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Indian football team’s former captain Dr I M Vijayan Thursday launched a summer football camp for students in Qatar. Set to begin on August 1, the month-long camp will be organised by Manjappada Qatar, a collective of Kerala Blasters FC and Indian Sports Centre (ISC). The camp will provide around 120 students from various age groups with training to improve their football skills. The exercise will be supervised by Kerala football team’s Santosh Trophy head coach Bino George and led by Gokulam Kerala FC coach Suneesh. The function at Integrated Indian Community Centre, also saw Dr Vijayan being honoured. The star footballer was recently awarded a doctorate by the Akankirsk Northern State Medical University in Russia for his contribution to Indian football. The captain of the Indian national team from 2000-2004, the Kerala player made 79 appearances for India, with 40 goals to his credit. Dr Vijayan said that the doctorate came as a recognition of his efforts and achievements including the record for the fastest goalscorer in the 12th second, against Bhutan at the 1999 SAF Games. He said he is glad to receive the honour from the Indian community and the embassy in Doha and wished a bright future for budding Indian footballers in Qatar. Dr Vijayan is in Qatar to attend the final match of the Dhanaraj-AS Firos All India Sevens Football Tournament as the chief guest. The final of the tournament, organised by Sol Qatar, will be held today. Dr Vijayan noted that football always stands for good while bringing everyone together. Manjappada vice-president Jose Francis told Gulf Timesthat arrangements are being done for the camp and around 120 students are expected to attend. “The camp will be held from 6pm to 9pm in three batches of three age groups, such as 6-9, 10-14 and 15-18 years. Various Indian schools and community organisations are co-operating for the camp. Manjappada general secretary Akhil Noordeen handed over a ticket of the Argentina-Mexico match of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 to Dr Vijayan. Indian Cultural Centre (ICC) president P N Baburajan, Indian embassy first secretary (culture and education) Sachin Dinkar Shankpal, second secretary Dr Sona Soman and Manjappada president Deepesh Govindankutty were also present.

  * Indian expat and a noted actor in Malayalam film and television, Mohan Ayroor, was active in Qatar's arts and socio-cultural segments   After being active nearly four decades in Qatar's arts and socio-cultural segments, Indian expatriate Mohan Ayroor, a noted actor in Malayalam film and television, has left the country for good with many fond memories. “I had a good time in Doha while playing multiple roles and doing various works. I am glad that my efforts paid off well and I could pursue my dreams, thanks to Qatar,” he told Gulf Times Community in a farewell interview. Mohan Ayroor and his family Mohan was born in Ayroor village in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala, and his father K P John, a military official, and mother Saramaa John, wanted him to become a government official. But little did he know when he left Kerala in 1983 for Qatar, leaving aside the dream of becoming a cine artist, that two decades later he would foray into the film industry. Once in Qatar, Mohan started his career as an accounting assistant in a private firm in Doha and later established a photo studio. Charishma Arts, a forum established by Mohan along with friends Dr V K Mohanan and Shaji Sebastian, proved to be a turning point in his life. “Our initiative later resulted in the formation of many collectives, some of which are still keeping the Malayali attachment towards arts intact,” he said, adding that year-long programmes will mark the 30th anniversary of Charishma in Doha. Mohan was deeply involved in arts and cultural activities, including penning and staging dramas in Doha. He wrote 12 dramas and acted in 50, over the years. “Still, I wanted to do something big and I was lucky enough to receive the call to play one of the leading roles in the 2003 Malayalam hit movie Chronic Bachelor," he recalled while reliving the excitement of his film debut. Noted Malayalam director Fazil’s brother Khais Abdul Hameed helped Mohan get selected for the film. “He was very supportive and the good gesture came after he got impressed by my stage performances,” Mohan said. The debut with celebrated Indian actor Mammootty helped Mohan get further opportunities in the industry. He has so far acted with leading actors Mohanlal, Suresh Gopi, Biju Menon and Mukesh. In 2005, he got a role in the Hollywood movie, The Mistress of Spices. “I wanted to break stereotypes and I could achieve what I wanted even though I had to wait. The charm of the silver screen is really enthusing,” he said. Mohan is now playing leading roles in popular Malayalam television serials including Kaliveedu. Mohan has expressed his gratitude to his Doha studio manager Krishna Kumar, who used to keep the business running when the former was busy with his acting career in Kerala, with occasional trips to Qatar. The founding president of Charishma Arts, Mohan later initiated steps to form the Confederation of Kerala Organisations, an apex body of around 50 organisations in Qatar. He was also a founding member of Indian Cultural Centre and the Indian Community Benevolent Forum. Mohan’s wife Usha worked with Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) as a nurse. His elder daughter Punchiri is working with HMC as project co-ordinator, second daughter Panchami is a clinical psychologist in Kuwait, and third daughter Paurnnami is a business operations executive in Bengaluru, India.

