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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
Winners of the 2014 Zayed Future Energy Prize announced
Winners of the 2014 Zayed Future Energy Prize announced (Wam) / 20 January 2014 The Zayed Future Energy Prize honoured 9 winners for their achievements and excellence in advancing renewable energy and sustainability worldwide. General Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, reaffirmed on Monday that under the leadership of the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, sustainable development has been placed at the core of the national strategy. In the spirit of safeguarding the nation and its people, the government’s international collaborations are aimed at securing peace and prosperity for all humankind. His remarks were made at the 2014 Zayed Future Energy Prize awards ceremony, held at the Emirates Palace on Monday. Marking the sixth year, the Zayed Future Energy Prize honoured nine winners for their outstanding achievements and excellence in advancing renewable energy and sustainability worldwide. The winners, across five categories, are ABB, Abellon CleanEnergy, Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems, battery pioneer Wang Chuanfu and five high schools from around the world. General Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan emphasised that the Zayed Future Energy Prize underscores the UAE’s commitment to address the global energy and climate challenges; adding “through the Prize, we are not only recognising tremendous achievement in renewable energy and sustainability, but also funding the organisations, schools and individuals committed to sustainable development among communities around the world.” He added: “This is exactly what the Zayed Future Energy Prize set out to do through honouring the legacy that the late Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, God rest his soul, instilled in us.” The annual US$4 million prize, established by the UAE government, recognises companies, organisations, schools and individuals across the world that have made significant contributions to the future of renewable energy and sustainability. The prize is awarded in five distinct categories: Large Corporation, Lifetime Achievement, Small and Medium Enterprise (SME), Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) and the Global High Schools Prize. In his opening remarks, Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Director-General of the Zayed Future Energy Prize, welcomed General Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed al Nahyan; thanking him for his direction and support which have been “instrumental and the leading force behind its success.” “More than ever, the world needs innovators, technologies and initiatives that can address our pressing energy challenges,” said Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber. “Our wise leadership established this Prize in honour of our late founding father, Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may God rest his soul. Now in its sixth year, the Prize has created a strong group of alumni who continue to champion breakthrough ideas, technologies and programs,” added Dr Al Jaber. “The collective efforts of our winners and finalists are positively impacting communities around the world. Today, alumni of the Prize are delivering access to energy and water to millions, championing the deployment of renewable energy and are creating job and education opportunities.” The Global High Schools Prize category – in its second year – was launched to recognise and encourage young people to incorporate renewable energy and sustainability into their schools. Five schools from five regions were each awarded US$100,000 for their proposed sustainability projects. The five winners are New York-based Bronx Design & Construction Academy from the Americas region; Gheorghe Rosca Codreanu National College in Romania representing Europe; Nkhata Bay School Authority in Malawi for Africa; Kalkeri Sangeet Vidyalaya in India for the Asia region; and Tonga High School representing Oceania. “This year, we saw a record number of Global High School submissions. It is inspiring to see the youth of today participate in such large numbers. It is a strong indication of their demand for a more sustainable future,” continued Dr Al Jaber. An annual award, the prize is managed by Masdar, on behalf of the Abu Dhabi government and seeks to award achievements and innovation in the fields of renewable energy and sustainability, as well as to educate and inspire future generations. For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
Delhi CM calls protest to disrupt Republic Day
Delhi CM calls protest to disrupt Republic Day (AFP) / 20 January 2014 Arvind Kejriwal wants Delhi’s police force to come under the control of the Delhi state government instead of the central government. New Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal smiles as he sits during a protest in the streets of New Delhi on January 20, 2014. – AFP The chief minister of New Delhi, an anti-corruption campaigner who swept to power last month, declared himself an “anarchist” on Monday and called for a 10-day protest to disrupt Republic Day celebrations at the weekend. Arvind Kejriwal, a firebrand grassroots organiser, took to the streets near the site of the annual Republic Day military parade on Monday to press his demands for reforms of the police in the capital. “We have come here for auto drivers, the hawkers and everyone who have to pay bribes to the Delhi police,” he said after battling blockades to reach a spot near the presidency building. After his address, he sat on a makeshift podium surrounded by several hundred supporters of his Aam Aadmi (Common Man) Party as more than 1,000 police and several anti-riot vehicles stood by. The Republic Day celebrations, due on Sunday, are an annual celebration of India’s military might when missiles, tanks and marching soldiers parade down the main road leading to the presidency building. “Some people say that I’m an anarchist creating disorder. Yes I’m an anarchist. I agree to that!” Kejriwal shouted. “But today every home has this anarchy, it’s so expensive that people can’t make ends meet. Women are unsafe.” His party, formed little over a year ago, made sensational gains in Delhi state elections held in December and he is eyeing parliamentary polls due by May amid a nationwide surge in support for his campaign. The 45-year-old wants Delhi’s police force to come under the control of the Delhi state government instead of the central government, which runs it via the home ministry. Officers are often accused of taking bribes, failing to pursue cases or doing enough to protect women’s safety in a city still seething from the much publicised fatal gang rape of a woman just over a year ago. Last week, a 51-year-old Danish tourist was allegedly gang-raped in the capital, casting the spotlight once again on the city’s reputation for attacks on women. But the new Delhi Law Minister Somnath Bharti was accused last week of vigilantism after he went out to an area of Delhi to raid a house allegedly used for prostitution and drug dealing. Police would not follow his orders to raid the property without a warrant and Bharti was then accused of detaining four Ugandan women who said they were locked in a car and threatened by his supporters. Kejriwal has called for the police officers who refused to raid the house to be suspended and Monday’s sit-in protest had initially been called to press this demand. “I couldn’t sleep last night. All those who think their daughters, wives are not safe on Delhi streets, come and join us here,” he said Monday as supporters waved brooms, the party’s symbol. “Earlier I thought it would create problems with the Republic Day celebrations. But celebrations are meaningless if we look at the current state of affairs,” he told the crowd gathered around him. The area around the site of the Republic Day parade — the British colonial-era centre that includes the presidency, parliament and several ministries — is locked down by security forces during the celebrations. Indian Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde told reporters that protests in the area had been banned and that Kejriwal should move to a park reserved for demonstrations. “If he wants to demonstrate they should go to Jantar Mantar, that is what that place is for,” Shinde told reporters. He also ruled out transferring control of the police to the state government. “This is a special situation in Delhi, it is the national capital,” he said. “This has been a demand for many years. That isn’t possible.” Kejriwal’s call for demonstrations was heeded by several hundred, but police were stopping others from joining. Retired government official Shyam Sunder Singh, 62, said he supported the chief minister’s tactics. “Kejriwal is a true hero. He is not afraid of anyone. He can take on the high and mighty like no one else can,” he said, wearing a white Gandhi cap which has been adopted by party members. For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
