The Bollywood star Varun Dhawan. AFP
The Bollywood star Varun Dhawan. AFP

Varun Dhawan signs on for dark thriller



Varun Dhawan, who is currently filming his father's project Tu Mera Hero, reported to be a typical David Dhawan masala film, has also signed on to star in the filmmaker Sriram Raghavan's new crime thriller, which is yet to be titled. Sources say the film will have an ensemble cast and will be very different from what the actor has done so far. Dhawan also plays the male lead in the forthcoming film Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania, opposite the actress Alia Bhatt, who was his co-star in 2012's Student of the Year.

Ferrell takes over curling championships and newscast

Will Ferrell, wearing his trademark Ron Burgundy moustache and Anchorman outfit, helped open the Canadian Olympic curling trials on Sunday. He even tried his luck at the sport to the delight of fans. On Saturday night, television viewers in Bismarck, North Dakota were treated to Ferrell's Burgundy co-anchoring KXMB's nightly news broadcast. Ferrell is promoting Anchorman 2, set for release before Christmas. – Associated Press

Ragini MMS 2 to be the scariest movie ever, says Ekta Kapoor

The television and film producer Ekta Kapoor says her new horror drama Ragini MMS 2 will be much scarier than its prequel. "The sequel promises to be the sexiest and scariest movie to date," she said. The film's release has been fixed for March 21, postponed from its original release date in January. "We need substantial time to bring quality visual effects to the big screen," Ekta said. Ragini MMS was a sleeper hit in 2011. – The National staff

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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Airev
Started: September 2023
Founder: Muhammad Khalid
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: Generative AI
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
 
The White Lotus: Season three

Creator: Mike White

Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell

Rating: 4.5/5

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

A MINECRAFT MOVIE

Director: Jared Hess

Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa

Rating: 3/5

Our legal consultants

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

The Laughing Apple

Yusuf/Cat Stevens

(Verve Decca Crossover)

UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

The specs: 2019 BMW X4

Price, base / as tested: Dh276,675 / Dh346,800

Engine: 3.0-litre turbocharged in-line six-cylinder

Transmission: Eight-speed automatic

Power: 354hp @ 5,500rpm

Torque: 500Nm @ 1,550rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 9.0L / 100km

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2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups

Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.

Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.

Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.

Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.

Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.

Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.

Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.

Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.