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Authorities in Hong Kong announced the death of 44 people as a result of a fire that broke out in a residential complex in the Tai Po area north of the city.The Fire Services Department said in a press conference on Thursday that the death toll had risen from 36 to 44. Meanwhile, the police said in a brief statement that they had arrested three men suspected of involvement in manslaughter related to the fire.The fire broke out in bamboo scaffolding on several buildings within the Wang Fuk Court complex before the flames spread to other parts of the buildings. Thick columns of smoke were seen rising from at least five of the eight buildings, while ash drifted through the air. 

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has ordered an investigation into the forest fires that erupted simultaneously across several provinces last weekend.According to Algeria Press Service (APS), President Tebboune ordered, during a cabinet meeting, an investigation to determine the causes behind the concurrent outbreak of the fires, which forced dozens of families to evacuate their homes.The Algerian Civil Defense announced that the vast majority of the 55 fires recorded in recent days have been extinguished. It said that around 300 firefighters, supported by substantial equipment and two firefighting aircraft, were deployed to contain the blazes.The fires spread toward several villages in the Tipaza region, located 70 km west of Algiers, prompting authorities to shelter residents in schools and youth centers. Strong winds exceeding 60 km per hour fueled the rapid advance of the fires, which burned large areas of forests and woodland across 10 northern provinces.

A Palestinian citizen succumbed Saturday to injuries sustained from Israeli sniper fire in Gaza City. Local sources reported that Israeli snipers opened fire on the man on Friday in the Shuja'iyya neighborhood, east of Gaza City, wounding him. His death was confirmed today.This incident occurred as Israeli warplanes launched multiple airstrikes on Khan Younis in southern Gaza, demolishing homes in eastern Gaza City and Al Bureij refugee camp, in continued violations of the ceasefire agreement.Israel has repeatedly breached the ceasefire, which came into effect on Oct. 10. On Tuesday and Wednesday, Israeli forces carried out intense bombardments targeting homes and tents across the Gaza Strip, resulting in the deaths of over 100 Palestinians, including more than 46 children and 20 women.

Qatar Museums (QM) Chairperson HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad al-Thani has inaugurated the "Portals in Flux" art exhibition at the Fire Station.Running until December 31, the exhibition, which culminated the 9th Artist in Residence (AIR) Programme at the station, showcases the artworks of 15 artists, including Salha al-Subaie, Reem al-Shammari, Sarah al-Nuaimi, Ghalia al-Mahmoudi, and Lulwah al-Mughaiseeb from Qatar.The others are Alaa al-Barazi from Syria, Alexandrine Gueran from France, Surabhi Jaykhawadd from India, Khaled al-Arabi and Reham Mohammed from Sudan, Naeema al-Mujdoubah from Jordan, Nada al-Kharashi from Egypt, John Venditti from Canada, Fatima al-Siddique from Pakistan, and Natalia Mejhia from Colombia.The artworks reflect their predilections, sources of inspiration, as well as the diverse materials they leverage to implement their ideas, from a combination of multimedia that includes sound, light, colours, metals, and ceramics.Reem al-Shammari told the Qatar News Agency (QNA) that the AIR helped her promote her artistic interests, blending her expertise as a jewellery designer holding a patent for engraving the eye imprint on precious metals.She employed clay and other media, along with colours, to construct an epochal obelisk reflecting the eye imprint civilisation, drawing inspiration from the obelisk as a document in the architecture of ancient civilisationsAl-Shammari further indicated that her works are inspired by heritage themes through artistic and aesthetic approaches, integrating contemporary techniques.Fatima al-Siddique told the QNA of the AIR experience included studios that are well-retrofitted, the station's supervision, the artists' interaction with one another, and the sharing of expertise.She stated that she showcased five artworks in the exhibition, along with a mural painted on a table cover, in which she drew inspiration from her cultural heritage, represented in traditions, food culture, fashion, and colours, reshaping them across the canvases in a celebration of hues and forms within this rich cultural blend.The exhibition is part of "Evolution Nation", an 18-month campaign that pays tribute to Qatar's cultural pathway spanning the past 50 years since the inception of the National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ).

