Author

Writer Ali al-Naama has launched his first novel, 'Circus of the Greats', at the 32nd Doha International Book Fair (DIBF).Published by Hamad Bin Khalifa University Press (HBKU Press), the novel is a mystical tale full of magic and intrigue. 'Circus of the Greats' introduces readers to al-Naama’s talent with an impressively expansive new universe to immerse themselves in.With a long roster of considerably well-developed characters, 'Circus of the Greats' is a masterclass in novel writing, creating numerous plotlines that run in parallel while seamlessly overlapping.Al-Naama’s writing is fuelled by a passion for storytelling and his unique imagination where he creates worlds of interest and intrigue.In a nutshell, the novel is about the circus travelling around the continent of Eiliron, entertaining people of the seven kingdoms. But beloved ringmaster and head puppeteer Master Jeskil is soon manipulating more than just puppet strings when he is drawn into a wicked plot of greed and desire in the kingdom of Corraçao.After years of marriage, the King and Queen of Hearts have no heir: a fact not lost on the king’s first counsellor, Vikar Revin, who hears the court’s gossips whispering in the shadows, forming factions of allegiance, and plotting treasonous schemes.At the heart of these conspiracies is the charming and ambitious Roxanna Talian of Feracia who has set her sights on replacing the Queen. In spite of the mounting evidence of malign influences from outside as well as within, Revin is determined to protect Corraçao.With the help of his cousin Jeskil, and some wholly unexpected allies, Revin must find a way to thwart the enemies of the state and preserve whatever he can of the crippled Corraçian monarchy.The novel is written in an elegant style and full of the magic, love, death and intrigue that beset the kingdom – the effects of which ripple through the generations to come.Al-Naama is an author who grew up in Qatar and the United Kingdom. Following in the footsteps of his grandfather, Abdulla Hussain al-Naama –founder of Qatar’s first magazine, 'Al Ouroba', and its first newspaper, 'Al Arab' – he began writing at a young age and is a role model who can inspire young Qatari writers.

On the sideline of the Doha International Book Fair (DIBF), writer and journalist Jassim Salman Saturday launched his new novel, 'Ibn Battuta's Secret Manuscript', by the Dar Al-Rafidain and Al-Watad publishing house.Many visitors, intellectuals and social media pioneers attended the event.Salman expressed happiness at the launch of his new work, which is his third.He stressed that the novel is an imagined historical version, and the reader peruses the work as if it were an actual manuscript of the most famous Arab traveller, Ibn Battuta.The novel is an attempt to revive and expand interest in Ibn Battuta, to restore his legacy, without neglecting to link the present with the past.

In the presence of HE the Minister of Culture Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad al-Thani, the Qatari Publishers and Distributors Forum, in co-operation with the Children’s Literature Centre and Expo Qatar 2023, inaugurated Saturday the third edition of the Children’s Books Designer initiative on the sidelines of the 32nd Doha International Book Fair (DIBF).The inauguration ceremony was held on the main stage of DIBF and attended by children who have participated in the initiative and their parents.The ceremony saw the children display the books they had designed in the first and second editions of the initiative. The books highlighted the children’s creativity in the field of writing and book designing.In addition, the books that were presented displayed a remarkable diversity in the titles and contents they dealt with. The children authors mentioned that their books are available in the Reading Square pavilion located in the Children's Oasis at DIBF, for those who wish to purchase them.HE the Minister of Culture expressed happiness at the launch of the third edition of the Children's Books Designer initiative. He also expressed pride in the young authors and designers, and stressed the importance of this initiative in promoting culture and reading among children.Further, he praised the dedicated efforts made by the Qatari Publishers and Distributors Forum, the Children's Literature Centre and the authorities supervising and promoting the initiative, encouraging creative talents and instilling the values of writing and design among children.The director of the Qatari Publishers and Distributors Forum, Riyad Ahmed Saleh, said the forum seeks to develop a strategic plan to enhance the access of books designed for children to the largest segment of children in society, by displaying these copies in Qatari publishing houses.He also praised the role of the participating entities, saying: “Our efforts at the Qatari Publishers and Distributors Forum and the Children’s Literature Centre reflect our desire to provide distinguished and high-quality books for children, which contribute to encouraging them to read and develop their mental and creative abilities."Asmaa al-Kuwari expressed happiness at the children’s achievement in the field of designing and writing books, saying: “The first and second editions of the children’s book designer were the beginning of more creative and distinguished editions for our talented children.”It is expected that the third edition of the Children's Books Designer initiative will make significant contributions to creating a generation capable of writing, designing and promoting diversity in the contents of books and provide an inspirational model for children in society, stimulate their imagination and develop their love of reading on the one hand. On the other, the launch of the third edition of Children's Books Designer reflects the Ministry of Culture's commitment to developing cultural awareness among children, and creating an environment conducive to cognitive excellence and creative expression through its continuous support for authors, publishers and distributors in Qatar.

Among the highlights of the ongoing 32nd Doha International Book Fair (DIBF) are a number of seminars, such as the one held on Tuesday titled "Media in the Arab World: Cultural Impact and Societal Change", at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre.Al Jazeera Centre for Studies and Al Jazeera Mubasher, organised the seminar with speakers: Dr Noureddine Miladi, Professor of Mass Communication at Qatar University; Dr Mutasim Babiker, an academic specialising in public opinion studies; and Qatari journalist Abdulaziz al-Ishaq, and moderator, Rawa Oger, a news presenter on Al Jazeera Network.Dr Miladi presented the remarkable technological development in the field of communication and the interaction of young people with it. This in turn made academics, thinkers and communication specialists realise that the past has been surpassed and interaction during crises confirms that technology has changed the world.Miladi said: “We are living another exceptional phase that began decades ago, but came to surface during the past months, it is AI (artificial intelligence). As the world today has exceeded social networks, questions are raised about AI and what it represents for education, health, the media, and decision makers around the world.”He emphasised that the world today needs to set laws for the use of AI, be it for students, researchers or media professionals, and proceed to rationalise it with regulations to protect the youth and children and streamline the use of these platforms while making the role of the family more proactive, as well as civil societies.Dr Mutasim Babiker backed the need for scientific studies to measure the impact of modern technology and communication, because what is disseminated is sometimes inaccurate, also many may open the material received in the media, and not read it, let alone interact with it.Babiker added that “today there are many influencers, starting with leaders, rulers, commanders, celebrities and others, but the media’s role remains in creating a cognitive impact on the recipient.”Abdulaziz al-Ishaq said: “The current concern is how to control the reactions to the communicated message, and whoever previously had control over the media pursues to control its message today and its feedback as well, and that this is done through directing influencers.”Al-Ishaq pointed out that the influence of social media influencers differs from one country to another and from one person to another, indicating there is a gap between those who are in charge of culture and the influencers. “Intellectuals see that the influencers are used in marketing only, while they themselves sometimes seek help from those who promote their stories, which establishes their actual influence until they got media authority today, due to the decline of traditional media channels that are also inclined to develop by using new platforms.”

Kuwait is participating in the ongoing 32nd Doha International Book Fair (DIBF) with a large pavilion featuring various publishers, and activities from several parties, including Platinum Publishing and Distribution Company.Gulf Times interviewed engineer Jasem Mohamed Ashkanani, general manager of Platinum book publishing, who recalled that the company has been participating in the DIBF for 15 years."The DIBF is one of the most important Gulf and Arab exhibitions in which we participate. Platinum was the supporter of the Qatari, Gulf and Arab authors and writers right from the beginning. A large number of authors who are present in this pavilion are from Qatar."We have many publications. Every year Platinum is distinguished by its publications, including those that won international awards for Qatari or Gulf authors. On the third day of the book fair, we saw the turnout increasing daily, and this is something exceptional. In the coming days I think we will see more visitors."At Platinum we are always keen to encourage young people to write and read. If someone has some work or wants to develop his writings, we are honoured to help. We have a specialised reading committee that gives its comments so that it does not disappoint the author if, for example, we regret that his work cannot be published. We direct him to try to amend his work or increase his reading and we find solutions for him. We do not reject the author directly, but we try to encourage the person as much as possible to write and read at the same time.”“The evaluation committee is made up of experienced authors from different nationalities. Platinum is very keen for the committee to be accurate in selecting the works, especially in the recent period. Some of them have won awards, including the Katara Award this year. Platinum is considered the first Kuwaiti publishing house, or it may be in the Gulf, to have one of its works as a publishing house and not as an author, and it also qualified for the International Booker Prize.“Platinum was launched by a group of young men. My partner and I had a book. We wanted to publish it. We wanted to know what we have to do. So, we invested our own money and started our project, developed it and published several books and became a publishing house, we started from scratch."Of course, the Gulf countries support us morally, but we, as people, have built ourselves. Currently, we have reached more than a 1,000 publications. There was a year in which we issued more than 100 publications. All our publications are distributed in all the Gulf countries and rest of the world."The future prospects for Platinum are to elevate literary works to the highest levels. The publishing house must keep pace with the development of the e-book, but I do not see that the e-book poses a threat to the paper book at all. The paper book is increasing in sales too, but perhaps earlier the Covid-19 pandemic affected the situation, but I think that this crisis has passed.“The first goal of Platinum is a cultural one, from the first time we were established, there was no one to help us publish a book. We learned from our mistakes in the beginning, but after that we learned how to avoid mistakes, correct them, and listen to writers and intellectuals, and we continue with our work and correct our path."Engineer Ashkanani is an electrical engineer with a master's degree from Griffith University, Australia and a bachelor's degree from Leeds University, Britain. “My partners are Dr Ahmed al-Haider and Dr Shamayel Babahani from Kuwait,” he added.

Prince Mansour bin Khalid bin Abdullah bin Farhan al-Saud, Saudi Arabia's ambassador to Qatar, has expressed happiness at his country being chosen as the guest of honour at the ongoing 32nd Doha International Book Fair (DIBF).He stressed the depth of historical relations between the two brotherly countries, the mutual respect and appreciation between them, and the strengthening of their bilateral relations, especially in the cultural field.The envoy, in his remarks to the media on the sidelines of the DIBF opening on Monday, said Saudi Arabia is participating with a large pavilion featuring various activities from several parties, including the Literature, Publishing and Translation Authority, the Heritage Authority, the Fashion Authority, the King Abdulaziz Public Library, and the Architecture and Design Authority.The Saudi pavilion will host several events, including heritage seminars, poetry evenings, heritage performances, dialogue seminars, handicraft shows, a mini museum of artefacts and rare collectibles, workshops and a lecture on Arabic calligraphy, panel discussions on the Qatar World Cup experience and the book 'Linguistic Diversity in Saudi Arabia', and a screening of short films.He expressed hope that this participation would contribute positively to further strengthening cultural relations between the two brotherly countries.Gulf Times visited the Saudi pavilion to follow up on some of the interactive displays, and spoke to a young Saudi man wearing an ancient dress and hairstyle dating back to the first century CE , representing 'Zaky', a resident of the village of Al-Faw, (south of Riyadh region), which was then known as the village with a cave."My city was located on the outskirts of the Empty Quarter Desert, and despite that, it was full of lush gardens dotted with vineyards and palm groves that flourished thanks to our innovative methods of preserving rainwater by storing it in hollow contours in the ground,” he said."You may be wondering why we chose this place in the arid desert to build our city. The location of the city of Al-Faw helped it become one of the most important stations on the trade route coming from the south of the Arabian Peninsula, passing through the city to go to the centre, east and north of the Arabian Peninsula.""Therefore, some of the inhabitants of my city were engaged in the trade profession. Women in my city worked in several areas, the most important of which was weaving fabrics and making clothes, and we used to write Arabic in the Musnad script. When you visit my city, Al-Faw, you will see that our writings are spread on the facades of the mountains or even in our homes. Here, I gave you some information about my city, the city of Al-Faw, but when you visit it, the antiquities will tell you more information. There is replica of a fresco depicting 'Zaky' on display written in the Musnad script," he concluded.

Book fair features over 500 publishers from 37 countriesSaudi Arabia is the guest of honour this yearUnder the patronage of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani inaugurated the 32nd Doha International Book Fair (DIBF) at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre Monday morning.Some 505 publishers from 37 countries are participating in the book fair this year, which is being held under the slogan 'With Reading We Rise'. Saudi Arabia is the guest of honour at DIBF 2023.HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs toured the fair's pavilions, where he was briefed on the works of the participating Qatari, Arab and foreign publishing houses, as well as the latest publications, books and manuscripts of government agencies, Arab and international cultural institutions and the embassies accredited to the country, especially the pavilion of Saudi Arabia.HE Sheikh Mohamed also visited the Children's Oasis and listened to an explanation about the cultural activities accompanying the fair, including seminars and lectures.The opening was attended by a number of guests, ministers, heads of diplomatic missions and senior officials.DIBF 2023, which continues until June 21, aims to consolidate the status of culture in the country and confirm the pivotal role of knowledge in the renaissance of Qatari society. Launched back in 1972, the fair seeks to become a cultural and intellectual beacon in Qatar and the region.The 32nd DIBF is the largest edition of the fair as hundreds of local, Arab and international publishing houses are taking part with about 180,000 titles and 750,000 books.Saudi Arabia, the guest of honour, is participating with a special pavilion that includes a collection of different kinds of books, as well as contributions by poets and narrators who present different aspects of their country's culture.The fair presents a rich and varied cultural programme, hosting 37 cultural, scientific, literary and social seminars; poetry evenings; and activities of the Cultural Salon with 116 events that include seminars, cultural sessions and the launch of new publications.On the sidelines of the book fair, 48 workshops will be held along with 87 performances in the Children's Oasis, including art workshops, activity spaces and a puppet theatre. Another attraction is Al Mutanabbi Street, which will host six bookstores from Baghdad. Also, as part of the live cooking initiative, there will be 28 presentations with the participation of 28 male and female chefs.Overall, there will be 17 discussion sessions and 64 seminars and lectures at DIBF 2023.Many ministries and State institutions are participating in the exhibition. Qatari institutions, along with publishing houses, are presenting their latest publications in the fields of knowledge and science. The most prominent of these is the pavilion of the Ministry of Culture that displays the latest publications of the ministry, along with a group of Qatari dress shops that shed light on the culture of clothing, in addition to musical instruments and artefacts. The central area features artistic activities such as playing the oud and violin, plastic art and photography.The Doha International Book Fair is providing many services to the public, including a reading guide service and an 'ask me' service, in addition to a mobile application to search for books, public services and free parking for the public.

