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 Pep Guardiola is relieved to have “special player” Kevin De Bruyne back after he inspired Manchester City to victory at Newcastle on his return to Premier League action.The 32-year-old Belgium international, who had not made a league appearance since August because of injury, endured a disappointing start to his evening on Tyneside when he drilled a free-kick harmlessly into the defensive wall with his first touch.But he drew City level within five minutes of his introduction and…

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 emailsOne of Russia’s most popular novelists has been designated a foreign agent over his objections to the country’s invasion of Ukraine. Boris Akunin, who was once a best-selling author in Russia, has been added to a register of “terrorists and extremists” by the justice ministry. Books by Mr Akunin, whose real name is Grigori Chkhartishvili, had already been removed from book shelves after voicing his opposition to president Vladimir Putin. In a statement, the justice…

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 Enter Kevin de Bruyne. To a match Newcastle were winning, and to a title race where Manchester City threatened to slip off the pace. He had not played in the Premier League for five months. Within five minutes there was his belated first goal of the season, and within another 17 a pass to permit Oscar Bobb to score an injury-time winner, complete the second turnaround of a stunning game and put City a mere two points…

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekdayYour briefing on the latest headlines from across the US A Texas congressman said Saturday that three migrants, including two children, drowned while trying to reach the U.S. near the border city of Eagle Pass, where the Biden administration says Texas has begun denying access to Border Patrol agents. U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, a Texas Democrat, accused the state of failing to act amid escalating tensions between Texas and the U.S. government over immigration enforcement. On Friday, the Justice Department told the U.S. Supreme Court…

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 Seko Fofana and Jean-Philippe Krasso lifted tournament hosts Ivory Coast to a 2-0 victory over Guinea-Bissau in front of an elated Abidjan crowd to kick off the Africa Cup of Nations.Fofana fired the Elephants in front inside four minutes at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium, punishing their Group A rivals for a lapse at the back, and came inches away from adding another before the break.Krasso doubled the lead with a volleyed effort to buy his side a…

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 emailsBritain could strike Houthi targets in Yemen again if the rebel group continue to attack ships in the Red Sea, the foreign secretary has suggested.Lord David Cameron warned that the Iran-linked militants could force up prices in the UK if they are allowed to block the passage of container ships in the busy trade route.He also argued that the Houthi assertion that their attacks are linked to Israel’s war in Gaza is “nonsense”, as they’ve…

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 Erik ten Hag says Manchester United will only succeed with “hungry players” after letting Jadon Sancho leave little more than a year after Cristiano Ronaldo’s high-profile departure.The Dutch coach was brought in 19 months ago to change things on and off the pitch at Old Trafford, where he has had to deal with a fair share of distractions.Unhappy star Ronaldo’s second spell at United ended in acrimonious fashion in November 2022 and another big name has left…

Aerial footage shows moment RAF Typhoon strikes Yemen military targetFor 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 US military struck another Houthi-controlled site in Yemen today as Joe Biden delivered a message “privately” to Iran over their support to the rebel group. “We delivered it privately and we’re confident we’re well-prepared,” Biden told reporters at the White House, as he vowed to protect shipping in the Red Sea. US Central Command said the “follow-on action”, early on Saturday local time against a…

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 Ederson sustained a serious-looking injury during the opening eight minutes of Manchester City’s Premier League clash with Newcastle United.The goalkeeper went to try and prevent what he believed to be a scoring chance for Sean Longstaff in the third minute and was involved in a collision with both the Magpies’ player and his own defender Kyle Walker.Ederson went down and received treatment before attempting to continue, but was in obvious discomfort from his first touch which almost…

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inboxGet our free Inside Washington emailRapper and country music star Jelly Roll gave powerful Senate testimony on the country’s fentanyl crisis and called for tougher legislation to curb it.The musician, whose real name is Jason DeFord, told the Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee hearing on Thursday how he had been personally impacted by the drug.“I’ve attended more funerals than I care to share with y’all, this committee. I could sit here and cry for days about the caskets I’ve carried of people…