SCH dept warns against use of  OxyElite capsules

QNA/Doha


The Department of Pharmacology and Drug Control of the Supreme Council of Health (SCH) has warned against using a food supplement product called OxyElite Pro capsules made by (USP Labs) following an alert issued by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The WHO and the FDA had announced on  Sunday that USP Labs is recalling certain OxyElite Pro sports supplement products that have been linked to an outbreak of liver illnesses, and one death.
The SCH’s department has also warned against importing the product.  
The action follows a letter the FDA sent on Wednesday notifying the Dallas-based dietary supplement maker that if it did not recall the supplements voluntarily, the agency would order the company to stop distribution of the products immediately and notify other distributors and retailers to stop selling them.
“We took this step to ensure that adulterated and harmful products do not reach the American public,” FDA Deputy Commissioner Michael Taylor said.
The products covered by the recall include certain packages of OxyElite Pro Super Thermo capsules, OxyElite Pro Ultra-Intense Thermo capsules and OxyElite Super Thermo Powder. The products are sold for weight loss.

Court rejects lawsuit
filed by insurance firm


The Primary Court has rejected a lawsuit filed by an insurance company seeking a refund of QR102,000 from a car owner, local Arabic daily Arrayah has reported.
The case pertains to an accident that took place when a car driven by a citizen jumped a signal and collided with another vehicle, which left two women injured, according to the report. The car was owned by the citizen’s wife.
A fine of QR6,000 was imposed for jumping the signal and the car owner was also directed to pay QR75,000 as compensation for the injuries caused to the two women.
The insurance firm paid the compensation amount in addition to QR27,000 as the cost of repairing the damaged car. The company, however, said it had the right to claim a refund of the combined amount (QR 102,000) and alleged that the man had intentionally rammed the car into another vehicle, according to the report.
The insurance company further claimed in its lawsuit that the citizen’s wife had violated Clause 4 of the insurance policy by selling the car to her husband without notifying the firm, the report added.
Delivering its judgment, the court rejected the lawsuit filed and held that under Article 790 of the Civil Law, the insurer was obliged to pay the compensation as well as the cost of repairing the damaged car. Also, Article 805 of the same law provides that the insurer is responsible for the damages resulting from an unintentional mistake committed by the insured, according to the report.
Further, there was no concrete evidence to show that the owner of the insured car had sold it to the first defendant, the report added.

Ministry urged to speed up green belt project

The Central Municipal Council (CMC) has urged the Ministry of Municipality and Urban Planning (MMUP) to expedite completion of the green belt project and related economic, tourist, agricultural and other works, local Arabic daily Arrayah has reported.
The CMC has also called for co-ordination between the MMUP and Ministry of Environment to set up a timeframe for developing the basic pillars of the project. The project is expected to play a key role in preservation of the environment and combating desertification.
The services and utilities committee of the CMC had discussed the issue and recommended that the matter be raised with the authorities concerned for speedy execution. The council had sought the establishment of an independent authority to follow up on the execution of the green belt project, according to the report.

Shisha smoking banned in closed areas

A circular has been issued to the owners of restaurants and coffee shops in Souq Waqif, prohibiting shisha smoking in closed areas, local Arabic daily Al Arab has reported.
According to the circular, the shisha licence will be suspended for three months in case of non-compliance with this directive and for six months if the violation is repeated, the report adds.
If there is further violation of the directive, the licence will be cancelled, according to the report.

Qatar-S Africa
ties discussed

HE Minister of Public Health and Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Health, Abdulla bin Khalid al-Qahtani met his South African counterpart Aaron Motsoaledi in Doha yesterday.   
They discussed bilateral relations and the means to enhance them, particularly in the medical field.

Al-Kuwari meets
Scottish minister

The Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage Dr Hamad bin Abdul Aziz al-Kuwari yesterday met the  Scottish Minister for External Affairs and International Development Hamza Yousaf, who is visiting Doha to attend the Scottish Day which takes place in Katara.  
They discussed the events on schedule for Qatar-UK 2013.
They also discussed means to enhance ties especially in the cultural field.

UK visa procedure
discussed

HE the Assistant Foreign Minister for Services Affairs Rashid bin Khalifa al-Khalifa yesterday met the British Ambassador to Qatar Nicholas Hopton.
Discussions dealt with procedures for  Qatari nationals to obtain  visas to the United Kingdom,  and the  efforts made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the British embassy in Doha over the past months, which culminated in the measures adopted by the British government to overcome the difficulties faced by  Qataris in obtaining visas to the UK. From the  beginning of next year Qataris will be able to get  visa electronically through waiver programme, 48 hours before travel.