• K-pop boy band BTS visit the SiriusXM Studios in New York City, US. AFP
    K-pop boy band BTS visit the SiriusXM Studios in New York City, US. AFP
  • BTS member RM speaks during a ceremony marking the National Youth Day at the presidential Blue House in Seoul, South Korea. AP
    BTS member RM speaks during a ceremony marking the National Youth Day at the presidential Blue House in Seoul, South Korea. AP
  • BTS host a livestreaming concert. AP
    BTS host a livestreaming concert. AP
  • BTS accounted for almost 90 per cent of Big Hit Entertainment's sales in the first half of 2020. Reuters
    BTS accounted for almost 90 per cent of Big Hit Entertainment's sales in the first half of 2020. Reuters
  • A woman walks by a board showing members of BTS to advertise a local bank's money exchange in Seoul, South Korea. AP Photo
    A woman walks by a board showing members of BTS to advertise a local bank's money exchange in Seoul, South Korea. AP Photo
  • BTS visit the SiriusXM Studios in New York City, US. AFP
    BTS visit the SiriusXM Studios in New York City, US. AFP
  • People walk past commercial posters showing BTS members outside a duty free shop in Seoul. AFP
    People walk past commercial posters showing BTS members outside a duty free shop in Seoul. AFP
  • People walk past a commercial poster showing BTS members at a subway station in Seoul. AFP
    People walk past a commercial poster showing BTS members at a subway station in Seoul. AFP
  • A man walks past a board showing BTS at a duty free shop in Seoul. AP Photo
    A man walks past a board showing BTS at a duty free shop in Seoul. AP Photo
  • Guests attend as BTS visits the 'Today Show at Rockefeller Plaza in New York City, US. AFP
    Guests attend as BTS visits the 'Today Show at Rockefeller Plaza in New York City, US. AFP
  • A man walks past commercial posters showing BTS members in Seoul. AFP
    A man walks past commercial posters showing BTS members in Seoul. AFP
  • Guests attend as BTS visit the 'Today' Show at Rockefeller Plaza in New York City, US. AFP
    Guests attend as BTS visit the 'Today' Show at Rockefeller Plaza in New York City, US. AFP

'Butter': K-pop superstars BTS are releasing a new English-language song


Evelyn Lau
  • English
  • Arabic

BTS have announced they’re dropping a new single and, once again, it will be in English.

Titled Butter, the song will be the group's second English-language track after 2020's Dynamite. The song is a "dance pop track brimming with the smooth yet charismatic charm of BTS", according to a news release.

Fans can expect to hear the single when it releases on May 21 and, if it's anything like other past singles from the group, there will likely also be an accompanying music video.

What has BTS been up to?

Over the past couple of months, the seven-member K-pop group have kept busy through endorsements, including being announced as ambassadors for Louis Vuitton and a new partnership with fast-food chain McDonald's.

The BTS Meal, which includes 10-piece chicken nuggets, medium World Famous Fries, medium Coke and sweet chilli and Cajun dipping sauces inspired by popular recipes from McDonald's South Korea, will be unveiled to nearly 50 countries around the world, including in the UAE, Bahrain, Oman and Qatar from Tuesday, June 1 until Monday, June 28.

The band has also gotten political in recent weeks.

In March, BTS spoke out against racism by issuing a statement on #StopAsianHate. The group posted a letter, in English and Korean, to Twitter to express their support for the campaign.

“We feel grief and anger. We recall moments when we faced discrimination as Asians. We have endured expletives without reason and were mocked for the way we look. We were even asked why Asians spoke in English.”

While they also admit it took “considerable time” to decide exactly how to respond to what was happening, they end the letter with a statement of unity. “We stand against racial discrimination. We condemn violence. You, I and we all have the right to be respected. We will stand together.”

This isn't the first time BTS has taken a stance against racism. In 2020, the group donated $1 million to the Black Lives Matter movement and were matched by their fans with that amount within 25 hours.

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

Desert Warrior

Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley

Director: Rupert Wyatt

Rating: 3/5

World record transfers

1. Kylian Mbappe - to Real Madrid in 2017/18 - €180 million (Dh770.4m - if a deal goes through)
2. Paul Pogba - to Manchester United in 2016/17 - €105m
3. Gareth Bale - to Real Madrid in 2013/14 - €101m
4. Cristiano Ronaldo - to Real Madrid in 2009/10 - €94m
5. Gonzalo Higuain - to Juventus in 2016/17 - €90m
6. Neymar - to Barcelona in 2013/14 - €88.2m
7. Romelu Lukaku - to Manchester United in 2017/18 - €84.7m
8. Luis Suarez - to Barcelona in 2014/15 - €81.72m
9. Angel di Maria - to Manchester United in 2014/15 - €75m
10. James Rodriguez - to Real Madrid in 2014/15 - €75m

COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESmartCrowd%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2018%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESiddiq%20Farid%20and%20Musfique%20Ahmed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%20%2F%20PropTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInitial%20investment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%24650%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2035%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeries%20A%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EVarious%20institutional%20investors%20and%20notable%20angel%20investors%20(500%20MENA%2C%20Shurooq%2C%20Mada%2C%20Seedstar%2C%20Tricap)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale

Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni

Director: Amith Krishnan

Rating: 3.5/5

Name: Peter Dicce

Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics

Favourite sport: soccer

Favourite team: Bayern Munich

Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer

Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates 

 

The biog

Favourite book: Animal Farm by George Orwell

Favourite music: Classical

Hobbies: Reading and writing

 

Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
  • Flexible work arrangements
  • Pension support
  • Mental well-being assistance
  • Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
  • Financial well-being incentives 
What is Folia?

Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal's new plant-based menu will launch at Four Seasons hotels in Dubai this November. A desire to cater to people looking for clean, healthy meals beyond green salad is what inspired Prince Khaled and American celebrity chef Matthew Kenney to create Folia. The word means "from the leaves" in Latin, and the exclusive menu offers fine plant-based cuisine across Four Seasons properties in Los Angeles, Bahrain and, soon, Dubai.

Kenney specialises in vegan cuisine and is the founder of Plant Food Wine and 20 other restaurants worldwide. "I’ve always appreciated Matthew’s work," says the Saudi royal. "He has a singular culinary talent and his approach to plant-based dining is prescient and unrivalled. I was a fan of his long before we established our professional relationship."

Folia first launched at The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills in July 2018. It is available at the poolside Cabana Restaurant and for in-room dining across the property, as well as in its private event space. The food is vibrant and colourful, full of fresh dishes such as the hearts of palm ceviche with California fruit, vegetables and edible flowers; green hearb tacos filled with roasted squash and king oyster barbacoa; and a savoury coconut cream pie with macadamia crust.

In March 2019, the Folia menu reached Gulf shores, as it was introduced at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, where it is served at the Bay View Lounge. Next, on Tuesday, November 1 – also known as World Vegan Day – it will come to the UAE, to the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach and the Four Seasons DIFC, both properties Prince Khaled has spent "considerable time at and love". 

There are also plans to take Folia to several more locations throughout the Middle East and Europe.

While health-conscious diners will be attracted to the concept, Prince Khaled is careful to stress Folia is "not meant for a specific subset of customers. It is meant for everyone who wants a culinary experience without the negative impact that eating out so often comes with."

The five pillars of Islam

Director: Laxman Utekar

Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna

Rating: 1/5

Infiniti QX80 specs

Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6

Power: 450hp

Torque: 700Nm

Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000

Available: Now

Global state-owned investor ranking by size

1.

United States

2.

China

3.

UAE

4.

Japan

5

Norway

6.

Canada

7.

Singapore

8.

Australia

9.

Saudi Arabia

10.

South Korea

Emergency

Director: Kangana Ranaut

Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry 

Rating: 2/5