Latest news with #Expats
Irish Independent
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
‘Nine Perfect Strangers' season 2 review: Thinly-drawn clichés, supremely irritating characters – and Nicole Kidman's awful accent
Then there's the other one: the producer-star who continually churns out glossy, empty, increasingly samey streaming dramas about the suffering rich, such as The Undoing, Expats and, of course, Nine Perfect Strangers (Prime Video, Thursday, May 22), which is back for a second season, despite originally being billed as a miniseries (a sneaky practice that's become commonplace). If you thought the first one in 2021 was a load of old drivel, the second, which opens with a double bill and lacks the foundation of Liane Moriarty's source novel, is nine times worse. Frequently almost comedically bad, but without the saving grace of anything resembling humour, it's the answer to a question nobody asked. Once again, Kidman dons a platinum blonde wig and adopts an off-the-peg 'Russian' accent that even Meryl Streep, during her funny-voices-and-silly-hats phase, would have been ashamed of as weird wellness guru Masha Dmitrichenko, who's fluent in psychobabble bullsh*t. Last time, Masha offered personal transformation to nine troubled – and very well-off – people at her luxurious sanatorium Tranquillum House by spiking their smoothies with psychedelic drugs without their consent to unlock repressed memories. Oh, and they'd also be able to commune with the dead. Well, sort of. Masha got high on her own supply so she could talk to her dead daughter, who she was still mourning. As Season 2 opens, the daughter's ghost is still hanging around and Masha is back in business, this time at a new sanatorium in the Bavarian Alps. At least the guests in Season 1 were more or less tolerable She was persuaded to set up shop again by her old mentor Helena (Lena Olin), who's bankrolling the operation so Masha can try out her revolutionary new treatment delivery system. Masha has become a global celebrity since the first outing, thanks to a bestselling book called, you guessed it, Nine Perfect Strangers. She's also the target of several federal investigations. The alpine location is ideal for her purposes. The mountains block out mobile phone signals and the roads are impassable by car, meaning those nasty prosecutors won't be able to serve her their writs and the new batch of guests won't easily be able to bail out if they get fed up with the whole thing. Luckily, viewers can leave any time they want, and I'm betting quite a few will long before the eight episodes are up. At least the guests in Season 1 were more or less tolerable. The new lot – who all know they'll be given drugs now that Masha's treatment methods are out in the open – are for the most part thinly-drawn clichés and supremely irritating. Christine Baranski, doing her usual Christine Baranski shtick, but without any funny lines to back her up, plays the sex-mad Victoria. She's agreed to meet up with her daughter Imogen (Annie Murphy), a whingeing, permanently angry Millennial who becomes even more whingey and angry when she discovers her mother has brought along her latest toyboy, Matteo (Aras Aydin). Tina (musician King Princess), a pianist and former child prodigy who now refuses to play, has been dragged to the sanatorium by her girlfriend Wolfie (Maisie Richardson-Sellers) in the mistaken belief she was going for a holiday in a luxurious spa resort rather than a spell in a psychological torture chamber. Dolly de Leon is Agnes, a celebrity nun (eh?), who's lost her faith. Henry Golding is Peter, who's awaiting the arrival of his father, billionaire businessman David (Mark Strong), on whom Masha, who has previous with him, seems to be fixated. The only cast member who makes an impression is Murray Bartlett, excellent as ever, as Brian, a puppeteer and former children's TV presenter who's been unravelling ever since his show was cancelled after he had a meltdown on set that went viral. 'It is only the beginning,' Masha tells an adoring conference audience early on. Nope, Masha, for some of us, it's the end. I'm checking out. Rating: One star
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
51.8% of UAE HNW Wealth Offshored, Expected to Rise in 12 Months
Explore the investment preferences of UAE's HNW individuals with our comprehensive analysis. Discover key demographics, portfolio allocations, offshore investment trends, and the growing demand for robo-advice, equities, and ESG investments. Gain insights to refine wealth management strategies. Dublin, May 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "UAE Wealth Management: HNW Investors 2025" report has been added to report provides comprehensive analysis of the investment preferences of the UAE's HNW individuals. It profiles HNW investors in terms of their demographics; examines the allocation of HNW investors' portfolios; analyzes their propensity to invest offshore; and explores their product and service UAE HNW market is dominated by professional and high-earning males. In a highly competitive market such as this, offering a multi-service proposition underpinned by the ability to offer sophisticated investments will be crucial. A burgeoning appetite for robo-advice coupled with increasing demand for equities and ESG investments provide arguably the most significant growth opportunities for wealth managers in the foreseeable Highlights Expats constitute 11.5% of the local HNW population. They represent an attractive target market thanks to their more complex service requirements. Robo-advice accounts for 15.1% of the UAE HNW portfolio and has strong current demand. The average UAE HNW investor offshores 51.8% of their wealth abroad; this proportion is expected to increase over the next 12 months. Reasons to Buy Understand the UAE's HNW wealth market, including the investment preferences of HNW individuals. Develop and enhance your client targeting strategies using our data on HNW demographics and sources of wealth. Tailor your investment product portfolio to match current and future demand for different asset classes among HNW individuals. Key Topics Covered: Demographics Expats Investment Style Preferences Asset Allocation Preferences Offshore Investment Preferences Products and Services Company Coverage: China Telecom China Mobile China Unicom HSBC Citi DBS Vanguard Ant Group BangNiTou China Merchants Bank Commercial Bank of China For more information about this report visit About is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. CONTACT: CONTACT: Laura Wood,Senior Press Manager press@ For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./ CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Nicole Kidman's Sleek New Haircut Is a Met Gala Moment to Remember
Nicole Kidman is back at the Met Gala tonight, reclaiming her place on the steps of New York City's Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Babygirl actress unveiled a dramatic new short haircut as she stepped out in a custom Balenciaga gown—a modern reimagining of a 1952 couture design by Cristóbal Balenciaga. Crafted from silk organza, the gown featured a voluminous skirt with multiple layers of petticoats that created a dramatic, tilted silhouette. Silk satin bow belts cinched the waist and hips, adding an elegant finish. She completed the look with classic gloves and ankle-strap pumps. This evening marks another milestone in Kidman's career-defining year, as she prepares to receive the prestigious 2025 Women in Motion Award at the Cannes Film Festival later this month. Presented by the festival in partnership with Kering, the award celebrates women who have championed representation and equity within cinema. Kidman will become the 10th recipient of this honor, joining an esteemed list of past laureates, including Jane Fonda, Viola Davis, and Michelle Yeoh. The recognition comes on the heels of a prolific 2024 for Kidman, with standout roles in Babygirl, The Perfect Couple, and Expats. Her performance in Babygirl, a psychological drama directed by Halina Reijn, garnered a Golden Globe nomination and drew widespread critical acclaim for its unflinching exploration of female desire and power. In an interview with ELLE last year, Kidman described her experience filming Expats as emotionally raw: 'I'm fortunate that I've got a job where I get to explore emotional landscapes that are heavy, strange, extraordinary, bizarre, beautiful, deep. I don't shy away from them.' Off-screen, Kidman remains a passionate advocate for women behind the camera. She founded her own production company, Blossom Films, and is dedicated to collaborating with female directors. 'There's a lot of talk, but I need to do; I'm a doer. I also just love women,' she told ELLE. 'I'm surrounded by great women...I feel very, very safe and very at home.' Tonight's appearance adds to Kidman's long-standing history with the Met Gala. Last year, she turned heads in a striking Balenciaga ensemble. The actress made her Met Gala debut in 2003 as one of the event's co-chairs, wearing a gold one-shoulder gown by Gucci. You Might Also Like The 15 Best Organic And Clean Shampoos For Any And All Hair Types 100 Gifts That Are $50 Or Under (And Look Way More Expensive Than They Actually Are)
Sky News AU
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Sky News AU
Keith Urban 'frustrated' and 'worried' after wife Nicole Kidman 'walked back' pledge to ease out of acting
Nicole Kidman's husband Keith Urban is reportedly "worried" and "frustrated" the Australian actress has appeared to walk back her statement about intermittently stepping back from acting following a busy workload. In March, Kidman, 57, told the Hollywood Reporter she was "off" for the remainder of the year after releasing Expats, A Family Affair, The Perfect Couple, Spellbound, Babygirl, and Lioness season two. However, she was spotted just weeks later working on the set of Apple TV+ series Margo's Got Money Troubles in Los Angeles. An insider on Wednesday said it was "extraordinary" that "not even a month" after her admission, she was "already she's back on set." "Keith isn't angry, but he's worried and understandably very frustrated," the insider told New Idea. "He knows how much Nic loves her job, but she keeps moving the goal posts. Instead of putting herself first - something he and the kids need her to do - she's putting work first every time." The insider said