Last weekend, as Abu Dhabi hosted the Unesco-sponsored international conference on safeguarding the world’s cultural heritage, I spent a happy few hours wandering around the British Museum in London, a veritable treasure house that deserves its reputation as one of the world’s top museums.
Among the displays I visited were some of the results of 19th century excavations in Iraq. Winged bulls, steles, cuneiform tablets and more from long-vanished cities like Nimrud, Babylon and Ur. These were just a few among the many treasures on display. As I wandered among them, I thought of the Abu Dhabi conference and of the urgency of its appeal to bring an end to the destruction of the world’s cultural heritage that is now under way in Iraq and Syria, and in many other countries besides.
One key call from the conference was for the establishment of “safe havens”, to which movable artefacts could be transferred, by governments, for safety in times of conflict. That’s a difficult programme to implement, but, if practical ways can be found, it’s certainly worth doing. Such safe havens could be secure storehouses for some of the most important elements of global cultural heritage – at least for those that can be moved – until the conflicts pass.
Sadly, the same cannot be easily applied to great monuments threatened with, or actually undergoing, destruction – such as those of Palmyra, Nimrud, Aleppo and a host of other cities. However rapid the advances in modern technology that allow 3D printing to help in the production, for example, of a replica of Palmyra’s 3rd-century AD Arch of Triumph, nothing can really replace the original.
Many years ago, a Greek friend in London led a campaign to return the Elgin Marbles from the British Museum to their original home on the Acropolis in Athens. They were obtained 200 years ago and shipped to London, in an act which many believe to have been of dubious legality. The Parthenon, from which they came, had previously been severely damaged during armed conflict. This included a Venetian bombardment in 1687 – a long-forgotten antecedent for the destruction of cultural heritage during conflict that was the focus of the Abu Dhabi conference.
The means by which great institutions like the British Museum and the Louvre obtained their collections of key elements of global civilisation can, with hindsight, be viewed as a possibly reprehensible aspect of the exercise of colonial and imperial power. Also with hindsight, though, it’s obvious that, for example, the great Assyrian statues to be found in them are safer in London and Paris than they would be today in their places of origin. Such museums have, indeed, proven to be safe havens – storehouses of global cultural heritage.
I would not advocate a further filling of the storerooms of the British Museum or the Louvre with artefacts, large and small, from around the world, even from areas of conflict such as those discussed during last weekend’s conference. The world has long since moved on from the heyday of 19th-century acquisitions. The mummy of Egypt’s Tutankhamun, discovered by British archaeologists in 1922, is in Cairo, where it should be.
These role of these institutions has, however, evolved over the decades. They are of global significance – where else can one see such a display of elements of civilisations from throughout the world? At the same time, through programmes of sharing and exchange, as with our soon-to-open Louvre Abu Dhabi, their storerooms are being opened up. Some of the best of their treasures are no longer accessible only in Paris and London, and that's as it should be.
Years, perhaps decades, from now, will the UAE’s museums also house great collections that reflect global cultural heritage? Possibly, though the collections will have been obtained in different ways. In the meantime, perhaps the UAE can become a safe haven for the cultural heritage of the region.
Peter Hellyer is a consultant specialising in the UAE’s history and culture
The specs: 2018 GMC Terrain
Price, base / as tested: Dh94,600 / Dh159,700
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Power: 252hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 353Nm @ 2,500rpm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.4L / 100km
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
Dubai Rugby Sevens
November 30-December 2, at The Sevens, Dubai
Gulf Under 19
Pool A – Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Jumeirah College Tigers, Dubai English Speaking School 1, Gems World Academy
Pool B – British School Al Khubairat, Bahrain Colts, Jumeirah College Lions, Dubai English Speaking School 2
Pool C - Dubai College A, Dubai Sharks, Jumeirah English Speaking School, Al Yasmina
Pool D – Dubai Exiles, Dubai Hurricanes, Al Ain Amblers, Deira International School
'Peninsula'
Stars: Gang Dong-won, Lee Jung-hyun, Lee Ra
Director: Yeon Sang-ho
Rating: 2/5
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.
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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.
UAE SQUAD
Ali Khaseif, Mohammed Al Shamsi, Fahad Al Dhanhani, Khalid Essa, Bandar Al Ahbabi, Salem Rashid, Shaheen Abdulrahman, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Mohammed Al Attas, Walid Abbas, Hassan Al Mahrami, Mahmoud Khamis, Alhassan Saleh, Ali Salmeen, Yahia Nader, Abdullah Ramadan, Majed Hassan, Abdullah Al Naqbi, Fabio De Lima, Khalil Al Hammadi, Khalfan Mubarak, Tahnoun Al Zaabi, Muhammed Jumah, Yahya Al Ghassani, Caio Canedo, Ali Mabkhout, Sebastian Tagliabue, Zayed Al Ameri
Company%20profile
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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
Disclaimer
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville
Rating: 4/5
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
FFP EXPLAINED
What is Financial Fair Play?
Introduced in 2011 by Uefa, European football’s governing body, it demands that clubs live within their means. Chiefly, spend within their income and not make substantial losses.
What the rules dictate?
The second phase of its implementation limits losses to €30 million (Dh136m) over three seasons. Extra expenditure is permitted for investment in sustainable areas (youth academies, stadium development, etc). Money provided by owners is not viewed as income. Revenue from “related parties” to those owners is assessed by Uefa's “financial control body” to be sure it is a fair value, or in line with market prices.
What are the penalties?
There are a number of punishments, including fines, a loss of prize money or having to reduce squad size for European competition – as happened to PSG in 2014. There is even the threat of a competition ban, which could in theory lead to PSG’s suspension from the Uefa Champions League.
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
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.
The Indoor Cricket World Cup
When: September 16-23
Where: Insportz, Dubai
Indoor cricket World Cup:
Insportz, Dubai, September 16-23
UAE fixtures:
Men
Saturday, September 16 – 1.45pm, v New Zealand
Sunday, September 17 – 10.30am, v Australia; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Monday, September 18 – 2pm, v England; 7.15pm, v India
Tuesday, September 19 – 12.15pm, v Singapore; 5.30pm, v Sri Lanka
Thursday, September 21 – 2pm v Malaysia
Friday, September 22 – 3.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 3pm, grand final
Women
Saturday, September 16 – 5.15pm, v Australia
Sunday, September 17 – 2pm, v South Africa; 7.15pm, v New Zealand
Monday, September 18 – 5.30pm, v England
Tuesday, September 19 – 10.30am, v New Zealand; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Thursday, September 21 – 12.15pm, v Australia
Friday, September 22 – 1.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 1pm, grand final
Dates for the diary
To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:
- September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
- October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
- October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
- November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
- December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
- February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
KLOPP%20AT%20LIVERPOOL
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Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale
Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni
Director: Amith Krishnan
Rating: 3.5/5
Tu%20Jhoothi%20Main%20Makkaar%20
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The five pillars of Islam
ENGLAND%20SQUAD
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Other promotions
- Deliveroo will team up with Pineapple Express to offer customers near JLT a special treat: free banana caramel dessert with all orders on January 26
- Jones the Grocer will have their limited edition Australia Day menu available until the end of the month (January 31)
- Australian Vet in Abu Dhabi (with locations in Khalifa City A and Reem Island) will have a 15 per cent off all store items (excluding medications)
Scoreline
Real Madrid 1
Ronaldo (53')
Atletico Madrid 1
Griezmann (57')
Company%20Profile
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