Holly to Bolly: British singer Vera Lynn to celebrate 100th birthday with new album, Mariah Carey burns $250k wedding dress, and more



Veteran singer Vera Lynn will release new album to mark her 100th birthday

British singer Vera Lynn will celebrate her 100th birthday by releasing an album of remastered classic songs next month, which could make the wartime singer the first centenarian to hit the UK charts.

The artist, known as the "Forces Sweetheart" during the Second World War, will release Vera Lynn 100 on March 17, three days before her birthday. It will include hits such as We'll Meet Again and Sailing set to new orchestral accompaniments.

“It’s truly humbling that people still enjoy these songs from so many years ago, reliving the emotions of that time,” said Lynn.

“I was, after all, just doing my job as a singer — and it’s so wonderful for me to hear my songs again so beautifully presented in a completely new way.”

Through her songs, Lynn became a symbol of hope for British and Allied soldiers fighting Nazi Germany. She was given the title of Dame in 1975 for her work.

In 2009, at the age of 92, Lynn became the oldest living artist to land a UK No1 album, with the compilation We'll Meet Again: The Very Best of Vera Lynn.

It also made her the only recording artist to have spanned the pop charts from the 1940s to the 21st century. — Reuters

Mariah Carey burns $250K wedding dress

Mariah Carey sent a harsh message to former partner James Packer – by burning the wedding dress she was going to wear when they walked down the aisle. Carey throws the gown into the fire in the music video for her new song I Don't, which features YG. Sources close to the singer say the dress is not a prop, it is the actual $250,000 (Dh918,275) Valentino dress she got last year before she called off her wedding, planned for Bora Bora, to Packer, reports entertainment website TMZ. A source also said that the video was shot at the former couple's mansion in Calabasas, California. — The National Staff

Big Sean hosts pop-up store for merchandise to promote new album

For his fourth studio album I Decided, which was released on Friday, Big Sean has decided to turn designer.

Kicking off a weekend of multi-state pop-ups selling limited-edition pieces created by the rapper, he made his way to the New York store to meet fans and watch his designs come to life, billboard.com reported.

The pop-up shop in Manhattan's Soho is one of four temporary stores, with the others in his hometown of Detroit, Los Angeles and Toronto. Sean's I Decided boomed from the speakers as fans who waited outside in the cold shuffled around the tidy racks.

This soundtrack is doubly appropriate given that Sean designed his merchandise while recording the album. He said all the items were inspired by its lyrics.

The curated designs include hoodies, dad hats, T-shirts and a bomber jacket, with prices ranging from $30 to $200. — The National Staff

Pakistan fans waiting to watch Raees on big screen

Pakistani actress Mahira Khana's Bollywood debut film, Raees, will released in Pakistan this week.

During a video press conference in Mumbai, the actress said Bollywood fans in her home country were waiting for the release of the film and that she thinks it will do “amazing business here.”

The Humsafar actress also shared how her family reacted to the film. She said the fear was that she would be overshadowed by Shah Rukh Khan. However, her close family and friends who have seen watched the film enjoyed her performance.

The 32-year-old actress said she was really nervous working with Khan because she is a fan of the superstar.

The film had fallen foul of heightened political and military tensions between the countries. Pakistani actors were banned from appearing in Indian films, while Indian films were banned from being screened in Pakistan. The screening ban was lifted last week and Raees will be released on February 10. — IANS

Hrithik Roshan plans to campaign for disabled

Inspired by the contributions of the visually challenged to society, actor Hrithik Roshan has been inspired by the experience of filming Kaabil – in which the main characters are blind – to campaign for the disabled. The star also says he hopes the film debunks the stereotypical portrayal of blind people in cinema. The actor, who pledged on his 43rd birthday to donate his eyes for transplant when he dies, said he hoped his movie has broken these stereotypes about the blind and shows how they can contribute to society. — IANS

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THE LIGHT

Director: Tom Tykwer

Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger

Rating: 3/5

The Sand Castle

Director: Matty Brown

Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea

Rating: 2.5/5

Director: Laxman Utekar

Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna

Rating: 1/5

Bio

Born in Dibba, Sharjah in 1972.
He is the eldest among 11 brothers and sisters.
He was educated in Sharjah schools and is a graduate of UAE University in Al Ain.
He has written poetry for 30 years and has had work published in local newspapers.
He likes all kinds of adventure movies that relate to his work.
His dream is a safe and preserved environment for all humankind. 
His favourite book is The Quran, and 'Maze of Innovation and Creativity', written by his brother.

From Europe to the Middle East, economic success brings wealth - and lifestyle diseases

A rise in obesity figures and the need for more public spending is a familiar trend in the developing world as western lifestyles are adopted.

One in five deaths around the world is now caused by bad diet, with obesity the fastest growing global risk. A high body mass index is also the top cause of metabolic diseases relating to death and disability in Kuwait,  Qatar and Oman – and second on the list in Bahrain.

In Britain, heart disease, lung cancer and Alzheimer’s remain among the leading causes of death, and people there are spending more time suffering from health problems.

The UK is expected to spend $421.4 billion on healthcare by 2040, up from $239.3 billion in 2014.

And development assistance for health is talking about the financial aid given to governments to support social, environmental development of developing countries.

 

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: ARDH Collective
Based: Dubai
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Sector: Sustainability
Total funding: Self funded
Number of employees: 4
Paatal Lok season two

Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy 

Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong

Rating: 4.5/5

About Proto21

Date started: May 2018
Founder: Pir Arkam
Based: Dubai
Sector: Additive manufacturing (aka, 3D printing)
Staff: 18
Funding: Invested, supported and partnered by Joseph Group

Emergency

Director: Kangana Ranaut

Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry 

Rating: 2/5

Hamilton’s 2017

Australia - 2nd; China - 1st; Bahrain - 2nd; Russia - 4th; Spain - 1st; Monaco - 7th; Canada - 1st; Azerbaijan - 5th; Austria - 4th; Britain - 1st; Hungary - 4th; Belgium - 1st; Italy - 1st; Singapore - 1st; Malaysia - 2nd; Japan - 1st; United States - 1st; Mexico - 9th

Results

5pm: Wadi Nagab – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,200m; Winner: Al Falaq, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Ahmed Al Shemaili (trainer)

5.30pm: Wadi Sidr – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: AF Majalis, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel

6pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: AF Fakhama, Fernando Jara, Mohamed Daggash

6.30pm: Wadi Shees – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Mutaqadim, Antonio Fresu, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami

7pm: Arabian Triple Crown Round-1 – Listed (PA) Dh230,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Bahar Muscat, Antonio Fresu, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami

7.30pm: Wadi Tayyibah – Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Poster Paint, Patrick Cosgrave, Bhupat Seemar

Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”