The Frankfurt Book Fair returns this year with a format and interesting line-up of guests to suit the uncertain times.
With the world’s largest publishing event radically downscaling its physical presence amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the fair is taking its signature programme of evocative discussions and star-studded author sessions online.
On Saturday, October 17, the fair will hold its free Bookfest Digital programme. Spread across three online channels available on the fair's website, some of the world’s biggest authors and cultural personalities will log in and share their insights on what has been an extraordinary year for global literature and publishing.
From Canadian author and poet Margaret Atwood to former spy-on-the-run Edward Snowden, there are plenty of great literary and worldly discussions to be had. The full programme is available at the Frankfurt Book Fair website.
Here are seven of the key sessions to check out this weekend.
1. In Conversation with Margaret Atwood (Time TBC at Studio 1)
A discussion with the Man Booker Prize winner is always prescient.
In this expansive 60-minute conversation, the Canadian author will trace her six-decade career, featuring key works such as The Handmaid's Tale and follow-up The Testaments, as well as her poetry, literary passions and what keeps her returning to the page. The timing of the session will be announced on the festival website soon.
2. The New World Order: How the pandemic has changed the course of history forever with Saif Ghobash and Peter Frankopan (Studio 2, 2.40pm to 3pm CET, 4.40pm to 5pm GST)
Underscoring the global nature of the fair, Dubai’s Emirates Literature Foundation will produce a session of its own. Omar Saif Ghobash, UAE Assistant Minister for Culture and Public Diplomacy will be joined by esteemed British historian Peter Frankopan as they dissect how the pandemic is taking the world towards unchartered territory.
3. Permanent Record with Edward Snowden (Studio 1, 7pm to 7.30pm CET, 9pm to 9.30pm GST)
A lot has been written about Edward Snowden, but only last year the former US-spy-turned-whistleblower laid out his own account. From his current home in Russia, where he has been in asylum since 2014, Snowden will discuss his best-selling memoir Permanent Record and life in exile.
4. In Conversation with Ayad Akhtar (Studio 1, 7.30pm to 7.49pm CET, 9.30pm to 9.49pm GST)
The celebrated Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright will talk about his most personal and eclectic work. Pakistani-American Akhtar's new novel Homeland Elegies is a mixture of fact, fiction and memoir, as it follows a narrator, named after the author, who comes to terms with his Muslim faith that "socially defined me since 9/11" and western and Pakistani cultures that seem as natural to him as they are foreign.
5. Slavoj Zizek Live (Studio 2, 5.20pm to 5.29pm CET, 7.20pm to 7.29pm GST)
A rock star in his field, the laconic Slovenian philosopher and cultural critic will bring his searing insights and wit as he tackles some of the environmental and social issues facing the world today. With the US election fast approaching, expect Zizek to provide his thoughts on who could win the top spot in the White House.
6. City of Girls with Elizabeth Gilbert (Studio 2, 10am to 10.30am CET, 12pm to 12.30pm GST)
When Elizabeth Gilbert returns to fiction, her novels become a mainstay of bestseller lists. Such is the case with her latest work, City of Girls. The US author will shed further light on the book, which is told from the perspective of an elderly New Yorker who looks back at a youth spent in the theatre scene of the 1950s and the bitter mistakes made along the way.
7. Scottish Summit: Irvine Welsh & John Niven Live (ARD Book Fair Stage, 8pm to 10pm CET, 10pm to 12am GST)
Two giants of contemporary Scottish literature get together for an epic discussion on their careers and the state of their native literature. Welsh will detail the reasons behind ending his loved Trainspotting series with new book Dead Man's Trousers while Niven will describe how music, art and Glasgow's gritty streets informed his novels, including his best-selling 2008 debut Kill Your Friends.
8. Jamie Oliver (Studio 1, 1.25pm to 1.40pm CET, 3.25pm to 3.40pm GST)
With more people staying home due to the pandemic, it is time to make the most of your pantry. This was the rationale behind British celebrity chef Jamie Oliver’s newest book. Oliver will pick apart seven easy recipes incorporating chicken breast, salmon fillet, ground beef and broccoli and demonstrate how they can be whipped up in no time.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
THE SPECS
Engine: 3-litre V6
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 424hp
Torque: 580 Nm
Price: From Dh399,000
On sale: Now
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
QUALIFYING RESULTS
1. Max Verstappen, Netherlands, Red Bull Racing Honda, 1 minute, 35.246 seconds.
2. Valtteri Bottas, Finland, Mercedes, 1:35.271.
3. Lewis Hamilton, Great Britain, Mercedes, 1:35.332.
4. Lando Norris, Great Britain, McLaren Renault, 1:35.497.
5. Alexander Albon, Thailand, Red Bull Racing Honda, 1:35.571.
6. Carlos Sainz Jr, Spain, McLaren Renault, 1:35.815.
7. Daniil Kvyat, Russia, Scuderia Toro Rosso Honda, 1:35.963.
8. Lance Stroll, Canada, Racing Point BWT Mercedes, 1:36.046.
9. Charles Leclerc, Monaco, Ferrari, 1:36.065.
10. Pierre Gasly, France, Scuderia Toro Rosso Honda, 1:36.242.
Eliminated after second session
11. Esteban Ocon, France, Renault, 1:36.359.
12. Daniel Ricciardo, Australia, Renault, 1:36.406.
13. Sebastian Vettel, Germany, Ferrari, 1:36.631.
14. Antonio Giovinazzi, Italy, Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari, 1:38.248.
Eliminated after first session
15. Antonio Giovinazzi, Italy, Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari, 1:37.075.
16. Kimi Raikkonen, Finland, Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari, 1:37.555.
17. Kevin Magnussen, Denmark, Haas Ferrari, 1:37.863.
18. George Russell, Great Britain, Williams Mercedes, 1:38.045.
19. Pietro Fittipaldi, Brazil, Haas Ferrari, 1:38.173.
20. Nicholas Latifi, Canada, Williams Mercedes, 1:38.443.
Three ways to boost your credit score
Marwan Lutfi says the core fundamentals that drive better payment behaviour and can improve your credit score are:
1. Make sure you make your payments on time;
2. Limit the number of products you borrow on: the more loans and credit cards you have, the more it will affect your credit score;
3. Don't max out all your debts: how much you maximise those credit facilities will have an impact. If you have five credit cards and utilise 90 per cent of that credit, it will negatively affect your score.
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
Match info:
Manchester City 2
Sterling (8'), Walker (52')
Newcastle United 1
Yedlin (30')
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%3Cp%3EAuthor%3A%20Alasdair%20Soussi%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EPages%3A%20300%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EPublisher%3A%20Scotland%20Street%20Press%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EAvailable%3A%20December%201%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Dubai World Cup Carnival Thursday race card
6.30pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes Group Three US$200,000 (Turf) 2,000m
7.05pm: Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,600m
7.40pm: UAE Oaks Group Three $250,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
8.15pm: Zabeel Mile Group Two $250,000 (T) 1,600m
8.50pm: Meydan Sprint Group Two $250,000 (T) 1,000m
9.25pm: Handicap $135,000 (D) 1,400m
10pm: Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,600m
RESULT
Brazil 2 Croatia 0
Brazil: Neymar (69'), Firmino (90' 3)
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder turbo
Transmission: CVT
Power: 170bhp
Torque: 220Nm
Price: Dh98,900
How it works
A $10 hand-powered LED light and battery bank
Device is operated by hand cranking it at any time during the day or night
The charge is stored inside a battery
The ratio is that for every minute you crank, it provides 10 minutes light on the brightest mode
A full hand wound charge is of 16.5minutes
This gives 1.1 hours of light on high mode or 2.5 hours of light on low mode
When more light is needed, it can be recharged by winding again
The larger version costs between $18-20 and generates more than 15 hours of light with a 45-minute charge
No limit on how many times you can charge
UNSC Elections 2022-23
Seats open:
- Two for Africa Group
- One for Asia-Pacific Group (traditionally Arab state or Tunisia)
- One for Latin America and Caribbean Group
- One for Eastern Europe Group
Countries so far running:
More on Quran memorisation:
'Peninsula'
Stars: Gang Dong-won, Lee Jung-hyun, Lee Ra
Director: Yeon Sang-ho
Rating: 2/5
Usain Bolt's time for the 100m at major championships
2008 Beijing Olympics 9.69 seconds
2009 Berlin World Championships 9.58
2011 Daegu World Championships Disqualified
2012 London Olympics 9.63
2013 Moscow World Championships 9.77
2015 Beijing World Championships 9.79
2016 Rio Olympics 9.81
2017 London World Championships 9.95
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
FIXTURES
All games 6pm UAE on Sunday:
Arsenal v Watford
Burnley v Brighton
Chelsea v Wolves
Crystal Palace v Tottenham
Everton v Bournemouth
Leicester v Man United
Man City v Norwich
Newcastle v Liverpool
Southampton v Sheffield United
West Ham v Aston Villa
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
