Ben Grant, right, and other foreign fighters from the UK at the main train station in Lviv, Ukraine. Reuters
Ben Grant, right, and other foreign fighters from the UK at the main train station in Lviv, Ukraine. Reuters
Ben Grant, right, and other foreign fighters from the UK at the main train station in Lviv, Ukraine. Reuters
Ben Grant, right, and other foreign fighters from the UK at the main train station in Lviv, Ukraine. Reuters

Britons heading to war: the sniper, the MP’s son and Queen Elizabeth II's guardsman


Paul Peachey
  • English
  • Arabic

Live updates: follow the latest news on Russia-Ukraine

Shane Matthew, a former British Army sniper, arrived in Ukraine this week with a sense of duty, a cache of medical supplies - but no gun.

The 34-year-old former soldier, who served in Afghanistan, hopes to set up a field hospital in the Kyiv area with the help of the Ukrainian military to treat expected casualties as Russian forces advance on the capital.

He says he will take up arms if he is forced to defend himself. But with the legal position on foreign fighters unclear amid conflicting views from governments opposed to Moscow’s invasion, Mr Matthew says working as a field medic is the best way for him to serve.

“My motives for the medical direction were purely to prevent any chance of prosecution when I get home,” he said from the city of Vynnitsia, some 250 kilometres to the south-west of Kyiv. “Britain is not at war with Russia, fighting against the Russian military is still illegal.”

The dilemma faced by Mr Matthew is one being confronted by all the foreign volunteers travelling to Ukraine to join President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s call to come to the aid of Ukraine.

A UK citizen identified only as Kruger in Lviv, Ukraine, said he was ready to head to the front line. Reuters
A UK citizen identified only as Kruger in Lviv, Ukraine, said he was ready to head to the front line. Reuters

Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba says 20,000 international volunteers have joined the fight against Russian forces, most coming from Europe.

They include Ben Grant, 30, the eldest son of a ruling party MP and former government minister, who spent more than five years in the Royal Marines.

Mr Grant, the son of Helen Grant, a former sport and tourism minister, is one of seven ex-servicemen who arrived in Ukraine over the weekend. He spent five years in the Marines.

He had been serving as a private security contractor in Iraq before deciding to travel to Ukraine after returning to join his family in the UK.

“I haven’t been sent, nothing to do with the government, nothing to do with my mother,” he told the Guardian newspaper at Lviv station on his way to Kyiv.

“Just wanna make that clear, completely off my own back, I decided to do this. I didn’t even tell my mum, but it is what it is.”

Russia has said it considers foreign fighters as mercenaries who would not be entitled to the protections guaranteed by the Geneva Convention for Prisoners of War.

Mr Grant, a former soldier, said he would rather take his own life than be captured, but added: “Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that”.

A UK government minister said on Wednesday British soldiers quitting their units to go on unauthorised missions to fight in Ukraine risked escalating the conflict with Russia if they were captured.

Four serving British soldiers had gone absent without leave, the Sun newspaper reported, with the Army scrambling to intercept them before they arrived in Ukraine.

They included a 19-year-old member of the Coldstream Guards, an infantry regiment with an added ceremonial role of protecting royal palaces in the UK.

Grant Shapps, the UK transport secretary, said British soldiers heading to Ukraine to fight were creating a “dangerous situation”.

“You cannot go and fight if you’re in the British Army, you cannot just get up and go and fight,” he told broadcaster ITV.

Asked what Russia might do if a British soldier was captured or killed, Mr Shapps said: “There’s a big difference between Britain sending its army in and some people who are breaking with our law and going to do it.

