Latest news with #NationalStrategy
Daily Record
10 hours ago
- Automotive
- Daily Record
North Ayrshire Tory claims 20mph limit is part of 'climate change madness'
He said the policy was all about pleasing the Scottish Government. Bold efforts by the North Ayrshire Tory Group to put the brakes on the Cabinet's support of the Scottish Government's National Strategy for 20mph in Urban areas and approve the implementation of 20mph speed limits stalled on Thursday. At a fiery meeting of the Audit and Scrutiny Committee, the Conservative Group asked Cabinet to: Suspend the implementation of the 20mph speed limit across all roads, pending the outcome of a full review of cost effectiveness, enforceability, and public consultation and to commission an impact assessment as well as taking feedback from a public consultation. Supporting the call-in, North Coast cllr Todd Ferguson said he had been contacted by local business and constituents concerned about the plans. He said: 'As Conservatives we fully support efforts on road safety but believe they must be targeted, evidence-based and proportionate and what is being suggested for the blanket 20mph limit simply does not meet that criteria. 'In North Ayrshire road fatalities remain consistently low although one death is one death too many. 'UK wide we see that when you change signs it limits reduction of speed by only one mile per hour and that changes to 10mph if you include traffic calming but that is not being proposed. 'We had success in Burnhouse and Gateside in getting changes to speed but it did not change behaviour - you had a driver going at 90mph in Burnhouse. We need enforcement but resources are already stretched." Tory Group Leader Cameron Inglis suggested the policy was "smoke and mirrors" and was all about pleasing the Scottish Government by persuading people to stop using their cars as "part of this climate change madness". Tony Gurney, Cabinet member for the Environment and Green Economy said: 'This is more than a transport policy - it's an investment in public safety. 'This is not a blanket, it has been consulted throughout North Ayrshire. Implementation is recommended only where we see a clear safety benefit. We will implement 20mph zones and that is an opportunity for enforcement by police. 'It is not about flowing traffic, it is about safety. According to the Department of Transport the chances of pedestrians being killed more than halves when speed is reduced to 20mph from 30mph. "A child hit by a car has a one in five chance of dying in 30mph in 20mph drops dramatically to one in 40. 'The British Medical Journal links 20mph to a 40 per cent reduction in road casualties. "Lives are saved, injuries prevented, NHS costs reduced. Lower speeds give drivers time to react. That extra second can be different between a close call and a tragedy." Independent cllr Donald L Reid said: "I was in office with the Police from 1967 to 1999 and this encompasses what it is all about, speed kills. "Anything we can do to reduce speed must be a priority. If we can keep speed down to 20mph that is sensible and with a bit of hard work we can probably achieve this. "We saw how drink driving became unacceptable, how wearing seatbelts became the norm and helmets for cyclists and motorcyclists helped save many lives, I don't see how we can't make our streets safer.' A motion to reject the call-in, allowing the policy to stand, defeated an amendment by the Tory Group to accept the call-in and send the matter back to the cabinet for further consideration by six votes to three.
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Record
North Ayrshire Conservative group rail against 20mph zone plans
The group called on the council to suspend the implementation of the new rules. Angry Tories have 'called in' controversial plans agreed by North Ayrshire Council to implement the controversial 20mph speed limit on urban roads. They suggest it will dilute police and council resources and adversely affect public transport efficiency. North Ayrshire Council Cabinet earlier this month noted the Scottish Government's National Strategy for 20mph in Urban areas and agreed the implementation of 20mph speed limits on appropriate roads as detailed in the implementation plans. A request was received in terms of the call-in procedure set out in the council's Scheme of Administration and Standing Orders, that the Audit and Scrutiny Committee examine the decision taken by the Cabinet at their meeting next Thursday, June 19. The call-in request, which was signed by Conservative councillors Todd Ferguson, Scott Gallacher and Ronnie Stalker is in the following terms: 'The Scottish Government's National 20mph Strategy is aspirational in tone but experimental in scope. While well-intentioned, its widespread implementation lacks sufficient evidence of efficacy, especially on roads already exhibiting average speeds below 25mph. 'This policy, if adopted without amendment, risks diluting police and Council resources, adversely affecting public transport efficiency, and imposing unjustifiable burdens on the public purse—contrary to the financial prudence owed to North Ayrshire's taxpayers. 'The strategy also raises legitimate legal and democratic concerns regarding adequacy of consultation, particularly among working residents, rural communities, and small business owners who will bear the practical consequences of slower road speeds and delayed logistics. 'As a matter of public administration, the council must guard against overreach in regulatory intervention without evidence-based justification and must uphold the principle of proportionality, particularly when imposing restrictions on public freedoms. 'The Conservative Group respectfully calls upon Cabinet to: Suspend the blanket implementation of the 20mph speed limit across all roads identified in Appendix 1, pending the outcome of a full review of cost-effectiveness, enforceability, and public consultation. Commission an independent impact assessment, consistent with principles of Best Value as defined in the Local Government in Scotland Act 2003, before any further capital expenditure is incurred. Adopt a targeted and proportionate approach, taking into account the feedback from the public consultation referenced above and elected members, with 20mph zones restricted to locations supported by empirical safety data—such as near schools, care facilities, or recorded accident black spots.' The Elected Members who have submitted the call-in will be invited to address the Committee to explain the respective call-in request. The appropriate Cabinet Member will then be invited to clarify the reasons for the decision. The relevant senior officer will also be present to provide information on the report presented to Cabinet and on issues raised by the call-in received. The committee will have an opportunity to ask questions of both parties and of those officers in attendance.
Zawya
5 days ago
- Science
- Zawya
UAE curbs desertification with innovation, foresight
The United Arab Emirates has made remarkable progress in addressing and combating desertification and its associated challenges by implementing a series of proactive measures and innovative initiatives that have helped mitigate the phenomenon's impact and steadily expand agricultural land. Observed tomorrow, 17th June, the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought provides an opportunity to highlight the UAE's forward-looking approach to managing this pressing issue, despite severe climatic conditions such as high temperatures and low rainfall. The UAE continues to pursue the goals outlined in the National Strategy to Combat Desertification 2022–2030, which aims to preserve ecosystems and improve arid and semi-arid lands, adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change on desertification-prone ecosystems, raise awareness and build national capacity regarding desertification, adopt and implement modern technologies, enhance integration of scientific research in desertification control, and strengthen partnerships and cooperation at national, regional and international levels. During a Cabinet meeting on 3rd February, key results achieved under the strategy were reviewed, including the rehabilitation of 1,800 hectares of degraded land, the improvement of 378.2 square kilometres of land, the reduction of degraded land to just 1.2 percent, and the stabilisation of 98.8 percent of land areas. Soil carbon stability was recorded at 98.2 percent. Additionally, the UAE developed a smart soil monitoring system using artificial intelligence, conducted 96 scientific studies under the rain enhancement science programme, and implemented 25 projects in saline and desert agriculture. It also studied the drought, heat, and salinity tolerance of 325 plant species. Several initiatives were launched to enhance land ecosystems, including sustainable grazing projects, a land degradation neutrality programme, the development of gene banks for native desertification-resistant plants, an early warning and forecasting programme for sand and dust storms, and initiatives on green belts and urban forest management. The UAE has devoted considerable attention to combating desertification, reclaiming vast areas of desert land, and establishing artificial forests, green belts and open spaces using native and salt-tolerant plants. These efforts also include reducing overgrazing, deforestation and unsustainable agricultural practices, as well as focusing on rain enhancement research, building dams, promoting the use of treated water, and launching numerous awareness campaigns to engage the public in combatting desertification. The UAE has reinforced its commitment to global desertification efforts by joining several international environmental conventions, including the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in 1998. In line with its obligations under the convention, the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, in cooperation with strategic partners, developed the first national desertification strategy in 2003, which was subsequently updated in 2014. The current National Strategy to Combat Desertification 2022–2030 represents the third iteration. The UAE has successfully transformed vast desert areas into green landscapes, parks and farms. Its broad efforts to combat desertification also include the establishment of around 49 terrestrial and marine nature reserves, in line with national efforts to reduce land degradation and promote environmental sustainability. Notably, the UAE is one of the first countries in the region to adopt artificial rain enhancement as an innovative method to combat desertification and drought, increase green cover, boost water reserves, and mitigate the effects of climate change.
