Pierre Kalulu has signed a two-year extension to his previous deal at San Siro which will ensure his stay at AC Milan until 2027.
The 22-year-old, who arrived just over two years ago from Lyon’s reserve team, has emerged as a regular fixture in the Rossoneri’s back-line and has been rewarded for his fine form.
Kalulu was originally contracted to Milan until 2025, but he has become the latest key man to commit his long-term future to the Serie A champions.
“Milan is pleased to announce the extension of Pierre Kalulu’s contract until 30 June 2027,” read a brief club statement.
“Pierre joined AC Milan in the summer of 2020 and has since made 75 appearances, carving out an important space in the Rossoneri defence.”
Fikayo Tomori, Kalulu’s defensive partner, and Sandro Tonali have also both signed new deals since the start of the season, as has coach Stefano Pioli. Theo Hernandez agreed an extension back in February.
Kalulu played 28 games and scored one goal in Serie A last season. He has featured 14 times in the league this term, as well as starting all six of Milan’s Champions League matches.
Romelu Lukaku has been included in Belgium’s 26-man squad for the Qatar World Cup, despite injury concerns.
Head coach Roberto Martinez warned that Lukaku had to prove his fitness for the group stage if he was to be named in the squad, which the striker appears to have done.
Belgium’s record goalscorer Lukaku, on loan at Inter from Chelsea, made his comeback from a hamstring injury, coming off the bench to score against Viktoria Plzen in the Champions League on October 26.
However, that is one of just two appearances the 29-year-old has managed since August, with his last game coming on October 29 against Sampdoria.
There is no place for another forward plying his trade in Serie A, with Milan’s Divock Origi left out, though his club team-mate Charles De Ketelaere does make it.
The Premier League has plenty of representation, with three players from Leicester City, including Youri Tielemans, along with Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne, Brighton and Hove Albion’s in-form winger Leandro Trossard and midfielders from Everton and Aston Villa in the form of Amadou Onana and Leander Dendoncker.
Eden Hazard has started just two games for Real Madrid this season, but makes the cut among Martinez’s forwards, while club-mate Thibaut Courtois will be hoping for another fine tournament on an individual level, after he won the Golden Glove at Russia 2018.
Bryan Heynen, Alexis Saelemaekers, Dodi Lukebakio and Jason Denayer have been listed as standby players until the start of the tournament in the event of injuries.
This could be what has been dubbed the “golden generation” of Belgian football’s last chance to win a major tournament, with several of their star players now over or approaching the age of 30. They finished third in 2018, beating England in a play-off match after losing to eventual champions France in the semi-finals.
Belgium kick their tournament off against Canada on November 23, before playing Morocco and Croatia in their other Group F matches.
Belgium squad: Koen Casteels (Wolfsburg), Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid), Simon Mignolet (Club Brugge); Toby Alderweireld (Royal Antwerp), Timothy Castagne (Leicester City), Zeno Debast (Anderlecht), Leander Dendoncker (Aston Villa), Wout Faes (Leicester City), Thomas Meunier (Borussia Dortmund), Arthur Theate (Rennes), Jan Vertonghen (Anderlecht); Yannick Carrasco (Atletico Madrid), Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City), Thorgan Hazard (Borussia Dortmund), Amadou Onana (Everton), Youri Tielemans (Leicester City), Hans Vanaken (Club Brugge), Axel Witsel (Borussia Dortmund); Michy Batshuayi (Fenerbahce), Charles De Ketelaere (Milan), Jeremy Doku (Rennes), Eden Hazard (Real Madrid), Romelu Lukaku (Inter), Dries Mertens (Galatasaray), Lois Openda (Lens), Leandro Trossard (Brighton and Hove Albion)
Gareth Southgate says Harry Maguire is one of England’s “best centre-backs” after the defender was named among the Three Lions’ Qatar 2022 World Cup squad.
The Manchester United captain will head to his third major tournament with the national team, following Russia 2018 and Euro 2020, despite struggling for regular minutes at club level.
One of a dozen players retained from the squad that reached the semi-finals four years ago, Maguire has been a regular for England under Southgate.
That experience in major knockout encounters has helped him keep his spot despite underwhelming for United, with inclusion indicating the strong support Southgate has for his player.
“He’s one of our best centre-backs,” he stated. “I think within the squad, we’ve got a lot of players that have been to tournaments, have performed at that level, and know what’s required.
“We’ve got other players who are playing well, who are in form right at this moment, and we’ve got to balance all of that when picking our team.”
19 – Eric Dier has made more interceptions in the Premier League than any other Tottenham Hotspur player (19) this season. Anticipation. #ThreeLionspic.twitter.com/2GB9Nbj4ID
Maguire’s selection was expected but has nevertheless raised eyebrows amid the promising form of younger understudies, such as Milan’s Fikayo Tomori and Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi.
Southgate suggested that, despite limited opportunities for Maguire, his youthful rivals had not shown enough to dislodge his faith in Maguire and others, such as Everton loanee Conor Coady.
“We’ve picked our more experienced defenders,” he added. “In this moment in time, the younger ones have got some really good qualities.
“But we don’t think they’ve done quite enough to push the more experienced ones out. With the tournament we’re going into and the level of the matches, that had to be the pecking order.”
Speaker Alban Bagbin has instituted an eight-member committee to look into the censure motion filed by the Minority in Parliament to facilitate
the dismissal of Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta.
On Thursday, the Minority, led by Tamale South MP, Haruna Iddrisu, moved a censure motion against Mr Ofori-Atta despite calls by the Majority to have the Minister present to defend himself.
Following a heated debate, Speaker Bagbin decided on establishing an ad hoc committee spearheaded by two co-chairmen, MP for Bolga East, Dominic Ayine and Adansi-Asokwa legislator, Kobina Tahir Hammond, to look into the matter.
The Speaker came to the decision in accordance with Order 106 of the Standing Order, which states, “The House may pass a resolution to remove the President, the Vice President, Mr. Speaker, and Deputy Speakers, and a vote of censure on a Minister of State.”
“The House may consider such motion and come to a decision or refer it to a committee on a motion made by any member,” it continues.
In his submission, Speaker Bagbin directed the committee to report to the House in the next seven days.
Other members of the committee include North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Klottey-Korle, the Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings,
and Okaikoi North MP, Emmanuel Ahiaku, from the Minority side.
Representatives from the majority side are Okaikwei Central MP, Yaw Boamah, Asante-Akim Central legislator, Kwame Anyimadu-
Antwi, and Sekondi MP, Egyapa Mercer. The clerk to the committee is Mr Boamah Camilo, the Speaker added.
On October 25, 2022, the Minority in Parliament filed a censure motion against the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta.
This occurred at the same time that the majority MPs, numbering around 80, held a press conference to demand the removal of the
Finance Minister and Minister of State in charge of Finance at the Ministry of Finance, Charles Adu Boahen, for their inability to manage the economy.
However, the NPP MPs have failed to support the NDC MPs in their quest. The Majority explained that their justification for the Minister’s
removal does not tally with that of the Minority’s.
“Over a few days, we have had the Finance Minister speaking, and his Ghana to receive $50m for carbon emission
reduction speaking has informed the Majority not only to state that we are back to the original position that we took and that original position is to say that the Minister of Finance will not be the one to read the budget and its appropriation.”
“However, we are not going to support the cause of the NDC in the chamber this morning. The cause of the NDC is premised on falsehood,
propaganda and reasons that are not justifiable. Their position might look like ours but it is not the same,” the Majority said.
Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo has asked that the Finance Minister be allowed to complete Ghana’s negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and present the 2023 budget and economic statement.
James Maddison has been called up to the England squad for the World Cup by Gareth Southgate.
Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher is the other surprise inclusion in the 26-man group, with in-form Newcastle striker Callum Wilson and Arsenal centre-back Ben White also earning spots.
Wilson’s inclusion means Tammy Abraham and Ivan Toney miss out, as do defenders Fikayo Tomori and Marc Guehi.
There is space for Manchester Cityduo Kyle Walker and Kalvin Phillips despite fitness concerns, while Marcus Rashford — who last played for the Three Lions in the Euro 2020 final — is in as expected.
Trent Alexander-Arnold will also travel to Qatar following the injury to Reece James, but Luke Shaw is the only left-back in the squad.
England World Cup squad
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford (Everton), Nick Pope (Newcastle), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal)
Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool) Conor Coady (Everton) Eric Dier (Tottenham), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Kieran Trippier (Newcastle), Kyle Walker (Manchester City), Ben White (Arsenal)
Midfielders: Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Conor Gallagher (Chelsea), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Mason Mount (Chelsea), Kalvin Phillips (Manchester City), Declan Rice (West Ham)
Forwards: Phil Foden (Manchester City), Jack Grealish (Manchester City), Harry Kane (Tottenham), James Maddison (Leicester), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Raheem Sterling (Chelsea), Callum Wilson (Newcastle)
The clamour for Maddison’s inclusion has been growing by the week as he continues to excel for Leicester.
Last season, in a team struggling for consistency, he scored 18 goals and set up 12, while he has carried that on this term with six goals and four assists.
But he has not been included in any England squads since he made his debut three years ago as a sub against Montenegro.
James Maddison is called up to England’s World Cup squad 🏴🦁
Just a month earlier, Maddison was pictured in a casino watching a 6-0 win in Bulgaria after he pulled out of the squad with illness.
That appeared to blot his copybook in Southgate’s mind and with the likes of Jack Grealish, Phil Foden and Mason Mount performing well, he looked set to miss out.
But now Southgate has opted to call him up, the 25-year-old playmaker will be hoping to force his way into the starting line-up.
The England boss said: “He’s playing really well. He’s a good player, we’ve always said he’s a good player. He’s earned the right. He can give us something slightly different to the other attacking players.
“He’s playing as well as any attacking player in this country. I did speak to James this morning because there was a lot of speculation he wouldn’t be with us. We decided a couple of weeks ago that he would.”
Striker shock
It felt like Toney and Wilson were battling it out to join both Harry Kane and Abraham in Qatar.
But Southgate has opted to select only one of them — and Wilson’s red-hot form has forced his hand.
Six goals in 10 Premier League games, including three in his last three, have proven enough to leapfrog the Roma and Brentford men.
With Rashford firing on all cylinders for Manchester United again, Wilson will provide a different option up top.
Southgate added: “Tammy’s had a poor run of scoring form at the wrong time really. It isn’t a case where we’re three or four weeks away from the first game, we’re 10 days away.
“Form could be more important. We don’t really know where they are form-wise. We’re watching their club form but we don’t know where they are until we see them face-to-face.”
The White stuff
Ben White has been included in England’s squad on the back of strong form for Arsenal
After just missing out on the Euro 2020 squad, White has forced his way into the World Cup group with consistently excellent displays for Arsenal.
The Gunners defender, 25, has only been named in one squad since England lost to Italy in the final 16 months ago, yet has moved ahead of Tomori and Guehi in the queue.
Key to his inclusion could be his versatility, which has seen the ex-Brighton man used at right-back by Mikel Arteta this season instead of his preferred central position.
The Majority Caucus has revealed that they would not support the Minority’s move to censure the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, although they want him removed from office.
Addressing the press today, the Majority, which called for the head of the Finance Minister about two weeks ago, explained that their justification for the Minister’s removal does not tally with that of the Minority’s.
“Over a few days, we have had the Finance Minister speaking, and his speaking has informed the Majority not only to state that we are back to the original position that we took and that original position is to say that the Minister of Finance will not be the one to read the budget and its appropriation.
However, we are not going to support the cause of the NDC in the chamber this morning. The cause of the NDC is premised on falsehood, propaganda and reasons that are not justifiable. They position might look like ours but it is not the same,” the Majority said.
The Majority explained that unlike the Minority, they believe although Mr Ofori-Atta has proven himself to be competent, the current state of the economy which has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia-Ukraine war, has made Ghanaians lose confidence in him.
According to the Majority, this is not the assertion being run by the Minority, hence their decision not to support them in the House today.
“You will not be able to come to the Chamber to level 10 issues that border on criminality over a person who is not there to defend himself. Our feeling is the confidence in the minister has gone down but for COVID and the Russian-Ukraine war, he was doing well,” the Majority explained.
The Majority’s proclamation comes after the New Patriotic Party (NPP) ordered its Members of Parliament (MPs) to abstain from the vote of censure against the embattled Finance Minister.
Parliament will today determine whether the Minority Caucus’ censure motion against Mr Ofori-Atta will be moved.
The motion which was filed on October 25, per the constitution is to be debated upon and voted on the same after 14 days of its receipt by the Speaker of Parliament.
Meanwhile, the Minority Chief Whip, Muntaka Mubarak, has warned that members of the Majority Caucus who had rebelled against the Finance Minister may face dire consequences should the vote of censure fail.
According to him, in the event the vote of censure fails, the 80 Majority Caucus members would be at the mercy of their party officials and this will not bode well for them.
Already, all NDC MPs have been instructed not to miss today’s sitting in order to get the required number to carry out their objective.
The Deputy Minority Whip, Ahmed Ibrahim has warned that there will be consequences should any member fail to show up.
LeBron James is set for scans after feeling a “groin strain” in the fourth quarter of the Los Angeles Lakers’ 114-101 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday.
James limped off the court with under six minutes remaining and did not return, wincing in pain and grabbing his groin area. The Lakers said at the time he was experiencing “left leg soreness”.
The four-time MVP, who scored 30 points in the game, confirmed that the issue will need medical evaluation.
“I feel good besides for the injury,” James said. “I’ll get pictures on it tomorrow and go from there.
“But I didn’t do anything extreme on the play, it was just when I landed I felt a little spasm or strain in my groin.
“Immediately I came out after the next play down I went to the free-throw line.”
James missed 17 straight games during the 2017-19 season with a left groin tear, but he insisted this is “not as bad”.
The loss left the Lakers with a 2-9 record, having lost four straight games by double-digit margins, and being without James for a stretch would be a major dent to their hopes of pushing back into contention for the playoffs.
Lakers head coach Darvin Ham did not want to speculate on the severity of the injury but admitted there was a balance to be struck in his recovery given the urgency of their situation.
James added: “In order for you to be productive for your teammates you have to take care of your body.”
The 37-year-old is averaging 24.3 points, 8.9 rebounds and 7.1 assists per game this season.
Kevin Durant does not want Jacque Vaughn’s appointment as permanent head coach to be a fleeting “honeymoon stage” for the Brooklyn Nets after winning three of their past four games.
The Nets triumphed 112-85 over the New York Knicks on Wednesday after removing the interim tag from Vaughn’s title, appointing him on a permanent basis.
Brooklyn have a 3-2 record under Vaughn, having started the season 2-5 under Steve Nash, who was fired last week. The Nets have also been playing without the suspended Kyrie Irving for their past four games.
“We don’t want this to be a honeymoon stage for us,” Durant told reporters, after recording a triple-double against the Knicks with 29 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists.
“We want to continue to keep pushing through, keep finding ways to get better, finding ways to turn those weaknesses to strengths and keep pushing from here.
“We were struggling, we’ve been through a lot. Guys got pride, individual pride, and we just wanted to come out and play better. That’s what we’ve been doing.”
Durant presented Vaughn with the game ball afterwards, amid upbeat scenes from a Nets locker-room which has been through plenty this season.
“I was excited for him,” Durant said. “I know the work that he puts in every day. I know how much he cares about the development of each player, and this team as a whole.
“Look forward to playing for him. All the guys have responded to how he wants us to play, so I’m looking forward to how we progress after this.”
The Nets’ recent change in results has coincided with keeping opposition sides below 100 points in their past four games. The run marks the first time Brooklyn have done that since the 2014-15 season.
“We’ve already taken a big jump last four games, teams under 100 points, which has been great,” Vaughn said. “So definitely concerted effort…. We really came out with the right mindset.”
Durant presented Vaughn with the game ball afterwards, amid upbeat scenes from a Nets locker-room which has been through plenty this season.
“I was excited for him,” Durant said. “I know the work that he puts in every day. I know how much he cares about the development of each player, and this team as a whole.
“Look forward to playing for him. All the guys have responded to how he wants us to play, so I’m looking forward to how we progress after this.”
The Nets’ recent change in results has coincided with keeping opposition sides below 100 points in their past four games. The run marks the first time Brooklyn have done that since the 2014-15 season.
“We’ve already taken a big jump last four games, teams under 100 points, which has been great,” Vaughn said. “So definitely concerted effort…. We really came out with the right mindset.”
Tiger Woods has announced he will make his return to golf next month at the Hero World Challenge.
The tournament, which Woods hosts, will take place at Albany Golf Club in the Bahamas from December 1-4.
Woods confirmed his involvement in a Twitter post on Wednesday.
The 15-time major winner has not played since he missed the cut at The Open at St Andrews in July.
Woods has only played nine competitive rounds of golf in 2022 – at the Masters, the US PGA Championship and The Open – following a car crash last year that left him with significant leg injuries.
He has previously stated the damage caused by the accident means he will no longer be able to play a full schedule on the PGA Tour.
Woods also confirmed in his post Kevin Kisner and Tommy Fleetwood had been added to the Hero World Challenge field.
Manchester City goalkeeper Zack Steffen was one of the notable omissions from the United States’ 26-man World Cup squad confirmed by head coach Gregg Berhalter on Wednesday.
Chelsea’s Christian Pulisic, Juventus’ Weston McKennie, Milan’s Sergino Dest and Leeds United pair Brenden Aaronson and Tyler Adams were all included in the squad which is in Group B alongside Wales, England and Iran.
Steffen, who is on loan at Championship club Middlesbrough from City, missed out with Matt Turner, Sean Johnson and Ethan Horvath preferred as the three goalkeepers.
Fulham defender Tim Ream along with Turkey-based forward Haji Wright have also been included, while exciting 19-year-old striker Ricardo Pepi has missed out, along with Paul Arriola and Jordan Pefok.
“Final roster decisions are always difficult, and we appreciate everyone’s contributions who helped us get to this point,” Berhalter said. “We believe we have a talented group, a strong team spirit, and one that is ready to compete.”
This year’s event marks USA’s return to the World Cup having failed to qualify for Russia 2018. Deandre Yedlin is the only member of their last World Cup squad from 2014 to be carried over in this group.
The United States face Wales in their opening Group B match on November 21, before taking on England and Iran.
USA squad: Ethan Horvath (Luton Town), Sean Johnson (New York City), Matt Turner (Arsenal); Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic), Sergino Dest (AC Milan), Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls), Shaq Moore (Nashville), Tim Ream (Fulham), Antonee Robinson (Fulham), Joe Scally (Borussia Monchengladbach), DeAndre Yedlin (Inter Miami), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville); Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United), Kellyn Acosta (LAFC), Tyler Adams (Leeds United), Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo), Weston McKennie (Juventus), Yunus Musah (Valencia), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders); Jesus Ferreira (FC Dallas), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders), Christian Pulisic (Chelsea), Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund), Josh Sargent (Norwich City), Tim Weah (Lille), Haji Wright (Antalyaspor)
Cameroonian Football Federation (FECAFOOT) President Samuel Eto’o is confident that his side will win the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
“Africa has always had the potential to achieve a successful World Cup, but we haven’t always shown our best face up to now,” Eto’o told ESPN.
“During the years, African teams have acquired more and more experience, and I think they’re ready not only to participate in a World Cup, but also to win it.
“Cameroun will win the World Cup final against Morocco.”
Cameroon have been drawn in Group G alongside Brazil, Serbia and Switzerland.
The tournament will kick off on November 20 with hosts Qatar taking on Ecuador in a Group A opener at Al Bayt Stadium.
No country from Africahas ever made it past the quarter-finals, with only Cameroun (1990), Senegal (2002) and Ghana (2010) ever making it beyond the last 16 stage.
The Lions of Teranga will be the first African team to take the stage against Netherlands in a Group B fixture at Al Thumama Stadium on November 21.
Ghana’s Samira Suleman has acquired Union of European Football Association’s License B Coaching Certificate after going through the mandatory requirements successfully.
The former Hasaacas Ladies Football Club’s skipper announced her achievement on her Twitter handle on Thursday, November 3, 2022.
Samira Suleman before moving abroad played for Hasaacas Ladies by moving through the ranks at both club and national team before sojourning to Robert Morris University in the United States of America.
She moved to Europe after a successfully guiding Hasaacas Ladies FCto two Women’s Premier League titles. She finished as the top scorer and best player in the 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 respectively.
She turned 31 in August 16, 2022 and is currently playing for Icelandic side, IA Akranes Football Club after stints with Vikingur Olafsvik, another Icelandic side.
On March 7, 2022, Samira Suleman reached a 100 game milestone in the Icelandic top division.
In the national team, Samira Suleman scored the only goal of the game as Ghana beat Ivory Coast in the semi-finals of the 2015 All African Games and went on to beat Cameroon in the final to win gold at Brazzaville, Republic of Congo.
Samira Suleman has represented Ghana at the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in 2010 – Ghana exited the world cup despite securing 4 points; a 1-1 draw against United States, a defeat to South Korea and a 2-0 win against Switzerland.
She was part of Ghana’s African Women’s Cup of Nations squad in 2014, 2016 and 2018.
Matt Pennington’s third goal of the season earned Shrewsbury a point as they came from behind to draw 1-1 with Oxford United.
Cameron Brannagan had put the visitors ahead in the first half with his sixth league goal of the campaign but Pennington’s header was enough to haul Steve Cotterill’s men into the top 10 in Sky Bet League One.
The full-blooded encounter also saw Oxford’s on-loan Swansea striker Kyle Joseph taken off on a stretcher in the first half.
Karl Robinson’s men were ahead on 15 minutes when Chey Dunkley rebuffed Brannagan’s first effort, but the midfielder’s second cannoned off a U’s defender and beyond goalkeeper Marko Marosi.
Simon Eastwood had to be at his best to deny Rob Street before the Oxford goalkeeper sprawled to his right to deny Luke Leahy what appeared to be a tap-in with 25 minutes left.
But from the resulting corner, Leahy headed Tom Bayliss’ corner back across goal and former Everton defender Pennington was on hand to head home and secure a deserved point for the Shropshire side.
Ghanaian striker Kwabena Owusu was on target for Qarabag FK in their 2-0 away win over Turan-Tovuz IK in the Azerbaijan Premier League.
The 25-year-old continued his impressive goal scoring form by scoring his 10th goal of the season to help his side cruise to a comfortable victory on match week 13.
The win sees Qarabag strengthen their league at the top of the league table to 39 points, five points above second- placed Sabah.
Qarabag took the lead in the 37th minute through an own goal scored by Vusal Masimov before Owusu doubled their lead in the 37th minute.
He lasted the entire duration of the game as Qarabag sealed their 13th league win of the season.
Owusu has made 26 appearances, scored 10 goals and provided three assists for Qarabag FK in all competitions so far this season.
Despite his impressive form, the forward was not named in Ghana’s 55-man provisional squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Watch Kwabena Owusu’s 10th goal of the season for Qarabag FK against Turan below:
Mexico were posed very few problems by Iraq in their first World Cup warm-up game, winning 4-0 in Girona on Wednesday.
Although many countries have been unable line up pre-tournament friendlies due to the awkward timing of Qatar 2022, El Tri will travel to the Middle East with two games under their belts.
Their first may not have been particularly competitive, but it did the job in providing an opportunity to build sharpness and confidence ahead of the tournament, with Mexico dominant throughout.
The first half was especially one-sided, but Tata Martino’s men could only find the Iraq net once via Alexis Vega’s simple finish following fine work by Jesus Gallardo at the end of a rapid counter.
Mexico’s fortunes improved after the break, with Rogelio Funes Mori smashing into the roof of the net early in the second half, and it was 3-0 just past the hour – Gallardo unleashing an emphatic half-volley that gave the goalkeeper no chance.
The scoring was completed late on when a handball offence in the box led to a penalty, and Uriel Antuna coolly converted.
Mexico’s second and final pre-World Cup game is against Sweden on Wednesday, with El Tri then set to face Poland, Argentina and Saudi Arabia in Group C.
¡Se terminó el partido, nos quedamos con el triunfo en Girona! 👏🏼🇲🇽🔥
El marcador final es presentado por @BeGoMx_.
Ghana international, Baba Iddrisuhas suffered an injury in Spain while in action for RCD Mallorca.
The midfielder started for his club today in a matchday 14 encounter against Atletico Madrid in the Spanish La Liga.
Unfortunately, he could not finish the first half of the contest. In injury time, he limped off and had to be substituted during the break.
While the extent of the injury is yet to be ascertained, the news of the injury is a major blow for Ghana ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
The Spain-based midfielder is one of the main midfielders Coach Otto Addo has decided to include in his final 26-man squad for the mundial in Qatar.
Should he miss the tournament because of the latest injury, Ghana will suffer dearly in midfield especially since he has become the main defensive midfielder for the Black Stars in recent times.
He will undergo an assessment on Thursday to know the extent of the injury.
The Nobel Peace Prizemedal awarded to South Africa’s last apartheid president, Frederik Willem de Klerk, was stolen from his Cape Town home six months ago, his foundation revealed on Wednesday.
He received the prize in 1993 alongside anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela, for his role in ushering South Africa into democracy.
The 18-carat medal made of recycled gold was stolen from his home in a burglary in April.
“I can confirm that the Nobel Peace Prize belonging to FW de Klerk was stolen from his home earlier this year,” Brenda Steyn, the foundation’s legacy manager told AFP.
It was gathered that they were neutralised in an operation by Nigerian military fighter jets at Lake Chad on Saturday.
Kwaya and Mainoka were influential members of the ISWAP Shura (Consultation) Council.
They died after the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai conducted air interdiction missions at Belowa, said to be one of the ISWAP/Boko Haram enclaves in the Tumbuns, and located in Abadam Local Government Area of Borno State, western coast of Lake Chad.
The military said the strikes at Belowa became necessary after intelligence revealed the convergence of some ISWAP leaders and fighters.
The terrorists were suspected to be gathering for a meeting ahead of an attack on friendly forces.
A Nigerian Air Force fighter aircraft dispatched to the location hit the ISWAP terrorists with rockets and bombs in multiple passes.
Sources revealed that the intelligence agency confirmed the killing.
The delegation of Super Eagles of Nigeria arrived San Jose, capital of Costa Rica on Sunday evening ahead of Thursday’s international friendly match between both countries.
The contingent led by NFF Executive Committee Member, Otunba Sunday Dele-Ajayi touched down at Juan Santamaria International Airport aboard Copa Airlines via Panama City at 10:30pm Local time (5:30am on Monday in Nigeria).
A playing squad of 18 players, two coaches and other team officials travelled with the team for the friendly game lined up for the Super Eagles by Nigeria Football Federation. The Nigerian delegation was received by an official of the Costa Rica Football Federation.
The Super Eagles are lodged at Real Intercontinental Hotel, San Jose as they prepared for their first training session ahead of the big match, to which they were invited as part of major activities to send forth the Los Ticos to the FIFA World Cup finals in Qatar.
The game, scheduled for the National Stadium in San Jose, will kick off at 8pm Costa Rica time on Wednesday, 9th November (which is 3am, 10th November in Nigeria).
Sonia Ekweremadu on Monday appeared in a UK court amid a trial over alleged organ harvesting.
According to Daily Mail, the daughter of Ike Ekweremadu, former deputy senate president is charged with conspiracy to arrange the travel of another person with a view to harvest the person’s organ for her benefit.
Sonia is said to be suffering from a kidney disease and needs a transplant.
The former deputy senate president and Beatrice, his wife, are facing charges bordering on conspiracy to arrange/facilitate the travel of another person with a view to exploitation, namely organ harvesting.
The couple were arrested by London Metropolitan Police in June and appeared before a magistrate court in July.
Ekweremadu’s wife was granted bail on July 22, but the senator’s request was denied.
The police had alleged that David Ukpo, the reported victim at the centre of the organ harvesting allegation, is a 15-year-old but the court ruled that he is 21.
The Central Criminal Court had adjourned the case till November for pretrial applications, while the trial is to commence fully on May 2, 2023.
But the case has been brought forward to January 2023, according to Daily Mail.
The defendants were said to have been due to enter their pleas on Monday but this could not take place because of “further legal argument”.
“We are told that this court is in a position to accommodate the trial…three months earlier,” Daily Mail quoted Oliver Glasgow, a prosecutor, as saying.
“If an earlier date can be offered, and one can be, then it should be taken.”
Sonia and her mother were said to have appeared in court on Monday, while the senator was absent.
A Deputy Superintendent of Police, Olusegun Bamidele, on Tuesday, told a Lagos High Court sitting at the Tafawa Balewa Square that Chidinma Ojukwu, the alleged killer of the Chief Executive Officer of Super TV, Usifo Ataga, and her foster father, Onoh Ojukwu, did not tell the police the truth about the incident.
Bamidele, who is serving with the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba, disclosed this while being cross-examined by Chidinma’s lawyer, Mr Onwuka Egwu, during the trial within trial.
Chidinma, a 300-level Mass Communication student of the University of Lagos, Akoka, is standing trial over the alleged murder of Ataga.
She is also charged with stealing and forgery alongside one Adedapo Quadri and her sister, Chioma Egbuchu.
On the last adjourned date, Bamidele, who is the ninth prosecution witness, told the court how Chidinma transferred the sum of N5m on June 15, 2021, from Ataga’s account to another account.
Bamidele said after the arrest of the first defendant on June 23, 2021, her statement was recorded on June 24, adding that she confessed to killing Ataga.
When the prosecution sought to admit the statement in evidence, Chidinma’s counsel, Egwu, refused, saying she did not make the statement voluntarily.
The prosecutor then prayed the court to conduct trial within trial for Chidinma.
Consequently, Justice Yetunde Adesanya adjourned the case till November 8 for trial within trial.
At the resumed hearing of the matter on Tuesday, the Lagos State prosecuting counsel, T. E. Onilaja, announced appearance while Egwu also announced his appearance for the first defendant.
Bamidele, who was led in evidence in the trial within trial, narrated how Chidinma was arrested and how she was interrogated.
When asked during cross examination by the first defendant’s lawyer to confirm that four people were arrested when his team visited 25, Akinwumi Street, Alagomeji, Yaba, he denied, saying three people were arrested.
