A spellbinding ceremony at the Al Wasl Plaza brings down the curtain on Expo 2020 Dubai.
Mira, the young girl from the opening ceremony, took the world on another compelling journey from the heart of Expo 2020, Al Wasl Plaza.
Month: April 2022
RTA is in charge of the development, supervision, and maintenance of cycling tracks…reports Asian Lite News
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, issued an Executive Council Resolution regulating the use of bicycles and electric bikes and scooters in Dubai.
As per the Resolution, RTA is in charge of the development, supervision, and maintenance of cycling tracks. It is also tasked with developing the guidelines that riders of bicycles, electric bikes and scooters, and any other type of micro-mobility vehicles specified by RTA need to follow to ensure safety.
The RTA will also issue licences for electric-scooters or any other form of bikes in accordance with the decisions issued by RTA’s Director-General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors.
Furthermore, the Authority is tasked with developing specifications regarding the use of bikes in Dubai and outlining the requirements for training on bikes in groups, in coordination with Dubai Police and relevant government entities including free zones and special development zones including the Dubai International Financial Centre.
The Resolution also stipulates that bikes should be fitted with a white head lamp in front and a red lamp and red reflector in the rear. They should also have a bell fitted on the steering wheel and brakes on the front and rear tyres. The tyres should be proportional to the size of the bike and fit for use on the roads and cycling tracks designated by RTA. The size of the bike used should also be proportional to the size of its rider.
According to the Resolution, cyclists (or bikers) should respect traffic regulations and ride their bikes only on RTA’s designated tracks. They should not ride electric scooters, or any other type of bikes as specified by the Authority (RTA) without receiving a permit (driving license permit). Electric scooters provided for rentals by companies or individuals should only be used in the areas and tracks designated for them by RTA. Riders of electric bikes and electric scooters should respect the speed limits set by the Authority.
Cyclists should not use their bicycles on roads with a speed limit of more than 60km per hour, and cyclists and bikers should not use their bikes and e-scooters on jogging or walking tracks. They should refrain from cycling carelessly and abide by public safety requirements. Reckless practices that can endanger others’ lives and safety like hooking to a vehicle while biking are stringently not permitted. One-handed cycling and biking should be strictly avoided except when riders need to use their hands for signalling. Reflective vests and helmets are a must for cyclists and bikers. Pillion (Carrying) riders are not permitted on bicycles and electric bikes unless the bikes have separate seats for them.
ALSO READ: Lamborghini Urus partners with Dubai Police fleet
Pillion riders or anything that causes an imbalance on an e-scooter is prohibited. Pillion (carry) riders should also respect the safety requirements set by RTA. Bikers should ensure they maintain a safe distance from other vehicles and pedestrians. They should also ensure that the bikes are parked in designated parking spaces (if any). Parking in non-designated areas and causing obstructions to vehicles, pedestrians and users of public space is strictly prohibited.
In case of accidents that result in injuries or material damages, riders should report the incident to police and (or) RTA or ambulance services depending on the nature of the incident (unless they provide evidence for not being able to report). Cyclists and bikers should always ride on the right side of the road. Before changing their lane, they should give hand signals and ensure they can make their move safely. It is the responsibility of all riders to ensure brakes and tyres of the bikes are in good condition, Flashing and steady lighting should be used as per RTA’s requirements. Bikes should not be towed by any vehicle and the bikes themselves should not be used to tow other objects. Making major modifications to the bike is also not permitted.
The joint UAE-Jordan Business Council has underlined the need to utilise the momentum provided by Expo 2020 in the fields of agricultural and food trade, the pharmaceuticals and furniture industry, and the proliferation of fairs and exhibitions around the world…reports Asian Lite News
This came as the Council members convened their 4th meeting today at the premises of the Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce & Industry here, where they called for intensifying visits by the trade delegations from both countries and increasing the number of conferences and workshops to highlight investment opportunities and incentives available in both countries.
The meeting, which was co-chaired by Hamid Mohamed bin Salem, Secretary-General of the Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce & Industry and Dr. Mohamed Al-Atoum, Board Member of the Jordan Chamber of Commerce, emphasized the privileged trade relations between the two nations and the necessity of taking advantage of the business opportunities up for grabs over the coming period.
Earlier this week, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, attended a joint meeting with His Majesty King Abdullah ll ibn Al Hussein of Jordan, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, President of Egypt, and Dr. Mustafa Al Kadhimi, Prime Minister of Iraq.
ALSO READ: Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai takes baton
The meeting, which was partly attended by HRH Prince Turki bin Mohammed bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz, Minister of State and Member of the Cabinet of Saudi Arabia, addressed ways of enhancing the relations between the participating countries.
His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed arrived earlier at King Hussein International Airport in Aqaba, where he was received by His Majesty King Abdullah II and Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, Crown Prince of Jordan.
