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International Trade Centre (ITC) launched the LDC Trade Report 2023: Improving Food Security Monday during the Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5).At a press conference, ITC officials said that trade can increase the availability and affordability of food in least developed countries where more than 60% of people deal with food insecurity – twice as much as in developing countries, and six times as much as in developed countries.In the context of increasing global instabilities, the new report by ITC and UNOHRLLS, the lead United Nations agency supporting least developed countries highlights trade policy options to help them work towards sustainable, trade-led development, in the face of crises.ITC executive director Pamela Coke-Hamilton explained that least developed countries continue to depend on commodity exports almost twice as much as other developing countries, and they continue to be more vulnerable to global instabilities."We as the global community have to do more, and we have to do better. This joint report highlights concrete policy actions we can take to make a difference for them,” she said.Heidi Schroderus Fox, executive secretary LDC5 conference and Julia Spies from ITC were present at the event. The report highlights two main groups of trade policies to help least developed countries strengthen their resilience: improving market access for food imports and tapping into alternative sources of food supplies.The reports suggests that trade, if well-managed, can be a tool to tackle the root causes of obstacles holding least developed countries back. Investing in building the capacity of small businesses – which make up 95% of jobs in LDCs to sell in regional and international markets that can drive trade-led development.According to the report, the least developed countries currently impose a 17% tariff on food imports, while developing and developed countries levy 15% and 8%, respectively. ITC surveys in 17 least developed countries from 2010-2022 show that regulatory and procedural obstacles can complicate food imports.Another aspect is that LDC food importers face challenges connected to customs valuations, customs surcharges and merchandise handling or storing fees. Tackling these challenges will reduce delays and costs and help channel essential items quickly to where they are most needed.Another aspect of the study is tapping into new resources of food supply. “While on average LDCs import food from 77 distinct suppliers, developing and developed countries source their food from 117 and 163 partners. For certain products, such as rice or vegetable oils, almost four-fifths of total LDC imports come from only one or two suppliers,” the report said.According to the report, policies aimed at improving the links between trade and food security would look at factors such as diversification of suppliers and strengthening of regional agri-food value chains to increase resilience in light of global instabilities.The report has suggested about strengthening LDCs’ trade through global partnerships. It continues that unfavourable import procedures, dependence on few suppliers, and the lack of regional value chains are all part of a wider problem as least developed countries only account for about 1% of global trade, despite the target to double their share of global exports by 2020.

The Doha Programme of Action (DPoA) has set a new target to enable additional 15 least developed countries to meet the graduation criteria by the end of this decade, a senior official noted Sunday.Speaking at a session of the fifth UN Summit of the Least Developed Countries (LDC5), Rabab Fatima, high representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States and the secretary-general of LDC5, said the UN formally recognised the LDCs in 1970 and a list was approved the next year.“This marked the beginning of the partnership between the LDCs and the developed partners. The conference happening in every decade has a common objective to put global attention on the most vulnerable countries. At the outset, there were only 25 LDCs and it peaked to 52 in 1991,” said Fatima.The official stressed that the delegates have gathered in Doha with the renewed determination to provide every person in every LDC a fair chance to succeed in life.“The Istanbul Programme of Action for the decade 2011-2022 set an ambitious target to graduate half of the LDCs by 2020. Although the target was not reached, remarkable progress was made. Four LDCs graduated in the time period and 15 more are in the pipeline for graduation. DPoA has set a new target to enable additional 15 countries to meet the graduation criteria by the end of this decade,” the official explained.She pointed out that progress took place in some other areas, too. “ In 1980, the average GDP growth in the LDCs was 3.1%, which reached 7.4% in 2005. However, it fell to 1.9% in 2021 due to the impact of Covid-19. From $284 in 1980, the GDP per capita of the LDCs reached $1,150 in 2021 and the total share of exports increased from 0.52% in 1990 to 1% now,” Fatima said.“Each one of these data represents real lives and livelihoods, hopes, dreams and opportunities. Although progress was made, it remains uneven within the group. Many LDCs, especially those in Africa, continue to face systemic challenges. And the inequalities between the developed world and the LDCs have further widened. The technological innovations and unfavourable global economic conditions have made the situation worse,” she lamented.According to Fatima, over 69% of the worldwide deaths caused by climate-induced disasters occurred in the LDCs. “And yet, the LDCs account for only 1.1% of the global emissions. Historically, the rules of development were stacked unfairly against the LDCs. Covid-19, conflicts in different part of the world and the cascading food impact and financial crisis are all affecting the LDCs most disproportionately."These overlapping crises have severally impacted the LDCs and delayed their journey towards achieving the 2030 agenda,” she noted.“Despite all the challenges, we arrive in Doha with the hope that solidarity will have its stay. Addressing the challenges of the LDCs is not a moral imperative but an economic and political one, too. We have come to the Doha conference with the DPoA already adopted in 2022 and in implementation for over a year. If we can bring to fruition the commitments, targets and the deliverables of the DPoA, we can put the LDCs to transformative journey towards rapid economic growth and sustainable development,” Fatima added.

