February
Walk The Great Himalayan Trail, Nepal
Dust off your walking boots. The first guided trek along the Great Himalayan Trail (GHT) sets off from Kanchenjunga in the east of Nepal. It will traverse the length of Nepal's dramatic, mountainous landscape, covering a mighty 1,700km before reaching the Tibetan borderlands in the west. Soon the trail will stretch as far as Pakistan, but as yet only the Nepalese stage has been planned out. It will do for now: the full trek lasts 151 days and costs a hefty AU$34,990 (Dh127,063) per person, taking in Everest and the well-trodden Annapurna trail as well as extremely remote areas such as Humla.
Helpfully, the trip's organiser, World Expeditions, has broken it down into seven shorter treks lasting from 18 to 34 days. The best bet could be the first stage from Kanchenjunga, departing on February 15, as it will be led by Robin Boustead, the Australian trekker who has spearheaded the project and knows the trail almost as well as the sherpas.
GHT treks with World Expeditions (www.worldexpeditions.com/au; 00 44 208 545 9030) cost from AU$3,990 (Dh14,603) per person.
Rail journey through South Australia
Fancy crossing a continent in luxury on a romantic train journey? Australia's Great Southern Rail company, which criss-crosses the country with its beautifully appointed trains, has just launched a brand new route, the Southern Spirit, travelling between Adelaide in the south to Brisbane on the east coast, and back again at a leisurely pace. Along the way, it traverses the Great Dividing Range and stops off at Melbourne, Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Hunter Valley and the easy-going beachside town of Byron Bay. The journey takes six days (five if you board in Melbourne), affording passengers plenty of time to explore places of interest en route. It's a blissful way to experience the outback, but hurry: the train only runs next month and tickets are selling out fast.
A journey on the Southern Spirit (www.gsr.com.au/site/southern_spirit.jsp; 00 61 8 8213 4592) costs from AU$3,300 (Dh12,077), including taxes.
Snowshoeing in Lebanon
Engaging with winter snow in Lebanon usually means strapping on a pair of skis and hurtling down the slopes at Mzaar or one of its fellow resorts. But there is a more gentle alternative. The Al-Shouf Cedar Reserve is the largest nature reserve in Lebanon, an area of great beauty that contains a quarter of the country's cedar forests. One of the winter activities it now offers is snowshoeing, which makes getting about in the snow easy and fun. It's good exercise, too.
This month, the travel specialist Explore has a snowshoeing tour of the reserve around the slopes of Mount Lebanon, plus a visit to the dramatic Qadisha Valley, where ancient monasteries and churches are hewn into the rock. The five-day trip starts and ends with a day in Beirut with a walking tour of the main sights. And if you do feel the need to strap skis to your feet after all, the slopes are only an hour away from the capital.
The five-day (land-only) Lebanon trip with Explore (www.explore.co.uk; 00 44 1252 379 598) costs from £549 (Dh3,182) per person, including taxes.
Indian Ocean hotel openings
The Indian Ocean is awash with exciting hotel openings this spring. If there aren't already enough attractive reasons to go to the Maldives, Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts has just added another: Jumeirah Dhevanafushi on the Gaafu Alifu Atoll, 400km south of Malé. For total seclusion, book one of the resort's Ocean Villas, separated from the main island and surrounded by impossibly turquoise waters and unspoilt coral reefs.
Heading west to the Seychelles, Raffles opens the first luxury resort on Praslin, a lush, secluded island with white sand and rare Coco de Mer palm trees, on February 1. The 86-villa resort has Arabic-speaking staff and also serves halal cuisine in the six restaurants. Due south on Zanzibar, the Residence is opening a resort on the south-west coast of the spice island in April. Set in nearly 33 hectares of tropical gardens with views over a 1.5km beach, the resort features 66 villas, each with a private pool, and a Carita spa.
Double rooms at Jumeirah Dhevanafushi (www.jumeirah.com; 00 971 4 364 7171) cost from US$2,000 (Dh7,345). Double rooms at Raffles Praslin (www.raffles.com/praslin; 00 248 296 780) cost from €980 (Dh4,748), an introductory rate valid until April 30. Double rooms at the Residence (www.theresidence.com; 01 300 320 865) cost from €500 (Dh2,423). All prices are per night and include taxes.
Hotel Chocolat, St Lucia
The most exciting hotel news of 2011 - hands down, if you are a chocolate fan - is the February opening of Hotel Chocolat on the tiny, scenic Caribbean island of St Lucia. The Rabot Estate is the island's oldest cacao plantation, dating to 1745.
Five years ago, a deluxe chocolate company bought Rabot to supply its shops in the UK. The stunning location near the old French capital, Soufrière, with views of the twin Piton peaks, inspired owner Angus Thirlwell to open a boutique hotel on the 57-hectare estate. Guests can swim, sail, kayak, lie on St Lucia's beautiful beaches or explore the cocoa groves to see where chocolate originates and help out with the harvest. More importantly, you can sample the estate's delicious produce and even enjoy cocoa-butter massages at the spa. The tastefully decorated cottages are available from February 28, while the larger villas will be ready in July.
Double rooms at Hotel Chocolat (www.thehotelchocolat.com; 00 44 0844 544 1272) cost from US$378 (Dh1,388) per night, including taxes.
March
Tlemcen, Algeria: capital of Islamic culture, 2011
Tlemcen, a history-rich town in northwestern Algeria, had its heyday in the first half of the 14th century, when it was a seat of religious and intellectual power in the central Maghreb and an important trading centre. Since then it has come under many rulers. The French holidayed there, enjoying the cool summer breezes from the nearby Mediterranean.
Now, Tlemcen looks set to regain some of its former glory. Isesco (Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) has named it a capital of Islamic culture for 2011 and extensive work is being done on medieval ruins, fading mosques and hammams. A lavish new Renaissance hotel (www.renaissancetlemcen.com; 00 213 43 401 111) is opening in March on Plateau Lalla Setti, with impressive views over the city. The town's history can be felt in its vibrant music and art scenes and in its colourful textiles, weaving together Arab, Berber, Spanish and French influences. Seeing the magnificent Sidi Boumediène tomb alone is worth the trip.
Tiger trekking in India
A new initiative in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh is giving visitors a unique chance to explore some of India's great wildlife parks on foot. Freed from the confines of a vehicle, you can travel deep into the jungle and appreciate the area's remarkable flora and fauna up close. The exciting bit? This is tiger country and you might find yourself face to face with something big and stripey. (Relax - you'll be in the company of an armed forest guard.)
The award-winning travel company India Beat offers an 11-day luxury trip, including three nights at Satpura National Park where you can trek and do elephant-riding safaris, and three nights at Bandhavgarh National Park, which has the highest concentration of tigers in the world: sightings here are virtually guaranteed. The trekking initiative is part of a wider conservation project called Patrolling the Tiger Land, and visitors can help local forest guards in their efforts to combat poachers.
The 11-day (land-only) trip with India Beat (www.indiabeat.co.uk; 00 91 141 651 9797) costs from £2,990 (Dh17,329) per person, including taxes.
Exploring Libya
People tend to go to Libya for two things: to visit the magnificent Roman ruins on the Mediterranean coast and explore the vast, open desert to the south. Part of the appeal, in both cases, is the conspicuous lack of crowds: Libya has never been a tourist hotspot - until now. This year, the country looks set to become a destination of choice, so get there before the crowds arrive - and before the Sahara heat kicks in.
March is a good time to go, while temperatures are still manageable. Tripoli is a friendly, vibrant city with many impressive sights, including the Arch of Marcus Aurelius and the magnificent Archaeological Museum. It also boasts a brand new Sheraton Four Points hotel on the beach. The ruins at Sabratha and Cyrenaica are worth a visit but the truly spectacular highlight is Leptis Magna, the stunningly preserved Roman city overlooking the Mediterranean. To extend your trip to the Sahara, stay at Bab Ramla, a new luxury tented camp at the edge of the desert that provides a perfect base for exploring the Ubari Desert Lakes and the prehistoric rock art at Wadi Mathendush.
Double rooms at Four Points by Sheraton Tripoli (www.fourpointstripoli.com; 00 218 21 337 2300) cost from 480 Libyan dinars (Dh1,376), including taxes. A five-day trip to Bab Ramla (www.babramla.com) with accommodation in double-room tents costs from €1,680 (Dh8,140) per person, including transport from Tripoli and taxes.
April
Music in Santiago, Chile
Santiago used to be more famous for smog than hip and happening events. But in recent years, its arts and culture scenes have been revitalised and the city's reputation as one of South America's duller capitals will not stand for long. There has been a flurry of exciting new openings lately, including the ultra-modern Centro Gabriela Mistral, a huge centre for the arts, and, for fashion-lovers, the Museo de la Moda, which features in its private collection items worn by Madonna and Princess Diana.
Tourist prospects are following suit as luxury boutique hotels such as the Aubrey, a magnificent renovation of two 1920s mansions in the Bella Vista neighbourhood, open their doors. And in April, Santiago is hosting a major music festival, Lollapalooza, in O'Higgins Park. This will be the first time the 20-year-old event has happened outside the US - past acts include the Killers and Lady Gaga - and the choice of location confirms that Santiago is indeed on the up.
Tickets for Lollapalooza Chile on April 2 and 3 will be available from http://lollapalooza.cl/. Prices are yet to be confirmed. Double rooms at the Aubrey (www.theaubrey.com; 00 56 2 940 2800) cost from US$240 (Dh881) per night, including taxes.
Inca trekking in Peru
It is 100 years since the rediscovery of Machu Picchu by the American explorer Hiram Bingham, and the anniversary will focus plenty of attention this year on the fabled Lost City of the Incas. Not that it needs it: Machu Picchu is one of the most popular tourist sites in South America. Take the opportunity to visit Espiritu Pampa instead.
This vast ruined town, in a forested lowland area 150km west of Cusco, is the true last bastion of the Inca empire - not Machu Picchu as Bingham posited. The site is rarely visited - mere hundreds come per year compared with the thousands that flock to Machu Picchu every day. Many of the archaeological remains are still under dense vegetation but work is being done to restore the city, and the hiking here is spectacular. From the base town of Huancacalle, make sure to visit Vitcos, the palace of the last four Inca rulers from 1536 to 1572, and Yurac Rumi, the sacred White Rock. And if you haven't been before, it's worth braving the queues to experience Machu Picchu: it was voted one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007 for a good reason.
Cruise the Danube
If you're planning on a cruise this year, give the open seas a miss and head inland for a refined and relaxing river journey. Few cruises are more refined than a boat trip down the Danube, which winds 2,850km from Germany to the Black Sea, absorbing the rich and storied culture of Central Europe as it goes. It is the only river in the world that flows through four capital cities: Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest and Belgrade. Viking River Cruises offers two itineraries this year that cover a large part of the distance between them. "Romantic Danube" is an eight-day trip from Nuremburg to Budapest, taking in the beautiful Wachau Valley and Vienna's Schönbrunn Palace. "Passage to Eastern Europe", a new 11-day cruise, continues the journey to Bucharest, passing the soaring white cliffs of the Iron Gate region and stopping off in Belgrade, the vibrant capital of Serbia. Castles and stunning scenery abound, and Viking has some of the most luxurious ships on the river.
Danube cruises with Viking River Cruises (www.vikingrivercruises.co.uk; 00 44 208 780 7998) cost from £1,095 (Dh6,346), including taxes.
British royal wedding
It's 30 years since Britain - and the world - last experienced the excitement of a major royal wedding. The anticipation is already sky high. On April 29, Prince William and Kate Middleton will exchange vows at Westminster Abbey, the 1,000-year-old church that also hosted the wedding of Queen Elizabeth. Unless you've made it onto the guest list, the best place to enjoy the festivities will be London's Hyde Park where, it is speculated, a celebratory concert will be held. With high numbers expected in the city on the wedding weekend, it's just as well London is gaining some very grand new hotels this spring. The most exciting opening is the magnificent new Renaissance hotel at St Pancras, the UK's most glamorous railway station, in March. To make your visit even more English, arrive in time for Shakespeare's birthday on April 23 (also St George's Day). The day is marked by a parade in Stratford-upon-Avon, home of the Royal Shakespeare Company, which has recently completed a four-year, £112.8m (Dh663m) refurbishment of its theatres.
Double rooms at St Pancras Renaissance (www.stpancrasrenaisssance.com; 00 44 207 8413540) cost from £270 (Dh1,565), including taxes.
Fixtures
Sunday, December 8, Sharjah Cricket Stadium – UAE v USA
Monday, December 9, Sharjah Cricket Stadium – USA v Scotland
Wednesday, December 11, Sharjah Cricket Stadium – UAE v Scotland
Thursday, December 12, ICC Academy, Dubai – UAE v USA
Saturday, December 14, ICC Academy, Dubai – USA v Scotland
Sunday, December 15, ICC Academy, Dubai – UAE v Scotland
Note: All matches start at 10am, admission is free
Cricket World Cup League Two
Oman, UAE, Namibia
Al Amerat, Muscat
Results
Oman beat UAE by five wickets
UAE beat Namibia by eight runs
Fixtures
Wednesday January 8 –Oman v Namibia
Thursday January 9 – Oman v UAE
Saturday January 11 – UAE v Namibia
Sunday January 12 – Oman v Namibia
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
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The specs: 2018 Range Rover Velar R-Dynamic HSE
Price, base / as tested: Dh263,235 / Dh420,000
Engine: 3.0-litre supercharged V6
Power 375hp @ 6,500rpm
Torque: 450Nm @ 3,500rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 9.4L / 100kms
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
WWE TLC results
Asuka won the SmackDown Women's title in a TLC triple threat with Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair
Dean Ambrose won the Intercontinental title against Seth Rollins
Daniel Bryan retained the WWE World Heavyweight Championship against AJ Styles
Ronda Rousey retained the Raw Women's Championship against Nia Jax
Rey Mysterio beat Randy Orton in a chairs match
Finn Balor defeated Drew McIntyre
Natalya beat Ruby Riott in a tables match
Braun Strowman beat Baron Corbin in a TLC match
Sheamus and Cesaro retained the SmackDown Tag Titles against The Usos and New Day
R-Truth and Carmella won the Mixed Match Challenge by beating Jinder Mahal and Alicia Fox
'Panga'
Directed by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari
Starring Kangana Ranaut, Richa Chadha, Jassie Gill, Yagya Bhasin, Neena Gupta
Rating: 3.5/5
Seemar’s top six for the Dubai World Cup Carnival:
1. Reynaldothewizard
2. North America
3. Raven’s Corner
4. Hawkesbury
5. New Maharajah
6. Secret Ambition
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder turbo
Transmission: CVT
Power: 170bhp
Torque: 220Nm
Price: Dh98,900
Results
4pm: Maiden; Dh165,000 (Dirt); 1,400m
Winner: Solar Shower; William Lee (jockey); Helal Al Alawi (trainer)
4.35pm: Handicap; Dh165,000 (D); 2,000m
Winner: Thaaqib; Antonio Fresu; Erwan Charpy.
5.10pm: Maiden; Dh165,000 (Turf); 1,800m
Winner: Bila Shak; Adrie de Vries; Fawzi Nass
5.45pm: Handicap; Dh175,000 (D); 1,200m
Winner: Beachcomber Bay; Richard Mullen; Satish Seemar
6.20pm: Handicap; Dh205,000 (T); 1,800m
Winner: Muzdawaj; Jim Crowley; Musabah Al Muhairi
6.55pm: Handicap; Dh185,000 (D); 1,600m
Winner: Mazeed; Tadhg O’Shea; Satish Seemar
7.30pm: Handicap; Dh205,000 (T); 1,200m
Winner: Riflescope; Tadhg O’Shea; Satish Seemar.
The specs: 2017 Porsche 718 Cayman
Price, base / as tested Dh222,500 / Dh296,870
Engine 2.0L, flat four-cylinder
Transmission Seven-speed PDK
Power 300hp @ 6,500rpm
Torque 380hp @ 1,950rpm
Fuel economy, combined 6.9L / 100km
Australia tour of Pakistan
March 4-8: First Test, Rawalpindi
March 12-16: Second Test, Karachi
March 21-25: Third Test, Lahore
March 29: First ODI, Rawalpindi
March 31: Second ODI, Rawalpindi
April 2: Third ODI, Rawalpindi
April 5: T20I, Rawalpindi
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Expo details
Expo 2020 Dubai will be the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia
The world fair will run for six months from October 20, 2020 to April 10, 2021.
