Day: January 10, 2023

Sports

Man City crush Chelsea in FA Cup, Villa upset by Stevenage

head dubai January 10, 2023 No Comments

Pep Guardiola made seven changes from the City side that won 1-0 at Chelsea on Thursday. But City were still far too dynamic for the struggling Blues.

Manchester City powered to a second victory against troubled Chelsea in the space of four days as Riyad Mahrez inspired a 4-0 rout in the FA Cup third round, while Aston Villa crashed to a 2-1 defeat against fourth tier Stevenage on Sunday.

After Premier League sides Newcastle, Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth were humiliated by lower-league opposition on Saturday, Unai Emery’s Villa were rocked by Stevenage’s two-goal blast in the final minutes.

Premier League champions City rarely suffer such humiliation and they made the strongest possible start by dismissing Chelsea with contemptuous ease at the Etihad Stadium.

Pep Guardiola made seven changes from the City side that won 1-0 at Chelsea in the Premier League on Thursday.

But City were still far too dynamic for struggling Chelsea as Mahrez struck with a brilliant free-kick and a late penalty, with Julian Alvarez and Phil Foden also scoring.

In the fourth round, City will host Premier League leaders Arsenal or third- tier Oxford, who meet on Monday.

City had already eliminated Chelsea from the League Cup this season and the west London club’s first FA Cup third-round exit since 1998 was another blow to a season in danger of spiralling out of control.

While it is probably too early for Chelsea boss Graham Potter to be fearing the sack, just four months after he arrived from Brighton to replace the axed Thomas Tuchel, the 47-year-old might be having a few sleepless nights as he wrestles with his team’s woeful form.

Chelsea have won just three of their last 12 games in all competitions and sit 10th in the Premier League, 10 points adrift of the top four place the club’s American owners would surely have expected Potter to deliver.

Potter will hardly have been comforted by the sound of Chelsea fans chanting Tuchel’s name as they pine for the German who led them to Champions league glory in 2021.

Given Chelsea’s predicament it was curious that Potter elected to make six changes, with Bashir Humphreys given his debut and fellow teenager Lewis Hall also starting.

Mahrez took advantage of Potter’s selection gamble when he drew a rash foul from Hall in the 23rd minute.

The Algeria winger had scored the winner against Chelsea on Thursday and this time he bent a superb free-kick into the top corner from 25 yards.

City’s second goal was a gift from Chelsea forward Kai Havertz, who punched the ball as he challenged Aymeric Laporte at a corner.

Alvarez slotted the 30th minute penalty past Kepa Arrizabalaga despite the Chelsea keeper’s attempt to distract the Argentine World Cup winner by talking to him before the kick.

Chelsea were being torn apart and Foden hit the third goal in the 38th minute, the England forward finishing off Kyle Walker’s cross after Mahrez’s pass unhinged the ragged visitors.

Beaten in the last three FA Cup finals, Chelsea’s misery was compounded in the 85th minute as Mahrez scored from the spot after Kalidou Koulibaly fouled Foden.

Villa boss Unai Emery made eight changes against Stevenage and the team currently second in League Two made the Spaniard pay for his decision.

Morgan Sanson put Villa ahead in the 33rd minute but Jamie Reid equalised with an 88th minute penalty after Leander Dendoncker was sent off for fouling Dean Campbell.

And Campbell sparked wild Stevenage celebrations in the 90th minute when he smashed home from a short corner.

Leeds were fortunate to avoid embarrassment after escaping with a dramatic 2-2 draw at second tier Cardiff.

Jesse Marsch’s side were shocked by first-half goals from Jayden Philogene-Bidace and Sheyi Ojo.

Rodrigo got one back in the 65th minute, then missed a penalty after Cardiff’s Joel Bagan was sent off for handling on the line.With just seconds left, Sonny Perkins spared Rodrigo’s blushes as the 18-year-old substitute netted from close-range to force a replay.

Business

UAE: Gold prices inch lower, drop half a dirham per gram in Dubai

head dubai January 10, 2023 No Comments

Traders focus on Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell’s speech, wait to see how the Fed reacts to the December inflation report.

Gold prices inched lower on Tuesday as the US dollar witnessed an uptick, with traders largely focusing on Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell’s speech for insights into the central bank’s rate hike path.

Spot gold was down 0.2 per cent at $1,868.85 per ounce.

In the UAE, gold prices fell nearly half a dirham at the opening of the markets on Tuesday. The Dubai Jewellery Group data showed 24K trading at Dh226.75 per gram as compared to last night’s close of Dh227.25. Meanwhile, 22K, 21K and 18K opened at Dh209.75, Dh203.25 and Dh174.0 per gram, respectively.

Edward Moya, a senior market analyst at Oanda, said it looks like everyone is liking gold as the peak in yields appears to be in place.

“Gold could see further momentum if China’s optimism continues. Ahead of the Lunar New holiday, retail gold buying should improve even as prices are elevated,” he said.

Moya added that the precious metal’s rally, however, should run out of steam as traders will await to see how the Fed reacts to the December inflation report.

“Expectations are for the disinflation trends to continue, but core CPI might struggle to come down as quickly. Energy prices plunged in December, but that positive contribution to the fight against inflation might go away this month. Gold has massive resistance at the $1,900 level, but that might not last if core prices cool much more quickly,” he said.

Uncategorized

From missing children to life savings: UAE residents share incredible lost-and-found stories, hail safety of Emirates

head dubai January 10, 2023 No Comments

The country routinely scores very highly on safety indexes globally.

A key feature of life in the UAE is the enormous safety and security that residents enjoy. UAE routinely scores very highly on safety indexes globally. In 2021, a Gallup poll showed that 95 per cent of residents feel safe walking alone at night. Videos showing the extent of security residents and tourists feel have gone viral in the past, with people leaving phones and wallets in public places for hours without them being stolen.

UAE-based explorer Naaji Noushi, who was in the news for driving from India to the 2022 Fifa World Cup in Qatar, has thanked Dubai Police for their efforts in finding her son after he was lost at Dubai Mall. In a post on her verified Instagram account, Naaji commended the police and mall security for their swift action.

“We were walking hand in hand and suddenly in just a minute, he was lost,” she said, speaking to Khaleej Times about the incident where her 6-year-old son Zohan went missing. “It was the first Friday of the new year, so the mall was especially crowded. For the first half an hour, we tried looking for him on our own, but we started to get agitated and approached the mall security. The police were very reassuring and told us that it is a common occurrence. They asked us for his photo and within 10 minutes, they located him. I was so thankful to be in a safe country like the UAE.”

The mother of five, who relocated to Abu Dhabi from Oman late last year, said it was the first time she had experienced such an incident. “This is the first time since we relocated to Middle East that such an incident happened,” she said. “I was so worried, but I am so grateful to the police and security for acting so swiftly.”

“This is how things work here”

Abu Dhabi resident Abu Khadija did not bat an eyelid when a new colleague called him frantically. “He had just moved to the UAE from New Zealand, and he forgot a bag with all his life savings in the back of a taxi,” he said. “He was almost in tears when he called. I told him not to worry as he would get it back and advised him to report it to the nearest police station.

And sure enough, as the British expat predicted, the bag was returned the very same evening. “My colleague was in disbelief and thanked me profusely. I told him that this is how things worked in this country. I joked with him that you don’t become a true resident of the UAE until you have lost something and had it returned to you.”

Last week, Dubai Police handed a Kyrgyz tourist her watch worth Dh110,000 that she lost a year earlier during her visit to Dubai, despite never having file a missing report. With no contact number to get in touch with her, Dubai Police went to extreme lengths to make sure she was reunited with her time piece.

“Exact same spot”

In 2021, Dubai-based coach Claudine Foong posted on Instagram about how she forgot a stroller in a car park overnight and returned the next day to find it in the exact same spot with nothing missing. Her story was reposted by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai who called it a “a true story that we can all relate to in Dubai”