Thor: The Dark World
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Christopher Eccleston
Director: Alan Taylor
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It must be tough being a Norse god. Poor Thor has barely had a chance to lay down his big hammer after saving the world from his trickster brother Loki (in 2011’s Thor) and preventing the destruction of New York (Avengers Assemble), yet it looks like he’s going to have to come to the rescue again – this time to save Earth and eight other-worldly realms (including his home planet of Asgard) from a baddie called Malekith (Eccleston). On the plus side, it’s Thor’s human lady love Jane (Portman), who has discovered the nefarious ethereal goo that Malekith needs to become all-powerful, so at least they get to be reunited – even if the threat is so bad that Thor (Hemsworth) has to turn to traitorous Loki (Hiddleston) if he is to stand any chance of saving the day (again). After a slow start, this sequel delivers just what you want from a comic book adaptation – sly wit, superb effects and bucketloads of fisticuffs and action. The director Taylor (best known for helming episodes of Mad Men, Sex and the City and Game of Thrones), deftly packs it all in as the action flits from Asgard to London, and characters such as Thor’s dad Odin (Anthony Hopkins), the slightly batty scientist Erik Selvig (Stellan Skarsgård) and the all-seeing Heimdall (Idris Elba) make welcome returns. While Hemsworth smilingly supplies the muscle and the tongue in cheek, once again it’s Hiddleston who steals the show and his deliciously sarcastic performance is one of best reasons to check out this hugely enjoyable blockbuster. Fans should note that there are two scenes during the end credits to stay in your seat for – one part of the way through that introduces a new character into the Marvel universe, and another at the very end of the credit sequence.
UAE - India ties
The UAE is India’s third-largest trade partner after the US and China
Annual bilateral trade between India and the UAE has crossed US$ 60 billion
The UAE is the fourth-largest exporter of crude oil for India
Indians comprise the largest community with 3.3 million residents in the UAE
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi first visited the UAE in August 2015
His visit on August 23-24 will be the third in four years
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, visited India in February 2016
Sheikh Mohamed was the chief guest at India’s Republic Day celebrations in January 2017
Modi will visit Bahrain on August 24-25
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
The biog
Name: Fareed Lafta
Age: 40
From: Baghdad, Iraq
Mission: Promote world peace
Favourite poet: Al Mutanabbi
Role models: His parents
Bookshops: A Reader's History by Jorge Carrión (translated from the Spanish by Peter Bush),
Biblioasis
LAST-16 EUROPA LEAGUE FIXTURES
Wednesday (Kick-offs UAE)
FC Copenhagen (0) v Istanbul Basaksehir (1) 8.55pm
Shakhtar Donetsk (2) v Wolfsburg (1) 8.55pm
Inter Milan v Getafe (one leg only) 11pm
Manchester United (5) v LASK (0) 11pm
Thursday
Bayer Leverkusen (3) v Rangers (1) 8.55pm
Sevilla v Roma (one leg only) 8.55pm
FC Basel (3) v Eintracht Frankfurt (0) 11pm
Wolves (1) Olympiakos (1) 11pm
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
MATCH INFO
Fixture: Ukraine v Portugal, Monday, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: BeIN Sports
