Qatar

HE the Minister of Labour Dr Ali bin Smaikh al-Marri said that Qatar is moving forward in developing economic legislation that reflects a future-exploring vision, through the implementation of its National Vision 2030 and related strategies, the application of international labour standards, and the realisation of basic principles and rights at work.Qatar adopted a series of pioneering legislative and institutional reforms in the region, which led to the improvement of working conditions and ensuring a decent living for all labourers, indicating that these reforms included many aspects, the most important of which is the abolition of the sponsorship system, facilitating the job transition process, and providing fair employment through Qatar visa centers, and setting a minimum wage, he said.This came during HE the Minister's speech at the plenary session discussing report of the Director-General of the International Labour Organisation entitled 'Renewed Social Justice for a Human-Centered Recovery', which was held within the framework of the 17th regional meeting of the Asia-Pacific countries, currently in session in the Singaporean capital until Dec 9.HE al-Marri, who is heading Qatar's delegation to the meeting, stated that the Ministry of Labour worked to establish a digital platform for complaints, as the majority of complaints were a result of the delay in the payment of wages and end-of-service benefits. He noted that more than 280,000 workers, or about 13% of the total workforce in the private sector, have had their basic wages increased to the minimum wage.He added that social justice is a basic principle of peaceful coexistence among people, which is what Qatar believes in, stressing that achieving social justice requires the availability of many factors, including: equality, non-discrimination, equal opportunities, and restoring priority to decent work in national, international and multilateral sustainable development strategies, through close co-operation between stakeholders, especially the tripartite bodies that make up the ILO. HE Dr al-Marri stressed that Qatar has taken an effective approach to address the Covid-19 pandemic and its health and economic effects, by taking many measures to ensure social protection for all members of society, noting that this policy mitigated the repercussions of crises and challenges facing the global economy.He stressed that there are new legislation enacted to increase the protection of workers from heat stress, raise awareness of occupational safety and health, update the inspection policy by training labour inspectors, as well as raise awareness among domestic labourers, amplify the voice of labourers and encourage social dialogue, implement digital government initiatives, combat trafficking and forced labour, as well as the creation of a safe and balanced work environment in accordance with the standards of the ILO. HE the Minister revealed that Qatar will host next March, the 5th UN Conference for the Least Developed Countries, to meet the needs and priorities of these countries and contribute to supporting their path towards achieving development in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.He also participated in the high-level session along with the labour ministers, representatives of employers' federations and representatives of labour unions, with the aim of discussing the broad economic context of the labour market in the Asia-Pacific region and the Arab countries, which is reflected through various economic policies and various labour policies which are necessary to promote a human-centered recovery. The four-day conference will discuss the commitment of the production parties regarding joint work priorities that will contribute to shaping the parameters of the activities of the ILO in the Asia-Pacific region and the Arab region in the upcoming years.Qatar's participation in the 17th meeting for Asia-Pacific countries comes within the framework of co-operation with various international organisations in exchanging expertise and experience in the field, and consulting on the implementation and development of various mechanisms, in addition to reviewing the most prominent achievements of Qatar in the labour sector over the past years.

Prime Minister of Kuwait Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Sabah arrived Tuesday in Doha to attend part of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 matches. The Kuwaiti PM and the delegation accompanying him were received upon arrival at Doha International Airport by HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz al-Thani. A number of ministers were also present.

