King Abdullah II and Queen Rania of Jordan and a foundation in Haiti were on Friday named the joint winners of this year's Zayed Award for Human Fraternity.
The royal couple and the Foundation for Knowledge and Liberty in Haiti (Fokal) will share the $1 million prize to enhance their humanitarian work.
The winners were selected by a panel of judges appointed by the Higher Committee for Human Fraternity, an independent body tasked with promoting human fraternity worldwide, for encouraging togetherness and peaceful coexistence.
King Abdullah was chosen for promoting interfaith dialogue in the Middle East, addressing divisions among Muslims and fostering harmonious relations between East and West. Queen Rania was honoured for her advocacy for refugee rights and consistent efforts to promote tolerance and acceptance through philanthropic initiatives.
Since the signing of the Document on Human Fraternity, the Zayed Award has sought to celebrate inspiring initiatives to advance our common humanity and provide the necessary support for it
Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam,
Higher Committee of Human Fraternity
“King Abdullah II and Queen Rania have carried the message of peace over successive decades, emphasising the essence of human fraternity, strengthening solidarity and love among human beings without discrimination on the basis of race, creed, or geography,” said Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, Secretary General of the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity.
Monsignor Yoannis Lahzi Gaid, former personal secretary to Pope Francis and a member of the Higher Committee for Human Fraternity, said he saw first-hand the good work of King Abdullah.
“I had the honour to serve in the Vatican Apostolic Nunciature in Amman and I saw with my own eyes, the work of his majesty. He is known around the world as a man of peace and a man who helps others.
“This is a very difficult time for the world. There is a lot of fear – fear of war – fear of crime and we need to see good models. So in this time of darkness we need to see light, to speak of it and to speak about good things.”
Described as a “beacon of hope in Haiti”, Fokal was recognised for its work to promote sustainable development, education, art and culture and for its work in raising humanitarian aid for farmers and grass roots organisations affected by the earthquake in the Tiburon Peninsula last year.
“The work of [Fokal] to improve the lives of Haitians and build a more peaceful and resilient society is a shining example of implementing the principle of human fraternity,” Judge Abelsalam said.
Founded in 1995, the foundation supports the creation of a sustainable and fair democratic society in Haiti by encouraging critical thinking, accountability and creativity. It targets children and young people, as well as historically marginalised sectors such as women and the poor.
Well known across Haiti, the foundation is predominantly supported by Open Society Foundations, created by billionaire philanthropist George Soros, and the European Union.
Its founder and president, Michele Pierre-Louis, who is a former prime minister of Haiti, has dedicated her life to human rights and gender equality. Under her management, the foundation has been involved in an urban development project in the impoverished neighbourhood of Port-au-Prince. The project includes protecting the last remaining wooded area in the city and transforming it into a natural park.
Ms Pierre-Louis said thousands of impoverished Haitian families would benefit from the winnings.
“When they announced that we were getting the prize, oh my God, I cried, we cried. We were so honoured,” she told The National.
“The award will help us continue our work, not just symbolically but even the financial support is very helpful to the people that we work with. This is also going to be an encouragement for us to continue that type of work.”
The award was established on February 4, 2019, to mark the meeting between Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al Azhar, Dr Ahmed Al Tayeb, in Abu Dhabi.
It rewards individuals, governments or organisations worldwide for their difficult and often unheralded work with the aim of inspiring others and creating a global community of those committed to bringing about a more just and harmonious world.
This year's winners were chosen from 200 nominations.
“Since the signing of the Document on Human Fraternity, the Zayed Award has sought to celebrate inspiring initiatives to advance our common humanity and provide the necessary support for it,” Judge Abdelsalam said.
“Each candidate proved to be a source of inspiration and true epitome of human fraternity.”
Previous winners include Dr Al Tayeb and Pope Francis in 2019. The religious leaders were presented with the award after signing the Document on Human Fraternity in Abu Dhabi. The document calls for all people to put aside differences in pursuit of progress through understanding, reconciliation and peace.
Last year's winners were UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and Latifa Ibn Ziaten, a Moroccan-French activist and founder of the Imad Association for youth and peace.
Nominations for the award, named after the UAE's Founding Father, Sheikh Zayed, are made annually and can include people of all backgrounds. They can be nominated by former winners, leaders, members of governments, parliaments, heads of state (former or present), university presidents, heads of research institutes or religious and cultural institutions, heads of international organisations or UN offices, and people well known for their humanitarian work.
Cardinal Miguel Angel Ayuso Guixot, President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue of the Holy See, and member of the Higher Committee for Human Fraternity, said the award was a reminder that good still exists in the world.
“This is an important celebration because it will be a further occasion to remind us all of the importance of the event that took place in 2019 – the signing of the document between Pope Francis and Imam Ahmed Al Tayeb.
