Zayed University students taking part in the second stage of the Cop28 Simulation Model in Cairo this week. Photo: Zayed University
Zayed University students taking part in the second stage of the Cop28 Simulation Model in Cairo this week. Photo: Zayed University
Zayed University students taking part in the second stage of the Cop28 Simulation Model in Cairo this week. Photo: Zayed University
Zayed University students taking part in the second stage of the Cop28 Simulation Model in Cairo this week. Photo: Zayed University

Zayed University students take part in Cop28 preview in Cairo


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Students from Zayed University taking part in a Cop28 Simulation Model said the youth-led conference represents the optimism of Emirati youth.

The UN-backed conference brings together students from all over the world to a mock Cop28, which provides them with a platform to share practical solutions for climate action.

The Cop28 simulation was launched in collaboration with the British University in Egypt, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Zayed University. It's in its second edition and consists of three stages.

We are at a state where our world needs to change
Salama Sultan Alshamsi,
21, Zayed University

About 65 residents and citizens from the UAE were selected to take part, with 29 students from Zayed University.

The first stage, which took place between September 30 and October 15, was an online building programme that focused on climate literacy, where participants were assigned topics and research projects in a two-week period.

The second stage, taking place this week at the British University in Egypt, requires students to simulate real-world climate negotiations by taking on the roles of country delegates and chief negotiators.

The third stage will be held at Cop28 in Dubai's Expo City in December where students will be presented with their results.

The programme attracted more than 3,000 applications from around the world, and students were chosen based on their grade point average, language skills, community involvement, awareness of climate issues and social activities.

Moza Salem Alharrasi believes students have a role in fighting against climate change and their participation in Cop is important. Photo: Moza Salem Alharrasi
Moza Salem Alharrasi believes students have a role in fighting against climate change and their participation in Cop is important. Photo: Moza Salem Alharrasi

Moza Salem Alharrasi, 19, who studies environmental science and sustainability at Zayed University, was one of 160 students chosen to take part.

She told The National that she was excited to engage in discussions and negotiations during the second stage of the simulation in Cairo.

"It represents the spirit of optimism of every Emirati youth," she said.

"It's a chance to collaborate with others in finding practical solutions to the pressing global issue of climate change."

Another student, Salama Sultan Alshamsi, said the role of youth fighting climate change is important.

"We are at a state where our world needs to change," the 21-year-old said.

Salama Sultan Alshamsi says it is important for youth to come together to share ideas on climate action. Photo: Salama Sultan Alshamsi
Salama Sultan Alshamsi says it is important for youth to come together to share ideas on climate action. Photo: Salama Sultan Alshamsi

"What better way than by the newer generations growing and fighting, as well as coming together to share ideas and fight for what is needed to maintain and solve the problems we face."

Mahra Almazrouei, 21, who studies international relations, said she was particularly excited to be taking part in the second stage in Egypt this week, which concludes on Sunday.

"I can't wait to reunite with the students I connected with during the capacity-building sessions," she said, ahead of the activities.

"The organising team for the simulation has been exceptionally supportive, professional and well organised."

Dr Suzanna El Massah, professor of economics and sustainability at Zayed University's College of Interdisciplinary Studies and project manager of the Cop28 Simulation Model, said many of her former students who took part in last year's simulation have gone on to become successful public figures fighting for climate action.

"Three Emirati students and three international students that took part in the simulation last year are completely different people from how they were before the simulation. They are now public figures," she told The National.

"The simulation paves the way for normal people living their lives to find ways to implement climate action and to also understand what the big names are discussing.

"We expect these students to become the decision-makers and leaders of the future by simulating what actual high-level people from different countries are negotiating about."

Expo City to host Cop28 – in pictures

Company name: Play:Date

Launched: March 2017 on UAE Mother’s Day

Founder: Shamim Kassibawi

Based: Dubai with operations in the UAE and US

Sector: Tech 

Size: 20 employees

Stage of funding: Seed

Investors: Three founders (two silent co-founders) and one venture capital fund

How Islam's view of posthumous transplant surgery changed

Transplants from the deceased have been carried out in hospitals across the globe for decades, but in some countries in the Middle East, including the UAE, the practise was banned until relatively recently.

Opinion has been divided as to whether organ donations from a deceased person is permissible in Islam.

The body is viewed as sacred, during and after death, thus prohibiting cremation and tattoos.

One school of thought viewed the removal of organs after death as equally impermissible.

That view has largely changed, and among scholars and indeed many in society, to be seen as permissible to save another life.

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.
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Countdown to Zero exhibition will show how disease can be beaten

Countdown to Zero: Defeating Disease, an international multimedia exhibition created by the American Museum of National History in collaboration with The Carter Center, will open in Abu Dhabi a  month before Reaching the Last Mile.

Opening on October 15 and running until November 15, the free exhibition opens at The Galleria mall on Al Maryah Island, and has already been seen at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta, the American Museum of Natural History in New York, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

 

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
IF YOU GO

The flights

FlyDubai flies direct from Dubai to Skopje in five hours from Dh1,314 return including taxes. Hourly buses from Skopje to Ohrid take three hours.

The tours

English-speaking guided tours of Ohrid town and the surrounding area are organised by Cultura 365; these cost €90 (Dh386) for a one-day trip including driver and guide and €100 a day (Dh429) for two people. 

The hotels

Villa St Sofija in the old town of Ohrid, twin room from $54 (Dh198) a night.

St Naum Monastery, on the lake 30km south of Ohrid town, has updated its pilgrims' quarters into a modern 3-star hotel, with rooms overlooking the monastery courtyard and lake. Double room from $60 (Dh 220) a night.

 

Tuesday's fixtures
Group A
Kyrgyzstan v Qatar, 5.45pm
Iran v Uzbekistan, 8pm
N Korea v UAE, 10.15pm
Gothia Cup 2025

4,872 matches 

1,942 teams

116 pitches

76 nations

26 UAE teams

15 Lebanese teams

2 Kuwaiti teams

Libya's Gold

UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves. 

The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.

Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.

'Spies in Disguise'

Director: Nick Bruno and Troy Quane

Stars: Will Smith, Tom Holland, Karen Gillan and Roshida Jones 

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Updated: November 12, 2023, 3:30 AM`