VICTOR VALDES: Recovered well after spilling Cristiano Ronaldo's early free-kick, Valdes was always alert and made a brave close-range save from the same player at 2-0 up. 7/10
CARLES PUYOL: Calm, strong leadership from the veteran who should have well-deserved a goal but headed straight at Edwin van der Sar. 8
YAYA TOURE: Will have been shocked by the lack of hard work he was presented with, he nevertheless knuckled down and did the necessary. 7
GERARD PIQUE: Showed great awareness after only a minute and a half to block Ji-Sung Park's follow-up shot from Ronaldo's free-kick. Solid throughout. 7
SYLVINHO: Less influential towards the end but the Brazilian was a big influence in the first hour, providing plenty of dangerous overlaps and a constant outlet on the left flank. 8
XAVI: Superior performance from the cultured midfielder. Always excellent in possession, he curled a free-kick against the post and picked out Lionel Messi with an exquisite cross for the second. 9
SERGIO BUSQUETS: Unfussy and unflappable, made plenty of tackles and laid off possession astutely. 7
ANDRES INIESTA: Showed great close control, a wide range of passing and ensured the Premier League champions could barely get a look in in midfield. Always on hand in defence and attack. 9
LIONEL MESSI: Oozed stature throughout, he will draw satisfaction from outperforming Ronaldo and, after a dazzling run on the stroke of half-time was well worth his second-half goal. 8
SAMUEL ETO'O: The Cameroon forward fully deserves the plaudits for putting paid to United's promising start with a wonderfully-taken goal after 10 minutes. Not at his best from then on but still a match-winning contribution. 7
THIERRY HENRY: Delighted to get one over on his old adversaries, was just denied by Van der Sar after some fine close control in the box. 7
Substitutes:
SEYDOU KEITA (for Henry, 71 mins): A leggy United already looked beaten by the time Keita arrived on the scene. 6
RODRIGUEZ PEDRITO (for Iniesta, 90 mins): Only time to celebrate. 5
EDWIN VAN DER SAR: Made some important stops and saves, not least from Henry and Puyol, but will be unhappy to be well beaten by Eto'o at his near post. 7
JOHN O'SHEA: A solid outing from the Irishman who held firm and could not be blamed for either goal. 6
RIO FERDINAND: Struggled with his distribution in the first period and never once looked on top of Barca's free-flowing forward line. 5
NEMANJA VIDIC: The Red Devils' player of the season avoided humiliation against an attacking trio who have shredded lesser defenders but, like his partner, made little impact. 6
PATRICE EVRA: Appeared redundant at times as his supposed task of keeping Messi quiet was rendered moot by the forward's constant drifting into central positions. AWOL going forward. 5
ANDERSON: Started well but faded to anonymity after Barca's opener and paid the price for his side's lethargy when he was replaced at half-time. 5
MICHAEL CARRICK: Symptomatic of United's general malaise in the middle of the park, Carrick failed to find his runners and had no answer to a superb opposition midfield. 5
RYAN GIGGS: Not one of the Welshman's most distinguished displays but he was cooler in possession than most of his teammates despite tiring. 6
PARK JI-SUNG: Park has a reputation as a big-game player but there were no magic moments from the South Korean despite bags of energy and a couple of near misses. 6
CRISTIANO RONALDO: The mercurial Portuguese looked set to have one of his special nights when he went close in only the second minute, but despite his constant energy he was bested almost every time when it mattered. 6
WAYNE ROONEY: Looked unhappy to be out on a limb instead of his favoured central position and spent 90 minutes trying - and conspicuously failing - to get involved. 5
Substitutes:
CARLOS TEVEZ (on for Anderson, 45 mins): Anticipation from United's fans was tangible when the Argentina striker was sent on for the second period but it was an uninspired shift. 5
DIMITAR BERBATOV (for Park, 66 mins): Typically laconic cameo with little or no end product. 5
PAUL SCHOLES: (for Giggs, 75 mins): Handed a thankless task for the final quarter of an hour he merely succeeded in earning a booking for a trademark foul. 5
* PA Sport
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
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
How being social media savvy can improve your well being
Next time when procastinating online remember that you can save thousands on paying for a personal trainer and a gym membership simply by watching YouTube videos and keeping up with the latest health tips and trends.
As social media apps are becoming more and more consumed by health experts and nutritionists who are using it to awareness and encourage patients to engage in physical activity.
Elizabeth Watson, a personal trainer from Stay Fit gym in Abu Dhabi suggests that “individuals can use social media as a means of keeping fit, there are a lot of great exercises you can do and train from experts at home just by watching videos on YouTube”.
