Aleksandar Mitrovic continued his rapid start to the season on Saturday as Saudi Pro League champions Al Hilal began their title defence with a comfortable 3-0 victory at Al Okhdood.
Mitrovic, who scored twice in the 4-1 Saudi Super Cup final win over Riyadh rivals Al Nassr last weekend, got his league campaign underway with another double before Serbia national team colleague Sergej Milinkovic-Savic added the third shortly before half time.
Hilal went unbeaten last season to secure the title by 14 points, and Jorge Jesus' side needed just four minutes at Prince Hathloul Sports City to set themselves up for their latest victory. Abdullah Al Hamdan timed his run perfectly to collect the ball close to the Okhdood goalline before cutting the ball back across the six-yard box for Mitrovic to fire into the net.
Al Hamdan and Mitrovic combined again for Hilal's second goal, the Saudi winger's clipped cross finding the head of the Serbian striker, who nodded home into the bottom corner.
Milinkovic-Savic then made it 3-0 in first-half injury time with a spectacular free-kick into the top corner from the edge of the area.
Hilal had chances to increase their lead after the break, but captain Salem Al Dawsari could only find the side netting from a tight angle, before Musab Al Juwayr scuffed his close-range effort.
Al Okhdood had a great chance to score a consolation goal in the 75th minute only for Mohammed Al Jahif's header to be excellently saved by Hilal goalkeeper Yassine Bounou. The follow-up shot from Saviour Godwin then flashed past the post, although Al Jahif had strayed marginally offside, so a goal wouldn't have counted.
There was also a win on Saturday for 2022/23 champions Al Ittihad as summer signing Houssem Aouar endeared himself to his new fans by scoring the game's only goal deep in injury time at Al Kholood.
In Saturday's other game, Steven Gerrard's Al Ettifaq began their campaign with three points after a 1-0 win at Al Shabab following former Lyon striker Moussa Dembele's 74th-minute goal.
On Friday, Roberto Firmino opened his account for the new season in Al Ahli's 2-0 victory over Al-Orobah. The Brazilian former Liverpool forward doubled Ahli's lead in the 80th minute after Abdulkarim Darisi scored the opener in the first half.
Also on Friday, promoted Al Qadisiya returned to the top flight in style by defeating Al Fateh 3-0 at Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium, with new signing Julian Quinones scoring twice. In the day's other match, Al Khaleej won 1-0 away at Damac courtesy of a Dhari Al Anazi own goal.
The opening round began on Thursday and there was frustration for Cristiano Ronaldo and Al Nassr, who were held to a 1-1 draw by Al Raed. The Portuguese star, who set a new SPL record last season by scoring 35 goals, got off the mark in the 34th minute but a Mohamed Fouzair penalty shortly after the break levelled for the visitors.
The match of the round took place at King Abdul Aziz Stadium, where Al Wehda and Al Riyadh shared a thrilling 3-3 draw. Wehda looked to be on course for victory when Craig Goodwin scored his second goal after Bernard Mensah had earlier equalised and Riyadh were reduced to 10 men.
Ibrahim Bayesh then made it 2-2 for Riyadh in the 85th minute, before substitute Mourad Mohammed Abdullah Khodari gave Wehda their third lead in the 94th minute. The celebrations were short-lived as Lucas Kal struck the leveller three minutes later.
There was also drama at Al Taawon Club Stadium as the hosts scored an injury-time winner through Abdulfattah Adam Ahmed Mohamed after having Ibrahim Al Shoeil sent off in the 81st minute.
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
The specs: 2019 Jeep Wrangler
Price, base: Dh132,000
Engine: 3.6-litre V6
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 285hp @ 6,400rpm
Torque: 347Nm @ 4,100rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 9.6L to 10.3L / 100km
The Freedom Artist
By Ben Okri (Head of Zeus)
Polarised public
31% in UK say BBC is biased to left-wing views
19% in UK say BBC is biased to right-wing views
19% in UK say BBC is not biased at all
Source: YouGov
Emirates exiles
Will Wilson is not the first player to have attained high-class representative honours after first learning to play rugby on the playing fields of UAE.
Jonny Macdonald
Abu Dhabi-born and raised, the current Jebel Ali Dragons assistant coach was selected to play for Scotland at the Hong Kong Sevens in 2011.
