Arab leaders, joined by Syria's Assad and Ukraine's Zelenskyy, convene summit in Saudi Arabia
Arab leaders have been joined by Syrian President Bashar Assad for the first time in more than a decade at an annual Arab League summit in Saudi Arabia
2023-05-19 18:52
Ukraine's president begins visit to Saudi Arabia, aims to enhance ties with Arab world
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced that he has begun a visit to Saudi Arabia where Arab leaders are holding a summit
2023-05-19 18:51
Roberto De Zerbi: Brighton will be ready for fixture pile-up next season
Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi is confident his players will be ready for a first European adventure if they manage to grasp the prize dangling before them. The Seagulls suffered a setback on Thursday evening when they went down 4-1 at Newcastle in the battle of the Premier League’s top-six gatecrashers. However, they return to action against relegated Southampton on Sunday knowing wins in two of their last three games – against the Saints, champions elect Manchester City and Aston Villa – will secure a place in the top six and the rewards that would bring. Reflecting on a bruising evening on Tyneside, De Zerbi said: “We are not used to playing three games in a week and we suffered a lot. “There are many players – for example Moises Caicedo, Pervis [Estupinan] in the first half – they didn’t play well, but I love them. They have to learn to play two games in four days. “Next year we will be better, we will be ready to play every day.” The defeat at St James’ Park came in Brighton’s fourth game in 15 days, a run which includes famous victories over Manchester United and Arsenal, but also a 5-1 home drubbing by Everton. De Zerbi felt he had no option but to leave on-loan Chelsea defender Levi Colwill out of the matchday squad in the north east with Alexis Mac Allister, Julio Enciso and Evan Ferguson starting on the bench. With injuries biting deep into his squad – he was also without Solly March, Adam Lallana, Adam Webster, Joel Veltman, Jakub Moder, Jeremy Sarmiento, Enock Mwepu and Tariq Lamptey – the Italian admitted he had been presented with a selection headache. However, he added: “Yes, but we have to be strong in a difficult period, a tough period. I don’t like making any excuses, but we have eight, nine, I don’t know, I don’t remember how many injuries we have now. “We are playing four games in 12 days. The first XI today, Colwill wasn’t available to play, Mac Allister can’t play 90 minutes today and 90 minutes on Sunday, Welbeck, Buonanotte, Gilmour and Undav the same.” De Zerbi expects to have 20-year-old Colwill, who was rested at Newcastle as a result of fatigue, back in the fold for Sunday’s game. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live
2023-05-19 18:50
Greek rivals launch final push before Sunday election
Greece's outgoing conservative Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and leftist challenger Alexis Tsipras will make a final push for votes at closing rallies on Friday ahead of the most...
2023-05-19 18:49
Ukraine's Zelensky in Saudi for Arab summit attended by Assad
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he landed Friday in Saudi Arabia, host of an Arab League summit attended by long isolated Syrian President Bashar...
2023-05-19 18:49
Pakistan's Imran Khan dials down campaign of defiance, allows police search of home for suspects
Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan has dialed down his campaign of defiance, saying he would allow a police search of his home over allegations that he was harboring suspects wanted in recent violence during anti-government protests by his supporters
2023-05-19 18:46
Turkey's net FX reserves hit 21-year low of $2.3 billion before vote
ANKARA The Turkish central bank's net international reserves dropped some $4.45 billion to a 21-year low of $2.33
2023-05-19 18:29
Turkish banks restrict credit access amid pre-runoff uncertainty
By Nevzat Devranoglu and Ebru Tuncay ANKARA Turkish banks have restricted access to some individual loans and postponed
2023-05-19 18:26
Futures edge higher on hopes of debt deal
U.S. stock index futures edged higher on Friday on optimism that a deal to avoid a catastrophic U.S.
2023-05-19 18:24
Erdogan hails 'special relationship' with Putin ahead of crucial Turkey runoff vote
Turkey has a "special" and growing relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin despite mounting pressure on Ankara to help bolster Western sanctions against Moscow, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in an exclusive interview ahead of next week's presidential election runoff.
2023-05-19 18:20
New Indiana Jones draws mixed reviews at Cannes
"Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny" sees the archaeologist defy age with special effects and fight off Nazis from Manhattan to Sicily, but he struggled against...
2023-05-19 18:16
Mikel Arteta: Granit Xhaka’s future at Arsenal to be decided at end of season
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has insisted discussions over the future of Granit Xhaka will wait until the end of the season. Xhaka has been central to the Gunners’ title bid this campaign but is approaching the final 12 months of his deal at the Emirates Stadium. Bayer Leverkusen are interested in taking the Switzerland international back to Germany, where the midfielder played for four years with Borussia Monchengladbach before he moved to England in 2016. It has been a rollercoaster journey for Xhaka at Arsenal but his manager is eager to finish strongly in the final two games before he switches his attention to a number of contract scenarios. Arteta said: “The clarity is there. He is a player that has played I think every minute since I have been the manager. “He is an incredibly respected figure at the club. He has a great story around him with what he has achieved at the club in going through very tough moments and he is a key and very important part of us. “Whatever happens is something we will discuss, certainly not now.” Second-placed Arsenal have faced some criticism this week after their 3-0 defeat at home to Brighton left Manchester City on the brink of a fifth Premier League victory in six years. Pep Guardiola’s side can defend their crown this weekend if the Gunners lose at Nottingham Forest on Saturday or if City can beat Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium a day later. Arteta, in a thinly-veiled dig at their detractors, stated they have been up against one of the best teams ever. “We have shown this season,” Arteta replied when asked if Arsenal can be title contenders again next season. “We’re still there, with two games to go we can still be champions against probably the best team in Premier League history. “For 10 months we’re still there. There’s two games still to go and we’re not going to bottle that for sure. “What happens next season will depend on what we do, how we evolve and how we start. That prediction is very difficult to do today.” Quizzed on the level of the squad, with Champions League football to come next term, Arteta conceded improvements will need to be made before Arsenal return to Europe’s top competition. “At the level that we want? No. We didn’t have the capacity to do that as well with the Europa League so it’s part of that evolution,” he explained. “We have made a lot of good steps and strong steps in that journey and we have to continue. That never ends. “We want to be better and the rest will be better, then the margins will be higher and we have to start to live with those standards and improve and be smarter.” We’re still there, with two games to go we can still be champions against probably the best team in Premier League history. Mikel Arteta Arsenal received positive news on Thursday when Aaron Ramsdale agreed a new long-term deal with the club. It will keep Ramsdale contracted to the Gunners until the summer of 2026, the PA news agency understands. Arteta is confident the likes of Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and William Saliba will follow. He added: “Delighted with the news for Aaron. He fully deserves that new contract, that extension and we want to keep our talent at the club and we want to build on that. “There are a few more who are very relevant for us to continue with that relationship. We’re working on that. “We are trying (with Saliba). We are having conversations and we are trying to maintain the talent we have at the club as I said before, but things take time. “You have to agree it. There are different parties involved. I think everybody’s intention is the same and hopefully we’ll find the right solution.” Meanwhile, Oleksandr Zinchenko (calf) and Gabriel Martinelli (ankle) will not feature again this season. “Gabi’s is a pretty nasty injury, we need to assess in the next week how long he’ll be out for,” Arteta said. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Eddie Howe knows Newcastle will have to carefully manage European football Sean Dyche: The only table that matters is the one at the end of the season Julen Lopetegui thrilled with Wolves progress since his first clash with Everton
2023-05-19 18:15