The fifth Emirates Airline Festival of Literature begins on Tuesday. We look at the big names and special events coming our way
The big names
The festival is renowned for bringing the cream of the literary world to Dubai. This year is no different, with an array of blockbuster authors who collectively have sold hundreds of millions of books. In the popular fiction world, names don't get any bigger than the two Jeffs. Jeffrey Archer holds the distinction of being the only author to top the best selling charts for both fiction, short stories and non-fiction works.
In addition to producing his own share of high-octane thrillers, Jeffery Deaver holds the distinction of being only the second American, after Raymond Benson, chosen to pen a James Bond novel - 2011's Carte Blanche. There will be crime writers aplenty at the festival, with Lynda La Plante and Ian Rankin joining festival favourite Mark Billingham.
History buffs should be more than pleased with the arrival of Antony Beevor, whose seminal works on the Second World War introduced a new generation of readers to this dark time of our history.
The masterclasses
As well as the lively banter of the panel and In Conversation sessions, the festival offers a series of masterclasses tackling topics from sharpening up short stories to unleashing creative potential.
The Booker Prize-winner Ben Okri will guide writers on finding their voice with his creative writing masterclass on Saturday. On the same day, Kate Lord Brown will have a session on how to balance facts and imagination with her session on Historical Fiction.
Poetry lovers should enjoy Geeta Chhabra's workshop on Friday. The poet will offer advice on how turn pent-up thoughts into words.
Desert poetry
It's hard to imagine a more beautiful setting to hear world-class poetry than a desert camp far from Dubai's city lights.
On Wednesday, 200 poetry lovers will go on a trip of a lifetime to hear a range of leading poets, including Simon Armitage, Roger McGough and Dubai's own Adel Khozam, read their work under the stars. "I always thought that you need a quiet setting to listen to poetry," says Armitage. "I am really looking forward to it as this will be the first time I would have read some of my pieces in such a location." While Armitage has not yet decided what pieces he will present, he promises it will be a mixed bag from his award-winning career.
The Fringe festival
Alongside all the literary action, the festival is also home to the Penguin Fringe.
The series of free performances will feature local schools, theatre groups and poetry collectives. With more than 40 events on offer, the organiser Lara Matossian-Roberts promises the Penguin Fringe has something for everyone. "It has been getting bigger and bigger," she says. "It has a very friendly atmosphere and you can see a lot of great local talent as well." One theatre group doing double duty this month is the Resuscitation Theatre. The group will perform excerpts of Al Malik, an Emiratised take on Shakespeare's Cymbeline, which they will perform in full as part of this month's Abu Dhabi Festival.
Best of the Arab world
The region's biggest and most promising literary figures are also on their way to Dubai. The Palestinian author and political journalist Abdel Bari Atwan returns to the UAE to speak about a post-Osama bin Laden world.
The winner of the Naguib Mahfouz Medal for Literature, Alia Mamdouh, will offer insights into her distinguished career as a novelist and author of short-story collections. The renowned Arabic children's book writer Taghreed Najjar will also make an appearance.
The Jordanian has enchanted several generations with more than 45 books that she has published over the past three decades.Special eventsAhead of the weekend panel sessions, the festival has a series of events that are as sumptuous as they are quirky. On Tuesday's opening night, the authors Kate Adie, Philip Ardagh, Atwan, Shobhaa De and Deaver team up to discuss the festival theme: Heroes and Villains.
On Thursday night, crime buffs can share a meal alongside Rankin, La Plante and John Connolly as part of the Murder Mystery Dinner run by the Dubai Theatre Group.
The famed Literary Lunch will also return with the top chefs and television personalities Antonio Carluccio and Bobby Chinn hosting their own meals at the InterContinental's Terra Firma restaurant on Friday and Saturday respectively.
For the young ones
Young children have as much to enjoy from the festival as adults.
The Kids Zone will host a bunch of free activities on Thursday and Friday. There will be an appearance by Elliot The Bear, plus authors will take part in a range of activities from storytelling sessions to calligraphy workshops.
The Emirates Airline Festival of Literature runs from tomorrow to Sunday at InterContinental Dubai at Festival City. Tickets cost from Dh40 at www.emirateslitfest.com.
sasaeed@thenational.ae
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
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
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The years Ramadan fell in May
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Ultra processed foods
- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns
- margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars;
- energy drinks, milk drinks, fruit yoghurts and fruit drinks, cocoa drinks, meat and chicken extracts and instant sauces
- infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes,
- many ready-to-heat products including pre-prepared pies and pasta and pizza dishes, poultry and fish nuggets and sticks, sausages, burgers, hot dogs, and other reconstituted meat products, powdered and packaged instant soups, noodles and desserts.
Scoreline
Liverpool 3
Mane (7'), Salah (69'), Firmino (90')
Bournemouth 0
Our House, Louise Candlish,
Simon & Schuster
Fresh faces in UAE side
Khalifa Mubarak (24) An accomplished centre-back, the Al Nasr defender’s progress has been hampered in the past by injury. With not many options in central defence, he would bolster what can be a problem area.
Ali Salmeen (22) Has been superb at the heart of Al Wasl’s midfield these past two seasons, with the Dubai club flourishing under manager Rodolfo Arrubarrena. Would add workrate and composure to the centre of the park.
Mohammed Jamal (23) Enjoyed a stellar 2016/17 Arabian Gulf League campaign, proving integral to Al Jazira as the capital club sealed the championship for only a second time. A tenacious and disciplined central midfielder.
Khalfan Mubarak (22) One of the most exciting players in the UAE, the Al Jazira playmaker has been likened in style to Omar Abdulrahman. Has minimal international experience already, but there should be much more to come.
Jassim Yaqoub (20) Another incredibly exciting prospect, the Al Nasr winger is becoming a regular contributor at club level. Pacey, direct and with an eye for goal, he would provide the team’s attack an extra dimension.
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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Starring: Mirfat Amin, Boumi Fouad and Tariq Al Ibyari
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Power: 650hp at 6,750rpm
Torque: 800Nm from 2,500-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Fuel consumption: 11.12L/100km
Price: From Dh796,600
On sale: now
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
UAE central contracts
Full time contracts
Rohan Mustafa, Ahmed Raza, Mohammed Usman, Chirag Suri, Mohammed Boota, Sultan Ahmed, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Waheed Ahmed, Zawar Farid
Part time contracts
Aryan Lakra, Ansh Tandon, Karthik Meiyappan, Rahul Bhatia, Alishan Sharafu, CP Rizwaan, Basil Hameed, Matiullah, Fahad Nawaz, Sanchit Sharma
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
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Saturday (All UAE kick-off times)
Valencia v Atletico Madrid (midnight)
Mallorca v Alaves (4pm)
Barcelona v Getafe (7pm)
Villarreal v Levante (9.30pm)
Sunday
Granada v Real Volladolid (midnight)
Sevilla v Espanyol (3pm)
Leganes v Real Betis (5pm)
Eibar v Real Sociedad (7pm)
Athletic Bilbao v Osasuna (9.30pm)
Monday
Real Madrid v Celta Vigo (midnight)
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Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
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Fixtures
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Tax authority targets shisha levy evasion
The Federal Tax Authority will track shisha imports with electronic markers to protect customers and ensure levies have been paid.
Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director of the tax authority, on Sunday said the move is to "prevent tax evasion and support the authority’s tax collection efforts".
The scheme’s first phase, which came into effect on 1st January, 2019, covers all types of imported and domestically produced and distributed cigarettes. As of May 1, importing any type of cigarettes without the digital marks will be prohibited.
He said the latest phase will see imported and locally produced shisha tobacco tracked by the final quarter of this year.
"The FTA also maintains ongoing communication with concerned companies, to help them adapt their systems to meet our requirements and coordinate between all parties involved," he said.
As with cigarettes, shisha was hit with a 100 per cent tax in October 2017, though manufacturers and cafes absorbed some of the costs to prevent prices doubling.
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Distance covered: 160km
Temperature: -40°C
Weight of equipment: 45kg
Altitude (metres above sea level): 0
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South Pole stats
Distance covered: 130km
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If you go...
Etihad Airways flies from Abu Dhabi to Kuala Lumpur, from about Dh3,600. Air Asia currently flies from Kuala Lumpur to Terengganu, with Berjaya Hotels & Resorts planning to launch direct chartered flights to Redang Island in the near future. Rooms at The Taaras Beach and Spa Resort start from 680RM (Dh597).
