The actors Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds are celebrating the arrival of a baby daughter. Lively, 27, gave birth at a hospital near their home in Bedford, New York, just before the New Year. The name has yet to be revealed. "They're all doing really well," a relative told E! News. "They're obviously loving being new parents." Lively met Reynolds, 38, in 2010 while making the superhero movie Green Lantern together. – The National staff
Marvel unveils Ant-Man trailer
After cleverly teasing fans with a tiny, insect-sized version a few days ago, Marvel unveiled the human-sized trailer for its latest superhero movie, Ant-Man, during the two-hour premiere of its latest TV show, Agent Carter, on Tuesday night. The film stars Michael Douglas as Hank Pym – the original Ant-Man – who passes on a high-tech suit that allows the wearer to shrink himself to petty thief Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) and becomes his mentor in an attempt to turn the younger man into a hero. In the original comics, Hank Pym was a founding member of The Avengers, but it is unknown how the film will tie in to The Avengers movies. The film is due out in July. Visit www.thenational.ae/arts-lifestyle to watch the trailer. – The National staff
Harvard group honours Amy Poehler
Amy Poehler has been named Woman of the Year 2015 by Harvard University's Hasty Pudding Theatricals. The group said the comedian "fits so well with Pudding's own tradition of satire and social commentary." Poehler won a Golden Globe last year and has been nominated five times for an Emmy for her role as Leslie Knope in the NBC comedy Parks and Recreation. She will co-host the Globes on Sunday with Tina Fey – the third year in a row they have presented the ceremony. Hasty Pudding is the nation's oldest undergraduate drama troupe, dating back to the late 18th century. Its annual awards honour performers who have made a lasting and impressive contribution. Last year's winners were Helen Mirren and Neil Patrick Harris. Poehler will get a parade and roast January 29. This year's Man of the Year has yet to be announced. – AP
Terror grips People’s Choice host Faris
Anna Faris summed up her feelings about hosting the People's Choice Awards last night in a single word: "Terror". The actress co-hosted the 41st annual awards at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, with her TV mother Allison Janney, her co-star in the TV sitcom Mom. "We don't know what we're doing," former West Wing star Janney said. "We've never hosted a show before. I think they're crazy for having picked us. And we're going to prove it." - AP
HBO orders fifth season of Girls
Cable-TV channel HBO has ordered a fifth season of its hit comedy-drama Girls. "And now we get to do this job for another year? Pinch me," creator and star Lena Dunham told her 1.95 million followers on Twitter, after the announcement. Season four begins in the United States on Sunday – the same night as the Golden Globe awards, at which it's up for best TV comedy series and Dunham, has been nominated for best actress in a comedy series. Inspired by some of Dunham's own experiences, the sitcom tracks the adventures and misadventures of a group of young female friends in New York's Brooklyn. - AFP
The Interview makes $31m online
The Interview has made more than $31 million from its online and on-demand release, Sony Pictures have revealed. The total covers the first 11 days after the film was released online on December 24. The studio said the film has been rented, streamed or bought 4.3 million times. While it is the highest total ever for a digital release of a Hollywood film, The Interview was originally expected to earn about $30 million in its opening weekend on general release at cinemas, before those plans were cancelled following threats of violence in the wake of the Sony hacking scandal. The online takings are on top of about $5 million the film earned in a limited cinema release in 558 theatres. - AP
Sting’s Last Ship sinks on Broadway
The Last Ship, British singer Sting's bid for Broadway success, has been sunk by disappointing audience numbers. His semi-autobiographical musical will close on January 24, after only three months. The musical, a tale of unemployed shipbuilders who embark on one last hurrah and childhood romance gone awry, was inspired by the former Police frontman's upbringing in the northeastern English city of Newcastle.The singer stepped in last month to play the lead role himself, which boosted flagging ticket sales – but not enough to save the show. The theatre struggled to fill seats despite positive reviews after opening night on October 26. - AFP
Elvis’s private jets go up for sale
Two of Elvis Presley’s private jets are up for auction after three decades on display at his Graceland estate in Memphis, Tennessee. Neither the vintage Convair 880, dubbed the Lisa Marie after Presley’s daughter, nor the smaller Lockheed JetStar, known as Hound Dog II, are airworthy.
But for devout fans of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, who would have been 80 on January 8, 2015, the aircraft offer a unique glimpse into his jet-setting lifestyle.
Los Angeles auction house Julien’s said it expected bids from collectors, aviation enthusiasts and entrepreneurs who might put the planes on show elsewhere.
Since the 1980s, the jets, which belong to OKC Partnership of Memphis, have been on display at Graceland under an agreement with Elvis Presley Enterprises, who did not renew that arrangement for this year, prompting OKC to advertise in specialist aviation magazines looking for buyers. With no offers, it decided to try auctioning them instead. Elvis bought the Lisa Marie in April 1975, two years before his death, for $250,000.
- AFP
Bob Dylan to receive award from former US president Jimmy Carter
Former US President Jimmy Carter will present Bob Dylan with the 2015 MusiCares Person of the Year award next month in Los Angeles.
The Recording Academy announced Tuesday that Bruce Springsteen, Willie Nelson and Jack White will perform at the pre-Grammy event on February 6 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
The star-studded gala will also include performances by Jackson Browne, Alanis Morissette, Neil Young, Beck, Norah Jones, the Black Keys, Stills & Nash and John Mellencamp and others.
Past MusiCares Person of the Year honorees include Bono, Tony Bennett, Aretha Franklin, Billy Joel and Quincy Jones. The event is in its 25th year.
The 57th annual Grammys Awards will take place February 8 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The awards will air live on CBS. - AP
The Saudi Cup race card
1 The Jockey Club Local Handicap (TB) 1,800m (Dirt) $500,000
2 The Riyadh Dirt Sprint (TB) 1,200m (D) $1.500,000
3 The 1351 Turf Sprint 1,351m (Turf) $1,000,000
4 The Saudi Derby (TB) 1600m (D) $800,000
5 The Neom Turf Cup (TB) 2,100m (T) $1,000,000
6 The Obaiya Arabian Classic (PB) 2,000m (D) $1,900,000
7 The Red Sea Turf Handicap (TB) 3,000m (T) $2,500,000
8 The Saudi Cup (TB) 1,800m (D) $20,000,000
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Xpanceo
Started: 2018
Founders: Roman Axelrod, Valentyn Volkov
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: Smart contact lenses, augmented/virtual reality
Funding: $40 million
Investor: Opportunity Venture (Asia)
Know your cyber adversaries
Cryptojacking: Compromises a device or network to mine cryptocurrencies without an organisation's knowledge.
Distributed denial-of-service: Floods systems, servers or networks with information, effectively blocking them.
Man-in-the-middle attack: Intercepts two-way communication to obtain information, spy on participants or alter the outcome.
Malware: Installs itself in a network when a user clicks on a compromised link or email attachment.
Phishing: Aims to secure personal information, such as passwords and credit card numbers.
Ransomware: Encrypts user data, denying access and demands a payment to decrypt it.
Spyware: Collects information without the user's knowledge, which is then passed on to bad actors.
Trojans: Create a backdoor into systems, which becomes a point of entry for an attack.
Viruses: Infect applications in a system and replicate themselves as they go, just like their biological counterparts.
Worms: Send copies of themselves to other users or contacts. They don't attack the system, but they overload it.
Zero-day exploit: Exploits a vulnerability in software before a fix is found.
