Author: INDEPENDENT

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 emailsPolice in Australia have arrested former Home and Away star Orpheus Pledger following a three-day manhunt over allegations he assaulted a woman.Pledger, 30, appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Monday and was charged with four assault offences before he was granted bail to undergo a court-ordered medical assessment on the condition to appear the next day.But police issued an arrest warrant and called on the community to help him locate after he failed to…

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 England’s record caps holder Fara Williams announced she would retire at the end of the season on this day in 2021.The midfielder, who had been with Reading since 2017, made 172 appearances for her country and played at three World Cups.In a career spanning nearly two decades, Williams helped the Lionesses finish third at the 2015 World Cup and as runners-up at Euro 2009.She also played for Great Britain during the London 2012 Olympics and her honours…

Representatives celebrate and wave flags after Congress passes Ukraine aid packageFor free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emailsSign up to our free breaking news emailsUkraine is set to step up long-range missile attacks on Russia with the help of Western military aid, the UK’s defence chief has admitted.Admiral Sir Tony Radakin said long-range weapons would help Kyiv shape the war in “much stronger ways”, after US officials said long-range missiles used by Ukraine were “already hitting” Vladimir Putin’s forces in Crimea under a secret deal secured by Joe Biden…

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 So Jurgen Klopp will leave the Premier League with a place alongside Manuel Pellegrini, Claudio Ranieri, Roberto Mancini and Antonio Conte. Carlo Ancelotti and Kenny Dalglish, too, and they are company he will probably deem a compliment. But Klopp, one of the division’s defining managers, will forever remain a one-time winner.And if that 2020 triumph was historic, as Liverpool’s first for three decades, if his reign has come in the context of a wonderful rivalry with Pep…

Iranian state television reports explosionsFor free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emailsSign up to our free breaking news emailsAt least five people have been killed following Israeli strikes in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, Palestinian hospital officials have said.More than half of the territory’s population of 2.3 million have sought refuge in Rafah, where Israel has conducted near-daily raids as it prepares for an offensive in the city.In central Gaza, four people were killed in Israeli tank shelling.Earlier, the United States has demanded “answers” from Israel after mass…

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 Xavi has revealed he decided to stay at Barcelona after his players persuaded him not to leave.The 44-year-old, who made more than 500 appearances for Barca during a trophy-laden playing career, announced in January that he would step down, believing his team needed a “change of dynamic”.However, after president Joan Laporta confirmed on Thursday that the head coach would be staying, the former midfielder admitted his players had played a key role.Xavi told a press conference: “My…

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekdayYour briefing on the latest headlines from across the USRoughly half of the demonstrators arrested at the University of Texas at Austin were not affiliated with the institution, according to administrators.Of the fifty-five people who were found to have “violated institutional rules” during on-campus protests on Wednesday, some 26 were not staff or students, according to a statement released by UT Austin on Thursday.Police on horseback arrived at UT Austin’s campus on 24 April and detained at least 20 people participating in the protest, which…

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 Manchester City closed the gap on Premier League leaders Arsenal to a single point after Phil Foden’s first-half double helped inspire a resounding 4-0 victory over Brighton.Kevin De Bruyne’s eye-catching diving header set Pep Guardiola’s reigning champions on course for a comprehensive success at a soggy Amex Stadium.City, who have a game in hand on the table-topping Gunners, were in complete control by the break as Foden moved past 50 top-flight goals with a quick-fire brace, before…

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekdayYour briefing on the latest headlines from across the USA New York appeals court on Thursday overturned disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 conviction for rape and assault in incidents with two women, citing “egregious errors” in the original proceedings.These included, according to the split panel, allowing several women to testify about alleged incidents outside the charges in the case, and allowing prosecutors the option to ask Weinstein himself about various uncharged allegations, which the film producer’s attorneys cut-off his ability to testify in his…

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 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said Liverpool’s surprise derby defeat to Everton served as a warning to his players ahead of a 4-0 thrashing of Brighton.City moved a point behind Premier League leaders Arsenal and leapfrogged Jurgen Klopp’s side into second spot thanks to Phil Foden’s double and goals from Kevin De Bruyne and Julian Alvarez.A thumping south-coast success came 24 hours after Liverpool lost further ground in the title race by suffering a 2-0 loss to…