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The International Olympic Committee (IOC) voted the French Alps as the hosting location of the XXVI Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games 2030.It also elected Salt Lake City-Utah 2034 as Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games host.France, host of the 2024 Summer Olympics, to kick start on Friday, had organized previous Winter Olympics editions: Chamonix in 1924, Grenoble in 1968, and Albertville in 1992.

The Ministry of Education and Higher Education has sent 19 eleventh-level Qatari students studying French as an elective course for the Language and Culture Camp in France for the summer of 2024. The camp was held in Royan at the Karel Language Institute.The four-week camp aimed to enhance students' skills in the French language, introduce them to the culture and civilization of France, and involve them in various events to strengthen their personal traits through local traditions and culture. It also aimed to help them develop critical thinking, decision-making, problem-solving, and communication skills through the competencies and values of the general framework of the national curriculum.The camp increased students' awareness of the options available to study at higher education levels in France, the host country. It also highlighted future career opportunities for students who are fluent in multiple foreign languages in addition to their mother tongue.The camp's study program included 15 weekly lessons. Students were divided into two groups to ensure the quality of language instruction and provide them with intensive support. The program focused on developing students' listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. Several cultural and social activities, such as local excursions and cultural events, were also organized to enhance the learning experience. These helped students immerse themselves in French culture and improve their language skills through direct interaction.The students enjoyed joining the camp and benefiting from educational and cultural activities that contributed to developing their language and personal skills.

Al Sadd have announced the signing of Algerian defender Abdessamed Bounacer to bolster the first football team for the new 2024-2025 season.Bounacer joins from USM Alger and has signed a five-year contract with Al Sadd.Al Sadd will commence their Qatari league campaign against Al Shamal on August 10th at Ahmed bin Ali Stadium. The team also awaits the results of the group stage draw for the Elite AFC Champions League, scheduled for August 16th.As part of their preparation, Al Sadd will conclude their friendly matches with a game against Spanish side Almeria on July 28th during their training camp in Malaga, Spain. The team has already secured victories in their previous friendly matches against South African team Orlando Pirates (3-2) and Manchester 62 from Gibraltar (8-0).Additionally, Al Sadd have appointed former Qatar national team coach Felix Sanchez on a two-year contract until 2026 and signed Spanish striker Rafa Mujica for four seasons during the current summer transfer window.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health announced today that, through attacks made by the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) and colonists in the West Bank, the Israeli occupation murdered 589 Palestinian civilians, since the beginning of Israel's genocide on the Gaza Strip in October 2023.Among the 589 Palestinian martyrs were 142 children, Palestinian Ministry of Health added.The IOF opened fire and slaughtered three Palestinian civilians in Tulkarm, Tubas and Qalandiya at dawn today, raising the number Palestinians murdered by the IOF in the past 24 hours to 11 civilians.The Israeli occupation continues its extreme and unprecedented genocide on the Gaza Strip with nonstop airstrikes and bombardment shot from all sides (air, land and sea), murdering more than 39,090 Palestinian civilians, and injuring more than 90,147 others, while thousands of victims remain under the rubble and scattered on the streets, as the IOF has been preventing ambulance and civil defense crews from reaching them.

The Philippine authorities issued an order to suspend work , schools, as well currency and stock trading, after the country experienced heavy rainfall due to Hurricane Jamie and monsoon winds on Wednesday.The presidential office has suspended classes at all academic levels and work in most government offices in the capital area, which is home to at least 13 million people.The Philippine weather agency reported that Typhoon Jaime (with maximum sustained winds of 155 km/h) is heading towards Taiwan.It stated that the typhoon had not yet made landfall, but was strengthening the southwest monsoon, causing the heavy rains. "Flooding and landslides caused by the rains are likely" added the agency. (QNA)

Five Palestinians were killed Wednesday morning when Israeli warplanes bombed a house in the northern Gaza Strip.The Palestinian News Agency (WAFA) reported that the Israeli warplanes bombed a house in the Al-Jurn area, north of the Gaza Strip, which led to death of five people.During the night hours, the occupation's artillery and aircraft bombed several sites in Khan Yunis, north of Rafah, and Al-Bureij camp in central Gaza Strip.For ten months, the Israeli occupation forces have continued their unprecedented aggression on the Gaza Strip, which has so far resulted in the martyrdom of 39,090 people and the injury of 90,147 others, majority of whom are children and women. (QNA)

Weather inshore until 6:00 pm on Wednesday will be very hot daytime with slight dust and some clouds at times, the Department of Meteorology said in its daily weather report.Offshore, it will see some clouds at times, the report added.Wind inshore will be southwesterly to northwesterly 6 - 16 KT, gusting to 26 KT at places daytime.Offshore, it will be mainly northwesterly to southwesterly 6 - 16 KT, gusting to 20 KT at places at times.Sea state inshore will be 1 - 2 ft, rises to 3 ft at times.Offshore will be 2 - 4 ft, rises to 6 ft at times.Visibility inshore will be 4 - 10 km, while offshore, it will be 5 - 10 km.

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, who is a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), participated yesterday in the 142nd IOC Session under the chairmanship of President of the IOC Dr Thomas Bach and in the presence of members of the Olympic Executive Office, members of the IOC, and heads of international federations and national Olympic committees at the Palais des Congres in Paris, France. President of the Qatar Olympic Committee HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani also participated in the meeting, which discussed the topics on its agenda and took appropriate decisions regarding them. The attendees also discussed a number of regional and international sports issues related to the development and organisation of Olympic events. )

Qatar Airways has ordered 20 more Boeing 777-9 planes, expanding its order book for the US manufacturer’s 777X family of jets to 94.The national airline’s significant order of Boeing 777X aircraft, which is considered the world’s largest and most fuel-efficient twin-engine jet, was announced on the second day of the Farnborough International Airshow.The announcement also includes a commitment for 40 additional GE9X engines and spare engines, as well as a long-term services agreement.According to Boeing, Qatar Airways helped launch the 777X programme and now has on order for 60 777-9 passenger airplanes.Qatar Airways is also the inaugural launch customer for the 777-8 Freighter and has 34 of the next generation cargo jet on order.On the first day of Farnborough Airshow 2024, Qatar Airways showcased Qsuite Next Gen, the latest version of the ‘World’s Best Business Class’, which will be featured on the 20 additional order of the Boeing 777-9 aircraft, amongst other aircraft.The highly-anticipated Qsuite Next Gen includes updated features such as movable monitors with Bluetooth connectivity, companion suits with window views, larger lie-flat and double beds, lockable drawers, touchscreen passenger control unit and more.Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer Badr Mohamed al-Meer said: “Qatar Airways is proud to announce an expansion to the existing Boeing 777X aircraft order with an additional 20, totalling 94 Boeing 777X aircraft.“We, as the ‘World’s Best Airline’, are an industry leader and operate one of the youngest fleets, offering unparalleled innovation and quality. Keeping an eye on the future, we continue to ensure that all Qatar Airways passengers are only met with the best products and services available in the industry.”Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Stephanie Pope said: “Qatar Airways is a leader in our industry, and we are honoured the airline added 20 more 777-9 jets to its large Boeing order book. We appreciate their confidence that Boeing’s market-leading widebody family will provide outstanding fuel efficiency and a superior passenger experience for its global operations.”GE Aerospace President and CEO, Commercial Engines and Services, Russell Stokes said: “We are pleased to extend our partnership with Qatar Airways to support the airline’s commitment to an excellent customer experience and best-in-class efficiency. To Page 5The GE9X is the world’s most powerful and most fuel-efficient turbofan and we look forward to continuing to support the growth of the Qatar Airways family with this technology.”Qatar Airways continues to lead the industry with one of the youngest fleets and this latest addition to the Boeing 777X order ensures future passengers a seamless journey on our ever-growing network of over 170 destinations worldwide.“Based on the popular Boeing 777 family and with advanced technologies from the 787 Dreamliner, the 777X programme is designed to set new standards of efficiency, environmental performance and passenger experience.“The 777-9 is the largest in the family and will help operators open new growth opportunities with capacity for 426 passengers in a typical two-class configuration and a range of 7,295 nautical miles (13,510km),” Boeing said.Earlier this month, Boeing began certification flight testing for the 777-9, which will offer a new level of passenger comfort with a spacious cabin, better humidity, a quiet environment and increased natural light.In addition to the 777X family, Qatar Airways has 12 787 Dreamliner and 25 737 MAX aircraft on order, Boeing said yesterday.Boeing’s 2024 Commercial Market Outlook forecasts that twin-aisle jets such as its 777X and 787 Dreamliner will make up 44% of the region’s fleet across Middle Eastern operators over the next 20 years.

Palestinian residents of eastern neighbourhoods of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip fled their homes yesterday as Israeli tanks advanced deep into the area after Israel ordered the population to evacuate.The tanks pushed into the Khan Younis town of Bani Suhaila and several districts nearby were bombed for a second day, forcing tens of thousands of civilians to seek refuge elsewhere.Gaza health officials said Israeli military strikes since Monday killed at least 80 Palestinians in the Khan Younis area — adding to a death toll of more than 39,000 in nearly 10 months of warfare, according to Gaza authorities’ figures.Many of the newly displaced families said they had to spend the night in the streets as they searched in vain for a space as western Khan Younis and central Gaza areas were overcrowded.UN officials described scenes of despair as Israeli airstrikes hit the area.“The situation is impossible,” the UN’s Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA said on X.“People are exhausted from the continuous displacement and unliveable conditions & they are trapped in increasingly small & overcrowded areas,” it said.Residents in Khan Younis said tanks remained stationed deep inside Bani Suhaila, east of downtown Khan Younis. Soldiers were seen searching inside the town’s main cemetery, while others commandeered roofs of high-rise buildings, firing their guns toward the western areas from time to time, residents said.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is in Washington this week, told families of hostages held in Gaza that a deal that would secure their release could be near.Months of efforts mediated by Egypt and Qatar to reach a ceasefire gained momentum in recent weeks under a proposal outlined by Biden in May.

Vice-President Kamala Harris opened up a marginal two-percentage-point lead over Republican Donald Trump after President Joe Biden ended his re-election campaign and passed the torch to her, a Reuters/Ipsos poll found.The poll, conducted on Monday and Tuesday, followed both the Republican National Convention where Trump on Thursday formally accepted his party’s nomination and the Biden announcement on Sunday he was leaving the race and endorsing Harris.Harris, whose campaign says she has secured the Democratic nomination, led Trump 44% to 42% in the national poll, a difference within the 3-percentage-point margin of error.Harris and Trump were tied at 44% in a July 15-16 poll, and Trump led by one percentage point in a July 1-2 poll, both within the same margin of error.While nationwide surveys give important signals of American support for political candidates, just a handful of competitive states typically tilt the balance in the US Electoral College, which ultimately decides who wins a presidential election.The most recent poll results underscored the rationale for Biden dropping out of the race and for Harris replacing him on the ticket.Some 56% of registered voters agreed with a statement that Harris, 59, was “mentally sharp and able to deal with challenges,” compared to 49% who said the same of Trump,

The inaugural SkillFest is transforming Msheireb Downtown Doha into a hub of artistic expression, showcasing the rich heritage of Qatar alongside cutting-edge contemporary art.The festival, running until August 15, offers residents and visitors a unique and engaging experience. It features a diverse range of activities, catering to all ages and interests.Interactive workshops designed to inspire and engage participants in various artistic and cultural crafts take centre stage. Renowned Qatari and regional artists and artisans share their expertise through masterclasses, while engaging workshops for children foster the next generation of creative talent.It is learnt that this event underlines Msheireb Properties’ commitment to promoting Qatari culture and showcasing the remarkable talent within the community. The festival also serves as a platform for local artisans to connect with the public, share their passions, and inspire others.Msheireb Galleria provides a selection of curated offerings at various zones throughout the summer, including Food, Play, Treasure Hunts, and Splash zones.The SkillFest Market, bustling with activity from 11am to 3pm and between 4pm and 10pm, features more than 20 local vendors who showcase and sell their unique handcrafted products. Visitors can also immerse themselves in a photography exhibition, featuring stunning wildlife photographs by renowned Qatari photographer Azzam al-Mannai.Msheireb Galleria, a central hub of the festival, takes visitors to ‘a world of excitement’ at its Arcade Zone, where they can explore a giant immersive maze and enjoy a mix of retro and modern games.SkillFest extends beyond Msheireb Downtown Doha (MDD), with events taking place at Place Vendome, Mall of Qatar, and West Walk. This nationwide initiative, supported by Visit Qatar, aims to celebrate local and sustainable arts and crafts inspired by Qatar’s marine environment.Festival-goers also have the chance to examine more than 100 works by 74 designers, design studios, and collections at the “Arab Design Now” exhibition – on view until August 5 at M7. This captivating display underlines the diversity and talent within the Arab design world, spanning from architectural installations to textiles, furniture, and graphic design.