The former Downton Abbey actor Dan Stevens arrived in Abu Dhabi this weekend for a charity polo event.
The Sentebale Polo Cup, presented by Royal Salute World Polo, was organised to raise awareness of Sentebale, a charity founded by Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho.
A royal dinner and auction was held at the Ghantoot Polo Club on Thursday evening, with the proceeds going toward children affected by HIV and Aids in Lesotho, a landlocked country that is surrounded by South Africa.
As he touched down in the UAE, we caught up with the actor and Sentebale ambassador .
It’s your first time in the region – what do you make of the UAE so far?
So far, very sunny! It’s beautiful and I’ve met some very gorgeous horses.
Do you play polo?
Not yet, but I could be persuaded.
What aligns you with the Sentebale charity?
My wife – the jazz singer Susie Harriet – is from South Africa, and it’s an area I’ve had an interest in for a long time. I was delighted to get the invitation and this is my first time out here with the charity.
I think it’s an amazing thing to support and I’m excited to see the work they are doing today and going forward. Proceeds from the auction will go to the charity and it’s an opportunity to raise awareness in the process.
How will the funds collected be allocated?
They are building a maternity unit in Lesotho at the moment, helping children with HIV and AIDS. There’s also a whole host of other projects under way.
On the subject of charity, Bob Geldof is feeling the heat over his fund-raising efforts to tackle the Ebola crisis in West Africa. Good or bad endeavour?
I don’t really have an opinion on that at the moment. I’ll let him and Adele fight that one out.
In terms of acting, what’s in the pipeline for you?
Around December, I've got the premiere of Night at the Museum. And it's been a busy autumn in general, with A Walk Among the Tombstones coming out.
Let's talk Downton Abbey. How does it feel to have left it all behind?
It was obviously a tricky decision and a leap into the unknown but it’s been very fulfilling. It’s been exciting to challenge myself in many ways since.
Why did you ask to be written out?
I was coming towards the end of a three-year contract and the option was do I stay or do I explore other things? It was as simple as that. It was also the first time I’d done a long-running TV format and now I’m really enjoying the intense burst of focus that feature films are affording me.
Do you still watch Downton Abbey?
Yes of course, it’s great to see everyone. I haven’t caught up with Season 5 yet though, as it’s not yet out in the States.
When you were filming in Highclere House, surrounded by antiquities, were there any breakages?
I don't think there were too many breakages, not while I was there. We tried to be as respectful as we could be to the house and there was a huge amount of trust involved, letting a film crew into your beautiful house. I was particularly taken by the enormous library. I'd occasionally take down some ancient tome and have a quick leaf through while no one was looking. Lord and Lady Carnarvon have I think, over the years, grown to love what Downton has brought to their household as much as we've enjoyed working in it.
What prompted you to move from the United Kingdom to the United States?
Well, I’ve always wanted to live in Brooklyn, it’s a particularly beautiful neighbourhood with lots of old literary connections. New York itself has always fired me and it’s an inspiring place to base myself right now.
Do you need to do the East-West coast flit often?
Yes, I’m in Los Angeles frequently, but very little filming is done there, it’s just somewhere to go for meetings and castings. I’ve actually shot more in New York and elsewhere in the States than there.
Do you miss anything about the UK?
We're going back for the Night at the Museum premiere next month and I'm really looking forward to a good old-fashioned English Christmas. I guess most of all I miss friends, family and Indian food – which I've heard is very good here, and I'm looking forward to sampling some.
• For more information visit www.sentebale.org
rmcduane@thenational.ae
A timeline of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language
- 2018: Formal work begins
- November 2021: First 17 volumes launched
- November 2022: Additional 19 volumes released
- October 2023: Another 31 volumes released
- November 2024: All 127 volumes completed
'The worst thing you can eat'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
Ticket prices
- Golden circle - Dh995
- Floor Standing - Dh495
- Lower Bowl Platinum - Dh95
- Lower Bowl premium - Dh795
- Lower Bowl Plus - Dh695
- Lower Bowl Standard- Dh595
- Upper Bowl Premium - Dh395
- Upper Bowl standard - Dh295
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The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
RESULTS
Catchweight 63.5kg: Shakriyor Juraev (UZB) beat Bahez Khoshnaw (IRQ). Round 3 TKO (body kick)
Lightweight: Nart Abida (JOR) beat Moussa Salih (MAR). Round 1 by rear naked choke
Catchweight 79kg: Laid Zerhouni (ALG) beat Ahmed Saeb (IRQ). Round 1 TKO (punches)
Catchweight 58kg: Omar Al Hussaini (UAE) beat Mohamed Sahabdeen (SLA) Round 1 rear naked choke
Flyweight: Lina Fayyad (JOR) beat Sophia Haddouche (ALG) Round 2 TKO (ground and pound)
Catchweight 80kg: Badreddine Diani (MAR) beat Sofiane Aïssaoui (ALG) Round 2 TKO
Flyweight: Sabriye Sengul (TUR) beat Mona Ftouhi (TUN). Unanimous decision
Middleweight: Kher Khalifa Eshoushan (LIB) beat Essa Basem (JOR). Round 1 rear naked choke
Heavyweight: Mohamed Jumaa (SUD) beat Hassen Rahat (MAR). Round 1 TKO (ground and pound)
Lightweight: Abdullah Mohammad Ali Musalim (UAE beat Omar Emad (EGY). Round 1 triangle choke
Catchweight 62kg: Ali Taleb (IRQ) beat Mohamed El Mesbahi (MAR). Round 2 KO
Catchweight 88kg: Mohamad Osseili (LEB) beat Samir Zaidi (COM). Unanimous decision
The specs: 2017 Maserati Quattroporte
Price, base / as tested Dh389,000 / Dh559,000
Engine 3.0L twin-turbo V8
Transmission Eight-speed automatic
Power 530hp @ 6,800rpm
Torque 650Nm @ 2,000 rpm
Fuel economy, combined 10.7L / 100km
Libya's Gold
UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves.
The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.
Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.
57%20Seconds
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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)
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Business Insights
- Canada and Mexico are significant energy suppliers to the US, providing the majority of oil and natural gas imports
- The introduction of tariffs could hinder the US's clean energy initiatives by raising input costs for materials like nickel
- US domestic suppliers might benefit from higher prices, but overall oil consumption is expected to decrease due to elevated costs
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Company%20Profile
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre V6
Power: 295hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 355Nm at 5,200rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.7L/100km
Price: Dh179,999-plus
On sale: now
Major honours
ARSENAL
BARCELONA
- La Liga - 2013
- Copa del Rey - 2012
- Fifa Club World Cup - 2011
CHELSEA
- Premier League - 2015, 2017
- FA Cup - 2018
- League Cup - 2015
SPAIN
- World Cup - 2010
- European Championship - 2008, 2012