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Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation have jointly announced a new strategic partnership called 'Nanmo' under which they jointly pledged up to $200mn to support smallholder farmers and their communities in African countries. Nanmo or “growing together” will invest in climate-adaptive agriculture tools and technologies, to build resilient food systems and markets that provide nutrition, income and economic opportunities to small-scale producers in drylands on the African continent, who are bearing the brunt of the effects of climate change. The announcement was made by HE Khalifa al-Kuwari, director-general of QFFD, and Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, in the presence of Mark Suzman, CEO of the Foundation, during a panel discussion at the Doha Forum 2022 Sunday. The partnership will aim to strengthen economies throughout the Global South via four key areas, namely equity as a primary driver of inclusive growth, enterprise as a means of job creation and poverty alleviation, agriculture as a primary source of food, jobs and income in Sub-Saharan Africa, and provision of access to technologies, financial tools, and emerging best practices as a driver of productivity, nutrition and climate adaptation. The partnership will also seek to ensure women small-scale producers positively contribute to and benefit from decisions about how their communities grow food and create jobs. The project will support climate-adaptive tools, practices, policies and markets as sustainable drivers of resilient food systems that provide nutrition, income, and economic opportunities to small-scale producers and their communities. It will also include systems-level research and country-level implementation to adapt to local environments. Gates addressed the gathering through a video message and said, “Today, I am happy to announce a joint partnership with QFFD for $200mn focused on agriculture, climate resilience and economic development. “Our foundation has adopted climate adaptation a priority. Hundreds of millions of smallholder farmers, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, are already seeing their livelihoods threatened by higher temperatures and changing weather patterns. We’re building on our longstanding collaboration with QFFD to help these farmers adapt. Together, we can prevent millions of people from falling into poverty and hunger due to climate change and increase agricultural yields to jumpstart equitable economic growth where it’s most needed." Al-Kuwari said, “We are thrilled to be announcing a new initiative in collaboration with our strategic partner, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, titled Nanmo, which aims at ensuring that sustainable development goals are met everywhere. “We have high hopes that these valuable partnerships will expand our efforts to improve the lives of vulnerable communities, ensuring their economic security against the backdrop of this ever-evolving planet." One of the first projects funded by Nanmo will focus on improving the livelihoods of low-income women farmers in a number of African countries, working with the World Poultry Foundation to provide them with improved breeds of chicken for egg and meat production. The partnership will also fund projects with a clear path to achieving impact across multiple United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including poverty alleviation, agricultural transformation, nutrition and youth and women’s and youth economic empowerment. Investments like these are especially important at a time when conflict in one part of the world can threaten food security across the globe. For her part, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gate Foundation Melinda French said the agricultural sector contributes to economic growth, but it does not automatically benefit society equally. "The Nanmo initiative is not only limited to protecting the agricultural sector from climate change, but also empowering small farmers, including millions of women, to lift themselves out of poverty and invest in a better future for their families and communities," she added. (With inputs from QNA)

A top climate advocate has highlighted the need to act immediately to reduce the worst impacts of climate change and suggested that oil producing countries should diversify their economies. John Kerry, the United States Special Presidential Envoy for Climate and Former Secretary of State stressed the point while interacting Saturday with Nick Clark, environment editor, Al Jazeera English during the Newsmaker Interview of the Doha Forum 2022. Describing his efforts to raise awareness about the serious implications of climate change at several COP summits and the efforts to get assurance from member states to reduce green house gas emission, Kerry said, “During our COP summit in Glasgow, the issue was at the forefront again. If everybody does what they promised in Paris COP summit, we could actually hold the temperature by 1.8 degrees by 2050. But the problem is that we are not doing everything we told in the summit.” He said that several countries in Europe are taking steps to move away from fossil fuels and many countries have already made significant progress in renewable energy sector. “The best scientists in the world repeatedly over the 30 years and now more dramatically, have been telling us that we have these numbers of years to make credible decisions and implement them to avoid the worst consequences of climate crisis. Let me emphasis it. This is not to avoid the crisis but to avoid the worst consequences of the crisis and it is avoidable only, if we cut the emissions by 45% between now and 2030,” Kerry said. He also said that some of the leading economies have promised to reduce emissions rapidly and transition to green energy. “There must be investments in these transitions to stop the loss of trillions of dollars of damage that far exceeds the money that is invested. No government alone can have such huge amounts to invest. The only way to get there is to get the private sector fully involved in the transition. It needs that we have to be more creative,” remarked Kerry. The climate advocate highlighted the drastic rise in temperatures in the Arctic and Antarctic regions and the rise in temperatures globally year after year suggesting that global temperature is set for rise year after year and rapid actions are necessary to meet the challenges. He also suggested that countries that mainly depend on oil as the main source of economy should think of diversifying its economies to face the outcomes of the transition. “Diversify, think not only about being an oil and gas company but as an energy company. Many are doing it. This is doable and we have to look at the reality. This is happening and the only issue is- if this is happening fast enough. What is happening is that there will be new methodologies to deal with the problems,” concluded Kerry.

Qatar believes in resorting to dialogue and diplomacy in dealing with conflicts and has been following the path every occasion, noted HE Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Saturday. Taking part in a plenary session at Doha Forum 2022 under the topic ‘Transforming for a New Era,’ Sheikh Mohamed said: “We can't be isolated from what is happening around the world. We have to play an active role and provide at least a positive contribution to international peace and stability. I believe that Qatar has been building a track record in dialogue and diplomacy in different complex areas.” The other members at the panel included Faisal bin Farhan al-Saud, Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia; Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and US Senator Lindsey Graham, Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Budget. The session was moderated by Dr Comfort Ero, president and chief executive officer, International Crisis Group. HE Sheikh Mohamed said that Qatar is conscious of regional stability and international peace. “Being an effective member of international community is very important. It is satisfying if we can contribute to the peace and stability of our region and maintain international security. For us it is very important to maintain the international order, to maintain international legitimacy and preserve the UN charter and preserve the international law,” explained HE Sheikh Mohamed. He noted: “For us to make sure that our region is safe is directly in our national interest. To be a platform for diplomacy and dialogue is also important for us.” According to him, any transition is normally a bumpy one. “We have developed an inter-connectedness with other countries in the past decades. We cannot be isolated or unaffected by any global crisis. One major issue we are talking about is climate change, which is a global issue. That is going to affect all of us. What the international community is doing today in order to anticipate the consequences of this crisis is a 'late answer', but we must work collectively to confront this phenomenon," he said. “Another issue is the pandemic of Covid-19. We are still living through the consequences of Covid. Another major problem is the geopolitical crisis. It directly has its impact, first on the direct neighbours and then on others and the entire world,” he said. HE Sheikh Mohamed said that dialogue is the only way forward and the only way to end any crisis or any potential conflict. “It has been proven that dialogue is the right way. For the current crisis, we need to provide, short-term, midterm and long-term solutions in order to preserve international peace. Conflicts result in many ways. The Russia-Ukraine issue is impacting the food supply and it is impacting the energy market too. All the conflicts should be addressed diplomatically,” he said. Al-Saud noted that it is important to work with all the countries to set the transformation into a new era. “We are working with other countries and the global south in every major issue such as access to water, access to education, access to health as well as all other basic needs. Priority is always given to the suffering population and to address the issues in line with national and international guidelines,” he said. Senator Graham highlighted the need to stop Russian aggression on Ukraine and Borrell advocated the need for implementing rule of law in every action. HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani underlined that Qatar has a long record of dialogue and diplomacy in several areas of conflict, including Sudan and Lebanon, and between Djibouti and Eritrea, stressing that dialogue is the only way forward and the only way to end any potential crisis or conflict, Qatar News Agency reported. Speaking at the opening session of Doha Forum 2022 Saturday, he highlighted Qatar's commitment to the international principles and international law, which represent the basis for all its stances with all political crises, affirming that Qatar is against assaulting the sovereignty of any country, interfering in its internal affairs, or using force against it, "Qatar is against any use of force against civilians," he stressed. HE Sheikh Mohamed noted the importance to deal with all international issues on an equal footing, especially with regard to humanitarian crises. "In Ukraine, we know that there are concerns between the two parties, and these concerns must be addressed diplomatically. This also applies to the Palestinian issue and the Israeli occupation, and we want to see the same results. Our standards have always been unified and consistent to a large extent despite all the pressures, and we must abide by these principles. We also urge all countries in the international community to work to protect and apply these principles on an equal footing," he added. "We have never seen a war that ended on the battlefield. The solution to any crisis is always around the dialogue table through diplomatic talks and agreement between the two parties, and this is the only way. Therefore, we believe that in light of the current crisis in Ukraine, we must provide solutions in the short, medium and long term in order to preserve the world order," he continued. HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs added that the suffering seen in Ukraine was similar to the suffering of many countries in the region for years, however, nothing have happened and there was no global response to this suffering. "We were praying for a precedent in the region in response to the brutality against the Palestinian, Syrian, Iraqi, Libyan or Afghan people." He indicated that the absence of a global response to these actions and the lack of accountability of the people responsible for violence will lead to more violence, expressing his hope that the war of Ukraine would serve as a wake-up call for the international community to look at "our region" and deal with the issues that emerge in it on the same level of commitment that have been seen in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and that this crisis is dealt with in a diplomatic manner that leads to an end to the conflict and human suffering. HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs stressed the importance to maintain the world order and international legality and preserve the Charter of the United Nations and the principles of international law, "because we are already a small country protected by these multilateral measures, as well as all other countries." "Some claim that we are a small country that aspires to more than it can achieve, this is not the issue. Rather, it is the issue of stability of the region and ensuring peace in it if we are able to play a role for more stability and peace in the region and for the maintenance of international peace and security, which is in our direct national interest. Therefore, it is important for us to be a platform for diplomacy and dialogue, and to contribute to enhancing security and stability in the region. We cannot be isolated from what is happening in the rest of the world, rather we must play an active role in order to make a positive contribution to achieving international stability," HE Sheikh Mohamed said. Regarding the current situation with Iran and whether there is an imminent peace agreement with it, he underlined the importance of maintaining stability in the region, and that there be an agreement on the nuclear issue in Iran, stressing the need for this step to be followed by other regional steps in order to deal with the security repercussions. He believed that the only way to ensure international security is the same way Qatar views all disputes, which is to deal with them diplomatically, because it is the best way to deal with the elements of concern for each party separately. He added that the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) is an important agreement at least to ensure that there is no nuclear arms race taking place in the region, noting the need to supplement this agreement with interaction and participation in the Gulf region with Iran so that they have a comprehensive approach.

* To generate 1.6 GW by 2030: minister   Qatar is taking every effort to reduce gas emission and increase the use of renewable energy, said HE Sheikh Faleh bin Nasser bin Ahmed bin Ali al-Thani, Minister of Environment and Climate Change at a panel discussion on day one of the Doha Forum Saturday. The minister noted that Qatar will start producing solar power from this year. “We will produce 800MW this year. This is the first plant in Qatar working on photovoltaic technology. This is the first phase of the project and we are going to produce 1.6 gigawatts (GW) by 2030,” disclosed Sheikh Faleh. “We have taken every efforts to minimise the gas emissions. Al Shaheen Gas field is considered as one of the biggest gas fields in the world. We have managed to reduce 80% of gas emission in the field which is recorded by the World Bank,” said Sheikh Faleh . “We have the largest carbon capture storage in the Mena region. The capacity of the storage is about 2mn tonnes of carbon dioxide. We are aiming to expand it to 9mn by 2030. We have done several initiatives to enhance the air quality and reduce the impact of dust storms. We have also planted one million trees in the country and we are committed to increase this number to 10 million by 2030,” explained, the minister. The minister noted that Qatar is taking effective steps to meet the challenges of water which is a main challenge in this part of the world. He also pointed to enhancing the biodiversity of the country and the programme for waste management. “We have our own programme for waste management. We aim to achieve zero waste in ten years as well as zero landfill. We are also thinking of maximising the use of the land and increase productivity in the country,” he added. Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, global leader of Climate & Energy at WWF; former minister of environment of Peru; former president of COP20; Vincent Keaveny, Lord Mayor of London; Jane Madgwick, president and CEO, Wetlands International and Dr Gonzalo Castro de la Mata, executive director, Earthna Centre for a Sustainable Future were the other members of the panel.

