Doha: Qatar University’s 40th annual graduation ceremony will take place under the patronage of the Heir Apparent H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on June 18 at Qatar National Convention Center (QNCC).
Sheikh Tamim will preside over the men’s ceremony, while H E Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani will be the guest for the women’s ceremony on June 19, at the same venue.
The graduation is an annual event which honours students who have successfully completed their undergraduate and graduate degrees. QU President Prof Sheikha Abdulla Al Misnad will attend the graduation, along with senior officials from government, public and private sector organisations, university faculty members, staff and the parents and families of graduates who are from Qatar and beyond. This year, more than 1,100 students are expected to graduate from Qatar University.
Rents become dearer, CPI figures show
DOHA: Prices rose 3.6 percent in the country year-on-year to March this year with the disturbing trend being that rents have been showing an upward curve.
Rent prices that are clubbed with energy and fuel in the consumer price index (CPI) basket, jumped 5.5 percent in a year until March 2013, official data released yesterday reflect.
CPI figures released by the national statistics agency (Qatar Statistics Authority or, QSA) suggest that food also became 2.5 percent expensive since a year earlier. Food is grouped with beverages and tobacco in the CPI basket.
QSA attributed rising food costs to escalating prices of fresh vegetables and fruits. However, the highest increase was recorded in entertainment costs — 8.7 percent year-on-year.
Furniture, textiles and home appliances became 4.8 percent costlier in a year. Yearly inflation was lower at three percent (instead of 3.6) if one excludes the impact of rent increase on prices, QSA said. Monthly price rise (a comparison between February and March 2013 prices) was marginal at 0.4 percent, although food, rent and entertainment all became costlier in that short span.
The Peninsula