He said, “That night on June 23, 2021, the first team that visited came back with three people: the first defendant, Chidinma Ojukwu; her foster father, Onoh Ojukwu; and an underaged girl. Those were the people I saw. I was in the second team that visited the address that night.”
Asked the day the first defendant was paraded at the police command, Ikeja, he said on June 24.
The counsel then asked if he was aware that prior to the parade, the first defendant and her foster father had an interaction with the Commissioner of Police at his office, he said he was not aware.
When asked to confirm that Mr Ojukwu was re-arrested on July 25 and kept in detention till August 19, 2021, he answered in the affirmative.
Asked what Mr Ojukwu and a 10-year-old girl were doing in police custody, the witness answered that Ojukwu said he was embarrassed by what Chidinma did and offered to assist in investigation.
He said, “Mr Ojukwu was not kept in the cell; he was kept in a protective room and he received and escorted visitors at will.
“In the course of him staying with us, we stumbled on intelligence that there was an amorous relationship between the first defendant and her foster father. That gave the impetus that Mr Ojukwu was not sincere and that he was aware of the offence that she is standing trial for today. That she (Chidinma) was concealing vital information.
“We also established that the mother of the first defendant never approved the custody of the first defendant to Ojukwu and it was on this basis that we charged him to court alongside three defendants at the magistrate’s court so that the court could decide if he could get bail, including one Babalola.”
The case was adjourned till November 10 for continuation of trial within trial.
President of Nigeria Football Federation, Ibrahim Musa Gusau has told the Super Eagles to go for victory as the team is set to take on World Cup-bound Costa Rica in a friendly game in San Jose in the early hours of Thursday.
The President made the call on Tuesday night (Wednesday morning in Nigeria) shortly after the team’s lunch at the Intercontinental Hotel in San Jose, Costa Rica.
Gusau, who spoke through the leader of delegation and NFF Executive Committee Member, Otunba Sunday Dele-Ajayi further called on the Super Eagles to be worthy ambassadors of the nation as he vowed that the NFF Executive Committee under his watch will not relent in its quest to reposition Nigeria Football.
“I am delivering this goodwill message on behalf of the NFF President. Mr. President is wishing the team the best of luck in tomorrow’s game against Costa Rica.
“It is pertinent for you to note that Nigerians are result-oriented and they want the team to always have a good outing in every match, friendly or competitive.
“It is a friendly game but at the same time, we want to win.”
The Super Eagles of Nigeria will battle the World Cup-bound Los Ticos at the Estadio Nacional in San Jose as from 8pm local time on Wednesday (3am Thursday in Nigeria).
Manchester United have been fined £82,000 over two separate FA charges from their Premier League games with Newcastle United and Chelsea last month.
The club faced claims they had failed to control their players surrounding flashpoint incidents in both matches, crowding match officials after a disallowed goal against the Magpies and for a penalty concession against the Blues.
Now, having admitted to both charges, United have seen punishments handed out by the FA, with a heavy combined financial sanction for their troubles.
“Manchester United has been fined £82,000 in total for breaching FA Rule E20.1 during its Premier League matches against Newcastle United on Sunday 16 October and Chelsea on Saturday 22 October,” read a statement.
“Manchester United admitted that it failed to ensure its players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion during the 49th minute of the Newcastle United game and the 84th minute of the Chelsea fixture.
“Independent Regulatory Commissions imposed fines of £45,000 and £37,000 for the respective breaches in the Newcastle United and Chelsea matches during separate hearings.
“The Independent Regulatory Commissions’ written reasons for these individual sanctions will be published in due course.”
United’s fine is among the latest high-profile penalties handed out by the FA for disciplinary action this season, with several other managers and clubs facing similar sanctions.
Jurgen Klopp was fined £30,000 for his actions during Liverpool’s win over Manchester City, though the FA have since appealed the original fine.
Arsenal were also hit with a £20,000 penalty for failing to control their players during October’s match against Leeds United.
A superintendent of Immigration has told an Accra High Court that he has no personal information that Aisha Huang was engaged in illegal mining.
Ruben Ransford Aborabora is the Attorney General’s first witness in the trial of the Chinese alleged to be a key architect of illegal mining in the Ashanti Region.
Director of Public Prosecution Yvonne Attakora Obuobisa led the Immigration Officer to testify as the state’s first witness.
Supt. Aborabora told that court that sometime in 2017, he and his men embarked on an operation to arrest persons alleged to be mining illegally at Bepotenten in the Ashanti region.
He told the court that various mining equipment were seen at the site including excavators.
He said one of the arrested Chinese informed him that they were mining for Aisha Huang.
He submitted videos showing the mining equipment and site to the court.
Lawyers for Aisha Huang led by Nkrabeah Effah Dartey then cross-examined the witness.
Mr Dartey questioned him on whether he had on his own verified the allegations by the Chinese or had any independent means of verifying this. This is what transpired.
Question-Even with your compact disk video, you have no personal independent information verified by you against the accused.
Answer: No my lord. I have no personal information.
Question: If Gao jin Chen gave you the wrong information then your source is wrong
Answer: Yes my lord. I only reported on what Gao jin Chem told me. And I forwarded the same in my report.
Question: My lord I have no further questions for a witness who has no personal information.
The case has been adjourned to November 14 for continuation.
Popular Ghanaian YouTuber, Ama Governor, who is a pansexual living in Ghana has been denied a call to the bar.
The news which broke on Twitter on November 9, has got the social media platform buzzing.
It is reported that the Ghana Legal Council denied her access to the bar due to her affiliation with the LGBTQ community.
Also, it has been said that a petition was filed against her by an unknown person, which resulted in the punitive decision that was taken against her.
She, along with her disgruntled friends, have taken to social media to cry about the ordeal.
According to them, it is not fair for the Ghana Bar Association (GBA)to stop her from becoming a lawyer at the eleventh hour when she has passed all her exams.
Twitter has been flooded with divergent views on what people make of the situation. While some agree with the GBA, others believe Ama Governor must be allowed to become a lawyer regardless of her sexuality.
Why are they treating Ama Governor like this, which kind authorities be this?
Whatever your stance on LGBTQ is, you can’t be so crazy as to think people should be denied their hard earned place as members of the Ghana Bar simply because they publicly support LGBTQ. Ama Governor deserves her bar call.
No offence to anyone please ,but if Ama governor was promoting LGBTQ on her channel then I think it’s the law that has got to her,LGBTQ is illegal in Ghana and promoting it isn’t something you should be doing if you want to get a job that’s mainly about the law .
In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court has dismissed a case filed by NPP Bono Regional Chairman, Kwame Baffoe aka Abronye DC, against some former and current Parliamentarians.
Abronye DC had argued that the actions of the MPs and former government appointees who received double salaries as MPs and ministers or deputy ministers are inconsistent with Article 98 of the Constitution.
The named individuals are Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu; Alhassan Azong, Fifi Fiave Kwetey, Eric Opoku, Abdul Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, Edwin Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, Mark Owen Woyongo, Comfort Doyoe, Cudjoe Ghansah and Aquinas Tawiah Quansah.
The Attorney General’s Office raised an objection to the case. It argued that the jurisdiction of the court had not been properly triggered since the said constitutional provision is clear and did not require interpretation.
It was also pointed out that the NPP Chairman had the option of using another forum rather than the Supreme Court. The Apex court upheld the arguments describing the case as unmeritorious.
“After carefully reviewing and hearing counsel in open court, we agree that our jurisdiction has not been properly invoked. The articles referred to require no interpretation.
“The plaintiffs’ remedy lies in another forum. Because of the frivolous nature of this case, we were minded to award costs personally. But have opted out of policy considerations not to do so”, presiding Justice Nene Amegatcher stated.
Other panel members included Prof Ashie Kotey, Mariama Owusu, Gertrude Torkonoo Mensah Bonsu, Amadu Tanko and Emmanuel Yonny Kulendi.
Yann Sommer’s return from injury provided a boost for Switzerland as they announced their 26-man squad for the FIFA World Cup.
The Borussia Monchengladbach goalkeeper, who suffered an ankle injury in a DFB-Pokal defeat to Darmstadt three weeks ago, is one of four goalkeepers named in Murat Yakin’s squad, with concerns over the fitness of Sommer and Jonas Omlin.
Switzerland have named an experienced squad and will be hoping to build on their impressive performance at Euro 2020, which saw them defeat then-reigning champions France before losing on penalties to Spain in the quarter-finals.
Manchester City’s Manuel Akanji and Newcastle United stalwart Fabian Schar make up an experienced centre-back combination, with Fulham’s right-back Kevin Mbabu a surprise absentee in defence.
Granit Xhaka will be looking to carry his fine early-season form with Arsenal into Qatar 2022, with the experienced midfielder selected alongside Chelsea’s on-loan Denis Zakaria and new Nottingham Forest-signing Remo Freuler in the middle of the park.
Former Liverpool winger Xherdan Shaqiri, who now plays for Chicago Fire, will feature in his fourth FIFA World Cup and will be looking to add to his 108 caps for the national side.
Galatasaray forward Haris Seferovic, who has 25 goals for Switzerland, provides experience to a forward line that also boasts the talents of Breel Embolo and Salzburg youngster Noah Okafor.
In a statement, coach Yakin said: “We were spoilt for choice in some positions.
“Many players have delivered convincing performances in recent weeks and months. But in the end, I had to limit myself to 26 names. I’m convinced that these 26 players can always help us to achieve our goals.”
Switzerland begin their difficult Group G campaign on November 24 against Cameroon before facing familiar opposition in Brazil and Serbia, who were both part of the Swiss’ 2018 World Cup group.
England right-back Reece James admits he is “devastated” after confirming he will miss the World Cup through injury.
The Chelsea defender, 22, hurt his knee against AC Milan last month and was in a race against time to be fit for the Qatar showpiece.
Unfortunately for the Three Lions, he has now confirmed he will have to watch the side’s efforts in the Middle East from afar.
But James also appeared to suggest that boss Gareth Southgate should have taken a risk by including him in his final 26-man squad, which is due to be announced tomorrow afternoon.
The Blues ace tweeted: “Devastated. The minute I injured my knee, I knew the turnaround to make the World Cup would be tight, but I always felt it was possible.
“I’ve worked harder than I ever thought I could to give myself the best chance of going and truly believed I could help the team.
“I appreciate there was risk on both sides but it was one I was willing to take.
“Good luck to the boys. I’ll be back soon. Stay safe and sending love.”
James joins Chelsea team-mate Ben Chilwell in missing out on a first appearance at a World Cup tournament, with the left-back suffering a hamstring injury against Dinamo Zagreb last week.
England kick off their Group B campaign against Iran on Monday before tackling the USA and Wales.
Southgate is also sweating over the fitness of Manchester City pair Kyle Walker and Kalvin Phillips.
Chris Evans has been named People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive.
The Captain America star was announced on Monday night on Stephen Colbert’s late-night show and on the magazine’s network.
Evans has played the Marvel superhero for nearly a decade and takes the baton from another Avenger, Paul Rudd.
“My mom will be so happy,” he told the magazine, which comes out on Friday. “She’s proud of everything I do, but this is something she can really brag about.”
He said he knows he is likely to be teased by close friends, joking: “Really this will just be a point of bullying. It’s ripe for harassment.”
Image: Ant-Man star Paul Rudd. Pic: AP
Previous winners
He’s likely to be in for a good deal of ribbing from co-stars and previous winners such as Rudd, Ryan Reynolds and Chris Hemsworth.
Hemsworth, who plays Thor in the Marvel films, was the first Avenger to win People’s annual honour.
The award was first handed to Mel Gibson in 1985 and other recipients include John Legend, Dwayne Johnson, Idris Elba, Adam Levine, Richard Gere, Channing Tatum and David Beckham.
Image: Ryan Reynolds promoting Deadpool 2. Pic: AP
Better work-life balance
People interviewed Evans, 41, at a Georgia Farmhouse where the actor talked about finding a better work-life balance. “The most enjoyable aspect of my career right now is feeling secure enough to take my foot off the gas,” he said.
Evans’ first film role was in The New Comers in 2000 and he played superhero Johnny Storm in two Fantastic Four films released in 2005 and 2007. He gained widespread fame in 2011 with the release of Captain America: The First Avenger.
He has played the superhero in 10 Marvel films and laid down his shield after saving the universe in Avengers: Endgame in 2019.
Image: Idris Elba attends the world premiere of Beast. Pic: AP
Marriage ‘absolutely something I want’
The actor told People he is thinking about marriage and having a family, saying: “That’s absolutely something I want.”
He said he did not expect to talk publicly much about his private life, though. “Some things you want just for you, or just for my family and my friends.”
He said he expects People’s honour will be a milestone in his life and career.
“It’s something that as I become old and saggy I can look back on and say ‘I remember then…’” Evans said. “I’m lucky to be in the discussion in any capacity.”
Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti has rebutted suggestions that Karim Benzema is unavailable for club action in order to keep him fit for the 2022 World Cup.
The France international is set to represent the defending champions in Qatar but enters the tournament with a lack of minutes, having last appeared domestically against Elche on October 19.
Those fitness issues will once again keep Benzema absent from Thursday’s trip to Cadiz, the final game before Qatar 2022, where Madrid are looking to bounce back after a surprise defeat to Rayo Vallecano on Monday.
Benzema’s recent absence has not resulted in any concerns that he could be missing for France, leading to suggestions that he may just be being rested to ensure he does not get injured ahead of the tournament.
“It has bothered me that he has not been able to help us with his quality – he has tried but he has not been able to come back from this small thing, so he is not available,” Ancelotti said in Wednesday’s press conference.
“I don’t have to say anything to anyone. The first disappointed person is Karim, who arrives at the World Cup without the necessary minutes to be in good condition.
“To think that he has been rested, I do not believe it, it is silly. He has not stopped; he has trained alone, but the feelings he had were not good.
“It means he arrives at the World Cup with few minutes in his legs.”
Asked whether Benzema ever felt his World Cup involvement was in doubt, Ancelotti added: “No, apart from that big injury against Celtic, it’s been two small things.”
Madrid’s defeat last time out leaves the defending LaLiga champions five points adrift of leaders Barcelona, albeit with a game in hand, and Ancelotti highlighted a drop in intensity as the reason for his side’s decline.
He added: “If you lower intensity against teams that do not play in Europe, such as Rayo, they can be at a higher level than the rest.
“It’s less noticeable when you’re playing against teams that do play in Europe.”
Former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha has said Erling Haaland may struggle to score as many goals over the rest of the season as opponents figure him out.
The Norway international has enjoyed a blistering start to life at the Etihad Stadium, with 23 goals across all competitions since arriving from Borussia Dortmund.
That includes 18 in the Premier Leaguealone, putting him firmly on course to smash the competition’s record single-season tally of 34 with not even half the campaign gone.
But while Onuoha, who played for City between 2004 and 2012, thinks it likely he could rack up an all-time feat, he warns the Leeds-born attacker will likely face sterner opposition following the mid-season break.
“It’s very possible,” he told Stats Perform. “But I think it gets harder the more time that passes in terms of being in the league, because people know how you operate.
“They know they have to have get a better idea of how to stop you, because City with a six-foot four striker is a different look for most teams that played against them for the last six or seven years under [Pep] Guardiola.
“It’s possible if he stays available and City stay dominant. But football is very difficult, especially in the second half of [a] season, where you start to run out of time.
“The moment you start running out of time, the desperation kicks in, and things which maybe would have been easier in the first half of the season [are] a bit more difficult.”
Onuoha feels Haaland has shown he can cope with the pressure amid a lightning start, firing City into the thick of another title race, though the ex-defender also praised Arsenal amid their own surprise charge
“There’s going to be so many more eyes on him because he [is] one of the biggest players in world football, not necessarily the Premier League,” he added. “He’s a talent who’s going to bring eyeballs. He’s been exceptional.
“But I have to give credit to Arsenal, I think Arsenal has been incredible. They’ve dropped five points up to this moment. And in those games, they’ve looked really good.
“It’s very entertaining. Whatever we see now, there’s no guarantee this is how it will finish. I think that’s what makes it so special.”
Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) has revealed that the country’s inflation, as of October 2022, stood at 40.4 %.
The staggering rate which grew from 37.2% in September has once again been attributed to the increase in food prices, housing, electricity and fuel.
Food inflation recorded the highest rate among all the components as against non food inflation according to the GSS.
The increase by food inflation indicates a jump of more than 3 percent from the previous rate of 37.2.
Addressing the media, Government Statistician, Professor Samuel Kobina Annim explained that all items in the component for calculating the rate of inflation recorded an increase.
“For the month of October, Food inflation was 43.7%. Last month’s Food inflation was 37.8%. A careful study of the figures show that month-on-month Food inflation was 3.2%.” he said.
He explained that non-food Inflation for October was at 37.8% compared to the previous month’s non-food inflation of 36.8% .
By this, Professor Annim announced that the month-on-month non-food inflation recorded 2.3%.
Stefano Pioli was left frustrated as his AC Milan side were held to a 0-0 draw by winless Cremonese in Serie A on Tuesday.
An impressive performance from Cremonese goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi saw him deny the likes of Divock Origi and Junior Messias as Milan dominated the first half.
Origi thought he had broken the deadlock soon after the break, but a VAR check ruled him offside before Cremonese saw out the remaining minutes to pick up a valuable point and prevent Milan from keeping pace with leaders Napoli, who beat Empoli2-0 earlier on Tuesday.
Attempting to win their second straight league title, Pioli’s men now sit eight points Napoli, and the Milan head coach was disappointed in their display as they failed to pick up all three points on the road for the fourth game in seven to start this season, having only dropped points away from San Siro five times last campaign.
“We could have done more tonight,” Pioli told DAZN. “We played a decent first half, but the second was not up to par.
“We did not create enough to be really dangerous. With our quality we could do more, despite the few spaces granted by Cremonese.
“In the second half there was little fluidity and clarity. We won a few offensive duels and so it is difficult to score.”
Pioli acknowledged the lead that Napoli now hold over his side, and spoke of his desire to see an improved display at the weekend as they look to bounce back against Fiorentina.
“Eight points are a lot,” Pioli added. “We don’t like this result, but on Sunday we have the opportunity to redeem ourselves.
“We didn’t want this gap. Congratulations to Napoli but we could have done more.”
Milan drew a blank despite Pioli introducing Rafael Leao with half an hour to play, but the head coach refused to criticise the substitute for the little impact he had.
Pioli explained: “I think it’s wrong to point the finger only at a single player [Leao]. If you don’t work well as a team, the results won’t come. The overall performance was not up to par.
“We expected this attitude from Cremonese. We had some opportunities to score goals, but if you don’t unlock them immediately then everything becomes more complicated.”
The Ghana School of Law has asked its students to provide their social media handles for monitoring.
According to the Director of the School, Yaw Oppong, this will help many students willing to be called to the bar to maintain a good character befitting the legal profession.
“Everybody will have to provide their social media handles. We are going to look at it and you will be monitored in terms of conduct. We are required by law to make recommendations. We don’t want to stampede you.
“You are going to reapply beyond the pass and submit yourselves for all legitimate checks,” Mr Oppong said during the swearing-in ceremony of the School of Law Students’ Representative Council (SRC) executives.
Thus, he has charged the students to submit themselves for the character checks before the General Legal Council’s approval.
“Once we are doing our best to ensure that as many of you as possible who want to help yourselves go beyond the stage you are, and we are succeeding, it will not compromise your good character.”
“It’s of no use if you are qualified to go to second year, and you are told that you cannot go because of bad character,” he noted.
Jamie Carragher is backing Liverpool to spend “up to £200million” to rejuvenate their midfield at the end of the season and believes Jude Bellingham is the “perfect fit”.
The 19-year-old England international has excelled with Borussia Dortmund since joining the Bundesliga side in 2019 from Birmingham City and has been touted for a lucrative return to the Premier League.
Liverpool have long been seen as contenders for his services, though recent reports indicate Manchester City are leading the chase. Real Madrid are also said to hold a firm interest.
Landing Bellingham will take a substantial fee, likely one that would exceed Liverpool’s club-record of £75m spent on Virgil van Dijk in 2018, but Carragher believes that figure will be a “bargain” after he continues to develop.
“The issue is that the players don’t have the energy to play a full game at the intensity they’ve played at in previous seasons. Teams are now matching their energy, but this isn’t something that Liverpool has adapted,” he said on Sky Sports’ The Overlap.
“The Arsenal game was a fine example of this – when they played Liverpool off the pitch in the second half – and that is why I can see Liverpool spending up to £200m on their midfield in the summer.
“Jude Bellingham would be the perfect fit, but he would be a lot of money.
“When Liverpool have spent big money in the past, it’s been on the goalkeeper [Alisson Becker] and Virgil van Dijk, who were bought in at great age profiles.
“Signing Jude Bellingham would be for a lot of money, but it would get to two years down the line and people would see it as a bargain.
“At his age, you’d have him for at least five seasons before he’d move on, which is a great investment for the club.”
Liverpool sit eighth in the Premier League, 15 points adrift of leaders Arsenal and seven short of Tottenham in fourth.
Cristian Volpato’s decision on his international allegiance is a personal one that “should not be sped up”, Roma head coach Jose Mourinho has said.
With the 18-year-old scoring two goals and contributing one assist in just 106 minutes of Serie A football for Roma, a fierce battle for Volpato’s services at international level has emerged.
Born in New South Wales, Volpato is also eligible to represent Italy and has featured at youth level for the European side.
Australia had hoped the lure of World Cup football, with the Socceroos tackling France, Tunisia and Denmark in Group D in Qatar, would persuade Volpato to select his country of birth – with European champions Italy not qualifying for the tournament.
However, Volpato rejected the call-up, not wishing to rush into a decision, and Mourinho believes it was the right call.
“I think it is a personal decision and the club has not been involved. As a coach, for example, I would refuse to call up a player, even a young one, in a situation like that,” he said in a press conference.
“What I understand is that he is at the beginning of his career and that he’s growing with Roma by getting more minutes in consecutive matches.
18,350 – Cristian Volpato (18 years, 350 days) has become the youngest AS Roma player to both score and deliver an assist in a Serie A match since Opta started collecting this kind of data (since 2004/05). Solver.#VeronaRomapic.twitter.com/UgCBjmSQVY
“It’s not like last year where he played just one game against Verona and then he didn’t play again, I think he has now played four games in a row.
“He is in a development phase where I think he has to focus on building his future and not on certain decisions where maybe someone else wants to accelerate a process that should not be sped up.”
Volpato used social media on Wednesday to issue a comment on the matter.
“I’ve seen lots of speculation about decisions I have supposedly taken at international level: the truth is I am just at the start of my professional career and I am totally focused on continuing that process at Roma,” he posted on Instagram.
“Making any sort of rushed decision about my international future at this early stage risks being extremely premature.
