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The 73rd Republic Day of India was celebrated Wednesday with great enthusiasm and patriotic fervour in Qatar as Indian ambassador Dr Deepak Mittal hoisted the Indian national flag on the embassy premises. << Dr Deepak Mittal hoisting the Indian tricolour In the evening, during a reception at The Ritz-Carlton Doha, Dr Mittal was joined by HE the Minister of Labour Dr Ali bin Saeed bin Smaikh al-Marri and HE the Minister of Municipality Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki al-Subaie in cutting the ceremonial cake. Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Protocol Department director, ambassador Ibrahim Yousif Abdullah Fakhro, was also present on the occasion. Patriotic fervour was palpable at the special event in the morning as a number of community members were present at the embassy early morning, following all the Covid-19 protocols. Several community leaders, including the office-bearers of apex bodies under the Indian embassy, were present. The number of participants at the event was limited and the ceremony was held in hybrid mode with different social media channels of the embassy streaming it online. Following the flag hoisting and rendering of the national anthem, the ambassador read out the message of the President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, on the occasion of Republic Day. “It is an occasion to celebrate what is common to us all, our Indian-ness. It was on this day in 1950 that this sacred essence of us all assumed a formal shape. That day, India was established as the largest democratic republic and 'we the people' put into effect a Constitution that is an inspired document of our collective vision. The diversity and vibrancy of our democracy is appreciated world-wide. It is this spirit of unity and of being one nation which is celebrated every year as Republic Day,” the Indian president said in his message. A patriotic song presentation at the embassy event. “Patriotism strengthens the sense of duty among citizens. Whether you are a doctor or a lawyer, a shopkeeper or office-worker, a sanitation employee or a labourer, doing one's duty well and efficiently is the first and foremost contribution you make to the nation,” the president said. Dr Deepak Mittal along with Dr Alpna Mittal cutting a cake to mark the occasion. “India is an ancient civilisation but a young republic. For us, nation-building is a constant endeavour. As in a family, so in a nation; one generation works hard to ensure a better future for the next generation. When we won independence, the exploitation of colonial rule had left us in utter poverty, but in seventy-five years, we have made impressive progress. New opportunities await the next generation. Our youth have taken advantage of these opportunities and set new benchmarks of success,” the message added. A solemn moment during the event. Supplied picture Addressing the gathering, Indian envoy said he was happy to see the community members standing together to face the difficult times of the Covid-19 pandemic. He also appreciated Indian medical practitioners who have worked tirelessly and selflessly to provide all the care possible to needy members of the Indian community. From the cultural programme “I take this opportunity to thank the entire Indian medical fraternity for standing with the community in the most needed times of Covid-19. All the medical professionals have come forward extending support and assistance despite of their busy and tiring schedules. This is very commendable and let me take this opportunity to thank them,” said Dr Mittal. A traditional Indian percussion performance The Indian envoy also offered his gratitude to various apex bodies under the embassy, namely the Indian Cultural Centre, Indian Community Benevolent Forum, Indian Sports Centre and Indian Business and Professionals Council, for their efforts in helping the embassy reach out to the wider Indian community in several of its programmes and initiatives. He highlighted that each organisation has been instrumental in playing out its role in a constructive and befitting manner, which has been well appreciated by the leadership of Qatar. cultural programme at The Ritz-Carlton Doha The Sheraton Doha lit up in the colours of the Indian flag. PICTURES: Shaji Kayamkulam The function was followed by a recital of patriotic songs and other cultural programmes. At the end of the event, ambassador Dr Mittal, along with his wife Dr Alpna Mittal and the presidents of apex bodies, cut a cake to mark the occasion. Iconic Doha landmarks such as the Sheraton Doha, Khalifa International Stadium were lit up in the colours of the Indian national flag to celebrate the occasion. Sports quiz Indian Sports Centre, under the aegis of the embassy of India, will hold a virtual sports quiz titled ‘Inquizzite’ to mark the Indian Republic Day and Azadi Ka Amrit Mahostav tomorrow from 4pm to 6pm. The quiz will be held through the Zoom platform and registration for the programme will close at 10pm Thursday. The registered participants can participate with the Meeting ID, 479.101.9875, while the passcode is isc. The quiz will be conducted by Manzoor Moideen and is open to all. There will be a separate session for students.

An innovative concept in health, Fitness Box, was launched yesterday by Sahtak Awalan – Your Health First in co-operation with the Public Parks Department of the Ministry of Municipality. Sahtak Awalan – Your Health First has been the flagship public health campaign of Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) since 2012. Initially, two venues – Al Rayyan Park (Green Carpet) and Airport Park (Old Airport area) – are hosting sustainable, solar-powered Fitness Box installations crafted from upcycled shipping containers and equipped with giant screens to broadcast free fitness classes led by internationally renowned instructors to the community. The Fitness Box classes are being run from Sunday to Thursday (from 3pm-9pm), on Friday (from 7am-11am and from 3pm-9pm) and on Saturday (from 7am-9pm). More Fitness Box installations will be rolled out at other parks and venues across Qatar, giving more people access to healthy exercise classes. The launch event took place at Al Rayyan Park (Green Carpet) in the presence of a large number of dignitaries, with a live demonstration of the programme. The attendees included Public Parks Department director Mohamed Ali al-Khouri, Al Rayyan Municipality director Jaber Hassan al-Jaber, Public Parks Department assistant director Mohamed Ibrahim al-Sada, ExxonMobil Qatar vice-president and government affairs director Saleh al-Mana, Al Rayyan Municipality services affairs director Rashid Hamad al-Marri, Al Rayyan Municipality head of the Gardens Section Saleh Saad Alnabit, and WCM-Q dean Dr Javaid Sheikh. Speaking to *Gulf Times, Dr Sheikh said: “This is another project to help transform the health and wellness of the population of Qatar and make it a role model for the rest of the world.” “We are planning to replicate this project in other parks and it is already available in the Old Airport Park,” he said. “We will launch it in Qatar Foundation next week and are planning for a quite few places in the coming days.” “This facility offers everyone to get health tips for free,” Dr Shaikh added. “There will be video lessons in fitness, and all these venues are accessible to all the population. They can engage in the activities according to their convenience." The Fitness Box provides free exercise workouts, and the locations in parks provide a safe open-air space that allows participants to maintain social distancing while watching the fitness instructors on the giant screen. Each fitness class has been designed by popular fitness instructors according to criteria set out by Your Health First, with a focus on accessibility for all members of the community, no matter their age or fitness level. Classes are offered in three languages – English, Arabic and Urdu – to further enhance accessibility. Nesreen al-Rifai, chief external affairs and development officer at WCM-Q, said: “We know that Qatar places a very high priority on empowering the future generation to stay fit and healthy so they can contribute to Qatar’s amazing national journey as they grow older.” “With the Fitness Box, we are bringing opportunities for exercise and inspiration directly to the community, giving everyone the chance to come together to enjoy keeping fit in a sustainable way,” she added. Public Parks Department director al-Khouri said: “This collaboration with Sahtak Awalan – Your Health First is part of our recognition of the importance of social responsibility in which all efforts are united toward Qatar National Vision 2030.” “This excellent initiative supports the Ministry of Municipality’s goals to collaborate with health and sports entities to develop the entertainment areas at the public parks in order to encourage park visitors from all different age groups to exercise,” he added. “We are extremely proud and pleased to be part of this very important initiative that will allow our beautiful Al Rayyan Park to support the health of the community by hosting the Fitness Box,” Al Rayyan Municipality director al-Jaber said. “Giving people of all ages the opportunity to exercise in the fresh air and healthful surroundings of Al Rayyan Park will make a wonderful contribution to making Al Rayyan a healthy city and, therefore, will help us achieve the goals set out in Qatar National Vision 2030.” Sahtak Awalan – Your Health First is supported by its strategic partners: Qatar Foundation, the Ministry of Public Health, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, the Ministry of Municipality, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, and ExxonMobil Qatar.    

*Held under the slogan 'Knowledge is Light', DIBF featured literary works of local, regional, and international authors and publishers from 37 countries *US embassy participated as guest of honour marking the conclusion of the Qatar –US Year of Culture 2021 Doha International Book Fair (DIBF) 2022, held under the patronage of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, came to a conclusion Saturday at Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre with great participation from the general public despite strict Covid-19 restrictions. Held under the slogan 'Knowledge is Light', DIBF featured literary works of local, regional, and internationally-renowned authors and publishers from 37 countries across the globe. Organised by the Ministry of Culture's Qatar Cultural and Heritage Events Centre, the fair was opened on January 13. Nine embassies participated in the book fair while the US embassy participated as the guest of honour marking the conclusion of the Qatar –US Year of Culture 2021. Visitors were allowed only up to 30% capacity of the venue due strict implementation of the Covid-19 protocols and children under 12 were allowed entry to the venue only midway through the book fair. Only people with green Ehtheraz status were allowed inside the venue. Despite all the restrictions, participation from the public was very encouraging and the last days of the book fair witnessed longer queues. Launched in 1972, Doha International Book Fair marks its 50th anniversary this year, affirming Qatar's cultural leadership and its continuous efforts in spreading culture and knowledge. The pavilions of the book fair were uniquely designed, allowing 430 publishers, as well as 90 indirect agencies to Arab and foreign publishers to display their scientific treasures. All these made visiting the exhibition a real opportunity to learn about everything new in the world of creativity, literature and science. Speaking to Gulf Times, Khalid al-Sayed, manager of Katara Publishing House and the head of Culture and Events at Katara, said that the current book fair was a very special one for several reasons. “This year is very special for the book fair. This is the 50th year of the first book fair in Qatar. Doha International Book Fair is the oldest book fair in the Gulf countries. It is also special that this year a large number of publishers from 37 countries took part in the fair,” noted al-Sayed. One major feature of DIBF-2022 was the seminars and other workshops which not only discussed the books-related subjects but also several broader and current topics such as Covid-19 and new cultural developments in the Gulf landscape among other interesting topics. The book fair also witnessed the release of a number of interesting and highly anticipated books as well as the release of some of the translations of leading international books. Apart from books, the DIBF-2022 also hosted several sections for visitors to explore such as the Children's Creators Garden, Akkas Centre, Youth Hobbies Centre, and the Visual Arts Centre, among others. The fair also witnessed a large participation at the Gulf and Arab level, such as the participation of the GCC General Secretariat, the Ministry of Heritage and Culture of Oman, the Sharjah Book Authority, in addition to the ministries of culture of Morocco, Algeria, Sudan and Egypt, and distinguished participation of foreign publishing houses, mainly from the United States. PICTURES: Thajudheen The visitors were also very enthusiastic about the book fair as they got an opportunity to explore through some of the latest releases as well as many interesting titles. “It was a great experience to visit the Doha International Book Fair. I have been a regular visitor to the book fair over the years. It has once again been fantastic with the presence of a large number of publishers from so many countries,” added a longtime resident.

