Five events to watch in the UAE this week.
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FOOTBALL: Paris Saint-Germain v Manchester City, Uefa Champions League, Wednesday, 10.45pm, beIN Sports
Manchester City travel to the French capital to take on a Paris Saint-Germain side determined to transfer their domestic dominance on to Europe’s biggest stage. With the Ligue 1 title long since secured, PSG contest the Coupe de la Ligue final against Lille at the end of the month, and are also in the semi-finals of France’s other domestic cup competition, the Coupe de France. But success in the Champions League is what PSG crave, as do City. These two heavyweights clash in the first leg of the quarter-final at the Parc des Princes.
MOTORSPORT: Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, until Thursday
If you’re not entirely comfortable chasing the pack as they make their way through the unforgiving terrain of the Rub Al Khali, the world’s largest continuous sand desert, maybe rock up to Yas Marina Circuit for the finish on Thursday, where the winners will end their marathon journey. Two-time defending Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge champion Vladimir Vasilyev is chasing an unprecedented third title in the auto category, while local hopes in the moto category rest with Mohammed Al Balooshi.
POLO: Dubai Polo Gold Cup, Friday to April 15, Dubai Polo and Equestrian Club, Arabian Ranches
Nine teams take part in the 8-10 goal handicap competition. The nine teams are Abu Dhabi Polo Team, Bin Drai Polo Team, Edrees Polo Team, Ghantoot Polo Team, Julius Baer Polo team by Habtoor, Mahra Polo Team, UAE Polo Team, Wolves Polo Team, Zedan Polo Team. For more information visit www.dubaipologoldcup.com.
FOOTBALL: Al Wahda v Emirates, Arabian Gulf League, Saturday, 6pm
The newly crowned Arabian Gulf Cup winners Al Wahda return to league play this weekend buoyed by securing their first piece of major silverware since winning the league championship in 2009/10. A Denilson goal inside the opening 60 seconds was enough to see off Al Shabab in Friday’s final, the task now for Javier Aguirre’s fourth-placed side is to attempt to secure a top-three finish in the league. They face an Emirates side currently 12th in the standings and just three points above the drop zone.
BOXING: Manny Pacquiao v Tim Bradley, Sunday, coverage from 7am, beIN Sports
Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao will bring down the curtain on a boxing career that has garnered titles in eight different divisions when he steps into the ring to face American challenger Tim Bradley for a third time in Las Vegas. Bradley won a highly contentious decision in their first duel in 2012 before Pacquiao exacted revenge two years later. It wasn’t the final fight we wanted for the “Pac-Man”, but nevertheless, the Filipino is guaranteed a raucous send off, if this does prove to be the last time we see him in a ring.
The specs
Engine: 3-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 400hp
Torque: 475Nm
Transmission: 9-speed automatic
Price: From Dh215,900
On sale: Now
Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
It's Monty Python's Crashing Rocket Circus
To the theme tune of the famous zany British comedy TV show, SpaceX has shown exactly what can go wrong when you try to land a rocket.
The two minute video posted on YouTube is a compilation of crashes and explosion as the company, created by billionaire Elon Musk, refined the technique of reusable space flight.
SpaceX is able to land its rockets on land once they have completed the first stage of their mission, and is able to resuse them multiple times - a first for space flight.
But as the video, How Not to Land an Orbital Rocket Booster, demonstrates, it was a case if you fail, try and try again.
Sustainable Development Goals
1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere
2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation
10. Reduce inequality within and among countries
11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its effects
14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development
More coverage from the Future Forum
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
THE LIGHT
Director: Tom Tykwer
Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger
Rating: 3/5
SPECS
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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
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
- Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
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if you go
The flights
Direct flights from the UAE to the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu, are available with Air Arabia, (www.airarabia.com) Fly Dubai (www.flydubai.com) or Etihad (www.etihad.com) from Dh1,200 return including taxes. The trek described here started from Jomson, but there are many other start and end point variations depending on how you tailor your trek. To get to Jomson from Kathmandu you must first fly to the lake-side resort town of Pokhara with either Buddha Air (www.buddhaair.com) or Yeti Airlines (www.yetiairlines.com). Both charge around US$240 (Dh880) return. From Pokhara there are early morning flights to Jomson with Yeti Airlines or Simrik Airlines (www.simrikairlines.com) for around US$220 (Dh800) return.
The trek
Restricted area permits (US$500 per person) are required for trekking in the Upper Mustang area. The challenging Meso Kanto pass between Tilcho Lake and Jomson should not be attempted by those without a lot of mountain experience and a good support team. An excellent trekking company with good knowledge of Upper Mustang, the Annaurpuna Circuit and Tilcho Lake area and who can help organise a version of the trek described here is the Nepal-UK run Snow Cat Travel (www.snowcattravel.com). Prices vary widely depending on accommodation types and the level of assistance required.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, first leg
Liverpool v Roma
When: April 24, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Globalization and its Discontents Revisited
Joseph E. Stiglitz
W. W. Norton & Company