The inaugural Earthna summit aims to raise global challenges in sustainability and provide directions in meeting these challenges and help build new sustainability pathways for countries with similar climate to Qatar.The Earthna Summit organised by the Earthna Centre of Qatar Foundation (QF) in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, is under the theme, ‘Building New Sustainability Pathways for Hot and Arid Environments.’The summit– aiming to be carbon-neutral – takes place from March 8–9 at Msheireb Downtown Doha. The details of the summit were disclosed Sunday at a press conference by Dr Gonzalo Castro de la Mata, executive director of Earthna; Saad al-Hitmi, acting director of the Climate Change Department at the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change and Habes Howail, external relations manager, CEO Office, QF.Al-Hitmi said:“The summit will provide a unique opportunity for the citizens and residents of Qatar to interact and promote sustainable practices and encourage their adoption. It will also focus on the unique challenges facing countries with difficult climatic conditions that are similar to the climate of Qatar. Hence, we will discuss these issues with such countries and work collectively to find solutions to the common challenges.”“I affirm the commitment of Qatar in addressing these challenges and continuing our search for the best ways to solve them. I like to highlight the distinguished record enjoyed by Qatar in the field of climate action, both at the local and global levels,” he added.The summit will see climate change and sustainability experts as well as policymakers, and those with indigenous knowledge of hot and arid climates from around the world, come together to share knowledge, ideas, and solutions on the planet’s most pressing environmental issues.“The Earthna Summit 2023 builds on our work in Qatar by convening stakeholders from across the world to share research and innovation, their lived experiences, their indigenous knowledge, and their ideas and solutions related to sustainability in hot and arid environments,” Dr Castro de la Mata, said.“Throughout the summit, there will be a focus on humanity’s historical connection with the environment, and how we can apply the indigenous practices that our ancestors used to address challenges that existed in their time, to current global thinking on sustainability and climate change,” he added.The summit will feature the Earthna Village, a public area at Baharat Msheireb displaying items and methods from different countries that are part of humanity’s cultural heritage, with an agora space hosting interactive talks and workshops.The summit aims to turn global sustainability conversations in the direction of hot and arid environments, reflecting that such global discussions have long been shaped by issues relevant to tropical and temperate countries – leading to a perception that hot and arid countries, and in particular those with desert environments, are less relevant to sustainability. It will seek to challenge this understanding and build new sustainability pathways for countries with similar climates to Qatar.It will also highlight the impacts of climate change on countries with hot and arid climates and their critical adaptation needs, and explore the positive contributions that countries such as Qatar can make towards energy transition and addressing climate change.“An area such as the Arabian Gulf is located in a desert environment and its biodiversity is different from others, so its path toward a sustainable future will also differ, and the journey of each country and each environment will be unique and requires pursuit in various paths, including cultural, environmental and social sustainability,” added, Howail.

Close on the heels of the highly-successful FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, the Qatar Football Association (QFA) is preparing to host a number of prominent football events in the coming period, including the AFC Asian Cup in January-February 2024.“Hosting the 2022 World Cup was the major milestone for us so far. The world continues to move and we continue with our efforts towards the next goals. We have lined up several events in the coming months and will be hosting the Asia Cup from January 2024,” said Mansour Mohamed al-Ansari, secretary-general, QFA.Al-Ansari was speaking to Gulf Times on the sidelines of the seventh Medical Conference organised by the Asian Football Confederation, QFA and Aspetar – Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital.“We are also going to hopefully host the Olympic qualifiers for the under-23s sometime soon. We are very proud to be a sports hub in the region as the sporting world is in continuous evolution and development and we are very excited about it,” he continued.The official said the Qatar national team will participate in several high-profile events in the coming months. “We look forward to the best participation of our national team in many competitions. Our national team is going to participate in the Gold Cup in the summer this year in North America, and is also getting ready for the Asian Cup in January next year. We also have a lot of plans, which will be revealed in due course,” he added.

The 7th Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Medical Conference began at Westin Doha Saturday with the participation of a large number of experts in sports medicine.Organised by AFC, Aspetar - Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital and Qatar Football Association (QFA), the opening ceremony was attended by several dignitaries, including Mohamed Khalifa al-Suwaidi, director-general, Aspetar; Mansour Mohamed al-Ansari, secretary general, QFA; Dr Abdualaziz Jaham al-Kuwari, CEO of Aspetar; Windsor John, AFC general secretary; Hani Taleb Ballan, executive committee member, QFA, and CEO of Qatar Stars League; and Dr Gurcharan Singh, chairperson, AFC Medical Committee, among others.Al-Suwaidi said Aspetar is playing an active role in supporting football medicine expertise. He explained: “Aspetar has worked closely with the AFC with the intent of raising the bar from a global perspective, to illustrate the importance of research, football medicine expertise and practices that will help support all football clubs to perform at the highest level. We hope that the expertise shared over these few days will even be the playing field so that all participants can learn and apply evidence-based football medicine practices and research that the many distinguished scheduled speakers present.”Themed 'Football and Sports Medicine – Celebrating Diversity', the conference aims to empower participants to manage numerous football-related medical situations.John said: “The AFC, through its Vision and Mission, has put the success of our players and teams, at the heart of all our efforts and the development of sports science and medicine and the well-being of our players are crucial to the success of Asian football. In recent times, we have seen greater focus placed on mental health and the use of big data and technology in strengthening the decision-making process. In essence, the latest trends further underline the need to adopt a multi-disciplinary approach in our efforts to ensure the best possible outcomes for our teams and players.”The event brings together close to 120 renowned sports medicine and science professionals from the AFC, FIFA, UEFA, CONMEBOL, Confederation of African Football, International Olympic Committee and Aspetar to share their knowledge on 150 of the latest scientific medical advances with physicians, allied healthcare practitioners, nurses and pharmacists, among others.“This conference is an impactful and valuable event from the AFC. Holding this conference shows Qatar’s commitment to the sports people in making available the best and latest practice in sports medicine,” noted al-Ansari from QFA.More than 600 delegates will learn more about sports science and medicine’s latest challenges, best practices and cutting-edge developments via keynote addresses, lectures, symposia, poster presentations and clinical workshops.“It is a great honour to host this conference for the first time in Qatar and continue to work for the development of football in the country. We are committed to provide the latest research, expertise and practices so that the footballers can perform their best. We believe that the speakers and experts in the conference will share their expertise and knowledge to help the participants to work for the realisation of the full potential of the players,” said al-Kuwari in his welcome address.The conference, endorsed by the United Kingdom’s 'British Journal of Sports Medicine' for the first time, will also highlight the return of football after the Covid-19 pandemic and the game’s progress in terms of diversity and inclusion.The 3rd AFC Medical Awards will be held in conjunction with the conference proper tomorrow to celebrate the efforts and contributions of medical professionals in pushing the game forward.

