HOUSTON, UNITED STATES // David Beckham has said he has "no interest" in leaving the Los Angeles Galaxy and has had no contact with West Ham, a spokesman for the England international revealed yesterday.
David Sullivan, the West Ham co-owner, has said previously that he wants to sign the 35-year-old former Manchester United and Real Madrid player, who was born in Leytonstone, a few miles away from West Ham's Upton Park ground in East London, and that discussions have taken place with the player's agent.
But a spokesman for Beckham told the Press Association: "Whilst it's flattering to hear of interest there has been no contact with or offer from West Ham.
"David is happy at the Los Angeles Galaxy and has no interest in leaving, and is looking forward to returning to the team on August 9."
Meanwhile, Bruce Arena, the LA Galaxy coach, says he hopes Beckham will be back in training by the end of next month.
Beckham tore his Achilles tendon in March and missed the World Cup in South Africa after undergoing surgery.
"I believe there's a chance he can begin training by the end of August," Arena told reporters following the MLS All-Star game against Manchester United on Wednesday night.
The MLS regular season finishes at the end of October, but the Galaxy, who lead the Western Conference, are expected to be involved in the November play-offs that decide the title.
Arena said it was too early to say whether Beckham could be involved in the play-offs.
"At this point in time there's no way to predict whether he'll be able to play this year or not," he said. "These are difficult injuries ... for any athlete in any sport, at this point in time we can't predict whether he is going to be able to play or not."
* Reuters
Hunger and Fury: The Crisis of Democracy in the Balkans
Jasmin Mujanović, Hurst Publishers
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
Gulf Under 19s final
Dubai College A 50-12 Dubai College B
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
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Dubai World Cup Carnival Thursday race card
6.30pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes Group Three US$200,000 (Turf) 2,000m
7.05pm: Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,600m
7.40pm: UAE Oaks Group Three $250,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
8.15pm: Zabeel Mile Group Two $250,000 (T) 1,600m
8.50pm: Meydan Sprint Group Two $250,000 (T) 1,000m
9.25pm: Handicap $135,000 (D) 1,400m
10pm: Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,600m
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
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
'Doctor Strange in the Multiverse Of Madness'
Director: Sam Raimi
Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Wong, Xochitl Gomez, Michael Stuhlbarg and Rachel McAdams
Rating: 3/5
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
Business Insights
- Canada and Mexico are significant energy suppliers to the US, providing the majority of oil and natural gas imports
- The introduction of tariffs could hinder the US's clean energy initiatives by raising input costs for materials like nickel
- US domestic suppliers might benefit from higher prices, but overall oil consumption is expected to decrease due to elevated costs
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