*Calls for an era of peace, security and coexistence His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani opened this year's edition of Doha Forum under the theme 'Transforming Into a New Era’ Saturday at Sheraton Doha and highlighted the need for an ‘era of peace, security and coexistence for all’. “The new age that we dream of, and that I personally work for, is the era of peace, security and coexistence for all, the era of social justice, the era in which all people can access their basic needs in education, health, water resources, and living with dignity, and where they can fulfill themselves and exercise their lifestyle and cultures,” the Amir said in his opening address. The opening session was attended by President of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani, Prime Minister of Lebanon Najib Mikati, Prime Minister of Palestine Mohamed Shtayyeh, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, World Economic Forum President Borge Brende and the heads of delegations of friendly countries. Amir presents the Doha Forum Award to the CEO of the Digital Citizen Fund, Roya Mahboob from Afghanistan, for her tireless efforts in empowering the women in her country. It was also attended by HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz al-Thani, a number of ministers and heads of diplomatic missions accredited to the state, leading academics, policy makers, parliamentarians, intellectuals, businessmen, media personalities, representatives of regional and international organisations, as well as representatives of non-governmental organisations. Addressing the gathering, His Highness the Amir said that the world has reached a pivotal stage on all political, economic, environmental, and social levels, and this stage requires radical revisions to spare the world from reaching a state of imbalance. “At the societal level and people’s livelihood, the social and economic gap among states and within a single society, is indicative of a serious defect in the overall economies, especially after the strengthening of the technology sector and its role in the economy and the lives of individuals. This is in addition to the horrific increase in global poverty rates, the difficulty of accessing the basic necessities of life, and the deterioration into famines in some cases,” the Amir explained. The Amir cautioned against the exclusionary populist voices in a time of societal tensions and economic recession and said that such exclusionary phenomena that have increased in recent years, is the phenomenon of Islamophobia. The Amir also lamented the decrease in political and diplomatic means to solve the disputes and instead the use of military expansion and armed solutions. His Highness Sheikh Tamim remarked that Qatar has chosen a path of rational dialogue that is simultaneously based on balancing common values and interests to resolve disputes. “We have chosen the path of mediation to resolve disputes by peaceful means. We have an accumulated experience in this field, which we put at the service of peace, stability and just solutions to conflicts." At the opening session, the Amir presented the Doha Forum Award to the CEO of the Digital Citizen Fund, Roya Mahboob from Afghanistan, for her tireless efforts in empowering the women in her country. Mahboob is the leader of the Afghan Girls Robotics Team. In a video message, president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, warned that the world is risking food shortage as a result of the war Russia waged on his country, stressing that no one is safe from the food supply disruptions. He also called on energy-producing countries to increase their supply to ensure that everyone understands that no country can use energy as a weapon and blackmail the world. He praised the efforts of Qatar in supplying the world with energy, saying it was a trusted country. At the opening ceremony, Abdulla Shahid, president of the United Nations General Assembly, said the Doha Forum is yet another example of the vision of His Highness the Amir. “ The success of Doha Forum and its emergence as a premium forum of choice for the world’s top decision makers and influencers is also reflective of Qatar’s role as a key strategic and international partner for conflict resolution, preventive diplomacy, soft power diplomacy and humanitarian assistance,” said Shahid. The opening session was followed by a plenary discussion.

The Children's and Young Adult's Library at Qatar National Library has lent out over 1mn books so far and is providing a space to pursue and expand children’s and young adults' love of books, noted an official of the library. “In 2021, we checked out our one millionth book to a member. This was a huge milestone for the Children's and Young Adults' Library and a testament to our commitment to providing open space and collections that allow children to explore their curiosity and fall in love with reading,” said, Maram al-Mahmoud, head of the Children’s and Young Adult's Library. “Children and young adults can discover new interests and talents at the Children's and Young Adults' Library. We house more than 120,000 print books in our collection, the majority of which are in English and Arabic. We also offer access to many electronic resources, including e-books, e-magazines, and other online resources specifically designed for children as well as educational toys, games, arts and crafts materials, and computers and iPads equipped with the latest learning programmes,” explained, al-Mahmoud. The Young Adults' Library includes more than 30,000 fiction and non-fiction books, graphic novels, and magazines. Young readers also have access to college preparatory resources and the opportunity to explore their creative side with video game consoles and musical instruments. It also includes school curricula and college preparation textbooks. “We host numerous activities and events for children, young adults, and their families throughout the year such as Interactive Storytime, Creative Workshops, Early Literacy Programmes, Book Discussions, Science, Arts, literature, and theatre programmes amongst others. This aims to support them to discover new and unexpected areas of interest, share ideas, and widen their knowledge,” the official said. Al-Mahmoud said that one of the projects the library embarked on recently was storytelling. “Keeping the tradition of storytelling alive in the 21st century, the library, in collaboration with the Alexandria Library in Virginia, US, and Qatar Foundation, conducted virtual storytelling and art sessions in which members of the Arab American community in the US, had the opportunity to listen to 'live' stories about their cultural heritage. This was their chance to reconnect with their roots, understand the evolution of cultural heritage, the importance of its preservation, and the significance of the Arabic language itself,” said, al-Mahmoud. Another initiative of the library is a project called the “Story Box” that included giving more than 500 books from the library to the Alexandria Library’s three branches in Virginia, US. “These books aimed to allow children with Arab backgrounds to connect with their culture and traditions. The resources offer them the ability to improve their Arabic language skills and provide exposure to both Arab and Qatari cultures. While most of the books were in the Arabic language, there were some bilingual and English books as well. This variety helped us reach out to both Arabic and non-Arabic speakers of Arab origin,” highlighted the head of the library. According to the official, the library played a critical role in helping students and young learners continue their education when schools closed during the pandemic. “Children, young adults, and families were able to access ebooks, audiobooks, learning tools, and other educational resources from home. We have also seen a sharp increase in online resource usage with downloads jumping from 2,840,027 in 2019 to 3,091,566 in 2020. We held over 236 virtual educational programmes from March through December in 2020. The pandemic provided us with a great opportunity to re-imagine how we deliver our services and resources,” added al- Mahmoud.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino announced the launch of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Volunteer Programme during a glittering ceremony at Katara Amphitheatre. At the tournament, a total of 20,000 volunteers will work across 45 functional areas at official and non-official sites such as stadiums, training sites, the airport, fan zones, hotels and public transportation hubs. Applications to be a part of the volunteer team at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 are now open via volunteer.fifa.com     Focusing on the role of the volunteers, Infantino said: “It will, of course, be an incredible journey, a journey that will give you memories that will follow you for the entire life.” “But more importantly, you are the first face, the first smile that any visitor who comes to attend the world Cup in November-December will meet,” he added. “You are the heart, you are the soul and you are the smile of the World Cup.” “Thanks to you, we can show Qatar, the Middle East and the Arab world to the entire world,” the official continued. “The world will unite here in Qatar during the World Cup, the world will unite in this part of the universe. “The world will be together and will be celebrating an unforgettable event. We can expect the amazing and we will deliver an amazing World Cup. “The World Cup will bring together the world and we will celebrate and rejoice a peaceful and wonderful event, an event that brings in a lot of emotions.” HE Hassan al-Thawadi, secretary-general of the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy and the chairman of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 LLC, appreciated the efforts of the volunteers and motivated them to be part of the great journey. “I invite you to be an integral part of the journey, an integral part of the story,” he said. “As volunteers, you will be the heart of our journey.” “Over the years, our country has got a strong volunteering culture that will continue through the World Cup until the last ball has been kicked,” HE al-Thawadi added. “It will be a momentous one that will continue to inspire us day in and day out for many years to come.” “During the FIFA Arab Cup, we witnessed the passion and enthusiasm of the people for football, for friendship and for volunteering. This will keep increasing during the FIFA World Cup. Volunteering gives a lot of opportunities and and volunteers are the crucial part of the success of any tournament,” he added. Three volunteers – from Brazil, Algeria and Kenya – introduced during the programme described their journey of volunteering. In a related statement, the SC stressed that “behind every ticket, every TV shot, every game, and every goal, is another team”. The volunteers are essential to the joyful and friendly atmosphere of the FIFA World Cup and provide incredible support to the operational delivery of the event. They will create memories that will last a lifetime for fans, players, media, Qatar and the world – as well as for themselves. Applicants for volunteering at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 must be at least 18 years old on October 1, 2022, and speak English. Arabic is an advantage. No previous experience is needed and candidates from all backgrounds and different parts of the world are welcome to apply. Selected volunteers will receive a limited-edition Adidas uniform along with a meal during their shift and free access to public transport. The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 will take place from November 21 to December 18, but some volunteer roles will start from October 1. “I’ve always loved volunteering, even when I was little,” said 31-year-old Fatema Hassan Almajid, a legal officer, who was a volunteer at the FIFA Arab Cup 2021. “When the idea came up to volunteer for the FIFA World Cup, I thought it would be amazing to take part in a sporting event taking place in the Arab world and the Gulf for the first time,” she said. “As a Qatari woman, I would be very proud to give my contribution and make new friends.”    

