• John Legend dedicates his performance to wife Chrissy Teigen, who recently had a miscarriage. Reuters
    John Legend dedicates his performance to wife Chrissy Teigen, who recently had a miscarriage. Reuters
  • Post Malone accepts awards onstage at the Billboard Music Awards. Reuters
    Post Malone accepts awards onstage at the Billboard Music Awards. Reuters
  • Khalid accepts the award for top R&B artist at the Billboard Music Awards. AP
    Khalid accepts the award for top R&B artist at the Billboard Music Awards. AP
  • Host Kelly Clarkson performs at the Billboard Music Awards on October 14 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. AP
    Host Kelly Clarkson performs at the Billboard Music Awards on October 14 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. AP
  • Lizzo accepts the Top Song Sales Artist award onstage at the Billboard Music Awards Reuters
    Lizzo accepts the Top Song Sales Artist award onstage at the Billboard Music Awards Reuters
  • Khalid performs 'Be Like That' at the Billboard Music Awards. AP
    Khalid performs 'Be Like That' at the Billboard Music Awards. AP
  • Sia performs onstage at the Billboard Music Awards. Reuters
    Sia performs onstage at the Billboard Music Awards. Reuters
  • Lil Nas X accepts the Top Hot 100 Song for 'Old Town Road' at the Billboard Music Awards. Reuters
    Lil Nas X accepts the Top Hot 100 Song for 'Old Town Road' at the Billboard Music Awards. Reuters
  • Julia Michaels speaks onstage at the Billboard Music Awards. Reuters
    Julia Michaels speaks onstage at the Billboard Music Awards. Reuters
  • Billie Eilish accepts the Top Female Artist award. Reuters
    Billie Eilish accepts the Top Female Artist award. Reuters
  • Host Kelly Clarkson has her make-up retouched before the start of the Billboard Music Awards. AP
    Host Kelly Clarkson has her make-up retouched before the start of the Billboard Music Awards. AP
  • Cher speaks on stage at the Billboard Music Awards. Reuters
    Cher speaks on stage at the Billboard Music Awards. Reuters
  • Brandy and Ty Dolla Sign perform at the Billboard Music Awards. Reuters
    Brandy and Ty Dolla Sign perform at the Billboard Music Awards. Reuters
  • Demi Lovato performs 'Commander in Chief' at the Billboard Music Awards. Reuters
    Demi Lovato performs 'Commander in Chief' at the Billboard Music Awards. Reuters
  • Demi Lovato performs 'Commander in Chief' at the Billboard Music Awards. AP
    Demi Lovato performs 'Commander in Chief' at the Billboard Music Awards. AP
  • Empty audience seats at the Billboard Music Awards. AP
    Empty audience seats at the Billboard Music Awards. AP
  • Taraji P Henson presents the Top Artist award at the Billboard Music Awards. AP
    Taraji P Henson presents the Top Artist award at the Billboard Music Awards. AP
  • Rhona Bennett, Terry Ellis and Cindy Herron, of music group En Vogue, perform onstage at the Billboard Music Awards. Reuters
    Rhona Bennett, Terry Ellis and Cindy Herron, of music group En Vogue, perform onstage at the Billboard Music Awards. Reuters

Billboard Music Awards 2020 winners: Post Malone sweeps up and John Legend dedicates song to Chrissy Teigen


Sophie Prideaux
  • English
  • Arabic

Post Malone won nine honours at the 2020 Billboard Music Awards, where John Legend gave a heartfelt performance that was dedicated to his wife Chrissy Teigen.

With his voice aching as he sang passionately from the piano, Legend told viewers "this is for Chrissy" before singing Never Break, which includes the lyrics "we will never break". The performance comes two weeks after Teigen announced she had a miscarriage, explaining in a heart-wrenching social media post that she and Legend drove "home from the hospital with no baby".

“John, that was so beautiful,” host Kelly Clarkson said following Legend’s performance. “All my love to you and Chrissy.”

It was one of several performances that were pre-taped for the Wednesday, October 14 show. Other musicians attended and performed at the empty Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles during the three-hour show, which aired on NBC.

After announcing that Malone, who had 16 nominations on the night, won the show's biggest honour of Top Artist, Clarkson wheeled out eight more trophies for the hitmaker.

“I’m honestly blown away by the love everyone’s shown to me," Malone said onstage.

He beat out Billie Eilish for the top prize, but she was still a winner, taking home the Top Billboard 200 Album and Top Female Artist.

