Liverpool's Roberto Firmino celebrates the own goal by Kean Bryan that made it 2-0 in their Premier League win against Sheffield United on February 28. PA
Liverpool's Roberto Firmino celebrates the own goal by Kean Bryan that made it 2-0 in their Premier League win against Sheffield United on February 28. PA
Liverpool's manager Jurgen Klopp celebrates with Trent Alexander-Arnold, right, and Sadio Mane at Bramall Lane. AP
Liverpool's manager Jurgen Klopp celebrates with Trent Alexander-Arnold, right, and Sadio Mane at Bramall Lane. AP
Roberto Firmino's defelcted effort heads towards the Sheffield United net to make it 2-0. PA
Roberto Firmino's defelcted effort heads towards the Sheffield United net to make it 2-0. PA
Roberto Firmino celebrates. Reuters
Roberto Firmino celebrates. Reuters
Liverpool's Curtis Jones celebrates scoring his side's first goal. AP
Liverpool's Curtis Jones celebrates scoring his side's first goal. AP
Jones celebrates scoring. Reuters
Jones celebrates scoring. Reuters
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp. AP
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp. AP
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah after a missed chance. Reuters
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah after a missed chance. Reuters
Roberto Firmino's shot is deflected into the net to seal Liverpool's win. Reuters
Roberto Firmino's shot is deflected into the net to seal Liverpool's win. Reuters
Sheffield United's manager Chris Wilder gives directions to his players. AP
Sheffield United's manager Chris Wilder gives directions to his players. AP
Sheffield United's Phil Jagielka and goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale attaempt to block a shot by Firmino. AP
Sheffield United's Phil Jagielka and goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale attaempt to block a shot by Firmino. AP

Football

Jurgen Klopp admits failure to finish in top four could cost Liverpool top transfer targets

Ahead of crunch clash with Chelsea, Reds manager says the financial pressure to qualify for Champions League is always there and that this season is no different

Richard Jolly
Richard Jolly
Greater Manchester, England

March 04, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

Jurgen Klopp has admitted that Liverpool could find it harder to land their preferred transfer targets if they fail to qualify for the Champions League but denied he is under any extra pressure to get a top-four finish this year because of the financial implications.

Liverpool were already projected to lose about £100 million ($139m) as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, but the 2019 Champions League winners and 2018 runners-up are now on course to miss out on next season’s competition.

They and Chelsea have contested two Champions League semi-finals in the last 20 years and are not accustomed to meeting in sixth and fifth but face each other on Thursday with the loser facing an uphill battle to break into the top four.

“I think a week ago we were out [of the reckoning], now we are around again so for us the challenge is clear,” said Klopp. His side have suffered six league defeats in 2021 but said Fenway Sports Group have been supportive.

“It is not that the owners called me and said that if you don’t qualify for Champions League then this or that will happen because we are all together and we all understand the situation,” he added.

But when he joined Liverpool in 2015, they were only in the Europa League and then they did not play in continental competition in his first full season.

Klopp has denied his side need a "massive rebuild" in the summer but after Diogo Jota and Thiago Alcantara were the only major acquisitions in the last two summers, Liverpool are likely to have more ambitious plans which could be stymied if they lack the money and the pulling power the Champions League offers.

“The main reason for qualifying is it is a great competition to play in,” Klopp said. “You want to excite some players to join. In the beginning, we were sitting with players who had always played in the Champions League and it was: ‘Sorry, we can only offer nothing or the Europa League.’ But it is always about finances and this year will be no different, it is always very important, absolutely.”

_______________________________________________________________

Chelsea 0 Manchester United 0: player ratings

CHELSEA RATINGS: Eduoard Mendy - 5: Punched away Rashford free-kick after 14 minutes when he should have caught it. Was the hour mark before had to make another serious save, a decent block from a McTominay shot despite a crowded box in front of the Senegalese goalkeeper. Spilled simple James ball into middle in last quarter-of-an-hour, but recovered to gather quickly. Can look very unconvincing on crosses. AP
CHELSEA RATINGS: Eduoard Mendy - 5: Punched away Rashford free-kick after 14 minutes when he should have caught it. Was the hour mark before had to make another serious save, a decent block from a McTominay shot despite a crowded box in front of the Senegalese goalkeeper. Spilled simple James ball into middle in last quarter-of-an-hour, but recovered to gather quickly. Can look very unconvincing on crosses. AP
Antonio Rudiger - 8: Surging 40-metre run with ball down left in first five minutes in sign of early Chelsea intent. Brilliant turn and switch of play out to Hudson-Odoi on right in move that almost saw Giroud head home. Strong defensively as well. AFP
Antonio Rudiger - 8: Surging 40-metre run with ball down left in first five minutes in sign of early Chelsea intent. Brilliant turn and switch of play out to Hudson-Odoi on right in move that almost saw Giroud head home. Strong defensively as well. AFP
Andreas Christensen - 7: Strolled through first half when United’s attacking threat was minimal and while had a little bit more to do after half-time, never really looked in trouble. Reuters
Andreas Christensen - 7: Strolled through first half when United’s attacking threat was minimal and while had a little bit more to do after half-time, never really looked in trouble. Reuters
Cesar Azpilcueta - 7: Fine supporting run down right followed by lay-off to set-up chance for Hudson-Odoi in first half. Like rest of Blues back three, very solid performance. Getty
Cesar Azpilcueta - 7: Fine supporting run down right followed by lay-off to set-up chance for Hudson-Odoi in first half. Like rest of Blues back three, very solid performance. Getty
Callum Hudson-Odoi - 7: Nervy moment quarter-of-an-hour in when ball hit his hand in box but referee Stuart Attwell decided no penalty after checking out pitch-side monitor. Volleyed just wide of target with decent effrt five minutes later after exchanging passes with Azpilcueta. Fine ball into box centimetres from Giroud’s head. Forced off at half-time due to injury. EPA
Callum Hudson-Odoi - 7: Nervy moment quarter-of-an-hour in when ball hit his hand in box but referee Stuart Attwell decided no penalty after checking out pitch-side monitor. Volleyed just wide of target with decent effrt five minutes later after exchanging passes with Azpilcueta. Fine ball into box centimetres from Giroud’s head. Forced off at half-time due to injury. EPA
N’Golo Kante - 8: Started ahead of Jorginho to keep close tabs on United dangerman Fernandes. Good block on Portuguese’s long range effort just before half-time. Stole another chance off laces of Rashford minutes later. Frenchman is a monster at breaking up play. AP
N’Golo Kante - 8: Started ahead of Jorginho to keep close tabs on United dangerman Fernandes. Good block on Portuguese’s long range effort just before half-time. Stole another chance off laces of Rashford minutes later. Frenchman is a monster at breaking up play. AP
Mateo Kovacic - 8: Read play really well in a congested middle of the park and, as usual, kept things simple and covers ground so quickly. Curled a couple of weak efforts straight at De Gea in second half. AFP
Mateo Kovacic - 8: Read play really well in a congested middle of the park and, as usual, kept things simple and covers ground so quickly. Curled a couple of weak efforts straight at De Gea in second half. AFP
Ben Chilwell - 7: Replaced Alonso at left-back and looked to get forward from first minute. Lots of surging runs down left and one of those, followed by good cut-back at start of second half, set-up Ziyech for great chance to open scoring. Booked for rash lunge on Greenwood. Reuters
Ben Chilwell - 7: Replaced Alonso at left-back and looked to get forward from first minute. Lots of surging runs down left and one of those, followed by good cut-back at start of second half, set-up Ziyech for great chance to open scoring. Booked for rash lunge on Greenwood. Reuters
