Swiss on time again with precision
8.25 pm: Roger Federer is through to his sixth final in eight appearances at the Dubai Tennis Championships following a 6-2, 7-5 crushing of a hapless Richard Gasquet.
Federer started the semi-final with a break and closed the first set with a sublime drop shot in 29 minutes.
The top seed and four-time Dubai champion met with a lot more resistance in the second set and dropped his serve in the eighth game. Federer, however, broke back immediately. He broke again for 6-5 and then served out a love game for the match.
He will meet Novak Djokovic, the two-time defending champion and Australian Open winner, in Saturday's final.
That's it then. The Swiss has not disappointed and set up the weekend here in this part of the world nicely.
Don't forget to come back and join us as we get you the latest as usual.
Youzhny and Stakhovsky are double trouble
6.30pm: Mikhail Youzhny and Sergiy Stakhovsky are through to the doubles final of the Dubai Tennis Championships after a straight sets win over Marcel Granollers and Dick Norman.
Youzhny and Stakhovsky won 6-3, 6-4 and now await the winner of the second semi-final between Michael Llodra-Nenad Zimonjic and Jeremy Chardy-Feliciano Lopez.
That match will follow after the singles battle between Roger Federer and Richard Gasquet for a place in the final.
Berdych retires to give away to Djokovic in an anti-climax
5.20pm: Novak Djokovic is through to the final of the Dubai Tennis Championships when Tomas Berdych retired in the deciding third set after injuring his left quad muscles.
Djokovic, who lost the first set in a tie-break, had fought back to win the second 6-2 and was leading 4-2 in the deciding third when Berdych decided he could not go on any further.
Berdych was struggling to move around the court or serve and Djokovic seized the moment, breaking the Czech in the sixth game to take a 4-2 lead. Berdych played two more points before deciding to retire.
4.15 pm: Novak Djokovic remains in the hunt for his third straight appearance in the final of the Dubai Tennis Championships after fighting back to win the second set against Tomas Berdych.
Having lost the first set in the tie-break, the Australian Open champion, who has won here in the last two years, went ahead with a break in the fourth game as Berdych sliced a backhand into the net.
He survived two break points in the next game as Berdych first hit a forehand long and missed the line on the next. Djokovic then broke for a second time to take the set 6-2.
3.30 pm: Tomas Berdych has takes the first set in his semi-final against two-time defending champion Novak Djokovic after an exciting duel that lasted 66 minutes and was decided in the tie-break.
The first 11 games went to serve, with both Djokovic and Berdych not facing a single break-point. However, serving at 5-6, Djokovic was down 15-40; the Australian Open champion saved the first break and set point with an ace and then Berdych hit a forehand into the net after a marathon rally that lasted 14 shots.
At deuce, Djokovic served another ace and kept his serve with a forehand winner.
Berdych, however, came out fighting in the tie-break as well and had three set-points at 6-3. Djokovic saved the first with a chip from the back of the court and the second with a forehand winner, but then missed the court on the next point, giving the Czech his first set Djokovic in three matches.
So we are all set to start with this first update to kick off the evening though the action is still some time away here at the Aviation Club, the scene for the Dubai Duty Free Championships. While you get settle down you can also click on the following stories with a cup of coffee and a copy of The National for other sports stories.
Federer shines on centre stage at prime time
What makes the Dubai Tennis Open tick as the best?
Berdych thrives ut Djokovic plans his downfall
Monaco is my home, says Djokovic
1.20 pm: There is still more than an hour to go before Novak Djokovic and Tomas Berdych take the court for the first semi-final, but there long queues at every gate to the centre court.
Djokovic, the winner of the Dubai Tennis Championship in the last two years, and Berdych have clashed regularly on over the past year and this will be their fifth match since the Czech defeated the Australian Open champion in the Wimbledon semi-finals.
That is Djokovic's only defeat to Berdych in six matches, but with the courts expected to play fast in the bright sunshine, the Serb is expecting a tough match against his big-serving opponent.
The second semi-final, starting at 7pm, will feature the top seed and four-time winner Roger Federer against Richard Gasquet. The Frenchman has a win against Federer, but he could be the public enemy number one should he cause an upset tonight.
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
Anghami
Started: December 2011
Co-founders: Elie Habib, Eddy Maroun
Based: Beirut and Dubai
Sector: Entertainment
Size: 85 employees
Stage: Series C
Investors: MEVP, du, Mobily, MBC, Samena Capital
Shooting Ghosts: A U.S. Marine, a Combat Photographer, and Their Journey Back from War by Thomas J. Brennan and Finbarr O’Reilly
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Sugary teas and iced coffees
The tax authority is yet to release a list of the taxed products, but it appears likely that sugary iced teas and cold coffees will be hit.
For instance, the non-fizzy drink AriZona Iced Tea contains 65 grams of sugar – about 16 teaspoons – per 680ml can. The average can costs about Dh6, which would rise to Dh9.
Cold coffee brands are likely to be hit too. Drinks such as Starbucks Bottled Mocha Frappuccino contain 31g of sugar in 270ml, while Nescafe Mocha in a can contains 15.6g of sugar in a 240ml can.
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
Company%20profile
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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
Jawan
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAtlee%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Shah%20Rukh%20Khan%2C%20Nayanthara%2C%20Vijay%20Sethupathi%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E4%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Tips from the expert
Dobromir Radichkov, chief data officer at dubizzle and Bayut, offers a few tips for UAE residents looking to earn some cash from pre-loved items.
- Sellers should focus on providing high-quality used goods at attractive prices to buyers.
- It’s important to use clear and appealing photos, with catchy titles and detailed descriptions to capture the attention of prospective buyers.
- Try to advertise a realistic price to attract buyers looking for good deals, especially in the current environment where consumers are significantly more price-sensitive.
- Be creative and look around your home for valuable items that you no longer need but might be useful to others.
Kamindu Mendis bio
Full name: Pasqual Handi Kamindu Dilanka Mendis
Born: September 30, 1998
Age: 20 years and 26 days
Nationality: Sri Lankan
Major teams Sri Lanka's Under 19 team
Batting style: Left-hander
Bowling style: Right-arm off-spin and slow left-arm orthodox (that's right!)
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
BACK%20TO%20ALEXANDRIA
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Company%20profile
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NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
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
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
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
The specs: 2018 Opel Mokka X
Price, as tested: Dh84,000
Engine: 1.4L, four-cylinder turbo
Transmission: Six-speed auto
Power: 142hp at 4,900rpm
Torque: 200Nm at 1,850rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L / 100km
The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre supercharged V8
Power: 712hp at 6,100rpm
Torque: 881Nm at 4,800rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 19.6 l/100km
Price: Dh380,000
On sale: now
The Equaliser 2
Director Antoine Fuqua
Starring: Denzel Washington, Bill Pullman, Melissa Leo, Ashton Sanders
Three stars
