As another scorching summer approaches, so are things hotting up in the multiplexes. The blockbuster season gets underway with the release tomorrow of Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy: Volume 2. James Mottram picks the 10 biggest movies coming our way between now and August, and we predict which will be massive hits, those that will scrape by and the ones for which the jury's out.
• Unless otherwise noted, release dates are for North America. UAE dates are yet to be announced and might be delayed by Ramadan
Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2
Stars: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Kurt Russell
Opens: May 4 (UAE)
Plot: The ragtag team of intergalactic space freaks are back, facing a new enemy from close to home.
Prospects: It's Marvel, so obviously this is big. The original cast – Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana and Dave Bautista – are all back, including CGI creatures Rocket Raccoon and Groot, the monosyllabic walking tree, now in uber-cute baby form. Early reactions have been a little mixed, but it is still the funkiest superhero franchise.
Prediction: Massive
Alien: Covenant
Stars: Katherine Waterston, Michael Fassbender, Billy Crudup, Danny McBride
Opens: May 19
Plot: The crew of the spaceship Covenant land on a remote planet where they make a terrifying discovery.
Prospects: Alien prequel Prometheus (2012) underwhelmed, even with the director of the 1979 original, Ridley Scott, at the helm. This follow-up looks closer to the tone of the classic series – but has the damage been done. Scott again directs, with Michael Fassbender back as android David, and Katherine Waterston taking the lead, with the looks of original star Sigourney Weaver. Scariest movie this summer? You bet.
Prediction: Jury's out
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales
Stars: Johnny Depp, Javier Bardem, Geoffrey Rush, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley
Opens: May 26
Plot: Captain Jack Sparrow is back, this time on the hunt for the Trident of Poseidon.
Prospects: The previous Pirates outing, 2011's On Stranger Tides, made more than US$1 billion (Dh3bn) – and there is no reason why this fifth outing cannot do similar business – as Depp's Sparrow does battle with Bardem's ghostly pirate. Early word suggests it has the same sense of fun as the original 2003 movie, The Curse of the Black Pearl.
Prediction: Massive
Wonder Woman
Stars: Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Robin Wright
Opens: June 2
Plot: An original story for the DC Comics superheroine.
Prospects: Gal Gadot stole the show as Wonder Woman in Batman v Superman, and this first solo outing could strike a chord beyond the fanboys. Patty Jenkins is the first women to direct a superhero movie, and is likely to bring a different sensibility to the DC-verse – no bad thing, given the critical reception to the movies in the franchise so far. Could be the summer's dark horse.
Prediction: Jury's out
The Mummy
Stars: Tom Cruise, Russell Crowe, Sofia Boutella, Annabelle Wallis, Jake Johnson
Opens: June 9
Plot: When the tomb of an Egyptian princess is unearthed, she rises to wreak havoc.
Prospects: Tom Cruise stars in this new spin on the classic Universal monster movie, the first in a proposed series that will ultimately unite Dracula, Frankenstein's monster, The Wolf-Man and others, Avengers-style. Star Trek Beyond's breakout star Boutella looks fabulous as the Mummy, while Cruise and Crowe coming together on screen for the first time is intriguing. Given that this is intended to kick-start a shared universe, the stakes are high – but will audiences care?
Prediction: Jury's out
Cars 3
Stars: Armie Hammer, Cristela Alonzo, Nathan Fillion, Owen Wilson, Bonnie Hunt
Opens: June 16
Plot: On a losing streak, race car Lightning McQueen looks for help to mount a comeback.
Prospects: Cars is not Pixar's most lucrative franchise, but it is loved by kids and the race footage in the teaser for this latest instalment is thrilling. With Cars storyboard artist Brian Fee graduating to director, and Armie Hammer voicing Lightning's rival Jackson Storm, it should have enough juice in the tank.
Prediction: Scrape by
Transformers: The Last Knight
Stars: Mark Wahlberg, Anthony Hopkins
Opens: June 23
Plot: With the world at war with the Transformers, Cade Yeagar (Wahlberg) discovers why the robots keep returning.
