Given his previous acceptance of Grammy Awards and a Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Swedes behind the Nobel Prize in Literature felt confident that Bob Dylan would welcome their prestigious gong – and their cheque for 8 million Swedish Krona (Dh3.18m) – with open arms.
Initially, though, it seemed Dylan failed to heed the advice of his own song Don't Think Twice, It's All Right, and was ambivalent about the prize, previously won by heavyweights such as WB Yeats and John Steinbeck.
Did Dylan feel unworthy? Was he secretly writing a many-versed song of thanks crammed with Swedish-themed imagery? For two weeks, pet theories raged while Per Wästberg, chairman of the Nobel Committee for Literature, called Dylan “impolite and arrogant” for not returning their calls.
Dylan's confirmation that he would be accepting the award came via a scoop for UK newspaper The Telegraph. Edna Gundersen was interviewing Dylan about an exhibition of his artworks, but popped the Nobel question on everybody's lips. "Amazing, incredible," he said. "Whoever dreams about something like that?"
The Nobel Committee for Literature then reported it had received a call of acceptance from Dylan, and on November 16, a note on its website confirmed a letter had been sent.
It said, however, that he would not be attending the Nobel Prize Award Ceremony on December 10 because of pre-existing commitments. But, as his website stated he had no further gigs this year, people wondered what those might be. Was he washing his hair that night?
In return for Dylan’s acceptance of the prize he must give a Nobel Lecture within the next six months. This can be a speech, a discourse, film or something else of his choosing.
Bob on the joys of the harmonica, anyone?
James McNair writes for Mojo magazine and The Independent.
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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TRAP
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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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5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
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Romarinho, Brazil
Lassana Diarra, France
Sardor Rashidov, Uzbekistan
Mbark Boussoufa, Morocco
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2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
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5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
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THE LOWDOWN
Romeo Akbar Walter
Rating: 2/5 stars
Produced by: Dharma Productions, Azure Entertainment
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Cast: John Abraham, Mouni Roy, Jackie Shroff and Sikandar Kher
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Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier
Jul 3- 14, in the Netherlands
The top two teams will qualify to play at the World T20 in the West Indies in November
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Humaira Tasneem (captain), Chamani Seneviratne, Subha Srinivasan, Neha Sharma, Kavisha Kumari, Judit Cleetus, Chaya Mughal, Roopa Nagraj, Heena Hotchandani, Namita D’Souza, Ishani Senevirathne, Esha Oza, Nisha Ali, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
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Kesari
Rating: 2.5/5 stars
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Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville
Rating: 4/5
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Torque: 230Nm
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Cricket World Cup League 2
UAE squad
Rahul Chopra (captain), Aayan Afzal Khan, Ali Naseer, Aryansh Sharma, Basil Hameed, Dhruv Parashar, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Waseem, Omid Rahman, Rahul Bhatia, Tanish Suri, Vishnu Sukumaran, Vriitya Aravind
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Friday, November 1 – Oman v UAE
Sunday, November 3 – UAE v Netherlands
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