Watch: Book lovers converge at Sharjah Book Fair

Arts & Culture, Books

‘Everything begins with a book’ is the suggestive slogan that the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF 2024), the most important in the Arab world, has chosen for its 43rd edition, which will be held until 17 November.

With 2,520 publishers from 112 countries participating, the fair is significant for book lovers and literary professionals. Among the highlights are the 400 authors who will be present to sign their books and engage with readers, creating an interactive space where literature comes to life. This event offers a unique opportunity to connect directly with the writers behind some of the year’s most anticipated releases.

The fair will feature a solid regional presence, with the UAE leading the Arab world and hosting 234 publishers. Other notable Arab participants include Egypt, Lebanon, and Syria. Internationally, the UK and India stand out with the largest delegations of 81 and 52 publishers, respectively.

How Elon Musk and the tech bros stole power from the Murdochs

Technology

The results are still trickling in, state-by-state, but the overall outcome is clear. Four years after he was kicked out of the White House, and accused of launching an “attempted coup” in an angry response to the electorate rejecting him, Donald Trump will be the 47th US president after sweeping both the popular vote and electoral college.In his acceptance speech in West Palm Beach, Florida, Trump took time to praise two key figures in the alternative media space: podcaster Joe Rogan and social media owner Elon Musk. The mentions of the two entrepreneurs highlighted how important Trump thought they were to his re-election bid.But is he correct?“It is impossible to know what real impact things like Trump’s appearance on Rogan’s podcast truly made,” said Steven Buckley, a lecturer in digital media sociology at City, University of London, who specialises in US politics. But it seems like it didn’t harm things for a mercurial, countercultural campaigner like Trump.Buckley believes that not embracing alternative sources of media in the way Trump did harmed the Harris campaign. She “clearly should have done more media hits in both traditional and alternative spaces,” he said. Read Next“I believe Trump’s campaign were less afraid of these alternative media spaces and realised that not only did the free-wheeling, less restrictive nature benefit Trump and his surrogates, but that traditional media would often cover these appearances anyway.”It’s clear that social media played a big part in the election – and the support of Elon Musk. The owner of X called the site “the de facto public town square” in 2022 when he launched his takeover bid.Trump was welcomed back onto X after Musk bought it for $44bn (£34bn) in October 2022. In recent weeks Musk, who has campaigned personally for Trump, appeared ubiquitous in users’ timelines – something that might not have been possible had he not had absolute control of the platform.Trump also chose a digital advertising strategy that appealed to his base of supporters on X, leaving spending on other platforms to be dominated by the Kamala Harris campaign – a strategy that didn’t work for his defeated opponent.Republican-leaning advertisers were six out of the 10 biggest advertisers on X so far this year, according to data compiled by FWIW News at the start of November. The campaign’s @TeamTrump account on X spent nearly $1m (£776,000) reaching would-be voters.Within X, there’s a belief that the platform played an integral part in Trump’s election for the second time, one employee told i. “Look at the messages Elon has been putting out there overnight,” said the employee, who spoke under the condition of anonymity. “He’s pointed to X being the signal of public opinion and how it has replaced media.”One post reads: “You are the media now.”
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1854045379408326909
That presentation of X and other social and non-traditional forms of media as replacing, and in opposition to, the traditional media is notable. So too is the idea that Trump somehow ran an unconventional campaign, as many commentators have put it, in choosing to target podcasters and his base on social media.“It’s interesting that traditional media is calling Trump’s comms strategy as unconventional,” said Buckley. “It’s only unconventional in their eyes, but I think to voters Trump’s strategy seemed very normal, reasonable and expected.”The former and future president knew he had to energise his base in order to win enough seats to assure victory, and focused on that, even while his in-person speeches were sometimes poorly attended.Yet the clipped-up depictions of the events played well on social media. And with 43 per cent of Americans telling the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism that they avoid news in one way or another, social and alternative media was where they got their information.Yet despite the importance of Musk, Rogan and the alternative media space that has cropped up – including Trump’s own Truth Social social network – to help promote an alternative view of reality (or the honest view for Trump’s supporters), traditional media still played its role.The uproar over the Washington Post‘s decision not to endorse a candidate demonstrates its perceived influence. An unprecedented 250,000 of the newspaper’s two million subscribers cancelled after Jeff Bezos, the Amazon owner who bought it in 2013, reportedly intervened to stop the board endorsing Harris. Exactly why is unclear. Bezos said it was about restoring trust in the media, while sceptics believe he is another tech billionaire running scared of Trump.But Trump found a way to use traditional media to his advantage, telling a rally before the election: “The Washington Post and the LA Times, they’re not endorsing anybody. You know what they are really saying? They are saying this Democrat is no good and they think I’m doing a great job. They just don’t want to say it.”Lachlan Murdoch, who has sole control of the Fox and News Corp businesses since taking over from his father Rupert, has released financials showing record political advertising across the Fox network. Americans returned to traditional TV news as the tight election race generated more interest.The country’s leading cable news channel, averaging 1.6 million viewers a day throughout October, helped promote Trump as a viable contender for the presidential election, even as he decried the television channel for not doing enough to support his campaign.With Fox News watched by political independents, as well as Republican voters, Harris sat down with host Bret Baier for an interview.And CNN, another traditional media outlet, was the platform for the first and only televised debate between Trump and Joe Biden that ultimately prompted the party to switch candidates for this election. The comparatively last-minute replacement was triggered by Biden’s poor performance on traditional media.Yet there’s no denying that the balance of power has shifted. In a society where anyone can get whatever view of the world they agree with, no matter how detached from reality it may be in some cases, the importance of a single, mainstream voice becomes less important. Or as Fox News’s Baier put it a little after 2am local time this morning: “Maybe it’s the future? It’s Elon Musk. It’s Joe Rogan and podcasts.”

GBTA + VDR Conference 2024 in Partnership with the Nordic Business Travel Associations and GBTA Sustainability Summit Highlight a Robust European Business Travel Industry

Business News

Copenhagen, Denmark  — The outlook for business travel in Europe including the path toward a more sustainable future was the focus this week at the GBTA +VDR Conference 2024 in Partnership with the Nordic Business Travel Associations and the GBTA Sustainability Summit in Copenhagen. The co-located events held 4-6 November featured three productive days where industry professionals, subject experts and thought leaders gathered from across the travel, business, and corporate sectors to exchange knowledge, discuss industry trends and explore innovative solutions at Europe’s largest conference for business travel and meetings management professionals.
Held at the Bella Center, this year brought record-setting numbers, attracting 850 registered Summit attendees, over 1,300 Conference attendees including nearly 350 travel buyers, and 67 exhibitors representing 38 countries and territories. It also marked the 10th year of Europe Conference collaboration for GBTA and VDR.
These events reflect that the European business travel industry is fuelled by a brilliant, dedicated community. Working in collaboration with our partners at VDR and the Nordic BTAs, this year’s Conference embodied numerous opportunities for industry insights, professional development and connection, and reflected an optimistic outlook for the future of business travel in Europe, said Catherine Logan, GBTA Senior Vice President, EMEA and APAC.
Jens Schliessmann, Executive Director of the VDR (Association of German Business Travellers), also emphasises the need for partnership with GBTA and the other European associations: We value the long-standing and constructive exchange and want to continue working together in Europe for the business travel industry. The focus here is on advocacy for important topics and the substantive work in the interests of our members.”
Sari Viljamaa, Managing Director, Finnish Business Travel Association: Bringing the GBTA Europe Conference to the Nordics has been a long-time dream for us, and it has been rewarding to see a record attendance in Copenhagen. Combined with the high quality of the program, we trust that delegates enjoyed the event as much as we did!
Sustainability at the Forefront and a Call for Acceleration
The 3rd GBTA Sustainability Summit on 4 November united industry professionals, sustainability experts, and policymakers around the critical need to advance sustainable business travel. The Summit offered an inclusive platform for interactive sessions, open dialogue and insights from 28 speakers on topics including global standards and climate resilience, and provided attendees with actionable insights to integrate sustainability into their travel programs. Sessions and discussions included real-world decarbonisation solutions, regulatory preparedness, the impact of AI, and fostering radical collaboration across the sector.
The Summit kicked off with the unveiling of the results from the GBTA Sustainability Acceleration Challenge. The industry-first global benchmarking initiative from the GBTA Foundation, developed in collaboration with Accenture, evaluated the current state and actions being taken by 241 participating companies to decarbonise their business travel programmes. The findings showed that while organizations have much work to do to accelerate the integration of practices that materially reduce their business travel emissions to Net Zero targets by 2050, there are opportunities to fast-track climate action such as creating momentum through employee engagement, helping scale the market for SAF and ensuring investments in high-quality Environmental Attribute Certificates (EACs).
Robust Outlook for Business Travel Spending in Europe
GBTA released new European regional analysis from its 2024 Business Travel Index (BTI™) Outlook report, made possible by Visa, which forecasts regional business travel spending to reach 476.6 billion euros in Europe by 2028 with growth outpacing most global regions except Asia Pacific. For 2024, the projection is for European business travel spending to reach 360.4 billion euros, reflecting a 10.4% increase from last year. Additionally for 2024, Europe is estimated to account for 26.4% of total global business travel spending of 1.36 trillion euros.
Economic factors and global political uncertainty continue to impact the business travel sector in Europe, with Western Europe and Emerging Europe continuing to diverge. And although Europe’s business travel market has made significant strides in recovering from the pandemic, its share of the global market remains slightly below pre-COVID levels.
Dynamic Speakers and Insightful Sessions Spark Discussion and Discourse
The Conference featured 16 education sessions, 7 Main Stage segments and 9 committee roundtables. The Main Stage sessions kicked off with Suzanne Neufang, CEO of GBTA, leading a panel of C-suite industry executives from leading airlines. Called “Riding the Wave of Disruption,” the discussion explored how changes in content distribution and commercial pressures are reshaping the business travel landscape.
The Big Idea workshop also returned with a thought-provoking interactive session where delegates worked in small groups to tackle “Today’s Work Culture and What it Means for Business Travel and Travel Managers.” Attendees explored topics such as how technology and collaborative working practices are shaping more flexible work environments; navigating the balance between remote and in-person work; and exploring the broader effects on company culture, legal frameworks and business travel.
Keynote Speaker Dr. Stephanie Hare, renowned researcher, broadcaster and author, explored the evolution of AI by sharing insights and experiences from various industries to demonstrate how AI is driving innovation and reshaping the global landscape.
Education session topics ranged from leveraging technology to reach sustainability goals, to trends in travel risk management, to driving value with hotel programme performance metrics. Committee roundtable subjects included accommodations, inclusion and culture, technology, sustainability and advocacy.
The Conference concluded on 6 November in a true tribute to Danish culture with a closing Main Stage session featuring Magnus Göransson, co-host and judge of Lego Masters Sweden, who shared insights on how to foster a culture of agility and innovation by offering actionable strategies that thrive on innovation, creativity, and playfulness.
Other GBTA +VDR Conference 2024 in Partnership with the Nordic Business Travel Associations Highlights included:

The Global Leaders Reception, an exclusive event to thank the volunteer leaders for their continued support, took place on Sunday, 3 November at the 25hours Hotel Indre.
Connect First, a resource for the Conference’s 373 first-time attendees or those coming solo, helped attendees get the most out of their conference experience. New this year was a Buddy Programme, which paired new attendees with a GBTA Board member or other experienced conference delegates to offer advisement and connection before and during the event. Other programme benefits for first-timers included a specialised WhatsApp group, designated meet-up points in the Connection Zone, and support throughout the event
Thought leader insights and industry breaking news were featured during the conference. The onsite Broadcast Studio hosted nearly 40 industry leaders sharing their perspectives, views and voices and the Media Cocktail Party at the Crowne Plaza Copenhagen brought journalists together with company leaders who shared their organization’s breaking news.
Early-morning Go! Running Tours combined well-being and sightseeing for attendees who could participate in a 5k or 7k running tour or a 3k walking tour around the area of Ørestaden, offering a blend of architecture, urban life and nature.

The 2024 events were made possible through the generous support of the Sustainability Summit sponsors and Europe Conference sponsors.
Event information for 2025 was also announced. The 4th Sustainability Summit will be held 10 June in Washington, D.C. The GBTA + VDR Conference 2025 will be held 10-12 November in Hamburg, Germany.
Click here to view photos from the Sustainability Summit and here to view photos from the Europe Conference.
About GBTA
The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) is the world’s premier business travel and meetings trade organization headquartered in the Washington, D.C. area serving stakeholders across six continents. GBTA and its 8,500+ members represent and advocate for the $1.48 trillion global business travel and meetings industry. GBTA and the GBTA Foundation deliver world-class education, events, research, advocacy, and media to a growing global network of more than 28,000 travel professionals and 125,000 active contacts. For more information, visit GBTA.org and GBTAFoundation.org.
About VDR
The German Business Travel Association (VDR) stands for comprehensive expertise in all aspects of business mobility and, with over 600 member companies, is the leading business travel association in Germany. For 50 years now, the association has been representing the interests of the German economy with regard to business travel and mobility in dialogue with business, politics and together with national and international partners. The focus is on a regulatory environment in which business and corporate mobility is economically and ecologically balanced as well as reliable and safe. More info on: www.vdr-service.de.
About NordicBTA
NordicBTA is a cooperation between Danish, Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish Business Travel Associations. We empower buyers and suppliers of Business Travel and Meetings & Events related services with strategic connections, relevant knowledge, and opportunities to shape the industry. Combined, the Nordic region represents the 10th largest business travel market globally. More info on https://www.nordicbta.com.