Hakim Ziyech - 5: In starting line-up ahead of Werner as Tuchel gives German “a little break” and had Chelsea’s first shot on target – a weak effort straight at De Gea. A comically bad pass out for throw-in where he thought Hudson-Odoi should be and one or two other sloppy moments in possession. Better after half-time without ever looking particularly dangerous although was denied goal when shot was well saved by De Gea a couple of minutes into second half. Reuters
Hakim Ziyech - 5: In starting line-up ahead of Werner as Tuchel gives German “a little break” and had Chelsea’s first shot on target – a weak effort straight at De Gea. A comically bad pass out for throw-in where he thought Hudson-Odoi should be and one or two other sloppy moments in possession. Better after half-time without ever looking particularly dangerous although was denied goal when shot was well saved by De Gea a couple of minutes into second half. Reuters
Mason Mount - 7: Relentless running and pressing which would delight his manager. Excellent driving run into United box just after hour mark needed last-ditch challenge by McTominay to prevent shot on goal. Chelsea’s main attacking threat in second half. AP
Mason Mount - 7: Relentless running and pressing which would delight his manager. Excellent driving run into United box just after hour mark needed last-ditch challenge by McTominay to prevent shot on goal. Chelsea’s main attacking threat in second half. AP
Olivier Giroud - 5: Failed to take advantage of dire De Gea kick out when French attacker rashly smashed high and wide with finish that had his manager calling for more composure. Very close to getting head on end of perfect Hudson-Odoi cross after 35 minutes but could only crash into post rather than ball. Midweek hero against Atletico Madrid was taken off with 25 minutes to go here. EPA
Olivier Giroud - 5: Failed to take advantage of dire De Gea kick out when French attacker rashly smashed high and wide with finish that had his manager calling for more composure. Very close to getting head on end of perfect Hudson-Odoi cross after 35 minutes but could only crash into post rather than ball. Midweek hero against Atletico Madrid was taken off with 25 minutes to go here. EPA
SUBS: Reece James – (On for Hudson-Odoi 46’) 6: Given long talking to by Tuchel on sideline before coming on. Manager will have been disappointed, though, as James failed to offer same attacking danger down right as man he replaced, until last 10 minutes when one fine cross into middle nearly found Werner. Reuters
SUBS: Reece James – (On for Hudson-Odoi 46’) 6: Given long talking to by Tuchel on sideline before coming on. Manager will have been disappointed, though, as James failed to offer same attacking danger down right as man he replaced, until last 10 minutes when one fine cross into middle nearly found Werner. Reuters
Christian Pulisic – (On for Giroud 65’) 6: Lovely touch drew foul out of Maguire that earned United captain yellow card. Skied one chance over bar when allowed time to shoot by United’s defence. EPA
Christian Pulisic – (On for Giroud 65’) 6: Lovely touch drew foul out of Maguire that earned United captain yellow card. Skied one chance over bar when allowed time to shoot by United’s defence. EPA
Timo Werner – (On for Ziyech 78’) N/A. One tame shot straight at De Gea from tight angle and failed to get on end of great James cross after Lindelof interception. Reuters
Timo Werner – (On for Ziyech 78’) N/A. One tame shot straight at De Gea from tight angle and failed to get on end of great James cross after Lindelof interception. Reuters
MANCHESTER UNITED RATINGS: David De Gea - 7: Barely tested in the first half, but was lucky not to be punished by Giroud when his miss-kick landed straight at Frenchman's feet in first half. Smart save with his arm from Ziyech just after half-time. AP
MANCHESTER UNITED RATINGS: David De Gea - 7: Barely tested in the first half, but was lucky not to be punished by Giroud when his miss-kick landed straight at Frenchman's feet in first half. Smart save with his arm from Ziyech just after half-time. AP
Aaron Wan-Bissaka - 5: Pushed right up but clunky in challenges and conceded possession. Should have got back quicker for chance which led to Ziyech shot, but pulled ball back to set up McTominay on hour mark. Reuters
Aaron Wan-Bissaka - 5: Pushed right up but clunky in challenges and conceded possession. Should have got back quicker for chance which led to Ziyech shot, but pulled ball back to set up McTominay on hour mark. Reuters
Victor Lindelof - 7: One quality long pass towards the corner which was picked up by Shaw. More advanced than usual, but stretched by crosses from Hudson-Odoi towards Giroud in first half. Blocked one Kante shot and produced outstanding clearance to get in ahead of Werner in last 10 minutes.
