Australia have officially joined the race to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup after submitting a bid to Fifa.
Applications were due to be lodged with Fifa by today, with candidates able to bid for either or both tournaments.
In October the Australian Government announced it would contribute A$45.6 million (Dh111m) towards the bid process as they aim to bring arguably the world's showpiece sporting event to Australasia for the first time.
Fifa have hinted in the past the Football Federation of Australia's (FFA) best hope of hosting the tournament will be in 2022, with the likelihood of the 2018 World Cup returning to the northern hemisphere as South Africa (2010) and Brazil (2014) are set to host the next two events.
But despite the FFA also facing strong opposition from England, Russia, United States, South Korea, Indonesia, Qatar and a joint bid from Portugal and Spain, they remain confident of being successful.
"Australia is part of the fastest growing region in world football and I think that is very important to FIFA. It's very important to us and it's very important to the Asian Football Federation," FFA spokesperson Bonita Mersiades told Sky Sports News.
"Whether that is an advantage or a disadvantage, it is too soon to say one way or the other. But I think the great thing about opening it up to any country and going beyond the rotation system is that it gives a number of countries the opportunity to put their hands up.
"It also shows the strength of football around the world. There are 13 countries and 11 bidders for the 2018 and/or 2022 World Cup and the fact that there is such a strong interest shows it truly is the global game and a game people want to be part of.
"All around the world people are vying for it and I think that's a positive sign for the sport as a whole."
A decision on the successful bids for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup will be made in December next year.
Fifa are also due to announce next month whether they will accept joint bids.
* PA Sport
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
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
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Keep it fun and engaging
Stuart Ritchie, director of wealth advice at AES International, says children cannot learn something overnight, so it helps to have a fun routine that keeps them engaged and interested.
“I explain to my daughter that the money I draw from an ATM or the money on my bank card doesn’t just magically appear – it’s money I have earned from my job. I show her how this works by giving her little chores around the house so she can earn pocket money,” says Mr Ritchie.
His daughter is allowed to spend half of her pocket money, while the other half goes into a bank account. When this money hits a certain milestone, Mr Ritchie rewards his daughter with a small lump sum.
He also recommends books that teach the importance of money management for children, such as The Squirrel Manifesto by Ric Edelman and Jean Edelman.