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Qatar Career Development Centre (QCDC), founded by Qatar Foundation, celebrates International Day of Friendship Sunday, to reflect on the impact of friends in guiding their peers and determining the professional experiences of young individuals who need direction and guidance in shaping their future careers.Ola Abulla, Senior Career Development Specialist at QCDC, told Gulf Times that the influence of peers surpasses that of parents when it comes to career guidance for teenagers.She conducted a study in 2015 with 220 12th grade high school students in Qatar (residents and Qataris) on the most influential factors in career decisions. The study revealed that friends were the most influential factor, as 180 students chose the same career path as their peers. While some students were influenced by their peers and parents, others were impacted by different factors. However, friends emerged as the most significant factor in these students' career decisions.Ola Abdulla said: "I followed up on the research by conducting interviews with 20 students to understand why they chose the same field as their peers. Some of them felt at ease following the same career as their family peers (cousins or relatives), without considering the rationale behind their choices. Meanwhile, four students stated that they chose their preferred majors based on their parents' influence."Ola continued: "The situation may have changed now, but I read a study ago about the influence of peers on career decisions among youth in Arab countries. That study also concurred with my findings, citing friends and peers as the most influential factor in career decision making."Ola emphasised that the influence of peers on career decisions generally starts during adolescence, around the age of 12, particularly among boys who tend to follow their peers more than girls, as girls often possess a more independent and well-formed identity by that age.She pointed out that the influence of peers on their colleagues' career choices is mostly positive, but it can occasionally lead to undesirable outcomes, whether in meeting the demands of the job market or aligning career choices with personal skills and capabilities.Ola said: “This can happen when there is a lack of proper career guidance, as people have diverse abilities, skills, knowledge, and financial resources. All these factors need to be carefully considered when selecting a career to avoid putting oneself at difficulties. For example, if someone lacks the financial means to study abroad, they cannot simply follow their friend who chose to study abroad. Moreover, certain individuals possess skills in paying attention to intricate details, qualifying them for careers in engineering for example, while others excel in creativity and innovation, making them less compatible with professions like medicine or later specializing in surgery. Therefore, the importance of career guidance and counseling becomes obvious.”Ola with her 15-year-plus experience, further explained that “the goal of career guidance is to help individuals identify clear paths, plans, and goals that align with their skills and capabilities, enabling them to make the right decisions for their professional future. QCDC's work revolves around assisting youth in pursuing career paths that suit their abilities and skills, based on various psychometric assessments that help them discover their skills and the connection between those skills and their career paths.”This is vital to prevent blindly following peers and to foster a deep understanding of one's career choices.Ola firmly believes in the saying "You are who your friends are," and that choosing the right friends plays a role in career development. Therefore, it is essential to surround oneself with successful and purpose-driven individuals who contribute to personal growth and professional achievements. This can be achieved through enlightening discussions and knowledge sharing, which are hone very healthy aspects. As individuals spend more time at work than with their families, fostering friendships in the workplace creates a stronger bond to the organization and generates happiness and a willingness to work even after hours, without any mandatory obligations, thanks to the strong connections and understanding among colleagues. This cultivates a distinct work culture and enhances productivity.Ola stressed that "every situation has its pros and cons. One of the downsides may arise when boundaries blur, and colleagues find it challenging to separate professional and personal aspects due to friendships. However, adhering to professional ethics is the foundation of maintaining a pleasant work environment, which is not excessively informal. Striking this balance can only be achieved by respecting boundaries and acknowledging that coworkers are there to collaborate and work together and not just coexist."

