Ahead of Sunday’s WWE Extreme Rules show at the Verion Center in Washington, here are some predictions on what to expect from the action.
Dean Ambrose to retain the WWE World Heavyweight title in a triple threat with Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns
The build-up to the first ever triple threat showdown between the members of The Shield has been hampered by the suspension of Reigns for breaking the WWE’s Wellness Policy.
There are many fascinating elements and questions to be answered in this match. How will the WWE treat Reigns, who had been treated as the No 1 guy before failing a drugs test? With Ambrose on SmackDown and Rollins and Reigns on Raw now that the draft split has happened, which brand is going to go into next week without the WWE World Heavyweight champion on their brand?
This will be a great match and the atmosphere should be electric when all three men are in the ring at the start. This is one of the few dream matches in the WWE right now and it will not disappoint in terms of ring action.
Given the need to give SmackDown a push in its new role of a live TV programme, it needs to feel important as a show, and having the WWE title on there will help achieve that.
So Ambrose will take this, probably pinning Reigns in a way that builds him up, while giving Reigns a little punishment for his transgression.
Rollins and Reigns can then continue their feud on Raw, while Ambrose gets ready to take on challengers on SmackDown.
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John Cena and Enzo and Cass to defeat The Club in a 3x3 tag match
This, given the guys in the ring here, has a lot of promise.
Cena lost to AJ Styles last month, so I do not expect to see Cena lose again, or be on the losing side.
The faces need the win here, and given The Club have looked dominant in the weeks building up to Battleground, expect Luke Gallows or Karl Anderson to take the pin fall, setting up Cena v Styles II at SummerSlam and Enzo and Cass v Gallows and Anderson.
Kevin Owens to beat Sami Zayn
This is a very hard match to call. This has been an on-off feud, that began on the main roster at the Royal Rumble in January, and has gone on since then.
Both men are excellent in the ring, but with a lack of decent main event heels in the ranks right now, the WWE could do with keeping Owens very strong.
Zayn is so popular with the crowd that he can absorb the loss here. That is not to say that Owens is not over either, but he needs some big wins if he is to be a creditable contender for the world title, which is where he should be looking now, and a win here will help achieve that.
Sasha Banks and a mystery partner to beat Charlotte and Dana Brooke in a tag match
The intrigue here is over who will partner with Banks. Given the current roster depth in the women’s division the most likely candidate is Paige, although it could be a surprise debut for Bayley, the former NXT champion.
Banks and her partner will prevail here, with Brooke almost certainly taking the pin, to set up Banks getting her first one-on-one title match with Charlotte at SummerSlam next month.
The Wyatt Family to beat New Day in a 3x3 tag match
Given the lack of stables in the WWE at the moment, the lack of real heat in this quickly put together feud has been disappointing.
The showdown at the Wyatt’s home two weeks ago was something different, but seemed out of place with what had gone before or since.
The Wyatts badly need some momentum and need a win here much more than New Day, whose tag titles are not on the line here.
For that reason expect Bray Wyatt’s faction to go over here as the WWE try to give fresh impetus to them, even if they appear to be splitting them up in their current guise with Wyatt going to SmackDown along with Erick Rowan, while Braun Strowman heads ti
Rusev to defeat Zack Ryder to retain the United States title
Rusev has been brilliant in recent months, and is recapturing the form that made his first run with the US belt so impressive in 2014-15.
It is good to see Ryder being given something to do again after dropping the Intercontential title so quickly after WrestleMania, but no way does he go over Rusev here.
Miz to beat Darren Young to retain the Intercontinental title
This could have done with more time to beat some momentum as Young has looked good, both on the microphone and in the ring, since he won a Battle Royal to set up this showdown with Miz.
There is a lot of potential in Young, but this is too soon for him to win a title, and it should certainly not be at the expense of the Miz’s current title reign as he has been a great champion.
Expect Miz to prevail, either through nefarious means, or even a disqualification finish, to try to protect Young.
Becky Lynch to beat Natalya
This match is happening after Natalya turned on Becky last month.
What this has lacked in build-up, largely due to Natalya’s poor microphone skills, will be made up for in the ring as both women can fight well.
If they are given time then this could be good. Becky has the more promise for the future as this stage so she should get the win.
WWE Battleground will be televised on the WWE Network, which is available through OSN, on Monday morning in the UAE from 3am
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Iraq 1-0 UAE
Iraq Hussein 28’
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
How much sugar is in chocolate Easter eggs?
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- The 190g Maltesers Teasers egg contains 58g of sugar per 100g for the egg and 19.6g of sugar in each of the two Teasers bars that come with it
- The 188g Smarties egg has 113g of sugar per egg and 22.8g in the tube of Smarties it contains
- The Milky Bar white chocolate Egg Hunt Pack contains eight eggs at 7.7g of sugar per egg
- The Cadbury Creme Egg contains 26g of sugar per 40g egg
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It is 200 times more resistant than steel and five times lighter than aluminum.
It conducts electricity better than any other material at room temperature.
It is thought that graphene could boost the useful life of batteries by 10 per cent.
Graphene can also detect cancer cells in the early stages of the disease.
The material was first discovered when Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov were 'playing' with graphite at the University of Manchester in 2004.
Winners
Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain / France)
Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)
Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21 – Men’s)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)
Best Young Women’s Player
Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)
Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City / Italy)
Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa and Chelsea)
Men’s Coach of the Year
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)
Women’s Coach of the Year
Sarina Wiegman (England)
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan