A day after their alleged nightclub brawl took Twitter by storm, the filmmakers Farah Khan and Shirish Kunder patched up with Shah Rukh Khan by calling on him at his bungalow on Tuesday evening.
Farah Khan's director brother Sajid Khan was the architect of the peace move. The couple hugged SRK in an emotional reunion in the presence of the star's wife Gauri Khan.
"Shah Rukh and I just met, had a heart-to-heart chat and have resolved all misunderstandings. All animosity is now sorted for good," tweeted Kunder, minutes after the meeting.
Farah Khan, who was among SRK's best buddies when she directed him in the superhits Main Hoon Naa and Om Shanti Om, said, "SRK, Gauri, Shirish and I were all unhappy about it. Things had gone out of hand, now everything is sorted out."
Shah Rukh Khan, who had denied physically assaulting Kunder yesterday, tweeted only hours before the patch-up that he felt like "the source and author of a Shakespearean farce ... without the poetry or the prose of course!"
Paula Abdul exits X Factor, too
Paula Abdul joined the exodus from Fox's The X Factor USA on Tuesday night. She said she won't return to "dear friend" Simon Cowell's singing contest when it begins its second season later this year. Her announcement followed Monday's exits of her fellow judge Nicole Scherzinger and the host Steve Jones.
"I've learnt in this industry that business decisions oftentimes override personal considerations," Abdul said in a statement.
Cowell didn't address the reason for the changes but thanked the exiting trio "for everything they did last year".
There was no immediate word from producers on who might fill the open seats.
British Council launches UAE Dickens contest
As part of the global celebrations marking the bicentenary of Charles Dickens, the British Council is calling on aspiring writers and illustrators in the UAE to connect the legacy of the novelist's early sketch work with the rapidly changing country in which they live.
Texts and paintings for the Sketches by Boz: Sketching the City competition will be accepted today until March 4. The works will then be up for public voting on Facebook until March 24.
Established UK and Arab authors and illustrators are set to judge the finalists. The winners will be announced at the 22nd Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, happening from March 28 to April 2. Visit www.britishcouncil.org for more information.
After surgery, Adele to perform at Grammys
Adele is nominated for six Grammys, and she'll be on deck to collect anything she wins: the 23-year-old singer is set to perform at the awards show on February 12.
Adele had surgery on her vocal cords last year, and the Grammys will be her first performance in five months. Her second album, 21, is nominated for the album of the year and the best pop vocal album.
Sean Penn named ambassador for Haiti
The actor Sean Penn has been named ambassador at large for Haiti, in recognition of his humanitarian work since the 2010 earthquake.
The Hollywood star received the honour from the Haitiian President Michel Martelly at a ceremony on Tuesday evening at the National Palace.
The president joked that the "only downside" to Penn's new position is that he can no longer call the actor by his first name - now Penn will be called "ambassador".
Filipino celebrities take on Dubai tonight
Popular actors from the Philippines are scheduled to perform tonight, at 7pm, at Wonderland Theme Park in Dubai.
The event, titled "Proud to be Filipino", features the leading men Derek Ramsay and Alex Castro, the soap star Maja Salvador, the comedian Melai Cantiveros and the recording artist Julie Anne San Jose.
"We're expecting 5,000 attendees, mostly Filipinos but also expats who recognise Filipino talent," says the event director Yhok Banares. "Students from three UAE schools will also be performing." For tickets, call 055 232 1325.
Endangered turtles rescued on Saadiyat
Over the past few weeks, a total of 20 turtles have been found and rescued on Saadiyat Beach. One of them, an endangered hawksbill turtle, was spotted at the Monte-Carlo Beach Club by a lifeguard.
With the help from the Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC) of Abu Dhabi, the turtles are now being cared for at a rehabilitation centre in the Burj Al Arab in Dubai and will be released back into the sea later this year.
The rescued hawksbill is believed to be one of 300 that hatched last summer in a protected nesting ground in the nine-kilometre stretch of beach outside the Monte-Carlo club. TDIC has a stringent conservation plan in place to ensure the turtles continue to thrive on Saadiyat - one of the creature's dwindling number of habitats.
In Full Flight: A Story of Africa and Atonement
John Heminway, Knopff
Avatar (2009)
Director: James Cameron
Stars: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver
Rating: 3/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: Revibe
Started: 2022
Founders: Hamza Iraqui and Abdessamad Ben Zakour
Based: UAE
Industry: Refurbished electronics
Funds raised so far: $10m
Investors: Flat6Labs, Resonance and various others
Expo details
Expo 2020 Dubai will be the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia
The world fair will run for six months from October 20, 2020 to April 10, 2021.
It is expected to attract 25 million visits
Some 70 per cent visitors are projected to come from outside the UAE, the largest proportion of international visitors in the 167-year history of World Expos.
More than 30,000 volunteers are required for Expo 2020
The site covers a total of 4.38 sqkm, including a 2 sqkm gated area
It is located adjacent to Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai South
ASIAN RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP 2024
Results
Hong Kong 52-5 UAE
South Korea 55-5 Malaysia
Malaysia 6-70 Hong Kong
UAE 36-32 South Korea
Fixtures
Friday, June 21, 7.30pm kick-off: UAE v Malaysia
At The Sevens, Dubai (admission is free).