The Kazakh Almaty City Council, in cooperation with the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Doha, held an event for the local media in order to promote tourism in the city of Almaty.Moqbal Abdulqadir, an official in the city's tourism authority, said in exclusive statements to Gulf Times on the sidelines of the event: “There are increasing numbers of Qataris especially families who are keen to spend their holidays in the city, due to its charming nature and mild atmosphere.”She stressed that the purpose of the event is “to encourage more Qataris to visit our city, which is called the city of apples, as it provides an integrated tourist experience in terms of exempting Qataris from the visa, as well as it has a modern and luxurious tourism infrastructure, whether from hotels or means of transportation, restaurants and wonderful resorts, as well as the environment.The charming city has a thousand mountain peaks that are able to instill all its details in the memory of visitors.” At the same time calling on Qatari investors to explore opportunities for establishing investment partnerships in the city, which is located in southern Kazakhstan and enjoys an attractive climate for tourism investment, in her presentation at the event that was held at the Sharq Hotel.Moqbal Abdulkader said: “Almaty is the largest financial, cultural, tourist and educational city in Kazakhstan, with a population of more than 2 million people. It is a tourist city par excellence, where tourists can go for walks, witness the beauty of nature, and relax in a ski resort in the tourism region. Almaty is proud that it has great tourist options, as there are 337 tourist facilities of hotels, resorts and other distinguished tourist infrastructure.There are 12 mountain hotels in Almaty, for skiing and mountaineering enthusiasts, and adventures, and tourists can also take master lessons in archery and horseback riding, or in cooking national Kazakh dishes. Tourists can watch horse shows and how to play the national games.”From a cultural point of view, Moqbel confirmed that Almaty is rich in its ancient history and distinguished culture, as there are two museums and two theaters in the city, and “we would like to reassure our visitors from Qatar that we have many restaurants and hotels that provide authentic Arabic and Gulf dishes,” she added.HE Bayzan Khamzin, Deputy Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to Qatar, said that “Kazakhstan has recently become a favourite tourist destination for Qataris, adding that in recent years Kazakhstan has firmly imposed itself on the world tourism map as a country that must be visited by those who love eco-travel. By choosing one site, a tourist in Kazakhstan can fully experience all seasons. These unique tours are actively offered in the vicinity of Almaty, East and South Kazakhstan.”He told reporters that this event is dedicated to Kazakhstan's main tourist city - Almaty, which is located in the foothills of the Almaty Mountains, where you can see mountain peaks from almost anywhere in the city. The Deputy Ambassador stated that “Qatar has also become an attractive tourist destination in Kazakhstan, as 17,000 Kazakh tourists visited Doha this year.”He continued: “We are grateful to Qatar for opening direct daily flights by Qatar Airways to Almaty, and we welcome the decision to increase it to 14 flights per week. We also hope to open direct flights to our capital, Astana.” On the other hand, the Deputy Ambassador confirmed that the Kazakh companies "Fly Aristan" and "Skat" have opened direct flights to Doha since this year.Noting that “thanks to these steps, in addition to the mutual cancellation of visas, we expect that the tourism potential of Kazakhstan and Qatar will be fully revealed on a larger scale to the population of our two countries. This will certainly give impetus to our cultural, human, economic and commercial relations.” Khamzin concluded.

The Kazakh Almaty City Council, in co-operation with the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Doha, held an event for the local media in order to promote tourism in the city of Almaty. Moqbal Abdulqadir, an official in the city's tourism authority, said in exclusive statements to Gulf Times on the sidelines of the event: “There are increasing numbers of Qataris especially families who are keen to spend their holidays in the city, due to its charming nature and mild atmosphere.” She stressed that the purpose of the event is “to encourage more Qataris to visit our city, which is called the city of apples, as it provides an integrated tourist experience in terms of exempting Qataris from the visa, as well as it has a modern and luxurious tourism infrastructure, whether from hotels or means of transportation, restaurants and wonderful resorts, as well as the environment. The charming city has a thousand mountain peaks that are able to instill all its details in the memory of visitors.” At the same time calling on Qatari investors to explore opportunities for establishing investment partnerships in the city, which is located in southern Kazakhstan and enjoys an attractive climate for tourism investment, in her presentation at the event that was held at the Sharq Hotel. Moqbal Abdulkader said: “Almaty is the largest financial, cultural, tourist and educational city in Kazakhstan, with a population of more than 2 million people. It is a tourist city par excellence, where tourists can go for walks, witness the beauty of nature, and relax in a ski resort in the tourism region. Almaty is proud that it has great tourist options, as there are 337 tourist facilities of hotels, resorts and other distinguished tourist infrastructure. There are 12 mountain hotels in Almaty, for skiing and mountaineering enthusiasts, and adventures, and tourists can also take master lessons in archery and horseback riding, or in cooking national Kazakh dishes. Tourists can watch horse shows and how to play the national games.” From a cultural point of view, Moqbel confirmed that Almaty is rich in its ancient history and distinguished culture, as there are two museums and two theaters in the city, and “we would like to reassure our visitors from Qatar that we have many restaurants and hotels that provide authentic Arabic and Gulf dishes.” She added.Bayzan Khamzin, Deputy Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to Qatar, said that “Kazakhstan has recently become a favourite tourist destination for Qataris, adding that in recent years Kazakhstan has firmly imposed itself on the world tourism map as a country that must be visited by those who love eco-travel. By choosing one site, a tourist in Kazakhstan can fully experience all seasons. These unique tours are actively offered in the vicinity of Almaty, East and South Kazakhstan.” He told reporters that this event is dedicated to Kazakhstan's main tourist city - Almaty, which is located in the foothills of the Almaty Mountains, where you can see mountain peaks from almost anywhere in the city. The Deputy Ambassador stated that “Qatar has also become an attractive tourist destination in Kazakhstan, as 17,000 Kazakh tourists visited Doha this year.” He continued: “We are grateful to Qatar for opening direct daily flights by Qatar Airways to Almaty, and we welcome the decision to increase it to 14 flights per week. We also hope to open direct flights to our capital, Astana.” On the other hand, the Deputy Ambassador confirmed that the Kazakh companies "Fly Aristan" and "Skat" have opened direct flights to Doha since this year. Noting that “thanks to these steps, in addition to the mutual cancellation of visas, we expect that the tourism potential of Kazakhstan and Qatar will be fully revealed on a larger scale to the population of our two countries. This will certainly give impetus to our cultural, human, economic and commercial relations.” Khamzin concluded.

