Advisory council holds meeting

The Advisory Council yesterday held its regular weekly session under the Council’s Deputy Speaker HE Issa bin Rabia al-Kuwari.
The Council reviewed a draft law on the social health security system and decided to refer it to the Services and Public Utilities Committee for a report.
The Council also review the following two decree laws:
1- Decree law No 3 of 2012 on licensing the Ministry of Economy and Finance to establish two Qatari shareholder companies and to conclude agreements with them to issue Islamic bonds.
2- Decree law No 11 of 2012 on government regulation of sale and purchase of chemical and petrochemical products manufactured in Qatar.
The council decided to refer them to the Financial and Economic Affairs Committee to present a relevant report to the Council.
The Council also reviewed a draft law on the genetic fingerprint and decided to refer it to the Internal and Foreign Affairs Committee for a report thereon.

Speaker leads
team to Kuwait


HE the Speaker of the Advisory Council Mohamed bin Mubarak al-Kholeifi left Doha yesterday afternoon for Kuwait heading Qatar’s delegation to the 19th conference of the Arab Parliamentary Union, scheduled to begin today in Kuwait.
The conference agenda features several topics, including the election of president, vice-president and secretary general, the president’s report on its activity and the activity of the Executive Committee since the 18th conference.

Minister invited
to Afghan event


HE the Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz al-Kuwari received an invitation from his Afghani counterpart to participate in the ceremonies marking Afghan city of Ghazni, the Capital of Islamic Culture 2013.
The invitation was delivered yesterday by the Afghanistan’s  Charge d’Affaires in Doha Mohamed Qasim Himmet.

 

Armed Forces, QCAA in search and rescue service deal

Qatar Armed Forces general headquarters and Qatar Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA) have signed a search and rescue services agreement.
While performing search and rescue operations within Qatar’s territorial waters and high seas, both parties will abide by the requirements and the recommended standards provided by the International Civil Aviation Organisation.
This agreement could in the future be extended to encompass co-operation with neighbouring countries, in accordance with the standards and recommendations issued by the International Civil Aviation Organisation and the International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue Manual.

 

Environment is the main
theme of children’s play


Sasol, the international integrated energy and chemical company, yesterday announced it would host the Arabic play, Shoo Fi Bil Jazeerah? (What is happening on the island?), for the first time in Qatar.
The educational children’s play will be staged during the annual Qatar Petroleum (QP) Environment Fair, which will be held from April 14 to 16 at Doha Exhibition Centre.
The play, written and directed by award-winning Lebanese actor Nazih Youssef, is targeted at children aged four to 12. In line with the spirit of the fair, the play carries the message of protecting the environment by familiarising children with waste recycling and factors that contribute to pollution.
Through its narrative, the play shows that protecting the environment is a collective responsibility, regardless of age, gender or nationality.
Marjo Louw, president of Sasol Qatar, said: “In line with its corporate commitment to environmental protection, Sasol is pleased to bring this educational and entertaining play to Doha. We look forward to participating in the Environment Fair and thank HE Dr Mohamed bin Saleh al-Sada, Minister of Energy & Industry and Chairman and Managing Director of Qatar Petroleum, for his leadership on a topic of shared importance to QP and Sasol. Encouraging responsibility for the planet in children from an early age can inspire a lifetime of environmental consciousness.”
The plot of Shoo Fi Bil Jazeerah? revolves around an environmental problem on an island, which is isolated from the rest of the world. Everybody on the island has an idea on how to address the problem, but nothing seems to work. With the help of an expert, characters in the play solve the problem through recycling and make their home-island beautiful once again.
The performance combines music, dance and dialogue to tell the story in an entertaining manner for children and adults alike.
The play will be staged at 9.30am, 12noon and 6pm on April 14 and at 12noon, 4pm and 6pm on April 15 and 16 in the entertainment zone of the fair. Visitors can enjoy the play free of charge and seats will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Shoo Fi Bil Jazeerah? started its journey in Lebanon and has since been very well-received by audiences, having toured schools and theatres across the region.
Youssef has worked in cinema, comedy and drama series, historical theatres and festivals. Among his well-known and celebrated works are Madame Bambino, Ayly Aa Fard Mayli, Fady and Karin, Asr al-Hariem and Maitre Nada.
The play is the latest in a series of steps Sasol is taking in Qatar to deal with issues pertaining to the local environment and nature.
In March, Sasol Qatar signed a memorandum of understanding with NGO Friends of the Environment Centre to co-operate on the development of an e-learning smartphone application, Qatar e-Nature, which will highlight the flora, birds and insects of Qatar.
The QP Environment Fair 2013 will be held under the patronage of HE Dr al-Sada. Launched in 2004, the event sees the participation of various QP directorates and departments in addition to industry stakeholders. The fair will be open to the general public.

 Qatar-Saudi
ties reviewed

HH the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani yesterday received a phone call from Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud. The Heir Apparent and the Saudi crown prince reviewed relations between the two countries and ways of developing them, as well as several regional and international issues of common concern.

Belgian minister
meets envoy


Vice-Minister-President, Minister of Economy and Foreign Affairs of the Walloon government in Belgium Jean-Claude Marcourt met Qatar’s Ambassador to Belgium Sheikh Ali bin Jassim al-Thani. Talks during the meeting dealt with a host of issues of interest to both countries.

Related Story