Qatar Finance and Business Academy (QFBA) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Morgan International, a leading global provider of professional development and training services.The collaboration will offer comprehensive training and upskilling solutions to Qatari cadres and organisations, as well as provide consultations and broaden the reach of national educational and training initiatives in the financial services sector, utilising a cutting-edge approach that adheres to the latest scientific standards.Khalifa al-Salahi al-Yafei, CEO of QFBA, and Fadi Ganni, CEO of Morgan International, signed the MoU.Al-Yafei expressed delight at signing the MoU, emphasising that it embodies the bonds of co-operation with various prestigious international training institutions, and complements the Academy's efforts to provide specialised training programmes.This, in turn, will contribute to meeting the evolving labour market needs of Qatari competencies, thus supporting the country's efforts towards building a knowledge-based economy.Under the MoU, the two parties have agreed to strengthen co-operation in order to broaden the scope of the Academy's open calendar, national development and specialised certification programmes, as well as to provide consultations and customised programmes that would meet the needs of the community and institutions involved with financial services in Qatar, and to exchange experiences and information between the two parties when appropriate.This is in addition to identifying and investigating any other areas of mutual interest."According to the MoU, co-operation between the two parties will be strengthened by leveraging Morgan International's expertise and capabilities in developing, organising, managing and implementing programmes and training courses to qualify cadres working in financial and banking specialities," al-Yafei added.Ganni expressed enthusiasm about the co-operation, and said: “We are eager about harnessing Morgan International's expertise to provide cadres and organisations in Qatar with a seamless learning experience. Our aim is to equip professionals with the essential skills and competencies necessary to excel in the dynamic and competitive business environment of today."For more information about the training programs offered through this partnership, visit www.qfba.edu.qa or contact the Training and Development Department on WhatsApp through +974 55772225.QFBA, founded in 2009, specialises in providing training and professional development programmes for the Qatari financial sector. It also offers its students a set of the top certified worldwide credentials in the financial and banking sectors. It excels at offering four types of programmes: certification, national development, tailor-made and degree programmes in collaboration with Northumbria University.The Academy aims to support the Qatarisation process through its programmes by providing the labour market with competent and proficient leaders with the most up-to-date theoretical and applied knowledge and skills in the financial and banking fields, working alongside with partners from the government and private entities.Morgan International represents leading international institutions in professional education and covers a wide range of programmes, for instance in Accounting, Auditing, Finance, Supply Chain, Human Resources and Digital Marketing.Morgan was established in 1995 and is present across 28 locations worldwide in Canada, Europe, the Middle East and India. It trains thousands of candidates every year through professional certification programmes, workshops, continuing education courses and in-house training.

The Qatar Press Centre (QPC) held a seminar in co-operation with the Media Development Department at Qatar Media Corporation (QMC) on the 'Russian-Ukrainian war and its impact on the global economy'.The seminar saw the participation of speakers Abdullah al-Khater, an economist; Dr Mohamed al-Sharkawy, a political analyst; and Dr Sultan Barakat, a strategic expert, while Mohamad al-Ansari was the moderator.Dr al-Khater explained that there are economic repercussions of the Russia-Ukraine war, the most important of which are the energy crisis and the impact on global supply chains, in addition to inflation as well as rising prices and interest rates, which have caused multiple shocks for the global market and affected the international economy negatively.Dr al-Khater said the significant rise in energy prices, especially in Europe, had a significant effect on the European economy. He added that the war presented a number of political and economic intersections, which led to a set of transformations in the global system - that it is moving from an old system to a new one, led by BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) that introduces different economic concepts, especially with regard to trust and financial stability in stock exchanges and global markets.Dr Barakat regarded the Russia-Ukraine war, which was, according to him, “artificial because this conflict existed in 2010, but Volodymyr Zelensky’s advent contributed to the signing and implementation of a number of agreements, indicating that the Europeans dealt incorrectly with the Russia-Ukraine crisis because they dealt with it as a bloc". It was safer to make some countries neutral for a number of historical and political reasons”.Dr Barakat said the war increased the problems that the world was already going through as a result of the repercussions of Covid-19 and its direct impact on production and food, which doubled the threats and raised prices dramatically around the globe.Dr al-Sharkawi pointed out that the real war is an economic-political one, especially after the emergence of political disagreement between Russia and China over dealing with the US iIn light of the emergence of the BRICS alliance, which will form a new economic system. He believed that the war in Ukraine is not being run by military forces, but is rather an economic-political battle, and so it is difficult to determine its time span.It is a war of economic camps in which there is a financial investment in the war, and its weapons are grain and oil.At the conclusion of the seminar, QPC honoured 'Al Sharq' newspaper and a number of local media organisations for supporting its work and for their continuous partnership to enrich the Qatari media scene.

