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A few concerns were raised when Casemiro completed his move to Manchester United in August

Manchester City take on arch-rivals Manchester United in the FA Cup final on Saturday. Here, the PA news agency looks at some key battles ahead of the Wembley encounter. Pep Guardiola v Erik ten Hag City manager Guardiola has again underlined his status as the best coach of his generation by guiding his side to a fifth Premier League title in six years and bringing them within two wins of a glorious treble. Ten Hag, who worked alongside the Catalan at Bayern Munich for a spell, cannot match Guardiola’s success but his record at Ajax was impressive and his first season with United has been encouraging, with one trophy and Champions League qualification secured. They have both beaten each other once this season. Ruben Dias v Marcus Rashford Portugal defender Dias has been back to his best for City during the run-in. After a spell out around the turn of the year, he has recovered form and fitness to provide a rock-solid barrier at the heart of the defence. He will come up against United’s player of the year Rashford, who has bagged 30 goals in all competitions. The forward’s scoring rate may have slowed after a prolific spell in the winter, but after overcoming a recent illness, he will be United’s main threat. Rodri v Bruno Fernandes Rodri has enjoyed his best season for City and is now widely regarded as one of the best midfielders in the world. The Spaniard not only provides a defensive shield, but is a driving force who regularly initiates and supports attacks. Fernandes is an important cog in the United midfield. He finds space well, makes dangerous runs and passes incisively. He is both a creator and goalscorer, and has shown of late he can be as effective on the right as centrally. Kevin De Bruyne v Casemiro It is remarkable that De Bruyne was criticised by Guardiola just a few months ago. The Belgian playmaker had been performing well enough but the City boss clearly felt he had another level. So it has proved, with the 31-year-old outstanding in City’s charge to the title and two finals. His partnership with Haaland has been especially potent and Casemiro will aim to keep a close watch. The experienced Brazilian has made a big impact at Old Trafford this season, providing a steeliness and maturity they previously lacked. Erling Haaland v Raphael Varane Haaland’s first season at City has been absolutely sensational with 52 goals scored in all competitions and nine assists for good measure. His size, pace and strength make him difficult to contain and, after scoring so many goals this term, he will now want to add some signature trophy-winning ones. Varane will provide a good challenge. The Frenchman reads the game well, is strong on the ball and is quick himself. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

The Senate has passed a bipartisan agreement forged by US president Joe Biden and House speaker Kevin McCarthy to raise the $31.4 trillion US debt ceiling after the deal survived a Republican rebellion in the House of Representatives. The Fiscal Responsibility Act, which will also implement new federal spending cuts, cleared the lower chamber with 314 votes in favour and 117 against on Wednesday night. The narrowness of its passage through the House was made possible through the support of Democrats, who stepped in to thwart a Republican rebellion that badly undermined Speaker McCarthy’s claims to control over his increasingly divided party. On Thursday, the Senate rejected 11 proposed amendments before passing the bill 63 for to 36 against. Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer will now send the bill to President Biden’s desk for his signature. Full congressional approval was required before Monday 5 June, when the Treasury Department was expected to run out of funds to pay its debts for the first time in American history. Read More Underestimated McCarthy emerges from debt deal empowered as speaker, still threatened by far right Lauren Boebert didn’t turn up to vote on debt ceiling deal she furiously campaigned against What’s next for Biden-McCarthy debt ceiling deal as Senate races to beat default deadline?

Jason Sudeikis and Jennifer Aniston have surely developed a close bond through their heart-winning on-screen chemistry

While the trailer doesn’t hint about Kim Cattrall’s comeback, it does give us a peek at other surprising turns that lie ahead in Season 2 of the iconic series

