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Will the 2022 World Cup prove Qatar to be the perfect holiday destination?

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Encompassing a north-running peninsular into the Persian Gulf, Qatar’s total land area is 11,571 km2. For a comparison, Northern Ireland spans 14,130 km2, Moldova is 33,846 km2, and the smallest World Cup host remains Uruguay at 176,215 km2. In 2010, the country had a handful of suitable football stadiums, nearly 50,000 hotel rooms, and ranked 99th in the FIFA World Rankings. So, as you would imagine, it was the perfect host for the second-largest sporting contest in the world, the FIFA World Cup.

Awarded the tremendous event at the end of 2010, Qatar has had 12 years to erect new stadiums, infuse cooling technology across the board, and make the tiny nation fit to entertain some three million people who’ll watch the games in stadiums – as well as all of the teams, coaching staff, media, and medical teams. As you may recall, Qatar getting the World Cup kicked up quite the fuss – just as the brains behind the much-maligned and quickly quashed Super League was – but it’ll be here soon, and there may yet be a silver lining.

Potential to emerge as a top tourist destination

As its landmass enforces, there isn’t a lot to Qatar: its desire to host the World Cup has seen it build several new stadiums, most of which will be broken down and shifted off after the hoisting of the trophy. So, when it commits to a theme, it goes all in. Most places that host the World Cup lean into the legacy, the money that it’ll pump into the economy, and putting the host on the map as a top tourist destination. Given that money isn’t an object to Qatari leadership, it could be inferred that becoming a bigger player in tourism is a goal.

For many, June, July, and August are the months for holidays and holidaymaking, but there’s a reason why Qatar has had to break the status quo and shift the World Cup from these months to November and December. From May to September, the lowest average high temperature in Qatar is 39o, getting as high at 42o on average in June and July. By comparison, the south coast city of Malaga in Spain peaks at around 30o in these summer months. It’s a near-unbearable heat that many tourists simply may not want to endure.

As for entertainment and things to do, those looking to let loose in the evenings as they may back home will find very few chances to do so, but there are many cultural landmarks to explore. These include the Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani Museum, the Museum of Islamic Art, the Souq Waqif market, and Katara Cultural Village. Outside of the World Cup, there’s a chance that the hospitality options made available may dry up. Still, there’ll be dune bashing, sandboarding, and camel riding for those feeling adventurous.

Just a short nine hours up the Persian Gulf

If Qatar doesn’t seem like the best fit for a holiday destination in the Middle East, you could still enjoy the landlocked waters of the Persian Gulf from the slightly more spacious nation of Kuwait. Weighing in at 17,818 km2, you can pack a bit more things to do into Kuwait, and you’ll still get those searing heats. From June to August, the average high temperatures tickle up from 40o to 42o, sinking suddenly in September to a mere 38o and then 33o in October.

In Qatar, many will aim to visit the still-standing World Cup stadiums from 2023 onwards, but Kuwait offers a perk of entertainment for those who want to sit in the shade during the hottest hours. It’s possible to be safe and secure while playing classic games at online casinos in Kuwait. The platforms made available to Kuwait have live casino games, table games, game shows, and slots, and all for real money. As they all offer secure and fast payment options, excellent customer support, and mobile compatibility, online casino gaming in the country is one of the more accessible forms of entertainment.

Away from your hotel room or the parasol at the beach, there are plenty of other things to do in Kuwait. If you ever feel the heat is too much, you could go to the Ice Skating Rink in Kuwait City, any one of the many escape rooms found in urban areas, or put the pedal to the metal at Pro Kart and Sirbb Circuit. Then again, if stadium tours are your thing and that’s what would take you to Qatar over Kuwait, the Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium in Ardhiya seats 12,001 more than Qatar’s biggest pre-World Cup stadium, the Khalifa International Stadium – but is dwarfed by the brand new 80,000-seater Lusail Iconic Stadium.

The silver lining to the FIFA World Cup 2022 may be that Qatar develops and keeps a bunch of tourist-friendly attractions, but if not, there’s always Kuwait just to the north.