Prospects: Critics might sneer at them, but the previous two Transformers movies each earned more than $1bn, so there is no sign audiences are tired of the CGI bots just yet. Star Wahlberg returns and director Michael Bay for his fifth, and as he says final, Transformers movie.
Prediction: Massive
Despicable Me 3
Stars: Steve Carell, Trey Parker, Kristen Wiig
Opens: June 30
Plot: Gru meets his long-lost twin, and faces-off against a new villain, Balthazar Bratt.
Prospects: The biggest animated movie of the summer, for sure, DM3 brings back villain-turned-dad Gru and his yellow Minions, fresh from their own $1bn spin-off movie in 2015, and pits them against a 1980s-loving villain voiced by South Park creator Trey Parker. Perfect for kids, and with enough retro-nostalgia to please the parents, this will be huge.
Prediction: Massive
Spider-Man: Homecoming
Stars: Tom Holland, Robert Downey Jr, Michael Keaton, Marisa Tomei, Zendaya
Opens: July 7
Plot: The newest incarnation of the web-slinger gets his first solo outing.
Prospects: Huge. Holland's introduction as Spider-Man last year in Captain America: Civil War was the film's highlight, as Peter Parker finally joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The Avengers connection remains strong in Spidey's own movie, with Robert Downey Jr's Tony Stark/Iron Man continuing to act as his snarky mentor.
Prediction: Massive
Dunkirk
Stars: Tom Hardy, Mark Rylance, Kenneth Branagh, Cillian Murphy, Fionn Whitehead
Opens: July 21
Plot: Allied troops are evacuated from French beaches during the Second World War.
Prospects: Christopher Nolan, director of The Dark Knight trilogy and Inception, makes his first real-life historical saga – featuring the acting debut of One Direction's Harry Styles. Production was itself like a military operation, complete with real Spitfires. Whether it makes enough cash to be considered a blockbuster remains to be seen, but it is likely to be a major Oscar contender.
Prediction: Scrape by
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
HAJJAN
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Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
UAE squad
Rohan Mustafa (captain), Ashfaq Ahmed, Ghulam Shabber, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammed Boota, Mohammed Usman, Adnan Mufti, Shaiman Anwar, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Qadeer Ahmed, Mohammed Naveed, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Friday Hertha Berlin v Union Berlin (11.30pm)
Saturday Freiburg v Borussia Monchengladbach, Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Dortmund, Cologne v Wolfsburg, Arminia Bielefeld v Mainz (6.30pm) Bayern Munich v RB Leipzig (9.30pm)
Sunday Werder Bremen v Stuttgart (6.30pm), Schalke v Bayer Leverkusen (9pm)
Monday Hoffenheim v Augsburg (11.30pm)
Scoreline
Arsenal 0 Manchester City 3
- Agüero 18'
- Kompany 58'
- Silva 65'
The specs: 2019 Mercedes-Benz C200 Coupe
Price, base: Dh201,153
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Power: 204hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 300Nm @ 1,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.7L / 100km
ELECTION%20RESULTS
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New Zealand 57-0 South Africa
Tries: Rieko Ioane, Nehe Milner-Skudder (2), Scott Barrett, Brodie Retallick, Ofa Tu'ungfasi, Lima Sopoaga, Codie Taylor. Conversions: Beauden Barrett (7). Penalty: Beauden Barrett
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
Young women have more “financial grit”, but fall behind on investing
In an October survey of young adults aged 16 to 25, Charles Schwab found young women are more driven to reach financial independence than young men (67 per cent versus. 58 per cent). They are more likely to take on extra work to make ends meet and see more value than men in creating a plan to achieve their financial goals. Yet, despite all these good ‘first’ measures, they are investing and saving less than young men – falling early into the financial gender gap.
While the women surveyed report spending 36 per cent less than men, they have far less savings than men ($1,267 versus $2,000) – a nearly 60 per cent difference.
In addition, twice as many young men as women say they would invest spare cash, and almost twice as many young men as women report having investment accounts (though most young adults do not invest at all).
