Lawyers for Porsche say Paul Walker was to blame for own death



Lawyers for German automaker Porsche said actor Paul Walker was responsible for his own death in a crash of a Porsche sports car. The announcement came in response to a wrongful-death lawsuit filed by the former Fast and the Furious star's daughter, Meadow Walker.

In November 2013, Walker was a passenger in a 2005 Porsche Carrera GT driven by friend Roger Rodas when the vehicle crashed into trees in Santa Clarita, north-west of Los Angeles, killing both men.

After a four-month investigation, Los Angeles officials said the crash was caused by excessive speed and not mechanical failure.

Lawyers for Porsche said Walker had “knowingly and voluntarily assumed all risk, perils and danger” of the 2005 Carrera GT, and that the car, owned by Rodas, had been “abused and altered,” and “was misused and improperly maintained. That abuse and alteration proximately caused or contributed to the incident and to Mr. Walker’s death.” – Reuters

Fast and the Furious spin-offs in the works

The makers of the Fast and the Furious movies are planning spin-offs and prequels for the car-racing series.

Development is still in the early stages, but star Vin Diesel says producers are keen to extend the action-thrillers beyond seven movies released so far. Furious 7, which was released this year, was partly filmed in Abu Dhabi and become the highest-earning film in the series.

“We’ve written out storylines for various characters. We’ve been playing with it for a long time. It’s a very rich property and we’re committed to treating it with a lot of class,” Diesel told variety.com.

Universal Pictures Chairman Donna Langley confirmed that discussions were taking place about how to broaden the’ reach of the series.

“We’re certainly in conversations about how we can expand the franchise now. It’s an ensemble cast and there’s room to bring characters in and out,” said Langley. – IANS

James Bond’s Aston Martin DB10 star of London exhibition

James Bond's Aston Martin DB10 from the film Spectre is the newest addition to an exhibition in London featuring the iconic cars from the movie.

“It’s the first time we’ve been able to have a live exhibition during the theatrical launch of a film, so we’re hugely excited,” said Jonathan Sands, the founder and chief executive of the London Film Museum, which is curating the exhibition.

Bond in Motion – The Cars of Spectre, also features cars driven by villains, including Mr. Hinx's Jaguar C-X75 and Franz Oberhauser's Rolls-Royce Wraith. The exhibition includes more than 150 original artefacts spanning all 24 Bond films, from costumes to concept art and storyboards. For tickets, visit to www.londonfilmmuseum.com. – Reuters

Julia Roberts mines trauma in gritty new thriller

Oscar-winning actress Julia Roberts may be best known for her trademark big smile, but in her latest film, Secret in Their Eyes (in UAE cinemas from November 19), she taps into a much less glamorous side of herself to play a traumatised police officer. In the film, set for US release this week, Roberts plays Jess, a police officer who arrives at a murder scene to find out that the victim is her daughter. The discovery transforms her from an extroverted joker into a withdrawn, broken individual.

The role was "hugely difficult but really a great opportunity to show such a giant distance in the life of one person," says 48-year-old Roberts. "I don't think I've ever had a chance to cover so much time with one character." The film is a remake of the 2009 Argentine movie El Secreto de Sus Ojos, which won the best foreign film Oscar. – Reuters

Actress Sharmila Tagore calls for equal pay in Hindi film industry

Veteran Hindi actress Sharmila Tagore highlighted pay inequalities within the Hindi movie industry when she appeared at the 21st Kolkata International Film Festival.

“There is no parity. Male actors are still getting more and female actors are getting less, so that needs to change,” she said. “In my time, the difference was much more. In my time, we [women] definitely played a secondary role. Now the perception has changed.”

Citing examples of female-lead films including, Piku by director Shoojit Sircar and Zoya Akhtar's Dil Dhadakne Do, the actress said that increasingly women were taking the starring roles and that the trend was set to continue.

“Things are changing and it will take time.” she said “We need not despair.” – IANS

The Sand Castle

Director: Matty Brown

Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea

Rating: 2.5/5

BORDERLANDS

Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis

Director: Eli Roth

Rating: 0/5

The specs

Engine: 8.0-litre, quad-turbo 16-cylinder

Transmission: 7-speed auto

0-100kmh 2.3 seconds

0-200kmh 5.5 seconds

0-300kmh 11.6 seconds

Power: 1500hp

Torque: 1600Nm

Price: Dh13,400,000

On sale: now

Director: Laxman Utekar

Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna

Rating: 1/5

THE LIGHT

Director: Tom Tykwer

Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger

Rating: 3/5

RESULT

Esperance de Tunis 1 Guadalajara 1 
(Esperance won 6-5 on penalties)
Esperance: Belaili 38’
Guadalajara: Sandoval 5’

The specs

Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8

Power: 611bhp

Torque: 620Nm

Transmission: seven-speed automatic

Price: upon application

On sale: now

INDIA'S%20TOP%20INFLUENCERS
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PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES

Saturday (UAE kick-off times)

Watford v Leicester City (3.30pm)

Brighton v Arsenal (6pm)

West Ham v Wolves (8.30pm)

Bournemouth v Crystal Palace (10.45pm)

Sunday

Newcastle United v Sheffield United (5pm)

Aston Villa v Chelsea (7.15pm)

Everton v Liverpool (10pm)

Monday

Manchester City v Burnley (11pm)

Our legal advisor

Rasmi Ragy is a senior counsel at Charles Russell Speechlys, a law firm headquartered in London with offices in Europe, the Middle East and Hong Kong.

