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Alaraby TV channel 2 unveiled its new programming lineup for 2024 at a special media gathering Saturday. Local media representatives attended the event reviewed the channel's new plans, promising a season full of diverse programmes, series, and films.Alaraby 2’s CEO Elias Khoury, who opened the meeting, spoke about the channel's goals and vision for the future: "We are committed to offering television content that combines entertainment and value, catering to the interests of the Arab family. This is a challenging equation and a commitment we have taken upon ourselves in an industry dominated by commercial interests. Our programming lineup this season reaffirms our choice to be the most credible and acceptable media experience for Arab families."Khoury spoke to Gulf Times and addressed the technical challenges facing the media industry, emphasising Alaraby 2’s investment in the latest filming and distribution technologies to enhance the viewing experience: "Solid content is our top priority, but we also focus on form. We were among the first to adopt the latest technologies. For instance, we designed the opening sequence of 'Tarab with Marwan' for its 5th season entirely using AI, following our years of leading in virtual reality and augmented reality content."The CEO also acknowledged the changing viewing habits of Arab audiences, which required a deep analysis of programme production and distribution methods. He said: "In addition to interactive viewing experiences that combine screen and digital content, we have produced several programmes that will be exclusively available on Alaraby 2's digital channels, including Alaraby 2’s social media accounts and the Alaraby+ VOD platform. Preliminary results have shown a strong audience interest in this unique media model, which marks a departure from an exclusive traditional television content. We will continue to develop new programmes throughout the season."In a newly introduced slot dedicated to documentaries, a key documentary is to be aired at the start of this season titled "Israelism," (in English and Arabic) produced by Palestinian-American Elana Hadid, daughter of businessman and activist Mohamed Hadid. The documentary, which was a huge success on a global paid platform, will be shown for the first time on an open channel in the Arab world.

The Qatar Press Center (QPC) launched, on Tuesday the activities of the "Press Club" with a session titled "Al Annabi's Path to Qualifying for the 2026 World Cup", in the presence of HE Sheikh Khalid bin Abdulaziz al-Thani, director of the Media Development Department at the Qatar Media Corporation (QMC), HE Sheikh Hamad bin Abdulaziz al-Thani, head of the Media Department at the Qatar Olympic Committee, and a number of the public. During the session, which was presented by media professional Ali Issa, Abdulaziz al-Maarefi, Editor-in-Chief of Al-Sharq Newspaper, and Khalid al-Kuwari, Director of Marketing and Communications at the Qatar Football Association, spoke. Sadiq Mohamad al-Amari, Director General of the QPC, welcomed the attendees at the launch of the first activities of the Press Club seminar that seeks to combine all media efforts to support our national team in the challenge of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. Khalid al Kuwari spoke about the national team’s preparations for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, which will be held in America, Canada and Mexico. He said: The Qatar Football Association has always supported the national team’s progress since it took over the presidency of the association, and there is no doubt that the efforts made during the past period contributed to qualifying this team and our winning the 2019 and 2023 Asian Cups, in addition to the tremendous efforts made by officials, sports media and the sports community. He added: “We at the Qatar Football Association, through the Marketing Department, have made great efforts during the past period through a media, marketing and promotional campaign to support the national team through social media platforms and with the support of local media and also public platforms; to achieve the goal of the team reaching the 2026 World Cup after we hosted the last edition of the tournament.” He said: Our national team's new jersey was launched, whether in maroon or white, in cooperation with Adidas, after the previous cooperation with Nike. In the coming days, the jerseys will be sold in many stores. Regarding ticket sales for the match between the Qatari national team and the UAE national team, Al Kuwari said: More than 75% of the tickets have been sold, and we hope that there will not be just 40,000 spectators, but 40,000 fans within 90 minutes. Regarding the Al-Annabi’s journey in the World Cup qualifiers, Abdulaziz al-Ma’ari spoke about the tournaments in which the national team participated before 1977 to recent qualifiers. HE Sheikh Hamad bin Abdulaziz al-Thani, Head of the Media Department at the Qatar Olympic Committee, praised the formation of the Press Club Committee, and said: It is a pioneering initiative that warms my heart. As a specialist in the field of sports media, we have seen a reluctance in Qatar to engage in sports journalism, especially with the emergence of social media. We hope that this initiative will support sports journalism in the country, and that we will see a new generation of journalists in this field. Regarding the qualifiers that the national team is facing, he said: We have recently noticed an increase in awareness of the culture of cheering among the public, and we noticed this with the organization of the Arab Cup in Qatar, followed by the World Cup, and then the Asian Cup.

A series of press forum meetings organised by the Omani Journalists Association began Tuesday, September 3, in Salalah, Oman, with the participation of the President of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the French journalist and trade unionist Dominique Pradalié, Gulf press leaders, and a number of Arab and international press personalities.The president of the Qatari Press Center (QPC), Saad al-Rumaihi participated in the forum, with the representative of the President of the Bahrain Journalists Association, Adnan al-Rashed, President of the Kuwaiti Journalists Association, Adwan al-Ahmari, President of the Saudi Journalists Association, Fadhila al-Muaini, President of the UAE Journalists Association, and Dr Mohammed al-Arimi, President of the Omani Journalists Association.The meeting approved important decisions, the formation of 4 committees: the Freedoms and Dispute Resolution Committee headed by Adnan al-Rashed, a Digital Media Committee headed by Saudi Arabia, a Women Journalists Committee headed by Fadhila al-Muaini, and a Photography Committee headed by Omani Talib al-Dajali.The meeting set the date for its next meeting as a guest of the United Arab Emirates next January.The meeting affirmed its absolute support and endorsement of the Gulf National Media Campaign to enhance Gulf security, support freedoms, and stability in the region.In a related context, the Executive Office of the West Asia and Pacific Group held a meeting with the participation of the Vice President of the International Federation of Journalists, Nasser Abu Bakr, the Federation’s Financial Secretary, Jim Bou Melha from Britain, and press representatives from a number of Asian countries.

The Qatar Press Centre (QPC) praised the statement issued on X by HE Sheikh Hamad bin Thamer al-Thani, the chairman of Qatar Media Corporation (QMC), in which he called for concerted efforts and tireless work at all official and civil levels to confront anonymous and offensive accounts that aim to spread discord and factors of division among the peoples of the Gulf. Stressing the unity and cohesion of the Gulf social fabric, in order to enhance the path of our Gulf Council, in a way that achieves security and prosperity for our Gulf countries and peoples.The QPC stressed the importance of this call, which comes in light of the centre's continuous efforts and warnings of the dangers of misleading, false and offensive news, through various activities, seminars and reports that it has issued and published in various fields.The QPC called on all Gulf and Arab journalists to unify their efforts, through various print, visual and audio media, and through their social media accounts, to show solidarity and co-operation in confronting malicious campaigns carried out by anonymous accounts.While being keen to publish and circulate real news and information, and expose fake news, in a way that enhances trust between public opinion on the one hand, and journalists on the other hand.The QPC also emphasised the importance of the role of journalists in verifying the accuracy of news and information before circulating it, and the wide-ranging influence that journalists have in clarifying real news, exposing fake ones, and their effective role in limiting the targeted influence of fake accounts.

The Qatar National Archives has announced that it will open its doors to the public starting Sunday, September 1, 2024, to receive visitors wishing to visit the exhibition titled “Journey of Knowledge”, which aims to highlight a group of important historical documents that constitute a vital part of the documentary heritage of Qatar. The exhibition provides visitors with a unique opportunity to view rare and valuable collections that document the history and development of Qatar from various stakeholders, in addition to contributions from individuals and private libraries. The exhibition is part of the institutional documentation efforts, the importance of which is highlighted by the participation of institutions and stakeholders in supporting and preserving the legacy of Qatar. As well as contributing to collecting and documenting historical records not only helps preserve history for future generations, but also upholds national identity and enhances awareness of cultural and historical values. Those who are willing to visit the Qatar National Archives should fill out the registration form via the electronic link available on the Qatar National Archives platforms, visitors.naq.gov.qa, to benefit from the guided tours provided to the public.

Nomas Center, affiliated with the Ministry of Culture, organised a set of workshops, events, cultural and exploratory trips, as part of the Norway trip programme, under the theme 'Knowledge, Literature, and the Company of Majid'.The team participating in the trip visited the Maritime Ships Museum last Saturday, during which they viewed the exhibition in the museum, and participated in a sea trip during which they passed through areas of popular markets and shops. The students also participated in a training workshop on maritime heritage presented by Nasser Mubarak al-Khulaifi.In a statement, Ghanem Abdul Rahman al-Kuwari, Director of Nomas Center, said: “The Norway trip programme included a set of activities, visits, and recreational trips. We took care to organise the schedule so that it is comprehensive, diverse, and purposeful, including workshops in various heritage and educational fields.”Al-Kuwari added: “The students participating in the trip had an experience full of fun and adventure in the entertainment city, during the first three days of the Nomas Center’s cultural trip to Norway.”Nasser al-Malki said: “The trip in the first three days included visits and exploratory trips, including the Nobel Peace Center, where the students learned about the award, who won it, and the conditions for winning the award.”He pointed out that the third day of the trip was interesting and enjoyable for the students, as they visited the entertainment cities and had the experience of playing many games. In the evening, after returning to the hotel, a workshop was presented to the students titled 'Presentation Skills, and Public Speaking'.Nomas Center contributes to the development of children and youth by investing their free time in learning and practicing various activities related to heritage, authentic customs, and traditions, within the message and vision of the Ministry of Culture to enhance the national identity of children, discover and develop their talents, and encourage teamwork through trips, courses, and training workshops.

