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It is very important to be media literate to combat any misinformation in the modern age, social justice advocate Lina Abu Akleh told the latest edition of Qatar Foundation’s (QF) Education City Speaker Series titled ‘Protecting Truth, Seeking Justice.’ Lina is a niece of Shireen Abu Akleh, the Palestinian-American correspondent for Al Jazeera, who was reporting on an Israeli military raid on Palestine, when she was killed by Israeli Defence Forces in May this year. “One thing I learned when doing my undergraduate degree in media and communications was the importance of being media literate in an age and a time where we are faced with so many different narratives, misinformation, and disinformation,” said Lina. While describing her aunt’s death as an ‘insurmountable loss’, Lina said that Shireen was killed not once but twice as the Israel army tried to stop her funeral. “They did not let her go in peace. It demonstrates how journalists everywhere need to be protected. We don’t want to see other families experience what we have,” she noted. Lina told the audience at the talk, held in collaboration with Al Jazeera, how the fight for justice for Shireen that she and her family have embarked on, has been spurred on by support from across the world, and her aunt’s legacy will be how her independence, bravery, and compassion have inspired young women in the Arab world and beyond. “Shireen was a journalist, so it is important for journalists everywhere to talk about her and advocate for her. A threat to a journalist somewhere is a threat to journalists everywhere,” stressed Lina. The social justice advocate urged that "Shireen shouldn’t be just another journalist killed and it is important that journalists and journalistic associations continue to support, mobilise, and find mechanisms that ensure the protection of journalists in the field.” Lina said her role in seeking justice for Shireen was powered by her aunt’s dedication to raising awareness of the occupation of Palestine, saying: “I realised this was the moment I needed to call for justice and accountability, and what has driven me to continue the journey was not because I have to, but because I want to – Shireen would have done the same if it was any one of us. “My main message to journalists and journalism students is to continue to write and talk about Shireen, because to talk about her is to talk about her legacy and about Palestine. She has showed millions of young women that you can be anything you want, and that it is important to be empathetic and compassionate so you can understand the people you are writing about. “My aunt is a perfect example of why speaking out against oppression is important. Constantly looking for the truth and including Palestinian voices is what she advocated for. She was there for the people – and she chose to be a journalist to be close to the people.” “Exploring and looking at things critically, and trying to differentiate between different news outlets and how messages spread and the way they are shaped, is really important for a person trying to absorb all this information. Always be critical of what you read, look at different outlets rather than sticking to one, and seek the truth,” Lina added.

Qatar Cancer Society (QCS) celebrated the 25th anniversary of its establishment at a special ceremony at St Regis Doha coinciding with the conclusion of the ‘Blossom Campaign’ for breast cancer awareness that continued throughout October. QCS chairman Sheikh Dr Khalid bin Jabor al-Thani welcomed the gathering and highlighted the milestones of the society in its journey since its establishment in 1997. The event was attended by a number of Qatari dignitaries as well as ambassadors of a large number of countries and partners among others. Sheikh Dr Khalid bin Jabor al-Thani speaking at the event. Sheikh Dr Khalid said: “ It has been an amazing journey, providing comfort and succor to hundreds of people all through these years. We have had several important events and always emphasised on the importance of achieving partnerships to build communities. With your continued support, it will continue its path toward giving out to the community under the guidance of our wise leadership.” “There are three major milestones in the journey of the centre. We opened it in 1997 and at that time people were not even ready to speak about cancer. It was not acceptable to talk about the disease. We could overcome this through our constant efforts,” he explained. “The second milestone was that we could provide cancer care and necessary assistance to all the cancer patients of the country irrespective of citizens or residents and even some of the visitors. The third aspect is the establishment of the education and training centre which helped us reach out to thousands of people through awareness programmes. It is an accredited training centre by the Ministry of Public Health and several other entities,” he continued. Sheikh Dr Khalid pointed out that in 2017, the Cancer Awareness Centre was opened marking a new qualitative leap in the march of QCS and the first of its kind in the Middle East. Under the Regulatory Authority for Charitable Activities umbrella, QCS has become an active member of many international organisations, most notably the Union for International Cancer Control. He added that QCS is a founding member of the International Cancer Prevention Consortium, a member of the National Cancer Framework in Qatar, and a member of the Gulf Federation for Cancer Control. In 2021, the number of beneficiaries of community awareness programmes reached 450,000, and there were 26,000 beneficiaries of psychological and social support programmes for people living with cancer. Nearly 7,000 health sector workers' benefited from capacity-building programmes. Also, in 2021 the number of beneficiaries of the financial support programmes reached nearly 1,400 with a total cost of QR13mn for adult patients at the National Centre for Cancer Care and Research and paediatric cancer patients at Sidra Medicine. In the first half of 2022, nearly 980 patients were treated - at a total cost of QR6mn. At the event, Dr Irtefaa al-Shammari, breast surgery specialist and an honorary ambassador of QCS, presented information about conducting early detection of cancer, especially breast cancer. Cancer survivor, Aisha al-Tamimi presented her experience of recovering from cancer and her husband, Ahmed Abdulmalik shared his experience.

The Generation Amazing (GA) Foundation, a FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 legacy initiative which has reached 1mn beneficiaries so far, Sunday announced ‘Goal 22: Football, Social Impact and Sustainability’, a new sport and cultural exchange programme. Since being launched during Qatar’s bid to host the FIFA World Cup, GA has implemented football for development projects in 35 countries. Since 2019, it has united youth from across the globe during the annual GA Festival, officials told a press conference Sunday. Youth from all 32 competing nations at Qatar 2022 will take part in Goal 22, which is being delivered in strategic partnership with the Ministry of Sports and Youth, Ministry of Education and Higher Education, Qatar Football Association, Qatar Foundation, Qatar Museums, FIFA Foundation and Unesco. Sponsors include Qatar Airways, Visit Qatar, Qatar Fund for Development, Qetaifan Projects, QLM Insurance, SDIsports and Hublot. In a statement, HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad al-Thani, Vice Chairperson and CEO of QF, said: “Qatar Foundation is incredibly proud to be a strategic partner of the Generation Amazing Foundation and to have hosted the Generation Amazing Youth Festival since 2019. “Now, just ahead of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, we are delighted for this year’s event and its subsequent programme, Goal 22, to celebrate students from all over the world. Young people – in Qatar and beyond – will be given the opportunity to learn from each other in one of the most dynamic and unique student programmes to ever be held during a World Cup. “Goal 22 represents a new chapter for the Generation Amazing Foundation. We look forward to continued success in the future, and the impact this legacy programme will have – both in Qatar and beyond.” HE Hassan al-Thawadi, Secretary General, Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), and Chairman, Generation Amazing Foundation, said: “Throughout the years, the Generation Amazing Festival has always been an example of utilising major sporting events to bring young people together to celebrate the power of football. This year’s launch of Goal 22 builds on this element to unite not only people from the region, but representatives from all 32 nations participating in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. It’s testament to our goals of making a regional and global impact through the Generation Amazing Foundation.” FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, said: “Since the beginning of our partnership with Generation Amazing, we have successfully collaborated in using football to empower young people in Qatar. Today, we are delighted to widen the impact of this partnership to all participating nations through the Goal 22 programme, leaving a lasting legacy well beyond the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.” Mauricio Macri, executive chairman, FIFA Foundation, said: “The FIFA Foundation is committed to tackling social issues affecting young people and supporting education through football. With Goal 22, we are empowering students from around the world with new skills that will help them to become social and sustainable development champions within their communities.” Goal 22 will be delivered in three phases. The first was delivered virtually and involved students learning about sport for development principles, along with key subjects including quality, diversity and inclusion. The second phase will be held during the upcoming GA Youth Festival at Education City in Qatar, with the final instalment held both virtually and in-person as students map out social development opportunities in their own communities. GA operates in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, promoting inclusion and gender equality in its football for development programme. The programme's unique methodology teaches life skills, including communication, leadership, teamwork and organisation. The press conference was addressed by Nasser al-Khori, executive director, GA Foundation; Alexandra Chalat, executive director, GA, Qatar Foundation; Maryam al-Maslamani from PR and Communications at Visit Qatar, Qatar Tourism; and Gordon Roedger, vice president of SDI Marketing.

Qatar Foundation plans a unique experience for the visually challenged by fully engaging them through the live audio description in English and Arabic of the opening and closing ceremonies of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. A team from the Audiovisual Translation MA programme of QF's Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s (HBKU) College of Humanities and Social Science is working out the project. Last year, the team participated by providing live audio description in Arabic for the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2021 opening ceremony. For the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, the team will utilise its expertise in Arabic and English in the opening and closing ceremonies of the upcoming tournament. Nahwan al-Aswadi, a graduate of the Audiovisual Translation programme explained: “Taking great care to describe every detail, including images, colours and movement, so that we draw an integrated verbal picture that enables the vision impaired fans to imagine the whole scene. This is quite unlike the descriptive audio commentary on football matches that focuses on where the ball is on the pitch, or the players’ movement, fouls and goals.” “It's like reading a graphic novel or listening to an audio book. It is an experience in which the description we offer is consonant with all the sounds in the stadium, – a speech, music or sound effects –, so that the audience can immerse themselves in the experience, and enjoy the event down to the smallest detail,” she continued. Providing a description with such accuracy requires high skill and technique, such as voice concentration, its speed and consonance with other sounds in the stadium, as well as knowing when to stop so that the recipient may integrate the scene. Al-Aswadi said that she was able to develop these skills during her master studies in the Audiovisual Translation programme at HBKU. She noted that this field teaches to translate all aspects of daily life to make them accessible to people of all abilities. She added: “When we talk about accessibility, we are not talking about equality, instead we are talking about equity. We strive to create a space where everyone can be part of the event even if they don’t see it with their eyes. And, instead of relying on others to describe the event to them, we promote independence, allowing people to immerse in the event, to enjoy the experience by adapting it for their specific needs.” Susan Abbas, also a graduate of the Audiovisual Translation programme, narrated her experience of being part of delivering audio description: "It opened my eyes to a different world. It makes me feel that I’m responsible to help people who really need help, and to share what I learned with them. “People often think that humanitarian work is only in relation to wars or famines and poverty, but in fact it goes beyond that – it is broader and more comprehensive and includes all the segments of society”. Dr Josélia Neves, professor and associate dean for Social Engagement and Access at HBKU, said that this service will not be limited to FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, but will constitute a lasting legacy for the future. “By building the expertise of audiovisual translation students, we will have a significant base of experts in this field, who can contribute to providing accessibility to all live events, as are theatrical events, shows, or even conferences, among others,” Dr Neves noted. This service is accompanied by an audio-descriptive commentary training programme hosted by HBKU’s Translation and Interpreting Institute, in partnership with the Centre for Access to Football in Europe. The programme aims to enable the blind and partially sighted to join their fellow fans in the stadiums as they watch each football game.