Over half a billion people globally are under the threat of starvation due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, Ukrainian ambassador to Qatar Andrii Kuzmenko said Monday.“Ukraine has been producing and supplying enough grains to most parts of the world, which has been affected severely now. The affected half a billion population is mostly from the least developed countries of Africa, some countries of the East and Middle East Asia among others,” the envoy told a press conference.“When the full scale war started, the export of these grains was totally blocked by Russia. Then under the UN intervention, Black Sea Grain Initiative was set up and accordingly the designated ports were covered by guarantees of the UN to supply grains to the needy countries,” he explained.Kuzmenko also said that Ukraine was the only country that has exported grains to other countries during a war and under occupation. “Since the beginning of the initiative, we have exported 50mn tonnes of grains. A total of 30 countries and EU has joined this programme and Qatar, which is very active in the initiative has contributed $20mn,” he said.The envoy also noted that Ukrainian GDP has shrunk by almost one third. “We appreciate the financial assistance provided by our partners and friends to keep the Ukrainian economy going and over $4.5bn has been provided to Ukraine since the beginning of the year,” he said.The ambassador also highlighted the energy crisis due to the war and how it had created problems for his country as over one third of the power generating facilities were hit during the peak of the war.As for any peaceful end to the ongoing war, Kuzmenko stressed that Ukraine is open to any negotiations and mediations but it can happen only after the Russian forces retreat from his country and all the occupied places are placed under the government of Ukraine.“We were ready to negotiate any issue with the Russia well before the start of the war. We are still ready for any negotiation; but only after the full and comprehensive retreat of the Russian forces from Ukraine,” he added.

The “J by Joelle” Jewellery brand, which has made its entry to the Doha Jewellery and Watches Exhibition (DJWE 2023), has already made a mark with some of its beautiful collections."We are very much excited about the exhibition which is truly amazing,” owner and designer Joelle Moughalian told *Gulf Times. “It is a great place and the visitors are very happy with our pieces.”Moughalian, who is at the booth for luxury piercing and providing customised earrings, explains that the idea is to pierce the ear with real gold and diamond stones."But the concept mainly focuses on the shape and the size of each client’s earm,” she said. “Sometimes we customise the pieces depending on the ear shape of the customer.”The brand, already available at Fifty One East, specialises in all kinds of jewellery, especially ear styling and luxury piercing with the main focus on comfort and beauty.“J by Joelle” offers high-quality modernist jewellery that is multifunctional, evoking power, creativity, and femininity all at once.Designed to be personalised, each piece in the jewellery collection, whether its earrings, smartwatch jewellery, necklaces, or bracelets, could be worn to elevate the look.The goal of the brand is to make ordinary products extraordinary.“We create comfortable, trendy, multi-functional pieces that will let the clients have a final product that they love and use day to night, whether they are attending a casual brunch, gym session, or a fancy night out,” Moughalian said. “We want to bring added value to every piece that we work on and to help people find the earrings, necklaces, bracelets, or anklets that are perfect for every occasion. Ear styling is a fun journey that the clients start by choosing their favourite items.”“We make sure to provide the best piercing experience for everyone by using the flat mechanism so they can add stylish earrings that suit their ear shape, and that they love on the spot,” she added.

