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Minimum speed on highways may be increased to 80kmph
Minimum speed on highways may be increased to 80kmph Amira Agarib / 19 March 2014 It’s part of recommendations made by the Traffic Federal Council for amendments to be made to the Traffic Law. The minimum speed on highways could be increased to 80km per hour from 60km to reduce the number of accidents, according to Major-General Mohammed Saif Al Zafin, Chairman of the Federal Traffic Council and Assistant Commander-in-Chief of the Dubai Police for Operations. He said these changes were part of recommendations made by the Traffic Federal Council for amendments to be made to the Traffic Law. He said changes were required and awaited and there was a possibility that new texts would be added commensurate with the evolution of traffic and security needs. He explained that the council issued a package of recommendations to be submitted to the Supreme Committee of the Policies and Strategies which is headed by Lt-General Shaikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, to take the final decision. “The Minister of Interior has issued clear directives for unifying and standardising traffic procedures in all emirates to avoid differences in regulations or the applications,” said Al Zafin. The council has also recommended to stop issuing licence for vans or light buses used for transportation purposes. Companies will be provided a one-year grace period to address the matter. There is a possibility of allowing vans to transport goods only. Non-availability of security and safety requirements in vans caused many fatal accidents, he said. He explained that there are vehicles that can carry nine people, such as the Toyota Land Cruiser or other similar vehicles that have sufficient safety and security measures instead of the vans that resemble sardine cans and often result in deaths or injuries. The council’s recommendations in its meeting held on Thursday also included unification of traffic files for all drivers in the UAE to link it with Emirates Identity Card that will take the same number as the card so as to make it easier for dealers in any emirate. Al Zafin pointed out that there was no justification for existence of a separate file for each person as long as there is a uniform traffic system applied in the state. He said the most important recommendations included reconsidering the minimum speed for roads, which is normally fixed at 60 kmph on the highways whereas people drove cars at a speed of 140 kmph. “This big difference in speed usually leads to accidents.” The council proposed certain routes for minimum speed and also suggested writing the speed on the road surface until drivers were aware of the speed limit on that track. He stated that it is also necessary to reconsider the rate of minimum speed because there is a difference between heavy vehicles and light vehicles. “Speed can be increased to 80 kilometres per hour on the highways to be on a par with the maximum speed of the trucks to avoid problems caused by differences in speed,” he said. He added that members of the Board of Directors of the traffic departments in UAE agreed to these recommendations which will be coordinated with the relevant authorities in each emirate before implementation. news@khaleejtimes.com For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
Putin moves towards annexing Crimea
Putin moves towards annexing Crimea (AP) / 18 March 2014 Putin is set to address both houses of the parliament at 3pm Moscow time (1100 GMT) in a nationally televised speech where he is widely expected to stake Russia’s claim on Crimea. Russia’s President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday approved a draft bill for the annexation of Crimea, one of a flurry of steps to formally take over the Black Sea peninsula. Crimea on Sunday voted overwhelmingly to secede from Ukraine and seek to join Russia. The West and Ukraine described the referendum which was announced two weeks ago as illegitimate. The United States and the European Union on Monday announced asset freezes and other sanctions against Russian and Ukrainian officials involved in the Crimean crisis. President Barack Obama warned that more would come if Russia didn’t stop interfering in Ukraine. Read more: US, EU and Japan set sanctions Former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, however, hailed Crimea’s vote to join Russia as a “happy event.” Russian troops have been occupying the region for more than two weeks. The decree signed by Putin and posted on the official government website Tuesday morning is one of the steps which that formalize the annexation of Crimea. Russia, however, still has room to back off: the treaty to annex Crimea has to be signed by leaders of Russia and Crimea, approved by the Constitutional Court and then be ratified by the parliament. Putin is set to address both houses of the parliament at 3 p.m. Moscow time (1100 GMT) in a nationally televised speech where he is widely expected to stake Russia’s claim on Crimea. Gorbachev, in remarks carried Tuesday by online newspaper Slon.ru, said Crimea’s vote offered residents the freedom of choice and justly reflected their will. The referendum showed that “people really wanted to return to Russia” and was a “happy event,” he said. Gorbachev added that the Crimean referendum set an example for people in Russian-speaking eastern Ukraine, who also should decide their fate. Crimean Deputy Prime Minister Rustam Temirgaliyev said in an interview with RIA Novosti on Tuesday that the peninsula has already received some financial aid from Russia but stopped short of saying how much. Many in the ethnic Tatar minority in Crimea were wary of the referendum, fearing that Crimea’s break-off from Ukraine would set off violence against them. Temirgaliyev seemed to confirm those fears, saying that the government would ask Tatars to “vacate” some of the lands they “illegally” occupy so authorities can use them for “social needs.” The Russian State Duma, the lower chamber of parliament, on Tuesday unanimously passed a resolution condemning US sanctions targeting Russian officials including members of the chamber. The chamber challenged President Barack Obama to extend the sanctions to all the 353 deputies who voted for Tuesday’s resolution, suggesting that being targeted was a badge of honor. Eighty-eight deputies left the house before the vote. Crimea had been part of Russia since the 18 th century until Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev transferred it to Ukraine in 1954. Both Russians and Crimea’s majority ethnic Russian population see annexation as correcting a historic insult. Ukraine’s turmoil, which began in November with a wave of protests against President Viktor Yanukovych and accelerated after he fled to Russia in late February, has become Europe’s most severe security crisis in years. For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
Project to transform metro stations into art museums
Project to transform metro stations into art museums Staff Reporter / 18 March 2014 Shaikh Mohammed gave directions to complete the project by the commencement of Art Dubai 2015. The Dubai Metro Museum project that will transform the metro stations into art museums was detailed on Monday during a presentation to His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Shaikh Mohammed gave directions to transform Dubai Metro stations into art museums displaying artworks and creations from different themes and cultures, an initiative that aims at making arts and creativity accessible to all segments of the society. It also aims at enhancing the UAE’s international position in general and Dubai’s in particular as a vital supporter for arts and artists. He was briefed on the project and its different implementation stages. The presentation was also attended by Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Shaikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai. Shaikh Mohammed gave directions for the project to be completed within 12 months and to synchronise the launch with the commencement of Art Dubai 2015. “We want to reach everyone through arts. We want creativity to reach every individual. We want to inspire and communicate with every employee on his way to work, every student on his way to pursuing education and every tourist visiting Dubai,” he said. “We want to transfer Dubai Metro stations to museums accompanying passengers to all destinations,” he added “Art is a universal language that has power to unite humanity. It removes barriers that seems to separate them from one another,” he said. Station art themes Phase one of the project will include transforming four vital metro stations into art museums. Each of the museums will have a specific theme that highlights a specific aspect of arts or cultures. The interior and exterior designs of the museums will reflect their themes. Islamic arts and Arabic Calligraphy Museum; Inventions Museum; Contemporary Art Museum; and Visual Art Museum will be launched during phase one. The Islamic art and Arabic Calligraphy Museum will include a collection of artworks inspired by Islamic art and its development phases over 1,400 years. Manuscripts, ceramics and jewellery will be some of the items on display. Inventions Museum will offer a unique and interactive educational experience that illustrates the most important human inventions in different fields. The Contemporary Art Museum will have paintings, designs, graphic illustrations, models, and many other items that reflect the expressive and intellectual styles created by contemporary artists. Visual Art Museum will give visitors the opportunity to share their work and have it on display as well. The museums will be provided with state-of-the-art technology and smart and interactive mobile applications in line with Smart Dubai initiative. Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) said the initiative will add a new attraction factor for commuters and an aesthetic dimension to the facilities. Operational hinderances to the metro stations will be minimal. news@khaleejtimes.com For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
