Author

CHANEL, a French synonym for elegance and luxury, is displaying a number of its classic collections at the Doha Jewellery and Watches Exhibition 2024. Situated at Fifty One East pavilion, CHANEL presents Tweed de Chanel, an exquisite collection that translates the house’s lightweight, contrasting emblematic tweed into high jewellery, offering pieces as supple and fluid as the fabric that inspired them. In addition, CHANEL is presenting exquisite watches including the Mademoiselle Prive Pincushion Quilted Motif, Mademoiselle Prive Pincushion Embroidery Motif and the J12 Diamond Tourbillon Watch Caliber 5 from Watches & Wonders Geneva 2023. CHANEL has displayed its latest novelties from iconic fine jewellery and watch collections such as the Coco Crush, N°5, J12 and Premiere. CHANEL's showcase unfolds within a newly redesigned booth, inspired by its unique location on 18 Place Vendome, Paris. Another iconic collection is the CHANEL J12 Diamond Tourbilion that captivates with great brilliance and elegance while embodying the pinnacle of watchmaking artistry. The perfectly-cut solitaire diamond takes centre stage, gracefully rotating in harmony with the flying tourbillion movement meticulously crafted by CHANEL manufacture. An interplay of light unfolds as the diamond sparkles against the finish of the highly resistant ceramic case in luminous velvet white. The 18ct white gold fixed bezel adorned with 34 baguette-cut diamonds captivates with its brilliance while the hands are crown and are meticulously set with brilliant-cut diamonds. The dial, a canvas of shiny white ceramic openwork serves as a backdrop to the tourbillion cage embellished with 26 brilliant – cut diamonds.

Qatar’s healthcare entities are offering a lot more services and facilities like never before and the best emergency care, stated experts from various officials and experts from the public health care sector Wednesday at a media interaction.Opening the session, Nayef al-Shammari , the executive director of Media Relations, Hamad Medical Corporation ( HMC) noted that the National Healthcare Campaign ‘Where For Your Care?’ has been dedicated to raising public awareness about urgent and emergency medical services and how to access them.A total of 692,140 paediatric patients were provided emergency services in 2023, at the Paediatric Emergency Centres (PECs), said Dr Mohammed al-Amri, chairman of paediatrics and director of PECs at HMC.“There are four PECs under HMC: PEC- Al Sadd; PEC - Al Rayyan; PEC – Airport and PEC – Daayen. We serve approximately 2,000 emergency patients every day. PEC Al Sadd is the busiest emergency centre, seeing over 55% of all patients across PECs,” explained, Dr al-Amri.PECs provide medical care for emergencies of all priority levels to patients up to 14 years of age. “PECs stabilise any trauma/injury cases received and transfer them to Sidra Medicine. PECs provide support to child abuse/neglect cases and refers to the appropriate care facility as required. They are equipped to provide emergency consultations, observation facility and antibiotic administration. All support services are available in PECs to provide comprehensive care for patients,” added, Dr al-Amri.According to Prof Dr Ruben Peralta, deputy trauma medical director, HMC, the HMC Trauma Centre has been the national level 1 trauma centre in Qatar since 2007."The HMC Trauma Centre is a national and international recognised centre of excellence. It provides immediate medical, critical and surgical care to all citizens and residents of Qatar that sustain major injuries. The clinical staff -physicians, nurses and allied health care- are experts in the field of trauma and specially trained to manage severe and life-threatening injuries 24/7.”According to the official, HMC provides emergency services at seven HMC Emergency Departments across Qatar 24 hours a day for serious medical cases. They are: Hamad General Hospital Trauma and Emergency Centre; The Cuban Hospital; Al Khor Hospital; Women’s Wellness and Research Center; Hazm Mebaireek General Hospital; Aisha Bint Hamad Al Attiyah Hospital and Al Wakra Hospital.Officials from Sidra Medicine as well as Qatar Red Crescent Society also highlighted the services provided by the facilities and how Qatar’s emergency care scenario has improved over the years providing excellent care and support for the needy.

Fifty One East, is attracting large number of visitors both from Qatar and other countries at its pavilion in the ongoing Doha Jewellery & Watches Exhibition (DJWE) 2024, at the Doha Exhibition & Convention Centre.While the exhibition commemorates its 20th edition, Fifty One East, Qatar’s 'leading department store is celebrating its 75th anniversary reflecting on a legacy rooted in excellence that has cultivated enduring relationships built on mutual trust and respect with esteemed brands'.The signature retailer houses in its pavilion some of the leading world-renowned luxury brands such as Rolex, Chane, Boucheron, and Tudor among others and they are presenting their novelties in dedicated wings of the pavilion. The retailer has ensured that the visitors will be able to embark on a journey of timeless elegance and indulge in the allure of brands.Other trendy labels in the pavilion include global brands such as Annamaria Cammilli, Azza Fahmy, David Yurman, Falamank by Tarfa Itani, Genesia, J by JOELLE, L’Âme – a brand by Fifty One East, The Little Frog, WOLF and Yvan Tufenkjian.Bader al-Darwish, chairman and managing director of Fifty One East said, "The 20th edition of the Doha Jewellery & Watches Exhibition signifies not just an event but a journey of evolution. We take immense pride in being part of this extraordinary exhibition from its inception. 2024 stands as a testament to 75 years of Fifty One East's unwavering commitment to setting the bar for luxury retail in Qatar. Rooted in heritage, the store's legacy mirrors the essence of timeless elegance, evolving through more than seven decades of sophistication.”“A heartfelt thank you to the organisers of DJWE for their meticulous efforts in curating an event that transcends boundaries, celebrating the global language of luxury and craftsmanship. We invite our dear clients to explore our pavilion which has been a hallmark of sophistication and a true reflection of the refined taste synonymous with Fifty One East and the brands we proudly represent,” he added.Situated at the centre of the exhibition, The Fifty One East pavilion stands as a beacon of impeccable taste, offering a fusion of incomparable luxury, personalised hospitality, and exceptional service. The event is expected to host large number of visitors from over 175 countries, presenting an opportunity to mingle with other jewellery aficionados, top designers, and a who’s-who of internationally renowned acting stars.DJWE 2024 runs from February 5 to 11 and is the regions’ premier watches and jewellery show that displays the most sought after luxury brands from around the world.