Swiss Pritzker Prize-winning architect Jacques Herzog shared plans for Qatar Museums’ (QM) proposed Lusail Museum at an event at Club Suisse Doha (CSD) on Sunday in recognition of the UN General Assembly International Day of Banks. The forum focused on bilateral relations between Switzerland and Qatar in the areas of business and innovation, as well as cultural exchange, a QM statement said. Hosted by the Swiss ambassador Edgar Doerig, the event was presented under the patronage of the Qatar Central Bank Governor HE Sheikh Bandar bin Mohamed al-Thani.The event was attended by international chairs and CEOs of banks and financial service companies as well as Qatari dignitaries including QM Chairperson HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, and Lusail Museum President, HE Sheikh Dr Abdullah bin Ali bin Saud al-Thani.The Lusail Museum will be constructed in Lusail, the home of Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani, the statesman, diplomat, and poet who was the founder of Qatar. QM is scheduled to break ground on the new Lusail Museum in 2023.Through vast and diverse collections, the Lusail Museum will tell nuanced stories about different groups of people connected across the Indian Ocean, focusing on themes of movement, identity, and exchange, while serving as a forum for much-needed dialogue about global challenges.QM is currently showcasing a special exhibition at QM Gallery Al Riwaq, Lusail Museum: Tales of a Connected World, which previews the vision for the new museum. The exhibition presents plans for the Lusail Museum, its architectural design, and its world-class collection of art. The exhibition sheds light on the past, present, and future of Lusail by showcasing 247 artefacts.The central space in the exhibition is dedicated to the architecture of the new museum. This space is curated by the firm Herzog & de Meuron and presents the design process through wall projections and a large floor installation showcasing working models, concept images, and material samples. The room also includes a newly commissioned model of the Museum. Accompanying Tales of a Connected World are three additional special exhibitions—presented at the Garage Gallery, Fire Station, QM Gallery Katara, and the Museum of Islamic Art—that give additional insights into the scope and viewpoint to be encountered in the new Lusail Museum.The three accompanying exhibitions, which tell diverse stories of the world, are: Experience Al Jazeera, on view at the Garage Gallery, Fire Station; Labour of Love: Embroidering Palestinian History, on view at QM Gallery Katara; and Raku Kichizaemon XV: Jikinyū’ – A Living Tradition of Japanese Pottery, on view at the Museum of Islamic Art, which displays a set of fourteen ceremonial tea bowls inspired by Qatar’s natural environment and people, featuring the poetry of Sheikh Jassim.The Lusail Museum will be located on Al Maha Island, Lusail, complementing the newly opened Lusail Wonderland Park developed in association with Estithmar Ventures and IMG, in collaboration with Qatar Tourism and Qatari Diar, the statement added.

Qatar stressed its belief in the work undertaken by the UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), pointing out that it has strengthened its relationship with the institute through long-term partnerships for 2018, 2019, and 2020 to implement several programmes in vital areas, including training and improving the skills of diplomats in developing countries, international crises management, multilateral diplomacy, and other programs with a contribution from Qatar reaching $1.5mn.This came in a statement delivered by HE Qatar's Permanent Representative to the UN Office in Geneva Dr Hend Abdalrahman al-Muftah, during the 9th Meeting of Friends of UNITAR in Geneva. HE al-Muftah noted that within its strategic partnership with the UN, Qatar was keen to provide various types of support that help the organisation fulfil its tasks and mandate, pointing out that Qatar has actively contributed to international efforts aimed at strengthening international peace and security, achieving development in all its fields, promoting and protecting human rights, and providing humanitarian relief through its initiatives and also through active participation in multilateral international collective action.In this regard, she indicated Qatar's recent efforts to support international endeavours to address the Covid-19 pandemic through its direct support to countries or by providing support to the World Health Organisation (WHO). She added that the UN House in Doha — which will include representative offices of several programmes and specialised agencies of the UN — is scheduled to open soon as an interpretation of the existing partnership between Qatar and the UN, expressing her hope that there would be a representative office of UNITAR among them and that the UN House in Doha would contribute to strengthening the co-operation between Qatar and the UN and enable the organisation to implement its initiatives and activities effectively in the region.HE al-Muftah expressed Qatar's aspiration for Doha to be the capital of multilateral international action, especially in light of the accelerated global and regional changes witnessed by the world today, which require doubled efforts to implement the goals and objectives for which the UN was established. She said that the relationship between the UNITAR and Qatari institutions has developed by signing a partnership agreement with the Doha-based Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Center, a memorandum of cooperation with the International Centre for Sport Security, and a memorandum of understanding with Silatech organisation in the field of training youth for employment.She said that in early November, this partnership was crowned by signing an agreement to launch a postgraduate program with a master's degree in international affairs and public policy in co-operation between Lusail University and UNITAR institute and signing a memorandum of understanding between the UNITAR institute and the Doha-based Global Organisation of Parliamentarians Against Corruption (GOPAC) to launch the global initiative to train more than a thousand parliamentarian to work against corruption, which aims to consolidate the principles of justice and good governance through capacity building.HE al-Muftah explained that under this initiative, parliamentarians would be trained to activate anti-corruption legislation and work to enact new legislations by international best practices by organising training programmes in both Geneva and Doha, as well as passing a guidebook to train parliamentarians in various world countries on how to address the phenomenon of corruption. She expressed Qatar's aspiration to sustain the distinguished relationship and partnership that brings together the Qatari institutions and the UNITAR institute; stressing Qatar's determination as one of the active friends and reliable partners of the UN and UNITAR institute to work on developing this distinguished relationship for more future prospects and work together to implement programmes that will create innovative solutions to urgent international issues, in a way that meets our aspirations to serve humanity, and makes these partnerships a model for positive co-operation that would contribute to changing the lives of many people to the best.

