Qatar

HE Deputy Speaker of the Shura Council Dr. Hamda bint Hassan Al Sulaiti met Monday with President of the Latin American Parliament Elias Castillo and Member of the Panamanian Parliament Omar Elias Castillo, who are currently visiting the country.During the meeting, they reviewed several issues related to joint parliamentary coordination and ways to enhance the existing relations between the Shura Council and the Latin American parliaments.

The Early Child Department of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education held many awareness workshops and training programs for teachers and coordinators of the pre-school and primary stages in a bid to achieve the ministry's vision, in terms of leadership in providing permanent, innovative and top-notch learning opportunities for the Qatari community, and within the framework of its interest in developing educational cadres.Director of the Early Child Department Maryam Al Buainain stressed the department's approaches to achieve the ministry's vision through several intermediate results that emanate from its strategic plan, including building an efficient and qualified workforce, characterised by its performance and commitment to work ethics in all educational stages, with a focus on the early education stage. She highlighted the ministry's projects to develop technical and vocational education and training in education, and to intensify rehabilitation programs and professional development opportunities for workers at this stage.She added that the focus will be on developing the capabilities and practices of pre-school and early education staff, by providing modern and high-quality professional development opportunities, and providing awareness workshops for teachers including the newly appointed one and awareness programs in leadership skills for coordinators.Al Buainain hailed teachers as tools of change and development and the awareness workshops for new teachers as a road map to direct them to the right path needed to develop their educational and scientific competencies.Among the programs prepared and implemented by the department over a period of three months was an optional training program under the title 'Pioneering Educational Beginnings,' which targeted pre-school and early education teachers and coordinators, awareness workshops for new teachers, in line with the needs of the target group and a workshop for developing students' critical thinking skills, she added.Al Buainain highlighted another workshop titled 'Leadership of Learning Evaluation' that targeted coordinators of the literary and scientific tracks, and pre-school and English language coordinators. The workshop sought to bolster coordinators' capabilities to follow-up and employ the assessment tools to boost the students' educational outputs, she added.The training offered a variety of interactive, group and bilateral activities to enhance the experience of the trainees and provide them with the basic skills to perform their tasks effectively, Al Buainain said.The ministry provided a total of four training programs through 18 training sessions, attended by 2,318 teachers and coordinators, with 96 percent of them having expressed their satisfaction of the outcome of the training.

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and President of the sisterly United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan held an official talks session at the Amiri Diwan Monday.At the beginning of the session, the Amir welcomed the president of the UAE and the accompanying delegation. The Amir congratulated Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan on the 51st National Day of the UAE, hoping that this visit would contribute to the development of joint cooperation relations between the two brotherly countries, pushing it to a broader level.The UAE president expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the Amir for the warm reception and generous hospitality, congratulating Qatar's ongoing hosting of the FIFA World Cup 2022, and its exceptional success in organising and hosting this world championship.During the talks, they discussed the brotherly bilateral relations between the two countries and ways to support and consolidate them in various fields, especially regarding strengthening the bonds of cooperation for the good of the two brotherly people, in addition to strengthening joint Gulf action.They also reviewed the developments of regional and international events and exchanged views on a number of current issues of common concern.His Highness Personal Representative of the Amir Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani, HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, HE Chief of the Amiri Diwan Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, and a number of sheikhs and ministers attended the talks.On the Emirati side, National Security Advisor of the UAE Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed al-Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Court Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al-Nahyan and a number of members of the accompanying delegation attended the talks.His Highness the Amir hosted a luncheon banquet in honour of the UAE president and the delegation accompanying him.Upon arrival at the Amiri Diwan, an official reception ceremony was held for the UAE president.Earlier, His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani led well-wishers to welcome his brother the UAE president upon his arrival at the Amiri Terminal of Hamad International Airport yesterday morning on an official visit to the country.Also present to welcome the president were His Highness the Personal Representative of the Amir Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani, HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, HE Chief of the Amiri Diwan Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman al-Thani and a number of sheikhs.Later in the day, the Amir led the farewell of his brother UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, upon his departure from the Hamad International Airport, along with the accompanying delegation, following an official visit to the country.His Highness the Personal Representative of the Amir, HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, HE Chief of the Amiri Diwan and a number of sheikhs were present at the farewell.

The Shura Council held Monday its regular weekly meeting in Tamim bin Hamad Hall under the chairmanship of HE Speaker of the Council Hassan bin Abdullah Al Ghanim.At the outset of the meeting, HE Secretary-General of the Shura Council Dr. Ahmed bin Nasser Al Fadhala read out the agenda of the session, the minutes of the previous session were also ratified.Afterwards, the Council reviewed draft laws on regulating real estate registration and documentation, referred by the esteemed government. The Council decided to refer it to the Legal and Legislative Affairs Committee for study and to submit a report thereon to the Council.Additionally, the Shura Council reviewed the report of HE member of the Council Yousef bin Ahmed Al Kuwari's participation in the event "Launch of the preliminary Indicators for democratic parliaments" held via videoconferencing on June 9, as well as HE Badi bin Ali Al Badi's participation in the Parliamentary Dialogue Series: Food, Fragility, and Finance held via videoconferencing on the June 22.On the other hand, HE Speaker of the Council briefed the members on the recent meetings held with parliamentary delegations visiting the country. His Excellency said that the country's parliamentarian guests expressed their admiration for the distinguished organisation of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, the comprehensive renaissance the country is witnessing, and emphasised that Qatar has demonstrated its outstanding ability to organise international sporting events at an unprecedented level.

Scattered rain is expected in the country from Wednesday, followed by a shift in wind direction to Northwesterly and a noticeable drop in the temperature, the Qatar Met department has said.In a report yesterday, the weather office said it is expected that the country will be affected by rain of varying intensity, happening intermittently, from tomorrow until Saturday, which may turn thundery at times.The winds will be mainly Southeasterly-Northeasterly, with speeds ranging from 6-16 knots and gusts exceeding 25 knots during thundery rain.Then, it is expected that the winds will shift to Northwesterly on Saturday (December 10) and continue to be so until the middle of the week, accompanied by a noticeable decrease in the temperature. It will feel cooler especially during the night and in the early morning hours. The maximum temperature is expected to range from 19-26C and the minimum from 15-24C, and lower than that in the southern and outer areas, the report states.It is worth noting that this period coincides with the arrival of Al-Marb'aannyeh, which indicates the beginning of the severity of winter and lasts about 40 days.The Met department has called on everyone to receive information from its official sources and not to be led by rumours and unofficial social media accounts.

