City Center fire caused by human error: probe report
An investigation by the General Directorate of Civil Defence yesterday established that a minor fire at City Center-Doha on Tuesday was caused by human error.
“The fire was not caused by an equipment failure, and all systems in City Center worked successfully,” the mal authorities said in a statement.
Early evidence suggested that the fire was caused by an electrical wiring fault, as reported yesterday. But a more detailed investigation by Civil Defence has shown that the cause of the fire was a cigarette smoked by an employee of one of City Center’s tenants, though smoking inside the mall is forbidden. The cigarette was not extinguished properly.
City Center’s own fire alarm systems detected the fire, which was small, and the mall’s fire crew quickly put the blaze out. Nobody was hurt.
“City Center gives the highest priority to maintenance and safety and will continue to do so,” the statement added.
Jordan reiterates support for Qatar World Cup
Minister of Labour, Tourism and Antiquities Dr Nidal Mardi Qatamin yesterday met in Amman Qatar’s Ambassador Zayed bin Said al-Khayareen.
During the meeting, Qatamin reiterated his country’s support for Qatar to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup as an Arab country embraces a global event of this magnitude for the first time.
ICBF to hold elections tomorrow
Indian Community Benevolent Forum (ICBF) will elect its president and other office bearers for the new term at Indian Cultural Centre from 6pm to 9pm tomorrow.
Arvind Patil, Habibun Nabi and Clarence Joseph are in the race for the post of the president. Besides, the forum also will elect another seven members to the management committee including a woman. ICBF help desks in Dukhan, Al Khor and Mesaieed will have representatives in the committee.
Prior to the elections, there will be a meeting of the present managing council from 4.30 to 5.30pm. Outgoing president, Kareem Abdulla said that all the necessary arrangements have been made for the election. For the first time in the forum’s history, electronic voting machine will be used for voting.
Another five members to the managing committee will be nominated by the Indian ambassador. ICBF has a total of 1,724 members. Results will be announced soon after the elections as the voting takes place electronically.
Abdulla said: “The past two years have been highly eventful and witnessed maximum number of programmes and schemes to benefit workers and children. Routine functions continued smoothly with the same enthusiasm as in previous years with the full co-operation of all local socio-cultural organisations involved.”
According to Abdulla, the organisation held several medical camps that benefited low-income Indians and workers from many nationalities.
The organisation received donations worth QR134,275 in 2013 and QR113,450 in 2014.
ICBF also provided air ticket, financial and medical assistance to a large number of Indians during the last two years. It also carried out several welfare work for the community members with help from the embassy.
Qatar’s capacity to bridge
differences highlighted
QNA/New York
HE the Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage Dr Hamad bin Abdul Aziz al-Kuwari has highlighted Qatar’s capacity to bridge differences no matter what the circumstances and obstacles are.
Dr al-Kuwari’s remarks came during his address to the second committee of the 69th United Nations General Assembly yesterday.
He said HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani has devoted his efforts and the country’s support to help the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) succeed, adding that the Doha mandate and Doha Manar, which resulted from UNCTAD XIII in Doha, constitute a guide for the organisation.
He said UNCTAD XIII proved that even in hard times an agreement could be reached and a gap could be bridged.
HE the minister touched on Qatar’s hosting of the 38th session of the World Heritage Committee in June under the presidency of HE Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad al-Thani.
FM receives
phone call from
John Kerry
HE the Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah received a telephone call from US Secretary of State John Kerry yesterday. They exchanged views on issues of common interest, and discussed the latest developments in the region.
Qatar-Tunisia
defence ties
reviewed
HE the Minister of State for Defence Affairs Major General Hamad bin Ali al-Attiyah met Tunisian Minister of National Defence, Ghazi Jeribi, in Tunis yesterday. Bilateral relations, especially in the defence sector were discussed.
Minister meets
German envoy
HE the Minister of Administrative Development Dr Issa Saad al-Jafali al-Nuaimi met German Ambassador to Qatar Angelica Sturz Chakaraja and the GCC regional director of the German Foundation for International Legal Co-operation Walter Vehlngr and their accompanying delegation in Doha yesterday.
