Emirates

Earth Hour 2023 rallies more people than ever

GENEVA, 26th March, 2023 (WAM) – Major landmarks across the world took part in Earth Hour’s iconic switch off moment, including the Sydney Opera House, China's Zhouzhuang in Kunshan and the Beijing National Speed Skating Hall, Taipei 101, the Eiffel Tower, the Empire State Building, and Christ the Redeemer. For the first time in its incredible 17-year history, this year’s Earth Hour also encouraged people around the globe to ‘switch off’ themselves by taking a break from their routine and everyday distractions, and deciding for themselves what they can do to restore our one home.

From 08:30 pm local time on Saturday, 25th of March, WWF’s Earth Hour, the world’s largest grassroots environmental movement, created the ‘Biggest Hour for Earth’ yet, as more individuals, businesses and communities across 190 countries and territories came together in a powerful moment of unity to celebrate the planet and ‘Give an Hour for Earth’, spending 60 minutes doing something positive for our planet.

Dr Kirsten Schuijt, Director General, WWF International: “Earth Hour is a fantastic celebration of people, planet and nature. This year we created the Biggest Hour for Earth yet! , asking everyone to “switch off” – their lights or their daily habits – and spending 60 minutes doing something for the planet instead. Together, we can turn a single Earth Hour into millions of hours of inspiration, inviting millions of people to act, and making millions more take notice. Our one shared home needs our help and we can ALL play a part in protecting it.”

Meanwhile, Mr Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General, the United Nations: “On Earth Hour every year, millions of people in hundreds of cities around the world turn off the lights. It's a call to action to make peace with nature, massively increase climate action and save our planet. And it is a reminder that all of us can play our part in large ways and small, to protect our common home and safeguard our future. Every minute and every hour counts. From the darkness let us build a brighter and more sustainable future for everyone, everywhere.”

·Earth Hour, the world's largest grassroots movement for the environment, returned in 2023 to raise awareness and inspire collective action against climate change and nature loss.

Since 2007 Earth Hour has shone a spotlight on the issues of climate change and nature loss having reached over 190 countries and territories and millions of people around the globe. Earth Hour has featured many of the world’s most iconic landmarks switching off their lights, from the London Eye in England to the Eiffel Tower in France and the 2,000-year-old Colosseum in Italy. It has also united millions around the world to push for change and inspired global initiatives since it first started.

Emirates

Two intact embalming workshops unearthed in Egypt

CAIRO, 27th May, 2023 (WAM) – Two embalming workshops dedicated to humans and animals, the largest and most complete found as yet, have been discovered in the Saqqara Necropolis, Greater Cairo, the Egyptian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Ahmed Issa, told reporters.

In a related development, an archaeological mission, led by Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities Mostafa Waziri, unearthed two tombs from different historical periods, along with a significant collection of artifacts.

The embalming workshops date back to the 30th Dynasty (380-343 BC) and the Ptolemaic period (305-30 BC), while the two tombs belong to the Old and New Kingdoms, according to Waziri.

The human embalming workshop is a rectangular building with multiple rooms containing stone beds measuring two metres long and 50 cm. These beds were used for the mummification of the deceased. They were covered with plaster and featured gutters. Among the artifacts found within the workshop were clay pots, tools and ritual vessels used for mummification.

Emirates

Mohammed bin Rashid receives greetings of Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, Crown Prince of Sharjah on Al Maktoum wedding

DUBAI, 27th May, 2023 (WAM) — His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, received the greetings of H.H. Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, and H.H. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, on the occasion of the wedding of Mane', son of Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid bin Mane' Al Maktoum, to the daughter of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, at a reception held today at the Za'beel Hall of the Dubai World Trade Center.

Attending the reception also were Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, and Sheikh Hasher bin Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum, the Chairman of the Dubai Media Incorporated, and a number of sheikhs, ministers, dignitaries and senior state officials.

Emirates

Mohammed bin Rashid receives greetings of Mansour bin Zayed, Khaled bin Mohamed, on Al Maktoum wedding

DUBAI, 27th May, 2023 (WAM) — His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai received the greetings of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court, and H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, on the occasion of the wedding of Mane', son of Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid bin Mane' Al Maktoum, to the daughter of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

H.H. Sheikh Mohammed received the wedding greetings in the presence of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, H.H. Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, and H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai, at a reception that was held today at the Za'beel Hall of the Dubai World Trade Center.

The reception was attended by H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, H.H. Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Sports Council, and Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, along with and a number of sheikhs, ministers, dignitaries and senior state officials.