“Despite their good intentions, young women start to fall behind their male counterparts in savings and investing early on in life,” said Carrie Schwab-Pomerantz, senior vice president, Charles Schwab. “They start off showing a strong financial planning mindset, but there is still room for further education when it comes to managing their day-to-day finances.”
Ms Schwab-Pomerantz says parents should be conveying the same messages to boys and girls about money, but should tailor those conversations based on the individual and gender.
"Our study shows that while boys are spending more than girls, they also are saving more. Have open and honest conversations with your daughters about the wage and savings gap," she said. "Teach kids about the importance of investing – especially girls, who as we see in this study, aren’t investing as much. Part of being financially prepared is learning to make the most of your money, and that means investing early and consistently."
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
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.
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Libya's Gold
UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves.
The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.
Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.
Brief scores:
Day 1
Toss: India, chose to bat
India (1st innings): 215-2 (89 ov)
Agarwal 76, Pujara 68 not out; Cummins 2-40
Champions parade (UAE timings)
7pm Gates open
8pm Deansgate stage showing starts
9pm Parade starts at Manchester Cathedral
9.45pm Parade ends at Peter Street
10pm City players on stage
11pm event ends
AL%20BOOM
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Haircare resolutions 2021
From Beirut and Amman to London and now Dubai, hairstylist George Massoud has seen the same mistakes made by customers all over the world. In the chair or at-home hair care, here are the resolutions he wishes his customers would make for the year ahead.
1. 'I will seek consultation from professionals'
You may know what you want, but are you sure it’s going to suit you? Haircare professionals can tell you what will work best with your skin tone, hair texture and lifestyle.
2. 'I will tell my hairdresser when I’m not happy'
Massoud says it’s better to offer constructive criticism to work on in the future. Your hairdresser will learn, and you may discover how to communicate exactly what you want more effectively the next time.
3. ‘I will treat my hair better out of the chair’
Damage control is a big part of most hairstylists’ work right now, but it can be avoided. Steer clear of over-colouring at home, try and pursue one hair brand at a time and never, ever use a straightener on still drying hair, pleads Massoud.
Brief scores:
Southampton 2
Armstrong 13', Soares 20'
Manchester United 2
Lukaku 33', Herrera 39'
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.
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
Student Of The Year 2
Director: Punit Malhotra
Stars: Tiger Shroff, Tara Sutaria, Ananya Pandey, Aditya Seal
1.5 stars
The past Palme d'Or winners
2018 Shoplifters, Hirokazu Kore-eda
2017 The Square, Ruben Ostlund
2016 I, Daniel Blake, Ken Loach
2015 Dheepan, Jacques Audiard
2014 Winter Sleep (Kış Uykusu), Nuri Bilge Ceylan
2013 Blue is the Warmest Colour (La Vie d'Adèle: Chapitres 1 et 2), Abdellatif Kechiche, Adele Exarchopoulos and Lea Seydoux
2012 Amour, Michael Haneke
2011 The Tree of Life, Terrence Malick
2010 Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives (Lung Bunmi Raluek Chat), Apichatpong Weerasethakul
2009 The White Ribbon (Eine deutsche Kindergeschichte), Michael Haneke
2008 The Class (Entre les murs), Laurent Cantet
More on Quran memorisation:
WORLD RECORD FEES FOR GOALKEEPERS
1) Kepa Arrizabalaga, Athletic Bilbao to Chelsea (£72m)
2) Alisson, Roma to Liverpool (£67m)
3) Ederson, Benfica to Manchester City (£35m)
4) Gianluigi Buffon, Parma to Juventus (£33m)
5) Angelo Peruzzi, Inter Milan to Lazio (£15.7m
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
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Museum of the Future in numbers
- 78 metres is the height of the museum
- 30,000 square metres is its total area
- 17,000 square metres is the length of the stainless steel facade
- 14 kilometres is the length of LED lights used on the facade
- 1,024 individual pieces make up the exterior
- 7 floors in all, with one for administrative offices
- 2,400 diagonally intersecting steel members frame the torus shape
- 100 species of trees and plants dot the gardens
- Dh145 is the price of a ticket