  • A Ukrainian serviceman walks past the vertical tail fin of a Russian Su-34 bomber lying in a damaged building in Kharkiv, Ukraine. AP Photo
    A Ukrainian serviceman walks past the vertical tail fin of a Russian Su-34 bomber lying in a damaged building in Kharkiv, Ukraine. AP Photo
  • An apartment building damaged after shelling in Kharkiv, Ukraine. AP Photo
    An apartment building damaged after shelling in Kharkiv, Ukraine. AP Photo
  • A woman puts her head in her hands as she sits on a cot in a shelter, set up for displaced persons fleeing Ukraine, inside a school gymnasium in Przemysl, Poland. AP Photo
    A woman puts her head in her hands as she sits on a cot in a shelter, set up for displaced persons fleeing Ukraine, inside a school gymnasium in Przemysl, Poland. AP Photo
  • Belarussian and suspected Russian helicopters on the flight line at Machulishchy Air Base outside Minsk, Belarus. AP Photo
    Belarussian and suspected Russian helicopters on the flight line at Machulishchy Air Base outside Minsk, Belarus. AP Photo
  • Children look on as people fleeing Russia's invasion of Ukraine shelter in a school, in Drohobych, Ukraine. Reuters
    Children look on as people fleeing Russia's invasion of Ukraine shelter in a school, in Drohobych, Ukraine. Reuters
  • Families eat in the shelter. Reuters
    Families eat in the shelter. Reuters
  • A woman looks out from a building damaged by Russian shelling in Mykolaiv, 100 kilometres away from Odesa, western Ukraine. AFP
    A woman looks out from a building damaged by Russian shelling in Mykolaiv, 100 kilometres away from Odesa, western Ukraine. AFP
  • A wounded Ukrainian man waits in the corridor of the central hospital of Mykolaiv. AFP
    A wounded Ukrainian man waits in the corridor of the central hospital of Mykolaiv. AFP
  • An elderly woman is carried in a shopping cart after being rescued from Irpin, on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine. AP
    An elderly woman is carried in a shopping cart after being rescued from Irpin, on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine. AP
  • A woman reacts as a train carrying children from Kyiv's Central Children's Hospital leaves the Ukrainian capital on its way to Lviv. Reuters
    A woman reacts as a train carrying children from Kyiv's Central Children's Hospital leaves the Ukrainian capital on its way to Lviv. Reuters
  • A girl sits in an improvised bomb shelter in Mariupol, Ukraine. AP
    A girl sits in an improvised bomb shelter in Mariupol, Ukraine. AP
  • An elderly woman is coated in snow as she sits in a wheelchair after being rescued from Irpin. AP
    An elderly woman is coated in snow as she sits in a wheelchair after being rescued from Irpin. AP
  • Belarusian volunteers take part in military exercises at the Belarusian Company base in Kyiv. AP
    Belarusian volunteers take part in military exercises at the Belarusian Company base in Kyiv. AP
  • Lessa, left, director of a nursery school turned into a refugee shelter, cries as she hugs Olega, who arrived from Kyiv with her baby, near Lviv. EPA
    Lessa, left, director of a nursery school turned into a refugee shelter, cries as she hugs Olega, who arrived from Kyiv with her baby, near Lviv. EPA
  • Ukrainians pass a damaged bridge as they flee from Irpin. AP
    Ukrainians pass a damaged bridge as they flee from Irpin. AP
  • A man carries an elderly woman as people continue to leave Irpin. AP
    A man carries an elderly woman as people continue to leave Irpin. AP
  • A soldier stands on a barricade made of sandbags in central Odesa, Ukraine. Reuters
    A soldier stands on a barricade made of sandbags in central Odesa, Ukraine. Reuters
  • A charred Russian tank and captured tanks in the Sumy region. Reuters
    A charred Russian tank and captured tanks in the Sumy region. Reuters
  • People rest at a temporary shelter for Ukrainian refugees in Przemysl, Poland. AFP
    People rest at a temporary shelter for Ukrainian refugees in Przemysl, Poland. AFP
  • Ukraine's ambassador to the Netherlands, Maksym Kononenko, third right, and his wife Tetiana Doroshenko, fourth left, attend a meeting of members of the Ukrainian community with Dutch King Willem-Alexander, third left, and Queen Maxima, second left, to discuss the situation in Ukraine, in The Hague. EPA
    Ukraine's ambassador to the Netherlands, Maksym Kononenko, third right, and his wife Tetiana Doroshenko, fourth left, attend a meeting of members of the Ukrainian community with Dutch King Willem-Alexander, third left, and Queen Maxima, second left, to discuss the situation in Ukraine, in The Hague. EPA
  • A Ukrainian soldier looks at the destruction after shelling in Ukraine's second-largest city of Kharkiv. AFP
    A Ukrainian soldier looks at the destruction after shelling in Ukraine's second-largest city of Kharkiv. AFP
  • A refugee holds her dog as they wait for trains to Poland in Lviv, Ukraine. Reuters
    A refugee holds her dog as they wait for trains to Poland in Lviv, Ukraine. Reuters
  • A woman ties ribbons in Ukrainian national flag colours in a girl's hair as people wait at a refugee assistance centre in Prague, Czech Republic. EPA
    A woman ties ribbons in Ukrainian national flag colours in a girl's hair as people wait at a refugee assistance centre in Prague, Czech Republic. EPA
  • A Ukrainian soldier carries an elderly woman crossing the Irpin river on the outskirts of Kyiv. AP
    A Ukrainian soldier carries an elderly woman crossing the Irpin river on the outskirts of Kyiv. AP
  • Lena, who had never left Ukraine before fleeing into Moldova, feeds Dasha, 3, soon after crossing the border. Erin Clare Brown for The National
    Lena, who had never left Ukraine before fleeing into Moldova, feeds Dasha, 3, soon after crossing the border. Erin Clare Brown for The National
  • Refugees without immediate plans to move further inland can stay the night in tents set up on Moldova's side of the border. Erin Clare Brown for The National
    Refugees without immediate plans to move further inland can stay the night in tents set up on Moldova's side of the border. Erin Clare Brown for The National
  • Tatiana and her son wait for a van that will carry them from the Moldovan border to Chisinau. Erin Clare Brown for The National
    Tatiana and her son wait for a van that will carry them from the Moldovan border to Chisinau. Erin Clare Brown for The National
  • Each night, the Palanca refugee camp in Moldova feeds up to 300 people who arrive with no onward plans. Erin Clare Brown for The National
    Each night, the Palanca refugee camp in Moldova feeds up to 300 people who arrive with no onward plans. Erin Clare Brown for The National
  • People pass a damaged bridge while fleeing the town of Irpin, close to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. AP
    People pass a damaged bridge while fleeing the town of Irpin, close to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. AP
  • A Ukrainian soldier stands guard next to a church in Irpin. EPA
    A Ukrainian soldier stands guard next to a church in Irpin. EPA
  • A firefighter holds the baby of a Ukrainian refugee at the border in Romania. AP
    A firefighter holds the baby of a Ukrainian refugee at the border in Romania. AP
  • Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks in Kyiv. Reuters
    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks in Kyiv. Reuters
  • A Ukrainian soldier at a checkpoint in Kyiv. AP
    A Ukrainian soldier at a checkpoint in Kyiv. AP
  • Ukrainian activist Ihor Mazur, left, a veteran of the war in the country's east, looks at a night-vision device in Kyiv. AP
    Ukrainian activist Ihor Mazur, left, a veteran of the war in the country's east, looks at a night-vision device in Kyiv. AP
  • Ambassadors attend a UN Security Council meeting on threats to international security after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in New York. Reuters
    Ambassadors attend a UN Security Council meeting on threats to international security after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in New York. Reuters
  • Ukraine's UN ambassador Sergey Kyslytsya holds a paper with an image of Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov as he addresses the Security Council in New York. Reuters
    Ukraine's UN ambassador Sergey Kyslytsya holds a paper with an image of Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov as he addresses the Security Council in New York. Reuters
  • A road sign put up in support of Mr Zelenskyy outside Russia's embassy in Washington. AFP
    A road sign put up in support of Mr Zelenskyy outside Russia's embassy in Washington. AFP
  • Ukrainian refugees at the train station in Lviv, western Ukraine. EPA
    Ukrainian refugees at the train station in Lviv, western Ukraine. EPA
  • Lethal and non-lethal Ukrainian aid is loaded on to a plane bound for Poland by Canadian soldiers in Trenton, Ontario. Reuters
    Lethal and non-lethal Ukrainian aid is loaded on to a plane bound for Poland by Canadian soldiers in Trenton, Ontario. Reuters
  • Volunteers carry medical aid and necessities at a train station in Lviv. EPA
    Volunteers carry medical aid and necessities at a train station in Lviv. EPA
  • Everton players wear T-shirts in support of Ukraine as they warm up for an English Premier League football match against Tottenham Hotspur. AP
    Everton players wear T-shirts in support of Ukraine as they warm up for an English Premier League football match against Tottenham Hotspur. AP
  • A residential building damaged by Russian shelling in Chernihiv, Ukraine. Reuters
    A residential building damaged by Russian shelling in Chernihiv, Ukraine. Reuters
  • A man walks past a checkpoint in heavy snow in Lviv. Getty
    A man walks past a checkpoint in heavy snow in Lviv. Getty
  • A man fleeing fighting in Irpin waits to cross a river after Russian forces entered the city. Getty
    A man fleeing fighting in Irpin waits to cross a river after Russian forces entered the city. Getty
  • Soldiers assist Irpin residents underneath a damaged bridge as they flee. Getty
    Soldiers assist Irpin residents underneath a damaged bridge as they flee. Getty
  • Ukrainian civilians who volunteered to join the Territorial Defence Forces take part in a training exercise in Odesa after Russia's invasion. Reuters
    Ukrainian civilians who volunteered to join the Territorial Defence Forces take part in a training exercise in Odesa after Russia's invasion. Reuters
  • Men carry a body to a lorry as people flee from the frontline town of Irpin. EPA
    Men carry a body to a lorry as people flee from the frontline town of Irpin. EPA
  • A Ukrainian police officer runs with a child as the sound of shelling echoes nearby in Irpin. AP
    A Ukrainian police officer runs with a child as the sound of shelling echoes nearby in Irpin. AP
  • Parents and children struggle to board a train in Lviv. AP
    Parents and children struggle to board a train in Lviv. AP

