Tom Cruise turned down a chance to try out his Gangnam Style dance skills on Thursday, despite topping the South Korean rapper Psy's list of those who should attempt the popular horse-riding dance. Cruise, who was in Seoul to promote Jack Reacher, hailed Psy as "quite a sensation" but declined to follow the likes of the UN secretary general Ban Ki-Moon in imitating Psy's dance moves. "He does it better than me," Cruise said. "I'm very happy for his success."- AFP
Jones returns to Two and a Half Men
Angus T Jones, who plays Jake Harper, is expected back at Two and a Half Men next week, with CBS accepting his apology for calling the sitcom "filth" and "very inappropriate". Jones, 19, said he was sorry if his remarks in an interview with a religious organisation showed an indifference to his colleagues. "We move on," said the CBS entertainment president Nina Tassler. "At the end of the day, they want him to come back, he wants to come back." - AP
Wilde and Sudeikis engaged to marry
Olivia Wilde and Jason Sudeikis are getting married. A spokeswoman for Wilde confirmed that the couple is engaged. This will be the second wedding for both actors. Wilde, 28, finalised her divorce from the filmmaker Tao Ruspoli in 2011 after eight years of marriage. Sudeikis, 37, was previously married to the Pitch Perfect screenwriter Kay Cannon. They divorced in 2010. - AP
Justin Timberlake hints at return to music
Is Justin Timberlake bringing his music career back? On Thursday he posted a video on his website that showed him walking into a studio, putting on headphones and saying: "I'm ready." The 31-year-old has concentrated on his acting career over the past few years and hasn't made an album since 2006. In the video, Timberlake says he obsesses over his music and doesn't want to put anything out that he doesn't love. - AP
Stars line up for Obama's inaugural celebrations
US President Barack Obama is drawing an A-list of performers for his inaugural festivities, which include a massive ball expected to draw more than 35,000 revellers. Katy Perry, Smokey Robinson, Usher, Alicia Keys and Brad Paisley are among the stars announced to sing at Obama's inaugural ball on January 21 and children's concert on January 19. Also signed up are Marc Anthony, Stevie Wonder, John Legend and Far East Movement. The performers Beyoncé, Kelly Clarkson and James Taylor were previously announced for the ball. - AP
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
MATCH INFO
Day 2 at Mount Maunganui
England 353
Stokes 91, Denly 74, Southee 4-88
New Zealand 144-4
Williamson 51, S Curran 2-28
The specs: 2017 Porsche 718 Cayman
Price, base / as tested Dh222,500 / Dh296,870
Engine 2.0L, flat four-cylinder
Transmission Seven-speed PDK
Power 300hp @ 6,500rpm
Torque 380hp @ 1,950rpm
Fuel economy, combined 6.9L / 100km
The specs: 2017 Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn
Price, base / as tested: Dhxxx
Engine: 5.7L V8
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 395hp @ 5,600rpm
Torque: 556Nm @ 3,950rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km
Feeding the thousands for iftar
Six industrial scale vats of 500litres each are used to cook the kanji or broth
Each vat contains kanji or porridge to feed 1,000 people
The rice porridge is poured into a 500ml plastic box
350 plastic tubs are placed in one container trolley
Each aluminium container trolley weighing 300kg is unloaded by a small crane fitted on a truck
The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
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
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
The National in Davos
We are bringing you the inside story from the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting in Davos, a gathering of hundreds of world leaders, top executives and billionaires.
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more from Janine di Giovanni
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
