The Bourne Legacy's epically long motorbike chase through Manila. Courtesy Universal Pictures
The Bourne Legacy's epically long motorbike chase through Manila. Courtesy Universal Pictures
The Bourne Legacy's epically long motorbike chase through Manila. Courtesy Universal Pictures
The Bourne Legacy's epically long motorbike chase through Manila. Courtesy Universal Pictures

Our first-ever alternative Oscars: the Other Oscars


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The Academy Awards will be handed out to hopefuls from big Hollywood films including Les Miserables and Argo. Then are the moments and films that don't exactly make the list. We like to call them, The Other Oscars.

Best "Hey, it's That Guy from Breaking Bad" moment:

Lincoln

It seems as though David Costabile was just the other day breaking our hearts as the sweet but ill-fated vegan meth cook Gale Boetticher, but there he was on the big screen, amid all the fake beards, portraying the Republican representative James Ashley.

Best Censored Household Ornament:

Django Unchained

All the blood and swearing in Django Unchained seemed to pass the censors largely untouched. But Tarantino's slavery slapstick did feature one major piece of eye-catching regional editing. During the pivotal dining room scene in DiCaprio's estate, the statue by the wall was covered by a gigantic blob. Your guess is as good as ours, but we reckon it involved some sort of illicit cuddling.

Most Predictable Ending in a Film about a Boy Sprouting Greenery:

The Odd Life of Timothy Green

A boy is born of the Earth from the buried hopes of his desperate parents and proceeds to capture the hearts of an entire town without raising any suspicion about his origins. When his leaves turn gold and start to fall off, it can only mean one thing: why in the world did you pick this film when the airline had so many others to offer?

Best Title That Says it All: Man on a Ledge

Most Impressive Medical Recovery Time:

Noomi Rapace in Prometheus

The School Years was never going to be scientifically coherent, but there was a moment that stood out even above the premise that life on Earth began when a big dude fell in a waterfall. Needing to rid herself of the wriggly beast growing inside her, Noomi Rapace jumps into a fancy futuristic hospital bed for an emergency Caesarean performed by an updated version of the claw from a fairground grab-a-cuddly-toy machine. Minutes later, with the thing removed and her scar stapled shut, she's off running away from giant rolling spaceships with only the odd pained grimace to show for it.

Best Product Placement about Shawarmas:

The Avengers

Anyone who stuck around after the credits of The Avengers would have noticed an inspired piece of advertising rumoured to have cost the Shawarma Marketing Association millions. Having saved New York from devastation, the entire Avengers ensemble is seen in a restaurant munching on pitas. The stunt worked and shawarmas quickly became the most-talked about food across the US, with one joint in Los Angeles claiming that sales had increased by 80 per cent over the film's opening weekend. This year, look out for Captain Kirk ordering some baba ghanoush in the USS Enterprise canteen.

Most Hilarious Buddy Banter Amid a Terribly Sad and Violent film: End of Watch

Most Implausible Street Race:

The Bourne Legacy

Jeremy Renner's stint in Matt Damon's scuffed boots as a memory-befuddled supersoldier didn't really live up to the last three, largely because the second half of the film consisted of one epically long motorbike chase through Manila. Just one minor issue - anyone who has been to Manila will know that the city is basically one large traffic jam that even a scooter would struggle to navigate at anything above 10kph.

Best Example Why Judd Apatow Should Just Stop For a Bit:

The Five-Year Engagement

By the end of this agonisingly long "comedy" that was about as funny as renewing your car insurance, you didn't really care if Jason Segel and Emily Blunt got married, drove off a cliff or transformed into reptilian overlords who enslaved the human race for all eternity. We'd like Apatow to turn his hand to horror, or action, or just anything where he can't wheel out the same "wacky" characters with personality disorders for chuckles.

