Each week, sports reporter Mina Rzouki answers a selection of readers' questions submitted via social media. If you have a question for Mina, you can ask her on either X or Instagram – both @MinaRzouki
Q: Do you think Manchester United win the league before moving to a new stadium?
@Tameshanpillay via Instagram
Hmm, that gives them five years. I’d like to say 'yes' but I’m not confident it’s going to happen. I think the arrival of Sir Jim Ratcliffe brought with it huge expectation, a serious businessman with grand plans to revitalise one of the biggest English clubs.
It’s safe to say we’ve been left somewhat disappointed with some of the decision making. The loss to Newcastle last weekend has damned United to finish with their lowest points total of the Premier League era. Grave errors were made and I’m not sure how much time is required to rid the club of the rot.
Honestly, I feel like money can be a little bit of a curse in football. I know that Ineos are behaving like they are on the breadline and the current stadium is falling apart, but this is a club that has spent over a billion pounds on players and on hiring the likes of sporting director Dan Ashworth only to swiftly change their minds. Maybe they should stop targeting the so-called ‘best’ and work on creating a team both on the pitch and in the boardroom.
Simplicity is key in this business, and no one has demonstrated that as well as Real Madrid. One astute president in Florentino Perez, one brilliant CEO in Jose Angel Sanchez and one excellent head scout in Juni Calafat. Yes, there are others but everyone in the club knows who the key men are at Madrid and they all respect their limits and understand the bigger picture, working together to achieve results.
The problem at United is that they don’t know who should call the shots. Years of mismanagement has taken its toll on the club, and I’m amazed at some of the names they have brought in. Talent is not enough. The jersey is a hard one to wear and comes with a lot of pressure. Seeing how mentally defeated the players often look is telling of how poor recruitment has been on and off the pitch.
Q: Which has been the surprise team of this season for you?
@Raycheng01 via Instagram
A: There have been so many teams that have proved magnificent this season, but surely Nottingham Forest have to be the team that has surprised me the most.
I’m a huge admirer of coach Nuno Espírito Santo. When I mentioned that I thought he was special during the 2014/15 season when he was managing Valencia, I was laughed out of the room. Valencia were struggling with all sorts of problems at boardroom level and the fans were outspoken in their criticism of the ownership.
However, if we focus just on the football, Nuno managed a lot of good things at the club and won La Liga manager of the month three times during the campaign.
I remember once discussing his brilliance with Fabio Paratici, the former Tottenham and Juventus sporting director. Paratici even signed him as Spurs manager, although that ended in a bit of a disaster.
But, Nuno has finally found his place at Forest and the team have been nothing short of wonderful to watch this season, exceeding expectations even if they’ve suffered a bit of a wobble recently. Lest we forget, he took over the side when they were in 17th place in the Premier League. They are now in the top four and on course to play in the Uefa Champions League next season, and they still have an FA cup semi-final to contest. Who would have ever imagined such a turnaround?
Q: How has Galeno been getting along in the SPL?
@Lukey via X
One of the main reasons I enjoyed watching Porto play was because of Galeno. So unpredictable and effective going forward, he could always be depended upon in the big moments. Anyone remember that 94th minute winner against Arsenal in the Uefa Champions League last season?
It was current Saudi Pro League leaders Al Ittihad that showed initial interest in bringing the Brazilian winger to the kingdom but the deal fell through, and the club opted for Steven Bergwijn instead.
Despite being heavily followed by Serie A sides Napoli and Juventus, Galeno finally arrived in Saudi Arabia in January, signing for Al Ahli. He is a special player, but it’s been a bit of a rollercoaster ride since he’s arrived.
In mid-February, his team faced Al Nassr and Galeno really struggled. The fans made it clear they were expecting a different type of performance from their high-profile arrival. Don’t forget, Roberto Firmino was dropped from the squad list for the league to permit Galeno to be registered. Saudi clubs are only allowed to have a maximum of 10 foreign players in their Pro League squad.
