Four deaths have been reported among the obesity surgery cases abroad, Dr Mohamed Jahham al-Kuwari, senior consultant at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), has said, local daily Al Watan reported.
It is also reported that the number of deaths is increasing from the same type of surgery in a particular medical centre in a country of the region.
According to him, the number of people who had undergone this surgery in Hamad General Hospital has reached 2,991 and while number for Al Wakra Hospital is 400.
“As many as 80% of the patients have discontinued medication after the surgeries. Obesity surgery has specific procedures and requires the patients to be committed to the medical instructions,” Dr al-Kuwari added.

Pearl diving contest
Katara - the Cultural Village has started receiving applications for registration of the fourth pearl diving and fishing competition - Senyar.
Registration will be open until April 1, and applicants can contact Katara beach management at 44081011 or 33913104 or through the website www.katara.net. The competition will be launched on April 22.


Qatar, UK discuss bilateral relations
Qatar’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom Yousef bin Ali al-Khater met  the Chairman of British Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs Richard Ottaway, at the embassy yesterday.
They reviewed bilateral relations and discussed issues of common concern.

Punjab CM meets Qatari envoy
Chief Minister of Pakistan’s Punjab province Shahbaz Sharif yesterday met Qatar’s Ambassador to the Pakistan Saqr bin Mubarak al-Mansouri.   During the meeting, they discussed bilateral relations and ways of enhancing them in all fields.

Case registered against illegal crushing unit
The Ministry of Environment has registered a case against an illegal crushing unit in the Al Shamal area. The case has since then been moved by the authorities to a prosecutor’s court, Al Rayyah newspaper has reported.
The newspaper has said the ministry has launched a campaign against the crushing units along the Al Shamal Road and it was found that many were violating the country’s environment laws and causing considerable dust and emissions and damaging the environment.
In the Al Mazrooire area, the Unit of Environment Patrols discovered an illegal crushing unit which caused dust and emissions owing to the alleged neglect of its workers.
The workers did not spread water as stipulated by the country’s laws and it resulted in dust surfacing from the heaps of sand, it reported.
The newspaper said it had warned the public of the damaging effects of illegal crushing and quarrying in residential areas a few days before. It had also reported about the risks of the residents, especially children and elderly persons suffering from asthma and allergy owing to such dusts and emissions.
It said a number of nationals had come out openly against the risks of environment contamination and health risks resulting from such illegal crushers which operate round the clock. They had also come out against the problems faced by motorists on account of such illegal crushing activities.

55 new public gardens, parks to be set up in Qatar
A total of 55 new public gardens and parks are to be established at various locations across Qatar, Mohamed Ali al-Khouri, director of Public Parks Department at the Ministry of Municipality and Urban Planning has said.
He told Qatar News Agency that the development of public gardens and parks and their facilities are under a process of constant development and renovation. Last year saw the opening of 15 public gardens and parks.
Two more are expected to be opened within the next few months at Umm Salal and Al Wakrah.
Inadequate lighting and insufficient play areas for children at some gardens and parks around the country would be resolved very soon, the official said. The department is working closely with the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology to provide free Wi-Fi services at all the public parks and gardens in the country.

Foreign Minister meets Senegalese counterpart
HE the Foreign Minister Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah yesterday met Senegalese Minister of Foreign Affairs Mankeur Ndiaye, within the framework of the second meeting of the Joint Higher Committee between the governments of Qatar and Senegal.
They reviewed bilateral relations, and discussed ways of co-operation in various fields as well as issues of common concern.
On the sidelines of the meeting, several agreements between the two countries were signed.

Defence Minister attends  Aselsan event in Turkey
HE the Minister of State for Defence Affairs Major General Hamad bin Ali al-Attiyah yesterday attended the function hosted by the Turkish defence company Aselsan marking its 40th anniversary.
The minister attended the function, which was opened by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on the invitation of the Turkish Minister of National Defence Ismet Yilmaz.

US military team visits staff college
A delegation of commanders and officers from the US Air War College has visited the Joaan Bin Jassim Joint Command and Staff College as part of its current visit to the country. The visiting delegation was briefed about the college’s vision, objectives and its military and academic curriculum, as well as the Joint Command and Staff course. Educational, military and academic areas as well as ways of developing the relations between the two colleges were reviewed.