The Fifty One East pavilion at Doha Jewellery and Watches Exhibition showcases several luxury brands with their latest range of jewellery and watches.In addition to Rolex, CHANEL,TUDOR and Boucheron, the other world class brands at the pavilion include, Azza Fahmy, David Yurman, Falamank by Tarfa Itani, Genesia, Piero Milano L_ÂME, The Little Frog, and Yvan Tufenkjian among others.In a series of collections inspired by nature and its life forms, Azza Fahmy reintroduces its most admired theme in preparation to launch its latest collection ‘Wonders of Nature Reimagined’. Composed of four artisanal chapters that fuse between Azza Fahmy’s classic style and a combination of eccentric gemstones, ‘Wonders of Nature Reimagined’ is both versatile and fun.As for David Yurman’s signature motif, Cable, began as a bracelet that he created for his wife, Sybil. Inspired by the bronze rods he used for his direct-welded sculptures, David twisted individual strands of metal into a helix and embellished the end caps with colored gemstones.One of the most iconic collections of the brand, DY Crossover Collection was first introduced in 1997. The collection explores the rhythmic weaving of lines to create form and movement. Other major collections of the brand are Pavéflex Collection and Lexington CollectionFalamank by Tarfa Itani matches its rich oriental heritage with traditional craftsmanship to produce unique and handmade pieces of fine contemporary jewellery. This jewellery design house produces collections and bespoke pieces that are worn by women throughout the world.Genesia jewellery is designed and hand-made in Italy with the aim of celebrating the timeless beauty of pearls as a wonderful gift of nature. The rarest and most precious pearls, South Sea Pearls come from the Indian and Pacific Oceans, Australia, Indonesia, Philippines, Tahiti and the French Polynesian archipelago. They are cherished for their big size and unique colours, which can vary from white to deep black.LAme, an in-house brand of Fifty One East, presents several novelty items such as Multicolor Gold Ring which is a ring in 18 ct yellow, white and rose gold, 7 g, paved with 61 round cut diamonds with a total weight of 0.53 ct.Piero Milano presents high-quality design, the manual workmanship, the combination of the traditional methods with the newest technologies, and the selection of the finest materials, gold, precious and semi-precious stones, all adhering to the highest and strictest law compliance. The passion and dedication of the fopunder of the brand, Piero Milano helped build a solid business that the following generation enhanced by expanding and creating original collections of fine jewellery.The Little Frog - Mother & Child Jewellery, founded in 2016 began operating in high-end baby and children's clothing. In 2021, a new entity was founded for mother & child jewellery. The Little Frog has always distinguished itself by a high level of creativity and innovation for babies' and children's clothing & jewellery. It is a very unique concept targeting gifts for mothers and children.Yvan Tufenkjian, began in 1909 and his first collections and simple creations found their audience, thus marking the beginning of a marvellous adventure. Driven by his creative pursuit of excellence, Yvan Tufenkjian draws inspiration from the power of jewellery and the significant place it holds in people’s lives.

The Swiss luxury watchmaker, TUDOR is showcasing its latest collections at the ongoing Doha Jewellery and Watches Exhibition at the Fifty One East Pavilion.The collections include the brand’s most reputable names, such as TUDOR Royal; Black Bay GMT S&G; Black Bay 31/36/39/41 S&G; Black Bay Chrono S&G; Black Bay Pro; Ranger, Pelagos 39 among others.TUDOR presents a new version of its Black Bay line in steel and yellow gold with a fixed bezel. All fitted with Manufacture Calibres, the models come in four sizes, with a five-link bracelet and clasp with rapid adjustment.The Black Bay 31, 36, 39 and 41 S&G models bring a unique aesthetic to the Black Bay line. Their curved cases, highlighted with polished yellow gold sections, offer a language that departs slightly from the brand’s iconic tool watch spirit to embrace a sophisticated, versatile one.Black Bay Chrono S&G in the Black Bay line in steel and yellow gold, with a self-winding Manufacture Calibre, featuring a column wheel and vertical clutch, follows in the purest tradition of sporting timepieces. The Black Bay Chrono S&G model combines the traditions in a sport- chronograph, with contrasting sub-counters and a high-performance automatic Manufacture Calibre, with column wheel and vertical clutch.The iconic Black Bay GMT model with integrated Manufacture Calibre GMT is also available in a S&G (Steel & Gold) version, featuring warm colours and a nostalgic touch.Black Bay GMT S&G is a model with multiple time zones, a highly functional complication that establishes local time without losing sight of the time in two other time zones. The Black Bay GMT S&G also gives a subtle aesthetic nod to the history of this watchmaking function.Black Bay Pro has a 39-millimetre diametre, a fixed steel bezel and a Manufacture Calibre with built-in GMT function. It is an entirely new model with a dual time zone feature, a technical complication that establishes local time without losing sight of the time in another time zone. Compact, robust and sporty, this model boasts many unique aesthetic details and celebrates the spirit of the technical watches that TUDOR has produced for professionals throughout its history.TUDOR Royal, with its integrated metal bracelet, notched or diamond-set bezel and automatic movement, is the epitome of versatile and affordable sport-chic. Royal is a name first used by TUDOR in the 1950s to emphasise the superior quality of its watches. With this heritage in mind, the TUDOR Royal range offers self-winding sport watches with integrated bracelets that are as affordable as they are uncompromising.TUDOR is also presenting the Ranger model launched in 2022 to mark the 70th anniversary of the British North Greenland Expedition, a tool watch celebrating the spirit of this daring adventure, complete with Manufacture Calibre MT5402, a 39-millimetre case and a clasp with rapid adjustment system. Meanwhile, with its new Pelagos 39 model, TUDOR offers a versatile watch at the crossroads between the world of technical diving and urban sophistication.

The CHANEL booth located at the Fifty One East pavilion is a major stopover for visitors with great demand for its latest exotic collections at the ongoing Doha Jewellery and Watches Exhibition 2023.The elegant booth of the iconic brand has been designed in a minimalistic style and houses some of the finest jewellery, watches and perfumes of the world class brand.CHANEL has released its new 2023 pieces with a campaign showcasing some of the must have designs. The necklaces open up many possibilities with four different lengths possible, thanks to an adjustable chain while the bracelets which have the option of being adorned with the diamonds can be combined and layered to form COCO, the brand's great product. These are an epitome of style and an encounter with the legendary icon.One of the major attractions at the booth is the ‘Collection N°5’ something very unique and exceptionally exotic.To celebrate the centenary of its iconic N°5 perfume, CHANEL has created the first high jewellery collection dedicated to a fragrance. A total of 123 pieces of high jewellery were designed around five facets of the legendary fragrance; the stopper, the bottle, the number, the flowers and the sillage.The highlight of the unprecedented collection is an emblematic and exceptional necklace set with a 55.55 carat diamond, yet every piece is a marvel of daring creativity noble materials and an accentuated feminity together with an inmate character and a powerful timelessness-just like its perfumed inspiration.“These are some of the latest collections released in 2023 and some of these iconic pieces are available at this exhibition. ‘Collection N°5' is an eepitome of luxury and fine jewellery. The prices vary and one of the most attractive pieces is QR23.5mn,” an official of CHANEL told Gulf Times.In addition to its jewellery collection, CHANEL also is showcasing some its latest collections of watches and perfume which are very unique and high on demand.

