This year was unlike any. The pandemic affected every aspect of life, including sport. Everything was shutting down left, right and centre.
But not UFC. Not entirely, at least. Promotion president Dana White scanned the globe to find a suitable location to continue providing live action to fans. And thus, we got Fight Island in Abu Dhabi.
An extraordinary year saw equally incredible efforts. Here are 20 of the best moments UFC witnessed in 2020.
Fight Island an unqualified success
A strong shout to be the star of the 2020. With the UFC seeking a way for international athletes to compete amid strict pandemic-enforced restrictions, president White teased a faraway tropical island. There'd even be an octagon on the beach. And he delivered, although all fights ended up at Flash Forum, inside a Covid-19 safe zone "bubble" on Abu Dhabi's Yas Island. Eventually, there were two series – July and September/October – boasting four and five events respectively, with seven title fights among the 109 bouts in total. Fight Island delivered on the pre-Fight Island hype, and more. In fact, it's returning next month.
Khabib stars, then shocks
Khabib Nurmagomedov dazzled against Justin Gaethje in the Fight Island 2 curtain-closer at UFC 254 in October. Competing for the first time since his father's death, the unbeaten lightweight champion submitted the interim champion in the second round at Flash Forum. Having remained stoic throughout the build-up, Nurmagomedov feel to his knees and sobbed uncontrollably. He then announced his shock retirement, saying he'd promised his mother he would go out at 29-0. Given everything he'd experienced personally – it also emerged that his training camp was beset with illness and injury – and the calibre of opponent, the victory represented the greatest display of Nurmagomedov's phenomenal career.
McGregor’s crushes Cowboy in comeback
Having not competed since his infamous defeat to Khabib Nurmagomedov in October 2018, Conor McGregor ended more than one year of inaction in typically emphatic fashion.
The Irishman, a former two-division champion, took out Donald Cerrone in 40 seconds in the headline bout at UFC 246 at T-Mobile Arena in January, rocking "Cowboy" with a knee before a head kick and a barrage of punches sealed the TKO. Since the fight took place at welterweight, McGregor joined a rarified group who hold knockout finishes in three divisions. His "three-fight" season was off to a flier – although it didn't quite pan out that way.
McGregor retires ... again
Targeting a packed 2020, McGregor stunned the sport in June by announcing his retirement – again. The 31-year-old took to social immediately following the broadcast of UFC 250, posting: “Hey guys I’ve decided to retire from fighting. Thank you all for the amazing memories! What a ride it’s been!”
It was his third retirement in four years. McGregor later said he’d grown frustrated with the lack of appealing fights offered, and in September angered Dana White by releasing private conversations regarding potential opponents. After announcing a boxing match in the Middle East with Manny Pacquiao, McGregor rematches Dustin Poirier next month, at UFC 257 in Abu Dhabi.
Masvidal flies in to the rescue
Preparing to host the inaugural Fight Island, the UFC announced eight days out from UFC 251 that Gilbert Burns had tested positive for Covid-19 just before leaving for Abu Dhabi, and was thus withdrawn from the headline bout against welterweight champion Kamaru Usman.
So in stepped Jorge Masvidal, on six days' notice. Such was the long-held animosity between the pair, they flew separately to the capital. In the end, Usman dominated an understandably undercooked Masvidal, prevailing by unanimous decision. Still, Fight Island was off to a cracker: UFC 251, featuring three title bouts, reportedly generated around 1.3 million pay-per-view buys – the most successful card in two years.
UFC returns with Gaethje masterclass
Rocked, like ever other sport, by the pandemic, the UFC snapped a two-month hiatus of live events with a stacked UFC 249 in May. Originally set for April at the Barclays Centre before Disney and ESPN intervened, it eventually took place at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida – without fans. There was a change of headline act, too, with Khabib withdrawing from his lightweight title defence against long-time rival Tony Ferguson. Justin Gaethje jumped in, supplying a career performance to stop his opponent late on and claim the interim belt. It was Ferguson's first defeat in eight years, a run spanning 13 fights.