Even before this week’s last preparations for the FA Cup final, Erik ten Hag long realised he had to do something different. Managers like the Dutch coach and Pep Guardiola usually avoid referencing media narratives, in order to ensure the players stay focused on “the process”. Ten Hag knew that was impossible in this case, so it’s better to use it as motivation. It might even be all the more necessary given his Manchester United side had been flagging. Going right back to the semi-final victory over Brighton, though, Ten Hag knew it was pointless to talk down the idea of stopping City doing a treble. He was well aware it means everything to the fans, so he is insistent his team will play with “everything”. That is a message that has repeatedly been rammed home in the last week. United go into this with the sort of emotional intensity that many recall from Jose Mourinho’s better moments, but that can still go one of two ways. City themselves would know that too well, from their own experiences of such fixtures before the 2008 takeover. It shows how the course of history has gone a different way than many would ever have anticipated - not least Sir Alex Ferguson - as those 142 years of rivalry see a first ever Manchester derby in an FA Cup final. For most of the living memory of that, United were so superior to City they didn’t have to even concern themselves with their neighbours. They were just fun to further beat down, especially en route to grander feats. The path to their domestic double, in 1995-96, involved a typical comeback win over City. Far more meaningful history weighs over this match. It could never have just been about United seeking to do a first domestic cup double - and just the fifth on record - or even the prize of lifting the oldest trophy in the sport, and one long associated with the club’s key moments. Nor is it about what victory mean for the future of Ten Hag’s side. It is all about preserving the greatest success in United’s history, and the feat that has most defined the post-Busby era of the club. “The treble” is one of a few precious factors that make United unique, all the more so for how it was delivered with a group of homegrown players that echoed the Busby Babes. For City to equal it, and especially by beating United in the final that matters the least to them, would be more symbolic than either "the 6-1" or the FA Cup semi-final of 2011. This is where we are now, though, and how history has turned just as the two clubs play out this epochal match. It is now City that are more concerned with greater aims, and United that have become obsessed with just stopping their rivals. It is also why another FA Cup final has been repeatedly mentioned this week, fittingly from a similar period when United were between eras of glory. That was the 1977 showpiece, as Tommy Docherty’s burgeoning side faced an identical situation against Liverpool. Bob Paisley’s side had already claimed the league and were preparing for a European Cup final against Borussia Monchengladbach. They won that 3-1 but wouldn’t win the FA Cup, as Jimmy Greenhoff scored to give that United side a 2-1 win and the eternal legacy as “treble busters”. This has the same stakes. It is also why United are very much the story to this game, especially after so much focus on City’s brilliance, if also the Premier League charges that cloud their future. The situation over the next few days is much clearer. While City would derive great satisfaction in beating their neighbours to win a double and set up the treble, defeat would be forgotten if they won the Champions League the following week. That is what everything is building up to. That is the one they want above anything else. This will not define their season, even if it will decide the treble. The very preparation for Wembley has been with Istanbul in mind, the staff looking at minutes played and fitness in the way they wouldn’t have to if the FA Cup final was the last game. For United, this is the be-all and end-all of the campaign, and a potential landmark moment. The current squad are keenly aware of this. Even allowing for the economics of the modern game, most of these players are at United because of the prestige of the club. They want to preserve what makes it special. Casemiro is understood to have internalised it. Marcus Rashford has been talking about it. Ten Hag has similarly pressed all of this home. Perhaps the biggest question about the game is whether such emotional intensity will influence the tactical approach. Does Ten Hag go with it, or use it in a more restrained way. This is again why United are more the story, or at least where more of the intrigue lies. Just as we know what City prioritise, we also know how they’ll set up - at least in terms of imposing their game on United. Ten Hag would ideally play something much closer to what City do, but knows his team are still some way off that. He also knows they've been some way off the accelerated level of January-February when they beat Guardiola’s side. This is why the stakes of the treble involve useful motivation. It might also mean Ten Hag has to go with something much more tactical. The absence of Lisandro Martinez is key, too. He would have been seen as important to drawing Erling Haaland into a scrappier battle. All of this is another reason why this marquee match may not be that pretty. The Metropolitan Police have similarly taken necessary precautions given the train strike and the precedent set by some of the fan issues that surrounded the 2011 FA Cup semi-final. There are undeniably heightened emotions around this game. There are also heightened stakes. This is a rare case where one of the teams wants their players to be even more aware of those. Read More How Raphael Varane transformed Manchester United: ‘You need the character to fight’ Ruben Dias interview: ‘Man City have done nothing yet - thinking too far ahead will kill us’ What time is the FA Cup final? How Yaya Toure changed everything for Man City – and delivered Man Utd a ‘slap in the face’

By Pavel Polityuk KYIV (Reuters) -Ukrainian forces in Kyiv said on Friday they shot down 36 Russian missiles and drones

Remember when Elon Musk changed Twitter's logo to Doge, the shiba inu dog mascot of

Harrison Ford and his second wife Melissa Mathison had been together for over two decades, before getting divorced in 2004

