Category News

Arsenal vs Bayern Munich: UEFA Champions League – team news, start, lineups

By in News, World News

Who: Bayern Munich vs. Arsenal
What: Matchday 5, League Phase, UEFA Champions League
Where: Emirates Stadium, North London, England, UK
When: Wednesday at 8pm (20:00 GMT)
How to follow: We’ll have all the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 17:00 GMT in advance of our text commentary stream.

In a heavyweight UEFA Champions League (UCL) matchup of the two dominant European megaclubs on Wednesday, English Premier League leaders Arsenal take on German Bundesliga’s Bayern Munich.

Recommended Stories

list of 4 itemsend of list

Both clubs have perfect records in the League Phase of the competition, and both teams are ranked No 1 and No 2 in the current UCL standings.

Before their top-of-the-table clash at Emirates Stadium, what is all the news?

In the UCL League Phase, who have Arsenal and Bayern Munich currently defeated?

Bayern Munich leads the league standings with four victories and a maximum of 12 points against Chelsea (3-0), Pafos (5-1), Club Brugge (4-4) and, most recently, a victory over Paris Saint-Germain (2-1) at home in France on November 4.

Arsenal leads only their German rival in terms of points and goal difference, with 11 points behind. Athletic Bilbao (2 / 2)), Olympiacos (2 / 2), Atletico Madrid (4 / 4) and Slavia Praha (3 / 3) have all registered victories against them.

Inter Milan is the only team with a perfect 4-0 record in the competition.

Odegaard will face Bayern Munich in a game?

In what would be his first game since suffering a knee injury in early October, Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has a good chance of starting for Bayern Munich.

The Norwegian midfielder is expected to be in the squad after training on Tuesday afternoon.

Odegaard is being considered for Wednesday’s game, according to manager Mikel Arteta.

For the previous game, “He]Odegaard was very close. We anticipate that he’ll be a part of the squad on Wednesday.

Martin Odegaard of Arsenal training at the London Colney, United Kingdom, on November 25, 2025 [Peter Cziborra/Action Images via Reuters]

Where did Bayern Munich and Arsenal finish last year’s Champions League?

The Gunners defeated Real Madrid in the quarterfinals (5-1 on aggregate), before falling to Paris Saint-Germain, who had previously reached the Champions League semifinals.

Bayern Munich’s UCL campaign came to an end in the quarterfinals against Inter Milan (4-3 overall).

last five matches form guide

Arsenal: W-W-W-D-W (Premier League, last result)

Bayern Munich: W-W-W-D-W (Bundesliga), last.

Arsenal-Bayern Munich: head-to-head

Bayern Munich won 1-0 (3-2 on aggregate) over Arsenal in the Champions League semifinal on April 17, 2024, making the Germans advance to the last four of the 2023-24 competition with Joshua Kimmich’s 63rd-minute header.

The teams have played each other 14 times, with Bayern dominating the historical contest:

  • 8 wins for Bayern Munich
  • 3 wins for Arsenal
  • Draws 3

news from the Arsenal team

With Kai Havertz (knee) and Viktor Gyokeres (hamstring) both still recovering from injuries, Arsenal will face Bayern without a recognized striker.

Gabriel Jesus will also need to be rested for the Champions League game despite having knee surgery and returning to full fitness.

He arrived sooner than we anticipated, to be fair, and quite close, according to Arteta.

He will have a new step to take with a game that we will arrange for him in the coming days. He will simply be knocking on the door after that.

Possible starting XI for Arsenal

Timber, Saliba, Hincapie, Lewis-Skelly, Eze, Zubimendi, Rice, Saka, Merino, Trossard, and Raya (goalkeeper) are present.

Team news for Bayern Munich

Kimmich, the player who put an end to Arsenal’s last game in 2024, was a question mark at the beginning of the week because of a knock he picked up during the FIFA international break, but is now expected to be back on Wednesday.

Luis Diaz, an explosive winger, is a disciplinary defender for the Arsenal game. Lennart Karl, a rising 17-year-old star, who started for Bayern against Brugge on October 22 and became the club’s youngest champions league scorer in his debut.

