Best mascot - Manchester United
Arsenal players share an embarrassing embrace with Gunnersaurus Rex when they alight the bus at the Emirates Stadium; Liverpool probably pledge every second Saturday to make Mighty Red's life a misery; Manchester City's freakish Moonbeams would compel anyone to howl through the night; Norwich City have Delia Smith.
Top-flight mascots are not supposed to be cool. Yet none come any more fashionable than the one whipping the Old Trafford crowd into frenzy on Saturday. Move over Fred the Red, Usain Bolt's in town.
Manchester United's most distinguished supporter was the guest of honour for their match with Fulham, the Olympic legend even wishing well his favourite players in the tunnel beforehand. Cue awkward snap with fan looking both awestruck and bemused. At least smile for the camera, Wayne Rooney …
Worst deja vu - Aston Villa
Oh to be a Villa fan. It was only last season they were subjected to one of the worst campaigns in the club's history, led by a man who the year before was in charge of their arch-rivals (he did get Birmingham City relegated, though).
Alex McLeish was quickly, and quite rightly, shown the door, his side's seven wins from 38 games proving Villa's most pitiful Premier League return. Replacing him with Paul Lambert, one of the division's bright young managers - he has a Champions League winners' medal, with a continental team, you know - was supposed to herald a new dawn.
However, an opening day defeat was swiftly followed by Saturday's woeful capitulation at home to Everton. Groundhog Day, anyone? Lambert could soon find himself playing the role of chief Villain.
Best protege - Clarke
He may not be as suave as Andre Villas-Boas, or as committed to tiki-taka football as Brendan Rodgers, but Steve Clarke seems to have made best use of those Stamford Bridge days spent in the company of a certain Jose Mourinho.
The former Chelsea assistant, now the West Bromwich Albion manager, was pitted in the first two weeks against old West London colleagues - Villas-Boas used to be Mourinho's chief scout, with Rodgers the reserve team coach - yet the Baggies followed their trouncing of Liverpool by bouncing out of Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday with a much-deserved point.
The second-half introduction of Romelu Lukaku was a masterstroke, the Belgian bruiser, another Chelsea old boy, wreaked havoc among the Spurs backline. It is Clarke, not Villas-Boas or Rodgers, who is proving a "Special One" indeed.
Worst position - Keepers
What is it with the league's custodians this season, eh? Last weekend Rob Green and Adam Federici, of West Ham United and Reading colours respectively, were culpable for gifting goals, and on Saturday that intolerable trend was continued by Shay Given, Tim Howard and Jussi Jaaskelainen: formerly three of the Premier League's most reliable shot stoppers.
Given blundered to let Marouane Fellaini double Everton's lead; Howard, presumably feeling sorry for his opposite number, responded by failing to palm away Karim El Ahmadi's 25-yarder; Jaaskelainen could only divert into his own net an Angel Rangel cross as West Ham crumbled at Swansea City.
It was left to Brad Friedel, Tottenham's veteran goalkeeper, to save his trade's reputation with a fine display against West Brom. A wise head beats two flimsy wrists any day.
Worst fans - Stoke Cty
Tottenham supporters on Saturday applauded and serenaded Ledley King throughout the 26th minute against West Brom, in celebration of the injury-ravaged defender's service to the club. King, who wore the captain's armband together with the No 26 shirt, was forced this summer to retire when he should be in his prime.
It is a shame, then, that a section of Stoke fans could not show similar respect yesterday to Aaron Ramsey, the Arsenal midfielder who two years ago at the Britannia Stadium suffered a double leg break in a challenge from Ryan Shawcross.
The Welshman has spoken publicly about the tackle and was resoundingly booed when introduced in the second half. That Ramsey's career was not cruelly curtailed like King's does not make his treatment any less sickening.
jmcauley@thenational.ae
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
ICC Women's T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier 2025, Thailand
UAE fixtures
May 9, v Malaysia
May 10, v Qatar
May 13, v Malaysia
May 15, v Qatar
May 18 and 19, semi-finals
May 20, final
88 Video's most popular rentals
Avengers 3: Infinity War: an American superhero film released in 2018 and based on the Marvel Comics story.
Sholay: a 1975 Indian action-adventure film. It follows the adventures of two criminals hired by police to catch a vagabond. The film was panned on release but is now considered a classic.
Lucifer: is a 2019 Malayalam-language action film. It dives into the gritty world of Kerala’s politics and has become one of the highest-grossing Malayalam films of all time.
HOW TO WATCH
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What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
Six pitfalls to avoid when trading company stocks
Following fashion
Investing is cyclical, buying last year's winners often means holding this year's losers.
Losing your balance
You end up with too much exposure to an individual company or sector that has taken your fancy.
Being over active
If you chop and change your portfolio too often, dealing charges will eat up your gains.
Running your losers
Investors hate admitting mistakes and hold onto bad stocks hoping they will come good.
Selling in a panic
If you sell up when the market drops, you have locked yourself out of the recovery.
Timing the market
Even the best investor in the world cannot consistently call market movements.
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The five pillars of Islam
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
RoboCop%3A%20Rogue%20City
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDeveloper%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ETeyon%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENacon%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EConsole%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20PlayStation%205%2C%20Xbox%20Series%20X%2FS%20and%20PC%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Who is Allegra Stratton?
- Previously worked at The Guardian, BBC’s Newsnight programme and ITV News
- Took up a public relations role for Chancellor Rishi Sunak in April 2020
- In October 2020 she was hired to lead No 10’s planned daily televised press briefings
- The idea was later scrapped and she was appointed spokeswoman for Cop26
- Ms Stratton, 41, is married to James Forsyth, the political editor of The Spectator
- She has strong connections to the Conservative establishment
- Mr Sunak served as best man at her 2011 wedding to Mr Forsyth
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
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.
PROFILE
Name: Enhance Fitness
Year started: 2018
Based: UAE
Employees: 200
Amount raised: $3m
Investors: Global Ventures and angel investors
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Gifts exchanged
- King Charles - replica of President Eisenhower Sword
- Queen Camilla - Tiffany & Co vintage 18-carat gold, diamond and ruby flower brooch
- Donald Trump - hand-bound leather book with Declaration of Independence
- Melania Trump - personalised Anya Hindmarch handbag
The National in Davos
We are bringing you the inside story from the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting in Davos, a gathering of hundreds of world leaders, top executives and billionaires.
French business
France has organised a delegation of leading businesses to travel to Syria. The group was led by French shipping giant CMA CGM, which struck a 30-year contract in May with the Syrian government to develop and run Latakia port. Also present were water and waste management company Suez, defence multinational Thales, and Ellipse Group, which is currently looking into rehabilitating Syrian hospitals.
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
Profile of MoneyFellows
Founder: Ahmed Wadi
Launched: 2016
Employees: 76
Financing stage: Series A ($4 million)
Investors: Partech, Sawari Ventures, 500 Startups, Dubai Angel Investors, Phoenician Fund
Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere
Director: Scott Cooper
Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Odessa Young, Jeremy Strong
Rating: 4/5