The 18-year-old, wearing a face mask, told viewers to “please vote, please wear a mask, please wash your hands".

Others had similar messages. Khalid, named Top R&B Artist, told fans: “Your voice matters now more than ever." And Lizzo wore a black dress with “vote” printed across it.

She also gave an encouraging speech, telling viewers to find their voices and not to change to meet society standards.

“I just want to say I’ve been thinking a lot about suppression and the voices that refused to be suppressed. And I wonder, ‘Would I be standing here right now if it weren’t for the big black women who refused to have their voices be suppressed?’ And I just want to say right now, if you’re at home watching this and you were thinking about changing yourself to feel worthy, this is your sign to remain true to who you are,” Lizzo said onstage after winning Top Songs Sales Artist.

“Let me tell you all something – when people try to suppress something, it’s normally because that thing holds power. They’re afraid of your power. There’s power in who you are. There’s power in your voice. So whether it’s through music, protest or your right to vote, use your power, use your voice and refuse to be suppressed.”

Who else won on the night?

Other winners included Lil Nas X, who was also on hand to accept top Hot 100 song for Old Town Road, which set the record for most weeks at number one.

Garth Brooks accepted the Icon Award from Cher, who called the country star “a true music legend and my friend". Brooks, who is the only artist to have nine of his albums sell more than 10 million units each and reach diamond status, performed a medley of his hits.

Other performers included BTS, Alicia Keys, Kane Brown, Khalid, Swae Lee, Sia, Brandy, Bad Bunny, Doja Cat, SAINt JHN, En Vogue and Demi Lovato, who sang her new song aimed at President Donald Trump, called Commander in Chief.

Guitar rock legend Eddie Van Halen, who died last week, was honoured as the show aired a clip of his Billboard Awards performance from 2015. And rapper-activist Killer Mike received the Change Maker Award.

This year’s Billboard Awards were originally supposed to take place in April but were postponed because of the pandemic.

A new relationship with the old country

Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates

The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:

ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.

ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.

ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.

ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.

DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.

Signed

Geoffrey Arthur  Sheikh Zayed

Heather, the Totality
Matthew Weiner,
Canongate 

Scores in brief:

Boost Defenders 205-5 in 20 overs
(Colin Ingram 84 not out, Cameron Delport 36, William Somerville 2-28)
bt Auckland Aces 170 for 5 in 20 overs
(Rob O’Donnell 67 not out, Kyle Abbott 3-21).

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

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.

Results:

Men's wheelchair 800m T34: 1. Walid Ktila (TUN) 1.44.79; 2. Mohammed Al Hammadi (UAE) 1.45.88; 3. Isaac Towers (GBR) 1.46.46.

The specs

Engine: 4.0-litre, twin-turbocharged V8

Transmission: nine-speed automatic

Power: 630bhp

Torque: 900Nm

Price: Dh810,000

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A cheaper choice

Vanuatu: $130,000

Why on earth pick Vanuatu? Easy. The South Pacific country has no income tax, wealth tax, capital gains or inheritance tax. And in 2015, when it was hit by Cyclone Pam, it signed an agreement with the EU that gave it some serious passport power.

Cost: A minimum investment of $130,000 for a family of up to four, plus $25,000 in fees.

Criteria: Applicants must have a minimum net worth of $250,000. The process take six to eight weeks, after which the investor must travel to Vanuatu or Hong Kong to take the oath of allegiance. Citizenship and passport are normally provided on the same day.

Benefits:  No tax, no restrictions on dual citizenship, no requirement to visit or reside to retain a passport. Visa-free access to 129 countries.

First Person
Richard Flanagan
Chatto & Windus 

Most%20polluted%20cities%20in%20the%20Middle%20East
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What the law says

Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.

“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.

“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”

If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.

Paatal Lok season two

Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy 

Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong

Rating: 4.5/5

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EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS

Estijaba – 8001717 –  number to call to request coronavirus testing

Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111

Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre

Emirates airline – 600555555

Etihad Airways – 600555666

Ambulance – 998

Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries

BACK%20TO%20ALEXANDRIA
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Key developments

All times UTC 4

The specs: 2018 Ducati SuperSport S

Price, base / as tested: Dh74,900 / Dh85,900

Engine: 937cc

Transmission: Six-speed gearbox

Power: 110hp @ 9,000rpm

Torque: 93Nm @ 6,500rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 5.9L / 100km

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl

Power: 153hp at 6,000rpm

Torque: 200Nm at 4,000rpm

Transmission: 6-speed auto

Price: Dh99,000

On sale: now

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