• Avatar: The Way of Water has been more than 10 years in the making. All photos: 20th Century Studios
    Avatar: The Way of Water has been more than 10 years in the making. All photos: 20th Century Studios
  • Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) and Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) in Avatar: The Way of Water
    Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) and Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) in Avatar: The Way of Water
  • Jack Champion as Spider
    Jack Champion as Spider
  • Sigourney Weaver as Kiri and Dr Grace Augustine
    Sigourney Weaver as Kiri and Dr Grace Augustine
  • Britain Dalton as Lo’ak, with Tulkun, a large whale-like creature native to the oceans of Pandora
    Britain Dalton as Lo’ak, with Tulkun, a large whale-like creature native to the oceans of Pandora
  • Stephen Lang as Quaritch
    Stephen Lang as Quaritch
  • Trinity Bliss as Tuk
    Trinity Bliss as Tuk
  • Kate Winslet as Ronal and Cliff Curtis as Tonowari
    Kate Winslet as Ronal and Cliff Curtis as Tonowari
  • Jamie Flatters as Neteyam, Saldana as Neytiri, Dalton as Lo’ak and Worthington as Jake Sully
    Jamie Flatters as Neteyam, Saldana as Neytiri, Dalton as Lo’ak and Worthington as Jake Sully
  • Lang as Quaritch
    Lang as Quaritch
  • Curtis as Tonowari
    Curtis as Tonowari
  • Weaver as Kiri
    Weaver as Kiri
  • This image released by 20th Century Studios shows Jake Sully, portrayed by Sam Worthington, in "Avatar: The Way of Water. " (20th Century Studios via AP)
    This image released by 20th Century Studios shows Jake Sully, portrayed by Sam Worthington, in "Avatar: The Way of Water. " (20th Century Studios via AP)
  • Sam Worthington as Jake Sully
    Sam Worthington as Jake Sully
  • Britain Dalton as Lo'ak
    Britain Dalton as Lo'ak
  • Bailey Bass as Tsireya
    Bailey Bass as Tsireya
  • Zoe Saldana and Sam Worthington in the film
    Zoe Saldana and Sam Worthington in the film
  • Kate Winslet as Ronal
    Kate Winslet as Ronal
  • Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana
    Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana
  • Stephen Lang as Quaritch
    Stephen Lang as Quaritch
  • Worthington as Jake Sully
    Worthington as Jake Sully
  • Sam Worthington as Jake Sully, Kate Winslet as Ronal and Cliff Curtis as Tonowari
    Sam Worthington as Jake Sully, Kate Winslet as Ronal and Cliff Curtis as Tonowari

James Cameron shares the human inspiration behind his high-tech Avatar: The Way of Water


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Franchise newcomer Kate Winslet will never forget the moment she broke Tom Cruise’s six-minute record, set while filming 2015’s Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation, for holding her breath underwater on set.

“I have the video of me resurfacing saying, ‘Am I dead?’ And then going, ‘What was it?’ Straightaway I wanted to know my time,” the star of Avatar: The Way of Water tells The National. “I couldn’t believe it was 7 minutes 15, but you know what the next thing I say is? ‘We need to radio Jim [Cameron].’ That’s the first thing I wanted to do.”

Another unofficial record James Cameron's eagerly awaited sequel is in the mix for is surely "longest time in production for a sequel." Cameron said in 2006, three years before the first film was even released, that a sequel was planned, confirming the fact again in 2010 following Avatar’s huge success.

It’s taken until 2022 for the director to finally make good on his promise.

Nevertheless the director says the sequel wasn't a certainty despite, or perhaps because of, the first film's near-$3 billion haul.

“Spielberg didn't do a sequel to ET," Cameron says. "It wasn't a no-brainer — there's a lot to live up to. It's important for the sequel to honour what the audience loved first time, but also do things they don't expect. There are a lot of surprises that we're not putting into the trailers.”

In terms of what we have seen so far, it’s clear that the new film will build on the technical marvels of its predecessor. Cameron has repeatedly said that part of the sequel’s delay was down to having to literally invent the technology needed to repeat Avatar’s 3D and technological achievements, but underwater, where much of the new film takes place.

Jake Sully, portrayed by Sam Worthington, in Avatar: The Way of Water. Photo: 20th Century Studios
Jake Sully, portrayed by Sam Worthington, in Avatar: The Way of Water. Photo: 20th Century Studios

It’s perhaps surprising then, that when the director saw all the completed effects in place for the first time only about a week ago, he was struck most not by the high-tech wonder he had created, but something much more human. Or much more N’avi perhaps, since most of the cast belong to the blue alien race.

“I try to stand back and see the whole thing,” Cameron explains. “What struck me was the performances, the people. I look past all the spectacle, the design, the creatures and all that. I look at this, and I see times there’s no dialogue, and it’s close-up, and there’s a whole dialogue in the eyes.”

