Russians security forces stand guard outside the England football team hotel in Repino, Russia. Paul Ellis/ AFP
Russians security forces stand guard outside the England football team hotel in Repino, Russia. Paul Ellis/ AFP
Russians security forces stand guard outside the England football team hotel in Repino, Russia. Paul Ellis/ AFP
Russians security forces stand guard outside the England football team hotel in Repino, Russia. Paul Ellis/ AFP

Russia tightens security precautions for World Cup fans


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Following the discovery online of potential ISIS sympathisers who have pledged to target FIFA World Cup fans, authorities said they had deployed the army, navy, and air force at a number of venues, including the Kaliningrad stadium where England will play Belgium on Thursday.

Russian state police said earlier on Wednesday that multiple bomb threats had been reported in Rostov-on-Don, a host city of the football games, forcing restaurants, hotels, and bars to be evacuated around the city late on Tuesday evening.

The Russian security agency responsible for counter-terrorism, the FSB, has been on high alert since the World Cup commenced on June 14. The force raided 17 locations across the country in April, arresting 20 terrorists plotting to target football games at various World Cup venues.

Members of an alleged terrorist cell supporting the ISIS group were also detained following an earlier raid in Rostov-on-Don in April, with supporters of the terror group releasing graphic propaganda showing beheadings of global football stars Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, ahead of the games.

Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister, Arkady Dvorkovich, said in May that such threats should not alarm the public, as the “security of people is our top priority. All our security forces are working in close preparation with [FIFA’s] organising committee”.

He added that Russia is an experienced host of global sporting events, hosting the 2014 Winter Olympic Games at Sochi during a time of political tension in the North Caucasus region.

"We know how to do those things," Mr Dvorkovich said. "We had experience with the Olympic Games in Sochi, and other big international events”.

Alexei Lavrishchev, security chief of the World Cup, told the BBC before the World Cup commenced that the security measures taken are “unprecedented”, with “sufficient measures in place to ensure that football fans, tourists, and Russian citizens will feel comfortable and safe”.

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Read more: Russian police evacuate venues in World Cup host city after bomb threats

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RESULTS

Light Flyweight (48kg): Alua Balkibekova (KAZ) beat Gulasal Sultonalieva (UZB) by points 4-1.

Flyweight (51kg): Nazym Kyzaibay (KAZ) beat Mary Kom (IND) 3-2.

Bantamweight (54kg): Dina Zholaman (KAZ) beat Sitora Shogdarova (UZB) 3-2.

Featherweight (57kg): Sitora Turdibekova (UZB) beat Vladislava Kukhta (KAZ) 5-0.

Lightweight (60kg): Rimma Volossenko (KAZ) beat Huswatun Hasanah (INA) KO round-1.

Light Welterweight (64kg): Milana Safronova (KAZ) beat Lalbuatsaihi (IND) 3-2.

Welterweight (69kg): Valentina Khalzova (KAZ) beat Navbakhor Khamidova (UZB) 5-0

Middleweight (75kg): Pooja Rani (IND) beat Mavluda Movlonova (UZB) 5-0.

Light Heavyweight (81kg): Farida Sholtay (KAZ) beat Ruzmetova Sokhiba (UZB) 5-0.

Heavyweight (81 kg): Lazzat Kungeibayeva (KAZ) beat Anupama (IND) 3-2.

THREE
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Company%20profile
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ESSENTIALS

The flights 
Fly Etihad or Emirates from the UAE to Moscow from 2,763 return per person return including taxes. 
Where to stay 
Trips on the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian cost from US$16,995 (Dh62,414) per person, based on two sharing.

Juvenile arthritis

Along with doctors, families and teachers can help pick up cases of arthritis in children.
Most types of childhood arthritis are known as juvenile idiopathic arthritis. JIA causes pain and inflammation in one or more joints for at least six weeks.
Dr Betina Rogalski said "The younger the child the more difficult it into pick up the symptoms. If the child is small, it may just be a bit grumpy or pull its leg a way or not feel like walking,” she said.
According to The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases in US, the most common symptoms of juvenile arthritis are joint swelling, pain, and stiffness that doesn’t go away. Usually it affects the knees, hands, and feet, and it’s worse in the morning or after a nap.
Limping in the morning because of a stiff knee, excessive clumsiness, having a high fever and skin rash are other symptoms. Children may also have swelling in lymph nodes in the neck and other parts of the body.
Arthritis in children can cause eye inflammation and growth problems and can cause bones and joints to grow unevenly.
In the UK, about 15,000 children and young people are affected by arthritis.

The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet
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

Abu Dhabi traffic facts

Drivers in Abu Dhabi spend 10 per cent longer in congested conditions than they would on a free-flowing road

The highest volume of traffic on the roads is found between 7am and 8am on a Sunday.

Travelling before 7am on a Sunday could save up to four hours per year on a 30-minute commute.

The day was the least congestion in Abu Dhabi in 2019 was Tuesday, August 13.

The highest levels of traffic were found on Sunday, November 10.

Drivers in Abu Dhabi lost 41 hours spent in traffic jams in rush hour during 2019