List of All Articles with Tag 'al'

Troops still trying to clear areas seized by Hamas, as dozens of Israeli hostages still missing.

The recent surge in Rome’s borrowing costs show investors are positioning for a combination of weak growth and

Switzerland has become home to one-fifth of the Russian spies operating in Europe as other countries expel diplomats,

Researchers have discovered a new species of tarantula lurking in mangrove swamps – and they have vibrant blue legs. The arachnid was discovered inhabiting hollow trees, in Phang-Nga, Thailand. They like to live in humid and wet conditions. Caused by its unique hair nanostructure, the spider omits an electric blue colour. “The difficulty of catching an electric-blue tarantula lies in the need to climb a tree and lure it out of a complex of hollows,” said researcher Dr Narin Chomphuphuang. “During our expedition, we walked in the evening and at night during low tide, managing to collect only two of them.” Blue is one of the rarest colours to appear in nature, absorbing very small amounts of energy to reflect the blue light. Creating an iridescent effect, the species is known as Chilobrachys Natanicharum, the Electric Blue Tarantula. This spider is one of the rarest tarantulas in the world, facing extinction due to the looming threat of deforestation of the mangrove forests. The researchers are thus campaigning for preservation efforts, hoping to save the newly discovered species. Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter 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.

The fallout from Saturday’s surprise attack on Israel by the Palestinian group Hamas reverberated through Middle East markets,

Mauricio Pochettino believes Saturday’s 4-1 come-from-behind win at Burnley can be worth much more to Chelsea than simply three points. Raheem Sterling, again snubbed by England, starred as Chelsea responded to Wilson Odobert’s surprise early strike for the Clarets, having a hand in all four goals as Pochettino’s side ultimately ran out comfortable winners on a ground where they have still never lost a Premier League match. An own goal from Ameen Al-Dakhil, Cole Palmer’s penalty, Sterling’s strike and a Nicolas Jackson goal made it back-to-back league wins for the first time since March for Chelsea and three straight in all competitions for a side still trying to find their way under Pochettino. Coming into the match, Chelsea had failed to win any of the previous 19 league matches in which they had conceded first, and had not scored four or more goals since thrashing Southampton 6-0 in April 2022, and this win will deliver another injection of confidence. “Always when you concede first and you need to break down the opponent always you feel proud when you achieve that,” Pochettino said. “The team were playing well and with the chances conceded in a situation that was completely unfair, but the team were really good, solid, the whole team.” Given the upturn in Chelsea’s form, the international break is perhaps badly-timed from their perspective, but Pochettino hopes the next fortnight will see Chelsea’s considerable injury worries ease before they return to action with a tough fixture at home to Arsenal on October 21. Although Wesley Fofana and Christopher Nkunku are long-term absentees; Reece James, Benoit Badiashile, and Trevor Chalobah should all come back into the frame for that match, while Pochettino hopes to see Ben Chilwell and Romeo Lavia take strides in their own rehabilitations. “We want to improve players and try to recover the players that were injured,” Pochettino said when asked what he wanted to take from the next fortnight. “The next two weeks we’re going to spend working on the training ground with a different mood from the last months. “After two victories it is much better but I think we will keep pushing, working hard to be better in the next months.” It was another tough afternoon for Burnley, who have now equalled the unwanted record of five consecutive home defeats to start a top-flight season, something only previously suffered by Manchester United in 1930-31, Portsmouth in 2009-10, Bolton Wanderers in 2011-12 and Newcastle United in 2018-19. All but Newcastle went on to suffer relegation, and although Vincent Kompany can point to a brutal fixture list which has already seen both Manchester clubs, Tottenham and Aston Villa visit before Chelsea, he knows it must change fast. “It’s got to be a tough place always,” Kompany said. “To say that at Turf Moor you get the three points against all these teams, I’ve been in the game long enough to know that’s not the case. “I had that feeling against United (a 1-0 defeat) where until the last minute you’re in the game. It’s being close that’s important. The game was put past us in a very short time and that’s something that sets you back in these games massively.” There were positives for Kompany to pick out, however, most obviously the sight of Odobert marking his first Premier League start by becoming Burnley’s youngest scorer in the competition at the age of 18 and 313 days. “He has the advantage of being such a young player,” Kompany said. “He’s 18 so he can almost do nothing wrong… with wingers, sometimes you get away with being a bit younger because speed and the threat one-v-one always gives you something to think about. “That’s what we’ve had with Wilson and (Luca) Koleosho and those are guys who are only going to get better.”

Its third year saw the Bristol idea expand across the UK, and in India, Papua New Guinea and the US.

Tottenham defenders Micky van de Ven and Destiny Udogie hailed “leader” Cristian Romero after they combined to extend Ange Postecoglou’s unbeaten start at the club with a 1-0 win at Luton. Spurs created a plethora of chances early on at Kenilworth Road, but Yves Bissouma received two yellow cards in quick succession in the first half to alter the course of Saturday’s game. While Van de Ven put Tottenham ahead in the 52nd-minute, Luton made the most of their numerical advantage to pile the pressure on, but vice-captain Romero in particular shone with 12 clearances and five aerial duals won during a colossal display over the 90 minutes. “Amazing player, unbelievable player,” centre-back Van de Ven said of Romero to SpursPlay. “Defensively so strong, with the ball so strong, keeps talking, for me an amazing player. “We had to concentrate for the full 90 minutes. We had to keep pushing, keep commanding and holding a strong line. We help each other and have each others back. “Everyone keeps talking the whole time and most of the time no one is losing concentration, but everyone is keeping each other awake and you saw we defended really well to keep the clean sheet.” Left-back Udogie echoed those sentiments, saying: “I think Cuti (Romero) is a real leader. “You can’t feel more safe (than) with Cuti and he shows this every day in training, in the game and he helps us a lot. “As you saw it was really tough and with a man less it was more tough but this is the spirit of our squad. We keep working hard for each other and the result come.” On his maiden Italy call-up, Udogie added: “It is a big dream for me you know. As a young kid I was always dreaming for this moment. “Now it has come and I have to just stay focused, enjoy the time, work hard for the team and give my best.” Spurs have won six of their eight Premier League matches under Postecoglou, which makes this the club’s best start to a top-flight season since the 1960-61 double-winning campaign. The goals have flowed, but the Australian has added a steel to a previously frail defensive unit and this shut-out was Tottenham’s third with new first-choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario. Postecoglou said: “They’ve been great all year, both the centre-backs, the whole back four and Vic. “I think a big part of that is Romero because when you look at it, it’s Destiny’s first year in the Premier League, Micky’s first year, Vic’s first year and (Pedro) Porro is just beginning his Premier League career, but they’ve got a World Cup winner beside them. “I think Cuti makes them feel like they belong. They feel really comfortable having him beside them and you can see them flourish. I think Cuti is a real leader. You can't feel more safe (than) with Cuti and he shows this every day in training, in the game and he helps us a lot. Destiny Udogie on Cristian Romero “He is someone you definitely want in your team. Yes he does have that physicality about him, but he’s a good player as well. “His passing range, ability to really position himself well, to stay calm and then just ridiculous bravery to always put his body in there. He’s just an outstanding defender.” Lionel Messi recently labelled Argentina team-mate Romero as the best defender in the world. “He’s a good judge,” Postecoglou smiled. Meanwhile, newly-promoted Luton were left to rue missed chances after suffering a sixth defeat, but could soon call upon the services of free agent Andros Townsend after he played for their under-21s on Friday. “We will see,” Hatters boss Rob Edwards said. “It has to be right for him. We will have a look and see how it goes. “He played on Friday night the full game.”

By Samia Nakhoul, Nidal al-Mughrabi, Matt Spetalnick and Laila Bassam DUBAI/GAZA/WASHINGTON When Islamist group Hamas launched a spectacular

The visiting Arizona Diamondbacks made a statement Saturday, using a six-run first inning against Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw

Militants are still fighting in Israel, says the military, after an unprecedented Hamas attack.

Israel is “at war,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, after militants from the Gaza Strip fired over 3,000