• 2016/17 La Liga preview:
Atletico Madrid | Barcelona | Real Madrid | 5 players to watch
Villarreal finished fourth in the Primera Liga last term after an exceptional, though low-scoring, season. They will be hoping to do better than when they were last in the Uefa Champions League, where the dual demands and a horrific injury list saw them relegated in 2012. They are in the midst of a Champions League play-off against Monaco.
Marcelino, the man who got them there, left the club to much surprise in pre-season, with frustrations about the lack of reinforcements. They also sold Eric Bailly to Manchester United for £30 million (Dh143.4m). Denis Suarez has also gone, while Roberto Soldado picked up a cruciate injury. Brazilian striker Alexandre Pato has been signed and will hope to recapture his early promise.
Several Primera Liga clubs sold their best. Celta Vigo lost Nolito to Manchester City, but Espanyol are one to watch after years of selling their home-grown talents.
Their new Chinese owners say they are aiming for the Champions League and the Barcelona side have installed former Al Ahli and Al Ain manager Quique Sanchez Flores as boss. New signings include Jose Antonio Reyes, Leo Baptistao, Pablo Piatti and Valencia’s Javi Fuego. Expect an improvement on last season’s 13th for the club who have been on the slide since moving to their new home in 2009.
Athletic Bilbao have not signed any new players but their iconic captain Carlos Gurpegui has retired. The Basques also proudly promote players from the B team, as they did with last season’s breakout star, Inaki Williams.
Former Sevilla and Spurs manager Juande Ramos is at Malaga and spending shrewdly. Gus Poyet’s Real Betis have spent €20 million (Dh82.7m), too, but Sevilla have long been the Andalusian kings.
The Europa League winners lost manager Unai Emery to Paris Saint-Germain, but they have former Chile coach Jorge Sampaoli in charge. He will have to get over the loss of key players Ever Banega, Kevin Gameiro and Grzegorz Krychowiak.
He will also have to improve Sevilla’s dreadful domestic away form. Under sporting director Monchi, Sevilla recruit well. Watch out for Luciano Vietto, Montoya and Matias Kranevitter.
Valencia, who had a shocking last term, look set to lose defender Shkodran Mustafi, on top of the already departed Andre Gomes, Alvaro Negredo, Pablo Piatti, and Sofiane Feghouli. Nani is among their 13 signings. Thirteen! They hope it is a lucky 13.
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Paris%20Agreement
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
RESULT
Deportivo La Coruna 2 Barcelona 4
Deportivo: Perez (39'), Colak (63')
Barcelona: Coutinho (6'), Messi (37', 81', 84')
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Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
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
RESULTS
2pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (Dirt) 1,000m
Winner: AF Mozhell, Saif Al Balushi (jockey), Khalifa Al Neyadi (trainer)
2.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Majdi, Szczepan Mazur, Abdallah Al Hammadi.
3pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m
Winner: AF Athabeh, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel.
3.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m
Winner: AF Eshaar, Bernardo Pinheiro, Khalifa Al Neyadi
4pm: Gulf Cup presented by Longines Prestige (PA) Dh150,000 (D) 1,700m
Winner: Al Roba’a Al Khali, Al Moatasem Al Balushi, Younis Al Kalbani
4.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh40,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Apolo Kid, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muahiri
