Cooper: Sept. and Oct. slow tourism season worsened by hurricanes

Travel

September and October were underperforming months in regard to tourism visits, Minister of Tourism, Investments and Aviation Chester Cooper said yesterday, though he said the forward-looking numbers leading into the end of the year could still put the country on a path to break last year’s visitor records.He said the typical slow period that usually occurs around September and October was exacerbated by Hurricane Milton, which struck the country’s biggest source market for visitors, Florida; and Hurricane Oscar, which disrupted some travel to the southern Bahamas.“The forecast still is that we will beat the record from last year,” said Cooper.“We had some bumps in the road during the months of September and October. Specifically, we had Milton that impacted Georgia, and we had Oscar recently that would have interrupted some flow of traffic through The Bahamas.“Milton also impacted, in a very serious way, central Florida. Florida is our core market. We are still assessing the overall impact.“We are offering our support in these markets that are so important to us. Once things settle down and people are back on their feet, we know that they will travel again, and the proximity of The Bahamas is a blessing.”According to Cooper, travelers have shortened their booking windows, meaning they have become a little more impulsive in buying their travel.Shortened booking windows also lessens the amount of insight tourism officials have on future travel.However, Cooper said the country continues to have strong airlift across the Eastern Seaboard of the US, and he is confident people will begin to travel as the busy winter season kicks into high gear.“We’re very strong with direct non-stop service from more than 25 cities across North America,” he said.“And we expect all of these pieces together are going to help us to end the year strong.“We’re expecting a very strong November and December, and we consider September and October a wash, really. But, we’re we’re coming back strong. I’m sure right after the hurricane season.”He added that the ministry continues to work on airlift from emerging markets, including the Middle East, South and Central America and Africa.

Al Ain Book Festival sees surge in publisher registrations

Arts & Culture, Books

Abu Dhabi: The 15th Al Ain Book Festival, organized by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC), has recorded a notable increase in publisher registration requests, totaling 260 for this year. The rise underscores a growing interest in the festival, which will now take place from 17th to 23rd November, rescheduled from the previously planned dates 18th to 24th November to accommodate venue changes.
This year, 137 exhibitors benefited from the ALC’s 10% early bird discount, with 75% of booth spaces booked within the first week of registration, which concluded on 19th September. The festival will entertain a 2,472-square-meter area, fully reserved by exhibitors showcasing a range of publications and creative works.
Image Via: Al Ain Book Festival | Cropped by ET
Dr. Ali bin Tamim, Chairman of the ALC, commented on the festival’s strong participation, saying that, “The Al Ain Book Festival has become an exhaustive event that celebrates books as a continuing symbol of civilization, encompassing arts, sciences, and the Arabic language as a cultural cornerstone.” Dr. bin Tamim emphasized the Center’s commitment to sustaining the local publishing sector as part of the UAE’s dedication to preserving Arabic as a pillar of cultural identity.
The Al Ain Book Festival delivers a unique platform that unites families and community members, showcasing a program that praises Emirati and Arab creators. Among the planned events are folk poetry performances, notable publication discounts, and a wide array of educational recreation for children and youth.
Last year’s festival saw 150 exhibitors showcasing 60,000 titles and attracted over 95,000 visitors who enjoyed nearly 400 events and 500 workshops, further cementing the festival’s role in the UAE’s vibrant cultural landscape.
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Innovation and Global Collaboration Essential for Advancing Science and Technology

Science and Health

Khanapara, Oct 25: Scholars from around the globe have converged at the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM) to underscore the importance of innovation in research and collaboration in fostering groundbreaking developments.At the two-day conference which kicked off today, scholars will share insights, discoveries, and advancements in the fields of management, science, and technology.
The Department of Computer Science University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM) in collaboration with the Catholic University of Mozambique, inaugurated the 3rd International Conference on Innovation in Management, Science, and Technology (ICIMS-2024) today. This two-day conference will conclude tomorrow.
The inauguration ceremony was graced by Chief Guest Prof. Sushanta Karmakar from IIT Guwahati, who delivered a keynote address underscoring the importance of innovation in research and the critical role interdisciplinary collaboration plays in fostering groundbreaking developments. Prof. Karmakar emphasized that innovation is key to addressing global challenges, and platforms like ICIMS provide fertile ground for such growth.

The event also featured Prof. Doutor Nelson Amade, Vice-Reitor of the Catholic University of Mozambique, as the Guest of Honor. Prof. Amade highlighted the growing international collaboration between institutions and the importance of knowledge exchange. Maiden Alfinete, also from the Catholic University of Mozambique, attended the ceremony, adding to the international presence at the conference.

One of the conference’s highlights was the official release of a book containing the proceedings from the 2nd International Conference on Innovation in Management, Science, and Technology, and Automation in Sports. This publication captures the key discussions and research findings from last year’s conference and stands as a significant resource for academics and researchers globally.
Throughout the conference, more than 70 research papers will be presented in multiple parallel sessions chaired by dignitaries from esteemed institutions, including NIT Rourkela, Chandigarh University, Guwahati University, Cotton University, Shah Jalal University of Science and Technology (Bangladesh), and Excel Engineering College, Tamil Nadu. The diversity of presentations speaks to the conference’s international reach and its commitment to advancing knowledge across borders.
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Following the inauguration, a workshop on “Advanced Research Methodology: Its Key Concepts and Roles in Research” was held, offering valuable insights into research methods for attendees. This workshop set an inspiring tone for the conference’s focus on advancing research practices and methodologies.
ICIMST-2024 is positioned as a significant platform for sharing innovative ideas and cultivating collaboration among global experts in management, science, and technology, marking a strong step forward in USTM’s commitment to educational excellence and global knowledge exchange.
Also Read: Ampati’s Fit India Swachhta Freedom Run Unites 675 Runners in Celebration of Health, Cleanliness, and Community Spirit
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Nobel prize winners endorse Harris and warn Trump would endanger future of science

Science and Health

More than 80 Nobel prize winners have endorsed Kamala Harris for the presidency, warning that Donald Trump would “jeopardize any advancements in our standards of living” given his earlier proposals for enormous cuts to science funding.In an open letter, a copy of which was obtained by The New York Times, 82 Nobel prize winners from the US in the fields of physics, chemistry, economics and medicine, said “this is the most consequential presidential election in a long time, perhaps ever, for the future of science and the United States”.The letter, which commends Harris for recognizing that “the enormous increases in living standards and life expectancies over the past two centuries are largely the result of advances in science and technology”, called Trump a potential threat to progress who could “jeopardize any advancements in our standards of living and impede our responses to climate change”.The Nobel laureates range from a physicist involved in the discovery of remnant light from the Big Bang, to an immunologist instrumental in the development of a specific type of Covid-19 vaccine.They includes signatories who won Nobels this month such as molecular biologist Gary Ruvkun, chemist David Baker, physicist John Hopfield and economist Daron Acemoglu.Driven by concerns over the significant cuts to science funding proposed during Trump’s tenure, coupled with what he perceives as the former president’s adversarial stance toward science and academia, Joseph Stiglitz, an economist at Columbia University who won the Nobel memorial prize in economic sciences in 2001, said he was motivated by the “enormous cuts in science budgets” that Trump proposed during his presidency, as well as former president’s “anti-science” and “anti-university” stances.“I hope it’s a wake-up call for people,” Stiglitz told the New York Times about the letter. “A consequence of this election is the really profound impact that his agenda has on science and technology.”The letter also lauds Harris for her understanding of the invaluable contributions immigrants make to scientific progress on a national and global scale.On Thursday, in a separate letter obtained by CNN, 23 living US recipients of the Nobel prize in economics, have expressed their endorsement of Harris’ economic agenda, deeming it “vastly superior” to the economic strategies proposed by Trump.“While each of us has different views on the particulars of various economic policies, we believe that, overall, Harris’ economic agenda will improve our nation’s health, investment, sustainability, resilience, employment opportunities, and fairness and be vastly superior to the counterproductive economic agenda of Donald Trump,” they wrote.

