Fancy recording a song with Sting?
Or maybe exchanging a few Shakespeare sonnets with actor Patrick Stewart?
If global politics are more your thing, how about virtual coffee dates with either former US secretary of states Hillary Clinton or Madeleine Albright?
These are some of the priceless experiences up for grabs as part of Sotheby's upcoming Covid-19 charity auction.
Running for one week from Friday, May 1, the auction aims to raise funds for the International Rescue Committee, whose army of medical professionals are on the front line of the battle against the Covid-19 pandemic.
The auction will be streamed live from New York from 10pm GMT (1am UAE time on Saturday, May 2), with online bids beginning from $50 (Dh183).
The auction can be accessed through Sotheby's website or mobile phone app.
Other experiences on the auction block
The growing list of experiences on offer as part of the auction are eclectic and will be offered through the use of the virtual meet-up app Google Hangouts.
If your musical tastes are too modern for a duet with Sting, you have the option of an online meet-and-greet with New York hipster rockers The Strokes.
If you were inspired by Emirati astronaut Hazza Al Mansouri's space mission last year, then the opportunity to talk with Apollo 9 astronaut Russell Schweickart would be right up your galaxy.
Fans of the British period television drama Downtown Abbey could take part in a "sophisticated house party" with series creator Julian Fellows and cast member Hugh Bonneville.
Art lovers and creatives can also benefit from decorating tips provided by celebrity interior designer Jacques Grange, as well tutorials by the likes of designer Paul Smith and British sculptor Marc Quinn.
Kim Kardashian and DJ Khaled join All In Challenge
The Sotheby's benefit auction is not the only event offering such “pinch me” moments.
US celebrities and charities are banding together to raise funds to aid medical professionals in their work and to feed families struggling in the face of the pandemic.
One initiative recently launched is the All In Challenge, which sees a host of stars from the entertainment and sporting worlds offer everything from their personal to professional time to support a series of American charities.
The list of experiences on offer continues to grow by the day.
On Sunday, April 28, Palestinian-American hip-hop star DJ Khaled became the latest big name to wade into the challenge by promising a day full with "off the chain excitement".
The prize includes airfare (to be determined whether that's a domestic or international flight) and a two-night hotel stay in Miami. During that time the winner will ride jet skis with Khaled and grab dinner at his favourite restaurant.
The Kardashians are also participating. Kim Kardashian took to her Instagram on Saturday, April 27 to tell fans to bid for the experience of rubbing shoulders with the famous family by making a guest appearance on their long-running reality series Keeping Up With the Kardashians.
This comes on top of already announced offers, such as a walk-in role in the latest Martin Scorsese film Killers of the Flower Moon, starring Leonardo DiCaprio.
You and five guests could also be in the audience during the recording of the highly anticipated Friends Reunion episode in Los Angeles.
If you are a Drake fan, there's the opportunity to spend a day like Drizzy himself and fly in his Air Drake private jet before joining the rapper and his entourage at a private party.
Beliebers also have the chance to win a visit from Justin Bieber, who will come to your place to sing his hit track One Less Lonely Girl.
For more information about the All In Challenge, click here
Fire and Fury
By Michael Wolff,
Henry Holt
SPECS
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Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances
All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.
Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.
Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.
Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.
Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.
Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
more from Janine di Giovanni
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Company info
Company name: Entrupy
Co-founders: Vidyuth Srinivasan, co-founder/chief executive, Ashlesh Sharma, co-founder/chief technology officer, Lakshmi Subramanian, co-founder/chief scientist
Based: New York, New York
Sector/About: Entrupy is a hardware-enabled SaaS company whose mission is to protect businesses, borders and consumers from transactions involving counterfeit goods.
Initial investment/Investors: Entrupy secured a $2.6m Series A funding round in 2017. The round was led by Tokyo-based Digital Garage and Daiwa Securities Group's jointly established venture arm, DG Lab Fund I Investment Limited Partnership, along with Zach Coelius.
Total customers: Entrupy’s customers include hundreds of secondary resellers, marketplaces and other retail organisations around the world. They are also testing with shipping companies as well as customs agencies to stop fake items from reaching the market in the first place.
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BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES
SolarWinds supply chain attack: Came to light in December 2020 but had taken root for several months, compromising major tech companies, governments and its entities
Microsoft Exchange server exploitation: March 2021; attackers used a vulnerability to steal emails
Kaseya attack: July 2021; ransomware hit perpetrated REvil, resulting in severe downtime for more than 1,000 companies
Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments
