Barcelona are arguably the most entertaining team in Europe to watch. AFP
Barcelona are arguably the most entertaining team in Europe to watch. AFP
Barcelona are arguably the most entertaining team in Europe to watch. AFP
Barcelona are arguably the most entertaining team in Europe to watch. AFP

Ask Mina: Bad business at Juventus, Barca the team to beat, and Pioli's Roma link


Mina Rzouki
  • English
  • Arabic

Each week, sports reporter Mina Rzouki answers a selection of readers' questions submitted via social media. If you have a question for Mina, you can ask her on either X or Instagram – both @MinaRzouki

Q: What do you make of Dean Huijsen’s transfer to Bournemouth. Bad move from Juventus who then bought Newcastle’s Lloyd Kelly. Seems like very odd business.

@Markn9999 via Instagram

A: Odd business, certainly. Let me not mince my words here. Selling 19-year-old Dean Huijsen for £13 million (it could rise to £15m) to then buy 26-year-old Lloyd Kelly for £20m (it is a loan deal with easily achievable targets that will trigger the obligation to buy clause), is, in my view, a sackable offence.

Too harsh? No, this was a severe error and a poor piece of business conducted by Juventus, and those transfers have cast doubt on sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli’s judgement. Juventus aren’t a club that can afford any mistakes considering their limited budget.

As a club that wanted to initiate a new project last summer with Thiago Motta brought in as coach, it makes sense that they wanted to raise funds to purchase players that would suit the coach's style of play. Huijsen was one of those with admirers and the easiest one to sacrifice in the name of hard cash.

That money, as we have since realised, was not well spent with many of Giuntoli’s purchases not living up to their potential. At 19, there were fears the youngster would struggle to wear a heavy jersey like that of Juve’s but I strongly disagree with selling players who love the shirt and the club and already have Serie A experience.

The Italian club would have been much better off resisting the sale and ensuring a solid defence built for the future and formed by Next Gen players than investing heavily in the likes of Nico Gonzalez in attack.

Juve then lost several defenders to injury including Juan Cabal and, more notably, Gleison Bremer and had to dip into the market in January to bring in Kelly – a player with a lot of potential but who was rather expensive. A great deal for Newcastle United.

Kelly arrived at Newcastle as a free agent last summer but hardly played and while they needed the player to ensure squad depth, the sum of money was too good to turn down as the club were in danger of breaching Premier League financial rules.

As for the Bianconeri, they needed a player who was adept at playing either on the left or in the centre of defence.

Kelly’s early performances for Juve were poor (one performance against PSV in the Uefa Champions League was particularly harrowing) but he has since shown signs of improvement.

He has been dropped into a new environment and trying to get to grips with the league, but we are talking about Italy’s biggest club, notable for having legendary defenders such as Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci.

Everyone who arrives is subjected to massive pressure and the weight of expectation, especially if they come with a somewhat inflated price tag.

Huijsen has been nothing short of fantastic for Bournemouth and they are lucky to have him. His recent performance for the Spanish national team has made headlines as he boasts all the qualities of a modern-day centre-back: calm on the ball, intelligent and reads the game well. His 1.97-metre frame would have been useful in Italy but alas, he departed to pile even more pressure on Juve’s management.

Q: What do Real Madrid need to do to be more cohesive as a team?

@ryguinho via X

A: I write this as Madrid just about managed to squeeze over the line against Real Sociedad on Tuesday evening in the Copa del Rey semi-finals where all their defensive vulnerabilities were exposed. Their biggest problem this season has been a lack of squad depth.

They have suffered a significant number of injuries, losing important players for significant periods such as Thibaut Courtois, Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao, Ferland Mendy and Dani Ceballos to name a few.

Considering the many defensive injuries, they’ve been forced to play midfielders in defence, robbing them of their usual control in midfield.

Losing Carvajal to injury has proven the most problematic. Lucas Vasquez isn’t cutting it at right-back and has been targeted by opponents, like Real Sociedad did on Tuesday.

