Rafael Nadal, Maria Sharapova advance in straight sets at Australian Open
Ginebra beats Meralco again to capture PBA Governors’ Cup title Nadine Lustre’s phone stolen in Brazil Rafale Nadal during the 2019 Australian Open. (AP Foto/Aaron Favila)MELBOURNE, Australia — Rafael Nadal has missed a lot of tennis since last September. He hasn’t missed a beat.The No. 2-seeded Nadal had a 6-4, 6-3, 7-5 win over Australian wild-card entry James Duckworth on Monday in the first round of the Australian Open, his first match back on Rod Laver Arena since he had to retire in his quarterfinal match last year.ADVERTISEMENT High five Philippine Army to acquire MANPADS, self-propelled howitzers Gretchen Barretto’s daughter Dominique graduates magna cum laude from California college LATEST STORIES View comments The 17-time major winner hasn’t played since retiring from his semifinal at the U.S. Open because of a knee injury, and then had surgery on his right ankle in November. He withdrew from a warm-up tournament in Brisbane in the first week of the season because of a muscle strain in his thigh.“Not easy to come back after a lot of months of competition, especially against a player playing super aggressive every shot,” Nadal said. “It’s very difficult to start after an injury — I know it very well. It’s very special to be back.”FEATURED STORIESSPORTSGinebra beats Meralco again to capture PBA Governors’ Cup titleSPORTSJapeth Aguilar wins 1st PBA Finals MVP award for GinebraSPORTSGolden State Warriors sign Lee to multiyear contract, bring back ChrissWearing a sleeveless top, he showed no signs of any issues against Duckworth. His only hiccup came when he served for the match in the ninth game of the third set and was broken at love. He returned the favor very quickly, though, to seal his spot in the second round.Nadal has only lost twice in the first round at Grand Slams — to Steve Darcis at 2013 Wimbledon, and to Fernando Verdasco here in 2016 — and is aiming to be the first man in the Open era two win all four majors at least twice. Maria Sharapova has the second-best record among active women’s players in first-round matches at the majors, and she gave an illustration of why that’s the case with a ruthless 6-0, 6-0 win over Harriet Dart.The 2008 Australian Open champion got play started on Rod Laver Arena and needed only 63 minutes to advance.In her 15th trip to Melbourne Park and her 55th Grand Slam tournament, she’s acutely aware of the toll that the sun and long early matches can have on a player’s title ambitions, so she gets straight to business.The 22-year-old Dart, playing in the main draw of a major for only the second time after getting a wildcard to play last year at Wimbledon, only got a look at one break point in the match — when Sharapova served a double-fault in the second set. She got seven of her 29 points from Sharapova’s double-faults.Sharapova said she was still feeling pain in her right shoulder despite sitting out the end of last season after the U.S. Open.ADVERTISEMENT Ginebra beats Meralco again to capture PBA Governors’ Cup title
Tom Brady most dominant player in AFC championship history Japeth Aguilar wins 1st PBA Finals MVP award for Ginebra MOST READ In fight vs corruption, Duterte now points to Ayala, MVP companies as ‘big fish’ Boeing pitch to PH military: Get Apache, stop being ‘pushed around’ in WPS PLAY LIST 02:48Boeing pitch to PH military: Get Apache, stop being ‘pushed around’ in WPS00:50Trending Articles03:22SEA Games 2019: Charly Suarez stops Burmese foe, advances to boxing semi02:14Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard02:56NCRPO pledges to donate P3.5 million to victims of Taal eruption00:56Heavy rain brings some relief in Australia02:37Calm moments allow Taal folks some respite03:23Negosyo sa Tagaytay City, bagsak sa pag-aalboroto ng Bulkang Taal01:13Christian Standhardinger wins PBA Best Player award Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next Stung by a first-round loss at Wimbledon last year, Sharapova said she couldn’t afford to feel any empathy for Dart.“I mean, there is no time for that, I’m sorry to say … when you’re playing the first round of a Grand Slam,” she said. “I think I was just focused on not having a letdown.“I think it’s very easy to be in a position where things are flowing, you know, you’re doing all the right things, she’s making a few errors, you’re comfortable, easy to get complacent, and, you know, complacency is not great. I was glad that I did the right things from the beginning till the end.”Up next for Sharapova is Rebecca Peterson, who beat Sorana Cirstea, 6-4, 6-1.Also advancing were 2017 U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens, No. 11 Aryna Sabalenka, No. 19 Caroline Garcia, No. 29 Donna Vekic and No. 31 Petra Martic.Danielle Collins advanced to the second round of a major for the first time following a 2-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4 win over No. 14-seeded Julia Goerges, who won the title in Auckland to start the season.Katie Boulter earned the distinction of winning the first 10-point tiebreaker under the Australian Open’s new system for deciding sets.Boulter beat Ekaterina Makarova 6-0, 4-6, 7-6 (6), including 10-6 in the tiebreaker. The new rule was introduced to ensure matches don’t get too lengthy — previously the third set in women’s matches and the fifth set in men’s matches at the Australian Open had to be decided by a two-game advantage.Fifth-seeded Kevin Anderson won his first match at Melbourne Park since 2015 when he beat Adrian Mannarino 6-3, 5-7, 6-2, 6-1. Also advancing on the men’s side were No. 19 Nikoloz Basilashvili and No. 26 Fernando Verdasco.Defending champions Caroline Wozniacki and Roger Federer were scheduled to play night matches later Monday. Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. Will you be the first P16 Billion Powerball jackpot winner from the Philippines?
Japeth Aguilar wins 1st PBA Finals MVP award for Ginebra “I’m just one guy who has a voice and trying to use his platform in a good way,” said Ross during the Players’ Orientation Friday at Meralco Theater. “Hopefully, I could reach one person that’s going through something.”“All it takes is one person to reach, hopefully I could reach one and they could reach another person and we just keep going on from there.”FEATURED STORIESSPORTSGolden State Warriors sign Lee to multiyear contract, bring back ChrissSPORTSCoronation night?SPORTSThirdy Ravena gets offers from Asia, Australian ball clubsRoss joined retired Alaska captain Tony dela Cruz in tackling mental health not only within the league but also outside of it.The two athletes said anyone could suffer from it and one step in helping those in need is to talk openly about the topic. Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next View comments Will you be the first P16 Billion Powerball jackpot winner from the Philippines? Ross said he had a close friend who took his own life because of his issues regarding his mental health, a predicament that could’ve been avoided if someone just listened.“Once that happened to my friends in the States and to my friends out here, I felt like I could use that platform [being a PBA All-Star] to talk about it,” said Ross. “You never know who’s watching, you never know who’s listening.”“Hopefully, they could use those words and won’t be scared to reach out to someone and try to get up.”ADVERTISEMENT Nadine Lustre’s phone stolen in Brazil Tom Brady most dominant player in AFC championship history Philippine Army to acquire MANPADS, self-propelled howitzers Ginebra beats Meralco again to capture PBA Governors’ Cup title In fight vs corruption, Duterte now points to Ayala, MVP companies as ‘big fish’ MOST READ Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard PLAY LIST 02:14Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard02:56NCRPO pledges to donate P3.5 million to victims of Taal eruption00:56Heavy rain brings some relief in Australia02:37Calm moments allow Taal folks some respite03:23Negosyo sa Tagaytay City, bagsak sa pag-aalboroto ng Bulkang Taal01:13Christian Standhardinger wins PBA Best Player award San Miguel Beer guard Chris Ross. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.netMANILA, Philippines—With the PBA opening its doors to its players to talk about mental health, San Miguel star guard Chris Ross said it’s the start of an advocacy that would eventually reach more people in the coming future.Ross, who’s openly discussed mental health before, said he’s fortunate to have a platform in the PBA to elaborate an issue often shunned away due to a stigma that surrounds people who suffer from mental health issues.ADVERTISEMENT PBA is here to help its players on and off court, says Willie Marcial Gretchen Barretto’s daughter Dominique graduates magna cum laude from California college Ginebra beats Meralco again to capture PBA Governors’ Cup title LATEST STORIES Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. 