Boucheron is making its presence felt at the ongoing Doha Jewellery & Watches Exhibition (DJWE) 2024 with some its latest and exquisite and stunning jewellery collections, enchanting and mesmersing the visitors.To mark the DJWE's 20th anniversary, Boucheron is presenting, for the first time in Qatar, a captivating assortment of rare heritage pieces inspired by the main themes the Maison holds dear - Art Deco, Nature, and Animaux de Collection, some dating back as far as the 1930s.Boucheron is showcasing, in its booth at the Fifty One East pavilion, one of its signature creations, the Question Mark necklace: a revolutionary design imagined in 1879 and the first high jewellery necklace without a clasp. Visitors have the opportunity to discover a piece designed in 2018 by creative director, Claire Choisne: the Lierre de Paris Question Mark necklace.For this edition of the DJWE, Boucheron is also presenting its iconic jewellery collections: Quatre, Serpent Bohème and Nature. Additionally, visitors can discover an incredible set from the 2023 Histoire de Style "Like a Queen" collection. Every January, Claire Choisne draws inspiration from the archives of Maison Boucheron and reinterprets them through her creative lens. In this collection, she pays tribute to a special piece from the Boucheron archives: a diamond and aquamarine double-clip brooch gifted to the late Queen Elizabeth when she turned eighteen in 1944.In 2020, Choisne, decided to take inspiration from this unique piece to compose a High Jewelry collection reinterpreting the famous Art Deco design through eighteen models. “Like a Queen” is a contemporary tribute to a style icon who marked two centuries.“Three years ago, when I first immersed myself in the Boucheron archives, I couldn’t get my mind off that pair of Art Deco brooches,” Choisne explains. “The severity and geometry of the Art Deco design, tempered by the softness and light blue hue of the aquamarines, always fascinated me. I was touched by the sentimental value of these brooches, which Elizabeth wore at pivotal moments in her reign.”Like a story told through eighteen chapters, “Like A Queen” transcends its initial objective to construct a full high jewelry collection based on a single piece and offers a glimpse of the true genius behind its design.Moreover, Boucheron invites guests to experience French art de vivre with an exclusive tea salon inspired by the Jardin d’Hiver, located in the Parisian boutique at 26 Place Vendôme. This space, situated outside entrance three, provides a delightful setting to savour a customised menu and welcome visitors during the exhibition’s working hours.

Qatar’s healthcare sector has grown significantly in recent years providing more options for the patients with emergency and urgent medical care conditions than ever before, according to information provided by Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC).These services are delivered across the public healthcare system such as Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC), Sidra Medicine, Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) as well as other institutes.Other than the National Ambulance Service with a vast fleet, HMC offers seven emergency departments, five paediatric emergency centres, and the Urgent Consultation Service helpline to meet any emergency medical situation both for the citizens and the residents.PHCC operates 10 Urgent Care Units providing the service and five out of the 10 provide the service for both adults and paediatrics, within its primary health centres and the Urgent Consultation Service helpline.Sidra Medicine offers Paediatric Emergency Department (Public), Paediatric Urgent Care Centre (Private) and Women’s Obstetrics Triage and Urgent Care (Private). MoPH along with QRCS operates two Urgent Care Centres.HMC has launched a campaign ‘Where For Your Care?’ to bring together the key public health sector providers to work jointly to raise awareness of the services among the public and to use the emergency services judiciously. The campaign aims to improve the efficiency of the health sector by advocating correct use of available services and help patients receive the best possible medical care.With Qatar’s population has been growing steadily in the recent years and there are now about 3m people living in the country. It also throws a big challenge to meet the increased demand for all healthcare services, including emergency and urgent care. The expansion of capacity across primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare services has enabled to meet this increased demand and provide high-quality care to patients.With significant increase in the number of emergency and urgent care facilities in recent years, the campaign aims to remind the public to use various options other than the Ambulance Service in case of non-emergent and non-life threatening cases.It specifies that the Ambulance Service and Trauma & Emergency Centre provide life-saving care, should use a suitable urgent care facility. PHCC also has significantly expanded its urgent care provision in recent years with 10 units of 24-hour service.While choosing the right option for care enhances the treatment experience, it also helps to save the most critical care facility for others. HMC’s Emergency Departments have short wait times for patients with critical conditions.With the current campaign and the increase in the number of urgent care options, the healthcare sector is poised to provide the best care possible to the public.

Qatar's public healthcare sector has launched a national campaign ‘Where For Your Care’ to educate the public on the use of emergency and urgent healthcare services as over 20% of the calls to the Ambulance Department are for non-emergency services.“We noticed that 20% of the calls received daily through the National Command Centre asking for Ambulance Service, are for non-emergency cases. Such cases do not require any emergency response that the ambulances are speeding through the roads, disturbing the traffic and the people on the road and moving with the Priority One response,” said Ali Darwish, assistant executive director, Emergency and Scheduled Ambulance Service, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC).Darwish, speaking at the launch of the campaign Wednesday, explained that the campaign aims to highlight the wide range of emergency and urgent care services across HMC, Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC), Sidra Medicine, and Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS).“We have launched the campaign to redirect all the calls which are non-emergency and non-life threatening such as minor trauma or other illnesses to other facilities in the primary health care centres across the country. Knowing all the steps during the call is a good method for all call takers and the user to understand and build up a good picture about the call. Once we realise the call and understand the priority, we will be able to redirect them accordingly to the nearest facility,” Darwish said.The Ambulance Service, which provides life-saving care to patients with critical conditions, is to be used for situations such as heart attack, stroke; seizure, choking, chest pain, unconsciousness, difficulty breathing and severe allergic reaction.“Through the campaign, we aim to help patients make the best choice for their medical care needs. So the public will understand the message and will play a big role in this campaign. This will ensure that ambulance service is used for emergency services,” added, the official.A website, www.whereforyourcare.qa, also has been launched to have all the information regarding emergency and urgent care in Qatar in one dedicated place.The campaign brings together the key public health sector providers such as Ministry of Public Health, HMC, PHCC, Sidra Medicine, and QRCS to work jointly to raise awareness of services. Each provider offers various emergency and urgent care services Qatar’s population.The campaign focuses on five key points that are critical to ensuring an ambulance reaches the patient as quickly as possible to deliver live-saving treatment. They are: Dial 99 immediately, Know your location; Answer all questions; Follow all instructions and Give way to ambulances.The campaign encourages the public to save ambulances for emergencies. and is aimed at reducing the volume of non-emergency 999 calls to the Ambulance Service. ‘Where For Your Care?’ aims to educating the public on the types of symptoms and conditions to call an ambulance as well as alternative treatment options for cases that are not life-threatening. The campaign focuses on improving the efficiency of the health sector by advocating correct use of available services and help patients receive the best possible medical care.

The Indian community in Qatar marked the 75th Republic Day of their country Friday with various programmes. Ambassador Vipul hoisted the national flag, followed by the rendition of the National Anthem by a large gathering at the Indian Cultural Centre (ICC).Indian schools also organised separate functions at their premises to mark the occasion and raised the Indian tricolor in the presence of the students, staff and parents.A large crowd was present at ICC where the orgainsers had arranged a short and lovely cultural fiesta. Several office bearers of the apex bodies of the community, prominent community members as well as a number of invitees took part in the programme.Ambassador Vipul, addressing the gathering, read out excerpts from the address of the Indian President, Droupadi Murmu on the occasion of the 75th Republic Day of the country.In her address Marmu said: “The nation is in the early years of Amrit Kaal, the period leading to the centenary of Independence. This is the time of an epochal transformation. We are given a golden opportunity to take the country to new heights. Contribution from every citizen will be crucial to achieve our goals. For this, I will appeal to all my fellow citizens to abide by our fundamental duties enshrined in the constitution.”“Republic Day is an occasion to recall our foundational values and principles. When we contemplate any one of them, we are naturally guided to the rest. Democracy implies diversity of culture, beliefs and practices. Celebrating diversity implies equality, which is upheld by justice. Freedom is what makes it all possible. The totality of these values and principles is what makes us Indian. Guided by the sagacity of Dr B R Ambedkar, the spirit of the constitution, imbued with these foundational values and principles, has led us invariably on the path of social justice to put an end to all kinds of discrimination,” she continued in her address.The envoy congratulated the Indian community for their hard work and dedication and highlighted the community’s role in taking the bilateral relations between India and Qatar forward. “The bilateral relations between Qatar and India are thriving and Qatar is an important partner for India. While India imports LNG from Qatar, India’s export to Qatar is also very important. Indians in Qatar have been able to stand together and support all the noble ventures,” said, Vipul.He also thanked His Highness the Amir and His Highness the Father Amir for their continuous support to India and noted that he could hear very positive remarks in his short stint so far about the community from various leaders of the country.“Indian community has been working hard and shown great ability to stand together. Indian students in Qatar are doing very well and they are very important cultural ambassadors of the country. Indian embassy is always a welcoming place for the entire Indian diaspora in Qatar and be assured that it will be your home away from home,” added, the ambassador.The programme included several cultural programmes by children. The ambassador offered floral tributes to the father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi at the beginning of the function. He also cut a cake with the children and others to celebrate the occasion.