Renowned French luxury jeweller Boucheron is showcasing some of its latest collections at the ongoing Doha Jewellery and Watches Exhibition 2023. Housed at the Fifty One East pavilion, the beautiful and exquisite collections are attracting large number of jewellery lovers.“Boucheron generally releases its collections two times in a year. One in January which focuses more on pieces from the archives of the brand and the other one in July to coincide with the Paris Fashion Week. We have two pieces from the January collections,” a senior official of Fifty One East told Gulf Times. “The Lavallière Diamants Necklace paved with diamonds and onyx, with black lacquer, in white gold is one of them. It is a necklace in the tradition of the multi-wear which is three pieces in one. It costs QR4.5mn. The other one is History of Style, New Maharajahs High Jewellery collection which is also in the same price range,” he added.The History of Style, New Maharajahs High Jewellery collection pays homage to the largest special order in the history of Place Vendôme, which was commissioned to the brand in 1928 by the Maharajah of Patiala. In addition, the French Maison is also showcasing pieces from its 2021 History of Style, Art Déco High Jewellery collection which takes inspiration from the brand's Art Deco archives and celebrates the spirit and radical simplicity of a time when style was all about attitude.Boucheron has also unveiled its latest novelties from the Serpent Bohème Solarité collection including bold, statement pieces such as huge sun-like hoops, asymmetric earrings that unfold behind the ear, and a spectacular necklace with 360-degree motifs.Launched from the Boucheron workshops in 1968, the serpent bohème collection has transcended the ages and has made its mark as one of the maison’s iconic pieces. its emblematic codes, the diamond-studded droplet, and its honeycomb latticework or embossed gold, are testament to the high jewellery skills of the Boucheron artisans. The new collection sees a whole new chapter written in the history of this iconic range of jewellery, reinterpreting the serpent bohème codes, with a new identity, Solarité.Created by Frederic Boucheron in 1858, Boucheron is built through four generations of direct descendants. There are currently more than 84 Boucheron boutiques across the world.

World class luxury watchmaker, Rolex is presenting some of its iconic timepieces at the ongoing Doha Jewellery and Watches Exhibition (DJWE) 2023 at Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre.At Fifty One East Pavilion, Rolex offers a wide assortment of Oyster Perpetual and Cellini watches to suit any wrist, including some of the latest creations that were exhibited during Watches & Wonders - Geneva 2022. “Doha Jewellery and Watches Exhibition and Watches & Wonders – Geneva are the only exhibitions where Rolex showcases its collections. We are really lucky to have them here in Doha. There is huge demand for most models of Rolex and from day one we see huge rush of Rolex lovers at our pavilion,” an official from Fifty One East said.Rolex is presenting three new versions of the Oyster Perpetual Datejust 31 with striking floral-motif dials. Calling to mind wild summer meadows, the design comprises 24 flowers that stand out distinctly from one another thanks to their finishes – either sunray, matt or grained. Each of the flowers is lit from within by a diamond set into the centre.The new versions of the Datejust 31 are equipped with calibre 2236, a movement at the forefront of watchmaking technology, enabling them to display the hours, minutes, seconds and date. Like all Rolex watches, the Oyster Perpetual Datejust 31 carries the Superlative Chronometer certification, which ensures excellent performance on the wrist.Rolex has also released the Oyster Perpetual Day-Date 40 in 950 platinum – easily recognisable thanks to its ice-blue dial – with a fluted bezel for the first time. A cornerstone of Rolex’s aesthetic heritage, this striking component, which is found only on some Classic models in the Oyster Perpetual collection and until now has only been made in 18 carat gold, now exists in the most prestigious metal available.The Rolex collection of prestigious, high-precision timepieces shines the light of optimism and innovation on the watchmaking world. In its perpetual quest for excellence, Rolex constantly enhances the aesthetics and technologies of its emblematic timepieces. They are an invitation to push boundaries, to reach ever higher. With, as always, the same promise of outstanding quality thanks to the company’s complete, in-house mastery of watchmaking expertise.

Fifty One East is showcasing a vast collection of luxury products from several world class brands at the ongoing 19th edition of Doha Jewellery & Watches Exhibition (DJWE) at the Doha Exhibition & Convention Centre.The Fifty One East pavilion includes many of the latest novelties and iconic creations from some of the most renowned and sought after brands such as Rolex, CHANEL, Boucheron and TUDOR among others. The pavilion also includes other trendy names such as Azza Fahmy, David Yurman, Falamank by Tarfa Itani, Genesia, J by JOELLE, L’Âme – a brand by Fifty One East, Piero Milano, The Little Frog, WOLF and Yvan Tufenkjian, that are presenting their latest collections in a multi-brand area. The visitors are welcomed with prominent services and expertise in an exquisite pavilion that showcases unrivalled collections of jewellery and watches.Bader al-Darwish, chairman and managing director of Fifty One East, said: "It gives us great pleasure to return to the Doha Jewellery & Watches Exhibition for its 19th edition. As longstanding supporters of the DJWE, we have proudly watched this event grow from strength to strength, asserting its status as a regional exhibition leader and shining a powerful light on Qatar’s importance as a destination for appreciators of fine jewellery and watches. The trust we have built with the DJWE extends to the exceptional brands we represent, with some, such as Rolex, selecting it as the exclusive event, besides Watches & Wonders - Geneva, to display their creations.”"We are sincerely pleased to welcome our dear clients to our pavilion this year where they will be able to explore the latest novelties from the finest international brands, including pieces that are being revealed for the very first time in the world, coupled with our signature hospitality and excellent after-sales service. This year’s edition is particularly exciting coming so soon after a momentous time in our history as a nation when Qatar was given the opportunity to showcase its beauty and capabilities with a global audience during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022," he added.Rolex offers a wide assortment of Oyster Perpetual and Cellini watches to suit any wrist, including some of the latest creations that were exhibited during Watches & Wonders - Geneva 2022 among its other eternal exquisite pieces.Meanwhile, Maison Boucheron presents a fine selection from its 2022 History of Style, New Maharajahs High Jewellery collection as well as its 2021 History of Style, Art Déco High Jewellery collection.CHANEL has redesigned its wing with an expanded concept that takes its guests on an imaginary journey starting from a window of its unique location - 18 Place Vendôme - and unveiling a panoramic vision of exceptional high jewellery pieces, signature collections and unique timepieces. The highlight of the brand during the exhibition is the “COLLECTION N°5”, which is the first High Jewellery collection fully dedicated to this emblematic number (5), created on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of N°5 perfume.As for TUDOR, the Swiss watchmaker displays its latest models from Watches and Wonders - Geneva 2022 alongside other models released in Summer 2022 including the new Ranger, a tool watch celebrating the spirit of a daring adventure that took place 70 years ago.Other highlights which are to be discovered by visitors of the pavilion include ‘Wonders of Nature Reimagined’, the latest collection from Azza Fahmy that presents a selection of one-off pieces, adorned with vibrant stones that bring every piece to life.American brand, David Yurman also returns with splendid collections that fuse fashion, art, and jewellery into signature design concepts, including its iconic collection, Cable, which features individual strands of metal twisted into a helix with end caps embellished with colored gemstones.Fifty One East is also introducing J by JOELLE for the first time. The exceptional brand offers luxury ear styling and piercing sessions, as well as a variety of jewellery earpieces that are all gold-based and primarily made of diamonds. Also, the British brand, WOLF, known for luxury jewellry accessories, watch boxes, cases and watch winders, will have a new display concept, highlighting its star products on pillars within the pavilion’s multi-brand area.

With the highly successful hosting of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, the country has positioned itself as a globally competitive sports tourism destination while enhancing the quality of life for residents through its legacy, two professors from Hamad Bin Khalifa University's (HBKU) College of Science and Engineering noted.In a recent article published on www.moderndiplomacy.eu, Dr Christos Anagnostopoulos, assistant professor in Sport Management and Dr Kamilla Swart, associate professor and director of the Sport and Entertainment Management programme, observed that legacy has been at the forefront of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and is aligned with the National Vision 2030. Dr Anagnostopoulos is also the Unesco co-chair holder and director of the Chair on Governance & Social Responsibility in Sport at UCLan, Cyprus.“The infrastructure development that has taken place, whether in the form of enhanced transportation and mobility services or new sports and recreation facilities, will potentially strengthen Qatar’s positioning not only as a globally competitive sports tourism destination but also by enhancing the quality of life for residents,” the authors explained in the article.“Environmental enhancements have been central to Qatar’s World Cup, with FIFA and Qatar issuing a joint Sustainability Strategy for the first time, based on five sustainability commitments aimed at providing innovative environmental solutions to address current environmental challenges. We have seen this in different areas, such as in the innovative cooling technologies for the stadiums,” they recalled.According to the article, the World Cup has also been associated with increasing opportunities for women and girls in sport and for persons with disabilities. “Two illustrative cases are the value co-creation from stakeholders such as Generation Amazing and Qatar Foundation (QF), which have partnered to offer coaching to girls and women at Oxygen Park, or QF’s Ability-Friendly Programme, which has trained coaches to further develop football in Qatar.The authors say that people should be mindful of how the term ‘legacy’ is used and a clear distinction should be made between outputs, outcomes, impact, and then legacy, and it goes beyond mere semantics.The article says that the football stadiums, Doha Metro, and Hamad International Airport, together with the necessary road infrastructure should be seen as the immediate outputs of hosting the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. “So, if the metro system is considered an output of the event, the outcome is the number of people that are using it during the event. Impact, in turn, will be how many residents in Qatar alter the way they move around the city of Doha, Lusail, and other areas post-event. Legacy is then understood in terms of the changes in attitudes and behaviour,” the article, highlights.The authors note that Qatar’s successful hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup boosts its track record of hosting major international sporting events. They also highlight the role of 20000-plus volunteers and their contributions in the huge success of the tournament and how their lives being impacted through their various roles in the tournament.“With the upcoming 2023 AFC Asian Cup, 2024 FINA World Swimming Championships, a Formula 1 race each year for the next 10 years, and the 2030 Asian Games, the country will undoubtedly increase its resolve to become the first Arab and Muslim country in the Middle East to ever host the Olympic Games,” they added.

