Emir receives phone call from Cyprus president

Emir receives phone call from Cyprus president HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani yesterday received a telephone call from President of Cyprus Nikos Anastasiadis. They discussed bilateral relations and means to develop them. HH the Emir also received a telephone call  from the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Discussions during the call dealt with bilateral ties, the latest developments on the Palestinian arena, and the developments of the peace process in the region. Traffic dept to issue permits to cross Abu Samra border The power to issue exit permits for vehicles to cross the Abu Samra border post has been transferred to the Ministry of Interior (MoI), local Arabic daily Arrayah has reported. The Traffic Department will exercise this authority, the ministry has announced on Twitter, adding that vehicles have to be registered in the name of the traveller and should have a valid vehicle permit (Istimara) to cross the border, the report states. If the vehicle is not owned by the traveller, then s/he has to obtain the owner’s permit from the Traffic Department through a notarised power of attorney from the competent authority, according to the report. Vehicles not registered in the name of the traveller will not be allowed to cross the border without a permit even if the ID card/passport of the owner is produced. The MoI has stressed that those wishing to cross the border in their vehicles have to comply with these procedures, the report adds. Minister meets ISESCO chief HE the Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage Dr Hamad bin Abdul Aziz al-Kuwari yesterday met Abdulaziz Othman al-Twaijri, director general of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (ISESCO)  currently on a visit to Doha.