It may be more than a month away, but the Dubai International Film Festival is already giving us some tasters of the schedule. Several titles from the event's Muhr Asia/Africa section have now been revealed, including a look into one of the world's most secretive film industries with The Great North Korean Picture Show, the Danish-Afghan documentary My Afghanistan: Life in the Forbidden Zone, the Turkish refugee drama Your Beauty is Worth Nothing and the Iranian road movie Taboor. The Filipino filmmaker Brillante Mendoza, who won the Muhr Best Film Award in 2009 for Lola, returns with Thy Womb, about a childless couple determined to have a child. - The National staff
Lucas plans 'little personal films' in future
George Lucas is done with Star Wars, but not with filmmaking. The Star Wars creator says he still plans to make his "own little personal films". In an interview days after announcing the sale of his storied Lucasfilm to Disney, Lucas admitted mixed emotions about letting the studio go. "It's very sad. It's 40 years of work and it's been my life, but I'm ready to move on to bigger and better things." Among them are his educational foundation, which will be a major beneficiary of the money he got for Lucasfilm. "Mostly it will be philanthropy but I'm also going to make my own little personal films," he said. While Lucas will be a creative consultant on the forthcoming Star Wars films, his longtime collaborator Kathleen Kennedy will be in control. When asked if he'd have a hand in picking a director for the films, he said: "I've turned it over to a wonderful producer, Kathy Kennedy, and I've known her for years. She's more than capable of taking it and making it better than I did." - AP
Jude Law set for Middle East biopic role
Jude Law has reportedly signed on for Queen of the Desert, Werner Herzog's long-in-development biopic of the British explorer and spy Gertrude Bell. Described as the female Lawrence of Arabia, Bell played a key role in the dismantling of the Ottoman Empire. Naomi Watts is on board to play Bell, while Robert Pattinson is set to play TE Lawrence in the film, which The Hollywood Reporter says is scheduled to begin filming in March in Morocco. Ridley Scott was thought to also have been planning his own biopic with Angelina Jolie, but was beaten to the punch by Herzog.
No Doubt apologise for Wild West video
No Doubt were forced to remove a new Wild West-themed music video and issue an apology after getting complaints from the Native American community. The southern California band, led by Gwen Stefani, posted an apology on their website following the Saturday release of their latest video for the single Looking Hot. "As a multiracial band our foundation is built upon both diversity and consideration for other cultures. Our intention with our new video was never to offend, hurt or trivialise Native American people," the band said. The video featured Stefani dressed in tribal garments as a Native Indian princess captured by her band mates dressed as cowboys. Some users took to social media platforms to criticise the band's use of tribal imagery. No Doubt added: "Being hurtful to anyone is simply not who we are." - Reuters
TV return planned for Boy Meets World
The Disney Channel is in the early stages of bringing the hit 1990s comedy Boy Meets World back to television screens. The original show ran on ABC from 1993 to 2000 and centred on the lessons learnt by Cory Matthews as he went through life. The series ended with Cory marrying his sweetheart Topanga. The Hollywood Reporter says the executive producer Michael Jacobs, who was behind the original ABC comedy, is developing a new show that features the daughter of Cory and Topanga. It's not known whether the original cast members - who included Ben Savage, Danielle Fishel and Rider Strong - will reprise their roles.
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
THE SPECS
Jaguar F-Pace SVR
Engine: 5-litre supercharged V8
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Power: 542bhp
Torque: 680Nm
Price: Dh465,071
What is a rare disease?
A rare disease is classified as one that affects a small percentage of the population. More than 7,000 diseases are identified as rare and most are genetic in origin. More than 75 per cent of rare genetic diseases affect children.
Collectively rare diseases affect 1 in 17 people, or more than 400 million people worldwide. Very few have any available treatment and most patients struggle with numerous health challenges and life-long ailments that can go undiagnosed for years due to lack of awareness or testing.
Lampedusa: Gateway to Europe
Pietro Bartolo and Lidia Tilotta
Quercus
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
IF YOU GO
The flights
FlyDubai flies direct from Dubai to Skopje in five hours from Dh1,314 return including taxes. Hourly buses from Skopje to Ohrid take three hours.
The tours
English-speaking guided tours of Ohrid town and the surrounding area are organised by Cultura 365; these cost €90 (Dh386) for a one-day trip including driver and guide and €100 a day (Dh429) for two people.
The hotels
Villa St Sofija in the old town of Ohrid, twin room from $54 (Dh198) a night.
St Naum Monastery, on the lake 30km south of Ohrid town, has updated its pilgrims' quarters into a modern 3-star hotel, with rooms overlooking the monastery courtyard and lake. Double room from $60 (Dh 220) a night.
Guns N’ Roses’s last gig before Abu Dhabi was in Hong Kong on November 21. We were there – and here’s what they played, and in what order. You were warned.
- It’s So Easy
- Mr Brownstone
- Chinese Democracy
- Welcome to the Jungle
- Double Talkin’ Jive
- Better
- Estranged
- Live and Let Die (Wings cover)
- Slither (Velvet Revolver cover)
- Rocket Queen
- You Could Be Mine
- Shadow of Your Love
- Attitude (Misfits cover)
- Civil War
- Coma
- Love Theme from The Godfather (movie cover)
- Sweet Child O’ Mine
- Wichita Lineman (Jimmy Webb cover)
- Wish You Were Here (instrumental Pink Floyd cover)
- November Rain
- Black Hole Sun (Soundgarden cover)
- Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Bob Dylan cover)
- Nightrain
Encore:
- Patience
- Don’t Cry
- The Seeker (The Who cover)
- Paradise City
Business Insights
- Canada and Mexico are significant energy suppliers to the US, providing the majority of oil and natural gas imports
- The introduction of tariffs could hinder the US's clean energy initiatives by raising input costs for materials like nickel
- US domestic suppliers might benefit from higher prices, but overall oil consumption is expected to decrease due to elevated costs
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The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 154bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option
Price: From Dh79,600
On sale: Now
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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City's slump
L - Juventus, 2-0
D - C Palace, 2-2
W - N Forest, 3-0
L - Liverpool, 2-0
D - Feyenoord, 3-3
L - Tottenham, 4-0
L - Brighton, 2-1
L - Sporting, 4-1
L - Bournemouth, 2-1
L - Tottenham, 2-1
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo hybrid
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 390bhp
Torque: 400Nm
Price: Dh340,000 ($92,579
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
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RESULTS
6.30pm: Meydan Sprint Group 2 US$175,000 1,000m
Winner: Ertijaal, Jim Crowley (jockey), Ali Rashid Al Raihe (trainer)
7.05pm: Handicap $60,000 1,400m
Winner: Secret Ambition, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
7.40pm: Handicap $160,000 1,400m
Winner: Raven’s Corner, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
8.15pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes Group 3 $200,000 2,000m
Winner: Folkswood, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
8.50pm: Zabeel Mile Group 2 $250,000 1,600m
Winner: Janoobi, Jim Crowley, Mike de Kock
9.25pm: Handicap $125,000 1,600m
Winner: Capezzano, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer
Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
Company%20Profile
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Business Insights
- As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses.
- SMEs with revenue below Dh3 million per annum can opt for transitional relief until 2026, treating them as having no taxable income.
- Larger entities have specific provisions for asset and liability movements, business restructuring, and handling foreign permanent establishments.
Tips for SMEs to cope
- Adapt your business model. Make changes that are future-proof to the new normal
- Make sure you have an online presence
- Open communication with suppliers, especially if they are international. Look for local suppliers to avoid delivery delays
- Open communication with customers to see how they are coping and be flexible about extending terms, etc
Courtesy: Craig Moore, founder and CEO of Beehive, which provides term finance and working capital finance to SMEs. Only SMEs that have been trading for two years are eligible for funding from Beehive.
