Emir discusses Gaza situation with leaders of Yemen and Somalia
QNA/Doha
HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani held a telephone conversation with the President of Somalia Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud yesterday.
They discussed bilateral relations and regional and international topics, including the situation in the Gaza Strip.
The Emir also held a telephone conversation yesterday with Yemeni President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi, during which they discussed bilateral relations and the situation in the Gaza Strip, the brutal Israeli aggression and the overall situation in Palestine.
Norway foreign minister arriving in Doha today
Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Brende is arriving in Doha today for a two-day visit.
During the visit, the Norwegian foreign minister will meet HE the Foreign Minister Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah to discuss regional developments, particularly the situation in the Gaza Strip.
Increase in number of cases due to ‘ignorance of laws’
Ignorance of the country’s commercial and civil laws is the major reason behind the increasing number of cases filed in local courts on issues such as violations by companies, debts and bounced cheques, local Arabic daily Al Sharq reported yesterday.
Lawyers whom the daily spoke to pointed out that many companies enter the local market and start various businesses, particularly trading and contracting, with limited knowledge of the legal procedures and practices to be followed in compliance with local laws.
Further, many also start work without having sufficient legal knowledge about their rights, duties and liabilities, they add.
Lawyer Hawas al-Shemari said the largest number of cases currently being handled in Qatar’s courts are civil in nature, particularly debt default, as many take personal loans that eventually exceed their ability to pay back.
He said some even lose their jobs and are unable to pay their accumulated debts and have to face the due legal consequences.
The lawyer stressed that people, especially the young and newcomers, should be aware of the serious legal consequences of signing cheques without having adequate balance in their accounts as guarantee for their loans. This involves both a felony and a civil case.
He advised them to avoid falling victim to promises of easy procedures and loan offers, which prompt them to add to their debts, thereby decreasing the likelihood of being able to repay on time. This leads to undesired consequences.
Similarly, lawyer Mohamed Salem al-Marri said cases pertaining to civil issues and compensation are the highest in number in Qatari civil courts, especially when it comes to construction companies and defaulting on timely delivery.
He explained that because of the huge construction demands, some contracting companies accept works that exceed their ability to deliver the job on time. So, they start falling in legal trouble with their clients.
Besides, cases of fraud or exploitation of registered trademark have also started coming up in Qatari courts recently.
Lawyer Mona Ayyad said some companies rush to enter into a business in Qatar without gaining proper knowledge of the due legal practices and then fall in trouble as they violate the law due to their ignorance.
Further, cyber crimes, particularly those related to credit cards, have assumed alarming proportions and should be legally addressed, it was observed.
Meanwhile, lawyer Fawziyah al-Ubaidly stressed that divorce cases comprise the majority of personal status litigation. She said the issue needs to be addressed socially through greater awareness efforts about the importance of family life and how to resolve disputes in an amicable manner.
Umrah pilgrims urged to take health precautions
Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) has advised pilgrims travelling to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah to take precautions against infectious diseases.
Dr Saad al-Nuaimi, Senior Consultant in Emergency Medicine at HMC, said: “Respiratory illnesses including sinuses, throat, airways, and lung infections caused due to viruses, are the most common kinds of illnesses contracted during Umrah as they spread rapidly among crowds.”
“To protect against these infections, pilgrims should follow simple ‘cough hygiene’ precautions. This includes use of tissue paper when coughing or sneezing and ensuring used tissues are disposed of carefully, washing hands frequently with soap and water, and avoiding hand contact with the eyes, nose and mouth as much as possible,” he advised.
However, he recommends seeking urgent medical advice if breathing problems are experienced.
He noted that if certain precautions are taken, pilgrims can remain safe from contracting the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (Mers-CoV), a major respiratory illness of increasing concern in the region.
“The virus has been reported to spread from person to person through extended close contact, so it is advisable to avoid direct contact with people who exhibit symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, runny nose, vomiting and diarrhea,” Dr al-Nuaimi said.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that prior to travel, pilgrims should consult a healthcare provider to review the risks and determine if Umrah should be made.
Certain people might want to postpone their pilgrimage for their own safety. This included people aged above 65 years, pregnant women and children under the age of 12 years, or anyone with chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, heart, kidney, or with respiratory problems or immune deficiency.
While performing Umrah, it is important to remember that daytime temperatures can be very high, and many heat-related illnesses such as severe sunburn, dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat stroke can occur.
“To avoid such illnesses, pilgrims should ensure they remain well hydrated, drinking plenty of clean water, preferably bottled or boiled and cooled water. Other preventive steps include, applying high protection sunscreen (at least SPF 15) regularly, and carrying umbrellas to shade away sunlight.”
Student wins prize to visit Scottish varsity
The British Council has offered a Qatar-based student a chance to visit and explore the University of St Andrews in Scotland.
Thielaa Alodie Prihutama won the trip in a prize draw held at the British Council’s annual Education UK Exhibition in Doha held between March 11 and 12, 2014.
The exhibition highlighted the growing educational ties between Qatar and the UK, showcasing 21 of the leading British higher education institutions.
In April the British Council flew Alodie, a sixth former at Doha British School, to the University of St Andrews in Scotland and ranked No. 3 in the UK in the Guardian University Guide.
Alodie Prihutama said: “The Education UK Exhibition, organised by the British Council Qatar, was the perfect way for many prospective students, like myself, to get to know the potential university and its surroundings better, just as we are deciding which university to go to.”
British Council Qatar has seen an increased demand for information about studying in the UK, as the country remains a preferred destination for students from Qatar. The UK’s Higher Education Statistics Agency announced earlier this year that in 2013, 1,490 students from Qatar were studying in the UK, an increase of 16% from the previous year.
About three-quarters of those students are pursuing undergraduate degrees, and roughly one quarter is enrolled in postgraduate studies.
Martin Hope, director of the British Council Qatar, said: “We are delighted to see Qatar and the UK deepen educational ties through constant collaboration, educational exchange and knowledge sharing.”
Number of varsity students rising
In what could be seen as a positive outcome of the government’s educational initiatives, the number of students attending universities in Qatar has registered a tremendous growth over the last five years.
According to the education statistics released by the Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics (MDPS) yesterday, the number of students attending universities in the country has gone up from 13,133 in 2008-2009 to 21,128 in 2012-2013. Out of them 12,534 were Qataris.
The 2012-2013 figure also shows an increase of 3,862 students from the previous academic year of 2011-2012 which had only 17,266 students.
Among the total students, 13,452 were female and 7,676 were male. At government universities there were 14,717 students out of whom 10,421 were female and 4,296 were male.
At the government universities, there were 9,866 GCC students out of whom 9,208 were Qataris. There were 3,835 students from other Arab countries while there were 1,016 students from other countries.
The private universities accounted for 6,411 students out of whom 3,031 are female and 3,380 are male. Among them, Qatar Foundation had 2,362 students, North Atlantic College had 2,827, Stenden University had 464, Calgary University had 327 and Qatar College of Aeronautics accounted for 431 students.
In the private sector, there were 3,326 Qatari students and 3,085 non-Qatari students. Among the Qataris 1,580 were female and 1,746 were male. Among the non-Qataris, 1,451 were female while 1,634 male.
The total number of students on scholarships in Qatar and abroad was around 2,200 during the academic year. Some 54% of the students on scholarships were at universities and colleges in Qatar. However these were students who provided scholarship by the Higher Education Institute. There are a number of students in Qatar and abroad who are on scholarships from other entities.
There were a total of 1,122 graduates from the private universities during the academic year out of whom 477 were female and 645 male. Out of them, 590 were non-Qataris and 532 were Qataris.
The total administrative and teaching staff amounted to 3,000 and 47% of them were female. As for the adult education, the number of students reached 4,800.
HGH working on a watch for patients with sleep disorders
A new technology is being implemented to accurately count the number of sleeping hours in patients with sleep disorders, local Arabic daily Arrayah has reported, quoting an expert.
Dr Abdulaziz al-Hashemi, senior consultant of internal medicine and sleep disorders at Hamad General Hospital (HGH), said the sleep laboratory of HGH is working on the technology that involves fixing an advanced watch to the hand of the patient to count the sleeping hours, the report stated
He told the daily that this technology will limit the number of times one has to visit the sleep laboratory to count the sleeping hours. Many patients complain that they cannot specify their sleeping hours, which makes it difficult to study their case and decide on appropriate medication.
Dr al-Hashemi explained that sleep disorders have become a common problem due to complications in life, changing lifestyles, stress and obesity.
At present, a patient comes to the sleep laboratory and the doctor makes him/her sleep in the lab while the patient is connected with devices that help ascertain the sleeping hours needed for the patient and decide on the medication.
Further, he said the new technology will help count the sleeping hours at home and there is no need to sleep in the laboratory.