An academic from Qatar Foundation has emphasised the significant role of technology for students’ communication in special education while highlighting the involvement of parents within this learning process.Matthew Campion, director of Renad Academy, QF noted the importance of technology in enhancing education, ahead of the International Day of Education observed Wednesday through a series of activities and sessions at Education City.Campion explained: “Renad Academy, which supports students with autism and their families, is committed to integrating innovative technology within the classroom, while prioritising the involvement of parents within this learning process. The technology for special education is fundamental for children in terms of their communication and their access to learning.”Campion said that many of the children at Renad Academy are preverbal. “So they can use the technology to communicate, and this gives them the opportunity to have a voice, to be able to speak, and to share their needs and their feelings. The use of interactive applications or games to access the learning world and the wider world is vital for all our children,” he said.The academic noted that the institute is keen to integrate technology into the educational process in effective and innovative ways, and use a variety of applications and programmes that give the students access to educational resources and enhance their academic experience using devices such as iPads and Chromebooks, as well as interactive boards, to facilitate the learning and communication process.The director stressed the role of parents in this learning journey. “A big part of the learning technology is that we train the parents to support their children. Our team, especially the speech and language therapists, work with children on a particular application, but they've also created training modules, like webinars or screencasts, to guide parents through a step-by-step journey,” he said.“We pay special attention to continuous communication with parents. We hold face-to-face meetings with them regularly to review their children's needs and consider the resources available to them. By cultivating these relationships with parents, we have been able to increase communication, which has facilitated ongoing conversations about what is appropriate for each case,” he pointed out.“Concerns were also raised about the excessive use of electronic devices at home, and their impact on children’s behaviour. We provide support and guidance to parents through workshops and collaborations with different organisations. We work to develop positive strategies, allowing technology to be used more selectively and effectively in the educational process,” he said and highlighted about the need for distinguishing between the use of technology for educational and entertainment purposes.Campion stated that with collaboration between school and parents, and the technology used, students can express themselves more effectively which reflects the transformative power of technology in education and the importance of the role of the family and school in supporting student development.“I call on all parents to focus on their children's abilities and uniqueness rather than on their disability. We know that not every child will be able to go to work, go to university, or live independently, but each of our children can achieve at different levels, and, therefore, technology will be very important because having this ability to communicate first and foremost is the primary need. Each child must communicate to advocate for his or her own needs,” concluded Campion.

A Qatar-based researcher has highlighted two effective treatment options for diabetic kidney disease (DKD), noting that they are able to provide better long term outcomes.Mohamad M Alkadi at the Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Hamad General Hospital, as well as Transplant Nephrology Fellow at Weill Cornell Medicine New York in an article in Qatar Medical Journal and featured on Qscience.com, describes sodium-glucose transport protein 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) along with nonsteroidal MRA as effective treatment options for DKD patients.Alkadi highlights that given the overwhelming evidence of their renal and cardiac efficacy and safety, both SGLT2i and nonsteroidal MRA are now part of the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes and the American Diabetes Association guidelines.“These guidelines recommend using SGLT2i as a first-line therapy in DKD patients with estimated glomerular filtration rate ( eGFR) ≥ 20 mL/min/1.73 m2 with or without albuminuria. They also recommend using nonsteroidal MRA called Finerenone in DKD patients with eGFR ≥ 25 mL/min/1.73 m2 and moderately to severely increased albuminuria. Thus, in the current era physicians have more treatment options to manage DKD patients leading to better long-term renal and cardiac outcomes,” he explains.Pointing out that both these treatment options have emerged recently Dr Alkadi says “From 2016 onwards, numerous studies showed that a new class of antidiabetic medications, SGLT2i, exhibits a synergistic effect in terms of renal and cardiac outcomes in DKD patients. In late 2020, a new nonsteroidal, selective mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist MRA, Finerenone was shown to improve renal and cardiac outcomes in DKD patients synergistically.”According to the researcher, since early 1990s, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers have been the mainstay of treatment for DKD patients, given their proven renoprotective, cardioprotective, and antiproteinuric effects. However, physicians did not have much to offer patients once they maximised the doses of these medications other than controlling their blood pressure and blood sugar and applying lifestyle modifications.“In 2019, Canagliflozin became the first SGLT2i to receive the US Food and Drug Administration approval for treating DKD patients. In 2020, a landmark study in managing CKD patients, was published. It was the first study to assess the efficacy and safety of the SGLT2i, Dapagliflozin, in adult CKD patients with eGFR as low as 25 mL/minute/1.73 m2, with or without type 2 diabetes mellitus,” he notes.The use of Dapagliflozin resulted in a significant relative risk reduction (39%) of a composite primary outcome of decline in eGFR ≥ 50%, end-stage kidney disease, and death from renal or cardiovascular causes in both diabetic and non-diabetic patients.In late 2020, Finerenone was shown to improve renal and cardiac outcomes in DKD patients.The FIDELIO-DKD study included adult DKD patients with an eGFR as low as 25 ml per minute per 1.73 m2 and moderately to severely increased albuminuria.According to him, the use of Finerenone in DKD patients resulted in a significant risk reduction rate (18%) of a primary composite outcome of kidney failure, a sustained decrease in eGFR of ≥40% from baseline, or death from renal causes. It also resulted in a significant risk reduction rate (14%) for a secondary composite outcome of death from cardiovascular causes, non-fatal myocardial infarction, non-fatal stroke, or hospitalisation for heart failure.

A group of eight students from Palestine, whose education got disrupted due to the ongoing crisis in Gaza, were welcomed at the University of Doha for Science and Technology (UDST) Wednesday at a ceremony.They were received by UDST president Dr Salem al-Naemi, Education Above All (EAA) Foundation CEO Fahad al-Sulaiti and the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs' General Directorate of Endowments director general Dr Sheikh Khaled al-Thani.In collaboration with EAA through its Al Fakhoora Programme, and with the support from the General Directorate of Endowments, UDST is providing these students with an opportunity to continue their education in Qatar’s leading applied university.“We have already enroled them to different programmes and as a university we extend our support to them and welcome them to our programmes," Dr al-Naemi told Gulf Times."We want to make sure that they get the education that they have missed. We hope that they will graduate from here in flying colours and go back to Palestine to rebuild their country,” he said.Dr al-Naemi explained : “ We are open to accepting more students from Palestine as some of the universities in Gaza have been destroyed totally. If the students from Palestine are coming, we will be able to admit them in more numbers in the Fall semester. We are working with EAA and those students interested in following a technical programme that we offer, we will be glad to admit them. We are providing them all the support such as academic support, cognitive support as well as academic support while EAA takes care of the financial support for the students to complete their studies.”‏‏Talal Alhathal, executive director of Al-Fakhoora programme noted: ‏"It is our honour to partner with the University of Doha for Science and Technology in providing educational opportunities for Palestinian students affected by the crisis in Gaza. We firmly believe in the power of education to transform lives, and through this collaboration, we are committed to enabling these young men and women to continue their academic journeys, equipping them with the tools and knowledge necessary to build a better future for themselves and their communities."Sheikh Dr Khalid, affirmed that the scholarship programme is in collaboration and partnership with EAA and partner universities. “The initiative aims to support students who have discontinued their studies and to overcome obstacles for them to complete their educational journey in Qatar through the partner universities. This will significantly impact their future lives when they return to their countries and contribute to building their community through their academic achievements,” he added.‏The newly admitted students will have the opportunity to join UDST's wide range of programmes, spanning engineering, IT, business, and health sciences.

A total of 100 students from Palestine will reach Qatar within six months to continue and complete their higher education in various universities in the country, an official from Education Above All ( EAA) Foundation told Gulf Times Wednesday.“After the launch of the ‘Rebuilding Hope for Gaza initiative’, we started to bring students from Gaza to Qatar," explained Talal Alhathal, executive director, Al-Fakhoora programme, EAA.He was speaking on the sidelines of a welcome ceremony for the first batch of students from Palestine who were admitted in the University of Science and Technology (UDST). These students had to leave Palestine due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.“We are providing them hope to continue and complete their degrees from where they have stopped. We have already got eight students to UDST and are in the process of application review to bring the remaining students to study here in the universities in Qatar. Some of them will be admitted in UDST while others will be in other universities depending on the availability and the field of interest of the students,” explained, Alhathal.The official noted that the first batch of students has started their academic journey with UDST and others will follow soon. “We have processed (the papers) to bring 20 more in the coming days. The remaining will be processed once all the documentation and other formalities are completed. We are preparing the logistics for them to come here,” he continued.According to Alhathal, currently EAA is focusing more on the national universities to admit the students from Gaza. He said: “We focus on UDST and Qatar University to admit most of the students. Medical students will be admitted at Qatar University while engineering, IT and other technical programme students will be given admission in UDST. We are also in discussion with Qatar Foundation universities (to know) if some of the students can be admitted.”The Al-Fakhoora director highlighted that the programme aims to provide several support services also to the students.“We are providing psycho-social support, trauma support, facilitate education at some of the undamaged facilities in Gaza besides the opportunity for the students to study in universities as well as in schools outside Palestine. We are focusing on well qualified students based on their academic strength, GPA and merit . We hope that with our support, these students will be able to complete their education and rebuild Gaza and Palestine for better,” added, Althathal.

There has been a significant growth in the pro-Palestinian views on alternative and social media, noted some experts at a panel discussion organised Monday in Doha by the Middle East Council on Global Affairs.With the Israeli-Palestinian conflict crossing over 100 days, the discussion titled ‘Shaping Public Opinion on Gaza: Disinformation, Propaganda and Alternative Narratives,’ highlighted how social media and alternative platforms have been effectively supporting the pro-Palestine views and how many of the mainstream media are using disinformation and misinformation as well as propaganda to give a wrong picture about the realities on the ground in Palestine.Opening the conversation, Dima Khatib, managing director AJ+ Channels, said: “There has been a 277% growth in our audience engagement on Palestine since October 7 until January 13. We have published 11,579 videos until Sunday in four different languages. We had made link between the 'Black Lives Matter' movement in the US and the Palestinian movement in 2016. That gave our audience the chance to understand the story of Palestine despite all the narrative that come to deny that perspective.“AJ+ has the Palestine DNA and we have treated Palestine as a core issue throughout our programmes. We had already introduced our audience to the dehumanisation of Palestinians. We also had made sure that the entire Palestine history is disclosed to the public so that people could understand the real nature of the conflict and the reasons behind it,” Khatib explained.Playing several videos that were used to counter the anti-Palestine narrative, Khatib said that the alternative narratives were successful in conveying the true sense on the ground and made sure that the Palestinian story reached across the globe.Showing the video of a father carrying his son and running through the battlefield, she said that it had a huge impact on the world to understand the real picture of the ground realities in Gaza. “ With such engagement, we could see that Arab audience were really interested to know what the Israelis were going through. I had never seen such responses and appetite from the Arab audience to understand what Israelis think and how they react to it,” she noted.Khatib also highlighted that alternative media gave the voice to the Palestinians with TikTok leading the pack with the highest pro-Palestinian content followed by YouTube.Ibrahim Abusharif, associate professor at Northwestern University in Qatar and a panelist in the discussion, said that western media has been using certain terms in very selective way such as ‘terrorism’ associated with certain sections of the society.“Words definitely matter and context also matters equally. Lack of contextualisation leads to misinformation and destroys the right picture of the event. Therefore, in many of the mainstream media, you don’t get the right information and there has been many discrepancies. During the current Palestine conflict the grip of Western media has been loosened and there has been a greater shift towards the alternative media,” said Abusharif.Another panelist, Marc Owen Jones, non-resident senior fellow, Middle East Council on Global Affairs, noted that misinformation and disinformation have been widely used by pro-Israeli sources to discredit the Palestinian movement citing the example of a manipulated video, in which a nurse pretending to be a Palestinian, blaming Hamas for not allowing people to go out of Al Shifa Hospital.“ Often we cannot prove the intent behind such videos as we don’t know the people who have come out with such content. However, such content is produced with the deliberate intent to spread false information to cause harm to others. Another aspect is the propaganda with the aim to dehumnaise Palestinians as if Palestinian lives do not matter,” he added.The discussion was moderated by Sahar Khamis, nonresident senior fellow at Middle East Council on Global Affairs.