The HEC Paris in Qatar campus is the hub for its programmes for the GCC countries and the region, dean, Dr Pablo Martin de Holan said Sunday. “All the activities of the HEC for the GCC region are done through the Doha campus, and we aim to bring students from the other GCC countries and beyond for all our major programmes,” he explained. HEC Paris in Qatar officials Dr de Holan was replying to a question from Gulf Times during a media visit of the new digitally enhanced Msheireb Downtown campus of the HEC Paris in Qatar. The dean also highlighted the cutting-edge hologram technology, which is unique and produced and installed by ARHT, a Canada-based company that has been a pioneer in the field of holographic telepresence. “This technology allows professors to instruct participants from wherever in the world by recreating a live classroom situation and interact with students,” Dr de Holan explained. “It also comes with the positive effect of reducing the school’s carbon footprint and enhances the breadth of expertise that the HEC Paris can bring to the classroom.” The Msheireb Downtown campus of the HEC Paris in Qatar Joshua Kobb, executive director for partnerships and growth at the HEC Paris in Qatar, described the university's new home in Msheireb as one which "embodies excellence and thought leadership, helping our participants and alumni drive the growth and success of Qatar and the region”. Jean-Amiel Jourdan, senior executive director of the Career Centre at the HEC Paris, said: “Knowing that the skills we are teaching at the HEC Paris equip leaders to effect global change, our campus in Qatar contributes to the global opportunities, offering the same level of excellence to participants and clients in the region.” The new campus, which has full access for the physically challenged, facilitates an enhanced learning and socialising environment for up to 250 participants across four classrooms. The green building campus, which is certified for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, also has large meeting and socialising areas and a dedicated co-working space made available to alumni of the HEC Paris in Qatar. A classroom in the new campus “Our new campus demonstrates our support to Msheireb Downtown, which is transforming the centre of Doha and recreating a lifestyle rooted in Qatari culture,” said Dr de Holan. “It has taken the HEC Paris to the heart of Doha’s new social and civic hub.” “This new modern campus captures the spirit and identity of Qatari heritage and architecture and the HEC Paris in Qatar,” he added. “It reflects our 11 years in the country and our strong connection to the local community and our 140 years of operations in France.” “It shows our promise for a future with even more impact and excellence, and it is an inspiring backdrop to our ever-expanding activities,” Dr de Holan remarked.

The Innovation Centre at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) has so far supported over 35 creative ideas and several of them are at the field testing stage, a top official told Gulf Times. “More than 35 innovative ideas have been supported at the Innovation Centre, including 15%-20 % student ideas, 15-20% industrial collaboration ideas and the rest individual innovation ideas, in accordance with Qatar National Vision 2030,” explained Dr Nadir Yildirim, innovation director and acting executive director, Strategic Planning and Partnerships, Innovation Centre. Dr Yildirim emphasised that the centre has helped with the creation and acceleration of many ideas. “Currently, we are hosting ideas, which are moving forward for field testing. However, the overall goal is not to target measuring the success through numbers but to measure the impact in the ecosystem, which will bring success naturally. Therefore, the centre has been focusing on creating positive change in the ecosystem through hand-tailored workshops and certification programmes,” the director said. According to him, the centre, established in 2018, aims at developing systematic innovation, innovative entrepreneurship, pitching techniques and more to increase the awareness and build professional capacity in innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem. “Innovation Centre is a pioneering initiative designed to strengthen the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem within and outside HBKU. It serves as the only innovation and entrepreneurship platform at HBKU for connecting people and sharing ideas, resources, and expertise, providing opportunities for meaningfully unique collaborations,” he said. The centre, noted the director, aims to be an intellectual source for existing incubation centres, entrepreneurship centres, and science and technology park in the country and it has been designed to be an innovative idea capture centre that transfers ideas to Qatar’s innovation pipeline. Yildirim said that the centre has been focusing on testing ideas and discovering their commercial potential. “If the idea shows potential for commercialisation, the centre provides guidance to the idea owner in collaboration with relevant Qatar Foundation entities, internal and external stakeholders,” he said. The centre offers niche innovation funds for students, researchers, scientists, faculty and Qatar Foundation members annually. These funds help students to test their ideas and discover the commercial potential, bring industry and faculty together to focus on real-life industry challenges, help create innovative solutions against social challenges. “The centre also offers courses, training, and workshops on innovation and entrepreneurship for capacity building in the ecosystem. It has been offering grants via its industrial innovation fund, social innovation fund, student innovation fund, and Kickstarter Fund to capture ideas at an early stage and move them forward into Qatar’s innovation pipeline. It has also been offering volunteer mentorship and guidance to any interested parties,” Yildirim said. “Innovation Centre is one of the most strategic initiatives of HBKU. It works closely with internal and external stakeholders for the creation of a meaningfully unique ecosystem that will boost innovation and entrepreneurship, not only in Qatar but also the region,” he said. “Other initiatives will be launched soon although the goal is not to have many new initiatives every year but to have essential programmes and offer them in sustainable and systematic ways to build intellectual capacity,” he added.    