Strawweight title fight for the ages
The co-main event at UFC 248 in February stole the show, and arguably 2020. Women's strawweight champion Zhang Weili and former title-holder Joanna Jedrzejczyk battled and bludgeoned through five full rounds at T-Mobile Arena, offering one of the greatest championship clashes in history. The pace was relentless from the off, with China’s Zhang bloodied and bruised, and Poland's Jedrzejczyk suffering a huge hematoma on her forehead. A seesaw encounter, with an incredible final round, it went to the scorecards, where Weili triumphed by split decision. An instant Fight of the Year contender, it ranks as probably the greatest female bout the UFC has seen.
Chimaev’s star is born
Undeniably breakthrough fighter of the year, Khamzat Chimaev arrived at Fight Island in July with a burgeoning reputation and unbeaten through six professional outings. Then, on promotional debut at UFC Fight Night 1, he dispatched middleweight John Phillips by second-round TKO, returning 10 days later to thrash welterweight Rhys McKee in Round 1.
A UFC record for fastest consecutive victories was set. The Khabib Nurmagomedov comparisons intensified, aided by Chimaev’s “smesh” shtick. He wowed again on US debut in September, taking 17 seconds to beat Gerald Meerscheart in Las Vegas. Next up? No 3-welterweight challenger Leon Edwards; a remarkable rise for someone not ranked a few months ago.
Adesanya pricks “overly inflated balloon animal”
September's “Return to Fight Island” raced out of the blocks with Israel Adesanya's middleweight-title defence against Paulo Costa at UFC 253. Famously, the pair disliked one another, the build-up often heated and at times hotheaded. Both undefeated, their hotel run-in upon landing inside the Abu Dhabi bubble went viral, while the two had to be held apart at the official face-off after Costa attempted to hand the Adesayna a white belt. The video went viral, breaking numerous UFC records, including its most-shared video on Instagram (26 million-plus). Come fight night, though, Adesanya cruised to a second-round TKO to cement his place as undeniably the world’s best middleweight, now 20-0.
Buckley KO heard around the world
The UFC labelled it the “most unbelievable KO” in its history. Midway through the second round of their October encounter in Abu Dhabi, middleweight Joaquin Buckley connected with an incredible spinning kick on Impa Kasanganay after his initial kick was caught. His opponent was out before he hit the canvas, an amazing picture capturing the commentators' reactions octagon-side as it happened. It was only the fourth time in UFC history that a win stemmed from a spinning back-kick to the head. Before long, a video of the knockout on the official UFC twitter account became the most retweeted and liked in the promotion's history.
Jones vacates to move up
For many the greatest UFC athlete of all time, Jon Jones had for years reigned supreme at the summit of the light-heavyweight division. His tenure, albeit interrupted because of multiple violations, extended back to 2011. However, Jones confirmed in August that he was vacating the title to move to heavyweight, setting up the possibility of a championship clash against belt-holder Stipe Miocic. Jones, who’d been involved in a high-profile pay dispute with the promotion and has previously threatened to walk away, tweeted the news immediately following Miocic’s trilogy victory against Daniel Cormier. Jones fought once in 2020, February’s hugely controversial points victory against Dominick Reyes at UFC 247.
"Triple C" bows out
Conor McGregor wasn’t the first high-profile retirement this year. In May, as the UFC celebrated its return with UFC 249, Henry Cejudo shocked the sport by waving goodbye. The two-weight champion and former Olympic gold medallist wrestler – hence the “Triple C” – had just dispatched Dominick Cruz in less than five minutes in Jacksonville to successfully defend his bantamweight crown. Cue the in-octagon announcement, and the proclamation that he was the best combat-sports athlete of all time. Dana White later questioned whether the 33-year-old would stay away for long. Whatever the case, Cejudo is one of only four athletes in UFC history to hold two championships simultaneously.
Fab flyweights offer instant classic
Deiveson Figueiredo is most probably the UFC’s athlete of the year. The Brazilian fought four times – all championship bouts, although criminally he missed weight for the first – and won the flyweight crown at UFC Fight Night 2 in Abu Dhabi in July. Figueiredo fought twice more, separated by three weeks, the second of which headlining this month’s UFC 256 in Las Vegas. There, he and No 1 contender Brandon Moreno scrapped their way to an explosive majority draw, offering another Fight of the Year contender. Proving the division on verge of elimination earlier this year was here to stay, Dana White called it the best-ever flyweight fight.
DC denied fairytale ending
Billed as the contest to decide the greatest heavyweight in UFC history, Stipe Miocic defended his crown against Daniel Cormier at the Apex – the promotion’s own facility – at UFC 252 in August. The duo had met twice before, with Cormier prevailing in 2018 and Miocic gaining revenge the following year. In the decider, the champion knocked down his rival at the conclusion of the second round, although a nasty eye poke later in the fight significantly reduced Cormier’s threat. The judges scored the bout unanimously in Miocic’s favour. Cormier, a former two-division champion, reiterated his decision to retire from the sport.
Dubai resident’s teenage kick
Have you heard the one about the Dubai resident whose UFC debut was arranged when a ballsy 17-year-old ran into Dana White in a Las Vegas restaurant? Well, that's what happened in June, leading to Mounir Lazzez signing with the world's lead mixed martial arts promotion. Within a month, the Tunisian had competed at UFC Fight Night 1 in Abu Dhabi. What's more, Lazzez didn't disappoint. The former Desert Challenge champion thrilled in his unanimous-decision victory against Abdul Razak Alhassan, and even collected a Fight of the Night bonus. White quickly booked Lazzez for another Fight Island appearance in October, although the welterweight contracted Covid-19 and had to withdraw.
Abu Dhabi adds another bit of history
Already a remarkable undertaking, Fight Island continued to notch its name in the record books through a second residency. In October, Holly Holm and Irene Aldana topped the second of the five events on “Return to Fight Island”, the first time women headlined a show in Abu Dhabi. Rather fittingly, Holm provided one of the finest performances of her already-notable career, delivering a clinic to defeat Aldana by unanimous decision. The former bantamweight champion said: “I always like to do something that hasn’t been done before and to be the first female fight to headline out here is great. We’ll go home with happy hearts.”
Felder goes from commentator to corner
The second half of 2020 was rather memorable for Paul Felder in particular, and not just for taking last month’s fight against Rafael dos Anjos in Las Vegas on five days’ notice. In July, the UFC's colour analyst left his commentary position octagon-side during UFC Fight Night 1 in Abu Dhabi to corner long-time friend and former teammate Jared Gordon. Covid-19 had forced Gordon to arrive in the capital with none of his corner people. So Felder rushed backstage, changed from his shirt and tie, and emerged in team gear to follow out Gordon to the cage. Gordon won, and Felder promptly returned to commentary duties.
Holland goes 5 & 0
Kevin Holland is another with genuine claim to be the UFC’s fighter of the year. The American worked his way through the middleweight division by competing five times, reeling off a quintet of wins – and all from May. Three of those secured Performance of the Night bonuses. Holland’s victory this month at UFC 256 against sturdy veteran Jacare Souza was the most memorable, when he knocked out his opponent while pinned initially to the mat. It was nominated among the UFC's four best KOs of 2020. “The hype is real,” pronounced the promotion; Holland responded by demanding another fight before the year was out.
O’Malley aura loses shine
Of the real upsets this year, Sean O'Malley's defeat to Marlon Chito Vera at UFC 252 ranks near the very top – if not at the summit. The American, to that point unbeaten in 12 professional bouts, was handed his first loss, when he injured his leg in the August fight and subsequently surrendered to a vicious first-round stoppage. The O'Malley hype train was officially derailed. He has since refused to acknowledge the defeat: following Vera's loss to Jose Aldo this month, O'Malley tweeted that he in fact remained undefeated, with that 12-0 record intact. Tipped previously for superstardom, he requires a recalibration.
Blachowicz takes home the gold
Of all the title fights Abu Dhabi hosted, Jan Blachowicz’s victory against Dominick Reyes gave perhaps the most surprising result. The giant Pole, 37, was the underdog coming into the light-heavyweight decider at UFC 253 in September, with Reyes viewed by many as the heir apparent to Jon Jones. However, Blachowicz captured the vacant crown in devastating style, knocking out his younger opponent in the second round at Flash Forum. Reyes was downed with a flurry of blows not long before the bell sounded. In sealing the win, Blachowicz became the first light-heavyweight champion other than Jones and Daniel Cormier since 2011.
DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin
Director: Shawn Levy
Rating: 3/5
Schedule:
Sept 15: Bangladesh v Sri Lanka (Dubai)
Sept 16: Pakistan v Qualifier (Dubai)
Sept 17: Sri Lanka v Afghanistan (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 18: India v Qualifier (Dubai)
Sept 19: India v Pakistan (Dubai)
Sept 20: Bangladesh v Afghanistan (Abu Dhabi) Super Four
Sept 21: Group A Winner v Group B Runner-up (Dubai)
Sept 21: Group B Winner v Group A Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 23: Group A Winner v Group A Runner-up (Dubai)
Sept 23: Group B Winner v Group B Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 25: Group A Winner v Group B Winner (Dubai)
Sept 26: Group A Runner-up v Group B Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 28: Final (Dubai)
Tales of Yusuf Tadros
Adel Esmat (translated by Mandy McClure)
Hoopoe
It's Monty Python's Crashing Rocket Circus
To the theme tune of the famous zany British comedy TV show, SpaceX has shown exactly what can go wrong when you try to land a rocket.
The two minute video posted on YouTube is a compilation of crashes and explosion as the company, created by billionaire Elon Musk, refined the technique of reusable space flight.
SpaceX is able to land its rockets on land once they have completed the first stage of their mission, and is able to resuse them multiple times - a first for space flight.
But as the video, How Not to Land an Orbital Rocket Booster, demonstrates, it was a case if you fail, try and try again.
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.
Tips for avoiding trouble online
- Do not post incorrect information and beware of fake news
- Do not publish or repost racist or hate speech, yours or anyone else’s
- Do not incite violence and be careful how to phrase what you want to say
- Do not defame anyone. Have a difference of opinion with someone? Don’t attack them on social media
- Do not forget your children and monitor their online activities
Where can I submit a sample?
Volunteers can now submit DNA samples at a number of centres across Abu Dhabi. The programme is open to all ages.
Collection centres in Abu Dhabi include:
- Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC)
- Biogenix Labs in Masdar City
- Al Towayya in Al Ain
- NMC Royal Hospital in Khalifa City
- Bareen International Hospital
- NMC Specialty Hospital, Al Ain
- NMC Royal Medical Centre - Abu Dhabi
- NMC Royal Women’s Hospital.
Manchester United v Club America
When: Thursday, 9pm Arizona time (Friday UAE, 8am)
Five healthy carbs and how to eat them
Brown rice: consume an amount that fits in the palm of your hand
Non-starchy vegetables, such as broccoli: consume raw or at low temperatures, and don’t reheat
Oatmeal: look out for pure whole oat grains or kernels, which are locally grown and packaged; avoid those that have travelled from afar
Fruit: a medium bowl a day and no more, and never fruit juices
Lentils and lentil pasta: soak these well and cook them at a low temperature; refrain from eating highly processed pasta variants
Courtesy Roma Megchiani, functional nutritionist at Dubai’s 77 Veggie Boutique
INDIA SQUADS
India squad for third Test against Sri Lanka
Virat Kohli (capt), Murali Vijay, Lokesh Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Vijay Shankar
India squad for ODI series against Sri Lanka
Rohit Sharma (capt), Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Siddarth Kaul
Company%20profile
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The specs: 2018 Jaguar F-Type Convertible
Price, base / as tested: Dh283,080 / Dh318,465
Engine: 2.0-litre inline four-cylinder
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 295hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 400Nm @ 1,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7.2L / 100km
Juliot Vinolia’s checklist for adopting alternate-day fasting
- Don’t do it more than once in three days
- Don’t go under 700 calories on fasting days
- Ensure there is sufficient water intake, as the body can go in dehydration mode
- Ensure there is enough roughage (fibre) in the food on fasting days as well
- Do not binge on processed or fatty foods on non-fasting days
- Complement fasting with plant-based foods, fruits, vegetables, seafood. Cut out processed meats and processed carbohydrates
- Manage your sleep
- People with existing gastric or mental health issues should avoid fasting
- Do not fast for prolonged periods without supervision by a qualified expert
TWISTERS
Director: Lee Isaac Chung
Starring: Glen Powell, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Anthony Ramos
Rating: 2.5/5
Mina Cup winners
Under 12 – Minerva Academy
Under 14 – Unam Pumas
Under 16 – Fursan Hispania
Under 18 – Madenat
ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA
Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi
Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser
Rating: 4.5/5
The%20trailblazers
%3Cp%3ESixteen%20boys%20and%2015%20girls%20have%20gone%20on%20from%20Go-Pro%20Academy%20in%20Dubai%20to%20either%20professional%20contracts%20abroad%20or%20scholarships%20in%20the%20United%20States.%20Here%20are%20two%20of%20the%20most%20prominent.%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EGeorgia%20Gibson%20(Newcastle%20United)%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EThe%20reason%20the%20academy%20in%20Dubai%20first%20set%20up%20a%20girls%E2%80%99%20programme%20was%20to%20help%20Gibson%20reach%20her%20potential.%20Now%20she%20plays%20professionally%20for%20Newcastle%20United%20in%20the%20UK.%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMackenzie%20Hunt%20(Everton)%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EAttended%20DESS%20in%20Dubai%2C%20before%20heading%20to%20the%20UK%20to%20join%20Everton%20full%20time%20as%20a%20teenager.%20He%20was%20on%20the%20bench%20for%20the%20first%20team%20as%20recently%20as%20their%20fixture%20against%20Brighton%20on%20February%2024.%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Selected fixtures
All times UAE
Wednesday
Poland v Portugal 10.45pm
Russia v Sweden 10.45pm
Friday
Belgium v Switzerland 10.45pm
Croatia v England 10.45pm
Saturday
Netherlands v Germany 10.45pm
Rep of Ireland v Denmark 10.45pm
Sunday
Poland v Italy 10.45pm
Monday
Spain v England 10.45pm
Tuesday
France v Germany 10.45pm
Rep of Ireland v Wales 10.45pm
'Operation Mincemeat'
Director: John Madden
Cast: Colin Firth, Matthew Macfayden, Kelly Macdonald and Penelope Wilton
Rating: 4/5
Apple's%20Lockdown%20Mode%20at%20a%20glance
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Naga
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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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.”
T20 SQUADS
Australia: Aaron Finch (c), Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey, Ashton Agar, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Chris Lynn, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Ben McDermott, D’Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Mitchell Starc, Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa.
Pakistan: Sarfraz Ahmed (c), Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hafeez, Sahibzada Farhan, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali, Hussain Talat, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan Shinwari, Hassan Ali, Imad Wasim, Waqas Maqsood, Faheem Ashraf.
The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Price, base / as tested Dh99,000 / Dh132,000
Engine 3.6L V6
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power 275hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 350Nm @ 3,700rpm
Fuel economy combined 12.2L / 100km
Who is Mohammed Al Halbousi?
The new speaker of Iraq’s parliament Mohammed Al Halbousi is the youngest person ever to serve in the role.
The 37-year-old was born in Al Garmah in Anbar and studied civil engineering in Baghdad before going into business. His development company Al Hadeed undertook reconstruction contracts rebuilding parts of Fallujah’s infrastructure.
He entered parliament in 2014 and served as a member of the human rights and finance committees until 2017. In August last year he was appointed governor of Anbar, a role in which he has struggled to secure funding to provide services in the war-damaged province and to secure the withdrawal of Shia militias. He relinquished the post when he was sworn in as a member of parliament on September 3.
He is a member of the Al Hal Sunni-based political party and the Sunni-led Coalition of Iraqi Forces, which is Iraq’s largest Sunni alliance with 37 seats from the May 12 election.