Debbie IannaciGBTA Global Communications, PR & Research+1 305 301 7057GBTA

Vontobel Records Outflows in Institutional Business

Business News

Vontobel has released selective figures for the first nine months and presented a strategy update. The bank sees itself on track with its cost-cutting program.
In its trading update for the period from January to the end of September, Vontobel reported a clear increase in assets under management. A significant portion of this is attributed to strong market performance.
Assets under management amounted to 227,6 billion francs at the end of September, compared to 206,8 billion francs at the end of 2023. The positive market performance since the beginning of the year contributed 16,8 billion francs, according to a statement released on Thursday.
Net new money inflows were reported at 2,6 billion francs. Currency effects added another 1,5 billion francs.
Inflows from Private Clients were «still strong» at 3,1 billion francs, the bank added. These inflows were within Vontobel’s targeted range of 4 to 6 percent.
Institutional Clients, however, recorded outflows of 0,5 billion francs. Nevertheless, these have slowed, the statement continued.
The update provided no further details on business performance.
Strategy Reaffirmed
The bank intends to maintain its strategic focus on the two complementary and diversified client segments of private and institutional clients. Organic growth is to be supplemented by selective acquisitions to expand in key markets and acquire new investment competencies.
Vontobel reaffirmed its targets for revenue growth of 4 to 6 percent over the entire cycle. The efficiency program, aimed at reducing costs by 100 million francs by 2026, is on track. The management is confident that gross cost reductions will ensure this strategic flexibility.
The bank will continue to focus on value creation for clients, emphasizing advisory services, active management, and customized solutions.

Travelling with an eVisa FAQs

Travel

The Home Office has issued new guidance for customers on travelling into or out of the UK with an eVisa.

The UK’s immigration system is going ‘digital by default’ by 2025. This means the government is replacing physical immigration documents with a digital proof of immigration status called an eVisa. It is free and straightforward to switch to an eVisa and affected individuals must take action before 31 December 2024.

Once you have set up your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account and obtained your eVisa, it is important to check your details are correct and kept up to date, especially when it comes to international travel.

Below, we address some frequently asked questions about travelling with an eVisa.

What is an eVisa?

An eVisa is an online record of your immigration status and the conditions of your permission to enter or stay in the UK. You need to create a UKVI account to be able to access your eVisa.  

You can find out more about the switch to eVisas and what action you need to take in the Home Office guidance here.

How will the switch to eVisas impact international travel?

If you currently hold a physical document to evidence your immigration status in the UK, you must obtain an eVisa if you wish to travel internationally from 1 January 2025. With an eVisa, international travel will be easier, because UK Border Force and international air, sea and rail carriers will be able to automatically access your immigration information that is held on your UKVI account, to verify your permission.

You can use an eVisa to travel to the UK together with your current passport which must be linked to your UKVI account. Until the end of 2024 you should continue to carry your physical document if you have it, for example your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP), until it expires.

Before you travel internationally, it is important to check your eVisa has all the correct details. You may be delayed or denied boarding by carriers if your information is not correct. You will still need to carry your current passport with you. 

How can I check my eVisa details are correct?

If you are travelling out of the UK or travelling into the UK and you have an eVisa, you will need to check the information in your UKVI account is correct before you travel.

You can do this by:

If your status is displaying incorrectly on your eVisa, you should report the error to the Home Office here.

I have dual nationality – which passport should I add to my UKVI account?

If you have dual nationality and neither of those nationalities is British or Irish, you will need to add the passport you will use to travel to your UKVI account. If you have a passport for both nationalities, you can add both to your account.  

If you are a British or Irish citizen holding dual nationality or if you have the right of abode, you will need to show your carrier (for example, an airline, rail company or other transport provider) either:

Your British or Irish passport

Another passport containing a certificate of entitlement to the right of abode.

How can I add a different passport to my UKVI account?

If you are outside the UK and need to add a different passport to your UKVI account, you can do this using the update your UKVI account details service, as long as none of your personal details have changed.

If your personal details have changed, you will not be able to use this service to add your new passport from outside the UK. You should consider applying for a temporary visa which lets you re-enter the UK once only. Once you are inside the UK, you will be able to add your new passport to your UKVI account and update your personal details.  

Personal details include your name, nationality, date of birth and sex.

What should I do if I am unable to access my eVisa?

If you are outside the UK and you cannot access your eVisa, you can get help to recover access to your UKVI account. 

If you are unable to recover your account but have a valid physical document that shows you have permission to travel, you can show that to the carrier. 

If you are unable to recover your account and have no other evidence of your permission to travel, you should consider applying for a temporary visa which lets you re-enter the UK once only.

Is there anything else I should be aware of when travelling with an eVisa?

Travellers should be aware it is your responsibility to check the entry, exit and transit requirements of other countries you are visiting. You may be asked to show evidence of your UK immigration status to authorities in other countries. You should check what they will require before you travel, but they may accept evidence such as a share code from the view and prove service, viewing your UKVI account on a screen, or a physical document confirming your status and permissions.

You should also check that the passenger information you have provided to your transport carrier matches the details on your passport or immigration permission.

How can I access further support regarding my eVisa?

If you need help with creating your UKVI account and getting access to your eVisa, you can contact the Home Office.

Alternatively, our team of immigration experts here at Smith Stone Walters is on hand to guide you through the process.

To speak to an immigration advisor, please contact us today.

Bulgaria Among Leading Destinations in Southeast Europe for Starting Business, Says Economy Minister

Business News

Bulgaria is already among the leading destinations in Southeast Europe for starting business, said caretaker Minister of Economy and Industry Petko Nikolov, who opened an international conference on Thursday concerning key challenges faced by start-up companies at different stages of their life cycle and the involvement of venture capital funds in this process. He added that Bulgaria has a well-developed support ecosystem promoting entrepreneurship, start-ups and growing businesses, which includes research centres, laboratories, business incubators, accelerators and venture capital funds. The event, which is being held at the Hilton Hotel in Sofia under the title The life cycle of start-ups: challenges, is organized by BOYANOV & Co. in cooperation with the European Investment Bank (EIB).
Nikolov drew attention to the government’s work to improve the conditions for doing business and developing start-ups in the country. He mentioned the legislative regulation of variable capital companies as one of the forms for start-up businesses with advantages for private equity investors. The Minister also raised the startup visa as a measure to attract entrepreneurs from third countries to establish enterprises using high technologies and developing research and development. He noted Bulgaria’s accession to the declaration on the introduction of the European Union (EU) standard of excellence and the nations of start-ups.
On the other hand, the strategic documents in the programmes that are being implemented – the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme, the Recovery and Resilience Plan, prioritise measures to improve access to finance, diversify the sources and instruments of financing, promote the use of alternative sources of financing, and overcome the shortage of qualified personnel, which is a serious problem not only in Bulgaria, Minister Nikolov said.
/MT/

Actress’s luck shines with a film made in a low budget, earning 5 times more than the cost – Hindustan News Hub

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

Image Source : INSTAGRAM Actress’s luck shines with a film made in low budget
The audience will get to see a lot of content of suspense-thriller movies on OTT, but today we are going to tell you about a film which will leave your mind baffled after watching it. In the year 2018, a tremendous supernatural suspense thriller film was released, whose story blew people’s senses. After the climax of the film, very painful and mysterious events happen which shock everyone. Till the end of this South film, we will not be able to know who is killing those who take a wrong U turn by removing the block on the middle of the road.

U turn became the cause of death
By now you must have understood which film we are talking about. The name of the 2018 supernatural suspense thriller film made with a budget of Rs 2.5 crore is ‘U Turn’, whose remake was also made with the same name in 2013. Many great stars like Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Aadhi Pinisetty, Bhumika Chawla and Rahul Ravindran have worked in the film ‘U Turn’. Its entire story revolves around Samantha Ruth (Rachna) who works in a media company. It is shown in this film that if someone takes a U-turn by removing a block on the road or takes a shortcut and does not keep that block in its right place, then he dies mysteriously within 24 hours.
South’s explosive suspense-thriller film
Gradually the story progresses and then one after the other many people die, who took a shortcut on the road and took a U-turn and put the lives of others at risk. A little bit of horror has also been seen in the film. A surprising turn comes when the character who commits murder in the film turns out to be someone whom no one would have even thought about. Yes, now who was the murderer? To know this you will have to watch the entire film. This film has earned more than Rs 14 crore worldwide. ‘U Turn’ has got a rating of 6.9 out of 10 on IMDb. It has been directed by Pawan Kumar. If you are planning to watch it then you can enjoy it on Amazon Prime Video.
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