
The truth behind the viral Barbie Burj Khalifa video
With the release of the Barbie movie, different places around the world have been getting pink makeovers - including the Burj Khalifa. In a 12-second clip that has gone viral, stands a huge Barbie doll next to the world's tallest building located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The larger-than-life doll can be seen sporting an outfit that directly references her 1959 debut - wearing a striped romper with her blonde locks in a ponytail (which is also an outfit Margot Robbie wore in the film too). Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter During the video, Barbie stood inside her very own hot pink box and then broke through the plastic cover to step out onto the city street. The CGI clip was posted by boutique creative agency, Eye Studio (@eyestudioae) and took around three days to make, using footage of the Burj Khalifa shot from an iPhone, before the big 3D Barbie was superimposed into the video. "As a social media agency, we're always thinking about what's trending, and everyone is currently talking about Barbie," Juhi Rupani, Eye Studio's creative director told The National. "So we thought of doing something around an iconic product and putting her next to the most iconic landmark in Dubai." After deciding on the concept, 3D generalist Neal Santos, and junior art director, Taha Dungerwala helped to make the vision come alive. "The first thing that crossed our mind while making it was we kind of wanted to pay homage to the beginning and stay close to how the very first Barbie doll ever created looked back in 1959," they told the same publication. "When it came to location, after going back and forth we decided nothing beats the Burj Khalifa." Meanwhile, Barbie is the biggest debut ever for a film directed by a woman, with the Greta Gerwig film making $356m (£276m) around the world opening weekend. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
1970-01-01 08:00

Teen influencer Milla Sofia flooded with 'creepy' comments despite her not being real
Artificial intelligence has struck again, and this time, it's somehow got the internet obsessing over a jet-setting influencer who doesn't even exist. Milla Sofia is a 19-year-old "robot girl" from Helsinki who works as a fashion model and now boasts over 30,000 followers on Instagram. Her page showcases hyper-realistic selfies and photo montages of her travels across the world, including the likes of Paris, Australia and Santorini. "I bring an unparalleled and futuristic perspective to the realm of style," her creator wrote on her website. "Whether it's the catwalk or the digital landscape, my passion lies in showcasing the latest trends and pushing the boundaries in the ever-evolving fashion industry." Disturbingly, her posts are often flooded with comments from thirsty men who have either not figured out Milla's AI-generated, or simply have no shame. "Well you look fabulous wearing anything as well as nothing I’m sure. Your a beautiful young woman," one man wrote, while another gushed: "Beautiful lady. Your eyes dreams colour, your hair colour and your dress colour are beautiful." Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter "There's a perfect woman," a third added, which prompted one person to quip back: "All these dumb people that think she is real. Actually terrifying how disconnected you all are from reality." It comes after socially starved cryptobros fork out thousands for NFT girlfriends, which are essentially inanimate digital paintings costing up to $100,000. One man, a self-proclaimed "digital pimp", was initially attracted to the idea of "owning his very own exclusive girlfriend" who he can spend quality time with whenever he wanted. "I got a printout of the NFT which I display on my wall, right above where I work as a reminder of what a great purchase she was," he explained. In what he described as a "weird concept", Jake confessed that his involvement with NFT girlfriends made him feel like a "pimp" following the motto of: "If you want my girl, you've got to pay!" Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
1970-01-01 08:00

Fire-Ravaged Greece Braces for More Heat as Rest of Europe Cools
Fire-ravaged Greece is the focus of Mediterranean heat, with temperatures set to climb back up to 47C (116.6F)
1970-01-01 08:00

Japan country profile
Provides an overview of Japan, including key dates and facts about this East Asian country.
1970-01-01 08:00

Israel's Netanyahu down in polls over judicial reform
By Maayan Lubell JERUSALEM Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has taken a hit in the polls over a judicial
1970-01-01 08:00

Parents of aid worker Chris Parry to visit Ukraine
Parents of Chris Parry, who died in Ukraine, say they are determined to honour their son's legacy.
1970-01-01 08:00

Giants Fans Join A's Fans For 'Sell the Team' Chant During Game
Giants fans joined A's fans in a "Sell The Team" chant Tuesday night.
1970-01-01 08:00

SK Hynix says memory chip recovery has begun, flags robust AI demand
By Joyce Lee and Heekyong Yang SEOUL (Reuters) -South Korea's SK Hynix said on Wednesday the memory chip market was
1970-01-01 08:00

Patrick Mahomes' Contract Is an Absolute Steal
The Chiefs got a massive bargain with Patrick Mahomes' 10-year contract.
1970-01-01 08:00

Top election security expert fired by Trump confirms he spoke with special counsel
A top election security official who was fired by President Donald Trump weeks after the 2020 election has confirmed to CNN that he was interviewed in recent months by the special counsel investigating Trump's efforts to overturn the election.
1970-01-01 08:00

Joe Burrow owes Justin Herbert a thank you note after new contract
Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers just agreed to a five-year, $262.5 million contract extension, making Herbert the third quarterback to reset the market this offseason.Justin Herbert’s reign atop the quarterback market could end at any moment.Pro Football Talk’s Mike F...
1970-01-01 08:00

Police K-9 handler who released dog that attacked an unarmed Black man in Ohio placed on paid leave while incident is under review, mayor says
A Circleville, Ohio, officer who was seen on video deploying a police K-9 that attacked an unarmed Black man while he was surrendering to authorities is on paid administrative leave as the incident is under investigation, the mayor said.
1970-01-01 08:00