The Abu Samra land border between Qatar and Saudi Arabia is witnessing a huge number of people crossing the border. Since the beginning of Dhul Hijjah, the border has been witnessing daily 8,000 to 9,000 people travelling to Saudi Arabia or arriving in Qatar, Captain Mohamed Abdullah al-Baridi told Qatar TV. The official explained that the rush at the border is due to the Haj pilgrimage season and Eid al-Adha holidays. All arrangements have been made by the Permanent Committee to Manage Abu Samra Border Crossing to receive travellers. Adequate staff has been deployed to handle the rush at the border, he added. After the Eid al-Fitr holidays were announced, many citizens as well as residents in Qatar opted to spend the vacation in countries such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE where they can visit relatives and friends. “I decided to celebrate Eid with friends in Dubai and I am now having a good time with all,” Doha resident Farhan Ibrahim told Gulf Times. He crossed the border on Thursday after completing the necessary formalities. "All arrangements are in place at the border where I saw a long queue of vehicles with many travelling to celebrate the holidays," Ibrahim added.

People from across Qatar turned up at mosques and designated grounds in the early hours for the Eid prayer, as the Eid al-Adha celebrations got underway in the country. Citizens and residents, as well as visitors, performed the prayer at 5.05am at the 588 mosques and prayer grounds in the country by the Ministry of Endowments (Awqaf) and Islamic Affairs. Clerics delivered special sermons in which they called for love, compassion and unity. Also, they urged worshippers to keep the spirit of Eid alive while wishing them prosperity and good health. Worshippers at prayer locations in Doha. PICTURE Thajudheen “The message of Eid is to strengthen relations,” said the imam at Al the Wakra prayer grounds. Dressed in special clothes for Eid, people of all ages greeted each other and wished them well. The Awqaf ministry and Ministry of Municipality made all necessary arrangements at mosques and prayer grounds where special cleanliness drives were carried out ahead of Eid al-Adha. Al-Fazaa and Traffic Department personnel were deployed at these places to ensure smooth traffic flow, while also making sure that worshippers could cross the road safely. Citizens and residents greeting each other Saturday morning on the occasion of Eid al-Adha. PICTURE Shaji Kayamkulam Also, worshippers adhered to Covid-19 precautionary measures inside mosques in line with the recent Cabinet decision on making masks mandatory in closed public places. “Eid is an occasion to greet and meet. I spent the morning with friends whom I met at the prayer ground in Al Wakra,” said Al Wukair resident Mohamed Shafi. Another resident said this is a time to pause, reflect and understand what really matters in life. "It is also a time to spend some much-needed quality times with the near and dear ones," he added. PICTURES: Thajudheen, Shaji Kayamkulam and Shemeer Rasheed Meanwhile, slaughterhouses wore a busy look as demand for sacrificial animals was high. These were duly and adequately prepared for the occasion, with administrative, technical and health and safety arrangements made to ensure the delivery of smooth and quality services and products. Inspections were carried out by various municipalities to make sure that the sacrificial animals on offer were fit for consumption and were being sold and slaughtered in strict compliance with the relevant laws and rules. As the day progressed and the weather conditions eased, many people ventured out. Parks and beaches started receiving people looking to make the most of the holiday, while malls and indoor entertainment and recreation facilities saw big crowds. The Ministry of Municipality had made extensive preparations at beaches and parks where cleanliness drives were carried out and the necessary equipment were put in place. Beaches like Sealine, Al Wakra, Al Mamlha, Simaisma, Al Ghariya, Al Kharji and Al Farkhia welcomed families, women as well as bachelors since the evening. The ministry has urged the visitors to keep the parks and beaches clean, not to dump waste and co-operate with the authorities. Various activities and events have been lined up at Katara - the Cultural Village, which received a large number of people, including children. Among the highlights of the festivities there is the distribution of gifts among children.

Continuing to achieve impressive results, the second phase of the National Programme for Conservation and Energy Efficiency (Tarsheed) helped Qatar record savings worth more than QR4bn by the end of last year. This was revealed by HE the Minister of State for Energy Affairs Saad bin Sherida al-Kaabi during Tarsheed’s 10th anniversary celebrations Sunday. The programme helped save roughly 14,000 GWh of electricity, more than 100mn cubic metre of water, and an estimated 138,000mn cubic ft of gas. It also led to a reduction in emissions, amounting to approximately 8,500mn kg of carbon dioxide. HE the Minister of State for Energy Affairs said efforts will be strengthened during the third phase of the programme, which runs from April 2022 until 2030. “More goals will be set and attention will be paid to a number of issues that touch on the core work in the electricity and water sectors, including the strategy for electric cars and work to establish 1,000 electric charging stations by 2025. Also, energy efficiency will be enhanced while work on initiatives related to sustainability will be initiated while confronting climate change and reducing carbon emissions,” he said, adding that Tarsheed has worked during the first half of the last decade according to a plan that is aimed at achieving sustainability goals in energy efficiency and expanding the use of renewable energy in Qatar in line with Qatar National Vision 2030, the National Strategy 2018-2022, the Qatar Strategy Environment and Climate Change 2021-2025 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. HE al-Kaabi highlighted the accomplishments of the programme's second phase that ran from 2018 to 2022, noting that it was characterised by increasing the efficiency of electricity and water utilisation, optimising and diversifying energy resources, and working on the development of rationalised communities and smart cities, in addition to combating climate change. He thanked the tireless and sincere efforts of all those in charge of the programme and its employees, stressing that their work helped raise the level of efficiency of devices and equipment in Qatar. Kahramaa president Essa bin Hilal al-Kuwari noted that Tarsheed would continue to work to enhance the achievements by preparing and developing regulations and legislation related to energy rationalisation and energy efficiency. “This will be accomplished while adopting the latest technologies that are compatible with our environment and prepare us for the stage of the knowledge economy and smart Qatar. We will also continue the circular economy methodology to take advantage of all elements from water treatment and the uses of smart agriculture, through the applications of electric vehicles and renewable energy, especially solar energy, to zero waste of water and electricity,” he said. “Tarsheed is considered a basis for reducing harmful carbon emissions, in order to reach the target of 8mn tonnes annually by 2030 while taking into account the social and economic growth in the country and maintaining a high level of wellbeing for all,” he added.

Under the patronage of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz al-Thani attended Sunday morning the 10th anniversary celebration of the National Programme for Conservation and Energy Efficiency (Tarsheed) under the slogan 'Towards Sustainability and Energy Efficiency', organised by the Qatar General Electricity & Water Corporation (Kahramaa) at Sheraton Doha. The ceremony was attended by a number of ministers, members of the diplomatic corps accredited to the State and senior officials from various sectors. HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior honoured the companies and winners of first places in the 10th Tarsheed competitions, Qatar News Agency reported. He had toured the exhibition accompanying the celebration, where he was briefed on the winning projects, paintings and short stories participating in various Tarsheed competitions, in addition to the Tarsheed Project 2022 pavilion. During the ceremony, a short film entitled 'Towards Sustainability and Energy Efficiency to Keep Qatar Vibrant' was shown on the achievements of Tarsheed during the last 10 years. (QNA) The celebration was attended by HE the Minister of State for Energy Affairs Saad bin Sherida al-Kaabi, HE the Minister of Municipality Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki al-Subaie, HE the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Sheikh Faleh bin Nasser bin Ahmed bin Ali al-Thani, HE the Minister of Education and Higher Education Buthaina bint Ali al-Jabr al-Nuaimi, Kahramaa president Essa bin Hilal al-Kuwari, Public Works Authority (Ashghal) president Saad Ahmed Ibrahim al-Mohannadi and senior officials from various ministries and government entities. Al-Kuwari, while addressing the function, said that Kahramaa is proud that its vision towards sustainability, environmental development and facing climate change is being achieved through Tarsheed while fighting carbon emissions in line with the UN sustainability goals. “The first phase of rationalisation was an anticipation of tomorrow and a future vision for the development of the road map, in which work was done to formulate the basic regulations while working towards energy efficiency and sustainability of resources from electricity and water and moving towards renewable energy and reducing harmful emissions. The actual results of these efforts, as part of its second phase from 2018 to 2021, have resulted in financial return of more than QR 4 bn,” he said, adding that Kahramaa’s real achievement is to instill and bring the concept of sustainability and climate change closer to the new generation. This was done by reaching more than 1,000 schools in all its stages, as well as the change that occurred in the behavior of citizens, residents and partners from all sectors in the country, towards adopting a culture of rationalization and energy efficiency.

Chia Nation at The Pearl Island Saturday hosted its weekly lecture, delivered by Mohamed Abdul Malik al-Hammadi on the topic of 'United Through Food and Culture’. Al-Hammadi is described as a 'multipotentialite' - a person with different interests and creative pursuits in life. His vision is to unite and connect the world through food and culture and take Qatar's authentic flavour to the world. The talk was held as part of the lecture series held by Chia Nation to encourage healthy eating habits and educate the public about authentic Qatari culinary experiences while strengthening cultural ties between people. The talk, while shedding light on the Qatari culinary legacy, its transformation and the current trends, also highlighted the diverse aspects of the art of cooking. Al-Hammadi said he is on a mission to introduce authentic Qatari culinary experiences throughout the world, driven by passion and experience. His initiative, The Cooking Academy (TCA), operates with the aim of bringing people together, and learn and enjoy the art of cooking while preserving and evolving the local traditional recipes and exporting them to the world. Food is the connecting point that makes mutual understanding possible, he stressed. “We create fusion menus having local flavours with a Qatari touch. TCA follows the mix of both education and entertainment," he added. The term Chia was adopted from the Mayan language and it refers to power. Chia Nation serves a variety of snacks made of chia seeds, which provide a wide range of health benefits. Chia Nation owner Sheikha Muneera Issa al-Thani said: “While serving healthy food, we are trying to draw the public towards healthy eating by educating them and dissuading them from eating too much junk food. Chia Nation is a place that sells great-tasting healthy and organic snacks and it promotes healthy eating habits and cultural ties through gatherings and discussions. Food and culture are things that bring people together.” Sheikha Muneera said the eatery is looking to make people, especially the younger generation, aware of the ways to ensure healthy living and the benefits of consuming organic food items, adding that Chia is a super seed with a lot of nutrients and benefits. “Chia Nation wants to serve the younger generations while making them strong. Also, it’s an idea-sharing platform. It’s a venue for people from various walks of life to sit, discuss, ask and share their experiences. We have so far hosted talks by many experts from various fields,” she said, adding that Chia Nation upholds Qatari values and the Arab legacy while serving food and encouraging healthy food habits. Chia Nation is also offering free, organic recipes on social media. It seeks to draw younger generations towards healthy habits and help them prepare such meals by themselves. The talks are also shared through Chia Nation’s YouTube channel and social media accounts. Al-Hammadi has worked in a variety of industries, such as aviation, drilling, project management and energy.

For Abdulla Paleri, weekends are all about driving to beaches, parks and remote desert areas with a friend in search of birds. While passing along the seashore, green areas and sand dunes, Abdulla cautiously watches the surroundings with his camera in his hands and he tells his friend to slow down the car while the birds come his way. White-eared bulbul Abdulla, who is working with Podar Pearl School at Al Meshaf, has completed 25 years of birdwatching while taking beautiful pictures of the winged wonders and also looking for rare varieties. And he looks to continue pursuing his passion while keeping pace with new trends in photography and birdwatching. Abdulla Paleri “For me, birdwatching is a routine thing. I look to further develop this while making use of the opportunities available in Qatar,” said the expatriate from the southern Indian state of Kerala, adding that Qatar provides a good opportunity for birdwatchers to explore. “There are birds around you no matter where you live. What we need to do is to explore and establish a connection with nature. Birds often get me outside,” he added. Blue throat, winter visitor Apart from deserts, Abdulla regularly visits Al Wakra Beach and Al Bidda Park, which are home to various types of resident and migratory birds. “Migratory birds are commonly seen alongside the Al Wakra seashore. During the winter and spring, many birds visit Qatar,” he said. A graduate in MSc Zoology from Farook College in Kozhikode, Kerala, Abdulla did his PhD from the University of Calicut after completing his research in ‘Ecology of Purple Moorhen (Grey-Headed Swamphen)’. Eurasian oystercatcher A teacher by profession, Abdulla attended the International Ornithological Congress held in Durban, South Africa, in 1997. Many articles and papers on birds have been published in various journals, magazines and dailies. Abdulla is mainly interested in waders and gulls along the southwestern coast of India and regularly monitors their arrival, habitat use and departure for many years. Also, he has directed a documentary on birds and featured many educational lessons on radios and channels. Northern wheatear, passage migrant He has authored five books on birds, butterflies and wildlife in general, and conducted several nature awareness classes for thousands of students. Abdulla was awarded a national teacher award in 2014 after considering his contribution to school education for more than two and a half decades. For the last two years, Abdulla has been active in uploading video lessons on birds on his YouTube channel along with another bird enthusiast, Navin Antony.