While the players deliver exciting action on the pitch, a feast of music, dance, art and culture is taking place across Qatar during the FIFA World Cup.Thousands of fans from across the world are enjoying entertainment organised by the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy’s (SC) Cultural Activation Programme, which is hosting local, regional and global artists to add colour and flavour to international football’s showpiece event.Among the artists is Lebanon-born Ricardo Haila, a multi-instrumentalist who has so far performed outside a host of stadiums and other tourist hotspots. We spoke to Ricardo about the origins of his performance and his World Cup experience so far.Tell us about your performance.It is a multi-instrument performance using the qanun, hand pan, Indian tabla and frame drum. I mix Middle Eastern and Western music, so it’s like having a five-in-one performance.Usually, I work with more instruments, but for the World Cup, I went with this mixture. As I am from Lebanon, and I live in France, I wanted to create a common link between these countries through art and music.When did you start performing and how did you develop your act?I started playing drums at the age of 10. In 2013, I began developing my drumming skills in New York. Over the years, I kept adding percussion instruments to enhance my performances.Tell us about your career so far.I am fortunate to say that I have had the opportunity to perform with renowned artists, such as Ziad Rahbany, Michel Fadel, Ramy Ayach, Assi Al Hillani, Walid Toufic, Shada Hassoun, Nawal Al Zoghbi, the Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra, Jihad Akl, Abdou Cherif and Ziad Bourji. I also worked with the Broken Wings Musical and many local jazz artists.I’ve performed in France, New York, Abu Dhabi, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia, but honestly, performing in Qatar for the World Cup is one of my greatest successes.How has your World Cup experience been so far?I’m speechless to be part of the world’s biggest sporting event, doing the thing that I love the most – playing music. I believe a combination of sport and music is what the world needs more of. I’m so thankful to be able to perform in front of people from all over the world, here in Qatar.What has been your favourite part of the tournament so far?Every day has its own little surprise, but my favourite moment was when I performed at the Trophy Tour in the lead-up to the tournament. There were thousands of people and the atmosphere was exceptional. The crowd was gathered in front of the stage and you could feel the excitement and happiness. The view was also amazing, which was a huge plus.How do you feel about performing at the first FIFA World Cup in the Middle East and Arab world?It’s an honour for me. I am Lebanese and I know how it feels and what it means to have the World Cup in an Arab country. We Arabs are very proud. It’s one of our greatest achievements – and the organisation here in Qatar is astonishing.What are you most looking forward to during the tournament?I want international fans to fall in love with Middle Eastern music. Also, to be able to represent my country is really humbling. To be able to create a positive atmosphere where people are making lifelong memories and friends is truly rewarding.How do you feel being a key part of the FIFA World Cup entertainment?Amazing. From the first time I received a message from the SC, my life changed. It’s a combination of emotions, but mostly excitement and happiness. I have worked hard to be where I am now and this is the cherry on top. So far, I can say I have benefited and learned a lot from this experience. Like I mentioned, it’s a beautiful feeling to be a part of this Word Cup, especially because it’s happening here in the Middle East.How has it been interacting with fans from all over the world?As we all know, music unites everyone. My performance has something for everyone. It has that Middle Eastern feel coupled with chart topping songs that will make fans dance as soon as they hear them.Which team are you supporting?Portugal. Cristiano Ronaldo inspired me a lot growing up. To be honest, he is one of the biggest sources of inspiration for me – to see where he began and where he is now. But despite my love for Portugal, I would be thrilled to see an Arab country reach the final.

HE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi met Sunday with HE President of the Qatari-EU Friendship Group in the European Parliament Jose Ramon, who is currently visiting the country to attend parts of the activities associated with the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.The meeting dealt with reviewing the bilateral cooperation relations between the State of Qatar and the European Union, as well as a host of issues of common concern.

The iconic Indian quick service restaurant, Bikanervala has opened in Qatar. Known for its authentic Sweets and Savories, the brand has created a benchmark when it comes to quality and taste from the Indian subcontinent. Bikanervala is a multi-cuisine restaurant and sweet shop founded by the Aggarwal brothers in 1950 and serves vegetarian food Qatar. The fast-food chain restaurant serves North Indian, South Indian, and Indian-Chinese cuisine. The restaurant is now open round the clock and has a special midnight menu. Customers can either dine in or enjoy its offering at home by ordering from Talabat and Rafeeq. Other major delivery platforms will soon be featuring Bikanervala in the coming days.Bikanervala’s vision is to promote Indian cuisine and its heritage worldwide and is focusing on customizing Indian food for the Global Market.It has taken over half a century of focused growth and driven purpose to transform Bikanervala from a traditional sweets & snacks maker to a brand universally recognized as a symbol of great quality and exceptional taste. Today Bikanervala stands for a fresh approach to eating out that combines the best of centuries-old recipes and modern technology. All are welcome is the operating motto.Mornings are about breakfast for the office goers, lunches, evening brunches, all-time snacks, dinner, desserts, and chaats...the entire family can come in to eat and order their individual preference. Menu features contemporary offerings like sandwiches, burgers, and noodles that appeal to the younger demographic while classics like chole bhature, chaats, and pani puri are more to the liking of all.The company has five major production sites in New Delhi, Greater Noida and Rai spread over an area of more than 8,00,000SQFT. All facilities are fully equipped with world-class modern manufacturing and packaging machinery.Bikanervala was also awarded the Times Food Award of Best Sweet Shop in New Delhi and Hyderabad, for the last four consecutive years. It also bagged the best mithai shop Times food award at the annual food Oscar, Delhi. With an annual Turnover of more than $250 Million and over 2000 employees working for the Bikanervala group, the brand has seen consistent and sustainable growth.Serving Deliciousness Since 1905, Bikanervala is operating over 150 outlets across India, USA, Singapore, New Zealand, Nepal, UAE and now Qatar.For a quick look at their menu, you can click on this link https://bit.ly/bikanervalaQA.Bikanervala with its packaged product lineup now makes available traditional Indian sweets and savories to be bought directly off the shelves.Our range of BIKANO Products has been carefully picked to package products for a long shelf-life. All Bikano products are made and packed in our state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities that maintain world-class standards of quality and hygiene.‘Bikano’ features product categories such as Namkeens, Snacks, and Sweets. Papad, Syrups. Winter delights and Gift packs.Bikanervala Qatar is open 24 hours and caters to residents and citizens of Qatar with the brand's promise of quality and rich Indian taste across sweets, street food and so much more. Our customers can walk into the outlet anytime or order online through leading delivery platforms.Also, follow Bikanervala’s social media pages for every day updates and menu specials. Bikanervala Instagram page - https://www.instagram.com/bikanervalaqa/Bikanervala Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/bikanervala