Jamal Musiala and Alphonso Davies, who have injuries, won’t be selected for selection.

Harry Kane, who has returned to his native London for this game, will once again lead the charge under the guidance of Bayern manager Vincent Kompany.

Possible starting XI for Bayern Munich:

Neuer (goalkeeper), Laimer, Upamecano, Tah, Guerreiro, Pavlovic, Kimmich, Olise, Karl, Gnabry, Kane, and Laimer

Harry Kane, bayern Munich players in action.
On November 25, 2025, at the Bayern Munich Training Center in Munich, Germany, Harry Kane, center, and Nicolas Jackson, second from right [Angelika Warmuth/Reuters]

Floods kill dozens, displace thousands in southern Thailand

By in News, World News
by news organizations

According to officials, there have been 33 fatalities from days of widespread flooding in southern Thailand, leaving more than 10,000 people displaced.

With torrential rains sweeping over Hat Yai since late last week, the Thai government has declared a state of emergency in southern Songkhla province on Tuesday.

In Hat Yai, murky brown floodwater was pictured in an image released on Wednesday that was published by international news organizations.

According to spokesman for the Thai government, “33 people have died in seven provinces, including victims of flash floods, electrocution, and drowning,” according to a spokesman. He continued, “The south’s water level is anticipated to decrease.”

Residents and visitors have been stranded in their homes and hotels as a result of the flooding that began last week, with rescuers using boats, jet skis, and military trucks to transport them to safety.

According to the army, the military has deployed an aircraft carrier and mobilized helicopters to transport patients to nearby hospitals.

Since last week, more than 10,000 people have been forced out of their homes in Songkhla, according to the provincial’s public relations department.

Campuses at universities have been transformed into displaced person shelters.

The Songkhla provincial administration announced on Wednesday that it had established food distribution centers capable of distributing up to 20 000 food boxes to flood victims every day.

Experts claim that Thailand regularly experiences heavy rainfall between June and September, making the conditions more unpredictable.

Strengthen Community-Based Security To Tackle Kwara South Insecurity — Wahab Shittu

By in News, Nigeria News

Wahab Shittu, a senior advocate for Nigeria, has called for stronger community-based security measures to combat the state of insecurity in some Kwara South.

Shittu made the announcement on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Wednesday.

He said, “If we want to address this problem, especially in Kwara South, we must strengthen community-based protection.”

He added that authority must be exercised by local security officials, vigilante organizations, and other organizations.

The community must increase its capacity to address these issues, the statement states. They can’t rely solely on the state government’s efforts.

Shittu claimed that border communities are still vulnerable because of the area’s persistent insecurity.

Read more about IGP sending an intelligence team to Kwara after a church attack here.

He claims that “our borders around Kwara South and other communities in that area are porous, which allows the influx of weapons and armed bandits into these areas without checks.”

He argued that the situation calls for more active security cooperation from neighborhood residents, noting that relying solely on the state government won’t solve the issue.

Shittu also pointed out resource and human resource gaps and suggested that security agencies appeared overstretched.

He claimed that “the security agencies appear to be overwhelmed by the security agents’ lack of support and staffing.”

He recalled the Kwara State Government’s response to recent Kwara South attacks.

Remember that the state governor had to convene state security meetings where traditional rulers, local government chairmen, and other important stakeholders in the security architecture came together, as the Kwara South situation demonstrated.

The senior attorney argued that local involvement in long-term security is essential.

Security must be increased, he said, and everyone involved in the process must be in the mix if you want to address what is happening at the community level.

He further stated that traditional rulers, regional government chairmen in these regions, as well as local vigilante organizations, should be mobilized to take security seriously rather than merely to the state or federal government.

Abductions

In recent weeks, there have been two significant kidnappings in Kwara State that have occurred within a week.

38 members of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) branch in Eruku were abducted on Tuesday last week, according to reports of gunmen killing others.

Many residents fled into nearby bushes for safety, according to eyewitnesses in the community who reported to Channels Television that the attackers stormed the area “suddenly and heavily armed.”

