The Ceremony was attended by numerous heads of delegations participating in COP28, ministers, senior government officials, and Prize winners and finalists.

His Highness congratulated the winners, praising their efforts in promoting sustainability and encouraging them to continue their important contributions in this field. His Highness emphasised that the UAE is steadfast in building upon its established legacy in sustainability, a foundation laid by the country’s Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. In this regard, His Highness highlighted the significant role of the Zayed Sustainability Prize in advancing sustainable development, serving humanity, and empowering innovators, entrepreneurs, and youth to actively contribute towards making a positive difference for our planet.

The Prize honours the legacy of UAE’s founding father Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, by rewarding small and medium enterprises, nonprofit organisations, and high schools that are addressing health, food, energy, water and climate-related challenges. For over 15 years, through its 106 previous winners, the Prize has transformed the lives of 384 million people worldwide.

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – December 01, 2023: HH Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council (L) and HH Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Office of Development and Martyrs Families Affairs at the Presidential Court (2nd L), stand for the national anthem during the Zayed Sustainability Prize for Climate Action, during COP28 UAE, Al Wasl Plaza, at Expo City.
( Hamad Al Kaabi / UAE Presidential Court )

The Prize’s eleven winners for the current cycle were elected in September by a distinguished panel of Jury members, who rigorously evaluated each submission for its contribution and commitment to delivering impactful, innovative, and inspiring solutions across the six categories of Health, Food, Energy, Water, Climate Action and Global High Schools.

To strengthen its commitment to promoting sustainable and humanitarian development, the Zayed Sustainability Prize will be increasing its endowment, from US $3.6M to US $5.9M, effective immediately.

H.E. Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, Director General of the Zayed Sustainability Prize, and COP28 President, said: “Today, the UAE reaffirms its dedication to combat climate change and empower vulnerable communities as we award US $1 million to each of our distinguished winners in Health, Food, Water, Energy and Climate Action, and US $150,000 to each Global High Schools winner. This substantial funding will help scale their innovative solutions and deliver transformational progress around the world, especially across the Global South.”

“As the Zayed Sustainability Prize’s 15th anniversary draws to a close, we reflect on the UAE’s mission to drive inclusive sustainable development and climate action. The Prize not only honours Sheikh Zayed’s legacy of social good but extends the reach of his vision on a global scale.”

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – December 01, 2023: HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates (7th R), stands for a photograph the Zayed Sustainability Prize with the winners during COP28 UAE, Al Wasl Plaza, Expo City. Seen with HE Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, Director General of the Zayed Sustainability Prize, and COP28 President (L).
( Abdulla Al Bedwawi / UAE Presidential Court )

With a larger fund, the Prize can broaden its support for innovative solutions that not only positively impact the environment but also improve the well-being and economic development of the world’s most climate-vulnerable communities.

In the new Climate Action category, Kelp Blue, a Namibian SME, won the Prize for its ambitious efforts to cultivate large-scale kelp forests in deep waters, contributing to the restoration of ocean biodiversity while capturing 100,000 tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere annually. Additionally, their operations have generated job opportunities in coastal communities.

In the Health category, Indonesia’s doctorSHARE was awarded the Prize for its pioneering work in bringing healthcare access to hard-to-reach areas, notably with barge-mounted floating hospitals. Their impact is substantial, having treated over 160,000 patients.

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – December 01, 2023: (R-L) HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region, HE Joko Widodo, President of Indonesia, HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates and HE Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, President of Mauritania, stand for the national anthem during the Zayed Sustainability Prize for Climate Action, during COP28 UAE, Al Wasl Plaza, at Expo City.
( Hamad Al Kaabi / UAE Presidential Court )
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In the Food category, Gaza Urban & Peri-urban Agricultural Platform (GUPAP) from Palestine, won for its contributions to supporting a more resilient agricultural sector in Gaza. The NPO facilitates access to locally produced food, providing job security to 200 women agriprenuers and benefitting more than 7,000 people.

