As physical media continues its cultural comeback, The National rounds up the best releases this month across film, music, art and more.
Noor Riyadh: A New Visual Culture (Classic) by D N Rodowick
Experience some of the most creative moments from Saudi Arabia’s annual light and art festival from luxury publisher Assouline in their coffee table book Noor Riyadh: A New Visual Culture.
Noor Riyadh is an annual light and art festival that launched in 2021 in Riyadh, which turns the city into an open-air gallery showcasing innovative light-based artwork from local, regional and international artists.
The spirit of the festival is captured in this curated coffee table book, Noor Riyadh: A New Visual Culture, which showcases an incredible plethora of works. It’s a visual journey through the light festival’s displays and installations that come from around the world and include site-specific commissions by Saudi artists, such as Muhannad Shono and Ahaad Alamoodi. Other works included are by the fiber artist Janet Echelman, installation artist Diana Thater, the musical art group Superflex and their video art projections, and German artist Carsten Holler’s work, which explores concepts of time and space through light.
Whether you have or are yet to experience the festival, Noor Riyadh: A New Visual Culture is a must-have for art enthusiasts and photographers, and for those wanting to engage and celebrate the power of light and the growing culture of art and art festivals in the region.
Maan Jalal, arts and culture writer
Martha: The Cookbook
For those who’ve seen and loved Martha, the brutally honest documentary about one of America’s most-enduring lifestyle personalities, here’s another treat. Just in time for the holiday season, and to take advantage of the buzz surrounding the Netflix film, Stewart has launched her 100th book titled Martha: The Cookbook.
More a scrapbook than a cookbook, this landmark publication features 100 of Stewart’s favourite recipes, complete with archival photos, as well as intimate stories behind each of them. Recipes include everything from her mother’s potato pierogi to a special paella that she makes for friends who visit her in the summer. Each recipe connects with important moments from Stewart’s trailblazing career as a businesswoman, writer and television personality, making this the perfect festive gift.
David Tusing, assistant features editor
Rosie by Rose
One of the most anticipated releases of the year, Blackpink’s Rose is set to drop her 12-track debut studio album Rosie this month. This marks her first solo project since leaving YG Entertainment and Interscope Records in 2023.
The album’s lead single, Apt, a collaboration with Bruno Mars, was released on October 18. It became her first solo track in three years and topped the Billboard Global 200 for five weeks, as well as several charts around the world, including iAustralia, New Zealand, Japan and the Mena region.
Rose has also explained that the album's title Rosie stems from her nickname, derived from her given name Roseanne – a name she reserves for close friends and family. She shared that the project feels like a personal “little journal,” conceived during a recording session in Los Angeles after Blackpink's Born Pink World Tour wrapped up. It's an ideal uplifting gift for anyone who loves K-pop or for those who just can't get enough of Rose.
Evelyn Lau, assistant features editor
Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret by Benjamin Stevenson
Technically this book came out in October, but I have been saving it as a December buy – for myself and various stocking fillers. As a prolific lover of both murder mysteries and Christmas, I don’t usually merge the two but the “if Knives Out and The Thursday Murder Club kissed under the mistletoe” billing truly won me over.
Another of Stevenson’s Ernest Cunningham mysteries (previous novels include Everyone On This Train Is A Suspect and Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone), the novella promises twists and turns aplenty, and a “a deadly advent calendar of clues”. Expect to find me tucked under a blanket and reading this all day long come Boxing Day, and at just 175-pages I expect to devour it in one day.
Farah Andrews, head of features
Paper Moon in 4K BluRay
The cinephile in your life probably knows exactly what he wants for Christmas this year and, more likely than not, they would have bought it for themselves already, or have told you what to get them.
If a surprise is what you’re after, look no further than The Criterion Collection’s recent 4K release of Peter Bogdanovich’s Paper Moon. The film follows an unlikely duo of a man and a girl who might or might not be his daughter as they traverse 1930s America. Played by actual father and daughter Ryan and Tatum O’Neal, the latter of which earned a nomination and a win at the Oscars in 1974, the new release restores a beautiful and touching film that can also be very funny and heartwarming. And if that’s not enough, the package contains a poster as well as artwork that would look great on the wall. This is one release that is a must-have, even if you already own the film in any other format.
Faisal Salah, gaming and social media writer
Virtual Dreams II: Ambient Explorations in the House & Techno Age, Japan 1993–1999 by various artists
With this year's music discussions defined by the highly caffeinated hooks of Sabrina Carpenter's massive hit Espresso and the hysteria of Taylor Swift's Eras tour, it's easy to overlook some of the smaller gems released this year.
On that note, the Virtual Dreams compilation series is the gift that keeps on giving. Released in October, it is the second instalment of the series, shedding light on the ambient music released during Japan's bubbling electronic music scene in the nineties.
