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 Andoni Iraola confirmed that AFC Bournemouth midfielder Hamad Traore will be a long-term absentee after spending time in hospital with malaria.The Bees have been impressive recently and are on a four-match winning run in the Premier League.The 23-year-old was due to have been a part of the Ivory Coast squad for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations to be hosted in the country. Instead he will now spend time recovering at home as well as undergoing further…

Kyiv suffers largest ever drone attack by Russia leaving five woundedFor 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 has carried out a major air offensive on Russia’s border regions, a day after Moscow launched its biggest wave of airstrikes on Kyiv and other Ukrainian regions since the war began.The estimated number of civilians killed in co-ordinated air attacks across in an 18-hour onslaught has risen to at least 30.More than 144 people were injured and an unknown number were buried under rubble,…

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 Nicolas Anelka agreed not to perform his controversial ‘quenelle’ gesture again on this day 10 years ago.The France forward made the sign – described as an inverted Nazi salute – after scoring the first of his two goals in West Brom’s 3-3 draw at West Ham on December 28.France’s sports minister Valerie Fourneyron accused him of making a “disgusting anti-Semitic” gesture.West Brom responded, saying: “Nicolas was asked to explain his goal celebration by caretaker head coach Keith…

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 emailsUkraine has carried out a major air offensive on Russia’s border regions, a day after Moscow launched its biggest wave of airstrikes on Kyiv and other Ukrainian regions since the war began.The Ukrainian armed forces posted a video on Telegram depicting the sky above Belgorod, showing at least one building on fire.Belgorod’s governor said at least one person was killed and 10 homes were damaged, while the water supply to the city of Belgorod was…

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 There are some nerves at the top level of football as a new year starts and they aren’t all related to the usual concerns.Many might say an “unusual concern” perfectly describes the prospect of England finally winning a tournament. Gareth Southgate’s side are seen as the likely Euro 2024 winners by the majority of the field, at least outside of France.It’s a sense of expectation, rather than just optimism, that is new even for this manager’s time.…

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekdayYour briefing on the latest headlines from across the USMichael Flores had been living in a homeless encampment near a Van Nuys bus station for at least three years when he was offered a place in a high-profile Los Angeles initiative to get people off the streets.The pitch from Inside Safe, LA mayor Karen Bass’s signature programme, sounded humane enough: if Flores agreed to leave the encampment, he wouldn’t face any punishment, and a hotel room and social supports were ready and waiting. Mayor Bass…

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 Liverpool face an anxious wait to see if Alexis Mac Allister will be fit to face Newcastle on Monday but Jurgen Klopp suggested left-back Andy Robertson will miss the whole of January. Mac Allister has sat out Liverpool’s last six matches with a knee injury and his return could be timely as the Newcastle match will be Wataru Endo’s last before he goes to the Asian Cup. Robertson has not played since dislocating his shoulder on international…

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 An Oregon weekly newspaper has had to lay off its entire staff and halt print after 40 years because its funds were embezzled by a former employee, its editor said, in a devastating blow to a publication that serves as an important source of information in a community that, like many others nationwide, is struggling with growing gaps in local news coverage.About a week before Christmas, the Eugene Weekly found inaccuracies in its bookkeeping, editor…

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 Jack Grealish could be available for Manchester City’s clash with Sheffield United on Saturday after nobody was harmed during a burglary at his house.Raiders targeted the England midfielder’s Cheshire home while he was playing for treble winners City at Everton on Wednesday night.Members of his family and his fiancee, Sasha Attwood, were at the property at the time when they heard a disturbance and raised the alarm.It has been reported the thieves made off with £1m worth…

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 massive rogue wave overrode coastal barriers and sent onlookers scattering in the California beach town of Ventura.Eight people were sent to the hospital in the incident, according to the Ventura County Fire Department. “For your safety, please avoid the area near the ocean, as it can be quite dangerous,” the department wrote on Facebook alongside a video of the freak occurrence. Powerful storms in the Pacific have sent waves as large as 40 feet tall…