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Director Sam Mendes is done with Bond franchise



British filmmaker Sam Mendes, the director of Bond movies Skyfall and Spectre, says he will not make the next instalment in the 007 saga. "It was an incredible adventure," he says. "I loved every second of it – but I think it's time for somebody else." A former theatre director whose films include the Oscar-winner American Beauty and the sombre Revolutionary Road, Mendes said he hoped the next Bond director would come from an "unexpected direction," just as he had. Skyfall was a hit with critics and fans alike, with many saying he brought new depth to the characters. Spectre was also a success, although some critics said it seemed a bit tired. Mendes indicated a desire to work on something fresh. He said: "I'm a storyteller. And at the end of the day, I want to make stories with new characters." It is yet to be revealed whether Daniel Craig will return for a fifth turn as 007, amid rumours that he has also decided to call it quits. – AP

Divorce is back on for Khloé Kardashian

Reality TV star Khloé ­Kardashian's has filed for divorce – again. The 31-year-old called off her divorce from 36-year-old basketball player Lamar Odom last year to help him recover following his collapse in Nevada. She has filed the papers again and her family is happy with the decision, saying she needs to move on with her life, TMZ reports. According to People.com, a source said, "Everyone in her family is happy that she is moving on. She has all the support possible." Another family source said: "It was always the plan to go through it. The divorce has never been officially off. Khloé was waiting for the timing to be right." The couple married in 2009 following a whirlwind romance. She first filed for divorce four years later after discovering he had been cheating on her and taking drugs. She has cited irreconcilable differences as the reason behind their split and has hired lawyer Laura Wasser, who is also ­representing Johnny Depp in his divorce from Amber Heard. – The National

Johar gets emotional about Aditya Chopra

Filmmaker Karan Johar felt "so emotional" during a recent visit to the set of director Aditya Chopra's upcoming movie Befikre. On Twitter, Johar said meeting Chopra took him back to his Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge days. He tweeted: "Spent two days in Paris! Felt Befikre and was so emotional being on Adi's sets again! Took me back the DDLJ days ... the best memories." Johar and Chopra worked together on the 1995 film, which starred Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol in the lead roles. Johar is shooting his upcoming film Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, starring Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Ranbir Kapoor and Anushka Sharma. – IANS

JLo buys $28m new home

Singer and actress Jennifer Lopez has just spent US $28 million (Dh102.8m) on a house in the Bel Air neighbourhood of Los Angeles. The 46-year-old star bought the eight-acre estate – with its own lake and a beach – from actress Sela Ward, who originally wanted $40m for the property. The 13,000 square foot house also includes two pools, a miniature golf course and amphitheatre. Last year, Lopez put her Hidden Hills home on the market for $17m but dropped the price to $12.5m this year. She bought it in 2010 when she was still married to Marc Anthony. – The National and IANS

Japan 30-10 Russia

Tries: Matsushima (3), Labuschange | Golosnitsky

Conversions: Tamura, Matsuda | Kushnarev

Penalties: Tamura (2) | Kushnarev

Royal Birkdale Golf Course

Location: Southport, Merseyside, England

Established: 1889

Type: Private

Total holes: 18

Guide to intelligent investing
Investing success often hinges on discipline and perspective. As markets fluctuate, remember these guiding principles:
  • Stay invested: Time in the market, not timing the market, is critical to long-term gains.
  • Rational thinking: Breathe and avoid emotional decision-making; let logic and planning guide your actions.
  • Strategic patience: Understand why you’re investing and allow time for your strategies to unfold.
 
 
Drishyam 2

Directed by: Jeethu Joseph

Starring: Mohanlal, Meena, Ansiba, Murali Gopy

Rating: 4 stars

The bio

Who inspires you?

I am in awe of the remarkable women in the Arab region, both big and small, pushing boundaries and becoming role models for generations. Emily Nasrallah was a writer, journalist, teacher and women’s rights activist

How do you relax?

Yoga relaxes me and helps me relieve tension, especially now when we’re practically chained to laptops and desks. I enjoy learning more about music and the history of famous music bands and genres.

What is favourite book?

The Perks of Being a Wallflower - I think I've read it more than 7 times

What is your favourite Arabic film?

Hala2 Lawen (Translation: Where Do We Go Now?) by Nadine Labaki

What is favourite English film?

Mamma Mia

Best piece of advice to someone looking for a career at Google?

If you’re interested in a career at Google, deep dive into the different career paths and pinpoint the space you want to join. When you know your space, you’re likely to identify the skills you need to develop.  

 

Profile of Whizkey

Date founded: 04 November 2017

Founders: Abdulaziz AlBlooshi and Harsh Hirani

Based: Dubai, UAE

Number of employees: 10

Sector: AI, software

Cashflow: Dh2.5 Million  

Funding stage: Series A

COMPANY PROFILE

Company name: Blah

Started: 2018

Founder: Aliyah Al Abbar and Hend Al Marri

Based: Dubai

Industry: Technology and talent management

Initial investment: Dh20,000

Investors: Self-funded

Total customers: 40

What is safeguarding?

“Safeguarding, not just in sport, but in all walks of life, is making sure that policies are put in place that make sure your child is safe; when they attend a football club, a tennis club, that there are welfare officers at clubs who are qualified to a standard to make sure your child is safe in that environment,” Derek Bell explains.