and Engagement Award, along with Drago Kos and Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili, winners of the Lifetime Achievement and Outstanding Achievement Award.On this occasion, Acting Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), John Brandolino, delivered remarks, in addition to the remarks of Acting Under-Secretary-General for Counter-Terrorism at the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), Alexandre Zouev, and His Excellency Chairman of the Higher Committee for the Award, Dr. Ali bin Fetais al-Marri.Members of the Higher Committee for the Award and the Award’s Advisory Committee, along with members of the Executive Committee and the Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption (GOPAC), as well as several international researchers specializing in the field of the award, attended the ceremony. 

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani inaugurated the 23rd edition of the Doha Forum 2025, held under the theme ''Justice in Action: Beyond Promises to Progress'' at the Sheraton Doha Hotel Saturday.The opening ceremony was attended by a number of heads of state and government, and chiefs of regional and international organisations.**media[390369]**The ceremony was also attended by His Excellency Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani, His Excellency Speaker of the Shura Council Hassan bin Abdullah al-Ghanim, a number of ministers, heads of diplomatic missions accredited to Qatar, and forum guests.**media[390371]**During the ceremony, His Highness the Amir presented the Doha Forum Award to Alex Thier and Saad Mohseni, recognising their contributions to supporting children's education in Palestine and Afghanistan, in partnership with the Education Above All Foundation.HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani delivered a speech on the occasion.**media[390370]**Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, also delivered a keynote address on this occasion. His Highness the Amir affirmed that this year's Doha Forum is held amid regional and international circumstances that require the concerted efforts of all to reduce tensions and support peace and sustainability in the region and the world.His Highness said, in a post on his official account on X, that this year's Doha Forum is held amid regional and international circumstances that require the concerted efforts of all to reduce tensions and support peace and sustainability in the region and the world, by consolidating justice, promoting human development, and upholding the principles of peaceful solutions to various conflicts.His Highness the Amir wished the forum's guests success and prosperity, and welcomed them to Qatar.

Since its inception, the WISE Prize for Education has become one of the most respected international recognitions in education, honouring visionary individuals and organisations whose work delivers lasting, systemic impact for learners and communities worldwide.Under its new structure that expands the impact of education solutions, six finalists were shortlisted for the accolade, with three winning educational solutions being chosen and awarded during the summit’s closing ceremony.Stavros N Yiannouka, CEO of WISE, said: “Each year, the WISE Prize reaffirms that transformative educational change begins with individuals and organisations who dare to rethink what learning can be. These winning solutions demonstrate what is possible when innovation is grounded in evidence and committed to improving learning and life outcomes at scale.”Yiannouka also noted that three themes have emerged from WISE12. He stated: “The first is that education must remain a deeply human endeavour. The second theme that emerged is that tools and technologies have always been part of the human story. But they exist to serve us, not the other way around.“Today we are on the cusp of something potentially very different. We are introducing not just a tool or a technology, but potentially an alien intelligence. We are introducing it into our homes, into our workplaces, and into our classrooms. We must ensure that it is fully aligned with our interests, our values, and that it supports and not detracts from human partnership.”Abhijit Banerjee, Nobel Prize winner and a professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology speaking at the closing session noted that with artificial intelligence and with the rise of different access to technologies, there is also a vivid promise of a future.“It could be entirely different where access would be through many different mechanisms that we haven’t visualised right now. I think that it is very important that in this moment we hold on to the excitement and the optimism because I think one of the things that almost surely will happen is already happening,” he added.

The draw for the 2026 AFC Futsal Asian Cup took place Wednesday in Jakarta, Indonesia. The draw ceremony saw 16 teams divided into four groups, each containing four teams, with the top two teams from each group qualifying for the quarterfinals.Host nation Indonesia was drawn into Group A alongside Iraq, Kyrgyzstan, and South Korea.Group B: Thailand, Vietnam, Kuwait, and Lebanon.Group C: Uzbekistan, four-time champions Japan, Tajikistan and Australia.Group D: Iran, the record holder with 13 titles, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia and Malaysia.

The Cultural Village Foundation (Katara) announced that it will hold an award ceremony to honor the winners of the first edition of the Katara Prize for Manuscripts and Archaeological Sites for 2024. The ceremony will be held on the evening of Thursday, Oct. 30, in Hall 15.The ceremony will include the unveiling of the winning research papers, which will be published by Katara Publishing House. President of the Mauritanian Association for the Preservation of Arabic Heritage and the Environment and Combating Extremism, Abdullah Mohammed Bilal, will also be honored in recognition of his organization's exhibition of Arabic Manuscripts. The exhibition featured a distinguished collection of literary and historical manuscripts and was held in conjunction with the 10th Katara Festival for Arabic Novels, which ran from October 13–20, 2024.The award committee selected three winners: Syrian researcher Walid Al Saraqbi, who won in first place with a cash prize of USD 20,000 for his verified manuscript titled "Tadhkirat Al Nahhat by Abu Hayyan." Second place went to Egyptian researchers Ahmed Abdel Basset and Ahmed Abdel Sattar with their verified manuscript entitled "Ma Wasala Min Al-Jami' Al-Mustaqsa Fi Fadhail Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa by Ibn Asakir (600 AH)." The two researchers will receive a cash prize of USD 15,000.In third place was Egyptian researcher Nuha Hussein Al Hafnawi for her verified manuscript entitled "Tuhfat Al-Adab Fi Al-Rihlah Min Damietta Ila Al-Sham Wa Halab by Ahmed Al Adhami (1159 AH)," with a cash prize of USD 10,000.The Cultural Village Foundation (Katara) launched the first edition of the Katara Prize for Manuscripts and Archaeological Sites on March 11, 2024. The award comprises two categories: the first for an investigation of an original, previously unpublished manuscript, and the second for the best research study on archaeological sites or landmarks in the Arab region, subject to specific conditions.This award aims to encourage manuscript owners, experts, and specialists in manuscript editing to share and widely disseminate their collections and research efforts, thereby enhancing Arab and Islamic culture. It also contributes to encouraging Arabic publishing and urging publishers to contribute to the advancement of the Arab mind and enrich Arab culture with new and distinctive content, keeping pace with contemporary issues.