Nobel prize winners endorse Harris and warn Trump would endanger future of science

Science and Health

More than 80 Nobel prize winners have endorsed Kamala Harris for the presidency, warning that Donald Trump would “jeopardize any advancements in our standards of living” given his earlier proposals for enormous cuts to science funding.In an open letter, a copy of which was obtained by The New York Times, 82 Nobel prize winners from the US in the fields of physics, chemistry, economics and medicine, said “this is the most consequential presidential election in a long time, perhaps ever, for the future of science and the United States”.The letter, which commends Harris for recognizing that “the enormous increases in living standards and life expectancies over the past two centuries are largely the result of advances in science and technology”, called Trump a potential threat to progress who could “jeopardize any advancements in our standards of living and impede our responses to climate change”.The Nobel laureates range from a physicist involved in the discovery of remnant light from the Big Bang, to an immunologist instrumental in the development of a specific type of Covid-19 vaccine.They includes signatories who won Nobels this month such as molecular biologist Gary Ruvkun, chemist David Baker, physicist John Hopfield and economist Daron Acemoglu.Driven by concerns over the significant cuts to science funding proposed during Trump’s tenure, coupled with what he perceives as the former president’s adversarial stance toward science and academia, Joseph Stiglitz, an economist at Columbia University who won the Nobel memorial prize in economic sciences in 2001, said he was motivated by the “enormous cuts in science budgets” that Trump proposed during his presidency, as well as former president’s “anti-science” and “anti-university” stances.“I hope it’s a wake-up call for people,” Stiglitz told the New York Times about the letter. “A consequence of this election is the really profound impact that his agenda has on science and technology.”The letter also lauds Harris for her understanding of the invaluable contributions immigrants make to scientific progress on a national and global scale.On Thursday, in a separate letter obtained by CNN, 23 living US recipients of the Nobel prize in economics, have expressed their endorsement of Harris’ economic agenda, deeming it “vastly superior” to the economic strategies proposed by Trump.“While each of us has different views on the particulars of various economic policies, we believe that, overall, Harris’ economic agenda will improve our nation’s health, investment, sustainability, resilience, employment opportunities, and fairness and be vastly superior to the counterproductive economic agenda of Donald Trump,” they wrote.

Timely books take on a controversial topic

Arts & Culture, Books

On June 24, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned, after nearly 50 years, the constitutional right of women and of all menstruating people in the U.S. to receive abortion care. Two new books by regional authors were recently released that can help us to better understand what the right to abortion means: Curtis Boyd and Glenna Halvorson-Boyd are abortion-care providers from Texas and New Mexico who have a residence in Santa Fe; Pam Houston is a Colorado-based author and memoirist whose reproductive years began and ended with Roe.#placement_679661_0_i{width:100%;margin:0 auto;}

Glenna Halvorson-Boyd and Curtis Boyd authored a memoir about the experiences they had providing abortion care to women in Texas and New Mexico for more than 50 years. Photo Jamey Stillings

Jamey Stillings

Based in Colorado, Pam Houston is a writer of short stories, novels, and essays and a creative writing teacher at the Institute of American Indian Arts. Her new book, Without Exception, walks readers through the author’s thoughts on what access to abortion means.

Michael Blakeman

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Sci-Fi, Folklore, and Faith: Korede Azeez’s unique lens as a Nigerian Muslim filmmaker

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

Korede Azeez is one of the Nigeria’s most prolific breakout filmmakers. Her journey sheds light on the broader landscape of women in Nigeria’s expanding film industry. Korede Azeez. Courtesy: Korayday  In 2022, 31-year-old writer and director, Korede Azeez was one of six winners of the Netflix-UNESCO African Folktales Reimagined competition, a groundbreaking initiative that aimed…

Jeon Mi Do to Portray Court Lady in Upcoming Film The Man Who Lives with the King

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

Jeon Mi Do will portray a court lady in the movie The Man Who Lives with the King. The production team announced the complete cast lineup on Friday (October 25). The lineup includes Park Ji Hoon, Yoo Hae Jin, Yoo Ji Tae, Jeon Mi Do, and Kim Min. Lee Jun Hyuk and Park Ji Hwan will join the cast list in cameo roles.Ji Hoon will play the young King, who was dethroned and exiled to a remote village. Hae Jin will appear as the village chief. Ji Tae will feature a known figure of that era. Mi Do will portray his court lady. Kim Min will play the role of village chief’s son. The producers have not revealed the roles of Ji Hwan and Jun Hyuk.