The Bollywood Music Festival on November 4 at Lusail Stadium as part of the Darb Lusail Festival hosted by Qatar Tourism is expected to be a packed event, an official said Wednesday. "The big music festival, also part of the journey to FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, featuring artists from the South Asian communities, is also an occasion for the people to get familiar with the stadium while it gives us an opportunity to test some operational aspects," explained Hassan Rabea al-Kuwari, marketing relations director, FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. At a media roundtable to announce the details of the programme, al-Kuwari was joined by Berthold Trenkel, chief operating officer, Qatar Tourism, who highlighted various aspects of the festival. The Darb Lusail Festival, hosted by Qatar Tourism, will run from November 3 to 5 to mark the opening of the Lusail Boulevard, the country’s latest landmark and pedestrian-friendly avenue. The family-friendly festival will be a celebration of Lusail city. Noted Indian playback singer Sunidhi Chauhan, Qawwali and Hindustani classical exponent Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and the composer duo of Salim and Sulaiman Merchant, popularly referred to as ‘Salim-Sulaiman’ will be performing at Bollywood Music Festival. “We have made all the arrangements for the event and safety and security are priorities for us. The programme will start at 7pm with a pre-concert entertainment by Perfect Amalgamation from 5.30pm. All the entry tickets will be digital and only ticket holders with Hayya Card will be allowed entry. All the Hayya cards will be activated from November 1,” explained al-Kuwari. “There are four categories of tickets and they can be bought online. On November 4, Doha Metro will be starting from 1pm instead of its regular timing of 2pm on Fridays. It is about five minutes’ walk from the Metro Station to the stadium. The gates will open from 4pm and we urge everyone to start early from home,” he continued. Al-Kuwari also said that this is a unique way of celebrating the South Asian expat communities in the country. “People from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka have played a massive role in the accelerated socio-economic development of Qatar over the last two decades across varied roles and in diverse industries. With the 2022 FIFA World Cup just weeks away, Bollywood Music Festival is the host country’s unique way of celebrating the momentous occasion with the communities who have been an integral part of Qatar’s global success story,” he remarked. Al-Kuwari also noted that Indian expatriate communities in Qatar, UAE and other GCC countries have contributed in a big way by purchasing a huge number of the FIFA World Cup tickets. Bollywood Music Festival, therefore, warrants a celebration of their role in making the tournament a success. Trenkel added: “On the first day of the Darb Lusail Festival, we will have two prominent artists, one from Kuwait and the other from Lebanon. It will be followed by the Bollywood night on Friday, and on Saturday we will have an artist from Egypt. We are also showcasing a drone show and we are partnering with a ccompany called ‘Fivecurrents’ for the event.” Doha Metro will increase the frequency of the trains and have additional coaches to carry more people to various destinations around the country during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. "The frequency of Doha Metro will be 165 seconds during the World Cup," stated Hassan Rabea al-Kuwari, marketing relations director, FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

The US and Qatar share a vision for the security of the region, that continues and is more important than ever in today's complex world, noted a visiting US official. “This is a military partnership the US values tremendously. Qatar is a major non-Nato ally. But alongside of that, Qatar is a military partner working through many of the urgent challenges that we face in the region,” said, General Michael “Erik” Kurilla, commander of US Central Command, who oversees US military operations in 20 countries including Qatar. In an e-mail interview with Gulf Times, General Kurilla said that the US-Qatar relations are very strong. “This is a critically important strategic partnership for the US, for Qatar and for the region. This is a relationship that dates back more than 50 years to the onset of Qatari independence. Our militaries were working together even before the formation of Centcom,” he explained. “Our strategic approach is summarised by three words: People, Partners, and Innovation. We must rely on our strong military partners in the region such as the Qatar Armed Forces for security and stability in the region. No nation can go it alone and no one can solve the region’s complex problems alone. We are committed to strengthening our partnership with our Qatari partners,” continued the official. General Kurilla noted there are many opportunities ahead for both countries to build on the collective defence. “We have many training exercises throughout the year with the Qatar Armed Forces. These exercises allow both nations to focus on border security, air defence and air-to-ground integration,” he said. The official noted that Qatar has played an outsized role in the US efforts to evacuate tens of thousands of people from Afghanistan. “The United States is grateful for Qatar’s remarkable support for the safe transit of hundreds of US citizens and tens of thousands of Afghans and other evacuees from Afghanistan. We appreciate all Qatar continues to do in providing safe transit, housing, and out processing through Camp As Sayliyah,” he said. As for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, General Kurilla said that the US has great confidence in the ability of the Qatar Armed Forces to safely host the World Cup. He pointed out that consistent with the US strategic approach of people, partners, and innovation, the focus remains on military partnerships throughout the region. “The US military and the Qatar Armed Forces want the same things: resolution of conflict, regional stability, defeat of violent extremist organisations, and the de-escalation of tensions throughout the region,” he highlighted. "Given that President Biden personally designated Qatar a major non-Nato Ally, it is clear that this administration values relations with Qatar. We in Centcom see the great value in our military partnership with the Qatar Armed Forces. We must rely on this ironclad relationship for regional security,” added General Kurilla.    

Qatar Cancer Society (QCS) has provided assistance worth about QR100mn to support cancer patients in the past 6-7 years, the centre's chairman has said. “Every year, we support a large number of cancer patients, especially those who are in need of financial support, medical assistance and other assistance. In the past six to seven years, QCS has supported a large number of such people and provided about QR 100mn,” said Dr Sheikh Khalid bin Jabor al-Thani, founder and chairman, QCS, in an interview with Gulf Times. “In 2021 alone, we provided assistance worth QR21mn.We supported about 1,400 people for various needs,” he said. The chairman noted that the centre has introduced several services in recent years and people can directly contact QCS officials for any assistance. “We launched our app, which is a great help for patients and their families. It is available on Android devices and iPhones, and people can contact us privately. Of late, it has become popular and will mark a major shift in the coming months,” he explained. According to Dr Sheikh Khalid, setting up the training centre was a major shift in the approach to reach out to the people. “More than 404,300 people attended QCS online education programmes during Covid-19 through its online workshops, courses, lectures, webinars, seminars, training sessions as well as one-to-one sessions for people who requested,” he noted. The official said individuals and companies are always ready to support the cause of patients. “For our educational purposes also we approach business houses and get enough support. We have certain constraints for the administration part as we have got about 100 people working with us on a full-time scale. I am blessed with a team that puts in hard work without any reservations and they have all been a part of my team for several years. We work as a family as we work for cancer patients,” the chairman said. “Our board of directors are doing a very good job of supporting the employees. We are working on a sustainable project so that we can run the centre sustainably over the years,” he added. Sheikh Dr Khalid said he had the experience of what some family members had to go through while suffering from diseases, including cancer, which prompted him to take up the cause of fighting cancer. QCS was set up in 1996 with permission and guidance from His Highness the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani. It was officially launched in October 1997, coinciding with the Breast Cancer Awareness Month. “Today, we are a very prominent institution not only in Qatar but also internationally. We have very good collaborations locally and internationally. We get high accolades and acknowledgement and our first campaign brought a lot of traction with people,” he said. “Thereafter, QCS was adopted into the implementation and adaptation of the national health strategy and mainly in the Qatar cancer strategy. Though we are a non-governmental organisation, we are part of the system. We complement the services of the Ministry of Public Health, Hamad Medical Corporation as well as other stakeholders, especially with the growth in the country's population."

Qatar is in the process of developing its third National Development Strategy, disclosed Planning and Statistics Authority president and former minister, HE Dr Saleh M al-Nabit. “To complement the efforts of Qatar in developing the planning process and drawing comprehensive development trajectories, the Planning and Statics Authority, in co--operation with competent authorities in the country, is in the process of preparing the Third National Development Strategy,” he said. Dr al-Nabit was recently addressing the Qatar launch of the Human Development Report 2021-2022 of the UNDP titled, ‘Uncertain Times, Unsettled Lives: Shaping our Future in a Transforming World’ organised by the Centre for International and Regional Studies (CIRS) at Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q). “This will define national priorities and aspirations in accordance with the results of the Human Development Report and the lessons learnt from previous national strategies as well as the current regional and international developments,” he explained. Dr al-Nabit noted that Qatar just like other countries was exposed to the repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic with its direct impact on the economy and the quality of life. “We have learned from this experience that hardships can create miracles if the vision is clear and the political will is available. Therefore, the challenges have turned into opportunities as all our legislative and executive bodies are keen that these crises do not affect the wellbeing of the people,” he continued. He also noted that Qatar affirmed its commitment to double the efforts to support the development planning process in the country to improve human development sub-indicators in the areas of health, education, protection systems, living standards and others. "This will make us prepared to face any potential uncertainties in the future with more flexibility and resilience towards promoting a decent life for Qatari people and ensuring a more sustainable future for generations to come,” he added. The opening remarks of Dr al-Nabit was followed by a panel discussion as Dr Pedro Conceicao, the report author and the director, Human Development Report Office , UNDP presented the report. The panelists included Dr Safwan Masri, dean of GU-Q and Sheikha Hanouf Abdurahman al-Thani, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Dr Masri highlighted the role of education in overcoming the challenges. “The report reveals the painful situation of the state of affairs in the present world. It also points to the lack of cohesion and harmony. More than 1bn people live in conflict zones and there is no magic wand or easy solution to solve the issues. However it offers some hope that we can be better if we are together and the role of education has an important role to solve the issues,” he highlighted. Sheikha Hanouf stressed the importance of innovation to resolve the issues that the world faces. “Investment, insurance and innovation are three areas that the world needs to focus on. Uncertainties have compounded in our times and we need to foster human development. Therefore it is important to develop partnerships and work together for the betterment of humanity,” she said. Dr Biplove Chaudhary, technical representative and head of office, UNDP and Dr Zahra Baber, associate director of research at CIRS moderated the event

Abdulrahman al-Thani, a graduate of Qatar Foundation (QF) and Abdullah Nazeer, an undergraduate at QF, have created a digital platform offering interactive one-on-one private tutoring in Math, Science and English ensuring quality learning and affordability. The platform ‘Muallemi’ was launched by an educational startup incubated, supported, and guided by QF’s Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP). “We came up with the idea for the startup in 2021 to meet the needs of students and parents for private tutoring in a way that ensures quality education, and one that is affordable,” explained Abdulrahman al-Thani, co-founder at Muallemi, and a graduate of Georgetown University in Qatar, a QF partner. “Through Muallemi, we aim to provide out-of-classroom e-learning services under the supervision of parents, where each student has a private tutor in personalised online sessions. We target students in grades 2 to 12, as well as university students but on a case-by-case basis for this group. We found that students who took at least one lesson on Muallemi per week had improved their grades by an average of 14%.” He said that the service begins with assessing the student’s level, exploring what sparks his or her curiosity, identifying ways of learning that may draw the student’s attention, and then developing a personalised approach. “Currently, Muallemi offers lessons in Math, Science, and English, and we aim to provide other subjects, including Arabic, in the future. We also look forward to expanding our partnerships inside and outside Qatar through our collaboration with Education Above All Foundation and a number of partners,” he said. According to the new ed-tech startup founders, Muallemi tutors are selected according to certain criteria, including that the tutor must have experience delivering over a thousand one-to-one sessions in a specific subject. The cost of a one-hour session ranges from QR33 to QR60. “At Muallemi, we encourage students to make mistakes. We encourage students to try, and we reward them for their effort. Having a positive mindset is key. Students need to know that being good at math isn’t just an innate ability, instead it is the result of continuous effort which gradually will translate to progress,” Nazeer said. Muallemi currently has a multinational team of tutors, and according to Nazeer they are looking at expanding to other countries and having a global team of tutors with the ability to teach multiple different subjects in different languages. “We decided to have our math tutors based in countries such as South Asia as they have a very math intensive education system. All our tutors have a background in math. And in terms of quality, for every riyal paid, Muallemi gives back incredible value,” he highlighted. “For starters, we have a few job openings at Muallemi that we exclusively advertise to EC students. Interning with us gives students great exposure to the world of business, and gives them hands on experience of what it means to run a startup. We also provide a stipend to incentivise them financially as majority of the students who tend to apply are international,” continued, Nazeer. “From the very commencement, Muallemi e-Learning Services reached out to us for support,” said Hayfa al-Abdulla, QSTP innovation director. “Being incubated by the programme, the Muallemi platform benefits from a wide range of support services that allow it to reimagine the tech industry in Qatar. Local technology-based startups, like Muallemi, are offered a rapid and affordable incorporation in the QSTP Free Zone, collaborative co-working space, mentorship, training, workshops, and networking events, as well as access to funding programs and prototyping facilities,” added al-Abdulla.

Givenchy, the French luxury fashion and perfume house, in partnership with Fifty One East, Qatar’s favourite department store, celebrated the grand opening of the first Givenchy Beauty boutique in Qatar and second in the region at Place Vendôme, Lusail. The event was attended by French ambassador Jean-Baptiste Faivre, Fifty One East chairman and managing director Bader al-Darwish, Givenchy Beauty regional general manager Angela Zirkeli, and Darwish Holding vice chairman Saoud al-Darwish alongside representatives of the two entities. Ribbon cutting to open the boutique The opening of the Givenchy Beauty boutique in Qatar builds on the longstanding partnership between Fifty One East and Givenchy that dates back to the 1980s. It also reinforces Qatar as a key market for the expansion of international brands and Fifty One East as a trusted partner for hosting the top beauty brands from around the world. Bader al-Darwish, said: “We are immensely pleased to celebrate the grand opening of Givenchy Beauty’s very first boutique in Qatar. Fifty One East and Givenchy share common values underpinned by uniqueness, distinction, and sophistication. The opening reflects the leading position of Qatar in the region as a major destination for luxury shopping, fashion and beauty. We are confident this new experience will exceed the expectations of our valued clientele.” Classic luxury perfumes of Givenchy “We are very pleased by the opening of our first boutique in Qatar at Place Vendôme. It’s a huge milestone for Givenchy Beauty in the country and the region. This boutique will allow us to express our DNA as a classic yet fearless beauty Maison. It will also allow us to offer our guests the true Givenchy experience and delight them with exclusive products, services and experiences,” Zirkeli, noted. French ambassador Faivre highlighted Givenchy’ unique luxury products and how they have been another name for exquisity. “ Givency gives a strong French touch in all its products and truly embodies the French passion for the best. It is an epitome for elegance and beauty,” he highlighted. Another set of beauty products With its open concept inspired by classic French-style architecture, Place Vendôme is the perfect location for Givenchy’s first boutique in Qatar. The premium boutique is perfectly laid out for customers to enjoy several sensorial experiences, relishing in Givenchy’s iconic fragrances, makeup, and skincare collections. More than just Givenchy’s iconic clothing, Hubert de Givenchy intertwined his ideas of new identities through couture and strong-willed personalities in exciting and inspiring styles, which have been given an olfactory interpretation in the Maison's fragrances. Now customers can discover the olfactory signature scents that best suit their identity at the boutique. A set of luxury products Tapping into the fearless and daring angle of the brand, customers can pamper themselves with a quick makeup session that highlights a chic lip colour or a striking cut-edge eyeliner with Givenchy Beauty makeup experts at the boutique. From mini facials to hand massages, guests can also embark on a tailored journey to choose the products that best fit their skin type with the brand’s skincare experts. Some of the premium perfumes at the boutique And for those looking to create unforgettable gifts for their loved ones, the ‘Art of Gifting’ wall serves as the perfect gifting station that allows customers to declare their love in the most sublime way using iconic Givenchy gift boxes and messages.

An ongoing wildlife photography exhibition at Eiwan Al Gassar is drawing attention as it displays unknown and unexplored facets of Qatar, as well as highlights well-known ones. The month-long exhibition, 'Behind the Camera' by Qatari photographer Azzam Abdulaziz al-Mannai, features images of whale sharks, camels, oryx, mangroves, migratory birds and others.   Azzam Abdulaziz al-Mannai “The largest gathering of whale sharks in the world happens here at the north of Qatar at the international waters,” al-Mannai told Gulf Times. “On record, we have registered around 360 whale sharks at the same spot at a time,” he added. “The season starts from May to end of August, with the best time between mid-July to mid-August.” Al-Mannai is the chief executive of the Sports Accelerator at Aspire Zone. He is into photography and drone photography, and is widely acclaimed as one of the best drone operators in the region. Al-Mannai’s works have been featured at a number of exhibitions and media entities, such as CNN, Discovery Channel, National Geographic and the New York Times. He goes on-site 4-5 days a week during the season to photograph whale sharks. “It is about 150km from Doha, where the depth of the sea is about 60m,” al-Mannai said. “I spend around 12 hours a day for the whole expedition during the season.” Whale sharks in the north of Qatar “As a photographer, I need to study and understand the behaviour of the whales for (taking pictures of) them,” he added. “I wait till I get a clear signal that I can enter into their territory.” “Then, through eye contact, I get the acceptance from them. I focus on the ambient light (before capturing their image) underwater,” al-Mannai said. He noted that generally the whale sharks have their feeding time from 8am-11am. “Once they have their tummy full, I enter the water and start engaging with them,” he said. “I stay in water for 3-4 hours, and underwater for 1-2 minutes at a time.” A photo taken in Iceland. Al-Mannai explained his motivation: "I want to showcase the beauty of Qatar, especially some fields which are still almost unexplored.” “I started in 2019 with aerial photography and moved to classic photography on ground level, before going into underwater photography," he said. The *Behind the Camera exhibition includes some of his photographs taken abroad. Al-Mannai said that he has so far visited countries in four continents. Mangroves in Qatar “Every time you go out, you use it as a chance for learning,” he said. “If I can come out with 10-15 clean good photos in a year that can be displayed, I am happy.” He said he is planning more trips abroad. “There are many projects in the pipeline … immediately after the World Cup in Qatar, I will be travelling to Dominica to photograph the sperm whale, to Norway for the killer whale, and to Tonga for humpback whale,” al-Mannai said. “After that, I will get ready for the next season of whale sharks in Qatar.”

Most stadiums around the world will have to use the cooling technology in future irrespective of tournaments being held in the winter or summer, according to the brain behind the cooling technology at FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 stadiums. Dr Saud Abdul-Aziz Abdul-Ghani, mechanical engineer and professor at College of Engineering, Qatar University, said: “ With global warming and climate change, such technologies will have to be part of the design of any major stadiums,” said Dr Abdul-Ghani. He was taking part in a panel discussion organised by Ibtechar on 'Delivering Innovation Through 2022', which shed light on the technological innovations that will be used during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. Dr Abdul-Ghani was joined in the discussion by Mohamed Nabeel al-Atwaan, FM director - Stadium 974, Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy and projects director, Old Doha Port, and Abdelrazek Aly, co-founder and CEO at Bonocle, Inc. The session as moderated by Nayef al-Ibrahim, CEO and co-founder of Ibtechar. Dr Abdul-Ghani said: “We use clean energy to run our stadiums. They all come from PV panels. We use them sustainably as we want to make sure that whatever we do is sustainable and the energy is coming from clean source.” “But in many places the upper brink of the stadium go very heated even in winter times. It is called the brink of fire. This is because people breathe and they emit a lot of heat. So no matter whether the tournament is in winter or summer, you need cooling system to offset the heat breathed out by people,” he explained. He stressed that countries building new smart stadiums will need some cooling or air tempering for spectators and players. He also discussed the major challenges in the cooling technology for the stadiums in Qatar. “The main challenge in providing the cooling technology for an open stadium is to make sure that the cold air does not escape especially with the wind. So, the prime focus was how the shape of the stadium should help you to make sure that the cooling generated stays inside,” he noted. Aly highlighted how the Qatar 2022 World Cup will be the most accessible one and the innovative ideas used to make it accessible for everyone. Al-Atween noted the innovations used in the design and construction of the stadiums and how the legacy part is taken care of. He highlighted the most sustainable stadium, Stadium 974.

Egypt and Brazil have emerged winners in the boys and girls categories, respectively, of the Street Child World Cup Doha 2022. Held at Qatar Foundation’s (QF) Oxygen Park in Education City, the tournament came to a conclusion Saturday and large crowds comprising supporters of the teams were at the venue to encourage and cheer their teams all through the matches. The victorious Brazilian girls' team The teams played to a crowd of more than 3,000 people, who celebrated raucously as the final whistle was blown. The atmosphere was electric, highlighting how much the tournament meant to the 28 teams of young people representing 25 countries. Cultural barriers had been broken down and lasting cross border friendships made. In the boys’ category, Egypt defeated Pakistan 4-3 in a thrilling match that went to the penalty shootout, while in the girls' final Brazil defeated Colombia 4-0. The Brazil team about to score in the match against Colombia. In an exciting boys' final, Egypt faced Pakistan and the game ended in a goalless draw in regulation time. Both the teams had several opportunities throughout the game but they could not convert them into goals. In the penalty shootout, both the teams scored three goals each and the game went into sudden death. The Egyptian goalkeeper saved the kick from a Pakistani midfielder while an Egyptian striker netted the winning goal and helped his team win the championship. In the girls' final, Brazil dominated all through the game and their strikers frequently raided the Colombian goal. They managed to score twice in the first half and added two more goals in the second half. Pakistani and Egyptian players in the final. PICTURES: Shaji Kayamkulam Machaille al-Naimi, president of Community Development at QF, congratulated the winners, gave away the trophies to the winning teams and honoured the best performers of the tournament. Earlier, in the boys' semifinals, Pakistan defeated Brazil while Egypt got the better of Burundi. In the girls' category, Brazil won against the Philippines and Colombia defeated Bolivia. The Street Child World Cup brings together street-connected children from all over the world, giving them a voice and platform to effect change in their countries. The young people are calling for fundamental human rights, including Identity, Protection from Violence, Access to Education and Gender Equality. They have worked together to create a 'Qatar Commitment', calling the governments in their respective countries to action. Their key demands for children in street situations include possession of a legal identity, access to quality education, and provision of affordable health facilities. In attendance at the General Assembly in which the children presented the 'Qatar Commitment' was HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad al-Thani, Vice-Chairperson and CEO of QF, who was the first signatory, in the presence of the Street Child United family and assembled guests. In addition to the 'Qatar Commitment', Street Child United, with the support of its many friends, Beast Philanthropy, 5th Element and Jaja films, will be launching a campaign that runs until July 2026 -- the launch of the next FIFA World Cup, to deliver through its partner projects, 1 million and 1 birth certificates and ID documents for Street Connected Children worldwide. John Wroe, founder and CEO of Street Child United, said: “Wow - what an evening. My most enormous congratulations go to Team Brazil Girls and Team Egypt Boys for their victories in tonight’s finals. It was a tournament of passionate determination, but at the same time, played with so much love and respect." Rayane Granthom, captain of team Brazil girls, said: “We are thrilled to have won the tournament today and we can’t wait to celebrate as a team. I am proud to be from Brazil and I am looking forward to using my voice to inspire other young people from my country.” Ziad Fathy, captain of team Egypt boys, added: “We are so happy to be the winners of the Street Child World Cup – it is great that all of our hard work has paid off. Our experience in Qatar has been unforgettable and we will be sad to say goodbye to all of our new friends from around the world.”