In early 2013 President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf herself admitted that Liberia’s educational system was “in a mess.” It has alas gotten worse since then. Not only are our elementary and high schools in crisis due to poorly trained teachers, corruption and indiscipline among the students. The student explosion that followed the cancellation of tuition from public primary schools made classroom space and facilities woefully inadequate. In many schools, both primary and secondary, there are backrooms filled with broken chairs. Then the problem of teachers–who are not only inadequate but in many cases poorly trained. Up to 1959, before teachers colleges were created, there were “Teachers Institutes” each January throughout the country, where teachers were given refresher courses in various subjects to equip them with new skills for the new academic year. This was discontinued when teachers colleges were built in various parts of the country. It now appears that the need for refresher courses for teachers continues, to keep them equipped with fresh instruction in the various subject matters and in special skills in handling the new generation of students, especially in the post-war classrooms. There are also the problems of curriculum and textbooks. This newspaper has urged that Civics be returned to the Curriculum. We have also joined a few scholars in calling for the writing of Liberian textbooks reflecting the local culture that would make instruction and learning more adaptable to the Liberian situation. But we are still using foreign textbooks which are largely irrelevant to the Liberian reality. This is not the case in other West African countries, which insist on using local textbooks. This pays off: the children learn faster because the texts and illustrations are more adaptable to their national experience. But somehow the Education Ministry has not been able to establish and maintain a well staffed and financed textbook writing program. In the late 1980s and early 1990s the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) sponsored and financed local textbook production. Perhaps these and other burning educational issues may be considered at the US-Liberia Partnership Dialogue Conference which begins today in Monrovia. The issue of higher education is another critical problem in Liberia. The recent crises at the University of Liberia have underscored this problem. Corruption within the faculty and staff are at the center of UL’s problems. This has led to the enrollment of ill-prepared students, who enter using money and sex as their admissions credentials. Also, students at our universities, especially UL, are not taught or encouraged to read because the instructors are more interested in selling their pamphlets than sending students to the library and insisting on the development of an efficient and well stocked library at UL. Today’s conference has a loaded educational agenda.The Conference will also consider Energy, but thankfully, progress is being made in this sector—the rebuilding of the Mount Coffee Hydro, the plan for mini-hydros throughout the country and the West African Power Pool Program designed to electrify rural Liberia. The other BIG problem to be tackled at today’s Conference is Liberia’s poor performance in Agriculture. We still eat what we do not grow–rice, our staple, being the principal example; but we are compelled quickly to add many other foods, including vegetables, beef and poultry and eggs. We cannot boast of a single veterinary doctor. Our tree crops development is at a standstill. No one talks about Liberian coffee anymore; cocoa farmers are crying for encouragement; and so are our rubber farmers, most of whose trees were destroyed during the war. Today the Cote d’Ivoire has surpassed Liberia as West Africa’s largest rubber producer. This is a shameful crisis about which no one seems to care. The people responsible for agriculture do not even talk about it. All of these problems can be easily solved with seriousness, focus and commitment by all concerned, especially the people in government who are in the driver’s seat. Many of them were trained in the United States, where they learned about the dynamic role of the Department of Agriculture in the transformation of American agriculture that made the USA the world’s leading food producer. We pray that this Conference will seriously tackle some of these issues and help us find a way forward. Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
