QATAR  |  Health
13 outlets shut for food safety violation
An inspection campaign carried out by Doha Municipality to ensure the safety of food items resulted in the closure of 13 violating outlets in September. Inspectors from the municipality’s Health Control Section, Municipal Control Department, conducted a total of 1,084 inspection tours at food facilities in Doha last month, the official Qatar News Agency reported yesterday. During this period, 82 violations were issued for non-compliance with health regulations and 25 for flouting the law pertaining to the regulation of human food control.
QATAR  |  Diplomacy
Intervention ‘changing equation’ of Syria war
Outside powers need to act fast to protect Syrians because foreign military backing for the government is “changing the equation” of the war, Qatar’s foreign minister said yesterday. For 14 days, a Russian-backed Syrian government offensive has been underway to capture eastern Aleppo and crush the last urban stronghold of a revolt against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad that began in 2011. Qatar’s Foreign Minister, HE Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, told a news conference in Singapore yesterday that the Friends of Syria group had since February “stopped and minimised” its supply of weapons to rebels. “On the other hand, the regime is continuing to receive supply from its allies, and that is what is changing the equation right now, and we hope that we can do something to protect them,” he said in answer to a question.