in Brief in Qatar

Men using debt as excuse to avoid alimony payments
Many divorce suits in Qatar remain unsettled because the men say they are unable to pay the alimony. The usual excuse is that they have large unpaid bank loans.
An investigative report in the local Arabic daily Arrayah states that the backlog of divorce suits goes back several months and in some case several years.
It was observed that in most instances the male spouses resort to dilly dallying by either not showing up in court on the date fixed for the hearing or by requesting a postponement.
When they do finally attend proceedings they attempt to create hurdles to a final settlement. The most repeated statement is that they are not in a position to pay the alimony because of the heavy loans they have to pay back to banks. Some of them submit fictitious bank statements to prove their point. And some of them register their assets in the name of a third party to prove that they don’t have enough funds.
However the male spouses are not the only cause of these delays, says the report. Some lawyers have pointed out that the wives also create difficulties and delay the settling of their divorce suits. Many of them demand impossible amounts as alimony or ask for the allocation of a house in a particular area where it is not possible to find a house.
Dispute over custody of children is also a huge issue.
The report surmises that the children of such split parents are badly affected - psychologically and socially.

HMC hosting top medical consultants
The Hamad Medical Corporation will this month host a number of renowned international medical consultants, as part of its ongoing commitment to providing the best healthcare to the people of Qatar.
The visiting consultants will see patients and also perform surgeries.
The Surgery Department will host four surgery consultants:
•Dr Mutaz Habal from the US, plastic surgeon (craniofacial) specialist, from today until March 8
•Dr Martin Richter from Germany, plastic surgeon (hand surgery) specialist, from March 5-8
•Dr Tariq Amin from Saudi Arabia, surgical Oncology specialist, from March 6-8
•Dr Timothy Turvey from the UK, Oral and Maxillofacial specialist from March 11-15.
The Hematology and Oncology section will host Professor Stephen Mackinnon from the UK, Bone Marrow Transplant specialist, from March 7-8.
HMC Paediatric section will host Dr George Mazriegos from the US, Paediatric Organ Transplant specialist, from March 11-13.

British trade mission visiting Doha
A delegation representing 16 companies from the UK is currently visiting Qatar to promote bilateral ties and investment opportunities between the two countries.
The trade mission is being led by the Middle East Association in conjunction with the British embassy and UK Trade and Investment.
“The Trade Mission focuses upon building business links between British companies and Qatari partners, as the state prepares for mass infrastructure development in the build up to the 2022 FIFA World Cup and in accordance with the Qatar National Vision 2030,” explained a spokesperson.
The delegation will meet with organisations including the Lusail Visitors’ Centre, the Qatar Rail Company, the Public Works Authority, the new port project, the Msheireb Enrichment centre and the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee, at networking sessions hosted by the Qatar British Business Forum, the Links group and Clyde and Co.
Projects and government relations manager at the Middle East Association and leader of the delegation, Alex Lambeth said: “UK companies across a range of sectors can offer high quality products and services and are keen to build long term partnerships in Qatar,.

Karaoke evening
The Indian Cultural Centre (ICC) is arranging an ICC–VIP Karaoke Evening on March 15 at ICC Ashoka Hall at 7pm. Karaoke is an annual event on the ICC calendar, and this year VIP-Gulf Incon is joining hands with ICC to conduct the event. The programme is open to all music lovers of Indian nationality and songs can be sung in any Indian languages. There is no entry fee for participants. Registration can be made at ICC reception desk on or before March 10 before 9pm.

Mini-marathon to mark Sri Lankan I-Day
As part of the Sri Lanka’s 64th Independence Day celebrations, Lanka Lions Doha is organising a mini-marathon at the Sumaya Primary Independent school grounds on Friday, March 9, commencing at 8am.
This annual event, which is open to the community, will consist of an 8-km run for men below 39 years, a 4-km run for men above 40 years, a 2-km run for women, a 2-km run for boys 10-16 years, a 1-km run for girls 10-16 years and children below 10 years and a half-km run for children below five years.
Entry forms are available at Deluxe Travels (44412648) or can be obtained by calling Liyanage (55885142), Thakshila (55825276), Roshan (55174876) or at the venue. The main sponsor is Commercial Bank of Ceylon.

Workshop for employees
The Institute of Administrative Development in Qatar will hold four programmes and workshops this week to train employees from different ministries, government institutions and public organisations. The event to be inaugurated today, aims at developing the participants’ knowledge and capabilities, a spokesman said.