On the sidelines of the Qatar Real Estate Forum, promoter Abdulaziz al-Yazidi co-founder of Aradi.qa with colleague Abdullah al-Fadala spoke to Gulf Times as the youngest honoured participants in the forum.“The first edition of Qatar Real Estate Forum was a really nice experience. It is a promising event for the real estate market, companies, local and foreign investors keen to invest in Qatar. It has provided the audience with more information on the real estate in Qatar so that it will grow for sure to meet the Qatar National Vision 2030. It is a helpful opportunity for promoters since we have attendees and representatives from the GCC, i.e. Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, and Kuwait. The provided information will be an added value that will help not only Qatar but the region as well and encourage investors to invest in the region.”Al-Yazidi continued: “The real estate market is growing rapidly especially after the World Cup, it is booming. The market remains very promising and many project will grow. As I told you they are all related to the Qatar National Vision 2030, and when the prices go up that means that the country is doing well and for investors it is good news to invest in the country as the prices are growing. We always look at the bright side,” al-Yazidi concluded.

A seminar on Qatari military music was held at Katara Drama Theatre on Monday evening under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture, represented by the Music Affairs Centre (MAC), in in co-operation with the Ministry of Defence and Qatar Armed Forces Band Regiment.Major-General Salem Fahad al-Hababi, Commander of the Military Performances and Music Centre, was a key speaker at the symposium, which was moderated by MAC deputy director and poet Abdul Hameed al-Youssef.The seminar is the first of its kind in Qatar and part of the Music Salon seminars presented by the MAC.It was preceded by an open-air military parade at Katara, announcing the seminar with 50 brass musicians.On the stage, there were 45 musicians who presented special military music melodies much to the delight of the audience.The seminar was presented by journalist Abdul Hameed al-Youssef. Major-General al-Hababi reviewed the history of military music in Qatar, which was founded in early 1949."We started with the trumpet, which was used in military procedures such as gathering, leaving, raising the flag, lowering the flag and saluting the leader. The brass band, bagpipers and percussions were formed in 1954 to begin a new phase under the name of the 'Music Unit of the Armed Forces', and then it became the Qatar Armed Forces Band Regiment," he recalled. "The first and second bands were formed in 1982, and from 1998 to 2010 it became four integrated music bands, in addition to the Symphony Band Music School.”Major-General al-Hababi continued: “The music school has a major role in the battalion, as it trains the soldier through a group of musical courses, on top of which is the foundational music course, which lasts for two years."There are also several courses such as the progressive course and the leadership of small bands, wherein the school trains the musician to perform at all kinds of ceremonies, including marches, waltzes, selections and common pieces."There is no doubt that the band regiment shoulders a great role, the most important of which is the Amiri Diwan ceremony to receive the guests of His Highness the Amir, the celebration of Qatar National Day, and the graduation of the Armed Forces' training colleges and institutes. It also contributes to the graduation ceremony of male and female students of Qatar University and Doha University for Science and Technology, the Scientific Excellence Day, and sports events in Qatar."A regular soldier needs 8-10 years of training to be able to play the national anthems of different states and a range of selections of melodies, he added.The speaker stressed that band regiment has participated in several international festivals in countries such as the US, France, the UAE, Oman, Italy, Germany, China, Russia and Bahrain."The band regiment won the admiration of people in those countries, especially with their Qatari melodies and Western instrumentals using bagpipes. We also saw the participation of the Armed Forces Symphony Orchestra in the 2022 World Cup. The orchestra has also been competing with orchestras from other countries in performing international instrumentals, and state officials have praised it."The Armed Forces Band Regiment performed several melodies at intervals during the seminar and crowned the show with two popular songs, 'Oh Qatar, You Are the Life' and 'God, O My Life, Qatar', which won the admiration and enthusiasm of the spectators.Maryam Yassin al-Hammadi, director of the Culture and Arts Department at the Ministry of Culture, and Khaled al-Salem, director of the MAC, honoured all those in charge of organising and implementing the seminar, both civilians and military, at the end of the event.

The sponsors, partners and participants of the first Qatar Real Estate Forum were honoured Sunday by HE the Minister of Municipality HE Dr Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki al Subaie at a dinner at Fairmont Doha. The entities honoured included Gulf Times, which is a media partner of the forum. HE Dr al-Subaie presented a memento to Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka, Editor-in-Chief of Gulf Times, on the occasion. Present on the occasion were Mutlaq Naief Omar Abu Raqaba al-Otaibi, Kuwait's Minister of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy and Minister of State for Housing; engineer Hamad Ali Sulaiman al-Nazwani, undersecretary of Oman's Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning for Housing, engineer Abdullah Saud al-Hammad, CEO of the Saudi Real Estate General Authority and other dignitaries from Qatar and the region. A group of senior officials and businesspersons, leaders, decision makers, experts, and stakeholders in the real estate sector from Qatar and the region were honoured by HE Dr al-Subaie.

On the occasion of the “Festa della Repubblica” – Italian National Day, ambassador Paolo Toschi hosted a ceremony at the St Regis Doha on Tuesday in memory of the Republic Day, which was celebrated for the first time in 1947.The Italian envoy welcomed Qatar's Minister of Commerce and Industry HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Qassim al-Abdullah al-Thani, HE the Minister of State and Qatar National Library president HE Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz al-Kawari, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Department of Protocol director ambassador Ibrahim Fakhro and a number of other dignitaries.Ambassador Toschi began his welcome address in Arabic and then switched to English to stress the excellent bilateral between Italy and Qatar and the record 2022 trade exchanges.Speaking to Gulf Times on the sidelines of the event, the Italian envoy said: "It is a pleasure to celebrate the “Festa della Repubblica”, the National Day, in Doha among many Italian and Qatari friends. We celebrate a strong friendship, many important achievements including a record in our trade plus a 140% last year (2022) on the previous record which was 2021 and a stronger relationship blessed by the visit of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani in Rome in February meeting with President Sergio Mattarella. We had a very busy year full of initiatives and you can count on the embassy of Italy as a friend and as partner.”Having arrived in Qatar on the opening day of the FIFA World Cup 2022, ambassador Toschi recalled that big success of the event. "We celebrated with our Minister of Defence coming here and lauding the Qatari organisation and signifying that we respected the work and the achievement as an international tournament that have no precedent. Our armed forces were here to help guarantee security, and we are very proud of the work they did.”Ambassador Toschi urged Qatari tourists to visit Italy. "This is a fantastic season of tourism in Italy with many new offers in the cultural world, on the coast, in our cities, in our little villages, on the Alps. I encourage in particular tourists to visit the region of Amelia Romania that was hit by floods and storms over the last month, but being rebuilt successfully. It is the place where the amazing cars and motorbikes that are on display tonight are designed, dreamed and made,” he concluded while referring to an exhibition of Italian automobiles at the event venue.

The first edition of the International Conference on Debate and Dialogue (ICDD) and the accompanying exhibition organised by QatarDebate Centre concluded at the Qatar National Convention Centre Tuesday.The conference saw the participation of more than 800 individuals from all over the world, and six agreements were signed at the event.The agreements, inked with the Jordanian Crown Prince Foundation, Al Jazeera Institute, Education Above All Foundation, University of Windsor, Canada and the universities of Utah and Louisville, US, aim to enhance co-operation with QatarDebate Centre and expand its programmes in those countries.Over two days, the conference discussed a number of academic issues through four main themes: 'Argumentation: Frameworks and Applications', 'Debate and Education', 'Debate in Islamic Tradition', and 'Dialogue: Social and Cultural Dimensions'.The conference included a number of accompanying activities, including two sessions for keynote speakers; two speakers from the Qatar Debate Research Fellowship Programme; the 'Oasis of Dialogue' - which discussed the 'Fluidity of Human Relations: The Family’s Resilience in the Face of Globalisation Challenges'; panel discussions on 'The Debate Experience in Arabic for Non-Arabic Speakers' and the 'Concept of Debate between the Past and the Future'; and specialised sessions on the four themes of the conference.The event also witnessed the presentation of a number of research posters, as well as a space for social interaction and interactive stations, with the participation of Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, Al Jazeera Media Network and others.The conference aimed to direct scientific research towards finding solutions by discussing academic issues and benefiting from research results to develop knowledge production in the fields of debate and dialogue, in addition to expanding research programmes and spreading this culture to serve the debate community around the world.QatarDebate Centre graduates were also honoured on the occasion, numbering more than 50 teams to represent Qatar.

In the presence of Qatar Foundation (QF) Vice-Chairperson and CEO HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad al-Thani and a number of sheikhs and ministers, the first edition of the International Conference on Debate and Dialogue (ICDD) and the accompanying exhibition, organised by the QatarDebate Centre, got under way Monday.The two-day conference at the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) aims to be an open platform for discussing academic issues specialised in the global debate community of researchers, interested people and academics, and exchanging training and educational experiences in a way that contributes to the development of knowledge production in the fields of debate, dialogue, argumentation and interrelated disciplines.The conference will focus on four main themes: 'Argumentation: Frameworks and Applications', 'Debate and Education', 'Debate in Islamic Heritage' and 'Dialogue: Cultural and Social Dimensions".The opening session of the conference included a speech by HE Lolwah bint Rashid AlKhater, Minister of State for International Co-operation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and another by Dr Hayat Abdullah Maarafi, executive director of QatarDebate Centre.HE AlKhater, in her speech, attention to the arts of debate in poetry and literature and between Muslim scholars and Orientalists, and how these debates were like "intellectual wars" that enriched cultural life, deepened awareness of various issues and contributed to the development of skills, arts, sciences and language.She noted the role of the QatarDebate Centre in reviving the culture of debate, extending platforms and expanding partnerships, while highlighting its role in disseminating the culture of debate in the Arabic language in various countries of the world, spreading the Arabic language among non-native speakers and raising the level of language and logical arguments among Arabs and others from other nations, as well as its role in establishing academic programmes in many countries.HE the Minister of State for International Co-operation hoped that this conference will bear fruit and achieve its goal of being a comprehensive platform for researchers and those interested in the science and art of debating.Dr Maarafi noted that the centre has become one of the most important institutions concerned with debate and dialogue in the whole world. It contributes to enriching dialogue and empowering minds by organising and hosting the largest international and continental championships in school and university debates in both Arabic and English.She stressed that the centre is determined to continue its competitive debate programmes and allow society to obtain the greatest possible benefit following the great success achieved in the field of competitive debates and the expansion in the number of beneficiaries of its educational programmes and activities to include more than 500 universities and schools in 80 countries and thousands of participants.She continued, “We started five years ago to conclude partnerships with universities within and outside the country to offer university courses on the art of debate and critical thinking, including a debate course for students of the Police College in Qatar, and co-operation with well-established American institutions to offer courses that apply debate to teach Arabic to non-native speakers.”She said these efforts culminated in a qualitative partnership with Tunisia's University Ez-Zitouna to design and launch a masters programme, the first of its kind, titled 'The Art of Debate in Comparative Jurisprudence'.The Qatar Debate Research Fellowship was also launched to sponsor researchers interested in developing knowledge in the field of debate in an integrated programme that extends for two years and provides them with all the resources necessary to devote efforts to practical, interdisciplinary research.Dr Maarafi expressed happiness at launching the first edition of the conference, which will serve as a forum for researchers, academics, trainers and debaters, and the nucleus of an academic network that studies the past and present of dialogue experiences.She highlighted QF's great support aimed at empowering generations, discovering talents and capabilities and employing them to bring about the positive change needed by the State and its institutions, noting that the centre has worked to build an Arab model for debate and dialogue that is open to different cultures."We contributed to training teachers to employ the strategy of debate in classrooms, trained workers in the health sector, including doctors and nurses, contributed to the development of communication skills among security personnel, and provided specialised programmes for workers in the diplomatic corps," she added.Speakers at a panel discussion titled 'Debate institutions around the world: role and impact', stressed the importance of the art of debate in "confronting argument with argument", critical thinking, discussing current topics and issues, and analysing and understanding evidence. They praised QatarDebate for the establishment of their centres and benefiting from it in adapting their activities according to the requirements and conditions of their communities.They noted the role of QatarDebate in spreading the culture of diversity, difference, argumentative debate and constructive dialogue, and how it contributed to helping them transfer dialogue and debate from an elite society to the general public.The speakers reviewed their experiences in establishing debate centres in their countries, while referring to the awards they obtained locally, regionally and internationally and their ability to include the art of debate in educational curricula in schools and universities and to widely spread this culture in co-operation with educational, social and governmental institutions.

Giving the gift of life through organ donation is a good deed and regarded as the highest form of charity, a senior medical official has said.Dr Yousef al-Maslamani, medical director of Hamad General Hospital and head of the Kidney Transplant Section - Surgery Department, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), made the observation while delivering a lecture on organ donation at Al Jasra Club on Saturday.“Organ donation is the only time when the donor undergoes an operation for the benefit of another person. Does this affect the donor’s life, in case he donates a kidney? Well, the body maintains itself," he said.The Qatar Organ Donation Centre (HIBA) was established in 2012 to lead, manage and supervise all activities related to the organ donation process, as well as to supervise the implementation of the Doha Agreement for Organ Donation and Organ Transplantation.The first organ transplantation in Qatar took place in 1986. Before that, around 68% of citizens who availed of kidney transplants abroad were exposed to health complications, and some 12% died as a result of getting organs from certain countries. This eventually led to the promulgation of Law No. 21 of 1997 and Law no. 15 of 2015, which prohibit and punish any illegal transplantation of organs in Qatar.Replying to a query from the audience about the Shariah fatwa on organ donation, Dr al-Maslamani said: “The transplantation of organs from a living person to another is allowed under the Shariah law. Giving the gift of life through organ donation is a good deed and regarded as the highest form of charity in the eye of Allah.”Dr al-Maslamani explained the organs that can be donated from a living donor, namely the liver and kidneys. As for the organs that can be donated after death, these are the lungs, heart, pancreas, gall bladder, liver, kidneys and bones. He stressed that citizens and residents have confidence in doctors, and therefore the family of the clinically deceased person must be consulted if he was a donor, whether they agree to donate his organs to another patient.Organ transplantation is a person-to-person transfer procedure from a donor to a recipient. He stressed that the first kidney transplant for children in Qatar took place in 2014, the first liver transplant in 2011, and the first lung transplant in 2021.The Qatar Organ Donation Centre annually has carried out awareness campaigns on the benefits of organ donation at various public locations as well as universities, malls, in more than 15 geographically distributed locations, and during events of the Indian and Filipino communities. Field campaigns have been conducted to spread awareness and the culture of organ donation.Dr al-Maslamani said the Donor Registry showed a rise in the number of donors from 2,424 in 2012 to 500,000 in 2023.More than 500,000 donors of different nationalities have been registered in Qatar until now. "Organ transplantation helps the patient lead a semi-normal life, and the values of this process stipulate that if you are a donor, you may take an organ without any effect. No nationality or religion affects that except for precedence on the waiting list according to the World Health Organisation," he added.

