Premier League week 1: Blackpool, Bolton, Chelsea and Everton



Ian Holloway continues to deny rumours he is set to leave the Seasiders and instead is working quickly to strengthen his side ahead of their Premier League debut tomorrow. They travel to Wigan Athletic, but will be buoyed by the arrival of Marlon Harewood, the striker, on a free transfer from Aston Villa. The forward is the fifth new arrival in a matter of days following the captures of Manchester United's young defender Craig Cathcart, Ludovic Sylvestre, the former Barcelona trainee, and the midfield duo of the combative Malaury Martin of Monaco and Elliot Grandin, the tricky dribbler formerly of CSKA Sofia.

Owen Coyle, the Bolton manager, is confident Gary Cahill will remain at the club, despite Arsene Wenger, the Arsenal manager, showing a keen interest in the highly-rated English centre-half. Bolton welcome Fulham to the Reebok Stadium tomorrow afternoon, but the transfer of Tom Eaves, the Oldham Athletic forward who hit a stunning hat-trick against the Trotters in a pre-season game and now looks to have effectively earned himself a place in the Premier League, will most likely not be completed in time for the visit of the Londoners. Bolton will travel to Southampton in the Carling Cup second round.

With the transfer of Roberto Carvalho, the Portuguese defender, to Real Madrid confirmed by the club earlier this week coach Carlo Ancelotti is now expected to move for David Luiz, the big-haired Benfica defender, as an expensive replacement. Ramirez, the Brazilian midfielder who was a former teammate of Luiz at Estadio da Luz before moving to Stamford Bridge for £18.2m last week, may also be aided as he settles in southwest London by the arrival of compatriot Neymar. The prolific 18-year-old Santos striker scored for his national team in their 1-0 midweek victory against the United States and is valued at £29m.

David Moyes, the Everton manager, is delighted to have been able to retain the services of his star players Steven Pienaar, Mikel Arteta and Tim Cahill, proclaiming his squad ahead of tomorrow's clash with Blackburn as "the strongest squad I've ever had". Pienaar, the South African midfielder, shone for Bafana Bafana against Ghana on Wednesday evening, but worryingly Cahill withdrew from Australia's match against Slovenia with a knee injury. Meanwhile, any hopes Scotsman Moyes had of attaining £8m from West Ham United for Yakubu, the Nigerian forward, have been scoffed at by the east London club. * Compiled by Paul Radley and Gary Meenaghan

Jebel Ali results

2pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 50,000 (Dirt) 1,400m

Winner: AF Al Moreeb, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)

2.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 60,000 (D) 1,400m

Winner: Shamikh, Ryan Curatolo, Nicholas Bachalard

3pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 64,000 (D) 1,600m

Winner: One Vision, Connor Beasley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe

3.30pm: Conditions (TB) Dh 100,000 (D) 1,600m

Winner: Gabr, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson

4pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 96,000 (D) 1,800m

Winner: Just A Penny, Sam Hitchcock, Doug Watson

4.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 60,000 (D) 1,600m

Winner: Torno Subito, Sam Hitchcock, Doug Watson

5pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 76,000 (D) 1,950m

Winner: Untold Secret, Jose Santiago, Salem bin Ghadayer

Skewed figures

In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458. 

THE SPECS – Honda CR-V Touring AWD

Engine: 2.4-litre 4-cylinder

Power: 184hp at 6,400rpm

Torque: 244Nm at 3,900rpm

Transmission: Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)

0-100kmh in 9.4 seconds

Top speed: 202kmh

Fuel consumption: 6.8L/100km

Price: From Dh122,900

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
 
Started: 2021
 
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
 
Based: Tunisia 
 
Sector: Water technology 
 
Number of staff: 22 
 
Investment raised: $4 million 
The specs: 2017 Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn

Price, base / as tested: Dhxxx
Engine: 5.7L V8
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 395hp @ 5,600rpm
Torque: 556Nm @ 3,950rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km

UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3ECompany%20name%3A%20Znap%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarted%3A%202017%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EFounder%3A%20Uday%20Rathod%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EBased%3A%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EIndustry%3A%20FinTech%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EFunding%20size%3A%20%241m%2B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EInvestors%3A%20Family%2C%20friends%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
David Haye record

Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4

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

Dust and sand storms compared

Sand storm

  • Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
  • Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
  • Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
  • Travel distance: Limited 
  • Source: Open desert areas with strong winds

Dust storm

  • Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
  • Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
  • Duration: Can linger for days
  • Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
  • Source: Can be carried from distant regions