We've been here before. It seems that every time a dashing British or Irish male lead makes an impact on screen, he is tipped to become the next James Bond.
Just look at Normal People's Paul Mescal, Superman Henry Cavill, Peaky Blinders' Cillian Murphy and, of course, Idris Elba, who has been long-followed by Bond casting rumours.
It's been fewer than two weeks since Bridgerton hit Netflix on Christmas Day, and its leading man, Rege-Jean Page, is already being given the Daniel Craig-replacement rumour mill treatment. Right on cue.
The star of the Regency-era drama has won over fans as Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings, with his dashing good looks, brooding pauses and athletic prowess in his boxing scenes. Three Bond-appropriate character traits if ever there were any.
It seems Page pre-empted the Bond hype, captioning a mid-December Bridgerton promotional video on Twitter: "Regency, royalty. Shaken and stirred." A not-so-thinly-veiled reference to Bond's "shaken, not stirred" catchphrase.
"Just found you [on] Twitter right after I told a friend you should be the next James Bond," one fan replied on December 31. "Are you the next 007? I actually live under a rock, so I may have missed something."
But who is Rege-Jean Page?
He grew up in Zimbabwe
Page was born in London, England in 1990 to an English father and Zimbabwean mother. He spent his early childhood in Harare, Zimbabwe and moved back to London at the age of 14, when he took up acting at the National Youth Theatre as a hobby.
Speaking about Zimbabwe to London magazine Square Mile, he said: "[It's] hot. Beautiful. Dry. Very wet when it's wet ... It's the most beautiful place in the world. Everyone says this about their own country, but it's objectively beautiful. And because it was so young I think there's a genuine generosity in people from Zimbabwe, which is slowly being chipped away at, as we hit our terrible teens and realise the world is a harsh, cold, difficult place that one must be strong enough to survive."
He is vocal about black representation on screen
In December, Page spoke to InStyle about the importance of seeing black joy on screen, particularly in the historical fiction genre.
"What happens in culture often is, you go back in time and only white folks are happy," he said. "And you know what? We've all known how to smile since the beginning of time. We've all gotten married since the beginning of time. We've all had romance, glamour and splendour. Representing that is incredibly important, because period drama for people who aren't white shouldn't mean only spotlighting trauma."
He added: "If we've endured white Jesus for this long, then folks can endure a black duke."
He was in 'Harry Potter'
Page is a British actor in his early 30s, so it makes sense that he made up at least a small part in the franchise's sizeable ensemble cast.
The role is not listed on his IMDb, but his Wikipedia lists it as an "unnamed role" in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2.
In one scene, Page appears in a number of shots at Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour's wedding. He is most noticeable when standing beside Emma Watson's Hermione Granger when Kingsley Shacklebolt’s sends his Patronus to announce that Voldemort had taken over the Ministry of Magic.
Watch out for him around the 26-second and four-minute marks here:
He is musically talented
Page is the second youngest of four siblings and is part of a musical duo with his brother, Tose Page, called Tunya.
Tunya's website explains of the pair: "Having written together and featured in various bands since their teens, the pair now independently produce their own music and collaborations."
You can hear Tunya's work and Rege-Jean singing in Don't Wait, a short film directed and choreographed by Lanre Malaolu. Rege-Jean stars opposite Joshua Nash in the piece.
He has starred in a number of UK TV shows
Roles listed on Page's IMDb include bit-parts in UK hospital dramas Casualty and Casualty @ Holby City; a recurring role in secondary school soap, Waterloo Road; and a two-episode stint in Fresh Meat.
Of his role in 10-series drama Waterloo Road, he told Digital Spy in 2015: "It was a bit strange to jump on board with a show that people have invested in for so long. There have been so many series before this, so to know that you're going to close that book is quite a big responsibility but also really exciting. It was loads of fun to be part of it.
"This job was also a huge learning experience for me, because it was the longest I've worked on anything on television. Being away for so long, going to work every day and having to deliver is quite a big deal. But it's the same as any other job – the more you do it, the better you are at it."
He has broken into American TV and films
We know he has made it in America, given that he stars in the Netflix and Shondaland-produced Bridgerton, but before starring as Simon Basset, he made his mark on the US screen.
In 2016 he starred in Roots, the four-part TV adaption of Alex Haley's 1976 novel, Roots: The Saga of an American Family, which also starred Forest Whitaker, Anna Paquin, Laurence Fishburne, Anika Noni Rose and TI.
The mini-series tells the story of a family in the American South in the late 1700s into the 1800s, beginning in Gambia in 1760, when warrior Kunta Kinte (Malachi Kirby) is sold as a slave.
Page has criticised the label "slave drama" given to the mini-series, tweeting in March 2017: "While I'm here though, there is one thing still bugs me a little. The 'slave drama' thing. I don't think that's a genre. Roots is a 'slave drama' the same way Sense & Sensibility's a 'victims of the misogynist patriarchal trap' drama.
"I mean yeah, I get it, that’s a pretty big part of it, it’s y’know, in there. But it’s not what it’s about."
He concludes: "It’s about extraordinary, wonderful people and how they best their oppressive circumstances with resilience, charm, integrity and guile."
In 2020, Page starred opposite Tessa Thompson and Nnamdi Asomugha as Chico Sweetney in 1950s jazz drama and love story, Sylvie's Love. The film has a 92 per cent fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
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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
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GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
Winners
Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain / France)
Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)
Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21 – Men’s)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)
Best Young Women’s Player
Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)
Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City / Italy)
Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa and Chelsea)
Men’s Coach of the Year
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)
Women’s Coach of the Year
Sarina Wiegman (England)
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Friday
Granada v Real Betis (9.30pm)
Valencia v Levante (midnight)
Saturday
Espanyol v Alaves (4pm)
Celta Vigo v Villarreal (7pm)
Leganes v Real Valladolid (9.30pm)
Mallorca v Barcelona (midnight)
Sunday
Atletic Bilbao v Atletico Madrid (4pm)
Real Madrid v Eibar (9.30pm)
Real Sociedad v Osasuna (midnight)
WRESTLING HIGHLIGHTS
Abu Dhabi traffic facts
Drivers in Abu Dhabi spend 10 per cent longer in congested conditions than they would on a free-flowing road
The highest volume of traffic on the roads is found between 7am and 8am on a Sunday.
Travelling before 7am on a Sunday could save up to four hours per year on a 30-minute commute.
The day was the least congestion in Abu Dhabi in 2019 was Tuesday, August 13.
The highest levels of traffic were found on Sunday, November 10.
Drivers in Abu Dhabi lost 41 hours spent in traffic jams in rush hour during 2019
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Swiss fly direct from the UAE to Zurich from Dh2,855 return, including taxes.
The chalet
Chalet N is currently open in winter only, between now and April 21. During the ski season, starting on December 11, a week’s rental costs from €210,000 (Dh898,431) per week for the whole property, which has 22 beds in total, across six suites, three double rooms and a children’s suite. The price includes all scheduled meals, a week’s ski pass, Wi-Fi, parking, transfers between Munich, Innsbruck or Zurich airports and one 50-minute massage per person. Private ski lessons cost from €360 (Dh1,541) per day. Halal food is available on request.
Frankenstein in Baghdad
Ahmed Saadawi
Penguin Press
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Skoda Superb Specs
Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol
Power: 190hp
Torque: 320Nm
Price: From Dh147,000
Available: Now
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
hall of shame
SUNDERLAND 2002-03
No one has ended a Premier League season quite like Sunderland. They lost each of their final 15 games, taking no points after January. They ended up with 19 in total, sacking managers Peter Reid and Howard Wilkinson and losing 3-1 to Charlton when they scored three own goals in eight minutes.
SUNDERLAND 2005-06
Until Derby came along, Sunderland’s total of 15 points was the Premier League’s record low. They made it until May and their final home game before winning at the Stadium of Light while they lost a joint record 29 of their 38 league games.
HUDDERSFIELD 2018-19
Joined Derby as the only team to be relegated in March. No striker scored until January, while only two players got more assists than goalkeeper Jonas Lossl. The mid-season appointment Jan Siewert was to end his time as Huddersfield manager with a 5.3 per cent win rate.
ASTON VILLA 2015-16
Perhaps the most inexplicably bad season, considering they signed Idrissa Gueye and Adama Traore and still only got 17 points. Villa won their first league game, but none of the next 19. They ended an abominable campaign by taking one point from the last 39 available.
FULHAM 2018-19
Terrible in different ways. Fulham’s total of 26 points is not among the lowest ever but they contrived to get relegated after spending over £100 million (Dh457m) in the transfer market. Much of it went on defenders but they only kept two clean sheets in their first 33 games.
LA LIGA: Sporting Gijon, 13 points in 1997-98.
BUNDESLIGA: Tasmania Berlin, 10 points in 1965-66
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
if you go
The flights
Air Astana flies direct from Dubai to Almaty from Dh2,440 per person return, and to Astana (via Almaty) from Dh2,930 return, both including taxes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Ritz-Carlton Almaty cost from Dh1,944 per night including taxes; and in Astana the new Ritz-Carlton Astana (www.marriott) costs from Dh1,325; alternatively, the new St Regis Astana costs from Dh1,458 per night including taxes.
When to visit
March-May and September-November
Visas
Citizens of many countries, including the UAE do not need a visa to enter Kazakhstan for up to 30 days. Contact the nearest Kazakhstan embassy or consulate.
Company Fact Box
Company name/date started: Abwaab Technologies / September 2019
Founders: Hamdi Tabbaa, co-founder and CEO. Hussein Alsarabi, co-founder and CTO
Based: Amman, Jordan
Sector: Education Technology
Size (employees/revenue): Total team size: 65. Full-time employees: 25. Revenue undisclosed
Stage: early-stage startup
Investors: Adam Tech Ventures, Endure Capital, Equitrust, the World Bank-backed Innovative Startups SMEs Fund, a London investment fund, a number of former and current executives from Uber and Netflix, among others.
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
RESULTS: 2018 WORLD CUP QUALIFYING - EUROPE
Albania 0 Italy 1
Finland 2 Turkey 2
Macedonia 4 Liechtenstein
Iceland 2 Kosovo 0
Israel 0 Spain 1
Moldova 0 Austria 1
Serbia 1 Georgia 0
Ukraine 0 Croatia 2
Wales 0 Ireland 1
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
HEADLINE HERE
- I would recommend writing out the text in the body
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- That's about it