So we finally have our first confirmation of the Star Wars location shooting, but what about the cast? Here are the rumours to date
Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher
The magnificent three from the original Star Wars: A New Hope are all expected to return for Episode 7. Fisher told TV Guide in an interview in January that the three would start filming in March or April, adding: "I'd like to wear my old [cinnamon buns] hairstyle again – but with white hair. I think that would be funny."
Adam Driver
The Girls star is widely rumoured to be playing a Darth Vader-like villain, a fact seemingly confirmed when his Girls co-star Lena Dunham tweeted: "We're VERY proud of Adam Driver re: Star Wars. He's about to rip a hole in da force." Though Dunham did swiftly backtrack: "I confirm nothing bc I know nothing bc I'm on a plane with my dad!" Oops.
Benedict Cumberbatch
The ubiquitous British star has also been linked with a villan's role, though he denied it at Oz Comic-Con earlier this month. But then he wasn't playing Khan in Star Trek: Into Darkness either, was he?
Gary Oldman
Slightly more than a rumour as Oldman admitted he's been "called" about a role, but we don't know what role, and "called" isn't "cast". He'd make a great Sith lord, played in the psychotic style of Leon's Norman Stansfield.
Peter Mayhew
The 7-foot-3-inch-tall British giant is widely expected to reprise his role as wookie Chewbacca, and recently cancelled a May 23-26 Comic-Con appearance in Texas “due to filming”. We hope the 70-year-old actor doesn’t have to film in the Abu Dhabi desert in that huge furry costume.
R2D2
Disney has actually confirmed that Luke Skywalker's trusty companion will be in the new film. The producers have hired British Star Wars fans Lee Towersey and Oliver Steeples to build a fully functioning R2D2. But if the unit is fully functioning, will the team need Kenny Baker to reprise his role inside the droid from the previous movies?
cnewbould@thenational.ae
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.
The%20specs
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Profile
Co-founders of the company: Vilhelm Hedberg and Ravi Bhusari
Launch year: In 2016 ekar launched and signed an agreement with Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi. In January 2017 ekar launched in Dubai in a partnership with the RTA.
Number of employees: Over 50
Financing stage: Series B currently being finalised
Investors: Series A - Audacia Capital
Sector of operation: Transport
Napoleon
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The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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Company profile
Name: Steppi
Founders: Joe Franklin and Milos Savic
Launched: February 2020
Size: 10,000 users by the end of July and a goal of 200,000 users by the end of the year
Employees: Five
Based: Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai
Financing stage: Two seed rounds – the first sourced from angel investors and the founders' personal savings
Second round raised Dh720,000 from silent investors in June this year
Water waste
In the UAE’s arid climate, small shrubs, bushes and flower beds usually require about six litres of water per square metre, daily. That increases to 12 litres per square metre a day for small trees, and 300 litres for palm trees.
Horticulturists suggest the best time for watering is before 8am or after 6pm, when water won't be dried up by the sun.
A global report published by the Water Resources Institute in August, ranked the UAE 10th out of 164 nations where water supplies are most stretched.
The Emirates is the world’s third largest per capita water consumer after the US and Canada.
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Company%20profile
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Thank You for Banking with Us
Director: Laila Abbas
Starring: Yasmine Al Massri, Clara Khoury, Kamel El Basha, Ashraf Barhoum
Rating: 4/5
Landfill in numbers
• Landfill gas is composed of 50 per cent methane
• Methane is 28 times more harmful than Co2 in terms of global warming
• 11 million total tonnes of waste are being generated annually in Abu Dhabi
• 18,000 tonnes per year of hazardous and medical waste is produced in Abu Dhabi emirate per year
• 20,000 litres of cooking oil produced in Abu Dhabi’s cafeterias and restaurants every day is thrown away
• 50 per cent of Abu Dhabi’s waste is from construction and demolition
Pad Man
Dir: R Balki
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Sonam Kapoor, Radhika Apte
Three-and-a-half stars
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded