Phoebe Waller-Bridge is the creator and star of the darkly funny 'Fleabag'. FilmMagic
Phoebe Waller-Bridge is the creator and star of the darkly funny 'Fleabag'. FilmMagic
Phoebe Waller-Bridge is the creator and star of the darkly funny 'Fleabag'. FilmMagic
Phoebe Waller-Bridge is the creator and star of the darkly funny 'Fleabag'. FilmMagic

Amazon Prime Video launch: 5 television shows we hope come to the UAE


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With the announcement that Amazon Prime has launched in the UAE, we could be looking at a host of new streaming content to watch via the Amazon Prime Video service.

Amazon Prime Video actually officially launched in the UAE back in 2016, but since there was no Amazon.ae site , the situation was a little confusing. Users could log into the service via their account from their home country, where a wealth of options would be displayed. However, when you actually clicked on many of the options, the service's geoblocker would step in and display a message that the content is not available in this region.

Existing Amazon Prime Video subscribers should automatically be upgraded to the full Amazon Prime service, but if not, they should receive instructions from Amazon on how to upgrade themselves.

The expectation is that by extending to the full Amazon Prime service, the available streaming content should also expand, though it's still possible that the rights to some of its shows could still be held by other regional broadcasters initially – remember when Netflix launched its Middle East service but was unable to screen its own shows such as House of Cards and Orange is the New Black as OSN already had the rights?

Amazon hasn't yet given specific details of what shows we'll be able to enjoy following the launch of the new service, though their initial statement did suggest that shows such as The Grand Tour and All or Nothing: Manchester City as well as Indian shows such as Mirzapur and Breathe will be available at launch.

While we wait for official confirmation, here are some of the top shows that are available to Amazon Prime subscribers elsewhere in the world that we hope will be making their way to living rooms here.

Fleabag

Fleabag was co-produced by Amazon and the BBC, with the BBC premiering the show in the UK and Amazon picking up international rights – hopefully including the UAE, unless the BBC has plans to screen it on its own BBC First service regionally. Set in London, the show stars its creator, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, as a young woman attempting to navigate modern life in London.

That description hardly does the series justice, however. It's a hysterical, dirty, deviant and surprisingly thoughtful meditation on grief and loneliness that goes by in a flash - there are only six half-hour episodes in each season and Waller-Bridge opted to quit while she was ahead after season two. She's now lending her talents to scripting the forthcoming Bond 25.

The Marvellous Mrs Maisel

Amy Sherman-Palladino's follow-up to Gilmore Girls and Bunheads is a quick-witted crowd-pleaser starring House of Cards' Rachel Brosnahan. Brosnahan plays Miriam Maisel, the perfect, upper Westside New York wife who — after her husband leaves her — goes on a bender and finds herself on stage delivering a hilarious, profanity-fueled set in a rundown comedy club. Miriam finds herself trying to build a career as a stand-up comic in an era, the '50s, when females weren't exactly welcome on that scene. The show mixes comedy, feminism, and a little bit of stand-up history.

Good Omens

David Tennant and Michael Sheen star in this adaptation of Neil Gaiman's beloved work of fantasy. Tennant plays Crowley, a demon who's spent the past 6,000 years living life as a kind of rock star on Earth. Sheen plays his angelic counterpart, Aziraphale, a bumbling seraph who also calls Earth home and forms a reluctant friendship with his immortal enemy. The two must band together to prevent the Antichrist – a kid in Oxfordshire – from rising to power, destroying the world, and, crucially, Crowley's Best of Queen mixtape.

The Man in the High Castle

Loosely based on Phillip K Dick's 1962 novel of the same name, The Man in the High Castle is set in an alternative, dystopian world where Germany won World War II. The East Coast of the US is occupied by the Germans, and the West Coast is occupied by the Japanese, with no-man's land in between. Exec-produced by Ridley Scott and Frank Spotnitz (The X-Files), the series sees various characters working to form a resistance against their occupation by collecting forbidden newsreels that show the alternate history in which the Allies won the war. The Man in the High Castle is a well-acted, tense, and often violent dystopian thriller with plenty of twists and turns to keep viewers guessing.

Catastrophe

Amazon has been particularly strong on comedy among its originals, and Catastrophe is no exception. Rob (Rob Delaney) is a typical brash American and Sharon (Sharon Horgan) a foul-mouthed, sarcastic British school teacher. The pair meet in a London bar and embark on a brief holiday fling while Rob is working in London. On his return stateside Sharon finds out she's pregnant, and the utterly mismatched pair decide to marry and see how it goes. Spoiler alert: No that well. The pair's constant bickering and disagreements are hilarious, as well as the cultural chasm between them, and its surely one of the most refreshing portrayals of the reality of relationships around.

How to donate

Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200

Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction

Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.

Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.

Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.

Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.

Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.

What are the guidelines?

Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.

Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.

Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.

Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.

Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.

Source: American Paediatric Association
THE SIXTH SENSE

Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment

Director: M. Night Shyamalan

Rating: 5/5

Scotland v Ireland:

Scotland (15-1): Stuart Hogg; Tommy Seymour, Huw Jones, Sam Johnson, Sean Maitland; Finn Russell, Greig Laidlaw (capt); Josh Strauss, James Ritchie, Ryan Wilson; Jonny Gray, Grant Gilchrist; Simon Berghan, Stuart McInally, Allan Dell

Replacements: Fraser Brown, Jamie Bhatti, D'arcy Rae, Ben Toolis, Rob Harley, Ali Price, Pete Horne, Blair Kinghorn

Coach: Gregor Townsend (SCO)

Ireland (15-1): Rob Kearney; Keith Earls, Chris Farrell, Bundee Aki, Jacob Stockdale; Jonathan Sexton, Conor Murray; Jack Conan, Sean O'Brien, Peter O'Mahony; James Ryan, Quinn Roux; Tadhg Furlong, Rory Best (capt), Cian Healy

Replacements: Sean Cronin, Dave Kilcoyne, Andrew Porter, Ultan Dillane, Josh van der Flier, John Cooney, Joey Carbery, Jordan Larmour

Coach: Joe Schmidt (NZL)

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Real estate tokenisation project

Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.

The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.

Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Roll of honour 2019-2020

Dubai Rugby Sevens
Winners: Dubai Hurricanes
Runners up: Bahrain

West Asia Premiership
Winners: Bahrain
Runners up: UAE Premiership

UAE Premiership
}Winners: Dubai Exiles
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes

UAE Division One
Winners: Abu Dhabi Saracens
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes II

UAE Division Two
Winners: Barrelhouse
Runners up: RAK Rugby

Joe Root's Test record

Tests: 53; Innings: 98; Not outs: 11; Runs: 4,594; Best score: 254; Average: 52.80; 100s: 11; 50s: 27

Indoor Cricket World Cup

Venue Insportz, Dubai, September 16-23

UAE squad Saqib Nazir (captain), Aaqib Malik, Fahad Al Hashmi, Isuru Umesh, Nadir Hussain, Sachin Talwar, Nashwan Nasir, Prashath Kumara, Ramveer Rai, Sameer Nayyak, Umar Shah, Vikrant Shetty

Honeymoonish
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WOMAN AND CHILD

Director: Saeed Roustaee

Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi

Rating: 4/5

Dates for the diary

To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:

  • September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
  • October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
  • October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
  • November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
  • December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
  • February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
THE SPECS

Cadillac XT6 2020 Premium Luxury

Engine:  3.6L V-6

Transmission: nine-speed automatic

Power: 310hp

Torque: 367Nm

Price: Dh280,000

Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
Rating: 4/5
If you go

Flight connections to Ulaanbaatar are available through a variety of hubs, including Seoul and Beijing, with airlines including Mongolian Airlines and Korean Air. While some nationalities, such as Americans, don’t need a tourist visa for Mongolia, others, including UAE citizens, can obtain a visa on arrival, while others including UK citizens, need to obtain a visa in advance. Contact the Mongolian Embassy in the UAE for more information.

Nomadic Road offers expedition-style trips to Mongolia in January and August, and other destinations during most other months. Its nine-day August 2020 Mongolia trip will cost from $5,250 per person based on two sharing, including airport transfers, two nights’ hotel accommodation in Ulaanbaatar, vehicle rental, fuel, third party vehicle liability insurance, the services of a guide and support team, accommodation, food and entrance fees; nomadicroad.com

A fully guided three-day, two-night itinerary at Three Camel Lodge costs from $2,420 per person based on two sharing, including airport transfers, accommodation, meals and excursions including the Yol Valley and Flaming Cliffs. A return internal flight from Ulaanbaatar to Dalanzadgad costs $300 per person and the flight takes 90 minutes each way; threecamellodge.com

Australia tour of Pakistan

March 4-8: First Test, Rawalpindi  

March 12-16: Second Test, Karachi 

March 21-25: Third Test, Lahore

March 29: First ODI, Rawalpindi

March 31: Second ODI, Rawalpindi

April 2: Third ODI, Rawalpindi

April 5: T20I, Rawalpindi

The%20specs
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UK-EU trade at a glance

EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years

Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products

Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries

Smoother border management with use of e-gates

Cutting red tape on import and export of food