Priyanka Chopra is back in action this week, playing an MI6 agent charged with protecting the US president and the UK prime minister. Meanwhile, Netflix's Trainwreck anthology continues its weekly drop of bizarre, horrifying and some truly heartbreaking stories – from disastrous music festivals to political scandals and media hoaxes.
Here are some of the latest films, shows and music to stream this week.
New movies to stream
Heads of State (Prime Video)
In this action film, Idris Elba plays UK Prime Minister Sam Clarke who, along with US President Will Derringer (John Cena), is on the run from a powerful enemy set on killing both of them. Noel Bisset (Chopra) is an MI6 agent tasked with protecting the two heads of state while also helping thwart a global conspiracy that is threatening to destroy the world. Jack Quaid also stars as a CIA agent assisting the trio.
The Old Guard 2 (Netflix)
A follow-up to the hit 2020 action film, Charlize Theron returns as Andy, who reunites with her fellow immortal mercenaries for a brand new mission to protect the world.
All the original cast members return alongside Theron, from Marwan Kenzari (Joe) to Kiki Layne (Nile) and Chiwetel Ejiofor (Copley). They are joined by Crazy Rich Asians star Henry Golding (Tuah) and Uma Thurman, who plays Discord, an immortal who’s even older than Andy and is out for revenge against all humans – and the Old Guard who protect them.
Trainwreck: The Cult of American Apparel
From the deadly crowd surge at Travis Scott's Astroworld festival in 2021 to a luxury cruise in the US that turns into a trip from hell, Netflix's Trainwreck series has revisited some of the most gripping and horrifying recent incidents from the perspectives of people who were actually there.
Dropping weekly across eight weeks, the latest episode centres on the controversial brand American Apparel, one of the most successful fashion brands in the 2000s, known for its casual clothing and provocative advertising campaigns. But stories of chaotic management and a toxic work environment soon began to dominate headlines, with founder and chief executive Dov Charney eventually ousted by the company's board of directors over allegations of misconduct and inappropriate behaviour towards employees in 2014.
Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story (OSN+)
Ahead of the release of the new Superman film, this touching documentary pays homage to the man who turned the comic book character into one of the most beloved superheroes of our time.
Featuring never-before-seen home movies and personal archives, the intimate film traces Reeve's rise as one of the biggest Hollywood stars, the tragic horse-riding accident that left him paralysed and his inspiring recovery and eventual devotion to disability rights – becoming a real-life hero for many.
New shows to stream
Attack on London: Hunting the 7/7 Bombers (Netflix)
Ahead of the anniversary of the July 7 London bombings in 2005 – which killed 52 people and injured hundreds at four separate locations – Netflix has released a four-part limited series featuring never-seen-before footage and insider accounts.
The suicide attacks, which targeted three London underground stations and one public bus, was one of the UK's deadliest terrorist incidents in history and sparked the biggest manhunt the country had ever seen. Through interviews with eyewitnesses and experts, the series recounts the aftermath of the deadly attacks and the highs and lows of the investigations, and also features heartbreaking testimonies of survivors.
Abbott Elementary season 4 part 3 (Disney+)
Nominated for 24 Emmy Awards since its debut in 2021, Abbott Elementary continues to be a laugh riot into its fourth season, centred around a group of dedicated, passionate teachers and their slightly tone-deaf principal as they navigate the Philadelphia public school system.
In season four, the teachers rally together when construction of a new golf course begins nearby, bringing unprecedented changes to the school. Meanwhile, Janine (Quinta Brunson) and Gregory (Tyler James Williams) are forced to be honest about their relationship to their colleagues and students.
The Sandman season two (Netflix)
About three years after its premiere, the second and final season of The Sandman arrives, beginning two weeks after the end of the first season. Based on the DC Comics fantasy series, the show follows Dream / Morpheus (Tom Sturridge), who is a member of Endless, a powerful but dysfunctional family with almost unlimited powers who can change their appearance depending on who they meet or the situation.
Season one centred around Dream escaping after being held captive for 106 years and rebuilding his kingdom called Dreaming. In season two, he sets about his mission, vowing to look to the future, but the past has other plans.
Volume one of season two, which features six episodes, was released on July 3, while Volume 2 (five episodes) will arrive on July 24. A special bonus episode will also stream on July 31.
New music to stream
Kesha's Period
Stylised with just a . and released on American Independence Day on July 4, Kesha's sixth album – which is also called Period – is her first as a free agent. It's also her first full-length album since her 2023 departure from Kemosabe Records, founded by producer Dr Luke, whom she accused of sexual assault and with whom she fought one of the most acrimonious legal battles in the music industry.
