World

Top 10 facts about ABBA you did not know

The Swedish music sensation ABBA shot to fame in 1974 after they won the Eurovision song contest marking a career defining performance by the band famously known as the ‘Waterloo.’

ABBA gained a cult status ruling the 1970s and the 80s, and have remained relevant even today with their music often played in movies, clubs, and appearing on the Spotify charts.

The band made headlines again on Wednesday when its lead singer, Agnetha Faltskog announced the launch of her solo career at the age of 73. She is set to release her new single on Thursday.

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Faltskog’s announcement brings back fond memories for ABBA fans, who are eagerly waiting to hear their favorite artist’s voice again.

Reigniting fans’ love for ABBA, Al Arabiya English has compiled a list of surprising yet little known facts about the band , from music blogsites thisdailyinmusic, Discover Music, People magazine, Daily Mail, and Discover Walks.

1.ABBA’s outlandish outfits were tax deductible

Under Swedish law, clothes were tax deductible as long as their owners could prove they were not used for daily wear. This encouraged the group to express their creativity to the fullest and dress in the outrageous costumes that went on to become an iconic symbol of the band, and saved tons of money in tax bill.

2. The band had to obtain permission to use the name ABBA

There was a seafood company with the name ABBA. After deciding to call their band ABBA, the group had to obtain permission from the company.
They agreed on the name ABBA – the initial letters of the four members names – after a competition was held to find a suitable name for the group in a Gothenburg newspaper. Other names in contention were ‘Alibaba,’ ‘FABB,’ and ‘Baba.’

3. ABBA’s first single together as ABBA was called ‘People Need Love.’

Agnetha Faltskog of the Swedish music band ABBA arrives for the opening performance of the “ABBA Voyage” concert in London, Britain, on May 26, 2022. (Reuters)

4. The most commonly mistaken ABBA lyric is from Dancing Queen.

People often sang ‘Chicken the Dancing Queen’ instead of ‘Digging the Dancing Queen.’ The second most misheard lyric according to many music websites is ‘Dancing queen, feel the meat on the tangerine.’

5. ABBA were paid in oil by Russia to perform

During the Cold War when the band was on tour in the Soviet Union, they made an unusual agreement to be paid in oil instead of Rubles, which were at the time subject to an embargo, according to multiple music blog sites.

6. Anni-Frid is a Royal

After her breakup with Abba member Benny, Anni-Frid began dating Heinrich Ruzzo, Prince Reuss of Plauen, a Swedish royalty. She married him in 1992, and became a princess.

7. ABBA was made up of two happy couples

The foursome consisted of Agnetha Faltskog who was married to Bjorn Ulvaeus and the other couple, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad.
During the band’s active years, the four were happily married, however, at the peak of the ABBA’s popularity, both relationships were suffering. Ulvaeus-Faltskog marriage ended in 1979 followed by Andersson and Lyngstad’s in 1981.

8. 3.5 million people applied for tickets for two dates to see ABBA at London’s Royal Albert Hall enough to fill the venue an astonishing 580 times.

9. Madonna begged to use ABBA’s music

According to several music blogs, in 2005 Madonna revealed that she wrote a letter to ABBA members, begging to use their music in one of her tracks.
The music sensation wanted permission to use ABBA’s 1979 disco hit ‘Gimme, Gimme, Gimme,’ for her single ‘Hung Up.’ Abba gave her the green light.

10. ABBA or Festfolk?

Before the band was called ABBA, they went by the name Festfolk, meaning party people in Swedish.

Eurovision: How the contest works, explained

Original Article

World

Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi meets with CEOs of leading Norwegian companies

H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, has met with a group of CEOs from leading Norwegian companies, as part of their participation in the UAE-Norway Investment Forum, held alongside his official visit to the Kingdom of Norway.

During the meeting, H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed underscored the UAE leadership’s commitment to strengthening economic cooperation with its international partners.

He highlighted that investment in innovation and knowledge is a cornerstone for achieving sustainable development, noting that enhancing collaboration with Norwegian companies across key sectors will open new avenues for mutual economic growth between the two countries.

The UAE-Norway Investment Forum, taking place in Oslo, aimed to highlight available investment opportunities and strengthen trade relations between the UAE and Norway, fostering shared interests and supporting innovation and knowledge-based economic visions.