The mastermind behind the cooling technologies for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 stadiums, has revealed the details of the whole process. Nicknamed ‘Dr Cool’, Dr Saud Ghani, professor of mechanical engineering at Qatar University led the Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF) research project resulting in the development of the cooling technologies in the stadiums for the upcoming World Cup. “Designing air conditioning for an open-air stadium was a big challenge for everyone,” Dr Ghani said. “The biggest design houses in the world had never designed an air-conditioned stadium before, so really, it was left to us. And with sustainability, modularity and functionality in mind, we did it.”   Dr Saud Ghani Dr Ghani’s plan was to create and maintain a microclimate bubble within the stadium, a task that inherently becomes harder in open-air stadiums. "The biggest challenge in cooling an open-air stadium is stopping outside warm air from entering it–the defining of the interaction boundary between the inside micro bubble and the outside macro climate. This meant that a detailed aerodynamic analysis needed to be done on the stadium form and footprint to better understand how to use its design to minimise the infiltration of the warm air into the stadium," he explained. His team began the work by 3D-printing scale models of the proposed stadiums for the World Cup. These models were placed in a wind tunnel for aerodynamic testing to see how their form and size was interacting with the external wind and how it could be improved. “After the 3D printed model was placed in the wind tunnel, smoke – representing wind – was pushed out at different pressures to test how the design reacted to wind at different speeds and various incoming directions,” continued Dr Ghani. “Then we used laser sheets and cameras to analyse the flow of air over the design, including the manner in which air enters and exits the stadium.” The measurements were then processed using a Computational Fluid Dynamics software to see what the temperature would be at each tier. Variants such as number of spectators and sweat produced were added, and then numerical simulations were done to see their effect on the temperature distribution inside the stadium. This step was critical in ensuring that the stadiums’ adaptive aerodynamic design would support the cooling process within the stadium rather than work against it. Non-technical aspects were also modified with the help of this step. “In Al Bayt Stadium, the initial design featured a darker coloured façade but was later changed to a lighter shade,” said Dr Ghani. “This simple change passively brought down the inside temperature by five degrees Celsius – a quick win.” Once the designs were optimised, the next step was to start working on the actual cooling system that would create a microclimate inside the stadiums. Dr Ghani’s ‘eureka’ moment in the project was when he realised that he did not need to cool the entire stadium but only the playing field and the spectators. “We needed to start from the playing field and go up to a height of two metres above the highest spectator seating level. Pumping out huge amounts of cold air to cool the entire open space is inefficient at best. We pump the exact amount of cold air into the exact place, maintain it and contain it—then recycle it all,” he remarked. Then, he worked on developing a spot cooling system – one which only cooled target areas. After extensive research and testing, the team came up with a state-of-the-art cooling technology that blows cold air on the players via football-sized nozzles alongside the pitch and smaller air diffusers under each spectator’s seat, pushing out cold air at ankle level. Dr Ghani’s approach is not just innovative, but also sustainable. Using the air circulation technique, the air is then drawn back and re-cooled before being pushed out. When asked about the need for air conditioning if the tournament is played in winter, Dr Ghani said that it was about thinking long-term and having venues that can be used all year round. The research effort to cool the stadiums served as a springboard for the pioneering cooling technology which has since been deployed in several places across Qatar, including Katara plaza, a commercial greenhouse, and even for cooling local cow barns. “The cooling technology used in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 stadiums was not delivered through standards and codes, as is normal practice. Instead, it was delivered by science, which was made possible through QNRF,” added Dr Ghani.

Sidra Medicine has announced two new programmes: the Executive Women’s Health Programme and the Well Woman Health Centre. The details of the services were announced on Monday by Dr Johnny Awwad, chair of Women’s Services. Dr Rudaina consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist and Dr Gbemisola (Shola) Okunoye, division chief of obstetrics were also present. Dr Awwad explained that the new services are very unique. “This year, we are taking an integrated and holistic approach to women’s health and wellness as we expand our services for girls and women in Qatar. They have more choices, especially in areas such as comprehensive health checks, menopause, fertility, gynaecology and maternity care.” The programme offers an annual comprehensive health and wellbeing review for women aged 18 and older. Female patients will receive a detailed assessment with evidence-based advice and personalised care plans. In addition to referrals to multi-specialist adult services such as endocrinology, rheumatology, dermatology, cardiology, pulmonary, internal medicine and mental health, in the future, the programme will also expand into personalised treatment options for patients to visit a wellness center for relaxation and treatment, as well as aesthetic care. It will be ready in the third quarter of 2022. The Well Woman Health Centre will be dedicated to the management of midlife women and beyond by providing a comprehensive and holistic approach to menopause. Women will be supported with advice and consultations related to risk factors such as osteoporosis, heart disease; breast and lung cancer screening and hormone replacement therapy. The service is expected to be operational before end of the year. Dr Okunoye announced that the facility has opened a new maternity ward featuring luxury suites. “It is unlike any other maternity ward in the country as it features six luxury suites fully customised with amenities and services to enhance the comfort and care of the mothers. We are also offering a high-risk maternal service to support women who have a background in medical challenges related to pregnancy,” Dr Okunoye said. The new maternity ward features luxury suites with patient bedrooms with en suite heated bathrooms, a lounge area with a pantry and guest bathrooms. The baby nursery includes private camera viewable for the parents. Dr Rudaina Hassan said: “It is important that women are empowered with knowledge about the options that are available to them when it comes to their reproductive and gynecological health. We want to assure them that they can come to us for a second opinion and this is critical in terms of hope for many young girls and women in the country.” Sidra Medicine currently offers a cervical cancer screening programme for women. The hospital works closely with HMC as part of a nation-wide “screen-and-treat” programme where following the screening at Sidra Medicine, patients are immediately referred for treatment. The hospital has also started to offer human papillomavirus vaccines for girls from the ages of 12 years onwards. Dr Awwad, who is also the chief of Reproductive Medicine at Sidra Medicine, confirmed the launch of a fertility preservation service in the coming months.    