Broadcast Pro
11-06-2025
- Business
- Broadcast Pro
Orange Maroc modernises its network with Ericsson
The agreement sets Orange Maroc's network ready for the introduction of 5G Standalone while paving the way for new business models. Orange Maroc has strengthened its network infrastructure by signing a strategic agreement with Ericsson to modernise and expand its core network. This landmark partnership reflects Orange Moroccos commitment to delivering high-performance connectivity, in the lead-up to the launch of 5G, fully aligned with the National Strategy Digital Morocco 2030 objectives. Through this collaboration, Orange Maroc will integrate cutting-edge technologies, including Ericssons dual-mode 5G Core and Cloud Native Infrastructure Solution, specifically designed to support cloud-native 5G applications. This modernisation will significantly boost Orange Maroc's network capacity and enhance the customer experience, while allowing the company to build a scalable network architecture in anticipation of the 5G introduction. Through this strategic partnership, Orange Maroc will introduce the Ericsson Cloud Core Policy Controller, ensuring high scalability, better network resilience along with new business models. The telecommunications operator will also extend its network with additional IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) and Ericsson Packet Core sites to strengthen Voice over LTE (VoLTE) services and deliver reliable 4G and 5G services, such as the enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB), Fixed Wireless Access (FWA), video games, and industrial connectivity services. The modernisation also includes improvements to the automation and orchestration of the native cloud-based infrastructure, through strategic software upgrades to Ericsson Network Manager, Orchestrator, and Network IQ Statistics, tools already leveraged by Orange Maroc to monitor its network operations. Commenting on the deal, Hendrik Kasteel, Chief Executive Officer of Orange Maroc, said: 'Orange Maroc places innovation and customer satisfaction at the heart of its strategy. This partnership with Ericsson strengthens our commitment to delivering a more powerful and reliable network that meets the growing digital needs of Moroccans. By modernising our infrastructure, we are accelerating our ability to deploy 5G and support Morocco's digital transformation, fully aligned with the vision of the national strategy 'Digital Morocco 2030'.' Majda Lahlou Kassi, President of Ericsson Morocco and Vice President of Ericsson West and Southern Africa, added: 'At Ericsson, the success of our customers is at the core of our mission. We are proud to support Orange Maroc in this major transformation, aiming to address fast-changing connectivity needs and provide a robust, scalable and sustainable infrastructure. This project reflects our constant commitment to creating value for our partners while contributing to Moroccos digital development.' With more than 20 years of collaboration between Orange Maroc and Ericsson, this new project further strengthens Orange's position as a telecommunications operator committed to network excellence. By anticipating future connectivity needs and investing in cutting-edge infrastructure, Orange Maroc reaffirms its key role in supporting Morocco's economic and social growth through digital innovation.
Channel Post MEA
10-06-2025
- Business
- Channel Post MEA
Orange Maroc Selects Ericsson To Drive 5G Network
Orange Maroc has signed an agreement with Ericsson to modernize and expand its core network. This partnership reflects Orange Morocco's commitment to delivering high-performance connectivity, in the lead-up to the launch of 5G, fully aligned with the National Strategy 'Digital Morocco 2030' objectives. Through this collaboration, Orange Maroc will integrate cutting-edge technologies, including Ericsson's dual-mode 5G Core and Cloud Native Infrastructure Solution, specifically designed to support cloud-native 5G applications. This modernization will significantly boost Orange Maroc's network capacity and enhance the customer experience, while allowing the company to build a scalable network architecture in anticipation of the 5G introduction. Modernization for greater connectivity Through this strategic partnership, Orange Maroc will introduce the Ericsson Cloud Core Policy Controller, ensuring high scalability, better network resilience along with new business models. The telecommunications operator will also extend its network with additional IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) and Ericsson Packet Core sites to strengthen Voice over LTE (VoLTE) services and deliver reliable 4G and 5G services, such as the enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB), Fixed Wireless Access (FWA), video games, and industrial connectivity services. The modernization also includes improvements to the automation and orchestration of the native cloud-based infrastructure, through strategic software upgrades to Ericsson Network Manager, Orchestrator, and Network IQ Statistics, tools already leveraged by Orange Maroc to monitor its network operations. Hendrik Kasteel, Chief Executive Officer of Orange Maroc, says, 'Orange Maroc places innovation and customer satisfaction at the heart of its strategy. This partnership with Ericsson strengthens our commitment to delivering a more powerful and reliable network that meets the growing digital needs of Moroccans. By modernizing our infrastructure, we are accelerating our ability to deploy 5G and support Morocco's digital transformation, fully aligned with the vision of the national strategy 'Digital Morocco 2030.' Majda Lahlou Kassi, President of Ericsson Morocco and Vice President of Ericsson West and Southern Africa, says: 'At Ericsson, the success of our customers is at the core of our mission. We are proud to support Orange Maroc in this major transformation, aiming to address fast-changing connectivity needs and provide a robust, scalable and sustainable infrastructure. This project reflects our constant commitment to creating value for our partners while contributing to Morocco's digital development.' With more than 20 years of collaboration between Orange Maroc and Ericsson, this new project further strengthens Orange's position as a telecommunications operator committed to network excellence. By anticipating future connectivity needs and investing in cutting-edge infrastructure, Orange Maroc reaffirms its key role in supporting Morocco's economic and social growth through digital innovation.