Liam and Noel Gallagher are at it again and once again it's Liam who is firing the shots at his older brother and his apparently 'blasphemous' cover of a famous Joy Division song. The older Gallagher and his band High Flying Birds performed with the BBC Concert Orchestra as part of BBC Radio 2’s Piano Room to promote their new album Council Skies. During the performance he covered the iconic tune 'Love Will Tear Us Apart.' Now we'll leave judgment of the cover down to you but it's fair to say that Liam wasn't too impressed by Noel's attempt to pay tribute to their fellow Manchester indie music icons. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Writing on Twitter, Liam (with the obligatory swear words) said: "I must once again apologise on behalf of my family for Rkids p**s poor and damn rite blasphemous version of joy division’s love will tear us apart tut f**king tut SORRY [sic]." In case you are wondering here is Noel's cover: And for comparison's sake, here is the original classic from Joy Division. Joy Division - Love Will Tear Us Apart [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO] www.youtube.com Regardless of what you think of the cover it doesn't look like Oasis are getting back together anytime soon. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

Watch live as Antony Blinken and his Finnish counterpart speak in Helsinki on Friday, 2 June. The US secretary of state and the Finnish foreign minister Pekka Haavisto will sign a joint statement and make short remarks. Mr Blinken has made a trip to Europe to "deepen transatlantic cooperation on top national security and economic priorities." He is visiting Helsinki to highlight the US's relationship with Nato's newest ally. So far he has visited Lulea, Sweden, where he co-chaired the fourth meeting of the US-EU Trade and Technology Council, holding discussions on technology, holding Russia accountable, and supporting Ukraine. Mr Blinken met with Swedish prime minister Ulf Kristersson and Swedish foreign minister Tobias Billström. The US secretary of state's trip to Helsinki comes after he departed Norway, where he participated in an informal meeting of Nato foreign ministers to discuss the alliance's Vilnius summit which will be held in July. Read More US reopens embassy in Seychelles after 27-year absence France, Germany urge new elections in Kosovo following flare-up in ethnic tensions White House imposing sanctions as Sudan's warring sides fail to abide by cease-fire deal

Erling Haaland says a historic treble with Manchester City would be his “biggest dream” and hopes to fulfil his purpose and help deliver the Champions League. Pep Guardiola’s side have won their fifth Premier League title in six seasons and play Manchester United in Saturday’s FA Cup final before facing Inter Milan in the Champions League final on 10 June. United are the only English club to have completed the treble, under Sir Alex Ferguson in 1999, and while Guardiola’s City have dominated the domestic scene, they have yet to be crowned champions of Europe. Haaland told BBC Sport: “It would be unreal to make this history. This is why they bought me of course, to get this, we don’t have to hide that. “It would mean everything. I will do everything I possibly can to try to make it happen. It’s my biggest dream and hopefully dreams do come true.” But the 22-year-old Norway striker warned both United and Inter will be “motivated” to “destroy” City’s treble chances. “But as well it’s not easy,” Haaland said. “It’s two finals against two good teams that will do everything they can to try to destroy that.” It would mean everything. I will do everything I possibly can to try to make it happen Erling Haaland on Manchester City's treble chances Haaland has taken the Premier League by storm in his first season, scoring a record 36 top-flight goals and 52 in all competitions. He is the first player to be voted Premier League player and young player of the year in the same season and was also named the Football Writers’ Association (FWA) men’s footballer of the year. The former Salzburg and Borussia Dortmund striker said success in England had been life-changing. “I’m 196cm tall and have got long blond hair so wherever I go people are going to see me,” he said. “So that’s how my life is. What can I do? “There’s nothing I can do, that’s my life. I just have to try to enjoy it as much as I can. Try to relax when I’m home with good people around me, that’s really important. Just try to enjoy my life.” Haaland said he was still not the finished article, adding: “I’ve been developing in a really positive way and that’s really important for me because I’m still really young. “I’m 22, I’ve got a long career ahead of me and I still have to develop. That’s also something I was thinking of over one year ago when I was thinking about my next move.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Football rumours: Four clubs battle to sign Southampton’s James Ward-Prowse Nikola Jokic triple-double propels Denver Nuggets past Miami Heat 104-93 Matt Wallace one stroke behind lead after first day of PGA Memorial in Ohio