Disney is introducing its streaming service in the Middle East with operatic pomp.
The media and entertainment conglomerate is marking the launch of Disney+ in the Mena region on Wednesday with an event at Dubai Opera. The streaming platform has launched in 65 global markets to date and is being released in more than a dozen countries in the region, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Algeria, Lebanon, Libya, Palestine and Oman.
Disney offered a glimpse at what the occasion holds in store in a press preview on Tuesday. The event featured live performances of Disney classics by DCappella and Disney Princess The Concert as they belted out familiar songs including the Cantina theme song from Star Wars: A New Hope sung in a cappella as well as the Frozen hit Let It Go. Dubai's DJ Kaboo, who was among the Egyptian musicians featured on the soundtrack of Marvel's mind-bending series Moon Knight, also performed a setlist before the main event.
But while the official launch on Wednesday will dial up the festivities, the press preview event was aimed at introducing Disney+ to regional media and hinted at how the company is hoping to expand in the region through its streaming platform.
“This is an incredibly exciting time for our company,” Tamim Fares, head of Disney Plus in the Mena region said during the press event. “Although Disney+ is global, we know that every market is unique. This was taken into careful consideration when we decided to bring Disney+ to our region. We're a team in the Mena region for the Mena region, and a local team of over 100 people.
“While the stories might be the same, we spent a lot of time localising the experience. This is to ensure that each interaction with Disney+ feels relevant to you and to every user across the Mena region.”
User experience
Presenting the Disney+ home screen on the cinema-wide display at the Dubai Opera, Fares pointed out that the Disney team spent significant time honing the platform’s user-accessibility and the parental control settings.
The goal was to make something sleek, streamlined and familiar.
“We set out with the goal of building a compelling consumer experience that is easy to navigate, highly personalised, and most importantly, puts the world's greatest content first,” Fares said. "We know the parental control features are very important for parents all over the world, especially those in our region.
Parents will be able to set up special profiles for their children, setting access limits based on five content age ratings. When a user opens Disney+ for the first time, they’ll be prompted to go through the parental control setup.
“They'll be asked if they want to set the content age ratings to 18 plus, which will allow them to see the full content catalogue,” Fares said.
Users will be able to create seven member profiles on up to 10 devices under one account. The app will be available to access on most smart TVs and computers, as well as iOS and Android smartphones.
“With your account, you can have unlimited download and personalised recommendations,” Fares said. “And importantly, no added fees and no advertisements. Users will be able to browse from the platform before they subscribe, giving them an insight so all the Disney plus has to offer.”
Incorporating Arabic
Fares said the streaming platform is working to incorporate Arabic subtitles and dubbing to all major content, a task, he said, that takes time “to do right”.
“Our ultimate goal is to have all series on Disney+ available in Arabic,” he said. “Our team is hard at work to make that happen. In the meantime, Disney+ will launch tomorrow with all content available in English and most available with subtitles in Arabic. The latest titles and the majority of fan favourites will also be dubbed in modern standard Arabic and in Egyptian Arabic."
What's on Disney+?
With 1,200 films, more than 1,000 TV shows and 100 exclusive originals, the confirmed library of content on launch is staggering, and includes titles from Disney, Marvel, National Geographic, Star Wars and more.
“With Disney and Pixar, we're bringing you special entertainment with hearts,” Fares said. “Star Wars promises a galaxy with epic adventures, self-discovery and the power of hope. Marvel content brings epic storytelling with a human spirit. National Geographic brings you closer to the world, whereas [the] Star [content hub] offers a whole new world of general entertainment film and series.”
Superhero fans will have access to Marvel's acclaimed TV shows including Moon Knight, as well as all the titles from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The highly-anticipated Ms. Marvel will be also released on Disney+ globally on Wednesday, coinciding with the launch of Disney+ in the region.
Star Wars fans can now officially enjoy hit spin-off shows including The Book of Boba Fett, both seasons of The Mandalorian and the latest series, Obi-Wan Kenobi, starring Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen.
Of course, all the hit Disney and Pixar films will be included – from the Oscar-winning Soul to Luca and Encanto, as well as the massive hit Cruella starring Emma Stone as the legendary Cruella de Vil – as well as classic titles Cinderella, Aladdin, The Lion King and The Little Mermaid.
