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The Ministry of Interior, through the General Directorate of Traffic, has launched a public awareness campaign in the Sealine area to promote traffic safety culture among car and motorcycle sports enthusiasts. The campaign included a visit to the Sealine Car Track and meetings with supervisors, participants and spectators to highlight safety procedures and the importance of following them. It also featured awareness activities, interactive competitions and the distribution of educational materials to help raise awareness among young people and reduce risks. **media[382254]** Lt. Col. Hadi Mohammed al-Hajri, media and communications officer at the General Directorate of Traffic, said during the campaign that the directorate is committed to the safety of visitors to the Sealine area and to promoting traffic awareness across all segments of the community. He noted that the awareness messages rely on being physically present among the target audience to ensure clarity and impact. Lt. Col. al-Hajri stressed the importance of protecting the lives of racers and motorsport enthusiasts by adhering to safety rules and requirements, adding that they should set an example for other young people. He also praised the efforts of the Qatar Traffic Safety Society and the organisers of the Sealine track, commending their co-operation in providing a safe environment that enables young people to pursue their interests within well-regulated guidelines.

Qatar has officially joined the Global Alliance for Food Safety for the period 2025 to 2027.The alliance brings together leading countries in the field of food safety and the World Health Organization's (WHO) collaborating centres, with the aim of enhancing coordination, knowledge exchange and integration of efforts in implementing the Global Strategy for Food Safety 2022-2030.The network focuses on monitoring food-borne diseases and detecting food contamination.The announcement of Qatar's accession was made during the participation of the Ministry of Public Health in the Alliance's annual meeting, which was recently held in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.The meeting brought together representatives from more than 40 countries and around 90 participants from regional and international organizations collaborating with the World Health Organization, as well as national institutions, research centres and academic bodies.The meeting served as a vital international platform to review achievements, share experiences, and define future priorities and steps, including opportunities for cooperation and resource mobilisation to support national and regional programmes.During the meeting, it was also announced that a group of specialists from the Food Safety Department at the Ministry of Public Health would join four working groups covering various areas to support the alliance's programmes and enhance the exchange of expertise among member states.Director of the Food Safety Department at the Ministry of Public Health Wasan Abdulla al-Baker stated, "Our participation in the Alliance's annual meeting represents an opportunity to strengthen international co-operation and exchange expertise and best practices in the field of food safety"."It also enables us to contribute effectively to accelerating the implementation of the Global Strategy for Food Safety 2022-2030, enhance Qatar's global role in the field of food safety, broaden its vision within the international community and increase its impact in promoting global food safety standards," she added.Qatar's accession to the alliance reflects the country's commitment to actively contributing to international efforts to enhance food safety through the development of partnerships and capacity building among member states.This will help to strengthen national capabilities, achieve the goals of the Global Strategy for Food Safety 2022-2030 and reduce the health risks posed by food-borne diseases at both national and international levels.

Fifteen people, mostly children, died when a boat sank in a lake in northeastern Ghana. Ghanaian authorities reported that 11 children, aged between two and 14 (five boys and six girls), were among the dead in the accident on Lake Volta in the Oti Region. A statement issued by the Maritime Authority stated that the children and other victims were traveling from Okuma to Bovime when their boat capsized, noting that four adults survived. The statement added that the incident was a serious and unacceptable violation of safety standards. The statement noted that a specialized team has been deployed to determine the cause of the sinking, noting that preliminary findings indicate that the boat was overloaded. The authority confirmed that it will form a high-level investigation committee with the Ministry of Transport, and will launch an ongoing process to enforce lakeside safety measures to ensure compliance with passenger limits and lifejacket regulations. Boating accidents are common on Lake Volta, often caused by overloading and collisions with tree trunks. In August, six people were killed in a similar accident, and 18 people died in May 2023 after their boat struck a submerged tree trunk.

Ashghal has been awarded the RoSPA Gold Medal for Safety by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) for the sixth consecutive year.Engineer Sarah Abdullah Mohammed, a Planning Engineer from the Asset Affairs Sector, represented Ashghal in receiving the award for the Mesaimeer Pumping Station and Outfall Project (MPSO). She stated: “This international distinction is a tribute to Ashghal's efforts in promoting health and safety across all operations and maintenance activities."

The Qatar Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Caribbean Aviation Safety and Security Oversight System (CASSOS), aimed at enhancing co-operation in civil aviation.**media[361685]**The MoU was signed by QCAA Acting President Mohammed bin Faleh al-Hajri and CASSOS chairperson Nari Williams-Singh. The signing took place on the sidelines of the CARICOM Forum, held under the theme "Strengthening Regional Co-operation in Aviation Safety and Security for a Sustainable Future for All," in conjunction with the 42nd Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), currently taking place in Montreal, Canada.**media[361686]**The agreement aims to bolster co-operation in various areas, including aviation safety, security, air navigation, and environmental sustainability. It also focuses on capacity building and professional development in the civil aviation sector, contributing to sectoral growth and integration of aviation systems both regionally and globally.**media[361687]**On the sidelines of the assembly, al-Hajri also held bilateral meetings with key international aviation leaders, including Deputy Administrator of the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Chris Rocheleau; Director General of the Italian Civil Aviation Authority, Alexander D'Orsogna; and Minister of Transport and Infocommunications of the Sultanate of Brunei Darussalam, Pengiran Dato Shamhary Mustapha.The meetings discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in civil aviation, support joint initiatives within ICAO, and exchange views on key issues on the agenda of the 42nd ICAO Assembly.

The National Conference on Food Safety, which will start Monday is considered a pivotal milestone within national efforts to develop and strengthen the food system and ensure its safety, stressed Jaber Hassan al-Jaber, chairman of the Organising Committee of the Conference.He noted that the event reflects the integration of institutional roles to achieve a safe and sustainable food future, improve the quality of life, and raise public health standards. The National Conference on Food Safety will be held under the patronage of HE Abdullah bin Hamad bin Abdullah al-Attiyah, Minister of Municipality, and HE Mansour bin Ebrahim bin Saad al-Mahmoud, Minister of Public Health, from Sept 22-23. It will bring together several ministers, senior officials, decision-makers, and experts in health and food safety.Al-Jaber explained that the conference, organised in partnership between the Ministry of Municipality and the Ministry of Public Health, is part of Qatar’s efforts to establish food safety as a cornerstone of Qatar National Vision 2030. He further stressed that it serves as a vital platform for exchanging expertise and showcasing best practices, strengthening Qatar’s position in the field of food security and safety. The conference will address seven main themes, including legislation and policies by reviewing national and international laws and regulations with emphasis on the draft food law and the Amiri decision to establish the authority; technology and innovation through showcasing the latest applications and programmes such as the electronic food control system and the smart inspection programme; risk management by discussing control systems based on risk assessment and management and the impact of climate change; scientific research and studies by highlighting the role of research in addressing food safety challenges; sustainability and food security by linking safety standards with sustainability concepts to ensure food security; emergency and food-borne disease management by presenting best practices for prevention and rapid response; and Qatar’s experience in the FIFA World Cup 2022 by highlighting the strict oversight that ensured the safety of food served during the tournament.Meanwhile, Khalid al-Sulaiti, deputy chairman of the Organising Committee and assistant director of the Food Safety Department at the Ministry of Public Health, stressed that the National Conference on Food Safety is a significant national initiative reflecting Qatar’s commitment, under the wise leadership of His Highness the Amir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani to establish a comprehensive food safety system. He explained that this commitment stems from the crucial role of food safety in protecting community health from food-related risks. He further noted that the conference will review the latest developments in the legislative and executive framework of food safety, including the new draft food law, the project to establish the General Food Safety Authority, and the launch of the electronic Watheq e-system for food control in line with international standards.

