Taylor Swift. Evan Agostini / Invision / AP Photo
Taylor Swift. Evan Agostini / Invision / AP Photo

Taylor Swift celebrates US World Cup victory on stage



All-American girl Taylor Swift honoured the US women's football team by bringing them on stage on Friday. Fresh off their World Cup championship, the players joined Swift for a performance of Style at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Swift her famous friends then recreated her Bad Blood video. Lena Dunham, Hailee Steinfeld, Gigi Hadid and Lily Aldridge – all dressed as characters from the song's action-filled music video – joined the pop star for the dance track. – AP

Rajkumar Rao: FTII needs to be in safe hands

Rajkumar Rao is the latest Bollywood celebrity to come out in support of student protests against the appointment of actor Gajendra Chauhan as the new chairman of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) last month. "FTII needs to be in safe hands. Students need somebody who they can trust and look up to. It's their future that is at stake here," Rao, who is an FTII alumnus, tweeted on Friday. Students, who have been boycotting classes, say the Chauhan's appointment was "politically motivated". Chauhan is best known for playing Yudhisthira in popular mythological TV serial Mahabharata. – IANS

Injury made Foo Fighters stronger, says Grohl

Dave Grohl says his broken foot is healing. Even though the injury reduced the Foo Fighters frontman to performing from a chair, he insists his injury has not set his band back, but strengthened it. “I think these have been the best shows the Foo Fighters have ever done,” he said. “I think because of this situation and because of the challenge of just getting onstage to do the shows, the shows are more passionate; they’re more energetic.” Grohl fell onstage in Sweden last month and fractured his foot. – AP

John Fogerty sues former Creedence bandmates

John Fogerty is suing two of his former Creedence Clearwater Revival bandmates for unpaid royalty fees since December 2011. The singer is claiming they haven’t paid him in years for performing the band’s hits with their new group. Fogerty filed the lawsuit on Friday in Los Angeles against Stuart Cook and Douglas Clifford, two founding Creedence members who now perform — without Fogerty — under the name Creedence Clearwater Revisited. Fogerty previously sued the men over using the Creedence Clearwater name, but settled with them in 2001 for a share of their touring and merchandise income. – AP

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

The line up

Friday: Giggs, Sho Madjozi and Masego  

Saturday: Nas, Lion Bbae, Roxanne Shante and DaniLeigh  

Sole DXB runs from December 6 to 8 at Dubai Design District. Weekend pass is Dh295 while a one day pass is Dh195. Tickets are available from www.soledxb.com

UAE athletes heading to Paris 2024

Equestrian
Abdullah Humaid Al Muhairi, Abdullah Al Marri, Omar Al Marzooqi, Salem Al Suwaidi, and Ali Al Karbi (four to be selected).
Judo
Men: Narmandakh Bayanmunkh (66kg), Nugzari Tatalashvili (81kg), Aram Grigorian (90kg), Dzhafar Kostoev (100kg), Magomedomar Magomedomarov (+100kg); women's Khorloodoi Bishrelt (52kg).

Cycling
Safia Al Sayegh (women's road race).

Swimming
Men: Yousef Rashid Al Matroushi (100m freestyle); women: Maha Abdullah Al Shehi (200m freestyle).

Athletics
Maryam Mohammed Al Farsi (women's 100 metres).

THREE POSSIBLE REPLACEMENTS

Khalfan Mubarak
The Al Jazira playmaker has for some time been tipped for stardom within UAE football, with Quique Sanchez Flores, his former manager at Al Ahli, once labelling him a “genius”. He was only 17. Now 23, Mubarak has developed into a crafty supplier of chances, evidenced by his seven assists in six league matches this season. Still to display his class at international level, though.

Rayan Yaslam
The Al Ain attacking midfielder has become a regular starter for his club in the past 15 months. Yaslam, 23, is a tidy and intelligent player, technically proficient with an eye for opening up defences. Developed while alongside Abdulrahman in the Al Ain first-team and has progressed well since manager Zoran Mamic’s arrival. However, made his UAE debut only last December.

Ismail Matar
The Al Wahda forward is revered by teammates and a key contributor to the squad. At 35, his best days are behind him, but Matar is incredibly experienced and an example to his colleagues. His ability to cope with tournament football is a concern, though, despite Matar beginning the season well. Not a like-for-like replacement, although the system could be adjusted to suit.