The University of Doha For Science and Technology (UDST) is set to transform the higher education scenario by providing vast opportunities for students in Qatar and the region, especially in applied and vocational programmes. The first applied national university and the second national university in Qatar, UDST is also an embodiment of the country’s vision of becoming a knowledge economy with market-ready graduates equipped with various skillsets and enduring capabilities. UDST also complements the other universities in the country in realising the human capital potentials of the country. Speaking to Gulf Times on the sidelines of the announcement ceremony of the university, HE Dr Mohammed bin Saleh al-Sada, chairman of the UDST Board of Trustees and former Energy Minister, said the institution is well placed to transform the country’s educational scenario. “We are open to collaborations with national and international organisations and institutes. Research is a strong arm of the university and we hope our collaborations will lead to great outputs. “The activities of UDST are meant to achieve human, social and economic development in the country. The university will graduate highly qualified professionals that will lead Qatar towards becoming an advanced society capable of sustainable development, as stated in Qatar National Vision 2030,” he added. With over 50 Applied Bachelor's Degree and Master's Degree programmes in addition to diplomas that fall under four main streams: Engineering Technology and Industrial Trades, Business Management, Computing and Information Technology, and Health Sciences, UDST offers a world of options for students. With some of its programmes so advanced such as the bachelors in Data and Cyber Security’ Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, Applied Business Administration in Banking and Financial Technology, Applied Science in Respiratory Therapy, and Applied Science in Medical Radiography among others, UDST is one of the best options for applied sciences and technology not only in Qatar but in the entire region and beyond. UDST president Dr Salem bin Nasser Al-Naemi told Gulf Times that the mandate for the university is to make the graduates market and industry ready. “We have state of the art facilities and all our programmes are internationally accredited. With world class faculty and cutting edge programmes, we shape well qualified and highly skilled graduates who can contribute to the development of the country. Dr Al-Naemi had told in an earlier interview that the university aims to attract students from other countries in the region and beyond. He remarked: “We have the best infrastructure, for an applied university, some of the most advanced programmes and we have aligned all our programmes with the evolving technology. UDST aims to meet the educational need of students and the requirements of the growing economy locally and globally, and will constantly develop to consolidate its position as one of the most prominent international universities. We are offering our programmes with highest level of proficiency and all our programmes are internationally accredited. This gives the students an extra advantage compared to many of the other universities.” He also stated that the university gives research high priority through its Applied Research and Innovation Centre that supports research and innovation through strengthening technical and vocational learning, policy, and practice. Furthermore, UDST has a pre-incubation hub launched in partnership with Qatar Development Bank that assists all entrepreneurial students, alumni to tap into the innovation ecosystem. With Qatar University continuing to scale greater heights and is consecutively being placed high in various international rankings and Qatar Foundation’s Education City changing the face of education in the country and thriving with its own homegrown university and several international partner universities, UDST complements one another and makes the higher education landscape of the country more competitive and attractive. While graduates will have a number of choices with some of the most advanced programmes, Qatar is set to be the torchbearer of applied and technical education in the region and beyond.

*Qatar's first national applied university to be developed as a world-class institution       Qatar’s first National Applied University, The University of Doha for Science and Technology (UDST), will be developed as a world-class institution, offering Applied Master's and Bachelor’s degree programmes in addition to diplomas, it was announced on Monday. His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani issued Amiri Decision No. 13 of 2022 on February 27, establishing The University of Doha for Science and Technology. UDST, the second national university in the country, was previously known as College of the North Atlantic - Qatar. The announcement of the new university was made yesterday during a press conference by HE Dr Mohamed bin Saleh al-Sada, chairman of the UDST Board of Trustees and Former Minister of Energy and Industry, in the presence of Dr Salem Al-Naemi, UDST president. The new logo of the university was also unveiled at the event. Making the announcement, HE Dr al-Sada said: “This is a big milestone for the country. The university’s name was chosen by His Highness the Amir as the leadership decided to turn the institute into a university. Science and technology will become a core differentiator in attracting students and partners to the university while it will offer many programmes in various fields. It will offer Applied Master's and Bachelor’s degree programmes in addition to diplomas. Through its programmes the university aims to achieve human, social and economic development in the country.” Dr Al-Naemi noted that it was a natural progression for the institute and currently there are over 5,300 students at the university. “UDST aims to meet the local needs and further develop its positioning as a world-class university. We have carefully planned our educational approach and our core objectives to benefit our students and the wider community. We will offer workplace training for students to gain a deeper experience in their field of study.” He also said the university will continue with English as the medium of instruction as per the industry needs. “We have a world-class infrastructure for an applied university and we have aligned all our programmes with the evolving technology. We are offering all our programmes with the highest level of proficiency and all the programmes are internationally accredited. This gives the students an extra advantage,” the university president added. UDST offers over 50 programmes with Applied Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree programmes in addition to diplomas. The programmes fall under four main streams: Engineering Technology and Industrial Trades, Business Management, Computing and Information Technology and Health Sciences. Four programmes are completely new in Qatar: Bachelor of Applied Business Administration in Banking and Financial Technology, Bachelor of Applied Science in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, Bachelor of Applied Science in Respiratory Therapy, and Bachelor of Applied Science in Medical Radiography. HE Dr al-Sada noted that the new programmes are compatible with changes in the labour market and include unique and diverse specialisations, referring to the applied approach of the university, which works to secure an educational environment based on training and simulating workplaces, so that students are fully prepared to engage in the labour market upon their graduation. The university gives research high priority through its Applied Research and Innovation Centre that supports research and innovation by strengthening technical and vocational learning, policy and practice. It is currently developing a five-year research strategy to meet the country's needs. The strategy is aligned with the national research priority areas such as sustainability, food security among others. Further, UDST has a pre-incubation hub launched in partnership with Qatar Development Bank, that assists all entrepreneurial students, alumni to tap into the innovation ecosystem, and a library that provides thousands of online and offline resources and incorporates group study rooms and study carrels. The campus offers students a vibrant environment and gives them the chance to join clubs, sports teams and participate in many activities in addition to leadership development opportunities and student employment programme. There are male and female facilities that include: fitness rooms, swimming pools, sport and wellness courts and centres, cafeterias and student lounges. UDST will continue to offer 2-year and 3-year diplomas in addition to the new programmes, all framed within a student-centred approach.    

The College of Humanities and Social Science (CHSS) at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) equips graduates to become leaders and change-makers in a rapidly changing world, noted the founding dean. “The college ensures that education is extended beyond the physical boundaries of a classroom. Through our local and global partnerships, our students develop projects to apply their research to the real world,” said Dr Amal al-Malki. “Whether it’s by making cinema and entertainment more inclusive, or by tracking social media trends or pinpointing and investigating various forms of fake news and disinformation, our students reap the benefits of their education before graduating from our programmes and influencing their local communities by spreading the values of the College of Humanities of Social Sciences,” explained Dr al-Malki. The dean said that CHSS encourages the students to gain access to the professional world in many ways. “All our students are granted the opportunity to intern and interact with organisations in their fields, where they are given the chance to respond to everyday challenges, and resolve problems under the guidance of experts and specialists,” continued the dean. According to the academic, all students are afforded the chance to participate in conferences on a global as well as a local level, where they find opportunities to not only share their research and work with globally respected academic scholars in their fields, but also a chance to network with them and gain access to a vast array of academic and professional opportunities. Dr al-Malki pointed out that CHSS is home to one PhD and five Master of Arts programmes. “We offer interdisciplinary programmes in two main academic fields: Translation and Interpreting Studies and Middle Eastern Studies. These programmes equip our students with skill sets from a scholarly and applied perspective,” she said. The dean also highlighted that the multidisciplinary aspect of the college equips students with an array of skills that would benefit them not only on an academic level, but also on a professional one. “These skills include but are not limited to critical thinking, problem-solving skills, time management, the ability to excel through teamwork, excelling in research methodologies and identifying innovative solutions. These skills are so diverse and useful because students adopt and develop them after being exposed to several different schools of thought and academic perspectives,” she said. Besides quality education, diversity is a unique selling point that makes HBKU an inviting institute of education as it is home to students from over 60 nationalities making the educational, student, faculty and staff experience all the more enriching. Another unique aspect is the Education City’s unmatched ecosystem. By joining HBKU, our students also join Education City as a whole, and have access to multiple resources, venues, and projects. “The educators of our programmes are leading scholars and researchers in their fields who are motivated by the college's commitment to social justice. We therefore go beyond the scope of offering high quality education to the community,” Dr al-Malki said.    

A new search engine developed by a Qatar Foundation entity, makes it easier to get official statements of all member states of the United Nations (UN) instantly. Diplomaticpulse.org developed by the Social Computing Group at Qatar Computing Research Institute (QCRI) allows users to quickly search for official statements and press releases from all member states of the UN. Based on a close partnership with the UN, the work was led by Dr Ingmar Weber, research director of the Social Computing Group at QCRI, part of QF’s Hamad Bin Khalifa University, according to an article on the QF website. Dr Weber said: “We were participating in a workshop on how to use new technologies for conflict prevention and peacemaking, and that is when the UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (UNDPPA) expressed their struggle with the lack of a database that consolidates official statements made by UN member states on a specific topic. The only way to do it then was to go to each country’s official website and find it which was a tedious and time-consuming process.” Dr Weber is a German data scientist who has been based in Qatar for the past nine years. His interdisciplinary research looks at what online user-generated data can tell us about the offline world and society at large. “If you wanted to see official statements made by different UN member state countries at COP26, you would have to go to each country’s website and find it there. It works but it isn’t efficient at all,” explained, Dr Weber. “Together with UNDPPA, the Social Computing team at QCRI then gave it some thought to see what we could do from a practical point of view. The solution was straightforward – a customised search engine,” continued, Dr Weber. The Diplomatic Pulse differs from traditional search engines like Google as “it only uses specific official sources, rather than the internet at large.” To create the search engine, the first thing needed was the official list of websites for each UN member state, which was provided by the UNDPPA. “We then worked on teaching the tool how to identify the relevant elements on each website and each article,” noted, Dr Weber. “With 193 UN member states, and several different website layouts and styles, it was not an easy task. And what made it harder was that some countries that don’t type up their official statements, but upload scanned copies,” remarked, the expert. “The biggest challenge was dealing with each website’s different layout and then the different structures of articles. Because we were teaching the tool to fetch information, we had to tell it where exactly to look in an article for relevant information which needed to be indexed,’ he highlighted. The web tool offers the option to search by keyword as well as country, and the ability to filter by date. Speaking on how often the tool updates or refreshes with new information, Dr Weber said, “Every 15 minutes. For this sort of work, that is almost real-time.” Dr Martin Waehlisch from the UNDPPA Innovation Cell, said: “Using new technologies to mine information quickly allows us to better understand positions of global state actors and see where consensus is lacking or emerging. And this is just the beginning, the collected data will help us in the long-run to analyse trends and patterns in foreign affairs.” “We want to improve the tool so it can be more than a search engine that operates based on keywords. We are aiming to add advanced analytics to it which would allow it to decode diplomatic language to a certain degree. This will revolutionise diplomacy in the future thanks to new technologies that are co-developed by the UN and QCRI for the common good of peace,” added, Dr Weber.

A research team from the Gas Processing Centre at Qatar University (QU) has developed a novel method to meet the need for green materials in the wastewater treatment field. The team comprising Prof Mustafa Nasser, research professor, Prof Ibnelwaleed Hussien, research professor, Prof Abdelbaki Benamer, research professor, and Dana al-Risheq, MSc environmental engineering graduate, alongside Prof Hazim Qiblawey from the Chemical Engineering Department at QU examined multiple green materials for the treatment of colloidal suspension-contaminated wastewater with very fine suspended particle. Coagulation/flocculation is a reliable and efficient technique to clarify colloidal suspension. It requires the addition of a chemical agent known as coagulant/ flocculant to bring the colloids in wastewater together forming larger particles that will settle down under the influence of gravity. “Currently, the chemical agents employed in the industrial field demonstrate some challenges regarding their limited efficiency and negative impacts on the environment. In this regard, it has become necessary to identify new environmentally friendly materials with greater treatment potential,” says an article on the latest issue of QU research magazine. “The investigation of the research team led to discovering the novel application of choline chloride based natural deep eutectic solvents (Nades) as a coagulant for colloidal suspensions. The research group was able to synthesise, characterise, test, and prove for the first time the effectiveness of choline chloride based Nades as a coagulant,” the article explains. Nades are chemical mixtures of naturally abundant components such as choline chloride, organic acids, amides, and sugars. They are known for their simple and time-efficient synthesis method, biodegradability, and non-toxicity. However, there were no studies on the applications of Nades for wastewater treatment. The research group led by Prof Nasser noticed the potential of using choline chloride based Nades in the coagulation/ flocculation process after analysing the chemical structure of the compound. “The similarity in Nades structure with polyacrylamide, which is a widely used flocculant in the industry, drove the research groups’ attention to investigate its treatment efficiency for colloidal suspensions. They proposed that the positive charge in the Nades structure will reduce the repulsive forces between the negatively charged colloidal particles. Hence, the particles will come together forming a greater mass that will settle with gravity and thus, separate the liquid and solid phases,” pointed out the researcher. The experiments were conducted using bentonite clay minerals to represent colloidal particles in suspension. Nades was synthesised from choline chloride and an organic acid with continuous mixing and heating until a homogeneous mixture is formed. “The efficiency of the synthesised Nades as a coagulant was determined according to specific criteria which include reduction in the turbidity of the treated suspension and the size of settled particles. The tested Nades was found to be highly efficient for the treatment of bentonite suspensions. It significantly reduced the turbidity of the system with a relatively small dosage. Furthermore, the size of the formed particles was sufficient for them to settle and produce clarified water within two minutes,” concludes the article.    