Norfolk magician jailed after accidentally sawing assistant in half

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Magician saws assistant in half
Shazam (inset) and glamorous assistant Edna Spratt in happier times

By Ian Bred, Norfolk Correspondent

Magician Super Shazam Spuckler was jailed for ten years today after accidentally sawing his beautiful assistant in half on stage.

Appearing at Ipswich Crown Court, Super Shazam admitted manslaughter when his act at Dereham Town Hall went terribly wrong.

He had never tried the daredevil trick before and told the stunned courtroom: “I watched a YouTube video of the stunt and thought I’d give it a try.”

The Norfolk audience thought it was part of the show when Shazam sawed through his magic cabinet while beautiful assistant Edna Spratt, 49, was laying inside.

They even howled with laughter when poor Edna began screaming and blood started pouring onto the stage.

Realising something was wrong, an official hastily closed the curtains, and the show ended to wild applause.

Ms Lorraine Fisher, 34, prosecuting at Ipswich Crown Court, said: “Mr Shazam is more used to pulling rabbits from hats and other assorted tricks. He’s also a clairvoyant.

“But even he couldn’t have seen what was to come when he sawed Edna in half.”

An ambulance was sent to the scene, but Edna was found to be dead on arrival at the hospital, mainly because she was in two pieces.

Sentencing Shazam, Judge Steven Bickerton said: “You tried out a new trick with no practice and caused the death of your loyal assistant, Edna Spratt. Perhaps you would have been better off buying a magic set from Amazon.

“You have admitted your part in this terrible accident, and have shown considerable remorse, not least because you now must find a new assistant.

“I have no option but to jail you for ten years for manslaughter.”

Prison officers have been told to keep a close eye on the magician, in case he disappears.

Editor’s note, this magician has no relation to East Anglian content agency Magic Word Media.

Choosing the online casino for you in 2022

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There are thousands of online casinos on the market today, and choosing the best one for you can be a bit daunting. This is because there are several factors that you must consider before settling for a specific site.

Different sites specialise in different areas, and every player has their unique tastes and preferences. You want to register with the casino site that best addresses your unique needs. We have prepared this piece to guide you during your casino picking process in 2022.

Read on to find out what you should really look for when picking the best online casino for you.

Be sure to check the site’s reputation

How is the site perceived by others in the market? Is it a trustworthy site with a track record of minding its players’ welfare? Answering these questions will tell you a lot about the casino operator.

One way to go about it is by reading the site’s policy, which is often a tedious task but a vital one. From the policy, you will learn about the site’s security and safety protocols in place to protect your data and funds.

The online gambling industry poses a great degree of risk to players and operators alike, so it’s important to ascertain that the site has considered that. Additionally, you must also check whether the casino is legitimately licensed by the relevant regulatory authority to operate within your region.

Safety and security measures

We have mentioned this lightly in the previous section, but it is definitely worth another mention. Many players shun away from online casino gaming due to safety and security concerns.

There are thousands of scam sites looking to collect your personal and financial data with the intention to sell it to those willing to pay top dollar. However, reputable online casino sites will do everything to protect your data from falling into the wrong hands.

The best online casinos are those with SSL certification, which essentially means that user data is stored on safe servers, away from prying eyes. Your financial transactions will also be well protected when using these sites.

Other casinos will go the extra mile to adopt additional protection layers such as firewalls and two-factor authentication just to minimize the possibility of being hacked.

The game collection

We all have different tastes and preferences when it comes to online casino games. For this reason, you want to sign up with a casino site that offers your favourite games and more.

A majority of virtual casinos offer highly diversified game libraries with thousands of titles. With such a site, you will be torn for choice, and you are guaranteed to have a game that you like. Furthermore, it does not hurt to try out new titles, does it?

The more, the merrier, they say. You want to have a variety of different games, from slots to roulette, baccarat, poker, progressives, live dealer games, and more. Some casinos will even offer different varieties of the same game.

For instance, a casino can have American roulette, European roulette, multi-wheel roulette, rapid roulette, double ball roulette, and mini roulette. Such a casino will allow you an opportunity to try out the different versions of the game, spicing up your experience.

Bonuses and promos

There are numerous bonuses and promotions to be claimed at online casinos. A good casino will offer a wide variety of bonus offers ranging from welcome bonuses, deposit bonuses, no-deposit bonuses, free spins, free cash, no-wager bonuses, cashback, VIP offers, and more.

Bonuses and promotional offers are a win-win for players and casino operators. On the one hand, you will get to enjoy your favourite games without using your money as a player. On the other hand, the casino attracts new players and retains the existing customer base.

Regular and loyal players are often rewarded with loyalty points, which are redeemable for cash or free play. In most cases, loyalty points will also determine your level on the VIP tier.

Therefore, it is vital that you take advantage of these offers whenever you can. However, you should also know that most come with strict terms and conditions, which you must meet before claiming a withdrawal. Always take time to read the site’s bonus terms and conditions before redeeming any bonus.

Banking options

Regardless of whether you intend to play casino games for fun or professionally as a career, it is important that you check the site’s payment options. Playing casino games for real money involves depositing and withdrawing money into and from the casino account.

For a seamless gambling experience, you want to make sure that the site supports your preferred payment option. If you are an e-wallet guy, does the casino support e-wallet transactions?

Additionally, take a keen look at the site’s transaction charges and timelines. You do not want to work so hard to win some money just to lose a share of it in unnecessary charges or have your cash out delayed.

The best casino sites are those that offer multiple payment methods, with instant deposits and withdrawals.

Customer support

This is an aspect that most people tend to ignore. It is crucial that you check out how the site helps players experiencing different challenges. It’s normal that you will encounter problems during your online casino gaming.

It, therefore, makes sense to concern yourself with whether the site has a reliable customer support team that will be on standby to help you through your problem. There are several things to consider when assessing a site’s customer support desk.

These factors include response time, professionalism, communication channels offered, and whether the help offered is sufficient. The best sites will respond in a few minutes and offer several communication lines, including email, live chat, and direct phone line.

Conclusion

When it comes to online gambling, the site you choose will often have an impact on your success in the long haul. It is therefore crucial that you give it some thought before registering with any online casino. Take your time to assess the available options, and then settle for the one that best suits your needs.

Prince Andrew deported to Rwanda, according to Queen’s Speech

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Prince Charles used his delivery of the Queen’s Speech to announce that Prince Andrew is being deported to Rwanda.

The Prince of Wales, sitting in for his mum, said his younger brother would soon be on a flight to a Rwanda holding camp, where he will be out of harm’s way.

“This is the real reason you won’t see him on the balcony as part of the Jubilee celebrations,” said Charles.

Shocked members of Parliament also heard Charles whisper to Camilla that Harry would be sent to Africa too, if he got hold of him.

Downing Street insider Lorraine Fisher, 34, said the Queen’s Speech had gone down well but she didn’t think the Prince Andrew line was inserted by the Government.

“This must have been Prince Charles having a little joke at his brother’s expense,” she said.

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Compare virtual data room for M&A deals

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Mergers and acquisitions take a lot of time and effort. As a rule, a huge number of documents and their copies are needed to complete the process. Virtual data room providers grant the ability to complete operations with minimum effort.

There are so many advantages for the user who wants to work with electronic documents. They are easy to control and connect, replace, send, and share. Moreover, the files can be viewed around the clock anywhere in the world. The administrator will also have access to analytics. These features and more have helped companies move from physical to electronic data room.

Increase the deal’s pace with leading M&A technology

When not only business but also reputation is at stake, it is important to choose a leading technology for storing and exchanging information. Data digitization shows that most companies have long chosen data room software for their business.

First, the security of data rooms is what will help you forget about worrying about data leakage. What’s more, there are powerful tools that help you share, store, and manage your data from home. Also, good data rooms are able to operate quickly and meet customer requirements.