This collection is spellbinding, and at times deeply soothing—a selection of instrumental works perfect for study sessions or simply unwinding. Dig deeper, however, and you will appreciate the ethereal landscapes and inventive production that wouldn't be out of place in video games. The compilation is also a postcard from a time when ambient music, also known in Japan as "listening techno," played an important role in its club culture.
Saeed Saeed, features writer
The specs: 2019 Haval H6
Price, base: Dh69,900
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 197hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 315Nm @ 2,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Developer: Treyarch, Raven Software
Publisher: Activision
Console: PlayStation 4 & 5, Windows, Xbox One & Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
Mica
Director: Ismael Ferroukhi
Stars: Zakaria Inan, Sabrina Ouazani
3 stars
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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The years Ramadan fell in May
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
How has net migration to UK changed?
The figure was broadly flat immediately before the Covid-19 pandemic, standing at 216,000 in the year to June 2018 and 224,000 in the year to June 2019.
It then dropped to an estimated 111,000 in the year to June 2020 when restrictions introduced during the pandemic limited travel and movement.
The total rose to 254,000 in the year to June 2021, followed by steep jumps to 634,000 in the year to June 2022 and 906,000 in the year to June 2023.
The latest available figure of 728,000 for the 12 months to June 2024 suggests levels are starting to decrease.
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Exhchange traded funds are bought and sold like shares, but operate as index-tracking funds, passively following their chosen indices, such as the S&P 500, FTSE 100 and the FTSE All World, plus a vast range of smaller exchanges and commodities, such as gold, silver, copper sugar, coffee and oil.
ETFs have zero upfront fees and annual charges as low as 0.07 per cent a year, which means you get to keep more of your returns, as actively managed funds can charge as much as 1.5 per cent a year.
There are thousands to choose from, with the five biggest providers BlackRock’s iShares range, Vanguard, State Street Global Advisors SPDR ETFs, Deutsche Bank AWM X-trackers and Invesco PowerShares.
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• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.
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Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
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How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
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Director: Saeed Roustaee
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Rating: 4/5
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How being social media savvy can improve your well being
Next time when procastinating online remember that you can save thousands on paying for a personal trainer and a gym membership simply by watching YouTube videos and keeping up with the latest health tips and trends.
As social media apps are becoming more and more consumed by health experts and nutritionists who are using it to awareness and encourage patients to engage in physical activity.
Elizabeth Watson, a personal trainer from Stay Fit gym in Abu Dhabi suggests that “individuals can use social media as a means of keeping fit, there are a lot of great exercises you can do and train from experts at home just by watching videos on YouTube”.
Norlyn Torrena, a clinical nutritionist from Burjeel Hospital advises her clients to be more technologically active “most of my clients are so engaged with their phones that I advise them to download applications that offer health related services”.
Torrena said that “most people believe that dieting and keeping fit is boring”.
However, by using social media apps keeping fit means that people are “modern and are kept up to date with the latest heath tips and trends”.
“It can be a guide to a healthy lifestyle and exercise if used in the correct way, so I really encourage my clients to download health applications” said Mrs Torrena.
People can also connect with each other and exchange “tips and notes, it’s extremely healthy and fun”.
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
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- Number of children under five will fall from 681 million in 2017 to 401m in 2100
- Over-80s will rise from 141m in 2017 to 866m in 2100
- Nigeria will become the world’s second most populous country with 791m by 2100, behind India
- China will fall dramatically from a peak of 2.4 billion in 2024 to 732 million by 2100
- an average of 2.1 children per woman is required to sustain population growth
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APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)
Display: 21cm Liquid Retina Display, 2266 x 1488, 326ppi, 500 nits
Chip: Apple A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
Storage: 128/256/512GB
Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, digital zoom up to 5x, Smart HDR 4
Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR 4, full-HD @ 25/30/60fps
Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID
Colours: Blue, purple, space grey, starlight
In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter
Price: From Dh2,099
The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 247hp at 6,500rpm
Torque: 370Nm from 1,500-3,500rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 7.8L/100km
Price: from Dh94,900
On sale: now
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Simran
Director Hansal Mehta
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Soham Shah, Esha Tiwari Pandey
Three stars
The Bio
Favourite vegetable: “I really like the taste of the beetroot, the potatoes and the eggplant we are producing.”
Holiday destination: “I like Paris very much, it’s a city very close to my heart.”
Book: “Das Kapital, by Karl Marx. I am not a communist, but there are a lot of lessons for the capitalist system, if you let it get out of control, and humanity.”
Musician: “I like very much Fairuz, the Lebanese singer, and the other is Umm Kulthum. Fairuz is for listening to in the morning, Umm Kulthum for the night.”