Close on the heels of the highly successful hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup late last year, Qatar will mark the 12th National Sport Day on Tuesday with the slogan ‘The Choice is Yours’ to highlight the importance of sports and physical activity.Several activities have been planned at various places across the country. According to Abdul Rahman Musallam al-Dosari, adviser to HE the Minister of Sports and Youth and president of the National Sport Day Committee, about 130 activities will be held this year in various parts of the country with over 100 entities participating in them..text-box { float:right; width:400px; 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%;}}NSD highlights* Aspire Zone Foundation: Aspire Park and Al Bayt Stadium Park* Qatar Foundation and Qatar Olympic Committee: Education City* Msheireb Downtown Doha* Lusail Boulevard* Sport City station on Doha Metro's Gold Line* Generation Amazing Community Club in Lusail* 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum* Parks and beachesThe locations include parks and sports facilities, the Doha Corniche, Aspire Zone, The Pearl Island, Qatar Foundation, Lusail, Katara, Al Shamal, Al Sheehaniya, Al Wakra and others.Various ministries, sports bodies, universities, schools, expatriate organisations and other entities have lined up a number of sports activities that will kick off from early morning. Several thousands are expected to take part in the activities at various locations.The events organised by Qatar Foundation (QF) will begin at 9am at several locations in Education City such as the Recreation Centre, Education City Golf Club, Multaqa, 2015 building, Ceremonial Green Spine, Education City Stadium, Oxygen Park and Ceremonial Court. There will be a number of activities that include ability-friendly events and special activities focusing on women as well as the students of QF schools and universities in Education City.Some of the main attractions will be the Education City ‘Try-a-Tri’ Fun Triathlon, National Sport Day Padel Tournament, Walkathon, Qatar Foundation Universities’ Tournaments, Qatar Foundation Schools’ Tournaments and Qatar Cyclists Doha Tour, among others.The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) will celebrate National Sport Day at Education City Tuesday, with Oxygen Park, the Green Spine, Education City Stadium and Recreation Centre hosting various activities.Taking place between 8am and 8pm, the activities will see the participation of representatives from organisations and educational institutions, as well as people with special needs and local sports stars.Aspire Zone Foundation (AZF) is ready to welcome all segments of society on National Sport Day. AZF will be hosting more than 10 types of sporting activities at Aspire Park, Pitch 10, in addition to activities at Al Bayt Stadium Park.Generation Amazing Foundation will host several events at the Generation Amazing Community Club in Lusail right from the morning. The events include a walking football tournament, football tournament for youth from across Qatar, Maktaba book reading and art activation, among others. The events, according to the organisers, aim to promote inclusion and teamwork through a version of football that is accessible to all levels of ability.Msheireb Downtown Doha (MDD) will celebrate National Sport Day with a range of sport, fitness, and fun activities that suit all ages. The activations will take place through the day.The event will start with a walk or run between 9am-10am, followed by a day of outdoor sport activities at Sikkat Wadi Msheireb.Lusail Boulevard, one of the most popular destinations during the World Cup, will also host National Sport Day activities Tuesday. The street will also be for pedestrians only until Saturday night.The Expo Doha 2023 organisers will hold fun activities that can be attended with "family and friends during National Sport Day", starting from 7am at Umm Al Seneem Park. These aim to educate people on green practices, motive them to adopt an active lifestyle, and encourage them to spend some good time outdoors with family and friends.Parks, green spaces and beaches around the country are also expected to see bug crowds Tuesday.Meanwhile, the University of Doha for Science and Technology has lined up a number of exciting events starting from 7.30am. The major events include Terry Fox Run, Bus Pull Challenge, cricket match and many others. The Terry Fox Run and the Bus Pull Challenge aim to raise funds for cancer research in Qatar.Al-Dosari had said at a media briefing that awareness of the importance of sports in society has increased since the first edition of the National Sport Day in February 2012 following an Amiri Resolution of 2011. “This contributes to the realisation of Qatar National Vision 2030 through development of the human element in which Qatar has invested over the past years." The slogan, ‘The Choice is Yours’, comprises many values and focuses on the goals of community sports through an individual’s decision to exercise for a healthy good and happy life, he added.

Qatar has emerged as a big centre of great style, renowned fashion designer Tarun Tahiliani noted in an interaction with Gulf Times Sunday.“Qatar is a modern centre of great style now because of the way the government has invested and patronised it. The architecture of the modern buildings in the country is a great attraction and the way these buildings have been constructed around the city is exquisite,” stated the leading Indian fashion designer.Tahiliani was speaking on the sidelines of his talk at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Arts in Qatar (VCUarts Qatar) about Indian fashion design scenario and the changes that have emerged in his country.The talk was attended by Indian ambassador Dr Deepak Mittal and his wife Alpna Mittal, members of the faculty and students of VCUarts Qatar among others.Tahiliani noted that Qatar has made great advances in the art and fashion field as the country has invested very wisely. “Qatar has probably one of the biggest per capita income and the country is investing the money very wisely and beautifully. I should say this is very much reflected in the quality and beauty of the work; be it the great buildings around the country or the museums in the city or the great airport among others,” he explained.“I had come here once to see the Museum of Islamic Arts and now I want to visit all the other museums and particularly the National Museum of Qatar," he continued.As for his talk at VCUarts Qatar, Tahiliani noted that it was great to interact with fashion design students and his talk was a continuation of what he has been doing around the world. “This is the continuation of the talk I have given around the world on festival of India. It focuses on how Indian fashion has evolved in the last few centuries as well as the great transformation of Indian fashion world.“Today, Indian fashion is everything mixed. We are trying to show how all these influences have come together. There is such a diversity in Indian fashion even today as what is seen in the urban cities is not the same what we see in the rural areas. A piece of clothing is worn differently in various places. The same saree is worn differently in different style in various places in India and that is the style diversity, India offers to the world,” he described.The ace fashion designer also spoke about his evolution as a fashion designer and how set up his one fashion design company 'Ensemble' long back in the late 1980s. “Everybody thinks of Indian fashion in two aspects of colour and embroidery. But Indian fashion is all about how Indians drape their clothing and that part is not focused much. So lots of my research goes in structure of drapes. The role of fashion designers is also to find technical solutions for several aspects of clothing,” he pointed out.During his talk, several models, draped in some of the costumes he had designed, went around the audience exhibiting some of his exquisite collections. Tahiliani is on a short personal visit to Qatar to attend a wedding and to watch the Valentino Retrospective. He also has a photo shoot with some of the attractions of Qatar as the backdrop.