The 32nd Doha International Book Fair (DIBF), which featured 37 countries and 505 publishing houses and Saudi Arabia as the guest of honour, concluded yesterday after attracting about 300,000 visitors and hosting more than 500 cultural activities and launch of 198 books across 10 days, director Jassim Ahmed al-Buainain said."About 15,000 children who visited the exhibition enjoyed the activities and events especially prepared for them in the "Children's Oasis". It included 10 sections with artistic workshops, spaces for children's activities, and a puppet theatre. We were very pleased with the great demand by children and families for the children's spaces in the DIBF and the special atmosphere they experienced throughout the days of the exhibition“The DIBF has always represented a pioneering cultural event and a gathering forum for intellectuals, creators, and those interested in reading and books,” al-Buainain pointed out while observing that the Ministry of Culture was interested in organising a distinct edition of the DIBF in terms of its layout, quality and quantity, which were admired by the various segments of visitors to the exhibition.From Qatar, many national authorities participated in the DIBF, such as the Ministry of Endowments (Awqaf) and Islamic Affairs, the Ministry of Municipality, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, the National Human Rights Committee, the Supreme Judicial Council, the National Cyber Security Agency, the Planning and Statistics Authority, Al Jazeera Network, Al Rayyan TV and Qatar National Library. The embassies of South Korea, Japan, Russia, the US, Indonesia, Palestine, Syria and Azerbaijani were among the participants.The Saudi Arabian pavilion presented a cultural experience that reflected the rich heritage and authentic culture of the Kingdom. The activities showcased at the Saudi pavilion included a package of seminars, interactive lectures, dialogue sessions, poetry evenings, and workshops that covered several aspects in the fields of culture, art, literature and knowledge.On show were a wide variety of publications and a collection of archaeological replicas and figures discovered in the Kingdom, as well as live presentations of handicrafts.The DIBF also witnessed participation from the Unesco, Oman's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth; the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication of Morocco; the Algerian Ministry of Culture; the National Council for Culture, Arts and Literature of Kuwait; the Palestinian Ministry of Culture; the Abu Dhabi Centre for the Arabic Language; the Sharjah Book Authority; the Egyptian General Book Authority; the General Book Authority of Yemen; the Iranian House of Arts and Books; the Jordanian Publishers Union; and the Emirates Publishers Association.The DIBF organized 24 training workshops in the Thought Hall and 24 training workshops in the Knowledge Hall, in addition to a number of activities in the Children's Oasis, with 87 theatre performances, in addition to the 116 activities of the Cultural Salon, which included lectures, seminars and book launches, and 37 seminars in the main theater, and other cultural events such as Al-Mutanabi Street, which included six libraries and live cooking performances.

The 32nd Doha International Book Fair (DIBF) concluded Wednesday after a 10-day long successful run at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre.Dr Ghanem bin Mubarak al-Ali al-Maadeed, Assistant Undersecretary for Cultural Affairs at the Ministry of Culture, said: “The 32nd session of the DIBF witnessed an unprecedented cultural, intellectual and literary movement. Its success was based on several factors, most notably the wide and valuable participation of local, Arab, and international publishing houses, whose roles have integrated to provide an exceptional experience for visitors and those interested in literature, art and culture, as well as a variety of titles, books, collectibles, manuscripts and other exhibitions that enriched the taste of the public and gave them wider options to read recent publications in various fields of thought and creativity.”“We are very happy with the great turnout of visitors for the DIBF from inside and outside Qatar. We are even happier with the positive and distinguished cultural activities and events presented daily and widely praised by various groups."Dr al-Maadeed explained that the DIBF - as a leading cultural beacon in Qatar and the region - embodies the vision of the Ministry of Culture seeking to enhance the cultural scene by supporting efforts to make the book a national asset together with the writing and publishing industry and to provide a live interactive platform that brings together authors, publishers and readers under one roof.“The exhibition has achieved its objectives par excellence that are to be added to the series of valuable events organised by the Ministry this year, such as the seminar season, the Ramadan Book Fair, the Doha Theatre Festival and the Universities Poet Competition, in order to achieve the Ministry’s strategy based on supporting intellectuals and creators.”

