Entertainment
Enjoy boating, kart racing at Al Montazah Park
Enjoy boating, kart racing at Al Montazah Park Afkar Abdullah (afkarali@khaleejtimes.com) / 2 March 2014 Spreading over 126,000 square metres, Al Montazah Park boasts three main sections comprising a first-of-its-kind water park in Sharjah that will cover 26,000 square metres, a 50,000 square metre green park and a 50,000 square metre leisure park. An overview of the Al Montazah Park.- Supplied photo The trial opening of Al Montazah Park, previously known as Al Jazeera Park, took place on Sunday in the run up to its grand opening on March 13. Spreading over 126,000 square metres, Al Montazah Park boasts three main sections comprising a first-of-its-kind water park in Sharjah that will cover 26,000 square metres, a 50,000 square metre green park and a 50,000 square metre leisure park. The water park offers world-class facilities and water rides for all ages along with green areas for picnics. In addition to its modern design, the water park offers safety and protection services, along with lifeguards. The green park section will include green picnic areas and a venue dedicated to host events as well as a number of world-class restaurants, cafes, a lake for boating, and a mosque. The third part of the park called leisure park will entertain video game lovers with a variety of electronic games for all ages, along with a kart racing track for adults and children, and two mini football pitches. The trial opening of Al Montazah Park aims at ensuring that safety and security standards are in place, so visitors can enjoy quality services safely throughout the week. Marwan bin Jassim Al Sarkal, CEO of Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), developers of the project, said: “The opening of Al Montazah is a new addition to tourism in Sharjah and the UAE, a move that will contribute to increasing the flow of tourists into the emirate, particularly family tourism. “Sharjah has firmly established itself as family tourism region, due to its excellent attractions and tourist landmarks offering diverse options for visitors, to share and enjoy precious time with family, friends, and loved ones in a safe and beautiful atmosphere. He added: “The management has begun the trial operation of the project which will be open to the public within two weeks.” He pointed out that Al Montazah will receive a limited number of visitors during the trial operation so as to allow the project’s management to monitor the efficiency and quality of facilities and services, as well as to listen to visitors’ comments, before the official opening. Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Director-General, Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA), has welcomed the initiation of several new tourism projects in Sharjah including the Al Montazah Park developed by Shurooq at a cost of Dh100 million. The strategic location of Al Montazah Park (in the heart of Sharjah) on the edge of the Khalid Lagoon and with its capacity to receive around three million visitors a year, the latest addition to Sharjah’s skyline will help attract more visitors to the emirate from across the UAE and the region, Al Midfa said. Shurooq is currently undertaking the development and management of other tourist, leisure and family entertaining facilities in Sharjah, most notably Al Qasba, Al Majaz Waterfront and the Flag Island. It is currently embarking on a range of new projects, including the Heart of Sharjah, Al Jabal Resort, The Chedi Khorfakkan and the Kalba Ecotourism project. For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
RTA gears up for extensive events in Gulf Traffic Week
RTA gears up for extensive events in Gulf Traffic Week (Wam) / 2 March 2014 Maitha bin Udai, CEO of Traffic and Roads Agency at the RTA, underscored the importance of the traffic event which will run from March 9 to 14 and has prompted traffic sectors to showcase their best services to road users, along with their efforts to upgrade traffic movement-related systems and procedures and improving traffic safety levels. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has geared up for the upcoming unified GCC Traffic Week 2014, which will be widely participated in by the Ministry of Interior and Traffic Directorates’ departments across the GCC. Maitha bin Udai, CEO of Traffic and Roads Agency at the RTA, underscored the importance of the traffic event which will run from March 9 to 14 and has prompted traffic sectors to showcase their best services to road users, along with their efforts to upgrade traffic movement-related systems and procedures and improving traffic safety levels. “We have started our preparations for the Gulf Traffic Week by designing a programme targeting most community segments in the Emirate of Dubai. We have strived to diversify the means of communication with the public via awareness flashes in cinemas, cash counters in retail cooperative societies, shopping centres and RTA’s e-messaging signs. We have also worked on organising extensive awareness events targeting families in hospitals and medical centres, RTA’s public bus drivers, and youths in some sports clubs in collaboration with the Dubai Sports Council,” she said. Maitha added, “The Agency will also distribute child car seats in some new ‘mums-oriented’ events, in collaboration with the Dubai Health Authority and as part of ‘Generations Safety is Shared Responsibility’ initiative.” She called on community members to cooperate for the success of Gulf Traffic Week events through their participation, besides cooperating with the traffic enforcement personnel, and to continuously observe proper traffic behaviour. For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
Russia launches media war over Ukraine action
Russia launches media war over Ukraine action (AFP) / 2 March 2014 State media controlled by the Kremlin launched a full-scale propaganda operation with footage aimed at discrediting the new Kiev authorities and rousing anger at alleged outrages perpetrated against the Russian-speaking population. Taisia Bullard, who was born in central Ukraine, holds a protest banner in front in the Russian embassy in Washington.- AP Russian state media and ruling party officials on Sunday warned of armed marauders in Ukraine and urged the public to stand firmly behind President Vladimir Putin on possible military action. State media controlled by the Kremlin launched a full-scale propaganda operation with footage aimed at discrediting the new Kiev authorities and rousing anger at alleged outrages perpetrated against the Russian-speaking population. Fanning suspicions of international involvement in the Kiev protests, news channel Russia 24 aired an apparent confession from a young Russian who claimed he was paid to serve as a sniper with opposition forces. “There are mercenaries there… they come from very different countries: the United States and Germany, they come wearing identical military uniforms,” he alleged. He said he feared violent reprisals for his revelations, alleging that the protest leaders in Kiev would “just put people in a cellar and kill them”. Named only as Vladislav, he was filmed being grilled by investigators after being detained in the Bryansk region bordering Ukraine. A Russia 24 anchor added a warning that “mercenaries are now going to Crimea. Their aims are clear enough: to provoke a new wave of the crisis and rob people on the sly”. The same channel interviewed the governor of the Belgorod region bordering Ukraine, Yevgeny Savchenko, who warned that “crowds of armed people” were on the move and on Saturday tried to block a highway to Crimea. Meanwhile top lawmakers spoke out reassuringly on the situation, stressing a mood of national unity. “The situation in Ukraine consolidates all Russian civil society,” said United Russia lawmaker Leonid Slutsky, who heads the lower house’s committee on links with ex-Soviet states. “Everyone is unambiguously in support of protecting our people in Ukraine, so as not to allow Russian language and Russians to be pushed out of Ukraine,” he said, cited by RIA Novosti news agency. Ruling party United Russia invited Russians to march in central Moscow on Sunday, calling Ukraine’s people a “brother” nation that “needs our protection and support”. The march, hastily organised and sanctioned by city authorities, was set to start at 1300 GMT at Pushkin Square and cover a route across central Moscow. United Russia warned that ethnic Russians in Ukraine were “suffering persecution and violence because they speak Russian, remain friendly towards Russia and do not recognise the nationalist Bandera supporters who have seized power”. For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