“It is another occasion to implement the values of the document; and the beauty of its values is that it must be applied to the four corners of the world.
“We have to seek, not only locally but on a global level, all the elements that may help … to implement the values of the human family, which is human fraternity.
“What we want and what we need is that a new generation to be educated in a way that they may discover their future, in a good spirit of humanity.”
The judging panel comprises six members, including the former presidents of Niger and East Timor, Nobel prize winners, religious figureheads and activists.
Dr Leah Pisar, chair of Project Aladdin, which works to counter extremism, anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim bigotry, said she was inspired by her father, who was a Holocaust survivor and, despite all he endured, instilled in her the values of human fraternity.
“He was an optimist. And he really taught me, but in a profound way, that we're all human and we're all born equal. We can all aspire to the same values,” she said.
She said the judging panel looked for a variety of attributes in the winners.
“The question was whether to choose an awardee who has a great platform to inspire the world or someone who does not yet have that platform and help empower them to reach a bigger platform and become a sort of a model for others.”
They decided to have both: a head of state with a huge platform; and a small organisation – each doing good in different ways.
“It was not an easy choice and I think we all felt a sense of sadness when we made the decision, because when you read about all these wonderful nominees, you get to know them, you establish a kind of a relationship, a friendship with them.
“A lot goes into a decision-making process, but I think we all felt that maybe we can find other ways to highlight and help some of the other nominees, because there were many whose work was just spectacular and inspiring and at once humble and noble.”
The award is just one part of the work that the Higher Committee for Human Fraternity carries out.
“The higher committee promotes the oneness universally, of people and religion. And ideologies, that we can be different, but the understanding that we are the same. If you cut me right now, my blood is red like yours,” Nobel Peace Prize winner and Liberian peace activist, Leymah Gbowee, told The National.
She said she only agreed to join the panel under the condition that she not be made “an ornament".
“I want to make a change. I have a voice and I want my voice to be heard.
“I scream for our collective humanity and the representation of women and children.
“There is no way we can do an award and leave out the voices of women. So last year, you see that we had a woman as a winner.
“There is absolutely no way we can continue to conduct our world on the basis of individualism. It is time for us to look and see that the one with the silo mindset is driving us deeper and deeper into crisis,” she said.
As the winners were announced on Friday, Russia's invasion of Ukraine roared in the background.
Ms Gbowee said it was a perfect example of a crisis where people were being left out of the “peace conversation".
“Listen to the news and with all of what is happening with Ukraine. There hasn't been one single conversation about people,” she said.
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Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Details
Through Her Lens: The stories behind the photography of Eva Sereny
Forewords by Jacqueline Bisset and Charlotte Rampling, ACC Art Books
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PROFILE OF HALAN
Started: November 2017
Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport and logistics
Size: 150 employees
Investment: approximately $8 million
Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar
Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015
- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany
- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people
- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed
- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest
- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France
Porsche Taycan Turbo specs
Engine: Two permanent-magnet synchronous AC motors
Transmission: two-speed
Power: 671hp
Torque: 1050Nm
Range: 450km
Price: Dh601,800
On sale: now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
Mazen Abukhater, principal and actuary at global consultancy Mercer, Middle East, says the company’s Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index - which benchmarks 34 pension schemes across the globe to assess their adequacy, sustainability and integrity - included Saudi Arabia for the first time this year to offer a glimpse into the region.
The index highlighted fundamental issues for all 34 countries, such as a rapid ageing population and a low growth / low interest environment putting pressure on expected returns. It also highlighted the increasing popularity around the world of defined contribution schemes.
“Average life expectancy has been increasing by about three years every 10 years. Someone born in 1947 is expected to live until 85 whereas someone born in 2007 is expected to live to 103,” Mr Abukhater told the Mena Pensions Conference.
“Are our systems equipped to handle these kind of life expectancies in the future? If so many people retire at 60, they are going to be in retirement for 43 years – so we need to adapt our retirement age to our changing life expectancy.”
Saudi Arabia came in the middle of Mercer’s ranking with a score of 58.9. The report said the country's index could be raised by improving the minimum level of support for the poorest aged individuals and increasing the labour force participation rate at older ages as life expectancies rise.
Mr Abukhater said the challenges of an ageing population, increased life expectancy and some individuals relying solely on their government for financial support in their retirement years will put the system under strain.
“To relieve that pressure, governments need to consider whether it is time to switch to a defined contribution scheme so that individuals can supplement their own future with the help of government support,” he said.
