Argentina's captain Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after the win over France in the final at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar on December 18, 2022. AFP
Argentina's captain Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after the win over France in the final at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar on December 18, 2022. AFP
Argentina's captain Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after the win over France in the final at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar on December 18, 2022. AFP
Argentina's captain Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after the win over France in the final at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar on December 18, 2022. AFP

Crown Prince Mohammed endorses Saudi Arabia's bid to host 2034 Fifa World Cup


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Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman put his approval to the kingdom's bid to host the 2034 Fifa World Cup.

Saudi Arabia is looking to become the second country from the Middle East to hold the tournament after Qatar in 2022.

The bid will be submitted by a delegation headed by the Saudi minister of sports Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal to Fifa officials in Paris.

Earlier this year, Saudi Arabia launched its formal bid to host the 2034 World Cup.

After Morocco, Portugal and Spain were earmarked to share the hosting rights for the 2030 tournament, football's world governing body limited the 2034 tournament hosting rights to bidders from the Asian and Oceania confederations.

Australia opted out of hosting the tournament and, once no other country expressed an interest before Fifa's October deadline last year, it meant Saudi Arabia's bid is almost certain to be approved.

“With this candidacy, we intend to host an exceptional edition that brings together 48 teams for the first time in the history of the tournament in one country,” Prince Abdulaziz said.

"The supervision of the Crown Prince of the kingdom's candidacy file embodies keenness to move forward towards building the future of sports in accordance with the goals of Vision 2030."

The bid process is scheduled to conclude in December when Fifa officially announces the host nation of the 2034 tournament during its general assembly meeting.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia said it plans to build a 92,000-capacity stadium in Riyadh that can host major international events, including the 2034 World Cup.

The Saudi sports ministry unveiled the approved design for the stadium, which is scheduled to be completed in 2029, according to state news agency SPA.

The stadium is set to serve as the main base of the Saudi national team and will be part of a sports complex featuring an indoor sports hall, an Olympic-sized swimming pool and other facilities.

"This design was chosen from several submissions by six international companies, ensuring it meets Fifa requirements and standards of sustainability and architectural excellence," SPA said.

WOMAN AND CHILD

Director: Saeed Roustaee

Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi

Rating: 4/5

SHOW COURTS ORDER OF PLAY

Wimbledon order of play on Saturday, July 8
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)

Centre Court (4pm)
Agnieszka Radwanska (9) v Timea Bacsinszky (19)
Ernests Gulbis v Novak Djokovic (2)
Mischa Zverev (27) v Roger Federer (3)

Court 1 (4pm)
Milos Raonic (6) v Albert Ramos-Vinolas (25)
Anett Kontaveit v Caroline Wozniacki (5)
Dominic Thiem (8) v Jared Donaldson

Court 2 (2.30pm)
Sorana Cirstea v Garbine Muguruza (14)
To finish: Sam Querrey (24) leads Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (12) 6-2, 3-6, 7-6, 1-6, 6-5
Angelique Kerber (1) v Shelby Rogers
Sebastian Ofner v Alexander Zverev (10)

Court 3 (2.30pm)
Grigor Dimitrov (13) v Dudi Sela
Alison Riske v Coco Vandeweghe (24)
David Ferrer v Tomas Berdych (11)

Court 12 (2.30pm)
Polona Hercog v Svetlana Kuznetsova (7)
Gael Monfils (15) v Adrian Mannarino

Court 18 (2.30pm)
Magdalena Rybarikova v Lesia Tsurenko
Petra Martic v Zarina Diyas

UAE central contracts

Full time contracts

Rohan Mustafa, Ahmed Raza, Mohammed Usman, Chirag Suri, Mohammed Boota, Sultan Ahmed, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Waheed Ahmed, Zawar Farid

Part time contracts

Aryan Lakra, Ansh Tandon, Karthik Meiyappan, Rahul Bhatia, Alishan Sharafu, CP Rizwaan, Basil Hameed, Matiullah, Fahad Nawaz, Sanchit Sharma

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Sinopharm vaccine explained

The Sinopharm vaccine was created using techniques that have been around for decades. 

“This is an inactivated vaccine. Simply what it means is that the virus is taken, cultured and inactivated," said Dr Nawal Al Kaabi, chair of the UAE's National Covid-19 Clinical Management Committee.

"What is left is a skeleton of the virus so it looks like a virus, but it is not live."

This is then injected into the body.

"The body will recognise it and form antibodies but because it is inactive, we will need more than one dose. The body will not develop immunity with one dose," she said.

"You have to be exposed more than one time to what we call the antigen."

The vaccine should offer protection for at least months, but no one knows how long beyond that.

Dr Al Kaabi said early vaccine volunteers in China were given shots last spring and still have antibodies today.

“Since it is inactivated, it will not last forever," she said.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
Points to remember
  • Debate the issue, don't attack the person
  • Build the relationship and dialogue by seeking to find common ground
  • Express passion for the issue but be aware of when you're losing control or when there's anger. If there is, pause and take some time out.
  • Listen actively without interrupting
  • Avoid assumptions, seek understanding, ask questions
Updated: July 29, 2024, 12:33 PM