The fear factor in being asked to reveal your favourite books is immense, as it feels like it reflects who you are or even want to be. These books represent different times in my life and associated feelings, from childhood to carefree days at university and beyond.
Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome (1930)
Childhood adventures set in one of my favourite places on Earth, the Lake District in Northern England. I must have read this book 30 times when I was younger. I grew up with older siblings and friends, and we would play in the same woods and on the same shores, even camp on the same island as the book – so it’s pure magical nostalgia.
One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn (1962)
An extraordinary presentation of life in a Soviet Gulag, it is harrowing but also an inspiring read of life against adversity. Comparatively short, it was the staple of many of my university friends – a must-read if you wanted to give the impression of intellectual credibility and it just stopped me from turning to fake glasses and a pipe.
Dune by Frank Herbert (1965)
An adventure tale that is one of the best science-fiction books written. The film was truly awful and featured a poor cameo from Sting, but Herbert’s imagination to portray future worlds and civilisations with an edge of mysticism was inspiring. The idea of riding giant worms into battle could only come from the 1960s. It’s a great escapist read with fascinating characters.
One Day by David Nicholls (2009)
This just pulls all the heart strings. Romance, love, lust, idiocy and tragedy all rolled into one easy read. You are taken on a roller coaster journey that at first delivers hope, humour and joy to then be thrown into despair and fear. A tear-jerker that is easy to read and very relatable, I read this on holiday and could not put it down, causing consternation and complaints from all my family.
1984 by George Orwell (1949)
The world of the future is painted as perpetual war, surveillance and propaganda, where people just about survive, where love and kindness have been eradicated and where the party in charge is all-seeing, all-knowing and all-important. This could now play out in several countries around the world, which is terrifying.
Alan Griffin is the head of digital strategy at The National
The biog
Name: Dr Lalia Al Helaly
Education: PhD in Sociology from Cairo
Favourite authors: Elif Shafaq and Nizar Qabbani.
Favourite music: classical Arabic music such as Um Khalthoum and Abdul Wahab,
She loves the beach and advises her clients to go for meditation.
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
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The specs: 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA
Price, base / as tested Dh150,900 / Dh173,600
Engine 2.0L inline four-cylinder
Transmission Seven-speed automatic
Power 211hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque 350Nm @ 1,200rpm
Fuel economy, combined 6.4L / 100km
Company%20profile
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The biog
Favourite film: The Notebook
Favourite book: What I know for sure by Oprah Winfrey
Favourite quote: “Social equality is the only basis of human happiness” Nelson Madela. Hometown: Emmen, The Netherlands
Favourite activities: Walking on the beach, eating at restaurants and spending time with friends
Job: Founder and Managing Director of Mawaheb from Beautiful Peopl
Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
THE SIXTH SENSE
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Rating: 5/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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The specs: 2018 BMW X2 and X3
Price, as tested: Dh255,150 (X2); Dh383,250 (X3)
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged inline four-cylinder (X2); 3.0-litre twin-turbo inline six-cylinder (X3)
Power 192hp @ 5,000rpm (X2); 355hp @ 5,500rpm (X3)
Torque: 280Nm @ 1,350rpm (X2); 500Nm @ 1,520rpm (X3)
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic (X2); Eight-speed automatic (X3)
Fuel consumption, combined: 5.7L / 100km (X2); 8.3L / 100km (X3)
The%20specs
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F1 drivers' standings
1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes 281
2. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari 247
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes 222
4. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull 177
5. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari 138
6. Max Verstappen, Red Bull 93
7. Sergio Perez, Force India 86
8. Esteban Ocon, Force India 56
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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Company%20Profile
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The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
Company%20profile
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
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
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BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
About Karol Nawrocki
• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.
Scores
Rajasthan Royals 160-8 (20 ov)
Kolkata Knight Riders 163-3 (18.5 ov)