• Activists stand in front of the Brandenburg Gate, a moment prior the switch off of the illumination, to mark Earth Hour in Berlin, Germany, 23 March 2024. Earth Hour takes place worldwide at 8. 30 p. m. local time and is a global call to cut emissions by switching off lights for 60 minutes to raise awareness of the fight against global climatic change. The signs read 'protect climate' (L) and 'strengthen democracy'. EPA / HANNIBAL HANSCHKE
    Activists stand in front of the Brandenburg Gate, a moment prior the switch off of the illumination, to mark Earth Hour in Berlin, Germany, 23 March 2024. Earth Hour takes place worldwide at 8. 30 p. m. local time and is a global call to cut emissions by switching off lights for 60 minutes to raise awareness of the fight against global climatic change. The signs read 'protect climate' (L) and 'strengthen democracy'. EPA / HANNIBAL HANSCHKE
  • Museum of the Future in Dubai goes lights off during Earth Hour. Leslie Pableo for The National
    Museum of the Future in Dubai goes lights off during Earth Hour. Leslie Pableo for The National
  • Acropolis hill with floodlights switched off during 'Earth Hour' in Athens, Greece. EPA
    Acropolis hill with floodlights switched off during 'Earth Hour' in Athens, Greece. EPA
  • A view of the Sydney Opera House after lights were switched off. Reuters
    A view of the Sydney Opera House after lights were switched off. Reuters
  • Paris' Eiffel Tower with the lights off during the Earth Hour environmental campaign. AFP
    Paris' Eiffel Tower with the lights off during the Earth Hour environmental campaign. AFP
  • The Puente de la Mujer bridge is pictured with its lights turned off during the Earth Hour environmental campaign at Puerto Madero neighborhood in Buenos Aires. AFP
    The Puente de la Mujer bridge is pictured with its lights turned off during the Earth Hour environmental campaign at Puerto Madero neighborhood in Buenos Aires. AFP
  • A view shows St Alexander Nevsky cathedral as the lights are being turned off for Earth Hour, in Sofia, Bulgaria. Reuters
    A view shows St Alexander Nevsky cathedral as the lights are being turned off for Earth Hour, in Sofia, Bulgaria. Reuters
  • A drone view shows the ruins of the ancient Parthenon temple atop the Acropolis hill with the lights turned off during Earth Hour, in Athens, Greece. Reuters
    A drone view shows the ruins of the ancient Parthenon temple atop the Acropolis hill with the lights turned off during Earth Hour, in Athens, Greece. Reuters
  • A large advertising screen in Piccadilly Circus is turned off to mark Earth Hour, London, Britain. Reuters
    A large advertising screen in Piccadilly Circus is turned off to mark Earth Hour, London, Britain. Reuters
  • The Palace of Culture in Warsaw switched off to mark the Earth Hour environmental campaign organized by the World Wild Fund for Nature . AFP
    The Palace of Culture in Warsaw switched off to mark the Earth Hour environmental campaign organized by the World Wild Fund for Nature . AFP
  • The Cologne Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, next to the Hohenzollern railway bridge across the river Rhine, is partly illuminated during Earth Hour in Cologne, Germany, March 23, 2024. REUTERS / Jana Rodenbusch
    The Cologne Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, next to the Hohenzollern railway bridge across the river Rhine, is partly illuminated during Earth Hour in Cologne, Germany, March 23, 2024. REUTERS / Jana Rodenbusch
  • Lights at the Colosseum are switched off for the Earth Hour environmental campaign in Rome, Italy. EPA
    Lights at the Colosseum are switched off for the Earth Hour environmental campaign in Rome, Italy. EPA
  • A general view of Azadi (Freedom) tower after its light is switched off during the world Earth Hour in Tehran, Iran. EPA
    A general view of Azadi (Freedom) tower after its light is switched off during the world Earth Hour in Tehran, Iran. EPA
  • The Telangana State Secretariat building is pictured with its lights switched off during the Earth Hour environmental campaign in Hyderabad. AFP
    The Telangana State Secretariat building is pictured with its lights switched off during the Earth Hour environmental campaign in Hyderabad. AFP
  • The Prambanan Temple, one of the largest Hindu temples in Southeast Asia and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is pictured with its lights off during the Earth Hour environmental campaign in Yogyakarta. AFP
    The Prambanan Temple, one of the largest Hindu temples in Southeast Asia and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is pictured with its lights off during the Earth Hour environmental campaign in Yogyakarta. AFP
  • A man walks past the Phoenix Center after its lights are turned off for the Earth Hour environmental campaign in Beijing. AFP
    A man walks past the Phoenix Center after its lights are turned off for the Earth Hour environmental campaign in Beijing. AFP
  • The shadows of people are casted on a wall with the message 'Give an Hour for Earth' at a gathering to mark the Earth Hour environmental campaign in Manila. AFP
    The shadows of people are casted on a wall with the message 'Give an Hour for Earth' at a gathering to mark the Earth Hour environmental campaign in Manila. AFP
  • The landmark building Taipei 101 is seen with its lights switched off to mark the Earth Hour environmental campaign in Taipei. AFP
    The landmark building Taipei 101 is seen with its lights switched off to mark the Earth Hour environmental campaign in Taipei. AFP
  • Malaysia's landmark Petronas Twin Towers (L) and KL Tower (R) are illuminated before their lights are turned off to mark the Earth Hour environmental campaign in Kuala Lumpur. AFP
    Malaysia's landmark Petronas Twin Towers (L) and KL Tower (R) are illuminated before their lights are turned off to mark the Earth Hour environmental campaign in Kuala Lumpur. AFP