Victor Lindelof - 7: One quality long pass towards the corner which was picked up by Shaw. More advanced than usual, but stretched by crosses from Hudson-Odoi towards Giroud in first half. Blocked one Kante shot and produced outstanding clearance to get in ahead of Werner in last 10 minutes.
Harry Maguire - 6: Played very high against Chelsea and the less than rapid Giroud. Booked for a needless challenge with 12 minutes left against Pulisic in what is now the fourth successive 0-0 against a top team. Maguire needs to lead them to a win soon. PA
Harry Maguire - 6: Played very high against Chelsea and the less than rapid Giroud. Booked for a needless challenge with 12 minutes left against Pulisic in what is now the fourth successive 0-0 against a top team. Maguire needs to lead them to a win soon. PA
Luke Shaw - 7: Like Wan Bissaka, pushed up even higher than the central pair. Dangerous towards end of first half and important block in second. Reuters
Luke Shaw - 7: Like Wan Bissaka, pushed up even higher than the central pair. Dangerous towards end of first half and important block in second. Reuters
Scott McTominay - 6: Back from injury and rusty in opening exchanges, but, like his team, settled towards the end of the first half. Struck decent shot on the hour as United came alive after a period of Chelsea pressure. Blocked a fine Mount solo attack and protected defence well. Reuters
Scott McTominay - 6: Back from injury and rusty in opening exchanges, but, like his team, settled towards the end of the first half. Struck decent shot on the hour as United came alive after a period of Chelsea pressure. Blocked a fine Mount solo attack and protected defence well. Reuters
Fred - 6: Combative performance. Neat passing in the middle. Tried step over as he ran towards goal, but few expect a goal when Fred goes towards it. Booked for a heavy challenge on Mount. Decent curling shot wide on 67 minutes ... he’s getting closer. AFP
Fred - 6: Combative performance. Neat passing in the middle. Tried step over as he ran towards goal, but few expect a goal when Fred goes towards it. Booked for a heavy challenge on Mount. Decent curling shot wide on 67 minutes ... he’s getting closer. AFP
Daniel James - 6: Limped off against Real Sociedad but in-form and deserved selection. One good cross was the highlight of his first half. Neat interplay with Greenwood to set him up with chance and did so again with a super low cross after 75 minutes. AP.
Daniel James - 6: Limped off against Real Sociedad but in-form and deserved selection. One good cross was the highlight of his first half. Neat interplay with Greenwood to set him up with chance and did so again with a super low cross after 75 minutes. AP.
Bruno Fernandes - 6 Talked up by Tuchel pre-match but struggled to make an impact and gave possession away a couple of times in the first half. Headed ball towards Rashford at end of lively, entertaining opening 45 minutes where United grew stronger. Took frustrations out on referee but was his own final passes were poor. Needs to stand out more against the best but he’s been at club for more than a year and still unbeaten away from home in the league. PA
Bruno Fernandes - 6 Talked up by Tuchel pre-match but struggled to make an impact and gave possession away a couple of times in the first half. Headed ball towards Rashford at end of lively, entertaining opening 45 minutes where United grew stronger. Took frustrations out on referee but was his own final passes were poor. Needs to stand out more against the best but he’s been at club for more than a year and still unbeaten away from home in the league. PA
Marcus Rashford - 6 - Early free-kick hit target from distance, but limited until end of the first half when was more effective on left with Shaw. Good ball to Greenwood on 51. Weak shot on goal just after hour. EPA
Marcus Rashford - 6 - Early free-kick hit target from distance, but limited until end of the first half when was more effective on left with Shaw. Good ball to Greenwood on 51. Weak shot on goal just after hour. EPA
Mason Greenwood - 5: The main striker in a 4-2-3-1 but, aside from the controversial penalty rejection in the first half, ploughed a lonely furrow. Neat move with James for 59th minute shot on goal was his best effort of game. EPA
Mason Greenwood - 5: The main striker in a 4-2-3-1 but, aside from the controversial penalty rejection in the first half, ploughed a lonely furrow. Neat move with James for 59th minute shot on goal was his best effort of game. EPA
Anthony Martial - (On for Greenwood 77') NA. Out of form striker couldn’t break the stalemate. EPA
Anthony Martial - (On for Greenwood 77') NA. Out of form striker couldn’t break the stalemate. EPA

