Only two weeks after the conclusion of the European club season, international football takes centre stage with Euro 2024 in Germany.
The hosts and three-time champions get the 17th edition of the tournament underway with a Group A clash against Scotland at Bayern Munich's Allianz Arena on June 14.
Before the 24 competing teams – divided into six groups of four – begin bidding for the title, here are the European Championship predictions from The National's sports desk.
Steve Luckings – Sports Editor
Winners: France. The spine of Les Bleus is as strong as any in Germany, and in Kylian Mbappe, they possess the ultimate attacking weapon. Ably supported by the evergreen Antoine Griezmann, a midfield that boasts an unflappable Eduardo Camavinga and a defence that looks impenetrable with Ibrahima Konate and William Saliba, France look destined to win a third European Championship.
Surprise package: Albania. Turned heads with some wonderful attacking play at Euro 2016 and well placed to ruffle a few feathers again. Much improved under Sylvinho, the former Arsenal, Barcelona and Brazil left-back, and don’t be surprised to see them emerge from a Group B also containing Spain, Italy and Croatia.
Disappointment: Germany. Hard to remember a time when Germany entered a major tournament with such low expectations. Results have been mixed under Julian Nagelsmann and the disconnect between the team and fans is palpable, highlighted by several negative stories including having to change a shirt number design that drew comparisons to a Nazi symbol and a recent poll conducted by a public broadcaster that found fans wanted more white players on the national team.
Top scorer: Harry Kane (England). Trophies continue to elude Kane but his currency is still goals. Scored 44 in 45 games for Bayern Munich but only one this calendar year for England. A favourable group should offer Kane plenty of chances to add to his 63 England goals as will a deep run at the tournament.
Best player: Kylian Mbappe (France). Jude Bellingham would have been in a with a shout but tailed off badly during Real Madrid’s march to a Liga and Champions League double. Mbappe will team up with Bellingham at Madrid next season as the summer’s undisputed best player.
Best young player: Arda Guler (Turkey). With Mbappe and Endrick only adding to Madrid’s attacking riches next term, Euro 2024 offer the perfect shop window for the talented and creative Guler to showcase his talents.
Jon Turner – Deputy Sports Editor
Winners: England. It's finally time; the Three Lions boast arguably the strongest attacking depth in the tournament, and in Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, and Harry Kane have three of the finest players in Europe. Much of the team, finalists last time out, are more experienced than three years ago, although there are legitimate concerns in defence.
Surprise package: Turkey. Drawn in a winnable Group F alongside Portugal, Georgia, and Czech Republic, Turkey should have designs on reaching the knockout stages. Manager Vincenzo Montella has a talented squad and a strong spine with Merih Demiral in defence, captain Hakan Calhanoglu in midfield, and Arda Guler providing the stardust in attack.
Disappointment: Italy. There's always one heavyweight that falls short of expectations and the feast-or-famine inconsistency of Italy in recent years makes them prime candidates. Placed in Group B with Spain, Croatia, and Albania, they might struggle to advance beyond the group stage in their title defence. Or they'll win it.
Top scorer: Harry Kane (England). Following a prolific debut season with Bayern Munich, England's lead striker should hit the ground running. Plus, he's on penalty duties.
Best player: Jude Bellingham (England). Perhaps too many eggs in the England basket, but if they are to win the tournament, Bellingham will be front and centre of the success.
Best young player: Arda Guler (Turkey). A bit-part player in his debut season at Real Madrid but showed glimpses of his undoubted talent in the season run-in. The 19-year-old forward will be a central player for Turkey.
Paul Radley – sports writer
Winners: France. Didier Deschamps, Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann, Eduardo Camavinga, Aurelien Tchouameni. Just listing all the names makes it feel unfair on the rest. They are all serial winners and another trophy could well be incoming.
Surprise package: Hungary. Didn't lose a game for two years after Dominik Szoboszlai was appointed captain, which encompasses all of qualifying for this competition. Should have enough to advance from a group with hosts Germany, Switzerland and Scotland, and could be dangerous thereafter.
Disappointment: Italy. The defending champions at least qualified for this tournament, which has not been their standard for major events in the recent past. But they will have it tough from the start and a title defence could be beyond them.
Top scorer: Harry Kane (England). An unoriginal choice, but he remains so reliable, even after moving out of his comfort zone at Tottenham Hotspur for a new challenge in the Bundesliga. He should be nice and acclimatised for this summer.
Best player: Kylian Mbappe (France). Had his flipflops on for most of the Ligue 1 campaign, not least because Luis Enrique was preparing his Paris Saint-Germain side for life after Mbappe from a long way out. He should be fresh for another tilt at a major trophy with his national team.
Best young player: Jude Bellingham (England). He is still only 20, you know? Having already completed club football, the next worlds he has to conquer are at international level.
Ian Hawkey - football correspondent
Winners: France. Know their way around elite knockouts, have star quality, speed where it matters and strength in depth in key areas.
Surprise package: Austria. The absence of captain David Alaba with injury is a blow, but they have a good spread of expertise and growing confidence.
Disappointment: Italy. Admirable though the triumph at Euro 2000 was, it was sandwiched between two failures to qualify for World Cups. There's still a nervousness about the Azzurri.
Top scorer: Kylian Mbappe (France). He often is.
Best player: Mbappe.
Best young player: Lamine Yamal (Spain). Provided Spain play to their strengths, the winger, who turns 17 the day before the final, has shown he has the temperament for the big stage.
Andy Mitten - European football correspondent
Winners: England. England are one of the best teams in the world – albeit with only one major trophy to their name, from 1966. Gareth Southgate’s squad is settled, well stocked and experienced. He’s made big calls in dropping players seen as stars including Marcus Rashford – though it’s now or never for his old guard including Harry Kane and Kyle Walker.
Phil Foden is coming off his best season, ditto Bukayo Saka. Jude Bellingham has established himself as one of the best in the world at Real Madrid. Cole Palmer, Kobbie Mainoo, Adam Wharton and Declan Rice have all excelled for their clubs. Just don’t mention penalties, long the bane of England’s tournament ambitions.
Surprise package: Portugal. OK, so Portugal, ranked sixth in the world, would not be that much of a surprise if they won. Roberto Martinez has made an excellent impression as boss and Portugal’s qualifying record was peerless. Most of their top players are at major European clubs, with Ruben Dias and Bernardo Silva at Manchester City and Bruno Fernandes at Manchester United. Cristiano Ronaldo is still going at 39, scoring 10 goals in qualifying and idolised by most of his teammates who are collectively vengeful after being eliminated by Morocco in the 2022 World Cup. The 2016 winners have long excelled at previous Euros.
Disappointment: Germany. They’re playing at home, they saw Borussia Dortmund and domestic champions Bayer Leverkusen reach European finals, yet Germany have slipped to 16th in the Fifa world rankings after mixed results. Coach Julian Nagelsmann has employed some odd tactics, and a 2-0 reverse to neighbours Austria was a low. Toni Kroos is back, Germany has young stars including Florian Wirtz and there have been fine wins over France and the Netherlands, but too many 'buts' remain.
Top scorer: Kylian Mbappe (France). Real Madrid bound; he’s shone in World Cups but never European Championships. Mbappe is still only 25 and already has 46 goals from 77 games for his country. France blew away Netherlands, Greece and Republic of Ireland in qualifying and boss Didier Deschamps has seen it all and won the lot as a player and manager. He won Euro 2000 as a player. Can he win Euro 2024 as a coach? With Mbappe firing, it’s possible.
Best player: Jude Bellingham (England). After a stellar start to his Real Madrid career where he scored key goals in a win at Barcelona, his form dipped though he was still a Champions League winner. If England and Bellingham click, then he could be as impactful as Wayne Rooney at Portugal 2004. Bellingham turns 21 during the tournament – what a present it would be if he can add the Euros for his country in addition to Europe’s top honour for his club.
Best young player: Yamine Lamal (Spain). Still only 16, Lamal is already important for Barcelona – as is his 17-year-old teammate, centre-back Pau Cubarsi. That both have made the Spanish national side shows their level and potential. This isn’t a vintage Spain squad and it’s inexperienced, but in Lamal they have a player who gets fans off their seats.
Andy Lewis - Assistant Sports Editor
Winners: France. Quality all over the pitch and a winning pedigree. France and England seem to be popular picks – they could meet in a semi-final – and it is often said that the team with the best defence prevails in tournament football. In this case, that would be France.
Surprise package: Hungary. They have kicked on since their impressive Euro 2020 when they narrowly missed out on the last 16 despite being in a group with Portugal, Germany and France. A run of one defeat in 18 games includes away wins over Germany and England, and they qualified unbeaten and topped a Uefa qualifying section for the first time. Marco Rossi's side can navigate a tricky group and will be a threat to any side they meet in the knockout stages.
Disappointment: Italy. Having lost key defenders Francesco Acerbi and Giorgio Scalvini to injury, the midfield lacking the quality of the overlooked Marco Verratti and Gianluca Scamacca set to lead the line, they look ill-equipped to compete with the tournament's leading sides.
Top scorer: Kylian Mbappe (France). Has scored 12 goals in 18 games across the last three major tournaments. After a pedestrian finish to the 2023/24 season in Paris, and fresh from sealing a move to Real Madrid, he will arrive in Germany fit and ready to fire.
Best player: Antoine Griezmann (France). Mbappe's goals often hog the headlines but Griezmann has been a clutch performer at major tournaments for Les Bleus. Since Euro 2016, he has been directly involved in more goals (18) than any other European player, scoring 11 goals and providing seven assists from 25 games at the World Cup and Euros. At 33, the veteran's combination of silky skills, experience and football intelligence will prove pivotal.
Best young player: Warren Zaire-Emery (France). To complete a France-heavy selection, Zaire-Emery will take his outstanding displays for PSG on to the international stage and show what a special talent he is.
Gareth Cox - Assistant Sports Editor
Winners: England. Let's put the concerns over a patched-up back-four to one side, England's midfield and attacking options are something else. The likes of Declan Rice, Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka, Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane are in top form for the their clubs and are all up there with the best the continent has to offer in their positions. This could finally be the year that the Three Lions end that now infamous wait for a second major tournament victory.
Surprise package: Hungary. Set for their third successive Euro finals having finished unbeaten to top their qualifying group. Captain Dominik Szoboszlai in midfield and Barnabas Varga up front give them some top-quality cutting edge going forward, while a group containing Switzerland and Scotland give them plenty of scope to reach knockout stage, and then who knows.
Disappointment: Netherlands. Italy's dearth of decent centre-forwards continues to be their Achilles heel but a lack of a reliable goalscoring striker could also cost the Dutch as will a lack of top-class goalkeeper, while the fitness of key midfielder Frenkie de Jong is a major concern.
Top scorer: Kylian Mbappe (France). Buoyed by a long-anticipated move to Real Madrid finally coming to fruition and going into the tournament on the back of yet another 40-plus goal season in what turned out to be his final campaign with Paris Saint-Germain. He will take some stopping once again in Germany.
Best player: Jude Bellingham (England). The 20 year old who carries himself like a veteran on and off the pitch. Bellingham's first season at Real Madrid was the stuff of fairytales as he notched 23 goals, won the Liga and Champions League double and secured the Spanish top-flight's player-of-the-year award. Rolls-Royce of a footballer.
Best young player: Lamine Yamal (Spain). A ludicrously talented 16 year old whose skills could light up the tournament and make full-back's lives a nightmare. Making 50 appearances this season for a club with the stature and pressures of Barcelona tells you everything about the abilities and temperament of this winger.
John McAuley - Sports Writer
Winners: France. Can’t really see past a team boasting Ibrahima Konate, William Saliba, Eduardo Camavinga, Aurelien Tchouameni, Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappe. Oh, and Didier Deschamps knows a thing or two about winning major tournaments. Squad too strong, has something for every eventuality.
