‘Crazy’ Ryan Giggs in an Australian state of mind

Ryan Giggs admits it is “crazy” how he still manages to maintain his motivation.

Giggs, about to start his 23rd season as a Manchester United player, is the proud owner of a record 13 Premier League titles.

Speaking on his arrival in Sydney for the second leg of United’s pre-season tour on Sunday, he said he still loved playing the game.

“Crazy, aren’t I?” he said. “I’m enjoying it just as much as I did 20 years ago. It’s as simple as that.

“Every year is a bonus to me. Take last year: winning the league, that feeling you have after the hard work you put in. Winning that trophy makes it all worthwhile.”

It is United’s first visit to Australia since 1999 and this time around Giggs will have the chance to see one of sport’s fiercest rivalries.

Wednesday’s Rugby League State of Origin decider between Queensland and New South Wales – in the same ANZ Stadium that United’s sell-out tour match against the A-League All Stars will take place on Saturday evening – represents an occasion for Giggs to relish.

“I’m a big rugby league fan,” said Giggs, 39.

“I had the great pleasure of spending some time with Melbourne Storm when they were playing in Leeds in the World Cup Challenge.

“I spent some time with Billy Slater and Cameron Smith, who are Queenslanders. I’ve also had a text off Andrew Johns telling me in no uncertain terms who I need to support on Wednesday.

“I’m in Sydney, so I’ll be supporting New South Wales.”

– Press Association

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

Skewed figures

In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.

Test

Director: S Sashikanth

Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan

Star rating: 2/5

COMPANY PROFILE

Name: Kumulus Water

Started: 2021

Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid

Based: Tunisia

Sector: Water technology

Number of staff: 22

Investment raised: $4 million

Real estate tokenisation project

Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.

The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.

Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.

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