Comprising 11 tracks, fans will already be familiar with five singles, which were released previously, including lead Joyride, Delusional, Yippee-Ki-Yay (featuring singer T-Pain) and most recently, The One.
“This is the first time I’ve owned the words to my voice as an adult," she recently told Vogue. "I really am looking at this as my first record, and I have the same passion and excitement that I did when I was 20 years old. I feel like I’m getting a second chance.”
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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United States
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China
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3.
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UAE
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4.
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Japan
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5
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Norway
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6.
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Canada
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Singapore
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8.
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Australia
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9.
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Saudi Arabia
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10.
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South Korea
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Last-16
France 4
Griezmann (13' pen), Pavard (57'), Mbappe (64', 68')
Argentina 3
Di Maria (41'), Mercado (48'), Aguero (90 3')
Nepotism is the name of the game
Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan, is one of Bollywood’s most legendary screenwriters. Through his partnership with co-writer Javed Akhtar, Salim is credited with having paved the path for the Indian film industry’s blockbuster format in the 1970s. Something his son now rules the roost of. More importantly, the Salim-Javed duo also created the persona of the “angry young man” for Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s, reflecting the angst of the average Indian. In choosing to be the ordinary man’s “hero” as opposed to a thespian in new Bollywood, Salman Khan remains tightly linked to his father’s oeuvre. Thanks dad.
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
Mazen Abukhater, principal and actuary at global consultancy Mercer, Middle East, says the company’s Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index - which benchmarks 34 pension schemes across the globe to assess their adequacy, sustainability and integrity - included Saudi Arabia for the first time this year to offer a glimpse into the region.
The index highlighted fundamental issues for all 34 countries, such as a rapid ageing population and a low growth / low interest environment putting pressure on expected returns. It also highlighted the increasing popularity around the world of defined contribution schemes.
“Average life expectancy has been increasing by about three years every 10 years. Someone born in 1947 is expected to live until 85 whereas someone born in 2007 is expected to live to 103,” Mr Abukhater told the Mena Pensions Conference.
“Are our systems equipped to handle these kind of life expectancies in the future? If so many people retire at 60, they are going to be in retirement for 43 years – so we need to adapt our retirement age to our changing life expectancy.”
Saudi Arabia came in the middle of Mercer’s ranking with a score of 58.9. The report said the country's index could be raised by improving the minimum level of support for the poorest aged individuals and increasing the labour force participation rate at older ages as life expectancies rise.
Mr Abukhater said the challenges of an ageing population, increased life expectancy and some individuals relying solely on their government for financial support in their retirement years will put the system under strain.
“To relieve that pressure, governments need to consider whether it is time to switch to a defined contribution scheme so that individuals can supplement their own future with the help of government support,” he said.
Match info
Australia 580
Pakistan 240 and 335
Result: Australia win by an innings and five runs
Russia's Muslim Heartlands
Dominic Rubin, Oxford
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
At Eternity’s Gate
Director: Julian Schnabel
Starring: Willem Dafoe, Oscar Isaacs, Mads Mikkelsen
Three stars
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The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
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The Africa Institute 101
Housed on the same site as the original Africa Hall, which first hosted an Arab-African Symposium in 1976, the newly renovated building will be home to a think tank and postgraduate studies hub (it will offer master’s and PhD programmes). The centre will focus on both the historical and contemporary links between Africa and the Gulf, and will serve as a meeting place for conferences, symposia, lectures, film screenings, plays, musical performances and more. In fact, today it is hosting a symposium – 5-plus-1: Rethinking Abstraction that will look at the six decades of Frank Bowling’s career, as well as those of his contemporaries that invested social, cultural and personal meaning into abstraction.
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FIXTURES
All kick-off times 10.45pm UAE ( 4 GMT) unless stated
Tuesday
Sevilla v Maribor
Spartak Moscow v Liverpool
Manchester City v Shakhtar Donetsk
Napoli v Feyenoord
Besiktas v RB Leipzig
Monaco v Porto
Apoel Nicosia v Tottenham Hotspur
Borussia Dortmund v Real Madrid
Wednesday
Basel v Benfica
CSKA Moscow Manchester United
Paris Saint-Germain v Bayern Munich
Anderlecht v Celtic
Qarabag v Roma (8pm)
Atletico Madrid v Chelsea
Juventus v Olympiakos
Sporting Lisbon v Barcelona
Scores
Rajasthan Royals 160-8 (20 ov)
Kolkata Knight Riders 163-3 (18.5 ov)
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
