Sharjah’s efforts are part of a broad drive to foster a culture of reading nationwide and in the rest of the Arab world. Christopher Pike / The National
Sharjah’s efforts are part of a broad drive to foster a culture of reading nationwide and in the rest of the Arab world. Christopher Pike / The National

Sharjah named World Book Capital for 2019 by Unesco



SHARJAH // It has become a major cultural hub, drawing in huge crowds to its literary festivals, and on Tuesday Sharjah achieved global recognition as it was named World Book Capital by Unesco.

The accolade came amid efforts to encourage reading in the UAE and across the Middle East.

“We are so proud to have been recognised on a global scale for literary excellence and having our name being put on the same platform with some of the world’s frontrunners in the world of books and reading,” said Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, president of the Emirates Publishers Association and head of Sharjah’s World Book Capital Organising Committee.

“This signals a fruition of the momentous project that was established four decades ago by the vision of Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah.”

Sharjah will be World Book Capital for 2019, following on from Athens next year. Other host cities include Montreal and Madrid, the first in 2001.

With the slogan Read - You Are In Sharjah, the programme focuses on six themes: inclusivity, reading, heritage, outreach, publishing and children.

There will also be a conference on freedom of speech, a contest for young poets, workshops for creating Braille books and tactile books as well as many events for Sharjah’s multi-ethnic population.

Unesco described Sharjah’s bid to be host city as “very innovative, comprehensive... with a community-focused activity programme containing creative proposals to engage the very large migrant population”.

“His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah’s insistence on knowledge being a conscientious human choice that goes beyond the arts and literature to include a space for free exchange of ideas within the Arab world, has helped us as a region to consolidate efforts regionally and globally,” Sheikha Bodour said.

Kitabi Al Awal - My First Book was launched under Sheikha Bodour’s direction. The project aims to develops a love for books and stories among the very young.

Knowledge Without Borders is another example. The project established free home libraries for 42,000 Emirati families last year.

Irina Bokova, director general of Unesco, announced the decision on the recommendation of the Advisory Committee which met at the Headquarters of the International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA) at The Hague in The Netherlands.

Running parallel to the events announced, Sharjah will also launch Sharjah Publishing City, a space entirely dedicated to publishing and printing.

It will be the first place of the kind in the region, specifically developed to meet the needs of companies and institutions operating in the publishing field. Its objective is to reinforce the book industry by encouraging the widespread production and dissemination of publications in the Arab world.

Sharjah International Book Fair has grown to become one of the largest in the world, with 1,500 publishers and thousands of delegates attending. In addition, Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival spans some 2,000 events every year.

The year of celebrations will start on 23 April, 2019, on the World Book and Copyright Day.​

newsdesk@thenational.ae

Women’s World T20, Asia Qualifier, in Bangkok

UAE fixtures Mon Nov 20, v China; Tue Nov 21, v Thailand; Thu Nov 23, v Nepal; Fri Nov 24, v Hong Kong; Sun Nov 26, v Malaysia; Mon Nov 27, Final

(The winners will progress to the Global Qualifier)

Electoral College Victory

Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate. 

 

Popular Vote Tally

The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.

The specs
Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor
Power: 320bhp
Torque: 605Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh219,000
On sale: Now
More from Armen Sarkissian
EA Sports FC 25
The specs

Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors

Power: 480kW

Torque: 850Nm

Transmission: Single-speed automatic

Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)

On sale: Now

The specs

Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 620hp from 5,750-7,500rpm
Torque: 760Nm from 3,000-5,750rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch auto
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh1.05 million ($286,000)


The UAE Today

The latest news and analysis from the Emirates

      By signing up, I agree to The National's privacy policy
      The UAE Today