_______________________________________________________________

Klopp faces Thomas Tuchel, a successor of his at both Mainz and Borussia Dortmund, for the first time in the Premier League and said: “He has a much better record than I had with Mainz, winning much more Bundesliga games. I think he is an outstanding coach and manager.”

Liverpool have lost their last four games at Anfield but should have a stronger squad as they seek to end their worst home run since 1923.

Alisson is available again after missing Sunday’s win at Sheffield United for compassionate reasons after the death of his father while Jota, who has not played since December after first injury and then a stomach bug, could feature.

Fabinho is also back, giving Klopp the decision whether to keep the new-look centre-back partnership of Ozan Kabak and Nat Phillips or to play the Brazilian in his best position. “If we can find a way to bring Fab back in midfield that would be in some games quite helpful,” he said.

Fabinho will also be an issue in the international break when Liverpool’s three Brazil internationals and the Portuguese winger Jota could be called up by their national teams to travel to ‘red-list countries’.

Anyone returning from them has to quarantine and Klopp said: “We cannot just let the boys go and sort the situation when they come back by placing our players in a 10-day quarantine in a hotel.

"You cannot make everyone happy at this time and we have to admit the players are paid by the clubs so it means we have to be first priority.”

War on waste
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

3%20Body%20Problem
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECreators%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20David%20Benioff%2C%20D%20B%20Weiss%2C%20Alexander%20Woo%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EBenedict%20Wong%2C%20Jess%20Hong%2C%20Jovan%20Adepo%2C%20Eiza%20Gonzalez%2C%20John%20Bradley%2C%20Alex%20Sharp%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
New UK refugee system

 

  • A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
  • Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
  • A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
  • To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
  • Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
  • Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
RESULTS

5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m
Winner: Raghida, Szczepan Mazur (jockey), Ibrahim Al Hadhrami (trainer)
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m
Winner: AF Alareeq, Connor Beasley, Ahmed Al Mehairbi
6pm: Arabian Triple Crown Round-2 Group 3 (PA) Dh300,000 2,200m 
Winner: Basmah, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel
6.30pm: Liwa Oasis Group 2 (PA) Dh300,000 1,400m
Winner: AF Alwajel, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,600m
Winner: SS Jalmod, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 1,600m
Winner: Trolius, Ryan Powell, Simon Crisford

On Women's Day
Company profile

Name: Tharb

Started: December 2016

Founder: Eisa Alsubousi

Based: Abu Dhabi

Sector: Luxury leather goods

Initial investment: Dh150,000 from personal savings

 

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On Women's Day
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 

GIANT REVIEW

Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan

Director: Athale

Rating: 4/5

More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Tearful appearance

Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday. 

Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow. 

She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.

A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.

