Sports
Throwing light on history of Islam: The Clusters of Light
Throwing light on history of Islam: The Clusters of Light Staff Reporter / 27 February 2014 The Clusters of Light show to kick off celebration on Sharjah winning Islamic Culture Capital title Celebrating the selection of Sharjah as the Islamic Culture Capital of the Arab region 2014, the emirate is all set to host the world’s greatest oratorio about the story of Islam called ‘The Clusters of Light’. The show will be performed from March 26 to April 5 at the Dh120-million Open Majaz Island Theatre, marking the inauguration of the festivities on winning the title. Shaikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Executive Committee Chairman for the Sharjah Capital of Islamic Culture 2014 celebrations, said that five epical performances will dramatise the journey back to the times of darkness, struggle and challenges that led Muslim believers to the beginnings of Islam and tell the story of its great early accomplishments. “It will be a gift from Sharjah to the entire world that celebrates Islam and its history,” Shaikh Sultan said. “We are confident that the audience will witness a show so spectacular that it will remain in their memories forever.” He said that this ground-breaking performance is the culmination of the vision of His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, to celebrate human values of Islam. ‘The Clusters of Light’ is a monumental artistic theatrical display through which the Emirate of Sharjah seeks to provide a true picture of Islam, and its human values that promote peace and love,” he added Shaikh Sultan bin Ahmed announcing the programme. Termed as the largest theatrical and musical production ever to be made, the oratorio includes the use of a choir, soloists, an ensemble, various distinguishable characters, and arias. It was written by Saudi poet Dr Abdul Rahman Al Ashmawi, and composed by Bahraini artiste Khalid Al Sheikh. More than 200 performers from around the world will participate in this musical composition led by four Arab stars, Hussien Al Jasmi, Lotfi Bouchnak, Ali El Hajjar, and Mohammed Assaf. The oratorio will include a narration of the biography of Prophet Muhammad, Peace Be Upon Him, from his birth until his demise. A short film about the display’s production, which will include filming tours in several Arab and foreign countries, will also be shown. The Sharjah Capital of Islamic Culture 2014 celebrations include more than 24 heritage, tourism, cultural, and construction projects, as well as more than 100 activities throughout the Emirate over the year. The Open Majaz Island Theatre, the first of its kind in the region, is the official venue for the celebrations. It is a semi-circular theatre, reminiscent of ancient Roman designs, covering an area of over 7,200 square metres. It can accommodate up to 4,500. A Dh13-million bridge between the man-made island and Khalid Lagoon Street serves as an easy access for visitors to the Open Majaz Island Theatre. lily@khaleejtimes.com For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
Gas explosion near Doha shopping mall kills 4
Gas explosion near Doha shopping mall kills 9 (Reuters) / 27 February 2014 Nine people were killed when gas canisters exploded in a Turkish restaurant in the Qatari capital Doha on Thursday, the official news agency of the Gulf Arab state reported. Photo courtesy: @mariam_j_d via Twitter Thirty-two were wounded, three of them critically, the agency added. “The explosion that happened today at Istanbul restaurant next to a petrol station resulted in the death of nine people,” the agency said, citing ambulance sources. Qatar’s prime minister, Shaikh Abdullah bin Nasser al-Thani, confirmed there had been an explosion in remarks to state television. “Some deaths occurred that were announced, and there will be a press conference through the Ministry of Interior to give more information about the incident,” said Shaikh Abdullah, who is also interior minister. Asked if security regulations would be tightened up after the incident, he replied that “safety precautions are all there and the precautions for civil defence are there”. Photographs purporting to show the aftermath of the incident posted on social media showed chunks of masonry and cars apparently crumpled by the explosion lying outside the restaurant in a northwestern district of the city. A fire burned inside the building. Reuters was not immediately able to verify the images. For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
All can learn from ‘five star’ service centres: Mohammed
All can learn from ‘five star’ service centres: Mohammed (Wam) / 27 February 2014 Shaikh Mohammed unveils plaque at Ministry of Education Shaikh Mohammed unveils the ‘five-star’ plaque at the Ministry of Education office in Dubai on Wednesday as Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed and Humaid Mohammed Al Qattami look on. — Wam His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has stressed that the government service centres, which recently scored the five-star rating, are open for all to learn from their experiences since the government is one team, where all learn from each other and compete in the interest of the government. Shaikh Mohammed made the remarks while touring the service centre at the Ministry of Education in Dubai to unveil the five-star plaque attained by the centre in accordance with the results of the rating of government service centres. The event was attended by Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai. Shaikh Mohammed said the education sector deserves better services from the ministry — not less than five stars. He toured the centre, which provides 12 main government services. It handled over 11,000 transactions and received 14,000 phone calls last year. Shaikh Mohammed thanked the officials, citing their self-denial as an example. He said, “Real success lies in continuous and non-stop develop-ment and determination.” The project to evaluate the service centres launched by Shaikh Mohammed is expected to bring about a quality shift in the efficiency of government services and catapult them to the international standards. The mandatory rating process will continue until the end of this year to evaluate all customer service centres so as to assess their quick response to clients. The UAE is world’s first country to adopt the rating system of the government service centres in accordance with integrated frame-work of standards similar to those implemented at hotels, banks and aviation companies. The others present included Mohammed Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister for Cabinet Affairs; Humaid Mohammed Obaid Al Qattami, Minister of Education; Musbeh bin Rashid Al Fattan, Director of the Office of the Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai; and Khalifa Saeed Suleiman, Director-General of Protocol and Hospitality Department in Dubai. For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
