Craig says he wanted out of 007
Daniel Craig wanted to get out of the role of James Bond from his first appearance, he tells the latest issue of Rolling Stone. "I've been trying to get out of this from the very moment I got into it," he said. "They won't let me go, and I've agreed to do a couple more … because business is business." The 44-year-old actor, known for being tight-lipped with the media, also admitted he has trouble stopping himself from Googling his own name. "I really, truly try. But then I can't help myself. It's a sickness." - AFP
Swedes protest Chris Brown concert
The photo of an assaulted Rihanna is being used to protest Chris Brown's Saturday concert in Stockholm. "People are showing their dislike that Chris Brown is coming to town by posting these posters," tweeted Sweden's official account, which is run by a different Swede every week. Copies of the photo are all over parks and train stations, although the people behind them have yet to come forward. Brown assaulted Rihanna in 2009. According to media reports, the two have rekindled their relationship. Rihanna recently announced a duet with Brown titled Nobodies Business.
Walker to headline new HBO spy series
Benjamin Walker, the star of Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, has been cast as the lead in HBO's new Cold War espionage show The Missionary. Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad) was previously in talks for the part. Produced by the unlikely trio of Mark Wahlberg, Malcolm Gladwell and Stephen Levinson (Boardwalk Empire, Entourage), the series will focus on a Berlin-based American missionary who becomes a CIA operative in the 1960s. The FX network is also producing a Cold War-era series, The Americans, starring Keri Russell.
Blanchett honoured in Sydney
The Oscar-winning actress Cate Blanchett received an honorary doctorate from Sydney University on Saturday for her services to the arts as the director of the city's flagship theatre company. "This means a great deal to me as someone who didn't complete my arts degree at Melbourne University," Blanchett told the Sun-Herald. Blanchett and her playwright husband Andrew Upton are credited with turning around the Sydney Theatre Company's finances during their tenure, which began in 2008 and expires at the end of next year. - AFP
Bieber and Gomez call it quits
Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez have ended their relationship, according to The Associated Press. The split happened last week and distance and their busy schedules were contributing factors. Bieber, 18, is touring to promote his latest album, while the 20-year-old Gomez is filming a Wizards of Waverly Place reunion for Disney Channel. E! News was the first to report the split. - AP
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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%3Cp%3ECreator%3A%20Tima%20Shomali%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%C2%A0Tara%20Abboud%2C%C2%A0Kira%20Yaghnam%2C%20Tara%20Atalla%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
RACE CARD
6.30pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 Group 1 (PA) Dh119,373 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.05pm Handicap (TB) Dh102,500 (D) 1,200m
7.40pm Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (Turf) 1,800m
8.15pm UAE 1000 Guineas Trial (TB) Dh183,650 (D) 1,400m
9.50pm Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (D) 1,600m
9.25pm Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 1,000m
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
How has net migration to UK changed?
The figure was broadly flat immediately before the Covid-19 pandemic, standing at 216,000 in the year to June 2018 and 224,000 in the year to June 2019.
It then dropped to an estimated 111,000 in the year to June 2020 when restrictions introduced during the pandemic limited travel and movement.
The total rose to 254,000 in the year to June 2021, followed by steep jumps to 634,000 in the year to June 2022 and 906,000 in the year to June 2023.
The latest available figure of 728,000 for the 12 months to June 2024 suggests levels are starting to decrease.
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Squid Game season two
Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun
Rating: 4.5/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Xpanceo
Started: 2018
Founders: Roman Axelrod, Valentyn Volkov
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: Smart contact lenses, augmented/virtual reality
Funding: $40 million
Investor: Opportunity Venture (Asia)
