Billie Eilish attends the Brit Awards at The O2 Arena in February 2020 in London, England. Getty Images
Billie Eilish attends the Brit Awards at The O2 Arena in February 2020 in London, England. Getty Images
Billie Eilish attends the Brit Awards at The O2 Arena in February 2020 in London, England. Getty Images
Billie Eilish attends the Brit Awards at The O2 Arena in February 2020 in London, England. Getty Images

Brit music awards to host audience of 4,000 in UK pilot event


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About 4,000 people will attend the Brit Awards next month, in what organisers of Britain's pop music honours said would be the first major indoor music event with a live audience as the country emerges from Covid-19 lockdown.

The ceremony will be held on May 11 at London's O2 Arena and will form part of the UK government's Events Research Programme, looking at whether major events can take place in closed environments without social distancing.

This has been a long tough year for everyone and I'm delighted the night will honour the key worker heroes who have cared for us so well

This means audience members, of which 2,500 will be key workers who will be gifted tickets, will not have to wear face masks inside the arena, but will have to provide proof of a negative lateral flow test result to enter the venue.

They will also have to take a test after the ceremony and provide contact details as part of the country's Covid test and trace system.

"This has been a long tough year for everyone and I'm delighted the night will honour the key worker heroes who have cared for us so well during that time and continue to do so," said singer Dua Lipa, who is nominated for four awards.

"They are quite simply an inspiration. The Brit Awards are always special and this will truly make it a night to remember."

Lipa is among several singers who will perform at the event, the first live music show at the O2 in more than a year.

Like elsewhere, the Covid-19 pandemic shut down music events with live audiences in Britain. Under Prime Minister Boris Johnson's phased roadmap out of lockdown, entertainment venues can reopen their doors next month.

British singer Dua Lipa is nominated for four Brit Awards at the 2021 ceremony. AP Photo
British singer Dua Lipa is nominated for four Brit Awards at the 2021 ceremony. AP Photo

"Not only will we be celebrating the brilliant music and artists that have helped us through the pandemic, but we hope it will provide a path for the return of live music that fans and artists have so sorely missed," said Geoff Taylor, chief executive of the British Phonographic Industry and the Brits.

"We're buzzing about the show and working closely with government, the O2 and all our partners to ensure all safety measures and guidelines are adhered to."

Full list of Brit Awards 2021 nominees:

Album of the Year:

Arlo Parks, Collapsed in Sunbeams
Celeste, Not Your Muse
Dua Lipa, Future Nostalgia
J Hus, Big Conspiracy
Jessie Ware, What's Your Pleasure?

Female Solo Artist of the Year:

Arlo Parks
Celeste
Dua Lipa
Jessie Ware
Lianne La Havas

Male Solo Artist of the Year:

AJ Tracey
Headie One
J Hus
Joel Corry
Yungblud

British artist Yungblud is nominated for Male Solo Artist of the Year. Getty Images
British artist Yungblud is nominated for Male Solo Artist of the Year. Getty Images

British Group of the Year:

Bicep
Biffy Clyro
Little Mix
The 1975
Young T & Bugsey

British Single of the Year:

220 Kid & Gracey, Don't Need Love
Aitch & AJ Tracey featuring Tay Keith, Rain
Dua Lipa, Physical
Harry Styles, Watermelon Sugar
Headie One featuring AJ Tracey & Stormzy, Ain't It Different
Joel Corry featuring MNEK, Head & Heart
Nathan Dawe featuring KSI, Lighter
Regard & Raye, Secrets
S1MBA featuring DTG, Rover
Young T & Bugsey featuring Headie One, Don't Rush

Breakthrough Artist of the Year:

Arlo Parks
Bicep
Celeste
Joel Corry
Young T & Bugsey

Brits Rising Star:

Griff Warner (Winner)
Pa Salieu
Rina Sawayama

International Female Solo Artist of the Year:

Ariana Grande
Billie Eilish
Cardi B
Miley Cyrus
Taylor Swift

International Male Solo Artist of the Year:

Bruce Springsteen
Burna Boy
Childish Gambino
Tame Impala
The Weeknd

International Group of the Year:

BTS
Fontaines DC
Foo Fighters
Haim
Run The Jewels

Other workplace saving schemes
  • The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
  • Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
  • National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
  • In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
  • Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
Five expert hiking tips
    Always check the weather forecast before setting off Make sure you have plenty of water Set off early to avoid sudden weather changes in the afternoon Wear appropriate clothing and footwear Take your litter home with you
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Leaderboard

63 - Mike Lorenzo-Vera (FRA)

64 - Rory McIlroy (NIR)

66 - Jon Rahm (ESP)

67 - Tom Lewis (ENG), Tommy Fleetwood (ENG)

68 - Rafael Cabrera-Bello (ESP), Marcus Kinhult (SWE)

69 - Justin Rose (ENG), Thomas Detry (BEL), Francesco Molinari (ITA), Danny Willett (ENG), Li Haotong (CHN), Matthias Schwab (AUT)

Skewed figures

In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458. 

The specs

Engine 60kwh FWD

Battery Rimac 120kwh Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (LiNiMnCoO2) chemistry

Power 204hp Torque 360Nm

Price, base / as tested Dh174,500 

MATCH INFO

BRIGHTON 0

MANCHESTER UNITED 3

McTominay 44'

Mata 73'

Pogba 80'

EA Sports FC 26

Publisher: EA Sports

Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S

Rating: 3/5

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Which honey takes your fancy?

Al Ghaf Honey

The Al Ghaf tree is a local desert tree which bears the harsh summers with drought and high temperatures. From the rich flowers, bees that pollinate this tree can produce delicious red colour honey in June and July each year

Sidr Honey

The Sidr tree is an evergreen tree with long and strong forked branches. The blossom from this tree is called Yabyab, which provides rich food for bees to produce honey in October and November. This honey is the most expensive, but tastiest

Samar Honey

The Samar tree trunk, leaves and blossom contains Barm which is the secret of healing. You can enjoy the best types of honey from this tree every year in May and June. It is an historical witness to the life of the Emirati nation which represents the harsh desert and mountain environments

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Match info

Karnataka Tuskers 110-3

J Charles 35, M Pretorius 1-19, Z Khan 0-16

Deccan Gladiators 111-5 in 8.3 overs

K Pollard 45*, S Zadran 2-18

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FIXTURES

Monday, January 28
Iran v Japan, Hazza bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)

Tuesday, January 29
UAEv Qatar, Mohamed Bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)

Friday, February 1
Final, Zayed Sports City Stadium (6pm)

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The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Part three: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

David Haye record

Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4

UAE squad to face Ireland

Ahmed Raza (captain), Chirag Suri (vice-captain), Rohan Mustafa, Mohammed Usman, Mohammed Boota, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Waheed Ahmad, Zawar Farid, CP Rizwaan, Aryan Lakra, Karthik Meiyappan, Alishan Sharafu, Basil Hameed, Kashif Daud, Adithya Shetty, Vriitya Aravind

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Hotel Data Cloud profile

Date started: June 2016
Founders: Gregor Amon and Kevin Czok
Based: Dubai
Sector: Travel Tech
Size: 10 employees
Funding: $350,000 (Dh1.3 million)
Investors: five angel investors (undisclosed except for Amar Shubar)