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 Birla Public School (BPS) emerged as the overall champion in the Schools Category at the Qatar Debate Open (British Parliamentary format) 2026–27, hosted by Qatar Debate at Georgetown University in Qatar on 2-3 October 2026.  The two-day championship brought together 84 teams from Indian and international schools worldwide, providing a competitive platform for young debaters to engage in rigorous argumentation and critical discourse. The participating teams competed through four qualifying league rounds, following which the top-performing teams advanced to the knockout stages.  Birla Public School fielded three teams in the competition: Team 1, comprising Ananya Roseleen Mathias (Grade XII) and Arnav Suhag (Grade X); Team 2, comprising Ryan Geo (Grade X) and Mohammed Zidane (Grade X); and Team 3, comprising Ayaan Noushad (Grade X) and Hiteshnath Suresh (Grade X). All six debaters delivered strong performances throughout the preliminary league rounds, with the three teams securing 10, 8, and 6 points, respectively. Two teams from BPS progressed through the quarter-final and semifinal stages to reach the Grand Final. Following a closely contested final debate, Team 1 secured the Championship title in the Schools Category, marking a significant achievement for the school on the international debating circuit.  The BPS debaters also earned notable individual accolades. Ananya Roseleen Mathias of Grade XII was adjudged the Best Speaker in the League, while Arnav Suhag of Grade X was awarded Third Best Speaker in the League and the Best Speaker in the Grand Final.  Khalid al-Ali Rahim, Communication Co-ordinator at Qatar Foundation, and Dr Christine Schiwietz, Senior Adviser to the Dean at Georgetown University in Qatar, presented the awards during the closing ceremony.  The school leadership congratulated the participating debaters, coaching staff, and support team for their thorough preparation and performance on the international debate circuit.The success at the Qatar Debate Open 2026–27 adds another significant milestone to Birla Public School’s engagement with the international debate circuit. It highlights the students’ ability to perform with distinction on a global platform. 

The Social and Sport Contribution Fund (DAAM) has signed a funding agreement with QatarDebate Center, founded by Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, to support local debating leagues and championships and expand the Center's educational publications.Under the agreement, DAAM will provide financial support for the Center's annual debating leagues and championships in Arabic and English for students from preparatory school through university.The funding will also support the development of specialized curricula and educational resources aimed at promoting Arabic-language debating through publications and instructional materials.Hassan Yousef Al Obaidly, Director of Programs at DAAM, said the partnership reflects the Fund's commitment to supporting initiatives that foster constructive dialogue and empower young people by developing their skills and enhancing their contribution to national development.Abdulrahman Al Subaie, Administrative and Strategy Director at QatarDebate Center, said the agreement would help expand the reach of the Center's programs and strengthen their long-term sustainability while advancing debating as an educational tool that promotes critical thinking and constructive dialogue among younger generations.Founded in 2008, QatarDebate Center is a leading institution dedicated to promoting the culture of debate and dialogue. It develops educational and competitive programs, produces specialized research and publications, and builds strategic partnerships to advance debating in Arabic and English both in Qatar and internationally.The agreement reflects the role of DAAM and companies listed on the Qatar Stock Exchange in supporting cultural initiatives and sustainable development in line with Qatar National Vision 2030.Since its establishment in 2010, DAAM has launched numerous initiatives across the cultural, social, sports and charitable sectors, with contributions from listed companies serving as one of the Fund's principal financial resources.  

