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The Journalism Program at the Doha Institute of Graduate Studies (DI) organised a seminar on "The War on Gaza: Media Coverage and the Conflict of Narratives" recently. A group of researchers from the Doha Institute and Qatar University participated in the seminar which was moderated by Dr. Basim Al-Tuwaisi, Head of the Journalism Program at the DI.Faculty members, DI students and other participants discussed media coverage of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the narratives provided by the Israeli media, the Palestinian and Arab media, and the global media. Speakers gave a preliminary reading of the media narratives’ conflict, the media frameworks used to frame the conflict in the current war, the role of social networks in providing an alternative narrative, and the continued attempts to besiege Palestinian narratives on digital platforms.At the beginning of the seminar, Dr. Basim explained that the media coverage of the current Israeli war on Gaza has gone through stages that began with the Western media's attempt to kidnap the world public opinion by chanting the Israeli version and adopting the narrative formulated by Israel's security and political establishment, which simply means manufacturing and directing world public opinion in one direction that is in line with Israeli narrative, and by dehumanizing the Palestinians and framing the Israeli war with self-defense.Dr. Al-Tuwaisi recalled that historical experiences demonstrate that the dehumanisation of one end of the conflict leads to the legitimisation of genocide as occurred in Ronda and the Balkans, in which case the media becomes a partner in war crimes.Dr. Nooreldin Meladi, Media Professor at Qatar University, presented the content of a recent book by a British publishing house on Western Media Coverage of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, which he supervised editing with the participation of a group of Arab and Western researchers.The book dealt with various approaches in covering the Israeli War on Gaza in 2021 and covering the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood case. Meladi explained that the book's basic findings showed that there were important differences in the presentation of the Palestinian narrative to the international media versus the Israeli narrative, saying: "The Western media clearly supported the Israeli narrative and they embraced it, striking at the ethics and standards of journalism."Rania Al-Malki, a professor of practice at the DI, presented her research contribution to the same book, comparing Al Jazeera's English coverage with the Israeli Channel (i24news) of Sheikh Jarrah events. The researcher referred to the sources relied on by both channels and explained that the results of the study stated that "Al Jazeera English Channe, compared to i24 news, used a wider and more diverse network of sources including Israeli sources to cover the event. While i24 News used only Israeli sources. Even in rare cases when Arab or Palestinian sources were used, it only came to feed its own narrative that fully reflected Israel's view. "Dr. Mohammed Hamas Al-Masri, Professor of Media Studies, stressed that most media research indicates that Western media rely more on Israeli sources than Palestinian ones. This excessive reliance on Israeli sources is a major problem, as it shows that the US media is more loyal to Israel than the Israeli media itself. He also addressed models of popular talk shows and analyzed the nature of their sources such as the British broadcaster "Piers Morgan."The seminar, which was held at the Institute's headquarters, was followed by discussions and interventions involving a number of the DI professors and students.

The speakers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) parliaments held their 17th periodic meeting in Doha Tuesday under the chairmanship of HE Hassan bin Abdullah al-Ghanim, speaker of the Shura Council.In the final statement, the speakers of the (GCC) parliaments denounced the killing, demolition, forced displacement and stifling and unjust siege carried out by the occupying entity to annihilate the Palestinian brothers in Gaza and in the rest of the occupied territories, stressing their solidarity with the Palestinian people and their support for their just cause and the restoration of their legitimate rights..text-box { float:right; width:450px; padding:10px; border:1pt solid black; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 15px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 20px;}@media only screen and (max-width: 767px) {.text-box {width: 65%;}}Shura speaker denouncesheinous Israeli massacresHE Speaker of the Shura Council Hassan bin Abdullah al- Ghanim expressed his strong anger and denunciation of the heinous massacres and genocide against 'our Palestinian brothers in the Gaza Strip and in the occupied Palestinian territories", describing them as ethnic cleansing and barbaric crimes committed by the Israeli occupation forces amid shameful silence and in full view of the international community. This came during the speech he delivered during his chairmanship of the 17th meeting of Speakers of the Shura, Representatives, National and Ummah Councils in the GCC countries, which was hosted by Doha Tuesday.These included the establishment of their independent state, in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions, the Arab Peace Initiative, the principle of the two-state solution, the right of return for refugees, the release of prisoners, and fair compensation for prisoners and refugees.The statement also stressed the need to strengthen co-ordination mechanisms and unify the positions of the GCC countries towards the issues raised in international parliamentary forums, in order to achieve the goals and interests of the GCC countries.The heads of the Gulf legislative councils agreed to choose the topic “Cultural Diversity and the Challenges of Change: The Role of the Gulf Legislative Councils in Preserving the Gulf Identity” to be the common Gulf topic for the year 2024, which will be discussed within the framework of the councils’ work. They also appreciated the results of the recommendations of the seminar “The Role of the Gulf Legislative Councils in consolidating inter-investment and supporting national economies,” which was organized by the Shura Council in the Sultanate of Oman within the framework of the Gulf theme for the past year.The final statement also included the speakers' affirmation of their keenness to support the process of co-operation and co-ordination among member states, in an effort to achieve the desired goals and objectives in supporting joint Gulf action, and stressing the priority of common Gulf issues related to the concerns of Gulf citizens.The speakers also took a number of decisions, the most important of which was reviewing the procedures and steps taken regarding strengthening relations and exchanging visits with the European Parliament and the Latin American and Caribbean Group.The assembly congratulated the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the success of the summit of the GCC and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), which was hosted by Riyadh. They also congratulated the Sultanate of Oman and the United Arab Emirates on the success of the Shura Council elections and the Federal National Council elections.The final statement also stressed support of the Gulf legislative councils for the United Arab Emirates’ declaration that the year 2023 will be the year of sustainability, under the slogan (Today for Tomorrow), in line with its hosting of the COP 28 summit during November 30 to December 12.The statement also congratulated the Kingdom of Morocco on winning the bid to host the 2030 World Cup, wishing it and the Moroccan people success in organizing this global tournament.The heads and representatives of the GCC parliaments extended their highest expressions of thanks and gratitude to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, for the great hospitality, generosity, attention and good stay in Qatar. This had a clear impact on the success of the meeting in achieving its goals and producing fruitful results that will contribute to strengthening and developing joint Gulf action, they said.They also expressed their thanks and appreciation to the government and people of Qatar and the efforts of the Shura Council for hosting this meeting.

