DOHA, Qatar, 27 March – Held in Qatar under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of Qatar, the 20th Edition of the Doha Forum concluded on Sunday 27th March. Over two days, high level officials, policy makers, academics and thought leaders representing more than 30 countries discussed changing realities under the umbrella of ‘Transforming for a New Era’. The closing sessions featured H.E. Dr. Vjosa Osmani, President of the Republic of Kosovo, H.E. Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister of Foreign Affairs, France, as well as H.E. Gianni Infantino, President of FIFA. Doha Forum hosted more than 2300 guests in Qatar, including more than 200 panelists from 142 nationalities and 104 countries, who contributed to more than 50 sessions across the two-day event. Closing the Doha Forum, H.E. Dr. Vjosa Osmani spoke of Kosovo's experience with multilateralism, when the international community responded to the conflict In the Balkans, ending the war, saying "with history constantly being made and new alliances being formed… multilateralism has never been more important. If we want to transform for a new era, we need to do it hand in hand." This year's Forum saw a number of discussions and events take place on the sidelines. The Qatar-Africa Business Forum brought together political and business leaders discussing the burgeoning relationship between Qatar and countries within Africa and explore opportunities for further collaboration. Qatar Foundation launched the Earthna Center for a Sustainable Future, which will examine ways to transition towards a more sustainable future through a holistic lens. The Global Sports Programme organized a High-Level Round-Table on the Protection of Major Sporting Events and the Use of Sports’ Values for the Prevention of Violent Extremism. The session brought together experts from sport, civil society and international organizations to discuss priorities in harnessing sport to prevent and counter extremism and violence. Powered by Qatar Fund for Development, the Digital Citizen Fund's BRITE (Building Resilience Through Innovation, Technology, and Education) initiatives exhibited the work of the "Afghan Dreamers”, the Afghan Girls Robotics Team, alongside other recipients of BRITE’s educational STEM programs. More than 30 signings and individual MoUs took place during Doha Forum, which hosted more than 350 international and local media. Doha Forum’s Viewpoint series returned with more than 30 VVIP interviews, while ECFR, Foreign Policy, RUSI, Wilson Centre, Stimson Centre, Doha Debates and HBKU used an on-site podcast studio to capture the latest by the thought leaders in attendance at Doha Forum. Day Two sessions included: Newsmaker Interview In a newsmaker interview with CNN’s Becky Anderson, Dr. Sayyid Kamal Kharrazi, President, Strategic Council on Foreign Relations; Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Islamic Republic of Iran responded to questions about the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA) and how the resumption of negotiations would help shape Iran’s economic landscape and alliances with Western countries. Next Anderson interviewed Robert Malley, United States Special Representative for Iran, who mapped the steps the US has taken to further the JCPoA while addressing concerns for the US, Iran, and the Gulf region. Spheres of Influence in the Age of Unpeace This session discussed the shifting dynamics determining power and control in the modern era, particularly the conflict in Ukraine. H.E. Børge Brende, President, World Economic Forum, spoke of the global response to Russia’s breach of Ukraine’s territorial integrity, in contravention of agreed upon norms, and the effect this has had within Europe in particular. H.E. Ivan Korčok, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Slovak Republic agreed, stating that this showed how “Ukraine is definitely becoming part of the political West… a watershed moment.” With an increasingly unified Western bloc, as represented by NATO, there remains a regional difference in terms of responses to this conflict. H.E. Hina Rabbani Khar, Member of National Assembly, Pakistan spoke of how the Ukrainian conflict will “be felt not just regionally as has been the norm for most interventions, but also in the rest of the world,” continuing that non-Western powers have “seen Abu Ghraib, and Guantanamo and how these wars have been conducted… [this] has left a deep dent in the reputation of the West.” Economic Crises and Coordinated Global Recovery Efforts: Towards An Inclusive Multilateralism This session discussed the vulnerabilities of the global economic system - from supply chain disruptions to structural issues within existing institutional frameworks. H.E. Ali bin Ahmed Al-Kuwari, Ministry of Finance and former Minister of Commerce and Industry said “International organisations like the IMF play a really important role, but they are not the only solution,” adding that “we still have instability [in the world] following the COVID-19 pandemic…the Ukrainian crisis.” Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, also stressed the importance of stability as necessary to peace, saying “the root cause [of the current economic situation] is the war in Ukraine. The faster the tanks are out, the faster the tractors are in.” Georgieva also highlighted the IMF’s role in protecting people, saying: “We calculated at the IMF that the pandemic cost the world economy 30.8 trillion dollars and billions to vaccinate people. So we spend trillions to protect billions.” Addressing the Effects of Climate Change Today: Adaptation Policies for a Climate-Resilient Future This session outlined the actions needed to help lower-income countries and farmers avoid climate disaster and adapt to changing conditions. Bill Gates, Co-founder of Microsoft; Co-chairperson of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, reinforced this, announcing Nanmo, a new partnership between the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Qatar Fund for Development, that will support and deploy game-changing innovations. H.E. Marcelo Ebrard, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Mexico stressed the importance of implementing a mechanism across regions and countries, recommended each participating country contribute sum relative to their emissions. H.E. Khalifa Jassim Al-Kuwari, Director General, Qatar Fund for Development, discussed the need for strong political commitment, international and regional policy, and technological mechanisms to tackle climate change through a holistic approach. He further reiterated the significance of Nanmo in reducing the inequalities faced by small-scale farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa, mainly through helping scale up productivity. Mark Suzman, Chief Executive Officer, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, further highlighted the importance of policy and resource prioritization at the regional level, particularly ways to increase resource allocations, providing agricultural tools, and utilizing new digital soil mapping techniques. Maja Groff, Convenor, Climate Governance Commission, reiterated that “mitigation and adaptation challenges are formidable challenges.” By scaling up and accelerating knowledge and technology transfers, countries can learn from each other and adopt innovative means of facilitating sustainable economic solutions for the future. Geopolitical Implications of the Russia-Ukraine War on the Middle East This session discussed Russia’s conflict with Ukraine and its impact on MENA and beyond. Mr. Ibrahim Kalin, Chief Counsellor to the President of the Turkish Republic spoke on the need for mediation, saying “Russia will not go away, the western bloc will remain there and Ukraine will still be an independent country, but mediation efforts to end this war will be key in shaping this renewed security architecture.” He continued, “We have kept our lines of communications with Ukraine and Russia open, which is very good. Even though we have disagreed with Russia in Syria, we have managed to discuss our differences.” Congresswoman Jane Harman, Distinguished Fellow and President Emerita, Wilson Center, lauded Qatar for the important role it is playing to help solve the energy crisis following the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, “My impression is that Qatar is trying to do what it can to meet this request, but the issue is all its [oil and gas] supplies are fully committed, with some heading to Europe and Asia.” Dr. John Gong, Professor of Economics, University of International Business and Economics discussed China’s role in the crisis between Ukraine and Russia, and why his country has yet to apply sanctions on the Russians, explaining that “China shares a very long border with Russia, if we put sanctions on Russia we will have issues with them. Almost all countries that have put sanctions on Russia have some kind of nuclear protection, China does not.” He also stated that the United States has been promoting a narrative that all countries must put sanctions on Russia or else they will be considered strong supporters of the war. Mohammad Hassan Sheikholeslami, Deputy Foreign Minister, Iran and President of the Institute for Political and International Studies (IPIS) stated: “Iran has started constructive negotiations with Qatar as well as with the UAE and we have also had discussions with Saudi Arabia. We were supposed to have the fifth round of negotiations with KSA but it did not happen due to the recent events which we are against and [find] unacceptable.” Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Qatar Dr. Majid Al-Ansari stressed that his country is against the war between Ukraine and Russia, saying: “The position is crystal clear - we are against military escalation.” He continued: “It is our duty to facilitate the communication between small and medium power countries and large power countries.” On the importance of creating a new world order which includes the United States and its allies, Al-Ansari said: “If the West expects the rest of the world to respect the international world order, then the West, the United States, and their allies really need to talk with the rest of the world. We are moving to a multipolar world. Let’s talk together about how to get there because if we don’t, we will see a world where everybody is dying.” The Fourth Industrial Revolution: Challenges and Opportunities for a New Era In this session, panellists discussed rapid advances in technology and how they are revolutionizing the way we live, work, play and engage. Mohammed bin Ali Al Mannai, Minister of Communications and Information in Qatar discussed utilising technology that already exists stating, “We should invest in equipping the existing resources to reach future needs.” While previous industrial shifts (steam and water power, electricity and assembly lines, and computerization) have unfolded more gradually, the advancements of the Fourth Industrial Revolution are occurring at a faster pace, disrupting sectors and economies in almost every country. Børge Brende, president of the World Economic Forum, commented on this phenomenon and added, “Covid helped a digital transformation, that would have happened over ten years, happen in two years.” The panellists also discussed Africa’s journey in technological advancements and the importance it has on the future of Africa from an economic and educational standpoint. Patrice Motsepe, founder and Executive Chairman, African Rainbow Minerals, South Africa, commented on the importance of inclusivity in technology, stating, “We want to encourage Africans to develop African technology,” adding, “Innovation does not have its source or origin anymore.” Perilous Waters: Peace and Prosperity in the Indo-Pacific In the “Perilous Waters: Peace and Prosperity in the Indo-Pacific”, Southeast Asian economic and political leaders delved into the importance of securing the stability of the region. Emphasizing the significance of the Indo-Pacific region as a place of peace, neutrality, and freedom, H.E Retno Marsudi, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Indonesia, commented: “ASEAN would like to achieve a mindset of dialogue and collaboration, which offers nurturing, strategy, and trust. Concrete ASEAN cooperation prioritizes issues of maritime, connectivity, attainment of SDGs, and the creation of an inclusive regional architecture”. Building on the sentiment, YB Dato' Kamarudin Jaffar, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia, also highlighted the need to protect the region’s role in global trade routes and stated: “ASEAN needs to be more consolidated and forceful in our disagreement when violations of our territorial integrity happen.” Stressing the need for international support for the region’s prosperity, Lisa Curtis, Senior Fellow and Director, Indo-Pacific Security Program, reflected on the US’ contribution to the region’s development: “The US sees the region as vital, and it will work closely with its allies and partners for furthering stability and prosperity in the region. We need to work more closely with our allies in Asia to meet challenges and preserve its rules-based order.” Vaccine Distribution: Collaborative Solutions for an Equitable System This session revolved around global contributions to vaccine equity and efforts in tackling the unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Sultana Afdhal, CEO, World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH), initiated the discussion with an emphasis on the humanitarian consequences of the failure of vaccine equity, the latter being “more complex than we think.” Finding cost-effective sustainable solutions to the most pressing challenges is one of WISH’s priorities, along with building on the lessons learned from the current pandemic. H.E. Carl Bildt, European Council on Foreign Relations and Former Prime Minister of Sweden; WHO Special Envoy for the ACT-Accelerator, stated, “what has been achieved so far is the triumph of science and the failure of politics – the inequity that we see.” H.E. Bildt highlighted the acute danger of more variants and the pressing need for ongoing dialogue and further funding. Mark Suzman, Chief Executive Officer, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, pointed out that global health and inequity is not a new phenomenon. The world did not distribute the first wave of vaccines equitably, in fact “it disproportionately went to high-income countries.” He mentions that as we learned the lesson as a world, we now have the capacity to develop the necessary resources to respond to the vaccine inequity better. Lady Roselyn Morauta, Vice Chair, The Global Fund, stressed The Global Fund’s position as the largest provider of grant funds to lower-income countries for non-vaccine tools - diagnostic tests, personal protective equipment, etc. In fact, “in the last two years, over 3 billion has gone to Africa in non-vaccine support.” She argued that the past two years have strengthened partnerships: “COVID has forced global health institutions to work much closer together […] there’s a lot more sharing of information and collaboration.” Reshaping Palestinian Narratives: Who is Listening and Can it Make a Difference? In this session, participants discussed the core shifts in the Palestinian narrative and how they came about. Fadi Quran, Campaign Director, AVAAZ, said that the main change has been “the return of a sense of [Palestinian] agency. We’re shifting from a narrative of dependence and asking ‘where are the millions’ and saying we need a peace process from outside…The shackles of that dependency are falling on the ground and Palestinians are starting to say our destiny is in our hands and we’re going to take control of it.” Diana Buttu, Palestinian Lawyer, Analyst and Former Legal Advisor to the PLO Negotiation Team, agreed, adding, “My participation in the negotiations for many years made me realize it was futile - it was the equivalent to negotiating with a gun to your head. We really are at a watershed moment with human rights organizations repeating what Palestinians have been saying for a long time, which is that this is apartheid. We as a people have to be pushing and shaping and shifting the narrative, to make our destiny and push it forward using our own language for our own struggle.” Peter Beinart, Editor-at-Large, Jewish Currents, explained how perceptions have begun to shift among American audiences as well. “What we’ve seen in American public opinion is a dramatic bifurcation. 20 years ago, Americans favoured Israel over Palestine, now democrats favour sanctions against Israel…Why is this happening on the American left? Because over the last 20 years, Israel has moved from a foreign policy issue to a culture war issue, similar to the gun debate, the abortion debate, and the vaccine debate.” He continued, “This is partly the impact of the black lives matter and me too movements...That embarrassment of talking about people without having them as part of the conversation has filtered down to the Israel-Palestine debate. There are many more Palestinian voices and it changes the conversation completely.” Rt. Hon. Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, Member, House of Lords, UK, reflected on how the Russian invasion of Ukraine is also shifting narratives: “When we look at the unfolding war in Ukraine, all the things we’ve been saying in the West were too difficult to do we’ve been doing, such as boycotts and sanctions. There was a big argument about how not to politicize sports but we’re doing that now. The fact that some of the policy making in Western capitals is hypocritical is not new. But the challenge becomes real when that hypocrisy becomes so overt that it’s difficult to frame it in any kind of logical, reasonable argument. There comes a point when electorally it becomes untenable for you to ignore the obvious and justify the hypocritical and the Ukraine war presents one of those points.” Newsmaker Interview - Dr. Omar Suleiman Dr. Omar Suleiman, Founder and President, Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research discussed the role of religion in his life as an activist and as a Muslim scholar, as well as the role of religion and its interconnectivity with social justice. He specifically focused on Islam, stating that “The assumption often is that you have to adjust religion in order to be a part of the plight for human dignity, whereas this is something that is entrenched deeply in the tradition of Islam… Islam being the first explicity anti-racist tradition in history”. The Evolving Landscape of Strategic Alliances The alliances carried forward from World War II and the Cold War were aimed at guaranteeing the security, sovereignty and territorial integrity of member states. In this session, panelists discussed how alliances are evolving along with a fast-changing and increasingly multipolar framework and how effective and efficient they are in maintaining peace and security. Amb. Wolfgang Ischinger, President of the Foundation Council, Munich Security Conference Foundation stated, “Alliances as such are not by definition good or bad. Defensive alliances like NATO can be an important instrument of non-proliferation.” H.E. Dr. Khalid bin Mohammad Al-Attiyah, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Affairs commented on strategic alliances by saying that even though Qatar is a non-NATO ally, albeit a major one, the country’s role has become significant as the second largest exporter of energy. “We are from a region in which we understand importances of alliances, being a part of bigger alliances, because of so many things. We have a responsibility not just to our people, but to the whole of the world.” According to Patrick Turner, Assistant Secretary General for Defense Policy and Planning, NATO, the current Russian invasion of Ukraine goes beyond European borders, stating, "There are several levels where we should not just think of formal alliances. The situation we face now is not about the Russian invasion of Ukraine, or European security issue….it's a global issue. It's an assault on our values.” Newsmaker Interview - Malala Yousafzai In a Newsmaker session, activist and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Malala Yousafzai spoke of the importance of higher education for girls and women in Afghanistan, citing that it was the only country in the world without secondary education for its female population. “There are so many girls out there can be changemakers, leaders, if the system does not stop them.” How to End An Enduring Humanitarian Crisis in Afghanistan According to panelists in this session, Afghanistan is in the throes of a massive economic crisis which is exacerbating the unfolding humanitarian crises. With international resources for humanitarian assistance stretched with several crises, the overriding priority in the short term is to save lives while preventing an acute crisis from becoming a chronic one that destabilizes the region. In light of the Afghan caretaker government's refusal to allow girls to return to school, Markus Potzel, German Ambassador to Afghanistan stated that it is “hard to convince…our taxpayers to pay money for a defacto regime that deprives girls of their right to education… a right that is founded in international law…The Taliban are violating international law and violating Islamic law.” The discussion addressed the complexities behind and obstacles to delivering adequate assistance to Afghanistan, with HE Khalid Payenda, former Finance Minister, Afghanistan calling on Western powers to “be mindful of the unintended consequences of your assistance…hold Taliban accountable.” Panelists elaborated on how Afghanistan could effect a functional economy, with the sustainable delivery of food, healthcare and education to its people. Fatima Gailani, Afghan, women's rights campaigner stressed the need for Afghans to be involved in the development of any solution moving forward, articulating that “we won war after war [against superpowers] but achieved nothing…Because we didn’t follow a political solution that is designed by Afghans.” Rina Amiri, U.S. Special Envoy for Afghan Women, Girls, and Human Rights elaborated on this, saying that the Afghan caretaker government needs to talk to their own people rather than focusing on the international community, stating that ultimately “it's up to them, are they going to go backward, or are they going to let the country move forward?”

DOHA, Qatar, 26 March – Doha Forum 2022, one of the world’s premier policy gatherings, held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of Qatar, reconvened today for its 20th edition at the Sheraton Hotel, Doha, bringing together policymakers, world leaders, and experts from around the world under the theme ‘Transforming for a New Era’. This year's edition of the two-day policy forum welcomes more than 200 speakers to debate some of the world’s most challenging issues, particularly the forum’s key theme of ‘Transforming for a New Era’, with a focus on four key areas; Geopolitical Alliances and International Relations, Financial System and Economic Development, Defense, Cyber and Food Security and finally Climate Change and Sustainability. During the opening session, following the official opening by His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy received a warm welcome as he addressed the Doha Forum audience virtually, while Roya Mahboob, founder of the Digital Citizens Fund, received the Doha Forum Award 2022, which celebrates the achievements of an individual or organization based on the values of Doha Forum. This year’s honourable guests include: H.E. Dr. Vjosa Osmani, President of Kosovo, H.E. Salem Al Meslet President of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, H.E. Mohammad Shtayyeh, Prime Minister, Palestine, H.E. Choguel Kokalla Maïga, Prime Minister, Mali, H.E. Mukhtar Tileuberdi Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kazakhstan, with ministers and top diplomats from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Ukraine, Singapore, Turkey, Bangladesh, Poland, Cote D'Ivoire, Afghanistan, Italy, Algeria, European Union, North Macedonia, Maldives, Jordan, Iraq, Mexico, Germany, Malaysia, Indonesia, Libya, Nigeria, Syria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sweden, Pakistan, Rwanda, New Zealand, the United States and United Kingdom. Other notable guests include H.E. Sheikha Al Mayassa Bint Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani Chairperson, Qatar Museums, H.E. John Kerry, US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, H.E. Filippo Grandi High Commissioner, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, H.E. BØRGE Brende, President, World Economic Forum, H.E. Mary Robinson Chair, The Elders, H.E. Abdulla Shahid, President, United Nations General Assembly, Patrick Turner, Assistant Secretary General For Defense Policy And Planning, NATO, Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, co-chairperson of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Malala Yousafzai, activist and Nobel Laureate. Day One sessions included: Opening Session: Doha Forum 2022 opened with a welcome address by His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar, who spoke of the need for cooperation amongst the global community to more effectively address the issues of the day, saying "it is incumbent on all of us to determine the future of the international order and ask: what is the shape of the world we want for our children?” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dialled into the opening session, echoing the call for unity, “We have to protect the international order, not just for Ukraine, but for Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen…” Maldives Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid spoke too of “a time of fragility… [when] our world faces multiple armed conflicts, nuclear proliferation, and the widening impacts of climate change.” Plenary Session: Transforming for a New Era: (MoFA) The opening plenary session of Doha Forum was held under the running theme of this year’s edition, ‘Transforming for a New Era.' The session focused on ways in which the world could address the shocks to the global economy and global order, with key speakers such as HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, Deputy Prime Minister of Qatar, Minister of Foreign Affairs stressing the need for cooperation and collaboration "we cannot be isolated from what is happening around us in the world… Qatar has been building a track record in dialogue and diplomacy." His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Foreign Minister, Saudi Arabia followed, stating the importance of involving the global north and south, "particularly smaller and middle powers in… addressing the needs of all rather than the needs of a few… to work together in setting the global agenda.” Parallel Panel: Qatar Africa Business Forum: Post Pandemic Africa (Qatar Africa Business Forum) The Qatar-Africa Business Forum held on the sidelines of Doha Forum featured a discussion of the most important sectors for growth in Africa post-pandemic. H.E. Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki, Governor of the Edo State of Nigeria, highlighted the devastating impact the pandemic had on livelihoods, adding: “If you ask me to look at the next two years, the Ukrainian war for me has created a real alarm for food systems. With the increase in food prices, particularly wheat, staples, and grains and the rise in energy prices. We as a government now realise that we must now begin to put in place a lot of resources into agriculture, and large-scale projects.” Joe Eshun, CEO of Deloitte East Africa, said “Africa is very resilient and a lot of you remember two and a half years ago the conversation was, COVID-19 is going to decimate Africa. I don't think it did happen. So, today's conversation is very interesting, it's looking at the recovery after COVID-19. What is the next two to three years going to look like? And we have to reflect on that in the midst of the current economic challenges and the political situation in Ukraine.” Charles Murito, Director of Government Affairs & Public Policy for Google, Sub-Saharan Africa, expressed his optimism in Africa’s future, commenting, “Africa is going to be serving the world when it comes to the young people who are going to be needed to fill jobs in the world.” Parallel Panel: Misinformation and the War for Truth (Foreign Policy) In this discussion, panellists explored how mis- and disinformation spread across social media, promoting the dissemination of conspiracy theories and fringe political beliefs. H.E. Emine Dzhaparova, First Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ukraine, spoke of Russia’s recent invasion of Ukraine and the media frenzy surrounding it, including Russian propaganda, stating: “There is an invisible information war front. The effort of this is greater than we think it is. It's like radiation. You don't see it, but it affects your mental health and greater health.” The panel also discussed the current state of global mis- and disinformation efforts around the world and how stakeholders and tech companies can most effectively combat them. “Historically, a number of the biggest players in tech prefer to see themselves as operating on the side of the people,”said Elizabeth Joanna Linder, Founder, Brooch Associates. She continued: “While that is such an incredible philosophy, it is totally impractical and does not map to how the real world works. In the long term, there needs to be a check in balance, between tech companies and government.” Parallel Roundtable: Building a New Sustainability Paradigm: Cities Contribution to the Climate Solution (QF) In the session, Building a New Sustainability Paradigm: Cities Contribution to the Climate Solution, speakers explored ways of enhancing the resilience of cities by incorporating nature into their design. Moderator Gonzalo Castro de la Mata, Executive Director, Earthna Center for a Sustainable Future, noted that cities consume 70% of the world’s energy and are responsible for three quarters of global emissions, despite them only taking up 2% of the earth’s surface. “It is increasingly understood that nature is a friend to cities looking for resilience,” commented Jane Madgwick, President and CEO of Wetlands International. “In some cities it is essential to restore nature because the impact [of climate change] is too severe. It’s about linking socio-economic development with environmental development.” H.E. Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, Global Leader of Climate & Energy at the World Wildlife Fund; Former Minister of Environment of Peru and Former President of COP20, stressed the importance of rewarding progress rather than success to ensure that less-developed cities do not become discouraged from making changes. “We have to move to net-zero by 2050 and that requires raising our ambition in the current decade,” he added. H.E. Sheikh Faleh bin Nasser bin Ahmed bin Ali Al Thani, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Qatar, highlighted the significant role Qatar is playing in reducing gas emissions through carbon capture technology. “We have committed to reducing carbon emissions by 25% by 2030, and to do that we are expanding the capacity of our carbon capture facility from 2 million tons to 9 million tons by 2030. We will also start operating Qatar’s first solar power plant this year using photo-voltaic technology.” The session featured the launch of Earthna Center for a Sustainable Future, a non-profit research and advocacy center. Earthna, a member of Qatar Foundation, will channel the organisation’s education, research, and innovation ecosystem into generating solutions that enhance Qatar’s global sustainability policy role where the country has unique insight and capabilities. Parallel Session: Economies of War (ICG) This panel furthered a discussion of the political and military dimensions of war, with an assessment of how the control of resources, as well as other financial and economic considerations, shifts the calculus of peace amongst warring parties. The economic dimension of conflict cannot be entirely separated from resolution mechanisms. Speaking of Yemen, where the internationally recognized government and Houthi rebels have exacerbated the world’s worst humanitarian crisis as they are locked in a tug-of-war over imports and finance, HE Hans Grundberg, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen, articulated how “the challenge in Yemen is the disintegration of state bearing institutions. Until 2018 the warring sides respected the impartiality … of economic institutions, but as the war dragged on it weaponized the economic dimension. This needs to be addressed…. you want to depoliticize the economic component of the conflict.” HE Raychelle Omamo Foreign Minister, Kenya elaborated on the need for African countries to unify and become self-sufficient, whilst calling for the “need to partner on development, health, job creation, digitization – things that help our people stand.” Parallel Session: Reimagining Business Models in a Post-Pandemic Era (QIA) In the session, Reimagining Business Models in a Post-Pandemic Era, experts talked about the dramatic transformations ushered in by the pandemic in sectors such as technology and retail, as well as the accelerated innovation across many industries. Mr. Jaydeep Barman, CEO, Rebel Foods, predicted changing dining patterns, commenting, “Real estate has gotten costlier, while technology has gotten cheaper. Using the same kitchen to create an internet restaurant is a change that will launch new brands, which is a very exciting opportunity going forward.” Ms. Hande Çilingir, Co-Founder & CEO, 1X Entrepreneur, opined that the pandemic had changed business drastically: “Customers and brands changed how they are interacting with each other and the client. Artificial intelligence and machine learning are helping brands learn customer preference and priorities. And, we are using big data and AI to identify more than sixty parameters in algorithms to make smarter decisions and predictions for the consumers.” Mohammad Saif Al Sowaidi, Chief Investment Officer, Americas, Qatar Investment Authority stressed the role of investment in driving innovation “Capital and partnerships are only there to help and guide entrepreneurs. The role we would like to play is to utilise our ability to support entrepreneurs because the journey is not always easy. We invested in businesses when they are a concept and create a new format for their model.” Parallel Panel: The International Community's Role in Managing Refugee Flows: Syria and Beyond (Antalya Diplomacy Forum) This discussion addressed managing refugee flows, particularly how to ease the burden borne by developing countries, when it comes to housing, feeding, and protecting these vulnerable populations. HE Salem Al Meslet, President of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, spoke of how “60% of the Syrian population have left their homes and country. The cause of this is an aggression happening in Syria and Ukraine, coming from the same aggressor.” H.E. Benedetto Della Vedova, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Italy,stressed the importance of changing the policies with refugees. He stated that EU countries are now accepting a one year visa for Ukranians to live in their country until the crisis is over. He said: “It has been possible for us to give Ukrainans a one year visa because of political reasons. I regret that it wasn't possible before with the Syrian refugees. It wasn't possible to find an agreement between the states in the EU. It was not possible for political reasons.” On allowing more Syrian refugees into the EU, Vedova said: “We need to work on a partnership with the countries of the region and set up some schemes to let people go to Europe and look for a job legally.” H.E. Joanna Wronecka, Special Coordinator for Lebanon to the United Nations focused on supporting refugees in Lebanon, a country with minimal resources that is, according to UNHCR, host to 840,000 Syrian refugees. Dr. Savaş Ünlü, Director General of Migration Management of the Ministry of Interior, Turkey, spoke to the need to reconfigure the system, addressing the socio-economic concerns that fuel conflict and drive individuals from their countries. Parallel Panel: The Promises and Perils of Artificial Intelligence & Analytics for Decision-making (RAND) In “The Promises and Perils of Artificial Intelligence & Analytics for Decision-making” data, anthropology and business experts imagined what a data-driven future would look like for humans. Addressing the dystopian image many have of robots taking over the world, Dr. Danielle Tarraf, Senior Director, JCI Ventures remarked, “There is validity in fear but what we have been seeing is AI augmenting people rather than replacing them. We’re seeing AI doing things that tire or bore people, or things that people couldn’t do such as all-night monitoring and surveillance.” Dilawar Syed, Special Representative for Commercial and Business Affairs, US State Department, cautioned “We know from social media companies that the track record is not great when it comes to companies regulating the ill-effects [of technology]. We are going into a world that is going to fundamentally change how we do everything. We cannot be driven by fear, but we cannot leave it to companies to self-regulate.” Dr. Kathryn Bouskill, Researcher at Meta, expressed her optimism for the future of AI in health: “The last time I was at the Doha Forum in 2019 I was talking about global health security and the risk for a pandemic. So I am particularly excited to see how we can bring AI into epidemiology. At the same time, I believe AI can face shortcomings if we don’t build systems that can adjust to the benefits AI can bring.” Parallel Session: Prospects for Women and Girls in Afghanistan (Doha Debates) In the “Prospects for Women and Girls in Afghanistan”, humanitarian, political, and religious advocates shared their vision of what Afghanistan could look like in the future. Outlining a strategic approach to the Afghan caretaker government’s ban on education for girls, the Former Member of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Negotiation Team and Afghanistan Red Crescent Society, Fatima Gailani commented: “We must not play with this situation, we cannot be emotional about it. This is the future of 16 million women in Afghanistan. Afghan women know exactly what they want, which is equal right of education, equal right of work, and equal right of participation”. Deconstructing the religious crux of the educational ban, Dr. Omar Suleiman, Founder and President of Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research, stated: “Religious scholarship should insist on proper interpretation [of Islamic text] and holistic solutions to these problems and not politicize education, economic aid, and food and drink, and bring forward how religion can be part of the solution”. Highlighting her efforts to bring humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, the Nobel Prize Laureate and Activist, Malala Yousafzai, underscored that education is integral to bringing hope and progress to the people of Afghanistan. “What is really needed right now is a strong statement from Muslim countries that defend girls’ rights to education in the Islamic context. Seeking education is the duty of every Muslim. If we want to actually address these issues, we have to talk about human rights, through dedicated dialogues, and inclusivity in these dialogues”. Plenary Panel: Energy Transition and Security: Meeting Demand in a Volatile World (Qatar Energy) This dialogue centred around the global energy crisis and fuel shortages which led to blackouts, and rising electricity costs across Europe and Asia this past winter. His Excellency Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, the Minister of State for Energy Affairs, and President and CEO of QatarEnergy, compared the European and Asian energy markets, saying “during this situation with Ukraine, we are not going to divert away from Europe, although we have the contractual right to do that.” Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and CEO TotalEnergies stated, ““Energy is a triangle: security of supply, pricing, and climate… We must find the right balance… Gas is part of this transition, because it gives the flexibility to move from coal to renewable to fully carbonised.” Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine was also discussed, with Anders Opedal, President and CEO, Equinor, saying, “We are in a war situation, so now it is about finding some of the short term solutions to ensure people get the energy, and particularly, it is important to ensure that we are not moving from an energy crisis to a fuel crisis.” The panelists also explored the question of what role producer nations play in ensuring the world has adequate and affordable supplies of fuel while countries work towards building the infrastructure needed for a transition to more renewable energy sources. They additionally explored how suppliers can work together to regulate prices and manage supply, while protecting their interests in a world increasingly committed to green energy. Newsmaker Interview: His Excellency John Kerry, United States Special Presidential Envoy for Climate and Former Secretary of State In this Newsmaker interview, John Kerry stressed the importance of taking action against the the climate crisis, stating: “The best scientists in the world - repeatedly - over 30 years - are telling us unequivocally, that we have X number of years, now down to 8, to make critical decisions and implement them to avoid the worst consequences of the climate crisis.” Newsmaker Interview: Her Excellency Emine Dzhaparova, First Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ukraine In a Newsmaker interview with CNN’s Becky Anderson, HE Emine Dzhaparova called on Western powers to take action to halt Russian aggression, stating: “Territorial integrity is the very basis of international law. When the war started, everyone thought that Ukrainians would give up, but this did not happen. We have over 100,000 Ukrainian men who want to join this territorial defense. People are not ready to give up”. Parallel Panel: The Global Displacement Crisis: Beyond Humanitarianism (Wilson Center) This panel addressed the international responsibility towards refugees. The more than 80 million forcibly displaced people worldwide often seek refuge in nearby towns or countries which have scant resources. HE Ayman Al Safadi, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jordan, spoke of the need to provide individuals with the ability to live in dignity, through the creation of opportunity and a return to normalcy. “Give them hope, give them respect. Without this, there is a greater risk for radicalism which affects everyone.” The panel shed light on the breadth and depth of the displacement crisis and the importance of focussing efforts beyond aid, towards development assistance. HE Filippo Grandi, High Commissioner, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees stated: “In the emergency phase [aid] is not complicated… [we must] start thinking about the medium and long term at the very start of an emergency” which necessitates considering solutions to reduce thanwarelshamy@gmail.com> e need for migration or to facilitate a return to their countries of origin. The panellists further spoke of the importance of funding rather than goods when helping refugees, of particular importance as situations become protracted and the large-scale resources available during the emergency phase of a crisis drying up. To sustainably address the humanitarian crises, panellists spoke of the importance of connecting with development organisations from early on, to obtain buy-in and longer term solutions. Parallel Panel: Building Stability in Libya (Wilton Park) The panel Building Stability and Peace in Libya addressed Libya’s ongoing political vacuum since the 2011 uprisings which culminated in the removal of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi. The destabilising power struggle that followed the 2011 international intervention saw the emergence of armed militias that have since gained power along with the evolution of cogent political identities. The presence of foreign mercenaries remains a defining feature in the conflict. Libya’s next election, postponed from December 2021, is now expected this year and the importance of stabilisation in Libya is paramount. Najlaa Al-Manqush: Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Libyan National Unity Government began the discussion and commented on the upcoming elections in Libya, stating, 'We are very keen to have an election as soon as possible because I think this is the only solution for Libya.’ She continued, “We don't want to jump to the result without paving the way towards a more sustainable election.” Newsmaker Interview: H.E. Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Turkey In this interview, H.E. Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Turkey spoke on a number of issues including the Russia-Ukraine conflict as well as Turkey’s economic performance in the last ten years: stating “the international community should continue pressuring the particular aggressor which is Russia. Aggression on Ukraine is unacceptable.” This year’s Doha Forum is sponsored by Qatar Investment Authority, with strategic partners Chatham House, European Council on Relations (ECFR), International Crisis Group (ICG), and Munich Security Conference (MSC). Content partners include Antalya Diplomacy Forum, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Center for a New American Security (CNAS), Observer Research Foundation (ORF), RAND Corporation, Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), Stimson Center, US Middle East Peace Project (USMEP), United States Institute of Peace (USIP), Wilson Centre, Wilton Park and World Economic Forum (WEF). Qatari institutional partners are: Education Above All, Hamad bin Khalifa University, Invest Qatar, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Qatar Foundation, Qatar Free Zone Authority, Qatar Fund for Development, Qatar International Court and Dispute Resolution Centre, Qatar Investment Authority, Qatar Museums, Qatar Energy, Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, World Innovations Summit for Health. Media partners are: Al Jazeera, Bloomberg, CNN, Doha Debates, Agencia EFE, Foreign Policy and OrientXXI.

The Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers (PSME) - Qatar represented by its officers, and Qabayan Radio 94.3 FM renewed partnership agreement and organizational collaborations for mutual benefits. PSME Qatar is one of the active professional organizations under the umbrella of Philippine Professional Organizations Qatar. Qabayan Radio and PSME Qatar have been in collaboration since the past two years. Meanwhile, PSME Qatar awarded Qabayan Radio a Certificate of Appreciation for the latter's services provided to the organization in terms of public information dissemination. Qabayan Radio being the only Filipino radio channel in Qatar consistently provides public information avenues to Filipino organizations in the country.