Questions of identity, innovation, and the future of education took centre stage Sunday at the third Mutual Dialogue Summit in Doha, uniting GCC youth and experts in dialogue aimed at turning ideas into impact. The summit is organised by QatarDebate Centre and runs over two days at Msheireb Museums, with the participation of more than 100 young men and women from the GCC countries. The event is held in strategic partnership with the Ministry of Sports and Youth, and in co-operation with Msheireb Museums as a cultural partner. The summit opened with an inaugural speech by Reem al-Musallam, director of the Communications Department at QatarDebate Centre, who stressed that cultural and intellectual heritage should not be viewed as a static past, but rather as a source of inspiration upon which the future is built. She addressed the participants, saying: “You are the heirs of a rich legacy, one we do not carry as a past at which we stop, but as a source of inspiration from which we draw energy, build new ideas, and open broader horizons for the future, serving as a starting point for a vision led by youth with open minds and ambitions that go beyond the familiar.” Al-Musallam stressed that the summit serves as a platform for raising questions about the future and as a space for dialogue intended to be interpreted into impact and shared responsibility. The summit serves as a unifying platform for experts and decision-makers to discuss contemporary issues. The first session, titled “Redefining Education in the Digital Age through Educational Technology,” was moderated by Salem al-Shamkhi, QatarDebate ambassador, with the participation of Aldana Alsemaitt, Programme Associate at the WISE Conference; Mohamed al-Suraye, co-founder of the Dawrat platform; and Ahmed Farag, entrepreneur, founder, and expert in educational technology. Speakers discussed the role of digital innovation in developing the education system, enhancing learning quality, and envisioning the future of education. Another session titled “Gulf Architecture between Memory and Innovation” followed, with the participation of Ibrahim al-Jaidah, architect and CEO of Arab Engineering Bureau; Bashar al-Salem from Kuwait, architect and CEO of Kayan; and moderated by Moza al-Obaidan, architect and public policy researcher. The session addressed ways to maintain a healthy balance between preserving Gulf architectural identity and embracing innovation in contemporary urban design. It explored harmonising visual identity with modern requirements and drawing inspiration from traditional solutions to adapt to environmental conditions. The panel also discussed adopting modern solutions that meet the specific requirements of the local environment and climate, as well as ways to incorporate key features of the original local heritage architecture into modern buildings to maintain the place’s visual identity and reflect its heritage. The Aisha al-Nesf, head of Communications and Executive Affairs at the Qatar Debate Centre, stressed that the Mutual Dialogue Summit 2026 seeks to provide an interactive space that brings young people together around constructive dialogue and thoughtful discussions on shared issues, promoting a culture of critical thinking and supporting their ability to propose innovative solutions rooted in identity and aligned with future aspirations. 

DPS-Modern Indian School's team comprising Syed Sohbaan Raza, Mokshith Basineni and Kabir Khanna clinched three remarkable wins and secured the top team score among 60 teams in the QPSDL Boys Debate League. Raza also won the best speaker award in the first league and Kabir the fourth best speaker award. Principal Asna Nafees congratulated the debaters. 

Qatar has reiterated that the success of the first phase of the agreement to end the war in the Gaza Strip is a collective responsibility to ensure its implementation, leading to a comprehensive cessation of hostilities and the achievement of peace and stability in the region, in full compliance with the principles of the Charter and international law.This came in a statement delivered by Qatar's Permanent Representative to the UN HE Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif al-Thani, during the Quarterly Open Debate of the Security Council on the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question, held at the UN headquarters in New York.HE Sheikha Alya noted that the meeting follows the convening of the Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit on Oct 13, highlighting the participation of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, in the signing ceremony of the agreement to end the war in Gaza, alongside US President Donald Trump, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.She added that over the past two years, Qatar has continued its mediation efforts in partnership with Egypt and the US, and despite challenges and obstacles, an agreement was reached to end the bloodshed and humanitarian suffering in Gaza.HE Sheikha Alya pointed out that the mediation succeeded in securing humanitarian truces that alleviated suffering by delivering aid to the Palestinian people and facilitating the release of detainees and prisoners.She emphasised that Qatar remains committed to its role as a mediator and peace-building leader, with its wise leadership dedicated to resolving conflicts through diplomatic means and undertaking humanitarian efforts to relieve the suffering of the people of Gaza and create favourable conditions for the return of displaced persons.She explained that the Qatar's Gaza Reconstruction Committee has initiated efforts to rebuild by clearing rubble, reopening main roads, and facilitating the movement of Palestinians within the Strip. Qatar also launched a land bridge through Jordanian and Egyptian territories to deliver humanitarian aid, including shelter tents and food and medical supplies for more than 436,000 affected individuals in the Strip.HE Sheikha Alya reaffirmed Qatar's welcome of the UN General Assembly's adoption of the New York Declaration on implementing the two-state solution and establishing an independent Palestinian state.She expressed appreciation for the leadership roles of Saudi Arabia and France in this regard and welcomed the positive stances of countries that have recognised the State of Palestine, affirming its rightful claim to full UN membership.She stressed that for a peaceful settlement and the success of the two-state solution, it is essential to reject actions that undermine it, including settlement expansion in the West Bank, settler violence, and land appropriation, affirming that Gaza is an inseparable part of Palestinian territory and of a unified Palestinian state.She conveyed Qatar's strongest condemnation of the Israeli Knesset's approval of two draft laws aimed at imposing Israeli sovereignty over the occupied West Bank, describing them as a challenge to international law and legitimate resolutions.She urged the international community, especially the Security Council, to assume its legal and moral responsibilities and take urgent action to compel Israeli authorities to halt expansionist plans and settlement policies in occupied Palestinian territories.She continued by condemning plans to construct a settlement that would sever East Jerusalem from the West Bank, calling it a blatant violation of international legitimacy, particularly Resolution 2334.HE Sheikha Alya expressed Qatar's denunciation of statements regarding the so-called Greater Israel Vision, considering them a continuation of crisis escalation and violations of state sovereignty and international law.HE Sheikha Alya also reaffirmed Qatar's support for Syria, its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national unity, and its people's aspirations for stability and development. She condemned Israeli attacks on Syria, describing them as grave violations of international law.She reiterated Qatar's steadfast support for the Republic of Lebanon and the efforts of its government, stressing the need for Israeli occupation forces to withdraw from all Lebanese territories, and called on all parties to strictly adhere to the ceasefire agreement.HE Sheikha Alya affirmed Qatar's unwavering commitment to its sincere and credible approach to the peaceful resolution of disputes through dialogue and mediation, and its support for all initiatives aimed at promoting peace and security in the region and the world.

