Keane's lead singer Tom Chaplin says Michael Jackson's influence on pop music will survive his death.
Keane's lead singer Tom Chaplin says Michael Jackson's influence on pop music will survive his death.

Countdown to Keane's Dubai gig



DUBAI // The British chart-topping band Keane today spoke of their sorrow at learning of the death of Michael Jackson, the day after a lavish memorial service was held for the pop icon in Los Angeles. The award-winning trio, who play their debut gig in the UAE tonight, told of how Jackson had been a powerful musical influence and how they were still mourning his loss. "We are still pretty upset about [the death]," said the band's songwriter Tim Rice-Oxley at a press conference ahead of the sell-out gig at the Madinat Arena. "Growing up in the 1980s, he was a real influence. He was probably one of the reasons we got into pop music in the first place." The lead singer Tom Chaplin added: "He's one of the few people who is going to be influencing music for about as long as pop music exists.

"Some one with that kind of talent and influence; it's such a sad thing that a human life should end like that. "When I was a kid, I wanted to be Michael Jackson. I used to practise the dances in front of the mirror." Rice-Oxley said the band, who are currently on a world tour promoting their third studio album, Perfect Symmetry, said they were told of the musician's death while in Sweden about to perform a concert. Chaplin said they were currently recording tracks during free time between concert dates and hoped to release a "mini-album" later in the year. This is the group's first visit to the Middle East and earlier this week Keane played a gig in Beirut.

They earned their reputation on the back of soft rock piano-led ballads such as 'Everybody's Changing', 'Somewhere Only We Know' and 'Is It Any Wonder'. The band, which also features Richard Hughes on drums, won international acclaim for their first album Hopes and Fears in 2004, and their second, darker album Under the Iron Sea. chamilton@thenational.ae

Types of bank fraud

1) Phishing

Fraudsters send an unsolicited email that appears to be from a financial institution or online retailer. The hoax email requests that you provide sensitive information, often by clicking on to a link leading to a fake website.

2) Smishing

The SMS equivalent of phishing. Fraudsters falsify the telephone number through “text spoofing,” so that it appears to be a genuine text from the bank.

3) Vishing

The telephone equivalent of phishing and smishing. Fraudsters may pose as bank staff, police or government officials. They may persuade the consumer to transfer money or divulge personal information.

4) SIM swap

Fraudsters duplicate the SIM of your mobile number without your knowledge or authorisation, allowing them to conduct financial transactions with your bank.

5) Identity theft

Someone illegally obtains your confidential information, through various ways, such as theft of your wallet, bank and utility bill statements, computer intrusion and social networks.

6) Prize scams

Fraudsters claiming to be authorised representatives from well-known organisations (such as Etisalat, du, Dubai Shopping Festival, Expo2020, Lulu Hypermarket etc) contact victims to tell them they have won a cash prize and request them to share confidential banking details to transfer the prize money.

Europe’s rearming plan
  • Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
  • Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
  • Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
  • Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
  • Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital