Michael Ballack limps off on Saturday.
Michael Ballack limps off on Saturday.
Michael Ballack limps off on Saturday.
Michael Ballack limps off on Saturday.

Loew's rallying call follows Ballack blow


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Joachim Loew, the Germany manager, told his players pull together after the "shock" news that his captain Michael Ballack would miss the World Cup. Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt, the national team doctor, delivered the news Loew had been dreading this morning: his most influential player had suffered ankle ligament damage and faces up to eight weeks on the sidelines.

Ballack, 33, underwent an MRI scan in Munich, after which the German Football Association (DFB) released a statement which read: "Captain Michael Ballack is out of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. "A tear of the medial collateral ligament of the right ankle was found. The right ankle is immobilised in a plaster. He will have to wear a special shoe for two weeks. Ballack's return to training is possible at the earliest in eight weeks."

Ballack, the Chelsea midfielder, sustained the injury in Saturday's FA Cup final win over Portsmouth following a heavy challenge from Kevin-Prince Boateng. The pair had been involved in a scuffle moments earlier. Ballack, who has won 98 caps for his country, said: "This is obviously very disappointing, but you have to accept it. That is football, it must go on somehow." Loew had earlier spoken of his desperation for his captain to be given the all-clear and he was understandably downbeat when the prognosis was delivered.

Speaking from Germany's training base in Sicily, Loew said: "Of course we are shocked. "The loss of Michael Ballack is serious. It is not an easy situation for Michael and for us all. We are all very, very sad that such an important player, our captain, who is a true world-class player has been ruled out." Loew was quick to point out, however, that Ballack's absence should not derail Germany's preparations for South Africa.

He added: "It is clear that it will be difficult without Ballack but we want to achieve what we have planned. We will work hard and focus all our energy on the group stage. Being resigned [to our fate] should not be talked of. Now is the time to focus all our efforts. "Experience teaches us that in such cases, young players often come to the fore and grow." Berti Vogts, the former Germany coach, hopes that Ballack's absence will enable the likes of Bastian Schweinsteiger to take on a more prominent role. Schweinsteiger has been successfully converted from a right-sided winger into a central midfielder this season by Louis van Gaal, the Bayern Munich manager. Vogts said: "His [Ballack's] absence could prompt other players to give more.

"Bastian, for example, is in superb form and I think he can be one of the leading personalities at this World Cup." * PA

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Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea

Rating: 2.5/5

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The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

COMPANY PROFILE

Company: Bidzi

● Started: 2024

● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid

● Based: Dubai, UAE

● Industry: M&A

● Funding size: Bootstrapped

● No of employees: Nine

Our legal advisor

Rasmi Ragy is a senior counsel at Charles Russell Speechlys, a law firm headquartered in London with offices in Europe, the Middle East and Hong Kong.

Experience: Prosecutor in Egypt with more than 40 years experience across the GCC.

Education: Ain Shams University, Egypt, in 1978.

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Three stars

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What is Folia?

Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal's new plant-based menu will launch at Four Seasons hotels in Dubai this November. A desire to cater to people looking for clean, healthy meals beyond green salad is what inspired Prince Khaled and American celebrity chef Matthew Kenney to create Folia. The word means "from the leaves" in Latin, and the exclusive menu offers fine plant-based cuisine across Four Seasons properties in Los Angeles, Bahrain and, soon, Dubai.

Kenney specialises in vegan cuisine and is the founder of Plant Food Wine and 20 other restaurants worldwide. "I’ve always appreciated Matthew’s work," says the Saudi royal. "He has a singular culinary talent and his approach to plant-based dining is prescient and unrivalled. I was a fan of his long before we established our professional relationship."

Folia first launched at The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills in July 2018. It is available at the poolside Cabana Restaurant and for in-room dining across the property, as well as in its private event space. The food is vibrant and colourful, full of fresh dishes such as the hearts of palm ceviche with California fruit, vegetables and edible flowers; green hearb tacos filled with roasted squash and king oyster barbacoa; and a savoury coconut cream pie with macadamia crust.

In March 2019, the Folia menu reached Gulf shores, as it was introduced at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, where it is served at the Bay View Lounge. Next, on Tuesday, November 1 – also known as World Vegan Day – it will come to the UAE, to the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach and the Four Seasons DIFC, both properties Prince Khaled has spent "considerable time at and love". 

There are also plans to take Folia to several more locations throughout the Middle East and Europe.

While health-conscious diners will be attracted to the concept, Prince Khaled is careful to stress Folia is "not meant for a specific subset of customers. It is meant for everyone who wants a culinary experience without the negative impact that eating out so often comes with."

 

 

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League final:

Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports

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Electoral College Victory

Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate. 

 

Popular Vote Tally

The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.

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