Health

Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has launched the Food Establishments Guide for Food Recall Requirements, a comprehensive national reference aimed at standardising and enhancing procedures for recalling unsafe or non-compliant food products from the local market, thereby protecting consumer health and reducing food-related risks. The launch of the guide comes as part of the Ministry’s efforts to enhance the food safety system in the State of Qatar, in line with internationally recognised best practices and standards in the field of food safety. Read Also Qatar Airways to resume daily flights to Philadelphia from August The guide clearly defines the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders across the food chain, including importers, manufacturers, distributors and retailers. It also establishes effective mechanisms for traceability, product recovery, communication and food incident management, contributing to faster response and more efficient management of potential food safety risks. The guide further emphasises the importance of food establishments implementing effective recall and recovery plans, applying robust traceability systems, and conducting regular reviews and testing exercises to verify the readiness and effectiveness of these plans, in line with international best practices in food safety. The launch of the guide was announced during the World Food Safety Day 2026 event, today organised by the Ministry of Public Health at the Itqan Clinical Simulation and Innovation Centre at Hamad Bin Khalifa Medical City (HBKMC) under the theme “From Burden to Solutions: Safe Food Everywhere”. The event brought together representatives of relevant entities from both the public and private sectors. Wessan Abdullah Al Baker, Director of the Food Safety Department at the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), said that organising the event reflects the Ministry’s commitment to promoting a culture of prevention, strengthening food safety awareness and supporting partnerships with relevant stakeholders. These efforts contribute to building a more efficient and sustainable food system and achieving the highest levels of protection for the health of the community. The event featured a number of awareness and discussion sessions addressing key challenges associated with foodborne diseases and ways to prevent them, in addition to showcasing the latest practices and experiences in food control and food safety. A practical case study from the private sector on the recall of a food product was also presented during the event, with the aim of promoting knowledge exchange and raising awareness of the preventive and corrective measures followed in this field. During the event, the Food Safety Department at the Ministry of Public Health honoured outstanding food establishments under the Food Establishments Classification Programme, as well as establishments that achieved notable improvements in their classification ratings and compliance with health requirements, in recognition of their efforts in supporting food quality and safety standards.

General

Doha, Qatar: The Shura Council participated on Wednesday in the 42nd session of the Executive Committee of the Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union, held via videoconference in preparation for the 39th conference of the union, scheduled to take place virtually on Thursday. The council was represented at the meeting by HE Sultan bin Hassan Al Dosari, a member of the Shura Council and member of the union's Executive Committee, in the presence of HE Dr. Hamda bint Hassan Al Sulaiti, Deputy Speaker of the Shura Council, Member of the Executive Committee of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), and Vice-President of the Committee representing the Arab Geopolitical Group. Participants reviewed reports from specialized committees and discussed a range of organizational, administrative, and financial matters related to the work of the Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union and the development of its mechanisms, in addition to issues of common interest in Arab parliamentary affairs. In a related context, HE Amina bint Youssef Al Jaidah, a member of the Shura Council, took part in a meeting of the Palestine Committee of the union, which was also held virtually. The meeting discussed developments in the Palestinian cause and ways to enhance Arab parliamentary coordination and cooperation in support of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, as well as efforts to unify parliamentary positions in regional and international forums in support of the Palestinian cause and broader objectives of joint Arab parliamentary action.

General

Doha, Qatar: Qatar Airways has announced the resumption of daily flights between its Doha home base and Philadelphia (PHL), effective August 1, 2026. The reinstated service expands the airline’s North American network to 14 destinations, further strengthening its connectivity for travellers across the region. Qatar Airways will resume the direct flights to the largest city in Pennsylvania operating Airbus A350-900 aircraft which is equipped with the airline’s award-winning Qsuite business class and Starlink, the fastest Wi-Fi in the sky. More than 140 Qatar Airways aircraft are equipped with Starlink, making it the world’s first and largest Starlink-equipped widebody fleet. The resumption of flights reflects the airline’s deep commitment to the U.S. market and will provide seamless connections to destinations across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East via its award-winning hub, Hamad International Airport. In the U.S., the resumed flights will provide enhanced onward connectivity through Qatar Airways’ oneworld partner, American Airlines. Since launching its inaugural U.S. service to New York in 2007, Qatar Airways has steadily expanded its presence across North America, offering passengers increased flexibility, premium travel experiences, and seamless connectivity to more than 160 destinations worldwide. Qatar Airways flights to Philadelphia (PHL) Departing daily from August 1, 2026: Doha (DOH) to Philadelphia (PHL) – Flight QR727: Departure 08:00; Arrival 15:05 Philadelphia (PHL) to Doha (DOH) – Flight QR728: Departure 21:30; Arrival 17:00 Qatar Airways will operate flights to the following North American destinations this summer: Atlanta (ATL), Boston (BOS), Chicago (ORD), Dallas (DFW), Houston (IAH), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), Montreal (YUL), New York (JFK), San Francisco (SFO), Seattle (SEA), Toronto (YYZ), and Washington D.C. (IAD).