* Qatar resident Rozario's Grassroots Football Painting project illustrates the legacy of the game using 100 paintings made from coffee and water colour   With Qatar sprinting ahead with final preparations for the first-ever FIFA World Cup in the Arab world, a Qatar resident is on a mission to welcome the mega event in a creative way. Doha-based Malaysian artist Patric Rozario, through his football series Grassroots Football Painting project, is all set to lend a befitting accolade to the World Cup. “We make art to tell stories. My World Cup project, Grassroots Football is about telling stories of the beautiful game,” Rozario told Gulf Times. The project has 100 paintings that feature football and the artist has chosen to illustrate the legacy and beauty of the game by using coffee and water colour. “I wanted to keep the memory of football intact in a different and creative way. My paintings are scenes of nostalgia and grassroots football. This is where it all began - in the alleyways, villages, paddy fields and the favelas,” Rozario explained. Through the paintings, the artist wishes to have millions of people see, identify, appreciate and recognise the ordinary people and places where football is played. Rozario started the mission in December last year and has completed 98 paintings. He is looking to complete 100 paintings before the end of June 2022. Rozario, who sees football as a tool for peace building, says that sports, especially football, has long been idealised to heal wounds, mend fences, and rise above differences among cultures and nations. “Football is enjoyed by all, with its reach unrivaled. It promotes universal values that transcend language and culture. At the grassroots or community level, sport can be seen to provide a useful way of creating an environment in which people can come together to work towards the same goal, show respect for others and share space and equipment,” he said. Rozario uses coffee to paint because he perceives it as a natural dye. “I have paintings that I have created 10 years ago. They still look as fresh as they were when I painted them. I like to include ‘sustainability’ in my work. Coffee comes in different shades of brown, from very light brown to almost black. It’s a versatile medium. Coffee paintings have a sepia look to it. The World Cup is unique in many respects, with the type of opportunities and challenges related to sustainability being no exception,” he said. Sometimes it takes 8-10 days to complete a painting while some paintings are completed in a single day. “I paint everyday, even when I am travelling. There are times when I have to revisit a painting and re-adjust certain things. I put in anywhere between six-eight hours a day,” he said. Each painting, he said, will be framed and accompanied with its narrative in English and Arabic. Rozario believes that the Grassroots Football Painting project will have a long life, even after the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 ends. “I may continue to be involved in Grassroots Football project, highlighting different social issues. I want to associate with Football World Heritage,” he said. The artist came to Qatar in 2005 and worked as senior creative officer for The Pearl Island project. Now he is a full-time artist. His main works are created with gems, pearls and crystals. These resin coated works go as paintings or panels for interiors. As an artist, Rozario likes to communicate through the visual and touch medium. “It’s no secret that the art world has always had a very strong social undercurrent. For centuries, artists, dealers and collectors have revelled in being part of the cultural dialogue or participating in the perceived glamour of the art world,” he explained. Recently, Rozario was invited by the Malaysian ambassador to Qatar, Zamshari bin Shaharan ,who was briefed about the Grassroots Football Painting project.    

Transportation Master Plan for Qatar 2050 to have significant economic returns: minister Transportation Master Plan for Qatar 2050 (TMPQ) is to have significant economic returns of about QR300bn while at the same time bringing down fuel consumption and carbon emission, and enhancing traffic safety and security, HE the Minister of Transport Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti said on Sunday. “The TMPQ features developing the transportation networks nationwide in a way that ensures their integration with land uses, urban development, and population growth while meeting future demand for transportation, and could result in a saving of around QR300bn through multiple factors ranging from ensuring safety and easing traffic movements to environmental protection," he said. The masterplan will have significant economic returns thanks to increased revenues and the benefits of saving vehicle-operating costs, saving energy and fuel consumption, reducing trip time, and lowering carbon emissions and road accidents, HE al-Sulaiti told *Gulf Times on the sidelines of the launching ceremony of the TMPQ. The minister said that the TMPQ will begin to be implemented this year in co-operation with ministries and stakeholders, including the Ministry of Municipality, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Ashghal, and the General Directorate of Traffic. HE al-Sulaiti said that sustainability is the cornerstone of the TMPQ, given the great impact this concept has on economic and environmental development, by striking a balance between the requirements of economic growth and environmental protection, and contributing to reducing climate change by putting into effect long-term initiatives that contribute to transitioning to sustainable transportation. The masterplan, he added, also helps achieve financial sustainability of the land transportation sector by covering the largest possible ratio of operating costs through executing transportation demand management policies, and public-private partnerships for investing in and contributing to building and operating the country’s transportation systems.    