He maintains good relations with former Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki’s State of Law Coaliton, Hadi Al Amiri’s Badr Organisation and Iranian officials.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
Healthcare spending to double to $2.2 trillion rupees
Launched a 641billion-rupee federal health scheme
Allotted 200 billion rupees for the recapitalisation of state-run banks
Around 1.75 trillion rupees allotted for privatisation and stake sales in state-owned assets
RESULT
Shabab Al Ahli Dubai 0 Al Ain 6
Al Ain: Caio (5', 73'), El Shahat (10'), Berg (65'), Khalil (83'), Al Ahbabi (90' 2)
Company profile
Name: GiftBag.ae
Based: Dubai
Founded: 2011
Number of employees: 4
Sector: E-commerce
Funding: Self-funded to date
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
KINGDOM%20OF%20THE%20PLANET%20OF%20THE%20APES
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Wes%20Ball%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Owen%20Teague%2C%20Freya%20Allen%2C%20Kevin%20Durand%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Iraq negotiating over Iran sanctions impact
- US sanctions on Iran’s energy industry and exports took effect on Monday, November 5.
- Washington issued formal waivers to eight buyers of Iranian oil, allowing them to continue limited imports. Iraq did not receive a waiver.
- Iraq’s government is cooperating with the US to contain Iranian influence in the country, and increased Iraqi oil production is helping to make up for Iranian crude that sanctions are blocking from markets, US officials say.
- Iraq, the second-biggest producer in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, pumped last month at a record 4.78 million barrels a day, former Oil Minister Jabbar Al-Luaibi said on Oct. 20. Iraq exported 3.83 million barrels a day last month, according to tanker tracking and data from port agents.
- Iraq has been working to restore production at its northern Kirkuk oil field. Kirkuk could add 200,000 barrels a day of oil to Iraq’s total output, Hook said.
- The country stopped trucking Kirkuk oil to Iran about three weeks ago, in line with U.S. sanctions, according to four people with knowledge of the matter who asked not to be identified because they aren’t allowed to speak to media.
- Oil exports from Iran, OPEC’s third-largest supplier, have slumped since President Donald Trump announced in May that he’d reimpose sanctions. Iran shipped about 1.76 million barrels a day in October out of 3.42 million in total production, data compiled by Bloomberg show.
- Benchmark Brent crude fell 47 cents to $72.70 a barrel in London trading at 7:26 a.m. local time. U.S. West Texas Intermediate was 25 cents lower at $62.85 a barrel in New York. WTI held near the lowest level in seven months as concerns of a tightening market eased after the U.S. granted its waivers to buyers of Iranian crude.
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
Profile box
Company name: baraka
Started: July 2020
Founders: Feras Jalbout and Kunal Taneja
Based: Dubai and Bahrain
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: $150,000
Current staff: 12
Stage: Pre-seed capital raising of $1 million
Investors: Class 5 Global, FJ Labs, IMO Ventures, The Community Fund, VentureSouq, Fox Ventures, Dr Abdulla Elyas (private investment)
WWE Evolution results
- Trish Stratus and Lita beat Alicia Fox and Mickie James in a tag match
- Nia Jax won a battle royal, eliminating Ember Moon last to win
- Toni Storm beat Io Shirai to win the Mae Young Classic
- Natalya, Sasha Banks and Bayley beat The Riott Squad in a six-woman tag match
- Shayna Baszler won the NXT Women’s title by defeating Kairi Sane
- Becky Lynch retained the SmackDown Women’s Championship against Charlotte Flair in a Last Woman Standing match
- Ronda Rousey retained the Raw Women’s title by beating Nikki Bella
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
Brief scores:
Toss: Sindhis, elected to field first
Pakhtoons 137-6 (10 ov)
Fletcher 68 not out; Cutting 2-14
Sindhis 129-8 (10 ov)
Perera 47; Sohail 2-18
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.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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2.0
Director: S Shankar
Producer: Lyca Productions; presented by Dharma Films
Cast: Rajnikanth, Akshay Kumar, Amy Jackson, Sudhanshu Pandey
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Du Plessis plans his retirement
South Africa captain Faf du Plessis said on Friday the Twenty20 World Cup in Australia in two years' time will be his last.
Du Plessis, 34, who has led his country in two World T20 campaigns, in 2014 and 2016, is keen to play a third but will then step aside.
"The T20 World Cup in 2020 is something I'm really looking forward to. I think right now that will probably be the last tournament for me," he said in Brisbane ahead of a one-off T20 against Australia on Saturday.
TECH%20SPECS%3A%20APPLE%20WATCH%20SERIES%209
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDisplay%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2041mm%20%E2%80%93%20352%20x%20430%3B%2045mm%20%E2%80%93%20396%20x%20484%3B%20always-on%20Retina%20LTPO%20OLED%2C%202000%20nits%20max%3B%20Ion-X%20glass%20(aluminium%20cases)%2C%20sapphire%20crystal%20(stainless%20steel%20cases)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EProcessor%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Apple%20S9%2064-bit%2C%20W3%20wireless%2C%202nd-gen%20Ultra%20Wideband%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECapacity%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2064GB%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMemory%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201GB%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPlatform%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20watchOS%2010%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EHealth%20metrics%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Blood%20oxygen%20sensor%2C%20electrical%20heart%20sensor%20and%20ECG%2C%203rd-gen%20optical%20heart%20sensor%2C%20high%20and%20low%20heart%20rate%20notifications%2C%20irregular%20rhythm%20notifications%2C%20sleep%20stages%2C%20temperature%20sensing%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEmergency%20services%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Emergency%20SOS%2C%20international%20emergency%20calling%2C%20crash%20detection%2C%20fall%20detection%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EConnectivity%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20GPS%2FGPS%20%2B%20cellular%3B%20Wi-Fi%2C%20LTE%2C%20Bluetooth%205.3%2C%20NFC%20(Apple%20Pay)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDurability%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20IP6X%2C%20water%20resistant%20up%20to%2050m%2C%20dust%20resistant%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBattery%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20308mAh%20Li-ion%2C%20up%20to%2018h%20regular%2F36h%20low%20power%3B%20wireless%20charging%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECards%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20eSIM%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFinishes%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Aluminium%20%E2%80%93%20midnight%2C%20pink%2C%20Product%20Red%2C%20silver%2C%20starlight%3B%20stainless%20steel%20%E2%80%93%20gold%2C%20graphite%2C%20silver%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EIn%20the%20box%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Watch%20Series%209%2C%20woven%20magnetic-to-USB-C%20charging%20cable%2C%20band%2Floop%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Starts%20at%20Dh1%2C599%20(41mm)%20%2F%20Dh1%2C719%20(45mm)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Kandahar%20
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Our legal advisor
Ahmad El Sayed is Senior Associate at Charles Russell Speechlys, a law firm headquartered in London with offices in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Hong Kong.
Experience: Commercial litigator who has assisted clients with overseas judgments before UAE courts. His specialties are cases related to banking, real estate, shareholder disputes, company liquidations and criminal matters as well as employment related litigation.
Education: Sagesse University, Beirut, Lebanon, in 2005.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Rafael Nadal's record at the MWTC
2009 Finalist
2010 Champion
Jan 2011 Champion
Dec 2011 Semi-finalist
Dec 2012 Did not play
Dec 2013 Semi-finalist
2015 Semi-finalist
Jan 2016 Champion
Dec 2016 Champion
2017 Did not play
Autumn international scores
Saturday, November 24
Italy 3-66 New Zealand
Scotland 14-9 Argentina
England 37-18 Australia
The specs
Engine: 0.8-litre four cylinder
Power: 70bhp
Torque: 66Nm
Transmission: four-speed manual
Price: $1,075 new in 1967, now valued at $40,000
On sale: Models from 1966 to 1970
Match info
Manchester United 4
(Pogba 5', 33', Rashford 45', Lukaku 72')
Bournemouth 1
(Ake 45 2')
Red card: Eric Bailly (Manchester United)
RESULTS
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More coverage from the Future Forum
APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)
Display: 21cm Liquid Retina Display, 2266 x 1488, 326ppi, 500 nits
Chip: Apple A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
Storage: 128/256/512GB
Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, digital zoom up to 5x, Smart HDR 4
Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR 4, full-HD @ 25/30/60fps
Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID
Colours: Blue, purple, space grey, starlight
In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter
Price: From Dh2,099
Dhadak
Director: Shashank Khaitan
Starring: Janhvi Kapoor, Ishaan Khattar, Ashutosh Rana
Stars: 3