A Qatar-based study has found there is no concrete evidence to link certain blood groups to any fatalities due to Covid-19 or severity of the infection among some patients, contrary to certain theories and beliefs propagated among some quarters of the society globally.“This study revealed no association between ABO blood groups and unfavourable clinical outcomes in critically ill Covid-19 patients. The Rh-negative blood type was associated with slightly lower odds of death compared to the Rh-positive one,” noted the study, published on Qscience.com.“A small proportion of patients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (Sars-CoV-2) become critically ill. Individuals’ blood group may influence their susceptibility to infection. However, the relationship between blood groups and clinical outcomes in severe Covid-19 is not well established. Therefore, we conducted a study to investigate the association between blood groups and clinical outcomes in critically ill Covid-19 patients,” the researchers said in the study.A group of Qatar-based researchers worked on this particular aspect and analysed several hundreds of critically ill Covid-19 patients. “We retrospectively analysed electronic health records of Covid-19 patients admitted to intensive care units at Hazm Mebaireek General Hospital from March 7, 2020, to July 15, 2020. The study population was divided based on their blood groups into types A, B, AB, O, Rhesus (Rh)-positive, and Rh-negative,” the study highlighted.The primary outcome studied in each blood group was all-cause ICU mortality. Secondary outcomes evaluated were the requirement and duration of mechanical ventilation, ICU days, hospitalisation days, and C-reactive protein (CRP) value on admission.A total of 848 patients with Sars-CoV-2 infection admitted to ICUs at Hazm Mebaireek General Hospital fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis. All-cause ICU mortality in the study population was 19.8% (168/848), and that in individuals with blood groups A, B, AB, O, Rh-positive, and Rh-negative was 22.6% (52/230), 18.1% (44/243), 22% (18/82), 18.4% (54/293), 20.4% (165/810), and 7.9% (3/38).Although the highest mortality was noted in blood group A, followed by AB, these observations failed to achieve statistical significance. Rh-negative blood type had lower odds of death compared to the Rh-positive one. None of the blood groups showed an association with the need for mechanical ventilation, duration of mechanical ventilation, duration of ICU and hospital stay, and CRP value on admission.Data collected were demographic characteristics, comorbid conditions, ABO and Rh blood group types, blood test results, need for mechanical ventilation, ICU and hospitalisation days and mortality.The study found that neither ABO nor Rh-groups achieved feasible significance on univariate analysis to support their inclusion in the multivariate prediction model for mechanical ventilation. Regarding other secondary outcomes, the median difference in days of mechanical ventilation, duration of ICU and hospital stay, and CRP among the various ABO and Rh groups did not demonstrate statistical significance.The study has also suggested that future studies should focus on population-based differences in blood types, investigate the underlying mechanisms by which blood groups might predispose susceptibility to Sars-CoV-2 infection and ultimately develop strategies to prevent illness and adverse outcomes.

The 2023 edition of the biennial World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE), an initiative of Qatar Foundation, will be on November 28-29, a top official said.Speaking on the sidelines of Doha Learning Days Festival recently, WISE CEO Stavros N Yiannouka, noted that plans are afoot with partners for the 11th edition of the event.“The theme will be finalised very soon and the activities leading up to the summit will be announced in due course of time. “We want to continue working with our partners across Qatar and the globe and engage with the youth and help amplify their voices. We have our ongoing programmes to complement the summit,” he said.Yiannouka also revealed that the WISE Awards 2023 finalists will be announced soon. “We celebrated the WISE Awards 2022 winners along with the Doha Learning Days Festival. We had to postpone the celebration due to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. Nominations for the WISE Prize is also happening soon. The WISE Edtech Accelerator programme as well as the Learners Voices programme are well on course and all these will culminate with the 2023 WISE Summit,” he said.WISE is an international, multi-sectoral platform for creative thinking, debate and purposeful action. WISE has established itself as a global reference in new approaches to education. Through both the biennial summit and a range of ongoing programmes WISE is promoting innovation and building the future of education through collaboration.Since its inception in 2009, WISE has evolved into a thriving global, multi-sectoral community, which continues to generate fruitful dialogue and productive partnerships. The WISE community is a network of education stakeholders - from students to decision-makers - from about 200 countries who share ideas and collaborate to seek creative solutions to solve challenges facing education.