Not all virtual data room providers have dedicated M&A tools. Some of them are not designed for this kind of work at all. In the article, we will consider exactly those that suit you best.

All features of the data rooms contribute to the secure work with documents. For the most part, using them will help your business grow by saving you time. Now all administration functions are easy to perform in two clicks from anywhere.

VDR for M&A deals comparison

Below you can compare virtual data rooms and evaluate which one suits you best. It is important to remember that each has its own advantages and price category. Here are the main qualities that should be paid attention to:

  • price;
  • the potential amount of stored information;
  • ease of data transfer;
  • access levels.

DealRoom

Among the convenient features of DealRoom’s data room services, you will have access to the following: reports, multi-deal timeline, and pipeline management. In addition, there is a set of tools for tracking the transaction process, that is, you can even watch the actions of other users. Also, DealRoom has a set of tools for convenient drag and drop of data and search inside the software or document.

There are 3 tariffs designed for different amounts of information, ranging from 5 to 50 GB.

There is no free trial, but anyone may use a demo version through available tools. When exploring the VDR, you will be advised on certain qualities and how to use them.

iDeals

This platform guarantees easy use in work, convenient management, and more than 100 tools for convenient work. The iDeals online data room software has 25 file formats and converts them to PDF for easy reading. There are fast text search and search with labels, as well as many features to quickly drag and drop data into a new window.

For secure operation, the platform has 8 levels of administrator permissions, international security certifications, ISO 27001, and SOC 2 security certifications. In addition, there is a feature that allows you to revoke access rights even after downloading. No need for Java or plugins.

Users will have access to a 30-day free trial and 3 paid packages for different types of work. Moreover, 24/7 access to the support service will be provided.

Intralinks

Next in our data room comparison is Intralinks. It also has various features for working with files, and there is a unique one – canceling the exchange. In addition, there are 16 user roles and AI Redaction. Another unique feature is that each Intralinks project has a dedicated M&A manager assigned to it.

Very handy is the Zoom integration where you can upload videos or take virtual tours that are related to your project. The number of packages is limited to one, where the price also depends on the tax rate.

Additional services are available on the server at the request of the user and a discount is also possible. Instead of a free trial, a limited 30-day free trial is offered, which may not be available to all users.

Conclusion

All virtual data rooms give you access to 24/7 support and different rates. The client should understand what goals he sets for himself and what benefits he will need, and which ones he can refuse. From this, your request is formed and your ability to pay for a specific provider package.

10 German Bombers to replace ‘offensive’ Three Lions England song

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The FA will make 10 German Bombers the official England song for this winter’s World Cup in Qatar.

Officials decided that Three Lions, the song originally created by Frank Skinner and David Baddiel was too offensive for other countries and had to go.

But celebrating the RAF shooting down waves of German bombers in World War Two is absolutely fine.

FA spokesperson Lorraine Fisher, 34, said: “Three Lions clearly celebrates Britain’s violent and imperialistic past.

“Much better that our fans sing about Nazi bomber squadrons and how ‘the RAF of England shot them down’.”

The news of the Three Lions axe broke today.

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A Viking, a DJ or a Tiger: who will win the 2022 PGA Championship?

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Fans of golf in the UK often consider the Open Championship to be the pinnacle of the sport, while their contemporaries Stateside look upon The Masters or the US Open to be the flag bearers for golfing excellence.

That means that the fourth major, the PGA Championship, is considered something of an ugly stepsister to the main prizes, but you can rest assured that a quality field will very much want to get their hands on the trophy.

Leading the way in the USPGA Championship betting at odds of 10/1 will be Scottie Scheffler, the newly minted world number one who opened his major account at Augusta National in April.

But there will be a varied and eclectic set of players trying to prevent the Scheff from doubling up in 2022. There’s a leprechaun (5ft 7in Irishman Rory McIlroy), a DJ (Dustin Johnson), a Viking (the nickname Norwegian Viktor Hovland has given his putter) and an ageing Tiger (that is, 15-time major champion Tiger Woods).