Norlyn Torrena, a clinical nutritionist from Burjeel Hospital advises her clients to be more technologically active “most of my clients are so engaged with their phones that I advise them to download applications that offer health related services”.
Torrena said that “most people believe that dieting and keeping fit is boring”.
However, by using social media apps keeping fit means that people are “modern and are kept up to date with the latest heath tips and trends”.
“It can be a guide to a healthy lifestyle and exercise if used in the correct way, so I really encourage my clients to download health applications” said Mrs Torrena.
People can also connect with each other and exchange “tips and notes, it’s extremely healthy and fun”.
Sun jukebox
Rufus Thomas, Bear Cat (The Answer to Hound Dog) (1953)
This rip-off of Leiber/Stoller’s early rock stomper brought a lawsuit against Phillips and necessitated Presley’s premature sale to RCA.
Elvis Presley, Mystery Train (1955)
The B-side of Presley’s final single for Sun bops with a drummer-less groove.
Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two, Folsom Prison Blues (1955)
Originally recorded for Sun, Cash’s signature tune was performed for inmates of the titular prison 13 years later.
Carl Perkins, Blue Suede Shoes (1956)
Within a month of Sun’s February release Elvis had his version out on RCA.
Roy Orbison, Ooby Dooby (1956)
An essential piece of irreverent juvenilia from Orbison.
Jerry Lee Lewis, Great Balls of Fire (1957)
Lee’s trademark anthem is one of the era’s best-remembered – and best-selling – songs.
AT%20A%20GLANCE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EWindfall%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EAn%20%E2%80%9Cenergy%20profits%20levy%E2%80%9D%20to%20raise%20around%20%C2%A35bn%20in%20a%20year.%20The%20temporary%20one-off%20tax%20will%20hit%20oil%20and%20gas%20firms%20by%2025%20per%20cent%20on%20extraordinary%20profits.%20An%2080%20per%20cent%20investment%20allowance%20should%20calm%20Conservative%20nerves%20that%20the%20move%20will%20dent%20North%20Sea%20firms%E2%80%99%20investment%20to%20save%20them%2091p%20for%20every%20%C2%A31%20they%20spend.%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EA%20universal%20grant%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EEnergy%20bills%20discount%2C%20which%20was%20effectively%20a%20%C2%A3200%20loan%2C%20has%20doubled%20to%20a%20%C2%A3400%20discount%20on%20bills%20for%20all%20households%20from%20October%20that%20will%20not%20need%20to%20be%20paid%20back.%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETargeted%20measures%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EMore%20than%20eight%20million%20of%20the%20lowest%20income%20households%20will%20receive%20a%20%C2%A3650%20one-off%20payment.%20It%20will%20apply%20to%20households%20on%20Universal%20Credit%2C%20Tax%20Credits%2C%20Pension%20Credit%20and%20legacy%20benefits.%0D%3Cbr%3ESeparate%20one-off%20payments%20of%20%C2%A3300%20will%20go%20to%20pensioners%20and%20%C2%A3150%20for%20those%20receiving%20disability%20benefits.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
North Pole stats
Distance covered: 160km
Temperature: -40°C
Weight of equipment: 45kg
Altitude (metres above sea level): 0
Terrain: Ice rock
South Pole stats
Distance covered: 130km
Temperature: -50°C
Weight of equipment: 50kg
Altitude (metres above sea level): 3,300
Terrain: Flat ice
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
DAY%20ONE%20RESULT
%3Cp%3E%3Cbr%3E1.%20Charlotte%20Kool%20(NED)%20%E2%80%93%20Team%20DSM%3A%202hrs%2C%2047min%2C%2014sec%3Cbr%3E2.%20Lorena%20Wiebes%20(NED)%20%E2%80%93%20Team%20SD%20Worx%3A%20%2B4%20secs%3Cbr%3E3.%20Chiara%20Consonni%20(ITA)%20%E2%80%93%20UAE%20Team%20ADQ%3A%20%2B5%20secs%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Meydan race card
6pm Dubai Trophy – Conditions(TB) $100,000 (Turf) 1,200m
6.35Dubai Trophy – Conditions(TB) $100,000 (Turf) 1,200m
1,800m
7.10pm Jumeirah Derby Trial – Conditions (TB) $60,000 (T)
1,800m ,400m
7.45pm Al Rashidiya – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,800m
8.20pm Al Fahidi Fort – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,400m
8.55pm Dubawi Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,200m
9.30pm Aliyah – Rated Conditions (TB) $80,000 (D) 2,000m