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International Sports
March 6, 2025 By 0 Comments

Winning Europa League could change everything – Amorim

Ruben Amorim says “winning the Europa League can change everything” for Manchester United.

But as his struggling side travel to Real Sociedad for Thursday’s last-16 first-leg tie at the Reale Arena, he insists it is “not a crucial thing for the future of the club”.

United boss Amorim, whose side are 14th in the Premier League, said: “That is my view. I am here for three months and I think that is clear but I understand.

“It’s a massive difference in our season, especially because we are out of the cups, in the bad position in the league.

“That could change a lot of things, even the way they see the coach, so I know it is a massive pressure. But I will say it again, Manchester United can call all of the best players even without Champions League in the future.

“I think that [winning the Europa League] is not a crucial thing for the future of the club.

“We have to change a lot of things and we are trying to do that. I understand that winning the Europa League can change everything for us in the next season.”

Harry Maguire and Manuel Ugarte will miss the match after both players were absent from training at Carrington on Wednesday morning and did not travel to Spain.

Speaking at a news conference on Wednesday evening, Amorim added: “They are small things, so we are being careful with them because in this moment we cannot allow us to lose more players for a long time.”

Maguire was substituted in the 90th minute when United exited the FA Cup against Fulham at the weekend while Ugarte was withdrawn with 53 minutes played. Both players sustained minor injuries.

Amorim is already without several key players for the trip to San Sebastian with Amad Diallo, Kobbie Mainoo and Lisandro Martinez among those sidelined.

Striker Chido Obi, 17, has not been registered for the Europa League.

However, left-back Patrick Dorgu, who is currently serving a domestic suspension, is available, while midfielder Toby Collyer, who has missed four games with a muscle injury, has returned to training and flew with the squad to Spain.

Thursday’s match against the La Liga side kicks off at 17:45 GMT.
International Sports
March 6, 2025 By 0 Comments

FIFA to introduce Women’s Club World Cup in 2028

Fifa will introduce a Women’s Club World Cup competition that will run every four years starting from 2028.

The governing body is also launching a Women’s Champions Cup which will be the first global competition in women’s football, starting in 2026.

The Champions Cup will run annually, except in years involving the Club World Cup, and will include six teams.

Plans to launch a 16-team Club World Cup – which was originally due to begin in 2026 – were officially agreed by the Fifa Council on Wednesday afternoon.

Fifa president Gianni Infantino said: “Women’s football has reached new heights at national-team level, and now it’s time for global competitions that showcase the best clubs from around the world.

“The Fifa Women’s Club World Cup will be a defining moment in the growth of women’s club football.”

How will Fifa Women’s Club World Cup look?

The Club World Cup will include 16 teams from all six confederations – Europe, Africa, Asia, North America, South America and Oceania.

Thirteen clubs – including five from Europe – will earn direct passage into the competition and an additional three places are up for grabs via a “play-in” route, which will see the winners of one-legged knockout matches qualify.

Once in the competition, there will be a group-stage round, quarter-finals, semi-finals and a final to contest. All matches will be held at neutral venues.

Dates for the competition and the appointment of a host is still to be determined, while Fifa will also discuss prize money and the potential for special amendments in transfer windows to be made if it coincides with the Club World Cup.

There is also likely to be an introduction of minimum standards for clubs hoping to participate in the competition. Fifa’s aim is to support the growth of women’s club football and they hope this will create more competitive matches globally.

Sources at Fifa claim the delay in its launch was to allow more time to discuss the match calendar amid ongoing concerns for player welfare.

In May last year, FIFA rejected claims that Fifpro and the World Leagues Association were not consulted over plans to host the 32-team Men’s Club World Cup.

What is FIFA Women’s Champions Cup?

In an attempt to help clubs maximise commercial opportunities, Fifa are introducing an annual global competition that will run either side of the Club World Cup.

The Champions Cup will involve six teams – the winners of each confederation – and will include seedings for the first two editions.

Champions from Asia and Oceania will meet in round one of the preliminary stage, with the winner meeting the African champions – who will host round two.

The Women’s Champions League winners will enter in the semi-finals and face the winner of round two, which will be played on Wednesday, 28 January.

The Concacaf and Copa Libertadores Femenina champions will play each other in the other semi-final.

Europe, North America or South America will host the latter stages of the competition, with a decision on who to be made in June.

The final and a third-place playoff will take place on Sunday, 1 February.

The next two editions of the Champions Cup will happen in 2027 and 2029, with the Club World Cup starting in between.

Seedings for the second year of the Champions Cup will be based on performance in the 2026 edition.

When are the global tournaments?

July 2025: Uefa Women’s European Championship

January 2026: Fifa Women’s Champions Cup

January 2027: Fifa Women’s Champions Cup

June 2027: Fifa Women’s World Cup

July 2028: Olympic Games

2028: Fifa Club World Cup

January 2029: FIFA Women’s Champions Cup
International Sports
March 6, 2025 By 0 Comments

Cavaliers book play-off spot with win against Heat

The Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Miami Heat 112-107 on Wednesday night to become the first side to book a place in the NBA play-offs.

The Heat opened up a seven-point lead in the fourth quarter but the Cavaliers mounted a late comeback to seal their 12th-straight victory.

The win means the Cavaliers, who have lost just 10 of their 62 games this season, have assured their place in the post season despite still having 20 games left to play in the regular season.

“It took a collective effort as a group but we’ve got to be better,” said Donovan Mitchell, who top scored for the Cavaliers with 26 points.

“It’s always good to learn through a win though.”

The Cavaliers, seeking a second NBA Championship to add to their 2016 triumph, are on course to win this year’s Eastern Conference which would give them a top-seed spot in the play-offs.

Meanwhile, Oklahoma City Thunder is on course to become the first team in the western conference to seal a play-off spot after beating the Memphis Grizzlies 120-103, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander starring with 41 points.
International Sports
March 6, 2025 By 0 Comments

I am the opposite of racist, insists Mourinho

Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho says he is the “opposite” of racist following the racism allegations made against him by Galatasaray.

Galatasaray said they would “initiate criminal proceedings” against Mourinho after claiming he made “racist statements” following the teams’ 0-0 draw on 24 February.

“They [Galatasaray] were not clever in the way they attacked me, because they didn’t know my past,” Mourinho told Sky Sports.

“They didn’t know my connections with Africa, with African people and African players and African charities.

“So instead of going against me, I think it boomeranged and went against them.”

Following the Istanbul derby, Mourinho said the home bench had been “jumping like monkeys” during the game, with Fenerbahce subsequently saying Mourinho’s comments had been taken “completely taken out of context”.

Mourinho, 64, has also filed a lawsuit against Galatasaray seeking damages worth 1,907,000 Turkish Lira (£41,000).

“Everyone knows who I am as a person. Everybody knows my bad qualities, but that is not one of my bad qualities. Exactly the opposite!” he added.

“The most important thing is I know who I am, and the attack accusing racism was a bad choice.”

Former Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba and ex-Ghana midfielder Michael Essien, who both played under Mourinho at Chelsea, came out in defence of the former Manchester United coach in the aftermath of Galatasaray’s allegations.

“I thank the people who didn’t have a problem to speak [out], especially my boys, my former players. They were a very important voice,” said Mourinho, speaking before Thursday’s Europa League last-16 match against Rangers.

In addition to his comments about the Galatasary coaching staff after the Istanbul derby, Mourinho also repeated his criticism of Turkish referees, saying it would have been a “disaster” to use an official from the country.

The match was refereed by Slovenian Slavko Vincic after both clubs requested a foreign official take charge of the fixture.

Mourinho was handed a four-match ban – which was later reduced to two matches – by the Turkish Football Federation (TFF).

Mourinho was penalised for making “derogatory and offensive statements towards the Turkish referee [fourth official]” and because he “accused Turkish football of chaos and disorder with insulting and offensive statements towards both the Turkish football community and all Turkish referees”.

Galatasaray are top of the Turkish Super Lig, four points above Fenerbahce.
International News
March 6, 2025 By 0 Comments

Jay-Z sues woman who dropped rape claim against him

Jay-Z is suing a woman who in February withdrew her legal action accusing the rapper of rape.

His defamation action claims she “voluntarily admitted” being pressured into making false claims in what it describes as an “evil conspiracy” to extort money and damage his reputation.

The anonymous woman filed her legal action in October and refiled it in December, accusing Jay-Z, real name Shawn Carter, and Sean “Diddy” Combs of raping her aged 13, after the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards.

Both rappers denied the allegations.

Jay-Z’s defamation action, filed at a federal court in Alabama, also accuses the woman’s lawyer, Tony Buzbee, and his co-counsel, David Fortney, of orchestrating her lawsuit.

Mr Buzbee has garnered headlines internationally over the dozens of legal actions he has filed on behalf of people accusing Mr Combs of sexual misconduct, extortion, assault and other transgressions.

Mr Combs has denied all the allegations.

He is also facing federal sex-trafficking and racketeering charges, to which he has pleaded not guilty. Jay-Z’s defamation action says the woman told his legal team her lawyers had made her make the false allegations.

“Buzbee brought Jay-Z into it,” it says she said.

And despite her admitting Jay-Z “did not sexually assault [her],” Mr Buzbee “pushed [her] towards going forward” with the false story to strengthen the case and extort more money, the defamation suit claims.

Jay-Z’s action also notes alleged discrepancies in the woman’s interview with NBC News last year, including naming another celebrity guest at the MTV party, who had, in reality, been performing in a city thousands of miles away on the night.

Her father also contradicted her claim he had picked her up after the alleged assault, it claims.

Jay-Z’s defamation action says Mr Buzbee’s firm failed to vet the claims and the woman, who they say has a history of mental health issues and an assault charge.

‘Emotional toll’

Mr Buzbee has denied any wrongdoing and claims Jay-Z’s team tried to intimidate the woman into retracting her statements.

In a statement obtained by BBC News, Mr Buzbee said Jay-Z’s defamation action had “no legal merit”.

“Shawn Carter’s investigators have repeatedly harassed, threatened and harangued this poor woman for weeks, trying to intimidate her and make her recant her story,” Mr Buzbee said.

“She won’t – instead, she has stated repeatedly she stands by her claims.”

Jay- Z, who is married to Beyoncé, says the accusations have led to personal and professional harm, including the loss of business contracts worth about $20m (£15.8m) a year for his company, Roc Nation, and taken an emotional toll on his family, particularly his children.
International News
March 6, 2025 By 0 Comments

Dolly Parton’s husband, Carl Dean, dies aged 82

Carl Dean, the longtime husband of country music icon Dolly Parton, died on Monday at the age of 82.

Dean, who was famously private throughout his nearly 60-year marriage to Parton, died in Nashville, Tennessee, according to a statement she posted on social media.

“Carl and I spent many wonderful years together. Words can’t do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years. Thank you for your prayers and sympathy,” the statement read.

The “9-5” singer met Dean outside a laundromat on the first day she arrived in Nashville as an 18-year-old aspiring singer.

Parton, 79, recalled their first meeting, saying, “I was surprised and delighted that while he talked to me, he looked at my face (a rare thing for me). He seemed to be genuinely interested in finding out who I was and what I was about.”

Two years later, on May 30, 1966, the couple exchanged vows at a private ceremony in Ringgold, Georgia.

Throughout their marriage, Dean remained out of the public eye, choosing instead to focus on his asphalt-paving business in Nashville.

Though he largely stayed out of the limelight, Dean continued to influence Parton’s work, most notably inspiring her classic hit “Jolene.”

She told US media in 2008 that the song was about a bank teller who developed a crush on Dean.

“She got this terrible crush on my husband,” Parton said. “And he just loved going to the bank because she paid him so much attention. It was kinda like a running joke between us—when I was saying, ‘Hell, you’re spending a lot of time at the bank. I don’t believe we’ve got that kind of money.’ So it’s really an innocent song all around, but sounds like a dreadful one.”

Parton and Dean’s relationship remained such a mystery that rumours started that he did not exist – but Parton joked about that.

“A lot of people say there’s no Carl Dean, that he’s just somebody I made up to keep other people off me,” she said to the Associated Press in 1984.

Parton and Dean had no children together.

He is survived by his siblings, Sandra and Donnie, Parton’s statement said.
Uncategorized
March 6, 2025 By 0 Comments

Painter remanded for allegedly stealing electrical cables at Bank of Ghana

A painter working on the Bank of Ghana building at Ridge in Accra has been remanded into police custody for allegedly stealing assorted copper cables valued at GH¢1,035,500.

Ahmed Mohammed Lawal was arrested after a review of CCTV footage captured him and two others, who are currently at large, stealing from the construction site.

Appearing before an Accra Circuit Court, Lawal pleaded not guilty to charges of unlawful entry and stealing. The court, presided over by Mrs. Sedinam Awo Kwadam, adjourned the case to March 19, 2025.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Augustin Kingsley Oppong, prosecuting, told the court that the complainants, Samuel Nii Tettey and Davidson Mensah Otinkorang, are a safety officer and an electrical engineer, respectively, at the New Bank of Ghana building, which is under construction.

ASP Oppong said that on February 16, 2025, the complainants discovered that a thief had broken into the Energy Farm at the site and stolen LC x 240 square copper cables and LC x 300 square copper cables, all valued at GH¢1,035,500.

A review of CCTV footage revealed Lawal and two accomplices stealing the copper cables. Bundles of electrical cables were stored at the location. The complainants apprehended Lawal and handed him over to the police for investigation.

During investigations, police established that Lawal and his accomplices gained access to the Energy Farm using a scaffold, cut the copper cables with a sharp object, and took them away.

Further investigations revealed that the stolen cables were sold at Kwame Nkrumah Circle. Lawal reportedly received GH¢2,000 as his share but failed to assist the police in tracking down his accomplices or the buyer of the stolen items.

The prosecution told the court that efforts were still underway to apprehend the remaining suspects.
Local News
March 6, 2025 By 0 Comments

3 motor riders on bail over alleged robbery

Three commercial motorbike riders were on Tuesday granted a GH¢50,000 bail with two sureties each by the Amasaman Circuit Court over alleged robbery.

The sureties of Richard Lamptey, 18, alias Patapa, Bright Guamah, alias Barrister, 24, and Michael Tetteh, aka Passward, 23, are to be justified with titled deed documents.

They denied conspiring to rob Madam Yaa Horsu, a food vendor, and are to deposit their valid national identity cards with the Court’s Registry.

Lamptey, Guamah and Tetteh are to make their next appearance on April 2, 2025 at the court, presided over by Enid Marful-Sau.

Police Chief Inspector Benjamin Arthur, giving the facts, said Madam Horsu, the complainant, was a food vendor at Dome Sampaman in Accra, the same area where Lamptey lived.

He said Guamah and Tetteh lived at Kwashiekuma and Addeyman, respectively.

On October 23, 2024, at about 0400 hours, the complainant was trekking to the market among three others when, suddenly, three young men, armed with machete and riding on an unregistered motorbikes, pulled up and furiously ordered her to surrender everything in her possession to them, else they would butcher her.

The prosecution said the three accused persons succeeded in robbing the complainant of her mobile phone, value unknown, and cash amount of GH¢6,400.00, and bolted.

Intelligence gathered led to the arrest of the accused persons, the prosecution said.

They were cautioned and Tetteh admitted having conspired with Lamptey and Guamah to rob the complainant, the court heard.

They were arraigned after investigations.
International News, Local News
March 6, 2025 By 0 Comments

Indonesia salutes Ghana on 68th Independence Day, promises deeper collaboration

Indonesia has extended warm congratulations to Ghana on its 68th Independence Day, recognizing the nation’s resilience and progress since gaining independence in 1957.

In a statement, the Honorary Consul of Indonesia to Ghana, H.E. Paskal A.B. Rois, praised Ghana’s achievements and reaffirmed Indonesia’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations.

“As Ghana marks this significant milestone, we acknowledge the country’s dedication to growth and national unity. The theme ‘Reflect, Review, and Reset’ aligns with Indonesia’s vision for sustainable development and cooperation,” he said.

Areas of Collaboration

Indonesia has pledged to deepen its partnership with Ghana in key sectors:

  • Agriculture and Agribusiness: Supporting modern farming techniques, promoting agribusiness, and enhancing food security through advanced agricultural technology.
  • Trade and Investment: Strengthening economic ties by encouraging investment in infrastructure, manufacturing, and services to boost industrialization.
  • Education and Capacity Building: Offering scholarships and training programs to equip Ghanaian youth with skills for national development.
  • Infrastructure Development: Sharing expertise in large-scale projects such as transportation, energy, and urban planning.
  • Tourism and Cultural Exchange: Promoting shared heritage and strengthening diplomatic ties through cultural initiatives.

Strengthening Bilateral Relations

H.E. Rois emphasized Indonesia’s dedication to supporting Ghana’s vision for national progress and ensuring that both nations benefit from their partnership.

“As Ghana celebrates 68 years of independence, Indonesia remains committed to fostering a future of mutual prosperity and lasting friendship,” he added.

Ghana’s Independence Day celebrations, themed “Reflect, Review, and Reset,” focus on governance, economic resilience, and national unity.
Local News
March 6, 2025 By 0 Comments

Rainstorm destroys properties, renders residents homeless in Apremadi

A devastating rainstorm has caused widespread destruction in Apremadi, a community in the Asutifi South District of the Ahafo Region, leaving many residents homeless and damaging properties.

According to affected residents who spoke to Adom News, the storm began around 6:30 p.m. and lasted for several hours, tearing off roofs and exposing homes to heavy rains. Many belongings were soaked, and some homes were rendered uninhabitable. Floodwaters further worsened the situation, submerging several houses and leaving families stranded. Residents are appealing to the government, their Member of Parliament, Alhaji Collins Dauda, and other benevolent individuals for urgent support to rebuild their homes.

Teachers and pupils in the community were also affected, as the storm ripped off the roof of the teachers’ quarters, causing part of the structure to collapse and destroying essential documents and personal belongings. The school building also suffered extensive damage, raising safety concerns for students and staff.

With many now counting their losses, residents are anxiously awaiting intervention to help restore their lives.

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