Qatar has thwarted a great number of cyberattacks in the recent times, the University of Doha for Science and Technology (UDST) president Dr Salem al-Naemi said Wednesday.“Cyber security has emerged as a cornerstone of national and international society and it is estimated that the next five years will see an increase of 15% in cyber crimes,” he told the opening session of the International Symposium on Cybersecurity organised by UDST in collaboration with National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA), Qatar.“In Qatar around 5.1mn internal and external cyberattacks in the recent times along with 45,000 infiltration attempts were identified and thwarted," he explained while pointing out that cybercrimes are inflicting a massive damage on the economy and strong cyber security measures are needed more than ever before.Dr al-Naemi, continued: “This event represents collective efforts that aim to discuss and tackle challenges in a world increasingly dependent on digital infrastructure. UDST has been deeply committed to this field, we have been developing curricula and research programmes that are not only robust and comprehensive but also aligned with the needs and aspirations of Qatar and its vision for cybersecurity.”Among the special guests attending was NCSA president HE Abdulrahman Ali al-Malki, who gave the keynote address at the opening session. The two-day event highlights the challenges, opportunities and applications of cyber security across a variety of industrial sectors and UDST’s commitment to Qatar’s vision to be ahead of the curve on matters of IT-related and Internet security.The overarching theme of the symposium is “Cybersecurity in Industry: Challenges, Opportunities, and Applications”. The event featured an impressive array of keynote speakers and subject matter experts from Qatar, Germany and the US, offering deep insights and varied perspectives, and bringing together a diverse audience of local, regional and international technology enthusiasts, faculty, students, ICT managers and industry professionals.The conference features multiple engaging keynote presentations from a blend of local and international cybersecurity experts. The conference also features several panel discussions covering best practices for cybersecurity in academia, and the future of cybersecurity in industry.Dr Zakaria Maamar, dean of College of Computing and Information Technology, said: “The international symposium is an exciting addition to the education we provide at UDST. We do not simply teach the topic of cybersecurity as part of a curriculum; we believe in creating fora for discussion and driving important conversations through events such as this. It allows our students access to experienced industry professionals addressing very real cybersecurity issues, a better grasp of sector challenges, and a stronger foothold in future discussions on the topic.”

The Education City Tram will increase the frequency of its services to ensure better connectivity to the Education City Stadium, during the upcoming AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023, Gulf Times has learnt.“The tram operation plan will be co-ordinated with the tournament’s organisers, the Ministry of Interior, and the Ministry of Transport to ensure a smooth and efficient service, including measures such as crowd control and security,” said Qatar Foundation (QF) Integrated Transportation System director Jassim Eisa Rasheed.AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 will be played from January 12 to February 10, with the Education City Stadium a key venue with four group matches, one Round of 16, and one Quarter-final.According to Rasheed, after the launch of the Green Line services, the tram will help provide access to visitors across all the major sites in the Education City as well.He added that the tram’s operating hours will be extended during weekends to accommodate student requirements and other events.“This will involve running trams earlier in the morning and later at night,” Rasheed said. “Dedicated tram routes may be implemented during special events and tournaments where the Education City Stadium is a venue to make it easier for fans and visitors to get around.”The official said that the Education City Tram has been a resounding success since its launch in December 2019, allowing park-and-ride links between the Education City’s schools, universities, entities, and facilities."The average number of daily tram passengers per day quickly reached over 3,000,” he revealed. “By the start of this academic year in September 2023, that figure had risen to over 4,000.”“The average number of tram passengers per month has reached over 120,000,” Rasheed continued. “This is a remarkable number, especially considering that the tram system is still relatively new.”“The introduction of the Green Line in July 2023 has further boosted the popularity of the tram system, making it easier for students and staff to get around the full campus, and Education City being more accessible to visitors,” he added. “By the end of 2023, the daily ridership of has reached around 5,000.”“Students at the QF are using the tram more frequently for a number of reasons,” Rasheed said.“First, the tram is a convenient and efficient way to reach facilities on both our south and north campuses, and is fast, reliable, and free,” he explained. “Second, the tram is environmentally friendly. And third, the tram is wheelchair accessible and feeder buses are available to pick up and drop off passengers to tram stops during hot weather.”The tram is making it easier for QF students to get around campus and to participate in all the activities that the Education City has to offer.All three lines are now operational, with the Blue Line connecting QF schools, the Yellow Line connecting its universities, the Qatar National Library, Minaretein, and QF student housing, and the Green Line connecting Education City’s north campus – which includes Sidra Medicine, the Qatar National Convention Centre, and QF housing – with its south campus.

A recently published study has recommended more advanced parental control tools as the adolescents in Qatar and beyond are more prone to excessive use of technology.The study 'Parental perspectives on adolescents’ excessive use of technology in Qatar: challenges and coping strategies' published on Doha International Family Institute Journal in December last year, explores the challenges and coping strategies associated with the excessive use of technology among adolescents in Qatar from the perspective of parents. The findings of the 2021-2022 study on the overuse of technology by adolescents in Qatar was recently featured on Qscience.com.The authors of the study are: Azza O Abdelmoneium, Heba al-Fara, Fatima Motawaa, Aisha al-Sultan, all from Doha International Family Institute and Sanaa al-Harahsheh and Ahmed Baghdady from World Innovation Summit for Health - both organisations based in Qatar.The study provides valuable information on the existing literature on children’s excessive use of technology, the challenges faced by parents in Qatar, and insights into their coping strategies relevant to the broader Arab region.The original study followed a mixed-method approach investigating the experiences of adolescents and their parents, and the use of technology in their lives. The study found that the excessive use of technology among adolescents in Qatar is a major concern for the family, leading to negative consequences such as isolation, poor performance at school, health problems, and social disintegration.One of the recommendations of the study points out that parents need more advanced parental control tools and must learn how to use them.It explains: “Many parents are unsure about the effectiveness of the methods they currently use. The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology in Qatar should provide links to these tools on its website, along with explanations in Arabic, to make them more accessible to a wider range of users. Cyber-physical activities that combine the use of technology with physical exercise can mitigate some of the negative health effects associated with screen time.”The study has noted that some coping strategies need to be developed by parents to mitigate the negative effects of excessive use of technology among adolescents such as control, building trust, entertainment, and discussion.“Such strategies encourage alternative forms of social interaction with the family and avoidance of technology. Implementing appropriate educational programmes for adolescents and parents would mitigate challenges and promote the development of healthy lifestyles and habits, including the creation of leisure activities to reduce reliance on technology,” highlights the study.According to the article, insights into parents’ experiences with their children’s use of technology will enable policymakers to create or revise policies that better support parents while dialogue and communication serve as effective solutions to the problem.“A formal, systematic guidance plan could help parents better understand digital technology and the risks associated with it, thereby minimising potential harm. There is a need to disseminate reports that inform parents about the impact of technology on students and educate them how to effectively manage their children’s internet usage. The role of school social workers is crucial, particularly for parents who face challenges related to their children’s problematic behaviour,” suggests the research.The study followed a mixed-method approach that included both qualitative and quantitative analyses. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in 2021 with Arab parents who have children aged 10–16. A non-probabilistic sampling approach was used to select parents with children aged 10–16. A total of 44 parents were recruited and selected through social media and messaging, as well as snowball sampling.

Qatar’s natural gas reserves can help the country turn into a key player in the global energy transition from fossil fuels, noted former minister HE Dr Mohammed bin Saleh al-Sada Tuesday as he called for global collaboration to unleash the full potential of hydrogen.“In Qatar hydrogen takes on added significance given the country’s abundant natural gas reserves. If these reserves be taken for blue hydrogen production, it not only diversifies Qatar’s energy portfolio but also positions the country as a key player in the global transition to clean energy sources,” he explained.Dr al-Sada, a former minister of energy and industry, was delivering the keynote address at the opening ceremony of the 14th International Conference on Hydrogen Production hosted by the College of Science and Engineering at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU).The integration of low carbon emission hydrogen is very crucial in bridging the gap between fossil fuel reliance and the future of renewable energy, he stated.“As developed countries are striving to secure or position in the global race for green and blue hydrogen, the time is right for global co-operation on developing innovative approaches that would unleash the full potential of hydrogen.“Many countries have plenty of renewable energy resources. Countries in the Mena region and particularly Qatar are blessed with natural gas. On the other hand, Europe, Japan, South Korea among others are trying for clean fuels to decarbonise several sectors such as fertilisers, steel, aluminum among others,” continued the former minister.He also hailed the historic decision of COP 28 to transition from fossil fuels to fuels such as hydrogen and natural gas.“The year 2023 was the hottest year on earth so far. At this juncture, in the battle against climate change, hydrogen offers solutions for intermittent renewable energy,” added Dr al-Sada, also the chairman of the Joint Advisory Board of Texas A&M University at Qatar as well as the chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Doha University of Science and Technology.HE the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Sheikh Dr Faleh bin Nasser bin Ahmed bin Ali al-Thani attended the inaugural session of the conference held in the GCC region for the time.Several international delegates as well as officials from various institutes and organisations in Qatar are attending the three-day conference.The opening session also heard from various officials who highlighted the importance of hydrogen energy and the need to develop innovative approaches to tap it.Dr Ala al-Fuqaha, associate provost, HBKU, spoke about the importance of the conference and its high relevance in the current context.Dr Yusuf Bicer, co-chair of the conference and associate professor at HBKU gave an outline of the conference and spoke about the ambitious targets that Qatar has set for transitioning into clean energy.Dr Tareq al-Ansari, co-chair of the conference and acting executive director of Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute as well as Dr Mounir Hamdi, dean, College of Science and Engineering at HBKU also addressed the gathering.

