Tag Archives: opinion
Electric bus debuts in Abu Dhabi
Electric bus debuts in Abu Dhabi (Wam) / 24 September 2013 As part of its efforts to promote sustainable transport, the Abu Dhabi Department of Transport has commenced trial operations of its first fully electric bus, which will run on various routes in the metropolis and its suburbs over a six-month trial period. The bus is a first in the region. The Ankai-branded vehicle is a standard city bus that is fully electric, not hybrid, using a plug-in charging technology, which is the most cost-effective. The battery can reach 80 per cent of capacity within three hours and 99 per cent in four hours. Each full charge has an estimated range of 200km. Saeed Mohammed Fadel Al Hameli, Acting Director, Organisational Development Division at the department (DoT), said, “The trial operation of the electric bus is in line with the DoT’s sustainable transport strategy and aims to ascertain the total cost of ownership, gain a firsthand insight of benefits offered to service users, whilst studying and assessing the best and most efficient buses and technologies that fit with Abu Dhabi’s operating conditions and atmosphere. The bus will be subject to internal performance assessment via different routes and trip scenarios, such as city-based urban frequent start-stop profiles, and suburb profiles, before selecting the most feasible specifications. “This electric bus functions and operates like any normal bus except that it is noiseless and accelerates faster. To prepare well, four selected drivers will be trained by the manufacturer and the distributor, thereby giving us hands-on experience of its features and how the air-conditioning and other supporting systems will drain its battery.” The DoT recently concluded a feasibility five-phase study on alternative fuels. It aims to develop strategies and methods promoting a clean transportation culture, look into allocations of resources for sustainable development of transportation needs and identify strategies related to alternative fuel use. Continue reading
Anti-tobacco law to come into effect on January 21
Anti-tobacco law to come into effect on January 21 Staff Reporter / 22 September 2013 The Dubai Municipality has issued a comprehensive guide book to ensure the implementation of the executive regulations of the anti-tobacco federal law with only four months left for businesses to comply. The executive regulations were approved by His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in the Cabinet’s Resolution No.24 issued on July 21 this year, and will come into effect on January 21. In the run up to the deadline, the Dubai Municipality has begun a campaign. Assistant Director-General for Environment and Public Health and Safety Salem bin Mesmar told Khaleej Times that the civic body was “giving chance to people to know about the rules and will run campaigns to spread awareness to avoid hefty fines awaiting violators”. Cafés and sheesha joints will lose their licences if they allow customers to smoke in closed areas. “In addition, these establishments will not be permitted to open in residential areas without having a distance of 150 metres from houses, schools and mosques,” said the Head of Public Safety Section at the Public Health and Safety Department Sultan Al Suwaidi. “Smoking will not be allowed in any restaurant built in less than 1,000 square feet and it will be completely prohibited at entrances, in corridors, lifts, elevators, health facilities, entertainment or gaming areas, offices, cinema halls, meeting and conference halls, warehouses of shopping centres, canteens, places of prayer and ablution, areas of employees and rest rooms.” Smoking places in restaurants should not exceed 50 per cent of the dining area and non-smokers should not cross them. Additionally, each smoker should be given 20 square feet of space to avoid congestion. “The doors should be automatic and (the) sheesha preparing area must be separated from (the) food preparation area,” Suwaidi said. The working hours of cafés and sheesha shops will be from 10am to 12.30am. They are not allowed to sell tobacco products to those under 18 years or deliver them to unauthorised places. sajila@khaleejtimes.com Continue reading
Suicide attack on Pakistani church kills 56 people
Suicide bombers kill more than 60 at Pakistan church (AFP) / 22 September 2013 A double suicide bombing killed more than 60 people at a church service in northwest Pakistan on Sunday, officials said, believed to be the deadliest attack on Christians in the troubled country. The two bombers struck at the end of a service at All Saints Church in Peshawar, the main town of northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Doctor Mohammad Iqbal of Peshawar’s Lady Reading Hospital said that 61 people had been killed and 120 wounded. Fellow doctor Sher Ali confirmed the numbers. Sahibzada Anees , one of Peshawar’s most senior officials, told reporters the bombers struck when the service had just ended. “Most of the wounded are in critical condition,” Anees said. “We are in an area which is a target of terrorism and within that area there was a special security arrangement for the church. We are in a rescue phase and once it is over we will investigate what went wrong.” Former minister for inter-faith harmony Paul Bhatti and provincial lawmaker Fredrich Azeem Ghauri both said the attack was the deadliest ever targeting Christians in Pakistan. School teacher Nazir Khan , 50, said the service had just ended and at least 400 worshippers were greeting each other when there was a big explosion. “A huge blast threw me on the floor and as soon as I regained my senses, a second blast took place and I saw wounded people everywhere,” Khan tosaid. Grieving relatives blocked the main Grand Trunk road highway with bodies of the victims to protest against the killings, an AFP reporter said. Provincial lawmaker Ghauri said there were about 200,000 Christians in the province, of whom 70,000 lived in Peshawar. “Now after this attack Christians across Pakistan will fear for their lives,” he warned. Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif strongly condemned the bombings. “Terrorists have no religion and targeting innocent people is against the teachings of Islam and all religions,” he said in a statement. Sharif said such “cruel acts of terrorism reflect the brutality and inhumane mindset of the terrorists”. Continue reading