Qatar is home to yet another Guinness World Record as the Aspire Zone Foundation (AZF) unveiled the largest external 360° screen on The Torch Doha, in partnership with Sports City Advertising, on Monday, at an official ceremony attended by a number of senior officials and VIPs. “The largest external 360° screen measured 11,345sq m (112,116sq feet), and was achieved by Sports City Advertising (Qatar), in Doha, Qatar,” the Guinness World Records website states. “Sports City Advertising attempted this record to showcase the Torch building that has the screen all around it. “The Torch, also known as the Aspire Tower, has a total height of 298m (980 feet), located in Doha.”   Officials with the Guinness World Records certificate. “Various innovative advertising materials for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 will be displayed on this giant screen. The screen features a 360° panoramic view,” Ali Abdullah al-Mutawa, president of The Sport Accelerator, told Gulf Times, adding that Aspire is proud to achieve a Guinness world record while continuing the AZF’s achievements. The screen can be viewed from 6km away. AZF chief executive Mohamed Khalifa al-Suwaidi hailed this achievement, which is added to the list of accomplishments of the foundation. “Receiving a Guinness World Records certificate is a great success for us, and we are proud of this achievement in launching the largest external 360° screen world on The Torch Doha,” he said. “It will coincide with the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, and advertising materials about Qatar and the world will be displayed there.” “This is a great addition to Qatar’s record-breaking achievements,” Guinness World Records’s Shaddy Gaad said. “The largest external 360° screen will be witnessed by hundreds of thousands of Doha visitors over the coming months.” “Achieving a world record in this category will contribute to strengthening Qatar’s position in the record-breaking scene in the region,” he said, adding that Guinness officials checked the requirements and confirmed the record after several rounds of checks. The Torch Doha is one of the tallest buildings in Qatar and captures the spirit of the 2006 Asian Games, as it was designed to represent the symbolic torch over the course of the Games. The ceremony concluded with a dazzling display comprising a video show, and a laser and fi reworks display that lasted 11 minutes. On the occasion, the AZF thanked the sponsors – Ooredoo Qatar (Platinum Sponsor), the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (Gold Sponsor), and Dukhan Bank (Silver Sponsor). 

The second edition of the Waste Management Conference and Exhibition that features the latest technologies and innovations in the waste management sector kicked off Monday in Doha. HE the Minister of Municipality Abdulla bin Abdulaziz bin Turki al-Subaie opened the exhibition in the presence of HE the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Sheikh Dr Faleh bin Nasser bin Ahmed bin Ali al-Thani, a number of senior officials from various ministries and representatives of public institutions and private companies. While delivering the keynote address, al-Subaie noted that the conference and the exhibition are beneficial to Qatar since the country focuses on implementing systematic waste management. “Several local, regional and international organizations specialised in waste management are taking part in the conference and the exhibition with putting together policies to reduce inappropriate disposal of waste,” he said, adding that Qatar has a comprehensive strategy to manage and reduce waste and to invest in the waste management sector. PICTURES: Thajudheen “The country is focusing on raising awareness and a team has been formed in order to reach the best solutions,” he said and added that the conference studies and discusses the latest developments in waste management. Local, regional and international companies. The opening ceremony also marked the launching of the National Comprehensive Strategy to manage solid waste.  Deputy Director General of Environment at European Commission Patrick Child addressed the ceremony via video conferencing. 

In an appreciation to its best green practices and measures, Al Thumama Stadium, a FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 venue, has won the Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS) 5-Star certification. Senior officials of the Supreme Committee of Delivery and Legacy (SC) received the certificate from GSAS representatives at a function inside the stadium on Thursday. The certificate, which embodies excellence in the areas of sustainability, design and construction, was received by Al Thumama Stadium project manager engineer Saoud Abdulaziz al-Ansari, from the Gulf Organisation for Research and Development (Gord) chairman Dr Yousef al-Horr. Al Thumama Stadium's architect engineer Ibrahim al-Jaidah, the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy's (SC) Sustainability and Environment director engineer Bodour al-Meer, project management team members, and Gord representatives were present. Al-Jaidah, also chief architect of Arab Engineering Bureau, told Gulf Times on the sidelines of the event that the certification is a prestigious achievement. "The certification means the stadium has the highest level of sustainability features. All of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 stadiums have won the 5-Star or 4-Star certification and Al Thumama Stadium will be setting a benchmark for any stadium going to be built in the future in Qatar," he said. The prominent Qatari architect added that the award came after taking into account the key features, including use of materials, designing and energy consumption. SC's al-Meer said that one of FIFA's requirements was that all stadiums earn at least one four-star green building certification. "Now all stadiums have earned three five-star certifications." Gord's Dr al-Horr said that Qatar's World Cup stadiums were committed to sustainability requirements. "The Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy went above and beyond sustainability requirements to ensure the stadiums had the best sustainability standards compared to all previous World Cups," he added. Al Thumama Stadium's energy centre was refurbished and upgraded to meet the latest energy efficiency standards and the stadium has incorporated best practice from the start. The stadium's green design ensures 40% more fresh water is saved when compared to a conventional stadium. Recycled water is used to irrigate green areas. The precinct features 50,000sqm of park area, with native vegetation and almost 400 trees covering 84% of the landscape. While employing modern energy efficiency measures, Al Thumama Stadium maintains a commitment to the region's architectural and cultural heritage. ends...    