Flights have resumed at Bangladesh's main airport in Dhaka, airport officials said, six hours after a fire in the cargo section delayed flights and halted operations on Saturday.The first flight departed at 9.06pm (1506 GMT), officials told reporters.The fire has been completely brought under control, the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism said in a statement."Steps will be taken to identify the source of the fire and implement measures to prevent such incidents in the future," the ministry added.Operations at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport were suspended after the fire broke out in the cargo section of the airport, with around 37 firefighting units working to douse the flames.The army, navy, and air force also joined the fire service in efforts to bring the blaze under control.Kabir Ahmed, president of the International Air Express Association of Bangladesh, said it was too early to estimate the exact losses, but that the overall impact - direct and indirect - on imports and exports could exceed $1 billion.Both domestic and international flights were affected.An IndiGo flight from Delhi to Dhaka was diverted to Kolkata, and an Air Arabia flight from Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates was directed to Chittagong, about 250km southeast of Dhaka.This is the third major fire reported in Bangladesh this week. A fire on Tuesday at a garment factory and an adjacent chemical warehouse in Dhaka killed at least 16 people and injured others. On Thursday, another fire burned down a seven-storey garment factory building in an export processing zone in Chittagong.The interim government said all recent fires across the country are under thorough investigation, with security forces working to protect lives and property.It said any evidence of sabotage or arson would be met with a swift and decisive response and that no criminal act or provocation would be allowed to disrupt public life or the political process.

Sixteen people were killed, and several others injured in a fire that broke out at a garment factory and an adjacent chemical warehouse in northern Dhaka, Bangladesh.The fire department's director, Tajul Islam Chowdhury, said the death toll was likely to rise, and that the cause of the fire was not yet known.Chowdhury said that 16 bodies were recovered from the second and third floors of the garment factory and that the death toll is expected to rise as the search continues.Another Fire and Civil Defense official quoted eyewitnesses as saying that the fire started on the third floor of the four-story factory in the Mirpur area, north of Dhaka, before spreading to a nearby chemical warehouse.The worst fire in Bangladesh occurred in 2012 on the outskirts of Dhaka in a textile factory producing clothing for export to Western countries. At least 111 workers died and more than 200 were injured.

Blaze broke out on third floor of garment factoryFire service director says building had no fire safety planBangladesh has history of industrial disastersRescue efforts ongoing and death toll could riseA fire on Tuesday at a garment factory in Bangladesh and an adjacent chemical warehouse killed at least 16 people and injured others, and the death toll could rise, an official said.The cause of the blaze wasn't immediately known, fire service director Tajul Islam Chowdhury said."Sixteen bodies have been recovered from the second and third floors of the garment factory," he said, adding that the number of deaths could rise as recovery operations were continuing.The fire broke out at around midday on the third floor of the four-storey factory in the Mirpur area of the capital Dhaka, before spreading to a chemical warehouse storing bleaching powder, plastic and hydrogen peroxide, Talha Bin Jashim, a fire department official said, citing witnesses.Firefighters brought the factory blaze under control after nearly three hours, though the fire at the warehouse continued.Grief-stricken relatives gathered to search for their loved ones, some clutching photographs.In front of the blackened ruins, a father searched desperately for his daughter, Farzana Akhter. "My daughter worked there. When I heard about the fire, I came running. But I still haven't found her....I just want my daughter back."Chowdhury said the owners of the factory had not yet been identified. "The police and the army are trying to locate them," he said. He added that neither the garment factory nor the chemical warehouse had approval or any fire safety plan.Based on the initial findings, he said the garment factory had a tin roof with a grilled door that was kept locked. "The workers couldn't reach the upper level," he said."The chemical explosion caused a flashover that released toxic gas, leaving many unconscious and trapping them inside. They couldn't escape either upward or downward."He said the victims were so badly burned, DNA testing may be the only way to identify them.In a condolence message, Bangladesh's interim government head Muhammad Yunus expressed deep sorrow and urged authorities to investigate and support victims and families.Poor fire and building safety standards lead to dozens of such disasters in Bangladesh each year, and past accidents have tarnished the country's garments sector, which employs 4 million people and makes up more than 10% of the country's gross domestic product.In 2012, a fire at Tazreen Fashions that supplied global brands, killed 112 workers.A year later, the eight-storey Rana Plaza building collapsed, killing 1,135 garment workers and triggering a wave of public outrage around the world about the human cost of cheap clothes.

