Chelsea
In a somewhat surprising development, John Stones has apparently looked to force Everton's hand by handing in a transfer request as Chelsea pursue the young defender, reports said Wednesday.
Sky Sports were the first to relay the information on Twitter on Tuesday night.
The 21-year-old centre-back has been the subject of intense manoeuvring by Chelsea in the past weeks, with a steady stream of bids slowly rising from £20 million (Dh115.3m) to the last rejected proposal of £30m. Speculation in the English press has pegged a subsequent, final play for Stones as high as £40m.
Everton have been intent on keeping Stones, and as recently as Monday he was earning praise from teammates and manager Roberto Martinez for his composure through the transfer window.
“John is a different character. He is not arrogant. The most important thing for him is to play football and that is what he continues to do,” said Everton keeper Tim Howard.
Read more: Thomas Woods writes Kurt Zouma can replace John Terry at Chelsea – right now
Martinez said: “We have seen John grow in the last two years and we want to be as strong as we can when the window closes. We have our own aims and objectives and want to become a winning team.”
Now, though, Martinez is faced with carefully maintaining a positive relationship with his want-away young star if he’s to convince Stones that Goodison Park is still the best place for him.
On Tuesday night he had little to say on the matter.
“There is nothing to comment on that,” he said. “Once more, it is always the same question and always the same answer. The only thing that matters now is the game we have in front of us.
“There is nothing to announce or discuss.”
Jose Mourinho has sought to recruit Stones to Chelsea with increasing assertiveness as his club have stumbled to an unimpressive start. The Premier League champions are 10th after three matches – one win, one draw, one loss – while stalwarts in defence like John Terry and Branislav Ivanovic have yet to hit any sort of stride.
Real Madrid
After talk of a move to high-profile Premier League sides like Liverpool or Tottenham Hotspur, Real Madrid's Asier Illarramendi appears set for a low-key move back to boyhood club Real Sociedad.
Spain's Marca reports a €17 million (Dh71.7m) deal for Illarramendi to leave the Bernabeu and lend David Moyes's Sociedad side some star power. The Spanish newspaper cited reports from the EFE agency.
Also see: The National's Transfer Talk page
Madrid purchased Illarramendi from Sociedad two years ago for €39m. "Two years later," says Marca "and a move in the opposite direction suited everyone concerned".
Both Liverpool and Spurs have been said to be in the market for a defensive midfielder, and Illarramendi, 25, appeared to be the premium talent on the market. He has never quite become a fixture in Madrid’s best XI, but made nearly 30 league appearances in both his seasons at the Bernabeu.
West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion assistant Dave Kemp admitted Saido Berahino could return to the team against Stoke City after his exile.
The striker was dropped again as West Brom edged Port Vale 5-3 on penalties in the League Cup following a forgettable 0-0 draw after extra-time at The Hawthorns.
Richard Duffy blazed his penalty over in the shoot-out leaving James Chester to seal the Premier League side’s route to the third round and a tie at Norwich City.
West Brom had rejected a second bid from Tottenham Hotspur for Berahino, understood to total £21m with clauses and instalments, hours before the game.
Kemp said they will attempt to determine the player’s state of mind before Saturday’s trip to the Britannia Stadium.
“That’s something we can assess between now and then. We’ll see what happens as it unfolds. Once we get to next Tuesday it’ll be clearer,” he said, referencing the transfer deadline of August 31.
“He was considered tonight but there’s other stuff. This transfer window is upsetting not just to Saido but to everyone.
“He’s training fine, you can imagine he’s a young man and there’s a lot going on and your eye might not be on the ball. You have to be totally focused to perform.
“The manager has to make a decision.”
*Press Association
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The five types of long-term residential visas
Obed Suhail of ServiceMarket, an online home services marketplace, outlines the five types of long-term residential visas:
Investors:
A 10-year residency visa can be obtained by investors who invest Dh10 million, out of which 60 per cent should not be in real estate. It can be a public investment through a deposit or in a business. Those who invest Dh5 million or more in property are eligible for a five-year residency visa. The invested amount should be completely owned by the investors, not loaned, and retained for at least three years.
Entrepreneurs:
A five-year multiple entry visa is available to entrepreneurs with a previous project worth Dh0.5m or those with the approval of an accredited business incubator in the UAE.
Specialists
Expats with specialised talents, including doctors, specialists, scientists, inventors, and creative individuals working in the field of culture and art are eligible for a 10-year visa, given that they have a valid employment contract in one of these fields in the country.
Outstanding students:
A five-year visa will be granted to outstanding students who have a grade of 95 per cent or higher in a secondary school, or those who graduate with a GPA of 3.75 from a university.
Retirees:
Expats who are at least 55 years old can obtain a five-year retirement visa if they invest Dh2m in property, have savings of Dh1m or more, or have a monthly income of at least Dh20,000.
How it works
1) The liquid nanoclay is a mixture of water and clay that aims to convert desert land to fertile ground
2) Instead of water draining straight through the sand, it apparently helps the soil retain water
3) One application is said to last five years
4) The cost of treatment per hectare (2.4 acres) of desert varies from $7,000 to $10,000 per hectare
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 specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
TOURNAMENT INFO
Opening fixtures:
Friday, Oct 5
8pm: Kabul Zwanan v Paktia Panthers
Saturday, Oct 6
4pm: Nangarhar Leopards v Kandahar Knights
8pm: Kabul Zwanan v Balkh Legends
Tickets
Tickets can be bought online at https://www.q-tickets.com/apl/eventlist and at the ticket office at the stadium.
TV info
The tournament will be broadcast live in the UAE on OSN Sports.
Abandon
Sangeeta Bandyopadhyay
Translated by Arunava Sinha
Tilted Axis Press
What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
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.
Top New Zealand cop on policing the virtual world
New Zealand police began closer scrutiny of social media and online communities after the attacks on two mosques in March, the country's top officer said.
The killing of 51 people in Christchurch and wounding of more than 40 others shocked the world. Brenton Tarrant, a suspected white supremacist, was accused of the killings. His trial is ongoing and he denies the charges.
Mike Bush, commissioner of New Zealand Police, said officers looked closely at how they monitored social media in the wake of the tragedy to see if lessons could be learned.
“We decided that it was fit for purpose but we need to deepen it in terms of community relationships, extending them not only with the traditional community but the virtual one as well," he told The National.
"We want to get ahead of attacks like we suffered in New Zealand so we have to challenge ourselves to be better."
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Profile of MoneyFellows
Founder: Ahmed Wadi
Launched: 2016
Employees: 76
Financing stage: Series A ($4 million)
Investors: Partech, Sawari Ventures, 500 Startups, Dubai Angel Investors, Phoenician Fund
Three ways to get a gratitude glow
By committing to at least one of these daily, you can bring more gratitude into your life, says Ong.
- During your morning skincare routine, name five things you are thankful for about yourself.
- As you finish your skincare routine, look yourself in the eye and speak an affirmation, such as: “I am grateful for every part of me, including my ability to take care of my skin.”
- In the evening, take some deep breaths, notice how your skin feels, and listen for what your skin is grateful for.
Red Sparrow
Dir: Francis Lawrence
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Joel Egerton, Charlotte Rampling, Jeremy Irons
Three stars
