In Doha’s mirrored halls, far from the dust and misery of eastern Congo, two men shook hands this weekend. One represented the Democratic Republic of Congo; the other, the M23 rebel group that has seized cities, airports, and thousands of lives. They signed a Declaration of Principles, pledging to halt attacks, refrain from hate propaganda, and stop seizing new territory.

On paper, it is progress. A final peace agreement is promised by August 18, with initial steps by July 29. Qatar, which spent months quietly mediating since April, is being praised by the African Union as delivering a “milestone.”

But Congo has seen this before.

While comparisons between Iran’s recent attack on Qatar’s Al Udeid air base and hellscapes created for entertainment are of course inappropriate, the Gulf state’s ability to keep calm and carry on was nevertheless intriguing. As the country’s air defenses sprang into life Doha’s shops and restaurants initially remained open, many delivery drivers stayed on the road, and people stopped to observe the unfolding drama in the skies. And then things got back to normal.

As the third Doha meeting on Afghanistan concludes, it is evident that Qatar's leadership in international mediation is indispensable. This United Nations-convened event, which gathered representatives from over 30 countries and international organizations, underscored Qatar's critical role in fostering dialogue and seeking solutions to some of the world's most pressing issues. “In Doha, we have a unique opportunity to forge a path forward for Afghanistan,” remarked Qatar’s Minister of State in its Foreign Ministry, HE Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al Khulaifi, highlighting the gravity of the discussions.

As we approach the upcoming Autonomous e-Mobility Forum in Qatar, it’s timely to assess our current status in smart mobility and the hurdles that await us.

The connected, autonomous, shared, and electric vehicles (CASE) mobility framework has been our guidepost for over a decade, providing insights into the most significant opportunities and predicting developments within these domains. With the Autonomous e-Mobility Forum on the horizon, what is our progress report, and what challenges remain unresolved in these critical areas of mobility?

Like other industries, environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria are also of legitimate importance for PR practitioners. Proximity to questionable corporate or political actors, child labour, environmental malpractice, and other issues, have profound implications for business and the wider profession. The expected ideal response is for agencies to distance themselves from such clients. But is walking away always the most sensible action to take? PR firms’ engagement with the fossil fuel sector, and calls to cut these ties, provide food for thought.

The regional fabric provides food-for-thought regarding the theoretical sharing of such opportunities, even if the GCC remains an unlikely candidate, not just in light of the now concluded diplomatic crisis and blockade of Qatar. Doing so also justifies a look back at the deep commonalities that were more obvious before the rift.