Three separate booths at the 31st Doha International Book Fair (DIBF) 2022, which concludes today, is showcasing the creations of a number of artists in Qatar highlighting the country's culture, environment among others. “We have three booths to display the artworks. At one booth, we have live paintings by artists while at the other one we have display of the works of more than 15 artists and at the third booth there are digital art works,” Fahd al-Maadeed, head of the Fine Art pavilion told Gulf Times. Qatari artist Dana al-Safar, engaged in a painting at the venue DIBF-2022, held under the slogan 'Knowledge is Light', features literary works of local, regional, and internationally-renowned authors and publishers from 37 countries across the globe. Organised by the Ministry of Culture's Qatar Cultural and Heritage Events Centre, the fair opened on January 13. Nine embassies are participating, while the US embassy is the guest of honour. Al-Maadeed said that all the works presented at the event display various aspects of life in Qatar. Qatari artist Fahd al-Maadeed at one of the art booths at DIBF-2022. PICTURE: Shaji Kayamkulam “All the paintings display different facts about Qatar, its heritage, society, culture, environment and beyond. The artists have painted His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and His Highness the Father Amir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani. We have also paintings about the book fair and the message convey by it,” explained al-Maadeed. The book fair has witnessed very strong participation from the general public. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, visitors are allowed only up to 30% capacity of the venue. However, large number of people had lined up at different booths to buy books as well as to have a glance of the latest books on display. A set of paintings "Different types of artworks are on display at our booths. The paintings include acrylate, oil colour, charcoal, pencil drawingamong others. We hope to add calligraphy works too in future. All these are works by Qatari artists as well as by some other artists who are born in Qatar,” said al-Maadeed. The paintings displayed at the fair are also for sale and the prices start from QR300. “The paintings at our booths are for sale and about 10 paintings are sold daily. Many of these paintings are also given as a gift to friends and relatives and it has become a culture,” noted al-Maadeed. A Qatari artist, Dana al-Safar, engaged in live painting at the booth said she tries to finish as many as possible."So far I have finished a few paintings. I also conduct painting workshops and I have a large number of followers on my Instagram account,” added al-Safar.

The Arab Centre for Research and Policy Studies is showcasing about 700 of its publications at the ongoing Doha International Book Fair (DIBF) 2022. “We have produced over 700 titles during the last decade, averaging about 70 books per year. Our books are academic productions mainly focusing on humanitarian aspects, media, economy, psychology, culture, politics, and philosophy among others. We produce high quality productions with top standards,” Mohamed Ibrahim, from the Arab Centre for Research and Policy Studies told Gulf Times. DIBF-2022, held under the slogan 'Knowledge is Light', features literary works of local, regional, and internationally-renowned authors and publishers from 37 countries across the globe. Organised by the Ministry of Culture's Qatar Cultural and Heritage Events Centre, the fair will conclude tomorrow (Saturday). "The Arab Centre for Research and Policy Studies has many projects and is working with many organisations. We have a project called Arab Index which is the largest index in the Middle East with surveys on different parameters. It also takes into consideration, social, political economic aspects of the Arab World and we are highlighting the Arab World to the rest of the world,” explained Ibrahim. Headquartered in Qatar, the Arab Centre has branches in eight countries including, the US, France, the UK, Jordan, Lebanon, Spain among others. “We are focusing on the Middle East, West Asia and North Africa. We also hold conferences on several continents and countries, including Asia, Europe, America, China, India among others. We highlight the Arab World and various topics related to it. At the same time we also discuss matters related to other countries. All our books are in Arabic, except one book by the director of our centre which is translated into English,” added Ibrahim.    

The embassies of Indonesia and Kyrgyzstan are highlighting various facets of their countries at the ongoing Doha International Book Fair ( DIBF) 2022. Held under the slogan 'Knowledge is Light', DIBF-2022 features literary works of local, regional, and internationally-renowned authors and publishers from 37 countries across the globe. Organised by the Ministry of Culture's Qatar Cultural and Heritage Events Centre, the fair will conclude on January 22. Nine embassies are participating in the event. Faisal Fouzan from the Indonesian embassy said the mission is showcasing an array of books covering a number of topics. Some of the books at the Indonesian embassy booth “We have a large number of books in different fields. We have books for kids, novels, books on politics, culture, history, sports as well as cooking. We have also a number of religious books on Islam. Some of our books give detailed account about visiting Indonesia. We have tourist maps as well as books on various tourist attractions of the country,” explained, Fouzan. Indonesian embassy highlights the country's culture and lifestyle “As a country with the largest Muslim Population, we have a number of books by Muslim scholars. We have many of them translated into Arabic and displayed here. We are also highlighting some of the works of the best writers of our country,” he continued. Fouzan said the Indonesian embassy works in collaboration with the Indonesian association of book publishers that was supposed to attend the event but could not make it due to Covid-19. Chinghiz Torekulovich Aitmatov's collections at Kyrgyzstan embassy booth “We are also showcasing Indonesian diversity. We have some books that give details of all the 30 provinces of Indonesia. We are also highlighting the topography and the best spots of attraction in our country. We have also the tourist maps for the people to explore the country. We hope to promote Indonesia as a tourist destination as many of the books give a vivid portrayal of the country,” he added. Indonesian embassy representatives at the embassy booth There is also a book at the book by the Indonesian diaspora in Qatar that gives all the details of the Indonesian expatriates in the country and their fields of engagement. Currently there are around 17000 in Qatar. Meanwhile, Baktybek uulu Edilbek, third secretary at the Kyrgyztan Embassy noted that it was the third time the embassy is taking part in the book fair. “This year, we are highlighting the books by Chinghiz Torekulovich Aitmatov, one of the most popular writers from Kyrgyzstan. He is a world famous writer. Many of his works are are translated into Arabic and are on display here,” said Edilbek. “ His works have been translated into over 150 languages. He writes fiction as well as on several other topics. Many of his works show the life during the Soviet Union times,” added the official.

*Our relations with Qatar are very strong and this is exhibited at the book fair too: US diplomat * USA guest of honour at the Doha International Book Fair  * Several events to celebrate 2022, the 50th year of Qatar-US diplomatic relations   The United States Embassy booth at the Doha International Book Fair ( DIBF) 2022 has 7,000 books as well as 3,000 other resources, an official from the embassy told Gulf Times. “We have a record inventory of over 7,000 books for purchase at discounted prices. In addition we have another 3,000 free resources for people who want to study and learn about the United States. Altogether we have more than 10,000 books at the book fair this year,” said Morgan Cassell, US diplomat /press attaché, US embassy. Cassell also disclosed that the year 2022 marks the 50th year of Qatar US diplomatic relations. “The whole year is exciting for us as we have several events to celebrate the milestone. There will be frequent events all through the year and many plans are in the pipeline to celebrate the occasion,” she said. As for the participation in the book fair, she said that it is a celebration of American literature and culture. "The book categories by renowned American authors include everything from children’s books to best sellers. We are the guest of honour at the Doha International Book Fair as the Qatar- US Year of Culture 2021 is coming to an end here in Qatar and the US,” she continued. The official said that the focus of the US booth at the book fair is on education, literacy and space exploration. “We have a long history of several successful space explorations in the US. We really encourage study of science and technology. Our booth is designed by a celebrated Arab-American designer Christina Khater, with a futuristic design showcasing how literacy and learning are key tools for innovation and enabling humanity to reach its highest potential. We are showcasing women empowerment, science and technology and the strength of our relationship with Qatar at the event,” explained, Cassell. She said that books on display at the booth range from fiction to biographies and other best sellers. “We have collections from some of the most renowned American authors including Asian Americans, Arab Americans, African Americans and others, a wide section of authors that the US has to offer. We have a true diverse collection of books. Though all the books are in English, we have books that discuss Arab culture, learning about Islam and several aspects of Arab heritage and traditions,” noted the official. As for Qatar-US Year of Culture-2021, the press attache said that the programme has shown the strength of the relationship between both the countries. She commented: “We have showcased Qatar all the way from New York to Los Angles and other cities in the US. Here in Qatar, we have had several events ranging from fashion to music, culture, culinary experience, information on education in the US among others. So we are constantly renewing and revitalising our ties with Qatar on many fronts. Our relations with Qatar are very strong and this is also exhibited in the book fair too.” "We are very proud to be the guest of honour at this prestigious event. Language and literacy is something that we hold very important. The values that we share with our Qatari partners are language, literacy and education. We are here to encourage and instill these values among the young readers and all others," added Cassell. ************ Children allowed from today evening Children under 12 will be allowed to attend the 31st Doha International Book Fair (DIBF) from today until it concludes on January 22, from 4pm to 9pm, according to information available on the DIBF 2022 website. This will be done while taking all necessary measures to ensure their safety, the Ministry of Culture said in a related statement on social media yesterday.    

Qatar Career Development Centre (QCDC), will hold the Career Guidance Stakeholders 2022 event today aiming to enhance comprehensive career guidance services with career guidance services at all levels of schools and to include people with special needs. “Our main desire is for the stakeholders to continue embracing the platform as a viable national networking and synergy building mechanism that can position career guidance in Qatar in its’ rightful place," Effrosyni Parampota, senior career programmes & Services Officer at QCDC told, Gulf Times. "Through this collaborative process, we want to further promote working on both key operational and strategic issues aligned with the QNV pillar on human capital development in the country,” she explained. “We want to capitalise on the experiences to strengthen career guidance services through multiple channels, streamline, and strengthen the provision of career guidance in schools that are currently limited to high school settings to both primary and secondary level. This also includes people with special needs who often complete their secondary education without adequate career management skills and deal with many challenges,” said Parampota. The official also said that by collecting evidence to address skills’ gaps and emergent future demands, QCDC hopes to boost the employability of higher education graduates who have been adversely affected by the pandemic, as well as support adult workforce transitioning and upskilling. With the theme, “Accelerating Human Capital Development through Career Guidance under the QNV2030,” the event aims to foster a much-needed dialogue among the stakeholders and to accelerate the human capital development process towards 2030 goals. “Special attention is paid also to people with special needs, their transition from secondary education, and how to encourage employers to create more inclusive workplaces. For this Focus Group we are fortunate to join hands with other international experts like Prof Stephen Shore, who is an acclaimed advocate for neurodiversity and autism globally,” the official said. Parampota said that based on the summary of recommendations produced in 2018, QCDC gained a new focus on developing impactful projects, producing literature based on research, and fostering strategic partnerships locally and abroad. “We developed a comprehensive national approach plan, that includes a set of national level projects, such as the National Career Guidance Framework and a Qualification Programme for Career Practitioners in collaboration with an international educational consortium. We accelerated the efforts to upskill local practitioners through an international course that has been contextualised to fit the local socioeconomic context and benchmark their skills against international standards,” she said. Meanwhile, Max Tunon, head of the ILO Office in Doha, said that as echoed recently by the Shura Council, there is a need to link education outputs to the needs of the labour market to facilitate a successful and equitable transition into the labour market. “Career guidance can also contribute to the structural transformation of the Qatari economy, including by facilitating the transition of Qatari nationals into the private sector, and promoting innovation and diversification. Guidance promotes the development of a more adaptative and resilient workforce, which can result in competitive gains for enterprises,” Tunon said. He commented that career guidance services and activities help people identify and seize training and job opportunities in line with interests and personal goals. “The provision of career guidance and employment services is one of the primary active labour market policies a government can adopt. To be effective, services must be human-centered and also take into account the evolving needs of the labour market, the availability of training institutions, and the broader national economic objectives,” he said. The ILO official also said that career guidance should assist individuals of any age and at any point throughout their lives in making educational, training and occupational choices. “Youth can be supported in choosing a profession that responds to existing and future skills needs in the economy, and to be autonomous in managing their careers. Higher education students can be supported in developing job-relevant skillsets and establishing contacts in the labour market. In line with the national strategy to increase female labour force participation, options for young women can be diversified, including in professions that have traditionally been male-dominated,” he added.    

Katara Publishing House is displaying over 60 new books at the ongoing Doha International Book Fair ( DIBF) 2022 at Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre. “Every year, we participate in the Doha International Book Fair. Katara Publishing House has different subjects and topics for its books. We are focusing on fiction mainly and there are more than 40 novels this time. In total, we have more than 60 new books on display at the fair,” Khalid al-Sayed, manager of Katara Publishing House and the head of Culture and Events at Katara, told Gulf Times. “Most of these fictional works were books submitted for Katara Publishing House's competition for novels. We give very attractive prizes for novels, with QR640,000 in total in various categories. We have books in Arabic, English and French,” al-Sayed added. According to al-Sayed, Katara Publishing House releases more than 40 books a year. “We also have books related to Qatar, heritage, culture, poems and several other subjects. Our books give a vivid portrayal of the subject they cover and highlight all the relevant facts in detail,” he noted. The official also said the current book fair is a special one for several reasons. “This year is very special for the book fair. This is the 50th year of the first book fair in Qatar. Doha International Book Fair is the oldest book fair in the Gulf countries. It is also special that this year around 400 publishers from 37 countries are taking part in the fair,” al-Sayed added. He said the real strength of this year’s book fair is the conferences and lectures that are being held along with the event. “We have a number of side activities at the book fair. The lectures and seminars at the fair provide great knowledge about various aspects of Arab culture and other topics to the participants. There are also several side events at the book fair that add more value to the event,” he added.    

Qatar National Library (QNL) has so far digitised more than 13mn pages in its digitisation project as the library is highlighting the process of converting information from a physical format into a digital one at the ongoing Doha International Book Fair 2022, a top official of QNL told Gulf Times. HE Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad bin Jassim bin Hamad al- Thani, Minister of Culture, attending a seminar at DIBF 2022. PICTURES Thajudheen “So far we have digitised more than 13mn pages and aim to continue this process to make Arab history accessible to the world. The pages include some of the rarest and most valuable manuscripts, printed books, maps, photographs and photo albums among others. The digitised items also include recent and modern documents and books from the mid-20th century,” disclosed Tan Huism, executive director, QNL at the book fair that is currently taking place at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre. Huism stated that QNL will be focusing on the Heritage Library and related activities at the ongoing book fair. Tan Huism, QNL director “Most people think of our library as a place to borrow and refer books, but we are also the guardian of Qatar’s and the region’s documentary heritage and hence want to give visitors a sneak peek into the effort that is being put by our staff behind the scenes.” According to Huism, the digitisation of the collection has two main purposes. “Just like libraries all around the world, we digitise the copies for preservation and want to make it accessible to everyone around the world. We have installed some of the best cutting-edge technologies in the library like 3D photography, to scan larger objects such as globes. The advanced equipment enables readers to view the objects very closely and explore the minutest details,” she pointed out. Alenka Blatnik at the digitisation machine in the QNL pavilion According to Alenka Blatnik, digitisation support technician at QNL, digitising a book involves many steps. "We ensure the copyrights and physical assessment check is completed before proceeding with the scanning process. After producing digital images, we ensure it goes through a stringent quality control protocol before processing . This process is optimised by a second level of quality control checks to ensure best results. Completed digital images finally go through Optical Digital Recognition (OCR) process that makes text searchable and editable by other word processing applications. We can use OCR for multiple languages including Arabic, Latin and ancient text as well," she explained. QNL booth at the DIBF 2022 QNL is an integral part of the 31st Doha International Book Fair, hosting activities and demonstrations that align with its 2022 theme “Knowledge is Light”. QNL has been taking part in the Doha International Book Fair since its inception to highlight its activities as well as the benefits of its membership and highlight the other activities of the library. A visitor going through the book collections at the DIBF 2022

An autonomous, handheld, programmable, multi-sensor outdoor air quality (AQ) sensing system has been developed by the Department of Electrical Engineering at the College of Engineering, Qatar University. The US-patented system is aimed at ensuring a safe and healthy environment, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic and as Qatar stands on the threshold of hosting the FIFA World Cup 2022. Information about the system is highlighted in an article in the latest edition of the QU research magazine. ‘Environmentally Powered Smart System for Urban Scale Mapping and Assessment of Outdoor Air Quality in Qatar' by Prof Farid Touati, professor of electrical engineering and Hasan Tariq, research assistant at the college of engineering, explains this is the first AQ Mapping (AQM) platform in Qatar for environmental mapping and profiling and expected to serve as a model reference architecture for future urban-scale environmental artificial intelligence systems in the country. “Two deployment methods were performed during the project span. The system was deployed as a static measurement station on four sites in Qatar University and later as a mobile mapping station placed on a Toyota Camry, patrolling in Doha for three AQM trips. Real-time urban AQM was observed in the loT ( Internet of Things) platform. AQ was mapped, processed, and forecast at national landmarks in Qatar, for the future to ensure maximum environmental safety for citizens and tourists,” the article explained. The article also noted: “The real-time geospatial study of prime environmental variables impacting lives was sensed at static and mobile monitoring nodes to probe the AQ. Abiding standards were ensured by implementing the AQ indexes recommended by WHO and international EPAs (Environmental Protection Agency) especially the US and the EU. Five EPA recommended commercial grade air quality index sensors (particulate matter, ozone, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and carbon monoxide) as well as carbon dioxide and volatile organic compounds sensors were networked on board.” For environmental profiling and vertical and horizontal mapping, a combination of sensors were utilised to measure accuracy-improved position as well as temperature, pressure, humidity, wind speed, and altitude. The developed air quality system has been a success story in many research forums locally. Furthermore, this system was selected to represent Qatar in the biggest Euro- Asian Technology and Innovation competition in Russia named 5PIEF2020 and SPIEF2021.

