Bodies pile up without burials in Sudan's capital, marooned by a relentless conflict
Nearly four months of violent street battles between the Sudanese Army and a powerful paramilitary group have made funerals a near impossibility, particularly in Sudan's capital of Khartoum
2023-08-11 13:29
Leeds announce EFL approval of the club’s takeover by 49ers Enterprises
Leeds have announced the EFL has approved the club’s takeover by American investment group 49ers Enterprises. Chairman and majority shareholder Andrea Radrizzani agreed to sell his controlling stake last month and the deal, which valued the club at around £170million, has now been confirmed. 49ers Enterprises, which owns NFL franchise the San Francisco 49ers, has steadily increased its stake in Leeds since becoming a minority shareholder in 2018, while the deal includes full ownership of Elland Road. Paraag Marathe, previously vice-chairman, will take over as chairman, chief executive Angus Kinnear will remain in his current position and Rudy Cline-Thomas, founder and managing partner of venture capital firm MASTRY, will join the board as co-owner and vice-chairman. Former Norwich boss Daniel Farke was appointed manager on a four-year deal earlier this month ahead of the coming season’s bid to secure an immediate return to the Premier League following relegation in May. Marathe said in a Leeds statement: “This is an important moment for Leeds United and we are already hard at work. “This transition is a necessary reset to chart a new course for the club. We have already appointed a highly-respected first-team manager with a track record of success, and we are confident Leeds will field a competitive squad to contend for promotion next season. “It’s a privilege to carry this torch as I know we have a responsibility to ensure this club makes our staff, players, supporters and the Leeds and Yorkshire communities proud.” This is an important moment for Leeds United and we are already hard at work. New Leeds chairman Paraag Marathe Cline-Thomas said: “With my family hailing from Leeds, it’s an honour to be able to uplift this incredible community. “This is more than just an opportunity, it’s a personal mission. The chance to reinvigorate the cherished Leeds culture, to create a platform that attracts the world’s finest players, and build a truly global brand that celebrates diversity, is a prospect that thrills me.” 49ers Enterprises increased its stake in Leeds to 44 per cent in 2021 with the option of buying Radrizzani’s remaining 56 per cent before January 2024. The Americans had been keen to push through a full takeover this summer, but that agreement, which had valued Leeds at around £400million, was contingent on the club remaining in the Premier League. Leeds’ relegation forced both parties back into intense negotiations and a valuation of close to £170m was agreed. The deal marks the end of a six-year ownership of Leeds for Radrizzani, who said: “It has been an honour to guide Leeds United…and to spend so much time with the best fan base in the world. “49ers Enterprises have been fantastic partners for years and I’m confident they will take Leeds to the next level.” Radrizzani completed a full takeover from fellow Italian Massimo Cellino in 2017 and was initially hugely popular. He bought back Elland Road stadium, which had been in private ownership since 2004, and brought in fresh investment when 49ers Enterprises purchased its first 10 per cent stake in 2018. The appointment of Marcelo Bielsa soon after proved a masterstroke as Leeds won promotion back to the Premier League for the first time in 16 years. But Radrizzani’s relationship with the Leeds fan base began to sour when Bielsa was sacked in February 2022. Leeds escaped relegation on the final day of the 2021-22 season and Radrizzani promised that the club would not be involved in another survival fight. But results this past season failed to improve under three different managers. Jesse Marsch and Javi Gracia were both sacked, while Sam Allardyce left after his four-game rescue mission ended in failure. 49ers Enterprises have been fantastic partners for years and I'm confident they will take Leeds to the next level. Andrea Radrizzani When relegation was confirmed with a final-day defeat to Tottenham, Radrizzani was absent from Elland Road, opting instead to remain in Italy to finalise his takeover of Sampdoria. He later admitted Leeds’ board had made mistakes and apologised for the club’s relegation in a personal statement posted on social media. But after it emerged he had offered to use Elland Road as collateral when securing a £26m bank loan to buy Sampdoria – one of his companies and not Leeds owned the stadium – his legacy was further tainted. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Hannah Dingley’s interim spell to end as David Horseman named Forest Green boss Mikel Arteta believes ‘lighthouse’ Declan Rice can take Arsenal to next level Marcus Rashford set to sign new five-year deal at Manchester United
2023-07-18 06:15
UN official hopes for breakthrough on Russian food, fertilizer shipments
A top U.N. official says he hopes for a breakthrough soon after months of efforts to ensure that Russian food and fertilizer can be shipped to developing countries struggling with high prices
2023-05-19 01:56
Greek islanders refuse to throw in the towel over sunloungers
Greek islanders are fed up this summer -- not with the holidaymakers that flock to their beaches but with the hawkers who cram the sands with sunloungers and parasols, to the point where it's sometimes impossible...
2023-08-14 20:23
Huawei wants to go all in on AI for the next decade
Huawei has joined the list of companies that want to be all about artificial intelligence.
2023-09-21 12:55
David Moyes ready for ‘biggest moment’ of career in first European final
David Moyes admitted it was “surreal” to walk out at the Eden Arena in Prague preparing for his first European final, the “biggest moment” of his career. Moyes’ West Ham face Italian side Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final in the Czech capital on Wednesday night. The 60-year-old, who began his managerial career with Preston in 1998, is yet to lift a major piece of silverware, the Community Shield with Manchester United in 2013 notwithstanding. Moyes is looking to become the first British manager since Sir Alex Ferguson, the man he replaced at the then champions, to lift a trophy, and join the former United boss in the pantheon of great Scottish managers in the English game. Moyes, who has attended plenty of European finals in his role on UEFA’s technical committee, and his players got a first look at the final venue on Tuesday evening. “It is slightly surreal,” he said. “Today, to turn up and have your own dressing room is a big thrill for me. I really hope I can take it to the next level and win the game. “I’ve had a really good career since I started coaching at 35. Over a thousand matches, been in some finals, had some promotions. But this is the biggest moment. To be a coach for as long as I’ve been, you’re obviously doing something right.” Moyes also categorically denied suggestions that he could step down after the final, regardless of the result. “It’s great to be sitting here in a European final, for any manager it’s a thrill, one of the pinnacles you can get in football as a coach,” he added. “Hopefully it’s the start. I’ve always said the best years are still to come and I’m certainly enjoying the moment and being here.” Moyes’ father, David Snr, has attended all their European away matches and will once again be in the crowd at the 20,000 capacity stadium – hopefully. “I think he’ll be in the pub,” smiled Moyes. “But to be in this position is very good and good for my family, and I hope they can enjoy it. Hopefully I can give him something he can remember.” Declan Rice will captain the Hammers in what will almost certainly be his final game for the club with Arsenal and Manchester United among those vying for his signature. Rice, predictably, was not put up in front of the media, high in the home of Slavia Prague, after the on-pitch walkabout. Instead, it was left to winger Jarrod Bowen to swat aside questions over the England midfielder’s future. “As his team-mates we are excited to go out for a final tomorrow with him as our captain,” said Bowen. “When I joined three years ago, never in my wildest dreams would I have thought we would be in the final. “We are team-mates and friends and to win it for everyone would be so special. That’s what our focus is on.” Moyes has a fully-fit squad, bar injured striker Gianluca Scamacca, as West Ham bid to end a trophy drought stretching back to 1980’s FA Cup win over Arsenal. Cup goalkeeper Alphonse Areola will start but regular number one Lukasz Fabianski, something of a penalty-saving expert over the years, could still have a major role to play if the final goes to a shoot-out. “We’ve got those thoughts,” said Moyes. “It’s about planning, I’ve got my thoughts – but won’t reveal them if you don’t mind.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Novak Djokovic fights back to book place in French Open semi-finals Report into discrimination within cricket to be published soon – Lucy Frazer I was raging in Brisbane but now I’m comfortable with rotation – Stuart Broad
2023-06-07 01:28
Divisions over the Ukraine war cause a rift at the EU-LatAm summit that was supposed to be a love-in
High anxiety has set in on the closing day of a summit between European Union and Latin American leaders
2023-07-18 16:49
Spain's LGBTQ community tense ahead of snap vote
"If I had known the elections would be brought forward, I would have started this process earlier," said 16-year-old Alicia Arruti who recently began the process of...
2023-07-10 10:58
White House says deeply concerned by Niger events, cooperation at risk
(Reuters) -The United States remains deeply concerned by developments in Niger in the wake of a military coup and condemns
2023-07-29 02:52
Two teachers called out far-right activities at their German school. Then they had to leave town.
Two teachers in eastern Germany say they spent months unsuccessfully trying to counter the far-right atmosphere at their small town high school
2023-07-25 14:26
Man City confident of signing Josko Gvardiol from RB Leipzig
Manchester City have stepped up their interest in Josko Gvardiol and are in talks with RB Leipzig over a deal, though are reluctant to meet their €100m price tag.
2023-06-21 19:17
Chinese company gives leftover hotpot oil second life as jet fuel
At an upmarket restaurant in the hotpot-loving Chinese city of Chengdu, diners plunge sliced meat and vegetables into cauldrons of spicy, oily broth, largely unaware that their leftovers are set to take...
2023-11-21 13:29
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