As part of the strategic plan to develop the media landscape in Qatar and the region, Eng. Jassim al-Khori, the newly appointed CEO of Media City Qatar, visited Alaraby Television Network.The Media City Qatar was established under Amiri Law No 13 of 2019 with the aim of organising and developing media businesses and providing investment opportunities in the media sector, thereby enriching the media ecosystem in Qatar and the region.Al-Khori aimed to familiarise himself with the Alaraby Television Network project that recently relocated from London to Lusail and explore potential collaboration opportunities that could benefit both parties.During his visit, al-Khori had the opportunity to tour the facilities of Alaraby Television Network, which include state-of-the-art studios designed to meet the growing needs of the news channel Alaraby Television and the general entertainment channel Alaraby 2.He was introduced to the technology used in the development of these facilities and their versatile applications, which include broadcasting live news, special coverage, program production, and creating digital content. Additionally, he was introduced to the latest studio dedicated entirely to filming using augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies.The visit also featured a special appearance on a new season episode of the show Sayidati Sadati (Arabic for Ladies and Gentlemen) hosted by the esteemed broadcaster Aref Hajawi. The show, set to return next month, provided al-Khori an opportunity to discuss Media City Qatar’s strategy aligned with Qatar National Vision 2030, which aims to diversify income sources and enhance the country’s economic growth prospects.Al-Khori emphasised that “Media City Qatar is a project that combines advanced infrastructure with licensing systems that adhere to the most flexible and transparent legal frameworks, creating an inclusive environment for investors, companies, and media outlets to operate in one of the most comprehensive media free zones worldwide.”He also highlighted the success of Alaraby Television Network’s experience, noting that “its successful relocation from London to Lusail makes it a national champion in the media sector and undoubtedly serves as an incentive for other media institutions to move to Qatar.”

The Nomas Centre, affiliated with the Ministry of Culture, organised the second introductory meeting for students participating in the trip organised by the ministry to Norway on August 23, under the slogan of *Knowledge, Literature and the Company of Majestic.The students participating in the introductory meeting learned about the work they will be doing with the supervisors and trainers who will accompany them on the trip.The goal of the meeting between the students was to break the ice and get to know each other, and to know the capabilities and hobbies of each student.“The students participating in the Norway trip learned about the programme and its various sections that contribute to enriching their knowledge, as well as dividing them into groups, each group headed by a supervisor,” Nomas Centre director Ghanem Abdulrahman al-Kuwari said.He said that the Norway trip is aimed at helping students learn about other cultures while sharing theirs.The trip to Norway will include field visits to museums and archaeological sites.The schedule of events includes exhibiting heritage arts to introduce Qatar’s maritime heritage to Norwegians.

Al Jasra Cultural Salon affiliated with the Ministry of Culture, held its cultural salon, including a lecture on raising children, moderated by the writer Hanan Badie, the salon coordinator, and presented by Sarah Riyashi, who discussed the Positive Parenting Strategies Conference for the year 2024. Riyashi spoke about the most prominent challenges facing parents with their children, indicating that they include bullying in schools, what is shown on screens and social media, etc. She reviewed modern parenting methods, which she considered a science like all sciences, developing, advancing, and keeping pace with societal developments. Riyashi explained that the goal of the positive parenting curriculum is to build relationships based on respect, stressing the importance of raising children to be responsible and contribute effectively to their communities. She said that Adler's studies show that children need, from a young age, to belong and feel important within their families and communities. Accordingly, undesirable behaviour decreases with a sense of fulfilled belonging, noting that the basis of the approach is that the educational method combines gentleness and firmness, understanding the child's feelings, sympathizing with him and respecting his being. Then comes the firmness that enables parents to set a clear framework for the child and work on modifying behaviour. Riyashi stressed that positive upbringing requires effective and practical tools and strategies in order to train children to acquire life and social skills. She noted the necessity of understanding the child and taking into account the stages of his physical, mental and emotional development, which she estimated would enable parents to deal with challenges better. In this context, she called for the use of reward as an incentive, or punishment to modify undesirable behaviour. She explained that positive upbringing enables parents to create internal incentives for the child. With the importance of building healthy relationships and continuous dialogue, to teach children life and social skills, while instilling values that are consistent with our religion, society and culture.

