Handout photo of the art work created by Bob Willis' widow Lauren Clark. The new Bob Willis Trophy for the winning county team will be based on art work by Lauren in memory of her late husband. Lauren Clark / ECB / PA
Handout photo of the art work created by Bob Willis' widow Lauren Clark. The new Bob Willis Trophy for the winning county team will be based on art work by Lauren in memory of her late husband. Lauren Clark / ECB / PA
Handout photo of the art work created by Bob Willis' widow Lauren Clark. The new Bob Willis Trophy for the winning county team will be based on art work by Lauren in memory of her late husband. Lauren Clark / ECB / PA
Handout photo of the art work created by Bob Willis' widow Lauren Clark. The new Bob Willis Trophy for the winning county team will be based on art work by Lauren in memory of her late husband. Lauren

Mesmerising painting honouring Bob Willis inspiration behind new trophy for counties


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All 18 county teams will compete for the Bob Willis Trophy this summer, an honour that would have made the late England great "unbelievably stunned and proud" according to his widow Lauren Clark.

Willis was one of the best fast bowlers of his generation. The former England captain and commentator passed away in December at the age of 70.

The winners of this year's red-ball competition will receive a piece of silverware based on a painting by Willis' wife.

Her cubist-inspired work is now being turned into a trophy by jeweller Edward Asprey and will be awarded to the winning captain at the end of the first-class season.

"Bob would have been unbelievably stunned and proud of it, and by the reaction of people since his death," Lauren was quoted as saying by the Press Association.

Handout photo of the art work created by Bob Willis' widow Lauren Clark. Lauren Clark / ECB / PA
Handout photo of the art work created by Bob Willis' widow Lauren Clark. Lauren Clark / ECB / PA

"He would have loved to see this but he wouldn't have allowed it to make him big-headed. He'd have been proud of me for pushing his name out there too...he never did that himself but I'm not letting him go.

"He would have loved to see my art represented on the trophy and also of the competition itself. Only a couple of years ago he spent ages working on spreadsheets trying to work out how to make the summer season work better.

"He was a real advocate for change in the county championship for so many years and now, in the first year after his death, it has had to be changed for such strange reasons."

Reigning Division One champions Essex begin the south group at home to Kent on August 1, while Middlesex and Surrey open against one another at the Kia Oval.

________________

Former England captain Bob Willis no more

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The Voice of Hind Rajab

Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees

Director: Kaouther Ben Hania

Rating: 4/5

Real estate tokenisation project

Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.

The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.

Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.

Labour dispute

The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.


- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law 

Cinco in numbers

Dh3.7 million

The estimated cost of Victoria Swarovski’s gem-encrusted Michael Cinco wedding gown

46

The number, in kilograms, that Swarovski’s wedding gown weighed.

1,000

The hours it took to create Cinco’s vermillion petal gown, as seen in his atelier [note, is the one he’s playing with in the corner of a room]

50

How many looks Cinco has created in a new collection to celebrate Ballet Philippines’ 50th birthday

3,000

The hours needed to create the butterfly gown worn by Aishwarya Rai to the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.

1.1 million

The number of followers that Michael Cinco’s Instagram account has garnered.

Jeff Buckley: From Hallelujah To The Last Goodbye
By Dave Lory with Jim Irvin

WHAT%20MACRO%20FACTORS%20ARE%20IMPACTING%20META%20TECH%20MARKETS%3F
%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Looming%20global%20slowdown%20and%20recession%20in%20key%20economies%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Russia-Ukraine%20war%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Interest%20rate%20hikes%20and%20the%20rising%20cost%20of%20debt%20servicing%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Oil%20price%20volatility%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Persisting%20inflationary%20pressures%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Exchange%20rate%20fluctuations%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Shortage%20of%20labour%2Fskills%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20A%20resurgence%20of%20Covid%3F%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
If you go...

Fly from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Chiang Mai in Thailand, via Bangkok, before taking a five-hour bus ride across the Laos border to Huay Xai. The land border crossing at Huay Xai is a well-trodden route, meaning entry is swift, though travellers should be aware of visa requirements for both countries.

Flights from Dubai start at Dh4,000 return with Emirates, while Etihad flights from Abu Dhabi start at Dh2,000. Local buses can be booked in Chiang Mai from around Dh50

A Dog's Journey 

Directed by: Gail Mancuso

Starring: Dennis Quaid, Josh Gad, Marg Helgenberger, Betty Gilpin, Kathryn Prescott

3 out of 5 stars

FIRST TEST SCORES

England 458
South Africa 361 & 119 (36.4 overs)

England won by 211 runs and lead series 1-0

Player of the match: Moeen Ali (England)

 

COMPANY PROFILE

Name: Cofe

Year started: 2018

Based: UAE

Employees: 80-100

Amount raised: $13m

Investors: KISP ventures, Cedar Mundi, Towell Holding International, Takamul Capital, Dividend Gate Capital, Nizar AlNusif Sons Holding, Arab Investment Company and Al Imtiaz Investment Group 

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets