Government

Doha, Qatar: The Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thanisent a cable of condolences to Chairman of the Presidential Council of the sisterly State of Libya HE Dr. Mohamed Al Menfi, on the death of the Chief of the General Staff of the Libyan Army, Lieutenant General Mohammed Ali Al Haddad, and his companions, following a plane crash.

General

Doha: The Ministry of Sports and Youth announced that application is now open to Gulf youth aged 18 to 34 for the 1st Youth Creativity in Data Award. Marking the Gulf Statistics Day, the award is organized in cooperation of and coordination with the Statistical Centre for the Cooperation Council for the Arab Countries of the Gulf (GCC-Stat) and the National Statistics Center, in the framework of supporting digital and knowledge transformation in GCC countries. It also aims to strengthen the role of Gulf youth in employing data and artificial intelligence in the service of sustainable development and improving quality of life in Gulf societies. In this context, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Sports and YouthHE Eng. Yasser bin AbdullahAl Jamal said that the launch of the award aligns with the strategic directions of the work plan of the Committee of Their Highnesses and Excellencies the Ministers of Youth and Sports in the GCC (2024-2030), particularly with regard to empowering the youth, building their future capabilities, and enhancing their active participation in joint Gulf initiatives. His Excellency pointed out that the award represents a practical model for achieving several of the plan's objectives by discovering and nurturing young Gulf talents in this important field and stimulating data-driven innovation. For his part, head of the Human and Environmental Affairs Sector at the GCC General Secretariat Dr. Mohammed bin Falah Al Rashidi said that the award embodies an advanced Gulf-oriented approach to linking youth creativity with data-driven policymaking, and to enhancing the use of artificial intelligence in supporting youth issues in the framework of sustainable development. Al Rashidi noted that the award contributes to consolidating a culture of knowledge-based decision-making and serves as a Gulf platform for preparing young leaders capable of transforming data into tools for developmental impact, reflecting the GCC General Secretariat's role in supporting high-quality initiatives with strategic dimensions and sustainable impact. Director General of GCC-StatIntisar Al Wahaibi expressed GCC-Stat's happiness to be part of this pioneering initiative, which aims to empower Gulf youth and enhance their role in digital transformation and data-driven innovation. Al Wahaibi said that the award is an important step toward achieving the strategic objectives that GCC countries seek in developing youth competencies, adding that GCC-Statis committed to supporting this award by providing GCC experts and jurist, in addition to the data and knowledge needed by participants, along with all necessary support to ensure achieving sustainable development and enhancing the quality of life in Gulf societies. In turn, Director-General of the National Statistics Center at the National Planning Council Ahmed Hassan Al Obaidly stated that the center's participation in the award comes as part of its role in developing the official statistics system and in implementing the objectives of the National Statistics and Data Strategy, which is achieved by empowering the youth to employ data and AI to come up with solutions that support digital transformation, enhance the quality of national indicators, and contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in GCC countries. The Youth Creativity in Data Award is a practical translation of the work plan of the Committee of Their Highnesses and Excellencies the Ministers of Youth and Sports in the GCC (2024-2030), through developing joint Gulf youth initiatives, strengthening youth participation in high-quality programs, and raising the quality of knowledge-based and innovative outputs with developmental impact. The award also contributes to supporting the plan's approved indicators by expanding the base of Gulf youth participation, introducing data- and innovation-based initiatives, and strengthening partnerships with government entities and statistical institutions, reflecting the GCC countries' commitment to training a generation of youth capable of contributing to decision-making and achieving sustainable development. The Ministry of Sports and Youth invited interested youth to review the terms and conditions for applying and to register via the ministry's website through the award's dedicated page.

Health

Doha: Sidra Medicine has announced the successful completion of its first pediatric allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), marking an important milestone in its mission to deliver advanced, life-saving care for children with complex and high-risk conditions. A first for Qatar, the procedure was performed on a nine-year-old boy diagnosed with relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia, who received stem cells donated by his brother. This transplantation represents a key milestone in Sidra Medicine's pediatric HSCT program, and follows the opening of its dedicated HSCT ward in June 2025. Chair of Pediatric Medicine at Sidra Medicine, Dr. Ahmed Al Hammadi, said: "Completing our first pediatric allogeneic stem cell transplant is a significant achievement for Sidra Medicine and for pediatric care in Qatar. It reflects our commitment to providing world-class specialty care, strengthening national capabilities in advanced cellular therapies, and ensuring that children have access to highly specialized, life-saving treatment within the country". The patient's treatment journey at Sidra Medicine began in 2019, when he underwent standard chemotherapy over two years. Following relapses in May 2022 and December 2024, the medical team determined that an allogeneic stem cell transplant offered the best chance for long-term recovery. Children facing this type of relapse have very limited treatment options without HSCT, highlighting the importance of timely access to this specialized therapy. Acting Chief of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and HSCT and Director of the Advanced Cell Therapy Core at Sidra Medicine, Dr. Chiara Cugno, said: "The continued growth of Sidra Medicine's pediatric HSCT program reflects the advanced expertise of our hematology and oncology teams. Our services are available to both local and international patients, addressing a critical national need, with more than 50 children in Qatar currently on the transplant waiting list".