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FRIDAY 24 APRIL 2015 • 5 Rajab 1436 • Volume 20 Number 6410 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 Diabetes tests Emir meets Erdogan, Abbott to be made mandatory Strategy to curb disease soon DOHA: With one of the highest for approval before it is ready for prevalence of diabetes, Qatar launch. plans to make tests mandatory And after a National Health for all for early detection of the Strategy 2011-16 is over, a preven- disease. tive health plan will be launched The idea is to tackle the disease whose focus will be on correcting at an early stage and take preven- food habits and fighting obesity. tive measures, a senior official of Al Thani said that the idea an apex public health authority behind holding the Arab Diabetes said here yesterday. Congress is to help improve public LEFT: Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani met with President Recep Tayyip Dr (Sheikh) Mohamed bin health services in Qatar. The treat- Erdogan of the Republic of Turkey at Yildiz Palace in Istanbul on the sidelines of the Hamad Al Thani, Director of Public ment of diabetes will be covered summit for peace held at the Congress Centre yesterday to commemorate the 100th Health at the Supreme Council of as part of the compulsory national anniversary of the Battle of Canakkale. During the meeting, the Emir and the Turkish Health (SCH), said the Council will health insurance scheme, he said. President reviewed bilateral ties and ways of enhancing them. ABOVE: Emir with soon launch a National Strategy to Diabetes is a burden on GCC curb diabetes. societies as some 20 percent of Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott in Istanbul. See also page 3 The focus of the strategy is their population suffers from type on prevention of the disease, its 2 diabetes, said the official. early detection and treatment. The complications of type 2 dia- Providing treatment of inter- betes can be successfully fought national standard with a view and the spread of the disease can to curbing the complications of be prevented. The patients can be House rents to remain high in Doha types 1 and 2 of diabetes will be provided psychological support. BY SACHIN KUMAR a key aspect of the strategy, Al Al Thani reiterated that a 2012 resulted in some of the major oil has begun to see stability in rents. space users. Hospitality sector Thani said. survey found that some 16.7 per- and gas companies putting their “The office leasing market has in Qatar will see robust growth He was speaking to report- cent of Qatari population was DOHA: House rents in Doha requirements for new residential recorded a slow start to the year, in the coming years. “According ers on the sidelines of an Arab diabetic, making Qatar one of are expected to rise over the accommodation on hold. While with few major transactions of to data from QTA (Qatar Tourism Diabetes Congress that kicked off the 10 top countries battling the next 12 -24 months despite slid- this has not had a significant note in the first three months of Authority), approvals are in place here yesterday and will continue dangerous disease due to its high ing oil prices, according a real impact on overall demand lev- 2015,” said Archer. for a further 124 hotel establish- until tomorrow. prevalence. estate consultancy firm DTZ. els, a prolonged period of lower “We estimate that there is ments in Qatar, which if realised The Congress is being held by At a panel discussion at the The rise in rents, expected to oil prices may lead to a wider currently in the region of 1.637 will increase the level of supply to the SCH in collaboration with Congress, a speaker said that be in the range of five-ten per- market reduction in demand million square metre (sq m) approximately 35,000 keys,” said Qatar Diabetes Society and its some 11 percent of the expendi- cent, will be driven by increas- overtime, easing the pressure on of purpose built office space in Archer. focus is on mulling preventive ture on healthcare was spent on ing population. supply and rental levels,” said Edd West Bay, representing approxi- “DTZ’s own research has measures against the spread of diabetes alone. The cost of treat- “We have seen a rise of five-ten Brookes, Senior Director, General mately 42 percent of all supply in identified 32 new hospitality led the disease in the Middle East. ment worked out to between percent in the last six months Manager, DTZ. Doha. A further 300,000 sq m of developments that are under The strategy is almost complete $200 and $400 per capita at the driven by rise in demand because The projection for rents by office accommodation is likely to construction and should increase and the authorities concerned at global level. of increasing population. This DTZ is only for Doha, clarified come to the market in West Bay supply in the market by approxi- the SCH are giving final touches THE PENINSULA upward pressure (on rents) the officials. DTZ expects that up and Lusail by the end of 2015, mately 10,000 keys over the next is expected to continue in the to four more residential towers which will increase vacancy lev- three years,” he said. next 12-24 months,” said Johnny at the Pearl Qatar could poten- els and ease the upward pressure The consultancy firm expects Archer, Associate Director, tially be completed and made on rents that was witnessed in retail market to see opening of 12 Consulting and Research, DTZ, available to the market in the 2014,” he said. new shopping malls by the end of Small fire at Al Dana Tower in a press conference. “We do not second quarter of 2015 — subject As new office buildings in 2019. “DTZ estimates that more DOHA: There was a small fire at Al Dana Tower located close to see relief from high rents in the to approval being received from West Bay, Al Sadd, and Lusail than 1.2 million sq m of retail the City Center early yesterday. No casualties were reported. A near term,” he added. However, the civil defence requirements — come to the market, DTZ fore- space in 12 new shopping malls comment posted on the official Twitter account of the Ministry of the firm says rents may see down- increasing supply by more than casts that higher vacancy levels is currently at various stages of Interior by noon said “Civil Defence personnel are checking safety ward pressure if oil prices remain 700 apartment units. will see rents remain at current design or construction and may and security measures at Al Dana Tower after some smoke was low for longer period. Unlike residential market, the levels, with more attractive deals be opened by 2019,” said Archer. seen billowing from there. The fire was contained and no one was “The recent fall in oil prices has commercial real estate market potentially available for larger THE PENINSULA injured,” the ministry tweet said. THE PENINSULA New strikes in Yemen despite rebel demands Drunk man jailed, fined SANA’A: Saudi-led warplanes Yassin accused Iran trying to run for abusive language launched more deadly strikes the coalition naval blockade on his in Yemen yesterday despite a country. DOHA: A criminal court has sentenced a man to a month in jail and demand by Iran-backed rebels The Saudi-led alliance says it fined him QR3,000 ($824) for using abusive language against airport for a complete halt to the raids has destroyed the Houthis’ missile security personnel and about God while in a drunken state. The man, as a condition for UN-sponsored and air capabilities, but the rebels an expatriate, had arrived by a flight on which, it seems, he got drunk. peace talks. still control Sana’a and swathes of When intercepted by airport security, he took offence and used foul The Saudi-led coalition has the country while Hadi remains language. The expatriate, a Muslim, spoke abusively about God as well declared an end to the first in self-exile in Riyadh. The rebels in an intoxicated state, reports Al Sharq. When questioned by the phase of its operations against have called for a complete halt to Public Prosecution, the convict confessed to having consumed alcohol the Houthi Shia rebels and their the raids so warring parties can on board a flight bound for Doha. The man was arrested and the pros- allies, but vowed to keep hitting return to the negotiating table. ecution charged him on two counts: Drinking and using foul language them with targeted bombing “We demand, after a complete against airport security personnel and about God, the daily said. when necessary. end to the aggression against Two days on, a new wave of Yemen and the lifting of the strikes killed at least 23 rebels as blockade, to resume political dia- Dusty weather this evening the World Health Organisation logue... under the sponsorship of said the overall death toll from the United Nations,” said spokes- DOHA: The meteorology department has warned of poor visibility fighting in Yemen since late man Mohammed Abdulsalam. due to dusty weather this evening caused by high winds. It will be March topped 1,000.