-wam

World

At the Indonesia International Book Fair 2024, TRENDS inaugurates 10th global office, releases four books

As part of its Asian research tour, partnership with Aletihad News Center, and
primary sponsorship of the Indonesia International Book Fair 2024, TRENDS
Research & Advisory inaugurated its office in Jakarta, marking its 10th location
worldwide. It also released four books in Indonesian.
The inauguration event was attended by ambassadors of the UAE, Bahrain, and
Jordan to Indonesia, chairpersons of the UAE and Indonesian Publishers’
Associations, the Director of TRENDS’ Jakarta office, and a group of researchers
and academics.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali, CEO of TRENDS
Research & Advisory, stated that TRENDS’ international offices—set to reach 15
by the end of 2024—aim to enhance the Center’s research efforts and deepen its
role in disseminating knowledge, thus serving as a global knowledge bridge.
He emphasized, “At TRENDS, we believe in the importance of cooperation
between think tanks and prioritize this endeavor. We believe the TRENDS office in
Jakarta will enhance the exchange of knowledge and ideas between think tanks in
Asia and the Middle East, opening new horizons for collaboration in various
fields.”

Four books in Indonesian
As part of the Jakarta office’s inaugural activities, four books were released in
Indonesian, including the 11th and 12th books of the Muslim Brotherhood
Encyclopedia and Global Trends in AI and Automation and the Future of
Competition between Man and Machine: An Analytical Forward-looking Vision.

Hostility to Arab states
The 11th book of the Muslim Brotherhood Encyclopedia, The Concept of the State
According to the Muslim Brotherhood, highlights its hostile stance toward Arab
states since its inception. The group views them as an obstacle to its ascent to
power. It opposed the modern principles upon which these states were built,
considering them incompatible with the group’s unique interpretation of Islam,
which it claimed to embody exclusively.

Exclusion of nonconformists
The 12th book, The Muslim Brotherhood: Rejection of Tolerance and Exclusion of
Nonconformists, examines the Muslim Brotherhood’s stance towards
nonconformists, individuals, and entities. The book reveals the group’s binary view
of the world, categorizing others as allies or adversaries. It ties these relationships
to the Brotherhood’s internal power struggles and self-serving interests.

Global Trends in AI
The third book, Global Trends in AI, explores significant developments in AI and
its impact on various aspects of life, including the economy, society, and
governance. It also offers a comprehensive analysis of technological advancements
in AI, its applications across sectors, the ethical and social challenges it presents,
and its future trajectory.

Automation

The fourth book, Automation and the Future of Competition between Man and
Machine: An Analytical Forward-looking Vision, addresses the growing challenges
faced by the human workforce in the face of widespread automation and AI
applications. The book concludes that while automation presents a significant
challenge to the labor market, it simultaneously creates new opportunities. It
emphasizes the importance of preparing for this shift through skills development,
continuous education, and adopting economic and social policies that support the
workforce.

Prominent pavilion and active presence
The TRENDS’ pavilion at the Indonesia International Book Fair has attracted
numerous visitors, including academic researchers and officials, such as the
ambassadors of the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, and Turkey. Additionally,
chairpersons of Arab and Indonesian publishers’ associations, authors, publishers,
and students visited the pavilion. All were impressed with and praised TRENDS’ diverse, valuable publications. They also commended TRENDS’ active
international presence and ability to address global developments with rigorous
analytical research.
Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali honored the esteemed guests, including
ambassadors of the UAE and Bahrain to Indonesia, Wedha Startesti Yudha,
Chairperson of the Indonesia International Book Fair Committee, Arys Hilman
Nugraha, Chairman of the Indonesian Publishers Association, and others,
presenting them with TRENDS’ publications and commemorative shields.
Additionally, he awarded TRENDS’ Research Medal to Ni Made Ayu Martini
Indonesian Deputy Minister of Marketing, Tourism and Creative Economy
It is worth noting that during its current Asian research tour, TRENDS announced
the launch of the TRENDS Research Medal, awarded to individuals who make
significant contributions to the development of scientific research and promote collaboration with TRENDS in strengthening a culture of research across various fields.

World

US determined to prevent full-scale war in Middle East, Joe Biden tells UNGA79

US President Joe Biden highlighted the US Administration’s determination to prevent a wider war that engulfs the entire Middle East region, noting that a diplomatic solution “remains the only path to lasting security to allow the residents from both countries to return to their homes on the border safely”.

In remarks he made today before the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79), the US President said, “Full-scale war is not in anyone’s interest,” adding that a diplomatic solution is still possible.

He also touched on “the rise of violence against innocent Palestinians on the West Bank”, and the need to “set the conditions for a better future”, which he said featured “a two-state solution, where the world — where Israel enjoys security and peace and full recognition and normalised relations with all its neighbours, where Palestinians live in security, dignity, and self-determination in a state of their own”.

President Biden underscored the ceasefire and hostage deal put forth by Qatar and Egypt, which the UN Security Council endorsed. He said, “Now is the time for the parties to finalise its terms, bring the hostages home,” adding that this would help ease the suffering in Gaza, and end the war.

-WAM