The UAE-based British motorcyclist James West rides his 690cc KTM Rally bike into third place at the UAE Desert Challenge.
The UAE-based British motorcyclist James West rides his 690cc KTM Rally bike into third place at the UAE Desert Challenge.
The UAE-based British motorcyclist James West rides his 690cc KTM Rally bike into third place at the UAE Desert Challenge.
The UAE-based British motorcyclist James West rides his 690cc KTM Rally bike into third place at the UAE Desert Challenge.

Attiyah on target for title


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ABU DHABI // The Qatar driver Nasser al Attiyah, who four years ago missed out by one place on an Olympic clay pigeon medal, made a wonderful start to the UAE Desert Challenge in his quest to become the first Arab driver for 15 years to win the event.

Giving a competitive debut to the new BMW X3, the FIA Middle East rally champion dominated the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority Special Stage 1, taking a lead of more than 18 minutes from Russian Leonid Novitskyi in another BMW X3. Partnered by his Swedish co-driver Tina Thorner in a car built for the Dakar Rally in South America in January, Attiyah, who came fourth in the Athens Games clay pigeon shooting event, immediately underlined his intentions to score a double triumph in the UAE.

He is hoping to become the first Arab since fellow-Qatari Saeed al Hajri in 1993 to taste victory in the event, knowing that a win will install him as the overall drivers' champion in the FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies - the Desert Challenge is the final round - with four more days of the event remaining. Poland's Krzysztof Holowczyc, in a Nissan Navara, was almost 10 minutes further adrift in third, ahead of the UAE's Yahya Alheli and New Zealander Glen Reid, both driving Nissan Patrols.

Spain's Marc Coma is attempting to complete a hat-trick of successive bike victories in the Desert Challenge, but he was second best on the day to KTM team-mate Cyril Despres, of France, a four-times winner of the event, who took a 1min 30secs lead. The UAE-based James West, stepping up to one of the big bikes in his attempt to build on his fourth place last year on a 450cc machine, was third fastest ahead of the Spanish duo, Gerard Farres and Jordi Viladoms.

Reaching the finish of the 281-km Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority SS 1, Attiyah said: "We had a really steady drive through the soft sand and tried to do our very best in hot temperatures. We had a lot of new things in the car in preparation for Argentina so we are being careful because of that. "But with the weight in the middle of the car it went really well." Holowczyc admitted: "The tempo was hard to find on the dunes and perhaps we were extra cautious with the car, so we lost a bit of time. But the car is running OK."

Aiming for a second top-three finish in the event, Alheli said: "It was a good day, even though we lost 20 minutes due to a problem with the suspension. We were still able to pass quite a few cars." Bikes leader Despres said: "It was a nice ride. I managed to get past a lot of other riders. But coming from Europe it has been hard to adjust to the weather and I suffered from a lot of cramp in my arm, which is unusual for me. The first part was very dusty."

He now looks set for a fascinating tussle with Coma who commented: "The fist part of the stage was good and very fast. Having decided to start at 21st position it was difficult to pass some of the riders. In the final part I lost some time due to mechanical problems which we need to sort out. But overall it was a new route and I like new challenges." Provisional leading positions after Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority SS1:

Cars 1. Nasser Al Attiyah / Tina Thorner (QA /S) BMW X3 T1 2:29:29 2. Leonid Novitskyi / Oleg Tyupenkin (RUS / RUS) BMW X3 T1 2:47:40 3. Krzysztof Holowczyc / Jean-Marc Fortin (PL / B) Nissan Navara T1 2:57:30 4. Yahya Alhelei / Khalid Alkendi (UAE / UAE) Nissan Patrol T2 3:03:51 5. Glen Reid / Haydn Walker (UAE / UAE) Nissan Patrol T1 3:09:54 6. Jun Mitsuhashi / Akira Miura (J / J) Toyota/Land Cruiser T2 3:16:15

Bikes 1. Cyril Despres (F) KTM Rally Replica/690 2:51:43 2. Marc Coma (E) KTM Rally Replica/690 2:53:13 3. James West (GB) KTM 690/690 3:08:09 4. Gerard Farres (E) KTM/690 3:08:32 5. Jordi Viladoms (E) KTM Rally Replica/690 3:09:02 6. Francisco Lopez (RCH) KTM Rally Replica/690 3:09:28 7. Oscar Polli (I) KTM Rally Replica/690 3:13:07 8. Alain Duclos (F) KTM/690 3:13:44 9. Tim Trenker (D) KTM 0/660 3:14:16 10. Jakub Przygonski (PL) KTM Rally Replica/690 3:14:20

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THE BIO

Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979

Education: UAE University, Al Ain

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Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.

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What is THAAD?

It is considered to be the US' most superior missile defence system.

Production:

It was first created in 2008.

Speed:

THAAD missiles can travel at over Mach 8, so fast that it is hypersonic.

Abilities:

THAAD is designed to take out projectiles, namely ballistic missiles, as they are on their downward trajectory towards their target, otherwise known as the "terminal phase".

Purpose:

To protect high-value strategic sites, such as airfields or population centres.

Range:

THAAD can target projectiles both inside and outside of the Earth's atmosphere, at an altitude of 93 miles above the Earth's surface.

Creators:

Lockheed Martin was originally granted the contract to develop the system in 1992. Defence company Raytheon sub-contracts to develop other major parts of the system, such as ground-based radar.

UAE and THAAD:

In 2011, the UAE became the first country outside of the US to buy two THAAD missile defence systems. It then deployed them in 2016, becoming the first Gulf country to do so.

Volvo ES90 Specs

Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)

Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp

Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm

On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region

Price: Exact regional pricing TBA

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Price, base / as tested: Dh74,900 / Dh85,900

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Electric scooters: some rules to remember
  • Riders must be 14-years-old or over
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Power: 154bhp

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Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option 

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Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday. 

Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow. 

She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.

A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.

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Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem

Director: Joseph Kosinski

Rating: 4/5

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1. Bantamweight: Victor Nunes (BRA) v Siyovush Gulmamadov (TJK)

2. Featherweight: Hussein Salim (IRQ) v Shakhriyor Juraev (UZB)

3. Catchweight 80kg: Rashed Dawood (UAE) v Khamza Yamadaev (RUS)

4. Lightweight: Ho Taek-oh (KOR) v Ronald Girones (CUB)

5. Lightweight: Arthur Zaynukov (RUS) v Damien Lapilus (FRA)

6. Bantamweight: Vinicius de Oliveira (BRA) v Furkatbek Yokubov (RUS)

7. Featherweight: Movlid Khaybulaev (RUS) v Zaka Fatullazade (AZE)

8. Flyweight: Shannon Ross (TUR) v Donovon Freelow (USA)

9. Lightweight: Mohammad Yahya (UAE) v Dan Collins (GBR)

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11. Bantamweight World title: Jaures Dea (CAM) v Xavier Alaoui (MAR)

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Chef Nobu's advice for eating sushi

“One mistake people always make is adding extra wasabi. There is no need for this, because it should already be there between the rice and the fish.
“When eating nigiri, you must dip the fish – not the rice – in soy sauce, otherwise the rice will collapse. Also, don’t use too much soy sauce or it will make you thirsty. For sushi rolls, dip a little of the rice-covered roll lightly in soy sauce and eat in one bite.
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Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale

Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni

Director: Amith Krishnan

Rating: 3.5/5

Ain Dubai in numbers

126: The length in metres of the legs supporting the structure

1 football pitch: The length of each permanent spoke is longer than a professional soccer pitch

16 A380 Airbuses: The equivalent weight of the wheel rim.

9,000 tonnes: The amount of steel used to construct the project.

5 tonnes: The weight of each permanent spoke that is holding the wheel rim in place

192: The amount of cable wires used to create the wheel. They measure a distance of 2,4000km in total, the equivalent of the distance between Dubai and Cairo.

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