This has a knock-on effect to the team’s overall balance as Rodrygo is forced to drop deep to help him which hinders the attack. If Rodrygo prioritises the attack, then Vasquez is exposed.

The lack of genuine squad depth in Carlo Ancelotti's side is noticeable especially when Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde are playing in defence.

Valverde is one of the finest players in the world in his position, but Ancelotti has been forced to play the Uruguayan as a right-back on occasion this season, like he did against Manchester City. Playing without him in midfield is painful.

Add to that the retirement of Toni Kroos over the summer and the midfield is missing too many key pieces that ensured the team’s stability and cohesion.

One criticism we can have of Ancelotti is that he should have given more opportunities to younger players. He seemed reticent in giving Raul Asencio a chance, but the player has since developed nicely. Surely, he could have given a youth player a go at right-back; they can’t be much worse than Vasquez.

This is the problem with Ancelotti: he’s too dependent on the men he knows and doesn’t give youth a chance. It’s too late to try now as we are in the business end of the season and a youngster will need time to develop and adjust to the role and the team.

But I can’t be too harsh on Real Madrid as despite all their injuries and the problems they have faced, they are still in the running to win a treble of La Liga, Champions League and Spanish cup. Somehow, Real Madrid always come good.

Q: You have previously said that Barcelona are currently the best team in Europe. Do you still believe that and what are your thoughts on Wojciech Szczesny?

@Alvarez via X

A: Yes, I still think Barcelona are the team to beat in the Champions League. I struggle to find a better team in Europe this season.

They may not boast the depth of a squad such as Premier League champions-elect Liverpool, but they generate so many attacking opportunities at any given moment and that provokes fear in any opponent.

The high line they play is super risky and they have conceded too many goals because of that but they make up for it by being so thrilling to watch going forward. It’s almost impossible to contain them and they have produced some sensational comebacks.

Robert Lewandowski has scored nine goals in his past nine league games and has 25 goals in total in the Spanish league, three more than Madrid’s superstar signing Kylian Mbappe.

Moreover, his sensational partnership with Ferran Torres has proven important in sparking those amazing comebacks such as the one against Benfica in the Champions League and Atletico Madrid in La Liga when Barcelona were down 2-0 in the early stages of the match. When they have played together, they have produced 27 goals and three assists between them.

Szczesny is an interesting one. He was no longer part of Juventus plans and decided to retire last summer after reportedly turning down a few offers including from the Saudi Pro League.

However, when Barcelona suffered an injury crisis as their first-choice goalkeeper, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, sustained a long-term knee injury, coach Hansi Flick reached out to see if he would be willing to come out of retirement and serve as a backup to Inaki Pena.

Szczesny was a good goalkeeper for Juventus and spent seven happy seasons there, but the fans were annoyed when he was signed to a big contract, earning more money that Juve could afford at the time.

His presence early on his Juve career meant the team had to play a deeper line at times as he didn’t offer the protection Gianluigi Buffon did, but he slowly won over the fans and produced some fine saves – a lot like the ones he produced against Benfica when Barca were reduced to 10 men.

When I interviewed him previously, I found he had such a great sense of humour and an easy way about him. Confident but never arrogant, he was an appreciated figure in the dressing room.

Szczesny's early appearances for Barcelona were not great. He was sent-off in the Spanish Super Cup final against Real Madrid in Saudi Arabia in what his first clasico. Barca still went on to win.

He was also poor in the Champions League match against Benfica which Barca won 5-4 in Lisbon, when the Pole was at fault for two of the goals.

But considering how he trains, the relationship he has with Flick and the passion he feels for Barcelona, he has become the undisputed starter in goal.

“When you watch players in training, you get a feeling, I discuss it with my staff, I see how the players work and what level they can reach. It was clear to everyone that Szczesny could reach this level. We all knew it. I make the decisions, but I talk with my coaching staff,” Flick said following the first-leg win over Benfica in March.