It is expected to attract 25 million visits
Some 70 per cent visitors are projected to come from outside the UAE, the largest proportion of international visitors in the 167-year history of World Expos.
More than 30,000 volunteers are required for Expo 2020
The site covers a total of 4.38 sqkm, including a 2 sqkm gated area
It is located adjacent to Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai South
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
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Profile Periscope Media
Founder: Smeetha Ghosh, one co-founder (anonymous)
Launch year: 2020
Employees: four – plans to add another 10 by July 2021
Financing stage: $250,000 bootstrap funding, approaching VC firms this year
Investors: Co-founders
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
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Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
Results for Stage 2
Stage 2 Yas Island to Abu Dhabi, 184 km, Road race
Overall leader: Primoz Roglic SLO (Team Jumbo - Visma)
Stage winners: 1. Fernando Gaviria COL (UAE Team Emirates) 2. Elia Viviani ITA (Deceuninck - Quick-Step) 3. Caleb Ewan AUS (Lotto - Soudal)
The specs: 2018 BMW R nineT Scrambler
Price, base / as tested Dh57,000
Engine 1,170cc air/oil-cooled flat twin four-stroke engine
Transmission Six-speed gearbox
Power 110hp) @ 7,750rpm
Torque 116Nm @ 6,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 5.3L / 100km
The specS: 2018 Toyota Camry
Price: base / as tested: Dh91,000 / Dh114,000
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 298hp @ 6,600rpm
Torque: 356Nm @ 4,700rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km
More on Quran memorisation:
The biog
Marital status: Separated with two young daughters
Education: Master's degree from American Univeristy of Cairo
Favourite book: That Is How They Defeat Despair by Salwa Aladian
Favourite Motto: Their happiness is your happiness
Goal: For Nefsy to become his legacy long after he is gon
Country-size land deals
US interest in purchasing territory is not as outlandish as it sounds. Here's a look at some big land transactions between nations:
Louisiana Purchase
If Donald Trump is one who aims to broker "a deal of the century", then this was the "deal of the 19th Century". In 1803, the US nearly doubled in size when it bought 2,140,000 square kilometres from France for $15 million.
Florida Purchase Treaty
The US courted Spain for Florida for years. Spain eventually realised its burden in holding on to the territory and in 1819 effectively ceded it to America in a wider border treaty.
Alaska purchase
America's spending spree continued in 1867 when it acquired 1,518,800 km2 of Alaskan land from Russia for $7.2m. Critics panned the government for buying "useless land".
The Philippines
At the end of the Spanish-American War, a provision in the 1898 Treaty of Paris saw Spain surrender the Philippines for a payment of $20 million.
US Virgin Islands
It's not like a US president has never reached a deal with Denmark before. In 1917 the US purchased the Danish West Indies for $25m and renamed them the US Virgin Islands.
Gwadar
The most recent sovereign land purchase was in 1958 when Pakistan bought the southwestern port of Gwadar from Oman for 5.5bn Pakistan rupees.
Results
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m; Winner: Rawat Al Reef, Adrie de Vries (jockey), Abdallah Al Hammadi (trainer)
5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Noof KB, Richard Mullen, Ernst Oertel
6pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: AF Seven Skies, Bernardo Pinheiro, Qaiss Aboud
6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Jabalini, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
7pm: UAE Arabian Derby – Prestige (PA) Dh150,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Dergham Athbah, Richard Mullen, Mohamed Daggash
7.30pm: Emirates Championship – Group 1 (PA) Dh1,000,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Somoud, Richard Mullen, Jean de Roualle
8pm: Abu Dhabi Championship – Group 3 (TB) Dh380,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Irish Freedom, Antonio Fresu, Satish Seemar
Defined benefit and defined contribution schemes explained
Defined Benefit Plan (DB)
A defined benefit plan is where the benefit is defined by a formula, typically length of service to and salary at date of leaving.
Defined Contribution Plan (DC)
A defined contribution plan is where the benefit depends on the amount of money put into the plan for an employee, and how much investment return is earned on those contributions.
Teams in the EHL
White Bears, Al Ain Theebs, Dubai Mighty Camels, Abu Dhabi Storms, Abu Dhabi Scorpions and Vipers
Juliot Vinolia’s checklist for adopting alternate-day fasting
- Don’t do it more than once in three days
- Don’t go under 700 calories on fasting days
- Ensure there is sufficient water intake, as the body can go in dehydration mode
- Ensure there is enough roughage (fibre) in the food on fasting days as well
- Do not binge on processed or fatty foods on non-fasting days
- Complement fasting with plant-based foods, fruits, vegetables, seafood. Cut out processed meats and processed carbohydrates
- Manage your sleep
- People with existing gastric or mental health issues should avoid fasting
- Do not fast for prolonged periods without supervision by a qualified expert
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
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
LAST 16 DRAW
Borussia Dortmund v PSG
Real Madrid v Manchester City
Atalanta v Valencia
Atletico Madrid v Liverpool
Chelsea v Bayern Munich
Lyon v Juventus
Tottenham v Leipzig
Napoli v Barcelona
RACE CARD
6.30pm: Handicap (TB) $68,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.05pm: Meydan Sprint – Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (Turf) 1,000m
7.40pm: Curlin Stakes – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (D) 2,200m
8.15pm: UAE Oaks – Group 3 (TB) $125,000 (D) 1,900m
8.50pm: Zabeel Mile – Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (T) 1,600m
9.25pm: Balanchine – Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (T) 1,800m
10pm: Al Shindagha Sprint – Group 3 (TB) $130,000 (D) 1,200m
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
'Ghostbusters: From Beyond'
Director: Jason Reitman
Starring: Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace
Rating: 2/5
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Heather, the Totality
Matthew Weiner,
Canongate
Stuck in a job without a pay rise? Here's what to do
Chris Greaves, the managing director of Hays Gulf Region, says those without a pay rise for an extended period must start asking questions – both of themselves and their employer.
“First, are they happy with that or do they want more?” he says. “Job-seeking is a time-consuming, frustrating and long-winded affair so are they prepared to put themselves through that rigmarole? Before they consider that, they must ask their employer what is happening.”
Most employees bring up pay rise queries at their annual performance appraisal and find out what the company has in store for them from a career perspective.
Those with no formal appraisal system, Mr Greaves says, should ask HR or their line manager for an assessment.
“You want to find out how they value your contribution and where your job could go,” he says. “You’ve got to be brave enough to ask some questions and if you don’t like the answers then you have to develop a strategy or change jobs if you are prepared to go through the job-seeking process.”
For those that do reach the salary negotiation with their current employer, Mr Greaves says there is no point in asking for less than 5 per cent.
“However, this can only really have any chance of success if you can identify where you add value to the business (preferably you can put a monetary value on it), or you can point to a sustained contribution above the call of duty or to other achievements you think your employer will value.”
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
MATCH INFO
AC Milan v Inter, Sunday, 6pm (UAE), match live on BeIN Sports
Match info
Uefa Champions League Group B
Tottenham Hotspur 1 (Eriksen 80')
Inter Milan 0
Biography
Favourite drink: Must have karak chai and Chinese tea every day
Favourite non-Chinese food: Arabic sweets and Indian puri, small round bread of wheat flour
Favourite Chinese dish: Spicy boiled fish or anything cooked by her mother because of its flavour
Best vacation: Returning home to China
Music interests: Enjoys playing the zheng, a string musical instrument
Enjoys reading: Chinese novels, romantic comedies, reading up on business trends, government policy changes
Favourite book: Chairman Mao Zedong’s poems
Royal Birkdale Golf Course
Location: Southport, Merseyside, England
Established: 1889
Type: Private
Total holes: 18
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, first leg
Liverpool v Roma
When: April 24, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
The biog
Name: Mohammed Imtiaz
From: Gujranwala, Pakistan
Arrived in the UAE: 1976
Favourite clothes to make: Suit
Cost of a hand-made suit: From Dh550
RACE CARD
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,200m
6pm: Arabian Triple Crown Round-1 (PA) Listed Dh230,000 1,600m
6.30pm: HH The President’s Cup (PA) Group 1 Dh2.5million 2,200m
7pm: HH The President’s Cup (TB) Listed Dh380,000 1,400m
7.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Handicap Dh70,000 1,200m.
