Musician Sami Yusuf will make his Dubai debut at Dubai Opera on December 16, with a concert that will premiere a special song called Glorification, inspired by the poetry of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, the Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Now on his eighth album, Barakah, Yusuf has sold more than 34 million albums in the past 15 years. The musician and singer said: "I am so delighted to be performing my very first concert in Dubai and even more so at the beautiful and prestigious Dubai Opera. Dubai in many ways represents the philosophy of my music, Spiritique, that of bringing together people in celebration of our shared values, free from discrimination and prejudice. I am honoured to have this opportunity to unveil a new musical composition based on the poetry of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid. I look forward to seeing you at the concert on December 16 and at the rehearsal the day before for those who choose the special 'add on' option when buying tickets." For ticket details, including the behind-the-scenes 'add-on' option, visit www.dubaiopera.com – The National staff
Justin Timberlake in vote selfie row
Pop star Justin Timberlake found himself in hot water after taking a selfie in a voting booth while choosing who he wants to be the next president of the United States. Authorities in the star's home state of Tennessee have denied earlier reports Timberlake is under official investigation. "The statement released earlier today by my office regarding Justin Timberlake and an investigation was incorrect and was released without my knowledge," Shelby County District Attorney General Amy Weirich said. – Reuters
Jaya Bachchan mourns art of Indian film making
Veteran actress Jaya Bachchan says there was a time when Indian filmmakers used to create art, but now films are more about numbers and the business. Bachchan compared the content of Indian films made in the 1950s and 1960s to the ones created now, while praising Bimal Roy at a session on the legendary director at the Jio MAMI 18th Mumbai Film Festival on Tuesday. "Filmmakers at that time, created art. Today, it's a business and all about numbers. Everything is thrown at our face. People have forgotten subtlety. Open display of affection is considered smart.. Now, it's about big collections at the box office, Rs100 crore films, first weekend collection ... it's all Greek to me," said the 68-year-old actress, known for films such as Guddi, Abhimaan and Silsila. She added that most characters in current Indian films seem to be inspired by the West. "I don't know why. Maybe, they are richer countries and are considered more progressive. But I think the Indian mind is very progressive," she added. – IANS
Meryl Streep joins Japanese prime minister at Tokyo Film Fest launch
Oscar winning actress Meryl Streep joined the star-struck Japanese prime minster Shinzo Abe on the red carpet on Tuesday as the 29th Tokyo International Film Festival got under way. "This red carpet is a lot more exciting than the red carpet at the parliament building," said Abe, who admitted to having watched many of Streep's films. "I'm feeling very excited, and it's sinking in that the Tokyo International Film Festival has finally kicked off." The prime minister added, perhaps predictably, that he particularly enjoyed Streep's portrayal of British prime minister Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady, a film which he claimed "left a very deep impression on me", and for which Streep won the Academy Award for Best Actress in 2012. – Reuters
Hugh Laurie receives star on the Walk of Fame
British actor Hugh Laurie, best known outside the United Kingdom for playing a cantankerous doctor in the television series House, was give a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame this week. Laurie, 57, was well-known in Britain in the late 1980s for his role in the comedy series Blackadder and A Bit of Fry and Laurie with his friend and former comedy partner Stephen Fry. He crossed the Atlantic in 2004 to play Gregory House in what ended up being an eight-year series on Fox TV, twice winning the Golden Globe award for best actor in a TV drama. "I have lost count of the number of times, the number of young people I've met who are either studying or practising medicine because they saw House," Laurie said at the ceremony in Los Angeles. "There are physicians today saving lives, delivering babies and lancing boils because their imagination was ignited by stories and ideas and possibilities that they might not otherwise have considered," he added. Laurie currently stars in Hulu's thriller TV series Chance, in which he plays a forensic neuropsychiatrist. Fry, who met Laurie while studying at the University of Cambridge in England, poked fun at his friend during the ceremony. "It is the tradition in this marvellous town to reward stars by bringing them down to earth, so far down to earth that now Hugh will spend eternity having chewing gum and dog poo trodden into him and very likely worse," Fry told the crowd. "The world was at its feet and now the world's feet are at him," he added. — Reuters
Sean the Sheep sequel announced
Fans of the woolly animation Sean the Sheep will be pleased to hear that creators Aardmon Animation have announced plans for a sequel.
Going under the imaginative working title of Shaun The Sheep Movie 2, the sequel will reunite director Richard Starzak and producer Paul Kewley, who's previous film was nominated for an Oscar. No story details were released, but audiences will no doubt flock to cinemas to catch Sean and co's latest adventures. "Shaun's move to the big screen proved such a success with audiences around the world that he and the flock are very excited to be embarking on another big screen adventure," Aardman co-founder and executive chairman David Sproxton told Empire. "Aardman is partnering with StudioCanal once again to produce another rip-roaring comedy, featuring Shaun and the rest of the gang in a story that takes them to even greater heights of lunacy." This is just the latest co-production between the two companies, which will next bring us Nick Park's latest, Early Man, due in January 2018 and featuring the voices of Eddie Redmayne and Tom Hiddleston. – The National staff