Face masks, disinfected footballs ... and Bayern Munich win: the Bundesliga restart – in pictures


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All eyes were on the Bundesliga last week as the German top-flight returned to action after the coronavirus lockdown.

The restart was generally seen as having gone off successfully, albeit in a surreal atmosphere without spectators at any of the games.

The sight of footballs being disinfected, substitutes sitting well apart in the stands, goals being celebrated with social distancing in mind and coaches wearing face masks are now set to become the new normal in the upcoming weeks.

On the pitch, it was business as usual for leaders Bayern Munich, who won 2-0 at Union Berlin.

Robert Lewandowski gave the champions the lead with a penalty – his 40th goal in 34 Bayern games this season.

Second-placed Borussia Dortmund were also victorious, thrashing local rivals Shalke 4-0 at Westfalenstadion. Teenage sriker Erling Braut Haaland produced a now trademark cool finish to open the scoring.

There were also victories for Wolfsburg, Hertha Berlin, Borussia Monchengladbach and Bayer Leverkusen, over Augsburg, Hoffenheim, Eintracht Frankfurt and Werder Bremen, respectively.

Tearful appearance

Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday. 

Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow. 

She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.

A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.

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

 

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ELIO

Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett

Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina

Rating: 4/5

Racecard

6pm: Mina Hamriya – Handicap (TB) $75,000 (Dirt) 1,400m

6.35pm: Al Wasl Stakes – Conditions (TB) $60,000 (Turf) 1,200m

7.10pm: UAE Oaks – Group 3 (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,900m

7.45pm: Blue Point Sprint – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,000m

8.20pm: Nad Al Sheba Trophy – Group 3 (TB) $200,000 (T) 2,810m

8.55pm: Mina Rashid – Handicap (TB) $80,000 (T) 1,600m

UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

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Genesis G80 2020 5.0-litre Royal Specs

Engine: 5-litre V8

Gearbox: eight-speed automatic

Power: 420hp

Torque: 505Nm

Fuel economy, combined: 12.4L/100km

Price: Dh260,500

MATCH INFO

Champions League quarter-final, first leg

Ajax v Juventus, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)

Match on BeIN Sports

Moon Music

Artist: Coldplay

Label: Parlophone/Atlantic

Number of tracks: 10

Rating: 3/5

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