With the Euro 2016 quarter-final round officially begun on Thursday night, we collate our best content from the previous 24 hours to keep you on top of the latest from the tournament.
1 – Portugal move on and yet hold promise
Cristiano Ronaldo and Co advanced past Poland on penalties, and Ian Hawkey writes if it has not been especially convincing, it has nonetheless been encouraging in ways.
Particularly from Renato Sanches, Thursday night's goalscorer:
“Everybody in the Portugal camp, talks of Renato’s fearlessness. ‘It doesn’t matter how old he is,’ remarked Ricardo Carvalho, the defender, a colleague more than twice Renato’s age. ‘When he comes onto the pitch, he is a man, and he brings with him intensity.’
“Soon after he had scored, he was driving goalwards again, his surge snuffed out by Krzysztof Maczynski.
“As recently as last November, Renato was playing in Portgual’s Under-19 league, for Benfica’s juniors. By the end of that month, having been promoted to the first-team squad he had made his Champions League debut and in April played impressively enough in the tight quarter-final of that competition against Bayern Munich that the Bundesliga holders made their bold move. Benfica had taken the precaution of raising the young man’s buyout clause to a whopping €80 million (Dh326.3m).
“If he reaches all the targets sewn into his contract with them, Benfica might end up with a sum very close to that; the initial fee is €35m, hefty for a teenager with barely half a senior season under his belt.
“Under his braids, he is an exciting footballer, industrious, brave and dynamic. Portugal needed that against a Poland who had been protecting their excellent start ably enough.”
2 – Axel Witsel, divisive and yet indispensable
Ian Hawkey identifies a perhaps unlikely X-factor in Belgium’s mission to reach the semi-finals ahead of Wales: oft-maligned Zenit Saint Petersburg defensive midfielder Axel Witsel.
Ian writes it is Witsel's stellar defensive nous that will be key to stopping Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey for his Belgian side:
“He has the firm trust of Wilmots, and the helpful memory of having kept Lionel Messi pretty quiet at the same stage of the last World Cup.”
3 – Britain’s best
Richard Jolly, meanwhile, writes Wales, as Britain's last stand at Euro 2016, have proved that in this moment they are the best the UK have to offer:
“Times have changed. Wales, officially the 117th best team in international football in 2011, could be one of Europe’s top four by the end of Friday night. There is an awareness that such opportunities may not present themselves again.”
4 – Del Bosque leaves
Apart from Portugal’s progress to the semi-finals, the other big news on Thursday night was the resignation of Spain manager Vicente Del Bosque. The man who led his nation to the 2010 World Cup and 2012 European Championship, Del Bosque left his position after disappointing defences of both the world and European titles.
Here is a look at where it went wrong for one of the most decorated managers in the world.
5 – Eden Hazard back in action
Eden Hazard left Belgium’s round of 16 contest against Hungary, and had yet to show in the last few days he was fully fit and ready for the quarter-final affair.
Fans of the Belgians can rest a little easier, however, as he was out and active in training on Thursday.
Check out some images from the session in our photo gallery.
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
More coverage from the Future Forum
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
Famous left-handers
- Marie Curie
- Jimi Hendrix
- Leonardo Di Vinci
- David Bowie
- Paul McCartney
- Albert Einstein
- Jack the Ripper
- Barack Obama
- Helen Keller
- Joan of Arc
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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United States
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China
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UAE
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4.
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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Saudi Arabia
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South Korea
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
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Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
How Filipinos in the UAE invest
A recent survey of 10,000 Filipino expatriates in the UAE found that 82 per cent have plans to invest, primarily in property. This is significantly higher than the 2014 poll showing only two out of 10 Filipinos planned to invest.
Fifty-five percent said they plan to invest in property, according to the poll conducted by the New Perspective Media Group, organiser of the Philippine Property and Investment Exhibition. Acquiring a franchised business or starting up a small business was preferred by 25 per cent and 15 per cent said they will invest in mutual funds. The rest said they are keen to invest in insurance (3 per cent) and gold (2 per cent).
Of the 5,500 respondents who preferred property as their primary investment, 54 per cent said they plan to make the purchase within the next year. Manila was the top location, preferred by 53 per cent.
Defined benefit and defined contribution schemes explained
Defined Benefit Plan (DB)
A defined benefit plan is where the benefit is defined by a formula, typically length of service to and salary at date of leaving.
Defined Contribution Plan (DC)
A defined contribution plan is where the benefit depends on the amount of money put into the plan for an employee, and how much investment return is earned on those contributions.
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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
more from Janine di Giovanni
The finalists
Player of the Century, 2001-2020: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Ronaldinho
Coach of the Century, 2001-2020: Pep Guardiola (Manchester City), Jose Mourinho (Tottenham Hotspur), Zinedine Zidane (Real Madrid), Sir Alex Ferguson
Club of the Century, 2001-2020: Al Ahly (Egypt), Bayern Munich (Germany), Barcelona (Spain), Real Madrid (Spain)
Player of the Year: Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
Club of the Year: Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Real Madrid
Coach of the Year: Gian Piero Gasperini (Atalanta), Hans-Dieter Flick (Bayern Munich), Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool)
Agent of the Century, 2001-2020: Giovanni Branchini, Jorge Mendes, Mino Raiola
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