CHINESE GRAND PRIX STARTING GRID
1st row
Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)
Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)
2nd row
Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes-GP)
Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
3rd row
Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing)
Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull Racing)
4th row
Nico Hulkenberg (Renault)
Sergio Perez (Force India)
5th row
Carlos Sainz Jr (Renault)
Romain Grosjean (Haas)
6th row
Kevin Magnussen (Haas)
Esteban Ocon (Force India)
7th row
Fernando Alonso (McLaren)
Stoffel Vandoorne (McLaren)
8th row
Brendon Hartley (Toro Rosso)
Sergey Sirotkin (Williams)
9th row
Pierre Gasly (Toro Rosso)
Lance Stroll (Williams)
10th row
Charles Leclerc (Sauber)
arcus Ericsson (Sauber)
Seven Winters in Tehran
Director : Steffi Niederzoll
Starring: Reyhaneh Jabbari, Shole Pakravan, Zar Amir Ebrahimi
Rating: 4/5
RACE CARD
5pm: Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival Purebred Arabian Cup Conditions (PA); Dh 200,000 (Turf) 1,600m
5.30pm: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Cup Conditions (PA); Dh 200,000 (T) 1,600m
6pm: Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan National Day Cup Listed (TB); Dh 380,000 (T) 1,600m
6.30pm: Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan National Day Group 3 (PA); Dh 500,000 (T) 1,600m
7pm: Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan National Day Jewel Crown Group 1 (PA); Dh 5,000,000 (T) 2,200m
7.30pm: Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival Handicap (PA); Dh 150,000 (T) 1,400m
8pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh 100,000 (T); 1,400m
TECH SPECS: APPLE WATCH SERIES 8
Display: 41mm, 352 x 430; 45mm, 396 x 484; Retina LTPO OLED, up to 1000 nits, always-on; Ion-X glass
Processor: Apple S8, W3 wireless, U1 ultra-wideband
Capacity: 32GB
Memory: 1GB
Platform: watchOS 9
Health metrics: 3rd-gen heart rate sensor, temperature sensing, ECG, blood oxygen, workouts, fall/crash detection; emergency SOS, international emergency calling
Connectivity: GPS/GPS + cellular; Wi-Fi, LTE, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC (Apple Pay)
Durability: IP6X, water resistant up to 50m, dust resistant
Battery: 308mAh Li-ion, up to 18h, wireless charging
Cards: eSIM
Finishes: Aluminium – midnight, Product Red, silver, starlight; stainless steel – gold, graphite, silver
In the box: Watch Series 8, magnetic-to-USB-C charging cable, band/loop
Price: Starts at Dh1,599 (41mm) / Dh1,999 (45mm)
Tips for travelling while needing dialysis
- Inform your doctor about your plans.
- Ask about your treatment so you know how it works.
- Pay attention to your health if you travel to a hot destination.
- Plan your trip well.
Fitness problems in men's tennis
Andy Murray - hip
Novak Djokovic - elbow
Roger Federer - back
Stan Wawrinka - knee
Kei Nishikori - wrist
Marin Cilic - adductor
Could We Be More
Artist: Kokoroko
Label: Brownswood Recordings
Rating: 3.5/5
Company Profile
Company name: Cargoz
Date started: January 2022
Founders: Premlal Pullisserry and Lijo Antony
Based: Dubai
Number of staff: 30
Investment stage: Seed
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Tax authority targets shisha levy evasion
The Federal Tax Authority will track shisha imports with electronic markers to protect customers and ensure levies have been paid.
Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director of the tax authority, on Sunday said the move is to "prevent tax evasion and support the authority’s tax collection efforts".
The scheme’s first phase, which came into effect on 1st January, 2019, covers all types of imported and domestically produced and distributed cigarettes. As of May 1, importing any type of cigarettes without the digital marks will be prohibited.
He said the latest phase will see imported and locally produced shisha tobacco tracked by the final quarter of this year.
"The FTA also maintains ongoing communication with concerned companies, to help them adapt their systems to meet our requirements and coordinate between all parties involved," he said.
As with cigarettes, shisha was hit with a 100 per cent tax in October 2017, though manufacturers and cafes absorbed some of the costs to prevent prices doubling.
Five expert hiking tips
- Always check the weather forecast before setting off
- Make sure you have plenty of water
- Set off early to avoid sudden weather changes in the afternoon
- Wear appropriate clothing and footwear
- Take your litter home with you
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo (BMW B58)
Power: 340hp at 6,500rpm
Torque: 500Nm from 1,600-4,500rpm
Transmission: ZF 8-speed auto
0-100kph: 4.2sec
Top speed: 267kph
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh462,189
Warranty: 30-month/48,000k
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.
When Umm Kulthum performed in Abu Dhabi
Known as The Lady of Arabic Song, Umm Kulthum performed in Abu Dhabi on November 28, 1971, as part of celebrations for the fifth anniversary of the accession of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan as Ruler of Abu Dhabi. A concert hall was constructed for the event on land that is now Al Nahyan Stadium, behind Al Wahda Mall. The audience were treated to many of Kulthum's most well-known songs as part of the sold-out show, including Aghadan Alqak and Enta Omri.
Zombieland: Double Tap
Director: Ruben Fleischer
Stars: Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone
Four out of five stars
Results:
5pm: Maiden (PA) | Dh80,000 | 1,200 metres
Winner: Jabalini, Szczepan Mazur (jockey), Younis Kalbani (trainer)
5.30pm: UAE Arabian Derby (PA) | Prestige | Dh150,000 | 2,200m
Winner: Octave, Gerald Avranche, Abdallah Al Hammadi
6pm: Arabian Triple Crown Round 3 (PA) | Group 3 Dh300,000 | 2,200m
Winner: Harrab, Richard Mullen, Mohamed Ali
6.30pm: Emirates Championship (PA) | Group 1 | Dh1million | 2,200m
Winner: BF Mughader, Szczepan Mazur, Younis Al Kalbani
7pm: Abu Dhabi Championship (TB) | Group 3 | Dh380,000 | 2,200m
Winner: GM Hopkins, Patrick Cosgrave, Jaber Ramadhan
7.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) | Conditions | Dh70,000 | 1,600m
Winner: AF La’Asae, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
FIXTURES
All times UAE (+4 GMT)
Saturday
Fiorentina v Torino (8pm)
Hellas Verona v Roma (10.45pm)
Sunday
Parma v Napoli (2.30pm)
Genoa v Crotone (5pm)
Sassuolo v Cagliari (8pm)
Juventus v Sampdoria (10.45pm)
Monday
AC Milan v Bologna (10.45om)
Playing September 30
Benevento v Inter Milan (8pm)
Udinese v Spezia (8pm)
Lazio v Atalanta (10.45pm)
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Haltia.ai
Started: 2023
Co-founders: Arto Bendiken and Talal Thabet
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: AI
Number of employees: 41
Funding: About $1.7 million
Investors: Self, family and friends
Company Profile
Company name: Hoopla
Date started: March 2023
Founder: Jacqueline Perrottet
Based: Dubai
Number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Investment required: $500,000
if you go
The flights
Fly to Rome with Etihad (www.etihad.ae) or Emirates (www.emirates.com) from Dh2,480 return including taxes. The flight takes six hours. Fly from Rome to Trapani with Ryanair (www.ryanair.com) from Dh420 return including taxes. The flight takes one hour 10 minutes.
The hotels
The author recommends the following hotels for this itinerary. In Trapani, Ai Lumi (www.ailumi.it); in Marsala, Viacolvento (www.viacolventomarsala.it); and in Marsala Del Vallo, the Meliaresort Dimore Storiche (www.meliaresort.it).
Company Profile
Name: Neo Mobility
Started: February 2023
Co-founders: Abhishek Shah and Anish Garg
Based: Dubai
Industry: Logistics
Funding: $10 million
Investors: Delta Corp, Pyse Sustainability Fund, angel investors
The specs: 2018 Jeep Compass
Price, base: Dh100,000 (estimate)
Engine: 2.4L four-cylinder
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Power: 184bhp at 6,400rpm
Torque: 237Nm at 3,900rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 9.4L / 100km
