What stories matter the most to us? Are they the ones in which we recognise the familiar, or are they the ones in which we are able to discover strange new worlds? It is often both, and sometimes even at once.
In the Middle East, we do not need to look very far to find the depressingly familiar tales of conflict, death and destruction in the everyday media we consume. Yet in countless volumes of literature, there are also many, many more individual stories of hope and wonder, written by people from here or who have stories set in or related to our region.
It is in and of itself an entire landscape to spend time in. Currently, book lovers are exploring the Sharjah International Book Fair, where publishers have gathered from the UAE, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, the UK and India. Another great medium for storytelling is film and there is currently the Red Sea Film Festival showing movies from Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Algeria.
In Dubai at the end of the January, the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature will host the celebrated American writer and physician Abraham Verghese and the Nobel Prize-winning Tanzanian-British novelist and academic Abdulrazak Gurnah. Also attending the festival is the Booker Prize-nominated Nigerian author Chigozie Obioma and the Emmy Award-winning journalist Hala Gorani.
Plenty of storytellers and stories to provide us with diverse and rich perspectives on the world in which we live.
Equally so, this week, Samantha Harvey was awarded the prestigious Booker Prize for Orbital. The decision has been hailed as much for representing a first home win in half a decade for what was once an exclusively British competition, as it has been for the beauty of the prose, or the originality of the story set in an international space station orbiting the Earth across one day.
The setting of this tale is also a reminder of the many intersections between people of different cultures and nationalities and how stories can cross borders and break down barriers more than any political speech or piece of news.
Harvey’s accomplishment, according to the Booker Prize committee, has been to position “the entire planet within a single narrative frame”. It went on to add that “Orbital blurs distinctions between borders, time zones and our own individual stories. This is a vantage point we haven’t encountered in fiction before, and it is infused with such awe and reverence that it reads like an act of worship”.
The future is now. The science fiction genre is today simply fiction. That’s because our world is changing in front of our very eyes, just like the watching astronauts in the book.
Our world is changing in front of our very eyes, just like the watching astronauts in the book 'Orbital'
“Harvey makes the case for the futility of territorial conflicts, and the need for co-operation and respect for our shared humanity,” said Gaby Wood, chief executive of the Booker Prize Foundation. “This is a theme that couldn’t be more sobering, timely, or urgent.”
Ms Wood added that this year is one of “geopolitical crisis, likely to be the warmest year in recorded history”. That our planet is “shaped by the sheer, amazing force of human want” and space representing an “unbounded place with no wall or barrier visible from space, with all politics ‘an assault on its gentleness’, [the novel] is hopeful, timely and timeless”.
The New York Times quoted Edmund de Waal, an artist and the chair of this year’s panel of judges, calling Orbital a “beautiful, miraculous novel”. He added: “Harvey makes our world strange and new for us.”
In her acceptance speech, Harvey said she wanted to dedicate the Prize “to everybody who does speak for and not against the Earth; for and not against the dignity of other humans, other life; and all the humans who speak for and call for and work for peace”.
“I wanted to write about our human occupation of Low Earth orbit for the past quarter of a century – not as sci-fi but as realism. Could I evoke the beauty of that vantage point with the care of a nature writer? Could I write about amazement? Could I pull off a sort of space pastoral? These were the challenges I set myself,” she added.
This message could not be more appropriate today, particularly at a time when the problems of today seem to be far removed from any chance of solutions.
Meanwhile, on the ground, around our region, what we cherish most is increasingly under threat. Take for example, the famed ruins at Baalbek, which date back to the Roman Empire period and are among Lebanon’s most famous tourist attractions. This town hosts the world-renowned cultural festival called the Baalbek International Festival. However, it is now closed.
This is the result of daily air strikes being conducted by Israel. The ruins have stood for more than two millennia, but we cannot take its presence for granted. Nothing can be any more. Not with conflict and climate change being such overwhelming features of our lives.
So, what should we do to remain optimistic and hopeful about the future? One thing is that we keep telling, and listening to, our stories – no matter what.
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
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French business
France has organised a delegation of leading businesses to travel to Syria. The group was led by French shipping giant CMA CGM, which struck a 30-year contract in May with the Syrian government to develop and run Latakia port. Also present were water and waste management company Suez, defence multinational Thales, and Ellipse Group, which is currently looking into rehabilitating Syrian hospitals.