Mr. Editor:I am always at a loss each time a Western leader pleads with an African colleague not to look with disdain on women who pervert the natural use of sex by unnatural acts and men who give up natural sexual relations with women and burn with passion for each other as doing so will violate their individuals’ rights (human rights).I am confused because besides being inimical to the African values, it was the nationals of these same Western countries that taught the African man about Christianity. This was or is being done through the Holy word of God, the Holy Bible. The Holy Bible tells us that God, the Creator of the universe, destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah because the people of that city were engaged in such obnoxious and evil acts.The case in point is Obama America’s imposition of sanctions, the freezing of aid and travel ban on the Republic of Uganda because the Government of that country failed to recognize the so-called rights of Ugandans and others within Uganda who practice these shameful acts.Given the western advocacy that the rights of the doers of these acts be protected, I am inclined to believe, especially in this age of ours when the warfare between “good” and “evil” is so fierce, that America and her Western allies are acting as “agents” of the satanic world.America is always in the constant habit of supporting immoral tendencies: abortion, divorce, homosexuality, lesbianism, and so on and so forth, in the name of respecting people’s rights. There is no such thing as modernity or reform as far as the precepts of God is concerned. God’s Laws are always static and never dynamic.To those few African Countries that have enacted anti-gay laws: Ghana, Nigeria and Uganda; I say well done and forward march! Those that are yet to enact legislations in this respect, including my native Liberia, I say join the bandwagon and enact anti-gay laws. African nations must avoid being carried away by Western aid at the expense of eternity.The courage as shown by the aforementioned countries reminds me of the late President Ahmed Sekou Toure of the Republic of Guinea who in 1958 opted for independence, rather than servitude and for his native Guinea as opposed to riches from Guinea’s colonial master, France,.I hope that sooner, rather than later, African leaders will muster the courage to say a resounding “yes” to anti-gay legislations in their respective countries; and when that happens, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who has been our Providence, will continue out of His many bounties.Kind regardsShare this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
The plight of 25 Liberian students who are presently stranded in Cairo, Egypt without any source of income has once again resurfaced with an appeal to the Liberian government to come to their assistance.Mohammed Kiawhen, president of the Liberian Students Union in Cairo, in a letter to the Daily Observer, said without financial support, all the students are ‘struggling to simply survive in a strange land that has been too difficult for them.”The letter said since 2011, financial allowances arrangement from the Civil Service Agency, (CSA) was discontinued.“We were awarded scholarships by the Liberian government through the Ministry of Education in the same manner as other beneficiaries in various partner countries.“Students in Egypt, like all other students, upon hearing of scholarship awards through advertisements submitted necessary credentials which were further scrutinized and vetted by both GoL and the Egyptian government through its Embassy in Monrovia.”Kiawhen’s letter said the 25 of them were selected as qualified candidates in which they were to undertake studies in undergraduate studies in various academic disciplines.“We were supposed to study engineering, medicine, accounting and computer science, and so on,” he wrote.However, Kiawhen said, “Upon our arrival in Egypt, we were made to undergo Islamic and Arabic studies at Al-Azhar (University) on the grounds that this was the actual scope and content of the scholarship and not what the Ministry of Education in Liberia had incorrectly made us (students) to believe.”Kiawhen said, “All this while we have been actively pursuing means of transferring to the requisite fields of studies, including engineering, medicine, computer science, etc.”He said, “Fortunately, the Egyptian authorities agreed in a meeting with the delegation of the Inter-Ministerial scholarship Committee (IMSC), headed by Ms. Robtel Neajai Pailey, during which both partners unanimously asserted that such could be effectuated through an official communication from the Liberian government through its embassy near Cairo.”Accordingly, Kiawhen said, “We (25 students) continued to contact both the MOE through its scholarship department and the Inter-ministerial Scholarship Committee to implement the said agreement (immediate transfer of students to departments in alignment with GoL capacity building strategy) but to no avail since 2011 up to present.”He wrote: “The delay and or failure on the part of GoL (Ministry of Education and Inter-ministerial Scholarship Committee) to implement the immediate transfer of the students and the sudden stoppage of our allowances for about two and half years has consequently resulted to endless suffering and lack of our progress, educationally, morally, socially, medically, among others.”Kiawhen appealed to the Government of Liberia to restore their allowances and to enable them complete their respective academic activities.A letter signed by then CSA Director George Werner, (now Education Minister), said: “The program in Egypt was evaluated and decisions were made about two years ago. Going forward, the Liberian Embassy in Cairo plays a vital role as do we ourselves.“The students know this. The students themselves know that we will not honor any communication from them until they comply with our policy and reconcile with the Liberian diplomats in Cairo. We have had too many exchanges and the students were told to return home.