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Nawaz Sharif thanks Shaikh Khalifa for aid to Pakistan
Nawaz Sharif thanks Shaikh Khalifa for aid to Pakistan (Wam) / 1 January 2014 President meets Pakistan Prime Minister on the sidelines of his private visit to Pakistan. The President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on Tuesday met Pakistan Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on the sidelines of his private visit to Pakistan. At the beginning of the meeting, Sharif welcomed Shaikh Khalifa and his accompanying delegation and wished him a pleasant stay in his second country. Shaikh Khalifa also expressed his happiness to visit Pakistan and meeting Sharif, hailing the level of the existing relations and cooperation between the two friendly peoples. “We are looking forward to further developing the fraternal relations between the UAE and Pakistan and always strive hard to bring benefits to the people of the two countries,” Shaikh Khalifa said. On his part, Sharif underscored that Shaikh Khalifa’s visit represents the strong relations and the bonds of love between the two friendly countries. He also pointed out the excellent role being played by the UAE in provision of aid to the people of Pakistan in the form of several projects aimed at improving the level of services in various provinces of Pakistan. He affirmed that Pakistani leadership and the people appreciate the UAE, led by Shaikh Khalifa, for this kid and noble gesture. During the meeting, the two sides discussed bilateral relations and ways to bolster them for mutual benefit. They also exchanged views on a number of latest regional and international developments, in addition to other issues of mutual interest. The meeting was attended by Shaikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President’s Representative, members of the accompanying delegation of Shaikh Khalifa, a number of Shaikhs, senior officials and Essa Abdulla Albasha Al Noaimi, UAE Ambassador to Pakistan. Earlier, Shaikh Khalifa, on his arrival at Rahim Yar Khan, was received by Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif along with a number of officials in the province. Clad in traditional dresses two girls presented bouquets to Shaikh Khalifa and the arena was decorated with the flags of two countries and welcoming banners. Earlier, Shaikh Khalifa was seen off in Al Ain by His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai; General Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces; Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, a number of Shaikhs and senior officials. — Wam Continue reading
Thai govt rejects election delay despite deadly violence
Thai govt rejects election delay despite deadly violence (AFP) / 26 December 2013 Thai government rejected the proposal, saying it would not solve the bitter standoff. Anti-government protesters react to tear gas fired by riot police at a gymnasium in Bangkok, on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2013. – AP Thailand’s government Thursday rejected calls to postpone February elections after clashes between police and opposition protesters in the capital left one policeman dead and dozens wounded on both sides. The new outbreak of civil strife deepened the crisis facing Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, whose government has been shaken by weeks of mass street rallies seeking to curb her family’s political dominance. The long-running conflict broadly pits a Bangkok-based middle class and elite against rural and working-class voters loyal to Yingluck’s older brother Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted as premier by a military coup in 2006. Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets Thursday at rock-throwing demonstrators who tried to force their way into a sports stadium in the capital where election candidates were gathered to register for the February 2 polls. The protesters — who want to overthrow Yingluck’s government and install an unelected “people’s council” in its place — accuse billionaire tycoon-turned-politician Thaksin of corruption and say he controls his sister’s government from his base in Dubai. They have vowed to block the February election, saying it will only return Thaksin’s allies to power. Nearly 100 people from both sides were injured, according to the emergency services. Twenty-five police officers were hospitalised, with 10 in serious condition, according to a police spokesman. One police officer died of a gunshot wound. “Today democracy in Thailand is hijacked by violence & thuggery. Shame!” Sunai Phasuk, a senior researcher with New York-based Human Rights Watch, wrote on Twitter. As the violence escalated the Election Commission recommended the February polls be delayed indefinitely. “We cannot organise free and fair elections under the constitution in the current circumstances,” said commission member Prawit Rattanapien, who along with other vote officials had to be evacuated from the stadium by helicopter. But the government rejected the proposal, saying it would not solve the bitter standoff. “The government believes delaying an election will cause more violence,” Deputy Prime Minister Phongthep Thepkanjana said in a televised address to the nation. He noted that under the constitution, an election should normally be held no more than 60 days after the dissolution of parliament, which happened in early December. The main opposition Democrat Party — which has not won an elected majority in about two decades — has vowed to boycott the vote. Thailand has seen several bouts of political turmoil since Thaksin’s overthrow. His supporters have accused the protesters of trying to incite the military to seize power again, in a country which has seen 18 successful or attempted coups since 1932. Those wounded Thursday included one protester who was reported in serious condition with an apparent gunshot wound to his head. Two journalists, one Thai and one Japanese, were among the injured, according to the public health ministry. Security forces denied firing live rounds, saying only rubber bullets and tear gas were used against demonstrators. “Protesters are not peaceful and unarmed as they claimed,” another deputy prime minister, Surapong Tovichakchaikul, said in a televised address. “They are intimidating officials and trespassing in government buildings.” The weeks-long unrest, which has drawn tens of thousands of protesters onto the streets, has left six people dead and nearly 400 wounded. It is the worst civil strife since 2010, when more than 90 civilians were killed in a bloody military crackdown on pro-Thaksin protests under the previous government. Thaksin is adored among rural communities and the working class, particularly in the north and northeast. But he is reviled by the elite, the Bangkok middle class and many southerners, who see him as corrupt and a threat to the revered monarchy. Pro-Thaksin parties have won every election since 2001, most recently with a landslide victory under Yingluck two years ago. The protesters want loosely-defined reforms — such as an end to alleged “vote buying” — before new elections are held in around a year to 18 months. The rallies were triggered by a controversial amnesty bill, since abandoned by the ruling party, which Thaksin’s opponents feared would have allowed his return without going to jail for a corruption conviction which he says is politically motivated. The National Anti-Corruption Commission said Thursday that it would press abuse of power charges against the speakers of the two houses of parliament in relation to another controversial proposed law, to amend the make-up of the Senate. The anti-graft body said it was still considering whether to press the same charge against 381 other politicians, including Yingluck, who supported the bill. Continue reading
Al Maktoum International takes off today
Al Maktoum International takes off today Muzaffar Rizvi / 27 October 2013 Al Maktoum all set to start its quest to become the world’s busiest airport with the launch of commercial passenger operations today The stage is set for Al Maktoum International Airport at Dubai World Central (DWC), which is going to start its quest to become the world’s busiest airport with the launch of commercial passenger operations today. Hungary’s Wizz Air will kick off services at the new airport, which will be the largest in the world with five runways and a capacity for 160 million passengers and 12 million tonnes of cargo upon completion by 2020. Initially, the airport will be handling seven million passengers annually. Al Maktoum International, the UAE’s newest gateway, is part of a $132 billion DWC project, which comprises a 140sqkm multi-phase development of six clustered zones that includes Dubai Logistics City, Commercial City, Residential City, Aviation City and Golf City. Strategically located in the vicinity of the Jebel Ali Port and Free Zone, the development is the region’s first integrated, multi-modal transportation platform connecting air, sea and land, and will serve the region as an “international business hub” for decades to come. Once completed, the development will have up to four passenger terminals and five parallel runways, each 4.5 kilometres long. The airport’s first phase includes a single A380-compatible runway and 64 remote aircraft stands and is ready to offer airlines a complete new catchment area. The authorities are working hard to reinvent the airport experience at DWC with the launch of innovative services to cut short the journey time by reducing checks at the airport through state-of-the-art automated systems. Passengers may be able to get their security status predetermined before leaving for the airport by checking in from their home or office. “DWC is Dubai’s airport of the future and a fundamental element of our master plan, which is being designed to accommodate the tremendous passenger growth being projected until 2040 and beyond,” Dubai Airports chief executive officer Paul Griffiths said in a recent statement to Khaleej Times . Dubai Airports, which owns and manages the operations of Dubai International and Al Maktoum International, launched general aviation operations at DWC on April 28, 2011. The new 220sqkm airport has been handling cargo flights since June 2010 and has quickly established itself as an emerging cargo airport in the region with 36 airlines. It handled 219,092 tonnes of air freight during its second full calendar year of operations in 2012, reflecting an increase of 144 per cent over 2011. Following the approval from the General Civil Aviation Authority to begin receiving passengers today, Dubai Airports conducted an extensive operational trial to test the readiness of the passenger terminal building at Al Maktoum International earlier this month. Dubai Airports has so far confirmed memoranda of understanding with four airlines, three of which have identified operational start dates. As Wizz Air is all set to launch its operations from the new airport today, Kuwait’s Jazeera Airways and Bahrain’s Gulf Air will start serving the new facility on October 31 and December 8, respectively. Saudi Arabian low-cost airline nasair currently is the only airline that signed an MoU to serve Al Maktoum International, but is so far unable to identify the suitable time frame to launch its operation from the new facility. Wizz Air, which provides low-cost air transport across 30 countries with 16 bases across Europe, will provide non-stop services linking DWC to Central and Eastern Europe effective today. The airline has a fleet of 40 Airbus A320 aircraft operating over 1,500 weekly flights to 93 destinations. It is also planning to use Al Maktoum International as a base to further launch its operations to connect India and Pakistan to various destination in Europe. Jazeera Airways will start serving the new facility with two weekly flights starting October 31. Jazeera Airways serves 19 popular destinations in the Middle East from Kuwait. “We firmly believe that Al Maktoum International Airport has a strong potential and one day it will become one of the largest airports in the whole region. That’s why Jazeera Airways decided to be there first to operate flights to it,” Jazeera Airways Group chairman Marwan Boodai told Khaleej Times. Gulf Air, which commenced operations in 1950, plans to operate a daily service linking DWC to its home base in Bahrain. The airline already operates 51 flights per week into Dubai International and is quite confident of attracting more leisure and business travellers through Al Maktoum International. Bahrain’s flag carrier is a major international carrier serving 32 cities in 21 countries, spanning three continents. The airline operates one of the largest networks in the Middle East, with double-daily flights to over 10 regional capitals from its hub at Bahrain International Airport. Gulf Air serves all its destinations with a combination wide- and narrow-body fleet totalling 26 modern aircraft. “We are delighted to be the first full-service carrier operating to Al Maktoum International at Dubai World Central. The airport’s close proximity to the holiday, residential and business developments of Arabian Ranches, Dubai Marina, Dubai Media City and Palm Jumeirah make it an attractive, alternative and time-saving travel proposition for passengers located in or travelling to these areas,” said Maher Salman Al Musallam, acting chief executive officer of Gulf Air. Emirates airline may begin its service to Al Maktoum International in the mid-2020s, while Emirates SkyCargo’s new terminal at the new facility is expected to start operations in April 2014. According to aviation circles, more international and regional airlines are in discussions with Dubai Airports to start or shift their operations to the new facility in the near future. They say existing airlines operating to and from Dubai International are expected to start using the new facility in mid-2014 when its runway will undergo extensive works next year. The airport is undergoing a big expansion to increase its capacity to 100 million by 2020. “Al Maktoum will be a more busy facility in 2014 as many airlines may be temporarily shifting their operations to the new airport because of scheduled runway maintenance work at Dubai International,” according to an analyst. Airlines may be forced to reschedule their flight plans during an 80-day period of runway maintenance work starting on May 1. The renovation of two existing runways at Dubai International will hit airlines and they may redirect their flights to Al Maktoum International that will open a new window of opportunity for them. “With the current airport due to have extensive runway work next year, many airlines will look to see how the opening days and weeks of DWC fairs, so they can gauge whether it’s worthwhile temporarily or permanently moving operations there to take advantage of the new capacity at the airport,” Saj Ahmad, chief analyst at StrategicAero Research, told Khaleej Times. Ahmad said the opening of Al Maktoum International Airport paves the way for a decade or more of intense expansion and development at DWC, allowing extra flights, capacity and flight options for Dubai and its international passengers. “As a grand vision, airports being built on this scale are few and far between — and with Dubai World Central already operating an extensive freighter-based service for cargo airlines, the airport opening up to passenger flights will mean an additional gateway for passengers,” he said. Another analyst says Dubai is expected to be handling 260 million passengers annually by 2020 in case authorities decide to sustain operations at both Dubai International and Al Maktoum International in the wake of a successful bid for World Expo 2020. With a view of handling some 160 million passengers, Ahmad said Al Maktoum International Airport’s opening could not have come at a better time for Dubai. “The airport is also the permanent new home to the Dubai Air Show, which opens in a few weeks too — this is a great platform for Dubai and the UAE and it’s clear that the allure of Dubai and its travel options will only get more robust because of this new infrastructure,” he said. — muzaffarrizvi@khaleejtimes.com Continue reading