A regional workshop on 'Molecular Techniques for Date Palm Propagation, Crop Management on the Farm, and Post-Harvest Treatments' began Sunday in Doha.The five-day event is organised by the International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (Icarda) in partnership with the “Developing Sustainable Date Palm Production Systems” project in the GCC countries, and in co-operation with Qatar’s Ministry of Municipality.A group of researchers and specialists in palm trees and dates are participating.Agricultural Research Department director Hamad Saket al-Shammari confirmed that the project is in its final stages.Qatar is keen on two main aspects of the project: irrigation and its patterns for date trees, drying houses and their development.The workshop focuses on the installation, operation and control of mobile date drying rooms powered by solar energy. The programme includes modern production techniques and post-harvest treatments.The Icarda project and partners in the Gulf countries developed various technologies and systems along the date palm production chain in the areas of increasing water use efficiency, mechanising liquid pollination, integrated pest management, and producing high-quality dates.They also tested, transferred, and trained on many vital technologies and applications for monitoring palm pests.Post-harvest treatments are necessary to enhance the quality and increase the marketing efficiency of dates.Drying and preservation conditions affect the quality of the fruits in terms of chemical composition, fruit hardness and colour, and prolonging the life of the fruits, which affects marketing.Among the technologies developed within the framework of the programme were solar-powered mobile drying rooms capable of controlling humidity and accelerating the drying period.In 2021, the six GCC countries produced 2.44mn tonnes of dates from an area of 239,000 hectares, representing more than 18% of the global date production.The sector still faces many challenges in the areas of production, quality and sustainable development.

The Qatar Press Centre (QPC) hosted Sunday a seminar on 'The double standard in the international community during war on Gaza' by British journalist David Hearst and moderated by Al Jazeera journalist Osman Ayet Farah.The moderator thanked the QPC president Saad Mohamed al-Rumaihi and director-general Sadiq al-Amari for organising the seminar, after introducing British “Middle East Eye” website editor-in-chief Hearst.The seminar aimed to shed light on the Palestinian issue, in light of the spread of fake news and media misinformation, the killing of journalists and civilians, and crimes committed by the occupation forces in Gaza.At the beginning of the seminar, Hearst emphasised that double standards were what contributed to shaping the international community’s interaction with Gaza.He stressed the need to work on correcting this situation, as fairness in international responses to conflicts is necessary to achieve true justice and peace.Pointing out the need to separate the Western public opinion from that of the leaders, the journalist stated that "there is a Zionist lobby that has complete control over Western liberal society, and there are many members of the US Congress who fear losing Zionist funding or support if they present a different point of view”.Hearst said: “During my work at the 'Guardian' newspaper, I provided honest and unbiased coverage of the second intifada, and no accusations were made against me of double standards.”“When I asked an Israeli diplomat about Israel’s biggest enemy, he did not tell me Hamas or Hezbollah, but rather his answer was: the BBC and the Guardian,” he continued. “However, I see a major change in their editorial policy, and that they have become more biased and sympathetic to Israel.”“There is no freedom of the press in the West, as the Western media has become part of the conflict, a partner in it,” Hearst added.Hearst on Hamas: ‘Hamas is rooted in Palestinian society and cannot be eliminated. It is not a terrorist organisation for many people in the world, and there are many victims on the Palestinian side as a result of this conflict.’Hearst explained that “the Israelis do not have a clear strategy out of this war, and they are neither prepared nor trained for ground warfare, so they focus on air attacks and the massive destruction of buildings.”He stressed that “Israel is not ready for a ground invasion – many indicators confirm this – and most military operations take the form of air operations and do not include a ground invasion.”The journalist added that “the pressures on Israel will increase in the coming days to stop the war, and there will be a special focus on (Israeli Prime Minister) Benjamin Netanyahu, expecting that the United Nations and the Arab countries will play a decisive role in stimulating the negotiations and the ceasefire processes.”Hearst on destruction of Gaza: ‘Gaza has been subjected to massive levels of destruction similar to the impact of an earthquake, and the current situation is considered one of the worst times. We hope that international efforts will find a solution to this crisis. The destruction and loss of lives make the situation more complicated and require immediate international intervention.’“I have never seen in my life or in my professional history such ferocious and violent destruction, and the deliberate bombing of hospitals and civilian facilities,” Hearst said. “The Israelis are using misleading propaganda to justify this, and cutting off communications is unacceptable, as Gaza cannot be isolated from the world. They need to communicate with hospitals and doctors."He considered “deliberately cutting off communications as a dangerous escalation in the current crisis” and stressed the need for access to medical services and continued communication with the outside world.Hearst pointed out that “there is only one hospital, Al-Shifa Hospital, that deals with serious medical injuries” and with the important role it plays in providing healthcare in these difficult circumstances, we hope that “this hospital will continue to provide the necessary medical care to the injured”.Hearst on Palestinian prisoners: ‘The issue of Palestinian prisoners is sensitive and important, and it is good to hear that there is a desire to liberate all Palestinian prisoners. Qatari mediation may be an opportunity to look for a solution to this difficult issue, as liberating prisoners is a goal that must be pursued to achieve peace and stability.’Hearst said: “We heard from (Hamas spokesman) Abu Ubaida that he wants to liberate all Palestinians. I think it is a difficult matter regarding the number of prisoners who need to be liberated, but there are priorities on both sides and this will be agreed upon.”In statements to the press, QPC president al-Rumaihi said: "The QPC is keen to host thinkers, writers, politicians and intellectuals in Qatar and the Arab world with the aim of shedding light on the ideas they hold.”“Today's symposium differs from other seminars previously organised by the QPC, as it concerns a media figure who has weight in the Arab and international world,” he said. “It also comes at a pivotal moment in the history of our nation, represented by what Gaza is being exposed to from a barbaric Zionist aggressor.”“We appreciate the presence of David Hearst (giving) a European point of view defending our rights, as well as conveying his voice to the Arab world, and showing that there are points of view that support the Arab position,” al-Rumaihi added.He stressed the necessity of having Western media entities that provide coverage on Arab issues and promote them in the West, stressing that the Zionist lobby’s control over the Western press has contributed greatly to promoting lies and fake news about the truth of what is happening in Gaza.At the conclusion of the symposium, al-Rumaihi and al-Amari presented Hearst with a QPC shield.

The Qatar Press Centre (QPC) organised Tuesday evening, a stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people against the brutal Israeli attack on the people of Gaza. The stand also included the QPC’s support for journalists and civilians in Gaza. A large number of members of the Arab and Palestinian communities residing in Doha participated.The QPC witnessed some artistic performances that included a number of songs and chants in support of the Palestinian cause, presented by the children of the“Earth Building Initiative” initiative, coordinated by Munira Abdel Rahman al-Nuaimi, the trailblazer of this initiative.The participants organised a solidarity stand in front of the QPC, raising Palestinian flags and chanting slogans in support of the people of Gaza against the Israeli aggression. They chanted many slogans in support of the media professionals working in Gaza, many of whom fell as martyrs in order to convey the truth about the massacres that are taking place, where children, women, civilians and elderly people of the Gaza Strip are exposed to them.In his speech on this occasion, Saad bin Mohammed al-Rumaihi, chairman of the Board of Directors of the QPC, praised “the struggle of the Palestinian people against the brutal occupation of the Palestinian territories, extending his greetings and appreciation to the people of Gaza for their heroism that they present every day in front of the Zionist occupation forces, and for standing united to preserve the territories of their land, which has belonged to the Palestinians for thousands of years.”Al-Rumaihi pointed out that "the Palestinian people are a struggling people who love their Arab nation, and the Arab nation must exchange love for these people, and all Arab peoples must stand by this great people who sacrifice the lives of their children every day for the sake of their Arab nation and preserve its honor against this horrendous aggression.” He pointed out that according to the latest statistics, the number of martyrs provided by Gaza to date reached 5,300, including 1,119 women and more than 2,000 children, in addition to 15,200 refugees.Al-Rumaihi explained that the stand at the QPC comes in support of media professionals working in the Gaza Strip, who play an important role in supporting the Palestinian cause, as many of them were martyred and wounded in order to inform the world of the entity’s brutal aggression against this defenseless people.The chairman also noted that the QPC will organsze many activities, including workshops and seminars, to support the Palestinian people, starting on October 29, when the British journalist, David Hirst, is to talk about the Arab struggle in the face of the brutal aggression on the Palestinian territories.Munira Abdel Rahman al-Nuaimi, trailblazer of the “Earth Building Initiative”, told Gulf Times that she attended the solidarity stand with a group of more than 40 pupils whom came to express their rejection of the human rights violations taking place in Gaza, and the continued bombing of innocent children, women, civilians and the elderly, and to instill the spirit of patriotism in them.Al-Nuaimi noted that the pupils also appreciated the spirit of patriotism enjoyed by the solidarity stand held by the QPC, especially since they all affirmed that the Palestinian issue is the issue of every Arab, and indeed every human being who sides with the truth in the entire world.Lebanese lawyer and social activist, Hoda al-Nabulsi, told Gulf Times that the stand in solidarity, organised by the QPC, came to express what is felt in the hearts of the Qatari people and the Arab peoples who support the Palestinian people to preserve their homeland and territory, the cradle of all heavenly religions, as well as in defense of Al-Aqsa Mosque, the first of the two Qiblatain, the third of the Two Holy Mosques, and the place of pilgrimage of the Holy Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace.Al-Nabulsi praised the position of Qatar in support and solidarity of the Palestinian issue, noting that this position is not new to Qatar, which considers the Palestinian issue to be the main Arab cause, and history bears witness to the extent of the solid position that Qatar adopts towards supporting the people of Gaza and the desperate defense of Al-Aqsa Mosque against any harmful attempts.She referred to the speech of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, before the Shura Council, in which he stressed that “it is not permissible to remain silent about the unprecedented barbaric bombing to which civilians are exposed in the Gaza Strip”, noting that Qatar is the compass for the Arab constants that are still preserved in the being of every Arab.Yemeni social activist and journalist Raed Abed told Gulf Times that “this stand in solidarity is the least that journalists and those who oppose brutality can do for the sake of our people in Gaza. He praised the role played by the QPC in this regard, as it is constantly keen to keep up with important events and express the positions of our Arab societies. Also to prove during this event, that the Palestinian issue will remain present at all times, and our Arab voice will be highlighted to the world, to emphasize that what is happening in Gaza is a collective punishment war, an ethnic cleansing and a genocide. He added: “I visited many Palestinian cities, but I was not able to visit Gaza due to the security barriers, and during these visits I witnessed that the occupation army has been only trained to kill children and innocents, arrest athletes, and destroy sports clubs. What is practiced does not belong to the work of regular armies, but is nothing more than bullying carried out only by gangs. Therefore, it will remain far from direct confrontation and ground war, because they realize that they will suffer defeat at the earliest confrontation, although they possess complex technology, they are confronting men who have been true to what they have promised God.” Abed concluded.

A government decision to charge patients for services provided by hospitals under the Primary Health Care Corporation and Hamad Medical Corporation will be implemented in phases beginning with visitors, the Ministry of Public Health said in a statement Wednesday.In accordance with the decisions No. (28) and (29) of 2023 of HE the Minister of Public Health, the fees will be applicable in the current phase for visitors to the country and they will not apply to residents until they are covered by the compulsory health insurance system, according to the stages of its implementation.Healthcare services will continue to be provided free of charge to citizens and other exempt groups in government health facilities, in accordance with applicable laws and decisions, the statement said.The current measures are within the framework of the keenness of the MoPH and public health sector institutions to improve health care services and reduce pressure on government health facilities, it was explained.The fees and charges for medical treatment and services at the PHCC and HMC were determined according to the cost of the services, the statement said. The health insurance system for visitors to Qatar has been implemented since last February, to cover emergencies and accidents.With other available packages, visitors can obtain additional insurance coverage. A visitor who has an international insurance policy can also benefit from the insurance coverage provided in Qatar, provided it meets the acceptance criteria set by the MoPH, the most prominent aspect of which is that it covers the visitor’s entire stay in the country.

A motor show of Porsche models and collectibles titled “Flatsixaddict Exhibition” was inaugurated Tuesday at Katara – Cultural Village in collaboration with Elites Super Cars Association, and will run through October 18.Katara general manager Prof Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti hailed the exhibition that features over 50 model Porsche cars from the private collection of Sheikh Jassim bin Abdulrahmane al-Thani.He voiced hopes that the exhibition would achieve its technical and aesthetic objectives and develop the taste and experiences of the collectors and motor sports professionals and car enthusiasts.Prof Dr al-Sulaiti also stressed Katara's support for the promising sports cars collectors of all categories and age groups.“The cars and models on display form just 20% of the complete Porsche collection of cars, engines, memorabilia and models that are part of my hobby,” Sheikh Jassim said.“The ‘Flatsixaddict Exhibition' brings together car, models, parts, engines, tools different Porsche cars and catalogue editions, accessories and all that is related to this brand,” he said. “We organised this exhibition on the occasion of the hosting of several events related to the motor sports season in Qatar, such as the Geneva International Motor Show and F1 Qatar Grand Prix.”“I thank Katara for hosting this exhibition, Prof Dr al-Sulaiti, and the Porsche Middle East and Africa representatives and officials who attended the inauguration for their co-operation,” Sheikh Jassim added.Porsche Middle East and Africa chief executive Dr Manfred Braunl said: “I just arrived this morning from Dubai, (for the) Geneva Motor Show, which I am very much looking forward to.”“This was a surprise visit tonight to come here to see this amazing collection of Porsche models,” he said. “I am completely overwhelmed to see how a Porsche enthusiast can bring so many models together, all sizes, all the Porsche generations, especially on the Porsche 911, the way they are put together with much attention to detail.”“I am thrilled, and I say that we should bring this collection to the icons of Porsche in Dubai, we have a big festival going on November 25-26, 2023,” Braunl added.Mohamed bin Rashid al-Kubaisi, founder of Elite Super Cars and the organiser of the exhibition, said: “In the whole history of Qatar there has never been an exhibition of old Porsche cars, car models, new cars, engines, tools, and all that is related to this brand.”“The exhibition is very promising, and it is going to achieve its objectives in attracting motor sports professionals and enthusiasts for the coming two weeks,” he said. “I thank Sheikh Jassim bin Abdulrahmane al-Thani for giving us the opportunity to organise this event.”

The Ministry of Culture, through the Music Affairs Centre (MAC) held a press conference on Sunday to launched the Nagam 2023 contest, in the presence of Maryam Yassin al-Hammadi, director of the Department of Culture and Arts.The contest aims to discover talent in the field of performing arts in music and singing, in order to achieve the objectives of the Ministry of Culture, especially the Department of Culture and Arts, to support the cultural and artistic movement in the country with the aim of sustaining it and giving the opportunity to talented people to discover their capacities and determine their paths."We thank all Participants, supporters and creators who participate in this competition. We appreciate the efforts of the Music Affairs Centre which provides more spaces for cultural expression by engaging communities to achieve cultural rights for all.”Khaled al-Salem, director of the MAC, said: “This is the third edition of the Nagam contest, a singing competition aimed to attract citizens and residents of Qatar, of all ages. The current edition will be full of talents worthy of respect and publicity.”Artist Ali Abdel Sattar, a member of the jury for the Arab category, said he is happy with this participation, hoping that he and the members of the jury will contribute to present singing talents worthy of the singing scene in Qatar.Artist Ghanem Shaheen said: “I am very honoured to be part of the jury, which was born big and brought out to the singing arena distinguished talents who were able to make a way for themselves through this competition.”Shaheen gave important advice to the talents participating in the competition that is to work hard on continuous development, saying: “We must continue to learn, perform, and work hard. We do not stop at this competition and winning it or participating in it only, but rather you, as young talents, you must see this competition as a starting point.”Artist Nasser Muhamed said that he was happy to participate in the Nagam contest in its third edition, wishing everyone success, stressing at the same time that his participation as an actor is not strange since acting and singing fall under the banner of art in general.”Dana Alfardan, a member of the foreign category jury, said: “It’s an honour to participate in this panel alongside two people who have been instrumental in the foundation of the organisation of the last two editions. I hope that together we also can continue to contribute to the music infrastructure of this country and to bring energy and inspiration to the incredible talent out there.”Dr Nasser Suhaim said: “I am happy with the experience, and this is not the first time I cooperate as a jury member with the Music Affairs Centre. I previously participated in the Awtar (strings) Instrumentation Competition, in cooperation with Qatar University. I will also invite the winners of the foreign category to participate in the Beautiful Time Classics, foreign version, as we previously did with the winners of the Nagham competition, in its first and second versions, when they participated in the Arabic version of the Beautiful Time Classics concert.”Giovanni Pasini said: “We found wonderful voices worthy for the competition, and I am personally pleased to meet them in the next stages.” Pasini concluded.The competition will be held in two versions, the first is the singing category for Arabic speakers, and the other is for non-Arabic speakers, where there will be two different judging committees for each of the two categories.

The Music Affairs Centre of the Ministry of Culture announced Thursday that the foreign music jury has finished sorting the participants for the 3rd edition of the 'Nagam 2023' competition, held under the slogan "Rhythm of Success".The foreign music jury members are composer and song-writer Dana Alfardan, artist and composer Dr Nasser Suhaim, and maestro Giovanni Basile. The foreign section has received more than 500 videos in diverse languages from Africa, East Asia, and Europe, including English, Hindi, Filipino, French, Italian and Turkish.

The Music Affairs Centre, under the umbrella of the Ministry of Culture, announced yesterday the members of the jury for the 'Nagham 2023' competition for Arab and foreign categories. The competition, in its third edition, has the slogan 'Rhythm of Success.'The Arab jury comprises artists Ali Abdel Sattar, Ghanem Shahen, and professor and flute player Yassin Ayari while the foreign category jury has composer and song writer Dana Alfardan, artist and composer Dr Nasser Suhaim, and maestro Giovanni Basile.The Music Affairs Centre also announced that the judges finished yesterday sorting the video clips of the participating talents, and 48 contestants were chosen, 24 each for either category. More than 500 videos each were received for the two categories, with the foreign section seeing diverse languages from Africa, East Asia, and Europe, including English, Hindi, Filipino, French, Italian and Turkish.

The Civil Service and Government Development Bureau (CSGDB) Monday announced the launch of the “Iskan” (housing) portal in its first phase.Present on the occasion were Jassim Mohamed Talfat, director of Housing and Government Buildings Affairs; Abdullah Issa al-Hammadi, director of the Housing Planning Department; Nasser Nasser al-Nuaimi, director of the Allocation and Follow-up Department, and Nouf Abdullah al-Marri, director of the Information Systems Department at the CSGDB.The officials indicated during a press conference that “Iskan” confirms the CSGDB's commitment to its pursuit of achieving the highest levels of organisational development and modernisation, and as part of its efforts to facilitate housing services for government sector employees and to consolidate digital transformation in its services.The “Iskan” portal is at the core of the mission and responsibility of the CSGDB to care for the civil servants, develop them, enhance their comfort, and invest in them, which ensures better-quality performance.They announced that the portal at this stage will be available to a number of government agencies, with other agencies to be added later. It currently includes all government agencies’ employees under the Human Resources Law No 15 of 2016, institutions that use the “Mawarid” (human resources) system. The CSGDB will gradually co-ordinate with the rest of the government agencies to update their employees’ data in the portal database to benefit from its services.The portal will also be updated later and new services added, in line with the efforts of the Housing and Government Buildings Affairs Department to provide digital services and make it easier for civil servants and landlords to benefit from them at all times.The speakers discussed the procedure for civil servants to benefit from “Iskan” services and its stages. Government agencies currently can address requests to the Department of Housing and Government Buildings Affairs for the allocation or change of housing via the government correspondence system (Tawasul), then the Civil Service and Government Development Commission will soon grant them the authority to enter the portal to register their employees’ requests directly. While employees of government agencies registered on the “Mawarid” system can use the portal directly.The speakers emphasised the advantages of the portal, in particular its contribution to achieving transparency. It allows all landlords to display their residential units, then the selection is made based on the needs of government agency employees. In addition, it saves time and effort and eliminates the need for complex government transactions.In addition, the “Iskan” portal enables real estate owners to register new properties directly and without intermediaries. The system has been developed so that landlords and real estate agents could inquire and obtain information immediately.

University of Doha for Science and Technology (UDST) recently held its International University Sport Week (IUSW), hosting a series of entertaining and engaging sports activities across campus. The week was an opportunity for the UDST community to participate in a diverse range of team games and physical exercise, helping to highlight the enormous role that physical activity plays in a healthy lifestyle.The dynamic five-day event coincided with the Unesco-recognised and globally renowned International Day of University Sport (IDUS), organised by the International University Sports Federation (FISU), of which UDST holds Platinum status.Dr Salem Al-Naemi, President of UDST, said: “IUSW is more than just a celebration of athleticism. We use sport as a platform for our University community and the wider public to come together, be active and have fun. It is part of every culture, and a powerful tool to encourage positivity, performance and teamwork. We have such a vibrant culture at the University that we celebrated for an entire week, meaning more people had the chance to participate.This reflects UDST’s commitment to health, wellness, and community engagement, and one of the reasons we are FISU Healthy Campus award winners. By bridging the gap between sport and academia, we aim to inspire future generations to adopt an active and healthy lifestyle, setting the precedent for post-secondary educational institutions in Qatar.”The resounding success and overwhelming positive feedback from last year’s inaugural IUSW ensured that this year's programme was equally as inclusive and exciting. Capturing the hearts of the audience, the Fun Olympics took centre stage - a friendly contest with 23 participants, each representing their country in games such as tug-of-war and lava rock.On the sideline of IUSW, Tony Martin, manager of sports and well-being, spoke to Gulf Times and said: “It’s a great experience for students, we teach and train them and they run all our events. We use our full time staff as mentors and supervisors. It is important for a country where sport events are at the fore, we are giving practical experience to these students.We are looking at what is called a co-curricular record, which allows for students when they show leadership in activities outside the classroom to be recognised. What happens is that employers expect that students are going to be good academically but what they are really looking for is leadership and team players who can work in organisations. For UDST wellness and wellbeing is crucial and important not only for students but also for faculty and staff. We are internationally recognised as the only FISU holder of a Platinum healthy campus in the Middle East and GCC. So it is very important to our campus, our president, and our board that we look at the wellbeing of students and our whole campus community. We have a multi-cultural campus and this event gives them an opportunity to compete. We are a strong academic campus but we believe in balance, we have fabulous facilities and a dedicated student affairs team. We try to make available to them any extra-curricular experience.”Mayar Mokhtar, a 4th year Human resources management student said: “It’s a great event that unites students from different countries. We represented our country Sudan we ranked second in female tug of war. It’s a fun event where all the students come together and enjoy the games and get a little break from our studies. Sport is very important in our life, UDST focuses on our physical wellbeing through various activities and among them fun Olympics.”Hussain al-Kharraz, a 2nd year data and cyber security student said: “My team represents Qatar in the fun Olympics. It is extremely fun, fascinating and magnificent, my team played well and our female team won the first place in tug of war. These fun games helped me to better manage my time and come to enjoy myself after I finished one of my academic test.” Al-Kharraz concluded.

‘The Winter King’, an exclusive series on TOD, showcases the timeless legend of King Arthur and his mythical knight's round table. Adapted from Bernard Cornwell's acclaimed Warlord Chronicles trilogy, the series portrays the drama and magic of the quest to reunite a then-fractured Britain. It portrays the high drama of friendships, rivalries, magic, myths, intrigue, and devastating betrayals.‘The Winter King’ viewers are transported to a realm of breathtaking landscapes, castles and kingdoms and epic adventure escapism where Arthur Pendragon transforms from a humble exile to a reluctant leader. While the first episode sets the stage, the full story quickly unfolds with heart-pounding action and heroic battles."It's got all the familiar mythical characters – Merlin and Nimue - but in a more human way. There are sword fights, horses, big set-piece landscapes, and romance. Themes and emotions in this story are timeless,” said Iain De Caestecker, who portrays Arthur Pendragon.At its core, ‘The Winter King’ revolves around Arthur's unwavering quest to reunite Britain. His journey is filled with all the challenges and self-discovery which has enraptured generations down the ages.Otto Bathurst, director and executive producer, encapsulates the series’ essence, stating: "My ultimate ambition is for people to watch this and go 'Oh, so that was the real Arthur story.' What we're doing is going back to the story’s roots and telling the truth of this legendary King in a more authentic, believable, accessible, and raw version."Kate Brooke, the series’ writer, and executive producer says: “This is full on a wonderful epic soap opera. This is love. This is revenge. This is a betrayal of best friends. This has romance at the heart of it between Nimue and Derfel, the two key characters. It's obviously got Arthur and Guinevere. So, although we've talked about the historical realism of it, it is also fantastic entertainment. I would say switch on for a rollercoaster ride.”