In the Energy category, Ignite Power, an SME from Rwanda, was awarded the Prize for its transformative efforts to provide affordable electricity to last-mile communities across Sub-Saharan Africa. Their pay-as-you-go solar solutions provided electricity to 2.5 million people and prevented 600,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions. Beyond access to clean energy, Ignite Power has introduced solar powered irrigation solutions and generated 3,500 local jobs.

In the Water category, Eau et Vie, an NPO from France, won for its contributions to ensuring access to clean water in impoverished areas by installing taps in urban homes. They have increased water access for 52,000 people in 27 communities across 10 cities. Furthermore, they raised awareness of hygienic practices for 66,000 individuals and reduced the cost of water by 75%.

The Chair of the Jury and former President of the Republic of Iceland, Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, said: “This year’s winners have demonstrated a remarkable wave of ingenuity in their solutions to address urgent global challenges. We have confidence that these winners will catalyse substantial and scalable change in communities worldwide, propelling us towards vital climate action objectives and forging a path to a sustainable future for all.”

The Zayed Sustainability Prize also engages young people through its Global High Schools category and encourages youth to take an active role in supporting their communities and becoming future sustainability leaders. The Prize’s 47 Global High Schools winners have impacted the lives of over 55,186 students and 453,887 people in their wider communities.

The recipients of the Global High Schools awards are Colegio De Alto Rendimiento De La Libertad (Peru), representing The Americas; Gwani Ibrahim Dan Hajja Academy (Nigeria), representing Sub-Saharan Africa; International School (Morocco), representing the Middle East & North Africa; Northfleet Technology College (United Kingdom), representing Europe & Central Asia; KORT Education Complex (Pakistan), representing South Asia; and finally, Beijing High School No. 35 (China), representing East Asia & Pacific.

Football star Cristiano Ronaldo has been hit with class-action lawsuit seeking at least $1 billion in damages for his role in promoting cryptocurrency-related “non-fungible tokens,” or NFTs, issued by the beleaguered cryptocurrency exchange Binance. (more…)

The 10th edition of Duhok International Film Festival will be held in the city of Duhok, Kurdistan Region, Iraq, focusing on French cinema, with its president inviting prominent global movie companies to attend this event.

According to the report of Mansour Jahani, an independent and international cinema journalist, Presided by Ameer Ali Mohammed Tahir and artistic management by the Kurdish director, Shawkat Amin Korki, the 10th round of Duhok International Film Festival is set to be held on 9-16 December, 2023, at Duhok University’s congregation hall and the Duhok Mall Cineplex in Duhok, Kurdistan Region. Heralding the motto of “Mother Tongue (Kurdish),” this edition of Duhok will showcase 100 films by directors of different geographical backgrounds, in a variety of formats such as feature films, shorts, and documentaries in the two categories of competition and out-of-competition.

by Amir Ali Mohammed Tahir, the president of Duhok International Film Festival, stated in a press conference, “The festival agenda has not been that easy so far, only accomplished through the consistent efforts of my colleagues as they have been preoccupied with these affairs for a long while.”
He said, “The festival’s advisors and selection committee have picked out the best films for the competition and out-of-competition categories upon thorough counsel. Each year we try to engage the most excellent cinematic works and elevate the festival in a sense; it is of utmost significance to us that the people travelling to Duhok get to observe the region’s exquisite cinematic culture.”
by Amir Ali Mohammed Tahir said, “Our strategy is to set more prominent objectives each year and that in my opinion is of crucial importance. In each round, Duhok residents have joined the dear people of Kurdistan in the enhancement of the culture and art of this region. Our consistency in holding the festival is a triumph as this part of the Middle East has surpassed numerous obstacles and struggles, and we hold this event each year through a shared effort.”
“Another goal of the festival is to first of all introduce the culture and art of Kurdistan Region to other nations, and the expansion of such cultural and artistic bonds is vital to us. On the other hand, the provision of suitable platforms and contexts for Kurdish youths and filmmakers to produce cinematic works is necessary. Next, the presence of global filmmakers in Duhok festival leads to the creation of cultural and artistic ties and the introduction of Kurdish cinema to the powerful and valuable global movie industry,” Tahircommented.
“Our main goal is to invite a number of prominent global movie companies to this event so that they may choose the Kurdistan Region as their principal setting of their works. I hope that in the near future we get to see the beautiful and intact culture and nature of Kurdistan Region, especially Duhok through the lens of global filmmakers. Also, the economic, touristic, and other growths of the region is another motive for holding this cinematic event,” said the president.

