The 23rd edition of the Doha Forum commenced on Saturday in the Qatari capital, focusing on the theme “Justice in Action: Beyond Promises to Progress.”
The two-day event brings together world leaders, policymakers, and experts to discuss pressing international issues, from conflicts and humanitarian crises to technology and global governance.
Speaking at the opening session, Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani warned of “serious setbacks” in justice, the rule of law, and accountability worldwide.
Sheikh Mohammed, who also serves as foreign minister, said weakened legal systems have exacerbated global crises and described today’s conflicts and humanitarian emergencies as stemming from a “culture of impunity,” creating an “unprecedented cycle of crises.”
He stressed that mediation is central to Qatar’s foreign policy, describing it as “not a political luxury but a deep-rooted and consistent method.”
Sheikh Mohammed called for the restoration of trust in the international legal order, emphasising the need for a fairer global system, and noted that regional challenges are closely linked to a broader decline in respect for international norms.
High-profile attendees and key sessions
The 2025 forum programme, developed in collaboration with global think tanks and research institutions, includes sessions such as:
- “The Gaza Reckoning: Reassessing Global Responsibilities and Pathways to Peace,”
- “Gulf–EU Relations in the Age of Strategic Isolation,”
- “AI as a Double-Edged Sword: Strategies for Responsible Use in the Military Domain,” and
- “US–China Relations: Navigating the Risks and Opportunities of a Changing Global Order.”
Notable participants include Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares, World Economic Forum President and CEO Borge Brende, former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and former Microsoft CEO Bill Gates.
The previous edition of the forum, held in December 2024 under the theme “The Innovation Imperative,” drew more than 5,000 attendees, including over 350 speakers, underscoring Doha’s growing role as a hub for dialogue on global challenges.
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In a sweeping diplomatic push in Baku, Georgia and Azerbaijan have signed a landmark package of energy and transport agreements, cementing a partnership set to shape the South Caucasus corridor for decades to come.
The first-ever “WUF13 NGO Forum” in the history of the World Urban Forum (WUF) was held on 19 May 2026 at Azerbaijan’s initiative in Baku.
Germany will deploy a Patriot air-defence battery to Türkiye in the coming weeks as part of a NATO mission aimed at strengthening the alliance’s south-eastern flank, German officials have said.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has called for closer security coordination between Central Asia and China, warning that expanding trade and infrastructure links are exposing the region to increasingly sophisticated cross-border threats.
The World Urban Forum (WUF13) continues in Baku, Azerbaijan on 18 May, addressing the global housing crisis. The day’s agenda includes the official opening press conference, the WUF13 Urban Expo opening and a ministerial dialogue on the Nairobi Declaration to advance Africa's urban agenda.
United Nations World Urban Forum 13 continues in Baku, Azerbaijan on 19 May with sessions and roundtable discussions focused on strengthening dialogue and advancing cooperation in urban development. Organisers say there are nearly 3 billion people globally who face some form of housing inadequacy.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday he had paused a planned attack on Iran after appeals from the leaders of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, allowing negotiations to continue over a possible deal to end the conflict.
A 5.2 magnitude earthquake struck China’s Guangxi region early on Monday, killing two people and forcing more than 7,000 residents in Liuzhou to evacuate as rescue efforts continued.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), warning that the situation poses a significant risk of cross-border spread in Central Africa.
Germany will deploy a Patriot air-defence battery to Türkiye in the coming weeks as part of a NATO mission aimed at strengthening the alliance’s south-eastern flank, German officials have said.
Estonia said on Tuesday (19 May) that a NATO fighter jet shot down a suspected Ukrainian drone over its territory, in the latest reported airspace violation in the region amid ongoing Ukrainian strikes against Russia.
Sweden has agreed to buy four naval frigates from France’s Naval Group in a deal worth more than $4 billion, as Stockholm moves to strengthen its defence capabilities in the Baltic Sea, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on Tuesday.
Spanish police said on Tuesday they had detained a 25-year-old man suspected of killing his two parents and injuring four other people, including his son, in a shooting in the southern city of El Ejido in Almeria province overnight.
European Union negotiators are expected to agree on Tuesday (19 May) on legislation removing import duties on U.S. industrial goods, in a move aimed at implementing last year’s trade agreement with the United States and avoiding higher tariffs threatened by U.S. President Donald Trump.
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