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The Ministry of Culture organized on Sunday a special international edition of its renowned "Seminar Season" in the French capital, Paris, in partnership with the Arab World Institute. Held for the first time outside the State of Qatar, the event was attended by His Excellency Minister of Culture Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad Al-Thani, His Excellency Ambassador of the State of Qatar to France Sheikh Ali bin Jassim Al-Thani, His Excellency Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture Dr. Ghanem bin Mubarak Al Ali, and the President of the Arab World Institute Jack Lang, alongside a number of ambassadors, academics, and researchers. In his address, HE Dr. Ghanem bin Mubarak Al Ali stressed that this exceptional edition of the Seminar Season reflects the Ministry's commitment to fostering continuous cultural dialogue among intellectual elites, and reaffirms the vital role of culture in promoting understanding between nations.He noted that hosting the Seminar Season at the Arab World Institute opens new horizons for creative exchange between East and West, while strengthening mutual recognition and appreciation of cultural identities. He expressed hope that the Paris edition would mark a new step in advancing cultural cooperation. HE Dr. Al Ali added that the partnership with the Institute embodies this goal, aiming to build bridges of communication with thinkers and intellectuals through cultural diplomacy that mirrors Qatar's standing at both regional and international levels. For his part, HE Sheikh Ali bin Jassim Al-Thani, Ambassador of Qatar to France, affirmed that the Minister of Culture's visit to Paris contributes to deepening cultural dialogue between Qatar and France. He described the Arab World Institute as an ideal platform for building bridges of cultural communication between the two countries, highlighting that hosting the international edition of the Seminar Season reflects the importance of the partnership with this leading global cultural institution.Meanwhile, Jack Lang, President of the Arab World Institute, underscored the importance of culture in fostering dialogue among civilizations, praising Qatar's role in promoting peace and supporting international mediation. He described the Seminar Season as an exceptional initiative and a creative platform for dialogue and communication between people. The event's first session, titled "The Future of Arab-European Cultural Dialogue," explored several key themes. Dr. Hassan Rashid Al Derham, former President of Qatar University, discussed major challenges facing dialogue between Arab and Western cultures and called for renewing the tools of dialogue to achieve deeper and more balanced engagement. Dr. Benedicte Letellier, Associate Professor at the University of La Réunion in France, highlighted the role of the Arabic language and translation in promoting Arab cultural values and strengthening intercultural understanding. She urged greater involvement of French youth in Arab cultural programs, enhanced teaching of Arabic, and the removal of linguistic and cultural barriers. His Excellency Ali Al Zainal, Qatari diplomat and academic and former Permanent Representative of Qatar to UNESCO, outlined seven key pillars of sustainable Arab-European dialogue, including mutual respect, equality, openness, tolerance, institutional and media support, and a focus on shared human values. He also highlighted the pivotal role of Qatari women and their contribution to cultural life, while criticizing Western media stereotypes of Arabs, particularly during coverage of Qatar's hosting of the FIFA World Cup 2022. Professor Jean-Baptiste Brinet, a medievalist and professor of Arabic philosophy at the University of Paris, addressed the historical roots of Western misperceptions of Arab culture, stressing that Arab civilization has long been an integral part of Europe's cultural identity. After a lively discussion, participants emphasized the need to adopt practical approaches to advancing cultural dialogue, making use of modern communication tools and empowering youth to participate in shaping intercultural exchange. The second session, titled "Arab Culture in European Capitals" and moderated by journalist Wassim Al Ahmar, featured Dr. Al Anoud Abdullah Al Khalifa, researcher at the Gulf and Arabian Peninsula Studies Unit at the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies. She noted that the Gulf's cultural presence in France serves as a mechanism for reimagining narratives and dismantling outdated dichotomies, adding that Qatar's cultural engagement in France plays an influential cognitive role in reshaping French cultural awareness through dialogue and institutional collaboration. French playwright Mohammed Qasimi emphasized that despite its historical complexities, civilizational dialogue remains a foundation for cultural exchange and shared creativity, describing the Arab-European literary and artistic legacy as a "rich and inexhaustible cultural mosaic."Researcher Naima Yahya called for greater respect for cultural and linguistic diversity to build an inclusive cultural model capable of integrating diverse identities into a shared global framework.The Seminar Season drew wide participation from French and Arab cultural and media figures, who praised the quality of discussions and the significance of the topics addressed. They stressed the importance of continuing and expanding the initiative to further promote dialogue and cultural exchange between nations.

American researchers have discovered that a naturally occurring compound produced by the body during exercise, known as Lac-Phe, can suppress hunger by acting on specific brain neurons — a finding that could open new horizons for treating obesity and weight-related disorders. The research team, which included scientists from Stanford University School of Medicine and the Dan L Duncan Neurological Research Institute in Texas, conducted a study published in the journal Nature Metabolism. The findings showed that physical exertion reduces appetite in laboratory mice and contributes to weight loss, according to the scientific website SciTech Daily. The researchers explained that the compound Lac-Phe targets neurons in the hypothalamus region of the brain known as AgRP cells, which are responsible for triggering hunger. By suppressing the activity of these neurons, Lac-Phe enhances the function of PVH neurons that promote the feeling of fullness. Dr. Yang He, Assistant Professor at the Dan L Duncan Institute, said: "Exercise is an effective way to lose weight and prevent diseases such as diabetes and heart problems — not only by increasing energy expenditure but also through mechanisms such as appetite regulation via Lac-Phe." Although the experiments were conducted on mice, the results are promising for potential human applications. The researchers emphasized the need for further studies to understand the role of Lac-Phe in metabolic conditions such as obesity and cachexia (severe weight loss) and to develop future therapeutic interventions. Earlier studies from Stanford and Baylor have shown that Lac-Phe (N-lactoyl-phenylalanine) is formed by combining lactate — produced during intense physical activity — with the amino acid phenylalanine. Elevated levels of this metabolite were found to reduce food intake in both mice and humans after exercise, supporting its potential as a natural appetite-suppressing mechanism.

A joint scientific study conducted by researchers at the Medical Research Institute of New Zealand, in collaboration with Imperial College London, the University of Otago, Starship Children's Hospital, and the University of Auckland, has revealed a new treatment for childhood asthma. The study, conducted using a dual anti-inflammatory inhaler that combines two medications, significantly reduces asthma attacks in children compared to the current standard medication, without any additional side effects. 360 children from across New Zealand were randomly assigned to use either the dual inhaler or salbutamol when needed to relieve asthma symptoms. The study lasted for a full year, and found that the dual inhaler did not cause any differences in children's growth, lung function, or asthma control compared to the standard medication, confirming its safety. Results also showed that the inhaler combining an inhaled corticosteroid (budesonide) and a rapid-acting bronchodilator (formoterol) reduced asthma attacks by 45% compared to salbutamol, currently used as a first-line treatment. Furthermore, the attack rate in children who used the combined device was 0.23 attacks per year per participant, compared to 0.41 attacks in the salbutamol group. This means that for every 100 children with mild asthma, the number of asthma attacks could be reduced by 18 per year. Dr Lee Hatter, lead author of the study, said that this study is an important step in bridging the knowledge gap between asthma treatment methods in adults and children. It has been demonstrated, for the first time, that the combined device significantly reduces asthma attacks in children with mild asthma, which could improve asthma treatment outcomes globally. The study's findings conclude that asthma is a serious chronic disease in children that can be life-threatening. Therefore, reducing the frequency and severity of asthma attacks is a vital medical goal. This study provides strong evidence for updating pediatric asthma treatment guidelines globally, in line with adult guidelines. This could benefit millions of children worldwide with mild and moderate asthma.