To win the PGA Championship, they will need to overcome the challenge presented by Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It’s not a course that many in the field will be familiar with, so what can they expect and who is best suited to tame the beast?

The Beautiful South

There have been two recent-ish majors held at Southern Hills CC – the US Open in 2001, followed by the PGA Championship six years later.

What was noteworthy about both was the scoring, with Retief Goosen prevailing at -4 in the former and Tiger at -8 in the latter. For a major where birdies are supposed to be a little easier to come by than at the US Open, it’s fair to say that Southern Hills is something of an outlier as far as PGA Championship hosts go.

As you would expect in a major, there will be a premium on keeping balls in fairways, but with a yardage of around 7,000 yards for its Par 70, there will be some who plot a rather more “route one” approach – that is, bombing their drives 300+ yards and leaving themselves with a wedge out of the rough into greens that can best be described as ‘spicy’.

Course officials at Southern Hills have done what Aronimink did before them – bringing in famed architect Gil Hanse to bring the 18 holes into shape as the host of a modern major.

Interestingly, Hanse appears to have set up the players for a very specific test of skill. By removing trees and widening fairways, he is creating plenty of room off the tee – however, the real test will come when hitting approaches into small greens that are well protected by bunkers and which have unique contours and very closely mown fronts and edges.

And so solid iron play, plus reliable ‘recovery’ chipping, will very much be the order of the day at the PGA Championship, and those with a quality tee-to-green game – the likes of Jon Rahm, Justin Thomas and Will Zalatoris lead the way in that statistical category during the 2021/22 season – could enjoy the best of things.

So will one of that trio prevail… or will it be the leprechaun, the DJ, the Viking or the Tiger who gets the win?

Failed Dalek invasion of Shingle Street confirmed for the first time

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Dalek invasion of Shingle Street
The Dalek bone washed up on Shingle Street (Photo: John Bailey)

The astonishing discovery of a Dalek bone has confirmed historians’ claims there was a failed invasion at Shingle Street on the Suffolk coast.

It is widely believed that hoards of Daleks tried to invade Britain by sea, landing at Shingle Street, between Aldeburgh and Felixstowe.

Military historians and locals tell stories of a “sea of fire” as the army bravely defended the coastline.

But the Ministry of Defence, perhaps to maintain national morale, has slapped a ban on reporting the incident, denying it even happened.

Yet yesterday, a Dalek bone was found washed up on Shingle Street, proof if ever more was needed that thousands of Daleks died in the botched invasion.

Dalek invasion of Shingle Street
The astonishing Dalek remains at Shingle Street

Suffolk professor of history, Lorraine Fisher, 34, said remains of Daleks had been discovered on the beautiful stretch of coastline over the past 80 years.

Dalek exterminate

The find of the perfectly preserved Dalek manipulator arm, by a dog walker on Sunday, is the most exciting yet.

“It was preserved perfectly having presumably been buried in the silty seabed all that time. Storms over the weekend must have disturbed it and washed it ashore.

“We have strong evidence there was a failed invasion of Daleks.

“Locals recall a moonlit night many years ago when they were awoken by curious noises. At first, they thought it was a huge gaggle of calling geese from nearby Minsmere.

“But as the sound got closer, it was clearly thousands of strange voices shouting EXTERMINATE! EXTERMINATE!

“There was then a loud explosion and the sky lit up as the sea turned to flames. Clearly, the army had been prepared.

“Stories of Dalek bodies being taken to London by train were rife at the time.”

The Dalek bone has been sent to the University of Suffolk for further examination.

Dalek spokesman, the mysterious Davros, told the Suffolk Gazette: “These rumours surface every now and again, but we categorically deny trying to invade Britain all those years ago. We are a peaceful bunch.”

Military historian, Colonel Steve Walshe said: “All the evidence points to this invasion attempt being true.

“But setting the sea alight to repel it was perhaps a little extreme, causing many unnecessary Dalek deaths. All we needed to do was build some steps up from the beach and they would have been stuck.”

Shingle Street was also at the centre of claims that Nazi Germany tried to invade there in 1940.

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