Tottenham’s dynamic duo; Arsenal’s peak-form playmaker – Premier League team of the week



English football columnist Richard Jolly names his Best XI in the Premier League for the October 24-25 weekend, including a pair of game-changing performers in Tottenham Hotspur's 5-1 win over Bournemouth and Arsenal's influential presence in a 2-1 win over Everton.

Goalkeeper: Costel Pantilimon (Sunderland) – Made a string of saves to frustrate Newcastle, who had more chances but lost the Wear-Tyne derby 3-0.

Right-back: Kyle Naughton (Swansea City) – The defender provided the perfect cross for Andre Ayew's winner as Swansea's slump came to an end with victory at Villa Park.

Centre-back: Vincent Kompany (Manchester City) – After two games on the bench, the captain illustrated his worth on his return with a defiant derby display in a stalemate.

Centre-back: James Tomkins (West Ham United) – Excelled to subdue Diego Costa as West Ham added Chelsea to their list of notable scalps so far this season.

Left-back: Chris Brunt (West Bromwich Albion) – Helped keep another clean sheet and gave West Brom a threat with intelligent passing and crossing from the left flank.

Right midfield: Christian Eriksen (Tottenham Hotspur) – The Dane was in delightful form in the 5-1 thrashing of Bournemouth, adding the creativity Spurs lacked when he was injured.

Centre midfield: Cheikhou Kouyate (West Ham United) – The dominant figure in the midfield as Chelsea were beaten at Upton Park. He overpowered the sent-off Nemanja Matic.

Centre midfield: Mesut Ozil (Arsenal) – His wonderful October continued with an assist against Everton to follow goals against Manchester United and Bayern Munich.

Left midfield: Almen Abdi (Watford) – Clinched one of the surprise results of the weekend with a well-taken second goal as Watford won 2-0 at Stoke.

Centre forward: Jamie Vardy (Leicester City) – His glorious goalscoring form continued as a winner against Crystal Palace means he has struck in seven successive league games.

Centre forward: Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) – After only scoring one league goal all season, he returned to form with a flurry by scoring a hat-trick at Bournemouth.

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

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

At a glance

Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.

 

Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year

 

Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month

 

Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30 

 

Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse

 

Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth

 

Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

Mubalada World Tennis Championship 2018 schedule

Thursday December 27

Men's quarter-finals

Kevin Anderson v Hyeon Chung 4pm

Dominic Thiem v Karen Khachanov 6pm

Women's exhibition

Serena Williams v Venus Williams 8pm

Friday December 28

5th place play-off 3pm

Men's semi-finals

Rafael Nadal v Anderson/Chung 5pm

Novak Djokovic v Thiem/Khachanov 7pm

Saturday December 29

3rd place play-off 5pm

Men's final 7pm

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
 
Started: 2021
 
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
 
Based: Tunisia 
 
Sector: Water technology 
 
Number of staff: 22 
 
Investment raised: $4 million 
BMW M5 specs

Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor

Power: 727hp

Torque: 1,000Nm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh650,000

FIXTURES

Monday, January 28
Iran v Japan, Hazza bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)

Tuesday, January 29
UAEv Qatar, Mohamed Bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)

Friday, February 1
Final, Zayed Sports City Stadium (6pm)

The specs
 
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
New Zealand 21 British & Irish Lions 24

New Zealand
Penalties: Barrett (7)

British & Irish Lions
Tries: Faletau, Murray
Penalties: Farrell (4)
Conversions: Farrell 
 

Dust and sand storms compared

Sand storm

  • Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
  • Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
  • Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
  • Travel distance: Limited 
  • Source: Open desert areas with strong winds

Dust storm

  • Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
  • Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
  • Duration: Can linger for days
  • Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
  • Source: Can be carried from distant regions
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Who has been sanctioned?

Daniella Weiss and Nachala
Described as 'the grandmother of the settler movement', she has encouraged the expansion of settlements for decades. The 79 year old leads radical settler movement Nachala, whose aim is for Israel to annex Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where it helps settlers built outposts.

Harel Libi & Libi Construction and Infrastructure
Libi has been involved in threatening and perpetuating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians. His firm has provided logistical and financial support for the establishment of illegal outposts.

Zohar Sabah
Runs a settler outpost named Zohar’s Farm and has previously faced charges of violence against Palestinians. He was indicted by Israel’s State Attorney’s Office in September for allegedly participating in a violent attack against Palestinians and activists in the West Bank village of Muarrajat.

Coco’s Farm and Neria’s Farm
These are illegal outposts in the West Bank, which are at the vanguard of the settler movement. According to the UK, they are associated with people who have been involved in enabling, inciting, promoting or providing support for activities that amount to “serious abuse”.