The Prince of Wales records a short piece to camera for the Boston awards in December. PA
The Prince of Wales records a short piece to camera for the Boston awards in December. PA
The Prince of Wales records a short piece to camera for the Boston awards in December. PA
The Prince of Wales records a short piece to camera for the Boston awards in December. PA

Prince William's third Earthshot Prize awards ceremony to be held in Singapore


Simon Rushton
  • English
  • Arabic

The 2023 Earthshot Prize awards ceremony will be held in Singapore where there will be an expanded week of events promoting the winning ideas.

Prince William said the third annual awards ceremony will take place in Singapore on November 7, after London held the inaugural 2021 event and Boston hosted last year.

“The Earthshot Prize is all about showing the world that solutions to some of the biggest environmental challenges we face are out there,” he said.

“After two years of discovering impactful ideas and innovations, I am delighted that the Earthshot Prize is travelling to Singapore, where the ground-breaking solutions of our 2023 Finalists will be celebrated.”

Created by the Prince of Wales in 2020, the Earthshot Prize supports projects aimed at protecting the planet, with winners receiving a £1 million ($1.24 million) grant for their environmental work. The initiative aims to discover, accelerate and scale solutions to tackle climate change.

For the first time this year, the awards ceremony will be accompanied by a week-long series of events, called Earthshot Week.

The week, starting on November 6, will be aimed at mobilising and scaling innovative solutions across the planet.

Members of the public will be invited to attend the events, centred on this year's cohort of Earthshot Prize solutions.

This year's Earthshot Prize finalists are set to be announced in the autumn.

  • Britain's Prince William joins finalists at the Earthshot Prize Fellowship Retreat in Windsor on Thursday. AFP
    Britain's Prince William joins finalists at the Earthshot Prize Fellowship Retreat in Windsor on Thursday. AFP
  • The Prince of Wales speaks to some of the Earthshot Prize finalists. AFP
    The Prince of Wales speaks to some of the Earthshot Prize finalists. AFP
  • Prince William asked each of the finalists what he could do to help them. AFP
    Prince William asked each of the finalists what he could do to help them. AFP
  • Britain's Prince William joins finalists at the Earthshot Prize Fellowship Retreat in Windsor on Thursday. AFP
    Britain's Prince William joins finalists at the Earthshot Prize Fellowship Retreat in Windsor on Thursday. AFP
  • The Prince of Wales and vice chairman of the Earthshot Prize Council David Fein speak to the finalists on Thursday. AFP
    The Prince of Wales and vice chairman of the Earthshot Prize Council David Fein speak to the finalists on Thursday. AFP
  • Prince William speaks to one of the Earthshot Prize 2022 finalists. AFP
    Prince William speaks to one of the Earthshot Prize 2022 finalists. AFP
  • Prince William shakes hands with one of the finalists. AFP
    Prince William shakes hands with one of the finalists. AFP
  • The Prince of Wales with finalists. AFP
    The Prince of Wales with finalists. AFP
  • Prince William takes part in break-out session with Earthshot Prize 2022 finalists. AFP
    Prince William takes part in break-out session with Earthshot Prize 2022 finalists. AFP

The five Earthshot awards are Protect and Restore Nature; Clean Our Air; Revive Our Oceans; Build a Waste-free World, and Fix Our Climate.

More than 1.5 million people are said to have benefited directly from the work of the first winners, with more than 7,000 hectares of land and almost 2.1 million hectares of ocean protected or restored.

Earthshot says that translates to more than 35,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions reduced, avoided or sequestered.

The Earthshot Prize will be supported by strategic partners Temasek Trust, Temasek, GenZero and Conservation International.

Dr M. Sanjayan, chief executive of Conservation International, said: “The Earthshot Prize is an extraordinary effort to meet our planetary emergencies with optimistic and scalable solutions on an urgent timeline.

“I can’t think of a better place to honour this work. South-east Asia, where Conservation International has worked for three decades, is rich in biodiversity, innovation and problem solvers.

“We’re eager to gather with The Earthshot Prize community in November and continue our work together to foster a world where our air and oceans are clean, waste is eliminated and wildlife, nature and people thrive.”

Earthshot, with a total prize fund of £50 million, will continue every year until 2030.

If you go

The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Seattle from Dh5,555 return, including taxes.


The car
Hertz offers compact car rental from about $300 (Dh1,100) per week, including taxes. Emirates Skywards members can earn points on their car hire through Hertz.


The national park
Entry to Mount Rainier National Park costs $30 for one vehicle and passengers for up to seven days. Accommodation can be booked through mtrainierguestservices.com. Prices vary according to season. Rooms at the Holiday Inn Yakima cost from $125 per night, excluding breakfast.

