The city of Rome today takes on the metropolis of Milan twice in Serie A. That is a lot of enmity to squeeze into the space of a few hours.
Between the two cities, little love is lost on the field, and while it would not be quite true to say that Milan fans will be rooting for Inter to win tonight, nor that Roma supporters will be backing Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico against Milan, there is a general wariness felt by the capital towards Lombardy and vice-versa.
Rome harbours a suspicion that the north pulls all the strings in the running of Italian football.
The Milanese sneer at the unsophisticated upstarts from the south.
Many of those tensions were vividly displayed last March, when Roma came to San Siro and very nearly dealt a serious puncture to Inter's march on the title.
To recap: Roma went 2-0 up that night, and by the time a series of see-saws in fortunes and controversies had passed, ended up drawing 3-3.
By four days later, Inter's head coach Jose Mourinho, his teenage striker, Mario Balotelli and Roma's pugnacious midfielder Daniele De Rossi were all being hauled before a league disciplinary hearing for their behaviour on that fiery evening.
Roma were also fined for the insults directed by their travelling fans in the direction of Balotelli.
The leftovers from that, Roma's last visit to Inter, certainly leave a stamp on tonight's reunion at the Giuseppe Meazza.
Balotelli can expect particular targeting from the visiting supporters, mindful of his gesture towards them last March after he had scored the penalty to bring Inter back into the contest: he cupped a hand to his ear.
The migrants between the two clubs of recent years will also get a special reception. Inter's Christian Chivu, Walter Samuel and Mancini are former Roma players; Nicolas Burdisso and David Pizarro were once of Inter.
The enmity has, if anything, intensified in recent years, acknowledgement that in the post-2006 period that Juventus and Milan were serving punishments for their parts in the calciopoli scandals, Inter and Roma were first and second in the Serie A hierarchy. Inter are still first alright, but the Roma they host this evening began the weekend 13 places below the league leaders in the table.
To all this tinder, an explosive fixture can now add the gunpowder of the personal rivalry between the two head coaches.
One detail that might be recalled from last season's Inter-Roma clash is how the garrulous Mourinho launched an attack on Juventus in the aftermath, claiming they continued to enjoy refereeing bias.
Juventus at that stage were genuinely pursuing Inter at the top of Serie A. And Juventus at that stage were coached by one Claudio Ranieri. That is the same Claudio Ranieri now in charge of Roma.
The same Claudio Ranieri against whom Mourinho has cultivated a sniping, provocative and not always very light-hearted dialogue through the media since he arrived in Italy. The two have history, of course, Mourinho being the manager who succeeded Ranieri as manager of Chelsea in the English Premier League.
Mourinho seldom wastes an opportunity to remind Italy that he, the younger man, exceeded Ranieri's achievements at Chelsea.
He once added, to the press, how much better he had learned English than Ranieri, and exaggerated how much younger he was than Ranieri, whom he cheekily said was not in his mid-50s, but his early-70s.
All water off a duck's back, insists Ranieri. "Some managers think it's more normal not to try to offend one another," he remarks.
"But things are alright between me and Jose, and I know him very well. When he speaks out, it's because he wants to charge up his players, get them fighting. He's done a great job with Inter."
Ranieri is still trying to do one with Roma, where he has been in the job just two months.
Victories after going a goal down in the last two games, against Bologna and Fulham, suggest he has at least rediscovered some spirit, after a lax run of form that had fans protesting outside the Roma practice ground.
Roma could be worse off.
They could be Lazio, who entertain a buoyant Milan this afternoon on the heels of a chastening 4-1 defeat in the Europa League thrashing at Villarreal in Spain. Lazio followers have been besieging Formello, where the Rome club train, and will continue to do so while their club sit so close to the Serie A relegation zone.
@Email:ihawkey@thenational.ae
Inter v Roma, KO 11.45pm, Aljazeera Sport + 1
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
UAE players with central contracts
Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Chirag Suri, Rameez Shahzad, Shaiman Anwar, Adnan Mufti, Mohammed Usman, Ghulam Shabbir, Ahmed Raza, Qadeer Ahmed, Amir Hayat, Mohammed Naveed and Imran Haider.
Company%20Profile
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Recent winners
2002 Giselle Khoury (Colombia)
2004 Nathalie Nasralla (France)
2005 Catherine Abboud (Oceania)
2007 Grace Bijjani (Mexico)
2008 Carina El-Keddissi (Brazil)
2009 Sara Mansour (Brazil)
2010 Daniella Rahme (Australia)
2011 Maria Farah (Canada)
2012 Cynthia Moukarzel (Kuwait)
2013 Layla Yarak (Australia)
2014 Lia Saad (UAE)
2015 Cynthia Farah (Australia)
2016 Yosmely Massaad (Venezuela)
2017 Dima Safi (Ivory Coast)
2018 Rachel Younan (Australia)
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
The specs
Engine: 1.4-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 180hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 250Nm at 3,00rpm
Transmission: 5-speed sequential auto
Price: From Dh139,995
On sale: now
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Friday (UAE kick-off times)
Real Sociedad v Leganes (midnight)
Saturday
Alaves v Real Valladolid (4pm)
Valencia v Granada (7pm)
Eibar v Real Madrid (9.30pm)
Barcelona v Celta Vigo (midnight)
Sunday
Real Mallorca v Villarreal (3pm)
Athletic Bilbao v Levante (5pm)
Atletico Madrid v Espanyol (7pm)
Getafe v Osasuna (9.30pm)
Real Betis v Sevilla (midnight)
THE LOWDOWN
Photograph
Rating: 4/5
Produced by: Poetic License Motion Pictures; RSVP Movies
Director: Ritesh Batra
Cast: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Sanya Malhotra, Farrukh Jaffar, Deepak Chauhan, Vijay Raaz
Race 3
Produced: Salman Khan Films and Tips Films
Director: Remo D’Souza
Cast: Salman Khan, Anil Kapoor, Jacqueline Fernandez, Bobby Deol, Daisy Shah, Saqib Salem
Rating: 2.5 stars
Multitasking pays off for money goals
Tackling money goals one at a time cost financial literacy expert Barbara O'Neill at least $1 million.
That's how much Ms O'Neill, a distinguished professor at Rutgers University in the US, figures she lost by starting saving for retirement only after she had created an emergency fund, bought a car with cash and purchased a home.
"I tell students that eventually, 30 years later, I hit the million-dollar mark, but I could've had $2 million," Ms O'Neill says.
Too often, financial experts say, people want to attack their money goals one at a time: "As soon as I pay off my credit card debt, then I'll start saving for a home," or, "As soon as I pay off my student loan debt, then I'll start saving for retirement"."
People do not realise how costly the words "as soon as" can be. Paying off debt is a worthy goal, but it should not come at the expense of other goals, particularly saving for retirement. The sooner money is contributed, the longer it can benefit from compounded returns. Compounded returns are when your investment gains earn their own gains, which can dramatically increase your balances over time.
"By putting off saving for the future, you are really inhibiting yourself from benefiting from that wonderful magic," says Kimberly Zimmerman Rand , an accredited financial counsellor and principal at Dragonfly Financial Solutions in Boston. "If you can start saving today ... you are going to have a lot more five years from now than if you decide to pay off debt for three years and start saving in year four."
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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Company profile
Name: Back to Games and Boardgame Space
Started: Back to Games (2015); Boardgame Space (Mark Azzam became co-founder in 2017)
Founder: Back to Games (Mr Azzam); Boardgame Space (Mr Azzam and Feras Al Bastaki)
Based: Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Industry: Back to Games (retail); Boardgame Space (wholesale and distribution)
Funding: Back to Games: self-funded by Mr Azzam with Dh1.3 million; Mr Azzam invested Dh250,000 in Boardgame Space
Growth: Back to Games: from 300 products in 2015 to 7,000 in 2019; Boardgame Space: from 34 games in 2017 to 3,500 in 2019
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
The%C2%A0specs%20
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Results
2.15pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 1,200m
Winner: Maqam, Fabrice Veron (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer).
2.45pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 1,200m
Winner: Mamia Al Reef, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami.
3.15pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 2,000m
Winner: Jaahiz, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel.
3.45pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 1,000m
Winner: Qanoon, Szczepan Mazur, Irfan Ellahi.
4.15pm: Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Cup Handicap (TB) Dh200,000 1,700m.
Winner: Philosopher, Tadhg O’Shea, Salem bin Ghadayer.
54.45pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 1,700m
Winner: Jap Al Yassoob, Fernando Jara, Irfan Ellahi.
Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
- Park in shaded or covered areas
- Add tint to windows
- Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
- Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
- Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
Squid Game season two
Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun
Rating: 4.5/5
Company%20Profile
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Company%20Profile
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
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