• Workers inflate a balloon of the Dragonball character Goku as the balloon is readied for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. AP
    Workers inflate a balloon of the Dragonball character Goku as the balloon is readied for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. AP
  • Stuart the Minion and his banana are making their Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade debut. The 96th annual parade will take place in New York on Thursday. AFP
    Stuart the Minion and his banana are making their Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade debut. The 96th annual parade will take place in New York on Thursday. AFP
  • Watching the inflating of the balloons is a pre-Thanksgiving tradition for many and open to the public. AP
    Watching the inflating of the balloons is a pre-Thanksgiving tradition for many and open to the public. AP
  • Stuart is considered to be a slacker compared to the other Minions, preferring to relax and play the ukulele, rather than listening to Tiny Boss's orders. AFP
    Stuart is considered to be a slacker compared to the other Minions, preferring to relax and play the ukulele, rather than listening to Tiny Boss's orders. AFP
  • Snoopy has been a regular staple character in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade since 1968. AFP
    Snoopy has been a regular staple character in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade since 1968. AFP
  • The Sinclair Oil Corporation’s Dino has appeared in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade since 1963. AP
    The Sinclair Oil Corporation’s Dino has appeared in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade since 1963. AP
  • TikTok sensation Corn Kid will appear on the Jolly Green Giant float. AFP
    TikTok sensation Corn Kid will appear on the Jolly Green Giant float. AFP
  • The Macy’s Turkey Float struts his stuffing before the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. AFP
    The Macy’s Turkey Float struts his stuffing before the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. AFP
  • The first SpongeBob balloon is notable as the parade's first square balloon, requiring more than 600 internal tie-ins to retain the shape that has become synonymous with the character. AFP
    The first SpongeBob balloon is notable as the parade's first square balloon, requiring more than 600 internal tie-ins to retain the shape that has become synonymous with the character. AFP
  • A police canine watches as members of the Macy's Inflation Team work to inflate balloons and maybe chase them. AFP
    A police canine watches as members of the Macy's Inflation Team work to inflate balloons and maybe chase them. AFP
  • In August of 2020, the Papa Smurf balloon was brought out of retirement and used as a test subject for the newly enacted five-vehicle framework, which was put in place to reduce the amount of handlers and overall parade participants. AFP
    In August of 2020, the Papa Smurf balloon was brought out of retirement and used as a test subject for the newly enacted five-vehicle framework, which was put in place to reduce the amount of handlers and overall parade participants. AFP
  • The 2022 event will be the third consecutive parade to enact a health and safety plan in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. AFP
    The 2022 event will be the third consecutive parade to enact a health and safety plan in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. AFP
  • A total of 90 handlers are needed to man this Diary of a Wimpy Kid balloon. AFP
    A total of 90 handlers are needed to man this Diary of a Wimpy Kid balloon. AFP
  • The giant balloons were originally inflated with air and did not float. AFP
    The giant balloons were originally inflated with air and did not float. AFP
  • Members of the Macy's Inflation Team try not to get carried away. AFP
    Members of the Macy's Inflation Team try not to get carried away. AFP
  • Members of the Macy's Inflation Team work to inflate the Dino and Baby Dino balloon. AFP
    Members of the Macy's Inflation Team work to inflate the Dino and Baby Dino balloon. AFP
  • Baby Shark will make its Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade appearance in 2022, with the debut of an all-new float-balloon combo. AFP
    Baby Shark will make its Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade appearance in 2022, with the debut of an all-new float-balloon combo. AFP
  • The original Ronald McDonald balloon made its first public appearance at the Macy's store located in the Dallas Galleria, appearing alongside the Baby Shamu balloon flying high above the mall's famed ice-skating rink. AFP
    The original Ronald McDonald balloon made its first public appearance at the Macy's store located in the Dallas Galleria, appearing alongside the Baby Shamu balloon flying high above the mall's famed ice-skating rink. AFP
  • Striker the US Soccer Star pays homage to the US men's football team, currently playing in the World Cup. AFP
    Striker the US Soccer Star pays homage to the US men's football team, currently playing in the World Cup. AFP
  • Handlers with balloon footballs will follow behind Striker's striking foot. AFP
    Handlers with balloon footballs will follow behind Striker's striking foot. AFP
  • The Grogu or Baby Yoda balloon is a crowd pleaser. Invision / AP
    The Grogu or Baby Yoda balloon is a crowd pleaser. Invision / AP
  • Most of the parade performances take place in front of the famous New York store or on individual floats. Reuters
    Most of the parade performances take place in front of the famous New York store or on individual floats. Reuters
  • Stuart the minion will float through the sky holding a 3D printed man inside a banana costume. Photo: Macy's
    Stuart the minion will float through the sky holding a 3D printed man inside a banana costume. Photo: Macy's
  • Hundreds of people queue to watch the floats being prepared. Getty Images / AFP
    Hundreds of people queue to watch the floats being prepared. Getty Images / AFP
  • The Wimpy Kid is ready to take Manhattan. EPA
    The Wimpy Kid is ready to take Manhattan. EPA
  • Bluey gets final touches from parade balloon techs. EPA
    Bluey gets final touches from parade balloon techs. EPA
  • Toddlers watch in awe as some of their favourite characters get supersized. EPA
    Toddlers watch in awe as some of their favourite characters get supersized. EPA
  • New York City Mayor Eric Adams made assurances that the parade goers safety was of upmost importance. EPA
    New York City Mayor Eric Adams made assurances that the parade goers safety was of upmost importance. EPA
  • Striker is made ready for the pitch. EPA
    Striker is made ready for the pitch. EPA

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons to start US holiday season


  • English
  • Arabic

Spectators will line the streets of New York City on Thursday morning to watch the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, an hours-long carnival featuring balloons and musical performances, which start the US holiday season.

Before the parade – scheduled to run from 8.30am-12pm Eastern Time – the famous giant character balloons were inflated in New York's Upper West Side on Wednesday.

Characters including Bluey, Baby Yoda and Pikachu will make their way from Central Park West down Sixth Avenue down to their eventual destination, Macy's flagship store in Herald Square.

This year's parade will feature 25 giant character balloons, 31 parade floats. Music stars including Cher and Jon Batiste will also be taking part in the festivities.

And as usual, Santa Claus will be riding at the back of the parade.

Not always smooth sailing

Inflation is done carefully and piece by piece with every balloon to prevent damage, but that has not always been the case.

Moving large parade balloons is a treacherous endeavour, with the most recent incident involving an inflated Spider-Man crashing into a tree in 2013, ripping an arm apart.

The Kermit balloon also hit a tree in the 1991 parade, deflating the puppet's head, prompting one commentator to quip: “It's not easy being green.”

The Muppet did not return to the party until 2002.

A Superman balloon in 1985 also had its arm ripped off when it got caught on a tree branch.

In the 1957 parade, Popeye drenched parade onlookers when rainwater from its inflated hat spilt on to crowds as the balloon swayed to the side due to wind.

And a Mighty Mouse balloon in 1956 hit a street sign and broke apart, landing on the ground.

AP contributed to this report

Real estate tokenisation project

Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.

The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.

Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.

Where to buy art books in the UAE

There are a number of speciality art bookshops in the UAE.

In Dubai, The Lighthouse at Dubai Design District has a wonderfully curated selection of art and design books. Alserkal Avenue runs a pop-up shop at their A4 space, and host the art-book fair Fully Booked during Art Week in March. The Third Line, also in Alserkal Avenue, has a strong book-publishing arm and sells copies at its gallery. Kinokuniya, at Dubai Mall, has some good offerings within its broad selection, and you never know what you will find at the House of Prose in Jumeirah. Finally, all of Gulf Photo Plus’s photo books are available for sale at their show. 

In Abu Dhabi, Louvre Abu Dhabi has a beautiful selection of catalogues and art books, and Magrudy’s – across the Emirates, but particularly at their NYU Abu Dhabi site – has a great selection in art, fiction and cultural theory.

In Sharjah, the Sharjah Art Museum sells catalogues and art books at its museum shop, and the Sharjah Art Foundation has a bookshop that offers reads on art, theory and cultural history.

Company%20profile
%3Cp%3EName%3A%20Tabby%3Cbr%3EFounded%3A%20August%202019%3B%20platform%20went%20live%20in%20February%202020%3Cbr%3EFounder%2FCEO%3A%20Hosam%20Arab%2C%20co-founder%3A%20Daniil%20Barkalov%3Cbr%3EBased%3A%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3ESector%3A%20Payments%3Cbr%3ESize%3A%2040-50%20employees%3Cbr%3EStage%3A%20Series%20A%3Cbr%3EInvestors%3A%20Arbor%20Ventures%2C%20Mubadala%20Capital%2C%20Wamda%20Capital%2C%20STV%2C%20Raed%20Ventures%2C%20Global%20Founders%20Capital%2C%20JIMCO%2C%20Global%20Ventures%2C%20Venture%20Souq%2C%20Outliers%20VC%2C%20MSA%20Capital%2C%20HOF%20and%20AB%20Accelerator.%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

Arctic Monkeys

Tranquillity Base Hotel Casino (Domino) 

 

What She Ate: Six Remarkable Women & the Food That Tells Their Stories
Laura Shapiro
Fourth Estate

The%20Roundup%20%3A%20No%20Way%20Out
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Lee%20Sang-yong%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Don%20Lee%2C%20Lee%20Jun-hyuk%2C%20Munetaka%20Aoki%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3%2F5%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
RESULTS

5pm: Maiden | Dh80,000 |  1,600m
Winner: AF Al Moreeb, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)

5.30pm: Handicap |  Dh80,000 |  1,600m
Winner: AF Makerah, Adrie de Vries, Ernst Oertel

6pm: Handicap |  Dh80,000 |  2,200m
Winner: Hazeme, Richard Mullen, Jean de Roualle

6.30pm: Handicap |  Dh85,000 |  2,200m
Winner: AF Yatroq, Brett Doyle, Ernst Oertel

7pm: Shadwell Farm for Private Owners Handicap |  Dh70,000 |  2,200m
Winner: Nawwaf KB, Patrick Cosgrave, Helal Al Alawi

7.30pm: Handicap (TB) |  Dh100,000 |  1,600m
Winner: Treasured Times, Bernardo Pinheiro, Rashed Bouresly

Children who witnessed blood bath want to help others

Aged just 11, Khulood Al Najjar’s daughter, Nora, bravely attempted to fight off Philip Spence. Her finger was injured when she put her hand in between the claw hammer and her mother’s head.

As a vital witness, she was forced to relive the ordeal by police who needed to identify the attacker and ensure he was found guilty.

Now aged 16, Nora has decided she wants to dedicate her career to helping other victims of crime.

“It was very horrible for her. She saw her mum, dying, just next to her eyes. But now she just wants to go forward,” said Khulood, speaking about how her eldest daughter was dealing with the trauma of the incident five years ago. “She is saying, 'mama, I want to be a lawyer, I want to help people achieve justice'.”

Khulood’s youngest daughter, Fatima, was seven at the time of the attack and attempted to help paramedics responding to the incident.

“Now she wants to be a maxillofacial doctor,” Khulood said. “She said to me ‘it is because a maxillofacial doctor returned your face, mama’. Now she wants to help people see themselves in the mirror again.”

Khulood’s son, Saeed, was nine in 2014 and slept through the attack. While he did not witness the trauma, this made it more difficult for him to understand what had happened. He has ambitions to become an engineer.

RESULTS

6.30pm Handicap (TB) $68,000 (Dirt) 1,200m

Winner Canvassed, Par Dobbs (jockey), Doug Watson (trainer)

7.05pm Meydan Cup – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (Turf) 2,810m

Winner Dubai Future, Frankie Dettori, Saeed bin Suroor

7.40pm UAE 2000 Guineas – Group 3 (TB) $125,000 (D) 1,600m

Winner Mouheeb, Ryan Curatolo, Nicholas Bachalard

8.15pm Firebreak Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $130,000 (D) 1,600m

Winner Secret Ambition, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar

9.50pm Meydan Classic – Conditions (TB) $$50,000 (T) 1,400m

Winner Topper Bill, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar

9.25pm Dubai Sprint – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,200m

Winner Man Of Promise, William Buick, Charlie Appleby

Company name: Farmin

Date started: March 2019

Founder: Dr Ali Al Hammadi 

Based: Abu Dhabi

Sector: AgriTech

Initial investment: None to date

Partners/Incubators: UAE Space Agency/Krypto Labs 

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

FROM%20THE%20ASHES
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Khalid%20Fahad%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Shaima%20Al%20Tayeb%2C%20Wafa%20Muhamad%2C%20Hamss%20Bandar%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
HUNGARIAN GRAND PRIX RESULT

1. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari 1:39:46.713
2. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari 00:00.908
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes-GP 00:12.462
4. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-GP 00:12.885
5. Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing 00:13.276
6. Fernando Alonso, McLaren 01:11.223
7. Carlos Sainz Jr, Toro Rosso 1 lap
8. Sergio Perez, Force India 1 lap
9. Esteban Ocon, Force India  1 lap
10. Stoffel Vandoorne, McLaren 1 lap
11. Daniil Kvyat, Toro Rosso 1 lap
12. Jolyon Palmer, Renault 1 lap
13. Kevin Magnussen, Haas 1 lap
14. Lance Stroll, Williams 1 lap
15. Pascal Wehrlein, Sauber 2 laps
16. Marcus Ericsson, Sauber 2 laps
17r. Nico Huelkenberg, Renault 3 laps
r. Paul Di Resta, Williams 10 laps
r. Romain Grosjean, Haas 50 laps
r. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull Racing 70 laps

 

Rock in a Hard Place: Music and Mayhem in the Middle East
Orlando Crowcroft
Zed Books

Champions parade (UAE timings)

7pm Gates open

8pm Deansgate stage showing starts

9pm Parade starts at Manchester Cathedral

9.45pm Parade ends at Peter Street

10pm City players on stage

11pm event ends

Updated: November 23, 2023, 1:00 AM