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani led well-wishers to welcome his brother President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan upon his arrival and the accompanying delegation at the Amiri Terminal of Hamad International Airport on Monday morning on an official visit to the country.Also present to welcome President of the United Arab Emirates were Personal Representative of HH the Amir Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al-Thani, HE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, HE Chief of the Amiri Diwan Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani and a number of Their Excellencies Sheikhs.

HE the Minister of Finance Ali bin Ahmed al-Kuwari, HE the Minister of Culture Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad al-Thani, prominent Qatari entrepreneur Hussain Alfardan, noted Qatari poet and diplomat Dr Hassan Ali Hussein al-Nama, HE Issa al-Kuwari and Gulf Times Editor-in-Chief Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka tour Darb Al Saai at Umm Salal Mohamed Sunday.

As the excitement fills up the air at Msheireb Downtown Doha (MDD) with the launch of World Cup activations, a number of fans from across the world have expressed admiration for the smart and sustainable city and the unique experience it offers them.“Msheireb is the beating heart of Doha,” said Mortada al-Saffar from Saudi Arabia. “I’m impressed by the authentic heritage mixed with modernity in buildings. It’s the perfect place to enjoy a wonderful World Cup vibe.”The MDD prides itself on connecting Qatar’s past and present while using sustainable technology to represent the future that the nation is heading towards.International tourists visiting the MDD for the first time are amazed by the unique architecture and accessibility within the city.“The atmosphere of the city is amazing,” said Brazilian fan Natasha Barasanan when asked about her experience. “You can see and hear people from all over the world everywhere.”“It’s so beautiful at night with all the lights, she said. “We were very impressed by the building designs that reflect the Qatari culture.”“It’s very easy to get around and the directions are very clear,” Barasanan added. “People are enjoying (themselves) ... we are enjoying (ourselves) too much.”Heidi Carlos from Mexico commented on how easy it is to move around the city on foot, as there are a lot of maps and volunteers to help.The tram is a sustainable approach to transportation within the city and its distinct design captures attention.“I’ve noticed that Msheireb is a smart city,” Pablo Rodriguez from Argentina commented. “It is always clean and ready to receive visitors. There’s so much happening in the city, it’s different every day.”The MDD's World Cup activations and events can be found in all areas of the district, ranging from exhibitions to cheer zones.

To coincide with the biggest show in Qatar which has kicked off a grand celebration, National Car Company, the sole agent for Mazda in Qatar, has announced a special offer package for the entire 2023 range of sedans and SUVs.The special seasonal offer includes free comprehensive insurance for one year, two years or 30,000km free service (whichever comes first) and free registration on all the latest 2023 models.Customers purchasing 2023 models can take advantage of five years' unlimited kilometre warranty along with five years' roadside assistance, among other customer-friendly purchase packages, a press statement notes.The entire range of Mazda sedans and SUVs is now on display at the state-of-the-art Mazda showroom at Al Nasr, open from 9am-9pm from Saturdays to Thursdays and from 4.30pm to 8.30pm on Fridays.Besides the regular modes of payment, customers can also opt for flexible in-house finance schemes that are subject to credit approval.Announcing the "amazing offers" on Mazda 2023 vehicles, Sathish Nair – general manager, Marketing & Sales for Mazda Qatar, said: “Mazda’s positioning as an affordable premium brand with unique design, innovative technologies, Japanese quality and workmanship are reflected in the model range along with the special offerings in terms of value-added packages. Our team at National Car Company always strives to deliver exceptional customer experience while presenting the 'Pure, New and Elevated Dimensions of Driving Pleasure', ultimately derived by our loyal customers from their favourite Mazda, establishing an enduring and long-term association."Mazda remains the only brand with its entire model line-up available in Qatar exclusively made in Japan with exceptional quality and workmanship, and all Mazda sedans and SUVs have been awarded the 2022 IIHS Safety Pick Plus ratings, a clear indication of Mazda’s human-centric approach in building cars, National Car Company said in the statement.Mazda’s path-breaking SKYACTIV family of technologies lifts performance to new heights and delivers sheer driving pleasure at the same time. "Mazda is constantly looking for ways to increase the efficiency of its engines without sacrificing performance. While most of the automotive world has given up on innovating the internal combustion engine, Mazda believes there is still room for improvement. It is this obsession with squeezing more efficiency through continuous improvements that has led to some of Mazda’s most prolific breakthroughs," the statement explains.Mazda’s "unwavering commitment" to making vehicles that thrill and delight is evident in the driving dynamics derived from the confidence-inspiring i-ACTIV AWD.Meanwhile, the Kodo – Soul Motion design has been redefined by strengthening the low, wide expression of the evolved Mazda identity. Inspired by traditional Japanese crafts, Mazda has pursued minimalist aesthetics - the Less is More concept - free of all non-essential elements. The result is a bold and premium-looking exterior, and an interior that gives all occupants a pleasant feeling.The time-tested Mazda CX-9 is the ultimate blend of stunning sophistication and family SUV. It is the first Mazda to feature the breakthrough SKYACTIV-G 2.5T petrol engine. Delivering class-leading performance with real-world efficiency, the turbocharged engine offers driving excitement felt never in a seven-seat SUV.The Mazda CX-9 Signature grade comes with a sophisticated and luxurious interior. The newly available Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration allows one to access his/her smartphone’s maps, playlists, contacts and compatible apps with the voice-controlled personal assistant, which will also read incoming text messages and allow reply without taking the hands off the wheel.The advanced proactive safety features have been reinforced in the High Plus grade further to the standard and optional features available in the mid and high grades - with Full Speed Mazda Radar Cruise Control, and Smart City Brake Support (front and rear) automatic emergency braking with Pedestrian Detection, etc, being a few.In line with Mazda’s human-centric approach to building cars, the CX-30 has a feeling of oneness that extends beyond the drive. It is a five-seat crossover made for a wide range of fans, especially young people who are approaching significant life transitions. A focus on interior comfort and everyday user-friendliness makes this all-new compact crossover a car for everyone.The proportions of the CX-30 give the compact crossover the freedom to go just about anywhere. It is strong presence, class-leading standard horsepower and available i-Activ all-wheel drive facilitates the ability to be driven effortlessly.All CX-30’s is equipped with a four-cylinder Skyactiv-G 2.0 paired with a quick-shifting Skyactiv-Drive 6 speed automatic transmission. This engine provides a class-leading power output of 155ps at 6,000rpm and 200Nm of torque at 4,000rpm. The compact crossover is equipped with Mazda’s new off-road traction assist feature, which can potentially help the driver when adventuring on uneven terrain.The 2023 model year next-generation Mazda CX-5, which was introduced recently, re-emphasises Mazda’s dream of delivering an SUV that breaks through the traditional trade-off between driving pleasure and passenger comfort.The all-new CX5 comes with a SKYACTIV-G 2.5 direct-injection gasoline engine. paired with the six-speed SKYACTIV-DRIVE automatic-manual transmission. These powertrains provide powerful acceleration delivering power output of 187hp at 5,700rpm and torque of 250Nm at 5,000rpm (AWD).These features are in addition to the existing CX-9 Prestige grade offering a power sunroof, Bose Premium 12-speaker audio system, LED fog lamps and Mazda GPS navigation system.For more information, visit the Mazda showroom, call 44435965/44417859 or visit www.mazda-qatar.com

British PM Rishi Sunak Sunday praised Qatar for hosting an 'incredible World Cup' in a tweet. PM Sunak tweeted: “Hats off to Qatar for hosting an incredible World Cup so far.”He added: “The group stages will be remembered as one of the all-time greats.”The British PM also wished for England in his tweet. He said: “Come on @England keep the dream alive”Hats off to Qatar for hosting an incredible World Cup so far.The group stages will be remembered as one of the all-time greats.Come on @England keep the dream alive #FIFAWorldCup #ENGSENpic.twitter.com/YyLv9Y2VjZ— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) December 4, 2022Qatar is hosting the first-ever FIFA World Cup edition in the Middle East where 32 teams converged in Doha eyeing the game’s biggest title.The tournament, which is using eight venues including seven brand new stadiums, has attracted packed crowds for all of the matches played until Sunday.More than 1m fans have visited Al Bidda Park Fan festival alone in the first two weeks of the November 20-Decemebr 18 tournament.More than 13,000 flights have landed at the Hamad International Airport and the small-sized Doha International Airport which is also being used to tackle high flow of visitors from around the world.Popular British media personality Piers Morgan also praised Qatar.“This Qatar World Cup is turning out to be one of the best ever, on & off the pitch. Not a good development for all the virtue-signalling doomsday merchants,” Morgan tweeted.

Despite the Saudi Arabia team’s exit in the first round of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, fans continue flock to Al Bayt Al Saudi (Saudi House) to watch matches on big screens and explore Saudi’s cultural legacy and art exhibition.Located at the Sheraton Park, Al Bayt Al Saudi gives visitors the opportunity to learn about the Saudi identity and attachment towards football.The venue also houses cultural programmes daily, while the playgrounds allow children and adults to take part in sport activities.Al Bayt Al Saudi boasts of a total of 10 pavilions, in which 21 activities are held.An official said that these are aimed at enriching the fans’ experience in the World Cup.The fan zone hosts fans across the world from 12 noon to 12 midnight.“We receive many fans from Western countries, and they spend time here in Saudi dress with *Ghutra and *Iqal, the traditional headwears,” the official said.The area has dedicated pavilions representing various geographical zones of Saudi Arabia, featuring the cultural specialities of each zone.Many Saudi artists are part of the exhibition, which features live painting, weaving and calligraphy making.Visitors can also take a look at the calligraphy collection on show.“The exhibition here is an opportunity for the artists who can get international visitors here,” said artists Saleh al-Qarni. “The artists try to speak to the world about Saudi’s rich culture and love for the arts.”One of the highlights is a football exhibition on the achievements of Saudi Arabia in international tournaments.The photo exhibition features Saudi football legends.The activities area provides fans with the experience of playing football with the top players via Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality, in addition to the experience of getting photographed with members of the Saudi national team.The area also contains a special store for everything related to collectibles.There are cafes and restaurants that promote Saudi cuisine.