Football fans are never patient and frustratingly for Galeno, the other new big-money arrival, Jhon Duran, scored a brace for Al Nassr in that game.
However, the Brazilian has since settled in, improving with each game. He scored an important equaliser in the final minute against Al Khaleej and was superb in the AFC Champions League Elite last 16 against Qatar's Al Rayyan, working in tandem with Firmino to secure a 5-1 aggregate win.
Q: Is it time for Cristiano Ronaldo to retire? I love him but western pundits seem to think it’s time to call it a day.
@Reithnatasha via Instagram
Should he retire? No. Of course we can’t escape our age, but I find it remarkable that anyone can ever criticise a player who continues to normalise the extraordinary. Ronaldo's goal against Al Riyadh last weekend was arguably the best of his 23 league goals this season. An extraordinary and thunderous right footed volley, Ronaldo knows how to produce magic exactly when the team needs their clutch player.
Al Nassr are third in the Saudi Pro League table, eight points behind leaders Al Ittihad, meaning most likely another season without a domestic silverware for Ronaldo, although Nassr are still in the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League Elite.
I don’t think we’ll ever be ready to say goodbye to player like him and Lionel Messi. Ronaldo turned 40 in February but shows no signs of slowing down. The Portuguese superstar leads the SPL scoring charts by three goals ahead of Abderrazak Hamdallah, and six ahead of Karim Benzema and Ivan Toney.
In my opinion, he is still the best player in the league and the most dependable, producing some of his best football since the most recent international break. He’s just 67 goals from scoring his 1,000th career goal. My guess is we won’t have to wait long.
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
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
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
Mazen Abukhater, principal and actuary at global consultancy Mercer, Middle East, says the company’s Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index - which benchmarks 34 pension schemes across the globe to assess their adequacy, sustainability and integrity - included Saudi Arabia for the first time this year to offer a glimpse into the region.
The index highlighted fundamental issues for all 34 countries, such as a rapid ageing population and a low growth / low interest environment putting pressure on expected returns. It also highlighted the increasing popularity around the world of defined contribution schemes.
“Average life expectancy has been increasing by about three years every 10 years. Someone born in 1947 is expected to live until 85 whereas someone born in 2007 is expected to live to 103,” Mr Abukhater told the Mena Pensions Conference.
“Are our systems equipped to handle these kind of life expectancies in the future? If so many people retire at 60, they are going to be in retirement for 43 years – so we need to adapt our retirement age to our changing life expectancy.”
Saudi Arabia came in the middle of Mercer’s ranking with a score of 58.9. The report said the country's index could be raised by improving the minimum level of support for the poorest aged individuals and increasing the labour force participation rate at older ages as life expectancies rise.
Mr Abukhater said the challenges of an ageing population, increased life expectancy and some individuals relying solely on their government for financial support in their retirement years will put the system under strain.
“To relieve that pressure, governments need to consider whether it is time to switch to a defined contribution scheme so that individuals can supplement their own future with the help of government support,” he said.
The bio
Who inspires you?
I am in awe of the remarkable women in the Arab region, both big and small, pushing boundaries and becoming role models for generations. Emily Nasrallah was a writer, journalist, teacher and women’s rights activist
How do you relax?
Yoga relaxes me and helps me relieve tension, especially now when we’re practically chained to laptops and desks. I enjoy learning more about music and the history of famous music bands and genres.
What is favourite book?
The Perks of Being a Wallflower - I think I've read it more than 7 times
What is your favourite Arabic film?
Hala2 Lawen (Translation: Where Do We Go Now?) by Nadine Labaki
What is favourite English film?
Mamma Mia
Best piece of advice to someone looking for a career at Google?
If you’re interested in a career at Google, deep dive into the different career paths and pinpoint the space you want to join. When you know your space, you’re likely to identify the skills you need to develop.
Know your camel milk:
Flavour: Similar to goat’s milk, although less pungent. Vaguely sweet with a subtle, salty aftertaste.
Texture: Smooth and creamy, with a slightly thinner consistency than cow’s milk.
