If 2022 is to be Marcelo Bielsa’s last year at Elland Road, at least it began with the sort of afternoon to suggest he should leave Leeds with Premier League football. Just their fourth win of the season means Leeds have nevertheless opened up an eight-point gap on the bottom three. Beaten 3-1 for the second time in four days, Burnley are stuck on a solitary victory. With Leicester, Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool next, that may remain the case for some time.
Even the finest moment of a dreadful day for Sean Dyche felt doubly damaging. Matt Lowton was struck on the head by a bottle of coke thrown by a Leeds supporter when celebrating Burnley’s goal. “Very disappointing,” said Dyche. It was the fourth consecutive match at Elland Road with flashpoints involving the crowd and the FA surely must investigate.
Dyche’s scorer, with a free kick he first won and then dispatched wonderfully, was Maxwel Cornet. The bittersweet element for Burnley is that their catalyst is now headed for the African Cup of Nations.
The Ivorian’s sixth goal was his latest spectacular strike but while the fit-again substitute was a transformative figure, his valiant efforts were in vain. Burnley can seem over-reliant on him, though Dyche argued the collective can compensate, adding: “I have never lost faith in these players and I won’t do. The pride I have them is enormous.”
But it was a triumph for Bielsa, who had been self-critical after defeats. “I don’t ignore the situation that we are in and I also don’t ignore what my responsibilities are,” he said. “It was very necessary to get the win.” As they did, his name rang around Elland Road. His team played his quixotic 3-3-1-3 formation in a game defined by their frenetic football, not Dyche’s more prosaic gameplan. “They had the edge against us with that desire,” admitted the Burnley manager.
Victory was sealed by two of Bielsa’s substitutes, Dan James heading in a cross from his fellow replacement Joe Gelhardt, but the pivotal two goals came from players who were proof of the Argentinian’s alchemy when pillars of his Championship side were outstanding in the top flight.
Both Jack Harrison and Stuart Dallas overachieved by scoring eight league goals last season and had underachieved by getting none this. Droughts were ended as emblems of regression recaptured their dynamism. While Wayne Hennessey parried his initial effort from an acute angle, Harrison scored the second. Dallas’ superb first-time finish from the edge of the box restored Leeds’ lead.
They were worthy winners after a late flurry when Gelhardt excelled and Raphinha spurned a golden chance. “We dominated the game and created danger,” Bielsa said. Even without the watching Kalvin Phillips, plus Patrick Bamford, who has only played 22 minutes since September, and Liam Cooper, this was a more recognisable Leeds side than the depleted teams who had lost their three previous matches, conceding 14 goals. It was their first game for 15 days and they were faster and fresher.
There was ambition and audacity when Raphinha tried to score from 50 yards and Junior Firpo with a back-heeled flick. But, until Cornet’s arrival, the threat to Leeds stemmed from two of their alumni. The former Leeds striker Chris Wood had two chances, each created by their old left-back Charlie Taylor. Illan Meslier saved his first shot while the second fizzed over the bar.
Otherwise, Burnley were architects of their own downfall. They were overwhelmed and overrun in the first half, making error after error. James Tarkowski’s poor clearance led to the opener and he was the starter with their best pass completion rate. Dyche accepted: “We kind of hurt ourselves.”
US tops drug cost charts
The study of 13 essential drugs showed costs in the United States were about 300 per cent higher than the global average, followed by Germany at 126 per cent and 122 per cent in the UAE.
Thailand, Kenya and Malaysia were rated as nations with the lowest costs, about 90 per cent cheaper.
In the case of insulin, diabetic patients in the US paid five and a half times the global average, while in the UAE the costs are about 50 per cent higher than the median price of branded and generic drugs.
Some of the costliest drugs worldwide include Lipitor for high cholesterol.
The study’s price index placed the US at an exorbitant 2,170 per cent higher for Lipitor than the average global price and the UAE at the eighth spot globally with costs 252 per cent higher.
High blood pressure medication Zestril was also more than 2,680 per cent higher in the US and the UAE price was 187 per cent higher than the global price.
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
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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1.
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United States
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2.
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China
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3.
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UAE
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4.
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Japan
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5
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Norway
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6.
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Canada
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7.
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Singapore
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8.
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Australia
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9.
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Saudi Arabia
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10.
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South Korea
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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
Anxiety and work stress major factors
Anxiety, work stress and social isolation are all factors in the recogised rise in mental health problems.
A study UAE Ministry of Health researchers published in the summer also cited struggles with weight and illnesses as major contributors.
Its authors analysed a dozen separate UAE studies between 2007 and 2017. Prevalence was often higher in university students, women and in people on low incomes.
One showed 28 per cent of female students at a Dubai university reported symptoms linked to depression. Another in Al Ain found 22.2 per cent of students had depressive symptoms - five times the global average.
It said the country has made strides to address mental health problems but said: “Our review highlights the overall prevalence of depressive symptoms and depression, which may long have been overlooked."
Prof Samir Al Adawi, of the department of behavioural medicine at Sultan Qaboos University in Oman, who was not involved in the study but is a recognised expert in the Gulf, said how mental health is discussed varies significantly between cultures and nationalities.
“The problem we have in the Gulf is the cross-cultural differences and how people articulate emotional distress," said Prof Al Adawi.
“Someone will say that I have physical complaints rather than emotional complaints. This is the major problem with any discussion around depression."
Daniel Bardsley
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%20ASI%20(formerly%20DigestAI)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202017%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Quddus%20Pativada%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Artificial%20intelligence%2C%20education%20technology%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%243%20million-plus%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20GSV%20Ventures%2C%20Character%2C%20Mark%20Cuban%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Tom Fletcher on 'soft power'
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Marathon results
Men:
1. Titus Ekiru(KEN) 2:06:13
2. Alphonce Simbu(TAN) 2:07:50
3. Reuben Kipyego(KEN) 2:08:25
4. Abel Kirui(KEN) 2:08:46
5. Felix Kemutai(KEN) 2:10:48
Women:
1. Judith Korir(KEN) 2:22:30
2. Eunice Chumba(BHR) 2:26:01
3. Immaculate Chemutai(UGA) 2:28:30
4. Abebech Bekele(ETH) 2:29:43
5. Aleksandra Morozova(RUS) 2:33:01
