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United Development Company (UDC) organised a comprehensive ‘Seabed Cleaning Campaign’ at Porto Arabia on The Pearl Island, in collaboration with private and public institutions like Qatar Red Crescent, Friends of the Environment Centre, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, and Ministry of Interior.The event was aimed at promoting environmental awareness and sustainability. The seabed cleanup gathered 163 professional divers who collectively removed about 1,500kg of plastic and metal debris from an area spanning 150,000sq m.UDC Public Services executive director Abdullatif Ali al-Yafei told Gulf Times that the event is part of UDC’s five-year strategy for sustainability and environmental preservation. As part of our five-year plan.“This year, we have the largest number of participants of divers and community members in The Pearl Island. We should also acknowledge that students from the United International School in The Pearl Island are participating, along with their parents and teachers, all of whom are engaged in this activity,” he said.In collaboration with private and public institutions like Qatar Red Crescent, Friend of the Environment Centre, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, and Ministry of Interior, UDC orchestrated the cleaning event, aligning with its commitment to promoting environmental awareness and sustainability. The campaign unfolded as part of UDC’s broader strategy, reflecting its dedication to national and global sustainability principles.The seabed cleanup, a key component of UDC’s wider sustainability strategy, gathered 163 professional divers who collectively removed and showcased 1,500kg of plastic and metal debris from an area spanning 150,000sq m. This not only highlighted the tangible outcomes of collective environmental stewardship but also served as a stark reminder of the importance of keeping the country’s waters free from pollution.At the same time, more than 1,000 residents and visitors engaged in environmentally friendly activities, such as planting, paper recycling, and energy conservation, further emphasising UDC's commitment to environmental preservation and marine protection.All collected waste, including metal, wood, and plastic, underwent proper recycling and reuse processes to prevent landfill deposition. The successful event garnered support from other organisations, including the Ministry of Sports and Youth, Qatar Civil Defense, and Kidzania Doha.The Seabed Cleaning Campaign followed a week-long series of sustainability activities at The Pearl Island, coinciding with Qatar Sustainability Week where The Pearl Island unveiled its new ‘Collec'Thor Sea Cleaners’. UDC's proactive engagement in marine preservation therefore underscores its commitment to maintaining a thriving marine ecosystem and supporting a healthier environment.By championing awareness and engagement in sustainable initiatives, UDC remains steadfast in its contributions to Qatar's overarching sustainability objectives and the preservation of marine and terrestrial ecosystems.The Seabed Cleanup initiative is directly linked to the UN Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Below Water, emphasising the crucial need for conserving and sustainably utilizing our oceans, seas, and marine resources.By fostering awareness and actively participating in sustainable practices, UDC continues to contribute to Qatar's broader sustainability goals and the well-being of its marine and terrestrial ecosystems.On the role of sustainability practices in helping promote tourism and attracting investors to Qatar, al-Yafei said: “We have already implemented several initiatives to improve our existing building management systems and have introduced smart solutions for The Pearl Island and Gewan Island.“These enhancements aim to boost the effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability of utility usage, including electricity, water, and cooling systems, which are essential. The smart solutions are part of UDC’s projects to enhance these systems on The Pearl Island, contributing to our sustainability goals.”Since January 2024, al-Yafei emphasised that UDC has engaged in numerous activities leading up to its latest seabed cleanup, which, by far, is UDC’s largest activity for 2024.“UDC has not only achieved its goals but also exceeded them. We adopted and implemented many initiatives focused on environmental sustainability at The Pearl Island.“This progress gives us optimism for next year, and we already have exciting plans in place for 2025: Our focus will continue to be on sustainability and the environment, which are crucial for maintaining and preserving the marine ecosystem around The Pearl Island.

Qatar Travel Mart (QTM) 2024, set to take place from Monday to Wednesday, at the Doha Exhibition & Convention Centre (DECC), has announced a preview of its programme and the chairpersons during the event.QTM 2024 promises to be a cornerstone for the global travel and tourism industry, offering unparalleled insights, networking opportunities, and a showcase of Qatar's burgeoning status as a leading travel destination.The chairpersons who will shape the event’s conference schedule include Dr Marcel Bastiaansen from Breda University of Applied Sciences, who will chair Day 1. He brings his expertise in experiential tourism and emotional impact research. Professor Joanne Schroeder from Vancouver Island University, the first female chair of the World Leisure Organization Board, will lead Day 2, focusing on sustainable leisure and community engagement. Professor Sandro Carnicelli from the University of the West of Scotland, editor-in-chief of the World Leisure Journal, will chair Day 3, addressing the growing intersection of health, wellness, and sports in tourism.The three-day conference will explore pivotal themes shaping the future of travel. ‘Day 1: Meaningful Experiences,’ will delve into the transformative power of experiential tourism, focusing on cultural heritage preservation and year-round visitor strategies. Key sessions will address the growing demand for immersive travel experiences, culinary tourism's role in destination appeal, and innovative approaches to overcoming seasonality.‘Day 2: Future of Travel’ will spotlight innovations driving the industry forward, with discussions on digital and smart tourism, sustainable practices, and the critical role of education in meeting evolving industry demands. A special focus will be placed on addressing climate change's impact on cultural heritage sites.‘Day 3: Sports, Health & Well-being’ will explore the intersection of sports, health, and wellness tourism. Sessions will cover major sporting events as tourism drivers, Doha’s unique cultural sports tourism offerings, and the booming trend of medical and wellness travel.“QTM 2024 is set to be a landmark event, showcasing Qatar's vision for the future of travel and tourism. We're thrilled to bring together world-class experts and industry leaders to explore innovative solutions and strategies that will shape the future of our industry.“Registration for QTM 2024 is now open and free of charge. Industry professionals and enthusiasts are encouraged to secure their spots early for this not-to-be-missed event,” said Rawad Sleem, co-founder and general manager of NeXTfairs.For more information and registration details, the link https://www.qtmqatar.com may be visited or the event may be followed via X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn or YouTube.

The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) on Saturday announced that the State of Qatar has officially joined the Global Coalition for Digital Safety.This announcement was made during the coalition's 11th meeting. HE the Minister of Communications and Information Technology Mohammed bin Ali Al Mannai participated in the meeting via video conference on Thursday, alongside several member states and international organisations that focus on digital safety. It is stated that the move reflects Qatar's commitment to supporting global efforts to enhance digital security and protect digital societyIn his opening remarks, HE the Minister emphasised the importance of international cooperation in addressing the growing challenges of the digital realm, pointing that Qatar's membership underscores its dedication to shaping inclusive global policies to bolster safety.HE Al Mannai further highlighted Qatar's ongoing efforts, led by the Ministry, to adopt cutting-edge technologies and develop national laws and policies to mitigate risks. He noted that joining the coalition would enhance international partnerships and facilitate the exchange of expertise in digital safety, aligning with the coalition's objectives to establish a safe and sustainable digital environment for all.The Global Coalition for Digital Safety, an initiative of the World Economic Forum, aims to strengthen international collaboration in digital safety. Its objectives include combating harmful content, curbing the spread of misinformation, and protecting users' rights online.The coalition brings together governments, major corporations, and NGOs to create policies and frameworks for a safe and inclusive digital environment.The World Economic Forum provides the regulatory framework and support, enabling the coalition to leverage international platforms to achieve its goals.

Doha Metro & Lusail Tram announced Saturday that, the Metrolink services will be extended to Religious Complex from Sunday.M141 bus will operate from Free Zone station to cover areas near the Religious Complex, Doha Metro said in a post on social media.

Qatar Chamber recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Kosovo Chamber of Commerce to promote and develop economic cooperation and trade exchanges.The MoU was signed by QC Second Vice-Chairman Rashid bin Hamad Al Athba, and President of the Kosovo Chamber of Commerce Lulzim Rafuna, which was held at the Chamber's headquarters.The agreement also aims to exchange economic information, cooperate in the field of exhibitions, facilitate exchange visits and organize joint meetings for businessmen to promote cooperation in trade.During the meeting, both sides discussed ways to enhance cooperation between them to reflect on the trade and economic relations between the two friendly countries, and the role that the private sector can perform to enhance these relations.Speaking at the meeting, Al Athba praised the relations between Qatar and Kosovo, especially in the commercial and economic fields, pointing out that the agreement aims to enhance trade cooperation relations between the two parties, facilitate cooperation among businessmen from both countries.For his part, Rafuna said that the MoU will play a key role in strengthening relations between businessmen and investors from both countries. He emphasized that his country is open to foreign investment in various economic sectors and seeks to attract Qatari investments.

Qatar National Bank (QNB) said that more optimistic expectations regarding global macroeconomic performance could support increasing capital flows to emerging markets, provided that the Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank continue their monetary easing policies, growth rates in China rise, and local conditions improve in most major emerging markets.In its weekly report, QNB described the current year as positive for capital flows to emerging markets despite ongoing volatility, citing the global easing cycle led by the Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank, along with Chinas massive economic stimulus measures announced in September. These favorable conditions emerged after several challenging quarters following significant monetary tightening in major advanced economies in 2022.The report emphasized that a more positive global macroeconomic environment is driving capital toward emerging markets. According to the Institute of International Finance, non-resident portfolio flows to emerging markets, representing foreign investor allocations in local public assets, saw a significant shift from negative to positive territory in late 2023. These inflows resulted in strong returns across various emerging market asset classes after reaching their lowest levels in October 2023, including a 20.2% increase in equities (MSCI Emerging Markets Index) and a 19.6% rise in bonds (JP Morgan Global Emerging Market Bond Index).QNB attributed its expectations for increased capital flows to emerging markets to three key factors. The first is the continued monetary easing by major central banks. The report noted that changes in interest rates in advanced economies are likely to favor investments in emerging markets as central banks increase their easing cycles in the coming quarters, despite concerns about the global spread of fiscal populism. The Federal Reserve is expected to cut interest rates by 75 basis points next year, while the European Central Bank is projected to reduce rates by 100 basis points in the same period. Lower nominal yields in the U.S. and Europe traditionally drive investors toward higher-risk, higher-return assets, such as those in emerging markets.The second factor is Chinas economic policies, which include more comprehensive measures to support growth and local asset markets. These actions are expected to provide a consistent tailwind for capital flows into emerging markets over the coming quarters, given that China is the largest component in key emerging market indices such as the MSCI Emerging Markets Index. Following significant fiscal, monetary, and regulatory stimulus, the Chinese government has signaled its willingness to take further action if needed to ensure growth and financial stability. This is anticipated to rejuvenate local Chinese investor activity and attract foreign investors who have under allocated to Chinese equities and fixed-income markets.The third and final factor is stronger macroeconomic fundamentals in most emerging markets. Many advanced economies have accumulated significant imbalances due to excessive stimulus policies following the pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict, leading to challenges such as rising public debt and inflation instability. In contrast, most emerging markets have implemented conservative fiscal policies, avoiding excessive debt accumulation and external vulnerabilities. This has bolstered their political credibility and increased the attractiveness of their markets. QNB concluded that these factors collectively position emerging markets as increasingly appealing destinations for capital flows, particularly as global monetary policies shift toward easing.

Oxford Business Group (OBG) and Qatar Chamber have formalized their ongoing collaboration through a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed at Qatar Chambers headquarters, marking a key step in the production of The Report: Qatar 2025, an in-depth publication on Qatars economic landscape.Under the terms of the MoU, the two entities will jointly support research and analysis across critical areas of the Qatari economy, including economic diversification, the expansion of gas production, improvements in the business environment, and advancements in technology and infrastructure. The partnership will also enable Qatar Chambers members to access OBGs online resources, covering economic insights from over 35 countries.Acting General Manager of Qatar Chamber Ali Busharbak Al Mansouri highlighted the Chambers support for the collaboration with OBG, underscoring the importance of sharing insights that can contribute to the national economic agenda."The Report: Qatar 2025 will serve as a resource for the private sector, examining key areas such as public-private partnerships, sustainable economic diversification, and the application of technology to advance Qatars economic goals," he said.Fernanda Braz, OBGs Country Director for Qatar, noted the strategic value of working with Qatar Chamber to deliver a comprehensive analysis of Qatars evolving economic landscape."Our collaboration with Qatar Chamber enables us to provide focused insights into sectors integral to Qatars long-term economic vision, with an emphasis on areas such as infrastructure development, foreign investment, and digital transformation," she commented.Set to cover both established and emerging sectors, The Report: Qatar 2025 will offer an analysis of the current economic landscape and the opportunities it presents. The publication will draw on extensive research conducted by OBGs team, including interviews with key stakeholders from Qatars public and private sectors.

Heated negotiations on a global climate deal were set to spill into today after developing nations rejected an initial $250bn offer from rich countries to help them tackle global warming.The two-week conference in the Caspian Sea city had been due to end last evening.COP29 hosts Azerbaijan said negotiations would drag “over the course of the night” in the Caspian Sea city Baku to produce a final text.This will be put before nearly 200 nations for consensus approval today, not expected earlier than 10am (0600 GMT).The rejected proposal raised an existing commitment of $100bn a year from rich nations but fell well short of what experts say developing nations need.“It is shameful to put forward texts like these,” said Tina Stege, climate envoy for the Marshall Islands, an atoll nation threatened by rising seas.“I’m so mad. It’s ridiculous. Just ridiculous,” said Juan Carlos Monterrey Gomez, the Special Representative for Climate Change for Panama, who called the proposed amount too low. “It feels that the developed world wants the planet to burn.”COP29 hosts Azerbaijan urged nations to keep striving but admitted the $250bn figure, to be reached by 2035, was not “fair or ambitious” enough.The Alliance of Small Island States, for which climate change is an existential threat, said the offer showed “contempt for our vulnerable people”.Ali Mohamed, chair of the African Group of Negotiators, another influential bloc imperilled by climate disaster, called the proposal “totally unacceptable and inadequate”.“$250bn will lead to unacceptable loss of life in Africa and around the world, and imperils the future of our world,” he said.A group of 134 developing states including China had demanded at least $500bn towards the cost of building resilience against climate change and reducing planet-warming emissions.However, the United States signalled that it was not looking to negotiate a higher figure.President-elect Donald Trump takes office in two months and is expected to pull the world’s largest economy again out of climate diplomacy.“$250bn will require even more ambition and extraordinary reach,” said a senior US official, whose team in Baku comes from outgoing President Joe Biden’s administration.Germany, a longtime leader on climate where elections are due next year, said that governments could not meet these costs alone, and debt restructuring and other financial tools would need to play a part.Europe wants to “live up to its responsibilities, but also in a way that it doesn’t make promises it can’t live up to”, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock told reporters.The draft text also sets an ambitious overall target to raise at least $1.3tn per year by 2035 from not only developed countries but the private sector.Developing nations excluding China need $1tn a year in outside help by 2030, according to economists commissioned by the United Nations to assess needs.These same economists said yesterday that $250bn was “too low and inconsistent” with globally agreed goals to keep climate change in check.Obed Koringo, a Kenyan activist from CARE, said $250bn was “a joke”.“From Africa, where I come from, what we are saying is...no deal is better than a bad deal,” he said.However, Avinash Persaud, special adviser on climate change to the president of the Inter-American Development Bank, said that the offer showed the talks were “within sight of a landing zone” for the first time.“There is no deal to come out of Baku that will not leave a bad taste in everyone’s mouth,” said the former adviser to Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley.The United States and European Union have wanted newly wealthy emerging economies like China – the world’s largest emitter – to chip into the pot.China, which remains classified as a developing nation under the UN framework, provides climate assistance but wants to keep doing so on its own voluntary terms.The annual UN-led climate talks come on what is already poised to be the hottest year in history and as disasters rise around the world.Just since the start of COP29 on November 11, deadly storms have battered the Philippines and Honduras, while Ecuador has declared a national emergency due to drought and forest fires and Spain has been reeling after historic floods.

