The world's most expensive transfer makes his Primera Liga debut, two German giants seem headed for a collision, a surprise side top of Serie?A and the nouveau riche lead in France. Paul Oberjuerge reviews the highlights.
Gareth Bale scores
The Welshman, purchased by Real Madrid from Tottenham Hotspur for €100 million (Dh488m) last month, started in his Spanish Primera Liga debut and scored in the 39th minute of a 2-2 draw with Villarreal on Saturday evening. His coach, Carlo Ancelotti, said: "I think he is happy because scoring the first goal for Real Madrid is very good for him."
Neymar 'flawless'
The flashy Brazilian assisted Lionel Messi on a goal in Barcelona's controversial 3-2 La Liga victory over Sevilla on Saturday night, and his coach, Gerardo Martino, said: "Neymar played a flawless game from all points of view. We're very happy with what he adds to the team."
Dortmund, Bayern roll
Borussia Dortmund thrashed Hamburg 6-2, with two goals each from Robert Lewandowski, above, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and Bayern Munich beat Hannover 2-0. It is not too early to look forward to their first German Bundesliga clash, November 23.
Derby d'Italy draw
Reigning Italian Serie?A champions Juventus got a goal from Arturo Vidal to salvage a point, away to Inter Milan, and the Juve coach Antonio Conte said: "We showed Juventus are a tough team that don't die and are hard to beat. We can achieve something historic this season."
Monaco, Ligue leaders
The Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev spent €130m on three players this summer and one of them, the Colombian striker Radamel Falcao, scored a first-half penalty as the promoted side beat Lorient 1-0 and moved to the top of the French Ligue?1 table.
UK's plans to cut net migration
Under the UK government’s proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.
Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.
But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.
Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.
Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.
The plans also call for stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students and a reduction in the time graduates can remain in the UK after their studies from two years to 18 months.
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
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
Veere di Wedding
Dir: Shashanka Ghosh
Starring: Kareena Kapoo-Khan, Sonam Kapoor, Swara Bhaskar and Shikha Talsania
Verdict: 4 Stars
Profile
Company name: Jaib
Started: January 2018
Co-founders: Fouad Jeryes and Sinan Taifour
Based: Jordan
Sector: FinTech
Total transactions: over $800,000 since January, 2018
Investors in Jaib's mother company Alpha Apps: Aramex and 500 Startups
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA
Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi
Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser
Rating: 4.5/5
Dates for the diary
To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:
- September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
- October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
- October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
- November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
- December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
- February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
