Rooftop nightclub WHITE Dubai will celebrate its first anniversary on Friday, December 19, with a performance by the British rapper and hip-hop star, Tinie Tempah, best known for his breakout single Pass Out, along with hits and collaborations such as Written in the Stars, Tsunami and Children of the Sun. Dubai's much-loved radio host Kris Fade will be the master of ceremonies for the evening. And on December 27, American R&B and hip-hop star Jeremih will perform the venue's newly introduced URBN Saturdays, a night totally dedicated to the best of hip-hop and R&B. For reservations, call 50 443 0933 or email reservations@whitedubai.com. Visit www.whitedubai.com for more details. – The National staff
Obamas attend Christmas fundraiser
Barack Obama celebrated the start of the holiday season at a charity show featuring wrestler-turned-actor Dwayne Johnson and singers Rita Ora and Darius Rucker. The US president and his family attended the 33rd annual Christmas in Washington concert Sunday at the National Building Museum, a fundraiser for the Children's National Health System. Before the concert, Obama, his wife, Michelle, and daughters, Sasha and Malia, presented gifts– including a basket of children's books – to a group of former young patient, who were dressed as elves. Johnson, formerly known as The Rock – and one of the stars of the upcoming film Furious 7, which filmed in Abu Dhabi this year – hosted the concert and jokingly sang his own rendition of Deck the Halls. Other performers at the Christmas celebration included Christina Perri, Aloe Blacc and Earth, Wind and Fire. After the carols, Obama reminded guests of the reason for the holiday. "Jesus lived a life of peace, love, kindness and forgiveness," he said. "During the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season, may we all do our best to follow his example." He also thanked servicemembers for their sacrifices. – AP
Russian film triumphs in Marrakech
The Russian film Corrections Class, about a group of disabled high-school teenagers, has scooped the top prize at the Marrakech International Film Festival in Morocco. The jury, headed by French actress Isabelle Huppert awarded the Golden Star to Corrections Class, by first-time director Ivan Tverdovsky, from a field of 15 films from across the world. British actor Jeremy Irons, US star Viggo Mortensen and Adel Imam, a veteran of Egyptian cinema, were also honoured at the ceremony on Saturday night. The Jury Prize award went to Chrieg, the feature film debut from Swiss director Simon Jaquemet. – AFP
Calendar of early Indian film posters
The filmmaker Anurag Kashyap will next week launch a 2015 calendar full of rare posters of the earliest films made in India. Titled The Beginnings of Indian Cinema, the calendar features posters from Ardeshir Irani's Alam Ara, Indian cinema's first talkie; Kisan Kanya, the first colour film; and King of Ayodhya (Ayodhyecha Raja), the first Marathi talkie directed by legendary filmmaker V Shantaram. – The National staff
Hergé Tintin sketch auction beat estimates
A rare 1939 drawing of hero reporter Tintin by the character's creator Hergé sold for €539,880 during auctions staged simultaneously in Brussels and Paris on Sunday. The sketch was among scores of French and Belgian comic works that fetched €1.89million (Dh24,71,363), more than the pre-sale estimates. The price for the 1939 India ink-and-crayon sketch, for the cover of the Belgian weekly Le Petit Vingtième, beat the estimate of between € 350,000-400,000. It also set a world record for a Herge cover published by the magazine. In May, a 1937 two-page spread by Hergé depicting Tintin on various adventures with his dog Snowy sold in Paris for €2.65 million (US$3.58 million), a record for cartoon art in a market where prices have risen tenfold in recent years. - AFP
Cosby breaks silence amid rape claims
Bill Cosby has broken his silence amid a flood of rape accusations in a very brief interview with New York Post's Page Six section. "Let me say this," he said. "I only expect the black media to uphold the standards of excellence in journalism and when you do that you have to go in with a neutral mind." The 77-year-old has refused to comment about the claims by the more than two dozen women who have come forward to accuse him of drugging and sexually assaulting them. The alleged incidents date as far back as the 1960s. In the interview, Cosby also spoke about how his wife, Camille Cosby, has dealt the allegations. "Love and the strength of womanhood," he said. "Let me say it again, love and the strength of womanhood. And, you could reverse it, the strength of womanhood and love." Cosby again refused to directly talk about the allegations. The report said he had been advised not to discuss the ongoing cases. The Page Six interview ended abruptly when Cosby said that "they" don't want him talking to the media. - AP
R&B singer Jeremih charged over airport incident
R&B star Jeremih and two other people are facing charges in New Jersey after one of the men allegedly opened a door to a boarding ramp at Newark International Airport after it had been closed to prepare for take-off. Port Authority police said a member of the 27-year-old Don't Tell 'Em singer's party tried to open the door on Friday in an attempt to get his fellow travellers on board the Phoenix-bound flight after they arrived late. Jeremih, who police identified as Jeremy Felton, was charged with disorderly conduct and obstruction. A second man faces the same charges, while a third is charged with defiant trespass for allegedly opening the door. A police spokesman said the three men were released and ordered to appear before a judge. - AP