Surprise package: Turkey. Expect them to get out of Group F before Czech Republic and Georgia (they might even give Portugal a run for top spot). OK, not coming in with the greatest form, but they’ll enjoy bloodying some noses – see their victory against Germany late last year. And, Arda Guler is a joy.
Disappointment: Italy. It has to be Italy, right? Defending champions, beset by injury to key players and they're a little light anyway. Bar the huge trophy-shaped elephant in the room, they don’t typically thrive at major tournaments recently.
Top scorer: Kylian Mbappe (France). France’s man for the big occasion – see gold and silver World Cup medals – and generally looks the natural successor to Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in terms of the next true superstar. Twelve goals in 18 matches in major tournaments isn’t bad either. Oh, and he’ll want to make a mark now he’s, finally, a Real Madrid player.
Best player: Antoine Griezmann (France). Trying really hard not to make it all about Mbappe, so how about Griezmann instead? Slick, skilful and with an eye for an assist or grabbing a goal himself, he showed in a deeper role at the 2022 World Cup how he can make his national team tick. But, y’know, Mbappe.
Best young player: Lamine Yamal (Spain). Although Jude Bellingham has set alight this season's La Liga (and Uefa Champions League), it’s his even younger Spanish top-flight counterpart who will light up the Euros. At 16, the winger’s prodigious talent will get everyone off their seats.
Stuart James - Sports Sub-editor
Winners: France. Winners of the World Cup in 2018 and narrowly beaten by the brilliance of Lionel Messi in 2022, this is a squad busting with big tournament know-how. The final in Qatar turned into the Messi v Mbappe show but the French have quality and strength in depth all over the park. Coach Didier Deschamps knows a thing or two about winning the big ones, too.
Surprise package: Serbia. In a tough Group C with England, Denmark and Slovenia, Dragan Stojkovic’s team can qualify as runners-up. With the likes of Al Hilal’s Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Dusan Tadic of Fenerbahce in midfield and Hilal's Aleksandar Mitrovic, Dusan Vlahovic of Juventus and AC Milan’s Luka Jovic up front, they have the firepower to give any team a fright.
Disappointment: Italy. Heavyweights Italy and Germany have both fallen off their perches. Germany were knocked out of the last World Cup in the group stages and Italy, winners of Euro 2020, didn’t even manage to qualify for the last two global finals. Luciano Spalletti’s side find themselves in a nightmare group with Spain and Croatia. Germany’s group looks a little kinder and, as hosts, they should at least benefit from home advantage.
Top scorer: Mbappe (France). His goals will power his team to the trophy.
Best player: Mbappe (France). He will dominate the tournament.
Best young player: Jude Bellingham (England). A generational talent. He will have a big hand in steering England to the semi-finals. His time to win a big international trophy will come, though, alongside other young Three Lions superstars such as Bukayo Saka, Cole Palmer and Kobbie Mainoo.
Result
2.15pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,950m; Winner: Majestic Thunder, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Satish Seemar (trainer).
2.45pm: Handicap Dh80,000 1,800m; Winner: Tailor’s Row, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
3.15pm: Handicap Dh85,000 1,600m; Winner: Native Appeal, Adam McLean, Doug Watson.
3.45pm: Handicap Dh115,000 1,950m; Winner: Conclusion, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi.
4.15pm: Handicap Dh100,000 1,400m; Winner: Pilgrim’s Treasure, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.
4.45pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,400m; Winner: Sanad Libya, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
5.15pm: Handicap Dh90,000 1,000m; Winner: Midlander, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
The Saudi Cup race card
1 The Jockey Club Local Handicap (TB) 1,800m (Dirt) $500,000
2 The Riyadh Dirt Sprint (TB) 1,200m (D) $1.500,000
3 The 1351 Turf Sprint 1,351m (Turf) $1,000,000
4 The Saudi Derby (TB) 1600m (D) $800,000
5 The Neom Turf Cup (TB) 2,100m (T) $1,000,000
6 The Obaiya Arabian Classic (PB) 2,000m (D) $1,900,000
7 The Red Sea Turf Handicap (TB) 3,000m (T) $2,500,000
8 The Saudi Cup (TB) 1,800m (D) $20,000,000
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.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The story in numbers
18
This is how many recognised sects Lebanon is home to, along with about four million citizens
450,000
More than this many Palestinian refugees are registered with UNRWA in Lebanon, with about 45 per cent of them living in the country’s 12 refugee camps
1.5 million
There are just under 1 million Syrian refugees registered with the UN, although the government puts the figure upwards of 1.5m
73
The percentage of stateless people in Lebanon, who are not of Palestinian origin, born to a Lebanese mother, according to a 2012-2013 study by human rights organisation Frontiers Ruwad Association
18,000
The number of marriages recorded between Lebanese women and foreigners between the years 1995 and 2008, according to a 2009 study backed by the UN Development Programme
77,400
The number of people believed to be affected by the current nationality law, according to the 2009 UN study
4,926
This is how many Lebanese-Palestinian households there were in Lebanon in 2016, according to a census by the Lebanese-Palestinian dialogue committee
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company profile
Name: One Good Thing
Founders: Bridgett Lau and Micheal Cooke
Based in: Dubai
Sector: e-commerce
Size: 5 employees
Stage: Looking for seed funding
Investors: Self-funded and seeking external investors
THE BIO:
Sabri Razouk, 74
Athlete and fitness trainer
Married, father of six
Favourite exercise: Bench press
Must-eat weekly meal: Steak with beans, carrots, broccoli, crust and corn
Power drink: A glass of yoghurt
Role model: Any good man
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10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Read more about the coronavirus
Pakistan Super League
Previous winners
2016 Islamabad United
2017 Peshawar Zalmi
2018 Islamabad United
2019 Quetta Gladiators
Most runs Kamran Akmal – 1,286
Most wickets Wahab Riaz –65
MATCH INFO
Champions League last 16, first leg
Tottenham v RB Leipzig, Wednesday, midnight (UAE)
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
Global institutions: BlackRock and KKR
US-based BlackRock is the world's largest asset manager, with $5.98 trillion of assets under management as of the end of last year. The New York firm run by Larry Fink provides investment management services to institutional clients and retail investors including governments, sovereign wealth funds, corporations, banks and charitable foundations around the world, through a variety of investment vehicles.
KKR & Co, or Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, is a global private equity and investment firm with around $195 billion of assets as of the end of last year. The New York-based firm, founded by Henry Kravis and George Roberts, invests in multiple alternative asset classes through direct or fund-to-fund investments with a particular focus on infrastructure, technology, healthcare, real estate and energy.
Western Region Asia Cup T20 Qualifier
Sun Feb 23 – Thu Feb 27, Al Amerat, Oman
The two finalists advance to the Asia qualifier in Malaysia in August
Group A
Bahrain, Maldives, Oman, Qatar
Group B
UAE, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia
BOSH!'s pantry essentials
Nutritional yeast
This is Firth's pick and an ingredient he says, "gives you an instant cheesy flavour". He advises making your own cream cheese with it or simply using it to whip up a mac and cheese or wholesome lasagne. It's available in organic and specialist grocery stores across the UAE.
Seeds
"We've got a big jar of mixed seeds in our kitchen," Theasby explains. "That's what you use to make a bolognese or pie or salad: just grab a handful of seeds and sprinkle them over the top. It's a really good way to make sure you're getting your omegas."
Umami flavours
"I could say soya sauce, but I'll say all umami-makers and have them in the same batch," says Firth. He suggests having items such as Marmite, balsamic vinegar and other general, dark, umami-tasting products in your cupboard "to make your bolognese a little bit more 'umptious'".
Onions and garlic
"If you've got them, you can cook basically anything from that base," says Theasby. "These ingredients are so prevalent in every world cuisine and if you've got them in your cupboard, then you know you've got the foundation of a really nice meal."
Your grain of choice
Whether rice, quinoa, pasta or buckwheat, Firth advises always having a stock of your favourite grains in the cupboard. "That you, you have an instant meal and all you have to do is just chuck a bit of veg in."
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
The 24-man squad:
Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois (Chelsea), Simon Mignolet (Liverpool), Koen Casteels (VfL Wolfsburg).
Defenders: Toby Alderweireld (Tottenham), Thomas Meunier (Paris Saint-Germain), Thomas Vermaelen (Barcelona), Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham), Dedryck Boyata (Celtic), Vincent Kompany (Manchester City).
Midfielders: Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United), Axel Witsel (Tianjin Quanjian), Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City), Eden Hazard (Chelsea), Nacer Chadli (West Bromwich Albion), Leander Dendoncker (Anderlecht), Thorgan Hazard (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Youri Tielemans (Monaco), Mousa Dembele (Tottenham Hotspur).
Forwards: Michy Batshuayi (Chelsea/Dortmund), Yannick Carrasco (Dalian Yifang), Adnan Januzaj (Real Sociedad), Romelu Lukaku (Manchester United), Dries Mertens (Napoli).
Standby player: Laurent Ciman (Los Angeles FC).
Isle of Dogs
Director: Wes Anderson
Starring: Bryan Cranston, Liev Schreiber, Ed Norton, Greta Gerwig, Bill Murray, Jeff Goldblum, Scarlett Johansson
Three stars
PROFILE OF HALAN
Started: November 2017
Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport and logistics
Size: 150 employees
Investment: approximately $8 million
Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
AT%20A%20GLANCE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EWindfall%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EAn%20%E2%80%9Cenergy%20profits%20levy%E2%80%9D%20to%20raise%20about%20%C2%A35%20billion%20in%20a%20year.%20The%20temporary%20one-off%20tax%20will%20hit%20oil%20and%20gas%20firms%20by%2025%20per%20cent%20on%20extraordinary%20profits.%20An%2080%20per%20cent%20investment%20allowance%20should%20calm%20Conservative%20nerves%20that%20the%20move%20will%20dent%20North%20Sea%20firms%E2%80%99%20investment%20to%20save%20them%2091p%20for%20every%20%C2%A31%20they%20spend.%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EA%20universal%20grant%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EEnergy%20bills%20discount%2C%20which%20was%20effectively%20a%20%C2%A3200%20loan%2C%20has%20doubled%20to%20a%20%C2%A3400%20discount%20on%20bills%20for%20all%20households%20from%20October%20that%20will%20not%20need%20to%20be%20paid%20back.%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETargeted%20measures%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EMore%20than%20eight%20million%20of%20the%20lowest%20income%20households%20will%20receive%20a%20%C2%A3650%20one-off%20payment.%20It%20will%20apply%20to%20households%20on%20Universal%20Credit%2C%20Tax%20Credits%2C%20Pension%20Credit%20and%20legacy%20benefits.%3Cbr%3ESeparate%20one-off%20payments%20of%20%C2%A3300%20will%20go%20to%20pensioners%20and%20%C2%A3150%20for%20those%20receiving%20disability%20benefits.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
More on Yemen's civil war
Quick%20facts
%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EStorstockholms%20Lokaltrafik%20(SL)%20offers%20free%20guided%20tours%20of%20art%20in%20the%20metro%20and%20at%20the%20stations%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EThe%20tours%20are%20free%20of%20charge%3B%20all%20you%20need%20is%20a%20valid%20SL%20ticket%2C%20for%20which%20a%20single%20journey%20(valid%20for%2075%20minutes)%20costs%2039%20Swedish%20krone%20(%243.75)%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ETravel%20cards%20for%20unlimited%20journeys%20are%20priced%20at%20165%20Swedish%20krone%20for%2024%20hours%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EAvoid%20rush%20hour%20%E2%80%93%20between%209.30%20am%20and%204.30%20pm%20%E2%80%93%20to%20explore%20the%20artwork%20at%20leisure%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A
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
FIGHT CARD
Welterweight Mostafa Radi (PAL) v Tohir Zhuraev (TJK)
Catchweight 75kg Leandro Martins (BRA) v Anas Siraj Mounir (MAR)
Flyweight Corinne Laframboise (CAN) v Manon Fiorot (FRA)
Featherweight Ahmed Al Darmaki (UAE) v Bogdan Kirilenko (UZB)
Lightweight Izzedine Al Derabani (JOR) v Atabek Abdimitalipov (KYG)
Featherweight Yousef Al Housani (UAE) v Mohamed Arsharq Ali (SLA)
Catchweight 69kg Jung Han-gook (KOR) v Elias Boudegzdame (ALG)
Catchweight 71kg Usman Nurmagomedov (RUS) v Jerry Kvarnstrom (FIN)
Featherweight title Lee Do-gyeom (KOR) v Alexandru Chitoran (ROU)
Lightweight title Bruno Machado (BRA) v Mike Santiago (USA)
Zakat definitions
Zakat: an Arabic word meaning ‘to cleanse’ or ‘purification’.
Nisab: the minimum amount that a Muslim must have before being obliged to pay zakat. Traditionally, the nisab threshold was 87.48 grams of gold, or 612.36 grams of silver. The monetary value of the nisab therefore varies by current prices and currencies.
Zakat Al Mal: the ‘cleansing’ of wealth, as one of the five pillars of Islam; a spiritual duty for all Muslims meeting the ‘nisab’ wealth criteria in a lunar year, to pay 2.5 per cent of their wealth in alms to the deserving and needy.
Zakat Al Fitr: a donation to charity given during Ramadan, before Eid Al Fitr, in the form of food. Every adult Muslim who possesses food in excess of the needs of themselves and their family must pay two qadahs (an old measure just over 2 kilograms) of flour, wheat, barley or rice from each person in a household, as a minimum.
match info
Chelsea 2
Willian (13'), Ross Barkley (64')
Liverpool 0
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
THE SPECS
GMC Sierra Denali 1500
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Price: Dh232,500
Result
Crystal Palace 0 Manchester City 2
Man City: Jesus (39), David Silva (41)
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
End of free parking
- paid-for parking will be rolled across Abu Dhabi island on August 18
- drivers will have three working weeks leeway before fines are issued
- areas that are currently free to park - around Sheikh Zayed Bridge, Maqta Bridge, Mussaffah Bridge and the Corniche - will now require a ticket
- villa residents will need a permit to park outside their home. One vehicle is Dh800 and a second is Dh1,200.
- The penalty for failing to pay for a ticket after 10 minutes will be Dh200
- Parking on a patch of sand will incur a fine of Dh300
Bharat
Director: Ali Abbas Zafar
Starring: Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, Sunil Grover
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
THE SPECS
Engine: 4.4-litre V8
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 523hp
Torque: 750Nm
Price: Dh469,000
Shooting Ghosts: A U.S. Marine, a Combat Photographer, and Their Journey Back from War by Thomas J. Brennan and Finbarr O’Reilly
UAE%20FIXTURES
%3Cp%3EWednesday%2019%20April%20%E2%80%93%20UAE%20v%20Kuwait%3Cbr%3EFriday%2021%20April%20%E2%80%93%20UAE%20v%20Hong%20Kong%3Cbr%3ESunday%2023%20April%20%E2%80%93%20UAE%20v%20Singapore%3Cbr%3EWednesday%2026%20April%20%E2%80%93%20UAE%20v%20Bahrain%3Cbr%3ESaturday%2029%20April%20%E2%80%93%20Semi-finals%3Cbr%3ESunday%2030%20April%20%E2%80%93%20Third%20position%20match%3Cbr%3EMonday%201%20May%20%E2%80%93%20Final%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
BMW%20M4%20Competition
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3.0%20twin-turbo%20inline%20six-cylinder%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20eight-speed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E503hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20600Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20from%20Dh617%2C600%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
MATCH INFO
Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Ajax v Juventus, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Match on BeIN Sports
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
India squads
Test squad against Afghanistan: Rahane (c), Dhawan, Vijay, Rahul, Pujara, Karun, Saha, Ashwin, Jadeja, Kuldeep, Umesh, Shami, Pandya, Ishant, Thakur.