Saturday: Hong Kong v South Korea
Company Profile
Name: Direct Debit System
Started: Sept 2017
Based: UAE with a subsidiary in the UK
Industry: FinTech
Funding: Undisclosed
Investors: Elaine Jones
Number of employees: 8
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Xpanceo
Started: 2018
Founders: Roman Axelrod, Valentyn Volkov
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: Smart contact lenses, augmented/virtual reality
Funding: $40 million
Investor: Opportunity Venture (Asia)
Company Profile
Name: HyveGeo
Started: 2023
Founders: Abdulaziz bin Redha, Dr Samsurin Welch, Eva Morales and Dr Harjit Singh
Based: Cambridge and Dubai
Number of employees: 8
Industry: Sustainability & Environment
Funding: $200,000 plus undisclosed grant
Investors: Venture capital and government
The specs
Engine: 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 380hp at 5,800rpm
Torque: 530Nm at 1,300-4,500rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Price: From Dh299,000 ($81,415)
On sale: Now
Most polluted cities in the Middle East
1. Baghdad, Iraq
2. Manama, Bahrain
3. Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
4. Kuwait City, Kuwait
5. Ras Al Khaimah, UAE
6. Ash Shihaniyah, Qatar
7. Abu Dhabi, UAE
8. Cairo, Egypt
9. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
10. Dubai, UAE
Source: 2022 World Air Quality Report
MOST POLLUTED COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD
1. Chad
2. Iraq
3. Pakistan
4. Bahrain
5. Bangladesh
6. Burkina Faso
7. Kuwait
8. India
9. Egypt
10. Tajikistan
Source: 2022 World Air Quality Report
A QUIET PLACE
Starring: Lupita Nyong'o, Joseph Quinn, Djimon Hounsou
Director: Michael Sarnoski
Rating: 4/5
How champions are made
Diet
7am - Protein shake with oats and fruits
10am - 5-6 egg whites
1pm - White rice or chapati (Indian bread) with chicken
4pm - Dry fruits
7.30pm - Pre workout meal – grilled fish or chicken with veggies and fruits
8.30pm to midnight workout
12.30am – Protein shake
Total intake: 4000-4500 calories
Saidu’s weight: 110 kg
Stats: Biceps 19 inches. Forearms 18 inches
UAE’s revised Cricket World Cup League Two schedule
August, 2021: Host - United States; Teams - UAE, United States and Scotland
Between September and November, 2021 (dates TBC): Host - Namibia; Teams - Namibia, Oman, UAE
December, 2021: Host - UAE; Teams - UAE, Namibia, Oman
February, 2022: Hosts - Nepal; Teams - UAE, Nepal, PNG
June, 2022: Hosts - Scotland; Teams - UAE, United States, Scotland
September, 2022: Hosts - PNG; Teams - UAE, PNG, Nepal
February, 2023: Hosts - UAE; Teams - UAE, PNG, Nepal
The Lowdown
Us
Director: Jordan Peele
Starring: Lupita Nyong'o, Winston Duke, Shahadi Wright Joseqph, Evan Alex and Elisabeth Moss
Rating: 4/5
The biog
Name: Mariam Ketait
Emirate: Dubai
Hobbies: I enjoy travelling, experiencing new things, painting, reading, flying, and the French language
Favourite quote: "Be the change you wish to see" - unknown
Favourite activity: Connecting with different cultures
Zayed Sustainability Prize
RESULTS
Bantamweight title:
Vinicius de Oliveira (BRA) bt Xavier Alaoui (MAR)
(KO round 2)
Catchweight 68kg:
Sean Soriano (USA) bt Noad Lahat (ISR)
(TKO round 1)
Middleweight:
Denis Tiuliulin (RUS) bt Juscelino Ferreira (BRA)
(TKO round 1)
Lightweight:
Anas Siraj Mounir (MAR) bt Joachim Tollefsen (DEN)
(Unanimous decision)
Catchweight 68kg:
Austin Arnett (USA) bt Daniel Vega (MEX)
(TKO round 3)
Lightweight:
Carrington Banks (USA) bt Marcio Andrade (BRA)
(Unanimous decision)
Catchweight 58kg:
Corinne Laframboise (CAN) bt Malin Hermansson (SWE)
(Submission round 2)
Bantamweight:
Jalal Al Daaja (CAN) bt Juares Dea (CMR)
(Split decision)
Middleweight:
Mohamad Osseili (LEB) bt Ivan Slynko (UKR)
(TKO round 1)
Featherweight:
Tarun Grigoryan (ARM) bt Islam Makhamadjanov (UZB)
(Unanimous decision)
Catchweight 54kg:
Mariagiovanna Vai (ITA) bt Daniella Shutov (ISR)
(Submission round 1)
Middleweight:
Joan Arastey (ESP) bt Omran Chaaban (LEB)
(Unanimous decision)
Welterweight:
Bruno Carvalho (POR) bt Souhil Tahiri (ALG)
(TKO)
The specs: 2018 Renault Koleos
Price, base: From Dh77,900
Engine: 2.5L, in-line four-cylinder
Transmission: Continuously variable transmission
Power: 170hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 233Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 8.3L / 100km
The specs: 2018 Ducati SuperSport S
Price, base / as tested: Dh74,900 / Dh85,900
Engine: 937cc
Transmission: Six-speed gearbox
Power: 110hp @ 9,000rpm
Torque: 93Nm @ 6,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 5.9L / 100km