German solar advocate nominated for Zayed prize

One of Germany's leading solar power advocates is among the 14 nominees for the Zayed Future Energy Prize, organisers announced yesterday.

The award, which commemorates Sheikh Zayed, the founding President, recognises leaders in clean-energy innovation. Winners will be announced in January on the sidelines of the World Future Energy Summit.

Dr Hermann Scheer's support for measures such as financial incentives for renewable energy has helped bring about double-digit growth for the sector in Germany in less than a decade. If he were to win the lifetime achievement category his award would be given posthumously. Dr Scheer passed away last year at the age of 66.

The other nominees in the category are: Charles O Holliday Jr and Dr Ashok Gadgil, both of the US. In the large corporations division, the nominees are: Schneider Electric of France; GE Energy Financial Services and GE Power & Water, both of the US; and Suzlon of India.

In the SME & NGO category, the Carbon Disclosure Project of the UK; Nuru Energy of Rwanda; Orb Energy of India; the Acumen Fund, the Environmental Defense Fund and d.Light design, all of the US; and Aga Khan Planning and Building Service of Pakistan were nominated. The overall prize pot is Dh14.6 million.

vtodorova@thenational.ae

Liverpool's all-time goalscorers

Ian Rush 346
Roger Hunt 285
Mohamed Salah 250
Gordon Hodgson 241
Billy Liddell 228

Medicus AI

Started: 2016

Founder(s): Dr Baher Al Hakim, Dr Nadine Nehme and Makram Saleh

Based: Vienna, Austria; started in Dubai

Sector: Health Tech

Staff: 119

Funding: €7.7 million (Dh31m)

Explained

Who are the bidoon?

Tax authority targets shisha levy evasion

The Federal Tax Authority will track shisha imports with electronic markers to protect customers and ensure levies have been paid.

Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director of the tax authority, on Sunday said the move is to "prevent tax evasion and support the authority’s tax collection efforts".

The scheme’s first phase, which came into effect on 1st January, 2019, covers all types of imported and domestically produced and distributed cigarettes. As of May 1, importing any type of cigarettes without the digital marks will be prohibited.

He said the latest phase will see imported and locally produced shisha tobacco tracked by the final quarter of this year.

"The FTA also maintains ongoing communication with concerned companies, to help them adapt their systems to meet our requirements and coordinate between all parties involved," he said.

As with cigarettes, shisha was hit with a 100 per cent tax in October 2017, though manufacturers and cafes absorbed some of the costs to prevent prices doubling.

The specs

Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 640hp
Torque: 760nm
On sale: 2026
Price: Not announced yet

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Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Explainer: Tanween Design Programme

Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.

The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.

It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.

The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.

Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”