Netflix is starting the year by putting its most entertaining foot forward.
The streaming platform has a slate of exciting material planned for January. From a Saudi tragedy to a Uruguayan story of survival, and an American heist film to stand-up specials and limited series, here are nine titles to look forward to this month.
Bitconned
It isn’t a good Netflix month without at least one true-crime release. Bitconned is just that. The documentary tells the story of three scammers who take advantage of the cryptocurrency craze to swindle millions and bankroll lavish lifestyles. The film is directed by Bryan Storkel, who has directed documentaries including The Pez Outlaw and Fight Church.
Release date: January 1
Society of the Snow
Society of the Snow is based on the 1972 Andes flight disaster, in which a Fairchild aircraft carrying members of a Uruguayan rugby team crash-landed in the Andes mountains.
The film takes its cue from Uruguayan journalist Pablo Vierci’s book, which chronicles the accounts of the 16 survivors. Directed by The Orphanage and Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom filmmaker J. A. Bayona, it has already picked up some impressive accolades since it began screening at film festivals last autumn.
It made the 2024 Oscar shortlist for Best International Feature Film.
Release date: January 4
Lift
It is difficult to imagine a heist film without a stellar ensemble cast, and Lift does not disappoint. The film features comedian Kevin Hart, Money Heist’s Ursula Corbero, Loki’s Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Avatar’s Sam Worthington, as well as Vincent D'Onofrio, Jean Reno and Billy Magnussen.
Release date: January 12
From the Ashes
The Saudi film is inspired by a real-life disaster. From the Ashes revolves around a fire that started in the basement of an all-girls school. The film is the second feature by Khaled Fahed, who directed last year's Valley Road. It features a cast of rising Saudi talent including Shaima AlTayeb, Khairia Abu Laban, Adwa Fahad, Darin Al Bayed and Aesha Al Refai.
Release date: January 18
Rachid Badouri: Les fleurs du tapis
Rachid Badouri, the Quebecois comic of Moroccan descent, is releasing a Netflix comedy special in which he talks about his rise to fame. Badouri explores everything from how he let his success inflate his ego to meeting a racist fan. The special is in French, but will have English subtitles. It’s debatable whether stand-up can be fully imbibed through subtitles, but the trailer promises it will be a fun experience even if you don’t speak the language.
Release date: January 18
Sixty Minutes
Sixty Minutes is a German drama that tells the story of an MMA fighter who angers a group of dangerous people when he decides to miss a fight to attend his daughter’s birthday party. The film is directed by Stronger than Blood filmmaker Oliver Kienle.
Release date: January 19
The Kitchen
British dystopian film The Kitchen is set in a London devoid of social housing and tells the story of Izi and Benji as they try to navigate the fiery world. The film is the directorial debut of Get Out’s Daniel Kaluuya, alongside architect-turned-director Kibwe Tavares.
Release date: January 19
The Bequeathed
The Bequeathed is a South Korean crime series that tells the story of a woman who inherits a burial ground after the death of her uncle. She finds herself in a whirlwind of murders and mysteries. The series is directed by Min Hong-Nam.
Release date: January 19
Griselda
A mini-series inspired by the story of Colombian drug trafficker Griselda Blanco, who held multiple nicknames including Black Widow and Cocaine Godmother. The series stars Modern Family actress Sofia Vergara in the titular lead. All six episodes are directed by Colombian filmmaker Andres Baiz.
Release date: January 25
Tuesday's fixtures
Kyrgyzstan v Qatar, 5.45pm
The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Transmission: seven-speed auto
Power: 420 bhp
Torque: 624Nm
Price: from Dh293,200
On sale: now
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Stuck in a job without a pay rise? Here's what to do
Chris Greaves, the managing director of Hays Gulf Region, says those without a pay rise for an extended period must start asking questions – both of themselves and their employer.
“First, are they happy with that or do they want more?” he says. “Job-seeking is a time-consuming, frustrating and long-winded affair so are they prepared to put themselves through that rigmarole? Before they consider that, they must ask their employer what is happening.”
Most employees bring up pay rise queries at their annual performance appraisal and find out what the company has in store for them from a career perspective.
Those with no formal appraisal system, Mr Greaves says, should ask HR or their line manager for an assessment.
“You want to find out how they value your contribution and where your job could go,” he says. “You’ve got to be brave enough to ask some questions and if you don’t like the answers then you have to develop a strategy or change jobs if you are prepared to go through the job-seeking process.”
For those that do reach the salary negotiation with their current employer, Mr Greaves says there is no point in asking for less than 5 per cent.
“However, this can only really have any chance of success if you can identify where you add value to the business (preferably you can put a monetary value on it), or you can point to a sustained contribution above the call of duty or to other achievements you think your employer will value.”
Essentials
The flights: You can fly from the UAE to Iceland with one stop in Europe with a variety of airlines. Return flights with Emirates from Dubai to Stockholm, then Icelandair to Reykjavik, cost from Dh4,153 return. The whole trip takes 11 hours. British Airways flies from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Reykjavik, via London, with return flights taking 12 hours and costing from Dh2,490 return, including taxes.
The activities: A half-day Silfra snorkelling trip costs 14,990 Icelandic kronur (Dh544) with Dive.is. Inside the Volcano also takes half a day and costs 42,000 kronur (Dh1,524). The Jokulsarlon small-boat cruise lasts about an hour and costs 9,800 kronur (Dh356). Into the Glacier costs 19,500 kronur (Dh708). It lasts three to four hours.
The tours: It’s often better to book a tailor-made trip through a specialist operator. UK-based Discover the World offers seven nights, self-driving, across the island from £892 (Dh4,505) per person. This includes three nights’ accommodation at Hotel Husafell near Into the Glacier, two nights at Hotel Ranga and two nights at the Icelandair Hotel Klaustur. It includes car rental, plus an iPad with itinerary and tourist information pre-loaded onto it, while activities can be booked as optional extras. More information inspiredbyiceland.com
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
Day 1 results:
Open Men (bonus points in brackets)
New Zealand 125 (1) beat UAE 111 (3)
India 111 (4) beat Singapore 75 (0)
South Africa 66 (2) beat Sri Lanka 57 (2)
Australia 126 (4) beat Malaysia -16 (0)
Open Women
New Zealand 64 (2) beat South Africa 57 (2)
England 69 (3) beat UAE 63 (1)
Australia 124 (4) beat UAE 23 (0)
New Zealand 74 (2) beat England 55 (2)
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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HOW TO WATCH
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