England players celebrate after Alessia Russo scored her side's third goal against Australia. AP
England's Alessia Russo scores the third goal. AFP
England's Alessia Russo celebrates after scoring her side's third goal with teammates. AP
England's Alessia Russo celebrates after scoring the third goal. AP
England players celebrate after Alessia Russo scored their third goal during the Women's World Cup semi-final against Australia at Stadium Australia on Wednesday, August 16, 2023. AP
Australia's Sam Kerr reacts after England's Alessia Russo scored their third goal. AP
Mackenzie Arnold and Ellie Carpenter of Australia after Alessia Russo of England scores her team's third goal. Getty
England's Alessia Russo celebrates after scoring her side's third goal. AP
Australia's Sam Kerr reacts after England's Alessia Russo scores their third goal. Reuters
Lauren Hemp of England celebrates after scoring the second goal. EPA
England forward Lauren Hemp celebrates her goal with teammates. AFP
England's Lauren Hemp scores her team's second goal. AFP
Australia's Sam Kerr celebrates scoring her team's first goal. AFP
England goalkeeper Mary Earps is beaten by a shot from Australia's Sam Kerr. AFP
Australia's Sam Kerr reacts after a missed chance. Reuters
Australia's Sam Kerr, third right, scores her side's first goal. AP
Ella Toone scores England's opening goal. Getty
Ella Toone of England scores her team's first goal. Getty
England's Ella Toone scores the opening goal. AP
England's Ella Toone scores their first goal. Reuters
Ella Toone scores her England's first goal. Getty
England’s Ella Toone celebrates scoring the first goal with teammates. PA
Australia's goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold makes a save the goal from England's Lucy Bronze. AP
Australia's goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold makes a save. AP
Australia's Mackenzie Arnold and Clare Polkinghorne in action with England's Lucy Bronze. Reuters
England's defender Alex Greenwood tangles with Australia's Sam Kerr. AFP
England's Alex Greenwood gets a yellow card. AFP
England goalkeeper Mary Earps saves from Australia's forward Sam Kerr. AFP
Excitement is building ahead of England's first Women's World Cup final on Sunday as hotels and venues across Dubai prepare to cash in on fans' demand for somewhere to watch the game.
England’s Lionesses will take on Spain at Stadium Australia in Sydney at 2pm UAE time in what promises to be a tightly matched final.
Interest in the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand may not have matched that of the men’s tournament in Qatar in November, but a groundswell of support across the Emirates has continued to build.
I watched the Nigeria game with some friends in the UK and I was hooked
Jennifer Dinari, England fan
Jennifer Dinari, a mother-of-two from Devon, is one of a growing band of new football followers who started watching the game thanks to the success of the England women’s team.
“I watched the Nigeria game with some friends in the UK and I was hooked,” she said.
“The whole country was behind the Lionesses and there was a lot more interest the more they won, especially on social media.
“We watched the last match in the Mall of the Emirates and the atmosphere was a lot quieter there. Hopefully, there will be a few more out to watch the final.
“There are lots of options and we are looking for somewhere child-friendly, as we are watching with some other families.
“The men are into watching as much as the women and it's a different atmosphere to a men's match.
“Spain will be tough but hopefully we can win.”
England fan Matthew Faddy. 54, will be watching with his sons Theo, 17, and Jengo, 13. Photo: Matthew Faddy
The match is England's first World Cup final since the men's famous triumph back in 1966, and fan Matthew Faddy, 54, will be watching alongside his sons Theo, 17, and Jengo, 13, in Dubai.
They travelled to Qatar in November to watch his sons' first live international match.
This year, they have enjoyed watching the Lionesses progress through the tournament.
“I think they're amazing. I think they've got so much more passion than the men's team, and I actually find it a lot more enjoyable to watch. I think they're just magic to watch,” Mr Faddy, who is a composer, told The National.
He is quietly confident, but said it will be another tight match for England against a team that overcame a strong Swedish side in the semi-final.
“Seeing Sweden play [against Australia], they were really good, so I think it's not going to be easy,” he said.
England and Spain last met in the European Championship quarterfinals when England advanced after extra time.
“I think people have been quite complacent about it and saying England will win but I don't think it's going to be an easy match by any means.”
Dubai resident Sarah Pickford, who has travelled to Europe to watch England and her club Manchester United play, and was in Doha for the men's World Cup last year, will watch the final in Dubai.
"If I could be there to watch the Lionesses I would be," she told The National.
"The Lionesses I am sure will do this. I’m excited for them. Football’s coming home."
Ms Pickford, a personal travel consultant with Travel Counsellors, said her mum, who lives in Spain, is currently in Dubai on holiday but can't decide who to support.
"Spain are favourites but our girls have been fabulous so far," she said.
"They have the spirit, the determination and the character to win."
Busy venues
In contrast to the Qatar tournament, a World Cup fan zone has not been staged by McGettigan’s Group in Dubai this summer, but the pub and restaurant chain's venues have seen a steady rise in footfall as the women's competition progressed.
Dennis McGettigan said interest in the Women's World Cup has grown through the tournament. Photo: McGettigan's
“The Fifa Women’s World Cup has put women’s football on a global stage, and we’ve seen increasing numbers through our doors throughout the tournament,” said Dennis McGettigan, McGettigan’s Group chief executive.
“Women, men and families have really been getting behind their national teams, with a surge in numbers for the knockout stages.
“We’re expecting a full house and a fantastic atmosphere for the final this Sunday.”
Morocco were the first Arab team to qualify for the Women’s World Cup, and it is no surprise that local interest in the tournament receded once they were knocked out, after beating Colombia and reaching the final 16.
