DUBAI // The US performer Bello Nock has come up with a hair-raising idea for a stunt in Dubai, which he has called the “Burj to Burj”.
Nock, who claims to be the inspiration for Bart Simpson’s vertical hairstyle, will begin his stunt by walking a high wire across the Dubai Fountain lake at the foot of the Burj Khalifa.
He will then be whisked off to the Burj Al Arab, dangling by one leg from a helicopter.
After being dropped off on the luxury hotel’s helipad, Nock, 45, will be shot out of a cannon to fly over the Dubai skyline using a specially designed wing suit.
All of this relies on the stuntman gaining permission for the various stages from the authorities.
Nock hopes the proposed spectacle will trump what he has called the “Ultimate” stunt, which will be filmed in Las Vegas in August and streamed live around the world on his pay-per-view website.
He is calling the Dubai stunt “Ultimate 2” and hopes to perform it as soon as possible.
“Hello Dubai. Recently I challenged you to come up with an epic stunt for me to do in your city,” Nock said in a video posted on YouTube.
“I’ve had some time to think about it, and I’ve come up with something called the ‘Burj to Burj’.”
The posting follows a visit to Dubai last week to promote his show.
“I’m more than ready, willing and able,” said Nock. “All I need now is the invitation.”
On his trip to the Emirate, he said Dubai had many examples of feats of engineering that people had thought could not be achieved.
That idea of achieving the seemingly impossible was what Nock strived for in his 30-year career as an extreme stuntman, he said.
He added, however, that he would not do the stunt without official permission.
“I’m absolutely ready for the challenge now, but I’m not going to do something illegal,” he said. “I’m not going to do a stunt while the authorities aren’t looking.
“Could I do that? I absolutely could and still be safe. I’m a man of no fear, but tremendous respect.
“I would never do that in someone else’s house or country. I’m looking for the invitation first.”
His “Ultimate” stunt in Las Vegas will feature high-wire walks and being shot out of a cannon over the rotating blades of a helicopter.
Nock said he did not fear death but he had never had any major accident in his long and successful career.
“I’m a guy who lives life on the edge,” he said.
“In fact, if you’re not living life on the edge, you’re taking up too much room.”
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
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Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
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- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
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England v South Africa Test series:
First Test: at Lord's, England won by 211 runs
Second Test: at Trent Bridge, South Africa won by 340 runs
Third Test: at The Oval, July 27-31
Fourth Test: at Old Trafford, August 4-8
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
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Scorebox
Dubai Sports City Eagles 7 Bahrain 88
Eagles
Try: Penalty
Bahrain
Tries: Gibson 2, Morete 2, Bishop 2, Bell 2, Behan, Fameitau, Sanson, Roberts, Bennett, Radley
Cons: Radley 4, Whittingham 5
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The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
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GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
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Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
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Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015
- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany
- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people
- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed
- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest
- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France
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Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
if you go
The flights
Air Astana flies direct from Dubai to Almaty from Dh2,440 per person return, and to Astana (via Almaty) from Dh2,930 return, both including taxes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Ritz-Carlton Almaty cost from Dh1,944 per night including taxes; and in Astana the new Ritz-Carlton Astana (www.marriott) costs from Dh1,325; alternatively, the new St Regis Astana costs from Dh1,458 per night including taxes.
When to visit
March-May and September-November
Visas
Citizens of many countries, including the UAE do not need a visa to enter Kazakhstan for up to 30 days. Contact the nearest Kazakhstan embassy or consulate.
500 People from Gaza enter France
115 Special programme for artists
25 Evacuation of injured and sick
Various Artists
Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection Of Music From The Arab World (Habibi Funk)
THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick
Hometown: Cologne, Germany
Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)
Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes
Favourite hobby: Football
Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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.
Pad Man
Dir: R Balki
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Sonam Kapoor, Radhika Apte
Three-and-a-half stars
How to help
Call the hotline on 0502955999 or send "thenational" to the following numbers:
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OPTA'S PREDICTED TABLE
1. Liverpool 101 points
2. Manchester City 80
3. Leicester 67
4. Chelsea 63
5. Manchester United 61
6. Tottenham 58
7. Wolves 56
8. Arsenal 56
9. Sheffield United 55
10. Everton 50
11. Burnley 49
12. Crystal Palace 49
13. Newcastle 46
14. Southampton 44
15. West Ham 39
16. Brighton 37
17. Watford 36
18. Bournemouth 36
19. Aston Villa 32
20. Norwich City 29