Director Mohit Suri took the festival of lights to Dubai for a scene for his forthcoming film Hamari Adhuri Kahani. The director decked out a hotel in Dubai for a romantic Diwali sequence where lead actor Emraan Hashmi professes his love for Vidya Balan. "The team had worked really hard to light up the entire hotel and had organised fireworks, too. It was like Diwali that night. Vidya was trying her hand at rangoli [traditional floor art], fully dressed in ethnic attire. We were shooting our song Humnava and the script demanded that it was Diwali," Suri said in a statement on Saturday. The director added that the "entire Indian crew felt closer to home as they had been shooting outside India for a long time". "We bonded post the shoot. The entire crew chilled together. It was great that the entire team who believed in the story, the film, were hanging out. It was a nice moment for us all," said Suri. The love story will be released in UAE cinemas on Thursday and also stars Rajkumar Rao. – IANS
One Direction scotch rumours of a split
British boy band One Direction insisted on Saturday they would not be splitting up despite the departure of band member Zayn Malik. The chart toppers, who have sold more than 50 million records worldwide and have a huge teenage fan base, hit back at rumours concerning their future. Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson played their first British concert as a foursome on Friday night in Cardiff. Payne responded to rumours of a split before they performed on Saturday at London’s Wembley Stadium. “We don’t know where that came from because we’ve got loads of stuff going on,” he said. “We have just started the process for recording the new album, we’ve got a whole new tour going on, there are some really good songs so I don’t think we are going anywhere for a while.” One Direction announced in March that Malik was quitting, but that the band would continue as a foursome. “I am leaving because I want to be a normal 22-year-old who is able to relax and have some private time out of the spotlight,” Malik said. – AFP
First official photos of Princess Charlotte
Britain’s royal family has released the first official photos of month-old Princess Charlotte, photographed by her mother in the arms of elder brother Prince George. Kensington Palace issued four images on Saturday, taken by the Duchess of Cambridge in mid-May at Anmer Hall, the family’s home in eastern England. They show Charlotte propped on a pillow, cradled by George, who turns 2 in July. Britain’s royals have been photographed by some of the world’s leading photographers. But Prince William and Kate are continuing a more informal tradition begun two years ago with the first official portrait of Prince George, taken by his grandfather Michael Middleton. Charlotte was born on May 2 and is fourth in line to the throne. – AP
Celebrities at IIFA Fashion Extravaganza
Top Indian designers showed off their collections at the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) weekend in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, ahead of the awards ceremony due to take place on Sunday night. Hosted by Bollywood actors Vivek Oberoi and Neha Dhupia, Fashion Extravaganza brought music, fashion and film stars together. Singers Aditi Singh Sharma, Makash Aziz and Mika Singh took the stage to perform their hits, while actors modelled the creations of various designers, including Gaurang Shah, Masaba Gupta and Rocky S. Celebrities who attended included R Madhavan, star of the recently released blockbuster Tanu Weds Manu Returns, Kanika Kapoor, Lisa Haydon, Bipasha Basu, Ayushmann Khurrana and Malaika Arora Khan. – IANS
JLo sued over racy concert in Rabat
Jennifer Lopez is facing a lawsuit from an education group after her May 29 concert at the Mawazine festival in Rabat was broadcast on TV in Morocco. A local education group has filed a lawsuit against Lopez and the concert promoter because they “disturbed public order and tarnished women’s honour and respect”. The star has performed in the North African country before, but this was the first time her performance was broadcast on television. – The National staff
Open casting call for new Ali F Mostafa film
The producers of Emirati filmmaker Ali F Mostafa's third feature, The Worthy, have announced an open casting call for aspiring stars in the new movie. The film is set in a dystopian future that has been plunged into chaos due to a chronic water shortage and follows a small group of survivors seeking refuge with the only clean remaining water source in the area. When two visitors infiltrate their compound, they soon become pawns in a test for survival, where only one of them shall be chosen worthy. The producers are looking for Arab actors between the ages of 18 and 22 and 30 and 50, who are fluent in Arabic (Gulf, Levant or Egyptian dialects). Send a CV, headshots and links to previous work (if available) to info@alkatraz.ae, or call 04 443 5235. Selected candidates will be informed via email. – Chris Newbould
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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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.
COMPANY PROFILE
● Company: Bidzi
● Started: 2024
● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid
● Based: Dubai, UAE
● Industry: M&A
● Funding size: Bootstrapped
● No of employees: Nine
Winners
Best Men's Player of the Year: Kylian Mbappe (PSG)
Maradona Award for Best Goal Scorer of the Year: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
TikTok Fans’ Player of the Year: Robert Lewandowski
Top Goal Scorer of All Time: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
Best Women's Player of the Year: Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)
Best Men's Club of the Year: Chelsea
Best Women's Club of the Year: Barcelona
Best Defender of the Year: Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus/Italy)
Best Goalkeeper of the Year: Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG/Italy)
Best Coach of the Year: Roberto Mancini (Italy)
Best National Team of the Year: Italy
Best Agent of the Year: Federico Pastorello
Best Sporting Director of the Year: Txiki Begiristain (Manchester City)
Player Career Award: Ronaldinho
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
AGUERO'S PREMIER LEAGUE RECORD
Apps: 186
Goals: 127
Assists: 31
Wins: 117
Losses: 33
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Need to know
The flights: Flydubai flies from Dubai to Kilimanjaro airport via Dar es Salaam from Dh1,619 return including taxes. The trip takes 8 hours.
The trek: Make sure that whatever tour company you select to climb Kilimanjaro, that it is a reputable one. The way to climb successfully would be with experienced guides and porters, from a company committed to quality, safety and an ethical approach to the mountain and its staff. Sonia Nazareth booked a VIP package through Safari Africa. The tour works out to $4,775 (Dh17,538) per person, based on a 4-person booking scheme, for 9 nights on the mountain (including one night before and after the trek at Arusha). The price includes all meals, a head guide, an assistant guide for every 2 trekkers, porters to carry the luggage, a cook and kitchen staff, a dining and mess tent, a sleeping tent set up for 2 persons, a chemical toilet and park entrance fees. The tiny ration of heated water provided for our bath in our makeshift private bathroom stall was the greatest luxury. A standard package, also based on a 4-person booking, works out to $3,050 (Dh11,202) per person.
When to go: You can climb Kili at any time of year, but the best months to ascend are January-February and September-October. Also good are July and August, if you’re tolerant of the colder weather that winter brings.
Do not underestimate the importance of kit. Even if you’re travelling at a relatively pleasant time, be geared up for the cold and the rain.