Miguel Cotto world titles:
WBO Light Welterweight champion - 2004-06
WBA Welterweight champion – 2006-08
WBO Welterweight champion – Feb 2009-Nov 2009
WBA Light Middleweight champion – 2010-12
WBC Middleweight champion – 2014-15
WBO Light Middleweight champion – Aug 2017-Dec 2017
Director: Jon Favreau
Starring: Donald Glover, Seth Rogen, John Oliver
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
Scotland v Ireland:
Scotland (15-1): Stuart Hogg; Tommy Seymour, Huw Jones, Sam Johnson, Sean Maitland; Finn Russell, Greig Laidlaw (capt); Josh Strauss, James Ritchie, Ryan Wilson; Jonny Gray, Grant Gilchrist; Simon Berghan, Stuart McInally, Allan Dell
Replacements: Fraser Brown, Jamie Bhatti, D'arcy Rae, Ben Toolis, Rob Harley, Ali Price, Pete Horne, Blair Kinghorn
Coach: Gregor Townsend (SCO)
Ireland (15-1): Rob Kearney; Keith Earls, Chris Farrell, Bundee Aki, Jacob Stockdale; Jonathan Sexton, Conor Murray; Jack Conan, Sean O'Brien, Peter O'Mahony; James Ryan, Quinn Roux; Tadhg Furlong, Rory Best (capt), Cian Healy
Replacements: Sean Cronin, Dave Kilcoyne, Andrew Porter, Ultan Dillane, Josh van der Flier, John Cooney, Joey Carbery, Jordan Larmour
Coach: Joe Schmidt (NZL)
The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Equinox
Price, base / as tested: Dh76,900 / Dh110,900
Engine: 2.0L, turbocharged in-line four-cylinder
Gearbox: Nine-speed automatic
Power: 252hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: Torque: 352Nm @ 2,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 8.5L / 100km
Women's Prize for Fiction shortlist
The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker
My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
Milkman by Anna Burns
Ordinary People by Diana Evans
An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
Circe by Madeline Miller
How The Debt Panel's advice helped readers in 2019
December 11: 'My husband died, so what happens to the Dh240,000 he owes in the UAE?'
JL, a housewife from India, wrote to us about her husband, who died earlier this month. He left behind an outstanding loan of Dh240,000 and she was hoping to pay it off with an insurance policy he had taken out. She also wanted to recover some of her husband’s end-of-service liabilities to help support her and her son.
“I have no words to thank you for helping me out,” she wrote to The Debt Panel after receiving the panellists' comments. “The advice has given me an idea of the present status of the loan and how to take it up further. I will draft a letter and send it to the email ID on the bank’s website along with the death certificate. I hope and pray to find a way out of this.”
November 26: ‘I owe Dh100,000 because my employer has not paid me for a year’
SL, a financial services employee from India, left the UAE in June after quitting his job because his employer had not paid him since November 2018. He owes Dh103,800 on four debts and was told by the panellists he may be able to use the insolvency law to solve his issue.
SL thanked the panellists for their efforts. "Indeed, I have some clarity on the consequence of the case and the next steps to take regarding my situation," he says. "Hopefully, I will be able to provide a positive testimony soon."
October 15: 'I lost my job and left the UAE owing Dh71,000. Can I return?'
MS, an energy sector employee from South Africa, left the UAE in August after losing his Dh12,000 job. He was struggling to meet the repayments while securing a new position in the UAE and feared he would be detained if he returned. He has now secured a new job and will return to the Emirates this month.
“The insolvency law is indeed a relief to hear,” he says. "I will not apply for insolvency at this stage. I have been able to pay something towards my loan and credit card. As it stands, I only have a one-month deficit, which I will be able to recover by the end of December."
Tori Amos
Native Invader
Decca
Founder: Ayman Badawi
Date started: Test product September 2016, paid launch January 2017
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Software
Size: Seven employees
Funding: $170,000 in angel investment
Funders: friends
I Feel Pretty
Dir: Abby Kohn/Mark Silverstein
Starring: Amy Schumer, Michelle Williams, Emily Ratajkowski, Rory Scovel
Singham Again
Director: Rohit Shetty
Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone
Rating: 3/5