The forthcoming The Ivy series is a 16 episode drama and all its shooting was done in Turkey. The lead actress Burcin Terzioglu, who portrayed the character of Ruya in Turkey’s first Netflix original series called ‘The Protector’, was also the leading role of digital series called ‘Hukumsuz’ streaming on Exxen. This series was about women murderings in Turkey. Terzioglu will come together with the audience as Ezgi. This series will be the launch project of new digital platform TOD in Turkey. The preview showed Ezgi, happily married with a job she loved, starts to question everything she believes in when a stranger came across her one day. What kind of person was her husband Kerem? Their seemingly happy marriage was perhaps on the verge of falling apart. Ezgi didn't know whether to believe what she heard, saw, or felt. As a result of her inquiries, Ezgi would find herself in a police station. Could Kerem have killed a woman?While most of the scene are shot in a lush and trendy neighbourhood where life seems to be so posh, serene and the perfect place for happy professional families. Ezgi is a gripping character in the series played to perfection by Burcin Terzioglu who is a well-known and globally popular Turkish actress. Being raised in a family working in cinema industry, she started her career as a child-actor at a very earlier age.Terzioglu has successfully portrayed various roles in many Turkish TV series and movies.The second female role is played by Hazal Türesan who was the character of Begüm in the highly anticipated The Ivy series, which will soon be broadcast on TOD. She is also in the Barber series, which is in the shooting phase to be broadcast on Netflix. She is in the leading cast of the festival movie Bildiğin Gibi Değil, directed by Vuslat Saraçoğlu, which will be released soon.While actor Yigit Kirazci is taking part in the series The Ivy on TOD won the "Best Supporting Actor" award for his performance in the film "Baba Neredesin Kayboldum" which competed at the International Milan Film Festival. Kirazcı, also played the main role in the movies İyi Oyun and Ask Tesadufleri Sever 2, is currently starring in the phenomenal series Kızılcık Şerbeti.To a question: Yigit, Hazal and Burcin, could you provide some insight into how your characters' personalities and relationship dynamics evolve as the series progresses? Burcin Terzioglu said: “Since the episodes have not yet been aired, I will choose my words very carefully so as not to spoil your viewing pleasure and excitement. As the episodes move forward, you will watch a woman who has normalized her experiences, who endures everything for her son, who loves her husband, who is loved or thinks so, who is constantly manipulated, wakes up to a nightmarish life in which she does not even know whether she is a victim or a murderer in the face of what she hears and sees.”Yigit Kirazci said: “My character, Özgür is married and divorced, has a daughter. He is a commissioner in the homicide bureau, so he is a very responsible, down-to-earth person. In the following episodes, the realities of his personal life and office work will become entangled. The biggest reason for this spiral is Ezgi.”While Hazal Türesan said: “I play the role of Arzu who becomes more complex and mysterious as the series progresses. While her relationship with Ezgi deepens, her already distant relationships with other characters become even more insurmountable with prejudices. While all this is going on, Arzu is going through a great transformation.”To another questioned Burcin, how did you prepare for your role as the wife battling the fear of a mental illness while discovering unsettling truths? Burcin Terzioglu said: “I just empathized with Ezgi. When such things happen to a woman, when she doesn't know who she can trust and who she can't, when she feels so helpless, everything can turn into a mind game for her between the walls she is trapped in. Knowing this was the biggest part of the preparation.”"TOD" is a subscription-based OTT platform that delivers its subscribers exclusive access to unrivalled live sports content, and 40,000+ hours of premium entertainment content. A family-friendly and personalised platform, TOD offers the best blockbusters and top Arabic, Turkish, and international content, as well as children's programming. It also holds a range of new original content productions through "TOD Originals".

The Qatar Press Centre is currently hosting an exhibition (until September 2) on the art of journalistic caricature. It includes about 40 coloured works by Qatari cartoonist and illustrator Abdulaziz Sadiq. The exhibition encompasses various topics covered by the artist, who presented caricatures on societal issues, expressing them in a comic way, as is the custom of caricature artists.Abdulaziz Sadiq gave an exclusive interview to Gulf Times. He said: “The current exhibition came at the invitation of the Qatari Press Centre from Sadiq al-Ammari, the director-general of the centre. The idea was to present a personal exhibition of journalistic caricatures. Since I have been publishing my works on a daily basis for more than 35 years in the Qatari press, the caricatures on display represent the old and the new works on numerous social issues. The exhibition includes 40 caricatures, the drawings of which were previously published in the Qatari newspapers.”Sadiq added: “My artistic career started with the local Arabic daily 'Arrayah' in 1984. I was publishing in the black-and-white weekly then. I was encouraged by Nasser al-Othman, the editor-in-chief at that time. I continued to draw in the same newspaper for 10 years until I became the main illustrator. I issued the first book of caricatures in Qatar in 1988. I also published in the local Arabic daily 'Al-Sharq'.”Sadiq expressed his enthusiasm about this art and said: “Caricature is one of the most difficult arts, especially if it is done on a daily basis. With practice, the process of drawing becomes easier, and the difficulty remains in pursuing the idea. As daily cartoonists, we draw inspiration from ideas from the street, television, or the Majlis (Arabic for saloon)."We must put a comic touch on the subject so that it is accessible to and loved by the recipient."He continued: “There are types of journalistic caricatures, which are daily, and these types can be political, social, or economic. Humour and seriousness are related to the artist’s personality in presenting the idea and producing it in his style and signature.”Sadiq is of the view that “Caricature in Qatar enjoys a good standard, and there are unknown cartoonists who still need someone to encourage them and give them a hand to draw in the press. I do not mind giving advice and guidance to beginners in this art, and I do that periodically, either through advice or through training courses,” Sadiq concluded.The exhibition has been attended by a large audience and has been a great opportunity for caricature lovers to learn more about what Abdulaziz Sadiq drew and published in the Qatari press over the course of his long career.He reviewed some of his drawings in his huge archive, which he published throughout his artistic career. During his presentation, he explained how he was able to translate people's concerns in a sarcastic manner, and to exercise criticism with high eloquence that sometimes exceeds words.