Experience: Prosecutor in Egypt with more than 40 years experience across the GCC.

Education: Ain Shams University, Egypt, in 1978.

FIXTURES

Monday, January 28
Iran v Japan, Hazza bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)

Tuesday, January 29
UAEv Qatar, Mohamed Bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)

Friday, February 1
Final, Zayed Sports City Stadium (6pm)

Sweet%20Tooth
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MWTC

Tickets start from Dh100 for adults and are now on sale at www.ticketmaster.ae and Virgin Megastores across the UAE. Three-day and travel packages are also available at 20 per cent discount.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

Get Out

Director: Jordan Peele

Stars: Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Catherine Keener, Bradley Whitford

Four stars

The figures behind the event

1) More than 300 in-house cleaning crew

2) 165 staff assigned to sanitise public areas throughout the show

3) 1,000 social distancing stickers

4) 809 hand sanitiser dispensers placed throughout the venue

Tips on buying property during a pandemic

Islay Robinson, group chief executive of mortgage broker Enness Global, offers his advice on buying property in today's market.

While many have been quick to call a market collapse, this simply isn’t what we’re seeing on the ground. Many pockets of the global property market, including London and the UAE, continue to be compelling locations to invest in real estate.

While an air of uncertainty remains, the outlook is far better than anyone could have predicted. However, it is still important to consider the wider threat posed by Covid-19 when buying bricks and mortar. 

Anything with outside space, gardens and private entrances is a must and these property features will see your investment keep its value should the pandemic drag on. In contrast, flats and particularly high-rise developments are falling in popularity and investors should avoid them at all costs.

Attractive investment property can be hard to find amid strong demand and heightened buyer activity. When you do find one, be prepared to move hard and fast to secure it. If you have your finances in order, this shouldn’t be an issue.

Lenders continue to lend and rates remain at an all-time low, so utilise this. There is no point in tying up cash when you can keep this liquidity to maximise other opportunities. 

Keep your head and, as always when investing, take the long-term view. External factors such as coronavirus or Brexit will present challenges in the short-term, but the long-term outlook remains strong. 

Finally, keep an eye on your currency. Whenever currency fluctuations favour foreign buyers, you can bet that demand will increase, as they act to secure what is essentially a discounted property.

Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)

What is THAAD?

It is considered to be the US' most superior missile defence system.

Production:

It was first created in 2008.

Speed:

THAAD missiles can travel at over Mach 8, so fast that it is hypersonic.

Abilities:

THAAD is designed to take out projectiles, namely ballistic missiles, as they are on their downward trajectory towards their target, otherwise known as the "terminal phase".

Purpose:

To protect high-value strategic sites, such as airfields or population centres.

Range:

THAAD can target projectiles both inside and outside of the Earth's atmosphere, at an altitude of 93 miles above the Earth's surface.

Creators:

Lockheed Martin was originally granted the contract to develop the system in 1992. Defence company Raytheon sub-contracts to develop other major parts of the system, such as ground-based radar.

UAE and THAAD:

In 2011, the UAE became the first country outside of the US to buy two THAAD missile defence systems. It then deployed them in 2016, becoming the first Gulf country to do so.

Company profile

Name: Dukkantek 

Started: January 2021 

Founders: Sanad Yaghi, Ali Al Sayegh and Shadi Joulani 

Based: UAE 

Number of employees: 140 

Sector: B2B Vertical SaaS(software as a service) 

Investment: $5.2 million 

Funding stage: Seed round 

Investors: Global Founders Capital, Colle Capital Partners, Wamda Capital, Plug and Play, Comma Capital, Nowais Capital, Annex Investments and AMK Investment Office  

Which honey takes your fancy?

Al Ghaf Honey

The Al Ghaf tree is a local desert tree which bears the harsh summers with drought and high temperatures. From the rich flowers, bees that pollinate this tree can produce delicious red colour honey in June and July each year

Sidr Honey

The Sidr tree is an evergreen tree with long and strong forked branches. The blossom from this tree is called Yabyab, which provides rich food for bees to produce honey in October and November. This honey is the most expensive, but tastiest

Samar Honey

The Samar tree trunk, leaves and blossom contains Barm which is the secret of healing. You can enjoy the best types of honey from this tree every year in May and June. It is an historical witness to the life of the Emirati nation which represents the harsh desert and mountain environments

The specs

Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel

Power: 579hp

Torque: 859Nm

Transmission: Single-speed automatic

Price: From Dh825,900

On sale: Now

German intelligence warnings
  • 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
  • 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
  • 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250 

Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution

How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills