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☆ Prince William’s Earthshot Prize reveals celebrity line-up for awards night
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-25 | by ( Kathy Rose Obrien | Lauren Said-Moorhouse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Emmy, Grammy, and Tony award-winning, American actor Billy Porter and celebrated South African television presenter Bonang Matheba have been tapped to host the fourth annual Earthshot Prize Awards in South Africa on November 6. The Earthshot Prize is an ambitious environmental initiative founded by Prince William back in 2020 that seeks to offer green solutions to some of the world’s most pressing problems. Billy Porter, pictured on stage during the 2023 Tribeca Festival last June, will co-host this year's Earthshot Awards ceremony with South African TV presenter Bonang Matheba in Cape Town on November 6. Cindy Ord/Getty ImagesThe 15 Earthshot Prize finalists hail from six continents, with France, Ghana, Indonesia, Kazakhstan and Nepal all having teams in contention for the first time. Earthshot Week runs November 4 to 7, culminating with the Earthshot Prize Awards on November 6.

Persons: Tony, Billy Porter, Bonang Matheba, Prince William, Porter, ”, “, ” Matheba, –, Davido, Diamond Platnumz, Lebo, Uncle Waffles, Cindy Ord, Prince, Wales, José Andrés, Queen Rania, Jordan, David Attenborough, Heidi Klum, Nina Dobrev, Winnie Harlow, Tobe Nwigwe Organizations: CNN, South, Choir, Getty, YouTube, Earthshot, CNN’s Royal Locations: American, South Africa, Cape Town , South Africa, Tanzanian, African, Cape Town, France, Ghana, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Nepal

☆ Jordan walks a tightrope after downing Iranian drones and missiles
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Jomana Karadsheh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Jordan became the second Arab country to sign a peace deal with Israel in 1994. The kingdom was portrayed as shielding Israel at a time when Palestinians were being bombed by Israel in Gaza. One meme shared by users apparently outside Jordan showed a manipulated image of Jordan’s King Abdullah in an Israeli military uniform. “We are in the range of fire and any missiles or projectile that could fall in Jordan would cause harm to Jordan. Our priority is to protect Jordan and to protect Jordanian citizens.”And Jordan’s leadership seems intent on sending that message to its people.

Persons: Saddam Hussein, Jordan, Israel, King Abdullah, Bisher, “, Ayman Safadi, CNN’s Becky Anderson, ”, Safadi, “ Jordan, Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyaahu, Iran ”, Abdullah, Queen Rania Organizations: CNN, Israel, West Bank, Scud, United, Sunday, ”, Jordan, Zionist, Jordanian Royal Court Locations: Amman, Israel, Damascus, Iraq, Iran, Syria, Jordanian, United States, Jordan, Gaza, Tehran, Fars, Iranian, Mafraq

☆ Social media firms reject ‘shadow banning’ allegations on Palestinian-related content
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Emma Graham | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Social media firms have responded to allegations of "shadow banning" their users for Palestinian-related content amid the conflict in Gaza, saying that the implication that Big Tech "deliberately and systemically suppress a particular voice" is false. They have been accused of blocking certain content or users from their online communities since the onset of the war between Israel and Hamas which started in October. Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan, for example, criticized major platforms for allegedly limiting Palestinian-related content about the war. Yet, it is hard for users to trust platforms that control their content from the shadows, based on vague standards," Queen Rania told the Web Summit in Doha. Hussein Freijeh, the vice president of MENA for Snapchat, told CNBC's Dan Murphy at Web Summit Qatar last week that these firms have "a really important role to play in the region."

Persons: Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan, Queen Rania, Hussein Freijeh, CNBC's Dan Murphy, Freijeh, Israel Organizations: Tech, Hamas, Human Rights, Snapchat, Web Summit Qatar, Meta, Facebook, Journalists Locations: Gaza, Israel, Doha, Palestine

SINGAPORE (AP) — Britain’s Prince William cheered on 15 finalists of his third Earthshot Prize in Singapore Tuesday ahead of the awards ceremony where five of them will win 1 million pounds ($1.2 million) each to scale up groundbreaking innovations to fight climate change. William spoke to the finalists — all whom are attending the ceremony for the first time for networking opportunities — at Gardens by the Bay, an artistic horticulture attraction. The winners are grouped into five categories: nature protection, clean air, ocean revival, waste elimination and climate change. The finalists included a U.S. company that found a way to recycle polycotton fabrics, which makes up half of all textile waste. Apart from the prize money, all 15 finalists will receive a year of technical support and resources to help them accelerate their ideas.

Persons: — Britain’s Prince William, William, —, Rania al Abdullah, Jack Ma, Stella McCartney, David Attenborough, Ngozi Okonjo, Yao Ming, Kate, couldn't, George, Hannah Waddingham, Sterling K, Brown, Bebe Rexha, Oscar, Cate Blanchett, Donnie Yen, Lana Condor, Mbatha, Robert Irwin Organizations: SINGAPORE, World Trade Organization, NBA, William’s Royal Foundation, MediaCorp, Sterling Locations: Singapore, Gardens, U.S, Indian, Sierra Leone’s, Freetown, Poland, Europe, U.K, Asia, London, Boston, Republic

The 2023 Earthshot Prize winners:This year’s winners were chosen from a shortlist of 15 finalists by Prince William and the Earthshot Prize Council, chaired by Christiana Figueres, a former UN climate chief, who played a key role in negotiating the Paris Climate Agreement in 2015. The Prince of Wales speaks with the winners of the 2023 Earthshot Prize following the awards ceremony on Tuesday night. Irwin added that the Earthshot Prize offers “hope,” which “is something we all need to hang on to.”The Singapore skyline was lit up in green to celebrate the Earthshot Prize on Monday. Mohd Rasfan/AFP/Getty ImagesFigueres, who is also an Earthshot Prize trustee, told CNN that it was “such a joy” to work with the Prince of Wales. The prince said he was “thrilled” to be in Singapore for the third Earthshot Prize ceremony and outlined his vision for supporting this year’s shortlist of finalists.

Persons: Wales, Prince William, “, ” William, Christiana Figueres, Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan, Ernest Gibson, Jack Ma, Prince, Chris Jackson, Nidhi Pant, Emily Owen, ’, Ted Lasso ”, Hannah Waddingham, Sterling K, Brown, Cate Blanchett, Nomzamo, Robert Irwin, OneRepublic, Irwin, ”, Hunter, Steve Irwin, Mohd Rasfan, Prince of Wales, William, we’ve, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Lee Hsien Loong, Catherine, Princess, Prince George Organizations: CNN’s Royal, Singapore CNN, Earthshot, Theatre, MediaCorp, Royal Foundation, WildAid, Technologies, S4S Technologies, CNN, ”, Voices, Getty, Figueres, BBC, PBS, Singapore, Jewel, HSBC Locations: Singapore, India, UN, Paris, Peru, South America, Hong Kong, South African, ”, AFP, Gardens, Kallang

☆ Queen Rania of Jordan says being pro-Palestinian does not equal being ‘antisemitic’
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Becky Anderson | Zeena Saifi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan has called for a ceasefire in Israel’s war against Hamas, saying that supporting the protection of Palestinian lives does not equal being antisemitic or pro-terrorism. Being pro-Palestinian is not being antisemitic, being pro-Palestinian does not mean you’re pro-Hamas or pro-terrorism,” Rania told CNN’s Becky Anderson on Sunday. “What we’ve seen in recent years is the charge of antisemitism being weaponized in order to silence any criticism of Israel,” she said. Hamas killed more than 1,400 people, mostly civilians, and took about 240 hostages, according to the Israel Defense Forces’ (IDF) count. Queen Rania questioned how many more people must die before “our global conscience awakes.”“All they want to hear is apologies from Palestinians.