“But, clearly, this is a dangerous situation. And clearly, we want to make sure that the assistance we’re providing is done in an official way – like the anti-tank missiles that we provided prior to and during this conflict, and like the 22,000 Ukrainians that we’ve trained.”

The British government has sent mixed messages on the issue with Foreign Secretary Liz Truss facing criticism for saying she would back Britons going to Ukraine to fight Russia.

The chief of the defence staff, Tony Radakin, said the move would be “unlawful as well as unhelpful” for people to go to fight.

British citizens travelling to fight could potentially be prosecuted under the 1870 Foreign Enlistment Act, but the UK has a long history of applying the law "very selectively," said Nir Arielli, associate professor of International History at the University of Leeds in an article for The Conversation.

Ukraine’s government has set up its own website urging people to sign up with seven steps to sign up to a “voluntary contract-based” military service in the armed forces of Ukraine.

Mike and Alex, from the UK, arrive at the Polish Ukrainian border crossing looking for transport to Lviv to join the fight against the Russian invasion. Getty
Mike and Alex, from the UK, arrive at the Polish Ukrainian border crossing looking for transport to Lviv to join the fight against the Russian invasion. Getty

It included providing details of military service and an interview at an embassy. But many volunteers are heading straight to the border with Poland where volunteers are reportedly being met by officials in preparation for heading to battle.

The Ukrainian Ambassador to the UK, Vadym Prystaiko, warned against some Britons travelling to his country because it might divert from the war effort.

He said some with medical skills could be helpful on the ground, while others could not be stopped from travelling.

“We are not encouraging people to go but at the same time I can’t stop most of them to go there,” the ambassador told MPs on the Home Affairs select committee.

“People are gathering, some are coming with particular help like tactical medical stuff who are brave people and know what to do immediately, people [who] actually can be helpful on the ground, helping civilians, getting them out of these areas,” he said.

