A bevvy of new content is making its way to streaming sites in the coming weeks and months, with titles that include major literary adaptions, such as Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca and The Devil All the Time, which will both be on Netflix, and a new humbling reality TV venture from Kim Kardashian West.
Below, we take a closer look at the big-name titles to watch out for on streaming sites in the near future ...
'Class of '83'
UAE release: Friday, August 21, on Netflix
Starring: Bobby Deol, Vishwajeet Pradhan, Anup Soni
This Netflix Original film depicts the struggles of the Mumbai's Police Training Centre's graduating class, as they try to quash corrupt bureaucracy and gangs in the city.
'The One and Only Ivan'
UAE release: Saturday, August 22, on OSN Streaming
Starring: Sam Rockwell, Bryan Cranston, Angelina Jolie
A Disney+ movie coming to OSN Streaming, The One and Only Ivan is the touching story of a gorilla named Ivan, who has been raised in captivity. Along with an elephant named Stella, he hatches a plan to escape.
________________
Read more:
Prices to top picks: your guide to online video streaming in the UAE
From 'The Gray Man' to 'The Irishman': the six most expensive Netflix films to date
Amazon Prime Video to globally premiere seven Indian films as theatres remain closed
________________
'Kim Kardashian West: The Justice Project'
UAE release: Thursday, August 27, on Starzplay (tentative)
Starring: Kim Kardashian West, Mark Wahlberg, Ice-T
This TV film details reality TV star-turned-trainee lawyer Kim Kardashian West's efforts to secure freedom for Americans who she believes have been wronged by the justice system. Kardashian West revealed that she was reading law in April 2019. She aims to pass the bar exam in 2022.
'Masaba Masaba'
UAE release: Friday, August 28, on Netflix
Starring: Masaba Gupta, Neena Gupta, Neil Bhoopalam
A comedy series starring fashion designer Masaba Gupta, founder of House of Masaba, it portrays Gupta's unique background, the diverse worlds she straddles across fashion and family, and her foray back into the dating world.
'Away'
UAE release: Friday, September 4, on Netflix
Starring: Hilary Swank, Ato Essandoh, Josh Charles
The series stars Swank as Emma Green, an American astronaut who struggles with leaving her husband and daughter behind to embark on a dangerous three-year mission with an international space crew.
'Surviving Jeffrey Epstein'
UAE release: From Tuesday, September 8, on OSN Streaming
Lifetime's four-episode mini-series gives eight victims of convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein the chance to tell their story. The series includes the July 2020 FBI arrest of British socialite and alleged Epstein co-conspirator, Ghislaine Maxwell. The first two episodes will be released on Tuesday, September 8, followed by the final two on Tuesday, September 15.
'The Devil All the Time'
UAE release: Wednesday, September 16, on Netflix
Starring: Robert Pattinson, Tom Holland, Sebastian Stan
This Netflix Original is one of the most anticipated of 2020. The sinister psychological thriller is based on the novel of the same name by Donald Ray Pollock. The film centres around a young man devoted to protecting those he loves, in a small town teeming with corruption and brutality.
'Enola Holmes'
UAE release: Wednesday, September 23, on Netflix
Starring: Millie Bobby Brown, Henry Cavill, Helena Bonham Carter, Sam Claflin
Another Netflix book adaption, Enola Holmes is an upcoming mystery film based on the series of the same name by Nancy Springer. The story centres on the titular Enola, the teen sister of Sherlock Holmes (Cavill), who sets off on a mission to find her mother when she goes missing, outwitting her super-sleuth brother along the way.
'The Trial of the Chicago 7'
UAE release: Friday, October 16, on Netflix
Starring: Eddie Redmayne, Alex Sharp, Sacha Baron Cohen
The story of seven people on trial stemming from various charges surrounding the uprising at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois.
What was intended to be a peaceful protest at the 1968 Democratic National Convention turned into a violent clash with police and the National Guard. The organisers of the protest – including Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, Tom Hayden and Bobby Seale – were charged with conspiracy to incite a riot and the trial that followed was one of the most notorious in history.
'Rebecca'
UAE release: Wednesday, October 21, on Netflix
Starring: Lily James, Armie Hammer, Keeley Hawes, Kristin Scott Thomas
Anyone who has read the 1938 Gothic novel by Daphne du Maurier will be rushing to stream the film adaption of Rebecca the day it lands on the site. It stars James as Mrs de Winter, a young woman who marries a wealthy widower, Maxim de Winter (Hammer). She quickly finds that she is living in the shadow of his first wife, the titular Rebecca. Rebecca has been adapted a number of times, most notably by Alfred Hitchcock in a 1940 movie version, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture; the film starred Joan Fontaine as Mrs de Winter and Laurence Olivier as Maxim.
'Abla Fahita'
UAE release: TBC, on Netflix
The exact release date of the popular Arabic series Abla Fahita is yet to be confirmed, but Netflix has said it will be out in 2020. The comedy puppet's new show will "shed light on the human side of Abla Fahita in a social comedy-drama full of thrill", says the streaming service in a statement.
All about the Sevens
Cape Town Sevens on Saturday and Sunday: Pools A – South Africa, Kenya, France, Russia; B – New Zealand, Australia, Spain, United States; C – England, Scotland, Argentina, Uganda; D – Fiji, Samoa, Canada, Wales
HSBC World Sevens Series standing after first leg in Dubai 1 South Africa; 2 New Zealand; 3 England; 4 Fiji; 5 Australia; 6 Samoa; 7 Kenya; 8 Scotland; 9 France; 10 Spain; 11 Argentina; 12 Canada; 13 Wales; 14 Uganda; 15 United States; 16 Russia
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.”
THE LOWDOWN
Romeo Akbar Walter
Rating: 2/5 stars
Produced by: Dharma Productions, Azure Entertainment
Directed by: Robby Grewal
Cast: John Abraham, Mouni Roy, Jackie Shroff and Sikandar Kher
Profile of Tamatem
Date started: March 2013
Founder: Hussam Hammo
Based: Amman, Jordan
Employees: 55
Funding: $6m
Funders: Wamda Capital, Modern Electronics (part of Al Falaisah Group) and North Base Media
Spec%20sheet
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDisplay%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204.7%22%20Retina%20HD%2C%201334%20x%20750%2C%20625%20nits%2C%201400%3A1%2C%20True%20Tone%2C%20P3%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EChip%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Apple%20A15%20Bionic%2C%206-core%20CPU%2C%204-core%20GPU%2C%2016-core%20Neural%20Engine%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECamera%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2012MP%2C%20f%2F1.8%2C%205x%20digital%20zoom%2C%20Smart%20HDR%2C%20Deep%20Fusion%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EVideo%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204K%2B%40%2024%2F30%2F60fps%2C%20full%20HD%2B%40%2030%2F60fps%2C%20HD%2B%40%2030%20fps%3Cstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EFront%20camera%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E7MP%2C%20f%2F2.2%2C%20Smart%20HDR%2C%20Deep%20Fusion%3B%20HD%20video%2B%40%2030fps%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBattery%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Up%20to%2015%20hours%20video%2C%2050%20hours%20audio%3B%2050%25%20fast%20charge%20in%2030%20minutes%20with%2020W%20charger%3B%20wireless%20charging%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBiometrics%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Touch%20ID%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EDurability%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20IP67%2C%20dust%2C%20water%20resistant%20up%20to%201m%20for%2030%20minutes%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh1%2C849%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
EU Russia
The EU imports 90 per cent of the natural gas used to generate electricity, heat homes and supply industry, with Russia supplying almost 40 per cent of EU gas and a quarter of its oil.
Results:
CSIL 2-star 145cm One Round with Jump-Off
1. Alice Debany Clero (USA) on Amareusa S 38.83 seconds
2. Anikka Sande (NOR) For Cash 2 39.09
3. Georgia Tame (GBR) Cash Up 39.42
4. Nadia Taryam (UAE) Askaria 3 39.63
5. Miriam Schneider (GER) Fidelius G 47.74
Five%20calorie-packed%20Ramadan%20drinks
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERooh%20Afza%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E100ml%20contains%20414%20calories%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETang%20orange%20drink%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E100ml%20serving%20contains%20300%20calories%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECarob%20beverage%20mix%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E100ml%20serving%20contains%20about%20300%20calories%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EQamar%20Al%20Din%20apricot%20drink%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E100ml%20saving%20contains%2061%20calories%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EVimto%20fruit%20squash%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E100ml%20serving%20contains%2030%20calories%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Mobile phone packages comparison