Hassan Arif, the public relations manager of the 10th Duhok Film Festival stated in another segment of the press conference, “We announced that we’d be accepting this round’s submissions via the film portal from 10 June, 2023; after three weeks, we received 500 films in the world cinema and Kurdish cinema sections. Around 200 films were selected by the festival committee members who had attended several global festivals. After closing the film portal, the committee started to work and as a result 100 films in formats namely feature-length, shorts, and documentaries entered the final phase of the festival.”

“This year’s theme is mother tongue which in this case is Kurdish; a rich and extensive language, with numerous accents and particular characteristics. Many Kurdish filmmakers either domestically or outside the region annually produce works in a variety of languages and this is a message for them to keep making Kurdish films so that this tongue may remain alive and lasting,” stressed the public relations manager.
He added, “We have chosen France as the guest country of this year’s Duhok film festival, with screenings of feature-length films, shorts, and documentaries. France is undoubtedly one of the birthplaces of cinema, and at the moment, the international film festival of Cannes is one of the most prestigious cinematic events all across the globe.”
“We have annually received requests for the submission of children films, and this year we have added another category titled “children and youth cinema” showcasing 10 selected films that will be screened in the festival. Also, as usual, the classic cinema category of Duhok Film Festival will feature several prominent world cinema films,” reiterated Arif.

Trusted member of Asia Pacific Screen Awards

Based in Iraq, Duhok Film Festival is a trusted member of Asia Pacific Screen Awards in Australia known as Asian Oscars, introducing global films in this cinematic event.

Jury members of “World Cinema” competition category in this festival will grant a statue, a plaque, and Yılmaz Güney’s $10,000 award to best feature film, $5000 to best director, $5000 to best international short film, $5000 to new talent, jury’s special $1500 award to best short and the French Goethe Institute’s $5000 dollar award to best international documentary.

Duhok Film Festival, presided by Amir Ali Mohammed Tahir, with artistic management by Shawkat Amin Korki, and in memoriam of Yılmaz Güney, the 1982 Palme d’or winner in Cannes, is in an effort to bridge the gap between Kurdish directors and those from the rest of the world, facilitating cultural exchanges among the nations all around the world.

For more details:

http://www.duhokiff.com/

https://www.facebook.com/duhokiff/

As anticipation builds for Dubai’s biggest New Year’s Eve celebration, Emaar Properties reveals the extraordinary technological expertise and human creativity that went into the making of the legendary Emaar New Year’s Eve 2024 show in Downtown Dubai.

The visual composition on the Burj Khalifa’s façade was meticulously designed by a daring crew of visionaries and technicians throughout 671 working days. An increase from previous seasons, the 325 strategic firing positions in this year’s show are choreographed to create a breathtaking spectacle in the sky.

Paying tribute to the spirit of Dubai, more than 2800 shooting directions transform the night sky into an intricate pattern of colours and shapes, thereby contributing to the show’s complexity. An unprecedented 15,682 pyrotechnic elements will be featured in the performance; each will have a distinct firing sequence coordinated using state-of-the-art computer technology.

In perfect harmony with this spectacular display, the nearby Dubai Fountain is set to present a breathtaking choreography of its own.

Under the expert direction of Peter Kopik, WET’s chief choreographer with a rich history of nearly three decades in fountain choreography, this year’s Dubai Fountain show promises an awe-inspiring blend of water artistry, light, and sound, perfectly timed and synchronised with Burj Khalifa’s display.

The show features over a thousand MiniShooters creating dynamic water sequences, dozens of HyperShooters and XtremeShooters propelling water up to 150 meters, and hundreds of Oarsmen and Fan Oarsmen that add elegance and fluidity to the water dance. Over 6,600 lights and 127 strobe strings will illuminate the water, while 6,700 fog nozzles create an ethereal atmosphere, setting the stage for a night of enchantment.

