Latest news with #Aladin
Rudaw Net
5 days ago
- Business
- Rudaw Net
Rwanga plants 20,000 olive saplings in Erbil
Also in Kurdistan $73 million in development projects approved for Halabja province Kurdistan people's livelihood not a tool for political leverage: KDP leader President Barzani says Erbil wants stronger ties with Japan US senators meet with Iraqi, Kurdistan leaders A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Rwanga Foundation on Sunday completed an initiative to plant 20,000 Spanish olive saplings in Erbil to promote environmental sustainability, in partnership with the German development agency (GIZ) and the agriculture ministry. 'We concluded the project of planting 20,000 Spanish olive saplings, which our institution, the Rwanga Foundation, undertook in partnership with GIZ and with the support of the German government and the agriculture ministry,' said Hassan Shekh Aladin, Rwanga's executive director, in a speech at the conclusion event. In 2023, Rwanga partnered with GIZ to implement development projects that created 250 job opportunities and supported 130 individuals in launching or expanding small businesses. The second goal of the partnership was to plant 20,000 Spanish olive saplings as part of an environmental sustainability initiative. 'We were able to complete the project within two years,' Aladin said, adding that 11,000 saplings were provided by GIZ. 'To complete the project comprehensively and fully, we had 9,000 saplings remaining. Thanks to the responsibility of the respected Idris Nechirvan Barzani, the other 9,000 saplings were also provided. Now we see that 20,000 olive trees have been planted here,' he stated. The planted trees can produce over 4 million liters of oxygen daily, enough for 9,000 people, and are expected to yield 120 tons of olive oil and 400 tons of olives annually, with the Spanish variety chosen for its faster two-year production cycle compared to Iraqi trees, according to Aladin. Agriculture Minister Begard Talabani hailed the project, saying that the trees will bring economic benefits and are also resistant to drought seasons. 'Instead of planting a tree only to give us oxygen and reduce the amount of carbon dioxide, we want to develop those trees that have both economic benefit and can also withstand water scarcity during drought periods,' Talabani said at the event. Talabani explained that the project was established in a forested area that has served as a green belt for Erbil for over 30 years, expressing hope that, with support from all relevant Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) bodies, the area can be protected and developed as the "lungs of Erbil." The Rwanga Foundation is an NGO 'that envisages a world where quality education is accessible for all. Its mission is to provide services, build capacities, and design policies to ensure easy access to education for all and improve the overall educational standards in KRI [Kurdistan Region of Iraq], Iraq, and the greater global community,' according to the organization's website.
News18
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Not Alia Bhatt Or Priyanka Chopra, But This Bollywood Beauty Owns A Private Island
Last Updated: This celebrity purchased a private island in 2012, making her the only actress in the industry to own one. Among the most paid celebrities in the country are Indian actors. The top celebrities often get crores for each public appearance, and much more for movie roles. Therefore, it is not surprising that the majority of the biggest names in Indian cinema have opulent lifestyles. A lot of them brag about their fleets of luxury cars, private jets, and fancy villas. However, one Bollywood star owns a private island, which is a desirable asset. An actor from Bollywood who has a private island Jacqueline Fernandez, who has been in the Indian entertainment industry for more than 20 years, is the only Bollywood star with a private island. A four-acre island off the southern coast of Sri Lanka is owned by Jacqueline. The land was purchased by her in 2012. According to reports, she paid $600K (approximately Rs 3 crore at the time) for the purchase. Jacqueline wanted to build an opulent mansion there, according to reports. The actor, however, never stated whether the villa was hers or whether she planned to rent it out for business. Beyond the fact that she is still the proud owner of a private island, it is also unclear what the actor did with the island after she bought it. Reportedly, her island is located in a sought-after area of upscale real estate, close to another that was once owned by former Sri Lankan cricket great Kumar Sangakkara, which adds even more intrigue to Jacqueline's purchase. It has been rumoured that she plans to build a villa on the island, turning it into her haven. Jacqueline Fernandez: How She Made It To Bollywood Jacqueline began her career as a model before becoming well-known in Indian cinema. She was also crowned Miss Sri Lanka in 2006. Although she made her Bollywood debut in 2009 in the film Aladin, Murder 2 was her big break in 2011. After that, she became a well-known commercial actor thanks to hits like Housefull 2 and Race 2. However, she saw a string of flops after a lean period. Jacqueline's latest appearance was in Fateh with Sonu Sood, despite a few disappointments with poor releases in recent years. With two high-profile films starring Akshay Kumar, Housefull 5 and Welcome to the Jungle, she is scheduled to make a comeback in 2025. First Published: May 08, 2025, 13:13 IST
Hindustan Times
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Meet only Bollywood actress to own private island, it's not Deepika Padukone, Priyanka Chopra, Alia Bhatt, Aishwarya Rai
May 08, 2025 06:02 AM IST Indian actors are among the most highly-paid celebrities in the country. The top stars routinely make crores for each public appearance and much more for film appearances. No wonder, then, that most of the top stars in Indian cinema lead luxurious lives. Many boast of private jets, swanky bungalows, and fleets of luxury cars. But one Bollywood actress has an enviable possession - a private island. And it's not one of the usual suspects. (Also read: World's richest actor is a 77-year-old with no film in years but $1.49 billion wealth; beat Tom Cruise, Shah Rukh, Dwayne Johnson) The only Bollywood actress with her own private island. Sri Lankan actor Jacqueline Fernandez, who has been active in Indian entertainment for over two decades, is the only Bollywood actress to own a private island. Jacqueline owns a four-acre island off the southern coast of Sri Lanka. She bought the piece of land in 2012. As per reports, she spent $600K on the purchase (roughly ₹ 3 crore back then). Reports stated that Jacqueline wanted to build a lavish villa there. However, the actor never confirmed if the villa was for herself or if she would lease the place out for commercial purposes. There is also no clarity on what the actor did with the island after the purchase, except that she is still the proud owner of a private island. Jacqueline Fernandez's Bollywood career A former beauty queen in Sri Lanka, Jacqueline began her career in the world of entertainment as a model before turning to Bollywood. She made her acting debut in 2009 with Aladin. But it was with Murder 2 in 2011 that she got her breakthrough. She delivered more hits in the next five years, including Housefull 2 and Raid 2. But this followed a lean phase where she saw a spate of flops. The actor was last seen in Sonu Sood's actioner Fateh earlier this year. She has two films lined for release in 2025 - Housefull 5 and Welcome To The Jungle, both co-starring Akshay Kumar.
The Guardian
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Han Kang Nobel prize lecture book sells 10,000 copies in first day online in South Korea
A book featuring Han Kang's Nobel prize lecture sold 10,000 copies in its first day on sale online. Light and Thread, which takes its title from Han's December lecture, is her first book to be published in South Korea since she was announced as the winner of the Nobel prize in literature last October. Booksellers and publishing sources told Korea JoongAng Daily that approximately 10,000 copies of the book were sold in 24 hours via the retailers Kyobo Book Centre, Yes24 and Aladin, which together make up nearly 90% of the Korean online book market. Light and Thread was available to order online from Wednesday, and went on sale in bookshops on Thursday. The 172-page book comprises 12 pieces, beginning with the Nobel lecture, in which the author of novels including The Vegetarian and Human Acts discussed her writing process and the questions that drive her work. 'Each time I work on a novel, I endure the questions, I live inside them,' she said, according to an English translation of the talk by e yaewon and Paige Aniyah Morris. 'When I reach the end of these questions – which is not the same as when I find answers to them – is when I reach the end of the writing process.' Sign up to Bookmarks Discover new books and learn more about your favourite authors with our expert reviews, interviews and news stories. Literary delights delivered direct to you after newsletter promotion The book also contains Han's banquet speech and a message accompanying a teacup that she donated to the Nobel museum, according to the Korea Herald. She had drunk from the teacup while writing We Do Not Part, her most recent novel, which was published in an English translation by yaewon and Morris in the UK earlier this year. Along with the Nobel materials, Light and Thread also features five poems, which originally appeared between 2013 and 2014 in the Korean literary magazines Littor and Literature and Society – the latter of which was home to a series of poems marking Han's literary debut in 1993. The book also features unpublished essays. One, titled North-Facing Garden, is about Han's experience tending to a garden that did not receive direct sunlight, and using a mirror to reflect light into the space. Some 73.3% of those who bought Han's latest book were women, according to the online bookstore Yes24, while for Aladin 47.1% of buyers were women in their 30s and 40s, reported Korea JoongAng Daily. After Han was announced as the Nobel winner last year, customers queued outside bookshops to get their hands on copies of her works, and online stores crashed. A version of Light and Thread will be published in English. A publication date and its exact content are yet to be announced.