For Avatar: The Way of Water, Cameron, so often chief cheerleader for all things high-tech in cinema, has put plenty of thought into the simplest things that make a film work.

Tuk, Jake and Neytiri's daughter, played by Trinity Bliss. Photo: 20th Century Studios
Tuk, Jake and Neytiri's daughter, played by Trinity Bliss. Photo: 20th Century Studios

He says he abandoned at least one of his completed scripts during the production process because it lacked “a spiritual component that we can't even quantify.” And one of his key inspirations for the final script came from a decidedly natural place, too: the fact that stars Zoe Saldana and Sam Worthington had become parents during the film’s creation.

Saldana and Worthington play N’avi leader Neytiri and her human beau Jake Sully, united once again in trying to protect the planet Pandora from human greed and destruction. And both are parents now too, both on-screen and off.

“I was inspired by the fact that Zoe and Sam were parents, and I’m a parent of five, and we wanted to get into the family dynamics,” Cameron says. “You learn fear when you have kids, when you have something greater than yourself that you could lose. And that’s what both characters are dealing with.”

James Cameron at the world premiere of Avatar: The Way of Water in London on December 6. Reuters
James Cameron at the world premiere of Avatar: The Way of Water in London on December 6. Reuters

For Cameron, this life change could have a major effect on how his characters respond to the threat to their home planet this time around.

“Sam plays a character that would leap off of a leonopteryx, fly through the air with no parachute, land on the biggest predator on the planet, to solve his problem. Would he do that as a father of four? Probably not."

It’s a journey Worthington relates to.

In Avatar Jake says, "Open your eyes," says Worthington. "He’s opened his eyes to love, the love of culture, the planet and of Ney’tiri. It’s the natural extension of that.

“They have a family, and it’s about the protection of that love, that world and culture. It’s very base. Jake’s journey has always been finding something worth fighting for.”

With humans once again intent on stealing Pandora’s resources, there’ll be plenty for Jake to fight for all over again, and with more than three hours set aside for audiences to spend on Pandora this time around, fans can rest assured there’ll be ample time for family, fighting and the technological mastery Cameron has made his own, too.

It’s been a long wait, but it promises to be quite a ride.

Artist imagines Dubai set to the alien world of Pandora in 'Avatar' — in pictures

  • Museum of the Future with Burj Khalifa in the background, imagined in the fictional world of Pandora in 'Avatar', by digital artist Jyo John Mulloor. All photos: Jyo John Mulloor
    Museum of the Future with Burj Khalifa in the background, imagined in the fictional world of Pandora in 'Avatar', by digital artist Jyo John Mulloor. All photos: Jyo John Mulloor
  • The Dubai Metro amid the lush vegetation of Pandora.
    The Dubai Metro amid the lush vegetation of Pandora.
  • Burj Khalifa stands tall alongside giant vegetation in Pandora.
    Burj Khalifa stands tall alongside giant vegetation in Pandora.
  • The Dubai Frame amid the vegetation of Pandora.
    The Dubai Frame amid the vegetation of Pandora.
  • Ain Dubai in the distance, imagined in the world portrayed in the film as a place rich in minerals.
    Ain Dubai in the distance, imagined in the world portrayed in the film as a place rich in minerals.
  • Burj Al Arab amid the fictional moon setting.
    Burj Al Arab amid the fictional moon setting.
  • The Na'vi people, inhabitants of Pandora, fly across the Dubai skyline.
    The Na'vi people, inhabitants of Pandora, fly across the Dubai skyline.
  • Address Beach Resort in JBR, transported to the fictional world of Pandora.
    Address Beach Resort in JBR, transported to the fictional world of Pandora.
EA Sports FC 26

Publisher: EA Sports

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

Rating: 3/5

Zimbabwe v UAE, ODI series

All matches at the Harare Sports Club:

1st ODI, Wednesday, April 10

2nd ODI, Friday, April 12

3rd ODI, Sunday, April 14

4th ODI, Tuesday, April 16

UAE squad: Mohammed Naveed (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Shaiman Anwar, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Chirag Suri, Mohammed Boota, Ghulam Shabber, Sultan Ahmed, Imran Haider, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed

Islamophobia definition

A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Overall standings

1. Christopher Froome (GBR/Sky) 68hr 18min 36sec,

2. Fabio Aru (ITA/AST) at 0:18.

3. Romain Bardet (FRA/ALM) 0:23.

4. Rigoberto Uran (COL/CAN) 0:29.

5. Mikel Landa (ESP/SKY) 1:17.

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League semi-final, second leg result:

Ajax 2-3 Tottenham

Tottenham advance on away goals rule after tie ends 3-3 on aggregate

Final: June 1, Madrid

Conflict, drought, famine

Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.

Band Aid

Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.