An environmental initiative “Cycle to Recycle” aimed at raising awareness about the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was launched Tuesday, featuring a cycling tour around Msheireb Downtown Doha.The event, organised by UN-Habitat in co-operation with Education Above All (EAA) Foundation, Msheireb and Doha Cyclists, brought together 30 participants from different sectors of society, including Qatari Minister of Sports and Youth HE Salah bin Ghanim al-Ali, Morocco’s Minister of Culture Othman El Ferdaos, UN-Habitat executive director Maimunah Mohd Sharif, EAA Foundation CEO Fahad al-Sulaiti, and Rwandan cyclist Moise Mugisha.UN-Habitat is working in more than 90 countries, including 18 in the Arab region supporting people in cities and human settlements for a better urban future.“The idea why we’re hosting it in Msheireb Downtown because this is a sustainable city, we’re learning about sustainability, promoting good health and wellbeing and we are partnering with the UN agency called UN-Habitat,” EAA Engagement manager George Tavola told Gulf Times.He said the Ooredoo-sponsored event was held on the sidelines of the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar and forms part of EAA’s ongoing ‘Scoring 4 the Goals’ campaign.The campaign calls for action in support of SDGs to encourage people around the world to do their part in bringing about a more peaceful and prosperous future for all.While EAA hosts an array of activities at its pavilion at the FIFA Fan Festival throughout the World Cup, Tavola noted that its latest initiative is an offside activity aimed at promoting recycling through cycling – a carbon-neutral sustainable form of transportation.The cyclists visited a number of green spaces, an electric charging station and Msheireb’s electric tram (to promote electric cars as opposed to carbon-based transport technologies), and museums at MDD to learn more about the history of Qatar.“Cycle to Recycle”, organisers noted, also aims to create a movement that would encourage alternative ways in promoting more sustainable cities, including shedding light on different modes of mobility.EAA’s Creative lead Mubarak Nasser al-Thani said the event underlines the synergies between the entities in Qatar and UN-Habitat to work jointly towards achieving the SDGs and the importance of using alternative sustainable transport such as cycling.Before the start of the cycling tour, Sharif said in her speech: “You might wonder why we mention sustainable development during this event. Football is a mass sport with millions of fans and followers. If people learn about Sustainable Development Goals here, they will know more and will help us achieve more. This means we have higher chances of achieving our Global Goals by 2030.”The event puts a spotlight on SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy), SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth), SDG 9 (industry, innovation, and infrastructure), SDG 11 (inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable cities), and SDG 12 (responsible consumption and production patterns). The participants rode through the streets of Msheireb to explore the features that make the district the world’s first smart and sustainable downtown regeneration project.“EAA is committed to using education to help transform lives and bring about a better world for everyone, and perhaps nothing is more important than sharing knowledge about ways in which on what we can all do in order to bring about a cleaner, healthier future. Learning to take simple every day actions, like cycling, recycling, and conserving energy, will go a long way in Scoring 4 the Sustainable Goals,” EAA CEO Fahad al-Sulaiti said in a statement.“Scoring 4 the Goals” underscores the value of football in enhancing sustainable development, peace, tolerance, inclusion, and climate action. The campaign was launched three months ago at the UN General Assembly in New York, and is ongoing throughout the World Cup 2022 tournament, with daily activations and engaging discussions.Msheireb Properties Marketing and Communications’ director Dr Hafez Ali Ali said the event takes place in the heart of Doha, at MDD, the sustainable eco-friendly city district that is equipped with smart facilities while embodying the true Qatari heritage.He noted that MDD is now a role model for modern sustainable cities, in line with Qatar’s ambitious strategy to tackle the climate change challenge, and achieve low carbon emissions.“We are proud that we are leading a new norm in the construction sector, and honoured to share our knowledge and expertise in this field to collaborate together in accomplishing the UN’s SDGs,” Dr Ali said.

The reputation of Doha Metro staff have risen to stardom levels among FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 fans and tourists, who have heaped praise on them while lauding the pivotal role that Qatar Rail is playing in ensuring smooth transportation to stadiums and various tourist destinations.“We are glad that our determination and dedication pay us back,” a metro staff member at Al Wakra station told *Gulf Times. “We earn much praise everywhere while serving passengers.”For the Doha Metro staff, serving at the stations is not a just a job.“We are proud that we facilitate the smooth organising of a crucial component of the mega event,” said another staff member, on duty at Umm Ghuwailina station. “We enjoy guiding the fans, managing the crowd and checking the cards. This can’t be smoothly done without dedication and attention. Passion, rather than anything else, drives us.”The Doha Metro serves fans 21 hours a day from Saturday to Thursday and 18 hours on Friday, with shorter train headway times and increased operational capacity and more than 5,000 additional staff deployed to serve the tournament.Abubakr Abbass, a 23-year-old metro staff member from Kenya, drew much attention while using a creative method of directing people to the metro station.His video of guiding the fans while sitting on a tennis-umpire chair and armed with a large foam finger and a megaphone went viral on social media.The Kenyan was later invited as a special guest at the match between England and the US at Al Bayt Stadium.Abbas's performance had a wide impact on the staff, with most of the stations started to witness staff members dancing and singing while managing the crowd in a creative way.Various catchphrases like “Metro? This way”, “Stadium? This Way”, “Airport? This Way” and “Fan Zone? This Way” started to strike a chord with the fans and tourists.“Many (commuters) echo our announcements and love to take selfies with us while heading to the stations or exiting,” said a metro man at Al Bidda station.“They are doing the job amazingly and make things easy for us,” said Canadian fan Chris Dorrington. “The credit of ensuring smooth transportation goes to the metro staff.”“Qatar’s metro is much nicer than most of the metros across the world,” noted Abraham Schewel while praising the services of metro and its staff. “It’s a nice place to see people and cheer for the teams.”The Doha Metro and the staff are prepared to deal with any expected influx of crowds during the tournament, with the number of trains having been increased from 75 to 110 for continuous service during the World Cup.As part of the preparations, training programmes and drills were held ahead of the tournament.

QNB Group, the Official Middle East and Africa Supporter of the FIFA World Cup 2022, presented match tickets and an unforgettable experience to Najira Noushad, a traveller, blogger and a dedicated supporter of Argentine’s team to attend during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. Football fan, Najira, drove over 3,000km from Kerala to Doha to attend this "once in a lifetime event."The bank celebrated Najira’s journey along with her family and presented her with match tickets as well as a day at Qatar’s recent entertainment hotspot, Winter Wonderland, courtesy of QNB. In recognition of her determination to attend her favourite team’s game, QNB offered Noushad and her family tickets to attend matches of Argentine’s national team and to attend the last 10 minutes of the game from the pitch.As part of QNB Group's continued celebration of the World Cup, this initiative celebrates fans from all over the world that are eager to experience the tournament regardless of challenges.QNB Group, currently ranked as the most valuable bank brand in the Middle East and Africa, is proud to be the Official Middle East and Africa Supporter of the FIFA World Cup 2022. Through its subsidiaries and associate companies, the Group extends to more than 30 countries across three continents providing a comprehensive range of advanced products and services. The total number of employees is 27,000 operating through 1,000 locations, with an ATM network of more than 4,700 machines.