Qatar, preparing to host the FIFA World Cup this year, has the potential to host the Olympics too, British rowing legend Sir Steve Redgrave has told Gulf Times. The most successful male rower in Olympic history, Sir Steve is the only rower to win five gold medals at five consecutive editions of the Olympic Games - from Los Angeles 1984 to Sydney 2000. He is in Doha to attend some programmes by the Qatar Olympic Committee. "Qatar has made all arrangements for the FIFA World Cup, with several infrastructure development works," he observed. The ambassador of the property and construction consultancy Gleeds will visit the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum at the Khalifa International Stadium in Aspire Zone. Also, the museum will have a dedicated section that features the achievements and contributions of Sir Steve. Five years ago Sir Steve had visited the Aspire Zone. “The arrangements at Aspire Zone are impressive and the facilities stand testimonial to the efforts, made by Qatar, to promote sport. More infrastructure and investment can bring further development,” he said. Sir Steve has added three Commonwealth Games gold medals and nine World Rowing Championships golds to his credit. In 2018, he was appointed as lead coach and technical director for the Chinese rowing team. Under Sir Steve, the Chinese team won a gold medal each at the Tokyo Olympics and Paris Games and three golds and one silver at the 2019 World Championship. Currently he is working as a consultant while guiding the team.    

In an appreciation to its best green practices and measures, Al Thumama Stadium has won the Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS) 5-Star certification. Senior officials of the Supreme Committee of Delivery and Legacy (SC) received the certificate from GSAS representatives at a function held inside the stadium on Thursday.  One of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, Al Tumama Stadium plays an important role in demonstrating Qatar's commitment to innovation and sustainability in the tournament and beyond.  Ibrahim Mohamed Jaidah, Chief Architect of Arab Engineering Bureau and architect of Al Thumama Stadium, told Gulf Times that the certification is a prestigious achievement. "The certification means the stadium has the highest level of sustainability features. No stadium has reached such highest standards. All of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 stadiums have won the 5-Star or 4-Star certification and Al Thumama Stadium will be setting a benchmark for any stadium that are going to be built in the future in Qatar," he said.  The prominent architect added that the award came after taking key features including use of materials, designing and consumption of energy into account.  Al Tumama Stadium's energy centre was refurbished and upgraded to meet the latest energy efficiency standards and the stadium has incorporated best practice from the start. The stadium's green design ensures 40% more fresh water is saved when compared to a conventional stadium. Recycled water is used to irrigate green areas. The precinct features 50,000m2 of park area, with native vegetation and almost 400 trees covering 84% of the landscape. While employing modern energy efficiency measures, Al Thumama Stadium maintains a commitment to the region's architectural and cultural heritage.  

While providing the public with an opportunity to view difficulties and failure as an opportunity to learn, grow and improve, the 974Wellness will hold its wellness show on June 10 and 11 at Abdul Aziz Nasser Theatre at Souq Waqif. Titled 'Stand Up and Fall Forward', the show is aimed at raising awareness of the importance of wellbeing as a key part of good overall health. The show will feature Saudi Arabian comic Shaker AlSharief and Spider Salah, winner of 'Arabs Got Talent'. The details were announced at a press conference attended by Moza Khalid al-Muhannadi, director CSR, Sponsorship and Media at Ooredoo; Al Jaz al-Henzab, 974 Wellness founder; and life coach Abdulaziz Dalloul. Al-Henzab said that the show aims to encourage all sectors of the community to view difficulties and failure as a learning opportunity and a chance to grow. The show, from 6pm to 9pm, will have various sessions including interaction. Al-Mohannadi said Ooredoo is delighted to support 974Wellness in their latest initiative adding that the show assumes significance as it promotes good health and wellbeing. Tickets can be booked at https://bit.ly/3MG5j3N.  

Further intensifying its efforts to bring down accidents and ensure road safety, the General Directorate of Traffic has deployed a set of patrol vehicles with latest camera sensors on Qatar's roads. With their highly efficient and advanced censors, the vehicles are able to detect violations while also identifying the vehicles and motorists concerned as well as individuals standing in the vicinity of a vehicle. “The sensors can catch violations while covering up to six tracks on roads. Also, they will identify individuals who are facing other charges and wanted vehicles,” Capt Mohamed Abdullah al-Kuwari from the Traffic Awareness Department, General Directorate of Traffic, told Gulf Times on the sidelines of the recently held Milipol Qatar 2022. He said more such cameras with sensors will be installed. The official said some such vehicles are already patrolling the country's roads while more will be deployed soon, focusing on expressways and highways. He said the sensors notify a officers inside a police car if any wanted vehicle or person is nearby. Also, the sensors can detect violations such as the use of mobile cameras while driving. The live data is transferred to the National Command Centre. Capt al-Kuwari said the new vehicles have been brought in as part of the initiatives of the General Directorate of Traffic to reduce road accidents and prevent violations. He said added that most roads in Qatar are monitored through cameras installed as part of the Talaa project as well as mobile cameras.    

Qatar's leading tech startup Snoonu has acquired Akeed, a major Omani food delivery platform with a network of more than 1,000 restaurants and grocery stores, for $10mn. The two companies signed an agreement during the Snoonu Gala that was held on Saturday at Sheraton Doha in the presence of senior officials from the two companies. It was attended by members from the executive management of both companies, as well as high-profile delegates, prominent stakeholders and leading figures from across the local and regional business and entrepreneurship sectors. The new deal comes as part of Snoonu’s plans to expand its network to more countries. "This milestone is considered the first ever achieved by a local tech startup in Qatar. It serves as a step propelling the rising company forward and bringing it closer to achieving its goal of becoming the first local tech Unicorn company. The agreement will also shore up Snoonu’s business objectives that aim to diversify and expand the company’s operations across the region," Snoonu said in a statement. Hamad Mubarak al-Hajri, founder and CEO of Snoonu, said the acquisition of Akeed was a decision taken "based on the company’s stellar reputation as one of the leading food delivery platforms in our sisterly Sultanate of Oman".“Akeed’s wide network of restaurants and grocery stores will enable us to establish a solid foothold in the Omani market as our initial step towards an expanded regional presence and involvement,” he said. According to figures, Snoonu maintains a fleet of more than 2,000 riders to provide a fast and affordable delivery solution across Qatar while enabling merchants to unlock unexplored areas and customer segments as far as 25km. Also, Snoonu allows brands to increase their reach by giving them access to Snoonu’s marketing platform and customers from a greater distance. Al-Hajri noted that gross merchandise volume has grown remarkably while showing continuous year-on-year growth with approximately six times growth between 2020 and 2021. The number of merchants partnering with Snoonu has reached 3,500 while Snoonu’s orders have shown continuous year-on-year growth with approximately eight times growth between 2020 and 2021. He explained that Snoonu has further expansion plans, spreading its wings to cosmetics, tech, laundry, health, tailoring and logistics services. He noted that neighbouring areas such as Saudi Arabia along with some other GCC countries, Pakistan and Turkey exhibit a great potential with a $105bn market to expand into, adding that Oman and Kuwait with similar demographics are Snoonu’s key target areas in 2022. “This amazing milestone is quite exciting for us because it reinforces our efforts towards becoming Qatar’s first-ever tech Unicorn. We owe it to the country and its visionary leadership to continue to seek growth around the world and to contribute towards the fulfilment of Qatar National Vision 2030.” he added. Akeed CEO and co-founder Gaurav Anil Nahar said they were excited about this agreement with Snoonu and look forward to a future vision that would bring the latest in the e-commerce and logistics services industry to Oman.“The Akeed team is happy to be joining hands with such a successful brand from Qatar, and we believe that this deal will add more value to both markets,” he said. Snoonu co-founder and chairman Saud al-Attiyah and other senior Snoonu officials also spoke at the event. Snoonu is a one-stop-shop application, facilitating online shopping, lifestyle, food, grocery delivery and third-party logistics services for startups and SMEs in Qatar. In addition to offering its customers a seamless service and speedy deliveries for their items, the company is a pioneer, contributing to the development of the local tech economy by encouraging innovation and revolutionising local online services.