While you're here
ICC Women's T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier 2025, Thailand

UAE fixtures
May 9, v Malaysia
May 10, v Qatar
May 13, v Malaysia
May 15, v Qatar
May 18 and 19, semi-finals
May 20, final

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The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Part three: an affection for classic cars lives on

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Tamkeen's offering
  • Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
  • Option 2: 50% across three years
  • Option 3: 30% across five years 
Moon Music

Artist: Coldplay

Label: Parlophone/Atlantic

Number of tracks: 10

Rating: 3/5

Specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201.5-litre%20turbo%204-cylinder%20%2F%202.0%20turbo%204-cylinder%20(S3)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20148bhp%20%2F%20328bhp%20(S3)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20250Nm%20%2F%20420Nm%20(S3)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20December%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20TBA%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Global state-owned investor ranking by size

1.

United States

2.

China

3.

UAE

4.

Japan

5

Norway

6.

Canada

7.

Singapore

8.

Australia

9.

Saudi Arabia

10.

South Korea
On Women's Day
AWARDS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBest%20Male%20black%20belt%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ELucas%20Protasio%20(BRA)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBest%20female%20black%20belt%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJulia%20Alves%20(BRA)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBest%20Masters%20black%20belt%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Igor%20Silva%20(BRA)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBest%20Asian%20Jiu-Jitsu%20Federation%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Kazakhstan%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBest%20Academy%20in%20UAE%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ECommando%20Group%2C%20Abu%20Dhabi%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBest%20International%20Academy%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Commando%20Group%2C%20Abu%20Dhabi%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EAfrican%20Player%20of%20the%20Year%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EKatiuscia%20Yasmira%20Dias%20(GNB)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOceanian%20Player%20of%20the%20Year%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAnton%20Minenko%20(AUS)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EEuropean%20Player%20of%20the%20Year%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Rose%20El%20Sharouni%20(NED)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENorth%20and%20Central%20American%20Player%20of%20the%20Year%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAlexa%20Yanes%20(USA)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EAsian%20Player%20of%20the%20Year%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EZayed%20Al%20Katheeri%20(UAE)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERookie%20of%20the%20Year%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Rui%20Neto%20(BRA)Rui%20Neto%20(BRA)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Safety 'top priority' for rival hyperloop company

The chief operating officer of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, Andres de Leon, said his company's hyperloop technology is “ready” and safe.

He said the company prioritised safety throughout its development and, last year, Munich Re, one of the world's largest reinsurance companies, announced it was ready to insure their technology.

“Our levitation, propulsion, and vacuum technology have all been developed [...] over several decades and have been deployed and tested at full scale,” he said in a statement to The National.

“Only once the system has been certified and approved will it move people,” he said.

HyperloopTT has begun designing and engineering processes for its Abu Dhabi projects and hopes to break ground soon. 

With no delivery date yet announced, Mr de Leon said timelines had to be considered carefully, as government approval, permits, and regulations could create necessary delays.

Ruwais timeline

1971 Abu Dhabi National Oil Company established

1980 Ruwais Housing Complex built, located 10 kilometres away from industrial plants

1982 120,000 bpd capacity Ruwais refinery complex officially inaugurated by the founder of the UAE Sheikh Zayed

1984 Second phase of Ruwais Housing Complex built. Today the 7,000-unit complex houses some 24,000 people.  

1985 The refinery is expanded with the commissioning of a 27,000 b/d hydro cracker complex

2009 Plans announced to build $1.2 billion fertilizer plant in Ruwais, producing urea

2010 Adnoc awards $10bn contracts for expansion of Ruwais refinery, to double capacity from 415,000 bpd

2014 Ruwais 261-outlet shopping mall opens

2014 Production starts at newly expanded Ruwais refinery, providing jet fuel and diesel and allowing the UAE to be self-sufficient for petrol supplies

2014 Etihad Rail begins transportation of sulphur from Shah and Habshan to Ruwais for export

2017 Aldar Academies to operate Adnoc’s schools including in Ruwais from September. Eight schools operate in total within the housing complex.

2018 Adnoc announces plans to invest $3.1 billion on upgrading its Ruwais refinery 

2018 NMC Healthcare selected to manage operations of Ruwais Hospital

2018 Adnoc announces new downstream strategy at event in Abu Dhabi on May 13

Source: The National

About RuPay

A homegrown card payment scheme launched by the National Payments Corporation of India and backed by the Reserve Bank of India, the country’s central bank

RuPay process payments between banks and merchants for purchases made with credit or debit cards

It has grown rapidly in India and competes with global payment network firms like MasterCard and Visa.

In India, it can be used at ATMs, for online payments and variations of the card can be used to pay for bus, metro charges, road toll payments

The name blends two words rupee and payment

Some advantages of the network include lower processing fees and transaction costs

Bio

Age: 25

Town: Al Diqdaqah – Ras Al Khaimah

Education: Bachelors degree in mechanical engineering

Favourite colour: White

Favourite place in the UAE: Downtown Dubai

Favourite book: A Life in Administration by Ghazi Al Gosaibi.

First owned baking book: How to Be a Domestic Goddess by Nigella Lawson.

Singham Again

Director: Rohit Shetty

Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone

Rating: 3/5

Earth under attack: Cosmic impacts throughout history

- 4.5 billion years ago: Mars-sized object smashes into the newly-formed Earth, creating debris that coalesces to form the Moon

- 66 million years ago: 10km-wide asteroid crashes into the Gulf of Mexico, wiping out over 70 per cent of living species – including the dinosaurs.

- 50,000 years ago: 50m-wide iron meteor crashes in Arizona with the violence of 10 megatonne hydrogen bomb, creating the famous 1.2km-wide Barringer Crater

- 1490: Meteor storm over Shansi Province, north-east China when large stones “fell like rain”, reportedly leading to thousands of deaths.  

- 1908: 100-metre meteor from the Taurid Complex explodes near the Tunguska river in Siberia with the force of 1,000 Hiroshima-type bombs, devastating 2,000 square kilometres of forest.

- 1998: Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 breaks apart and crashes into Jupiter in series of impacts that would have annihilated life on Earth.

-2013: 10,000-tonne meteor burns up over the southern Urals region of Russia, releasing a pressure blast and flash that left over 1600 people injured.

Our legal advisor

Ahmad El Sayed is Senior Associate at Charles Russell Speechlys, a law firm headquartered in London with offices in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Hong Kong.

Experience: Commercial litigator who has assisted clients with overseas judgments before UAE courts. His specialties are cases related to banking, real estate, shareholder disputes, company liquidations and criminal matters as well as employment related litigation. 

Education: Sagesse University, Beirut, Lebanon, in 2005.

New schools in Dubai
The Sand Castle

Director: Matty Brown

Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea

Rating: 2.5/5

How to avoid crypto fraud
  • Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
  • Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
  • Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
  • Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
  • Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
  • Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
  • Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Airev
Started: September 2023
Founder: Muhammad Khalid
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: Generative AI
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
 
When Umm Kulthum performed in Abu Dhabi

  

 

 

 

Known as The Lady of Arabic Song, Umm Kulthum performed in Abu Dhabi on November 28, 1971, as part of celebrations for the fifth anniversary of the accession of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan as Ruler of Abu Dhabi. A concert hall was constructed for the event on land that is now Al Nahyan Stadium, behind Al Wahda Mall. The audience were treated to many of Kulthum's most well-known songs as part of the sold-out show, including Aghadan Alqak and Enta Omri.

 
FIXTURES

Saturday
5.30pm: Shabab Al Ahli v Al Wahda
5.30pm: Khorfakkan v Baniyas
8.15pm: Hatta v Ajman
8.15pm: Sharjah v Al Ain
Sunday
5.30pm: Kalba v Al Jazira
5.30pm: Fujairah v Al Dhafra
8.15pm: Al Nasr v Al Wasl

The five pillars of Islam

White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogenChromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxideUltramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica contentOphiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on landOlivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour

World Mental Health Day
Company Profile:

Name: The Protein Bakeshop

Date of start: 2013

Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani

Based: Dubai

Size, number of employees: 12

Funding/investors:  $400,000 (2018) 

Liverpool