Day: June 4, 2024

Doha: Chairperson of Qatar Foundation (QF) HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser witnessed today the inauguration of the 17th World Congress of Bioethics in Doha today – the first edition of this touchstone event to be held in the Arab World theme of under the theme of “Religion, Culture and Global Bioethics” This years Congress was hosted by HBKUs Research Center for Islamic Legislation and Ethics (CILE) at the College of Islamic Studies (CIS) in collaboration with World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH), the global health initiative of Qatar Foundation. Sponsored by the Ministry of Public Health, Hamad Medical Corporation, and the Primary Health Care Corporation, this edition of the Congress was organized with support from the International Association of Bioethics (IAB).

The event has gathered over 1,000 participants – including bioethicists, researchers, and stakeholders – to engage in a dialogue centered on vital issues in bioethics, especially in religious and cultural contexts. The event had a special panel d
iscussion, which featured members of the IABs executive leadership delving into the significance of the theme alongside distinguished figures from across academic and bioethics research.

Commenting on the significance of the 17th World Congress of Bioethics being held in the region, President of HBKU Dr. Ahmad M. Hasnah said: “The role of religion is a crucial one in the biomedical area. Discussions shaping bioethical policies should not neglect peoples beliefs, as they are a part of their lives. It is important that they are captured in the development and creation of any policy.” “It is also important to recognize that heavenly religions were revealed to provide guiding principles for humanity that are irrespective of time and place, providing an important basis to the ethical discussion away from trial and error or time-bound approaches,” he added.

For her part, WISH CEO and co-chair of the event Sultana Afdhal said: “We are delighted to see months of hard work come to fruition as we witness the gatherin
g of the worlds most renowned bioethicists and scholars in Qatar for this very special 17th edition of the World Congress of Bioethics. Balancing international perspectives and evidence-based best practices in health with those rooted in the religious values and cultural traditions of Qatar, the Gulf region, and the broader Arab-Muslim world has been a cornerstone of our approach at WISH, exemplified by our long-term series on healthcare ethics.” “As such, we appreciate the opportunity to launch the upcoming WISH topic on the ethical management of AI in healthcare at such a landmark event in the presence of thought-leaders from the bioethics community, and we look forward to continued collaboration with HBKU and CILE in this critical field,” she added.

Held until June 6, the Congress will see participants exchange insights on prominent and emerging topics in bioethics, including the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare, how healthcare can be practiced safely in regions impacted by war and armed confl
ict, and public health ethics in light of COVID-19 and other pandemics. Several of the events panels and sessions will be conducted wholly in Arabic featuring live English translation, reflecting the IABs commitment to facilitating a cross-cultural dialogue on contemporary issues in the field of bioethics. Prominent experts from the Middle East, North Africa, and Asia will also participate in the discussions and offer regional perspectives on the wider field and issues such as disability, environmental, genetic, and genomic bioethics.

The World Congress also features an exhibition component, where HBKU, WISH, and several international institutions are hosting booths that showcase the latest in bioethics research to attendees.

Source: Qatar News Agency

Riyadh: The State of Qatar has chaired the first coordination meeting for officials of diplomatic institutes and academies in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, currently held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, during Jun. 4 and 5.

HE Director of Diplomatic Institute at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Al Horr represented the State of Qatar at the meeting.

The meeting discussed areas of cooperation and integration between academic and diplomatic institutes in the GCC states in diplomatic training, sharing expertise and organizing joint events.

Source: Qatar News Agency

Doha: HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani discussed with HE President of the friendly Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, bilateral relations between the two countries.

This came during a phone call HH the Amir received on Tuesday from the President of Kazakhstan.

During the call, they discussed regional and global developments, in addition to a range of topics of shared concern.

Source: Qatar News Agency

Amman, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi met on Tuesday with Vice President of the European Commission Margaritis Schinas, who is visiting Amman.

The meeting discussed ways to enhance the partnership between Jordan and the European Union on all fronts.

Both sides also touched on the Syrian refugee crisis, for which Safadi urged the international community to take its share of responsibility for supporting Syrian refugees and not to leave this responsibility solely to Jordan and the other host countries.

He also warned against the decrease in international support for refugees, their host countries, and the organizations aiding them, stressing the need for continued cooperation between donor countries and host countries to ensure a decent living for refugees.

Source: Qatar News Agency

Doha: The Doha Institute for Graduate Studies (DI) issued on Tuesday student admission announcements for its master’s and doctoral programs for the academic year 2024-2025.

In a press statement, the DI said this comes after the evaluation process of a competitive applicant pool of 13,000 from around 100 countries, out of which 358 students were admitted, 30 percent of whom are Qataris.

The new students will join 19 master’s and 8 doctoral programs, with 233 students to join the School of Social Science and Humanities, 125 to join the School of Economics, Administration, and Public Policy, while 10 others will start their doctoral studies.

Dean of Student Affairs at DI Dr. Ibrahim Fraihat stated that the applications were subject to a rigorous evaluation process, which considered bachelor’s level academic achievements, with a particular focus on research skills, Arabic and English language proficiency, general and academic knowledge of specialization fields, community contribution, and interview performance
.

Dr. Fraihat expressed pride in the quality and diversity of the admitted students this year, affirming DI’s commitment to academic excellence and providing a learning environment that stimulates excellence and creativity.

Since its establishment, more than 70,000 students from various Arab and foreign countries applied to study at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, with an alumni of 1,426.

Source: Qatar News Agency

Geneva: HE Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus praised the humanitarian role played by the State of Qatar and the support it provides in the health sector, especially for Palestinian victims and displaced people in the Gaza Strip.

This came during the meeting of HE Minister of Public Health Dr. Hanan Mohammed Al Kuwari in Geneva on Tuesday with HE WHO Director-General.

The two sides discussed aspects of cooperation between the State of Qatar and the WHO in various health fields, in addition to the most prominent decisions of the meetings of the 77th session of the World Health Assembly, which was recently concluded in Geneva, and the most prominent topics being discussed by the 155th session of the WHO Executive Council, which concludes later today.

The meeting also discussed the “Sports for Health” partnership between the State of Qatar, the WHO, and FIFA, after the World Health Assembly adopted a resolution led by the State of Qatar entitled “Strengtheni
ng Health and Well-Being through Sport Events”.

The resolution serves as a lasting legacy for partnership and provides a framework through which future sports events can be leveraged to enhance and protect health.

Source: Qatar News Agency