Several members of Qatar Foundation’s (QF) Ability Friendly Programme have made a mark with notebooks and tote bags featuring their artworks. QF’s Ability Friendly Programme is an initiative that supports people with disabilities to engage in sporting and developmental activities. Education City Gift Shop has introduced the products featuring artwork made by people of all abilities. Titled “Dreams in Colour”, the collection features artwork made by 12 young artists from the Ability Friendly Programme. Created by young artists with unique perspectives, the collection is a celebration of creativity and the joy of expression. A note in the products reminds people to “explore the wonder of differences and the power of art with us. Let these creations remind you that within challenges, there's beauty waiting to be uncovered.”According to an article on QF website, the idea of creating the product line was born following an arts session where impressed by the artistic talent of the participants , the volunteers running the session took it upon themselves to create a product line. Fatima al-Mannai, a graduate of QF’s Virginia Commonwealth University of the Arts in Qatar (VCUarts Qatar), who was one of the volunteers said: “We saw their potential and saw the opportunity to make a difference and play a small role in uplifting and empowering a marginalised section of society. We saw it not as a choice but as a duty.”Featuring several local elements in the artwork, the products are available for sale in the Education City Gift Shop branches in QF Headquarters and Multaqa as well as popup shops in Expo 2023 Doha, and Torba Farmers Market. All proceeds will go towards QF’s Ability Friendly Programme.“We are proud to be supporting the creative talent of these young artists and contributing towards creating an inclusive society where everyone’s potential can shine,” said Sara al-Thani, manager, Creative Studio at QF.“These products embody a real and meaningful narrative of social progress, a powerful story of discovering potential with community members empowering each other through the power of volunteering.”‘Dreams in Colour’ stands as a powerful testament to the transformative impact of volunteering, community engagement, and social responsibility. Every aspect, from the concept to artwork development was driven by volunteers, including both QF staff and students.Seeing their children’s art go from being taped to the wall to being on a commercial product was an emotional experience for the parents of the young artists. When asked how she felt, one of the mothers said: “A whirlwind of emotions, but most resoundingly it has given me hope – hope that in the future my child will be seen beyond her disability.”“Being a part of this project has taught me the power of taking initiative, of volunteering, of collective effort and most importantly, how each one of us can, and should, forge a path towards an inclusive society,” added, Shaikha Darwish, another volunteer from VCUarts Qatar.

Experts addressed the challenges in developing vaccines and making them available at a global level during a panel discussion at Doha Forum 2023 Monday.The session on 'Vaccine Innovation and Global Health Resilience: Lessons from Covid-19 and Beyond' highlighted two major challenges in vaccine development and implementation.“They are vaccine hesitation and global supply of vaccine,” said Prof Adrian Hill, director of Oxford University’s Jenner Institute. “There should be ways to address these challenges for effective implementation of vaccines all across the world.”“Billions of doses of vaccines were developed, but there was no equality in the supply and distribution of it globally,” he said. “Africa suffered very badly. When 75% of Americans were vaccinated, only 4% of Africans were vaccinated.”“We can’t allow that to happen again,” Prof Hill added. “Co-ordinated efforts are needed to prevent this happening again in case of another major breakout of any disease."Another issue, he said, is vaccine hesitation.“There is a lack of understanding of what vaccines offer, and this should be done away in the future,” Prof Hill said. “And in the education process, *there is the lack of an) understanding of risk. Vaccines are in the least category of risks.”He noted that coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccines were developed at a faster rate as there was great support, funding and global understanding of the need for vaccine.“It was also a great learning experience. We can develop vaccines much faster, and we did it,” Prof Hill said.“Developing the malaria vaccine took more than 17 years. We are in a position to develop vaccine at a faster rate now,” he continued. “We have technologies and several types of vaccines.”“Earlier, nobody had the right financing, support and the regulatory activities responses that we had during the Covid-19 pandemic,” Prof Hill said. “Under a year, we could develop three different vaccines.”Dr Abdullatif al-Khal, head of Infectious Diseases and senior consultant at the Hamad Medical Corporation, noted that building resilience at the national level as well as healthcare levels are needed to meet any emergency scenario.“Health systems may have to deal with pandemics in future,” he noted. “Building resilience for future causes can be money-saving, as we invest in health infrastructure and preventive programmes. This enhances the resilience of the country automatically.”Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria board chair Roslyn Morauta said that there was great unity among agencies to work on Covid-19 vaccines.“All the agencies worked together, (more) than ever before,” she said. “We have to get a mechanism that vaccines are made available to low- and middle- income countries at the earliest.”“Our organisation spends one-third of our money – about $1.5bn – every year on programmes for strengthening healthcare,” Morauta highlighted.Bangladesh Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr AK Abdul Momen gave a detailed account of his country’s efforts and success in fighting Covid-19.The session was moderated by World Innovation Summit for Health chief executive Sultana Afdhal.