Katara, the Cultural Village has continued to present a diverse panorama of events and activities within its festive programme for the ongoing FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, with a remarkable presence of visitors, comprising tourists of various nationalities and football fans. The murals on Katara buildings have become a favourite background for many to take selfies and photos. Joseph, a fan from France said: “I was very impressed by these murals, as I am a fan of graffiti art. I also admired the sculptures and works of art scattered throughout the Katara.” Mario from Argentina said: “Katara is magical and beautiful. We took a lot of photos, whether with people or with these beautiful works of art. I also loved the architecture, its view of the sea, and diverse and luxurious buildings.” Naomi from Ukraine said: “The beauty is that you can learn about many things at the same time at Katara, such as the culture of the people of the country and other cultures, in addition to getting to know the local cuisine and its delicious dishes, and meeting people of various nationalities. Personally, I loved the art exhibitions and the interest in presenting the local culture in the best way.” Dr Najeeb Nazim, the general supervisor of Katara Oud Centre said: “We offer three daily sessions for the public to enjoy Oud recitals of famous artists Siddiqui, Najib Nazim, Riad Boualem, Mohamed al-Sulaiti, Faisal al-Najm.We will also present two lectures on the history of the Oud, in which we will discuss the various stages during the 5,000 years of the history of this ancient instrument.” On Wednesday at 7pm at Katara Oud Centre's headquarters in Building 6 there will be a special concert with the participation of a group of well-known musicians, he added. Near the model of the largest sports shoe in the world, the activities of the Qatar Society of Engineers were launched - "Football and Sports Engineering". It includes a variety of activities for children and adults which assess the performance of football players by tracking the movement of players. Parents can obtain a report about their children’s football skills after conducting simple tests using artificial intelligence. Many major sports institutions and companies are participating in these events, including Paris Saint-Germain, Lusail Football Academy, Asura, and N S A Tech, the latter two specialising in Artificial Intelligence. In Building 46 there is an exhibition of rare watches from international brands and dating back to different periods of time, in addition to paintings, books, and clippings from old and new newspapers and magazines about watches. The Katara Publishing House is scheduled to launch 22 books it published on the occasion of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, Wednesday afternoon, in Building 18, along with eight books, including those translated into English. Further, the visitors to Katara watch daily, starting at 3.30pm, a military show presented by the Military Show Centre and the Qatari Armed Forces Music Battalion on the Katara waterfront.

Thousands of World Cup fans to Qatar can easily meet their forex needs as exchange houses across the country have sufficient stocks of all major currencies, sources said Tuesday.“Qatar Central Bank has ensured that no visitor from abroad faces difficulty in obtaining forex, especially major currencies such as dollar, pound and euro,” an exchange house official told Gulf Times.Since the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 kicked off, there has been increasing needs for foreign currency, mostly from visiting football fans, noted K N S Das, Trust Exchange general manager.“We have been able to meet their needs. We have seen greater demands for Qatari riyal and other major currencies since mid-November,” Das told Gulf Times Tuesday.An industry source said he has not heard of any major issues such as currency shortage since the commencement of the greatest sporting spectacle in Qatar on November 20.Although the purchase and sale of foreign currencies by the exchange houses moderated during 2020 with sales exceeding purchases in view of the pandemic, the situation will have improved in 2021 and this year.The decline in remittances also contributed to the moderation in salesand purchases of foreign currencies that year.But the opening of borders and resumption of air travel meant a huge demand for foreign currency, which is now felt in exchange houses across the country.A resident told Gulf Times that during the summer vacation this year he was not able to get dollar from currency traders at the airport.“But that situation has changed now. Foreign currency is now available, which is helping football fans from across the globe,” he said.Qatar is hosting the most compact edition of FIFA World Cup in modern history. All eight stadiums are within one hour’s drive of central Doha, meaning fans and players will always be in the thick of the action.This year’s tournament, which culminates on December 18 – Qatar’s National Day – is the 22nd edition of international football’s showpiece event – and the first to take place in the Middle East.

Citizens and residents of GCC countries will be allowed to enter Qatar without the need to obtain a Hayya Card for non-match ticket holders, through all points of entry, in accordance with the normal entry procedures, the Ministry of Interior announced Tuesday.The ministry explained, in a statement, the entry mechanism through all entry points, noting that citizens and residents of the GCC countries arriving in Qatar by air will be able to enter without requiring registration via the Hayya platform, effective as of Tuesday.As for those arriving through the border crossing points using buses and various means of land transportation, the statement said transportation by buses will be available to all travelers through the land border crossing, as usual, and the parking will be allocated to visitors without a fee.GCC nationals and residents arriving through the land border crossing by their own vehicles will be able to enter the country as of December 8. They must apply for a permit on the website of the Ministry of Interior at least 12 hours before travel; the permit does not require any fee.The Ministry of Interior confirmed that this step was taken in the context of the State's efforts to provide an opportunity for visitors, citizens and residents of the GCC countries, to enjoy the atmosphere accompanying the matches of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and its entertainment activities during the remainder of this tournament and to facilitate the entry mechanism through all border points, to join hundreds of thousands of fans in stadiums, dedicated fan zones and live screening areas, to watch the world's famous football players.The ministry said that fans who wish to see the matches live in a stadium must register via the Hayya online platform.

