Gulf Times to launch
new business magazine
on February 26

A new business monthly from leading media house Gulf Times will update and engage Qatar’s business community in a reader-friendly manner by providing them with information that is relevant to their professional needs.
Business@Qatar, to be launched on February 26, is designed to be a well-packaged product comprising news about the Qatari and regional markets, newly launched products and services. Some of the highlights will be interviews/features on newsmakers in the field of business, updates on latest exhibitions and trade events along with reports focusing on industrialised countries that are also major trade partners of the state of Qatar.
“This new magazine will serve as a business news digest and review, highlighting important trends in industry, trade, commerce, finance and investment that the busy executive or investor is otherwise likely to miss due to their hectic daily schedules. To make the magazine more interactive and share industry or sector-specific knowledge, articles and columns from industry experts, economists and marketing professionals will be welcomed. The journal will also serve as a platform for exchange of views and sharing of expertise,” said James John, Gulf Times marketing manager.
“By launching this magazine, Gulf Times would be taking up the challenge of filling the void experienced at present by avid readers of business-related news. We believe that this can be successfully done by building a two-way information bridge between the readers and mediapersons,” he added.

Envoy visits QC projects in Yemen

QNA/Sanaa


Qatar’s Ambassador to Yemen Mohamed bin Hamad al-Fehaid al-Hajri along with Qatar Charity (QC) delegation which is currently visiting Yemen led by HE Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Jassim al-Thani paid a field visit  to the projects funded by QC in a number of Yemeni governorates.
They visited the Saudi German Hospital in Sanaa to see the progress of the Open Heart charity programme which is run by Qatar Charity.  Ambassador al-Hajri lauded the role of Qatar Charity and its projects especially in Yemen.
Qatar Charity has funded a number of projects in Yemen.

Plan to grant ranches
to Qataris who do
not own livestock

The Livestock Management Unit at the Ministry of Environment (MoE) is studying an initiative to grant ranches to Qataris who do not own livestock, local Arabic daily Arrayah reported yesterday.
The beneficiaries would have to provide the necessary livestock within a stipulated period once the property is allotted. The initiative is aimed at encouraging locals to invest in this field.
This was announced by Livestock Management unit director Farhud Hadi al-Hajiri during “My beloved country good morning,” a popular Qatar Radio programme.
The unit has got approval for some food security programmes, including some development projects that targets livestock owners.
He explained that the management was keen to enhance the qualifications and skills of its staff and provide them with adequate equipment and vehicles to effectively discharge their duties.
Al-Hajiri revealed a plan to establish a veterinary clinic at every ranch complex, which has started with a clinic at Al Wakrah ranch complex.
Regarding the availability of animal vaccines, he said that most of them are in stock and the other types would be supplied soon in collaboration with MoE and supplying companies.
Further, there is a project to maintain a mobile clinic that would be able to tour ranches to conduct the necessary tests and administer vaccinations.
Al-Hajiri pointed out that the number of cattle is rapidly increasing in the country. He also asked cattle owners to maintain proper hygiene in their ranches to avoid diseases.

NHRC chief meets
senior UN official

QNA/Doha



Secretary-General of the National Human Rights Committee Maryam bint Abdullah al-Attiyah met the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, Gabriela Knaul in Doha yesterday.
They discussed aspects of co-operation between the two sides in humanitarian fields and the mechanisms that would promote and establish a culture of human rights.

 


192 food outlets closed last year

The annual report of the health monitoring section of Doha Municipality has revealed that 192 food outlets were closed down last year for violating regulations, local Arabic daily Arrayah has reported.
According to the report, 32,000 inspections were carried out at various food establishments in Doha and 3,597 violations of Law No. 3 of 1975 were recorded.
The violations included non-compliance with health and safety norms.
A total of 5,528 tonnes of food materials were destroyed as they were found unfit for human consumption. As many as 1,363 food samples were withdrawn, of which 1,256 were deemed fit for human consumption by laboratory tests, the report states.
Seventeen samples were found unfit for human consumption and 90 did not conform to specifications, according to the report.

New sewerage pumping station

The sewerage pumping station located in north Doha and the infrastructure works related to the project will be completed in the second quarter of this year. The total cost of the station is QR1.32bn, local Arabic daily Al-Sharq has reported.
The project includes the construction of a station for treatment of sewerage water and main pumping stations to serve the suburbs of north Doha .
The main components of the project are the water pumping station and 6 remotely operated pumps each of which has a capacity to pump 1,172 litres of water per second. The project is being executed by a Japanese company.


Software update for smartphone

Nokia Middle East has rolled out the new “Lumia Black” software update for Nokia Lumia Windows Phone 8 owners in the region. The update combines a host of new features, improvements in imaging, new apps and app updates from Microsoft and Nokia to make the Lumia smartphone experience even better.
“The roll-out of the Nokia Lumia Black software update is music to the ears of Nokia Lumia smartphone owners in the region. This update will enable users to enjoy enhanced imaging experiences in addition to a fresh user experience making the Windows Phone even more fluid,” said Nokia Lower Gulf general manager Vithesh Reddy.
The Lumia Black update also brings a series of enhancements from Microsoft to Nokia Lumia smartphones. These include safe driving mode, which cuts out unnecessary distractions when users are on the road; customised ringtones for each contact.
The ‘Lumia Black’ update has begun rolling out now for Lumia 1020 and Lumia 925 smartphones, with other models in the range following shortly in the coming weeks, the handset manufacturer said.

Health centres urged to
keep suggestion registers

Several residents have urged Qatar’s public health authorities to prominently display suggestion/ complaint registers at health centres so that they can air their grievances while receiving medical attention.
They said while the services provided to patients at most public health centres are adequate, there have been cases of people feeling they need to lodge complaints.
However, they claim they are unable to do so either due to the absence of suggestions/complaints registers or boxes at the centres or their inability to find a suggestion box at an easily-accessible location.
A resident told Gulf Times he wanted to lodge a complaint against doctors at a health centre in Doha.
“I looked for a complaint box or register, but I could not find either,” he said.
He said many patients can be seen complaining among themselves that some doctors at health centres prescribe medicines even without listening to their problems carefully.
“The other day, even before I started explaining my problems to a doctor, he started writing the prescription,” he said. He added that even though he asked for a complaint register, no one was willing to listen to him.
One of the main issues many Asian expatriates face is the lack of effective communication with physicians. “While I can speak the language (Arabic) somewhat well, the physician was not willing to listen,” he said.
However, some sources claimed most health centres have suggestions/complaints boxes but that most people do not use the facility. But some others said even if there are complaint boxes they are unable to locate them.

QRC funds
treatment
of patients

The Qatari Red Crescent will sponsor the treatment of 250 patients at a cost of QR2.5mn as part of its efforts to serve the local community through its Patients Benefit Fund project.
It is one of the most important projects for helping the poor and the needy.  
The Patients Benefit Fund project aims to help those who are unable to pay for the treatment in the country. It provides medicines and health services in a manner to achieve social solidarity.
Qatar Red Crescent Secretary General Saleh bin Ali Al Mohannadi said the number of patients assisted by the Fund since April 2013 is about 250, including three cases of cochlear implants where costs of treatment were fully covered by the Fund.