Fire Station announced the opening of two new exhibitions that mark the completion of its 2024 Al Ruwad Residency. Threads of Memory by Haifa Al Khuzaie and Between Rust and Art by Ahmed Al Hamar will showcase the unique creative visions of the two established Qatari artists, as part of Fire Station's commitment to supporting local talent across career stages. Haifa Al Khuzaie's Threads of Memory reimagines Qatari heritage through contemporary forms. Drawing on patterns from traditional jewelry, clothing, and textiles, Al Khuzaie incorporates handmade ceramics and mixed media to weave together memory, identity, and cultural continuity. Her work bridges past and present, honouring heritage while envisioning its future. Between Rust and Art by Ahmed Al Hamar explores the tension between decay and preservation by reinterpreting elements drawn from daily life into minimal artistic compositions. Al Hamar's practice is rooted in materiality, texture, and layering. By inducing rust on iron sheets and interrupting its natural process, Al Hamar creates works that transform cultural motifs into powerful reflections on memory, transformation, and reinterpretation. Launched in 2021, Al Ruwad Residency supports and fosters dialogue between Qatar-based established and emerging artists. By providing time, space, and resources, the programme reinforces Fire Station's role as a hub for artistic exchange and innovation. The residency also ensures Fire Station's continued connection to local artists and creates meaningful exchanges through mentorship. Nominated by Fire Station, Al Ruwad artists participate for up to two years, gaining access to studio space and the opportunity to engage with the wider community through public programmes such as talks and workshops.

Al Markhiya Gallery is preparing to launch a new group exhibition titled “Reshaped” at the Fire Station - Artists’ Residence, on Tuesday evening, August 26, from 7 to 9pm, with the participation of a select group of Qatari and Arab artists currently working in Qatar.The exhibition brings together the works of more than twenty-five artists.In this context, Anas Qutait, art co-ordinator of Al Markhiya Gallery, said: “Through this exhibition, we are keen to present diverse artistic experiences that reflect the richness of the Arab art scene in Qatar. We emphasise the importance of materials as a partner in the creative process. The diversity of participants and their various styles give the exhibition an aesthetic and cognitive dimension that enriches the audience’s experience and exposes them to new interpretations of contemporary art.” Qutait added that the exhibition offers the public a unique opportunity to view a wide and diverse collection of artworks that reflect the spirit of experimentation and innovation among the participating artists, where materials and styles intertwine to create an integrated sensory and intellectual experience.The exhibition also provides an opportunity for visitors to interact directly with the works and explore the way each artist approaches both materials and ideas, making each painting, sculpture, or installation a unique experience that engages the senses and provokes thought.Through this diversity, the exhibition transforms into a vibrant space for contemplation and exploration, allowing the audience to experience art from a different perspective and brings them closer to understanding the depth of the creative process and the nature of the relationship between the artists and their material.This makes “Reshaped” an important addition to the cultural and artistic scene in Doha. At its core, the exhibition presents an artistic contemplation of the relationship between material, meaning, and transformation.“Reshaped” is part of Al Markhiya Gallery’s ongoing efforts to support Arab artists and highlight their experiences, while also consolidating Doha’s position as a prominent cultural destination hosting the most prominent art events in the region.