  • Volunteers from Rain or Shine in Scotland check through donations bound for Ukraine. All photos: PA
    Volunteers from Rain or Shine in Scotland check through donations bound for Ukraine. All photos: PA
  • Volunteers at the White Eagle Club) in Balham, south London, sift through donations before their aid convoy sets off to Ukraine.
    Volunteers at the White Eagle Club) in Balham, south London, sift through donations before their aid convoy sets off to Ukraine.
  • A man holds boxes of nappies as he waits to make a donation for Ukrainian refugees at the White Eagle Club in Balham.
    A man holds boxes of nappies as he waits to make a donation for Ukrainian refugees at the White Eagle Club in Balham.
  • Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, right, at the Edinburgh Ukrainian Club, speaks to members of the Ukrainian community about their concerns and views some of the donations.
    Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, right, at the Edinburgh Ukrainian Club, speaks to members of the Ukrainian community about their concerns and views some of the donations.
  • David Lee, David Edwards and Etienne Lee, about to set off for Poland from the Lewisham Polish Centre in south London, in a van loaded with donation for Ukrainian refugees.
    David Lee, David Edwards and Etienne Lee, about to set off for Poland from the Lewisham Polish Centre in south London, in a van loaded with donation for Ukrainian refugees.
  • Volunteers prepare to load a van with donations for Ukrainian refugees at the Lewisham Polish Centre.
    Volunteers prepare to load a van with donations for Ukrainian refugees at the Lewisham Polish Centre.
  • Smokey Deli owner Monika Rawson, who has been living in Northern Ireland since moving from Poland, has created a drop-off point at her restaurant in east Belfast for donations.
    Smokey Deli owner Monika Rawson, who has been living in Northern Ireland since moving from Poland, has created a drop-off point at her restaurant in east Belfast for donations.
  • People queue around the block to buy cakes, buns and other baked treats from the Deanston Bakery in Glasgow. The sale has raised at least £25,000 for Ukraine's refugees.
    People queue around the block to buy cakes, buns and other baked treats from the Deanston Bakery in Glasgow. The sale has raised at least £25,000 for Ukraine's refugees.
  • Volunteers making ribbons at the Ukrainian Social Club in Holland Park, London.
    Volunteers making ribbons at the Ukrainian Social Club in Holland Park, London.

“Some people are coming with logistical support, brave enough to use their own trucks and buses to go… we have to stop them actually from doing it because we don’t want to take care of yet another citizen of UK on our territory instead of fighting.”

Mr Matthew flew to Warsaw, Poland, and crossed the border without problem. He did not sign any undertakings as he was on a humanitarian mission.

He said he was hunkered down in Vynnitsia, but hoped to move on Thursday as part of a humanitarian convoy.

He is liaising with Ukrainian military units and would set up alongside them to receive a level of protection and help if he needed to leave in the face of a Russian advance.

He says those without military experience should stay in the UK as they represented a danger to themselves and those around them. “Send aid, donate but stay at home,” he said. “War is not a game, is not Call of Duty [an online game]”.

He added: “I’m medical, not a foreign soldier, I’m not fighting. I’m not overly concerned about that [being captured].”

“That being said they’re not really sticking to the rules of war, or the Geneva Convention, at the moment, so I may have to cross that bridge when I come to it.

“But it doesn’t faze me.”

Kat Wightman's tips on how to create zones in large spaces

 

  • Area carpets or rugs are the easiest way to segregate spaces while also unifying them.
  • Lighting can help define areas. Try pendant lighting over dining tables, and side and floor lamps in living areas.
  • Keep the colour palette the same in a room, but combine different tones and textures in different zone. A common accent colour dotted throughout the space brings it together.
  • Don’t be afraid to use furniture to break up the space. For example, if you have a sofa placed in the middle of the room, a console unit behind it will give good punctuation.
  • Use a considered collection of prints and artworks that work together to form a cohesive journey.
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption. 

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks. 

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes. 

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion. 

8. Pillar 2 implementation 

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations. 

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity. 