Nicole has seldom "had a chance to recover from the shock" of losing her mother Janelle Kidman at the age of 84 following a long illness last September. And Keith, while on tour, has not been around to ensure she is eating and sleeping right. The insider further said Kidman has stretched herself thin with extra acting work and being involved in fashion campaigns and charities. The Babygirl star was spotted with her daughter Sunday Rose Kidman Urban, 16, fellow Australian actress Naomi Watts, and her daughter Sasha at the Balenciaga Show at Paris Fashion week last June. Meanwhile, she has been dealing with her emotions about Sunday Rose's runway debut on the Miu Miu catwalk last October. Kidman revealed to the Hollywood Reporter she was initially reluctant to let the 16-year-old into the spotlight and thought, "Oh no, I don't think so." While she "thrives on work" and uses it as an "escape", the insider said her husband is fearful about "how long she can keep up this pace and at what cost". With no signs of slowing down, Kidman hosted Easter Sunday at her and Keith's primary 10,925-square-foot Nashville residence over the weekend. A photo on Instagram showed the Oscar winner with her daughters Sunday Rose and Faith Margaret Kidman Urban, 13, her younger sister Antonia Kidman, and her daughters Lucia Hawley, 27, and Sybella, 18. In March, Kidman once again returned to the big screen as teacher Nancy in Amazon's thriller Holland, directed by Mimi Cave. She is set to star in and produce numerous other projects this year, including the Australian television series adaptation of Liane Moriarty's novel The Last Anniversary, Amazon Prime Video series Scarpetta and Nine Perfect Strangers season two.
Gulf News
21-04-2025
- Business
- Gulf News
Indian and Bangladeshi expats win in the Big Ticket's weekly e-draw
Abu Dhabi: At least five Expats from India and Bangladesh won in the Big Ticket draw this week taking home Dh150,000 each. According to the latest Big Ticket weekly e-draw, Akhil Sreekanda Prasad, a 34-year-old mechanical engineer from Kerala, India, who has been living in the UAE since 2016, has been purchasing Big Tickets for the past eight years with a group of 10 friends. He first heard about Big Ticket when he moved to Dubai through the community around him and he added, 'Dubai for me means Big Ticket.' Since then, it has become a routine shared with his group. When he received the winning call, he initially thought it was a prank. It wasn't until he checked YouTube that he realized it was real. He plans to invest his winnings and has no doubt he'll continue participating in future draws and wishing for his turn to win the million. He encourages others with a simple message: 'Stay in the process and trust the process.' Bangladeshi expat Abu Mansur Ali Ahmed, a 52-year-old car workshop owner from Bangladesh, who has been living in Fujairah since 1992, coincidentally the same year Big Ticket began. He first heard about Big Ticket through his circle of friends, and since then, he has been purchasing Big Tickets every month with a group of 20 friends. When he received the winning call, he felt good and was pleased by the news. While he hasn't shared specific plans for the prize money, he confirmed that he will continue participating in future draws and encourages others to take a chance, because anyone could be next. Rahmut Ullah, a 30-year-old supervisor from Bangladesh, currently residing in Qatar, has been purchasing Big Tickets every month with a group of five friends since discovering it on social media six months ago. When he received the winning call, he was filled with excitement and added. 'I am very happy and thank you so much, Big Ticket.' With his winnings, he plans to spend it on his own business, something he has been wanting to do. He remains excited about his win and will continue buying tickets in future draws. Amal V B, a 27-year-old mechanical engineer from Kerala, India, who has been living in Sharjah for nearly five years. He has been purchasing Big Tickets almost every month with a group of 10 friends. The group has been growing, with more people joining in over time. He first heard about Big Ticket through his relatives in the UAE, who have been long-time participants, and later explored more on the official website. When he received the winning call, he was incredibly excited. With his winnings, he plans to provide some financial support and focus on saving for the future. He said he will definitely continue participating and encourages all residents to keep trying their luck. Rishal Ariyal, originally from India, Rishal purchased his lucky winning ticket online, ticket number 274-213551, and his excitement knows no bounds. Congratulations With AED 25 million up for grabs, plus Weekly Cash Draws, the Big Win Contest, and luxury cars on the table, April is shaping up to be an unforgettable month for all BigTicket participants. To make things even more exciting, every ticket you buy comes with a bonus – Buy 2 Tickets and Get 2 Free all month long! Every week, five lucky winners will take home Dh150,000 in Big Ticket's weekly e-draws. Every ticket purchased in April qualifies for these draws, with winners announced every Thursday.