Persons: Rania Al Abdullah, Jordan, ” Rania, CNN’s Becky Anderson, Israel, ”, “, of Jordan, Rania Al, Abdullah, Pedro Nunes Pedro Nunes, Reuters Israel, Antony Blinken, Blinken, Gilad Erdan, Queen Rania, ’ Israel, United States Michael Herzog, CBS’s, Rania, Joe Biden, ” “, … they’re, King Abdullah II, You’re, “ You’re Organizations: CNN, REUTERS, Reuters, Hamas, Israel Defense Forces ’, Palestinian, Health, US, ‘ Avalanche, Gaza Health Ministry, UNRWA Locations: Israel, Lisbon, Portugal, Gaza, Ramallah, Wadi Gaza, United States, Jordan, Jordanian

☆ Israel war tests US appeal to global swing states
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( Hugo Dixon | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

FOURNI, Greece, Oct 30 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Joe Biden has sought to portray the United States as a superpower that cares about the rule of law. What’s more, swing states – which back neither the United States nor China – have more power than they did during the old Cold War between the West and the Soviet Union. Such pressure may convince some countries that the United States is pursuing a principles-based foreign policy in the Gaza conflict. The Israeli war may last a long time and its aftermath may be tortuous. But it could also have an important impact on the United States’ influence with swing states and its struggle with China.

Persons: Joe Biden, Vladimir Putin’s, Xi Jinping’s, Barack Obama, Republic –, Biden, Queen Rania, Jordan, Israel, Jake Sullivan, Israel –, Tayyip Erdogan, Benjamin Netanyahu, Mustafa Kamal Kazi, Netanyahu, What’s, Jonathan Cohen, Peter Thal Larsen, Thomas Shum Organizations: Reuters, Russian, U.S, Israel, United Nations General, Washington, UN Security Council, Security Council, Soviet Union, Members, United, Reuters Graphics Reuters, U.S . National Security, U.S ., West Bank, Thomson Locations: FOURNI, Greece, United States, Russia, China, Ukraine, Taiwan, Gaza, Israel, Republic, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, U.S, Moscow, Soviet, India, Brazil, wean, Turkey, NATO, South Africa, Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistani, Egypt, Israeli

☆ Live updates: Israel-Hamas war rages, Palestinian deaths mount following Gaza attacks
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Kathleen Magramo | Andrew Raine | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens, the international community has struggled to find consensus. Emotions ran high at the UN Security Council on Tuesday after Secretary-General António Guterres appealed for "an immediate humanitarian ceasefire" saying that "clear violations of international humanitarian law" are being witnessed in Gaza. Israel's Ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan, writing on social media, called on Guterres "to resign immediately" after his remarks and said he was "not fit to lead the UN." And Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, who was at the United Nations on Tuesday, said he would not meet with Guterres and that "there is no place for a balanced approach." Speaking with CNN, Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan said there is a "glaring double standard" as the Western world condemns the Hamas attack on October 7 but is not condemning Israel's bombing of Gaza or calling for a ceasefire.

Persons: António Guterres, Gilad Erdan, Eli Cohen, Rania Al Abdullah, Jordan Organizations: UN Security, UN, United Nations, Guterres, CNN Locations: Gaza

CNN —Queen Rania of Jordan has accused Western leaders of a “glaring double standard” for failing to condemn the deaths of civilians under Israeli bombardment in Gaza, as Israel’s war on Hamas threatens to destabilize relations between US and Arab leaders. “This is the first time in modern history that there is such human suffering and the world is not even calling for a ceasefire,” Queen Rania added. Forcing Gaza civilians to relocate amounts “to the war crime of forcible transfer,” the Norwegian Refugee Council said. The people of Palestine should not, [the people] of Gaza should not, be forced to be moved again,” she said. Khalil Mazraawi/AFP/Getty ImagesEven before the war with Hamas, tensions were high between Palestinians and Israelis in the occupied West Bank.

Persons: Rania, Jordan, CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, “, ”, Israel, we’ve, ” Rania, Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, “ We’re, Strategic Communications John Kirby, we’re, Antony Blinken, Gershon Baskin, Gilad Shalit, Baskin, Gilad Schalit, Amanpour, Jordan’s King Abdullah, Gazans, Queen Rania, Alaa Al Sukhni, Khalil Mazraawi Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Israel Defense Forces, Palestinian Ministry of Health, UN, United Nations, West, US, Palestinian Authority, National Security, Strategic Communications, UN Security, Baskin, Norwegian Refugee, West Bank, Palestine, Reuters, Getty, Protesters Locations: Gaza, Jordan, Israel, Egypt, Washington, United Kingdom, Jerusalem, Palestine, Amman, AFP

Jeremy Selwyn/WPA Pool/Getty Images Camilla stands next to Queen Elizabeth II during a Diamond Jubilee pageant on the River Thames in June 2012. Chris Jackson/Getty Images From left, Camilla, Charles, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip attend the state opening of Parliament in May 2013. From left are Camilla, Charles, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Louis, Duchess Catherine, Princess Charlotte, Prince George and Prince William. Frank Augstein/WPA Pool/Getty Images In pictures: Britain's Queen Camilla Prev NextShe reportedly met Prince Charles at a polo match in Windsor in 1970 and they became friends. From left are Camilla, Charles, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Louis, Duchess Catherine, Princess Charlotte, Prince George and Prince William.

☆ Jordan's King Abdullah and Queen Rania's eldest daughter ties the knot
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

AMMAN, March 12 (Reuters) - Jordan's King Abdullah and his wife Queen Rania's eldest daughter Princess Iman on Sunday married a New York-based financier from a prominent Greek family in a private ceremony attended by some Gulf royals and family friends. Earlier Princess Iman, wearing a white dress with a long train and lace-cuffed sleeves with a diamond tiara, was escorted through the palace gardens by Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah, her eldest brother. "Congratulations my dearest Iman, your smile has always been a gift of love that I’ve cherished since the day you were born. King Abdullah's eldest son Crown Prince Hussein is set to marry Rajwa Al Saif, the youngest daughter of Saudi businessman Khaled Al Saif on June 1. The Hashemite ruling monarchy enjoys solid support in a kingdom that has escaped relatively unscathed the upheaval that has swept the Middle East.

LONDON, Nov 30 (Reuters) - A member of the British royal family's household has left her role after making "unacceptable and deeply regrettable" comments about race and nationality to a woman at a grand reception at Buckingham Palace, a spokesperson said on Wednesday. Ngozi Fulani, who was born in Britain and works for a domestic abuse support group, wrote on Twitter that the royal aide had repeatedly asked her: "What part of Africa are you from?" In this instance, unacceptable and deeply regrettable comments have been made," a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said in a statement. Last year, a senior royal source said Buckingham Palace had not done enough on diversity, although it has been endeavouring to boost the number of staff from ethnic minorities. "We have reached out to Ngozi Fulani on this matter, and are inviting her to discuss all elements of her experience in person if she wishes," the palace spokesperson said.

☆ Why the current oil boom for Arab states may be their last
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-19 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

During previous oil booms, Gulf states were seen as squandering their wealth on wasteful and inefficient investments, building sprees and buying weapons, as well as handouts to citizens . Gulf states appear to be working on diversifying. Since the last oil boom that ended in 2014, four of the six Gulf states have introduced value-added tax and the UAE has gone further by starting a corporate income levy . None of the Gulf states have an income tax. Critics counter that it is in the oil exporters' interest to push that narrative, but oil states have pointed to the rise in crude demand that coincided with the removal of Covid-19 restrictions around the world.

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