Qatar has been ranked the most peaceful country in the Middle East and North Africa, according to the 17th edition of the Global Peace Index (GPI) 2023. The ranking also placed Qatar 21st in the world, recording a jump of two spots this year. The index ranks 163 independent states and territories according to their level of peacefulness and is produced by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP). It measures the state of peace across three domains: the level of Societal Safety and Security, the extent of Ongoing Domestic and International Conflict, and the degree of Militarisation. “Qatar remains the most peaceful country in the region, a position it has held since 2008. It is the only country in the region to be ranked in the top 25 most peaceful countries globally,” GPI stated. Last year, the Global Peace Index ranked Qatar as the most peaceful country in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and out of the 163 countries, Qatar ranked the 23rd most peaceful country in the world. “Qatar improved in overall peacefulness in 2023, driven by improvements in political instability, external conflicts fought and UN peacekeeping funding. The restoration of diplomatic relations in 2021 with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt helped improve the internal political situation in Qatar. Relations have remained stable throughout 2022, resulting in a full-year improvement to political stability,” the GPI statement added. In the MENA region, Kuwait placed second in the regional ranking and 35th globally, while Oman, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were in the top five, while Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia made up the top ten. Yemen was the least peaceful country in the MENA region. The index places Europe as the most peaceful region in the world -- home to seven of the ten most peaceful countries. The other three most peaceful countries are in the Asia Pacific region. The MENA region remained the world’s least peaceful region. While the region recorded the most significant improvement in peace, it is home to four of the ten least peaceful countries. Iceland maintained its position atop the index as the most peaceful country in the world, while Denmark displaced Ireland to the number two spot. New Zealand moved up two spots to fourth, Austria dropped to fifth, and Singapore moved up four places to sixth. Portugal, Slovenia, Japan and Switzerland completed the global top ten. In the past year, 84 countries improved, while 79 countries recorded a deterioration in peacefulness. GPI results noted that over the last 15 years, the world has become less peaceful, with the average country score deteriorating by five percent.

The General Authority of Customs has urged travelers to fill out the customs declaration form upon entering or leaving the country, in accordance with the provisions of Qatar's Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing Law. Travelers complete the "Customs Declaration Form" upon entering or leaving the country, in the event that they possess cash, precious jewelry or negotiable financial instruments for the bearer whose value is or exceeds fifty thousand Qatari riyals. The form is filled in at the customs declaration office at all air, sea or land travel outlets. The implementation of this system comes in application of the provisions of the Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Law No. 20 of 2019 and Cabinet Resolution No. 41 of 2019 to issue its executive regulations. Declaration system: A declaration submitted by a natural or legal person who enters or leaves the state's territories and possesses negotiable currencies or financial instruments for the bearer, precious metals or precious stones equal to or more than (50,000) Qatari riyals or their equivalent in foreign currencies. He must fill in the Declaration Form, and any other additional information required by the customs officer must also be provided. Items to be declared are: - Currency: Qatari currencies or other foreign currencies. Negotiable currencies or financial instruments for the bearer are the instruments in the form of a document for its bearer, such as traveler's checks and negotiable instruments including checks and promissory notes, orders for payment of all kinds, and incomplete instruments, including checks, promissory notes, and signed payment orders. Precious metals such as: - gold, silver, platinum ... and other precious metals. Precious stones like: - Diamonds, emeralds, rubies, sapphires, pearls ... and others False Declaration: Providing incorrect information about the value of the currency, the negotiable instruments for the bearer, or metals or gemstones that are being transported, or providing incorrect relevant information required in the declaration or by the customs authorities, and this includes failure to submit the declaration as required Penalties: Refraining from submitting the declaration, providing false information, or refusing to provide additional information to the customs authorities with regards to the source of the currency, the negotiable financial instruments of the bearer, precious metals, or precious stones are subject to penalties that may reach imprisonment for a period not exceeding three years or fines not less than 100,000 one hundred thousand Qatari riyals and not more than 500,000 five hundred thousand Qatari riyals, or twice the value of the transferred funds, whichever is more, in addition to confiscating such funds.