Use it: In your morning coffee, to add flavour to homemade ice cream and milk-heavy desserts, smoothies, spiced camel-milk hot chocolate.
Goes well with: chocolate and caramel, saffron, cardamom and cloves. Also works well with honey and dates.
The%20Color%20Purple
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OPENING FIXTURES
Saturday September 12
Crystal Palace v Southampton
Fulham v Arsenal
Liverpool v Leeds United
Tottenham v Everton
West Brom v Leicester
West Ham v Newcastle
Monday September 14
Brighton v Chelsea
Sheffield United v Wolves
To be rescheduled
Burnley v Manchester United
Manchester City v Aston Villa
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
if you go
The flights
Flydubai flies to Podgorica or nearby Tivat via Sarajevo from Dh2,155 return including taxes. Turkish Airlines flies from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Podgorica via Istanbul; alternatively, fly with Flydubai from Dubai to Belgrade and take a short flight with Montenegro Air to Podgorica. Etihad flies from Abu Dhabi to Podgorica via Belgrade. Flights cost from about Dh3,000 return including taxes. There are buses from Podgorica to Plav.
The tour
While you can apply for a permit for the route yourself, it’s best to travel with an agency that will arrange it for you. These include Zbulo in Albania (www.zbulo.org) or Zalaz in Montenegro (www.zalaz.me).
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.”
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
Frankenstein in Baghdad
Ahmed Saadawi
Penguin Press
In Full Flight: A Story of Africa and Atonement
John Heminway, Knopff
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
MATCH INFO
Chelsea 0
Liverpool 2 (Mane 50', 54')
Red card: Andreas Christensen (Chelsea)
Man of the match: Sadio Mane (Liverpool)
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
Mobile phone packages comparison
My Country: A Syrian Memoir
Kassem Eid, Bloomsbury
Juliet, Naked
Dir: Jesse Peretz
Starring: Chris O'Dowd, Rose Byrne, Ethan Hawke
Two stars
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
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Dr Amal Khalid Alias revealed a recent case of a woman with daughters, who specifically wanted a boy.
A semen analysis of the father showed abnormal sperm so the couple required IVF.
Out of 21 eggs collected, six were unused leaving 15 suitable for IVF.
A specific procedure was used, called intracytoplasmic sperm injection where a single sperm cell is inserted into the egg.
On day three of the process, 14 embryos were biopsied for gender selection.
The next day, a pre-implantation genetic report revealed four normal male embryos, three female and seven abnormal samples.
Day five of the treatment saw two male embryos transferred to the patient.
The woman recorded a positive pregnancy test two weeks later.
Normal People
Sally Rooney, Faber & Faber
PROFILE
Name: Enhance Fitness
Year started: 2018
Based: UAE
Employees: 200
Amount raised: $3m
Investors: Global Ventures and angel investors
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
More on Quran memorisation:
Name: Peter Dicce
Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics
Favourite sport: soccer
Favourite team: Bayern Munich
Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer
Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates
The bio
Job: Coder, website designer and chief executive, Trinet solutions
School: Year 8 pupil at Elite English School in Abu Hail, Deira
Role Models: Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk
Dream City: San Francisco
Hometown: Dubai
City of birth: Thiruvilla, Kerala
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
It Was Just an Accident
Director: Jafar Panahi
Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr
Rating: 4/5
Kibsons%20Cares
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Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
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If you go
Flying
Despite the extreme distance, flying to Fairbanks is relatively simple, requiring just one transfer in Seattle, which can be reached directly from Dubai with Emirates for Dh6,800 return.
Touring
Gondwana Ecotours’ seven-day Polar Bear Adventure starts in Fairbanks in central Alaska before visiting Kaktovik and Utqiarvik on the North Slope. Polar bear viewing is highly likely in Kaktovik, with up to five two-hour boat tours included. Prices start from Dh11,500 per person, with all local flights, meals and accommodation included; gondwanaecotours.com
Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
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Diriyah%20project%20at%20a%20glance
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