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190 Guests from 25 Countries Set to Enrich Young Minds at SCRF

The Sharjah Children's Reading Festival (SCRF) logo
The Sharjah Children's Reading Festival (SCRF) logo
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190 Guests from 25 Countries Set to Enrich Young Minds at SCRF

The Sharjah Children's Reading Festival (SCRF) logo
The Sharjah Children's Reading Festival (SCRF) logo

The Sharjah Children's Reading Festival (SCRF), renowned for its ability to unite global literary enthusiasts and bring the undeniable power of reading to the youth, is making a comeback next month, Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported.

Organized by Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) and set to take place from May 1 to 12 in Expo Center Sharjah, the region’s largest event dedicated to nurturing the imaginations of young minds, carries the theme ‘Once Upon a Hero’ this year.

There will be 190 guests from 25 countries. Leading the pack is Jerry Craft, a distinguished American cartoonist and children's book illustrator, whose syndicated comic strip "Mama's Boyz" and graphic novels such as "New Kid" and "Class Act" have earned him widespread acclaim.

Joining Craft is Raúl The Third, a New York Times bestselling illustrator and author, celebrated for his evocative portrayals of the contemporary Mexican-American experience.

Further enhancing the festival's agenda is Dr. Caroline Leaf, a world-famous communication pathologist and neuroscientist from the United States. Renowned for her research on the mind-brain connection, Dr. Leaf's expertise in mental health and memory formation promises to enlighten and inspire attendees.

Hailing from Malaysia, Stacy C. Bauer and Ying Ying Ng bring their unique talents to the forefront. Bauer, a prolific writer known for her humorous anecdotes and relatable storytelling, is set to regale audiences with tales of childhood adventures. Ng, with over three decades of experience in music education, offers invaluable insights into the world of creativity and learning.

Malaysia's David Chek Ling Ngo rounds out the top tier of distinguished guests, bringing his wealth of knowledge in leadership and academic excellence to the fore. Recognized as one of the Top 2 percent Scientists Worldwide by Stanford University, Ngo's contributions to the fields of education and institutional growth are nothing short of exemplary.

According to WAM, the festival will also play host to a diverse array of luminaries from around the globe. From Georgia, Lia Shalvashvili, an esteemed author and educator, joins the fray with her extensive repertoire of children's literature. The United States contributes Dr. Al Jones, a distinguished psychologist specializing in educational and gender psychology, further enriching the festival's intellectual discourse.

Not to be overlooked are the notable guests from India, including Mamta Nainy, Bethany Clark, and Sohini Mitra, each bringing their unique perspectives on children's literature and publishing to the table.

Other noteworthy figures include Cathy Camper from the US, Joanne Steer from the UK, Dr. Sandy Zanella from Mexico, Toyin Akanni from Nigeria, Deeba Zargarpur representing Afghanistan and the US, Liam Kelly from Ireland, Hannah Moushabeck from the US, Lauren Tamaki also from the US, Leila Boukarim, Jane Mount, and Zelmaré Viljoen.

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Culture

Diriyah Art Futures to Launch 'Of the Earth: Earthly Technologies to Computational Biologies' Exhibition 

Diriyah Art Futures to Launch 'Of the Earth: Earthly Technologies to Computational Biologies' Exhibition 
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Diriyah Art Futures to Launch 'Of the Earth: Earthly Technologies to Computational Biologies' Exhibition 

Diriyah Art Futures to Launch 'Of the Earth: Earthly Technologies to Computational Biologies' Exhibition 

Diriyah Art Futures (DAF) announced on Wednesday the opening date of its fourth major exhibition, titled "Of the Earth: Earthly Technologies to Computational Biologies."

The exhibition will run in Diriyah from January 14 to May 16.

Curated by DAF’s Director of Exhibitions Irini Papadimitriou, the exhibition is organized into four thematic areas. It examines how technology is often viewed as a tool for controlling nature, while also addressing the environmental impact of digital systems on a planet with finite resources. The artworks will showcase how these technologies are constructed from the earth's own materials.

The collaborations between art, technology, and science provide creative ways to address urgent issues and challenge technological power structures. They propose pathways toward caring ecosystems, reimagining technology shaped by interspecies, collective, and planetary intelligence that serves more than just human needs.

A public program featuring panel discussions, practical workshops, and masterclasses will accompany the exhibition.