Despite its extraordinary magnitude, Emaar’s New Year’s Eve celebration is more than just figures. We take great pleasure in the sense of togetherness and unity that this technological achievement will cultivate among family and friends across the globe.

Emaar ensures the meticulous planning and execution of the New Year’s Eve shows at Burj Khalifa and Dubai Fountain, prioritising high quality in producing its events over quantity. Beyond being just another fireworks extravaganza, the Emaar New Year’s Eve show exemplifies the seamless integration of technology, artistic excellence, and human ingenuity.

In anticipation of the forthcoming event, Emaar cordially invites people worldwide to partake in this momentous occasion characterised by ingenuity, solidarity, and wonder. Together, let us celebrate an unforgettable moment to ring in 2024.

Note: A limited number of tickets for a prime viewing spot in Burj Park is still available for those who wish to enjoy a hassle-free experience on this magical evening. Book your tickets now on Platinumlist.

For more information, log on to mydubainewyear.emaar.com

• With 671 workdays invested, the setup for the New Year’s Eve show at Burj Khalifa represents a monumental effort of planning and precision.

• A record number of 325 firing positions have been strategically installed on Burj Khalifa, surpassing past years’ setups and ensuring a breathtaking display.

• 2,800 unique shooting directions have been meticulously programmed, merging cutting-edge technology with optimised creative vision.

• Over 15,682 individual pyrotechnic elements create an unparalleled visual symphony.

• In parallel with Burj Khalifa’s display, the Dubai Fountain show, designed by the celebrated Peter Kopik, promises an enchanting experience with intricate choreography featuring innovative water features and synchronised effects.

Oscar-winning actor Jamie Foxx was accused of sexual assault in a lawsuit filed in New York City on Wednesday that alleges he groped a woman at a rooftop bar and restaurant in Manhattan in August 2015. (more…)

After settling rape and abuse allegations with the singer Cassie last week, Sean “Diddy” Combs is facing growing scrutiny in the midst of his push to refresh and expand a business portfolio he spent decades cultivating.

In a letter filed with a New York court Friday, the London-based spirit maker Diageo cited the accusations to bolster its monthslong effort to prevent Combs from serving as the face of DeLeón tequila, which he has run in a joint venture with it for a decade.

The letter came after a series of lawsuits Combs filed against Diageo, whose other brands include Johnnie Walker, Don Julio and Smirnoff.

In May, he accused the company of pigeonholing DeLeón and Cîroc, the vodka he fronted for 15 years, as “Black brands” for “urban” consumers, allegedly violating an equal treatment provision in their contract. In a subsequent October complaint, Combs said Diageo had blackballed him from the spirit industry over his racial discrimination claims, which have been put on ice until next spring. He alleged in last month’s retaliation suit that the company was sending him the message “speak up and you will be punished.”

Diageo ended the Cîroc partnership over the summer, saying at the time that Combs had breached his contract. But the parties are still feuding over the use of up to $15 million in advertising and promotional budget, including for DeLeón’s marketing next year.

In recent months, Diageo has argued in court documents that Combs’ accusations of racism, which it denies, have already made him an ineffective spokesperson. The new “public and disturbing accusations” against the music mogul risk “devastating and permanent damage” to the tequila brand, the company said Friday, adding that one influencer had already asked to cut ties with DeLeón on moral grounds.

In its court letter, Diageo pointed to a statement by Combs’ lawyer to The New York Times indicating the artist was aware that Cassie wanted to expose details of their relationship for at least six months before they emerged publicly. That period, the company said, “happens to correspond with the pendency of Combs Wines’ original lawsuit against Diageo.”

Diageo declined to comment beyond the statements in the court documents.

A spokesperson for Combs didn’t comment on the Diageo dispute but said the decision to settle with Cassie, whose legal name is Casandra Ventura, “does not in any way undermine his flat-out denial of the claims. He is happy they got to a mutual settlement and wishes Ms. Ventura the best.”

In the days after the rape accusations emerged, scrutiny of Combs and members of his business circle has intensified. On Wednesday, his music label, Bad Boy Records, was sued along with its parent company and former president, Harve Pierre, accusing Pierre of sexually assaulting an unnamed assistant at the label.

“The allegations are from many years ago that were never brought to the attention of the company,” a Bad Boy Entertainment spokesperson said. “Neither the plaintiff nor the executive are current employees of the company. We are now investigating the allegations, and our top priority is the safety and well-being of our employees.”

Pierre didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.

On Monday, the co-host of a podcast on Combs’ Revolt media network announced she wouldn’t participate in a third season. “I am a [sexual assault] survivor & I cannot be part of a show that’s supposed to uplift black women while @Diddy leads the company,” Dawn Montgomery, who hosts “Monuments to Me,” a podcast about Black women’s issues and successes, posted on X.

Montgomery told NBC News that she empathized with Cassie’s allegations. “I cannot sign back on and say that I want to be paid to do a podcast where a few of the episodes were probably going to reflect this conversation,” she said. “Diddy and his people could never do anything towards me to make me feel like I needed to continue to be quiet.”

Revolt didn’t respond to a request for comment.

Old interviews with Combs’ associates addressing his alleged behavior and new comments critical of him have circulated on social media. Some users included the phrase “Surviving Diddy,” an apparent reference to the Lifetime docuseries “Surviving R. Kelly” that featured accounts of women who accused the R&B artist of abuse over several decades. Kelly is currently serving time in prison for multiple sex crimes convictions.

During a performance in Los Angeles last weekend, the singer Kesha dropped lyrics referring to Combs in her 2009 hit single, “Tik Tok,” whose opening line mentions him.

The pushback follows a flurry of business moves by the 54-year-old entertainment mogul over the last 12 months.

Combs announced in September that he was returning publishing rights to some Bad Boy artists, telling Variety he was “doing the right thing” by making good on plans in the works since 2021. Several artists criticized the offer, saying they’d been asking for the rights for years but were unlikely to earn much from music that was more profitable decades ago.

In February, he rebranded his Combs Enterprises as Combs Global to reflect his evolution “as a business leader and a bigger vision to build the largest portfolio of leading Black-owned brands in the world.” The venture includes Empower Global, an e-commerce marketplace launched in 2021 aimed at supporting Black entrepreneurs.

The refresh came three months after Combs agreed to acquire a pair of cannabis operations in a deal valued at up to $185 million at the time, but the plan fell through in July after the merger that would have spun them off collapsed. In May, Combs rolled out a new R&B label, Love Records, as part of a deal with Motown Records that saw the release in September of his fifth studio album.

Combs, whose net worth has been estimated at around $1 billion, shot to fame in the early 1990s as a music promoter turned talent director before setting out to run his own label, with Bad Boy Records representing artists from the late Notorious B.I.G. to Faith Evans. One of his earliest major ventures outside music was in fashion, with the Sean John streetwear label launching in 1998. Combs sold the bulk of the brand in 2016 for an estimated $70 million, then bought it back from its bankrupt owner for around $7.5 million five years later.

A Macy’s spokesperson said the retailer began phasing out Sean John starting this fall in a move unrelated to the allegations against Combs. Other major sellers of the line, including Nordstrom and Saks Off 5th, didn’t respond to requests for comment, nor did Sean John’s parent company.

Some crisis communications experts said Combs’ quick settlement of the abuse claims could blunt further damage to his brand and businesses.

“Diddy avoided much of that pain by getting this thing resolved quickly,” said Evan Nierman, CEO of the public relations firm Red Banyan. “I think resolving the legal matter and having it completely closed to their mutual satisfaction is going to help inoculate him against seeing his career permanently destroyed.”

He said he wasn’t surprised that other celebrities and major brands largely haven’t weighed in. “I expect people to remain quiet on the topic now while it’s in the headlines,” he said, adding, “This is not going to have a lasting damaging effect on him.”

NBCNews.com story by Nicole Childers, Sara Ruberg and Diana Dasrath Click Here to Read on NBCNews.com