The bandits had requested $3 billion to release the victims, but the ransom was later reduced to $760 million.
In the same Kwara State, bandits abducted 11 residents and struck the Isapa community in the Ekiti Local Government Area shortly after the Eruku attack.

More than 20 gunmen stormed the neighborhood on Monday carrying a sizable herd of cattle and fired shots without distinction. A stray bullet reportedly struck the elderly woman during the attack.

Seven of the abducted people belong to the same family, according to a community leader who spoke on condition of anonymity. A pregnant woman, two nursing mothers, and several young children are among the victims.

Release of the Eruku victims

The 38 worshipers who had been abducted by bandits from Eruku’s Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) were set free on Monday by the Kwara State Government.

The worshipers were released on Sunday, according to Governor Abdul Rahman AbdulRazaq, who signed a statement signed by his chief press secretary Rafiu Ajakaye.

However, the statement made no mention of how the abductees came back to life.

After “a lot of days of hard work by security forces and government representatives,” the statement reads, “Abdul Rahman AbdulRazaq is pleased to announce the freedom of 38 people who were recently abducted in an attack on Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) Eruku, Ekiti LGA, Kwara State.”

The state government attributed President Bola Tinubu’s “hands-on approach” to the rescue of the victims, which reportedly “personally led the efforts” to free the abductees.

However, the statement made no mention of how the abductees came back to life.

After “a lot of days of hard work by security forces and government representatives,” the statement reads, “Abdul Rahman AbdulRazaq is pleased to announce the freedom of 38 people who were recently abducted in an attack on Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) Eruku, Ekiti LGA, Kwara State.”

Hull KR start Super League title defence at newcomers York

By in News, Sports News

JavaScript must be enabled in your browser to play this video.

  • 13 Comments

In their opening game of the 2026 season, newly promoted York Knights will host treble winners Hull KR, who will begin their campaign for the title.

On Thursday, February 12 (GMT), Rovers will travel to York’s LNER Community Stadium (20:00 GMT).

Last season, Hull KR won the Challenge Cup, League Leaders’ Shield, and Grand Final, and won it with a 24-6 victory over Wigan Warriors, sealing the title.

In addition to the expanded 14-team competition, York will be one of three new Super League clubs for the upcoming season.

After placing 10th in this year’s grading system, Bradford Bulls were promoted in place of financially troubled Salford Red Devils, while The Knights and Toulouse Olympique were chosen by an independent panel.

After their one-season break in 2022, Toulouse will return to the top tier while York will play in the Super League for the first time.

Both Toulouse and the Bulls kick off the campaign with away games on Saturday, February 14th, following their 11-year absence from Super League.

In another area, Wigan, who lost to Wigan in the Grand Final last year, kicks off the season against Castleford on Sunday, February 16 with a live broadcast of the game.

A derby between Warrington Wolves and St. Helens at Halliwell Jones Stadium will be the highlight of three games on Friday, February 13.

As Leigh Leopards, who were beaten semi-finalists by beating them, take on Leeds Rhinos, who were dramatically eliminated from the play-offs by Saints, there will also be a match between the third and fourth-placed teams from last year.

Huddersfield Giants travel to Perpignan to face Catalan Dragons in the final match of the first round.

The move from Newcastle to Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium for Magic Weekend will take place on Tuesday, according to the Super League.

The main events will be the return of derby games, with Wigan and St. Helens vs. Hull KR vs. Hull FC and Hull KR vs.

    • 17 October

    • 16 October

    • 11 October

Super League first-round matches

(All times are GMT)

Friday, February 12th,

York Knights v Hull KR (20: 00)

Friday, February 13th.