HE the Chairman of Qatar Media Corporation (QMC) Sheikh Hamad bin Thamer al-Thani met Saudi Minister of Commerce and Acting Minister of Media Dr Majid bin Abdullah al-Qasabi, Kuwaiti Minister of Information and Culture and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Abdulrahman Baddah al-Mutairi, and GCC Secretary-General Dr Nayef Falah Mubarak al-Hajraf during their visit to Doha to attend FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 events.The meeting, which was attended by HE the QMC Chief Executive Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Thani bin Khalid al-Thani, touched on the unique World Cup edition presented by Qatar, and the tournament's enormous positive impact on the region and effective role in altering the pervasive stereotype, in addition to a myriad of fruitful discussions on the tournament and the atmospheres accompanying it.The Saudi minister underlined that Qatar has dazzled the world by its success in this great gathering, and lauded the efforts made by the Qatar government to present an exceptional edition of the World Cup.The GCC secretary-general said that Qatar 2022 represents a point of convergence that gathered the Gulf media, and hailed the great and enormous efforts by Qatar to host the tournament and the whole world.HE Sheikh Abdulaziz thanked the ministers for their role in supporting the tournament.The GCC ministers toured a part of Lusail heritage village, the distinguished project with its authentic architectural design that includes images of the Qatari cultural history created by Qatari and foreign innovators, in addition to several various facilities.

HE the Minister of Municipality Dr Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki al-Subaie, HE the Chairman of the Administrative Control and Transparency Authority (ACTA) Hamad bin Nasser al-Misnad, and HE Dr Mohamed Abdul Rahim Kafoud visited the Darb Al Saai headquarters at Umm Salal, accompanied by HE the Minister of Culture Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad al-Thani.They were briefed on a number of heritage and cultural events and learned about Al Shaqab, Darb Al Saai market, Al Bidda, Liwan Art, and the activities of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change.

The group stages of the World Cup saw a staggering 83% rise since the last tournament in goals scored in open play that came from the flanks, a trend Arsene Wenger believes will determine who wins the competition.Discussing a technical analysis of the first round by world governing body FIFA, Wenger, who heads its global football development, said there was a trend of defences protecting the centre of the final third, meaning teams were forced to go down the left and right channels to create chances."The teams block the centre of the pitch, so they open more on the flanks... it means the best teams who have the best wide players have the best chance to win the World Cup," Wenger said in a presentation in Qatar Sunday.Juergen Klinsmann, who is a member of the FIFA Technical Study Group, said the pattern of packing the defence was also impacting the number of attempts to shoot on goal from outside the area."It's really difficult for teams to break through the middle," he said. "Defensive and midfield lines are so close together there's no chance to pull the trigger."That defensive pattern also led to a 33% reduction since the 2018 World Cup in Russia in the number of "take-ons", or players in possession of the ball running at defenders and beating them, while many were being forced out wide.Klinsmann said the data showed this favouring South American teams far more than Europeans."It's their way of doing things. It's the love for the street football games still... the kids take on each other, one against one. So it's not surprising that they're leading on this," he said.Another big change was how often goalkeepers made themselves available to receive passes to their feet, up from 443 times during Russia's group stages to 726 times in Qatar."This means the technical level of a goalkeeper distributing with feet has become a vital element of quality of a team," Wenger said."He is becoming a real part of the team; now they're part of the team, it's the modern part of the team."Wenger said the larger amounts of stoppage time at the end of the matches in Qatar was having little impact on games, but could add to physical demands on players.