The Daniel Radcliffe Award For Featuring a Steam Train in Every Film: Daniel Radcliffe in The Woman in Black

Best Attempts to Stay Close to Family / Hire Spouse in Lead Role:

Len Wiseman

Len Wiseman was involved in two films that came out last year. Coincidentally, so was Kate Beckinsale. In another bizarre twist of fortune, both films were the same. You're not going to believe this, but Len and Kate are actually husband and wife! Granted, Beckinsale has always fronted the increasingly dreary Underworld so was probably already locked in for Awakening (no, we didn't bother either). But who would have expected, when the Lenster was lining up his cast for the entirely pointless remake of Total Recall, that Kate would pop up in a major role? Extraordinary.

Most Inefficient Use of Vast Power:

Javier Bardem in Skyfall

When we were first introduced to Javier Bardem's Silva, he was an impressive Bond baddy to behold, boasting a terrifyingly rubbish hairdo, his own private island with live-in mercenaries and enough computery techno-whizz to have the entire internet in his sweaty palm. But what were his evil intentions? World power? Untold riches? Sharks with laser beams? Nope. Despite such incalculable megalomaniacal possibilities before him, it seemed Silva's only real desire was to shoot an old woman (Judi Dench) in the face, something he didn't manage because Ralph Fiennes jumped in the way at the last minute. Best 007 ever? Really?

Most Celebrated Series of Scenes Essentially about Lengthy Board Meetings: Lincoln

The Waterworld Award for Least Impressive Accounting: John Carter

Worst Plot Spoiler: Osama bin Laden in Zero Dark Thirty

Moral education needed in a 'rapidly changing world'

Moral education lessons for young people is needed in a rapidly changing world, the head of the programme said.

Alanood Al Kaabi, head of programmes at the Education Affairs Office of the Crown Price Court - Abu Dhabi, said: "The Crown Price Court is fully behind this initiative and have already seen the curriculum succeed in empowering young people and providing them with the necessary tools to succeed in building the future of the nation at all levels.

"Moral education touches on every aspect and subject that children engage in.

"It is not just limited to science or maths but it is involved in all subjects and it is helping children to adapt to integral moral practises.

"The moral education programme has been designed to develop children holistically in a world being rapidly transformed by technology and globalisation."

Wenger's Arsenal reign in numbers

1,228 - games at the helm, ahead of Sunday's Premier League fixture against West Ham United.
704 - wins to date as Arsenal manager.
3 - Premier League title wins, the last during an unbeaten Invincibles campaign of 2003/04.
1,549 - goals scored in Premier League matches by Wenger's teams.
10 - major trophies won.
473 - Premier League victories.
7 - FA Cup triumphs, with three of those having come the last four seasons.
151 - Premier League losses.
21 - full seasons in charge.
49 - games unbeaten in the Premier League from May 2003 to October 2004.

While you're here
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
  1. Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
  2. Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
  3. Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
  4. Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
  5. Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
  6. The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
  7. Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269

*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year

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%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EThe%20loss%20of%20sodium%20chloride%20in%20our%20sweat%20can%20lead%20to%20confusion%20and%20an%20altered%20mental%20status%20and%20slurred%20speech%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EBody%20temperature%20above%2039%C2%B0C%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EHot%2C%20dry%20and%20red%20or%20damp%20skin%20can%20indicate%20heatstroke%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EA%20faster%20pulse%20than%20usual%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EDizziness%2C%20nausea%20and%20headaches%20are%20also%20signs%20of%20overheating%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EIn%20extreme%20cases%2C%20victims%20can%20lose%20consciousness%20and%20require%20immediate%20medical%20attention%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A
Company profile

Name: Dukkantek 

Started: January 2021 

Founders: Sanad Yaghi, Ali Al Sayegh and Shadi Joulani 

Based: UAE 

Number of employees: 140 

Sector: B2B Vertical SaaS(software as a service) 

Investment: $5.2 million 

Funding stage: Seed round 

Investors: Global Founders Capital, Colle Capital Partners, Wamda Capital, Plug and Play, Comma Capital, Nowais Capital, Annex Investments and AMK Investment Office  

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LOVE%20AGAIN
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Jim%20Strouse%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStars%3A%20Priyanka%20Chopra%20Jonas%2C%20Sam%20Heughan%2C%20Celine%20Dion%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%202%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

Springtime in a Broken Mirror,
Mario Benedetti, Penguin Modern Classics

 

'Top Gun: Maverick'

Rating: 4/5

 

Directed by: Joseph Kosinski

 

Starring: Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Miles Teller, Glen Powell, Ed Harris

 
PROFILE OF HALAN

Started: November 2017

Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga

Based: Cairo, Egypt

Sector: transport and logistics

Size: 150 employees

Investment: approximately $8 million

Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar

SPECS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E4-litre%20flat-six%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E525hp%20(GT3)%2C%20500hp%20(GT4)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E465Nm%20(GT3)%2C%20450Nm%20(GT4)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeven-speed%20automatic%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh944%2C000%20(GT3)%2C%20Dh581%2C700%20(GT4)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The biog

Job: Fitness entrepreneur, body-builder and trainer

Favourite superhero: Batman

Favourite quote: We must become the change we want to see, by Mahatma Gandhi.

Favourite car: Lamborghini

SERIES INFO

Afghanistan v Zimbabwe, Abu Dhabi Sunshine Series

All matches at the Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Test series

1st Test: Zimbabwe beat Afghanistan by 10 wickets
2nd Test: Wednesday, 10 March – Sunday, 14 March

Play starts at 9.30am

T20 series

1st T20I: Wednesday, 17 March
2nd T20I: Friday, 19 March
3rd T20I: Saturday, 20 March

TV
Supporters in the UAE can watch the matches on the Rabbithole channel on YouTube

Suggested picnic spots

Abu Dhabi
Umm Al Emarat Park
Yas Gateway Park
Delma Park
Al Bateen beach
Saadiyaat beach
The Corniche
Zayed Sports City
 
Dubai
Kite Beach
Zabeel Park
Al Nahda Pond Park
Mushrif Park
Safa Park
Al Mamzar Beach Park
Al Qudrah Lakes 

Results

Male 51kg Round 1

Dias Karmanov (KAZ) beat Mabrook Rasea (YEM) by points 2-1.

Male 54kg Round 1

Yelaman Sayassatov (KAZ) beat Chen Huang (TPE) TKO Round 1; Huynh Hoang Phi (VIE) beat Fahad Anakkayi (IND) RSC Round 2; ​​​​​​​Qais Al Jamal (JOR) beat Man Long Ng (MAC) by points 3-0; ​​​​​​​Ayad Albadr (IRQ) beat Yashar Yazdani (IRI) by points 2-1.

Male 57kg Round 1

Natthawat Suzikong (THA) beat Abdallah Ondash (LBN) by points 3-0; Almaz Sarsembekov (KAZ) beat Ahmed Al Jubainawi (IRQ) by points 2-1; Hamed Almatari (YEM) beat Nasser Al Rugheeb (KUW) by points 3-0; Zakaria El Jamari (UAE) beat Yu Xi Chen (TPE) by points 3-0.

Men 86kg Round 1

Ahmad Bahman (UAE) beat Mohammad Al Khatib (PAL) by points 2-1

​​​​​​​Men 63.5kg Round 1

Noureddin Samir (UAE) beat Polash Chakma (BAN) RSC Round 1.

Female 45kg quarter finals

Narges Mohammadpour (IRI) beat Yuen Wai Chan (HKG) by points.

Female 48kg quarter finals

Szi Ki Wong (HKG) beat Dimple Vaishnav (IND) RSC round 2; Thanawan Thongduang (THA) beat Nastaran Soori (IRI) by points; Shabnam Hussain Zada (AFG) beat Tzu Ching Lin (TPE) by points.

Female 57kg quarter finals

Nguyen Thi Nguyet (VIE) beat Anisha Shetty (IND) by points 2-1; Areeya Sahot (THA) beat Dana Al Mayyal (KUW) RSC Round 1; Sara Idriss (LBN) beat Ching Yee Tsang (HKG) by points 3-0.

The%20specs%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.0-litre%204cyl%20turbo%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E261hp%20at%205%2C500rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E400Nm%20at%201%2C750-4%2C000rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E7-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E10.5L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh129%2C999%20(VX%20Luxury)%3B%20from%20Dh149%2C999%20(VX%20Black%20Gold)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Lexus LX700h specs

Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor

Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm

Transmission: 10-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh590,000