Day: June 29, 2024

Riyadh: Camels have been a cornerstone of life in the Arabian Peninsula for millennia. They are not just beasts of burden, but symbols of wealth, generosity, and travel. Over time, they became deeply woven into the region’s heritage.

This deep connection gave rise to a beautiful folk art called “Alheda’a”, passed down through generations across Arabian societies. It is an oral tradition whereby herders use a combination of sounds, gestures, and sometimes musical instruments to communicate with their camels.

Inspired by poetry, these rhythmic expressions form a unique vocabulary the camels understand. Herders use Alheda’a to guide their herds through the desert, find pastures for grazing, and prepare them for watering, milking, and riding. It also serves as a critical warning system, allowing for swift assembly in case of sandstorms.

Historical accounts credit Mudar bin Nizar with having invented Alheda’a. After a fall from his camel, he kept weeping: “Waidah! Waidah!” (Oh my hand!). The camels, captivated
by his voice, started moving. This sparked the tradition of using vocal cues to guide camels.

Early Alheda’a mimicked natural camel sounds, with herders urging their animals with sounds like “heh”, “doh”, and “dah”. These vocalizations, along with “Rajaz” (short, improvised poems), are still used today, though their use varies depending on the environment.

Over time, Alheda’a evolved into a more poetic form with distinct styles and vocabulary. It incorporated deeper meanings, sung verses, and balanced rhythms, reflecting the beauty of the Bedouin soundscape and culture.

According to Saudi folk heritage researcher Ibrahim Al-Khaldi, Alheda’a was essential for nomadic caravans. It typically involved two people reciting simple rhyming verses in unison, a practice that helped encourage the camels while extracting water from wells. For larger water extraction tasks, where gathering distant camels was crucial, up to four people might recite Alheda’a. Their voices, carried in the quiet of night or dawn, would tra
vel a great distance.

Alheda’a does not adhere to a single melody; it varies based on the environment. The poignant words resonate with the camels, and the meanings are deeply tied to the herders’ daily lives.

Chairman of the Saudi Society for Camel Studies Dr. Mohammed Al-Otaibi said Alheda’a existed even in pre-Islamic times. It is sung during a camel’s return to water, journey to pasture, or simply while traveling. These short, impactful chants help gather camels, guide their movement, and direct them back to their resting place.

Inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2022, Alheda’a has various applications, with chants for departure, travel, watering, gathering, and even for camels drawing water from wells, to encourage them.

Camels hold a unique place in Arab society and even more so in the Saudi society. Recognizing this rich cultural heritage, the Camel Club was established under the directives of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin
Abdulaziz Al Saud.

Further solidifying this connection, the Ministry of Culture declared 2024 as the “Year of the Camel’, an animal seen as a cultural treasure, a pillar of national identity, and a valuable piece of Arab heritage.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Doha: Weather inshore tonight until 6:00 am on Sunday will see some clouds and relatively humid with hazy, the Department of Meteorology said in its daily weather report.

Offshore, it will see some clouds, the report added.

Wind inshore will be northerly to northeasterly 05 to 15 knot, becomes variable mainly southwesterly less than 05 knot by night.

Offshore, it will be variable mainly southwesterly to southeasterly 03 to 13 knot.

Visibility will be 04 to 10 kilometers.

Sea state inshore will be 1 to 2 feet. Offshore will be 1 to 3 feet.

Area High Tide Low Tide Mini Messaid 15:56 07:57 00:85 27 Wakrah: 15:55 23:21 06:56 19:01 29 Doha: 13:46 22:34 05:28 17:54 32 Al Khor: 21:12 12:04 15:37 05:38 26 Ruwais 12:0405:38 18:11 30 Dukhan: 04:02 16:43 10:30 22:45 28 Sunrise: 04:47 LT Sunset: 18:28 LT

Source: Qatar News Agency

The Muslim World League condemned the Israeli occupation’s decision to expand settlement operations in the West Bank.

In the Secretariat General’s statement issued on Saturday, the League condemned the Israeli occupation forces’ continued violation of international law and international legitimacy resolutions.

It stressed the gravity of these violations to security and stability in the region and the world, undermining the possibility of a solution and efforts to achieve a just and comprehensive peace in the region.

The Israeli occupation government had approved the legalization of five settlement outposts in the West Bank and advanced plans to build thousands of new settlement units throughout the West Bank.

Source: Qatar News Agency

The first round of the legislative snap elections in France are due to kick off on Sunday upon the request of the President Emmanuel Macron, following the significant victory of the far-right in the European Parliament elections over the presidential majority camp.

Opinion polls have shown the progression of the lead for the right-wing National Rally party with 36 percent of voting intentions, while the left-wing New Popular Front alliance secured second place with 29 percent, with the centrist presidential coalition maintaining third place with 21percent of voting intentions, while the Republicans’ party came fourth with 6.5 percent.