Qatar Cancer Society (QCS) is planning to gift some innovative, organic and nutritional food products for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy, chairman Sheikh Dr Khalid bin Jabor al-Thani told Gulf Times. “We are in discussion with a group of researchers who have developed some healthy food that can help cancer patients, especially during the chemotherapy or radiotherapy period. Pending all the government and regulatory approvals, we plan to introduce it at the earliest possible, mostly by early 2023,” he explained in an interview. “ It is very difficult for cancer patients, during chemotherapy or radiotherapy, to eat. I met two scientists who have developed this food basket and discussed the feasibility of getting this novel organic food for our patients at discounted price so that we can gift it to our patients to support them in their hour of need,” explained Sheikh Dr Khalid. The QCS chairman said the programme will be discussed in detail at the next board meeting of QCS and a final decision taken on the modalities. “This food can be used as a chocolate bar as well as other types of food. It is all organic and has all the nutrients that a patient under treatment needs. As the patients cannot properly eat or have a proper meal during a chemo or radiotherapy, this would fulfill their needs,” he continued. Sheikh Dr Khalid noted that the food basket can be conveniently consumed by the patients during the course of chemotherapy or radiotherapy. “We are looking at the feasibility of providing the food basket to the eligible patients and we have to look at the cost factor. It all depends on the board decision about the financing part of it or getting a suitable sponsor for the programme. It will be very helpful for the patients as they eat only a little but it gives all the requirements that they need for the body,” he remarked. As for the new type of food, Sheikh Dr Khalid said that one of the scientists had in fact developed it for his wife who was undergoing treatment for cancer. He described: “They started a research about the right amount of food and nutrients that a cancer patient needs, did all the work and developed the food. In the beginning they used to make it at their house for their personal needs and later they turned commercial.” "Once we get the board approval, we have to approach other regulatory bodies for necessary permission to use the food. We need to get regulatory approvals from various organisations, government approvals that includes the Ministry of Public Health as well as other healthcare institutions in the country,” he added. The chairman added that QCS will enter into some major collaborations with several organisations in the country very soon that will help the society to efficiently continue the fight against cancer.    

Leaving a lasting legacy for generations to come, the iconic Lusail Stadium, which will host the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 final and other matches, will be turned into a non-sporting facility after the completion of the tournament, an official disclosed on Wednesday. “This will be a legacy of the tournament with several components suitable for the Lusail City Master Plan,” revealed, Mohamed Nabeel al-Atwaan, FM director, Stadium 974 Operations, Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy and projects director, Old Doha Port. "More details are being finalised," he explained at a roundtable organised by Ibtechar on 'Delivering Innovation Through 2022 - World Cup' which discussed the technological innovations for the tournament. “Khalifa International Stadium will retain the 40,000 capacity, that of five other stadiums are to be reduced and Stadium 974 fully dismantled. Most stadiums will have some other facilities added to them as the legacy of the tournament. “This World Cup will be the most sustainable with five pillars of sustainability and more than 70 initiatives incorporated in the whole planning. Sustainability was at the core of the planning, design, delivery and legacy right from the beginning.” According to the official, Stadium 974 is the most discussed and with a lot of innovation. “Using 974 containers which can be fully dismantled and used for various purposes or recycled into other forms, it is one of the best examples of sustainability, a legacy that will be remembered for a long time to come,” al-Atwaan added.    

Most stadiums around the world will have to use the cooling technology in future irrespective of the tournaments being held in winter or summer, noted the master brain behind the cooling technology in the stadiums of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. Dr Saud Abdul-Aziz Abdul-Ghani mechanical engineer, Professor at College of Engineering, Qatar University said “ With global warming and climate change, such technologies will have to be part of the design of any major stadiums,” said Abdul-Ghani. He was taking part in a panel discussion on organised by Ibtechar on “Delivering Innovation Through 2022 - World Cup” which discussed the technological innovations that will be used during the upcoming FIFA World Cup Qatar 2020. Abdul-Ghani was joined in the discussion by Mohamed Nabeel al-Atwaan FM Director, Stadium 974 Operations at the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy and projects director, Old Doha Port, and Abdelrazek Aly, co-founder and CEO at Bonocle, Inc. The session as moderated by Nayef al-Ibrahim, CEO and Co-founder of Ibtechar. Abdul-Ghani said: “We use clean energy to run our stadiums. They all come from PV panels. We use them sustainably as we want to make sure that whatever we do is sustainable and the energy is coming from clean source.” “But in many places the upper brink of the stadium go very heated even in winter times. It is called the brink of fire. This is because people breathe and they emit out a lot of heat. So no matter whether the tournament is in winter or summer, you need cooling system to offset the heat breathed out by people,” he continued. He stressed that those countries building new smart stadiums will need some cooling or air tempering for spectators and players. He also discussed the major challenges in the cooling technology for the stadiums in Qatar. “The main challenge in providing the cooling technology for an open stadium is to make sure that the cold air does not escape especially with the wind. So the prime focus was how the shape of the stadium should help you to make sure that the cooling generated stays inside,” he explained. Abdelrazek Aly highlighted how Qatar World Cup will be the most accessible one and the innovative ideas used to make it accessible for everyone. Al-Atween pointed out the innovations used in the design and construction of the stadiums and how the legacy part is taken care of. He highlighted the most sustainable stadium, the 974 Stadium.    

