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Agence France-Presse

China is to give Qatar two giant pandas to mark the World Cup being held in the Gulf state.
Zhou Jian, China’s ambassador to Doha, said that “Suhail” and “Soraya” would arrive in Qatar in October, ahead of the 32-nation tournament that starts November 20.
The planet’s most populous nation did not qualify for the World Cup but Chinese companies have been involved in the construction of mega projects around the event.
“This is a gift presented by the 1.4 billion Chinese people for the Qatar World Cup, and will surely become a new symbol of China-Qatar friendship,” the envoy said at a reception.
Suhail is the name of one of the brightest stars visible in the Gulf region, while Soraya is the Arabic name for the Pleiades star cluster.


Fifa World Cup 2022: China gifts giant pandas to Qatar as ‘sign of friendship’ ahead of 32-team tournament

China is to gift two giant pandas to Qatar ahead of the Fifa World Cup in November. Photo: EPA-EFE

UN says 50 million people stuck in ‘modern slavery’, highlights China’s Xinjiang, Fifa World Cup host Qatar

Why World Cup fans may choose Dubai or Oman – looser dress codes and alcohol rules – and fly to Qatar on the day for matches

Sport

Football

A UN report released on Monday said that nearly one out of every 150 people in the world are caught up in modern forms of slavery. Photo: Shutterstock

The number of people forced to work or in a marriage against their will has surged in recent years to around 50 million on any given day, the UN’’s International Labour Organization (ILO) said on Monday upon releasing its modern slavery report. Photo: Shutterstock

EU to propose ban on forced labour goods amid pushback over China’s alleged Xinjiang abuses

China says UN report on Xinjiang has ‘closed door of cooperation’ on human rights

UN’s Xinjiang human rights report expected to further strain relations between China and West

Xinjiang: UN report finds it ‘reasonable to conclude’ forced labour is occurring in autonomous region

How the US’ Xinjiang labour law has crippled China’s cotton industry before even entering effect

UN report said nearly one out of every 150 people in the world are caught up in modern forms of slavery, highlighting the situation in Xinjiang, where several UN agencies warned of possible forced labour.


United Nations

International Labour Organization

Human rights in China

Human rights

Xinjiang

Bloomberg

Travellers enter a hotel in Dubai. Photo: AFP

Travellers at Dubai Airport terminal 3. The Gulf emirate is gearing up to welcome many of the football fans attending the 2022 World Cup in nearby Qatar in November. Photo: AFP

Some of the 1,000-plus shuttle buses during a test run in Doha ahead of the Qatar 2022 World Cup. Photo: AFP

Dubai Airport chief Paul Griffiths. Dubai International Airport, a major aviation hub, is gearing up to help ease transit travel for World Cup supporters ahead of the tournament. Photo: Giuseppe Cacace/AFP

An artist’s impression of NH Dubai The Palm hotel, which will host a World Cup fan zone. Photo: NH Dubai The Palm

The Lusail Stadium, the 80,000-capacity venue that will host this year’s World Cup final, on the outskirts of Doha, Qatar. Photo: Mustafa Abumunes/AFP

As Hong Kong Peak Tram reopens, 10 other fabulous funicular railways around the world to ride

Qatar detains workers protesting late pay before World Cup

From Krakow to Dubrovnik, 9 of Europe’s best old towns to visit – think castles, cobbles, churches and ancient city walls

The UAE’s biggest city, as well as Oman, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, will benefit from the World Cup in Qatar, putting up fans Qatar doesn’t have room for and who may be wary of its rules on dress and drinking alcohol.


Tourism

Fifa World Cup 2022

Middle East

Saudi Arabia


Suhail and Soraya will arrive in the Gulf state next month ahead of November’s competition
While China’s men did not qualify for the World Cup, Chinese companies have been heavily involved in helping build the stadiums



Suhail and Soraya will arrive in the Gulf state next month ahead of November’s competition.


Pandas