World's best-known landmarks power down for Earth Hour


  • English
  • Arabic

Landmarks across the world went dark on Saturday to mark this year's Earth Hour.

Buildings including Big Ben, the Eiffel Tower, the Sydney Opera House and the Colosseum in Rome switched off their lights for the global event.

In the UAE, Dubai's Museum of the Future and the Burj Khalifa also joined in the day of environmental action.

Earth Hour, spearheaded by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), urges supporters to symbolically switch off and 'give an hour for Earth’, spending 60 minutes doing something positive for our planet

These activities include turning off their lights for one hour, signing a petition, sharing energy saving tips or supporting wildlife.

WWF said that last year saw the biggest Earth Hour since its launch in 2007, with more than 410,000 hours given to the planet by supporters in 190 countries and territories

António Guterres, the Secretary General of the UN, on Friday asked for people around the world to participate.

“On Earth Hour, millions of people around the world switch off the lights to shine a light on the plight of our planet,” he said in a video message.

“This year, I invite you to be one of them. The need is urgent,” Mr Guterres stressed.

He pointed out that global climate is collapsing, as last year was the hottest ever.

THE SPECS

      

 

Engine: 1.5-litre

 

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

 

Power: 110 horsepower 

 

Torque: 147Nm 

 

Price: From Dh59,700 

 

On sale: now  

 
Unresolved crisis

Russia and Ukraine have been locked in a bitter conflict since 2014, when Ukraine’s Kremlin-friendly president was ousted, Moscow annexed Crimea and then backed a separatist insurgency in the east.

Fighting between the Russia-backed rebels and Ukrainian forces has killed more than 14,000 people. In 2015, France and Germany helped broker a peace deal, known as the Minsk agreements, that ended large-scale hostilities but failed to bring a political settlement of the conflict.

The Kremlin has repeatedly accused Kiev of sabotaging the deal, and Ukrainian officials in recent weeks said that implementing it in full would hurt Ukraine.

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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.
Defending champions

World Series: South Africa
Women’s World Series: Australia
Gulf Men’s League: Dubai Exiles
Gulf Men’s Social: Mediclinic Barrelhouse Warriors
Gulf Vets: Jebel Ali Dragons Veterans
Gulf Women: Dubai Sports City Eagles
Gulf Under 19: British School Al Khubairat
Gulf Under 19 Girls: Dubai Exiles
UAE National Schools: Al Safa School
International Invitational: Speranza 22
International Vets: Joining Jack

The specs

Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors

Power: Combined output 920hp

Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic

Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km

On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025

Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000

GAC GS8 Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh149,900

TOURNAMENT INFO

Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier

Jul 3- 14, in the Netherlands
The top two teams will qualify to play at the World T20 in the West Indies in November

UAE squad
Humaira Tasneem (captain), Chamani Seneviratne, Subha Srinivasan, Neha Sharma, Kavisha Kumari, Judit Cleetus, Chaya Mughal, Roopa Nagraj, Heena Hotchandani, Namita D’Souza, Ishani Senevirathne, Esha Oza, Nisha Ali, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi

Teachers' pay - what you need to know

Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:

- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools

- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say

- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance

- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs

- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills

- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month

- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues

The 12 Syrian entities delisted by UK 

Ministry of Interior
Ministry of Defence
General Intelligence Directorate
Air Force Intelligence Agency
Political Security Directorate
Syrian National Security Bureau
Military Intelligence Directorate
Army Supply Bureau
General Organisation of Radio and TV
Al Watan newspaper
Cham Press TV
Sama TV

Updated: March 24, 2024, 9:05 AM