Each week sports reporter Mina Rzouki answers a selection of readers' questions submitted via social media. If you have a question for Mina, you can ask her on either X or Instagram – both @MinaRzouki.
Q: Should a club make a transfer move for Alessandro Bastoni. Is he underrated?
@Kman23 via Instagram
A: It depends on which country’s media you consume. In Italy, he is rightfully highly rated but in England, maybe not spoken about as much. Italy’s most famous sports paper, Gazzetta dello Sport, ran a survey in March asking their readers if Bastoni was the best in the world and a resounding 66 per cent agreed. Virgil van Dijk received 19.8 per cent of votes while Antonio Rudiger came in third with just under 6 per cent.
Fans who watch football in Europe and not just in England will appreciate that he is one of the top three best defenders in the world. And how could he not be? Blessed to have been coached by some of the most courageous and forward-thinking coaches in Italian football, including Gian Piero Gasperini, Antonio Conte and Simone Inzaghi, Bastoni has revolutionised the role of a centre-back in a back three.
A left-footed defender who can carry the ball out from the back, he progresses vertically and seamlessly to aid the attack as an additional playmaker. Capable of assists, scoring and of reading the opponents’ game plan, I genuinely struggle to name many who are better. He is strong in the air, a leader on the pitch and a defensive maestro.
Voted the best defender in Serie A last season, Transfermarkt.com claim that, alongside Arsenal’s William Saliba, Bastoni is the most valuable defender in the world. I love Saliba, but Bastoni makes virtually no mistakes while, sometimes, we can spot a Saliba mistake or two.
Q: If Ancelotti leaves Real Madrid, would the club want Mikel Arteta?
@Stevewinter606 via Instagram
A: No. He’s not even on their list of possible candidates – at least not yet. He was actually linked to the Real Madrid job in 2023 and he got a bit irritated when he had to deny the interest. Worth noting, he is a Barcelona boy. He’s a Real Sociedad supporter but he spent part of his youth in the Blaugrana youth set-up, and while that doesn’t discount a potential move to Madrid, his style and what he wants to create might not go hand in hand with Madrid’s plans.
Arteta is developing something really wonderful at Arsenal and even though the media and some fans are impatient, wanting everything to arrive immediately, I think most of us have enjoyed the journey of watching the club develop each season. The league remains a bridge too far it seems, and they have been unlucky at times, but I was amazed at their maturity in Europe, displaying a formidable mentality and confidence I hadn’t often seen from them in this competition.
However, Real Madrid is a difficult place to go, if you don’t understand and quickly adapt to the culture. Their fans have grown accustomed to success and lifting silverware and expect success immediately. There is no time to develop game plans, to manage the egos, to deal with the boos and whistles. You have to win yesterday. The pressure is immense, stifling and it can destroy a coach. Even the great Alfredo Di Stefano was on the receiving end of occasional jeers.
Arteta is more than capable but honestly I think it’s a role best occupied by a former Madrid player – somebody who has the arrogance to believe in a remontada in the 89th minute and who will command a dressing room full of egos that may behave as though they are above tactics and listening to instruction.
Right now, Xabi Alonso is the coach the club most desire. They admire his tactical adjustments in a game, how he nurtures his players to exploit their individual characteristics and his pragmatism in football.
Real Madrid’s management have built a system that revolves around bringing in the best. They don’t buy players to fit a style of play. They bring in players they think are talented and it’s up to the coach to fit them all in. If it’s not Alonso, I don’t think they’d say no to another round with Zinedine Zidane, and if it’s not a former player, then Jurgen Klopp’s energy and style of fast paced football would be ideal.
Q: Is it just all about the foreign strikers in Saudi’s SPL or is Arab talent competing?
@Jenna_j7 via Instagram
A: In terms of strikers, the Saudi Pro League’s joint second top scorer is Moroccan Abderrazak Hamdallah with 19 goals, only four less than Cristiano Ronaldo, and he has been nothing short of a blessing for his club Al Shabab.
This is one of the league’s most prolific strikers. In fact, when he first arrived to the kingdom in 2018, he scored 34 goals in 27 games for Ronaldo’s current team Al Nassr.
He was the league's top scorer in his first two seasons. He then moved to Al Ittihad in December 2021 and guess what? He drove the team to a league title, scoring 21 goals in 26 games. Saudi journalists have noted that there’s very few who have proved as successful as Hamdallah in front of goal.
He is 34 now but still performing at a high level and joined Al Shabab last summer. Second in the league's all-time scoring chart, Hamdallah arrived at an attack-minded team and produced quickly, but the club suffered when Vitor Pereira left for Wolverhampton Wanderers.
New coach Fatih Terim may have taken time to find his feet but Al Shabab are one of the most in-form teams at the moment largely because of how well the wily Turk has managed to exploit the striker’s prowess in front of goal. Terim has been the perfect coach for the striker; Hamdallah has scored 14 goals in 14 matches.
So yes, this is a league blessed with some of the finest imports but I’m yet to see many produce the magic in front of goal as well as Hamdallah has at 34.
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
The specs: Lamborghini Aventador SVJ
Price, base: Dh1,731,672
Engine: 6.5-litre V12
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 770hp @ 8,500rpm
Torque: 720Nm @ 6,750rpm
Fuel economy: 19.6L / 100km
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
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Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
- Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
The Prison Letters of Nelson Mandela
Edited by Sahm Venter
Published by Liveright
The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
UAE squad to face Ireland
Ahmed Raza (captain), Chirag Suri (vice-captain), Rohan Mustafa, Mohammed Usman, Mohammed Boota, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Waheed Ahmad, Zawar Farid, CP Rizwaan, Aryan Lakra, Karthik Meiyappan, Alishan Sharafu, Basil Hameed, Kashif Daud, Adithya Shetty, Vriitya Aravind
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.
Brolliology: A History of the Umbrella in Life and Literature
By Marion Rankine
Melville House
Joker: Folie a Deux
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson
Director: Todd Phillips
Rating: 2/5
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Results
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The specs
Engine: 2.2-litre, turbodiesel
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Power: 160hp
Torque: 385Nm
Price: Dh116,900
On sale: now
Banned items
Dubai Police has also issued a list of banned items at the ground on Sunday. These include:
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Political flags or banners
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Bikes, skateboards or scooters
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
