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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
Work starts on iconic Dh30 billion MBR City
Work starts on iconic Dh30 billion MBR City Issac John / 29 January 2014 Shaikh Mohammed inaugurates facilities at District One of the futuristic MBR City; 65% of land area to be made up of parks and waterways. Mohammed Bin Rashid (MBR) City, Dubai’s Dh30 billion iconic destination community project, marked the initial phase of its development on Tuesday with the formal opening of a Sales Studio and Model Villas. Shaikh Mohammed and senior officials at the launch of District One of the futuristic MBR City on Tuesday. — Wam His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, inaugurated the facilities at District One of the futuristic MBR City. Shaikh Mohammed unveiled commemorative plaque of the breathtaking urban, mixed-use, leisure and sports development which spans more than 54 million square feet of freehold land adjacent to Meydan City and four kilometres away from Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest structure. District One alone stretches across four million square feet of prime land. The lifestyle destination, comprising 1,500 luxury villas, leisure and retail attraction points, is jointly developed by Meydan Group and renowned India-based developer Sobha Group. Shaikh Mohammed viewed the mega model of the development at the Sales Studio where he was briefed by Saeed Humaid Al Tayer, Meydan Group Chairman and CEO about the mega project set for completion by 2018-2019. Al Tayer said the integrated cityscape of upscale residential communities would feature open and green space of city parkland, waterways, woodlands, water park, the largest crystal lagoon body of water in the world with 7km of stunning lagoons and 14km man-made beaches, alongside retail zones, leisure and sports attractions. Al Tayer said this unique green heart for Dubai would be surrounded by 1,500 premium luxury villas — to be delivered in four phases before Dubai Expo 2020 — “creating without question one of the lowest-density residential environments in any major international city”. Sobha Group’s Chairman PNC Menon said each of the four phases would deliver 375 villas. The first phase will feature a water lagoon and park beside the show village featuring model villas that will serve as a prototype for the residential area. About 65 per cent of the project’s land area will be made up of parks and waterways to give the project a spectacular appeal. Sobha Group, which has been developing and constructing lifestyle destinations, together with Meydan, aims to develop MBR City — District One, into one of the world’s prime residential locations. The project promises to deliver a new, vibrant ‘green’ heart for Dubai, said Menon. After the inauguration of the sales centre, Shaikh Mohammed toured the development and viewed designs of modern Arabic, Mediterranean, contemporary types of four to eight bedroom villas. Shaikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of Emirates airline and Group, and a number of senior officials, heads of Dubai government departments and members of Sobha team headed by Menon. issacjohn@khaleejtimes.com For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
Sharjah Light Festival to use latest technology
Sharjah Light Festival to use latest technology Lily B. Libo-on / 29 January 2014 Nine-day Sharjah Light Festival will run from February 6 to 12 in 12 locations across the emirate. The beauty of Sharjah’s architectural grandeur, monuments and heritage will again be in the limelight — literally — at the nine-day Sharjah Light Festival (SLF), which will run from February 6 to 12 in 12 locations across the emirate. For nine nights, from 7pm to 11pm on weekdays and until midnight on weekends, Sharjah’s popular landmarks and tourist sites will be seen in a new light with specially designed shows using latest techniques in lighting, graphics and 3-D technology. It will be an experience that will take the spectators to a magical world of fantasy and creativity. Mohammed Ali Al Noman with SCTDA director-general Khalid Jasim Al Midfa during a Press conference to announce the festival at Al Majaz Water Front. — KT photo by M. Sajjad Organised by the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) for the fourth time, the Sharjah Light Festival will be celebrated this year under the theme ‘Sharjah, the Capital of Islamic Culture for 2014’. It is again held under the vision and leadership of His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council member and ruler of Sharjah. Mohammed Ali Al Noman, Chairman, SCTDA, said the fourth edition of the SLF will bring a richer and greater experience in presentations and designs. “SLF will start with an opening ceremony at the Sharjah Municipality’s grand new building that celebrates the best of Islamic architecture and heritage.” In a press conference on Monday night, Al Noman said the event features highly talented international artists and performers who use the magic of lighting and cutting-edge technology to narrate the story of Sharjah’s heritage and architecture. The first and largest of its kind in the Middle East, SLF is a landmark global event highlighting Emirati, Arabic and Islamic culture. Its new site in Dibba Al Hisn joins the SLF festivities along with Khorfakkan and Kalba on the East Coast in a symphony of lights, colours and melodious motifs. “Every year we have been trying to add new locations to SLF celebrations in order to cover the length and breadth of the emirate,” Al Noman said. A spectacular hour-long parade will start at the Flag Island, cover the expanse of Khalid Lagoon before heading to the Central Souq. It will be followed by another hour of an entertainment fiesta with popular fictional characters, which will transport visitors to a world of art, fantasy and humour. SLF 2014 sites include Sharjah Municipality, Kuwait Square, Cultural Palace Square, King Faisal Mosque, Al Majaz Mosque, Al Majaz Waterfront, Central Souk, Al Qasba (Internal facade), Dr Shaikh Sultan Al Qasimi Centre of Gulf Studies, Hamza bin Abdul Mottaleb Mosque in Kalba, and Omar bin Al Khattab Mosque in Khorfakkan. The aesthetic beauty of centuries-old Islamic calligraphy, poetry, maps and art, and intricate decorated plants and flowers will be celebrated at the festival, in order to bring out the finer detail of Sharjah’s majestic monuments and fine architecture, he added. Since its debut, the Sharjah Light Festival has been a grand success, attracting tens of thousands of families and visitors year after year. With the addition of new sites and several new features and presentations, this year promises to be even more special. lily@khaleejtimes.com For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