The Darb Lusail mass festivals are back in their renewed form and with a carnival event of an unconventional nature. The Darb Lusail Roses’ Festival offers an enchanting experience for visitors of all ages, citizens, residents and tourists.This event is organised by the Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company in Darb Lusail, Lusail City, for three consecutive days, starting from Thursday, May 25, until Saturday, May 27, daily from 7:00 pm until 11:00.On this occasion, Engineer Khaled al-Hammadi, Director of Asset Management at Qatari Diar Company, said: “The organisation of the Rose Festival in Lusail Trail comes within the continuous events organised by Qatari Diar Company in Lusail Trail. This has proven to be a well-deserved destination, both during the World Cup period and the multiple events that it has held periodically, thus becoming one of the important attractions of this destination in the country. A family event par excellence that promises all family members a unique experience within the framework of various innovative events and the first of its kind in Qatar to celebrate the spring atmosphere in a different way. All members of society are invited to visit the festival and enjoy the various activities in it and share this wonderful experience with us. "The Lusail Trail Rose Festival is an unmissable opportunity to attend dazzling carnival events that transport visitors to a world of roses, imagination and colours. The festival includes a number of events:• Route of Roses:A dazzling, full of life and joy event, which will be presented twice daily at 7 pm until 7:30 pm and repeated at 9:30 pm until 10:00 pm. It consists of:*The 15 moving decoration platforms of different shapes and patterns ornate with wonderful rose decorations.*Character walk and performers of 140 fun and interactive characters*Lusail Trail stations, which are decorated with wonderful flowers and contain a local market, food and beverage kiosks, various entertainment activities, and souvenir kiosks.*Diverse and attractive theater performances, which include folkloric and cultural shows, and DJ performances.During the Rose Festival, Darb Lusail B will be covered with an amazing decoration embellished with unique flowers and paintings with impressive designs, where visitors can enjoy, photograph and watch flower decorations of bright colours and amazing shapes. The artistic events also include distinctive performances that use flowers as a means of artistic expression, and provide visitors with an opportunity to enjoy the amazing artistic experience.The festival is an ideal destination for families, as it provides, in addition to the amazing pink shows, entertainment areas and games for children. It will be an ideal opportunity for children to enjoy games, drawing and other activities. The festival also includes a local market and areas designated for food and drinks.Just as the Lusail Trail Festivals have brought us back by re-launching one of the sports icons that were used in previous international tournaments, which will be unveiled to participate in the Darb Lusail Roses' Festival on the first day of the festival.Throughout the days of the festival, the Lusail Trail will be designated for pedestrians only, which will give festival visitors a unique opportunity to enjoy the atmosphere of roses in one of the most famous tourist destinations in Qatar.The concerned authorities at the Ministry of the Interior appeal to the honourable public to cooperate with traffic staff and abide by traffic diversions to ensure the security and safety of all festival-goers, and recommend the use of alternative roads designated for vehicles.It is worth noting that Lusail City is considered one of the largest projects of Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment, a living embodiment of Qatar National Vision 2030 in the field of real estate development.

HE Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad al-Thani, Minister of Culture, honoured on Sunday evening luminaries of Qatari theatre during the 35th Doha Theatre Festival at the Katara Drama Theatre.The audience and theatre lovers were treated to a memorable night that had a distinct musical and theatrical character, during which the Theatre Affairs Centre presented a show titled 'Fifty Years of Theatre'.It was composed by Talal al-Siddiqi and directed by Nasser Abdelridha, featuring singers Rehab Malouk and Mishaal al-Dosari, as well as music arrangement and execution by Nader Abdel-Salam.The recording was done at Al Matar Studio, the graphics by Abdelkarim Abu Tayem, the lighting by Omar Atrous and the sound design by Aziz.The ceremony began with the screening of a documentary film chronicling the history of the theatrical movement and its beginnings in the seventies. A set of photographs and videos were displayed that showcased the creativity of the first artistes.Then, a group of Qatari theatre icons presented a special show, in which they reviewed their journey in words, and this was accompanied by short artistic scenes with the help of a number of artistes.The ceremony witnessed the honouring of a group of pioneers of the theatrical movement in Qatar, as well as some artists from the civil groups participating in the festival.Those honoured included Mohamed Abu Jasoum, Ghazi Hussein and Hamad Abdelridha from Qatar Theatre Group, Dr Hassan Rashid, Saad Bakhit, Rashid al-Shaib and Ali al-Khalaf from Doha Theatre Group, Youssef Sultan and Saadi al-Shammari from Al Watan Theatre Group.A number of Gulf and Arab theatre stars who were guests at the festival were also honoured: Khalil al-Rumaithi, Hassan Rajab, Sulaf Jalil, Mohamed al-Hamli, Ibrahim al-Zadjali, Khaled al-Muzaffar, Abdulaziz Safar and Youssef al-Jarrah. A concert by Khaled Abdul Karim al-Hammadi highlighted a wonderful artistic balance through the theatrical works in which he participated.