Szczesny has been excellent for Barcelona and is loving his time at the Catalan giants. “At Juventus, you mainly focus on results, while at Barca, there is a contagious joy for football,” Szczesny said. “And it doesn’t surprise me that millions of fans follow this approach.

“What makes me happier than anything in Barcelona is the emotion connected to football, a completely different feeling to what I’m used to.”

As a Juve fan, ouch.

Q: What are the chances Roma qualify for Europe/Champions League especially without Paulo Dybala?

@ZCthekid via Instagram

A: Paulo Dybala is an exceptional player, and any team would miss him, but his injury record is the exact reason bigger teams shied away from committing to signing him.

When he was ruled out for the rest of the season last month, Dybala was tearful as he desperately wanted to help Roma challenge for the top four. His absence will be keenly felt, even if the team managed a win against Lecce away from home last Sunday.

However, the ownership brought in Matias Soule over the summer because they saw him as the long-term replacement for Dybala and manager Claudio Ranieri will depend on him to help maintain their seven-game winning streak in Serie A.

Against Lecce, he demonstrated his desire to always try to create for the team but he’s not yet at the level the club need to keep pushing forward. Ranieri admitted there is room for growth but playing consistently will help him grow as he comes to grips with playing in such a difficult and pressurised environment.

Media reports have suggested manager Stefano Pioli has fallen out with Cristiano Ronaldo at Al Nassr. Getty Images
Media reports have suggested manager Stefano Pioli has fallen out with Cristiano Ronaldo at Al Nassr. Getty Images

Ranieri has done a brilliant job and steadied the ship after a disastrous start to the season that saw the club sack two coaches before asking the "Tinkerman" to take over.

He has made clear that he will leave his role as coach at the end of the season and the club are on the hunt for his replacement.

The most recent name linked to the job is Al Nassr’s Stefano Pioli. So far this season, the Italian coach has overseen 21 victories, six draws and six defeats in Saudi Arabia and reports from Sky Italia suggest he is tempted by a move to Roma.

Reports of a rift between Piloi and star striker Cristiano Ronaldo seem to have been exaggerated. During the recent international break, Pioli has been experimenting with his side and developing his tactics to ensure third-placed Al Nassr keep fighting for the Saudi Pro League title – they face second-placed Al Hilal on Friday – and I don’t know if he’s ready to move back to Italy or if Roma consider him a front-runner for the role.

He is undoubtedly a great coach, winning the Serie A title in 2022 with AC Milan against all odds, but he’s not one to give up on a challenge and there’s more work to be done at Al Nassr, who trail league leaders Al Ittihad by 10 points.

MATCH INFO

Manchester City 4 (Gundogan 8' (P), Bernardo Silva 19', Jesus 72', 75')

Fulham 0

Red cards: Tim Ream (Fulham)

Man of the Match: Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City)

The story in numbers

18

This is how many recognised sects Lebanon is home to, along with about four million citizens

450,000

More than this many Palestinian refugees are registered with UNRWA in Lebanon, with about 45 per cent of them living in the country’s 12 refugee camps

1.5 million

There are just under 1 million Syrian refugees registered with the UN, although the government puts the figure upwards of 1.5m

73

The percentage of stateless people in Lebanon, who are not of Palestinian origin, born to a Lebanese mother, according to a 2012-2013 study by human rights organisation Frontiers Ruwad Association

18,000

The number of marriages recorded between Lebanese women and foreigners between the years 1995 and 2008, according to a 2009 study backed by the UN Development Programme

77,400

The number of people believed to be affected by the current nationality law, according to the 2009 UN study

4,926

This is how many Lebanese-Palestinian households there were in Lebanon in 2016, according to a census by the Lebanese-Palestinian dialogue committee

The National photo project

Chris Whiteoak, a photographer at The National, spent months taking some of Jacqui Allan's props around the UAE, positioning them perfectly in front of some of the country's most recognisable landmarks. He placed a pirate on Kite Beach, in front of the Burj Al Arab, the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland at the Burj Khalifa, and brought one of Allan's snails (Freddie, which represents her grandfather) to the Dubai Frame. In Abu Dhabi, a dinosaur went to Al Ain's Jebel Hafeet. And a flamingo was taken all the way to the Hatta Mountains. This special project suitably brings to life the quirky nature of Allan's prop shop (and Allan herself!).