The Kuwaiti Dar Shaghaf Publishing House (DSPH) has a special pavilion at the 32nd Doha International Book Fair (DIBF), which concludes Wednesday at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre.Abdulrahman Shehab, the general manager, DSPH, speaking to Gulf Times said: “I see that the Doha International Book Fair (DIBF) is very attractive, especially after the great and strong achievement realised by Qatar in organising the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. Certainly, the DIBF is very strong."The organisation is excellent in all respects. We always say that Doha has raised our heads in the World Cup, and represented us in a great way. It is expected that the DIBF will be at this level of strength, as well as the accompanying activities such as lectures, poetry, children's oasis, and seminars. It is very nice that the exhibition includes such events. The organisation is wonderful, as usual in Doha, it is beautiful and elegant at the same time.“Shaghaf is a Kuwaiti youth publishing house launched in 2019. From the first year, the position of the publishing house was strong in terms of business and participation in exhibitions. Our team has considerable experience, especially in the private sector. Considering that the marketing of books has become completely different from the past, we utilise all channels."We employ 12 people, and this is the third participation in the DIBF, and the number of our publications has reached 165. I am a graduate of the College of Education, majoring in library and information management. I gathered experience working in several commercial fields for a period of 12 years and then we entered this field with friends who have previous experience in the field of publishing and distribution, all of whom are mainly writers with more than 10 years in this field. They had energy and morale, and we launched this house.”With regard to the technological development, Abdulrahman Shehab believes that the paper book is in demand in the Gulf countries and that for e-books it is still weak. "Even many e-book platforms could not continue. They opened for a year or two and suffered a definite loss. Most of them closed. So far, the paper book is what is required, and we are marketing the book electronically through social media. Currently, there is no danger to the paper book from the e-book in the Middle East. As for Dar Shaghaf, we are present in all countries and we try to maintain prices, by country, because printing costs in Kuwait are high compared to prices, for example in Lebanon or Egypt, where it should be sold at an affordable price, unlike the prices in Gulf countries,” Shehab concluded.

On the sidelines of the University of Doha for Science and Technology (UDST) graduation ceremony, Abdullah al-Ahmadi, holder of the President’s Award for Academic Excellence, spoke to Gulf Times. “I graduated with a degree in mechanical and maintenance engineering with the President’s Award,” he said. “This is one of the highest achievements in our university. I am so excited I cannot express my feelings about this success.” “I read the valedictorian address for my batch. It is very hard to get this opportunity,” al-Ahmadi added. “I congratulate all the students and wish them best of luck. I really recommend the UDST because it provides students with a good mix of theoretical and practical studies.” Ali al-Khalid, another holder of the President’s Award for Academic Excellence, also spoke to *Gulf Times “I am an information technology graduate with the President’s Award,” he said. “Today, I am proud that the four years journey came to an honourable conclusion.” “My family is proud too, it has been a long and hard journey, but I finally made it and I am very happy for this,” al-Khalid added. “I recommend the UDST for students who want to get applied knowledge, hands on experience on almost every aspect of information technology, hardware and software, robots, etc.”

The Omani Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth has a special pavilion at the ongoing 32nd Doha International Book Fair. Official Jamal Abdullah al-Nuaimi said: “We are keen every year to participate with a collection of books and publications specialised in medicine, literature, science, history and in the Arabic language. With regard to the new publications, we have a collection of titles launched in Muscat International Book Fair, including the Omani Manuscript Book which."

The Ministry of Culture organised a seminar on 'The Melting of Civilisations' as part of the activities of the ongoing 32nd Doha International Book Fair (DIBF) at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre.The seminar was moderated by Dr Youssef Ashir, a university professor and programme presenter.Dr Jassim al-Jazzaa, an academic researcher in management, spoke about the problem of dissolution in other civilisations, and how to be protected from it.He pointed out for the need “to adhere to our Arab, religious, moral and heritage values, and to take science and technology and everything that is appropriate for our societies from other civilisations, and leave what does not suit us”.Dr al-Jazzaa gave several examples of the dissolution of the young generation and children in Western civilisations, which he described as a dangerous matter, especially their admiration for their thought, literature, and language, while abandoning what corresponds to it in Islamic civilisation.He stressed the need to strengthen humanities and social sciences in Arab Islamic countries in order to be able to build strong, cohesive societies that adhere to their heritage and values, referring to the issue of scholarships and how young people go to the West and dissolve in its culture and thought, especially scholarship students who study the humanities.

