Dubai-based comedian Nitin Mirani has reached the final of The World's Funniest Person competition, a contest that hopes to sow the seeds of world peace through stand-up comedy. The Indian comic performed in the semi-final on Monday with nine other comedians at renowned comedy club The Laugh Factory in Hollywood. Following an online vote, the top five progressed to the final in Las Vegas tomorrow – United Nations Day – and Mirani made it through in fifth place. Read our interview with Mirani at www.thenational.ae/arts-lifestyle. Catch the live webcast of the final tomorrow at www.laughfactory.com. – The National staff
Comic arts award-winner
Fatima Al Muhairi, a graduate of the Cartoon Network Animation Academy in Abu Dhabi, has won the first Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (Admaf) Comic Arts Award. Her winning graphic novel, Mary and Me, tells the story of a young girl's relationship with her mum, dad and nanny. Part of Admaf's Rewarding Excellence programme, the award aims to raise awareness of the power of the comic arts as a tool for self-expression, creativity and cultural awareness. The shortlisted entries for the award, open to UAE citizens over the age of 18, had been displayed at the Mubadala Youth Forum. The prize includes an all-expenses-paid trip to attend a course at the New York Film Academy 3-D Animation School. The winning work will also be entered into the USA Society of Illustrators Comic and Cartoon Art Annual next year. – The National staff
Rudimental to Play the capital
After rocking the beach in Dubai at Sandance this month, Rudimental are set to make the journey to Abu Dhabi to headline a weekend of Formula 1 after-parties at the Yas Viceroy. There will be events at the Podium Lounge on the Marina Wing rooftop each night from Thursday, November 20, until Sunday, November 23, with the Brit Award-winners headlining on Sunday. Smokingroove and DJ Patrick Oliver will headline on Thursday, electronica outfit Sister Bliss on Friday, and Grammy Award-winning dance-music duo Dirty Vegas on Saturday. Ticket prices start at Dh350, available at www.podiumlounge.com/ae; you can also book by e-mailing vip@podiumlounge.com or calling 055 309 5495. – The National staff
Argentina wants BBC apology
Argentina's ambassador to Britain has demanded an apology from the BBC over a controversial trip by the motoring show Top Gear to the South American country last month. The presenters and crew had to flee last month after they faced violent protests, during which rocks were thrown at them, for driving a car with licence plate H982 FKL – interpreted by some as an insulting reference to Argentina's 1982 war with Britain over the disputed Falkland Islands. The BBC insists the licence plate was a coincidence. The Argentine embassy in London said ambassador Alicia Castro had complained to the BBC about Clarkson's "provocative behaviour and offensive remarks toward the government and the Argentine people" and called for an apology. The BBC said it would follow its usual complaint procedures. In 2011, the BBC apologised to Mexico after Clarkson and his co-hosts characterised Mexicans as lazy and oafish. This year Clarkson issued a grovelling apology after he was apparently caught on camera using the racist n-word during filming for the show. – AP
Elvis snapper dead at 85
Alfred Wertheimer, the photographer whose portraits of Elvis Presley documented the birth of a music legend, has died at the age of 85. Wertheimer was 26 when he was assigned to photograph the unknown 21-year-old singer. He travelled with Elvis from New York to Memphis by train and produced a series of now-famous black and white portraits that have been the subject of exhibits at the Smithsonian Institution and the Grammy Museum. “There has been no other photographer that Elvis ever allowed to get as up close and personal in his life through photos as he did with Alfred,” said Elvis’s former wife, Priscilla Presley. “I’m deeply saddened by the death of Alfred Wertheimer. He was a dear friend and special soul. I feel he was a gift for all who knew him, especially, Elvis Presley.” Wertheimer died of natural causes on Sunday at his New York apartment. – AP
Breaking Bad dolls withdrawn
Toys R Us is removing four collectable dolls based on the characters of AMC's hit series Breaking Bad from the shelves of it's stores in the US after a mother in Florida launched a petition protest last week. The dolls are based on the series about high-school chemistry teacher Walter White who becomes a drug dealer with his former pupil, Jesse Pinkman. The toys comes with accessories such as a bag of cash and a bag of drugs. Toys R Us said the dolls were being removed immediately from its website and stores. "Let's just say, the action figures have taken an indefinite sabbatical," the company said. The retailer said the figures were sold in limited quantities in the adult action-figure area of its stores. Susan Schrivjer had launched a petition on change.org last week, calling for the dolls to be removed from stores. On Monday, Bryan Cranston, the award-winning actor who plays White, responded to the controversy, tweeting, "I'm so mad. I am burning my Florida mom action figure in protest." – AP