Previewing the best of this weekend’s action as well as the footballing world’s biggest talking points.
Will United bounce back?
Manchester United's form has come in two patches this season so far.
The first four games of the season – if you include the Community Shield win over Leicester City – they were pretty impressive and whispers of a title challenge ran round Old Trafford.
Then along came Pep Guardiola's Manchester City juggernaut with a demoralising victory in the derby and United's season has unravelled from there.
Are they in crisis? No. Does Jose Mourinho know his best team? No. Can they still win the title? Yes
Saturday's visit of champions Leicester becomes a vital match. Win that plus next week's home game against Stoke City and United will be rolling again ahead of games against Liverpool and Chelsea.
How many goals will Dortmund score?
Borussia Dortmund host Freiburg on Friday and it could be a goal feast.
In their last two games, Dortmund have netted 11 goals with nine different scorers. Manager Thomas Tuchel called Tuesday's 5-1 win at Wolfsburg "incredible" and he'll be delighted that his side are developing into one of the most exciting young teams in Europe, with players like Christian Pulisic and Ousmane Dembele impressing.
Their one issue? They are already three points behind Bayern Munich who are equally dominant of the rest of the Bundesliga.
More football
• Premier League predictions: Man United roar back, Liverpool light it up
• Barcelona v Atletico Madrid: Heavyweights battle and leave bruised
• Serie A: Gonzalo who? Arkadiusz Milik erasing Napoli's sour taste in Italy
Barcelona without Messi again
The Spanish champions are again facing a spell without Lionel Messi after he limped off holding his groin in the 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid at Camp Nou on Wednesday.
The major concern is whether he will be fit for the Uefa Champions League tie at home to Manchester City on October 19 but in the meantime we'll get another interesting look at how Barcelona cope without their main man. They travel to Sporting Gijon at the weekend.
Players to watch
Alex Iwobi, Arsenal
The Nigerian midfielder has played twice in the Premier League for Arsenal this season and assisted three goals. After a breakthrough season in 2015/16, Iwobi, 20, has a big chance to cement a first-team spot in Arsene Wenger's team.
Arsenal are always looking for goals from midfield and they’ve lost Aaron Ramsey to injury. Saturday’s home game against Chelsea gives Iwobi the platform to show just what he can do.
Scott Sinclair, Celtic
Sinclair has always had bags of talent, particularly his ability to run with the ball at pace. His career in England was a bit of a let down, especially a long spell sitting on Manchester City's bench. But the forward has made a great start to life in Scotland and, by scoring in each of his five first games, he has matched the achievement of Jimmy McGrory. Celtic's home match against Kilmarnock on Saturday is a chance to make it six and a place in the record books.
Matches to watch
Arsenal v Chelsea, Saturday, 8.30pm
Take away the 2015/16 Community Shield and Arsenal’s last competitive victory over Chelsea was a 5-3 thrashing at Stamford Bridge in November 2011. That’s a run of 10 games and Arsenal haven’t even scored against Chelsea in seven matches.
Arsenal appear to be hitting their stride after three straight Premier League wins, scoring nine times. Chelsea, meanwhile, are coming off a home defeat by Liverpool and Wenger will feel like victory is there for the taking.
Besiktas v Galatasaray, Saturday, 9pm
One of the main Istanbul derbies will be a tasty affair. There’s a fair bit of quality on show – Lukas Podolski and Wesley Snjeider at Galatasaray while ex-Al Ahli man Ricardo Quaresma plays for champions Besiktas. Throw in a touch of Nigel de Jong and this could be a volatile affair.
Fiorentina v AC Milan, 10.45pm, Sunday
AC Milan have started the season pretty well and Colombian striker Carlos Bacca, who spent all summer being linked with a move away from the club, has netted five times.
They clash with Fiorentina, who are looking to improve on finishing fifth last season.
This is a battle for momentum at the top of the table and should be a cracker.
Your football weekend – pick of the TV games
(All games on BeIN Sports)
Friday
Bundesliga - Borussia Dortmund v Freiburg, 10.30pm
Ligue 1 - Toulouse v Paris Saint-Germain, 10.45pm
Saturday
Premier League - Manchester United v Leicester City, 3.30pm
Bundesliga - Hamburg v Bayern Munich, 5.30pm
Premier League - Liverpool v Hull City, 6pm
Premier League - Swansea City v Manchester City, 6pm
Primera Liga - Sporting Gijon v Barcelona, 6.15pm
Serie A - Palermo v Juventus, 8pm
Premier League - Arsenal v Chelsea, 8.30pm
Serie A - Napoli v Chievo, 10.45pm
Primera Liga - Las Palmas v Real Madrid, 10.45pm
Sunday
Primera Liga - Atletico Madrid v Deportivo, 6.15pm
Premier League - West Ham United v Southampton, 7pm
Serie A - Fiorentina v AC Milan, 10.45pm
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THE BIO
Favourite place to go to in the UAE: The desert sand dunes, just after some rain
Who inspires you: Anybody with new and smart ideas, challenging questions, an open mind and a positive attitude
Where would you like to retire: Most probably in my home country, Hungary, but with frequent returns to the UAE
Favorite book: A book by Transilvanian author, Albert Wass, entitled ‘Sword and Reap’ (Kard es Kasza) - not really known internationally
Favourite subjects in school: Mathematics and science
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
- Park in shaded or covered areas
- Add tint to windows
- Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
- Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
- Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
COPA DEL REY
Semi-final, first leg
Barcelona 1 (Malcom 57')
Real Madrid (Vazquez 6')
Second leg, February 27
More on Quran memorisation:
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The five pillars of Islam
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
If you go…
Emirates launched a new daily service to Mexico City this week, flying via Barcelona from Dh3,995.
Emirati citizens are among 67 nationalities who do not require a visa to Mexico. Entry is granted on arrival for stays of up to 180 days.
more from Janine di Giovanni
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What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
Specs
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UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
Spec%20sheet
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