A team of 16 students from MES Indian School, Abu Hamour branch (Mesis) participated in the three-day Fall Model UN (MUN) Conference hosted by Georgetown University in Qatar. Jeshurun Anil, representing Germany in the UNHCR committee, and Savitr Sudheer, representing the UK in the SPECPOL committee, earned honourable mentions for their debates on ‘Improving International Support for Evacuees from Nagorno-Karabakh’ and ‘Strengthening Civil Society in Post-Conflict Reconstruction in Africa,’ respectively.The other members of the team were Ravi Aryan, Naseel Nias, Ayesha Shaikh, Iman Mustafa, Hridul Srinivasan, Michelle, Sharika, Deepika, Armaan Ali, Heiza Nousher, Geetthika Matta, Vedika Naveen, Pragadesh Gowtham, and Sarav Dhanyaa. The delegation was groomed by external activities chief co-ordinator Manmadan Mambally, and accompanied by teachers Vishnu Jayaprakash and Prabhathan. Gunjan Chawla co-ordinated. Principal Pramila Kannan congratulated the team.

MES Indian School bagged the overall championship for the second consecutive year in ‘Sahityotsav’, an inter-school arts and literary competitions organised by Risala Study Circle (RSC) at Podar Pearl School. The 14th edition of the event saw 36 students of MES garnering 126 points.

The Computer Science Department of DPS-Modern Indian School (DPS-MIS) hosted the first edition of ‘DPS Hackathon’ that brought together 15 teams from various schools with 75 tech enthusiasts, promoting development and strategic problem-solving, over two days.The theme ‘Education and EdTech – Building a Platform to Enhance Learning Experiences and Make Technology More Accessible’ challenged participants to create meaningful solutions to address the evolving demands of modern education systems and to improve accessibility. The hosts’ Team 1 consisting of Aditya Menon, Aayush Rajagopalan, Achyut Paliwal, Adilakshmi Prasannakumar and Aishwarya Singaravelu won the first place followed by Pakistan International School Qatar with Aayan Zeb, Muhammad Abdullah, Mohammad Abdur Rehman, Mohid and Abdul Hadi for the first runner-up position. The second runner-up position was earned by the hosts’ Team 2 comprising Elston Rodrigues, Aayush Nath Panday, Senthuran Srimurugan, Mohammed Akil Bharmal and Md. Abrar Labib Pahlowan.The judges were veteran Cisco-certified professional Mustafa Badawi and platform engineer, Web and IoT expert Sushant Pupneja. The closing ceremony was graced by DPS-MIS director Gopi Vardhan who announced the upcoming Space Lab to promote scientific exploration. Principal Asna Nafees, highlighted the Hackathon’s role in shaping future innovators, and senior secondary school vice principal Soma Bhattacharjee encouraged students to dream big.

Government Engineering College, Thrissur Alumni chapter, Qatar (Qget) concluded its bowling competition, ‘Roll n Bowl’, which featured 125 participants, including members and families.Corniche Blues emerged as the overall winners, with Qatar Redstorm and Sunrays Doha taking second and third places, respectively. Individual champions: Men’s - Gopu Rajasekhar claimed the top spot, followed by Rajeesh Vayalapra and Abhilash V in second place. Fahim, Narayan, and Sabari Prasad shared third place. Ladies - Elizabeth Leo won the champion title, with Linu Pradeep as the runner-up. Shamli Shahil and Shahna Basim shared third place. In the Kids’ category, Rachel Pradeep emerged as the champion, followed by Inaya Shabeeb in second place and Faizan Shamsudeen in third place.The captains were Priya Johnson and Fasin Abubacker (Qatar Redstorm), Shabeeb Hassan and Jazira Najeeb (Sunrays Doha), Thanuja Haseeb and Nishab K A (Corniche Blues), and Abhilash and Smrithi (Lusail Legends).The event was organised by Qget sports secretaries Nandan Nambalatt and Ilyas Najmusalah, with support from Fahim, Jijin, and immediate past president Anvar Sadath. Qget president Tomy Varkey announced the winners, while vice president Dr Gopal and joint treasurer Amjad thanked the participants.