$530m plan to streamline traffic
Manama: Bahrain has unveiled a BD200 million ($530.9 million) masterplan to slash road deaths and streamline traffic flow.

This does not include the millions of dinars already earmarked for network improvements during the next three years - and are in the process of being budgeted.
The ambitious new blueprint to ease congestion, expand road links, build flyovers, underpasses and cut accident statistics, will be completed by 2011.
Works and Housing Minister Fahmi Al Jowder revealed details of a joint study to phase in the strategic new system over 10 years.

Deadline nears for award entries
Doha: Architects and designers have until September 16 to present submissions for the prestigious ar+d award.
The ar+d award for Emerging Architects is entering its fifth year of launching previously-unknown architects and designers onto the world scene.
Generated by a partnership between The Architectural Review and d line international, a manufacturer of architectural design products, the award is intended to seek out and recognise new talent worldwide. It is supported by international consulting engineer Buro Happold.
Ahmed Bucheery of Manama, Bahrain, will be among the distinguished international jury that will select winning schemes.
Other jury members will be Shigeru Ban, Tokyo; Michael Sorkin, New York; Fran‡oise-H‚lŠne Jourda, Paris; Farshid Moussavi, London; and Peter Davey, editor of Architectural Review.

Beach hotel proposed for Zallaq
Manama: A world-class beach hotel is to be built in Zallaq, Bahrain, at a cost estimated at between BD20 million ($53.17 million) and BD25 million.  Work on the project is expected to start early next year.
The project is being financed by a group of Bahraini businessmen, headed by J A Zayani and Sons chairman Jasim Abdul Rahman Al Zayani. Other founding members are Khalid Kanoo, Mohammed Kanoo, Khalid Zayani and Abdulla Buhindi.
"The five-star hotel, which will be managed by an international hotel chain, is scheduled for opening by early 2006.  It will be located on the beach previously used by Bapco. The project is expected to cover a total area of 165,000 sq m. Some 70,000 sq m of land has been allocated for the project with the remaining area to be reclaimed.
A new road under construction will link the proposed hotel complex with the country's highway network, thus shortening the distance to the capital city, said Al Zayani.