There is no shortage in the New Mexico desert, it seems, of crusty unfeeling reptiles who lurk just out of sight until they can take you down with a spurt of venom – be they crooks or rattlers.
But the most dangerous sidewinder may well be Saul Goodman, the slippery lawyer in the crazy suit, as Better Call Saul, the madly anticipated prequel to Breaking Bad, debuts at last on Sunday.
The buzz around this legal drama could deafen a hornets' nest. Esquire magazine has already declared it "better than Breaking Bad". Given the adoration heaped on that show, that's high praise indeed.
The AMC network ordered a second season of 13 episodes – three more than the first season of 10 – before the show’s US premiere last night. If this isn’t must-see TV, then we’ve all been bamboozled big time.
The Saul Goodman we came to know and love in Breaking Bad – with his loopy TV commercials, his patriotic "We the People" wallpaper and his giant inflatable Statue of Liberty atop his tacky Albuquerque strip-mall office – would have been nothing more than a throwaway joke, or cheap comic relief at best, were it not for the frenetic acting and seductive charisma of the actor Bob Odenkirk. He convinces us all that "I know a guy who knows a guy who knows another guy" who can get any imaginable dirty deed carried out.
But Saul doesn't start off being Saul in this new series from Breaking Bad's creator Vince Gilligan and co-showrunner Peter Gould. They opted instead to turn the clock back to 2002 and trace the strange, and at times painful, evolution of Jimmy McGill, a small-time lawyer hungry for his destiny as he hustles to make ends meet on the twisty path to becoming Saul Goodman.
“It’s a superhero origins story,” says Odenkirk, describing how he finally got a handle on his character as a series star. “The superhero is Saul and his special power is his mouth, an agile mind and some stones. And instead of a cape, he has a yellow tie and green socks.”
Naturally, the surreal desert vistas of New Mexico from Breaking Bad, almost a "character" in their own right, are back to haunt our HDTVs. But emotionally, Jimmy's world is very different from Saul's.
He is a struggling lawyer who honestly wants to do good as he defends the disreputable while caring for his ailing brother Chuck, an upscale lawyer played by the comedy great Michael McKean (This Is Spinal Tap). Chuck has everything Jimmy wants, including a posh office, while Jimmy works out of his beat-up car or, worse, a phone booth.
He will face some anxious times on the road to becoming Saul Goodman – Better Call Saul is not all laughs and smarmy doubletalk.
"It's total drama, man," Odenkirk told The Hollywood Reporter. "It's 85 per cent drama, 15 per cent comedy."
“Jimmy is a mess,” says Gilligan, “[but] every so often, you’ll catch a glimpse of the man who eventually becomes Saul Goodman.
“Jimmy still talks his way out of sticky situations, even if the results are far from perfect. Of course, he isn’t yet a criminal lawyer when we first meet him. In fact, he’s trying to be the opposite.
“And certainly the point is not should we be good or should we not. I guess the point is it’s sometimes very hard to be good. I think Saul wants to be [good], but he also wants to cut corners when he can. You see that in the first episode. That’s a lot of the fun for me in the writers’ room.”
One treat for Breaking Bad fans will be the return of the show's beloved "fixer" Mike Ehrmantraut (Jonathan Banks), who will work alongside, and often against, Jimmy. It won't be love at first sight, by any means, as the two get off to an antagonistic, slow-burn start.
Also expect some non-linear storytelling, says Gould, to highlight the cause and effect of Jimmy’s actions.
“We’ve given ourselves the liberty and we have history with these characters, so we have given ourselves the freedom to go back and forth in time.”
Gilligan says: “I don’t know what the world’s gonna think, but I could not be more proud to be a part of it.”
While you’re waiting for the premiere, check out the crazy fun at www.bettercallsaul.com, the real-world website where Saul pitches his shady legal prowess.
Who is Bob Odenkirk?
Don’t be surprised if Bob Odenkirk’s face triggers a bout of déjà vu. We’ve all seen that expressive mug before – but remembering exactly where can be a challenge.
The 52-year-old's most recent brush with fame began with a three-episode stint as a guest star on Breaking Bad's second season in 2009. He made such an impact that his lusciously corrupt lawyer, Saul Goodman, graduated to become a permanent fixture on the drama the following year.
But long before his comic-spin cycle as a money launderer for blue-meth chef Walter White, he had been imprinted on our minds many times over the past three decades in a slew of film and television roles.
A native of Illinois, raised in the wealthy Chicago suburb of Naperville, Odenkirk is a self-confessed fan of cerebral yet simple humour who credits Monty Python's Flying Circus, Steve Martin and Woody Allen as his strongest comedic influences.
But it was his writing that landed him a spot in the big leagues, on the staff of the American comedy institution Saturday Night Live. He wrote sketches for the show from 1987 to 1991, alongside the likes of Robert Smigel, Conan O'Brien, Adam Sandler, David Spade, Chris Rock and Chris Farley (for whom he created the late star's most famous character: Matt Foley, Motivational Speaker).
We caught our first glimpses of Odenkirk the actor on TV through his work with his pal Ben Stiller on The Ben Stiller Show in 1992, and in a recurring role on Garry Shandling's acclaimed The Larry Sanders Show as Larry's agent Stevie Grant. He also popped up sporadically on Roseanne and Tom Arnold's The Jackie Thomas Show.
Odenkirk's reputation and visibility took a major leap forwards into cult status with Mr Show, the HBO sketch-comedy series he co-hosted with fellow stand-up and Arrested Development star David Cross for 33 episodes over four seasons between 1995 and 1998, as they introduced now-famous comedians such as Sarah Silverman, Jack Black and the 24 star Mary Lynn Rajskub in their formative years.
Odenkirk also delivered more mainstream turns as a guest star on shows such as Dr Katz, Professional Therapist; Seinfeld; NewsRadio; Just Shoot Me!; Joey; Curb Your Enthusiasm; Arrested Development; Entourage; Weeds; How I Met Your Mother; Everybody Loves Raymond; The Office; and Fargo.
Film fans, meanwhile, may grin as they recall Odenkirk's quirky bit parts in movies such as Wayne's World 2, The Cable Guy, Waiting for Guffman and Monkeybone, as well as more substantial roles in Melvin Goes to Dinner (2003) and Nebraska (2013).
Better Call Saul will be broadcast at 10pm on Sunday on OSN First HD
artslife@thenational.ae
Email sent to Uber team from chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi
From: Dara
To: Team@
Date: March 25, 2019 at 11:45pm PT
Subj: Accelerating in the Middle East
Five years ago, Uber launched in the Middle East. It was the start of an incredible journey, with millions of riders and drivers finding new ways to move and work in a dynamic region that’s become so important to Uber. Now Pakistan is one of our fastest-growing markets in the world, women are driving with Uber across Saudi Arabia, and we chose Cairo to launch our first Uber Bus product late last year.
Today we are taking the next step in this journey—well, it’s more like a leap, and a big one: in a few minutes, we’ll announce that we’ve agreed to acquire Careem. Importantly, we intend to operate Careem independently, under the leadership of co-founder and current CEO Mudassir Sheikha. I’ve gotten to know both co-founders, Mudassir and Magnus Olsson, and what they have built is truly extraordinary. They are first-class entrepreneurs who share our platform vision and, like us, have launched a wide range of products—from digital payments to food delivery—to serve consumers.
I expect many of you will ask how we arrived at this structure, meaning allowing Careem to maintain an independent brand and operate separately. After careful consideration, we decided that this framework has the advantage of letting us build new products and try new ideas across not one, but two, strong brands, with strong operators within each. Over time, by integrating parts of our networks, we can operate more efficiently, achieve even lower wait times, expand new products like high-capacity vehicles and payments, and quicken the already remarkable pace of innovation in the region.
This acquisition is subject to regulatory approval in various countries, which we don’t expect before Q1 2020. Until then, nothing changes. And since both companies will continue to largely operate separately after the acquisition, very little will change in either teams’ day-to-day operations post-close. Today’s news is a testament to the incredible business our team has worked so hard to build.
It’s a great day for the Middle East, for the region’s thriving tech sector, for Careem, and for Uber.