Our legal consultant

Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Abaya trends

The utilitarian robe held dear by Arab women is undergoing a change that reveals it as an elegant and graceful garment available in a range of colours and fabrics, while retaining its traditional appeal.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDirect%20Debit%20System%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Sept%202017%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20UAE%20with%20a%20subsidiary%20in%20the%20UK%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20FinTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Undisclosed%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Elaine%20Jones%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%208%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Ways to control drones

Countries have been coming up with ways to restrict and monitor the use of non-commercial drones to keep them from trespassing on controlled areas such as airports.

"Drones vary in size and some can be as big as a small city car - so imagine the impact of one hitting an airplane. It's a huge risk, especially when commercial airliners are not designed to make or take sudden evasive manoeuvres like drones can" says Saj Ahmed, chief analyst at London-based StrategicAero Research.

New measures have now been taken to monitor drone activity, Geo-fencing technology is one.

It's a method designed to prevent drones from drifting into banned areas. The technology uses GPS location signals to stop its machines flying close to airports and other restricted zones.

The European commission has recently announced a blueprint to make drone use in low-level airspace safe, secure and environmentally friendly. This process is called “U-Space” – it covers altitudes of up to 150 metres. It is also noteworthy that that UK Civil Aviation Authority recommends drones to be flown at no higher than 400ft. “U-Space” technology will be governed by a system similar to air traffic control management, which will be automated using tools like geo-fencing.

The UAE has drawn serious measures to ensure users register their devices under strict new laws. Authorities have urged that users must obtain approval in advance before flying the drones, non registered drone use in Dubai will result in a fine of up to twenty thousand dirhams under a new resolution approved by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai.

Mr Ahmad suggest that "Hefty fines running into hundreds of thousands of dollars need to compensate for the cost of airport disruption and flight diversions to lengthy jail spells, confiscation of travel rights and use of drones for a lengthy period" must be enforced in order to reduce airport intrusion.

How green is the expo nursery?

Some 400,000 shrubs and 13,000 trees in the on-site nursery

An additional 450,000 shrubs and 4,000 trees to be delivered in the months leading up to the expo

Ghaf, date palm, acacia arabica, acacia tortilis, vitex or sage, techoma and the salvadora are just some heat tolerant native plants in the nursery

Approximately 340 species of shrubs and trees selected for diverse landscape

The nursery team works exclusively with organic fertilisers and pesticides

All shrubs and trees supplied by Dubai Municipality

Most sourced from farms, nurseries across the country

Plants and trees are re-potted when they arrive at nursery to give them room to grow

Some mature trees are in open areas or planted within the expo site

Green waste is recycled as compost

Treated sewage effluent supplied by Dubai Municipality is used to meet the majority of the nursery’s irrigation needs

Construction workforce peaked at 40,000 workers

About 65,000 people have signed up to volunteer

Main themes of expo is  ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’ and three subthemes of opportunity, mobility and sustainability.

Expo 2020 Dubai to open in October 2020 and run for six months

Our legal consultant

Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Our legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants

Super 30

Produced: Sajid Nadiadwala and Phantom Productions
Directed: Vikas Bahl
Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Pankaj Tripathi, Aditya Srivastav, Mrinal Thakur
Rating: 3.5 /5

PROFILE OF HALAN

Started: November 2017

Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga

Based: Cairo, Egypt

Sector: transport and logistics

Size: 150 employees

Investment: approximately $8 million

Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar

FROM%20THE%20ASHES
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Khalid%20Fahad%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Shaima%20Al%20Tayeb%2C%20Wafa%20Muhamad%2C%20Hamss%20Bandar%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20SupplyVan%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ELaunch%20year%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202017%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2029%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20MRO%20and%20e-commerce%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Seed%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Groom and Two Brides

Director: Elie Semaan

Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla

Rating: 3/5

Moon Music

Artist: Coldplay

Label: Parlophone/Atlantic

Number of tracks: 10

Rating: 3/5

MWTC

Tickets start from Dh100 for adults and are now on sale at www.ticketmaster.ae and Virgin Megastores across the UAE. Three-day and travel packages are also available at 20 per cent discount.

