"Culture drives political views," says David Rothkopf, chief executive of the Rothkopf Group – one of the organisers of CultureSummit 2018, which began yesterday at Manarat Al Saadiyat. "In the UAE, there's an acute sense of the power of cultural diplomacy, both in terms of bringing people here, and in terms of dealing with some of the issues we've been hearing about – not just combating extremism, it's also empowering women, fighting climate change, and so forth."
Art's potential for social change is the idea behind the CultureSummit 2018, which is co-organised by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT) and TCP Ventures. It is the second such summit, focusing on ideas and opportunities that arise from "unexpected collaborations" between cultural producers and those in other sectors.
This is a line of thinking cultivated in Abu Dhabi, where investments in art and culture such as the International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Areas (Aliph) and Louvre Abu Dhabi promote the potential of culture to connect, moderate and act as a force of tolerance.
“We focus on the areas of thought leadership, education, and dialogue,” says Saif Ghobash, DCT director general. Ghobash likens CultureSummit to a “cultural Davos”. “Today, there is no one place in the world where you can bring leaders from culture and other sectors to discuss things that have culture embedded in their solutions,” he says.
The idea was sparked in a restaurant in Abu Dhabi, when Rothkopf and Carla Canales, chief executive of TCP Ventures, were having dinner with Noura Al Kaabi, then the director for twofour54, the umbrella media organisation. The plan was quickly put into action and DCT were brought on board as co-partners, given its track record in major events.
Rothkopf and Canales, who are married, themselves exemplify the promise of a partnership between policy and art: he is a political scientist and she is a classical opera singer.
I asked if the CultureSummit was a labour of love – but was quickly told it was more. "It's a passion," says Rothkopf, explaining that in his former role as chief executive of Foreign Policy, "there was always a focus on this narrow slice of politics. But all these other factors are real drivers – economics, finance, technology, culture – and they don't get discussed".
In the event’s second year, it is clear that the programme is both more focused and that the ambitions are wider. The organisation appears to be toying with a long-term, year-round role for the summit, beyond the four days it currently occupies, where cultural leaders and producers are invited for talks, performances, and workshops in Abu Dhabi.
Titled Unexpected Collaborations: Forging New Connections Between Heritage and Innovation, Near and Far, Creativity and Purpose, this year's event includes for example, Maqsoud Kruse, executive director of Hedayah, the Abu Dhabi-based anti-extremism foundation; Keri Putnam, executive director of the Sundance Institute, a film-financing foundation attached to the Sundance Film Festival; and Volker Gerling, a theatre artist.
Ghobash adds that the event will benefit the arts as much as the arts benefit other sectors. “Culture can be seen for itself, but it needs money to go around, to make its wheels turn, and the problem in today’s world is that culture is one of the sectors that is always financially more at risk, because people cannot financially understand its outcomes. We need to find ways – that do not trespass on the holiness of culture – that quantify its returns, so that people who are not within the sector, who can play a big role in funding, can connect to those within it.”
There are also new additions to the programme this year, which, though invite-only, is being made available on the internet. The programme has increased its weighting of Middle Eastern artists, and is launching the artists’ incubator programme.
“The performances are far more ambitious,” says Canales, “We’re bringing a 120-piece orchestra to Abu Dhabi.”
In the incubator programme, 50 artists of all types – musicians, visual artists, dancers, photographers – will take part in brainstorming sessions throughout the week.
“We’ve pared them down into six groups,” says Canales. “We give them questions. How would they provide a solution to that problem – for example, combating extremism? How could the arts find a solution to that problem? And those solutions are offered up in a shark-tank style to panelists on the last day.”
CultureSummit is another step in Abu Dhabi’s remit of expanding its cultural reach internationally: the event is co-produced with two United States-based institutions, with participants and guests from more than 80 countries.
“It’s about thought leadership,” says Ghobash. “Yes, we are doing a lot on the hard side – we have a museum, we have exhibitions – but we also need things that can transcend our borders. We want to be regarded as thought leaders, not just by running events in town, but also being recognised on a global scale.”
The CultureSummit is on until April 12 at Manarat Al Saadiyat. See www.culturesummitabudhabi.com
Champions League Last 16
Red Bull Salzburg (AUT) v Bayern Munich (GER)
Sporting Lisbon (POR) v Manchester City (ENG)
Benfica (POR) v Ajax (NED)
Chelsea (ENG) v Lille (FRA)
Atletico Madrid (ESP) v Manchester United (ENG)
Villarreal (ESP) v Juventus (ITA)
Inter Milan (ITA) v Liverpool (ENG)
Paris Saint-Germain v Real Madrid (ESP)
How much sugar is in chocolate Easter eggs?
- The 169g Crunchie egg has 15.9g of sugar per 25g serving, working out at around 107g of sugar per egg
- The 190g Maltesers Teasers egg contains 58g of sugar per 100g for the egg and 19.6g of sugar in each of the two Teasers bars that come with it
- The 188g Smarties egg has 113g of sugar per egg and 22.8g in the tube of Smarties it contains
- The Milky Bar white chocolate Egg Hunt Pack contains eight eggs at 7.7g of sugar per egg
- The Cadbury Creme Egg contains 26g of sugar per 40g egg
ATP WORLD No 1
2004 Roger Federer
2005 Roger Federer
2006 Roger Federer
2007 Roger Federer
2008 Rafael Nadal
2009 Roger Federer
2010 Rafael Nadal
2011 Novak Djokovic
2012 Novak Djokovic
2013 Rafael Nadal
2014 Novak Djokovic
2015 Novak Djokovic
2016 Andy Murray
2017 Rafael Nadal
2018 Novak Djokovic
2019 Rafael Nadal
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Courses%20at%20Istituto%20Marangoni%2C%20Dubai
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Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
Syria squad
Goalkeepers: Ibrahim Alma, Mahmoud Al Youssef, Ahmad Madania.
Defenders: Ahmad Al Salih, Moayad Ajan, Jehad Al Baour, Omar Midani, Amro Jenyat, Hussein Jwayed, Nadim Sabagh, Abdul Malek Anezan.
Midfielders: Mahmoud Al Mawas, Mohammed Osman, Osama Omari, Tamer Haj Mohamad, Ahmad Ashkar, Youssef Kalfa, Zaher Midani, Khaled Al Mobayed, Fahd Youssef.
Forwards: Omar Khribin, Omar Al Somah, Mardik Mardikian.
What is dialysis?
Dialysis is a way of cleaning your blood when your kidneys fail and can no longer do the job.
It gets rid of your body's wastes, extra salt and water, and helps to control your blood pressure. The main cause of kidney failure is diabetes and hypertension.
There are two kinds of dialysis — haemodialysis and peritoneal.
In haemodialysis, blood is pumped out of your body to an artificial kidney machine that filter your blood and returns it to your body by tubes.
In peritoneal dialysis, the inside lining of your own belly acts as a natural filter. Wastes are taken out by means of a cleansing fluid which is washed in and out of your belly in cycles.
It isn’t an option for everyone but if eligible, can be done at home by the patient or caregiver. This, as opposed to home haemodialysis, is covered by insurance in the UAE.
Learn more about Qasr Al Hosn
In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort:
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Day 4, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Lahiru Gamage appeared to have been hard done by when he had his dismissal of Sami Aslam chalked off for a no-ball. Replays suggested he had not overstepped. No matter. Two balls later, the exact same combination – Gamage the bowler and Kusal Mendis at second slip – combined again to send Aslam back.
Stat of the day Haris Sohail took three wickets for one run in the only over he bowled, to end the Sri Lanka second innings in a hurry. That was as many as he had managed in total in his 10-year, 58-match first-class career to date. It was also the first time a bowler had taken three wickets having bowled just one over in an innings in Tests.
The verdict Just 119 more and with five wickets remaining seems like a perfectly attainable target for Pakistan. Factor in the fact the pitch is worn, is turning prodigiously, and that Sri Lanka’s seam bowlers have also been finding the strip to their liking, it is apparent the task is still a tough one. Still, though, thanks to Asad Shafiq and Sarfraz Ahmed, it is possible.
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
MWTC
Tickets start from Dh100 for adults and are now on sale at www.ticketmaster.ae and Virgin Megastores across the UAE. Three-day and travel packages are also available at 20 per cent discount.
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
MATCH INFO
Day 2 at the Gabba
Australia 312-1
Warner 151 not out, Burns 97, Labuschagne 55 not out
Pakistan 240
Shafiq 76, Starc 4-52
The 12 breakaway clubs
England
Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur
Italy
AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus
Spain
Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Real Madrid
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