Uber on,
Dara
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Why your domicile status is important
Your UK residence status is assessed using the statutory residence test. While your residence status – ie where you live - is assessed every year, your domicile status is assessed over your lifetime.
Your domicile of origin generally comes from your parents and if your parents were not married, then it is decided by your father. Your domicile is generally the country your father considered his permanent home when you were born.
UK residents who have their permanent home ("domicile") outside the UK may not have to pay UK tax on foreign income. For example, they do not pay tax on foreign income or gains if they are less than £2,000 in the tax year and do not transfer that gain to a UK bank account.
A UK-domiciled person, however, is liable for UK tax on their worldwide income and gains when they are resident in the UK.
MIDWAY
Produced: Lionsgate Films, Shanghai Ryui Entertainment, Street Light Entertainment
Directed: Roland Emmerich
Cast: Ed Skrein, Woody Harrelson, Dennis Quaid, Aaron Eckhart, Luke Evans, Nick Jonas, Mandy Moore, Darren Criss
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
LIVING IN...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
- Pension support
- Mental well-being assistance
- Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
- Financial well-being incentives
Fixtures
Opening day Premier League fixtures for August 9-11
August 9
Liverpool v Norwich 11pm
August 10
West Ham v Man City 3.30pm
Bournemouth v Sheffield Utd 6pm
Burnley v Southampton 6pm
C Palace v Everton 6pm
Leicester v Wolves 6pm
Watford v Brighton 6pm
Tottenham v Aston Villa 8.30pm
August 11
Newcastle v Arsenal 5pm
Man United v Chelsea 7.30pm
AUSTRALIA SQUAD
Tim Paine (captain), Sean Abbott, Pat Cummins, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Moises Henriques, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Will Pucovski, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, Matthew Wade, David Warner
Mia Man’s tips for fermentation
- Start with a simple recipe such as yogurt or sauerkraut
- Keep your hands and kitchen tools clean. Sanitize knives, cutting boards, tongs and storage jars with boiling water before you start.
- Mold is bad: the colour pink is a sign of mold. If yogurt turns pink as it ferments, you need to discard it and start again. For kraut, if you remove the top leaves and see any sign of mold, you should discard the batch.
- Always use clean, closed, airtight lids and containers such as mason jars when fermenting yogurt and kraut. Keep the lid closed to prevent insects and contaminants from getting in.
'Doctor Strange in the Multiverse Of Madness'
Director: Sam Raimi
Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Wong, Xochitl Gomez, Michael Stuhlbarg and Rachel McAdams
Rating: 3/5
Expert advice
“Join in with a group like Cycle Safe Dubai or TrainYAS, where you’ll meet like-minded people and always have support on hand.”
Stewart Howison, co-founder of Cycle Safe Dubai and owner of Revolution Cycles
“When you sweat a lot, you lose a lot of salt and other electrolytes from your body. If your electrolytes drop enough, you will be at risk of cramping. To prevent salt deficiency, simply add an electrolyte mix to your water.”
Cornelia Gloor, head of RAK Hospital’s Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy Centre
“Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can ride as fast or as far during the summer as you do in cooler weather. The heat will make you expend more energy to maintain a speed that might normally be comfortable, so pace yourself when riding during the hotter parts of the day.”
Chandrashekar Nandi, physiotherapist at Burjeel Hospital in Dubai
MATCH INFO
Syria v Australia
2018 World Cup qualifying: Asia fourth round play-off first leg
Venue: Hang Jebat Stadium (Malacca, Malayisa)
Kick-off: Thursday, 4.30pm (UAE)
Watch: beIN Sports HD
* Second leg in Australia scheduled for October 10
UK’s AI plan
- AI ambassadors such as MIT economist Simon Johnson, Monzo cofounder Tom Blomfield and Google DeepMind’s Raia Hadsell
- £10bn AI growth zone in South Wales to create 5,000 jobs
- £100m of government support for startups building AI hardware products
- £250m to train new AI models
Polarised public
31% in UK say BBC is biased to left-wing views
19% in UK say BBC is biased to right-wing views
19% in UK say BBC is not biased at all
Source: YouGov
Trump v Khan
2016: Feud begins after Khan criticised Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban to US
2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks
2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit
2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”
2022: Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency
July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”
Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.
Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
