A three-way tie at the top has set up Group A of the African Champions League for a thrilling September climax.
Al Hilal Omdurman, TP Mazembe of DR Congo and Moghreb Tetouan of Morocco have eight points each with five of the six matchdays completed.
Hilal lead on goals scored and Mazembe are second on goal difference as the three clubs seek top-two finishes and passports to the semi-finals.
Four-time title-holders Mazembe host Tetouan and twice runners-up Hilal visit out-of-contention Smouha of Egypt in the final round.
Mudather Al Tahir scored after seven minutes at the weekend to give Hilal a 1-0 victory over visiting Mazembe in a must-win match for the Sudanese outfit.
Spaniard Jesus Rodriquez Tato and Abdeladin Khadrouf, from a penalty, scored as Tetouan overcame Smouha 2-1 in northern Morocco.
But Moghreb suffered anxiety during the closing stages after Amr El Monoufy halved the deficit 13 minutes from time.
Both results were predictable as Hilal are virtually invincible at home with 13 victories and three draws in 18 group games.
Mazembe are the third most successful Champions League club after Al Ahly and Zamalek of Egypt, but they struggle away, winning just five of 24 mini-league matches.
Group debutants Tetouan boast an unbeaten three-game home record and Smouha have lost all three away last-eight mini-league matches in the premier African Football Confederation (CAF) club competition.
Group B has been settled with USM Alger sealing first place by whipping fellow Algerians and defending champions ES Setif 3-0 in Algiers.
Al Merrikh of Sudan, who will advance to the semi-finals as runners-up, came from two goals behind to triumph 3-2 at pointless MC El Eulma of Algeria.
CAF Champions League winners pocket $1.5 million (Dh5.5m) and secure a place at the 2015 Fifa Club World Cup in Japan.
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Tax authority targets shisha levy evasion
The Federal Tax Authority will track shisha imports with electronic markers to protect customers and ensure levies have been paid.
Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director of the tax authority, on Sunday said the move is to "prevent tax evasion and support the authority’s tax collection efforts".
The scheme’s first phase, which came into effect on 1st January, 2019, covers all types of imported and domestically produced and distributed cigarettes. As of May 1, importing any type of cigarettes without the digital marks will be prohibited.
He said the latest phase will see imported and locally produced shisha tobacco tracked by the final quarter of this year.
"The FTA also maintains ongoing communication with concerned companies, to help them adapt their systems to meet our requirements and coordinate between all parties involved," he said.
As with cigarettes, shisha was hit with a 100 per cent tax in October 2017, though manufacturers and cafes absorbed some of the costs to prevent prices doubling.
Company Profile
Company name: Hoopla
Date started: March 2023
Founder: Jacqueline Perrottet
Based: Dubai
Number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Investment required: $500,000
How the UAE gratuity payment is calculated now
Employees leaving an organisation are entitled to an end-of-service gratuity after completing at least one year of service.
The tenure is calculated on the number of days worked and does not include lengthy leave periods, such as a sabbatical. If you have worked for a company between one and five years, you are paid 21 days of pay based on your final basic salary. After five years, however, you are entitled to 30 days of pay. The total lump sum you receive is based on the duration of your employment.
1. For those who have worked between one and five years, on a basic salary of Dh10,000 (calculation based on 30 days):
a. Dh10,000 ÷ 30 = Dh333.33. Your daily wage is Dh333.33
b. Dh333.33 x 21 = Dh7,000. So 21 days salary equates to Dh7,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service. Multiply this figure for every year of service up to five years.
2. For those who have worked more than five years
c. 333.33 x 30 = Dh10,000. So 30 days’ salary is Dh10,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service.
Note: The maximum figure cannot exceed two years total salary figure.
Women & Power: A Manifesto
Mary Beard
Profile Books and London Review of Books