Timeline

2012-2015

The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East

May 2017

The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts

September 2021

Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act

October 2021

Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence 

December 2024

Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group

May 2025

The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan

July 2025

The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan

August 2025

Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision

October 2025

Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange

November 2025

180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE

Tightening the screw on rogue recruiters

The UAE overhauled the procedure to recruit housemaids and domestic workers with a law in 2017 to protect low-income labour from being exploited.

 Only recruitment companies authorised by the government are permitted as part of Tadbeer, a network of labour ministry-regulated centres.

A contract must be drawn up for domestic workers, the wages and job offer clearly stating the nature of work.

The contract stating the wages, work entailed and accommodation must be sent to the employee in their home country before they depart for the UAE.

The contract will be signed by the employer and employee when the domestic worker arrives in the UAE.

Only recruitment agencies registered with the ministry can undertake recruitment and employment applications for domestic workers.

Penalties for illegal recruitment in the UAE include fines of up to Dh100,000 and imprisonment

But agents not authorised by the government sidestep the law by illegally getting women into the country on visit visas.

RESULTS

5pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
Winner: Samau Xmnsor, Abdul Aziz Al Balushi (jockey), Ibrahim Al Hadhrami (trainer)
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Ottoman, Szczepan Mazur, Abdallah Al Hammadi
6pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner: Sharkh, Patrick Cosgrave, Helal Al Alawi
6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 85,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner: Yaraa, Fernando Jara, Majed Al Jahouri
7pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Maaly Al Reef, Bernardo Pinheiro, Abdallah Al Hammadi
7.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,000m
Winner: Jinjal, Fabrice Veron, Ahmed Al Shemaili
8pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,000m
Winner: Al Sail, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel

RESULT

Norway 1 Spain 1
Norway: King (90 4')
Spain: Niguez (47')

MATCH INFO

Quarter-finals

Saturday (all times UAE)

England v Australia, 11.15am 
New Zealand v Ireland, 2.15pm

Sunday

Wales v France, 11.15am
Japan v South Africa, 2.15pm

The biog

Favourite film: Motorcycle Dairies, Monsieur Hulot’s Holiday, Kagemusha

Favourite book: One Hundred Years of Solitude

Holiday destination: Sri Lanka

First car: VW Golf

Proudest achievement: Building Robotics Labs at Khalifa University and King’s College London, Daughters

Driverless cars or drones: Driverless Cars

Results

1. New Zealand Daniel Meech – Fine (name of horse), Richard Gardner – Calisto, Bruce Goodin - Backatorps Danny V, Samantha McIntosh – Check In. Team total First round: 200.22; Second round: 201.75 – Penalties 12 (jump-off 40.16 seconds) Prize €64,000

2. Ireland Cameron Hanley – Aiyetoro, David Simpson – Keoki, Paul Kennedy – Cartown Danger Mouse, Shane Breen – Laith. Team total 200.25/202.84 – P 12 (jump-off 51.79 – P17) Prize €40,000

3. Italy Luca Maria Moneta – Connery, Luca Coata – Crandessa, Simone Coata – Dardonge, Natale Chiaudani – Almero. Team total 130.82/198.-4 – P20. Prize €32,000

Jetour T1 specs

Engine: 2-litre turbocharged

Power: 254hp

Torque: 390Nm

Price: From Dh126,000

Available: Now

The alternatives

• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.

• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.

• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.

2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.

• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases -  but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.

GROUPS AND FIXTURES

Group A
UAE, Italy, Japan, Spain

Group B
Egypt, Iran, Mexico, Russia

Tuesday
4.15pm
: Italy v Japan
5.30pm: Spain v UAE
6.45pm: Egypt v Russia
8pm: Iran v Mexico

ABU DHABI T10: DAY TWO

Bangla Tigers v Deccan Gladiators (3.30pm)

Delhi Bulls v Karnataka Tuskers (5.45pm)

Northern Warriors v Qalandars (8.00pm)

MATCH INFO

West Ham United 2 (Antonio 73', Ogbonna 90 5')

Tottenham Hotspur 3 (Son 36', Moura 42', Kane 49')

MATCH INFO

Manchester United 2 (Heaton (og) 42', Lindelof 64')

Aston Villa 2 (Grealish 11', Mings 66')

Is it worth it? We put cheesecake frap to the test.

The verdict from the nutritionists is damning. But does a cheesecake frappuccino taste good enough to merit the indulgence?

My advice is to only go there if you have unusually sweet tooth. I like my puddings, but this was a bit much even for me. The first hit is a winner, but it's downhill, slowly, from there. Each sip is a little less satisfying than the last, and maybe it was just all that sugar, but it isn't long before the rush is replaced by a creeping remorse. And half of the thing is still left.

The caramel version is far superior to the blueberry, too. If someone put a full caramel cheesecake through a liquidiser and scooped out the contents, it would probably taste something like this. Blueberry, on the other hand, has more of an artificial taste. It's like someone has tried to invent this drink in a lab, and while early results were promising, they're still in the testing phase. It isn't terrible, but something isn't quite right either.

So if you want an experience, go for a small, and opt for the caramel. But if you want a cheesecake, it's probably more satisfying, and not quite as unhealthy, to just order the real thing.

 

 

MATCH INFO

What: Brazil v South Korea
When: Tonight, 5.30pm
Where: Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Tickets: www.ticketmaster.ae

The biog

Favourite hobby: I love to sing but I don’t get to sing as much nowadays sadly.

Favourite book: Anything by Sidney Sheldon.

Favourite movie: The Exorcist 2. It is a big thing in our family to sit around together and watch horror movies, I love watching them.

Favourite holiday destination: The favourite place I have been to is Florence, it is a beautiful city. My dream though has always been to visit Cyprus, I really want to go there.

RESULTS

Cagliari 5-2 Fiorentina
Udinese 0-0 SPAL
Sampdoria 0-0 Atalanta
Lazio 4-2 Lecce
Parma 2-0 Roma
Juventus 1-0 AC Milan

What is blockchain?

Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.

The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.

Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.

However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.

Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.

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The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre turbo

Power: 181hp

Torque: 230Nm

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

Starting price: Dh79,000

On sale: Now

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SERIE A FIXTURES

Saturday

AC Milan v Sampdoria (2.30pm kick-off UAE)

Atalanta v Udinese (5pm)

Benevento v Parma (5pm)

Cagliari v Hellas Verona (5pm)

Genoa v Fiorentina (5pm)

Lazio v Spezia (5pm)

Napoli v Crotone (5pm)

Sassuolo v Roma (5pm)

Torino v Juventus (8pm)

Bologna v Inter Milan (10.45pm)

Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere

Director: Scott Cooper

Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Odessa Young, Jeremy Strong

Rating: 4/5

Aston martin DBX specs

Engine: 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8

Transmission: nine-speed automatic

Power: 542bhp

Torque: 700Nm

Top speed: 291kph

Price: Dh848,000

On sale: Q2, 2020
 

Who is Allegra Stratton?

 

  • Previously worked at The Guardian, BBC’s Newsnight programme and ITV News
  • Took up a public relations role for Chancellor Rishi Sunak in April 2020
  • In October 2020 she was hired to lead No 10’s planned daily televised press briefings
  • The idea was later scrapped and she was appointed spokeswoman for Cop26
  • Ms Stratton, 41, is married to James Forsyth, the political editor of The Spectator
  • She has strong connections to the Conservative establishment
  • Mr Sunak served as best man at her 2011 wedding to Mr Forsyth
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE

Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.

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Updated: April 03, 2025, 8:59 AM