Qatar’s efforts on food security have granted unprecedented stability to the food and agricultural sector in the country, according to a researcher from Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute, (Qeeri), part of Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU). “Local food production has boomed over the past four years, and farming activities have increased across Qatar. Several market and governmental incentives were put in place to facilitate producers and consumers in supporting local products,’ Dr Annamaria Mazzoni, a research associate at Qeeri said in an article. Dr Mazzoni says that Qatar’s efforts at food security proved to be resilient during the Covid-19 epidemic. She noted: “Qatar’s quest for food security and sustainability has received much attention over the years and all the sectors in the country have shown the ability to prioritise it and align actions for its realisation.” Writing in HBKU newsletter Wamdha, the researcher said that the Qatar National Food Security Strategies (2018-2023), is currently undergoing updates, focus on enhancing local food production, the diversification of import sources, building up a strategic reserve to balance food stocks, making optimal use of the country’s natural and water resources, and the employment of renewable energies in the agricultural sector. “These efforts have granted unprecedented stability to the food and agricultural sector, which has proven resilient during the Covid-19 epidemic. Thanks to the policy focus, cross-sectoral strategies, and long-term planning, Qatar was indeed able to sustain the sudden disruption of global food supply chains caused by the pandemic and as of 2021, Qatar ranks 24th globally and second at regional level accordingly to the Global Food Security Index by the Economist Intelligence Unit,” she explained. Dr Mazzoni is optimistic that Qatar shall continue to strive to attain a sustainable food system through several ways. She suggested: “Climate change is one of the global challenges and the expansion of the use of renewable energies should also apply to the food sector. Similarly, diversification of water sources and groundwater conservation is crucial for sustainable natural resources management. Food waste reduction is a key aspect for further development of the food sector and goes hand in hand with food safety practices.” “Monitoring plays a critical role in quality assurance and observance of standards for the import, production, processing, preparation, and disposal of food products, since a big part of the food is still imported. Lastly, further research and efforts in improving healthy diets and food habits should be materialised in related policies,” she continued. Dr Mazzoni also highlighted the need for further research on food security and the efforts by Qeeri in this direction. “Food security and food systems’ sustainability are an integral part of the research topics across all centres and programmes at Qeeri. Thanks to its diverse expertise, Qeeri is tackling the environmental, economic, and social challenges of improving local food production and enhancing the food security sector in the country,” she added.

A research by Qatar University (QU) shows that gum infections can lead to developing severe Covid-19. Though bleeding gum while brushing can be a common factor and taken lightly, gum diseases can lead to severe Covid-19 due to many other factors, according to the details of the study published in the latest edition (December 2021) of the QU research magazine. The research was led by Dr Nadia Maarout, associate consultant from Hamad Dental Centre and Dr Faleh Tamimi, associate dean for Academic Affairs, at the College of Dental Medicine, QU. The researchers say that the strong association between Covid-19 and oral health could be caused by the fact that periodontitis causes a chronic inflammation that makes patients more susceptible to the severe and dangerous inflammation caused by Covid-19. The researchers investigated the records of 568 patients that suffered from Covid-19 and found that a significant portion of the patients that suffered severe Covid-19 complications and even death, had advanced periodontitis, a type of chronic inflammation of the gums. “After adjusting for several factors such as patient’s age, gender and chronic diseases, the link between periodontitis and Covid-19 complications was statistically significant and it revealed that patients with periodontitis were at least three times more likely to experience Covid-19 complications regardless of age, gender and other conditions of the patients,” the study says. Periodontitis is mostly caused by poor oral hygiene and lack of maintenance of the dental condition, thus the findings of the study highlight the importance of maintaining a good dental care, and the regular teeth and gum check-ups. Dentists might also play an important role in prevention of the advancement of gum diseases. The research has been highlighted by 'Nature', one of the most prestigious scientific journals. Moreover, the study was also endorsed by several prestigious scientific organisations such as the American Academy of Periodontology, the International Association for Dental Research and the European Federation of Periodontology among others. The study spearheaded by Dr Tamimi was shared by several news outlets around the world including some leading TV stations and newspapers such as Fox News, The Times, El Pais, ABC news, and CBC, among others. This article had also one of the highest altimetric indices in the entire scientific literature. The altimetric index is an index designed to showcase the attention and influence of research and indicates how often journal articles are discussed and used around the world. The altimetric index of this article is probably the highest ever in dentistry and one of the highest in the history of Qatar.

Qatar had the highest number of recovered cases of Covid-19 among the Arab countries in the first 12 months of the prevalence of the disease, according to a study released two months ago. “Qatar with a total recovery of 54,712 cases from February 2020 to February 2021, had the highest number of recovered cases per million population, followed by Lebanon, Kuwait, UAE, and Jordan with 42,849, 41,700, 38,239, and 33,943, respectively,” says the study ‘One-year Review of Covid-19 in the Arab World’ published in Qatar Medical Journal and featured on QScience.com. In what could be the first study about Covid-19 prevalence in the Arab countries, the authors of the study, Nasar Alwahaibi, Muna al-Maskari, Buthaina al-Dhahli, Halima al-Issaei and Samiya al-Jaaidi Shadia al-Bahlani from the College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Oman highlights that the study included all the 22 Arab countries and was aimed to assess the 12-month prevalence of Covid-19 in Arab countries and to compare these findings with other significantly affected countries. The study also points out that Bahrain, Qatar, Lebanon, Kuwait, and the UAE had the highest reported number of confirmed Covid-19 cases per million population with 70,214, 58,289, 55,113, 44,282, and 39,165, respectively. Based on a 12-month evaluation from February 2020 to February 2021, the trend showed that the highest number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in all Arab countries with 631,692 cases was recorded in November. In the same month, Jordan, Morocco, Iraq, Lebanon, and Tunisia scored their highest number of confirmed Covid-19 cases. The total number of Covid-19 deaths in the Arab countries was 72,950, with predominance in Lebanon, followed by Tunisia, Jordan, Palestine, and Iraq. The study also shows that Bahrain had the highest number of confirmed Covid-19 cases and Lebanon had the highest number of deaths per million population. “The number of confirmed and death cases among Arab countries trigger significant worries about morbidity and mortality related to Covid-19, respectively. However, a younger Arab population in the world may contribute to fewer Covid-19 deaths in comparison with the topmost affected countries worldwide,” the study said. The report also points out that the first Arab country to have officially reported the presence of Covid-19 was UAE, with five cases on January 29, 2020. Egypt was the second Arab country and the first Arab-African country to declare the presence of Covid-19 on February 14, 2020. Comoros was the last of the Arab countries to declare the presence of Covid-19 on April 30, 2020. The data was collected from World Health Organisation, Worldometer, and from the websites of the Ministries of Health in all Arab countries. As of March 01, 2021, the total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in all Arab countries was 4,259,756. In comparison with the topmost affected countries, and based on both the highest number of confirmed and deaths per million population, Arab countries ranked second last before India, with 9,646 and 165 cases, respectively.

*Punarjani Qatar provides assistance to Indians in distress Indian expatriate forum Punarjani Qatar has continued to repatriate a number of critically ill patients in 2021 and so far, the organisation has repatriated about 35 needy persons to various states. Jugiraj Sing Sarwan Singh, a native of Kapurthala, Punjab and working with Karwa was rushed to Emergency at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) due to some health issues. Later, he was shifted to Rumailah Hospital in April, for long therapy and treatment. Punarjani planned his repatriation after contacting his family in Punjab and arranged a letter of acceptance from a hospital in Amritsar. After arranging his compensation and insurance from authorities, he was repatriated recently to Amritsar where he was received by his family and got admitted in a hospital at Amritsar for further medical support. Ismail Mohamed Rawter, a 47-year-old, from Alathur, Kerala, was also repatriated recently. He suffered a severe heart attack and was admitted in the Emergency at Wakra Hospital in 2020. Later he was shifted to the long-term Care Unit at Rumailah Hospital Punarjani arranged his repatriation as the family wanted to provide further treatment at his native place. On December 16, he was repatriated with a doctor and nurse to Kochi International Airport. The forum had also arranged an ambulance with a doctor and nurse at Kochi to take him to the hospital. Further, Punarjani helped the repatriation of Yunoos Pauvvakkal Nhattuvayal, a 36-year-old from Kannur. He was under long-term treatment in Enaya Speciality Care Centre for the past several months and was in a semi-conscious stage. A doctor and nurse accompanied him on the flight. Nhattuvayal, working as driver in a company in Qatar, had a cardiac arrest which affected his brain and development of neurological issues. Punarjani volunteers co-ordinated with Enaya hospital staff, Indian embassy, Indian Community Benevolent Forum (ICBF) and the airlines for his travel, and with Pariyaram Medical College in India, for getting their consent for further treatment. Another successful repatriation this year was of Thoppayyan Aellappan Periabodi Shetty, a 61-year-old, from Chennai, Tamil Nadu who reached his family recently. Thoppayyan was undergoing treatment at the Qatar Rehabilitation Centre for physical fitness, after being admitted due to severe chest pain and thereafter started suffering from memory loss. "With assistance from several people, we were able to help him travel back home," an official of Punarjani said. Finally, Siraj Ahmed Syed a native of Hyderabad was safely handed over to his family members at the Hyderabad Airport with Punarjani’s assistance. He was working as a driver in a limousine company in Qatar and was admitted to HMC, as he complained of extreme fatigue. Later, he was shifted to the Qatar Rehabilitation Centre for physiotherapy and due to vision problems caused by lifestyle diseases, he was sent for further treatment. Punarjani Qatar has thanked HMC, Indian embassy, ICBF and various airlines for all the support and assistance in the repatriation efforts. In all the cases, the forum contacted the sponsors to get financial settlements from their companies. The organisation also conducted two blood donation drives in 2021, with the participation of over 200 members. It also helps with burial in Qatar as well as with consular services and deportation assistance among others.

A movie that depicts the age old ties between the Arab World and India, especially the southern state of Kerala, will be released by the end of next month. Produced by Mansoor Palloor, a former Doha resident and currently based in Saudi Arabia, the movie, Uru (Dhow) is a portrayal of the strong social and cultural bonds between Kerala and the Arab countries, the second home for millions of Keralites for about eight decades. The dhow also called the ‘Launch’, was the only mode of transportation in the early days of migration from Kerala to the Middle East. The movie also highlights how the Indian expatriates embrace the Arab culture and feel at home in their second home.  Lead actor Mamukoya Uru, written and directed by EM Ashraf, a UAE and Middle East based journalist aims to showcase the emotional connect between the two cultures and the people of both the places. It also tells the story of traditional boat-making for Arab nationals at Beypore, in Kozhikode. “This is a positive story about the personal relationship between an Arab customer who visits a cafeteria run by an Indian and the strong relationship that developed between them in the following days. It also points to the close- knit personal bonds between the Arabs and the Indians,” Palloor told Gulf Times. Palloor who has also essayed a small role in the movies said that the plot revolves around the kindness and assistance of an Arab youth Mansoor Palloor towards an expatriate who used to work for his late father. “Rasheed, a Malayalee assistant of an Arab comes to the place to monitor the work, but he faces some trouble. The film moves forward showing how the Arab youth comes forward to solve his struggles and challenges. Historically, the Beypore uru played a vital role in strengthening Indo-Arab relations and the film shows the history of dhow construction in the area, and the affection between Arabs and Indian expatriates,” explained Palloor. According to Pallor, the movie might also set the tone and renewed interest for a cultural and intellectual dialogue between both Indian and the Arab world. “I feel strongly that the movie can further open up new vistas for cultural ties especially in art and movie tie-ups. This will also help both the civilisations to bond for better understanding and collaborations in the art and culture avenues,” remarked, Palloor. The cast of the movie includes some of the leading actors of Malayalam cinema such as Mamukoya, Manju Pathrose and KU Manoj who has acted in the movie Thinkalazhcha Nishchayam which won a state award this year. Hassan al-Salman, a Saudi national is also acting in the movie. Veteran actor Mamukoya portrays the lead role of Sreedharan, the master carpenter, with KU Manoj and Manju Pathrose in important roles. The film is conceived as an ode to the decades of love and friendship between Arabs and Indians. Palloor has been an expatriate for 30 years and his co-producers are A Sabu and Zubin Edappakath. Uru is set for a global release with special plans for the entire Middle East. Palloor noted that the movie will be released in all the GCC countries including Qatar and with plans for other Arab countries too.

A Qatar Foundation ( QF) economist is working on a new energy systems model that will help Qatar reach its GHG (Greenhouse gas) emissions targets to mitigate climate change. Through a project awarded by QF’s Qatar National Research Fund, in collaboration with Imperial College London, he is currently working on developing Qatar’s first energy systems model in collaboration with, stakeholders in government, industry, and research. “The model will help identify energy transition pathways that the country can use to create a road map to reach its aim of 25% reduction in GHG emissions by 2030, and chart the course for further emissions reduction by 2050 and beyond,” said, Dr Marcello Contestabile, principal economist at Qatar Environment and Energy Institute, part of QF’s Hamad Bin Khalifa University. “Using the model, we can set a target for decarbonisation, and then the model helps work out how to achieve that target and the most cost-effective technologies to invest in, taking into consideration all the relevant uncertainties,” explained Dr Contestabile, according to an article published on the QF website. The main purpose of this project is to equip Qatar with a tool to support policymaking and strategic planning concerning its energy, economic, and environmental policy goals. The model will help identify the mix of technologies that can reduce emissions most effectively both in terms of quantity as well as cost effectiveness, and so on. “The type of model we are developing is called TIMES,” Dr Contestabile said. “It is the most used model worldwide and will allow us to equip Qatar with the same capabilities for performing energy systems analysis as leading governments and institutions around the world.” The expert continued: “To support a country in planning the transformation of its energy system, a vital tool is an energy systems model. To mitigate climate change, we need a major transformation of the global energy system – one that is unparalleled in its speed and scope.” “Energy systems consist of distinct but interlinked sectors such as power generation, transport, buildings, and industry. Achieving carbon emission reductions requires intervening on all these sectors simultaneously, while taking the complex nature of the system into due consideration to avoid unintended consequences,” he remarked. The expert noted that energy systems models compute costs, fuel consumption, and emissions for each sector over time, and help identify optimal paths for reaching the desired policy targets through the transformation of the energy system, taking all relevant constraints into account. Emphasising the need for such a model to kickstart change, Prof Adam Hawkes, director of the Sustainable Gas Institute and Professor of Energy Systems in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Imperial College London, said: “Qatar is in an enviable position to create an energy system and industrial sector that are aligned with Paris Agreement targets. “The energy systems model we are building in this project is a tool for all stakeholders in Qatar to understand and ask questions of what that future could look like. It can give crucial information to policymakers and industry alike, enabling all to explore the impact of energy strategies for the future,” added, Prof Hawkes. According to Dr Contestabile, the value this project can bring to the country’s climate mitigations plans is significant, but it will depend heavily on the level of stakeholder engagement. One of the project’s partners is Kahramaa. As part of their Tarsheed programme, Kahramaa is co-ordinating the deployment of new technology such as solar photovoltaics and related energy storage capacity to manage intermittency, smart grids, electric vehicles, and related charging infrastructure, and more. The model – once developed – with its ability to test different strategies to achieve policy targets will serve as an essential analytical tool in supporting Kahramaa maximise the benefits of deploying low-carbon technologies that are energy-efficient.

*Amir, Father Amir attend Qatar National Day parade His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, His Highness the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani and a number of dignitaries attended the National Day Parade at Doha Corniche Saturday as the country celebrated the occasion with patriotic fervour and grandeur. Doha Corniche was the hub of activities of the day with the ceremonial parade taking place at 9am leading to the culmination of the celebrations with an eye-popping fireworks in the evening, after the final match of the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2021. Amir greets the spectators who gathered to watch the Qatar National Parade on the Corniche. Large crowds had gathered at the Corniche area in the morning to watch the proceedings of the parade. Entry to the venue was by invitation, and all precautionary and preventive measures against Covid-19 were observed. The parade was also attended by His Highness the Amir's Personal Representative His Highness Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani, His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Thani, HE Sheikh Jassim bin Khalifa al-Thani, HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz al-Thani and a number of their excellencies, sheikhs and ministers. The ceremonial event featured an infantry parade, with no military vehicles taking part. The official Qatar News Agency said the parade was also attended by HE Speaker of the Shura Council Hassan bin Abdullah al-Ghanem, and a number of Council members, in addition to a number of the country's guests, including President of FIFA Gianni Infantino, Minister of Interior of the French Republic Gerald Darmanin, Minister of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Tunisia Kamal Daqish, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Malta Evarist Bartolo, Secretary General of the Interpol Jurgen Stock, and Commander of the US Air Forces Central Command Lieutenant-General Gregory M Guillot. It was also attended by a number of branch and unit commanders, senior officers of the armed forces and the Ministry of Interior, in addition to notables and participating parties. Following the National Anthem and the firing of the 18-shot gun salute , the national parade started with a display of a group of modern naval vessels, including transport and logistical support ships, speedboats, ships and combat boats equipped with the latest defensive and offensive systems. It was followed by an air show of various types of aircraft , F-15 'Ababil' and Rafale 'Al Adiyat', Mirage Sniper multi-mission fighters and Typhoon 'Al-Dhariyat'. The helicopter group was headed by Apache 'Sajeel'. Other combat aircraft, helicopters, transport aircraft, cargo aircraft, and evacuation aircraft also took part. | The armed forces' infantry show was led by Leopard tank and two Jeopardy air defence armoured vehicles, followed by the Land Forces, the Air Force, the Navy, the Air Defence, the Military Police, the Border Corps, the various military colleges, the Joint Special Forces, the Amiri Guard and the Interior Ministry's infantry, the Establishments and Authorities Security Department forces and Al Fazaa forces, which was followed by a show of Lekhwiya, with the entry of various military factions, horsemen and camel cavalry. The march concluded with the entry of paratroopers and air military shows.