Vidic: I am staying at Old Trafford



Nemanja Vidic, the Manchester United defender, has spoken for the first time to deny persistent rumours that he wants to leave the English champions. The Serbian centre-back has not played for United this year due to a niggling calf injury but some newspapers in England and Serbia suggested he had fallen out with his manager Alex Ferguson ahead of United's FA Cup tie with Leeds United in January.

"I have never had a conflict of any kind with Sir Alex Ferguson and rife speculation that I want to leave United is completely untrue," Vidic told the Belgrade daily Vecernje Novosti. "I have a contract until the summer of 2012 and I have every intention of seeing it through to the very last day. United have made me the player I am today and there is no substance whatsoever in rumours that I have been looking for a move away to either Real Madrid or AC Milan."

Vidic missed United's 3-2 win at Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday but hopes to be fit for the return leg at Old Trafford on March 10. "I can't wait to get back on the pitch and although I've had a long lay off, I feel strong and fit again," he added. "I think I will return to action very quickly and hopefully I will be back to my best as soon as I am picked in the starting line-up again. We got a great result at Milan but we have to raise our game for the return leg and I am sure we can."

Elsewhere in the Premier League, Wolves have been given a suspended £25,000 (Dh144,000) fine by the Premier League for fielding a weakened team against United in December. Mick McCarthy, the Wolves manager, made 10 changes to the team who defeated Tottenham three days earlier and, after a 3-0 loss at Old Trafford, recalled nine of them for the next game against Burnley, which they won 2-0.

Wolves said they had been surprised to be charged but accepted the decision. "We are obviously disappointed but we respect the ruling, especially as they have now used our case as a clear warning to all other clubs, some of whom have made similar changes to their teams in the past, that this is not acceptable in the future," Jez Moxey, the Wolves chief executive, said in a statement on the club's website. "This ruling may now lead to a wider discussion regarding the issue of squad rotation and the Premier League's rules."

Cash-strapped Portsmouth have asked the Premier League for permission to sell players outside the transfer window in order to be able to pay their bills. However, the move will depend on their request being sanctioned by the English Football Association and Fifa as well as the Premier League. * With agencies

If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.

When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.

How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre turbo

Power: 181hp

Torque: 230Nm

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

Starting price: Dh79,000

On sale: Now

What is the Supreme Petroleum Council?

The Abu Dhabi Supreme Petroleum Council was established in 1988 and is the highest governing body in Abu Dhabi’s oil and gas industry. The council formulates, oversees and executes the emirate’s petroleum-related policies. It also approves the allocation of capital spending across state-owned Adnoc’s upstream, downstream and midstream operations and functions as the company’s board of directors. The SPC’s mandate is also required for auctioning oil and gas concessions in Abu Dhabi and for awarding blocks to international oil companies. The council is chaired by Sheikh Khalifa, the President and Ruler of Abu Dhabi while Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, is the vice chairman.

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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How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

How to avoid crypto fraud
  • Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
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Vidaamuyarchi

Director: Magizh Thirumeni

Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra

Rating: 4/5

 

RACE RESULTS

1. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Mercedes) 1hr 21min 48.527sec
2. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari) at 0.658sec
3. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Red Bull) 6.012 
4. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 7.430
5. Kimi Räikkönen (FIN/Ferrari) 20.370
6. Romain Grosjean (FRA/Haas) 1:13.160
7. Sergio Pérez (MEX/Force India) 1 lap
8. Esteban Ocon (FRA/Force India) 1 lap
9. Felipe Massa (BRA/Williams) 1 lap
10. Lance Stroll (CAN/Williams) 1 lap
11. Jolyon Palmer (GBR/Renault) 1 lap
12. Stoffel Vandoorne (BEL/McLaren) 1 lap
13. Nico Hülkenberg (GER/Renault) 1 lap
14. Pascal Wehrlein (GER/Sauber) 1 lap
15. Marcus Ericsson (SWE/Sauber) 2 laps
16. Daniil Kvyat (RUS/Toro Rosso) 3 laps