The documentary film Laheeb Althalajat (Arabic for Flames of the Morgues) sheds light on a largely overlooked aspect of the sorrow endured by the families of Palestinian martyrs due to the Israeli occupation's retention of their loved ones' bodies. The documentary tells moving stories of families who have been waiting for many years to recover the remains of their children and how this tragic waiting period affects their daily lives.A special screening of the documentary film Laheeb Althalajat (Flames of the Morgues) recently awarded the Silver Prize at the Arab Radio and Television Festival in its recent edition in Tunisia, took place Tuesday at the headquarters of Alaraby Television. The event was attended by a gathering of journalists and filmmakers.The film producer, Khaled Doum, emphasized that "the production of this documentary aligns with Alaraby TV's commitment to delivering works of high humanitarian values that contribute to raising awareness of urgent human rights issues. It is an open invitation to the public to understand the reality of the sorrow of the Palestinian people under the occupation, which violates all international covenants."Director Kamal al-Azraq highlighted that "the timing of the documentary film's release coincides with the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip, reminding us of the importance of documenting the systematic crimes committed by the occupation forces. Film-making is one of the tools of resistance, given its ability to rally solidarity and necessary support for the Palestinian cause."Following the screening, a discussion was held with the film producer, Khaled Doum, and Dina Demerdash, Head of Documentaries at Alaraby TV. They discussed the circumstances of the film's production and the importance of focusing on similar topics. Dina Demerdash noted that "the documentary exposes the various forms of targeting the Palestinian people and the oppressive practices used by the Israeli occupation to break their resolve. The retention of bodies is not just a tool for collective punishment, but also a bargaining chip used by the occupation when needed."According to those who did research for the documentary, before October 7, the number of bodies held by the occupation was estimated at 500 bodies, and during the raging violence for the tenth month now, this figures is likely to have doubled.The film is due to be broadcast soon, with an initial screening on Alaraby TV, and on its digital platforms, while the Head of Documentaries, during the debate, welcomed the idea of dubbing the documentary in English for a wider audience.

The Qatar Press Center (QPC) has launched a new training course, “Media Project Management”, as part of the co-operation with the Qatar Media Corporation (QMC)’s Media Development Department.The four-day course, presented by Dr Jassim al-Jazza, focuses on developing the media skills of young cadres at the QMC, providing them with the necessary expertise to learn about the types of media projects, their paths, and the pillars of their success, and introducing them to the techniques and tools that enable them to plan for this type of project.“Co-operation between the Development Department at the QMC and the QPC continues in organising advanced training courses that include the largest number of employees of the corporation, especially young cadres,” said QMC Development Department director HE Sheikh Khalid bin Abdulaziz al-Thani. “(The courses) cover various areas of media work.”“We aim to support young cadres working in the media field, attract them and encourage them to innovate, manage and sustain emerging media projects,” he said. “This course motivates them to develop media project plans on an ongoing and sustainable basis, and to identify the problems that they may face while managing this type of project.”Dr al-Jazza stressed that the most important objectives of this course are to provide trainees with project management skills and determine their paths.The trainees will learn how to develop strategic plans, vision and mission, and how to formulate the values of their success components, in addition to being able to manage work teams within media projects, classify departments, as well as calculate project budgets, spending schedules, total expenses and possible returns.They will improve their negotiation and communication skills, and ensure the validity of procedures so that the project steps are carried out correctly.“We are pleased at the QPC to organise this training course, through which we seek to provide media workers with the knowledge tools and administrative keys that enable them to perform their work and develop it to the fullest extent,” said QPC director-general Sadiq Mohamad al-Amari. “The centre works to contribute to the development of journalistic and media work at various levels and in all areas of media work, most notably managing media projects currently existing in media and press institutions.”

Within the framework of Huawei’s collaboration with Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Digital Technologies (MoDT) and the regional finals of Huawei’s Seeds for the Future (SFTF) programme for university students from the Middle East and Central Asia (ME&CA), held in Teshkent from August 11-17, Ummatoy Yuldasheva (pictured), an Uzbek startup entrepreneur and former participant in the Huawei SFTF programme, gave an exclusive interview to *Gulf Times.“I am managing different social IT startup projects,” she said. “I own my own IT company, and recently I have opened a nonprofit organisation dedicated to empowering women and youth in Uzbekistan.”“My startup project began in 2020, when I was a product manager with a local company,” Ummatoy recounted. “I launched a startup project cuisine to empower unemployed women, who would cook at home and sell the home-made food with the help of our platform.”“They would upload the photos of the food on our platform,” she continued. “Their prices are cheaper in comparison to that of restaurants.”“(We only charge them) 5% (to use our platform), and they can make at least $300 per month, which is huge by Uzbek standards for a housewife,” Ummatoy said.On her other startup projects, she said: “I moved to an education startup project to help students find jobs and launch their own startup projects, helping them with consultations.”“I have also created a mobile application dedicated to sex education for young females,” Ummatoy added. “This is not usual in Uzbekistan and for central Asian people ... it is not part of our tradition.”“We believe that young girls need to learn about this topic, because there is a lot of harassment, and because they do not know much about sex education,” she explained. “Hence, we launched this app.”“We also developed a social startup project for workers to send complaints anonymously about companies if they are subjected to harassment, or if they encounter any pay or salary injustice,” she said.Concerning her ongoing projects, Ummatoyy said: “I am working on startup projects for Australia, Germany, while (at the same time) being an assistant professor at the Uzbekistan’s Central Asian University and looking after my young family.”“I also work with the UN Development Programme (UNDP),” she added. “I am involved in projects with the AIESEC team, which in its turn works with the UNDP.”“I am a mentor with the UNDP, and they invite me and pay me each time they hold an event,” Ummatoy said.She said that she is dedicated to empowering women so that “they can earn a living even if they are housewives, and that everything is achievable for women and girls, and there should not be any limit to what they can do”.“They need to work hard, and I am here to help them achieve their goals,” Ummatoy added.

On the sideline of the ICT Leaders’ Panel Discussion about the Future of Tech Talent and Digital Transformation in ME&CA, during the Huawei Seeds for the Future (SFTF) 2024 Regional Final, held at the Ministry of Digital Technologies (MoDT) of Uzbekistan, Rustam Karimjonov, Deputy Minister, gave Gulf Times an exclusive interview.Karimjonov said: “We are so much honoured to host this event in Uzbekistan which brings together the 14 countries of the ME&CA. Over 200 students are attending the event, exchanging ideas, innovations, and startups. Uzbekistan has good relations with Huawei in terms of not only developing the infrastructure, but also investing in talent and supporting the youth worldwide. Through their CSR programmes around the world, they support the youth and invest in the talent of the future. They started this programme several years ago and it continues in different countries, now it is happening in Uzbekistan.”Karimjonov commented on the digitalisation in Uzbekistan: “Huawei’s support is important for our country because our economy is growing, and digitisation is a priority. We have ambitious goals; we want to achieve $5bn OIT service revenue before 2030 and want to nurture 300,000 highly qualified IT specialists. The government is doing everything to support the youth because we are one of the youngest nations in the world. So, we are trying to support and invest in IT education, and we are glad that companies like Huawei are supporting this initiative.”Regarding the holding of Huawei’s SFTF 2024 Regional Final, Karimjonov said: “The benefits of SFTF events are that they bring the brightest young minds from around the ME&CA to this unique experience to exchange knowledge, experiences, and good ideas from different countries. In the Middle East they are developing the ICT sector and the same is happening in Central Asian countries, so it is important for them to exchange ideas and vision in this regard. Such events are a good platform and ecosystem to accept and support the youth ideas. I talked to many students from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE and other countries and they told me that they never thought there is such a level of development in IT and ICT in Uzbekistan.”In relation to the bilateral relations with Qatar on digital technologies, Karimjonov said: “We have a very proactive co-operation with Qatar, and we realised a very good progress for the last couple of years. The leaders of Qatar and Uzbekistan exchanged several high-level state visits. This is very beneficial for officials and facilitates co-operation between them to develop new projects. One of the practical examples is the MoDT’s visit to the Web Summit, one of the biggest global events. Also attending the last edition of CIT For The Future event in Qatar allowed us to learn a lot. At the Web Summit we met many representatives from international organisations, and officials from Qatar, and the ICT sector and we have a very close relationship now. Next September, we are hosting a global ICT event titled ICT week 2024, and Qatar Investment Authority, Qatar Development Authority, and other big stakeholders in Qatar are attending. This is a historical visit; it is the first time that Qatar is participating in this huge event in Uzbekistan as a partner country.“Our major assets in bilateral relations with the Qatari government or other governments are talent, and a young population where the average age is 28 years. The Middle East countries have good experience, a lot of financial means and experience in the ICT field. We can provide talent in exchange for the Middle East assets, hence it will be beneficial for both sides. The more we generate talented people the better for both countries.“Culture and oral understanding are very important. The whole world knows the origins of Islamic contribution to knowledge and that it came from Uzbek Hadith scholar al-Bukhari, and polymath and founder of algebra al-Khwarizmi, and their role in the renaissance era in the world. The latter is the father of algorithm, and all the algorithm of AI and data science nowadays came from the Islamic world. In Uzbekistan we want to engineer a new renaissance, and that is why we are investing a lot in our youth to have new al-Bukharis and al-Khwarizmis who will contribute to the world economy and civilisation along the digital silk road,” Karimjonov concluded.

During the Huawei Seeds for the Future (SFTF) 2024 Regional Final, ICT leaders from government, private sector, and media representatives came together for an insightful panel discussion on the future of ICT talent and the pivotal role it will play in shaping the future digital economies.The event at the IT Park in the building of the Ministry of Digital Technologies (MoDT) of Uzbekistan, brought together high-ranking officials from the Ministry, UNDP, University of Dubai, Research Institute of Environment and Nature Conservation Technologies, and Huawei.Under the theme of "ICT Talent & Youth Power Driving Digital Innovation & Shaping the Sustainable Future of the ME&CA Region: Public-Private Partnership & Open Collaboration for Shared Success," the panel set the stage for a dialogue on the future of education and digital transformation.The discussion centred on the vital role of open collaboration in nurturing local ICT talent, driving technological innovation, and building sustainable, knowledge-based digital economies in the region.The panel featured prominent figures from various sectors, including Karimjonov Rustam, Deputy Minister of Digital Technologies of Uzbekistan; Prof Wathiq Mansoor, dean of the University of Dubai; Nuriddin Samatov, research assistant at the Research Institute of Environment and Nature Conservation Technologies; Bunyod Avliyokulov, programme analyst on effective governance, UNDP Uzbekistan; and Duke Zhang, vice president of public affairs, Huawei Middle East & Central Asia.Dr Mohamed Madkour, Huawei ME&CA ICT Strategy, delivered the opening remarks, moderated the panel, and facilitated the discussions. He emphasised that ICT is no longer a siloed industry but a foundational platform for our lives. He explained that ICT empowers the learning process, enables any organization to be more innovative and productive, and enriches regional economies to be more prosperous. He highlighted the crucial role that talent plays in driving digital transformation across the Middle East and Central Asia.Deputy Minister Rustam, stated: “We are committed to integrating advanced technology into our educational frameworks through strong public-private partnerships. By nurturing local ICT talent, we are not only preparing our youth for future challenges but also fostering an environment of innovation and growth in the digital economy.”Prof Mansoor, said: “Public-private partnerships are essential in bridging the gap between academia and industry. Initiatives like Huawei’s SFTF and the implementation of smart education solutions play a crucial role in equipping our students with the skills needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.”Samatov, remarked: “As a former SFTF participant, I have witnessed firsthand the impact of such programmes in shaping the future of ICT professionals. Continuing to support these initiatives ensures we maintain a steady pipeline of skilled talent capable of driving digital transformation.”Avliyokulov, said: “As we continue to push forward with digital transformation, it is imperative that we ensure no one is left behind. Remote education offers a powerful tool to bridge the digital divide, particularly in rural areas where access to quality education is limited. Collaborative efforts, like those we discussed during the panel, are crucial in ensuring that all students, regardless of their location, could learn and thrive in a connected world.”The panellists also highlighted how intelligent and digital transformation begins with education. The conversation underscored Huawei's belief that smart education can build a robust ecosystem, cultivating innovation-oriented talents for an intelligent future.Through the implementation of smart campuses, smart classrooms, and advanced technologies like IoT, big data, AI, and cloud computing, Huawei is enabling education systems worldwide to evolve. The "Five Ones" smart education solution, comprising one screen, one network, one platform, one cloud, and one app, was showcased as a transformative approach to improving the quality and efficiency of teaching, research, and management.The introduction of Wi-Fi 7 at the University of Dubai was highlighted as a significant step in enhancing network speed and quality on campus. The importance of remote education in bridging the digital divide, particularly in rural areas, was also emphasised, with Huawei’s solutions offering a pathway to inclusive and accessible learning.Zhang, said: “At Huawei, we believe that education is the cornerstone of future innovation. By integrating cutting-edge technologies into educational systems, we are not only enhancing the learning experience but also preparing the next generation of leaders and innovators. Our commitment to smart education and digital inclusion is reflected in the transformative solutions we bring to institutions across the ME&CA region, ensuring that all students have the tools they need to succeed.”The panel discussion facilitated engagement between media representatives and students from the ME&CA region, who convened in Tashkent for a series of activities and training workshops as part of the 2024 edition of Huawei's global initiative, Launched in 2008, SFTF has positively impacted over 18,000 students from 141 countries, endorsed by more than 360 senior officials and heads of state, and has facilitated collaboration with over 500 universities and colleges.