Visitors and guests of the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar have been experiencing a distinctive cultural and tourism experience at Katara Cultural Village. Among the key attractions are pavilions of the countries participating in the traditional dhow festival on the Katara Beach, amid an atmosphere rich in maritime heritage.Nine countries are participating in the 12th edition of the Katara Traditional Dhow Festival – which coincides with the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and runs until December 18.Among the pavilions is the Iraqi House with its various activities that are drawing the interest of visitors. On display are traditional crafts and handicrafts such as carpets and palm fronds, in addition to various exhibits related to the marine heritage in Iraq.Meanwhile, the superviser of the Omani House said: “As a whole, the Omani participation is distinguished at the Katara Traditional Dhow Festival, whether in relation to the exhibits of the Omani House pertaining to the Omani maritime heritage or the famous Omani sweets industry, as well as the presence of a number of craftsmen specialised in Al Tawasha - fishing tools. We also have an Omani folk band, which continuously presents a show that draws the admiration of the audience.”The Tanzanian House provides the public with an insight into the marine heritage of the African country.One of the participants at their pavilion said: “We provide visitors with everything related to the sea and fishing, whether in terms of jewellry or clothes and bags, as well as handicrafts related to women's adornment in particular. There are also some pictures and drawings inspired by the culture of Tanzania. Our boothis witnessing a great turnout of people from different nationalities.”The Zanzibar pavilion superviser added: “We participate in the Katara Traditional Dhow Festival every year. We provide visitors with live performances of painting and traditional crafts in Zanzibar related to fishing and sea work, which show that we share a common heritage and history with other countries of the region.”The Katara Traditional Dhow Festival features a number of pavilions that offer various activities of an artistic, cultural and commercial nature. The Palestinian pavilion presents a scene inspired by the traditional Palestinian life with a group of women preparing traditional bread. This pavilion is highly popular with international visitors, a press statement notes.Traditional dresses at the festival also attract visitors, while the heritage photography pavilion sees women, men and even children take souvenir photographs wearing the Qatari dress.Traditional marine crafts are also attracting audiences. These include the making of medicines for fishing, live in front of the audience, and the craft related to the manufacture of ships and boats (Qalaf), which occupies a prominent position among traditional industries for their various types and uses in fishing and diving, pearls and trade, in addition to other folk crafts such as palmettes, wooden items, blacksmithing, spinning industry (fishing nets), ropes, gargoyles (metal cages) and the manufacture of other ancient marine artifacts.

Prime Minister of the State of Kuwait Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah arrived Tuesday in Doha to attend part of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 matches.Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and the accompanying delegation were received upon arrival at Doha International Airport by HE Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al-Thani.A number of Their Excellencies the Ministers were also present.

Al Jazeera submitted the case of slain journalist Shireen Abu Akleh to the International Criminal Court Tuesday, saying the veteran reporter was deliberately killed by Israeli forces.The Qatar-based television channel said it had "unearthed new evidence" on the "brutal" death of the Palestinian-American, shot while covering an Israel army raid in Jenin in the occupied West Bank on May 11."My family still doesn't know who fired that deadly bullet and who was in the chain of command that killed my aunt," her niece Lina Abu Akleh told a press conference in The Hague."The evidence is overwhelmingly clear, we expect the ICC to take action," she said, adding that they had asked for a meeting with prosecutor Karim Khan.The ICC, which was set up in 2002 as a war crimes court of last resort, last year launched a probe in the Palestinian territories.But Israel is not an ICC member and disputes the court's jurisdiction.The ICC prosecutor's office confirmed that it "has received the communication from Al Jazeera Media Network" but that it did not comment on individual submissions.US opposesThe United States said Tuesday it opposed Al Jazeera taking the killing of Abu Akleh to the International Criminal Court, renewing objections to investigations involving Israel."We oppose it," State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters.

The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) and the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have recently signed an agreement to implement the CDC Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP) in Qatar.The agreement aims to strengthen Qatar's healthcare system, as well as to ensure bolstering growth and excellence in all basic public health areas, capacity building, and exchange of expertise in various fields of public health.As part of the agreement implementation, a CDC delegation of experts visited Qatar recently to assess training needs and develop joint action plans.During the consultative visit, the technical and training needs of the health sector in Qatar were assessed to provide a deeper understanding of the country's public health system, including disease surveillance mechanisms, targeted training sector, supervisory and teaching capabilities.During the visit, several important activities were organised, including meetings of the visiting delegation with representatives of MoPH departments and sections and representatives of the entire healthcare sector in Qatar, in addition to field visits to relevant government, healthcare and academic institutions.The FETP is being implemented worldwide and aims to build the core capacity of the public health workforce, strengthen programs for disease surveillance, outbreak response and prevention, and public health protection.The MoPH said that the success of the program in Qatar will support the implementation of plans to create a national workforce equipped with the necessary tools and field skills and develop innovative and practical solutions to respond to and monitor disease outbreaks.

The Shura Council participated in a parliamentary symposium entitled "Creating a safe cyberspace for democracy", organised by the Inter-Parliamentary Union in cooperation with the United Nations Ad Hoc Committee to elaborate a comprehensive international convention on countering the use of information and communications technologies for criminal purposes.The Shura Council was represented in the symposium, which was held via visual communication technology, by HE Dr. Mohammed bin Butti Al Abdullah, member of the Council.The symposium discussed a number of topics related to cybersecurity, raising awareness of the risks and consequences of cybercrime and critical infrastructure, exchanging good parliamentary practices and effective policies in the field of countering cybercrime, and ways to protect citizens in cyberspace to be included in the agreement.

Ministry of Interior announces that citizens and residents of GCC countries will be allowed to enter the country through its various ports without a Hayya card for non-ticket holders as of today, Tuesday, December 6, 2022.For citizens and residents of GCC countries:* Entry through airports without a Hayya card, starting today* Entry through the land port using buses as in normal conditions, with the allocation of free parking spacesCitizens and residents of GCC countries can enter through the land port using private vehicles as of Dec. 8, after applying for an entry permit on MOI website 12 hours before the travel date, without the condition of paying the prior entry permit fees for vehicles.

The Permanent Representative of Qatar to the United Nations in cooperation with the permanent delegate of the Principality of Monaco, held friendly football matches in the North Lawn of the United Nations headquarters in New York, in celebration of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.The joint organisation of this event between the delegations of Qatar and the Principality of Monaco, which is being held for the first time in the history of the United Nations, comes due to their co-chairing of the Group of Friends of Sport concerned with sport and sustainable development.The event was attended by a large number of permanent representatives of Member States, heads of accredited diplomatic missions, and United Nations staff.HE the Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani inaugurated the matches in which four teams participated, representing the European and African group, the Asia and the Pacific group and the Americas and the Caribbean group.The Asia-Pacific Group team won the championship and was honoured with the trophy presented by HE Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani, while the other three teams received souvenirs related to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

French fans hailed the atmosphere in which the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 is taking place and the good organisation of the global event.The fans, who are six friends, told Le Monde newspaper they were surprised by the high-quality organisation, and the level of security and safety in Qatar, adding that it has dispelled their misconceptions about Doha.If one forgot his wallet on the table, he will find it where he forgot it, they told the correspondent.The paper said that the French fans had doubts and concerns about an expected mistreatment in Doha based on the wide-spread campaigns against Qatar. However, as soon as they arrived in Doha, they kept praising the wonderful atmosphere in the country.The fans added they first felt ashamed to tell their friends about plans to visit Qatar, and thought of cancelling their tickets.However, all disinformation promoted against this country is nonsense, the conditions in Qatar are more flexible, and the festive atmosphere of the World Cup is enjoyable, they told the newspaper.The report hailed Qatar's World Cup hosting as accurate and flawless, amid a unique mix of cultures.

