Government

Doha, Qatar: “Logistical delay” in getting the names of the captives that are due to be released was the reason for the delayed implementation of the ceasefire, said Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson. Advisor to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs H E Dr. Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari spoke to Al Jazeera and said, "In November 2023, we had an exchange of similar parameters taking place and therefore we are not new to the difficulties of the last-minute exchange of information, including the names of prisoners and captives to be exchanged.” Read Also LIVE UPDATES: Qatar confirms Gaza ceasefire takes effect “Within the operations of maintaining the ceasefire and implementing the deal, there are a lot of logistical difficulties that have to do with the situation on the ground,” he added. “Communication and movement in Gaza is not easy and therefore it takes sometimes more time than expected, but thankfully we were able to resolve it and now we have the ceasefire in place and aid starting to go into Gaza.” Al-Ansari also expressed confidence that the detainee-and-prisoner exchange later today will be “successful”. The operations room of the mediators is in Egypt and is “working right now as we speak on making sure that the exchange today happens seamlessly”, he added.

Health

Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has launched its annual vaccination campaign today (Sunday), targeting Year 10 students to protect them against tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough (Tdap). This initiative is being implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education and the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC). The school-based vaccination campaign is a recognised strategy by the World Health Organization (WHO) to protect individuals from these diseases. The WHO recommends a booster dose of the vaccine every 10 years to maintain immunity. The MoPH and its partners have initiated campaign activities in government, private, and community schools. Notifications have been distributed to parents to obtain their consent for their children to receive the vaccine. Read Also Invest Qatar Pavilion to debut at World Economic Forum 2025 in Davos Qatar confirms Gaza ceasefire begins: Official As part of the initiative, the MoPH organised an awareness workshop on Wednesday, 15 January, with participation from a large number of medical and nursing staff from the Ministry, PHCC, as well as nurses from government, private, and community schools across Qatar. The workshop aimed to enhance awareness among medical and nursing staff working in schools on the importance of the Tdap vaccine in combating tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough. During the session, participants were updated on the latest scientific and practical developments regarding the vaccine and briefed on the administrative arrangements to ensure the campaign’s success and the achievement of its objectives. Dr Hamad Eid Al Romaihi, Director of the Health Protection and Communicable Diseases Control Department at the Ministry of Public Health, stated, “The Ministry implements the annual school vaccination campaign against tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough to prevent these diseases, strengthen students’ immunity, and provide a safe and healthy educational environment free from diseases and epidemics.” Dr Al Romaihi further explained that the booster dose is an integral part of the routine vaccination under Qatar’s national immunisation schedule for children and adolescents. He emphasised that receiving this vaccine is essential for strengthening immunity against these diseases, highlighting that the vaccine used in the campaign is both highly effective and completely safe. The MoPH urged parents to encourage their children to take advantage of this opportunity to receive the vaccine. Vaccination plays a vital role in safeguarding their health and preventing these serious infectious diseases, which can lead to death or disability. Furthermore, proof of vaccination against these diseases is often a requirement for admission to many local and international universities.

Government

Doha, Qatar: Invest Qatar has announced the launch of the inaugural "Invest Qatar Pavilion" at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2025 in Davos, Switzerland held from January 20 to 24. The pavilion will showcase Qatar's dynamic business ecosystem, innovation-driven economy and diverse opportunities. It will serve as a platform, bringing together national stakeholders and global industry leaders, underscoring Qatar's unwavering commitment to advancing the future of business and technological progress. It enables visitors to explore the country's rich culture and thriving business landscape, while discovering the future of innovation and new opportunities. CEO of Invest Qatar, Sheikh Ali bin Alwaleed Al-Thani said: "The debut of the Invest Qatar Pavilion at the World Economic Forum in Davos marks a significant milestone in our efforts to position Qatar as a premier destination for investment and innovation. This initiative enables us to forge meaningful connections with global leaders, highlighting Qatar's vibrant business landscape, cultural richness and ambitious vision for driving future growth." The carefully curated programming of the pavilion delves into the key themes of this year's World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, "Collaboration for the Intelligent Age." In partnership with The Economist Impact, Invest Qatar will host two events discussing the themes of innovation, logistics and global connectivity. The first event, titled "Future Pathways for Logistics: Resilience, Innovation, and Global Connectivity," will explore how emerging technologies, geopolitical trends and sustainability are shaping the future of global logistics and supply chains. The second panel, titled "From Sandboxes to Success: The Middle East's New Innovation Ecosystems," will examine how policies, regulatory sandboxes and advanced technologies are fostering entrepreneurial ecosystems and attracting global talent and investment. The Investment Promotion Agency Qatar (Invest Qatar) is responsible for overseeing investment promotion activities, aimed at attracting foreign direct investment to Qatar. Established in 2019, Invest Qatar's mission is to strengthen Qatar's position as an ideal investment destination, while facilitating investments that foster economic diversification and development.