A total of 150 students, 14 teachers and academic representatives from 14 countries of the Middle East and Central Asia (ME&CA) are set to take part in this year’s regional edition of Huawei’s global CSR programme, “Seeds for the Future (SFTF)”, in Uzbekistan.Under the umbrella of the SFTF programme, Huawei is hosting the Tech4Good regional competition in Tashkent, targeting youth with ideas that can address social issues by leveraging the latest ICT (information and communications technology) technologies.Huawei, in collaboration with the Uzbekistan ministry of digital technologies (MoDT), the IT Education Association, and telecommunications, regulatory, labour authorities and vocational training bodies, launched Monday the regional finals of the SFTF programme.The week-long event brings together university students across the Middle East and Central Asia, to enhance knowledge, foster collaboration, drive global digital inclusion, and develop ICT talent.This year’s edition of the competition will see the participation of the students from leading universities representing 14 countries – Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Uzbekistan.Uzbekistan’s Minister of Digital Technologies Sherzod Shermatov delivered the opening address, saying: “The launch of the ‘Seeds for the Future’ today is one of the greatest steps towards the expansion of global collaboration in ICT field.”“We are glad to have a partner like Huawei that understands the need of nurturing digital talents and creating an advanced platform for building a digital and green world,” he said.Shunli Wang, vice-president of Huawei Middle East and Central Asia, said: “We are thrilled to host the 2024 regional ‘Seeds for the Future’ initiative and look forward to seeing regional ICT talents in action.”“Public-private collaboration is crucial for building the ICT ecosystem and nurturing ICT talent,” he continued. “We hold a shared responsibility to empower upcoming ICT talents and contribute to the development of the regions we operate in.”“Young talents from across the region represent the future of our industry,” Wang said. “Embrace this opportunity, challenge yourselves, and let your creativity shine. May this programme inspire groundbreaking ideas and lasting friendships.”The SFTF programme is Huawei’s flagship corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative to develop ICT talents globally.Since its launch in 2008, more than 18,000 students have participated from 141 countries.With endorsements from more than 360 senior officials and heads of state, the programme has collaborated with over 500 universities and colleges to cultivate a new generation of ICT leaders and innovators.Besides the in-depth learning of ICT innovations and interaction with sector experts, participants are involved with series of activities and sightseeing tours in Uzbekistan to strengthen the collaboration between countries and cultures.As part of the opening ceremony, a “Global Village” cultural event was held in Tashkent’s Amity University, where each participating team presented their countries’ cultural heritage, traditions, national clothes, and cuisineShermatov took part in the activity and visited the booths of each country.This year, the SFTF programme will host intensive training sessions and workshops, including cutting-edge ICT technologies, scientific and technological leadership, discussions on global topics and Tech4Good group projects.Through learning and mutual exchange, participants will gain a better understanding of 5G, artificial intelligence (AI), and cloud technologies, build more strengths for future growth, and improve their competitiveness in the job market.Held in conjunction with the SFTF programme, the regional semifinal of the fourth annual Tech4Good competition will empower youth to drive positive change within their communities.This platform aims to cultivate innovative ideas that effectively tackle pressing social issues by harnessing the immense potential of the latest ICT technologies.By encouraging young minds to leverage technological advancements, this initiative strives to foster a generation of solution-oriented individuals who can create a lasting impact and shape a better future for all. Participating students will present their Tech4Good projects to the judges, and two outstanding teams will be chosen to take part in Global Finals next year in China.

The Qatari team participated Sunday in an intercultural exchange event between students from 14 countries within Huawei’s Seeds for the Future (SFTF) 2024 regional finals in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. This year’s edition, running until August 17, has brought together 157 students from 14 countries across the Middle East and Central Asia. Sherzod Shermatov, Minister of Digital Technologies of Uzbekistan, visited the stands organised by the students introducing their own culture, traditional dress, food, sweets, coffee, tea. A traditional Kazakh tent was erected in the hall, and students were enthusiastic about introducing their own customs and traditions, like photos of wedding dresses, Bisht, different types of head gear, Ghotra, and exchanging all these gifts amongst themselves and offering them to visitors of the intercultural fair. The Uzbekistani host organised a lunch gala with traditional music and dance, topped up with typical local food at Amity University in the centre of Tashkent. This event got the students to know each other and created a bonding between the teams prior to their entering the competition which opening ceremony is going to be held Monday at the Ministry of Digital Technologies of Uzbekistan. The Qatari team is composed of 14 male and female students who describe their participation in the Huawei SFTF 2024 as a unique experience in global citizenship, digital innovation, an open-minded approach to building bridges for research, digital partnerships, start-ups. They also share with their fellow students from the other participating countries the commitment to apply their ICT talent to make the world a better place, to help with sustainability and come with solutions and applications which would benefit humanity. Abdulaziz al-Shahwani told Gulf Times: “We are from the Community College of Qatar and sponsored by the CRA. Our experience so far has been very good, we have been collaborating with members of other teams from other countries. The experience is amazing we met the Minister of Digital Technologies who welcomed us and briefed us about the programme. We are here for the SFTF, but we are also for the Tech for Good which consists of building an idea that will help with sustainability. I think this is going to be a great learning opportunity for all of us. We are grateful for the CRA and Huawei for allowing us to go through this experience.”

