The English singer-songwriter James Walsh will open for the Manchester rockers The Stone Roses in their February 21 concert, to be held at the Dubai Media City Amphitheatre. Walsh, who has sold more than three million albums worldwide, has supported acts such as The Rolling Stones and Cheryl Crow. For more information, visit www.thestonerosesdubai.com.
Carla Bruni to release new album
Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, France's former first lady, will release a new album, Little French Songs, in the spring. The record is "practically finished", her agent told RTL radio. It will be her first album since 2008, when she married Nicolas Sarkozy. Her agent said that while the former model lived at Elysée Palace, she "suffered from not being able to do her job". Bruni-Sarkozy writes her own lyrics and often also composes the music. The royalties for her last record went to the Fondation de France charity. - AFP
Spielberg dominates directors guild
Steven Spielberg received a record 11th nomination for the Directors Guild of America prize, the latest for his Civil War epic Lincoln. He has won the award a record three times. Also nominated are Kathryn Bigelow for Zero Dark Thirty, Tom Hooper for Les Misérables and Ang Lee for Life of Pi. Ben Affleck is a first-time nominee for Argo. Winners will be announced on February 2. - AP
Twilight leads Razzies
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2 leads the Razzies line-up with 11 nominations, including Worst Picture and lead-acting slots for Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson. Other Worst-Picture nominees are the naval action tale Battleship, Adam Sandler's That's My Boy and Eddie Murphy's A Thousand Words. Singling out Hollywood's worst of the year, the Razzies will be held on February 23, the night before the Oscars. - AP
No changes on serial killer show
The Fox network says it has not made changes to the content of its forthcoming drama, The Following, since the Connecticut school shooting on December 14, but some advertisements for the show were softened immediately afterward. The drama features Kevin Bacon chasing a killer who recruits murderous disciples. The show debuts later this month. The series opens with a woman committing suicide by gouging her eye with an ice pick. Fox entertainment's president Kevin Reilly said that linking the issue of violence in society to television trivialises the issue. Fox's spokesman Joe Earley said that billboards depicting the woman with an ice pick were changed to pictures of Bacon. - AP
Ryan Murphy directs HBO telepic
Normal Heart, the Tony-winning play that debuted in 1985, is set for an HBO adaptation. The telepic will go into production this year, with plans to broadcast next year. It stars Julia Roberts, Mark Ruffalo and Matt Bomer. Set in New York during the onset of the HIV/Aids crisis in the 1980s, Normal Heart will be directed by Ryan Murphy, marking the first time the Glee creator has worked with HBO. - The National staff
Ryan Lochte diving into reality TV
The Olympic champion swimmer Ryan Lochte is debuting in his own TV series in April. Broadcast on E!, What Would Ryan Lochte Do? will follow the 28-year-old swimmer as he prepares for the 2016 Rio Olympics while developing his fashion line, making media appearances and dealing with his family and friends. He won five medals at the London Olympics. - AP
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
Three tips from La Perle's performers
1 The kind of water athletes drink is important. Gwilym Hooson, a 28-year-old British performer who is currently recovering from knee surgery, found that out when the company was still in Studio City, training for 12 hours a day. “The physio team was like: ‘Why is everyone getting cramps?’ And then they realised we had to add salt and sugar to the water,” he says.
2 A little chocolate is a good thing. “It’s emergency energy,” says Craig Paul Smith, La Perle’s head coach and former Cirque du Soleil performer, gesturing to an almost-empty open box of mini chocolate bars on his desk backstage.
3 Take chances, says Young, who has worked all over the world, including most recently at Dragone’s show in China. “Every time we go out of our comfort zone, we learn a lot about ourselves,” she says.
More from Janine di Giovanni
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
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