T20 squad against Ireland and England: Kohli (c), Dhawan, Rohit, Rahul, Raina, Pandey, Dhoni, Karthik, Chahal, Kuldeep, Sundar, Bhuvneshwar, Bumrah, Pandya, Kaul, Umesh.
ODI squad against England: Kohli (c), Dhawan, Rohit, Rahul, Shreyas, Rayudu, Dhoni, Karthik, Chahal, Kuldeep, Sundar, Bhuvneshwar, Bumrah, Pandya, Kaul, Umesh
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Read more from Aya Iskandarani
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 194hp at 5,600rpm
Torque: 275Nm from 2,000-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Price: from Dh155,000
On sale: now
The specs: 2017 Maserati Quattroporte
Price, base / as tested Dh389,000 / Dh559,000
Engine 3.0L twin-turbo V8
Transmission Eight-speed automatic
Power 530hp @ 6,800rpm
Torque 650Nm @ 2,000 rpm
Fuel economy, combined 10.7L / 100km
Company Profile
Company name: Fine Diner
Started: March, 2020
Co-founders: Sami Elayan, Saed Elayan and Zaid Azzouka
Based: Dubai
Industry: Technology and food delivery
Initial investment: Dh75,000
Investor: Dtec Startupbootcamp
Future plan: Looking to raise $400,000
Total sales: Over 1,000 deliveries in three months
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
PSG's line up
GK: Alphonse Areola (youth academy)
Defence - RB: Dani Alves (free transfer); CB: Marquinhos (€31.4 million); CB: Thiago Silva (€42m); LB: Layvin Kurzawa (€23m)
Midfield - Angel di Maria (€47m); Adrien Rabiot (youth academy); Marco Verratti (€12m)
Forwards - Neymar (€222m); Edinson Cavani (€63m); Kylian Mbappe (initial: loan; to buy: €180m)
Total cost: €440.4m (€620.4m if Mbappe makes permanent move)
More from Aya Iskandarani
UAE SQUAD
Ahmed Raza (Captain), Rohan Mustafa, Jonathan Figy, CP Rizwan, Junaid Siddique, Mohammad Usman, Basil Hameed, Zawar Farid, Vriitya Aravind (WK), Waheed Ahmed, Karthik Meiyappan, Zahoor Khan, Darius D'Silva, Chirag Suri
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Apple product price list
iPad Pro
11" - $799 (64GB)
12.9" - $999 (64GB)
MacBook Air
$1,199
Mac Mini
$799
Tonight's Chat on The National
Tonight's Chat is a series of online conversations on The National. The series features a diverse range of celebrities, politicians and business leaders from around the Arab world.
Tonight’s Chat host Ricardo Karam is a renowned author and broadcaster with a decades-long career in TV. He has previously interviewed Bill Gates, Carlos Ghosn, Andre Agassi and the late Zaha Hadid, among others. Karam is also the founder of Takreem.
Intellectually curious and thought-provoking, Tonight’s Chat moves the conversation forward.
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The Specs:
The Specs:
Engine: 2.9-litre, V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Power: 444bhp
Torque: 600Nm
Price: AED 356,580 incl VAT
On sale: now.
Pakistan v New Zealand Test series
Pakistan: Sarfraz (c), Hafeez, Imam, Azhar, Sohail, Shafiq, Azam, Saad, Yasir, Asif, Abbas, Hassan, Afridi, Ashraf, Hamza
New Zealand: Williamson (c), Blundell, Boult, De Grandhomme, Henry, Latham, Nicholls, Ajaz, Raval, Sodhi, Somerville, Southee, Taylor, Wagner
Umpires: Bruce Oxerford (AUS) and Ian Gould (ENG); TV umpire: Paul Reiffel (AUS); Match referee: David Boon (AUS)
Tickets and schedule: Entry is free for all spectators. Gates open at 9am. Play commences at 10am