There is no justification in Judaism for the Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands, which ought to be returned to its rightful owners, a member of a well-known Jewish sect has said.Rabbi Yisroel Weiss, a member of Neturei Karta International (NKI) anti-Zionist movement has been in Qatar after attending the funeral of former Hamas leader Ismail Haniyah on August 2.Talking to Gulf Times in an exclusive interview, Rabbi Weiss said that Neturei Karta means the 'protectors of the city' and the movement emerged in the 1930s as a group of wise men, scholars and Talmud rabbis who had been vocal about their anti-Zionism stance since the 1880s.According to Rabbi Weiss, the NKI is a Jewish religious organisation committed to publicising the viewpoint of anti-Zionist Orthodox Jews worldwide, who strongly oppose the existence of the State of Israel and its actions.“The history of Judaism goes back to 3000 years and it is about the Torah's spirituality. The Torah is against Zionism, which was founded 140 years ago and is considered by NKI as void of God."The Torah forbids killing and stealing – Zionism goes contrary to all of these basic beliefs. It cannot be stated or emphasised enough, Zionism is not Judaism – it is a political movement, having nothing to do with the Jewish religion. Since its inception, Zionists have attempted to usurp Judaism to legitimise their indefensible agenda.”On the Diaspora Jews and the establishment of the State of Israel, Rabbi Weiss said: “One of the fundamental Jewish religious beliefs is that the Jews are in a divinely decreed exile. During this exile they are forbidden to create their own state. In 1947, Rabbi Dushinski was against the establishment of a state. Religious Jews worldwide condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the occupation of Palestine, and the massacres committed by the Zionists. We are humiliated, disgusted and heartbroken by these crimes, supposedly being done in our name. We say Not in Our Name! Our Jewish communities proclaim that the State of Israel does not represent World Jewry and their actions are a clear and unequivocal violation of the Jewish religion.”As a movement, Rabbi Weiss said the NKI is based in world cities --New York, London, Toronto, Montreal, Michigan-- and all over the world in massive numbers, "and our sources of funding come from people in the streets".He said: "Thanks to these donations we organise and participate in demonstrations, conferences around the world and in Jerusalem. NKI takes part in events around the world to educate on the difference between Judaism and Zionism. Our rabbis are available to attend or speak at universities, conferences, or rallies, including mass media.”Concerning Zionism, Rabbi Weiss considers it “a rebellion against God, it is a heresy, it scorns religious movements. Zionists do not believe in God, it is a blasphemy and a transgression. The existence of the State of Israel is criminal, founded and, to this very day, run by terrorists. Its ongoing occupation and savage actions go against even the most basic standards of humanity and are a colossal violation of Judaism.”Talking about the right of the Palestinian people to their land and to establish a homeland, Rabbi Weiss said: “We believe in a free Palestine, Jews and Arabs lived in peace in Palestine for centuries, as in all other Arab lands. As Jews, we are, and have been, extremely grateful for the hospitality accorded to us throughout the past. The present conflict is in no way due to differences in religions – contrary to the Zionist narrative, which seeks to drive a wedge between Jews and Arabs. This historic trust, indeed friendship, peaceful respect and coexistence has been destroyed through Zionism and the Zionist occupation of Palestine, and for decades has been the obstacle to peace.”In relation to NKI contribution so far to finding a solution to the conflict, Rabbi Weiss said: “We believe that Almighty rules the world and the rights of the Palestinian people should be restored. We plead with leaders of the world so that they should understand that the issue is not a religious conflict – which is the false narrative presented by Zionists – who are falsely using religion to justify their crimes. We are in sympathy with the Palestinian people who have been suffering for generations.”Concerning coordination between NKI and the Palestinian movements, Rabbi Weiss said: “We participate in anti-Zionist demonstrations together, in Arab and US youth conferences, we went to congress in New York together, held demonstrations together in Michigan. Our rabbis met with all the Palestinian leaders, from the late Arafat, the late Ismail Haniyeh.We met His Highness the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani as well.On a solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Rabbi Weiss said: “First of all NKI condemns Zionist genocide in Gaza, Jews around the world are once again in a state of shock, horror and mourning, as the world witnesses the worst tragedy since the Nakba. We cry with the Palestinians and the greater Arab community. Second, we do not agree with the two-state solution. The one and only solution is to recognise the root cause: Zionism, and work toward a peaceful and total dismantlement of the State of Israel, to return control of the land to its indigenous inhabitants and restore all their rights. Only then can we expect a restoration to the former peace that existed prior to Zionism.”

Qatar Youth Hostels (QYH) has launched its third Tourist Guide Training Programme. It will run until September 7.Head of Public Relations and Communication at QYH Abdullah Saeid said Monday: "After the success of the first and second training versions, we have begun the Tourist Guide Training Programme in its third version which is distinguished by the presence of successful partners for the second year in a row who have helped create an exceptional version for enthusiasts and those who take tourist guiding in Qatar as a hobby."The programme is backed by Qatar Museums, represented by the National Museum of Qatar, the Museum of Islamic Art, Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al-Thani Museum and Qatar Tourism. It has been devised in five stages: two workshops at QYH, a seven-day course at the National Museum of Qatar, an 11-day course at the Museum of Islamic Art, a three-day course at Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al-Thani Museum and a 10-day course with Qatar Tourism."Thirteen selected participants have passed the interview stage. They are required to attend all four courses and pass the final exam to obtain a certified tour guide license from Qatar Tourism," Saeid said.He added: "In this version, we aim to increase the base of Qatari youth who master the tourist guide skills and are capable of welcoming delegations from various countries for different international events, in collaboration with various governmental and private entities in Qatar. They will organise tours for visitors, and introduce them to the culture and tourist and historical landmarks of our country, Qatar."