Liverpool football scores, Elon Musk’s net worth and the age of Diana Ross were among the most popular questions asked of Amazon virtual assistant Alexa in the UK over the past 12 months.
Other popular queries included who former prime minister Liz Truss is married to and the height of American rapper Jack Harlow.
Alexa is the virtual assistant built into Amazon’s range of smart home speakers, but is also available on a range of smartphones and other connected devices. Through voice commands, it can help with tasks as well as answer questions.
Ed Sheeran was the most requested artist on Alexa this year, with his song Bad Habits also named the most requested track, followed by Harry Styles’s As It Was.
Amazon’s figures show that the recipe for pancakes was the most requested recipe, followed by Yorkshire pudding and chili con carne.
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“People all over the world are interacting with Alexa billions of times each week to learn, be entertained and get help with tasks,” said Dennis Stansbury, Alexa UK and Ireland country manager.
“Watching Peppa Pig, finding out football scores, getting pancake recipes, asking Alexa to sing Happy Birthday, and saying ‘thank you’ are some of the most popular things that people in the UK have used Alexa for in 2022.”
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In sport, asking Alexa for the start date of the World Cup was the second most popular request, with checking the score in games involving Rangers, Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea also making the top 10 requests.
Aside from Harlow, Alexa users also wanted to know the height of prime minister Rishi Sunak and Tom Cruise, while the late Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III were among the top queries as to age.
Explainer: Tanween Design Programme
Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.
The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.
It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.
The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.
Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”
The five pillars of Islam
What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre 6-cyl turbo
Power: 374hp at 5,500-6,500rpm
Torque: 500Nm from 1,900-5,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.5L/100km
Price: from Dh285,000
On sale: from January 2022
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Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
Countries recognising Palestine
France, UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, San Marino and Andorra
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What's in the deal?
Agreement aims to boost trade by £25.5bn a year in the long run, compared with a total of £42.6bn in 2024
India will slash levies on medical devices, machinery, cosmetics, soft drinks and lamb.
India will also cut automotive tariffs to 10% under a quota from over 100% currently.
Indian employees in the UK will receive three years exemption from social security payments
India expects 99% of exports to benefit from zero duty, raising opportunities for textiles, marine products, footwear and jewellery
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
The Beach Bum
Director: Harmony Korine
Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Isla Fisher, Snoop Dogg
Two stars
Various Artists
Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection Of Music From The Arab World (Habibi Funk)
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
