• You are looking at a tiny urn being held by captain Steve Smith, left, and vice-captain David Warner after Australia beat England in a five-match cricket Test series in 2017. It is a replica of the actual urn which supposedly holds the ashes of a burnt cricket bail, which was presented to England captain Ivo Bligh as a personal gift after a friendly match during the 1882/83 tour in Australia. The replica is handed to the winner of this Test series usually held every two years between the game's traditional rivals. Getty Images
    You are looking at a tiny urn being held by captain Steve Smith, left, and vice-captain David Warner after Australia beat England in a five-match cricket Test series in 2017. It is a replica of the actual urn which supposedly holds the ashes of a burnt cricket bail, which was presented to England captain Ivo Bligh as a personal gift after a friendly match during the 1882/83 tour in Australia. The replica is handed to the winner of this Test series usually held every two years between the game's traditional rivals. Getty Images
  • The Ashes is not the only unconventional-looking trophy given out in cricket. The Warne-Muralitharan Trophy, named after former Australia leg-spinner Shane Warne and former Sri Lanka off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan (and hence the sculptures of two hands giving the cricket ball a good rip), is presented to the winner of a Test series between these two teams. AFP
    The Ashes is not the only unconventional-looking trophy given out in cricket. The Warne-Muralitharan Trophy, named after former Australia leg-spinner Shane Warne and former Sri Lanka off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan (and hence the sculptures of two hands giving the cricket ball a good rip), is presented to the winner of a Test series between these two teams. AFP
  • Closer to home, the winner of the annual Dubai Desert Classic golf tournament gets to pose with the 'Dallah', which means coffee pot in Arabic. This makes sense as the Arabia coffee is a staple drink in these parts. Bryson Dechambeau is the current owner of the Dallah, having won the title in 2019. AFP
    Closer to home, the winner of the annual Dubai Desert Classic golf tournament gets to pose with the 'Dallah', which means coffee pot in Arabic. This makes sense as the Arabia coffee is a staple drink in these parts. Bryson Dechambeau is the current owner of the Dallah, having won the title in 2019. AFP
  • The Castello Masters, which was an European Tour golf tournament played annually between 2008 and 2011in Spain, dished out a strange-looking figurine giving the 'thumbs up'. Getty Images
    The Castello Masters, which was an European Tour golf tournament played annually between 2008 and 2011in Spain, dished out a strange-looking figurine giving the 'thumbs up'. Getty Images
  • The trophy given out at the Manulife LPGA Classic, held every year in Ontario, Canada, in an odd one because it looks like an Easter egg. Getty Images
    The trophy given out at the Manulife LPGA Classic, held every year in Ontario, Canada, in an odd one because it looks like an Easter egg. Getty Images
  • Coming back to the UAE, the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships trophy is a lovely piece of silverware in the shape of a boat (after all, Dubai is a port city so this makes perfect sense). It is currently in Roger Federer's possession after the former world No 1 won his 100th career title in the emirate this year. EPA
    Coming back to the UAE, the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships trophy is a lovely piece of silverware in the shape of a boat (after all, Dubai is a port city so this makes perfect sense). It is currently in Roger Federer's possession after the former world No 1 won his 100th career title in the emirate this year. EPA
  • Sticking with tennis, what you see in Simona Halep's hands is the Madrid Open trophy. It is in the shape of a staff with small racquets coming out of the it and which includes names of some of the greats to have graced the game, including Roger Federer and Serena Williams. Getty Images
    Sticking with tennis, what you see in Simona Halep's hands is the Madrid Open trophy. It is in the shape of a staff with small racquets coming out of the it and which includes names of some of the greats to have graced the game, including Roger Federer and Serena Williams. Getty Images
  • The Hamburg Open gave out a very strange-looking trophy this year. Getty Images
    The Hamburg Open gave out a very strange-looking trophy this year. Getty Images
  • The Stanley Cup, given to the winners of the North American ice hockey league champions, has to be one of the biggest trophies across sport. Hockey players are known to be a tough lot, and they also look big and strong enough to be able to hold that beast of a trophy up high (unless it's adrenaline). Reuters
    The Stanley Cup, given to the winners of the North American ice hockey league champions, has to be one of the biggest trophies across sport. Hockey players are known to be a tough lot, and they also look big and strong enough to be able to hold that beast of a trophy up high (unless it's adrenaline). Reuters
  • The Commissioner's Trophy, given to the annual World Series Baseball champions, is peculiar-looking in that it contains flags representing each team in North America's top two leagues - the National League and the American League. Getty Images
    The Commissioner's Trophy, given to the annual World Series Baseball champions, is peculiar-looking in that it contains flags representing each team in North America's top two leagues - the National League and the American League. Getty Images
  • If you are a Nascar driver competing in the Nascar Cup Series and you win the race at the Martinsville Speedway, you are probably going to need a big house. Because the winner ends up getting the 'Grandfather Clock' trophy, which is a prize that has been around for more than six decades. Wins elsewhere in this circuit can earn you all kinds of trophies - from live lobsters to gladiator swords. But the Grandfather Clock has to be special. AFP
    If you are a Nascar driver competing in the Nascar Cup Series and you win the race at the Martinsville Speedway, you are probably going to need a big house. Because the winner ends up getting the 'Grandfather Clock' trophy, which is a prize that has been around for more than six decades. Wins elsewhere in this circuit can earn you all kinds of trophies - from live lobsters to gladiator swords. But the Grandfather Clock has to be special. AFP
  • If you think some of the trophies already listed in this photo gallery can cause physical harm, take a look at the Paul Bunyan Axe trophy. Yes, it is in the shape of an axe and given to the winners of the college football fixture between arch-rivals, the Wisconsin Badgers and the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Handed out for the first time in 1948 before it became a tradition, the axe is named after a giant lumberback in American folklore named Paul Bunyan. At the end of the game, if the team already holding the trophy won, they would run to their own sideline, take the axe and carry it around the field and 'chop down' one or both goal posts. If the team not holding the axe won, they could run to their opponents' sideline and 'steal' the axe. AFP
    If you think some of the trophies already listed in this photo gallery can cause physical harm, take a look at the Paul Bunyan Axe trophy. Yes, it is in the shape of an axe and given to the winners of the college football fixture between arch-rivals, the Wisconsin Badgers and the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Handed out for the first time in 1948 before it became a tradition, the axe is named after a giant lumberback in American folklore named Paul Bunyan. At the end of the game, if the team already holding the trophy won, they would run to their own sideline, take the axe and carry it around the field and 'chop down' one or both goal posts. If the team not holding the axe won, they could run to their opponents' sideline and 'steal' the axe. AFP
  • The Golden Slipper Stakes is a prestigious Group 1 turf race for two-year-old thoroughbreds run over 1,200 metres and held in Sydney. Which makes it a bit strange for the winner to receive the Golden Slipper for a trophy. Getty Images
    The Golden Slipper Stakes is a prestigious Group 1 turf race for two-year-old thoroughbreds run over 1,200 metres and held in Sydney. Which makes it a bit strange for the winner to receive the Golden Slipper for a trophy. Getty Images

Cricket

Ashes urn and Paul Bunyan Axe - the 13 weirdest trophies in sport – in pictures

Check out our list of the most unconventional pieces of silverware being hand out to winners across various sports

  • English
  • Arabic

The 71st edition of the historic 'Ashes' cricket series is upon us as England host reigning champions Australia during the course of the next two months for the right to hold aloft a very tiny urn.

Neither England captain Joe Root not Tim Paine, his Australian counterpart, need any enlightenment on the significance of a series whose history dates all the way back to the late 1800s. But those of you not tuned into cricket but, nonetheless, have a passing fancy are likely to have some fun reading about its history and why it is such a big deal for players from both of these countries to hold a trophy that is all of 11 centimetres in height.

Granted, the urn is a very peculiar trophy to hand out. But as you will discover from this photo gallery we have put together for you, there are plenty other prizes across sports that are both weird and wonderful to look at.

To check out 14 of the most unconventional trophies, browse through the photo gallery above.

The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet

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.”

RESULTS

1.45pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,400m
Winner: Dirilis Ertugrul, Fabrice Veron (jockey), Ismail Mohammed (trainer)
2.15pm: Handicap Dh90,000 1,400m
Winner: Kidd Malibu, Sandro Paiva, Musabah Al Muhairi
2.45pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,000m
Winner: Raakezz, Tadhg O’Shea, Nicholas Bachalard
3.15pm: Handicap Dh105,000 1,200m
Winner: Au Couer, Sean Kirrane, Satish Seemar
3.45pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,600m
Winner: Rayig, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson
4.15pm: Handicap Dh105,000 1,600m
Winner: Chiefdom, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer
4.45pm: Handicap Dh80,000 1,800m
Winner: King’s Shadow, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar

Desert Warrior

Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley

Director: Rupert Wyatt

Rating: 3/5

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Why your domicile status is important

Your UK residence status is assessed using the statutory residence test. While your residence status – ie where you live - is assessed every year, your domicile status is assessed over your lifetime.

Your domicile of origin generally comes from your parents and if your parents were not married, then it is decided by your father. Your domicile is generally the country your father considered his permanent home when you were born. 

UK residents who have their permanent home ("domicile") outside the UK may not have to pay UK tax on foreign income. For example, they do not pay tax on foreign income or gains if they are less than £2,000 in the tax year and do not transfer that gain to a UK bank account.

A UK-domiciled person, however, is liable for UK tax on their worldwide income and gains when they are resident in the UK.

Earth under attack: Cosmic impacts throughout history

- 4.5 billion years ago: Mars-sized object smashes into the newly-formed Earth, creating debris that coalesces to form the Moon

- 66 million years ago: 10km-wide asteroid crashes into the Gulf of Mexico, wiping out over 70 per cent of living species – including the dinosaurs.

- 50,000 years ago: 50m-wide iron meteor crashes in Arizona with the violence of 10 megatonne hydrogen bomb, creating the famous 1.2km-wide Barringer Crater

- 1490: Meteor storm over Shansi Province, north-east China when large stones “fell like rain”, reportedly leading to thousands of deaths.  

- 1908: 100-metre meteor from the Taurid Complex explodes near the Tunguska river in Siberia with the force of 1,000 Hiroshima-type bombs, devastating 2,000 square kilometres of forest.

- 1998: Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 breaks apart and crashes into Jupiter in series of impacts that would have annihilated life on Earth.

-2013: 10,000-tonne meteor burns up over the southern Urals region of Russia, releasing a pressure blast and flash that left over 1600 people injured.

While you're here
The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

 

France and Covid-19
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Oppenheimer
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Company Profile:

Name: The Protein Bakeshop

Date of start: 2013

Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani

Based: Dubai

Size, number of employees: 12

Funding/investors:  $400,000 (2018) 

Community Shield info

Where, when and at what time Wembley Stadium in London on Sunday at 5pm (UAE time)

Arsenal line up (3-4-2-1) Petr Cech; Rob Holding, Per Mertesacker, Nacho Monreal; Hector Bellerin, Mohamed Elneny, Granit Xhaka, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain; Alex Iwobi, Danny Welbeck; Alexandre Lacazette

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger

Chelsea line up (3-4-2-1) Thibaut Courtois; Cesar Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Gary Cahill; Victor Moses, Cesc Fabregas, N'Golo Kante, Marcos Alonso; Willian, Pedro; Michy Batshuayi

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte

Referee Bobby Madley

BRAZIL%20SQUAD
%3Cp%3EGoalkeepers%3A%20Alisson%2C%20Ederson%2C%20Weverton%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EDefenders%3A%20Dani%20Alves%2C%20Marquinhos%2C%20Thiago%20Silva%2C%20Eder%20Militao%20%2C%20Danilo%2C%20Alex%20Sandro%2C%20Alex%20Telles%2C%20Bremer.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EMidfielders%3A%20Casemiro%2C%20Fred%2C%20Fabinho%2C%20Bruno%20Guimaraes%2C%20Lucas%20Paqueta%2C%20Everton%20Ribeiro.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EForwards%3A%20Neymar%2C%20Vinicius%20Junior%2C%20Richarlison%2C%20Raphinha%2C%20Antony%2C%20Gabriel%20Jesus%2C%20Gabriel%20Martinelli%2C%20Pedro%2C%20Rodrygo%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
NEW%20UTILITY%20POLICY%3A%20WHAT%20DOES%20IT%20REGULATE%3F
%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Agreements%20on%20energy%20and%20water%20supply%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Applied%20service%20fees%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Customer%20data%20and%20information%20privacy%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Prohibition%20of%20service%20disconnections%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Customer%20complaint%20process%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Management%20of%20debts%20and%20customers%20in%20default%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Services%20provided%20to%20people%20of%20determination%20and%20home%20care%20customers%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Mobile phone packages comparison
UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

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