Tag Archives: south-africa
Delhi is world’s most polluted city, shows Yale study
Delhi is world’s most polluted city, shows Yale study (Staff Report) / 29 January 2014 Delhi’s air pollution is twice that of Beijing, and the city’s air pollution levels have risen 44 per cent since last year. India is among the world’s most polluted countries, while Delhi, its capital, is the world’s most polluted city, according to the Environment Performance Index released by Yale University. India sits at the 155th spot among the 178 countries included in the study, dropping 32 places from last year’s rankings. The country is also worse than all other BRICS (Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa) nations. China ranks at 118, while South Africa is at 72. Switzerland is right at the bottom of the list at 178, indicating that it’s the least polluted country. In terms of cities, Delhi tops the list, and is followed by Beijing, Cairo, Santiago and Mexico City. Delhi’s air pollution is twice that of Beijing, and the city’s air pollution levels have risen 44 per cent since last year. Delhi, with 810 million registered vehicles, also has the highest particulate matter pollution of 2.5 levels in the world. For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
Youth have an important role to play : Shaikh Mohammed
Youth have an important role to play : Shaikh Mohammed (Wam) / 21 January 2014 Mohammed attends graduation of UAE Assessors Programme and Excellence Experts Diploma students Shaikh Mohammed, Shaikh Saif, Shaikh Mansour and Shaikh Abdullah with the graduates at the ceremony in Abu Dhabi. — Wam His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has highlighted the importance of training young Emiratis. He made the remarks while attending the graduation day of 120 graduates of the UAE Assessors Programme and Excellence Experts Diploma. Speaking to the graduates, Shaikh Mohammed said: “Our country needs your efforts to walk towards achieving the national march steadily and confidently and drawing new reality for government action and the establishment of the Future Government; our confidence in you is great as you possess all the components of success. “We are proud to develop governmental work with Emirati hands and we are doing our best to prepare Emirati people and enable them in accordance with the requirements of the next phase of national work to achieve the national vision 2021.” Also present at the ceremony held at the Presidential Palace, were Lt.-General Shaikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior; Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs; and Shaikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister, and other ministers. The Shaikh Khalifa Government Excellence Programme organised the graduation day of the first batch of Excellence Programmes: Excellence Experts Diploma for Federal Entities and the U.A.E. Assessors Programme for non-federal entities, as part of the programme’s initiatives in spreading the culture of excellence, supporting continuous learning and capacity building. For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
Now travel all over Dubai at just Dh270 per month
Now travel all over Dubai at just Dh270 per month Lily B. Libo-on / 21 January 2014 Travellers can top up their blue NoL card once on salary day with Dh270 and they can travel all over Dubai the entire month. Travelling around Dubai can sometimes be tiresome for regular travellers, who have to be out on the road early. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has introduced a solution to their travel woes in the form of a personalised blue NoL card. Travellers can now stop worrying about setting aside cash for their daily fares. In fact, they can save Dh150 per month by using this card. They just have to top up their blue NoL card once on salary day with Dh270 and they can travel all over Dubai. Similarly, students can travel all over Dubai with a personalised blue NoL card for just Dh170 a month. Emirati senior citizens are eligible for a 50 per cent discount on the card, while people with special needs can travel with it free of cost; they just need to pay Dh70 as an application fee. When travelling by the Dubai Metro, there are four tiers. The daily fare for travellers using the silver NoL card is capped at Dh14, which is applicable on all four tiers. On Tier zero (T0), less than or equal to 3km costs Dh1.80; on Tier 1 (T1) it costs Dh2.30; Tier 2 (T2) costs Dh4.10; and Tier 3 (T3) costs a maximum of Dh5.80. After they use up the maximum Dh14 daily cap, they are travelling free of charge. Blue NoL card holders have more privileges embedded in a more secure card. Louloua Yousif Al Asmakh, Deputy Director and Clearing and Settlement Manager, UAFC Department, RTA, said by just paying Dh70 as an application fee, the blue NoL card will be secured with the holder’s name, photo and signature. “If the holder loses the card, the balance of the card can be protected by calling the RTA to hold or block it so the finder cannot use it. Anyone can apply for a blue NoL card at any RTA ticket offices inside the Dubai Metro stations or through its website, www.NoL.ae.” The card will be delivered to the applicants within 10 to 14 days. Blue NoL cards come in different special designs. Applicants can choose from any of the five designs at an additional cost of Dh30. -lily@khaleejtimes.com For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