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

if you go

The flights
Fly direct to Kutaisi with Flydubai from Dh925 return, including taxes. The flight takes 3.5 hours. From there, Svaneti is a four-hour drive. The driving time from Tbilisi is eight hours.
The trip
The cost of the Svaneti trip is US$2,000 (Dh7,345) for 10 days, including food, guiding, accommodation and transfers from and to ­Tbilisi or Kutaisi. This summer the TCT is also offering a 5-day hike in Armenia for $1,200 (Dh4,407) per person. For further information, visit www.transcaucasiantrail.org/en/hike/

AL%20BOOM
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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

Voy!%20Voy!%20Voy!
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Omar%20Hilal%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Muhammad%20Farrag%2C%20Bayoumi%20Fouad%2C%20Nelly%20Karim%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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

WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?

1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull

2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight

3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge

4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own

5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed

The finalists

Player of the Century, 2001-2020: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Ronaldinho

Coach of the Century, 2001-2020: Pep Guardiola (Manchester City), Jose Mourinho (Tottenham Hotspur), Zinedine Zidane (Real Madrid), Sir Alex Ferguson

Club of the Century, 2001-2020: Al Ahly (Egypt), Bayern Munich (Germany), Barcelona (Spain), Real Madrid (Spain)

Player of the Year: Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)

Club of the Year: Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Real Madrid

Coach of the Year: Gian Piero Gasperini (Atalanta), Hans-Dieter Flick (Bayern Munich), Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool)

Agent of the Century, 2001-2020: Giovanni Branchini, Jorge Mendes, Mino Raiola

The specs

Engine: 3.5-litre V6

Power: 272hp at 6,400rpm

Torque: 331Nm from 5,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.7L/100km

On sale: now

Price: Dh149,000

 

The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Power: 510hp at 9,000rpm
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Price: From Dh801,800
HER%20FIRST%20PALESTINIAN
%3Cp%3EAuthor%3A%20Saeed%20Teebi%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EPages%3A%20256%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EPublisher%3A%C2%A0House%20of%20Anansi%20Press%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

COMPANY PROFILE

Name: N2 Technology

Founded: 2018

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: Startups

Size: 14

Funding: $1.7m from HNIs

The%20Roundup
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Cultural fiesta

What: The Al Burda Festival
When: November 14 (from 10am)
Where: Warehouse421,  Abu Dhabi
The Al Burda Festival is a celebration of Islamic art and culture, featuring talks, performances and exhibitions. Organised by the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development, this one-day event opens with a session on the future of Islamic art. With this in mind, it is followed by a number of workshops and “masterclass” sessions in everything from calligraphy and typography to geometry and the origins of Islamic design. There will also be discussions on subjects including ‘Who is the Audience for Islamic Art?’ and ‘New Markets for Islamic Design.’ A live performance from Kuwaiti guitarist Yousif Yaseen should be one of the highlights of the day. 

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Museum of the Future in numbers
  •  78 metres is the height of the museum
  •  30,000 square metres is its total area
  •  17,000 square metres is the length of the stainless steel facade
  •  14 kilometres is the length of LED lights used on the facade
  •  1,024 individual pieces make up the exterior 
  •  7 floors in all, with one for administrative offices
  •  2,400 diagonally intersecting steel members frame the torus shape
  •  100 species of trees and plants dot the gardens
  •  Dh145 is the price of a ticket

Best Academy: Ajax and Benfica

Best Agent: Jorge Mendes

Best Club : Liverpool   

 Best Coach: Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool)  

 Best Goalkeeper: Alisson Becker

 Best Men’s Player: Cristiano Ronaldo

 Best Partnership of the Year Award by SportBusiness: Manchester City and SAP

 Best Referee: Stephanie Frappart

Best Revelation Player: Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid and Portugal)

Best Sporting Director: Andrea Berta (Atletico Madrid)

Best Women's Player:  Lucy Bronze

Best Young Arab Player: Achraf Hakimi

 Kooora – Best Arab Club: Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia)

 Kooora – Best Arab Player: Abderrazak Hamdallah (Al-Nassr FC, Saudi Arabia)

 Player Career Award: Miralem Pjanic and Ryan Giggs

The specs

Engine: four-litre V6 and 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo

Transmission: six-speed and 10-speed

Power: 271 and 409 horsepower

Torque: 385 and 650Nm

Price: from Dh229,900 to Dh355,000

How Filipinos in the UAE invest

A recent survey of 10,000 Filipino expatriates in the UAE found that 82 per cent have plans to invest, primarily in property. This is significantly higher than the 2014 poll showing only two out of 10 Filipinos planned to invest.

