West Bromwich Albion
Chris Brunt, the West Brom captain, yesterday became the latest player to commit his future to the Baggies. Brunt has agreed terms on a three-year contract extension, plus a further season's option in the club's favour, potentially taking him up to the end of the 2014/15 campaign. Roy Hodgson, the coach, said: "I'm pleased Chris has been rewarded with this extension on improved terms. It is fully deserved." Just last week last season's players' and fans' player of the year and fellow midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu also pledged his future to Albion to the end of 2015. Brunt, 26, has made 157 appearances and scored 31 goals since joining Albion in 2007. "He's been a great club servant and I'm delighted he's committed himself for a longer period," Hodgson said.
Aston Villa
Alex McLeish, the Aston Villa manager, has revealed Charles N'Zogbia is being given a "crash course" in training in a bid to get him fit for the start of the new season. The £9.5 million (Dh57m) signing has enjoyed little in the way of a close season due to playing for France early in the summer. McLeish is hoping to give N'Zogbia his debut in tomorrow's final pre-season friendly against Braga in Portugal. McLeish told the Birmingham Mail. "He is only doing running at the moment and has not joined in with any of the football. He is a little bit behind in that respect, so we're trying to give a crash course before next weekend."
Bolton Wanderers
Tyrone Mears has broken his leg in training, less than a week after joining the club. The defender, who completed his signing from Burnley last Friday, will now miss several months of the new season. Owen Coyle, the Bolton manager, told the club's official website: "Ty went in for a challenge and unfortunately suffered the injury. It was desperately unlucky for him and we will make sure that he is fully supported in his rehabilitation. He will go for a check and an assessment in a month and that will indicate more accurately the timescale for his recovery." Mears is the second Bolton player to break a leg in pre-season. The midfielder Lee Chung-yong was ruled out for a minimum of nine months after breaking his right leg in a friendly against Newport.
Liverpool
Stewart Downing is determined not to let his hefty transfer fee weigh heavily on him as he prepares for his first season with Liverpool. The Reds splashed out a figure believed to be around £20m to bring the winger to Anfield this summer from Aston Villa, where he had been voted player of the season. Downing said: "It's about picking up where I finished off last season with Aston Villa, carrying on my form and not doing anything differently. Just because of the fee, it doesn't mean I have to change."
Queens Park Rangers
QPR last night completed the signing of DJ Campbell from Blackpool on a two-year contract. The 29 year old joins for a reported fee of £1.25m, which triggered a release clause in his Seasiders contract. Campbell, who spent his early playing days in west London, becomes manager Neil Warnock's fourth summer signing. The striker told his new club's official website: "It's a club that I supported as a kid. I grew up around here and QPR have played a massive part in my life. This was my first club, from six to 16, so to finally be back here at the age of 29 is really special."
Aayan%E2%80%99s%20records
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Drishyam 2
Directed by: Jeethu Joseph
Starring: Mohanlal, Meena, Ansiba, Murali Gopy
Rating: 4 stars
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
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 12 Syrian entities delisted by UK
Ministry of Interior
Ministry of Defence
General Intelligence Directorate
Air Force Intelligence Agency
Political Security Directorate
Syrian National Security Bureau
Military Intelligence Directorate
Army Supply Bureau
General Organisation of Radio and TV
Al Watan newspaper
Cham Press TV
Sama TV
Favourite things
Luxury: Enjoys window shopping for high-end bags and jewellery
Discount: She works in luxury retail, but is careful about spending, waits for sales, festivals and only buys on discount
University: The only person in her family to go to college, Jiang secured a bachelor’s degree in business management in China
Masters: Studying part-time for a master’s degree in international business marketing in Dubai
Vacation: Heads back home to see family in China
Community work: Member of the Chinese Business Women’s Association of the UAE to encourage other women entrepreneurs
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Swiss fly direct from the UAE to Zurich from Dh2,855 return, including taxes.
The chalet
Chalet N is currently open in winter only, between now and April 21. During the ski season, starting on December 11, a week’s rental costs from €210,000 (Dh898,431) per week for the whole property, which has 22 beds in total, across six suites, three double rooms and a children’s suite. The price includes all scheduled meals, a week’s ski pass, Wi-Fi, parking, transfers between Munich, Innsbruck or Zurich airports and one 50-minute massage per person. Private ski lessons cost from €360 (Dh1,541) per day. Halal food is available on request.
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
Profile of Udrive
Date started: March 2016
Founder: Hasib Khan
Based: Dubai
Employees: 40
Amount raised (to date): $3.25m – $750,000 seed funding in 2017 and a Seed round of $2.5m last year. Raised $1.3m from Eureeca investors in January 2021 as part of a Series A round with a $5m target.
Company profile
Company name: Suraasa
Started: 2018
Founders: Rishabh Khanna, Ankit Khanna and Sahil Makker
Based: India, UAE and the UK
Industry: EdTech
Initial investment: More than $200,000 in seed funding
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Xpanceo
Started: 2018
Founders: Roman Axelrod, Valentyn Volkov
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: Smart contact lenses, augmented/virtual reality
Funding: $40 million
Investor: Opportunity Venture (Asia)
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5