Moroccan defender Nouhaila Benzina became the first Muslim woman wearing a hijab to play in the tournament.
More established nations in the women’s game, Australia, Sweden, England and Spain, made the final four and a high turnout is expected at hotels for Sunday’s big match.
Venues in Dubai have been taking advance bookings, with big screens showing the match at all Mr Toad's outlets at Premier Inn.
“We are expecting a full house at Mr Toad’s for the women’s final on Sunday, with around 600 guests across our six venues at Premier Inn hotels in Dubai,” said Rian Potgieter, operations manager for Emirates Leisure Retail’s Mr Toad's outlets.
“Many people who have joined us to watch the Women’s World Cup since it began have already reserved their spot for Sunday afternoon.
“The Women’s World Cup has been a great draw for hotel guests and local residents.”
Glossary of a stock market revolution
Reddit
A discussion website
Redditor
The users of Reddit
Robinhood
A smartphone app for buying and selling shares
Short seller
Selling a stock today in the belief its price will fall in the future
Saturday
Atletico Madrid v Sevilla (3pm)
Alaves v Real Madrid (6.15pm)
Malaga v Athletic Bilbao (8.30pm)
Girona v Barcelona (10.45pm)
Sunday
Espanyol v Deportivo la Coruna (2pm)
Getafe v Villarreal (6.15pm)
Eibar v Celta Vigo (8.30pm)
Las Palmas v Leganes (8.30pm)
Real Sociedad v Valencia (10.45pm)
Monday
Real Betis v Levante (11.pm)
Isle of Dogs
Director: Wes Anderson
Starring: Bryan Cranston, Liev Schreiber, Ed Norton, Greta Gerwig, Bill Murray, Jeff Goldblum, Scarlett Johansson
Direct flights from the UAE to the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu, are available with Air Arabia, (www.airarabia.com) Fly Dubai (www.flydubai.com) or Etihad (www.etihad.com) from Dh1,200 return including taxes. The trek described here started from Jomson, but there are many other start and end point variations depending on how you tailor your trek. To get to Jomson from Kathmandu you must first fly to the lake-side resort town of Pokhara with either Buddha Air (www.buddhaair.com) or Yeti Airlines (www.yetiairlines.com). Both charge around US$240 (Dh880) return. From Pokhara there are early morning flights to Jomson with Yeti Airlines or Simrik Airlines (www.simrikairlines.com) for around US$220 (Dh800) return.
The trek
Restricted area permits (US$500 per person) are required for trekking in the Upper Mustang area. The challenging Meso Kanto pass between Tilcho Lake and Jomson should not be attempted by those without a lot of mountain experience and a good support team. An excellent trekking company with good knowledge of Upper Mustang, the Annaurpuna Circuit and Tilcho Lake area and who can help organise a version of the trek described here is the Nepal-UK run Snow Cat Travel (www.snowcattravel.com). Prices vary widely depending on accommodation types and the level of assistance required.
How Apple's credit card works
The Apple Card looks different from a traditional credit card — there's no number on the front and the users' name is etched in metal. The card expands the company's digital Apple Pay services, marrying the physical card to a virtual one and integrating both with the iPhone. Its attributes include quick sign-up, elimination of most fees, strong security protections and cash back.
What does it cost?
Apple says there are no fees associated with the card. That means no late fee, no annual fee, no international fee and no over-the-limit fees. It also said it aims to have among the lowest interest rates in the industry. Users must have an iPhone to use the card, which comes at a cost. But they will earn cash back on their purchases — 3 per cent on Apple purchases, 2 per cent on those with the virtual card and 1 per cent with the physical card. Apple says it is the only card to provide those rewards in real time, so that cash earned can be used immediately.
What will the interest rate be?
The card doesn't come out until summer but Apple has said that as of March, the variable annual percentage rate on the card could be anywhere from 13.24 per cent to 24.24 per cent based on creditworthiness. That's in line with the rest of the market, according to analysts
What about security?
The physical card has no numbers so purchases are made with the embedded chip and the digital version lives in your Apple Wallet on your phone, where it's protected by fingerprints or facial recognition. That means that even if someone steals your phone, they won't be able to use the card to buy things.
Is it easy to use?
Apple says users will be able to sign up for the card in the Wallet app on their iPhone and begin using it almost immediately. It also tracks spending on the phone in a more user-friendly format, eliminating some of the gibberish that fills a traditional credit card statement. Plus it includes some budgeting tools, such as tracking spending and providing estimates of how much interest could be charged on a purchase to help people make an informed decision.
* Associated Press
THE DETAILS
Solo: A Star Wars Story
Director: Ron Howard
2/5
Warlight,
Michael Ondaatje, Knopf
OTHER IPL BOWLING RECORDS
Best bowling figures: 6-14 – Sohail Tanvir (for Rajasthan Royals against Chennai Super Kings in 2008)
Best average: 16.36 – Andrew Tye
Best economy rate: 6.53 – Sunil Narine
Best strike-rate: 12.83 – Andrew Tye
Best strike-rate in an innings: 1.50 – Suresh Raina (for Chennai Super Kings against Rajasthan Royals in 2011)
Most runs conceded in an innings: 70 – Basil Thampi (for Sunrisers Hyderabad against Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2018)
Most hat-tricks: 3 – Amit Mishra
Most dot-balls: 1,128 – Harbhajan Singh
Most maiden overs bowled: 14 – Praveen Kumar
Most four-wicket hauls: 6 – Sunil Narine
THE SIXTH SENSE
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
