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RTA campaigns for safety during tram testing
RTA campaigns for safety during tram testing Lily B. Libo-on / 23 January 2014 Littering on the tramway line, crossing the tramway line from undesignated areas, entering a restricted area, interfering with the operation to invite fines. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is campaigning for public safety during the tram testing from January 26, until it finishes on November 10 this year. RTA, in coordination with the Dubai Police, will enforce fines in the event of an offence. The public is advised to stay alert and stay safe during the tram testing. Circumstances that call for fines are littering on the tramway line, crossing the tramway line from undesignated areas, entering a restricted area, interfering with the operation of the tramway or taking any action that would compromise the safety of the tram or the infrastructure, crossing the red light at the junction with the tramway and blocking the tramway without permission. In its brochure ‘Let’s Talk Safety, Your A-To-Z Guide to Dubai Tram Safety’, the RTA is urging everyone, especially those living near the tramway, to be aware of the signs and symbols to look out for. “The journey begins with safety,” RTA said. Among the signs the public is urged to be aware of and to follow strictly are the signs that say ‘Tram is under testing. Do not enter or use’, ‘Tram Right’, ‘Tram Only’, ‘Tram Ahead’, and ‘Tram Left’. RTA is cautioning the public, including drivers and cyclists, because Dubai Tram is sharing the road with pedestrians, motorists, and cyclists. “If trams are running through the areas where you walk, you will need to take extra care and keep a look out for these signs,” RTA said. Driving cars alongside the tram is perfectly safe, the RTA said. “But, motorists should not enter a road, lane or route reserved for trams, and should always give way to trams. Tramway at junctions is clearly marked.” lily@khaleejtimes.com fact box FOR CYCLISTS Do not cycle on the tracks as wheels may get stuck in the rail gap. Where trams run along the road, avoid following the rails to make sure they do not lead to a route reserved for the tram. Be extra careful where a track crosses the road as tram road users have their own traffic signals. When crossing the tracks, always check your surroundings and consider dismounting and crossing on foot. FOR DRIVERS You must not enter a road, lane or route reserved for trams. Always give way to trams. Be extra careful where a track crosses the road as trams have their own traffic signals and maybe permitted to move when you are not. You must not stop or park your vehicle where it would get in the way of trams or where it would force other road users to do so. Look out for pedestrians, especially children, running to catch a tram, getting off a tram or bus or crossing the road. FOR PEDESTRIANS Always cross the tracks using a pedestrian crossing and pay extra attention when the tram is approaching. Always look in both directions before crossing the tracks. Avoid using headphones or mobile phones near the tram. Tram corridor is fenced to prohibit crossing. For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
No hint of compromise in Syria peace talks
No hint of compromise in Syria peace talks (AFP) / 23 January 2014 UN leader Ban Ki-moon urged Syrian regime and opposition to finally work together at the table. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon greets UAE Foreign Minister Shaikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Montreux on Wednesday. — Reuters Syria’s peace conference moved into a second day on Thursday with the warring sides showing no willingness to compromise as global powers seek to engineer head-to-head talks on ending the bloodshed. The biggest push yet to end the conflict was marked by fiery exchanges on day one on Wednesday as the regime and the opposition clashed over President Bashar Al Assad’s fate at the UN meeting in Switzerland. Expectations are very low for a breakthrough at the conference, but diplomats believe that simply bringing the two sides together for the first time is a mark of some progress and could be an important first step. After a day of formal speeches set to be followed this week by talks involving the two sides, UN leader Ban Ki-moon urged Syria’s regime and opposition to finally work together at the table. “The world wants an urgent end to the conflict,” Ban said in a closing press conference at the talks in the Swiss town of Montreux on Wednesday. “Enough is enough, the time has to come to negotiate.” US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attend the opening speech of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon during peace talks in Montreux. AP But official statements made by the delegations gave no hint of compromise, as the two sides met on the shores of Lake Geneva for the first time since the conflict erupted in March 2011. Branding the opposition “traitors” and foreign agents, Syrian officials insisted Assad would not give up power, while the opposition said he must step down and face trial. “Assad will not go,” Syrian Information Minister Omran Al Zohbi said on the sidelines of the conference. In his speech, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Al Moallem surprised observers with a vehement attack on the opposition that went on long beyond the allotted time of less than 10 minutes, forcing Ban to repeatedly ask him to wrap it up. US Secretary of State John Kerry talks to UAE Foreign Minister Shaikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Montreux on Wednesday. — AP “They (the opposition) claim to represent the Syrian people. If you want to speak in the name of the Syrian people, you should not be traitors to the Syrian people, agents in the pay of enemies of the Syrian people,” Moallem said. Ahmad Al Jarba, the head of the opposition Syrian National Coalition, called on the regime to “immediately” sign a deal reached at the last peace conference in Geneva in 2012 setting out “the transfer of powers from Assad, including for the army and security, to a transition government”. Al Jarba said that would be “the preamble to Bashar Al Assad’s resignation and his trial alongside all the criminals of his regime”. Leading a series of sharp US accusations against the Syrian regime, Secretary of State John Kerry insisted Assad could not be part of any transitional government. “There is no way, not possible in the imagination, that the man who has led the brutal response to his own people could regain legitimacy to govern,” Kerry said. Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Al Moallem leads his delegation during a plenary session of a peace conference on Syria. – AP US officials also slammed the Syrian delegation for its incendiary remarks. “Instead of laying out a positive vision for the future of Syria that is diverse, inclusive and respectful of the rights of all, the Syrian regime chose inflammatory rhetoric,” State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said. French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius accused the regime of lowering the tone of the discussions, saying its delegation was the only one that was “deaf and blind”. “The situation is very difficult, we couldn’t expect a bed of roses,” Fabius said. At his closing press conference, Kerry said Washington was also pursuing “different avenues” to resolve the conflict alongside peace talks, including “augmented support to the opposition”. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned the talks will “not be simple, they will not be quick” but urged both sides to seize a “historic opportunity”. About 40 nations and international bodies were gathered, but no direct talks are expected until possibly Friday — when opposition and regime delegations will meet in Geneva for negotiations that officials have said could last seven to 10 days. The UN Special Representative Lakhdar Brahimi, centre, attends the start of the Syrian peace talks in Montreux, Switzerland. – AP The UN-Arab League envoy for Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, told the closing press conference he would meet on Thursday with both sides to discuss the next step in negotiations. “Tomorrow I am going to meet them separately and see how best we can move forward,” Brahimi said. “Do we go straight into one room and start discussing or do we talk a little bit more separately?… I don’t know yet.” Erupting after the regime cracked down on protests inspired by the Arab Spring, the civil war has claimed more than 130,000 lives and forced millions from the homes. Recent months have seen the conflict settle into a brutal stalemate — with the death toll rising but neither camp making decisive gains. With no one ready for serious concessions, world powers will be looking for short-term deals to keep the process moving forward, including on localised ceasefires, freer humanitarian access and prisoner exchanges. Brahimi said he “had indications” from both sides that they were willing discuss these issues. A TV grab from a United Nation’s UNTV broadcast, shows Amhad Al Jarba holding up an image of alleged opposition torture victims, during the Syrian peace talks in Montreux. AFP/UNTV Notably absent from the table was Iran, after Ban reversed a last-minute invitation when the opposition said it would boycott if Tehran took part. There were stark reminders of the conflict’s impact in the run-up to the talks, with continued fighting on the ground and new evidence in a report alleging that Assad’s forces have systematically killed and tortured 11,000 people. The opposition called at the conference for an international inquiry into the allegations. “We have to stop this spiral of violence. We do call for an international inspection to visit places of detention and see the facts of torture that our citizens face every day,” Al Jarba said. For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
Sharjah Al Jazeera Park all set for grand reopening
Sharjah Al Jazeera Park all set for grand reopening Afkar Abdullah / 23 January 2014 Al Montazah boasts of three main sections- water park, green park for picnics and events and a leisure park offering a variety of electronic games. When the erstwhile Al Jazeera Park reopens to the public in the first quarter of this year, it will feature a first-of-its-kind water theme park, an amusement park, and a park designated for picnics, walking, and other leisure activities. The project, Al Montazah, covers an area of over 126,000 square metres. Shaikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi at the Press conference held at the site of the Al Montazah project in Sharjah. — KT photos by M. Sajjad The Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) unveiled the project’s details in a press conference at the site of the Al Montazah project in the presence of Shaikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of Shurooq; Marwan bin Jassim Al Sarkal, CEO of Shurooq; Duarte Marques, founder of Amusement White Water (AWW) -— a partner and construction contractor of Al Montazah; and a number of prominent figures and media representatives. Shaikha Bodour said Shurooq works in line with the directives of His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, to develop and improve the Emirate’s economic, social, and tourist assets. She said Shurooq is currently embarking on a range of new projects to further develop tourist attractions in the Emirate. Duarte Marques thanked Shaikha Bodour and Shurooq for putting their trust in AWW and their continued support, saying, “The purpose of this joint venture is to create an amusement and water park providing world class facilities that caters to the people of Sharjah. The brief from Shurooq was that we should maintain green areas, consider the history of the old Al Jazeera Park and respect the culture and heritage of Sharjah providing families with a safe and friendly environment to enjoy. “Although we faced numerous challenges during construction as we had to take an existing park on an island and turn it into a world-class family destination, we managed to overcome all obstacles with the help of Shurooq. This is just a start and we understand that we will have to make various changes to improve our guests’ experience in Al Montazah once the park opens.” Unveiling the project’s details, Al Sarkal said, “Al Montazah, which covers an area of 126,000 square meters and is situated on an island within Khalid Lagoon, will help stimulate the tourism sector in Sharjah, and is expected to draw more than one million visitors during the first year after inauguration.” He stressed the project’s “full readiness” to receive the expected number of visitors and meet their needs, provide parking slots and transportation necessary to ensure smooth and easy access to Al Montazah. “Al Montazah has the capacity to receive around 3 million visitors a year and we expect the number of visitors will increase considerably over the next few years.” Al Montazah boasts of three main sections, the first of which is the water park covering an area of 26,000 square metres, offering a wide range of aquatic amusement games that suit all ages. Safety services will be provided with safety and rescue staff permanently on hand. The water park includes wide green spaces for holiday makers to enjoy and relax. It will also boast restaurants and other facilities. The second section is a green park for picnics and events, spread over an area of 50,000 square metres. It will include wide green spaces and venues dedicated to hosting entertainment and social events, and a number of world-class restaurants, cafes, a lake for boating, and a mosque. The third section is a leisure park that also covers an area of 50,000 square metres, offering a variety of electronic games for all ages. The leisure park will also include kart racing (Karting) for children and young people, two mini football playgrounds, special areas for sports and a venue for celebrations. Al Sarkal noted that all service-related facilities will be available for visitors, including ATMs, parking lots, a medical clinic and highly qualified rescue teams and skilled paramedics. He urged investors, who will benefit from the expected tourism growth in Sharjah, to participate in the project by leasing spaces and areas dedicated to restaurants, cafes, and kiosks. Al Montazah will be open to the public from 10am to 11pm, from Saturday to Wednesday, and from 10am to 1am on Thursday and Friday. The water park will be open from 10am to 6pm. Entry tickets to the park will be Dh10, and free for children who are less than 80cm tall, while ticket prices for some games range between Dh10-25. The entry ticket to the water park is Dh120 for adults and Dh75 for children between 80-120cm tall, and entry is free for children under 80cm. Tickets for the water park includes the entry fee to Al Montazah Park. afkarali@khaleejtimes.com For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
