List of All Articles with Tag 'll'

Cluster bombs are banned by more than 100 countries - so the move will likely draw intense criticism.

Mark Randall believes lining up for Larne on the club’s Champions League debut will top his experiences with Arsenal. The Irish Premiership champions are set to make history on Wednesday when they begin their two-legged first qualifying round tie against HJK Helsinki in Finland. Former Gunners midfielder Randall made 13 appearances under Arsene Wenger between 2006 and 2009, including two European outings and a brief cameo in a north London derby against Tottenham. The 33-year-old trained and played alongside the likes of Robin van Persie, Cesc Fabregas and Thierry Henry back then but is now preparing for what he anticipates will be the highlight of his career. “This will be at the top, I think, because of the achievement for the club and the fans,” he told the PA news agency ahead of the midweek visit to the 10,770-capacity Bolt Arena in Finland’s capital. “It’s little old Larne but it’s a massive achievement and everyone’s really looking forward to it. “I think this tops it because at clubs like Arsenal you get that every year but this is such a massive thing for the club and the town. “It’s not expected over here, especially to have a good run. For me, it means a lot more, competing in that competition for Larne.” Randall helped Larne claim the Irish Premiership title for the first time in their 134-year history last season. The former England Under-18 international made his Champions League debut aged 18 in August 2008 when eventual semi-finalists Arsenal defeated FC Twente in the final qualifying round before he appeared in a group stage clash with Porto four months later. Yet, following just two Premier League substitute appearances for the Gunners and a handful of loan spells, he moved on to Chesterfield in 2011 before arriving on Northern Ireland’s east coast via stints with Italian side Ascoli, MK Dons, Barnet, Newport, Crawley and Hemel Hempstead. Randall is loving life in County Antrim after being tempted over by the vision of millionaire owner Kenny Bruce – co-founder of online estate agent Purplebricks – following the club’s promotion to the top flight in 2019. “This was a new challenge for me and my family,” said the father-of-three. “We were looking to get away from England and this came up. “I was a hundred per cent in, my wife was a bit worried at the start but as soon as she came over she absolutely loved it, the kids love it here, so it’s probably the best thing we’ve ever done. “I wanted to come over and play in a league where I could win things instead of being in League Two, League One just floating about at mid-table teams. “I could see the vision before I signed when I met Kenny and the manager (Tiernan Lynch) and they’ve been true to their word. “I love it here. People around the town are just really great people. After games we’ll go and have a beer with the fans and it’s just little things like that that make a massive difference.” Randall was initially tipped for big things by long-reigning Arsenal boss Wenger. He has no real regrets about his time in north London but concedes his attitude and work ethic perhaps dipped below the required level. “It’s the best coaching you will get at that age,” said Randall, who remains in contact with former Gunners team-mate Kieran Gibbs from that era. “Back then, they had unbelievable players that you can learn so much from on a daily basis. “At a top Premier League club, you’re going to get the best facilities, best training ground, best food and the lower you go, you don’t really get that. “Probably, if I’m honest, my attitude and maybe my work ethic weren’t up to scratch as the top players are. They are 100 per cent professional and maybe that’s where I let myself down.” Larne’s greatest European adventure follows two successive Europa Conference League qualifying campaigns, which included a run to the third round in 2021-22. They will play next week’s second leg against HJK at Cliftonville’s Solitude stadium in Belfast after the synthetic pitch at their Inver Park home failed to satisfy FIFA criteria. The 32-time Finnish champions have far more experience at this level and even reached the group stage in 1998-99, leading to clashes with Kaiserslautern, Benfica and PSV Eindhoven. “We feel like on our day we can give anyone a good game,” said Randall. “I don’t think it’s going to be a walk in the park for them.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Football rumours: Romelu Lukaku willing to take pay cut for permanent Inter move The sporting weekend in pictures Third Ashes Test: England keep series hopes alive in latest Headingley thriller

Asking prices for Irish homes rose more than 4% in the second quarter of the year, breaking a

Reliance Industries Ltd. rallied the most in more than three months after India’s biggest firm by market value

A stronger-than-expected corporate earnings season alone won’t be enough to boost the S&P 500 this time around, according

Investors in troubled UK utility Thames Water Ltd. have agreed to put in an extra £750 million ($960.4

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s government abruptly collapsed on Friday amid infighting over migration policy. Rutte, who’s led

Norway’s underlying inflation unexpectedly accelerated to a record-high pace, vindicating the central bank’s half-point interest-rate increase last month

BT Group Plc is searching for a new chief executive officer after Philip Jansen told the board he’d

Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners is looking to raise €12 billion ($13 billion) to invest in renewable energy, making it

What the papers say Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku, who was on loan at Inter Milan last season, is reportedly willing to take a £1million pay cut for a permanent move to the Italian club, the Telegraph reports. Lukaku featured in the Champions League final for Inter, scoring 10 goals and assisting six times in his 25 matches in Serie A last year. Bayern Munich have reportedly sent a revised offer of £70million plus add-ons to Tottenham for Harry Kane, the Guardian said. The Daily Mail says Al-Ettifaq manager Steven Gerrard is keen to sign free agent Wilfried Zaha, who saw his Crystal Palace contract expire this summer, for around £16million per season. Ajax defender Jurrien Timber has completed a medical at Arsenal and the Metro says he has returned home for a farewell party before he completes his move to the club. Social media round-up Players to watch Harvey Barnes: The Leicester winger is reportedly keen on a move to Newcastle following the Foxes’ relegation to the Championship, according to Football Insider. Rasmus Hojlund: The 20-year-old has reportedly reached an agreement in principle with Manchester United, who are set to submit a new bid to Atalanta for the Danish striker. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

Israel has the option of breaking with the Federal Reserve after closely tracking the US central bank during