Thursday: Chelsea v Tottenham (10.30pm kick off UAE)
A London derby with added spice. Both teams are in need of a victory after recent stumbles, and Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino goes up against his former club. The ninth-placed Blues need to win this game in hand to keep in touch with the teams ahead of them in the race for a European spot next season.
Spurs, in fifth, are now seven points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa, albeit with two games in hand. They followed up a 4-0 battering at Newcastle United by falling to a 3-2 defeat in the north London derby at home to Arsenal on Sunday.
Prediction: Chelsea 2 Spurs 3
Friday: Luton Town v Everton (11pm)
What looked like a relegation six-pointer a few weeks ago is now just a must-win game for Luton. The Hatters occupy 18th spot – one point ahead of Burnley in 19th and one point behind Nottingham Forest in 17th – having lost 10 out of their previous 13 league games.
Everton guaranteed their survival with three games to spare after beating Brentford 1-0, making it four wins out of five and lifting Sean Dyche's side 11 points clear of the drop zone. The Toffees were last relegated from the top flight in 1951.
Prediction: Luton 2 Everton 2
Saturday: Arsenal v Bournemouth (3.30pm)
Arsenal remain in top spot thanks to their derby win over Spurs, although they are only one point ahead of Manchester City and the reigning champions have a game in hand.
Bournemouth's 3-0 demolition of Brighton meant Andoni Iraola's side have reached 48 points and have already beaten their highest top-flight total of 46 with three games still to play.
Prediction: Arsenal 2 Bournemouth 1
Brentford v Fulham (6pm)
Brentford have avoided the threat of relegation – they are 10 points clear of the bottom three – after a tough campaign.
And while last week's loss at Everton was their first in six games, the Bees have now been beaten 18 times in 35 matches. Fulham's home draw with Crystal Palace means they have won just once in six games and sit 13th in the table, eight points and three places ahead of Brentford.
Prediction: Brentford 2 Fulham 0
Burnley v Newcastle United (6pm)
Burnley's recent form has at least given them a chance of playing Premier League football next season. Last week's draw at Manchester United means the Clarets have lost just once in eight games but they remain second bottom, two points shy of safety.
Newcastle's 5-1 thrashing of bottom club Sheffield United at St James' Park was their fourth win in six games, leaving them in seventh place, one point and one place behind Manchester United – who they play on May 15 at Old Trafford.
Prediction: Burnley 1 Newcastle 3
Sheffield United v Nottingham Forest (6pm)
Sheffield United bowed to the inevitable last week when their defeat at Newcastle guaranteed relegation to the Championship after managing just three wins all season, conceding 97 goals along the way.
Forest are battling to avoid joining the Blades in the second tier having won just two of their last 15 league games and keeping one clean sheet in their last 24, although they at least made title-chasing Manchester City fight for their 2-0 win last week.
Prediction: Sheffield United 1 Nottingham Forest 2
Manchester City v Wolves (8.30pm)
City's win over Forest made it five consecutive victories for Pep Guardiola's men, who know that if they win their remaining four games then they will have secured a historic fourth title in a row.
Wolves managed to end a six-game winless run after overcoming relegation candidates Luton 2-1 at Molineux when manager Gary O'Neil was able to name attacking duo Hwang Hee-chan and Matheus Cunha in the same team for the first time since December.
Prediction: Man City 4 Wolves 1
Sunday: Brighton v Aston Villa (5pm)
Brighton slumped to a comprehensive defeat at Bournemouth last time out which means the Seagulls have won just six of their past 28 league matches with the future of manager Roberto De Zerbi very much under a cloud.
Villa have taken a grip of the final Champions League place, despite only drawing with Chelsea last weekend, with Spurs needing to win their two games in hand to remain in touching distance.
Prediction: Brighton 0 Villa 2
Chelsea v West Ham (5pm)
Chelsea are back in action just three days after their London derby against Spurs. When these two teams clashed at the London Stadium back in August, West Ham ran out 3-1 winners despite having Nayef Aguerd sent off with nearly 30 minutes still left on the clock.
The Hammers have taken one point out of a possible nine which has all but ended their hopes of a fourth consecutive season playing European football next term. They are eighth in the table, four points behind Newcastle in seventh, having played a game more.
Prediction: Chelsea 3 West Ham 1
Liverpool v Tottenham (7.30pm)
Liverpool's hopes of ending the Jurgen Klopp era with another league title have pretty much been killed off after the Reds' run of one win in five games, which has left them five points behind leaders Arsenal.
Spurs face their second game in three days up against a side they beat 2-1 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the corresponding fixture back in September. Liverpool manager Klopp would go on to say the match should be replayed after errors by VAR led to a Luis Diaz goal being incorrectly disallowed.
Prediction: Liverpool 2 Spurs 1
Monday: Crystal Palace v Manchester United (11pm)
Palace have enjoyed a fine run of form under manager Oliver Glasner who has seen his team take 10 points out of a possible 12, including wins over top eight sides Liverpool, West Ham and Newcastle.
United still have work to do to be sure of European football next season as they lie sixth in the table and face Manchester City in the FA Cup final. Erik ten Hag's side could only draw at home to second-bottom Burnley last week.
Prediction: Crystal Palace 1 Man United 0
ADCC AFC Women’s Champions League Group A fixtures
October 3: v Wuhan Jiangda Women’s FC
October 6: v Hyundai Steel Red Angels Women’s FC
October 9: v Sabah FA
Racecard:
2.30pm: Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoun Emirates Breeders Society Challenge; Conditions (PA); Dh40,000; 1,600m
3pm: Handicap; Dh80,000; 1,800m
3.30pm: Jebel Ali Mile Prep Rated Conditions; Dh110,000; 1,600m
4pm: Handicap; Dh95,000; 1,950m
4.30pm: Maiden; Dh65,000; 1,400m
5pm: Handicap; Dh85,000; 1,200m
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
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Traits of Chinese zodiac animals
Tiger:independent, successful, volatile
Rat:witty, creative, charming
Ox:diligent, perseverent, conservative
Rabbit:gracious, considerate, sensitive
Dragon:prosperous, brave, rash
Snake:calm, thoughtful, stubborn
Horse:faithful, energetic, carefree
Sheep:easy-going, peacemaker, curious
Monkey:family-orientated, clever, playful
Rooster:honest, confident, pompous
Dog:loyal, kind, perfectionist
Boar:loving, tolerant, indulgent
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
Company Profile
Company name: OneOrder
Started: October 2021
Founders: Tamer Amer and Karim Maurice
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Industry: technology, logistics
Investors: A15 and self-funded
Fitness problems in men's tennis
Andy Murray - hip
Novak Djokovic - elbow
Roger Federer - back
Stan Wawrinka - knee
Kei Nishikori - wrist
Marin Cilic - adductor
Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha
Starring: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shantanu Maheshwari, Jimmy Shergill, Saiee Manjrekar
Director: Neeraj Pandey
Rating: 2.5/5
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Innotech Profile
Date started: 2013
Founder/CEO: Othman Al Mandhari
Based: Muscat, Oman
Sector: Additive manufacturing, 3D printing technologies
Size: 15 full-time employees
Stage: Seed stage and seeking Series A round of financing
Investors: Oman Technology Fund from 2017 to 2019, exited through an agreement with a new investor to secure new funding that it under negotiation right now.
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
SERIES SCHEDULE
First Test, Galle International Stadium
July 26-30
Second Test, Sinhalese Sports Club Ground
August 3-7
Third Test, Pallekele International Stadium
August 12-16
First ODI, Rangiri Dambulla Stadium
August 20
Second ODI, Pallekele International Stadium
August 24
Third ODI, Pallekele International Stadium
August 27
Fourth ODI, R Premadasa Stadium
August 31
Fifth ODI, R Premadasa Stadium
September 3
T20, R Premadasa Stadium
September 6
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
Poland Statement
All people fleeing from Ukraine before the armed conflict are allowed to enter Poland. Our country shelters every person whose life is in danger - regardless of their nationality.
The dominant group of refugees in Poland are citizens of Ukraine, but among the people checked by the Border Guard are also citizens of the USA, Nigeria, India, Georgia and other countries.
All persons admitted to Poland are verified by the Border Guard. In relation to those who are in doubt, e.g. do not have documents, Border Guard officers apply appropriate checking procedures.
No person who has received refuge in Poland will be sent back to a country torn by war.
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
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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.”
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
FA Cup semi-finals
Saturday: Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur, 8.15pm (UAE)
Sunday: Chelsea v Southampton, 6pm (UAE)
Matches on Bein Sports
The Limehouse Golem
Director: Juan Carlos Medina
Cast: Olivia Cooke, Bill Nighy, Douglas Booth
Three stars
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Bio:
Favourite Quote: Prophet Mohammad's quotes There is reward for kindness to every living thing and A good man treats women with honour
Favourite Hobby: Serving poor people
Favourite Book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite food: Fish and vegetables
Favourite place to visit: London
Why it pays to compare
A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.
Route 1: bank transfer
The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.
Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount
Total received: €4,670.30
Route 2: online platform
The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.
Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction
Total received: €4,756
The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.
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If you go
The Flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Johannesburg from Dubai and Abu Dhabi respectively. Economy return tickets cost from Dh2,650, including taxes.
The trip
Worldwide Motorhoming Holidays (worldwidemotorhomingholidays.co.uk) operates fly-drive motorhome holidays in eight destinations, including South Africa. Its 14-day Kruger and the Battlefields itinerary starts from Dh17,500, including campgrounds, excursions, unit hire and flights. Bobo Campers has a range of RVs for hire, including the 4-berth Discoverer 4 from Dh600 per day.
Fireball
Moscow claimed it hit the largest military fuel storage facility in Ukraine, triggering a huge fireball at the site.
A plume of black smoke rose from a fuel storage facility in the village of Kalynivka outside Kyiv on Friday after Russia said it had destroyed the military site with Kalibr cruise missiles.
"On the evening of March 24, Kalibr high-precision sea-based cruise missiles attacked a fuel base in the village of Kalynivka near Kyiv," the Russian defence ministry said in a statement.
Ukraine confirmed the strike, saying the village some 40 kilometres south-west of Kyiv was targeted.
