Author: INDEPENDENT

Sign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for freeSign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter Albania striker Mirlind Daku has been banned for two matches after leading fan chants with a megaphone at Euro 2024.In the aftermath of Albania’s match, Daku led fans in a chorus of “f*** Macedonia and f*** Serbs”.Daku represented Kosavo before switching to Albania last year and will miss his side’s final Group B match against Spain on Monday, and a last-16 tie should his nation reach the knockout stages.His switch from Kosavo to Albania was not expected,…

Trump’s lawyers want charges dropped in missing documents caseSign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inboxGet our free Inside Washington emailDonald Trump is back on the campaign trail, imploring conservative Christians at the Faith and Freedom Coalition conference in Washington, DC to vote for him in an energetic and joke-filled speech.The former president, a convicted felon and accused adulterer, has also declared his “love” of the Ten Commandments following new legislation in Louisiana that requires them to be displayed in all classrooms.He then traveled on to a rally in Philadelphia,…

Sign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for freeSign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter Hungary striker Barnabas Varga is in a stable condition in hospital after he was stretchered off during his side’s crunch clash with Scotland following a horrific collision in a scary moment at Euro 2024.With the score at 0-0 in the 68th minute of the Group A clash, that both sides needed to win to keep their realistic hopes of reaching the knockout stages alive, Varga, Scotland goalkeeper Angus Gunn and defender Anthony Ralston all collided while competing…

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emailsSign up to our free breaking news emailsGunmen opened fire at a synagogue, an Orthodox church, and a police post in Russia’s North Caucasus region of Dagestan, killing at least 15 police officers and a priest in what seemed to be coordinated attacks on several places of worship in Russia’s southernmost province of Dagestan.There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks in the volatile North Caucasus region, according to the region’s interior ministry.“This is a day of tragedy for Dagestan…

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emailsSign up to our free breaking news emailsIn 1974, Andrew Lloyd Webber began working on songs for an animated TV series based on the Thomas the Tank Engine children’s books. It didn’t pan out, but the idea of singing, anthropomorphic trains would lay the foundations – or should that be the railway tracks? – for the 1984 debut of Starlight Express, the bonkers musical extravaganza in which actors don roller skates to whizz past the audience in a theatre refitted with a race track. Decked…

Sign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for freeSign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter France captain Kylian Mbappe will wear a mask throughout the rest of Euro 2024 after breaking his nose during the team’s opening victory against Austria.The superstar forward was left covered in blood after suffering the brutal injury when his face collided into the shoulder of Austria defender Kevin Danso, later leaving the stadium in an ambulance.Subsequent tests confirmed Mbappe did not require immediate surgery and he returned to training two days later while sporting a protective covering…

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekdayYour briefing on the latest headlines from across the USIn an attempt to rebuild slumping customer numbers Starbucks is now offering a selection of special deals – a promotion the popular coffee chain has avoided for decades.The Seattle-based operator is currently offering several promotions, including discounts, buy-one-get-one-free deals and supersize perks for loyalty customers.Starbucks has long marketed itself as a premium coffee chain, though its prices tend to be on the high side, something that has not been helped by surging inflation in the US…

Sign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for freeSign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter Mykhailo Mudryk sprung off the turf, rising through the drizzle to meet the ball with the badge on his jersey, before guiding it deftly to the grass below. Then, he turned, driving forward into the ever-widening channel in front of him. Slovakia’s goal grew bigger and bigger before him, as he drew closer and closer. But it would never be sizeable enough to contain his shot. It was an ugly finish in all honesty, slashed high, wide…

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emailsSign up to our free breaking news emailsThe multistorey building stands alone just off a main road. The houses around it are completely destroyed, razed to the ground by relentless Russian shelling, and the dirt road is scarred by shrapnel. All that can be heard is the sound of a bomb being dropped, followed seconds later by a mighty explosion.The bomb smashes into the ground 10 metres from the building, opening up a huge crater before a swelling fireball engulfs the entire…

Sign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for freeSign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter Reading Women have launched a petition in an attempt to try and save the women and girls section of the club, after being warned there is no guarantees it will continue next season.The side were in the Women’s Super League as recently as the 2022-23 season, and believe it is unlikely the women’s side will be allowed to stay in the Championship next season.Reportedly the club have not ordered women’s first team and academy kits for the…