Qatar, currently is a great manifestation of the FIFA slogan ‘Football unites the World’- truly and literally. The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 has brought together families, friends and acquaintances with tens of thousands visiting the country.These include former residents who have been away from their families and friends. For Anoop John Alocious, it was a sweet homecoming as he was away from his parents for almost three years. Born and brought up in Qatar, he is currently based in Melbourne as he completed his study and started working there. Since he had left for Australia sometime before the Covid-19 pandemic, this was his longest stint away from his family.Anoop, a football enthusiast right from his early childhood, told Gulf Times: “ I had been away from my parents for such a long time for the first time in my life. After I completed my graduation, I got place in a firm and started working there. It was not possible for me to get leave from the firm. Then I decided that come what may - I must be in Qatar by the time the World Cup starts.”Having arrived in Qatar in the last week of November, Anoop plans to return immediately after the World Cup. He has already watched several matches and plans to attend many more. It was a much-awaited reunion for him and his parents who are working in Qatar Energy and Hamad Medical Corporation.For Ravi Jose Thanickal, another former resident of Qatar, it is a dream come true. Thanickal, who had worked in Qatar for more than 10 years, left the country in 2010.Thanickal, a football fanatic and a die-hard Argentine fan, feels grateful to Qatar for realising his dream of attending World Cup matches in person. “If it was not in Qatar it would have been very difficult for me to attend these many matches. I could also watch my favourite team as well as Lionel Messi playing in front of me. These are some of my great moments and something that I will cherish forever,” he said.Thanickal, with his political, social and family connections, has a large number of friends in Doha and it is also a time for him to meet and greet many of them and renew the ties. “I have already informed my company back in India that I would be back only after conclusion of the tournament. I want to meet all my friends and family members. I don’t want to miss this golden opportunity and want to relish each and every moment with the hope that Argentina will lift the cup in this edition,” he noted.Biju John, general manager at the Mediterranean Shipping Company, is another ardent football fan and during this World Cup he is hosting a number of his friends and neighbours from his village in India.“ It is a great occasion to look back into my past as I started watching World Cup on television in 1986. So the journey that started some 36 years back is completing a full cycle in Doha with the action happening with my presence for several matches. I could also bring several of my friends and family members here through ‘Host a Fan’ platform and it is a great feeling and emotional fulfillment,” said John.He also noted that the World Cup and related activities has rekindled his passion for writing and he has started penning some football experiences through social media platforms.Social media is abuzz with several stories of such reunions and renewal of friendship during this World Cup. A Sri Lankan national, Chandana said that he was meeting his brother after seven years as both of them are in two different countries and due to various reasons could not meet each other. But the World Cup has brought them together.Several others point out that they are in touch with many of their friends whom they had not met for a long time, sometimes beyond a decade.

A considerable number of tourists and fans have flocked to the Qatari deserts during the ongoing FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, stressing that it has been an immensely interesting and unique experience.Some of them told local Arabic daily Arrayah that they enjoyed in particular the sense of serenity, open stretches of sands and the sunset over the dunes, in addition to rides on camels and quad bikes.They pointed out that experiencing the Qatari desert was very different from other places as they enjoyed the good weather and bright sunlight over ample spaces of sands and dunes. Some enjoyed camping near the beaches with open air dinner and swimming in the sea.Dan from Brazil stressed that he and his family enjoyed a completely unique and different experience in the Qatari deserts that exceeded their best expectations, as the trip organiser gave them a feeling of how the older generations used to live in the deserts. He said his trip was very comfortable and convenient as all the amenities and services were provided.Olivia from Ecuador said she lived a new adventure in the Qatari deserts. She pointed out the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 has been an eye opener for people from around the world to this region and its magic and beauty.Michael from the US had an amazing experience and he took some good photos of the sunset over the Qatari dunes. He said that he enjoyed the beaches of Qatar as they surround the deserts, which make the place really distinct.Barak from Russia said he liked the Sealine and Khor Al Udaid as they offer tourists an excellent location and wide variety of activities.

The Security and Safety Operations Committee (SSOC) of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 has begun the security "monitoring" programme in co-operation with the tournament organisers and the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol), Project Stadia.The five-day programme comes within the framework of the SSOC’s international co-operation strategy with the countries that will host the 2026 World Cup (Canada, Mexico and the US), with the aim of transferring Qatari expertise in securing the World Cup, and informing the participants of the security preparations made by Qatar, and the most prominent security strategies used in the tournament.Lieutenant-Colonel Ali Mohamed al-Ali, the executive director of the Office of the chairman of the SSOC and head of the Planning and Follow-up Unit of the committee, presented the stages of security preparations to secure the World Cup, starting with the decision to form the committee and its units and the terms of reference of each unit, and planning for the implementation of the tasks assigned to it and the subsequent procedures.He also reviewed the mechanism and procedures for the work of the security teams responsible for securing the tournament, the training, equipment and courses that were carried out during the previous years, and the most prominent projects and security scenarios that were implemented, as well as the co-ordination mechanisms between the security authorities and other related topics.