The International Women’s Day was celebrated here in Qatar on Friday, March 4, 2022 at Skills Development Center, New Salata in Doha. It brought together 90 women leaders from 11 countries such as the Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Nigeria, Uganda, Ghana, Kenya, India, Nepal, Philippines, and Spain. The event was organized by Bayanihan ng Manggagawa sa Konstruksyon ng Qatar (Association of Construction Workers in Qatar) – Women (BMKQW) and Kenyan Household Service Workers’ Association (KHSWA) in cooperation with the Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI), and hosted by Mr. Babu Rajan, the President of Indian Cultural Center. This is the third time BMKQ spearheaded an event on the occasion of IWD through the initiative of BMKQ Women. Under the event's theme “A Get Together of Women Leaders; Be Inspired, Be Engaged, Women Empowered” together with BWI global campaign “WE BUILD A GENDER EQUAL FUTURE”,the celebration was a combination of face-to-face and online (via Zoom) platform, and was hosted and moderated by Liza Ramirez, Mygle Gabi from BMKQ Women Philippine community, Fatma Hassan from Tanzanian community and Shweta Koshty from the Indian community. In her opening remarks, Margaret Kabue, Leader of Kenyan Household Service Workers Association (UHSWA), placed the celebration in context, saying, “as all of us know, when women face challenges or difficulties, we do not give up. We do not complain. We do not put blame; in short, we just find solutions and in order to be women empowered we must love our selves. While Myla “Mags” Laja BMKQ Women Program Coordinator shared the objectives in her introduction to the program that being inspired and be more engaged towards genuine empowerment of women, this will push further our commitments as individuals and as a collective in building a gender-equal future, and the key is the participation and leadership of women in the social economic and political arena. When we are being sidelined, we create our own table, we create opportunities for women empowerment. Ms. Rita Schiavi, chairperson of BWI International Women’s Committee delivered and inspirational message while Poala Cammilli, BWI Global Campaigns Director, Elizabeth Tang, General Secretary of International Domestic Workers Federation shared their messages of solidarity on the occasion. Whereas Nuria Berrenger from the International Transport Federation graced the event and personally shared her message of solidarity with all women leaders. Aside from the inspirational solidarity messages the event was also highlighted with a showcase of traditional dances, traditional foods, and poster making “Artworks” portraying commitments to “Build a Gender Equal Future” participated by different national communities. The traditional dance award, a top recognition for the fundamentals went to Bangladesh and Indian while the poster making award goes to the Philippines. The event ended with a closing remark from Engr. Meliza Ortiguerra, President of Bayanihan ng Manggagawa sa Konstruksyon ng Qatar (BMKQ). BMKQ Women Program Coordinator Myla “Mags” Laja, commended each participant from eleven countries, from different nationalities of women migrant workers from different sectors of Qatar. This year’s theme has its focus on building a gender-equal future, it means women empowerment, equal rights, opportunities and responsibilities for all women regardless of color, race and social status. Being inspired and engaged to get a better chance to explore the horizon of endless possibilities that provides the freedom to whatever we wanted to be as women empowered.

Event will take place at Doha Exhibition and Convention Center Football fans everywhere are eagerly awaiting the Final Draw for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, which will take place in Doha on Friday 1 April. The draw ceremony will be held in the presence of 2,000 special guests at Doha Exhibition and Convention Center. After the event, the world’s best international teams will be able to plot their routes to the FIFA World Cup Final™, which will take place at the 80,000-capacity Lusail Stadium on 18 December. Fans are already planning their trips to Qatar, which will host the most compact version of the FIFA World Cup™ in modern history. All eight stadiums are within an hour of central Doha – meaning fans, players and officials will always be in the thick of the action during the 28-day tournament, which kicks off at Al Bayt Stadium on 21 November. And uniquely in the modern era, fans will have the chance to attend more than one match a day at the beginning of the tournament. Fans applied for more than 17 million tickets during the initial random draw selection, with many supporters already securing their seats during the current payment phase, which finishes on 21 March at 1 PM Doha time. Click here for more information about tickets.

On 10/10/2021, the Ministry of Interior of Qatar announced a grace period for correcting the status of the expatriates who have violated the provisions of the Law No. 21/2015, that regulates the entry, exit and the residence of expatriates in Qatar. The Ministry in a statement on this occasion also informed that it will be providing all facilities for the beneficiaries of the grace period to correct their legal status while they are inside the country and also for leaving the country to correct their status, if they cannot correct it while they are inside the country. The first phase of the grace period was from 10th October 2021 – 31st December 2021, and later on, the Ministry of Interior extended it till 31st March 2022, in order to benefit from the 50% reduction in the settlement amount of violations by the company owners as well as the expatriate workers What is the Objective of the Grace Period? Legalizing the status of expatriates who stay in the country violating the provisions of the Law No. 21/2015, in accordance with the law and in line with humanitarian standards. What are the Features of the Grace Period? The opportunity for correcting the legal status of the violators by allowing them to change the employer in accordance with the regulations recognized for the competent authority, and exempting them from the fines imposed on them. Exempting violating expatriates who wish to leave the country from legal responsibility without holding them accountable for the violations. What are the Services offered by the Services Centers of the MoI for the Beneficiaries of the Grace Period? Five (5) Services Centers of the Ministry of Interior such as 1) Umm Sulal, 2) Umm Sunaim, 3)Musaimeer, 4) Al Wakra and 5)Al Rayyan receive the applications for correcting the status of the violation by transferring from one employer to another employer. At the same time, 12 Service Centers of the Ministry of Interior such as 1) Al Shamal, 2) Al Khor, 3) Al Dhaen, 4) Umm Salal, 5) Pearl Qatar, 6) Onaiza, 7) Souq Waqif, 8) Rayyan, 9) Umm Sunaim, 10) Shahaniya, 11) Mesaimeer and 12) Wakrah by settlement, issuance and renewal of residence permit under the existing employer. Who can approach the service centers of the Ministry of Interior for the correcting the status? Residence Permit holders who have passed 90 days from the expiry date of the residence permit and wish to move to another employer. Residence Permit holders against whom a ‘leaving work’ complaint has been filed and they wish to move to another employer. Work visa holders who have exceeded 90 days from entering the country without issuing a residence permit and wish to stay in the country after correcting their status. Work visa holders against whom a ‘Leaving Work’ complaint has been filed and they wish to stay in the country after correcting their status. Important Notes: 1- No application will be accepted from the violator or the person against whom a ‘Leaving Work’ complaint has been filed after announcing the grace period starting from 10/10/2021. In the cases of work visa holders, for correcting the status, the prior approval should be obtained from the Labor Department for the same nationality on the new recruiter. What is the Work Mechanism at MoI Services Centers? The applicant submits the filled form, which is available on the MoI website (moi.gov.qa) in any one of the above-mentioned Service Center of the Ministry of Interior. The Service Center staff verifies the application to ensure compliance of the application with the conditions and transferring it to the Labor Department for decision. The Labor department within 5 working days will take a decision if all