The five new places of worship

Church of South Indian Parish

St Andrew's Church Mussaffah branch

St Andrew's Church Al Ain branch

St John's Baptist Church, Ruwais

Church of the Virgin Mary and St Paul the Apostle, Ruwais

 

Ipaf in numbers

Established: 2008

Prize money:  $50,000 (Dh183,650) for winners and $10,000 for those on the shortlist.

Winning novels: 13

Shortlisted novels: 66

Longlisted novels: 111

Total number of novels submitted: 1,780

Novels translated internationally: 66

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CHELSEA SQUAD

Arrizabalaga, Bettinelli, Rudiger, Christensen, Silva, Chalobah, Sarr, Azpilicueta, James, Kenedy, Alonso, Jorginho, Kante, Kovacic, Saul, Barkley, Ziyech, Pulisic, Mount, Hudson-Odoi, Werner, Havertz, Lukaku. 

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Profile

Company name: Jaib

Started: January 2018

Co-founders: Fouad Jeryes and Sinan Taifour

Based: Jordan

Sector: FinTech

Total transactions: over $800,000 since January, 2018

Investors in Jaib's mother company Alpha Apps: Aramex and 500 Startups

Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode

Directors: Raj & DK

Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon

Rating: 4/5

Cultural fiesta

What: The Al Burda Festival
When: November 14 (from 10am)
Where: Warehouse421,  Abu Dhabi
The Al Burda Festival is a celebration of Islamic art and culture, featuring talks, performances and exhibitions. Organised by the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development, this one-day event opens with a session on the future of Islamic art. With this in mind, it is followed by a number of workshops and “masterclass” sessions in everything from calligraphy and typography to geometry and the origins of Islamic design. There will also be discussions on subjects including ‘Who is the Audience for Islamic Art?’ and ‘New Markets for Islamic Design.’ A live performance from Kuwaiti guitarist Yousif Yaseen should be one of the highlights of the day. 

Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption. 

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks. 

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes. 

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion. 

8. Pillar 2 implementation 

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations. 

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity. 

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

What drives subscription retailing?

Once the domain of newspaper home deliveries, subscription model retailing has combined with e-commerce to permeate myriad products and services.

The concept has grown tremendously around the world and is forecast to thrive further, according to UnivDatos Market Insights’ report on recent and predicted trends in the sector.

The global subscription e-commerce market was valued at $13.2 billion (Dh48.5bn) in 2018. It is forecast to touch $478.2bn in 2025, and include the entertainment, fitness, food, cosmetics, baby care and fashion sectors.

The report says subscription-based services currently constitute “a small trend within e-commerce”. The US hosts almost 70 per cent of recurring plan firms, including leaders Dollar Shave Club, Hello Fresh and Netflix. Walmart and Sephora are among longer established retailers entering the space.

UnivDatos cites younger and affluent urbanites as prime subscription targets, with women currently the largest share of end-users.

That’s expected to remain unchanged until 2025, when women will represent a $246.6bn market share, owing to increasing numbers of start-ups targeting women.

Personal care and beauty occupy the largest chunk of the worldwide subscription e-commerce market, with changing lifestyles, work schedules, customisation and convenience among the chief future drivers.

The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol

Power: 154bhp

Torque: 250Nm

Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option 

Price: From Dh79,600

On sale: Now

Sun jukebox

Rufus Thomas, Bear Cat (The Answer to Hound Dog) (1953)

This rip-off of Leiber/Stoller’s early rock stomper brought a lawsuit against Phillips and necessitated Presley’s premature sale to RCA.

Elvis Presley, Mystery Train (1955)

The B-side of Presley’s final single for Sun bops with a drummer-less groove.

Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two, Folsom Prison Blues (1955)

Originally recorded for Sun, Cash’s signature tune was performed for inmates of the titular prison 13 years later.

Carl Perkins, Blue Suede Shoes (1956)

Within a month of Sun’s February release Elvis had his version out on RCA.

Roy Orbison, Ooby Dooby (1956)

An essential piece of irreverent juvenilia from Orbison.

Jerry Lee Lewis, Great Balls of Fire (1957)

Lee’s trademark anthem is one of the era’s best-remembered – and best-selling – songs.

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Six large-scale objects on show
  • Concrete wall and windows from the now demolished Robin Hood Gardens housing estate in Poplar
  • The 17th Century Agra Colonnade, from the bathhouse of the fort of Agra in India
  • A stagecloth for The Ballet Russes that is 10m high – the largest Picasso in the world
  • Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1930s Kaufmann Office
  • A full-scale Frankfurt Kitchen designed by Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, which transformed kitchen design in the 20th century
  • Torrijos Palace dome
Updated: May 15, 2023, 11:07 AM