A research team from the Gas Processing Centre at Qatar University (QU) has developed a novel method to meet the need for green materials in the wastewater treatment field. The team comprising Prof Mustafa Nasser, research professor, Prof Ibnelwaleed Hussien, research professor, Prof Abdelbaki Benamer, research professor, and Dana al-Risheq, MSc environmental engineering graduate, alongside Prof Hazim Qiblawey from the Chemical Engineering Department at QU examined multiple green materials for the treatment of colloidal suspension-contaminated wastewater with very fine suspended particle. Coagulation/flocculation is a reliable and efficient technique to clarify colloidal suspension. It requires the addition of a chemical agent known as coagulant/ flocculant to bring the colloids in wastewater together forming larger particles that will settle down under the influence of gravity. “Currently, the chemical agents employed in the industrial field demonstrate some challenges regarding their limited efficiency and negative impacts on the environment. In this regard, it has become necessary to identify new environmentally friendly materials with greater treatment potential,” says an article on the latest issue of QU research magazine. “The investigation of the research team led to discovering the novel application of choline chloride based natural deep eutectic solvents (Nades) as a coagulant for colloidal suspensions. The research group was able to synthesise, characterise, test, and prove for the first time the effectiveness of choline chloride based Nades as a coagulant,” the article explains. Nades are chemical mixtures of naturally abundant components such as choline chloride, organic acids, amides, and sugars. They are known for their simple and time-efficient synthesis method, biodegradability, and non-toxicity. However, there were no studies on the applications of Nades for wastewater treatment. The research group led by Prof Nasser noticed the potential of using choline chloride based Nades in the coagulation/ flocculation process after analysing the chemical structure of the compound. “The similarity in Nades structure with polyacrylamide, which is a widely used flocculant in the industry, drove the research groups’ attention to investigate its treatment efficiency for colloidal suspensions. They proposed that the positive charge in the Nades structure will reduce the repulsive forces between the negatively charged colloidal particles. Hence, the particles will come together forming a greater mass that will settle with gravity and thus, separate the liquid and solid phases,” pointed out the researcher. The experiments were conducted using bentonite clay minerals to represent colloidal particles in suspension. Nades was synthesised from choline chloride and an organic acid with continuous mixing and heating until a homogeneous mixture is formed. “The efficiency of the synthesised Nades as a coagulant was determined according to specific criteria which include reduction in the turbidity of the treated suspension and the size of settled particles. The tested Nades was found to be highly efficient for the treatment of bentonite suspensions. It significantly reduced the turbidity of the system with a relatively small dosage. Furthermore, the size of the formed particles was sufficient for them to settle and produce clarified water within two minutes,” concludes the article.

*QF Education City recognised as 'Healthy Education City'    The World Health Organisation (WHO) awarded Doha and Al Rayyan municipalities the designation of 'Healthy Cities' and Qatar Foundation’s (QF) Education City as 'Healthy Education City' on Sunday at a ceremony attended by HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz al-Thani. The Ministry of Public Health, in collaboration with the Ministry of Municipality and QF, organised the ceremony at Msheireb Downtown Doha. The ceremony was attended by HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad al-Thani, Vice-Chairperson and CEO of QF, HE the Minister of Public Health Dr Hanan Mohamed al-Kuwari, HE the Minister of Municipality Abdulla bin Abdulaziz bin Turki al-Subaie, a number of Sheikhs and other ministers, Dr Ahmed al-Mandhari, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean (EMRO), in addition to high-level officials from the Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of Municipality, QF, WHO, ministries and partner entities. "We have 102 cities registered for the designation in the Eastern Mediterranean region since 2012. So far only 18 cities have been given the status of 'Healthy Cities' and two of them are from Qatar. Among the ' Healthy Education Cities' only two have entered the distinction and Qatar Foundation's Education City is one of them," Dr Maha El-Adawy, director of Division of Healthier Population at WHO, EMRO, told Gulf Times at a press conference. The 'Healthy City' initiative aims to improve the health of populations by promoting health and wellbeing, empowerment and equity among residents and preventing the main causes of diseases through incorporating health in all policies, which fosters co-operation and partnership across sectors and with the community. The 'Healthy Education City' award is part of the 'Health-Promoting Universities' programme and the 'Healthy City' programme. HE Sheikha Hind said, “Improving people’s health and wellbeing within our cities and communities requires shared commitment and action from many stakeholders, including Qatar Foundation. “Collaborative work of this kind has been instrumental in the World Health Organisation granting two municipalities in Qatar the status of a ‘Healthy City’, and we look forward to contributing to further efforts to make our cities healthier places in which to work, learn, and live.” HE Dr al-Kuwari noted, “The adoption of the 'Healthy City' initiative affirms Qatar’s commitment to achieving universal health. We aim to promote physical and mental health for all members of our population through our health strategy and Qatar National Vision 2030. We have developed strong partnerships by bringing together policymakers, researchers, academics and leaders from different sectors and industries through the development of a ‘Healthy City Network’, to facilitate joint work and collaborations aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of our population.” “Receiving the WHO 'Healthy City' accreditation for Doha and Al Rayyan municipalities, as well as the recognition of Education City as ‘Healthy Education City’, is a reflection of the efforts across government and key stakeholders towards prioritising the health and well-being of the population of Qatar. This is the first step in our 'Healthy City' accreditation journey and we are committed to achieving this accreditation for all eight municipalities,” she added. HE al-Subaie noted, “The awarding of Doha and Al Rayyan as 'Healthy Cities' by the WHO affirms Qatar's commitment to transform Qatari cities into healthy cities, through sustainable urban development and high-quality life to improve the health and wellbeing of all people across Qatar. This achievement is a culmination of efforts to develop all municipalities in the country and to upgrade the level of projects and services provided to residents, to achieve the Ministry of Municipality's strategic goals of maintaining eco-friendly cities with green, healthy, and scenic facilities; and enhancing the ease of living and quality of life.” “Qatar has demonstrated significant commitment to improving health and well-being and to strong cooperation among partners from government, academia and civil society, ensuring that the health and well-being of its population remain a top priority. This reflected strong commitment towards the EMR vision 2023: health for all by all,” Dr al-Mandhari added. The 'Healthy City' programme is a global initiative launched by the WHO at placing health on top of the social and political agenda of cities by promoting health, equity and sustainable development through innovation and multi-sectoral change.