Dragons vs. Huddersfield Giants by Catalans (18:00)

Leeds Rhinos vs. Leigh Leopards (20:00)

St. Helens vs. Warrington Wolves (20:00)

14 February, Saturday,

Hull FC v Bradford Bulls (17: 30)

Toulouse vs. Wakefield Trinity (20:00)

Sunday, February 15

related subjects

  • Warrington Wolves
  • Hull FC
  • Leeds Rhinos
  • Wakefield Trinity
  • Rovers from Hull and Kingston
  • Leigh Leopards
  • Castleford Tigers
  • Dragons and Catalans
  • Rugby League
  • Wigan Warriors
  • Huddersfield Giants
  • St. Helens
  • Toulouse Olympique

Pro-Palestine conference leaders sue Berlin officials who shut down event

By in News, World News

Berlin, Germany – Organisers of a pro-Palestine conference are suing authorities in Berlin who shut the event down last April soon after it began.

They hope a panel of judges at the Berlin Administrative Court will rule that police acted unlawfully in cracking down on the Palestine Congress, a forum of solidarity activists and human rights experts who were gathering to discuss Israel’s genocide in Gaza and Germany’s alleged complicity.

Recommended Stories

list of 4 itemsend of list

The hearing begins on Wednesday.

The defendant, the State of Berlin, argues the police were right to act preemptively as they predicted criminal statements would be made at the conference, specifically incitement to hatred, dissemination of propaganda or use of symbols of unconstitutional and “terrorist” organisations.

The police justified this prediction in part on the basis that in a news conference held prior to the event, organisers allegedly did not distance themselves from the Hamas-led incursion into southern Israel on October 7, 2023.

On the day in question, April 12, 2024, officers in riot gear descended in their hundreds on the venue usually used for wedding receptions and pulled the plug – cutting off the power to ensure that none of the planned speeches could be heard or broadcast via livestream.

“I’m not aware of any other instance where a conference was shut down without any crime having been committed,” Michael Ploese, the lawyer representing the conference organisers, told Al Jazeera.

He said that German law only allowed restrictions on gatherings in private rooms where there was  high probability that a criminal act would be committed, and that the right to freedom of expression usually took precedence.

Among the groups organising the conference was Juedische Stimme (Jewish Voice), a sister group of the US collective of the same name that organises Jewish peace activists who are critical of Israeli actions regarding Palestine.

“I saw it as a success that we had even been able to begin it at all, but I wasn’t expecting it all to end an hour later,” said Wieland Hoban, the chair of Juedische Stimme, who gave opening remarks at the conference.

Adding to the sense of repression, the British Palestinian doctor Ghassan Abu Sittah, one of the main speakers, said officials at the airport in Berlin prevented him from continuing his journey and told him to return to the United Kingdom.

Yanis Varoufakis, the Greek left-wing economist and former minister of finance, posted online the speech he had planned to make. Like Abu Sittah, Varoufakis faced an entry ban after the furore. The Berlin Administrative Court later ruled that the ban on Abu Sittah’s political activity was unlawful.

Throughout Israel’s genocidal war against Palestinians in Gaza, German police and security services have repeatedly claimed protests in support of those being bombarded are anti-Semitic or are to be interpreted as revering Hamas. Thousands of individual protesters have been arrested, and many planned demonstrations have been banned outright.

Germany is Israel’s biggest diplomatic supporter in Europe and enforces strict limits on speech that criticises or attacks Israel, with some arguing this is necessary because of Germany’s genocide of six million Jews in the Holocaust.

It is a justification that Wieland Hoban rejects, saying the laws are even used against Jewish people who speak up for Palestine.

“Even if you lost family in the Holocaust, you can still be lectured by some German about what you can say,” said Hoban. “Simply mentioning the Holocaust can get you accused of relativierung” – a word that is used to suggest someone is playing down the Holocaust by drawing comparisons to other, lesser, crimes against humanity.

Last month, a group of United  Nations experts said they were alarmed by the “pattern of police violence and apparent suppression of Palestine solidarity activism by Germany”.

If this week’s case goes in favour of the conference organisers, it will be a blow to Germany’s controversial stance.

Videos of police using force to shut down nonviolent protests for Gaza on the streets of German cities have coursed around the world.

But what marked the state’s intervention in the Palestine Congress apart was that it represented the silencing of an event consisting of talks and debates in an indoor venue – a sphere of political expression that lawyers had previously thought was off-limits for police repression.