Latest news with #NationalAuthority
The Herald Scotland
07-07-2025
- The Herald Scotland
Sustainable bus pilot gets underway in National Park
The pilot service, which runs until to October 5 this year, follows a successful 2024 pilot that welcomed over 5,000 passengers. To mark the occasion National Authority team members, joined drivers from McColl's, who will be operating the service to exchange knowledge on the route, ensuring passengers this year have the best experience, and learn more about the landscape of the National Park on their journey. Two low-emission, modern buses will run seven days a week between Drymen and Callander, stopping at popular visitor destinations including Aberfoyle, The Lodge, Ben Venue, Loch Katrine, Ben A'an, Brig o' Turk and Kilmahog (for Ben Ledi). READ MORE The service will trial further enhancements and route expansions this summer as part of ongoing efforts by the National Park Authority to provide sustainable travel options, reduce congestion, ease parking pressures and help visitors and residents connect and protect the National Park's special environment. Speaking about the pilot last month, Gordon Watson, Chief Executive at Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority, said: "Following the success of last years' service, we're delighted to welcome the Trossachs Explorer back on the road this summer - helping visitors and residents to build deeper connections with nature, while doing their part to reduce emissions and protect our National Park for future generations. "The expanded service helps us directly tackle the challenge that 79% of visitors to the National Park arrive by car, while also opening up opportunities for young people, families without cars, and staff working in local businesses who need reliable transport options. "Services like this prove that rural areas can lead the way in demonstrating multiple benefits to visitors, residents and local businesses. But true sustainability can only be achieved through long-term investment and partnership. This expanded pilot allows us to continue to gather the insight and evidence needed to develop long-term transport solutions across the entire National Park.' The Trossachs Explorer (Image: Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority) Cllr Jen Preston, Convener of Stirling Council's Environment, Transport and Net Zero Committee commented: 'The resounding success of last year's pilot has led to the welcome return and expansion of the Trossachs Explorer bus service. There's a clear appetite for sustainable and well-connected public transport options in rural Stirling, and in particular to the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, which this service responds to.'Every visitor and resident who uses the Trossachs Explorer helps to reduce traffic congestion and contributes to a reduction in vehicle emissions while helping to support rural communities.' Liam McColl, Director of McColl's, added: 'We're proud to be operating the Trossachs Explorer service this summer, helping connect communities and visitors across one of Scotland's most beautiful landscapes. This is a real opportunity to show what rural public transport can achieve when it's planned around local needs, environmental priorities and visitor access. 'Our team has worked closely with the National Park Authority to design a timetable that provides reliable, accessible connections - not just for visitors, but for local people too. The feedback from last year's pilot has been invaluable, and we're excited to build on that by trialling new improvements and laying the groundwork for what we hope becomes a permanent, year-round network. It's great to see growing momentum behind sustainable rural transport, and we're delighted to be part of that story in the Trossachs.' The Trossachs Explorer is supported by funding from the National Park Authority, Tactran through Transport Scotland's People and Place programme, Stirling Council and Callander Community Council through the Braes of Doune Community Fund.
Bloomberg
29-06-2025
- Climate
- Bloomberg
Portuguese Firefighters Face Forest Blaze in Castelo Branco Area
Firefighters are battling a blaze in the region of Castelo Branco in northern Portugal after temperatures increased in the last few days. About 190 firefighters and two aircraft were facing the blaze, according to the website of Portugal's National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection. The fire started at about 5 p.m.
Libya Observer
23-06-2025
- Health
- Libya Observer
'Ataa' Blood Donation Campaign
by Anas Mon, 23/06/2025 - 18:44 The 'Ataa' Blood Donation Campaign was launched in conjunction with the inauguration of the Blood Bank and Medical Laboratory in Janzour. The event was attended by the Director General of the National Authority for Blood Transfusion Services, the Mayor of Janzour Municipality, the Director of the Reference Laboratory, along with several officials and medical personnel. The opening of the Blood Bank is part of the National Authority's efforts to enhance the capacity of the blood transfusion system. The newly established center is designed to function as a fully equipped central blood bank, dedicated to providing safe blood supplies and meeting the needs of patients and healthcare facilities in Janzour and surrounding areas. This contributes to strengthening healthcare services and improving their efficiency. This initiative is part of the National Authority's broader strategy to expand its services and establish a strategic reserve of blood. It is being carried out in cooperation with healthcare institutions and the local community, to ensure rapid response to emergencies and growing medical needs. Health Tagged:
LBCI
11-06-2025
- Business
- LBCI
Artificial Intelligence, real obstacles: Lebanon's struggle to regulate tech
Report by Wissam Nasrallah, English adaptation by Mariella Succar As artificial intelligence becomes part of everyday life around the world, Lebanon is making a modest attempt to join the conversation. The country recently appointed a state minister for Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence—though without a clear mandate or defined responsibilities. In June 2025, MPs César Abi Khalil and Nicolas Sehnaoui introduced a draft law to establish a 'National Authority for Artificial Intelligence,' a body meant to oversee the use of AI in Lebanon. The authority would be tasked with monitoring companies, setting policies, protecting data privacy, and establishing standards for what is or isn't acceptable use of AI. But the question isn't why Lebanon is acting now. It's how long it will take for anything to move forward. In Lebanon's legislative system, laws can spend months—if not years—circulating between committees. Once introduced, a draft bill must be referred by the parliament speaker to a relevant committee. It may then be handed to a subcommittee for review, where it undergoes revisions, discussions, and recommendations. Meetings get postponed due to lack of quorum. Some MPs don't show up. Other issues take precedence. Eventually, the proposal may be shelved entirely. It's a familiar story. Lebanon has yet to find a lasting solution to its waste crisis after more than a decade. An e-signature law took years to pass and has barely been implemented. So how long will it take to regulate a technology advancing by the day? In reality, Lebanese lawmakers can act quickly when there's enough pressure. The amendment to the banking secrecy law, for example, was passed in less than a week under demands from the International Monetary Fund.
Maroc
14-05-2025
- Business
- Maroc
Morocco, Korea Expand Joint Efforts to Combat Corruption
In a move to bolster joint efforts against corruption, Morocco and Korea signed a memorandum of understanding Tuesday in Rabat, laying the groundwork for closer cooperation on transparency and integrity. The agreement was signed between Morocco's National Authority for Probity Prevention and Fight against Corruption and Korea's Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, with the aim of promoting ethics and preventing corruption in line with their national laws and international conventions to which they are parties. It reflects both parties' shared conviction that corruption poses a threat to the progress and security of societies. Through this MoU, they demonstrate their commitment to developing suitable mechanisms for the implementation of the provisions of the 2003 UN Convention against Corruption, namely through bilateral agreements. In a statement to the press, Morocco's National Authority President Mohamed Benalilou viewed the signing as an opportunity to tap into Korea's expertise in tackling corruption, with a special focus on their integrity measurement indicators. The indicator developed by the Korean Commission is regarded as a best practice, offering a model from which Morocco's anti-corruption authority can draw inspiration to develop a similar national tool for shaping effective policies in integrity and transparency, Morocco's Authority says in a press release. Korea's Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission of the Republic of Korea is considered one of the most effective bodies in fighting corruption in the country, says the same source. For his part, Ryu Jeol Wan, Korea's Anti-Corruption Commission President, said that the agreement represents a significant practical step toward cooperation between the two countries in preventing and combating corruption, in parallel with the existing economic cooperation between them. He praised the strong, longstanding friendship that unites the two nations, adding that this initiative aims to strengthen anti-corruption capabilities and the exchange of expertise, with the goal of achieving high-integrity and transparent societies. Additionally, areas of bilateral cooperation will mainly include the exchange of expertise, best practices, and lessons learned from challenges in preventing and combating corruption; the development of technical training programs to build the capacities of both parties. It will also involve support for the implementation of education and training programs as well as the organization of joint seminars and workshops on topics related to transparency, integrity, and anti-corruption. MAP: 13 mai 2025