The Ministry of Sports and Youth, in co-operation with the General Secretariat of the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC), has launched “The Art of Debate and Argument Building” training programme for GCC youth. The programme will run until Oct 24 in Doha.Held in partnership with the Qatar Foundation’s QatarDebate Center, the programme, aims to develop the skills of GCC youth in the art of debate, enhance their critical thinking and logical analysis capabilities, and to encourage constructive dialogue and persuasion skills.The programme also seeks to empower participants with the foundations and skills of debate, develop public speaking and discussion management skills, and promote shared values ​​and cultural understanding among GCC youth.The QatarDebate Center provides training to youth participating in the programme through certified trainers.The programme features specialised training workshops and practical experiences through mini-debate simulations, in addition to cultural activities and field visits to prominent landmarks in Qatar, with the aim of enhancing communication and building professional networks among participating Gulf youth.It targets youth from the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) countries, aged 18 to 29, with a total of 36 young men and women participating, five participants from each country, in addition to 11 participants from the host country, Qatar.In this context, Director of the Youth Affairs Department at the Ministry of Sports and Youth, Fawaz Abdullah al-Musaifari said in a remarks that the Ministry of Sports and Youth places great importance on supporting joint Gulf youth work, believing in the importance of strengthening cohesion and integration among youth from the GCC countries, and continuously striving to provide a supportive environment to empower Gulf youth and to enhance their capabilities.He explained that this programme represents a practical model of this approach, as it is keen to provide participants with the knowledge and skills that qualify them for leadership and effective contribution to their communities, thus enhancing the position of Gulf youth in the comprehensive development process.Regarding QatarDebate’s participation in the programme, Turki al-Suwaidi, programme specialist at QatarDebate, expressed pride in partnering with the Ministry of Sports and Youth to implement this programme, which aims to empower Gulf youth with the tools of constructive dialogue and the art of persuasion. He noted that QatarDebate believes in the importance of equipping youth with skills that enhance critical thinking and effective communication, and is committed, through this collaboration, to transferring debate training expertise and experience to a new generation of ambitious youth in the GCC countries. Programme Director, Nasser Mohammed al-Jabri emphasised the team’s full readiness to ensure the success of this programme, as all necessary preparations have been made to ensure a rich and distinguished training experience for all participants.Organising this programme reflects the Ministry of Sports and Youth’s commitment to promoting a culture of constructive dialogue and mutual understanding among the youth of the region, and to offering quality programmes that align with global best practices in building the capacity of youth and empowering them to become future leaders in their communities.