conditions are met. What are the Required Documents for the Application? Filling out the designated form for submitting the request to correct the status. A copy of the establishment's registration card for the new employer. Important Notes Verify the legal validity of the new company in to which the applicant would like to transfer the employment before application submission. Don’t repeat the application on the same company on which your application has been refused in the first time. Double check the mobile no. you mention in the application form, as the future communication with you will be through that no. You may approach the MoI Service Center to find out the reason of not getting the reply for your application after enough time from application submission. What are the Services rendered by the Search and Follow-up Department for the beneficiaries of the Grace Period? The role of the department is limited to ensuring the departure of the violating expatriates who wish to leave the country voluntarily, in a humanitarian manner, which reflects the pioneering role of the State of Qatar in the field of the protection of the human rights. The departure of expats is secured by exempting them from the fines incurred by them and without bearing any responsibility, and their transaction is completed as quickly and smoothly as possible without any delay. Who are the beneficiaries of the Services of the Search and Follow Up Department during the Grace Period? An expatriate who came to Qatar to work and stays in the country violating the law by not obtaining or not renewing the residence permit and has exceeded a period of 90 days, and an absconding complaint hasn’t been filed against him by his employer. An expatriate who came to Qatar work and stays in the country violating the law and an absconding complaint (Leaving the work / Violation of the purpose) has been filed against him by his employer, but 30 days have not completed from the date of filing the complaint. Holder of family residence permit and visitors who have violated the period of stay. An Expatriate who has violated the law No. 21/20215 and an absconding complaint (Leaving the work / Violation of the purpose) has been filed against him and more than 30 days have been passed from the date of filing a complaint against him. An Expatriate whose residence permit has been cancelled and has passed 90 days from its cancellation. How the Search and Follow Up Department will deal with these two categories of the violators? The departure of these two categories of the viola violating will be ensured, while they will be exempted from all consequences of legal responsibility and they can return to Qatar on another visa. How the Search and Follow Up Department will deal with these two three categories of the violators? Procedure: The departure of these three categories of the violators will be ensured and they can return to Qatar if they leave Qatar after accepting the legally recommended reconciliation amount. Note: In all cases, the deportation of the minors under the age of 18 will be without a ban to return to Qatar, regardless of their violation of the provisions of the law, and they are exempted from any legal consequences. What is the work mechanism at Search and Follow Up Department? The violating person approaches the main reception hall at the Search and Follow-up Department along with his passport + an open travel ticket. The concerned staff verifies the data and if all procedures are correct, he hands over a travel permit to the violating person with the travel date and the applicant has to leave the country on the date mentioned in the ticket as a ordinary passenger. He should be adhering to the Covid-19 precautionary measures followed by Qatar as well as the destination country. What is the time taken for completing the procedures at MoI Service Center as well as Search and Follow Up Department and what is the working hours? Only 3 minutes from 1 pm - 6 pm from Sunday – Thursday. Guidelines for taking maximum benefits of grace period Persons whose status has not been legalized by changing the employer during the given period due to their failure to obtain approval from the Labour Department for not meeting the required legal conditions; We call upon them to contact the Search and Follow Up Department Center to complete their procedures in accordance with the provisions of the law, as the purpose of their stay in the country has ended, and In this case, they have to leave the country soon and take advantage of the facilities granted during this period before its expiry and return again to Qatar according to the procedures and conditions established by law. Persons wishing to leave the country during the grace period must observe the following: Adherence to the precautionary measures related to the travel policy of the destination country when leaving from Qatar, as there were some problems related to vaccination and quarantine specified at the intended travel destination. Adhere to the travel date mentioned in the ticket by the Search and Follow Up Department and if the beneficiary couldn’t travel on the mentioned date, he has to reissue a new travel permit before his travel from the Search and Follow Up Department, while the department normally fixes any date for the travel within 10 days from the date of travel permit issuance. Avoid delaying and procrastination until the last week of the grace period to avoid delays in their transactions due to the possibility of some restrictions imposed against them without their knowledge that prevent their departure before 31st of March 2022.

Sa bagong functionality ng Ehteraz Portal, maaari ng mag-apply ang mga residente o citizens ng Qatar na nabakunahan sa ibang bansa na maaprubahan ang kanilang bakuna at mag-reflect ito bilang golden frame sa kanilang mga Ehteraz app, ayon sa Ministry of Public Health (MoPH). Ang mga COVID-19 vaccination certificates na uploaded sa portal ay sisiyasatin at susuriin ng MoPH, at tanging ang mga certificates na valid lamang ang tatanggapin at magre-reflect sa Ehteraz app. Dagdag pa ng MoPH, ang mga bakuna sa ibang bansa ay may katulad na validity criteria na susundin, tulad ng mga nabakunahan sa Qatar at susunod din sa katulad na mga regulasyon at pribelihiyo para sa mga fully at conditionally approved na mga bakuna. Samantala, nananatiling walang pagbabago sa proseso na ipinapatupad para sa mga bibisita sa Qatar at kailangang sumunod pa rin sa mga dating protocols para sa pagbyahe sa bansa.

Sa pinakahuling update ng Ministry of Public Health sa Qatar Travel and Return Policy na magkakabisa sa Lunes, February 28, 2022, 7:00PM, balik Red Health Measure na ang kategorya ng Pilipinas, kung saan may mas pinaluwag na travel restrictions and protocols. Narito ang listahan ng mga bansang nasa Red Health Measures. Samantala, dahil na rin sa tuluyang pagbaba ng kaso ng COVID-19, mas pinaluwag pa ang protocol para sa mga magbabyahe patungong Qatar, kasama na rito ang pagtanggal sa RT-PCR test bago ang pag-alis pati na rin ang quarantine para sa mga travelers na fully vaccinated o nakarecover sa COVID-19, pero kinakailangan pa rin ang Rapid Antigen Test sa loob ng 24 oras mula sa kanilang arrival time sa Qatar. Ang mga hindi bakunado at hindi immune naman mula sa Red Health Measures kasama na ang Pilipinas ay kailangan pa ring kumuha ng RT-PCR test na may validity sa loob ng 48 oras mula sa kanyang departure time. Kailangan din ang 5 araw na hotel quarantine, at Rapid Antigen test sa ika-limang araw ng hotel quarantine. Narito ang updated na travel and return policy para sa mga bansang nasa Red Health Measures. Para sa buong detalye ng Qatar Travel and Return Policy, bisitahin ang link na'to: https://bit.ly/3rY252l Patuloy po tayo mga kababayan na makiisa sa labang ito hindi lang ng Qatar kundi nating lahat laban sa COVID-19 sa pamamagitan ng pagsunod sa mga ipinaiiral na mga restrictions at protocols ng pamahalaan ng Qatar.

Available na para ma-download ang mga Certified List of Overseas Voters (CLOV) (Landbased and Seafarer), kaugnay pa rin ito sa nalalapit na National and Local Elections sa Mayo 2022. Maaaring ma-download ang CLOV sa mga link sa ibaba: Landbased: Download Link Seafarer: Download Link Kaugnay pa nito, may Privacy Notice din na inilabas ang Embahada nitong Feb 23, 2022. Ayon sa pabatid ng Embahada, ang nasabing paglathala ng CLOV ay legal, bilang pagsunod sa probisyon ng Republic Act No. 10590 o mas kilala sa tawag na Overseas Voting Act. Narito ang kopya ng Privacy Notice ng Philippine Embassy.

Reportedly Chery All New Flagship SUV, TIGGO8 PRO MAX, is about to enter Qatar market. During the recent Car Show in Doha Villagio Mall, TIGGO8 PRO MAX was presented in the show to public, when thousands of customers in Qatar viewed and experienced the top features closely, considering this new model will be the most high-tech and intelligent SUV model in Qatar. People are awaiting for the official launch and looking forward to test drive and buy at the earliest. As official introduction, TIGGO8 PRO MAX is the new flagship model of CHERY TIGGO8 series, which is the most advanced SUV with four main highlight upgrade: Latest 2.0TGDI Power, AWD Intelligent Control System, Green Healthy Air System(C-Pure Solution) and Voice Control System. TIGGO8 PRO MAX is Chery 1st SUV model with full-scene intelligent AWD system and 2.0TGDI power, to bring all customers the best driving experience. The first full-scene intelligent AWD system adopted with six driving modes available TIGGO 8 PRO MAX is equipped with a new-generation electronic and intelligent AWD system, which makes it easy to cope with various special road conditions. The system provides six modes for full-scene road conditions, including economical, normal, sports, camping, skiing, and off-road for easy switching. At the same time, the system can easily cope with puddles, mud, potholes and other road conditions with a powerful load-bearing torque output that is quickly and intelligently switched from 0 to 3000 N-m. Due to the gradeability of up to 45%, it can push the vehicle to move steadily up steep slope sections. In addition, the system can also switch to 4WD mode quickly, within 100m to cope easily with icy, snowy, or wet road conditions. Thus it avoids skidding and rollover and guarantees safe and stable driving and riding. All New 2.0TGDI Engine: Quickness, Powerfulness, Excellence, and Economy The 2.0TGDI engine adopted by TIGGO 8PRO Max features quickness, power, excellence, and economy with maximum power of 187kW and peak torque of 390N·m, which achieves the balance between power (0-100km acceleration in 7.3s) and efficiency (100km fuel consumption of 7L). Besides, a warranty of ten years or one million kilometers will be offered for the engine performance, which is the only one in the automobile industry, to ensure the manufacture confidence in this engine and provide all customers with a peace of mind. It is worth mentioning that the 2.0TGDI engine has recently won the 2021 “China Heart” Top Ten Engines Award, which is the seventh time that Chery Automobile has won such a title. C-PURE green compartment with environmental quality benchmark Immersing yourself in the mountains and enjoying nature with the TIGGO 8 PRO MAX is another great surprise for consumers around the world. The “C-PURE green cockpit” adopted by the new car is Chery’s first green cabin brand , and provides users with a level-3.0 interior odor environment for both urban and country conditions, which is more rigid than the national environmental protection standard, with actual key VOC developed and controlled as per 10% of the national standard limit. The cockpit of this new model adopts the EU-level environmental protection material and technology, the skin material is water-based, and the odor and VOC are controlled in all dimensions with respect to parts, systems, and the whole vehicle. In addition, it adopts "CN95 medical-grade" anti-pathogen A/C filter element and RICSCS remote active cockpit self-cleaning system, so that CN95 medical-grade health protection is offered in the cockpit, which is also the environmental quality benchmark in the industry. Multi-intelligent entertainment configuration and large space One of the best and unique feature of TIGGO8 PRO MAX, it is equipped with the voice control system where you can control the vehicle AC system, sunroof, glass, trunk door all system with hand free voice instruction, which will be available in both English and Arabic for all local and experts customers. It will surely become one of the dream car, as a car who can understand you with voice communication beyond the physical buttons or switches. TIGGO 8 PRO MAX also has a 4722x1860x1705mm superlarge body and a 2710mm superlong wheelbase, creating a super-large comfortable space of "5+2 seats”, which offers twelve types of flexible and variable combination spaces with quiet of up to 34dB. In addition, it is also equipped with first-class VIP seats, adjustable aviation-level pressure relief headrest, SONY luxurious 8-speaker surround sound, 24.6” large smart dual-screen, portable shift lever, and leading intelligent driving assistance system, bringing users a more scientific and technological luxury-quality experience. With its full-scene intelligent 4WD system, 2.0TGDI high power, C-Pure green cockpit, and advanced voice control system configuration, TIGGO 8 PRO MAX redefines the benchmark of SUV by its superior power, and deserves the title of "Most Intelligent SUV". With the further enrichment of TIGGO 8 series product matrix and the gradual introduction of the new car to Middle East markets, it is bound to bring a better product experience to all regional users. As per official news from Chery Qatar, the all new TIGGO8 PRO MAX will be launched during Ramadan time in April 2022, and lots of bookings has started from Feb till then, stay tuned while we can always drop by the Elite Motors Showroom on Salwa road to book a test drive and have the experience in advance.

Amidst the weather conditions, Filipino communities are actively supporting and raising awareness about Qatar’s clean-up initiatives. The Bayanihan ng Manggagawa sa Konstruksyon ng Qatar (BMKQ), Bantay at Kasangga ng OFW (BAK) Qatar Chapter, and other allied organizations collected around 110 kilos of trashes removed from the seaside during DEAP Qatar’s Beach Clean-up Campaign held on Friday, January 18, 2021 at Madinat Ash Shamal Beach, Freiha Archeological Site. “In nearly 5 years of active campaigning, we have recorded 278 beach clean-up activities and will continue to work with the communities to educate them on the negative impact on the environment. Plastic waste is the most common type of ocean pollution all over the world, but Qatar has continued to fight against plastic pollution.” said Mr. Jose Saucedo of the Doha Environmental Actions Project (DEAP Qatar). Mr. Saucedo thanked the volunteers for their tremendous and ongoing support to the recent beach clean-up activities. Meanwhile, according to Ms. Meliza Ortiguerra – BMKQ President, and Mr. Eliseo Bermido – Chair of BMKQ’s Education & Training Committee, the BMKQ with allied community organizations will continue to support DEAP as it carries out its cleanup efforts as well as promoting members involvement. Beach clean-up volunteers adhere to coronavirus (COVID-19) protocols other safety precautions such as wearing masks, maintaining social distance, wearing gloves and using tools, and disinfection of hands. We encourage everyone to participate in this community-wide beach clean-up activity, as well as the environmental and climate change efforts. For more information, visit www.bmkq.me or email us at info@bmkq.me. You can also follow DEAP social media pages at @deapqatar.

BMKQ kicks off 2022 on nurturing and developing future leaders to carryout challenging goals of the organization for this year. 21 January 2022 – DOHA. The Bayanihan ng Manggagawa sa Konstruksyon ng Qatar (BMKQ), an association of Filipino construction workers, through the support of Building and Wood Workers International (BWI), a Swiss-based global organization, organised a Leadership Training Session for its new officers and members of working committees in order to achieve significant improvements in personal engagement and leadership capability. The training was held at Inspire Management Training Center in Hilal. The participants were able to learn from selected specialized topics of leadership fundamental principles and various group activities (Leadership SWOT Analysis) including communication and townhall meeting (Fishbowl) exercise where timely and relevant subjects were brought up for brainstorming and which will also serve as one of the strategic objectives of BMKQ leadership for this year and onwards. The BMKQ Education and Training Committee has successfully managed and structured the training sessions and workshops to address multi-learning level of 19 participants noting they are from various backgrounds, such as construction, hospitality, medical, and domestic services. According to BMKQ training team, namely Mr. Eliseo Bermido, Mr. Leo Dote, and Mr. Alliver Revilla, the training was designed to assist participants in developing effective strategies for dealing with internal/external leadership and performance modelling at the workplace and beyond. Moreover, the whole day activities intended to educate and equip each attendee with competence so that they can confidently express themselves in front of others, overcome their fear of public speaking and boost their confidence in whatever form of communication. Meanwhile, the participants were able to gain a clear understanding of the most pressing OFW issues in the Philippine context, apply their creative and critical thinking skills to analyze the various aspects of these issues, and to reach conclusions through logical and rational analysis. In addition to this leadership training session, BMKQ is expected to hold various trainings and workshops for its members and other community organizations throughout the year, targeting at least one session every month.