  Maya Maasri Shaybane is the winner “Iconic Limousine Design Concept” competition, organised by Qatar Tourism (QT) in partnership with Mowasalat (Karwa). Shaybane, whose design is to be displayed on the new fleet of limousines, won an award of QR100,000. With over 6,500 votes, Chamseddine Chakroun’s received the biggest number of public votes and rewarded with QR50,000. In addition, the 20 shortlisted participants received a cash prize of QR 1,500 for their contribution. The winner of the competition, Maya Maasri Shaybane with HE Akbar al-Baker and HE Dr Saad Ahmed al-Muhannadi The winning entry – chosen from over 450 submissions -was announced on Monday at a function attended by top officials of various organisations. The winners were awarded by the chairman of Qatar Tourism and Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, HE Akbar al-Baker and Public Works Authority (Ashghal) president and chairman of Mowasalat, HE Dr Saad Ahmed al-Muhannadi presented the awards. The contest was aimed at creating the design for the fleet of iconic limousines, inspired by Qatar’s cultural heritage and touristic experiences. The jury consisted of HE al-Baker, Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy Secretary General HE Hassan al-Thawadi; Mowasalat CEO Fahad Saad al-Qahtani; Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar dean Amir Berbi?; and Qatar Museums' Liwan Design Studios and Labs director Aisha Nasser al-Sowaidi. Speaking at the event, HE Akbar al-Baker that the competition was truly one of a kind. “Through this initiative, we had the unique opportunity to engage creatives across our nation and provide them with the chance to submit a design that would be branded on iconic limousines across the country,” he explained. “Placed on the upcoming fleet of Iconic Limousines, these designs would surely leave a mark on visitors to Qatar. The designs we received highlighted our country’s cultural identity, and showcased Qatar’s incredible growth, evolution, and authenticity,” added al- Baker. Al-Qahtani said the project tapped into the creative wealth of the country and shines a light on a greener future of transportation. "We have seen amazing designs with powerful messages, based on the love for our country and the responsibility for its future." Al-Thawadi said: "We have some incredibly talented designers in our community and competitions like this shine a light on their skills.” Qatar-based artists followed the three distinctive themes for the Iconic Limousines’ design: Qatar’s culture and heritage, its progressive future, and its sustainability and eco-friendly vision. The qualifying designs were initially shortlisted by a panel at QT, followed by a public vote, and lastly, an evaluation by a jury of expert Qatari personalities, which selected the winning design. The design was unveiled at M7 in Msheireb in the notable presence of representatives from leading national organisations. As part of QT’s Service Excellence programme, the branded fleet of limousines will be available for booking through the Karwa mobile application and customer service centre. The limousines will offer a unique, and best-in-class service to visitors, showcasing Qatar’s renowned and authentic hospitality.

* Environment minister stresses importance of concerted efforts to protect environment amid unprecedented global challenges       Earthna Centre for a Sustainable Future (Earthna), centre along with its partners has launched seventh edition of Qatar Sustainability Week (QSW) 2022. HE Sheikh Dr Faleh bin Nasser bin Ahmad bin Ali al-Thani, Minister of Environment and Climate Change; and Dr Gonzalo Castro de la Mata, executive director of Earthna, among others, were present at the event held at Msheireb Downtown. Earthna, a member of Qatar Foundation (QF), in partnership with strategic, commercial, community, media and gift partners has launched the campaign that will last until October 15. The week-long campaign aims to promote the nation’s sustainability vision, and will bring together government and private sector organizations, businesses and the local community to deliver over 300 sustainability-related activities, events and initiatives. The campaign will focus on taking action to encourage efficient use of resources including water, energy, and food, as well as reduce waste and promote recycling. Sheikh Dr Faleh delivered a speech during the event, stressing the importance of having concerted efforts to protect the environment in the midst of the unprecedented challenges facing the world, affirming Qatar's keenness to achieve sustainable development and conserve the environment. He said: “To realise Qatar’s ambitions of achieving sustainable development, it is crucial that we work together as a society. Government, the private sector, non-profit organisations, education institutions and members of the community must collectively plan for and deliver continual action, focused on preserving Qatar’s environment and making the country a safe, healthy place to live and work for current and future generations. I am delighted to be here today to celebrate what this looks like in practice at the launch of Qatar Sustainability Week 2022, one of the largest community-focused initiatives of its kind in the region.” He said Qatar Sustainability Week, which is considered one of the major societal initiatives of its kind in the region, is primarily highlighted through the practical obligation of Qatar to work collectively, especially since it brings together over 30 companies and enterprises in one place as partners, emphasising that over 200 companies and enterprises will converge over the week to demonstrate their dedication to supporting the sustainability efforts in Qatar. He pointed out that Qatar Sustainability Week this year will focus on the efficient utilisation of water, energy and food, reduction of waste, enhance recycling and the preplanned activities, initiatives and events within the framework of these themes which are manifestly and concretely connected to the goals the State is striving to achieve. Opening the event, Dr de la Mata, explained the wider benefit that local action can have on people and the environment: “While the primary focus for Qatar Sustainability Week 2022 is on delivering practical, tangible actions, many of the planned activities are linked to broader sustainability ambitions, and contribute to cultivating healthy spaces in our individual lives and as communities, improving physical, social and mental wellbeing, and taking care of the environment.” The conference was also attended by representatives from QSW 2022’s strategic partners, including the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Msheireb Properties, Qatar Museums, Ministry of Public Health, Qatar Rail, Tarsheed/Kahramaa, Qatar National Bank, Education Above All, United Development Company, Seashore Recycling and Sustainability, Qatar Tourism, Alwakra Municipality, Microsoft, Expo 2023 and Ooredoo, who spoke on the involvement of their organisations during the campaign. This year’s commercial partners include Carrefour Qatar, LuLu Hypermarkets in Qatar, Mega Mart, talabat and Abdullah Abdulghani & Bros. Co, while community partners include DEAP, Bedaya, Classtap, HADIQAA, Enbat, GWC, Greener Future, Wahab, Engineers Australia, Qatar Natural History Group, Paper Cut and Saad bin Moath Primary School for Boys.