More on animal trafficking
More on animal trafficking
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How it works
1) The liquid nanoclay is a mixture of water and clay that aims to convert desert land to fertile ground
2) Instead of water draining straight through the sand, it apparently helps the soil retain water
3) One application is said to last five years
4) The cost of treatment per hectare (2.4 acres) of desert varies from $7,000 to $10,000 per hectare
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
MATCH INFO
Manchester City 2 (Mahrez 04', Ake 84')
Leicester City 5 (Vardy 37' pen, 54', 58' pen, Maddison 77', Tielemans 88' pen)
Man of the match: Jamie Vardy (Leicester City)
Our legal advisor
Rasmi Ragy is a senior counsel at Charles Russell Speechlys, a law firm headquartered in London with offices in Europe, the Middle East and Hong Kong.
Experience: Prosecutor in Egypt with more than 40 years experience across the GCC.
Education: Ain Shams University, Egypt, in 1978.
if you go
The flights
Direct flights from the UAE to the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu, are available with Air Arabia, (www.airarabia.com) Fly Dubai (www.flydubai.com) or Etihad (www.etihad.com) from Dh1,200 return including taxes. The trek described here started from Jomson, but there are many other start and end point variations depending on how you tailor your trek. To get to Jomson from Kathmandu you must first fly to the lake-side resort town of Pokhara with either Buddha Air (www.buddhaair.com) or Yeti Airlines (www.yetiairlines.com). Both charge around US$240 (Dh880) return. From Pokhara there are early morning flights to Jomson with Yeti Airlines or Simrik Airlines (www.simrikairlines.com) for around US$220 (Dh800) return.
The trek
Restricted area permits (US$500 per person) are required for trekking in the Upper Mustang area. The challenging Meso Kanto pass between Tilcho Lake and Jomson should not be attempted by those without a lot of mountain experience and a good support team. An excellent trekking company with good knowledge of Upper Mustang, the Annaurpuna Circuit and Tilcho Lake area and who can help organise a version of the trek described here is the Nepal-UK run Snow Cat Travel (www.snowcattravel.com). Prices vary widely depending on accommodation types and the level of assistance required.
World record transfers
1. Kylian Mbappe - to Real Madrid in 2017/18 - €180 million (Dh770.4m - if a deal goes through)
2. Paul Pogba - to Manchester United in 2016/17 - €105m
3. Gareth Bale - to Real Madrid in 2013/14 - €101m
4. Cristiano Ronaldo - to Real Madrid in 2009/10 - €94m
5. Gonzalo Higuain - to Juventus in 2016/17 - €90m
6. Neymar - to Barcelona in 2013/14 - €88.2m
7. Romelu Lukaku - to Manchester United in 2017/18 - €84.7m
8. Luis Suarez - to Barcelona in 2014/15 - €81.72m
9. Angel di Maria - to Manchester United in 2014/15 - €75m
10. James Rodriguez - to Real Madrid in 2014/15 - €75m
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Who are the Soroptimists?
The first Soroptimists club was founded in Oakland, California in 1921. The name comes from the Latin word soror which means sister, combined with optima, meaning the best.
The organisation said its name is best interpreted as ‘the best for women’.
Since then the group has grown exponentially around the world and is officially affiliated with the United Nations. The organisation also counts Queen Mathilde of Belgium among its ranks.
THE BIO
Bio Box
Role Model: Sheikh Zayed, God bless his soul
Favorite book: Zayed Biography of the leader
Favorite quote: To be or not to be, that is the question, from William Shakespeare's Hamlet
Favorite food: seafood
Favorite place to travel: Lebanon
Favorite movie: Braveheart
Scores in brief:
Boost Defenders 205-5 in 20 overs
(Colin Ingram 84 not out, Cameron Delport 36, William Somerville 2-28)
bt Auckland Aces 170 for 5 in 20 overs
(Rob O’Donnell 67 not out, Kyle Abbott 3-21).
Silent Hill f
Publisher: Konami
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Rating: 4.5/5
A timeline of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language
- 2018: Formal work begins
- November 2021: First 17 volumes launched
- November 2022: Additional 19 volumes released
- October 2023: Another 31 volumes released
- November 2024: All 127 volumes completed
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
UAE rugby season
FIXTURES
West Asia Premiership
Dubai Hurricanes v Dubai Knights Eagles
Dubai Tigers v Bahrain
Jebel Ali Dragons v Abu Dhabi Harlequins
UAE Division 1
Dubai Sharks v Dubai Hurricanes II
Al Ain Amblers v Dubai Knights Eagles II
Dubai Tigers II v Abu Dhabi Saracens
Jebel Ali Dragons II v Abu Dhabi Harlequins II
Sharjah Wanderers v Dubai Exiles II
LAST SEASON
West Asia Premiership
Winners – Bahrain
Runners-up – Dubai Exiles
UAE Premiership
Winners – Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Runners-up – Jebel Ali Dragons
Dubai Rugby Sevens
Winners – Dubai Hurricanes
Runners-up – Abu Dhabi Harlequins
UAE Conference
Winners – Dubai Tigers
Runners-up – Al Ain Amblers
Company%20Profile
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