Tips for taking the metro

- set out well ahead of time

- make sure you have at least Dh15 on you Nol card, as there could be big queues for top-up machines

- enter the right cabin. The train may be too busy to move between carriages once you're on

- don't carry too much luggage and tuck it under a seat to make room for fellow passengers

Dubai Bling season three

Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed 

Rating: 1/5

Breast cancer in men: the facts

1) Breast cancer is men is rare but can develop rapidly. It usually occurs in those over the ages of 60, but can occasionally affect younger men.

2) Symptoms can include a lump, discharge, swollen glands or a rash. 

3) People with a history of cancer in the family can be more susceptible. 

4) Treatments include surgery and chemotherapy but early diagnosis is the key. 

5) Anyone concerned is urged to contact their doctor

 

World record transfers

1. Kylian Mbappe - to Real Madrid in 2017/18 - €180 million (Dh770.4m - if a deal goes through)
2. Paul Pogba - to Manchester United in 2016/17 - €105m
3. Gareth Bale - to Real Madrid in 2013/14 - €101m
4. Cristiano Ronaldo - to Real Madrid in 2009/10 - €94m
5. Gonzalo Higuain - to Juventus in 2016/17 - €90m
6. Neymar - to Barcelona in 2013/14 - €88.2m
7. Romelu Lukaku - to Manchester United in 2017/18 - €84.7m
8. Luis Suarez - to Barcelona in 2014/15 - €81.72m
9. Angel di Maria - to Manchester United in 2014/15 - €75m
10. James Rodriguez - to Real Madrid in 2014/15 - €75m

If you go

The flights
Etihad (etihad.com) flies from Abu Dhabi to Luang Prabang via Bangkok, with a return flight from Chiang Rai via Bangkok for about Dh3,000, including taxes. Emirates and Thai Airways cover the same route, also via Bangkok in both directions, from about Dh2,700.
The cruise
The Gypsy by Mekong Kingdoms has two cruising options: a three-night, four-day trip upstream cruise or a two-night, three-day downstream journey, from US$5,940 (Dh21,814), including meals, selected drinks, excursions and transfers.
The hotels
Accommodation is available in Luang Prabang at the Avani, from $290 (Dh1,065) per night, and at Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp and Resort from $1,080 (Dh3,967) per night, including meals, an activity and transfers.

The specs: 2019 Aston Martin DBS Superleggera

Price, base: Dh1.2 million

Engine: 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12

Transmission: Eight-speed automatic

Power: 725hp @ 6,500pm

Torque: 900Nm @ 1,800rpm

Fuel economy, combined:  12.3L / 100km (estimate)

Four-day collections of TOH

Day             Indian Rs (Dh)        

Thursday    500.75 million (25.23m)

Friday         280.25m (14.12m)

Saturday     220.75m (11.21m)

Sunday       170.25m (8.58m)

Total            1.19bn (59.15m)

(Figures in millions, approximate)

Results

United States beat UAE by three wickets

United States beat Scotland by 35 runs

UAE v Scotland – no result

United States beat UAE by 98 runs

Scotland beat United States by four wickets

Fixtures

Sunday, 10am, ICC Academy, Dubai - UAE v Scotland

Admission is free

The Bio

Amal likes watching Japanese animation movies and Manga - her favourite is The Ancient Magus Bride

She is the eldest of 11 children, and has four brothers and six sisters.

Her dream is to meet with all of her friends online from around the world who supported her work throughout the years

Her favourite meal is pizza and stuffed vine leaves

She ams to improve her English and learn Japanese, which many animated programmes originate in

ULTRA PROCESSED FOODS

- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns 

- margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars;

- energy drinks, milk drinks, fruit yoghurts and fruit drinks, cocoa drinks, meat and chicken extracts and instant sauces

- infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes,

- many ready-to-heat products including pre-prepared pies and pasta and pizza dishes, poultry and fish nuggets and sticks, sausages, burgers, hot dogs, and other reconstituted meat products, powdered and packaged instant soups, noodles and desserts.

Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021

Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.

The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.

These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.

“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.

“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.

“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.

“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”

Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.

There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.

“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.

“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.

“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”

How the bonus system works

The two riders are among several riders in the UAE to receive the top payment of £10,000 under the Thank You Fund of £16 million (Dh80m), which was announced in conjunction with Deliveroo's £8 billion (Dh40bn) stock market listing earlier this year.

The £10,000 (Dh50,000) payment is made to those riders who have completed the highest number of orders in each market.

There are also riders who will receive payments of £1,000 (Dh5,000) and £500 (Dh2,500).

All riders who have worked with Deliveroo for at least one year and completed 2,000 orders will receive £200 (Dh1,000), the company said when it announced the scheme.

Timeline

2012-2015

The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East

May 2017

The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts

September 2021

Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act

October 2021

Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence 

December 2024

Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group

May 2025

The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan

July 2025

The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan

August 2025

Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision

October 2025

Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange

November 2025

180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE

ELIO

Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett

Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina

Rating: 4/5

Updated: December 14, 2022, 3:35 AM