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The Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) honoured the winners of its research and medical competitions at the 6th International Primary Health Care Conference following the success across scientific, organisational, and community levels.The ceremony was attended by Dr Mariam Ali Abdul Malik, PHCC managing drector, alongside a number of officials and senior administrators, in recognition of the efforts of research teams, outstanding projects, and participating university students.Also present were Musallam Mubarak al-Nabit, assistant managing director, Administration and Corporate Services, PHCC; Dr Mohammed Ghaith al-Kuwari, assistant managing director, Strategy and Business Development at PHCC; Dr Zelaikha al-Wahedi, assistant managing director of Quality and Workforce Development at PHCC; and Dr Samya al- Abdullah, assistant managing director, Operations and Clinical Affairs, also participated in distributing awards and certificates to the winners.A total of 72 projects were evaluated over two stages, and the best were selected based on rigourous criteria. The project “Right Care in the Right Place” from Al Wakra Health Centre won the award for Best Project in Corporate Excellence and Efficiency, in recognition of its role in improving service efficiency and facilitating patients’ access to appropriate care. The award was received by Dr Ameena Ibrahim Fakhro, the health centre manager.In the category of Enhancing Clinical Outcomes, the project “Early Detection of Anaemia in 12-Month-Old Children” from Omar Bin Al Khattab Health Centre won, acknowledging its contribution to promoting children’s health through prevention and early detection.The award for Best Project in Patient Services Development went to “Optimal Utilisation of Antenatal Care Appointments” at Airport Health Centre, in recognition of its efforts to improve the patient experience and enhance the quality of care provided to expectant mothers.In the Community Engagement category, the scientific poster by Mahmoud Elthoukhy from Al Wakra Health Centre took first place, followed by Pinky Domingo in second, and Dr Taiba Silwan Aboud in third. Winners were chosen through electronic voting, reflecting broad community interaction with quality initiatives.The 6th IPHCC welcomed around 65 students from various health disciplines, representing three leading academic institutions: Qatar University, Weill Cornell Medicine – Qatar, and University of Doha for Science and Technology. This student participation brought a qualitative addition to the conference, infusing energy, diversity, and fresh perspectives that support the future of healthcare in the count. 

Qatar University (QU) celebrated the graduation of the 14th cohort of the Empower Generations Consortium, a national initiative dedicated to investing in Qatari talent in the fields of life sciences, health sciences, and scientific research.Established in support of Qatar National Vision 2030, the Consortium is a collaborative ecosystem led by QU, bringing together more than 13 partners from the health and education sectors, including the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE), the official sponsor; Qatar Precision Health Institute; Qatar Foundation; Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC); the Ministry of Public Health; the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC); Sidra Medicine; Gannas Qatari Society; the Qatar Falcon Genome Project; and the Veterinary Medicine Center, along with two international partners: Fractal Up Center for Artificial Intelligence Research and the Africa Research Project (ARP).**media[386933]**The ceremony was attended by Prof Asma al-Thani, vice president for Medical Sciences and director of the Biomedical Research Center at QU, along with several university vice presidents, deans of health and medical sciences colleges, and representatives from the MoEHE. In her remarks, Fatima al-Obaidli, assistant director at the MoEHE, praised QU’s efforts and the Empowering Generations Consortium programmes for their role in enhancing students’ skills and preparing them for the future.**media[386934]**The 14th cycle of the Consortium began in November 2025 and continued for two weeks of separate training programmes for male and female students. A total of 23 high schools and 150 Qatari students participated in three projects: Health, the Genomics and Precision Medicine Project, and Qatar Scientists of Biodiversity. The programme concluded with separate recognition ceremonies for the female and male participants.**media[386935]**During the ceremony, Dr Abdulla al-Yafei, president's executive assistant for administrative operations at QU, delivered a speech highlighting the success of the 14th cycle. He noted that the programme received 620 applications, of which 150 were selected to join the specialised training across various fields. He recalled that the Consortium was established in 2013 to support Qatar National Vision 2030 and comprises 13 partners across the health, research, and education sectors.He added that the Consortium has significantly contributed to raising the number of Qatari students in the health and medical programmes at QU from 6% in 2013 to 43% in 2025. He also noted the Consortium ’s achievements, including published research in peer-reviewed journals, documented effectiveness through comprehensive databases, and multiple international awards. Dr al-Yafie reiterated QU’s commitment to empowering students through comprehensive hands-on training environments and expressed gratitude to all partners for their continued support.The event concluded with the presentation of honorary certificates to participating schools across Qatar and to the students, awarded by the MoEHE. 

Stars of Science, an initiative hosted at Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP), a member of Qatar Foundation, is marking its 17th season, celebrating its evolution from a televised competition into a leading scientific and creative movement that is helping shape the region's innovation ecosystem.Since its launch in 2009, the initiative has supported the development of 55 innovative projects and partnered with hundreds of educational institutions, inspiring thousands of young people to pursue their ideas. Its alumni now play an active role in mentoring new participants, reinforcing the sustainability of the region's innovation cycle.To date, 175 graduates from 18 Arab countries have produced impactful innovations in health technology, artificial intelligence, sustainability, and education.The winner of Season 17, Dr Laid Dardabou of Algeria, exemplifies the programme's legacy. His innovation, ViDa — a smartwatch system that estimates Vitamin D levels and helps prevent related mental health symptoms — secured top public votes and earned the judges' praise for its integration of biotechnology and emotional well-being.

A Chinese research vessel docked in the Cook Islands Saturday as it probed the Pacific nation's deep-sea mining potential, a fledgling industry of mounting interest to both Beijing and Washington. The Da Yang Hao docked in the palm-shaded port of Avatiu on a "scientific research cruise" through the tropical archipelago, the Cook Islands' Seabed Minerals Authority said. Huge areas of seabed around the Cook Islands are carpeted in polymetallic nodules, lumpy rocks studded with rare earths and critical minerals such as cobalt, nickel and manganese. The Cook Islands -- which lays claim to one of the world's biggest deposits of polymetallic nodules -- signed a contentious deep-sea mining cooperation deal with China earlier this year. "This cruise is about learning by doing," said Seabed Minerals Authority spokesman Edward Herman. "Our team is actively participating in all activities to build our knowledge and capacity in marine research." This included mapping the seabed with sonar arrays and dredging up sediment samples, said the authority. Fringed by sparkling lagoons, South Pacific nation the Cook Islands has opened its vast ocean territory for deep-sea mining exploration. **media[378966]** With existing supplies of critical minerals heavily exposed to trade disputes, both the United States and China have this year ramped up interest in the highly contentious industry. Critical minerals, such as cobalt and nickel, are in hot demand for electric vehicles, rechargeable batteries and advanced military technology. The United States secured its own agreement to pursue deep-sea mining research with the Cook Islands in August. Deep-sea exploration AFP photos showed the near-100 metre (330 feet) Da Yang Hao vessel cutting through the Cook Islands' sleepy main harbour before docking on Saturday morning. The ship was emblazoned with the logo of China's Ocean Mineral Resources Research Association, which is tasked with the exploration of seabed minerals. Chinese research vessels have been accused of carrying out surveillance and other military activities under the auspices of scientific work. Pacific island nation Palau, a staunch US ally in the region, in 2021 alleged that the Da Yang Hao had entered its exclusive economic zone without proper permissions. The Da Yang Hao arrives in the Cook Islands less than one month after a deep-sea research voyage backed by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. While exploration for deep-sea mining is far advanced, no company or nation has started production on a commercial scale. Critics fear deep-sea mining will smother marine life with waste and the noise of heavy machinery will disrupt oceanic migrations. International regulators are still trying to thrash out environmental rules governing the industry.

The 2025 Arab Scientific Journals Impact and Citation Report (ARCIF), issued as its tenth annual report, confirmed Qatar’s advancement in the field of engineering and technology within the Arab world, based on a comprehensive monitoring of scientific production across the region.Dr Sami al-Khazendar, Head of the ARCIF initiative, one of the programmes under the Ma’arefa Database headquartered in Amman, Jordan, explained that the new report crowns a decade of meticulous tracking of Arab scientific publications, noting that the ten-year results reflect steady growth in the volume and significance of research despite the challenges facing the region.The ARCIF teams examined approximately 5,500 scientific journals issued by 1,500 scientific institutions in 20 Arab countries, excluding Djibouti and the Comoros, in addition to eight foreign countries publishing Arabic-language journals. Of these, 1,272 journals met 32 internationally recognised standards approved by ARCIF, al-Khazendar noted.According to the report, data from 364,000 Arab authors were analysed, covering more than 956,000 scientific papers, with the work of 111,000 authors being cited.Comparisons with the 2016 report showed an increase of 367% in the number of journals, 870% in the number of articles, and 6,800% in the number of cited Arab authors.Dr al-Khazendar emphasised that ARCIF has moved Arab scientific production from invisible space to global recognition, stressing that the ARCIF impact factor has become a trusted reference for measuring the influence of Arab journals according to international indicators.He also highlighted the growing Arab awareness of the importance of publishing in Arabic to build knowledge and foster innovation.In the overall ranking, Algeria led the Arab countries with the highest number of accredited journals (426), followed by Egypt (364), Iraq (122), Saudi Arabia (75), and Jordan (45).In terms of the general impact factor, Egypt ranked first, followed by Saudi Arabia.At the specialised level, Qatar led in engineering and technology, while Egypt topped the fields of economics, social sciences, education, law, and media. Saudi Arabia led in Arabic language and literature, while Palestine achieved first place in the Immediacy Index through the Palestinian Journal of Open Education and e-Learning.In the index of cited authors, Algeria ranked first with 26,834 authors, followed by Egypt with 21,988, Iraq with 21,367, Saudi Arabia with 10,712, and Jordan with 6,098, with a notable increase in the number of cited Arab researchers across the region.The digital edition of the 2025 report will be available on the ARCIF website (http://emarefa.net/arcif) before the end of 2025, providing researchers and policymakers with the latest data on the Arab scientific publishing landscape.The ARCIF impact factor operates under the supervision of a Coordinating Council that includes representatives from the Unesco Regional Bureau for Education in the Arab States in Beirut, ESCWA, and the Ma’arefa Database, alongside a scientific committee composed of Arab and international experts and academics from several Arab countries and the United Kingdom.