Filipino sisters Almira, Irene, Mylene and Celina Cercado – collectively known as the girl group 4th Power – survived the second part of The X Factor UK's boot camp round on Sunday. After a stirring performance of David Guetta and Sia's track Titanium, they won a spot in the next round of competition.
During Sunday’s episode, the remaining acts had to perform a solo number in front of judges Simon Cowell, Cheryl Fernandez-Versini, Rita Ora and Nick Grimshaw. The panel then had to select their top 15 favourites from each of the competition’s four categories, namely boys, girls, over-25s and groups.
“4th Power – boom! That is an audition,” said host Olly Murs after the group’s performance. “I would love to work with them,” said Cowell, though he pointed out that their performance “wasn’t their strongest”.
Ora agreed, saying that it was not 4th Power’s best, but was still impressive “compared to everything I’ve seen so far”.
“We don’t want to let this go,” the sisters said after their performance. “We don’t want to waste this big opportunity in our life.” Later, after finding out they were through to the next round, the group said backstage: “So unbelievable – there are so many great talents here. This is our best day ever.”
Next week, the remaining 45 contenders will compete for the final 24 slots, six from each category. The round, dubbed as the Six Chair Challenge, will take place over three weekends in front of an audience at London’s Wembley Arena.
4th Power are widely considered early front-runners. Their first audition, during which the sisters sung the Jessie J/Nicki Minaj/Ariana Grande hit Bang Bang, has amassed more than 15 million views since it was uploaded last month to The X Factor UK's official YouTube page.
Among their biggest competitors in the groups category are boy band The First Kings, church choirgirls Silver Tone and six-piece girl group Alien.
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The Way It Was: My Life with Frank Sinatra by Eliot Weisman and Jennifer Valoppi
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if you go
The flights
Emirates flies to Delhi with fares starting from around Dh760 return, while Etihad fares cost about Dh783 return. From Delhi, there are connecting flights to Lucknow.
Where to stay
It is advisable to stay in Lucknow and make a day trip to Kannauj. A stay at the Lebua Lucknow hotel, a traditional Lucknowi mansion, is recommended. Prices start from Dh300 per night (excluding taxes).
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
In numbers
1,000 tonnes of waste collected daily:
- 800 tonnes converted into alternative fuel
- 150 tonnes to landfill
- 50 tonnes sold as scrap metal
800 tonnes of RDF replaces 500 tonnes of coal
Two conveyor lines treat more than 350,000 tonnes of waste per year
25 staff on site
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
Company profile
Name: Infinite8
Based: Dubai
Launch year: 2017
Number of employees: 90
Sector: Online gaming industry
Funding: $1.2m from a UAE angel investor
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
UAE players with central contracts
Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Chirag Suri, Rameez Shahzad, Shaiman Anwar, Adnan Mufti, Mohammed Usman, Ghulam Shabbir, Ahmed Raza, Qadeer Ahmed, Amir Hayat, Mohammed Naveed and Imran Haider.
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Company%20Profile
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Ain Dubai in numbers
126: The length in metres of the legs supporting the structure
1 football pitch: The length of each permanent spoke is longer than a professional soccer pitch
16 A380 Airbuses: The equivalent weight of the wheel rim.
9,000 tonnes: The amount of steel used to construct the project.
5 tonnes: The weight of each permanent spoke that is holding the wheel rim in place
192: The amount of cable wires used to create the wheel. They measure a distance of 2,4000km in total, the equivalent of the distance between Dubai and Cairo.
Guide to intelligent investing
Investing success often hinges on discipline and perspective. As markets fluctuate, remember these guiding principles:
- Stay invested: Time in the market, not timing the market, is critical to long-term gains.
- Rational thinking: Breathe and avoid emotional decision-making; let logic and planning guide your actions.
- Strategic patience: Understand why you’re investing and allow time for your strategies to unfold.
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