During his visit, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed was accompanied by H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, Advisor for Special Affairs at the Ministry of Presidential Affairs.
The Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai theme is Designing Future Society for our Lives, with the sub themes of Saving Lives, Empowering Lives, Connecting Lives, reports Asian Lite News
As Expo 2020 Dubai came to an end, organisers of Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai revealed they are ready to take on the mantle, with construction well under way, and ideas to emulate certain aspects of the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East.
Four of the team for the next World Expo gave a media briefing; Wakamiya Kenji, Minister for the World Expo 2025, Yoshimura Hirofumi, Governor of Osaka Prefecture, Matsui Ichiro, Mayor of Osaka City, and Ichinoki Manatsu, Deputy Secretary-General of the Japan Association for the 2020 World Exposition.
Describing Expo 2020 Dubai as “overwhelmingly attractive”, Wakamiya Kenji said, “We will learn a lot from this Expo based upon its legacy. We will do our part, we will relay the baton.”
He expressed particular interest in Expo’s theme weeks, saying they are “a great idea, and we want to capitalise on that kind of insight, and perhaps use a similar strategy to highlight our focuses.”
As part of Expo 2020 Dubai’s Programme for People and Planet, 10 theme weeks have explored humanity’s most critical challenges and opportunities through a cultural, social, environmental and economic lens.
Ichinoki Manatsu, Deputy Secretary-General of the Japan Association for the 2020 World Exposition, revealed that construction of the site was well underway. He confirmed the artificial island had been filled, the subway was being laid out, and that by April 2023 the land would be ready for the building work to begin, with the aim to be completed by April 2025.
ALSO READ: ‘It’s a new beginning’
The Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai theme is Designing Future Society for our Lives, with the sub themes of Saving Lives, Empowering Lives, Connecting Lives. Yoshimura Hirofumi said: “We want to pursue happiness, and consider what kind of lives are fulfilled lives?”
Matsui Ichiro spoke of the 1970 Expo hosted in Osaka, when the UAE had not yet been formed, but Abu Dhabi had a pavilion. He discussed Osaka’s successes in manufacturing and craft, but described the “hospitable people as the biggest asset.”
Doig will report directly to Michael Paull, President, Disney Streaming…reports Asian Lite News
Disney has announced that it has roped in former Google executive Jeremy Doig as the new Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Disney Streaming.
Doig, a 30-year veteran in online media, will lead the technology organisation and global technology strategy for The Walt Disney Company’s portfolio of direct-to-consumer streaming services.
“I am thrilled to be joining The Walt Disney Company at this crucial moment in the entertainment industry,” Doig said in a statement.
Doig brings to the team deep technical experience, architecting and implementing global technology visions at global scale, and will play a key role in propelling the next phase of technical innovation and growth for Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+, and Star+.
Doig will report directly to Michael Paull, President, Disney Streaming.
“Jeremy is a true visionary that has sat at the forefront of making online video streaming possible in his nearly 30-year career at the intersection of technology and media, and we are thrilled to welcome him to the Disney Streaming leadership team,” said Paull.
“We have an exceptional team of global technologists, and Jeremy’s experience leading transformational initiatives in complex and dynamic environments will make him an incredible asset to lead this world-class group,” Paull added.
Doig will join Disney Streaming next month after 18 years at Google where he pioneered new standards for online media — spanning novel compression approaches for audio and video, streaming protocols for real-time and on-demand delivery, and spatial experiences.
ALSO READ-5G mobile subscriptions expected to cross 4.39 bn by 2027
Biden said that his plan is about “declaring real American energy independence in the long term so that we never have to deal with this problem again.”…reports Asian Lite News
In order to keep oil prices under control, US President Joe Biden on Thursday (local time) announced to release of one million barrels of oil per day from the country’s strategic petroleum reserve for the next six months.
The US, EU and other nations barred imports of Russian oil and gas over the country’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
“Today, I’m authorizing the release of 1 million barrels per day for the next six months -over 180 million barrels -for the Strategic -from the -from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve,” Biden announced.
“This is a wartime bridge to increase oil supply until production ramps up later this year. And it is by far the largest release from our national reserve in our history,” he added.
He continued saying, “we’ll use the revenue from selling the oil now to restock the Strategic Petroleum Reserve when prices are lower so we’ll be ready — we’ll be ready for future emergencies.”
Biden said he has been coordinating with its allies and partners around the world.
“Already, I have – we have commitments from other countries to release tens of millions of additional barrels into the market. Together, our combined efforts will supply well over a million barrels a day — nations coming together to deny Putin the ability to weaponize his energy resources against American families, and families and democracies around the world,” he said.
Biden said that his plan is about “declaring real American energy independence in the long term so that we never have to deal with this problem again.”
“Ultimately, we and the whole world need to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels altogether. We need to choose long-term security over energy and climate vulnerability. We need to double down on our commitment to clean energy and tackling the climate crisis with our partners and allies around the world,” he said.
US President stated that he is issuing a directive to strengthen clean energy economy. ” I’m going to use the Defense Production Act to secure American supply chains for the critical materials that go into batteries for electric vehicles and the storage of renewable energy: lithium, graphite, nickel, and so much more,” he said.
Biden further said, “We need to end our long-term reliance on China and other countries for inputs that will power the future. And I’ll use every tool I have to make that happen.” (ANI)
ALSO READ: Biden stands by Garcetti despite Senate stalemate
Deuba will be accompanied by a high-level delegation and his spouse Dr Arzu Deuba. Nepal’s Prime Minister is visiting India at the invitation of PM Modi….reports Asian Lite News
Nepal Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba will arrive in India on a three-day visit starting Friday. It is his first such visit abroad after assuming office in July 2021.
Deuba will meet External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar today. While on the second day of his visit, the Nepali Prime Minister is expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, besides other engagements.
Deuba will be accompanied by a high-level delegation and his spouse Dr Arzu Deuba. Nepal’s Prime Minister is visiting India at the invitation of PM Modi.
Besides official engagements in New Delhi, the Prime Minister of Nepal will visit Varanasi, UP.
In a press statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said India and Nepal enjoy age-old special ties of friendship and cooperation.
“In recent years, the partnership has witnessed significant growth in all areas of cooperation. The upcoming visit will provide an opportunity to the two sides to review this wide-ranging cooperative partnership and to progress it further for the benefit of the two peoples,” MEA had said.
Deuba was sworn in as Prime Minister of Nepal in July 2021. This would be the first official bilateral visit, either incoming or outgoing since he took over the reins.
The last HOS/HOG-level visit from Nepal was in May 2019, when then PM K P Oli visited India for the swearing-in ceremony of PM Modi and the Union Council of Ministers. Before that PM Modi had visited Nepal in August 2018 for the 4th BIMSTEC Summit in Kathmandu, which was preceded by a State Visit to Nepal in May 2018.
PM Narendra Modi had extended a congratulatory message to Sher Bahadur Deuba soon after he won the Vote of Confidence in Nepal’s Parliament. This was followed by a congratulatory telephonic conversation on 19 July 2021. The most recent meeting between PM Modi and Sher Bahadur Deuba took place on November 2, 2021, on the sidelines of COP 26 in Glasgow.
Sher Bahadur Deuba is a veteran politician of the Nepali Congress with a political career spanning over seven decades. This is Deuba’s fifth tenure as PM. His first term was from September 1995 to March 1997.
He has visited India several times, both when in and out of power. This will be his fifth visit to India as PM, with the last visit being in August 2017. The previous three visits took place in 2004, 2002 and 1996. (ANI)
ALSO READ: How India can drive Nepal’s strategic diversification
Today is not the end of Expo 2020, but a new beginning, said Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, reports Asian Lite Newsdesk
Expo 2020 Dubai offers the opportunity of “a new beginning” for the UAE and the world, said Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
“During the Expo 2020 Dubai journey, we portrayed to the world a different version of ingenuity that touched the hearts and minds of every member of society. Our sons and daughters have proven their ability to overcome unprecedented difficulties and challenges. And in every moment of this journey, we reflected the values of the UAE – values of affection and hospitality. Today is not the end of Expo 2020, but a new beginning,” said Sheikh Mohammed in an audio message delivered at the closing ceremony of the mega global event.
“The UAE and Dubai will continue, God willing, to be graceful and strong – and able, to Connect Minds and Create the Future with this exceptional government, and the leadership of my brother Mohamed bin Zayed,” His Highness added.
The ceremony saw the baton for World Expo being handed over to Osaka, Japan, which will host the next Expo in 2025.
Over six months, Expo 2020 Dubai brought together over 190 participating nations, including multilateral organisations and academic institutions, and millions of visitors under the event’s theme, ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’, to exchange new ideas and perspectives, inspire meaningful change and create a brighter future for all. The global event that opened in October 2021 made history as the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region and the first to be hosted by an Arab nation.
The closing ceremony started with the UAE national anthem, followed by an address by Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence and Commissioner-General of Expo 2020 Dubai, in which he congratulated the UAE leadership on the exceptional success of Expo, which he said “will remain engraved proudly in the memory of history, and the world, as one of our young country’s many achievements.”
Sheikh Nahyan attributed the success of Expo to the remarkable efforts of its leadership team led by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, as well as to Reem Al Hashimy and her entire team.
