One of the year’s biggest musical performances is taking place on Friday, unaffected by the global lockdown and happening within the realms of a video game.
Ariana Grande is teleporting into the virtual world of Fortnite for a series of in-game concerts that run from August 6 to 8.
The popstar known for hits like thank u, next and Bang Bang is headlining Fortnite Rift Tour. Players logging into the gaming platform will be able to watch Grande’s digital avatar perform some of her hit tunes on Battle Royale island.
It's not the first time that the singer has entered the gaming world. Grande has been a regular guest in Final Fantasy Brave Exvius since 2017.
The Into You singer's Rift Tour is a follow-up to last year's live music event, when Travis Scott appeared on the platform for a performance that was watched by more than 12 million players.
That concert lasted less than 15 minutes, but encompassed the entire island map of the game, with players rushing to follow the rapper through mind-bending landscapes as the show progressed. Many more tuned in on streaming platforms Twitch and YouTube.
For those hoping to tune in to Fortnite see Grande in action, Rift Tour dates are not region locked but are being screened at various times so players can select which one suits best.
Friday’s show will begin at 2am (UAE time) and the Saturday event starts at 10pm. On Sunday, there are three shows scheduled at 8am, 6pm and 2am.
How to join 'Fortnite'
If Grande’s arrival is enough to tempt you to try Fortnite for the first time, here is what you need to do to get ready for the show.
1. Download Fortnite – it’s free and available on PlayStation 5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Android and PC.
2. Ensure you have the latest update installed. The Rift Tour will only be available with the v17.30 update.
2. Get in early – organisers recommend loading Fortnite at least an hour before the show starts and the Rift Tour playlist will begin 30 minutes before the concert does. If capacity is reached before the show starts, you’ll have to try again for one of the other shows.
Before Grande's arrival, each performance will begin with Fortnite-themed experiences that pair popular tracks with moments based on elements from the video game.
All players taking part in the Rift Tour event will get a virtual Cuddly Cloudcruiser commemorative umbrella as a souvenir.
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
What drives subscription retailing?
Once the domain of newspaper home deliveries, subscription model retailing has combined with e-commerce to permeate myriad products and services.
The concept has grown tremendously around the world and is forecast to thrive further, according to UnivDatos Market Insights’ report on recent and predicted trends in the sector.
The global subscription e-commerce market was valued at $13.2 billion (Dh48.5bn) in 2018. It is forecast to touch $478.2bn in 2025, and include the entertainment, fitness, food, cosmetics, baby care and fashion sectors.
The report says subscription-based services currently constitute “a small trend within e-commerce”. The US hosts almost 70 per cent of recurring plan firms, including leaders Dollar Shave Club, Hello Fresh and Netflix. Walmart and Sephora are among longer established retailers entering the space.
UnivDatos cites younger and affluent urbanites as prime subscription targets, with women currently the largest share of end-users.
That’s expected to remain unchanged until 2025, when women will represent a $246.6bn market share, owing to increasing numbers of start-ups targeting women.
Personal care and beauty occupy the largest chunk of the worldwide subscription e-commerce market, with changing lifestyles, work schedules, customisation and convenience among the chief future drivers.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company profile
Company: Eighty6
Date started: October 2021
Founders: Abdul Kader Saadi and Anwar Nusseibeh
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Hospitality
Size: 25 employees
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Investment: $1 million
Investors: Seed funding, angel investors
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
Singham Again
Director: Rohit Shetty
Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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What is dialysis?
Dialysis is a way of cleaning your blood when your kidneys fail and can no longer do the job.
It gets rid of your body's wastes, extra salt and water, and helps to control your blood pressure. The main cause of kidney failure is diabetes and hypertension.
There are two kinds of dialysis — haemodialysis and peritoneal.
In haemodialysis, blood is pumped out of your body to an artificial kidney machine that filter your blood and returns it to your body by tubes.
In peritoneal dialysis, the inside lining of your own belly acts as a natural filter. Wastes are taken out by means of a cleansing fluid which is washed in and out of your belly in cycles.
It isn’t an option for everyone but if eligible, can be done at home by the patient or caregiver. This, as opposed to home haemodialysis, is covered by insurance in the UAE.
UAE Falcons
Carly Lewis (captain), Emily Fensome, Kelly Loy, Isabel Affley, Jessica Cronin, Jemma Eley, Jenna Guy, Kate Lewis, Megan Polley, Charlie Preston, Becki Quigley and Sophie Siffre. Deb Jones and Lucia Sdao – coach and assistant coach.
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
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The Birkin bag is made by Hermès.
It is named after actress and singer Jane Birkin
Noone from Hermès will go on record to say how much a new Birkin costs, how long one would have to wait to get one, and how many bags are actually made each year.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl, 48V hybrid
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Kites
Romain Gary
Penguin Modern Classics
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