The State of Qatar participated in the opening ceremony of the North Bund International Shipping & Aviation Forum 2025, held in Shanghai, People's Republic of China. The State of Qatar's delegation to the forum was led by His Excellency Consul General of the State of Qatar in Shanghai, Rashed bin Mubarak Al Khater. The Secretary of the Party Committee of Shanghai Municipality, Chen Jining, attended the ceremony, alongside the Minister of Transport of the People's Republic of China, Liu Wei, and the Mayor of Shanghai, Gong Zheng, in addition to high-level international participation.

Under the patronage of His Excellency Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education will celebrate World Teachers' Day on Sunday. The ceremony will honor a group of teachers in recognition of their distinguished contributions and pivotal role in preparing generations and shaping the future. The Ministry affirms that World Teachers' Day represents an important occasion to renew pride in the mission of education and highlight the role of teachers as the cornerstone of achieving sustainable human development, within the framework of Qatar National Vision 2030.

His Excellency Minister of Interior, Commander of the Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya), and Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Police Academy Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani attended on Thursday the graduation ceremony of 13 officers of the first batch of the second-line leadership program at the Police Officers Institute at the Academy's headquarters.During the ceremony, His Excellency handed out certificates to the graduates in the presence of a number of leaders and heads of the country's security and military agencies.The program aimed to prepare a new generation of security leaders capable of contributing to the development of institutions and facing future challenges. The program was implemented in cooperation with the IE University in Spain, which specializes in leadership.

Qatar Airways will make history this year as the first ever ‘Presenting Partner’ of the world’s most prestigious award ceremony in football, Ballon d’Or, reinforcing the airline’s deep commitment to global sport and excellence.The 69th edition of the Ballon d’Or will take place on September 22 at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, France.For over six decades, the Ballon d’Or has crowned the greatest players in football, celebrating talent, dedication, and achievement on the world stage.This new partnership unites the national airline with the “world’s best” players, and marks a milestone in Qatar Airways’ ongoing support of the global sporting community.As the airline that connects fans, players, and cultures across the globe, Qatar Airways’ role as the 69th Balon d’Or ceremony ‘Presenting Partner’ underscores its purpose-driven ambition – to bring the world together through the universal language of sport.Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Badr Mohammed al-Meer, said: “We are delighted to become the first ever Presenting Partner of the Ballon d’Or Ceremony as we celebrate the legends who inspire generations. This partnership is a testament to our unwavering commitment to excellence, and by aligning Qatar Airways, the World’s Best Airline with the World’s Best Footballers, we are reinforcing our brand's dedication to being the very best in every arena we enter. Just as we connect people and places through our extensive network and award-winning service, this partnership will further our mission to connect dreams, cultures and the passion for football across continents.”UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin, said: “The Ballon d’Or is more than an award - it’s a celebration of inspirational talents who define football and its history. We are honoured to welcome Qatar Airways as the first presenting partner of this iconic ceremony. “Together, we celebrate not only a passion for the beautiful game and excellence without borders, but also the profound value of bringing the world closer together.”The Ballon d’Or is awarded annually by France Football magazine, honouring the world’s best players across the Men’s and Women’s game. The full set of nominees for the 2025 Ballon d'Or can be found here.This partnership marks another chapter in Qatar Airways’ portfolio of high-profile global sports partnerships, including the likes of FIFA, UEFA Champions League and National Team Competitions, Formula 1®, Paris-Saint Germain (PSG), FC Internazionale Milano, AFC, Tennis Legend – Novak Djokovic, The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), MotoGP, the IRONMAN Triathlon Series, French Rugby Team – Section Paloise, The Brooklyn Nets NBA Team, and multiple other disciplines including Australian football, equestrian, motor racing, padel, squash, and tennis.

The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change honored the students participating in the second edition of the 2025 Summer Environmental Club program, along with their sponsors, lecturers, environmental leaders, and supervisors, during a ceremony organized by the ministry. The two-week club, which saw the participation of 20 students, featured a series of lectures, workshops, practical activities, and field visits to introduce the concepts of environmental sustainability and climate change issues. His Excellency Minister of Environment and Climate Change Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie affirmed that the club represents a unique initiative to enhance youth awareness of the environment and inform them of the most prominent contemporary challenges. He praised the participants' interactions and ideas, which reflect the new generation's awareness of the importance of protecting the local environment and supporting the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030. His Excellency also praised the cooperation of the partners, most notably the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), as well as the lecturers and supervisors who contributed to simplifying environmental concepts for students. The ceremony concluded with the distribution of certificates and commemorative shields to the students and participating entities in appreciation of their efforts in making the second edition of the club a success.