The Islamic Dawah Organisation has launched 32 humanitarian projects in Gambia funded by Qatari philanthropists at a total cost of QR1.3mn.
The implementation of these projects is part of the organisation’s plans for 2016 in 42 African countries.
Director General of Qatar’s office of the organisation Shaikh Hammad Abdulqader al-Shaikh said that the projects include the construction of 26 mosques, each of which will accommodate more than 350 worshipers.
The projects also include the drilling of five water wells in the areas that suffer from water scarcity, as well as the implementation of income-generating schemes for poor families.
In a press statement, al-Shaikh said he had been briefed during his recent visit to Gambia on the needs of the poor people and he followed up the projects funded by Qatari philanthropists.
He noted that there is an urgent need to provide clean water sources, health institutions and Islamic education institutions, stressing that a lot of families in this country are in dire need of income-generating projects.
He praised the Qatari philanthropists who have donated for these projects in Gambia and other African, Arab and Islamic countries.

Official visits Gaza projects
Mohamed al-Emadi, Chairman of the National Committee for the Reconstruction of Gaza, along with his deputy Khalid al-Hardan inspected the progress of several projects funded by Qatar in the Gaza Strip. The projects are part of a grant donated by Qatar following the last war in Gaza as well as the previous grant amounting to $407mn. Al-Emadi expressed satisfaction over the progress of the projects. He visited a house built and funded by Qatar which is part of 1,000 units in Al Bashir area in Gaza City at a cost of $50mn. He also visited apartment buildings in Al Huda neighborhood east of the Gaza Strip, HH the Father Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani City project, Salahuddin and Al Rasheed streets, and Hamad Rehabilitation and Prosthetics Hospital.
Al-Emadi said 98% of the housing units have been completed. He added that Qatari projects in the Gaza Strip do not face any problems, and that the entry of construction materials from border crossings continued on a regular basis.

Emir holds phone talk with Putin
HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani held a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday.
Discussions dealt with bilateral ties and regional and international issues.

Emir meets Boeing  vice-chairman
HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani met with Boeing vice-chairman and Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and chief executive officer Raymond L Conner, who is on a visit to Qatar, at  Al Bahr Palace yesterday morning.
HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani also met with Conner. During the meeting, they reviewed a number of issues of common concern.

QC  hosts Finnish delegation
Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry (QCCI) has held a meeting with the Finnish business delegation currently visiting Doha to discuss ways to enhance co-operation between the two sides.    
Qatar Chamber board member, Mohamed bin Ahmed al-Obaidli, said that Qatar enjoys attractive business opportunities for those wishing to invest in the region, noting that Qatari businessmen are interested in exploring investment opportunities in  Finland and that they already have partnerships with the private sector there, especially in sectors such as technology and e-learning and digital industries.

Criminal caught with illicit narcotic
A Doha Criminal Court has sentenced an Eritrean man to 10 years in jail and a fine of QR200,000 for the possession of the illicit drug hashish.
Local Arabic daily Arrayah reported yesterday that the court also ordered his subsequent deportation. The case was brought to the attention of the authorities when a source reported to the Drug Prevention Department that the defendant had offered him a quantity of hashish for QR4,500.  
The source contacted the defendant for the delivery details. The defendant told him to receive the illicit drugs from a garbage bin located at a certain place and place the money into an empty packet of cigarette. At the designated time and place, the delivery took place at under the surveillance of police patrols.
As soon as the defendant picked up the money, police arrested him, searched his car and recovered the money. The narcotic involved in the transaction was 100gm of hashish.