ALSO READ: Expo 2020 Dubai clocks nearly 23 million visits
He also thanked the thousands of volunteers and the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) for their relentless efforts in presenting the magnificent event. He also highlighted the various events that took place at Expo 2020 Dubai during the six months of the event, including the celebration of the UAE’s Golden Jubilee. The UAE is looking forward to participating in Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai and sharing the unique and rich experiences gained from the organisation of the mega global event in Dubai, Sheikh Nahyan added.
Jai-chul Choi, President of the General Assembly of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) thanked the UAE leadership for its support for the success of the event. He also said that this is the first World Expo in which more than 190 countries participated with their own pavilions, which is a collective achievement and a demonstration of solidarity, fraternity and international coordination. “It has been made possible by the UAE’s dedication to hosting a transformational and unifying event, and by the commitment of the BIE, the Organiser and all participants to persevere in the delivery of this wonderful World Expo,” Choi said. “During this tumultuous period, Expo 2020 Dubai has been a beacon to remind us all that, to navigate these challenges, we must join together and work in unison.”
He also said participating countries, visitors and all those who have been part of Expo 2020 Dubai will take away essential lessons for the future based on their experiences at the event. “When the Expo ends and this site evolves into a new urban district, the enduring spirit of Expo 2020 Dubai will persist, adding new energy and ideas to the meaning of what a World Expo is. The impact of Expo 2020 Dubai will undoubtfully be woven into the Expo tapestry, an essential part of our shared global narrative,” Choi added.
Ukraine and Russia concluded their fresh round of face-to-face peace talks in the Turkish city of Istanbul on Tuesday….reports Asian Lite News
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has tweeted he had discussed steps toward peace in Ukraine with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
During the conversation, Zelensky on Thursday noted the high level of organisation of negotiations of Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Istanbul, Xinhua news agency reported.
Besides, the Ukrainian leader said he appreciates the readiness of Turkey to become a guarantor of Ukraine’s security.
Ukraine and Russia concluded their fresh round of face-to-face peace talks in the Turkish city of Istanbul on Tuesday.
At the negotiations, Kiev proposed to sign a new international treaty on security guarantees, which enshrines obligations for the guarantor countries to provide Ukraine with military assistance in the event of an attack.
ALSO READ: Jaishankar, Liz Truss discuss Ukraine conflict
The international community must find ways to spare the Afghan people from the impact of the decision to halt development support to Afghanistan, and to freeze nearly $9 billion in Afghan assets overseas, said Guterres…reports Asian Lite News
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for urgent action to support the humanitarian response in Afghanistan.
The already dire humanitarian situation in Afghanistan has deteriorated alarmingly over the past months, Xinhua news agency quoted the UN chief as saying at a virtual high-level pledging event for the war-torn nation.
Some 95 per cent of people do not have enough to eat. Nine million people are at risk of famine. The Unicef estimates that one million severely malnourished children are on the verge of death unless there is immediate action, he said.
And global food prices are skyrocketing. This spells catastrophe for both Afghans struggling to feed their families, and for aid operations, he warned.
“Without immediate action, we face a starvation and malnutrition crisis in Afghanistan. People are already selling their children and their body parts in order to feed their families.”
Afghanistan’s economy has effectively collapsed. There is very little cash. More than 80 per cent of the population are in debt. Key workers in vital services including schools and hospitals have not been paid for months. Businesses cannot operate. International aid agencies can barely function, and local partners face even greater hurdles. Livelihoods have evaporated and farmers cannot buy seeds or fertilisers. The UN Development Programme has warned that without action, 97 per cent of Afghans could be living below the poverty line by the middle of this year, he said.
Humanitarian needs have tripled since last June. And they are growing — day by day and month by month. The international community must find ways to spare the Afghan people from the impact of the decision to halt development support to Afghanistan, and to freeze nearly $9 billion in Afghan assets overseas. It must make cash available, so the Afghan economy can breathe, and the Afghan people can eat. Wealthy, powerful countries cannot ignore the consequences of their decisions on the most vulnerable, said Guterres.
He stressed that the first step in any meaningful humanitarian response must be to halt the death spiral of the Afghan economy. Without that, even the best-funded and most effective aid operation will not save the people of Afghanistan from an unimaginable future.
The UN funding appeal for Afghanistan this year is $4.4 billion, the world’s largest appeal for a single country. Together with partners, the UN aims to reach 22 million people. So far, the appeal is less than 13 per cent funded, he said.
“I appeal to you to provide unconditional and flexible funding as soon as possible. I also call on all those with influence to use it to ensure continued safe, rapid and unimpeded access for humanitarian staff — women and men alike — to all parts of Afghanistan.”
Last year, humanitarian partners reached nearly 20 million people across all parts of Afghanistan with life-saving assistance.
So far this year, the World Food Programme has reached more than 14 million people with food, nutrition and resilience support, the UN chief noted.