The 2022 Fifa World Cup kicked off on Sunday with hosts Qatar going down 2-0 to Ecuador in their opening Group A match.
Enner Valencia scored both Ecuador goals but he arguably should have gone into the half-time interval celebrating a hat-trick.
We take a look at the big talking points from Day One of the World Cup.
VAR already a cause for concern
Valencia has the distinction of scoring the first goals of Qatar 2022 – a 16th-minute penalty and a header just before the half-hour – but he had the ball in the back of the net even earlier but his third-minute goal was ruled out for a marginal offside.
The Fenerbahce striker headed the ball into the net from close range after Qatar goalkeeper Saad Al Sheeb made a hash of an attempted clearance in the buildup.
However, the goal was eventually ruled out by referee Daniel Orsato following a VAR review.
Although Al Sheeb initially appeared to punch the ball, Felix Torres’ ws judged to have headed the ball when teammate Michael Estrada’s foot was closer to goal than both the keeper and Qatari player Abdelkarim Hasan Fadlalla.
Though the razor-thin decision was technically correct, it left thousands in the crowd and millions watching on TV perplexed and with a sense of impending doom of what is to follow for the rest of the tournament.
Overcrowding at fan park
Chaotic scenes broke out inside and outside the fan festival at Al Bidda Park in Doha on Sunday an hour before the kick off of the opening World Cup match between hosts Qatar and Ecuador after fans flooded the precinct.
The venue has a capacity of 40,000 but at least double that number of people tried to make their way in, Reuters reported.
Many were let into a holding area between the main festival park and the perimeter entrance.
Police realised the problem and had to shepherd irate supporters back out of the venue.
The police took about 45 minutes to clear the excess fans from the area.
Tournament organisers the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy have yet to comment.
While there was chaos in the holding area, the scene inside the park seemed pleasant.
"I think Qatar will be a great host. Now that the games are starting, the vibe is building," Brazil fan Raphael de Jesus said.
"This is my third World Cup after 2014 and 2018, and so far everything has been very well organised."
Alcohol stadium ban - is it really that bad?
Organisers' decision to ban alcohol in or around stadiums in Doha hosting World Cup matches caused outrage among western media outlets – particularly in the UK – though fans on the ground seemed more understanding.
The First Minister of Wales, Mark Drakeford, told PA news agency while visiting Doha's Corniche: “I think you should make the most of what is here, the fans are here for football, not for drink.
“I am sure that there will be people here who will be very keen to make sure they have the best possible time.”
During his speech on Friday, Fifa president Gianni Infantino said brushed off concerns over the ban of alcohol in stadiums, joking “I think if for three hours a day you cannot drink a beer, you will survive."
While there is much to pick over on the rest of his speech, Infantino is right that the cancellation of beer sales within the stadium complex is not such a huge issue in itself. Drinking beer is not a human right.
The sale of alcohol is strictly controlled in Qatar where, as in much of the region, drinking alcohol is not part of the way of life.
Though some fans are bound to feel disappointed, the ban is not blanket with reports of packed bars and fan parks across Doha with patrons and attendees enjoying Sunday's opening match.
BBC and ITV opening ceremony snub draws ire
While many got to enjoy the spectacular opening ceremony of the 2022 World Cup on Sunday, UK television viewers were denied the chance following a decision by the BBC and ITV to snub the occasion.
The ceremony featured actor Morgan Freeman, Jungkook from K-Pop band BTS and hundreds of local and international performers as organisers put on a visual spectacle highlighting the country's history and culture for the world to see.
The BBC ignored the entire event in favour of a broadcast criticising the treatment of migrant workers, highlighting corruption allegations at Fifa and discussing the ban on homosexuality in Qatar.
Neither broadcaster has explained its decision, though the BBC did make the ceremony available to its online viewers.
Their decision not to air the ceremony drew fierce criticism from different sides, with the networks accused of being "disrespectful" towards hosts Qatar and showing "neo-colonialism" attitudes.
"Outrageously disrespectful to Qatar that the BBC didn't broadcast the World Cup opening ceremony, and instead put out more virtue-signalling guff about how awful it is," television host Piers Morgan tweeted. "If they're that appalled, they should bring home their vast army of employees & spare us this absurd hypocrisy."
Another user, Majid Freeman, tweeted: "The #FIFAWorldCup ceremony started with beautiful recitation of the Quran. Instead of showing the ceremony, @BBCSport or @itvfootball hypocritically sat IN QATAR virtue signalling & talking about how bad Qatar is. Why not boycott it instead of taking money to cover #Qatar2022?
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
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Investment raised: $4 million
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
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Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
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- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
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- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
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The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
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Squads
India (for first three ODIs) Kohli (capt), Rohit, Rahul, Pandey, Jadhav, Rahane, Dhoni, Pandya, Axar, Kuldeep, Chahal, Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar, Umesh, Shami.
Australia Smith (capt), Warner, Agar, Cartwright, Coulter-Nile, Cummins, Faulkner, Finch, Head, Maxwell, Richardson, Stoinis, Wade, Zampa.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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- Have a plan for your savings.
- Decide on your emergency fund target and once that's achieved, assign your savings to another financial goal such as saving for a house or investing for retirement.
- Decide on a financial goal that is important to you and put your savings to work for you.
- It's important to have a purpose for your savings as it helps to keep you motivated to continue while also reducing the temptation to spend your savings.
- Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
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MATCH INFO
Europa League semi-final, second leg
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When: Thursday, May 3
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Last 10 NBA champions
2017: Golden State bt Cleveland 4-1
2016: Cleveland bt Golden State 4-3
2015: Golden State bt Cleveland 4-2
2014: San Antonio bt Miami 4-1
2013: Miami bt San Antonio 4-3
2012: Miami bt Oklahoma City 4-1
2011: Dallas bt Miami 4-2
2010: Los Angeles Lakers bt Boston 4-3
2009: Los Angeles Lakers bt Orlando 4-1
2008: Boston bt Los Angeles Lakers 4-2
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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UAE
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Norway
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Canada
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Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
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Europe’s rearming plan
- Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
- Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
- Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
- Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
- Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
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Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
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What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
Glossary of a stock market revolution
Reddit
A discussion website
Redditor
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Robinhood
A smartphone app for buying and selling shares
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Naked short
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GOLF’S RAHMBO
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- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
Third Test
Day 3, stumps
India 443-7 (d) & 54-5 (27 ov)
Australia 151
India lead by 346 runs with 5 wickets remaining
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Agreement aims to boost trade by £25.5bn a year in the long run, compared with a total of £42.6bn in 2024
India will slash levies on medical devices, machinery, cosmetics, soft drinks and lamb.
India will also cut automotive tariffs to 10% under a quota from over 100% currently.
Indian employees in the UK will receive three years exemption from social security payments
India expects 99% of exports to benefit from zero duty, raising opportunities for textiles, marine products, footwear and jewellery
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Dunbar
Edward St Aubyn
Hogarth