The polls demonstrated that voter turnout is anticipated to reach between 60 percent and 64 percent, significantly higher than the 47.5 percent turnout, in the last general elections held in June 2022. Also, there are expectations that the National Rally’ party, which currently holds 88 seats in the outgoing parliament, will secure more than 200 seats in the upcoming elections
.

The upcoming legislative elections for the French parliament were originally scheduled for 2027. However, President Macron announced the dissolution of the National Assembly under Article 12 of the constitution, which vests him with a sweeping power. He called for legislative snap elections after his coalition, which held 250 seats in the outgoing parliament, came under crushing defeat in the European Parliament elections held between Jun.6 and 9, 2024.

Accordingly, French analysts and experts told Qatar News Agency , that these legislative snap elections are considered a milestone in the history of France since they are the first-of-its-kind to be held in France that can culminate in assuming the power by the far-right to appoint the prime minister from its side.

Speaking to QNA, Head of the Opinion and Politics Department at Ipsos, and expert on public opinion and market research Stephane Zumsteeg said these legislative snap elections represent a pivotal moment in the history of the fifth French Republ
ic, as for the first time the country witnesses a prime minister from the far-right.

This is particularly significant given opinion polls indicating clear progress for the National Rally party over other parties. Even if this party does not manage to win an outright majority, its presence is expected to dominate the upcoming parliament, he added.

Zumsteeg highlighted that overwhelming challenge is currently facing the New Popular Front on the left, as well as the presidential camp, and they must unite at the last moment based on the results of the first round, affirming that they need to form a robust barrier against the far-right so it does not win in the second round of elections and dominate the parliament. He noted that they could likewise form a unified national government against the right, in case the National Rally does not win an absolute majority in the National Assembly.

What is unequivocal heretofore that the National Rally party is expected to see a significant increase in the number of deputi
es following these elections, as will the case with the left-wing front whose parliamentary representation will also grow, he said, however, the greatest challenge remains for the remaining members of the presidential camp, which will suffer greatly and lose more deputies.

He pointed out that their sole concern in these elections is to ensure they are not wiped off the French political map in the future, especially after their defeat in the recent European elections.

For his part, Principal Investigator and equivalent to Associate Professor at the University of Aix-en-Provence, Francesco Campagnola, told QNA that these elections are not only important for France, but rather critical for democracy itself and the future of the European Union, highlighting that what happened in the Polish experience and the rise of the far-right represented by the Law and Justice party in recent years is a clear example of that, he said.

He stated that the scenarios for these elections appear uncertain, as no political front
may achieve an absolute parliamentary majority, highlighting that the New Popular Front, which ranks second in opinion polls, is unlikely to secure an absolute majority in the parliament after the current election rounds. This, he said, precipitates forming alliances with other progressives or even moderate right-wing parties, a complex and challenging prospect given the current political context.

It is likely that voter turnout in these elections will be high, albeit the political uncertainty due to the fragility currently faced by the New Popular Front, particularly concerning the transfer of votes in the second round. There will undoubtedly be many new alliances and divisions.

In this scenario, Campagnola said, it is possible that this situation could favor the far-right and the National Rally party more than others.

Pierre Berthelot, a political analyst and strategic expert at the European Institute for Security and Foresight, remarked to the Qatar News Agency that the distinguishing feature of the ear
ly legislative elections in France is the potential for political cohabitation between the far-right National Rally and the centrist camp of President Emmanuel Macron. This potential fourth instance of cohabitation promises to be challenging and markedly different from the previous three occurrences. Historically, cohabitation has happened twice under former President François Mitterrand with the center-right, and once under former President Jacques Chirac with a left-wing government. Berthelot noted that despite the differences in political orientation, the previous cohabitations did not face significant ideological conflicts, particularly concerning the country’s foreign policy. He added that should cohabitation occur now, the ideological differences would be “fundamental” between President Macron, who staunchly supports Ukraine and seeks to strengthen ties with NATO, and the far-right National Rally, led by Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella, who oppose support for Ukraine and advocate for a long-term depar
ture from NATO. Thus, if the National Rally wins the legislative elections, this cohabitation would be a “leap into the unknown.” Berthelot considered that the situation is further complicated by the absence of an absolute majority in these elections, which is challenging to achieve given the three competing blocs (far-right, left, and center). This tripartite division suggests that, in the absence of an absolute majority after the second round, France could become ungovernable, as it would be difficult for two blocs to align against the third. He further explained that in this scenario, the political crisis would deepen, especially since President Macron cannot dissolve the parliament again. This situation has led some to speak of a severe political crisis in France, with the future of the Fifth French Republic appearing uncertain. The Fifth Republic was established by former President Charles de Gaulle in 1958 to ensure the stability of the country and its constitutional institutions, which were unstable du
ring the Fourth Republic. Despite the political instability of the Fourth Republic, there was always a clear majority and cohabitation among the main parties, a clarity that is missing today in the current political climate. Berthelot highlighted that smaller parties, despite their limited national weight, will make a significant difference in these elections due to their strong local presence and influence. For instance, parties like “The Republicans” and “The Communist Party” dominate many municipalities across France, whereas Marine Le Pen’s National Rally controls only 15 out of 35,000 municipalities. This weak grassroots presence suggests that despite polling at 35 percent, the National Rally may not necessarily achieve the majority of 289 deputies required. He cautioned that while the results of the European elections have validated the accuracy of polls, they should always be approached with skepticism. He cited the 1987 elections where polls favored President Jacques Chirac’s party, yet the left unexp
ectedly won, illustrating the need for cautious interpretation of polling data. Berthelot concluded his remarks to QNA by pointing out that the economic aspect was a significant weakness in Marine Le Pen’s electoral program during the 2017 and 2022 presidential elections. However, she has improved this program, tapping into the fears of French citizens regarding their income, purchasing power, and the future of their children amidst rising inflation and poverty. This strategic shift has bolstered her electoral momentum and confidence in her economic platform. The French National Assembly (parliament) comprises 577 seats, including 13 overseas constituencies and 11 representing French expatriates. To secure an absolute majority, a party needs 289 seats. The first round of the legislative elections, starting tomorrow, will eliminate candidates who fail to secure 12.5 percent of the vote. Any candidate receiving 50 percent of the vote with a minimum 25 percent voter turnout wins outright. The second round on Jul
y 7 will involve run-offs between two, three, or occasionally four candidates, with some candidates potentially withdrawing before July 7 to boost an ally’s chances of preventing a rival’s victory.

Source: Qatar News Agency

Doha: The National Human Rights Committee (NHRC), in partnership with the Ministry of Labor, the Primary Health Care Corporation, the Red Crescent, the International Labour Organization, and the World Health Organization office in Qatar, organized two awareness events as part of the “Healthy Workers for Sustainable Development” campaign. These events aimed to raise awareness among workers and employers about the right to health and its impact on sustainable development.

The first event featured a diverse program for 80 workers from a security services company. Additionally, the National Human Rights Committee organized another event in the Small Industries Zone in the Industrial Area for the benefit of 200 workers.

Director of Administrative and Financial Affairs at NHRC, Hamad Majid Al Marzouqi affirmed the committee’s continued activities within the “Healthy Workers for Sustainable Development” campaign. He explained that the right to health is connected to providing fair and satisfactory working conditio
ns that ensure employees’ safety and health.

He added that the campaign, in collaboration with partners, focused on the right to health in all its aspects, including state obligations and workers’ duties to enjoy their health rights, and employers’ duties to respect and protect workers’ health rights. He pointed out that international and regional human rights charters have affirmed workers’ health rights and the right to enjoy a healthy and safe working environment, which contributes to achieving sustainable development goals. He emphasized that neglecting this could lead to severe health consequences that hinder achieving these goals.

Al Marzouqi highlighted Qatari legislation in this context, stating that laws and decisions related to workers’ rights, along with the enhancement of health programs, ensure all workers’ rights to fair and satisfactory working conditions that contribute to sustainable development goals. He noted that a safe and healthy work environment is a key determinant of productivity ef
ficiency, and that workers’ enjoyment of health care and services in the workplace enhances their desire to develop their work, improve production quality, and elevate their performance levels.

Khaled Abdul Rahman Al Emadi, an occupational safety and health expert at the Ministry of Labor, explained that the ministry annually organizes awareness activities about heat stress. He added that these events aim to raise awareness of the risks of heat stress and ways to prevent it, especially during peak hours from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily, from July to mid-September each year.

The paper presented by the Ministry of Labor detailed the state’s efforts to protect workers from heat stress risks, including legislative amendments requiring companies to develop a joint plan with workers to assess heat stress risks, conduct annual medical examinations to diagnose and assess chronic diseases among workers that may contribute to heat stress risks, grant workers the right to self-regulate their work pace by taking breaks
when needed, impose a maximum temperature limit beyond which all work is prohibited, and provide a temperature measurement system.

Director of Health Programs at the National Mental Health Program, Ministry of Public Health, Qusai Al Harashah stated that mental health is the cornerstone of public health and productivity and is essential for both individuals and organizations. He affirmed that investing in mental health initiatives not only improves employee well-being but also boosts productivity, reduces absenteeism, and fosters a positive work environment conducive to growth and success. He emphasized the importance of mental health and early screening to create workplaces where everyone feels valued, supported, and empowered to succeed. Early screening plays a crucial role in identifying mental health concerns before they escalate, allowing for timely intervention and support.

For his part, Head of Health Education at the Medical Affairs Department of the Qatar Red Crescent, Dr. Ahmed Deeb Idlebi, delive
red a practical lecture on heat exhaustion and heatstroke, and related illnesses such as brown fatigue. He also provided methods for preventing heat stress through appropriate clothing and personal tools, along with personal factors like drinking plenty of water to retain the body’s mineral salts and maintaining a healthy diet.

Source: Qatar News Agency