Holly to Bolly: Robert De Niro opens Sarajevo Film Festival, funerals held for Prince, and more



Robert De Niro opens Sarajevo Film Festival

On Friday, Robert De Niro opened the Sarajevo Film Festival, which in turn honoured the star with a lifetime achievement award. The 72-year-old actor, who has starred in more than 100 films, received the event's Heart of Sarajevo award at an open-air viewing of Taxi Driver, one of his earliest films. De Niro earned an Oscar nomination for the 1976 film, directed by Martin Scorsese. More than 200 films will be screened at the 22nd edition of the festival, which runs until August 20 in the Bosnian capital. Created as an "act of resistance" during the 1992-95 siege of Sarajevo, the festival has regularly attracted big-name guests such as Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Juliette Binoche and Jeremy Irons. Eight films will compete for the best film prize, which will be awarded by a jury led by Palestinian filmmaker Elia Suleiman. – AFP

Bon Jovi announce album without Richie Sambora

Bon Jovi have revealed that their new album – the first in the group's three-decade history without guitarist Richie Sambora – will be released on October 21. This House is Not for Sale is the 14th studio album from the New Jersey rockers and the first since the seemingly amicable departure in 2013 of lead guitarist Sambora, a long-time fixture in the group along with frontman Jon Bon Jovi. Sambora said he wanted to devote more time to his family rather than embark on another lengthy arena tour for which Bon Jovi is famous. Sambora last year told the site Ultimate Guitar Rock that his decision was also about music, as he felt "starved" for more improvisation and innovation after playing Bon Jovi's hits for so long. – AFP

New Rogue One trailer features Darth Vader

The second trailer for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story has been released, giving fans the first new – brief – footage of Darth Vader in more than a decade. The 135-second teaser also includes sweeping space-scapes, Imperial battleships, laser fire and Forest Whitaker. The highlight is a one-second cameo by Darth Vader, his back to the camera. It is the first glimpse of the character since the release of Revenge of the Sith, the third of George Lucas's prequel movies, in 2005. The first stand-alone Star Wars story, Rogue One is set just before 1977's A New Hope, the first film in the series. It stars Felicity Jones, Mads Mikkelsen and Whitaker and tells the story of the mission to steal the plans for the first Death Star. The film is due for release on December 16 in the united States. – AFP

US defense department says no to Pokemon Go

United States Department of Defense officials have ordered employees not to download Pokemon Go onto government-issued smartphones. “You can imagine a number of reasons [why] that wouldn’t necessarily be a prudent thing to do,” said Pentagon deputy press secretary Gordon Trowbridge. “Aside from any security concerns, I think taxpayers would appreciate government phones being used for government business.” Pokemon Go is an augmented-­reality app through which users hunt digitised creatures such as the furry yellow Pikachu, which have been scattered around their location. The game has become a global craze, with crowds of players dashing to locations to try to snag rare characters. Several military installations have warned troops about the possible perils of playing Pokemon Go on bases, including near runways. – AFP

Cricketer Dhoni snubs press at trailer launch

Cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni left the trailer launch of the film M S Dhoni: The Untold Story – a film based on his life story – without speaking to the media. When journalists asked director Neeraj Pandey the reason for the sportsman's quick exit, he said: "That's not my call, as you would understand, and it's not my place to answer on his behalf also. He is an individual who has his own choices. I don't know what the reason is." In a packed hall of fans and media, Dhoni did answer some questions posed by fans, but then left immediately. The film, starring Sushant Singh Rajput as the captain of the Indian cricket team, also features Anupam Kher, Bhumika Chawla, Rajesh Sharma and Kiara Advani, and is due for release in India on September 30. – IANS

Funerals held for Prince

Family members and close friends gathered at a Minneapolis church on Friday for a memorial to Prince. Another private service was held on Saturday at the musician’s Paisley Park home. A relative said the family is doing its best to preserve Prince’s image, as others have come forward with false stories about the superstar. Prince died on April 21 of an accidental drug overdose at the age of 57. A public tribute to the singer and musician is scheduled for October at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. – AP

Company%20Profile
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Results

2pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m; Winner: AF Al Baher, Bernardo Pinheiro (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer).

2.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 1,600m; Winner: Talento Puma, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.

3pm: Handicap (TB) Dh90,000 1,950m; Winner: Tailor’s Row, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.

3.30pm: Jebel Ali Stakes Listed (TB) Dh500,000 1,950m; Winner: Mark Of Approval, Patrick Cosgrave, Mahmood Hussain.

4pm: Conditions (TB) Dh125,000 1,400m; Winner: Dead-heat Raakez, Jim Crowley, Nicholas Bachalard/Attribution, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.

4.30pm: Jebel Ali Sprint (TB) Dh500,000 1,000m; Winner: AlKaraama, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi.

5pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 1,200m; Winner: Wafy, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.

5.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh90,000 1,400m; Winner: Cachao, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.

Jumanji: The Next Level

Director: Jake Kasdan

Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, Jack Black, Nick Jonas 

Two out of five stars 

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Airev
Started: September 2023
Founder: Muhammad Khalid
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: Generative AI
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
 
Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENamara%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJune%202022%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMohammed%20Alnamara%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMicrofinance%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E16%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeries%20A%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFamily%20offices%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
SPECS

Engine: Two-litre four-cylinder turbo
Power: 235hp
Torque: 350Nm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Price: From Dh167,500 ($45,000)
On sale: Now

Credit Score explained

What is a credit score?

In the UAE your credit score is a number generated by the Al Etihad Credit Bureau (AECB), which represents your credit worthiness – in other words, your risk of defaulting on any debt repayments. In this country, the number is between 300 and 900. A low score indicates a higher risk of default, while a high score indicates you are a lower risk.

Why is it important?

Financial institutions will use it to decide whether or not you are a credit risk. Those with better scores may also receive preferential interest rates or terms on products such as loans, credit cards and mortgages.

How is it calculated?

The AECB collects information on your payment behaviour from banks as well as utilitiy and telecoms providers.

How can I improve my score?

By paying your bills on time and not missing any repayments, particularly your loan, credit card and mortgage payments. It is also wise to limit the number of credit card and loan applications you make and to reduce your outstanding balances.

How do I know if my score is low or high?

By checking it. Visit one of AECB’s Customer Happiness Centres with an original and valid Emirates ID, passport copy and valid email address. Liv. customers can also access the score directly from the banking app.

How much does it cost?

A credit report costs Dh100 while a report with the score included costs Dh150. Those only wanting the credit score pay Dh60. VAT is payable on top.

The Transfiguration

Director: Michael O’Shea

Starring: Eric Ruffin, Chloe Levine

Three stars

Rajasthan Royals 153-5 (17.5 ov)
Delhi Daredevils 60-4 (6 ov)

Rajasthan won by 10 runs (D/L method)

Moon Music

Artist: Coldplay

Label: Parlophone/Atlantic

Number of tracks: 10

Rating: 3/5

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
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Five%20calorie-packed%20Ramadan%20drinks
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Sui Dhaaga: Made in India

Director: Sharat Katariya

Starring: Varun Dhawan, Anushka Sharma, Raghubir Yadav

3.5/5

Indoor cricket in a nutshell

Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sept 16-20, Insportz, Dubai

16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership

Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.

Zones

A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full

From Europe to the Middle East, economic success brings wealth - and lifestyle diseases

A rise in obesity figures and the need for more public spending is a familiar trend in the developing world as western lifestyles are adopted.

One in five deaths around the world is now caused by bad diet, with obesity the fastest growing global risk. A high body mass index is also the top cause of metabolic diseases relating to death and disability in Kuwait,  Qatar and Oman – and second on the list in Bahrain.

In Britain, heart disease, lung cancer and Alzheimer’s remain among the leading causes of death, and people there are spending more time suffering from health problems.

The UK is expected to spend $421.4 billion on healthcare by 2040, up from $239.3 billion in 2014.

And development assistance for health is talking about the financial aid given to governments to support social, environmental development of developing countries.

 

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.

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

The Bio

Favourite vegetable: “I really like the taste of the beetroot, the potatoes and the eggplant we are producing.”

Holiday destination: “I like Paris very much, it’s a city very close to my heart.”

Book: “Das Kapital, by Karl Marx. I am not a communist, but there are a lot of lessons for the capitalist system, if you let it get out of control, and humanity.”

Musician: “I like very much Fairuz, the Lebanese singer, and the other is Umm Kulthum. Fairuz is for listening to in the morning, Umm Kulthum for the night.”

COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Joker: Folie a Deux

Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson

Director: Todd Phillips 

Rating: 2/5

The specs
 
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)