Writer Ali al-Naama has launched his first novel, 'Circus of the Greats', at the 32nd Doha International Book Fair (DIBF).Published by Hamad Bin Khalifa University Press (HBKU Press), the novel is a mystical tale full of magic and intrigue. 'Circus of the Greats' introduces readers to al-Naama’s talent with an impressively expansive new universe to immerse themselves in.With a long roster of considerably well-developed characters, 'Circus of the Greats' is a masterclass in novel writing, creating numerous plotlines that run in parallel while seamlessly overlapping.Al-Naama’s writing is fuelled by a passion for storytelling and his unique imagination where he creates worlds of interest and intrigue.In a nutshell, the novel is about the circus travelling around the continent of Eiliron, entertaining people of the seven kingdoms. But beloved ringmaster and head puppeteer Master Jeskil is soon manipulating more than just puppet strings when he is drawn into a wicked plot of greed and desire in the kingdom of Corraçao.After years of marriage, the King and Queen of Hearts have no heir: a fact not lost on the king’s first counsellor, Vikar Revin, who hears the court’s gossips whispering in the shadows, forming factions of allegiance, and plotting treasonous schemes.At the heart of these conspiracies is the charming and ambitious Roxanna Talian of Feracia who has set her sights on replacing the Queen. In spite of the mounting evidence of malign influences from outside as well as within, Revin is determined to protect Corraçao.With the help of his cousin Jeskil, and some wholly unexpected allies, Revin must find a way to thwart the enemies of the state and preserve whatever he can of the crippled Corraçian monarchy.The novel is written in an elegant style and full of the magic, love, death and intrigue that beset the kingdom – the effects of which ripple through the generations to come.Al-Naama is an author who grew up in Qatar and the United Kingdom. Following in the footsteps of his grandfather, Abdulla Hussain al-Naama –founder of Qatar’s first magazine, 'Al Ouroba', and its first newspaper, 'Al Arab' – he began writing at a young age and is a role model who can inspire young Qatari writers.

On the sideline of the Doha International Book Fair (DIBF), writer and journalist Jassim Salman Saturday launched his new novel, 'Ibn Battuta's Secret Manuscript', by the Dar Al-Rafidain and Al-Watad publishing house.Many visitors, intellectuals and social media pioneers attended the event.Salman expressed happiness at the launch of his new work, which is his third.He stressed that the novel is an imagined historical version, and the reader peruses the work as if it were an actual manuscript of the most famous Arab traveller, Ibn Battuta.The novel is an attempt to revive and expand interest in Ibn Battuta, to restore his legacy, without neglecting to link the present with the past.

In the presence of HE the Minister of Culture Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad al-Thani, the Qatari Publishers and Distributors Forum, in co-operation with the Children’s Literature Centre and Expo Qatar 2023, inaugurated Saturday the third edition of the Children’s Books Designer initiative on the sidelines of the 32nd Doha International Book Fair (DIBF).The inauguration ceremony was held on the main stage of DIBF and attended by children who have participated in the initiative and their parents.The ceremony saw the children display the books they had designed in the first and second editions of the initiative. The books highlighted the children’s creativity in the field of writing and book designing.In addition, the books that were presented displayed a remarkable diversity in the titles and contents they dealt with. The children authors mentioned that their books are available in the Reading Square pavilion located in the Children's Oasis at DIBF, for those who wish to purchase them.HE the Minister of Culture expressed happiness at the launch of the third edition of the Children's Books Designer initiative. He also expressed pride in the young authors and designers, and stressed the importance of this initiative in promoting culture and reading among children.Further, he praised the dedicated efforts made by the Qatari Publishers and Distributors Forum, the Children's Literature Centre and the authorities supervising and promoting the initiative, encouraging creative talents and instilling the values of writing and design among children.The director of the Qatari Publishers and Distributors Forum, Riyad Ahmed Saleh, said the forum seeks to develop a strategic plan to enhance the access of books designed for children to the largest segment of children in society, by displaying these copies in Qatari publishing houses.He also praised the role of the participating entities, saying: “Our efforts at the Qatari Publishers and Distributors Forum and the Children’s Literature Centre reflect our desire to provide distinguished and high-quality books for children, which contribute to encouraging them to read and develop their mental and creative abilities."Asmaa al-Kuwari expressed happiness at the children’s achievement in the field of designing and writing books, saying: “The first and second editions of the children’s book designer were the beginning of more creative and distinguished editions for our talented children.”It is expected that the third edition of the Children's Books Designer initiative will make significant contributions to creating a generation capable of writing, designing and promoting diversity in the contents of books and provide an inspirational model for children in society, stimulate their imagination and develop their love of reading on the one hand. On the other, the launch of the third edition of Children's Books Designer reflects the Ministry of Culture's commitment to developing cultural awareness among children, and creating an environment conducive to cognitive excellence and creative expression through its continuous support for authors, publishers and distributors in Qatar.

Among the highlights of the ongoing 32nd Doha International Book Fair (DIBF) are a number of seminars, such as the one held on Tuesday titled "Media in the Arab World: Cultural Impact and Societal Change", at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre.Al Jazeera Centre for Studies and Al Jazeera Mubasher, organised the seminar with speakers: Dr Noureddine Miladi, Professor of Mass Communication at Qatar University; Dr Mutasim Babiker, an academic specialising in public opinion studies; and Qatari journalist Abdulaziz al-Ishaq, and moderator, Rawa Oger, a news presenter on Al Jazeera Network.Dr Miladi presented the remarkable technological development in the field of communication and the interaction of young people with it. This in turn made academics, thinkers and communication specialists realise that the past has been surpassed and interaction during crises confirms that technology has changed the world.Miladi said: “We are living another exceptional phase that began decades ago, but came to surface during the past months, it is AI (artificial intelligence). As the world today has exceeded social networks, questions are raised about AI and what it represents for education, health, the media, and decision makers around the world.”He emphasised that the world today needs to set laws for the use of AI, be it for students, researchers or media professionals, and proceed to rationalise it with regulations to protect the youth and children and streamline the use of these platforms while making the role of the family more proactive, as well as civil societies.Dr Mutasim Babiker backed the need for scientific studies to measure the impact of modern technology and communication, because what is disseminated is sometimes inaccurate, also many may open the material received in the media, and not read it, let alone interact with it.Babiker added that “today there are many influencers, starting with leaders, rulers, commanders, celebrities and others, but the media’s role remains in creating a cognitive impact on the recipient.”Abdulaziz al-Ishaq said: “The current concern is how to control the reactions to the communicated message, and whoever previously had control over the media pursues to control its message today and its feedback as well, and that this is done through directing influencers.”Al-Ishaq pointed out that the influence of social media influencers differs from one country to another and from one person to another, indicating there is a gap between those who are in charge of culture and the influencers. “Intellectuals see that the influencers are used in marketing only, while they themselves sometimes seek help from those who promote their stories, which establishes their actual influence until they got media authority today, due to the decline of traditional media channels that are also inclined to develop by using new platforms.”

Kuwait is participating in the ongoing 32nd Doha International Book Fair (DIBF) with a large pavilion featuring various publishers, and activities from several parties, including Platinum Publishing and Distribution Company.Gulf Times interviewed engineer Jasem Mohamed Ashkanani, general manager of Platinum book publishing, who recalled that the company has been participating in the DIBF for 15 years."The DIBF is one of the most important Gulf and Arab exhibitions in which we participate. Platinum was the supporter of the Qatari, Gulf and Arab authors and writers right from the beginning. A large number of authors who are present in this pavilion are from Qatar."We have many publications. Every year Platinum is distinguished by its publications, including those that won international awards for Qatari or Gulf authors. On the third day of the book fair, we saw the turnout increasing daily, and this is something exceptional. In the coming days I think we will see more visitors."At Platinum we are always keen to encourage young people to write and read. If someone has some work or wants to develop his writings, we are honoured to help. We have a specialised reading committee that gives its comments so that it does not disappoint the author if, for example, we regret that his work cannot be published. We direct him to try to amend his work or increase his reading and we find solutions for him. We do not reject the author directly, but we try to encourage the person as much as possible to write and read at the same time.”“The evaluation committee is made up of experienced authors from different nationalities. Platinum is very keen for the committee to be accurate in selecting the works, especially in the recent period. Some of them have won awards, including the Katara Award this year. Platinum is considered the first Kuwaiti publishing house, or it may be in the Gulf, to have one of its works as a publishing house and not as an author, and it also qualified for the International Booker Prize.“Platinum was launched by a group of young men. My partner and I had a book. We wanted to publish it. We wanted to know what we have to do. So, we invested our own money and started our project, developed it and published several books and became a publishing house, we started from scratch."Of course, the Gulf countries support us morally, but we, as people, have built ourselves. Currently, we have reached more than a 1,000 publications. There was a year in which we issued more than 100 publications. All our publications are distributed in all the Gulf countries and rest of the world."The future prospects for Platinum are to elevate literary works to the highest levels. The publishing house must keep pace with the development of the e-book, but I do not see that the e-book poses a threat to the paper book at all. The paper book is increasing in sales too, but perhaps earlier the Covid-19 pandemic affected the situation, but I think that this crisis has passed.“The first goal of Platinum is a cultural one, from the first time we were established, there was no one to help us publish a book. We learned from our mistakes in the beginning, but after that we learned how to avoid mistakes, correct them, and listen to writers and intellectuals, and we continue with our work and correct our path."Engineer Ashkanani is an electrical engineer with a master's degree from Griffith University, Australia and a bachelor's degree from Leeds University, Britain. “My partners are Dr Ahmed al-Haider and Dr Shamayel Babahani from Kuwait,” he added.

