Jim Kowalczik plays with Jimbo, a 1,500-pound Kodiak bear, at the Orphaned Wildlife Center in Otisville, New York on September 7.

on a plaY date:

Photo: Mike Groll/AP

aCting as a shield:

A displaced Iraqi boy leads his animals to safety after escaping from the Daesh-controlled village of Abu Jarboa during clashes with militants near Mosul on November 1.

MY Clean Uae: Keeping tradition alive:

Dancers perform on stilts in a street for the traditional ‘’Danza de Los Zancos’’ in Anguiano, Spain, on July 23. As an ancient tradition for more than four centuries, eight young people from the town dance on stilts down the old street.

Over 11 tonnes of trash from 97 locations in the Emirate of Sharjah was collected on the first day of the Clean Up UAE campaign on December 6. The campaign in its 15th year is hosted by Emirates Environmental Group (EEG) and attracted more than 1,00,000 volunteers across the country this year.

I couldn’t believe it was happening to me. In that moment I felt extremely happy. I feel really good and the experience was great. It has definitely changed my life. I want to tell the world — do not see us in a weak light and see that even we can go out and do things. People have a tendency to look at acid attack survivors from one perspective and I don’t want them to look at them like that anymore… I do feel brave.

Reshma Quereshi

acid attack survivor, after walking the ramp at New York Fashion Week

Our public spaces are for everyone to enjoy and we have been advocating and influencing change in the litter-dropping habits of the population of the country. With the support of government partners, through this campaign, we are working diligently towards improving the quality of life for both residents and wildlife.

Habiba Al Marashi

EEG chairwoman on the Clean Up UAE Campaign