Other popular shows include The Simpsons, Grey’s Anatomy and The Walking Dead, as well as films such as Avatar and the action-packed comedy Free Guy starring Ryan Reynolds.
The line-up also includes National Geographic content, with titles such The Rescue, Free Solo, The World According To Jeff Goldblum and Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted.
“On top of this will also be new and exclusive original titles from Latin America, India, and Korea,” Fares said. “While we don’t have any local productions from the Mena region yet, we’ll be looking to announce some in due course."
How much does Disney+ cost?
Before its arrival in the Mena region, Disney+ launched an introductory offer of Dh239 ($65) for an annual subscription against its original price of Dh298.99, meaning a 12-month offer for the price of eight. The offer will be available as a discount code until Tuesday. The code must be redeemed by June 19.
The service is also available for a monthly fee of Dh29.99.
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No more lice
Defining head lice
Pediculus humanus capitis are tiny wingless insects that feed on blood from the human scalp. The adult head louse is up to 3mm long, has six legs, and is tan to greyish-white in colour. The female lives up to four weeks and, once mature, can lay up to 10 eggs per day. These tiny nits firmly attach to the base of the hair shaft, get incubated by body heat and hatch in eight days or so.
Identifying lice
Lice can be identified by itching or a tickling sensation of something moving within the hair. One can confirm that a person has lice by looking closely through the hair and scalp for nits, nymphs or lice. Head lice are most frequently located behind the ears and near the neckline.
Treating lice at home
Head lice must be treated as soon as they are spotted. Start by checking everyone in the family for them, then follow these steps. Remove and wash all clothing and bedding with hot water. Apply medicine according to the label instructions. If some live lice are still found eight to 12 hours after treatment, but are moving more slowly than before, do not re-treat. Comb dead and remaining live lice out of the hair using a fine-toothed comb.
After the initial treatment, check for, comb and remove nits and lice from hair every two to three days. Soak combs and brushes in hot water for 10 minutes.Vacuum the floor and furniture, particularly where the infested person sat or lay.
Courtesy Dr Vishal Rajmal Mehta, specialist paediatrics, RAK Hospital
The biog
Nickname: Mama Nadia to children, staff and parents
Education: Bachelors degree in English Literature with Social work from UAE University
As a child: Kept sweets on the window sill for workers, set aside money to pay for education of needy families
Holidays: Spends most of her days off at Senses often with her family who describe the centre as part of their life too
SCORES
Multiply Titans 81-2 in 12.1 overs
(Tony de Zorzi, 34)
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(Shawn von Borg 4-15, Alfred Mothoa 2-11, Tshepo Moreki 2-16).
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Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
How Alia's experiment will help humans get to Mars
Alia’s winning experiment examined how genes might change under the stresses caused by being in space, such as cosmic radiation and microgravity.
Her samples were placed in a machine on board the International Space Station. called a miniPCR thermal cycler, which can copy DNA multiple times.
After the samples were examined on return to Earth, scientists were able to successfully detect changes caused by being in space in the way DNA transmits instructions through proteins and other molecules in living organisms.
Although Alia’s samples were taken from nematode worms, the results have much bigger long term applications, especially for human space flight and long term missions, such as to Mars.
It also means that the first DNA experiments using human genomes can now be carried out on the ISS.
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Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
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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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How to help
Call the hotline on 0502955999 or send "thenational" to the following numbers:
2289 - Dh10
2252 - Dh50
6025 - Dh20
6027 - Dh100
6026 - Dh200
Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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UAE Mabkhout 21’, Khalil 59’
Saudi Al Abed (pen) 20’
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EA Sports FC 25
Developer: EA Vancouver, EA Romania
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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
THE BIO
Favourite car: Koenigsegg Agera RS or Renault Trezor concept car.
Favourite book: I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes or Red Notice by Bill Browder.
Biggest inspiration: My husband Nik. He really got me through a lot with his positivity.
Favourite holiday destination: Being at home in Australia, as I travel all over the world for work. It’s great to just hang out with my husband and family.
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