Two acclaimed authors made an appearance on the second day of the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair.
Held at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec) until May 2, the 27th edition of the event welcomed Abbas Beydoun, author of The Autumn of Innocence, on Thursday.
The first prize winner of the Sheikh Zayed Book Award in the literature category, the novel’s theme of tyranny was discussed at the Al Multaqa Literary Salon.
There is always a motivation for repellent action, Beydoun explained
“It’s not good enough to just say ‘well, this is new to us,” he said.
“Violence just doesn’t fall from the sky. It comes from our ethics and our behaviours. It comes from ourselves and we have to be aware of that.”
The salon also welcomed one of Turkey’s best selling authors Tuna Kiremtci.
The writer and musician arrived at the fair to discuss his 2007 novel Prayers Stay the Same, which was recently translated into Arabic.
Kiremtci said the translation excited him as much as publishing the book for the first time a decade ago.
“Arabic is one of the most beautiful languages and to see my work translated means a lot to me,” he said.
“Also it gave me an opportunity to go back and learn about the language and the great Arab civilisation. Two people have taught me this, my Arabic publisher and my Algerian ex-girlfriend.”
Day two also saw the signing of an agreement to establish the first joint UAE- Chinese publishing house.
In collaboration between Emirati researcher Fatima Hamad Al Mazrouei and the InterContinental China Publishing House, the venture aims to begin working on its first batch of releases once book licensing procedures are completed.
“This project was always present in our thinking and today has been translated into reality to realise the ambitions of both parties in spreading cooperation and communication between our two countries. Especially since China has had a long-standing history of printing and publishing for thousands of years,” said Mazrouei.
sasaeed@thenational.ae
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Date started: 2014
Founders: Maaz Sheikh, Danny Bates
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment/Streaming Video On Demand
Number of employees: 125
Investors/Investment amount: $125 million. Major investors include Starz/Lionsgate, State Street, SEQ and Delta Partners
Zayed Sustainability Prize
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
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Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
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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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