George Michael writing new album

George Michael writing new album

George Michael is writing a new album while he recovers from head injuries sustained during a car accident last month. The 49-year-old former Wham! frontman has been recuperating at home after nearly two weeks in hospital. British media reported that Michael fell out of a car at speed on a busy motorway outside London during rush hour on May 16. "He's doing extremely well," said Michael's spokeswoman. There was no release date for the new material. * Reuters

Hawke to play Macbeth on Broadway

Ethan Hawke plans to return to Broadway this year to play the title role in Macbeth. The Shakespeare tragedy will mark a reunion for Hawke with the director Jack O’Brien at Lincoln Center Theatre, where he starred in Henry IV and The Coast of Utopia, for which he was nominated for a Tony Award. Hawke is currently starring in the horror film The Purge and the romantic drama Before Midnight. Performances of Hawke’s Macbeth begin on October 24. * AP

Taylor Swift on Hollywood prospect

Taylor Swift, who recently appeared on the Fox sitcom New Girl, said that while she likes acting, she has no plans to put aside her guitar. "I love to write music. And I love to put an album together and take two years to do it and put everything I have into it. Except if there was something, some script that came along that was so enticing that I couldn't walk away from it, that I became obsessed with that the way I obsess over music," said the 23-year-old singer. "If you see me commit to a film, it's only because I couldn't focus on anything else." * AP

New Kanye West album leaks

Kanye West's new album Yeezus leaked online Friday, four days before its official release, but the US rapper appeared unconcerned as the internet went crazy over his latest record. The much-anticipated album – due to be officially released on Tuesday – immediately became a top Twitter trending subject, while instant reviews were largely positive. The album includes contributions from Daft Punk, Frank Ocean, Justin Vernon and Kid Cudi. Rolling Stone called the album "the darkest, most extreme music Kanye has ever cooked up ... Every mad genius has to make a record like this at least once in his career". * AFP

Iron Man calms upset toddler

Robert Downey Jr may not be a real superhero, but he sure acted like one for a little Massachusetts boy. Heather Denno took her 1-year-old son Jaxson to watch filming for the movie The Judge, starring Downey, in her hometown of Sunderland this week. Downey spotted the little boy and went over to say hello. Denno told Jaxson that Downey was Iron Man. Confused because of the lack of the trademark metallic red-and-gold suit, Jaxson burst into tears. Downey put a comforting hand on the boy and calmed him. Denno tells The Boston Globe that Downey was "sweet and nurturing", and she could tell he's a dad. * AP

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While you're here

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Company%20Profile

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How to wear a kandura

Dos

Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester

Don’ts

Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:

- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools

- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say

- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance

- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs

- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills

- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month

- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues

Silent Hill f

Publisher: Konami

Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC

Rating: 4.5/5

Moon Music

Artist: Coldplay

Label: Parlophone/Atlantic

Number of tracks: 10

Rating: 3/5

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

Results

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Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances

All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.

Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.

Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.

Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.

Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.

Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.