Here are the details of the event schedule: 1. Astronomical Dome Shows: Date: On the second, third, and fourth days of Eid al-Adha. The first show starts at 5:00 PM. The second show starts at 6:00 PM. The third show starts at 7:00 PM. Location: Astronomical Dome. 2. Question and Answer Competitions: Date: On the first, second, and third days of Eid al-Adha. From 6:30 PM to 6:45 PM. And from 8:00 PM to 8:15 PM. Location: Wisdom Square. 3. Katara Festivities: Date: On the first, second, and third days of Eid al-Adha. From 6:45 PM to 7:15 PM. And from 7:30 PM to 8:00 PM. Location: Katara Corniche. 4. The Play "The Mind is a Blessing": Date: On the first, second, and third days of Eid al-Adha. From 7:00 PM to 7:45 PM. Location: Wisdom Square. 5. Fireworks: Date: On the first and second days of Eid al-Adha at 8:30 PM. Location: Katara Corniche. 6. Best Eid Outfit Competition. 7. Eid Takbeer Competition in Katara.

Join Al Shaqab as they celebrate the joyous occasion of Eid Al Adha! The Eid Al Adha festivities at Al Shaqab Indoor Arena promises an unforgettable experience for families and individuals alike. The event offers a diverse range of activities to ensure everyone finds something to delight in. Here are just a few highlights: Horse Rides: Experience the thrill of horseback riding with trained professionals guiding participants through a safe and enjoyable journey. Horse Chill Zone: Take a moment to relax and connect with these majestic creatures in a designated area designed to offer tranquility and a closer bond with horses. Bouncy Castles: Let the little ones release their energy and jump to their heart's content in a collection of bouncy castles and inflatable structures. Face Painting and Henna: Transform into your favorite character or adorn your hands with intricate henna designs, adding a touch of artistry and tradition to the festivities. Workshops: Engage in interactive workshops designed to educate and entertain, providing insights into the world of horses and equestrian activities. Delightful Selection of Food and Beverages: Savor a delectable array of culinary delights and refreshing beverages. The event will also feature a toy shop that offers a wide selection of equestrian-related toys and gifts. In addition to these exciting activities, children can enjoy a brand-new activity “A Day with My Horse"for ages 3-12. This special activity will take place during the Eid festival, offering two sessions per day, each lasting two hours, you can register for 1, 2 or all 3 days. Each session will include three activities: Art & Craft (30 min): a captivating session of art & craftwork. Children can express themselves artistically while deepening their connection with horses. Coaches will guide series of exciting projects that combine art techniques with the enchanting world of stable horses. Stable (30 min): a session designed for children to have the opportunity to immerse themselves in a hands-on learning experience that covers a range of topics related to stable management and horsemanship. Pony Ride (30 min): children can embark on an exciting journey into the world of riding. Coaches will provide young riders with a safe and enjoyable introduction to develop core equestrian skills. Moreover, there are two exciting taster classes to get a sense of what it’s like to be an equestrian: Vaulting Class Learn the basics of acrobatics on horseback! Beginner Riding Class Discover the joy of riding a horse with confidence and connection in our taster session! These three activities require pre-registration, you can register via the link http://alshaqabschool.com/. Event Details: Location: Longines Indoor Arena at Al Shaqab Date: 29 June 2023 - 1 July 2023 Time: 04:00 pm - 08:00 pm Ticket Purchase: No tickets needed

Under the auspices of HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, HE Mohammed bin Ali Al Mannai, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, inaugurated yesterday six postal stamps marking the 10th anniversary of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani's accession to the reins of power in the country. This issuance from Qatar Postal Services Company (Qatar Post) comes in continuation of the 2018 issuance marking the 5th anniversary of HH the Amir's accession to the reins of power. HE Faleh bin Mohammed Al Nuaimi, Chairman and Managing Director of Qatar Postal Services Company (Qatar Post), said that this occasion is a distinguished reminder of the State of Qatar's achievements that have been made during the past decade under the wise leadership of HH the Amir, expressing Qatar Post's pride in documenting this occasion. He also pointed out that Qatar Post always seeks to document all national occasions.

The Council of Ministers yesterday announced the lifting of the last remaining COVID-19 restrictions related to the wearing of face masks. Customer service employees are no longer required to wear a face mask while on duty Individuals are no longer required to wear a face mask when entering hospitals, medical centers and other healthcare facilities. MOPH reminds individuals not to visit patients admitted to hospital inpatient units if they are experiencing any signs and symptoms of respiratory infection including fever, cough or runny nose

The start date of the first edition of the Kayak Fishing Tournament will be postponed to June 23 and 24 due to bad weather, announced the Old Doha Port's official social media handle. The Kayak Fishing Tournament was scheduled for Friday, but it was then decided to postpone it and extend the registration period to June 22, in order to ensure the safety of the participants in light of strong wind forecasts. The Old Doha Port will organize a kayaking competition in cooperation with the Doha Marine Sports Club. The event will be held at the Al Bandar area of the Old Doha Port as a starting point and the fishing zone will be the port basin, opposite to waterfront of the Al Mina area. Contestants will be using special one-seat fishing kayaks and any of the traditional fishing equipment and tools, such as rods, fishing lines or hooks accepted by the tournament jury.

After nearly a decade-long hiatus, Logos Hope, the world's largest floating book fair, is returning to Qatar. The book fair was last docked in Qatar in 2013. The comeback of this impressive floating book fair is sure to thrill book lovers as they immerse themselves in an array of international books, events, cultural performances, and engaging activities. With Doha as its next destination, Logos Hope is prepared to dock here for a solid two weeks. Details Dates: June 21 to July 2, 2023 Timings: 4 pm to 10 pm (last person in at 9.30 pm) - Monday to Thursday 5 pm to 11 pm (last person in at 10.30 pm) - Friday to Saturday Closed on Sunday Location: Old Doha Port Access: QAR 5 for entry (no pre-booking required) History of Logos Hope The Logos Hope is the largest floating bookfair in the world. Sailing around the world and docking at different ports for a couple of weeks at a time, the ship is a booklovers' paradise and hosts more than a million visitors on board each year. The ship is manned by a crew of volunteers from many nationalities, who also participate in community outreach programs and literacy initiatives. Launched in 1970 by a German non-profit organization, Logos Hope has since docked at 480 ports in 150 countries, welcoming 49 million visitors on board. Upon its return to Doha, Logos Hope will offer over 5,000 titles for readers to explore. The selection includes books of various genres hailing from different countries and cultures, providing a rich, diverse browsing and shopping experience for book enthusiasts. Activities on Logo Hope In addition to its extensive book selection, the ship will host a variety of cultural performances, special events, and activities for all. An international café is located on the first floor, and a children's drama theater is on the second. Please note that most performances require tickets, which can be purchased via Q-tickets.com. With its vast selection of books, cultural events, and a unique ambiance, the Logos Hope is more than just a floating book fair. It's an immersive cultural experience that's set to dock in Doha, promising an enriching journey through literature and beyond for all its visitors. Don't miss the opportunity to be a part of this global literary voyage.

In a major boost to Qatar’s E-commerce market, Souq Al Baladi, Qatar’s favourite market, launched the biggest online shopping platform in the country ‘Baladi Express’ for customers during a glittering ceremony held at the Velero Hotel in Lusail on Saturday. The launch ceremony was attended by Al Baladi Holding Group Chairman Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Attiyah and FC Barcelona President Joan Laporta. A number of dignitaries, industry officials, and media persons were also present on the occasion. Aimed at making online shopping easier for people in Qatar, the ‘Baladi Express’ has the largest selection of brands with over 150,000 items including deliveries from over 3,000 restaurants in Qatar. An audio and video presentation to navigate through the online shopping platform was also made at the launch event. Al Baladi Holding Group Chairman Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Attiyah: “We have launched Baladi Express with a promise to make it the Arabic equivalent of Amazon and Alibaba. It is a new e-commerce platform born from the renowned Souq al Baladi, a subsidiary of the al Baladi Group. Our mission is to grow and thrive as a local and regional online retail brand. Our vision is to be number one in Qatar first and then we will roll out this experience in different countries in GCC, Middle East and Africa, Europe, and other countries around the world” . As pioneers of e-commerce in Qatar, Attiyah said, “We are proud to be Qatar’s most trusted platform for online shopping and the best delivery service. Your order is safe with our delivery heroes. Our items are exclusively delivered by cars to guarantee the freshness of your order.” “We built the Baladi Express platform with a huge IT team, very experienced and very skilled people from around the world from India, Pakistan, and Egypt. It’s a huge team consisting of consultants, experts in global databases, system analysts, system architects, and others,” the chairman said. “We have also built hardware infrastructure. We have built the cloud. It’s a private cloud with a huge data center, locally hosted here in Qatar. In the security and security tools, we have very strong tools to secure our data and our application. The platform is built upon the latest technology with the most recent programming language,” Attiyah said. Speaking on the occasion, Al Baladi Holding CEO Hany Al Sayyadi said, “It is a pleasure and honour to introduce to you our latest project, the launch of Al Baladi Express, a project that took years of hard work, dedication, and gathered experts from all over the world to present to our dear costumers the best quality of service.” “Baladi Express is a delivery platform for all essential requirements from food, fresh, health and wellness products, flowers, fashion and so much more. We believe that this platform will be a revolution in how people buy and receive their food, groceries, and essential products,” Sayyadi said. With Baladi Express, Sayyadi said, “We are not only targeting the local market but we aim to reach out to the international market and here we start our big aim for the world.” “We built a strong infrastructure for Baladi Express using the latest technology and tools. And to optimise our services we stand independent in terms of supply chain management and fleets,” he said. While we are very sound technology-wise, Sayyadi said, "Business-wise, we aim to deliver everything to everywhere in Qatar with free-of-charge fast deliveries 24x7, high-quality products at low prices. These are the key features and the key added values that we will add in addition to the varieties of the items and products. “Our application contains over 150,000 items categorised and classified in the application in a very proper way. It’s an easy, user-friendly application with different payment methods. Loyalty programmes and rewards points are included in the application.” “You place your order, and we will deliver within a maximum of 60 minutes, most of the time within 30 minutes. Not only that, we promise to preserve the quality of your items with our “best delivery service” system across Qatar. Whether you place your order from Doha, Al Khor, Wakrah, Al Shamal, or even if you are camping with friends in the middle of the desert, we will deliver to you within our promised time,” Sayyadi said. To provide efficient after-sales service, Sayyadi said, “We have the biggest call center for this application. One can just dial 8006000 and a big team in the call center will be available to answer and solve customers’ problems at the same time. There is compensation for any defects or any problem faced by any customer. We are committed to providing full satisfaction to our customers and changing the mind of people about online shopping and e-commerce.” He said, “We ensure that all items marked in the application including grocery, food, non-food, household electronic devices, pharmacies, medicine, medical supply, flowers, gifts, chocolates, and others are readily available for delivery from our six warehouses exclusively for e-commerce and over 50 Express Stores spread across the country.” To ensure that all the products that the platform is offering are available all the time for customers, he said, “We have launched the biggest e-store with space of 15,000 square meter in Barwa Commercial Avenue. Besides this, we also have five more warehouses in different locations in the country. Our application is programmed in a very smart way to identify the location of the customer. The moment an order is placed, it will reach the nearest warehouse and the delivery will be done in the shortest possible time.” Providing more details about the platform, Baladi Express General Manager Dr Mohammed Ali Othman said, “Based on our belief that innovation and technological advancements are the driving forces behind the development of the e-commerce sector, we have built this largest online shopping platform in Qatar. Baladi Express introduces a new and innovative concept to enhance the online shopping experience, providing users with an easy, flexible, and secured shopping journey that ensures complete satisfaction.” At Baladi Express, Othman said, “We have a dedicated team of experts and consultants in the field of information systems and technology, they are involved to build this robust and powerful platform. It is built on an infrastructure that adheres to the latest global systems and standards.” Highlighting that the company has built the largest private cloud environment and a secured data center by using state-of-the-art technologies, he said, “The platform relies on a massive database and utilises the latest systems for managing operations, inventory, financial management, map management, and geographic information systems (GIS). “Our comprehensive platform offers a wide range of products, exceeding 150,000 items, making it the largest application in the field. We are committed to providing the best shopping experience for our customers, and we will continuously work to improve and develop the Baladi Express platform to meet the expectations and needs of our customers.” About the investment made by the company in the online shopping platform, Othman said, “We have invested huge money in the technology to build this platform. More than 30 experts and consultants from different parts of the world are working on it. Also, we have made huge investments in hardware, security tools, firewall switches, and high-speed lines from Ooredoo and Vodafone. Besides, we have also invested in having a satellite line, just to ensure that all options are available and the operations never stop. Considerable investment has been made to ensure that this comprehensive system is scalable and applicable in multiple countries worldwide.” “Also, a huge investment is made to have a fleet of 2,000 cars and 1,000 bikes for delivery. Accordingly, we have over 5,000 drivers to deliver orders on time. We have already invested a lot in the training and obtaining driving licenses for these thousands of drivers,” he said. Revealing that local sporting icon Nasser Al Attiyah and the world champion Ronaldinho will be the brand ambassadors of ‘Baladi Express’, he said, “With such huge stars as our brand ambassadors, I am sure it will have a big impact on our popularity that will ultimately result in cementing the position of our brand in the market.”

The Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia on Sunday announced that Monday, June 19, will mark the first day of Dhu Al Hijjah, after sighting the new crescent in the Kingdom. ''Arafat Day falls on Tuesday, June 27, while Wednesday, June 28, will be the first day of Eid Al Adha,'' according to a Saudi Supreme Court statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA). First day of Eid announced in Oman The Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs in Oman has officially declared that Eid Al Adha will commence on Wednesday, June 28, 2023. The sighting of the crescent of the month of Dhu Al Hijjah for the year 1444 AH has been confirmed, Oman News Agency said on Twitter. Muslims perform the annual Hajj pilgrimage during the Islamic month of Dhu Al Hijjah which culminates in celebrating Eid Al Adha on the 10th day of Hajj rituals. The Hajj pilgrimage begins on the 8th day of Dhul Hijjah and lasts until the 13th of the month. Significance of Eid Al Adha Eid Al Adha, or the "Festival of Sacrifice", is one of the most significant Islamic holidays observed by Muslims around the globe. Its name translates to "Festival of the Sacrifice", reflecting the holiday's central theme. This festival commemorates the willingness of the prophet Ibrahim (Abraham in Christianity and Judaism) to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God. According to the religious narrative, God intervened at the last moment and provided a ram to be sacrificed instead of Ibrahim's son. Eid Al Adha is the culmination of Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, which is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. It's observed on the 10th day of Dhu Al Hijjah, the final month of the Islamic lunar calendar. The festival typically begins with a special prayer at the mosque, followed by the ritual of Qurbani, or sacrifice, where a livestock animal, usually a sheep or a goat, is slaughtered. The meat from this sacrifice is then distributed in three parts: one part for the family, one part for relatives and friends, and one part for the poor and needy.

China has embarked on an ambitious endeavour to dig a 10-kilometre-deep hole into the Earth's crust as part of its exploration efforts. Aim? The team hopes to reach rocks from the Cretaceous Period, the layer known as the Cretaceous System, which dates back up to 145 million years. The project is taking place in the Tarim Basin of Xinjiang province and hopes to bring valuable insights into Earth's history, and was commenced on Tuesday (May 30). By digging into that many layers of rocks, China can offer information about the evolution of landscapes, climate change, and the distribution of life. This will also allow the scientists to identify and date significant events such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and shifts in climate, as well as study ancient life forms. The excavation, is located in the challenging environment of the Taklimakan Desert, China's largest desert. However, the reasons behind this ambitious project have not been fully disclosed by China at this time. The deepest hole ever dug Even though the hole China is digging is deep, it's worth noting that the current record for the deepest man-made hole on Earth is held by the Kola Superdeep Borehole in Russia, which reached a depth of 12,262 meters. The Kola project was aimed to study the Earth's crust and mantle. Russia, however, wasn't able to go any further with the drilling and it was stopped in 1992, when the temperature reached 180 degrees Celsius. This was twice what was expected at that depth and drilling deeper was no longer possible. In 2008, Russia announced that they will be covering the hole. Digging a hole into the surface of the earth is never an easy task. Apart from Russia and China, the US and Germany have also previously tried digging into the Earth's crust but weren't able to finish the project because of the increasingly unbearable temperature and lack of funds. Let's see how determined China is?

The United Kingdom’s home office announced visa changes for Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Jordanian citizens, making it easier for them to travel to the UK. Qatari nationals will be the first to benefit from the new system implementation, as it will be applied to them in October 2023. The rest of the GCC countries and Jordan will benefit from it in February 2024. Under the UK’s new Electronic Travel Authorization scheme (ETA), both Gulf citizens and Jordanians will pay only $12.44 (£10) to apply for an ETA which would grant them two-year multiple entry visa. GCC and Jordanian citizens, according to the UK’s Home Office, will be among the first nations to benefit from this scheme, which would make the requirements for their visit to the UK similar to those of the US and Australia. GCC residents currently pay over $30 to visit the UK, while for Jordanians it is over $120.