AB de Villiers became the fifth South African to reach the 900-point threshold in the ICC ratings. Marwan Naamani / AFP
AB de Villiers became the fifth South African to reach the 900-point threshold in the ICC ratings. Marwan Naamani / AFP
AB de Villiers became the fifth South African to reach the 900-point threshold in the ICC ratings. Marwan Naamani / AFP
AB de Villiers became the fifth South African to reach the 900-point threshold in the ICC ratings. Marwan Naamani / AFP

De Villiers overtakes Amla in Test batsmen rankings


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South Africa’s AB de Villiers overtook team-mate Hashim Amla as number one Test batsman after helping guide his team to a 1-1 series draw against Pakistan, the International Cricket Council announced Sunday.

De Villiers, 29, hit an aggressive 164 in the second Test against Pakistan in Dubai. He and skipper Graeme Smith, who made 234, put on 338 -- a South African record for the fifth wicket -- and the Proteas won the match by an innings and 92 runs on Saturday.

De Villiers, who had scored a fighting 90 in South Africa’s seven-wicket defeat in the first Test in Abu Dhabi, earned 27 points to reach 900 points in the ratings, the ICC said.

He is the fifth South African and 28th batsmen in the world to reach 900 rating points. Before him Dudley Nourse, Graeme Pollock, Jacques Kallis and Amla were the other South Africans to achieve the distinction.

De Villiers was also declared man of the series.

Amla missed the Dubai Test after returning home for the birth of his child.

West Indian Shivnarine Chanderpaul is third in the batsmen’s rankings.

Smith returned to the top ten of Test batsmen after his monumental 234. The South African skipper jumped seven places and is now eighth in the rankings.

Smith’s counterpart, Misbah-ul Haq achieved a career-best sixth spot after scoring a century in Abu Dhabi and a fighting 88 on Saturday.

Dale Steyn of South Africa remains the world’s best Test bowler according to the rankings.

Pakistan moved up to fourth in the Test team rankings after sliding to sixth following their embarrasing defeat against Zimbabwe last month.

South Africa remain the world’s best Test team followed by Ashes winners England and by India.

The specs: Lamborghini Aventador SVJ

Price, base: Dh1,731,672

Engine: 6.5-litre V12

Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic

Power: 770hp @ 8,500rpm

Torque: 720Nm @ 6,750rpm

Fuel economy: 19.6L / 100km

RIDE%20ON
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Company%20Profile
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Company profile

Name: Back to Games and Boardgame Space

Started: Back to Games (2015); Boardgame Space (Mark Azzam became co-founder in 2017)

Founder: Back to Games (Mr Azzam); Boardgame Space (Mr Azzam and Feras Al Bastaki)

Based: Dubai and Abu Dhabi 

Industry: Back to Games (retail); Boardgame Space (wholesale and distribution) 

Funding: Back to Games: self-funded by Mr Azzam with Dh1.3 million; Mr Azzam invested Dh250,000 in Boardgame Space  

Growth: Back to Games: from 300 products in 2015 to 7,000 in 2019; Boardgame Space: from 34 games in 2017 to 3,500 in 2019

THE%C2%A0SPECS
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The schedule

December 5 - 23: Shooting competition, Al Dhafra Shooting Club

December 9 - 24: Handicrafts competition, from 4pm until 10pm, Heritage Souq

December 11 - 20: Dates competition, from 4pm

December 12 - 20: Sour milk competition

December 13: Falcon beauty competition

December 14 and 20: Saluki races

December 15: Arabian horse races, from 4pm

December 16 - 19: Falconry competition

December 18: Camel milk competition, from 7.30 - 9.30 am

December 20 and 21: Sheep beauty competition, from 10am

December 22: The best herd of 30 camels

What is tokenisation?

Tokenisation refers to the issuance of a blockchain token, which represents a virtually tradable real, tangible asset. A tokenised asset is easily transferable, offers good liquidity, returns and is easily traded on the secondary markets. 

FULL%20RESULTS
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CHATGPT%20ENTERPRISE%20FEATURES
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The Voice of Hind Rajab

Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees

Director: Kaouther Ben Hania

Rating: 4/5

Skewed figures

In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458. 

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COMPANY PROFILE

Company name: Letstango.com

Started: June 2013

Founder: Alex Tchablakian

Based: Dubai

Industry: e-commerce

Initial investment: Dh10 million

Investors: Self-funded

Total customers: 300,000 unique customers every month

Key findings of Jenkins report
  • Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
  • Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
  • Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
  • Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
Timeline

2012-2015

The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East

May 2017

The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts

September 2021

Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act

October 2021

Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence 

December 2024

Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group

May 2025

The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan

July 2025

The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan

August 2025

Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision

October 2025

Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange

November 2025

180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE