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Dubai Car Free Day may take national stage
Dubai Car Free Day may take national stage Sajila Saseendran / 19 February 2014 The Director General of Dubai Municipality Hussain Nasser Lootah was joined by senior officials of various departments in riding the Metro from the Etisalat station to the Union station next to the municipality’s headquarters. Dubai Police Commander-in-Chief Major General Khamis Mattar Al Mazeina, Director General of Dubai Municipality Hussain Nasser Lootah with other officials. Photos by Juidin Bernarrd/Khaleej Times Dubai’s Car Free Day initiative is likely to be extended to all the emirates with the Environment Minister supporting the idea to make it a national drive. Responding to a query by Khaleej Times , Minister for Environment and Water Dr. Rashid Ahmed bin Fahad said he would support the idea of taking the initiative to the UAE level. “There are other green initiatives taking place in other emirates as well. But this is a very good initiative that encourages people to leave cars and use mass transportation to reduce environmental pollution. I support the idea to take it to the national level.” Earlier in the morning, ministers and top officials of government departments led thousands of Dubai residents in leaving their cars at home and taking public transport to work on Dubai Municipality’s fifth Car Free Day. The Director General of Dubai Municipality Hussain Nasser Lootah was joined by senior officials of various departments in riding the Metro from the Etisalat station to the Union station next to the municipality’s headquarters. Lootah said the aim of the day was to encourage people, especially those commuting between just two points — home and office — to use public transport to save the environment from pollution. ‘We want everyone to think about Dubai’s environment, the increasing number of cars, and take steps to make a difference. It’s everybody’s responsibility. We want people to move away from their iPads and other gadgets and walk. Using public transport is good not only for the environment, it is good for health also.’ CEO of Public Transport at the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) Dr. Yousif Al Ali said he would look into the possibility of making public transport free of charge on Car Free Day. ‘We have the annual Free Public Transport Day and that also aims to encourage people to use Metro and buses. The purpose is the same for this (Car Free Day) initiative also,’ he pointed out. About 65 entities from the public and private sectors took part in this year’s Car Free Day, making it the biggest green drive in the emirate. The municipality estimates about 9,000 people to have ditched their cars today, reducing more than 20 tonnes of carbon dioxide emission. The civic body has announced sport bicycles as prizes to 100 participants who registered online. Spreading the message of the initiative, 100 employees of the municipality participated in a 3.5 km bicycle rally from Deira City Centre to the DM headquarters. An exhibition of eco-friendly cars and other projects, a mime about environmental pollution by students of Our Own High School Al Warqa were among the activities organised at the municipality’s sprawling parking lot, which was closed for cars for the day. sajila@khaleejtimes.com For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
Tarun Tejpal claims innocence over rape charge
Tarun Tejpal claims innocence over rape charge (AFP) / 18 February 2014 Investigating officer Sunita Sawant filed a 2,684-page charge sheet before the court on Monday, saying there was enough evidence to prove the charges. A leading Indian editor charged with raping a colleague insisted on Tuesday he was innocent, after a court deferred his plea for bail in the case which has dominated local media. Tarun Tejpal, the founder and editor of top investigative magazine Tehelka, has been in custody since his arrest in late November over the alleged incident in a hotel lift in the southern state of Goa. On Monday Tejpal was charged with a series of offences including sexual harassment, outraging modesty and rape, in one of the highest-profile cases since India toughened its rape laws last year. “The charge sheet against me is out of political vendetta. I am innocent,” the 50-year old told reporters outside the court in Goa’s capital Panaji, after his bail hearing was deferred until March 4 and he was taken back into custody. “The truth is in the CCTV footage and it will be known to the world,” he said, dressed in a white Indian kurta (tunic) for his court appearance, at which his family members were also present. The woman, who has quit the magazine since the scandal broke and who cannot be named for legal reasons, has told police she was molested twice in the lift during a magazine-sponsored event in the state. The case made front-page news in India for days, at a time when sexual assault was under the spotlight following the fatal gang-rape of a student in Delhi in December 2012, which sparked widespread protests. The magazine has reported forcefully on gender inequality in India recently, highlighting police and judicial insensitivity to rape victims as well as the misogynistic attitudes of many Indian men. It has been accused of hypocrisy and trying to cover up a serious crime after magazine staff were sent an email saying Tejpal was stepping down for six months for “misconduct”. Police say their investigation gathered CCTV footage showing the pair entering the elevator — although there was no camera inside it — and other evidence including email and SMS exchanges between them. Investigating officer Sunita Sawant filed a 2,684-page charge sheet before the court on Monday, saying there was enough evidence to prove the charges. Police said they also sought on Monday a fast-track trial that could be completed within 60 days. For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
Fire destroys 12 warehouses in Sharjah Industrial Area
Fire destroys 12 warehouses in Sharjah Industrial Area Afkar Abdullah / 18 February 2014 Residents of nearby buildings and labour accommodations evacuated. Firefighters from Sharjah, Ajman, Dubai, and Umm Al Quwain are currently fighting massive fire erupted at 9pm at more than 12 warehouses at Sharjah Industrial Area No 13. Fire at the warehouses in the Sharjah Industrial Area 13 on Monday night. – KT photos by M. Sajjad The warehouses were storing clothes, aluminium, glass, furniture and different types of flammable materials. The flames are spreading fast and smoke billowed up the sky because of strong wind and the quantity of flammable materials kept in the warehouses. No casualties have been reported till the time of filing this report but the fire might have caused huge loss, according to a police official. The police cordoned off the area and closed the road to help the firefighters carry out their duty. The police also evacuated the tenants and workers from nearby buildings and labour accommodations for safety. A Civil Defence official said that the firefighters are trying hard to control the fire and prevent it from spreading to nearby premises and other warehouses in the same compound. A source in the civil defence team said it may take long hours to put out the fire considering the speed of the wind and the intensity of the fire. Once the fire is extinguished, experts will start cooling operations, said the source. According to an eyewitness a number of warehouses in the compound have been completely destroyed by the fire. afkarali@khaleejtimes.com For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