Thank You for Banking with Us
Director: Laila Abbas
Starring: Yasmine Al Massri, Clara Khoury, Kamel El Basha, Ashraf Barhoum
Rating: 4/5
Dark Souls: Remastered
Developer: From Software (remaster by QLOC)
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Price: Dh199
CHATGPT%20ENTERPRISE%20FEATURES
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SUNDAY'S ABU DHABI T10 MATCHES
Northern Warriors v Team Abu Dhabi, 3.30pm
Bangla Tigers v Karnataka Tuskers, 5.45pm
Qalandars v Maratha Arabians, 8pm
Banned items
Dubai Police has also issued a list of banned items at the ground on Sunday. These include:
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Political flags or banners
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Bikes, skateboards or scooters
KEY%20DATES%20IN%20AMAZON'S%20HISTORY
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Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
WHEN TO GO:
September to November or March to May; this is when visitors are most likely to see what they’ve come for.
WHERE TO STAY:
Meghauli Serai, A Taj Safari - Chitwan National Park resort (tajhotels.com) is a one-hour drive from Bharatpur Airport with stays costing from Dh1,396 per night, including taxes and breakfast. Return airport transfers cost from Dh661.
HOW TO GET THERE:
Etihad Airways regularly flies from Abu Dhabi to Kathmandu from around Dh1,500 per person return, including taxes. Buddha Air (buddhaair.com) and Yeti Airlines (yetiairlines.com) fly from Kathmandu to Bharatpur several times a day from about Dh660 return and the flight takes just 20 minutes. Driving is possible but the roads are hilly which means it will take you five or six hours to travel 148 kilometres.
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RESULTS
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Sinopharm vaccine explained
The Sinopharm vaccine was created using techniques that have been around for decades.
“This is an inactivated vaccine. Simply what it means is that the virus is taken, cultured and inactivated," said Dr Nawal Al Kaabi, chair of the UAE's National Covid-19 Clinical Management Committee.
"What is left is a skeleton of the virus so it looks like a virus, but it is not live."
This is then injected into the body.
"The body will recognise it and form antibodies but because it is inactive, we will need more than one dose. The body will not develop immunity with one dose," she said.
"You have to be exposed more than one time to what we call the antigen."
The vaccine should offer protection for at least months, but no one knows how long beyond that.
Dr Al Kaabi said early vaccine volunteers in China were given shots last spring and still have antibodies today.
“Since it is inactivated, it will not last forever," she said.
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
You may remember …
Robbie Keane (Atletico de Kolkata) The Irish striker is, along with his former Spurs teammate Dimitar Berbatov, the headline figure in this season’s ISL, having joined defending champions ATK. His grand entrance after arrival from Major League Soccer in the US will be delayed by three games, though, due to a knee injury.
Dimitar Berbatov (Kerala Blasters) Word has it that Rene Meulensteen, the Kerala manager, plans to deploy his Bulgarian star in central midfield. The idea of Berbatov as an all-action, box-to-box midfielder, might jar with Spurs and Manchester United supporters, who more likely recall an always-languid, often-lazy striker.
Wes Brown (Kerala Blasters) Revived his playing career last season to help out at Blackburn Rovers, where he was also a coach. Since then, the 23-cap England centre back, who is now 38, has been reunited with the former Manchester United assistant coach Meulensteen, after signing for Kerala.
Andre Bikey (Jamshedpur) The Cameroonian defender is onto the 17th club of a career has taken him to Spain, Portugal, Russia, the UK, Greece, and now India. He is still only 32, so there is plenty of time to add to that tally, too. Scored goals against Liverpool and Chelsea during his time with Reading in England.
Emiliano Alfaro (Pune City) The Uruguayan striker has played for Liverpool – the Montevideo one, rather than the better-known side in England – and Lazio in Italy. He was prolific for a season at Al Wasl in the Arabian Gulf League in 2012/13. He returned for one season with Fujairah, whom he left to join Pune.
Where to submit a sample
Volunteers of all ages can submit DNA samples at centres across Abu Dhabi, including: Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec), Biogenix Labs in Masdar City, NMC Royal Hospital in Khalifa City, NMC Royal Medical Centre, Abu Dhabi, NMC Royal Women's Hospital, Bareen International Hospital, Al Towayya in Al Ain, NMC Specialty Hospital, Al Ain
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
$1,000 award for 1,000 days on madrasa portal
Daily cash awards of $1,000 dollars will sweeten the Madrasa e-learning project by tempting more pupils to an education portal to deepen their understanding of math and sciences.
School children are required to watch an educational video each day and answer a question related to it. They then enter into a raffle draw for the $1,000 prize.
“We are targeting everyone who wants to learn. This will be $1,000 for 1,000 days so there will be a winner every day for 1,000 days,” said Sara Al Nuaimi, project manager of the Madrasa e-learning platform that was launched on Tuesday by the Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, to reach Arab pupils from kindergarten to grade 12 with educational videos.
“The objective of the Madrasa is to become the number one reference for all Arab students in the world. The 5,000 videos we have online is just the beginning, we have big ambitions. Today in the Arab world there are 50 million students. We want to reach everyone who is willing to learn.”
Company%C2%A0profile
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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