While many football fans continue to enjoy the wide variety of Arabic food in Qatar, the FIFA World Cup 2022 is also showcasing the diverse culinary scene across the country.“The food I have eaten until now is mostly burgers and pizzas, because I am from Saudi Arabia and I haven’t eaten traditional food here since it’s the same,” Mishaal Alsabti told *Gulf Times, adding that he find it easy to look for the cuisines he likes in Qatar since arriving two weeks ago.He said he also spent time visiting places in the country such as the Katara – the Cultural Village, Lusail city, Msheireb Downtown Doha, and Souq Waqif, which have been attracting a large number of football fans since the start of the international tournament on November 20.Like Alsabti, it is learnt that many visitors from neighbouring GCC countries such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, and the UAE have been spending a longer period in Qatar to experience the tournament and try the numerous food offerings.Mohamed F from Oman said that while he prefers Italian food such as pasta and pizza over other international cuisines, he still craves for American burgers and is thankful that it is widely available in Qatar.“I love to visit Souq Waqif and Msheireb because I can just dine anywhere ... you can’t go wrong,” he said. “Everything is authentic but restaurants are always full.”“Of course there are a lot of international restaurants and coffee shops at the malls and shopping centres,” he added.Travellers who just visited other countries in the Gulf, like Cathy from Estonia, said she has tried Indian food, shawarmas, Arabic hummus, and falafels “and other kinds of stuff”.“But the choices here are very diverse, with a lot of different cuisines on offer, so I don’t have enough time to try everything,” she said.About her experience in Qatar in general, Cathy noted that “with the Hayya card, everything is easy, it is working perfectly well”.She cited Qatar and the region’s high level of safety and security, saying that “there are no issues so far”.Many football fans find it convenient to visit popular dining destinations across Doha via public transportation, particularly the Doha Metro, connecting one location to another.Choi from South Korea said she enjoyed riding the metro while exploring Doha, having lunch at City Center Doha, and dinner at Villaggio Mall with her compatriot.“For Arabic food we head to Souq Waqif because it is highly recommended based on the discussions online, and many fans are celebrating there in the evening after a match,” she said.Whether the South Korean team wins or not, she said she will be spending a few more days in Qatar to visit other places and try other cuisines and beverages, especially Indian and Filipino food.

Arab fans are upbeat and celebrating every moment with the Moroccan national team set to take on Spain at Education City Stadium Tuesday at 6pm.Lions de l’Atlas (Atlas Lions) is the lone Arab team still in the first World Cup in the Middle East.This is also the first time since 1986 that a North African country has entered the last 16 stage.The fans, most of them Moroccans, are thronging streets, fan zones and markets where they cheer for their team.“We are hopeful that our team will enter the quarter-finals, beating Spain,” Moroccan fan Issam Laabi told *Gulf Times.Moroccans in Qatar are feeling the love from all over the Arab world ahead of their match against Spain.Most of the fans of teams Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Tunisia are supporting Morocco after their squads exited the World Cup during the first round.“Our country is representing the whole Arab world in the second round,” said Noureddine Ameur. “And we feel the love and support of our Arab brothers in Qatar and across the world. Our players will achieve what we want while meeting our expectations in the tournament.”For many Moroccans, PSG player Achraf Hakimi and Chelsea star Hakim Ziyech are the favourites.“Indeed, both players are in good form and the duo will take our team to the next level. We support our team with our soul and body,” Laabi said.Fans said that Morocco is making steady progress while improving their performance after every match.“We have a good team of strikers, midfielders and defenders, whose performance level is going up,” said Dinia Illies. “Being Arabs, they have a feeling of being home.”Monday Souq Waqif, Katara – the Cultural Village and fan zones across Qatar witnessed Moroccan fans who celebrated with songs, dancing and cheering.“We got every reason to celebrate since our team has added an incredible achievement to its credit,” Laabi added.The Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported Monday that the Moroccan squad is entering the match with high spirits, after having topped Group F with seven points, surpassing Belgium, Croatia and Canada, to repeat their 1986 World Cup achievement."Being the only Arab representative in the knock-out stage, the Moroccan squad is looking tomorrow for their fifth victory in World Cup finals,” the QNA said. “Morocco's first victory in the World Cup came in the 1986 edition in Mexico, when they defeated Portugal 3-1.”“Then it was 12 years before they achieved their second victory by defeating Scotland 3-0 in the 1998 edition in France,” the QNA added. “And now they have defeated Belgium and Canada in the current World Cup edition."