Fifty-five percent said they plan to invest in property, according to the poll conducted by the New Perspective Media Group, organiser of the Philippine Property and Investment Exhibition. Acquiring a franchised business or starting up a small business was preferred by 25 per cent and 15 per cent said they will invest in mutual funds. The rest said they are keen to invest in insurance (3 per cent) and gold (2 per cent).

Of the 5,500 respondents who preferred property as their primary investment, 54 per cent said they plan to make the purchase within the next year. Manila was the top location, preferred by 53 per cent.

What is graphene?

Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged like honeycomb.

It was discovered in 2004, when Russian-born Manchester scientists Andrei Geim and Kostya Novoselov were "playing about" with sticky tape and graphite - the material used as "lead" in pencils.

Placing the tape on the graphite and peeling it, they managed to rip off thin flakes of carbon. In the beginning they got flakes consisting of many layers of graphene. But as they repeated the process many times, the flakes got thinner.

By separating the graphite fragments repeatedly, they managed to create flakes that were just one atom thick. Their experiment had led to graphene being isolated for the very first time.

At the time, many believed it was impossible for such thin crystalline materials to be stable. But examined under a microscope, the material remained stable, and when tested was found to have incredible properties.

It is many times times stronger than steel, yet incredibly lightweight and flexible. It is electrically and thermally conductive but also transparent. The world's first 2D material, it is one million times thinner than the diameter of a single human hair.

But the 'sticky tape' method would not work on an industrial scale. Since then, scientists have been working on manufacturing graphene, to make use of its incredible properties.

In 2010, Geim and Novoselov were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics. Their discovery meant physicists could study a new class of two-dimensional materials with unique properties. 

 

Top%2010%20most%20competitive%20economies
%3Cp%3E1.%20Singapore%0D%3Cbr%3E2.%20Switzerland%0D%3Cbr%3E3.%20Denmark%0D%3Cbr%3E4.%20Ireland%0D%3Cbr%3E5.%20Hong%20Kong%0D%3Cbr%3E6.%20Sweden%0D%3Cbr%3E7.%20UAE%0D%3Cbr%3E8.%20Taiwan%0D%3Cbr%3E9.%20Netherlands%0D%3Cbr%3E10.%20Norway%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
GAC GS8 Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh149,900

SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20NOTHING%20PHONE%20(2)
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDisplay%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%206.7%E2%80%9D%20LPTO%20Amoled%2C%202412%20x%201080%2C%20394ppi%2C%20HDR10%2B%2C%20Corning%20Gorilla%20Glass%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EProcessor%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Qualcomm%20Snapdragon%208%2B%20Gen%202%2C%20octa-core%3B%20Adreno%20730%20GPU%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMemory%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%208%2F12GB%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECapacity%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20128%2F256%2F512GB%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPlatform%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Android%2013%2C%20Nothing%20OS%202%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMain%20camera%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dual%2050MP%20wide%2C%20f%2F1.9%20%2B%2050MP%20ultrawide%2C%20f%2F2.2%3B%20OIS%2C%20auto-focus%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMain%20camera%20video%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204K%20%40%2030%2F60fps%2C%201080p%20%40%2030%2F60fps%3B%20live%20HDR%2C%20OIS%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFront%20camera%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2032MP%20wide%2C%20f%2F2.5%2C%20HDR%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFront%20camera%20video%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Full-HD%20%40%2030fps%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBattery%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204700mAh%3B%20full%20charge%20in%2055m%20w%2F%2045w%20charger%3B%20Qi%20wireless%2C%20dual%20charging%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EConnectivity%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Wi-Fi%2C%20Bluetooth%205.3%2C%20NFC%20(Google%20Pay)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBiometrics%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Fingerprint%2C%20face%20unlock%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EI%2FO%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20USB-C%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDurability%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20IP54%2C%20limited%20protection%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECards%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dual-nano%20SIM%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EColours%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dark%20grey%2C%20white%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EIn%20the%20box%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Nothing%20Phone%20(2)%2C%20USB-C-to-USB-C%20cable%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%20(UAE)%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dh2%2C499%20(12GB%2F256GB)%20%2F%20Dh2%2C799%20(12GB%2F512GB)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The%20Afghan%20connection
%3Cp%3EThe%20influx%20of%20talented%20young%20Afghan%20players%20to%20UAE%20cricket%20could%20have%20a%20big%20impact%20on%20the%20fortunes%20of%20both%20countries.%20Here%20are%20three%20Emirates-based%20players%20to%20watch%20out%20for.%0D%3Cbr%3E%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EHassan%20Khan%20Eisakhil%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EMohammed%20Nabi%20is%20still%20proving%20his%20worth%20at%20the%20top%20level%20but%20there%20is%20another%20reason%20he%20is%20raging%20against%20the%20idea%20of%20retirement.%20If%20the%20allrounder%20hangs%20on%20a%20little%20bit%20longer%2C%20he%20might%20be%20able%20to%20play%20in%20the%20same%20team%20as%20his%20son%2C%20Hassan%20Khan.%20The%20family%20live%20in%20Ajman%20and%20train%20in%20Sharjah.%0D%3Cbr%3E%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EMasood%20Gurbaz%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EThe%20opening%20batter%2C%20who%20trains%20at%20Sharjah%20Cricket%20Academy%2C%20is%20another%20player%20who%20is%20a%20part%20of%20a%20famous%20family.%20His%20brother%2C%20Rahmanullah%2C%20was%20an%20IPL%20winner%20with%20Kolkata%20Knight%20Riders%2C%20and%20opens%20the%20batting%20with%20distinction%20for%20Afghanistan.%0D%3Cbr%3E%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOmid%20Rahman%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EThe%20fast%20bowler%20became%20a%20pioneer%20earlier%20this%20year%20when%20he%20became%20the%20first%20Afghan%20to%20represent%20the%20UAE.%20He%20showed%20great%20promise%20in%20doing%20so%2C%20too%2C%20playing%20a%20key%20role%20in%20the%20senior%20team%E2%80%99s%20qualification%20for%20the%20Asia%20Cup%20in%20Muscat%20recently.%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs

Engine: 2.9-litre, V6 twin-turbo

Transmission: seven-speed PDK dual clutch automatic

Power: 375bhp

Torque: 520Nm

Price: Dh332,800

On sale: now

Libya's Gold

UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves. 

The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.

Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.

The biog

Name: Capt Shadia Khasif

Position: Head of the Criminal Registration Department at Hatta police

Family: Five sons and three daughters

The first female investigator in Hatta.

Role Model: Father

She believes that there is a solution to every problem

 

 

 

Rocketman

Director: Dexter Fletcher

Starring: Taron Egerton, Richard Madden, Jamie Bell

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars 

While you're here
'Gehraiyaan'
Director:Shakun Batra

Stars:Deepika Padukone, Siddhant Chaturvedi, Ananya Panday, Dhairya Karwa

Rating: 4/5

CREW
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERajesh%20A%20Krishnan%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ETabu%2C%20Kareena%20Kapoor%20Khan%2C%20Kriti%20Sanon%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The Matrix Resurrections

Director: Lana Wachowski

Stars:  Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Jessica Henwick 

Rating:****

Kandahar%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ric%20Roman%20Waugh%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%C2%A0%3C%2Fstrong%3EGerard%20Butler%2C%20Navid%20Negahban%2C%20Ali%20Fazal%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Updated: March 09, 2022, 3:57 PM