University of Doha for Science and Technology (UDST) has embarked on a new academic year with more than 7,000 students enrolled for the Fall 23/24. New and returning students have joined five Colleges offering more than 60 programmes in the fields of Business, Computing and Information Technology, Engineering and Technology, Health Sciences and General Education.The University organized “Ahlan”, a two-day event to celebrate more than 1,700 new joiners and provide them with guidance and support. The Student Engagement Department, a division of Student Affairs, held many interactive sessions to introduce new students to the campus life and facilities. Students had the opportunity to interact with faculty members and deans from the Colleges in addition to connecting with their peers and various Student Affairs divisions such as Sport and Wellness, Counselling and Accessibility Services, Admissions and Registration and Student Central Services.In addition to academic advising, new joiners were also introduced to extracurricular activities and programmes, notably the different student clubs they can join to engage in and experience university life.Addressing the students, UDST president Dr Salem Al-Naemi, said: “Welcome to a university that embodies inclusivity, integrity and innovation at its core. You are now part of a strong community that will empower you and push you to new heights. Do not shy away from challenges, but consider them as an opportunity to learn and grow. We are pleased to see many new enthusiastic faces who are eager to integrate UDST and graduate as sought-after professionals who will contribute to the innovation and sustainable development of the State of Qatar and the global community.”UDST is starting the academic year with eight new programmes created to address the market needs and contribute to economic growth in Qatar and the world. These are Bachelor’s degrees in Marine Engineering, Smart Manufacturing Engineering, Software Engineering, and Midwifery; Post-Diploma Bachelor in Midwifery, a Master’s programme in Sustainable Tourism Management, a Post-Graduate Diploma in Interprofessional Neonatal Intensive Care, and a Post-Graduate Diploma in STEM/TVET Education.At UDST both Qatari citizens and children of Qatari women are exempt from the payment of tuition fees for Bachelor’s degree and diploma programmes.On the sideline of the “Ahlan” event, Gulf Times spoke to Student Affairs vice president Christopher Bridges, who said: “Today’s event is for student engagement, student life and academics, so they have the chance to meet their academic adviser and if they want to make any changes, they can do so. It is also to get connected to other students in clubs or in sports. We have a first year experience programme which will be working with our new students all year to make sure they are integrated into the university well and getting set up in all aspects in their life. UDST is fully committed to the full development of the student.”Ali Rashid, a new student said: “I enrolled to study AI. I expect to work in this industry and intend to be excellent in this major. The “Ahlan” event is very good, everything well organised. The UDST environment is superb. I hope to enjoy my studies here too.”Noor Mohamed, another new student said: ‘I enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering, telecommunications and network. I like to study engineering because I love physics and mathematics. It was my dream to study engineering. I strongly recommend UDST to other students because they have special programmes that are not available in other institutions,” Noor concluded.

The Qatari Youth Hostels (QYH) concluded with distinction its summer programmes, which started from July 4 with seven streams for different age groups from 10 to 29 years.Abdullah Saeed, head of Public Relations and Communication at the QYH said in a statement: “The 2023 summer was special and exceptional in the QYH. The programmes were diverse in thought, content and implementation in cooperation with various government and private agencies, including Qatar museums, the Ministry of Public Health and the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change. There were 181 participants in the all the programmes combined."The programmes helped empower children and youth in refining their skills and training them to become young promoters of tourism projects and leaders in this field. We aimed to cultivate in them a love of exploration and learning about the world.”Muhammad Ali al-Hail, a participant in the Youth Camp for Aware of a Better Future, said: “I benefited a lot from my participation in the camp, as I had the opportunity to explore my beloved country, Qatar, such as visiting the marine aquarium and the Olympic Sports Museum 3-2- 1, in addition to the workshops that helped refine my skills.”Ibrahim Ahmed al-Janahi, who participated in the “Your Game is My Idea” programme, said: “My participation helped me me create a game that promotes tourism in Qatar.”Saeed extended his thanks and appreciation to the QYH team and the 30 male and female volunteers for their support.

The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has identified a number of important health procedures that must be followed for the safe disposal of household medical waste.The ministry warned against disposing of the materials along with regular household waste or in public wastewater.The ministry, in a guideline titled “Household Medical Waste”, identified household waste as that generated from healthcare activities at home, including single and multiple lodgings, hotels and hostels, camps, and schools.Providing home health care takes two forms, by accredited health facilities, or by personal care.The ministry warned against disposing of medical waste such as sharp tools, solid infectious waste, medicines that are no longer needed, toxic cells such as impenetrable metals (thermometers containing mercury) along with regular household garbage or into public sewage.Disposing of these items with regular household garbage or into general sewage water exposes the waste collectors to the risk of infection, and also results in the contamination of the environment, the ministry cautioned.It stressed that medical waste resulting from a health care service provided at home must be separated and collected in accordance with Resolution No. (8) of 2006 and the guidelines of the MoPH and transferred to health care facilities (clinics, health centres, hospitals) for handling and disposal.The guidelines said medical waste generated from a personal care service should be managed at home as follows:Sharp wastes for diabetics must be collected in containers provided by government healthcare facilities and must be delivered to the nearest health centre for disposal through the medical waste disposal system.For infectious waste and sharp waste for non-diabetics, it should be placed in a solid, puncture-proof, and leak-proof container.Containers must be labelled "biological hazardous waste", shut tightly and it should be ensured that the outside of the containers is not contaminated. Then the container should be taken with its contents for disposal to the designated place and must not be disposed off by placing it in a recycling waste containers.With regards to pharmaceutical waste and personal care products, these should not bedisposed off in the sewage or in municipality containers except which is permitted, such as vitamins, cough medicines, intravenous fluids, and saline drops.Here again the waste should be placed in a solid, puncture-proof, and leak-proof container and should be clearly labelled 'Pharmaceutical waste.'The ministry pointed out that the guidelines are intended to provide a framework for medical waste management strategies and to help manage daily and long-term medical waste disposal.The unified application of these guidelines will help reduce the lack of knowledge to deal with medical waste disposal it added.