Jordan Onojaife
Having started rugby by chance when the Jumeirah College team were short of players, he later won the World Under 20 Championship with England.
Devante Onojaife
Followed older brother Jordan into England age-group rugby, as well as the pro game at Northampton Saints, but recently switched allegiance to Scotland.
'Morbius'
Director: Daniel Espinosa
Stars: Jared Leto, Matt Smith, Adria Arjona
Rating: 2/5
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Scoreline:
Everton 4
Richarlison 13'), Sigurdsson 28', Digne 56', Walcott 64'
Manchester United 0
Man of the match: Gylfi Sigurdsson (Everton)
The biog
Favourite food: Tabbouleh, greek salad and sushi
Favourite TV show: That 70s Show
Favourite animal: Ferrets, they are smart, sensitive, playful and loving
Favourite holiday destination: Seychelles, my resolution for 2020 is to visit as many spiritual retreats and animal shelters across the world as I can
Name of first pet: Eddy, a Persian cat that showed up at our home
Favourite dog breed: I love them all - if I had to pick Yorkshire terrier for small dogs and St Bernard's for big
The biog
Name: Shamsa Hassan Safar
Nationality: Emirati
Education: Degree in emergency medical services at Higher Colleges of Technology
Favourite book: Between two hearts- Arabic novels
Favourite music: Mohammed Abdu and modern Arabic songs
Favourite way to spend time off: Family visits and spending time with friends
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
The permutations for UAE going to the 2018 World Cup finals
To qualify automatically
UAE must beat Iraq.
Australia must lose in Japan and at home to Thailand, with their losing margins and the UAE's winning margin over Iraq being enough to overturn a goal difference gap of eight.
Saudi Arabia must lose to Japan, with their losing margin and the UAE's winning margin over Iraq being enough to overturn a goal difference gap of eight.
To finish third and go into a play-off with the other third-placed AFC side for a chance to reach the inter-confederation play-off match
UAE must beat Iraq.
Saudi Arabia must lose to Japan, with their losing margin and the UAE's winning margin over Iraq being enough to overturn a goal difference gap of eight.
Frankenstein in Baghdad
Ahmed Saadawi
Penguin Press
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.
RIVER%20SPIRIT
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAuthor%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ELeila%20Aboulela%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Saqi%20Books%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPages%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20320%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAvailable%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
THE SIXTH SENSE
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Rating: 5/5
Sinopharm vaccine explained
The Sinopharm vaccine was created using techniques that have been around for decades.
“This is an inactivated vaccine. Simply what it means is that the virus is taken, cultured and inactivated," said Dr Nawal Al Kaabi, chair of the UAE's National Covid-19 Clinical Management Committee.
"What is left is a skeleton of the virus so it looks like a virus, but it is not live."
This is then injected into the body.
"The body will recognise it and form antibodies but because it is inactive, we will need more than one dose. The body will not develop immunity with one dose," she said.
"You have to be exposed more than one time to what we call the antigen."
The vaccine should offer protection for at least months, but no one knows how long beyond that.
Dr Al Kaabi said early vaccine volunteers in China were given shots last spring and still have antibodies today.
“Since it is inactivated, it will not last forever," she said.
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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United States
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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South Korea
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What is Reform?
Reform is a right-wing, populist party led by Nigel Farage, a former MEP who won a seat in the House of Commons last year at his eighth attempt and a prominent figure in the campaign for the UK to leave the European Union.
It was founded in 2018 and originally called the Brexit Party.
Many of its members previously belonged to UKIP or the mainstream Conservatives.
After Brexit took place, the party focused on the reformation of British democracy.
Former Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson became its first MP after defecting in March 2024.
The party gained support from Elon Musk, and had hoped the tech billionaire would make a £100m donation. However, Mr Musk changed his mind and called for Mr Farage to step down as leader in a row involving the US tycoon's support for far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson who is in prison for contempt of court.
Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale
Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni
Director: Amith Krishnan
Rating: 3.5/5
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
THE SPECS
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Transmission: six-speed manual
Power: 325bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Speed: 0-100km/h 3.9 seconds
Price: Dh230,000
On sale: now