Culture

France's Louvre Museum Remains Shut as Workers Extend Strike

FILED - 07 December 2018, France, Paris: A View of the inner courtyard with the glass pyramid of the Louvre Museum in Paris. Photo: Christian Böhmer/dpa
FILED - 07 December 2018, France, Paris: A View of the inner courtyard with the glass pyramid of the Louvre Museum in Paris. Photo: Christian Böhmer/dpa
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France's Louvre Museum Remains Shut as Workers Extend Strike

FILED - 07 December 2018, France, Paris: A View of the inner courtyard with the glass pyramid of the Louvre Museum in Paris. Photo: Christian Böhmer/dpa
FILED - 07 December 2018, France, Paris: A View of the inner courtyard with the glass pyramid of the Louvre Museum in Paris. Photo: Christian Böhmer/dpa

Staff at France's Louvre museum in Paris on Wednesday unanimously voted in favor of extending a strike over pay and working conditions that began on Monday, leaving the world's most visited museum closed until further notice.

The museum is routinely closed on Tuesdays.

The strike comes after a spectacular jewel heist in October, as well as recent infrastructure problems, including a water leak that damaged ancient books, which have exposed glaring security gaps and revealed the museum's deteriorating state.

Unions have said that staff at the Louvre are overworked and mismanaged, and they are calling for more hiring, pay increases and a redirection of spending.

Louvre director Laurence des Cars, who has faced intense criticism since burglars in October made off with crown jewels worth 88 million euros ($103.14 million), is due to answer questions from the French Senate on Wednesday afternoon. 

Des Cars has acknowledged an “institutional failure” following the heist but has come under renewed scrutiny after admitting she only learned of a critical 2019 security audit after the robbery.

France’s Court of Auditors and a separate administrative inquiry have since criticized delays in implementing a long-promised security overhaul.

The Culture Ministry announced emergency anti-intrusion measures last month and assigned Philippe Jost, who oversaw the Notre Dame restoration, to help reorganize the museum. The move was widely seen as a sign of mounting pressure on Louvre leadership.
 

Culture

New Rome Metro Stations Showcase Ancient Treasures After Years of Delays

People examine artifacts on display during the inauguration of the Colosseo Fori Imperiali stop on Metro Line C in Rome, Italy, 16 December 2025. (EPA)
People examine artifacts on display during the inauguration of the Colosseo Fori Imperiali stop on Metro Line C in Rome, Italy, 16 December 2025. (EPA)
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New Rome Metro Stations Showcase Ancient Treasures After Years of Delays

People examine artifacts on display during the inauguration of the Colosseo Fori Imperiali stop on Metro Line C in Rome, Italy, 16 December 2025. (EPA)
People examine artifacts on display during the inauguration of the Colosseo Fori Imperiali stop on Metro Line C in Rome, Italy, 16 December 2025. (EPA)

After years of delays and spiraling costs, Rome inaugurated two new metro stations on Tuesday, including one by the Colosseum, showcasing archaeological discoveries that might become tourist attractions in their own right.

The driverless Metro C line now stretches from the Italian capital's eastern suburbs to Porta Metronia and the Colosseum, extending its reach into the historic city center.

Future plans will take it even deeper under Rome's baroque heart, beneath the river Tiber and onto the Vatican, though the next stop at Piazza Venezia is not expected to open before 2032.

Excavations for the new stations revealed remarkable finds, which slowed work as archaeologists painstakingly preserved layers of ancient Rome they hadn't known were there.

At Porta Metronia, drilling rigs uncovered a military barracks dating back 2,000 years, as well as a residential house, complete with frescoed rooms and mosaics, which are preserved in a museum within the station.

During the Colosseum excavations, workers discovered 28 ancient wells and hundreds of everyday artifacts, including hairpins, oil lamps, irrigation pipes, knives, and statues, many of which are on show.

"These two stations will travel around the world," Transport Minister Matteo Salvini said on Tuesday, predicting they would soon flood social media.

"Beyond serving commuters and Romans, anyone who comes here from Italy or from abroad will stop in these stations. They might take the metro even if they don't need it, just to enjoy the ride," he added.

LONG DELAYS, COST HIKES

Rome's Metro C was meant to link the city's two main Basilicas by the year 2000. Instead, the line only reached the imposing San Giovanni Basilica in 2018, and the Vatican station near St. Peter's Basilica won't be ready for at least another decade.

The initial plan to build 24 stations to the Colosseum was priced at 2.23 billion euros ($2.63 billion), but costs have surged past 3 billion euros, and the entire line could exceed 6 billion by the time the final seven stations are completed.

Engineers say Rome is among the most challenging cities in the world for metro construction, due to buried archaeological sites that require safeguarding and concerns that vibrations could damage the heritage above ground.

At the next stop, at Piazza Venezia, a construction team is digging an 85-meter deep (280 feet) ring around the site which will be filled with reinforced concrete to protect the six underground floors of the station that are being dug out.

Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri said it was worth the effort.

"Without these major works, we would never have discovered the barracks at Porta Metronia, we would never have found these wells, and today we would have known far less about our extraordinary past," he said.

Metro C is intended to carry 600,000 passengers a day, easing Rome's notorious traffic and speeding tourists between major landmarks. At present it carries 41,000 daily, but the new openings should see numbers climb.