Thor: Love and Thunder is now streaming on Disney+.
The fourth movie in the Thor franchise stars Chris Hemsworth as the titular Marvel superhero/god. Directed by Taika Waititi, it is a sequel to 2017's Thor: Ragnarok.
The film was released in cinemas on July 8, grossing more than $755 million worldwide, making it the sixth-highest-grossing film of 2022.
Who is in it?
In addition to Hemsworth, Natalie Portman stars as Thor’s former love interest Dr Jane Foster and Tessa Thompson as King Valkyrie. Christian Bale plays the villainous Gorr and Russell Crowe stars as Zeus.
Members of the Guardians of the Galaxy also make an appearance, including Chris Pratt as Peter Quill, Dave Bautista as Drax, Karen Gillan as Nebula and Pom Klementieff as Mantis. Vin Diesel and Bradley Cooper voice Groot and Rocket.
What is 'Thor: Love and Thunder' about?
It's a love story first and foremost, with Thor still moping over Jane, the Earthly astrophysicist he previously split from. This “woman of science” we now learn has a life-threatening illness.
With Thor’s home planet of Asgard no longer in existence, the film takes place in New Asgard, which is ruled by Valkyrie. This tranquil Norwegian town attracts tourists in their droves, with vendors selling merchandise such as "Infinity Conz" and actors staging a play of Thor’s adventures (which means another cameo for Matt Damon, as mischievous sibling Loki).
But when Jane arrives, picking up Thor’s broken hammer Mjolnir, she transforms into the Mighty Thor, a development that is also written in the original comics. Soon enough, she’s projected into a battle with Thor, who seems slightly aghast she now has control of his one-time weapon, while he wields the axe Stormbreaker.
What 'The National' said about the film
In our review of Thor: Love and Thunder, we gave the film four out of five stars.
"By now, Hemsworth could probably perform Thor in a coma, but there’s no sense he’s sleepwalking through the role. There’s a playful enthusiasm here, particularly in the scenes with Jane/The Mighty Thor, their chemistry is alive for all to enjoy," writes James Mottram.
"If this is to be his last outing as the character, as he’s already hinted, then he’s going out in fine style — in a story that’s less about world-flattening destruction than it is about growing up, getting older and finding the one you love." Click here to read the full review.
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The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
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Ferrari
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How to improve Arabic reading in early years
One 45-minute class per week in Standard Arabic is not sufficient
The goal should be for grade 1 and 2 students to become fluent readers
Subjects like technology, social studies, science can be taught in later grades
Grade 1 curricula should include oral instruction in Standard Arabic
First graders must regularly practice individual letters and combinations
Time should be slotted in class to read longer passages in early grades
Improve the appearance of textbooks
Revision of curriculum should be undertaken as per research findings
Conjugations of most common verb forms should be taught
Systematic learning of Standard Arabic grammar
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HAJJAN
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What is graphene?
Graphene is extracted from graphite and is made up of pure carbon.
It is 200 times more resistant than steel and five times lighter than aluminum.
It conducts electricity better than any other material at room temperature.
It is thought that graphene could boost the useful life of batteries by 10 per cent.
Graphene can also detect cancer cells in the early stages of the disease.
The material was first discovered when Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov were 'playing' with graphite at the University of Manchester in 2004.
French business
France has organised a delegation of leading businesses to travel to Syria. The group was led by French shipping giant CMA CGM, which struck a 30-year contract in May with the Syrian government to develop and run Latakia port. Also present were water and waste management company Suez, defence multinational Thales, and Ellipse Group, which is currently looking into rehabilitating Syrian hospitals.
The biog
Name: Greg Heinricks
From: Alberta, western Canada
Record fish: 56kg sailfish
Member of: International Game Fish Association
Company: Arabian Divers and Sportfishing Charters
The Year Earth Changed
Directed by:Tom Beard
Narrated by: Sir David Attenborough
Stars: 4
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Rain Management
Year started: 2017
Based: Bahrain
Employees: 100-120
Amount raised: $2.5m from BitMex Ventures and Blockwater. Another $6m raised from MEVP, Coinbase, Vision Ventures, CMT, Jimco and DIFC Fintech Fund