Ukraine Latest: Fighting Around Bakhmut Shifts Lines of Control
Ukraine said its forces advanced in the suburbs around the eastern city of Bakhmut in heavy fighting, even
2023-05-17 02:25
Michael J Fox says he fell in love with wife Tracy Pollan when she called him out over insult
Michael J Fox said he was attracted to Tracy Pollan's fearless and genuine personality
2023-05-17 02:23
Michael Douglas in five films
Michael Douglas received an honorary Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film...
2023-05-17 02:17
CTE cases in soccer players raise fresh questions about safety of heading the ball
Four more former professional soccer players have been diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy
2023-05-17 01:59
Blake Shelton shares Gwen Stefani's concern about 'The Voice' not having him back after his departure
'When I finally came to the conclusion she even said, 'Well, I guess they probably won't have me back ever again'', said Blake Shelton
2023-05-17 01:52
What to watch in Tuesday's Pennsylvania, Kentucky and Florida primaries
Off-year primary elections are like the deep tracks of American politics. Not a lot of people might be paying attention, but there are some interesting things going on for those who do.
2023-05-17 01:46
'A human life was lost': Outrage as Alec Baldwin's happy post on 'Rust' wrap-up draws accusations of being 'tone deaf'
Alec Baldwin had two counts of manslaughter charges in connection with the death of Hayna Hutchins dropped off
2023-05-17 01:25
From Netflix embarrassment to the Premier League? Sunderland seek to leave chaos behind
In stark contrast to their money-laden neighbours, Sunderland are within touching distance of the Premier League’s riches with one of the youngest squads in the Championship. Holding a 2-1 advantage over Luton after the first leg of their semi-final, the Hatters stand in their way of reaching the richest game in football – the play-off final – and the means to unlock hundreds of millions of pounds available to those who play in England’s top flight. The Black Cats spent a decade in the Premier League, before they were relegated with four games remaining at the end of the 2016-17 season. Sunderland’s plight is better known than most, in large part due to Netflix’s Sunderland ‘Til I Die fly-on-the-wall documentary which started with optimism of an immediate return to the top tier, but instead catalogued the disastrous, often embarrassing relegation to League One. That documentary helped inspire Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney to buy Wrexham but now the Black Cats are hunting a Hollywood fairytale of their own. The third level of the English footballing pyramid is arguably one of the most difficult divisions to escape, as Leeds too found in recent years, and Sunderland finished in the play-offs three times before moving back into the Championship in the 2021-22 season. However, Tony Mowbray is on the brink of something extraordinary. After Alex Neil’s departure on 21 August to take charge of Stoke – despite having led the Black Cats back into the second tier – Sunderland have flourished. Despite having one of the youngest squads in the Championship, with an average age of just 23.4 years, they are unbeaten in their last 10 matches. The Hatters’ meteoric rise eclipses even that of Sunderland, having been outside the Football League as recently as the 2013-14 season, though they are more established in the Championship, playing in their third season. But Sunderland will be encouraged by their 1-1 draw with Premier League side Fulham in the FA Cup – although the Cottagers made a number of changes from their usual starting XI – and Mowbray has argued against those who believe promotion would come too soon for his youthful side. They have the potential. And a 46,000 seater stadium with passionate fans who would relish the opportunity to take on their old rivals Newcastle in the first northeast derby since March 2016. However, Sunderland – if they return – will be returning to a wholly different local footballing landscape. While they have travelled to Grimsby and Port Vale, their local rivals are on the cusp of a return to the heights of Europe and have become one of the richest football clubs in the world. In contrast, Sunderland have had a chaotic near-constant change of ownership which has been a source of contention for the fans. Their path to the play-offs was also far from straightforward, having started the final round of matches outside the top six, but Millwall’s capitulation from a two-goal lead to suffering a 4-3 defeat against Blackburn, who went into the game without a win in eight, allowed Sunderland to sneak into sixth. Securing promotion could also be a fitting final tribute for Manchester United’s Amad Diallo, who scored at the Stadium of Light last week, and Paris Saint Germain’s Edouard Michut. Diallo has netted 14 times this season in 41 appearances and is likely to be welcomed back to Old Trafford after impressing during his spell on loan. Sunderland have the experience and they won a play-off final as recently as last year, but the knockout matches are notoriously difficult and Luton will prove tough opposition tonight at Kenilworth Road. Read More Coventry City aiming to come full circle after journey to hell and back When are the play-offs? A tiny ground and a squad costing less than a Man City sub. So how are Luton within reach of the Premier League? Manchester City remember a legend and Real Madrid prepare for Euro showdown Curtis Jones relishing Liverpool run after keeping the faith during ‘tough time’ How Luton Town climbed to within touching distance of the Premier League
2023-05-17 01:24
Council of Europe summit in Iceland seeks to hold Russia to account for waging war in Ukraine
Leaders from across the continent are heading toward Iceland for a rare summit of the 46-nation Council of Europe that will once more step up support for member state Ukraine and condemn Russia for inflicting war on its neighbor
2023-05-17 00:55
Sonja Frisell's lavish staging of Verdi's 'Aida' ends its 35-year-run at the Metropolitan Opera
Sonja Frisell's production of Verdi's “Aida” ends a 35-year run at the Metropolitan Opera on Thursday with its 262nd performance
2023-05-17 00:47
'Home Improvement' star Zachery Bryan welcomes twins with fiancee Johnnie Faye after divorce and arrest
Zachery Bryan, who played Tim Allen's eldest son, was arrested in October 2020 for allegedly assaulting his then-girlfriend
2023-05-17 00:28
Swedish Eurovision winner Loreen returns home, performs winning power ballad 'Tattoo'
The Swedish singer who won the Eurovision Song Contest with her power ballad “Tattoo,” has returned to Sweden, saying she was proud to have won the contest twice and became the second person in Eurovision history to win a second time
2023-05-16 23:59