Singapore has pledged to strengthen aviation safety practices around in-flight turbulence after two accidents last year that resulted in one fatality and multiple injuries.Severe turbulence will now be classified as a state-level operational safety risk, alongside runway incursions, mid-air collisions and system failures, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore said in its Singapore National Aviation Safety Plan for 2025-2027, released on Wednesday.The report identified 45 actions to bolster safety around operational and emerging risk areas. Of the accidents logged by Singapore in 2024, turbulence ranked as the highest. In an earlier safety plan for 2022-2024, turbulence was mentioned mainly in the context of training and operational awareness, not classified as a priority risk area in its own right.In May last year, one person died and scores of passengers suffered serious injuries when a Singapore Airlines Ltd flight from London to Singapore encountered severe turbulence over Myanmar. In September, one passenger and one cabin crew were injured on a Guangzhou-bound flight that ran into turbulence over Hong Kong. Investors continue to probe the cause of the May accident.In the immediate aftermath of that first incident, airlines worked to implement a variety of measures including drilling flight crews on turbulence-related scenarios and enhancing forecasting and detection systems.Midair instability is becoming a more common hazard for carriers and passengers as rising global air traffic density means more planes flying in crowded skies, often through the same storm systems. Climate change is another factor: warming temperatures at cruising altitudes are strengthening jet streams and creating conditions linked to more frequent episodes of so-called “clear-air turbulence.”Some of the recommendations made by CAAS in its latest safety plan were around enhancing the accuracy of meteorological information, improving advance turbulence forecasting and on-board detection systems, sharing real-time turbulence data globally and adopting wider use of modern weather radar and turbulence awareness applications for pilots.“The recent spate of serious aviation safety incidents around the world is a timely reminder that we must stay vigilant and not take safety for granted,” Han Kok Juan, CAAS director-general, said. “The National Aviation Safety Plan is a call to action for the Singapore aviation sector to work together to ensure aviation safety as we position ourselves for growth.”

Children are not permitted to swim alone in the sea without being accompanied by guardians or a responsible adult, the Ministry of Interior (MoI) has said.“Children must be continuously supervised both in the water and on the shore,” Lt Col Ahmed Ali Saad from the General Directorate of Coasts and Borders Security explained.He was sharing the general guidelines for sea, beach-goers and marine activity lovers at a recent awareness webinar organised by the Public Relations Department of MoI in association with the General Directorate of Coasts and Borders Security.“Swimming is considered one of the beautiful and enjoyable water sports, and it is also one of the most beneficial from a health perspective. It is the best exercise for activating, moving, and strengthening most of the body’s muscles. Therefore, out of concern for public safety, the General Directorate of Coasts and Borders Security urges swimming enthusiasts to adhere to the following advice, guidance and instructions,” the MoI official said.He urged sea-goers not to swim in places where there are signs prohibiting swimming by the administration and avoid swimming, if they suffer from fever or feel extremely tired.“It is essential to check the sea conditions and any potential currents before entering the water,” he said, adding that it is mandatory to wear appropriate and designated swimwear.The official urged marine activity enthusiasts to not swim alone even if they are skilled swimmers. “Always ensure that someone is nearby to assist you if necessary. Do not swim far from the shore; always remain close to it and avoid moving away. Do not swim or play in the water at night due to the difficulty of being able to determine your location in the dark,” he said. Lt Col Saad urged not to attempt to rescue a drowning person unless one is trained in lifesaving. ”If you encounter any difficulties in the water, do not panic; remain calm, move your legs gently up and down, and raise your hands to attract the attention of others. If a water current pulls you, do not resist it. Instead, swim across it until it fades, then swim back to the coast. Always handle inflatable flotation devices with great care, as they can easily lose air due to wind or water currents, especially for young children. Do not swim in restricted zones or close to water scooter (jet ski) areas,” he added.If someone is seen in need of help in the water, the General Directorate of Coasts and Borders Security should be contacted immediately at 2354666 or emergency should be called at 999. “If you can, throw them something to keep them afloat until the rescuers arrive,” the official added.