Independence Day greetings sent
HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, HH the Deputy Emir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani and HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani have sent cables of congratulations to President of Finland Sauli Niinistoon on the anniversary of his country’s Independence Day.

Algerian minister in Doha talks
HE the Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage, Dr Hamad bin Abdul Aziz al-Kawari met the visiting Algerian Minister of Culture Azzedine Mihoubi in Doha yesterday.
The Algerian minister is in Qatar to  participate in the Doha International Book Fair.  
Azzedine Mihoubi will deliver a lecture on the role of culture as a tool for dialogue between peoples on the sidelines of the exhibition.  The Algerian minister and Minister al-Kuwari discussed prospects of co-operation between the two countries in cultural fields and ways of enhancing them.

Qatar-Sudan ties discussed
Sudanese Minister for Higher Education and Scientific Research, Dr Sumaya Mohammed Ahmed Abu Kashawa met Qatar’s ambassador to Sudan Rashid Abdulrahman al-Nuaimi in Khartoum yesterday.
 They discussed bilateral relations between the two countries, ways of enhancing them, prospects of co-operation and matters of common concern.

Ministry recalls Honda motorcycles
The Ministry of Economy and Commerce has announced the recall of 2014-15 Honda 15MY CBR600RR, 14MY CTX700DE and 14MY NC750SE and XE motorcycles due to faulty starter magnetic switch assembly.
The recall is being carried out in collaboration with Domasco, the dealer of Honda motorbikes in Qatar.
The recall campaign falls within the framework of the MEC’s ongoing efforts to protect consumers and ensure that automobile dealers follow up on vehicle defects and repair them.

Expo centre introduces parking fee
Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre (DECC), which recently opened for business, has started charging for parking, the management announced.
The parking fee is QR5 for the first two hours, followed by QR5 per hour for the next three hours and QAR 10 per hour thereafter to a maximum of QR150 for short term parking. Lost tickets will be charged at QR150.
DECC, which has a total of 2,800 parking spaces, is also offering a number of parking spaces that can be rented by individuals, corporates and local government departments on a monthly or long term basis. The availability of such parking spaces is very limited and will be assigned on a first come first serve basis.
“As a paid-for service we are now able to provide a far more enhanced and consistent service with round the clock security, a climate controlled environment, as well as a convenient and cost effective parking solution for everyone,” the DECC management added.

Specified time-frame
The Logistics Committee at the Ministry of Economy and Commerce (MEC) has agreed with the investors to follow a specified time-frame so that new the logistics area can start operating by mid-2018.
The committee will sign long-term lease contracts with the winning investors before February 2016.
The land will be handed over to the investors to start the construction process by February 2017.
The investors have to finalise the process of procuring licences for construction before January 2017 and start the construction by February that year.

Qatar-Pakistan ties reviewed
Chief Minister of Sindh province of Pakistan Syed Qaim Ali Shah has met Qatar’s Consul General in Karachi Saad bin Abdullah al-Mahmoud.
During the meeting, they discussed bilateral relations and ways of enhancing them, in addition to issues of common concern.