The 2018 Fifa World Cup has brought together 32 national teams, representing five sporting confederations, to Russia in celebration of sport. Tens of thousands of football fans from across the world have electrified stadiums and generated a carnival atmosphere in host cities. And four days in, the tournament is proving to be far more exciting than anyone had predicted. Defending champions Germany were beaten by Mexico. Iceland, taking part for the first time ever at a World Cup, tied with their formidable Argentine opponents. Brazil, home to some of the world's most revered footballers, only managed to draw with Switzerland. Alas, some of this region's sporting cynosures – Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Morocco – have not got off on the best footing, although opportunities for redemption lie ahead.
So for all the questions raised about the appropriateness of staging the games in Russia, the 2018 World Cup has got off to a brilliant start. Fans of football all over will have enjoyed every moment of it. In the region, however, BeIN Sports, the Qatar-backed channel with the broadcasting rights to the tournament, appears determined to ruin viewers' pleasure – and, even worse, politicise sport and subvert the inclusive spirit of the World Cup. Games telecast by the broadcaster have been obscured by a constant stream of messages about piracy and floating BeIN logos all over the screen..
These messages convey a clear disregard for the viewing experience of paying subscribers. But that's only a part of the story. Qatar has abused the privilege of Fifa broadcasting rights by suffusing sporting commentary, which by convention is neutral, with a torrent of polemical, political rhetoric directed at Saudi Arabia. The World Cup is meant to unite; Qatar is deploying its monopoly to divide. Football fans have reacted by floating a petition against this blatant politicisation by Doha, which has drawn 47,000 signatures, including by Ahmed Hassan, the former captain of Egypt's national football team. Turki Al Sheikh, head of Saudi Arabia's sports authority, is considering legal action against BeIN. Fifa, which awarded the 2022 World Cup to Qatar, needs to act urgently to intervene against BeIN's egregious conduct. What is at stake is the tournament's core message of inclusion.
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Cricket World Cup League 2
UAE squad
Rahul Chopra (captain), Aayan Afzal Khan, Ali Naseer, Aryansh Sharma, Basil Hameed, Dhruv Parashar, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Waseem, Omid Rahman, Rahul Bhatia, Tanish Suri, Vishnu Sukumaran, Vriitya Aravind
Fixtures
Friday, November 1 – Oman v UAE
Sunday, November 3 – UAE v Netherlands
Thursday, November 7 – UAE v Oman
Saturday, November 9 – Netherlands v UAE
Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha
Starring: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shantanu Maheshwari, Jimmy Shergill, Saiee Manjrekar
Director: Neeraj Pandey
Rating: 2.5/5
What went into the film
25 visual effects (VFX) studios
2,150 VFX shots in a film with 2,500 shots
1,000 VFX artists
3,000 technicians
10 Concept artists, 25 3D designers
New sound technology, named 4D SRL
IF YOU GO
The flights
FlyDubai flies direct from Dubai to Skopje in five hours from Dh1,314 return including taxes. Hourly buses from Skopje to Ohrid take three hours.
The tours
English-speaking guided tours of Ohrid town and the surrounding area are organised by Cultura 365; these cost €90 (Dh386) for a one-day trip including driver and guide and €100 a day (Dh429) for two people.
The hotels
Villa St Sofija in the old town of Ohrid, twin room from $54 (Dh198) a night.
St Naum Monastery, on the lake 30km south of Ohrid town, has updated its pilgrims' quarters into a modern 3-star hotel, with rooms overlooking the monastery courtyard and lake. Double room from $60 (Dh 220) a night.
How to avoid crypto fraud
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Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
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
The biog
Profession: Senior sports presenter and producer
Marital status: Single
Favourite book: Al Nabi by Jibran Khalil Jibran
Favourite food: Italian and Lebanese food
Favourite football player: Cristiano Ronaldo
Languages: Arabic, French, English, Portuguese and some Spanish
Website: www.liliane-tannoury.com
How to tell if your child is being bullied at school
Sudden change in behaviour or displays higher levels of stress or anxiety
Shows signs of depression or isolation
Ability to sleep well diminishes
Academic performance begins to deteriorate
Changes in eating habits
Struggles to concentrate
Refuses to go to school
Behaviour changes and is aggressive towards siblings
Begins to use language they do not normally use
If you go
Flying
Despite the extreme distance, flying to Fairbanks is relatively simple, requiring just one transfer in Seattle, which can be reached directly from Dubai with Emirates for Dh6,800 return.
Touring
Gondwana Ecotours’ seven-day Polar Bear Adventure starts in Fairbanks in central Alaska before visiting Kaktovik and Utqiarvik on the North Slope. Polar bear viewing is highly likely in Kaktovik, with up to five two-hour boat tours included. Prices start from Dh11,500 per person, with all local flights, meals and accommodation included; gondwanaecotours.com
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UAE Rugby finals day
Games being played at The Sevens, Dubai
2pm, UAE Conference final
Dubai Tigers v Al Ain Amblers
4pm, UAE Premiership final
Abu Dhabi Harlequins v Jebel Ali Dragons