“The Egyptian authorities were told to facilitate the process of their return home. The Liberian Embassy facilitated these communications. The policy has not yet changed.”In a related development, Foreign Minister Augustine K. Ngafuan spoke recently at the occasion marking the official celebration of the 63rd Anniversary of the July 23rd Revolution of the Arab Republic of Egypt and at a farewell dinner in honor of Ambassador Lofti, whose tour of duty had ended.He made no mention of the plight of the stranded students in that Arab country. However, the Minister said that the relations between Egypt and Liberia have been cordial, mutually respectful and beneficial, with Egypt providing technical assistance to Liberia including short-term training programs and long-term bilateral scholarships. These opportunities are based on Technical Cooperation Agreement between the Egypt Fund for Technical Cooperation with Africa and the Government of Liberia, which continues to greatly impact the human resource development of the country. Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
Communities across Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) were sent into distress on Saturday after a freak storm caused damages to numerous houses in the early morning hours, affecting over 100 families.Floodwaters inundate the streets after the stormThe regional administration disclosed that a number of residents in Moblissa to Blueberry Hill, Linden and other surrounding areas were affected by the heavy rainfall and forceful winds which shredded through roofs and walls. In photos uploaded on social media, residents voiced their plights as water accumulated several inches from the heavy rainfall.Chairman of the Region Democratic Council (RDC), Renis Morian said, “This was a big storm and it has left many residents with secure damaged homes, we are therefore seeking assistance as the RDC so that we can render needed assistance and help to several families”.This was the largest storm seen in recent times and the much destruction is estimated within the losses in the millions. Morian informed that a team is currently assessing the extent of damage done, but appealed the general public to lend whatever assistance to the affected persons. They are in need of zinc sheets, food hampers and any amount of cleaning detergents.“The damage done is severe and I figure that it will be in the vicinity of millions, we are seeking assistance to help some 100 families who would have been severely affected by the storm. Therefore, as the Regional Chairman, I am humbly appealing to the general public to come forward and lend whatever assistance that they can give to assist those severely affected at this time,” he appealed.He said that an emergency meeting by the Council is being organised so that a concentrated and properly-coordinated approach can be taken in addressing the matter. However, they are visiting each house to determine the magnitude of damages and the need for relief.“At the moment, while a team is doing an assessment, I am meeting with residents house-to-house seeking their views and addressing their concerns,” the Regional Chairman said.
Urbanski arrived for his job as a morning manager at Minxx Gentlemen’s Club and Lounge at about 5 a.m. last Monday, shortly after Tennessee Titans cornerback Adam (Pacman) Jones and his entourage had returned to the upscale strip joint for the second time in the hours after the NBA All-Star Game. It still is unclear what happened in the next hour, but Urbanski may not leave the hospital alive. If he does, he probably will not walk again. “I am devastated,” his wife, Kathleen, said. “One minute you’re a happy-go-lucky couple making plans for the rest of your life. The next minute your husband is on a ventilator in a hospital bed, clinging to his life.” 160Want local news?Sign up for the Localist and stay informed Something went wrong. Please try again.subscribeCongratulations! You’re all set! NEW YORK – The hangovers have passed and gambling losses are forgotten. The orgy that was the NBA All-Star Weekend in Las Vegas is over. Tommy Urbanski, meanwhile, remains in critical condition at University Medical Center of Southern Nevada, lying unconscious and breathing through a ventilator. 
Nobody from the Titans, the NFL or the NBA has reached out to the Urbanski family. So as NFL commissioner Roger Goodell met with a group of league officials, coaches and players in Indianapolis on Friday to address the thuggish off-field behavior of some of its players, the Urbanski family gathered in a hospital room in Las Vegas and prayed for a giant man with tubes coming out of his nose, mouth and arms to pull through. As Titans general manager Mike Reinfeldt told reporters at the scouting combine this incident may cost Jones his job, Urbanski’s family was wondering how it will raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to pay his medical bills and the costs of his rehabilitation. “The millionaires and billionaires who run the NFL and its teams have shut up and surrounded themselves with lawyers,” Minxx co-owner Robert Susnar said. “But we will not rest. We want justice for Tom.” 
1 Manchester United have suffered another injury blow with the news star striker Radamel Falcao will be out for at least a fortnight because of a new injury.The Colombian has had a difficult start to life at the club since his dramatic deadline-day loan move from Monaco.The 28-year-old, who is among the top earners at Old Trafford, has scored only one goal so far and he is yet to play 90 minutes for the Red Devils.Falcao has not played for United for a month because of a calf problem and he has now suffered another setback, the club confirmed on Thursday afternoon.“Van Gaal tells #MUTV that @Falcao “has a new injury” and is at least two weeks away from a first-team return. #mufc,” a post from the United’s official Twitter account read.“I am getting better, I feel well and I hope to come back to the pitch soon,” Falcao told United’s website.“It is disappointing that I can’t play but I have to be calm and recover because that is important to help the team when I return to the games.”The frontman said reports that he was struggling for fitness because of a knee injury he suffered last season were “pure speculation”. Radamel Falcao in action for Manchester United 
0Shares0000Klopp hints at retirementLONDON, United Kingdom, Aug 22 – Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has hinted that he may take a break from football or stop coaching for good when his contract at Anfield expires in 2022.It’s not the first time that Klopp, 52, has said that he may well leave the game when he finishes on Merseyside – back in 2016 the German coach admitted that he could not see himself managing into old age. And Klopp, who said in July he will not walk away from Anfield while he is under contract, has again hinted that he may look to retire in three years after picking up Sport Bild’s Manager of the Year award.In accepting the award, Klopp via video call, was asked what the future holds: “I hope to continue like this, but in two, three years I don’t know what may happen.“Maybe I’ll retire!” Klopp said lightheartedly way, before adding: “It doesn’t necessarily mean it will happen, however, but if that were the case, you wouldn’t be surprised.”Klopp’s current contract at Liverpool runs until 2022, which would see his Anfield tenure stretch to almost seven years – the same amount of time he spent at Mainz and Borussia Dortmund.The German coach, who recently insisted he has no “master plan” for his managerial career, was set to pen a new five-year deal.That has not yet happened, but he did say in April: “We still have so much to achieve here,” potentially to 2027, having penned a six-year extension in 2016.“The only thing with the seven years is it is pure coincidence,” Klopp said at the time“When they offered me a contract I did not say: ‘Yeah, that will take me to seven.’ It looks like a big master plan!”0Shares0000(Visited 49 times, 1 visits today)
1 Bayern Munich have never lost a Bundesliga match to Hoffenheim their 14 clashes so it was certainly a surprise when their opponents took the lead.It was even more of a shock that the goal came after an astonishing EIGHT seconds, especially considering Pep Guardiola’s side kicked off.Bayern moved the ball back after starting the match and some early pressing saw David Alaba attempt a pass across the back, only to see Kevin Volland sprint through and slide the ball past Manuel Neuer.You can see the fastest goal in Bundesliga history below… Hoffenheim star Kevin Volland celebrates 
Danny Drinkwater should have been handed a spot in England’s Euro 2016 squad, according to Alan Shearer.The defensive midfielder enjoyed an outstanding campaign for Leicester, playing a prominent role in their remarkable Premier League title triumph.But Drinkwater failed to earn a place in Hodgson’s 23-man party for this summer’s finals, with the 26-year-old one of three players cut from the provisional squad on Tuesday.Three Lions fans have criticised the decision to overlook the in-form Foxes star, and former captain Shearer admits he was ‘surprised’ by the call.The Newcastle legend, who fired 30 goals in 63 games for England, told talkSPORT: “Drinkwater has had a magnificent season. He deserved to be in the squad.“Once again, Hodgson has gone for reputation rather than form and I hope that gamble pays off for him.“He’s made that decision, he’s got to stick by it and let’s wait and see now.”Shearer is, however, excited by the potential within England’s squad – the youngest of any nation at Euro 2016.Manchester United’s 18-year-old sensation Marcus Rashford is among seven players under the age of 23 in the travelling party.“It is obviously a young squad, a very energetic squad, and a lot of the youngsters in the squad have had brilliant seasons and deserve to be there,” said Shearer.“We will score goals and create chances but my one worry is defensively. Certainly from the two friendly games recently that would be a concern.“But there is no doubt with Harry Kane up there, with Dele Alli, we will go forward, we will look exciting and we will score goals.”Expectations are growing ahead of England’s Group B opener against Russia on June 11, and former boss Sven-Goran Eriksson believes Hodgson’s men have a real shot of glory in France.Asked what he expects of England this summer, Shearer said: “I don’t think we will win it. I think we might get to a semi-final.“Having said that, I didn’t think Leicester would win the Premier League so you never know! It has been a mad season so that might just continue.“As long as they show us some progression which, let’s face it, shouldn’t be hard from the last couple of tournaments. But I don’t think many people really expect us to win it.”
Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal have been put on high alert after the agent of Ivan Rakitic appeared to plunge the midfielder’s future into doubt.All three Premier League clubs have been linked with the Croatian midfielder in the past but he appeared content at Barcelona having played 36 times in La Liga last term.However, the competition for places at the Nou Camp has intensified following the shock arrival of Andre Gomes and reports in Spain have suggested that Rakitic could be about to leave.Miquel Sors, who is an agent who works on behalf of the 28-year-old, took to Twitter just hours after Gomes’ arrival and wrote ‘Creo que es hora de irse…’ which translates as ‘it’s time to leave’.And the cryptic message has been taken as a clear indication by the Spanish press that Rakitic may look to find a new club where he will be guaranteed regular first-team football next season.There are currently nine midfielders vying for just a trio of places behind Barca’s three-pronged attack of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar.Rakitic is currently high in the pecking order but reports have suggested that talks regarding a new deal have not progressed.And that could open the door for one of his Premier League rivals to manoeuvre what would be one of the deals of the summer by landing the talented playmaker. Is Croatia playmaker Ivan Rakitic set to leave Barcelona this summer? 1
Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty has said that 14.7% of all mortgages are in serious arrears of over 90 days in County Donegal. The figures were released to the Sinn Féin Finance Spokesperson by the Central Bank.Deputy Doherty said: “Despite the government spin these figures show the reality for the tens of thousands in the State and for 14.7% of family homes in Co.Donegal. “That is almost one in 7 mortgages.“The government can point to big picture economic figures but on the ground a family with an unsustainable debt can see no better future.“The government has for too long washed its hands of this problem and left it to the banks. Sadly we know the results.“What is needed is a government that will stand up to the banks. “Four years since the last election it is now as clear as day that this government never will stand up for people when the banks come knocking. They never ever had the intention of doing so.” MORE MORTGAGE WOE FOR DONEGAL HOMEOWNERS – DOHERTY was last modified: February 25th, 2015 by Mark ForkerShare this:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window) Tags:arrearsmortgagesnewsPearse DohertyPoliticsSinn FeinTD
Harry Redknapp says he is unsure whether QPR have a realistic chance of signing Yann M’Vila from French club Rennes.The midfielder is reported to have rejected a move to Loftus Road, but Redknapp has yet to receive a firm answer and talks are ongoing.Arsenal have also shown some interest in M’Vila, who has played for France 22 times but is banned from the national team until July 2014 after breaking a curfew to visit a nightclub ahead of an Under-21 game.“We have made enquiries about him. I don’t know whether he wants to come here. It’s a difficult one,” said Redknapp.“He’s a player I watched a lot when I was at Tottenham, so I know all about him. He’s had a few problems but he’s a good player.”And the Rangers boss admitted: “I can’t say I’m close to getting anyone in at the moment. It’s difficult to get players at this time of year.”Meanwhile, Redknapp accepts he may be fighting a losing battle in trying to sign Marseille striker Loic Remy.Click here for our QPR v Tottenham quizSee also:QPR complete club-record signing of RemyRangers boss back in France for talks over Remy and M’VilaQPR set to table formal bid for French starRangers on the verge of a deal to sign M’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 Follow West London Sport on TwitterFind us on Facebook
The College of the Redwoods baseball team will host Golden Valley Conference leader Butte in a doubleheader today, with game one set for 11 a.m. and the second game beginning at 3 p.m.The two teams will close out a three-game stand on Saturday at noon.The Corsairs (3-9 in the Golden Valley Conference and 9-17 overall) had mixed fortunes at Lassen earlier in the week, taking one of three games against their conference foes, including a 10-5 loss on Tuesday.It’s been a rough month for the …
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