The Oscars are to go host-free for the third consecutive year. Getty Images
The Oscars are to go host-free for the third consecutive year. Getty Images
The Oscars are to go host-free for the third consecutive year. Getty Images
The Oscars are to go host-free for the third consecutive year. Getty Images

Academy Awards to go without a host for third year: hoping to attract 'high profile' presenters


Farah Andrews
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The Academy Awards are to go host-free for the third consecutive year. Much like the 2019 and 2020 ceremonies, the awards show will forego one host for a series of A-list presenters, who will hand out the Oscars on the night.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences hopes to attract a number of "high-profile presenters" to the 93rd Academy Awards on April 25, according to Deadline.

Names are yet to be announced, however in 2020, the likes of Mahershala Ali, Timothee Chalamet, Olivia Colman, Gal Gadot, Rami Malek, Sandra Oh, Chris Rock and Taika Waititi all presented awards, to name a few.

Traditionally, the winners of key awards – Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress – return to the ceremony the following year to present trophies to those of the opposite sex.

So based on 2020's winners, it's likely that we'll see Joaquin Phoenix, Renee Zellweger, Brad Pitt and Laura Dern on the presenting podium.

Best Actor winner Joaquin Phoenix, Best Actress Renee Zellweger and Best Supporting Actor Brad Pitt pose with their Oscars in the photo room during the 92nd Academy Awards in Hollywood on February 9, 2020. Reuters
Best Actor winner Joaquin Phoenix, Best Actress Renee Zellweger and Best Supporting Actor Brad Pitt pose with their Oscars in the photo room during the 92nd Academy Awards in Hollywood on February 9, 2020. Reuters

Where are the 2021 Oscars being held? 

Since 2002, the Academy Awards have been hosted at the Dolby Theatre, formerly known as the Kodak Theatre, in the Hollywood & Highland Centre shopping mall.

However, with social distancing measures in place, this venue would prove too intimate under current restrictions, so the 2021 ceremony is moving to Union Station, a downtown Los Angeles railway terminal that is spacious enough to accommodate nominees and their families.

However, it is expected that the Dolby Theatre will still be used for performances on the night.

Virtual Oscars parties 

It is not just the Academy Awards ceremony that people look forward to each year, there are also a number of viewing and after-parties for celebrities to get dressed up for and fans to enjoy photos from.

One of the most popular parties is Elton John Aids Foundation Academy Award party, attracting Hollywood's finest every year. In 2021, it will be held as an Academy Awards pre-party.

The event will be hosted by Neil Patrick Harris, with Dua Lipa performing. In a special twist, the virtual event will be open to the public, with up to 400,000 guests able to attend with pre-bought tickets worth $19.99 each. Proceeds will benefit John's foundation.

Elton John's 2021 Academy Awards pre-party is open to the public. AP Photo
Elton John's 2021 Academy Awards pre-party is open to the public. AP Photo

The one-hour event will be streamed at four different times to accommodate time zones in the US, UK and Europe, and Australia and New Zealand. It will be broadcast on Sunday, April 25 at 7pm ET for North America, on Monday, April 26 at 7pm GMT for the UK and Europe, and on Monday, April 26 at 7pm AEST for Australia and New Zealand. It will also be repeated on April 26 at 10pm ET. Each livestream will be able to host up to 100,000 guests.

The closest time zone to the UAE's GST is the GMT stream, which means the event will run at 11pm on Sunday, April 26 for viewers here.

“This year, we are bringing our Oscar Party into people’s homes for the first time virtually for an unforgettable evening with David [Furnish], myself, our dear friend Neil Patrick Harris and the incredible Dua Lipa, plus many fabulous surprise names,” said John.

"Now more than ever, we need to ensure that one pandemic does not override another, and we cannot forget the 38 million people living with HIV globally who need our care, love and support so we hope everyone joins us for this special one-of-a-kind Oscar pre-party."

Tickets are available via Ticketmaster 

See photos of the 2020 Elton John Aids Foundation Academy Award Party:

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1. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 9,585 pts ( 1)
2. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 8,945 (-1)
3. Roger Federer (SUI) 6,190
4. Daniil Medvedev (RUS) 5,705
5. Dominic Thiem (AUT) 5,025
6. Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) 4,000 ( 1)
7. Alexander Zverev (GER) 2,945 (-1)
8. Matteo Berrettini (ITA) 2,670 ( 1)
9. Roberto Bautista (ESP) 2,540 ( 1)
10. Gaël Monfils (FRA) 2,530 ( 3)
11. David Goffin (BEL) 2,335 ( 3)
12. Fabio Fognini (ITA) 2,290
13. Kei Nishikori (JPN) 2,180 (-2)
14. Diego Schwartzman (ARG) 2,125 ( 1)
15. Denis Shapovalov (CAN) 2,050 ( 13)
16. Stan Wawrinka (SUI) 2,000
17. Karen Khachanov (RUS) 1,840 (-9)
18. Alex De Minaur (AUS) 1,775
19. John Isner (USA) 1,770 (-2)
20. Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) 1,747 ( 7)

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
War 2

Director: Ayan Mukerji

Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana

Rating: 2/5

Info

What: 11th edition of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship

When: December 27-29, 2018

Confirmed: men: Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Kevin Anderson, Dominic Thiem, Hyeon Chung, Karen Khachanov; women: Venus Williams

Tickets: www.ticketmaster.ae, Virgin megastores or call 800 86 823

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Dominic Rubin, Oxford

Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015

- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France

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Dos

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  • Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
  • Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work 
  • Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester

Don’ts 

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50-man Royal Rumble

Universal Championship Brock Lesnar (champion) v Roman Reigns in a steel cage match

Intercontinental Championship Seth Rollins (champion) v The Miz v Finn Balor v Samoa Joe

SmackDown Tag Team Championship The Bludgeon Brothers (champions) v The Usos

Casket match The Undertaker v Chris Jericho

John Cena v Triple H

Matches to be announced

WWE World Heavyweight Championship, Raw Tag Team Championship, United States Championship and the Cruiserweight Championship are all due to be defended

MATCH DETAILS

Chelsea 4 

Jorginho (4 pen, 71 pen), Azpilicueta (63), James (74)

Ajax 4

Abraham (2 og), Promes (20). Kepa (35 og), van de Beek (55) 

Bio:

Favourite Quote: Prophet Mohammad's quotes There is reward for kindness to every living thing and A good man treats women with honour

Favourite Hobby: Serving poor people 

Favourite Book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Favourite food: Fish and vegetables

Favourite place to visit: London

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EUROPE:
Justin Rose, Francesco Molinari, Tyrrell Hatton, Tommy Fleetwood, Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy, Alex Noren, Thorbjorn Olesen, Paul Casey, Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter, Henrik Stenson

USA:
Brooks Koepka, Justin Thomas, Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed, Bubba Watson, Jordan Spieth,​​​​​​​ Rickie Fowler, Webb Simpson, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Bryson DeChambeau ( 1 TBC)

Sukuk

An Islamic bond structured in a way to generate returns without violating Sharia strictures on prohibition of interest.

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Alaves 1 (Perez 65' pen)

Real Madrid 2 (Ramos 52', Carvajal 69')

Results

2.30pm Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 1,200m

Winner Lamia, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel.

3pm Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 1,000m

Winner Jap Al Afreet, Elione Chaves, Irfan Ellahi.

3.30pm Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 1,700m

Winner MH Tawag, Bernardo Pinheiro, Elise Jeanne.

4pm Handicap (TB) Dh40,000 2,000m

Winner Skygazer, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.

4.30pm The Ruler of Sharjah Cup Prestige (PA) Dh250,000 1,700m

Winner AF Kal Noor, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel.

5pm Sharjah Marathon (PA) Dh70,000 2,700m

Winner RB Grynade, Bernardo Pinheiro, Eric Lemartinel.

Safety 'top priority' for rival hyperloop company

The chief operating officer of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, Andres de Leon, said his company's hyperloop technology is “ready” and safe.

He said the company prioritised safety throughout its development and, last year, Munich Re, one of the world's largest reinsurance companies, announced it was ready to insure their technology.

“Our levitation, propulsion, and vacuum technology have all been developed [...] over several decades and have been deployed and tested at full scale,” he said in a statement to The National.

“Only once the system has been certified and approved will it move people,” he said.

HyperloopTT has begun designing and engineering processes for its Abu Dhabi projects and hopes to break ground soon. 

With no delivery date yet announced, Mr de Leon said timelines had to be considered carefully, as government approval, permits, and regulations could create necessary delays.

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Director: Hasan Hadi

Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem 

Rating: 4/5

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