Omar Ghobash, UAE ambassador to France and author of the bestselling book Letters to a Young Muslim, is one of the star names due to appear at this year's Sharjah International Book Fair, where more than 80,000 titles will be exhibited by nearly 2,000 publishing houses.
Letters to a Young Muslim, which is made up of a series of essays, framed as letters to Ghobash's eldest son, was published last year and immediately caused a sensation. "Anyone open to embracing diversity of thought and experience and understanding should spend some time walking through this powerful book," one critic wrote about Ghobash's work, which proposes a more liberal model for Muslims.
Ghobash is one of a number of high-profile speakers, announced on Monday at the headquarters of Sharjah Book Authority, to appear at the 37th Sharjah International Book Fair. Other notable names include Algerian novelist Ahlam Mosteghanemi, British business writer Emma Gannon, Indian composer L Subramaniam, Palestinian poet Ibrahim Nasrallah and UAE actor and director Habib Ghuloom.
The 11-day literary event, which runs from October 31 to November 10 and will be attended by 1,874 publishing houses from 77 countries, is this year organised around the theme "Tale of Letters". It will feature 472 guests and 1,800 events, including 950 on an extensive Children's Programme, which includes theatrical performances of Little Red Riding Hood and The Lion King.
There will also be a “Social Media Station”, where influencers will share their knowledge of how to increase one’s presence online, and a “Cookery Corner”.
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“This year’s edition is seeing a remarkable increase in numbers of publishing houses as well as countries that are participating in the event for the first time,” said Ahmed Al Ameri, chairman of the Sharjah Book Authority. “There is exceptional diversity in terms of the activities and titles on display. Since its inception, the fair has represented a cultural platform, where civilisations and cultures can meet, knowledge is shared via human dialogue and cross-cultural communication is enhanced through books.”
The guest of honour at this year’s Sharjah International Book Fair is Japan, whose pavilion will host Japanese novelists, as well as traditional music and food events.
Sharjah International Book Fair is already the world’s third-largest book fair. This year, Egypt will be represented by 279 publishers, while the UAE will send 150. And the fair continues to grow, attracting publishing houses from 12 new countries this year, including Argentina, Ghana, Peru and South Korea.
Sharjah International Book Fair runs from October 31 to November 10
What is dialysis?
Dialysis is a way of cleaning your blood when your kidneys fail and can no longer do the job.
It gets rid of your body's wastes, extra salt and water, and helps to control your blood pressure. The main cause of kidney failure is diabetes and hypertension.
There are two kinds of dialysis — haemodialysis and peritoneal.
In haemodialysis, blood is pumped out of your body to an artificial kidney machine that filter your blood and returns it to your body by tubes.
In peritoneal dialysis, the inside lining of your own belly acts as a natural filter. Wastes are taken out by means of a cleansing fluid which is washed in and out of your belly in cycles.
It isn’t an option for everyone but if eligible, can be done at home by the patient or caregiver. This, as opposed to home haemodialysis, is covered by insurance in the UAE.
Zayed Sustainability Prize
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Adele: The Stories Behind The Songs
Caroline Sullivan
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Starring: Jamie Foxx, Angela Bassett, Tina Fey
Directed by: Pete Doctor
Rating: 4 stars
PSA DUBAI WORLD SERIES FINALS LINE-UP
Men’s:
Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY)
Ali Farag (EGY)
Simon Rosner (GER)
Tarek Momen (EGY)
Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL)
Gregory Gaultier (FRA)
Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY)
Nick Matthew (ENG)
Women's:
Nour El Sherbini (EGY)
Raneem El Welily (EGY)
Nour El Tayeb (EGY)
Laura Massaro (ENG)
Joelle King (NZE)
Camille Serme (FRA)
Nouran Gohar (EGY)
Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG)
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Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
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- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
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- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
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Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
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Company: Rent Your Wardrobe
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Sector: Clothes rental subscription
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- Benjamin Macann, 32: involvement in cocaine smuggling gang.
- Jack Mayle, 30: sold drugs from a phone line called the Flavour Quest.
- Callum Halpin, 27: over the 2018 murder of a rival drug dealer.
- Asim Naveed, 29: accused of being the leader of a gang that imported cocaine.
- Calvin Parris, 32: accused of buying cocaine from Naveed and selling it on.
- John James Jones, 31: allegedly stabbed two people causing serious injuries.
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- Dean Garforth, 29: part of a crime gang that sold drugs and guns.
- Joshua Dillon Hendry, 30: accused of trafficking heroin and crack cocain.
- Mark Francis Roberts, 28: grievous bodily harm after a bungled attempt to steal a £60,000 watch.
- James ‘Jamie’ Stevenson, 56: for arson and over the seizure of a tonne of cocaine.
- Nana Oppong, 41: shot a man eight times in a suspected gangland reprisal attack.
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law