Prince Mansour bin Khalid bin Abdullah bin Farhan al-Saud, Saudi Arabia's ambassador to Qatar, has expressed happiness at his country being chosen as the guest of honour at the ongoing 32nd Doha International Book Fair (DIBF).He stressed the depth of historical relations between the two brotherly countries, the mutual respect and appreciation between them, and the strengthening of their bilateral relations, especially in the cultural field.The envoy, in his remarks to the media on the sidelines of the DIBF opening on Monday, said Saudi Arabia is participating with a large pavilion featuring various activities from several parties, including the Literature, Publishing and Translation Authority, the Heritage Authority, the Fashion Authority, the King Abdulaziz Public Library, and the Architecture and Design Authority.The Saudi pavilion will host several events, including heritage seminars, poetry evenings, heritage performances, dialogue seminars, handicraft shows, a mini museum of artefacts and rare collectibles, workshops and a lecture on Arabic calligraphy, panel discussions on the Qatar World Cup experience and the book 'Linguistic Diversity in Saudi Arabia', and a screening of short films.He expressed hope that this participation would contribute positively to further strengthening cultural relations between the two brotherly countries.Gulf Times visited the Saudi pavilion to follow up on some of the interactive displays, and spoke to a young Saudi man wearing an ancient dress and hairstyle dating back to the first century CE , representing 'Zaky', a resident of the village of Al-Faw, (south of Riyadh region), which was then known as the village with a cave."My city was located on the outskirts of the Empty Quarter Desert, and despite that, it was full of lush gardens dotted with vineyards and palm groves that flourished thanks to our innovative methods of preserving rainwater by storing it in hollow contours in the ground,” he said."You may be wondering why we chose this place in the arid desert to build our city. The location of the city of Al-Faw helped it become one of the most important stations on the trade route coming from the south of the Arabian Peninsula, passing through the city to go to the centre, east and north of the Arabian Peninsula.""Therefore, some of the inhabitants of my city were engaged in the trade profession. Women in my city worked in several areas, the most important of which was weaving fabrics and making clothes, and we used to write Arabic in the Musnad script. When you visit my city, Al-Faw, you will see that our writings are spread on the facades of the mountains or even in our homes. Here, I gave you some information about my city, the city of Al-Faw, but when you visit it, the antiquities will tell you more information. There is replica of a fresco depicting 'Zaky' on display written in the Musnad script," he concluded.

Book fair features over 500 publishers from 37 countriesSaudi Arabia is the guest of honour this yearUnder the patronage of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani inaugurated the 32nd Doha International Book Fair (DIBF) at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre Monday morning.Some 505 publishers from 37 countries are participating in the book fair this year, which is being held under the slogan 'With Reading We Rise'. Saudi Arabia is the guest of honour at DIBF 2023.HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs toured the fair's pavilions, where he was briefed on the works of the participating Qatari, Arab and foreign publishing houses, as well as the latest publications, books and manuscripts of government agencies, Arab and international cultural institutions and the embassies accredited to the country, especially the pavilion of Saudi Arabia.HE Sheikh Mohamed also visited the Children's Oasis and listened to an explanation about the cultural activities accompanying the fair, including seminars and lectures.The opening was attended by a number of guests, ministers, heads of diplomatic missions and senior officials.DIBF 2023, which continues until June 21, aims to consolidate the status of culture in the country and confirm the pivotal role of knowledge in the renaissance of Qatari society. Launched back in 1972, the fair seeks to become a cultural and intellectual beacon in Qatar and the region.The 32nd DIBF is the largest edition of the fair as hundreds of local, Arab and international publishing houses are taking part with about 180,000 titles and 750,000 books.Saudi Arabia, the guest of honour, is participating with a special pavilion that includes a collection of different kinds of books, as well as contributions by poets and narrators who present different aspects of their country's culture.The fair presents a rich and varied cultural programme, hosting 37 cultural, scientific, literary and social seminars; poetry evenings; and activities of the Cultural Salon with 116 events that include seminars, cultural sessions and the launch of new publications.On the sidelines of the book fair, 48 workshops will be held along with 87 performances in the Children's Oasis, including art workshops, activity spaces and a puppet theatre. Another attraction is Al Mutanabbi Street, which will host six bookstores from Baghdad. Also, as part of the live cooking initiative, there will be 28 presentations with the participation of 28 male and female chefs.Overall, there will be 17 discussion sessions and 64 seminars and lectures at DIBF 2023.Many ministries and State institutions are participating in the exhibition. Qatari institutions, along with publishing houses, are presenting their latest publications in the fields of knowledge and science. The most prominent of these is the pavilion of the Ministry of Culture that displays the latest publications of the ministry, along with a group of Qatari dress shops that shed light on the culture of clothing, in addition to musical instruments and artefacts. The central area features artistic activities such as playing the oud and violin, plastic art and photography.The Doha International Book Fair is providing many services to the public, including a reading guide service and an 'ask me' service, in addition to a mobile application to search for books, public services and free parking for the public.

Qatar Finance and Business Academy (QFBA) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Morgan International, a leading global provider of professional development and training services.The collaboration will offer comprehensive training and upskilling solutions to Qatari cadres and organisations, as well as provide consultations and broaden the reach of national educational and training initiatives in the financial services sector, utilising a cutting-edge approach that adheres to the latest scientific standards.Khalifa al-Salahi al-Yafei, CEO of QFBA, and Fadi Ganni, CEO of Morgan International, signed the MoU.Al-Yafei expressed delight at signing the MoU, emphasising that it embodies the bonds of co-operation with various prestigious international training institutions, and complements the Academy's efforts to provide specialised training programmes.This, in turn, will contribute to meeting the evolving labour market needs of Qatari competencies, thus supporting the country's efforts towards building a knowledge-based economy.Under the MoU, the two parties have agreed to strengthen co-operation in order to broaden the scope of the Academy's open calendar, national development and specialised certification programmes, as well as to provide consultations and customised programmes that would meet the needs of the community and institutions involved with financial services in Qatar, and to exchange experiences and information between the two parties when appropriate.This is in addition to identifying and investigating any other areas of mutual interest."According to the MoU, co-operation between the two parties will be strengthened by leveraging Morgan International's expertise and capabilities in developing, organising, managing and implementing programmes and training courses to qualify cadres working in financial and banking specialities," al-Yafei added.Ganni expressed enthusiasm about the co-operation, and said: “We are eager about harnessing Morgan International's expertise to provide cadres and organisations in Qatar with a seamless learning experience. Our aim is to equip professionals with the essential skills and competencies necessary to excel in the dynamic and competitive business environment of today."For more information about the training programs offered through this partnership, visit www.qfba.edu.qa or contact the Training and Development Department on WhatsApp through +974 55772225.QFBA, founded in 2009, specialises in providing training and professional development programmes for the Qatari financial sector. It also offers its students a set of the top certified worldwide credentials in the financial and banking sectors. It excels at offering four types of programmes: certification, national development, tailor-made and degree programmes in collaboration with Northumbria University.The Academy aims to support the Qatarisation process through its programmes by providing the labour market with competent and proficient leaders with the most up-to-date theoretical and applied knowledge and skills in the financial and banking fields, working alongside with partners from the government and private entities.Morgan International represents leading international institutions in professional education and covers a wide range of programmes, for instance in Accounting, Auditing, Finance, Supply Chain, Human Resources and Digital Marketing.Morgan was established in 1995 and is present across 28 locations worldwide in Canada, Europe, the Middle East and India. It trains thousands of candidates every year through professional certification programmes, workshops, continuing education courses and in-house training.

The Qatar Press Centre (QPC) held a seminar in co-operation with the Media Development Department at Qatar Media Corporation (QMC) on the 'Russian-Ukrainian war and its impact on the global economy'.The seminar saw the participation of speakers Abdullah al-Khater, an economist; Dr Mohamed al-Sharkawy, a political analyst; and Dr Sultan Barakat, a strategic expert, while Mohamad al-Ansari was the moderator.Dr al-Khater explained that there are economic repercussions of the Russia-Ukraine war, the most important of which are the energy crisis and the impact on global supply chains, in addition to inflation as well as rising prices and interest rates, which have caused multiple shocks for the global market and affected the international economy negatively.Dr al-Khater said the significant rise in energy prices, especially in Europe, had a significant effect on the European economy. He added that the war presented a number of political and economic intersections, which led to a set of transformations in the global system - that it is moving from an old system to a new one, led by BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) that introduces different economic concepts, especially with regard to trust and financial stability in stock exchanges and global markets.Dr Barakat regarded the Russia-Ukraine war, which was, according to him, “artificial because this conflict existed in 2010, but Volodymyr Zelensky’s advent contributed to the signing and implementation of a number of agreements, indicating that the Europeans dealt incorrectly with the Russia-Ukraine crisis because they dealt with it as a bloc". It was safer to make some countries neutral for a number of historical and political reasons”.Dr Barakat said the war increased the problems that the world was already going through as a result of the repercussions of Covid-19 and its direct impact on production and food, which doubled the threats and raised prices dramatically around the globe.Dr al-Sharkawi pointed out that the real war is an economic-political one, especially after the emergence of political disagreement between Russia and China over dealing with the US iIn light of the emergence of the BRICS alliance, which will form a new economic system. He believed that the war in Ukraine is not being run by military forces, but is rather an economic-political battle, and so it is difficult to determine its time span.It is a war of economic camps in which there is a financial investment in the war, and its weapons are grain and oil.At the conclusion of the seminar, QPC honoured 'Al Sharq' newspaper and a number of local media organisations for supporting its work and for their continuous partnership to enrich the Qatari media scene.