“There will be plenty of time for me to make the decision that feels right for me, but right now I know my focus needs to be continuing to work hard each and every day in order to continue improving as a player.”
Xavi has revealed he was planning to call on Gerard Pique from the bench, had the retiring defender not seen red at half-time in Barcelona’s clash with Osasuna.
Pique’s glittering career ended on a low note on Tuesday, with the 35-year-old receiving his marching orders from referee Jesus Gil Manzano without even leaving the bench.
With Barca 1-0 down and a man down at half-time, having seen star striker Robert Lewandowski sent off, substitute Pique was shown a red card for dissent during the interval.
After an emotional send-off at Camp Nou at the weekend, an eighth LaLiga dismissal brought an end to his career.
Xavi was hoping to rely on his former team-mate, but instead had to struggle through with a makeshift backline after Andreas Christensen went off midway through the second half, with youngster Chadi Riad coming on as a late substitute.
“I was going to use Gerard,” Xavi said at his post-match press conference.
“We knew that Chad was going to come in, Andreas was struggling with an injury. Eric [García] had some discomfort in the warm-up, and we were forced to not have him start.
“We did think about bringing in Gerard, but he was sent off at half-time when things got tense.”
“Down to 10 players for almost an hour … I’m very proud”
Even with their defensive issues and numerical disadvantage, Barca came away with a 2-1 win that saw them move five points clear of Real Madrid at the top of LaLiga, with Raphinha netting a late winner.
“We felt that wasn’t just, we felt they were against us and that’s why we reacted so strongly,” Xavi said.
“We celebrated this win as if everything was against us. The goal we conceded was a foul, then Lewandowski was sent off.
“All the decisions by the referee went against us and we thought we grabbed a win in a game we might tie.”
Sadio Mane will unfortunately not partake in the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
The Senegalese has been left injured following Bayern Munich’s league game on Tuesday, November 8.
Mane went down on 15 minutes and had to be replaced by Leroy Sane.
“He’ll have to have an X-ray to see what’s happened. He took a blow to his tibial plateau [the head of the shin]. It’s a painful spot,” said Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann.
It comes just 13 days before Mane’s Senegal play their first game at the 2022 World Cup against the Netherlands.
Bayern, meanwhile, cruised to victory with Serge Gnabry scoring a hat-trick.
However, French newspaper, L’Equipe reports the Senegal starman will not be available for the Mundial to be staged in Qatar.
The former Liverpool player is reported to be suffering from a tendon and is expected to miss several weeks of competition.
Senegal coach Aliou Cissé is due to announce his list of players who will go to Qatar on Friday.
EA Sports has used FIFA 23 to predict the outcome of the 2022 World Cup.
Argentina has been projected to beat Brazil in an all-South American final.
Lionel Messi is also forecasted to win the Golden Boot with a return of seven goals in eight matches.
Interestingly, EA Sports has correctly picked the winners from each of the last three World Cup finals and are looking to make it four on the spin – while they also predicted the outcome for the team of the tournament.
Victors Argentina unsurprisingly dominate, with Emiliano Martinez, Marcos Acuna, Leandro Paredes, and Rodrigo de Paul joining Messi in the side for this year’s competition, according to the video game.
Defeated finalists Brazil have Marquinhos, Vinicius Junior and Richarlison in the XI, with the team completed by France duo Kylian Mbappe and Raphael Varane, as well as Portugal’s Joao Cancelo.
The tournament gets underway on November 20 and Brazil and reigning Copa America champions Argentina will have high hopes, as they look to end a 20-year dominant streak by European nations.
Barcelonacoach Xavi said he was proud of his team for overcoming several “unfair” decisions after they recovered from Robert Lewandowski’sred card to clinch a dramatic 2-1 win at Osasuna.
Things looked bleak for Barca when they went into half-time a goal and a man down at El Sadar, with David Garcia heading Osasuna into the lead amid a potential foul on Marcos Alonso, before Lewandowski picked up a second booking for a poor challenge on the goalscorer.
Things went from bad to worse at the break as Gerard Pique – who was named on the bench for his final match before retirement – received a red card for dissent without even entering the fray.
However, goals from Pedri and Raphinha saw Barca stage a stirring second-half comeback to go five points clear of Real Madrid at the top of LaLiga, leaving Xavi ecstatic.
Asked what he told his players at the break to spark the turnaround, Xavi said: “To have faith that with 10 we could dominate the match, we had to be intelligent, and our moments would come.
“It’s a very good victory, one of courage, of family, and it was celebrated a lot in the locker room. It was very complicated to play with 10 and I am very proud of the team.
“We have grown. We are a family, a group, a spectacular dressing room, with the desire to win, and it shows. I am proud.”
Reflecting on the display of referee Jesus Gil Manzano, Xavi said his team had been hampered by numerous poor decisions.
“We feel harmed,” he said. “The first goal was not even a corner, then there was a foul and then Robert was expelled. They were very unfair decisions, but the referee decides and we can’t do anything.”
Raphinha’s winner – a well-executed header from Frenkie de Jong’s lofted pass – was the eighth goal scored by a Barcelona substitute in LaLiga this term, more than any other team.
Meanwhile, the Blaugrana’s tally of 37 points after 14 games is their joint-third highest at this stage of a season in LaLiga (after claiming 40 points in 2012-13 and 2013-14), and Raphinha believes they have the fight required for a title race.
“I had to think fast,” the Brazil winger said of his goal. “The goalkeeper thought I was going to control the ball and that’s why he came towards me, but I knew he was going to do that.
“We knew it was going to be very difficult, and it was. It was complicated by the expulsion of Lewandowski and from then on, we knew we would have few chances to get the result.
“The game was very difficult, but if we want to win LaLiga, we have to win these games and, like today, we also have to know how to suffer.”
A clash between two cult groups in the Ahoada Area of Rivers State, Nigeria, last weekend has led to the death of five individuals.
Chukwujeku Kingsley, 36, and Chibuike ThankGod, 23, are among the deceased. The remaining three deceased are yet to be identified.
A police report from the Rivers State Police Command noted that the struggle between the Icelanders and Greenlanders factions was due to a struggle for dominance.
Meanwhile, patrol teams have been mobilised to the area to restore calmness.
In May 2022, three persons were reportedly shot dead in Ibaa community, Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State in a cult clash.
The cultists, suspected to be Icelanders confraternity members invaded the Mgbuesa Village in Ibaa, killing the victims who were alleged to be members of Deygbam, a rival cult group.
Rivers State Police Command spokesperson Grace Iringe-Koko
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has assured fans that he will pick “a very competitive team” for his side’s EFL Cup fixture against Brighton today.
The Gunners are enjoying a spectacular start to the Premier League season, with 11 wins, one draw and one loss from their opening 13 games.
Their success has translated to European competition as well, boasting five wins from their six Europa League group stage matches to sit atop Group A.
With a congested schedule and the World Cup right around the corner, Arteta could be forgiven for using the EFL Cup as a chance to rotate his squad and give his big names some rest, but he told the media that winning is the priority.
“It is a different competition, but the purpose is the same,” he said. “To play as good as we can, win the game and go into the next round.
“You know there are no second chances and we’ll take it very seriously. We’re going to pick a very competitive team.
“I think everyone deserves chances, and we’ll make some changes with judgement in relation to the load of the players, but we’ll play to win.
“The ones that haven’t played want to have their chance, and feel that they are contributing to the team. The positive thing is that everybody has played games and everyone has been important.
“We have two games to go, and the focus has to be there because we know that afterwards we have a big break.”
🤩 Derby day scenes
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❤️ Pure passion from the boss
Relive Sunday’s win over Chelsea with @m8arteta on the touchline ✊
While he claims it will be business as usual against Brighton, Arteta pointed out that heavy rotation of his squad has been their new normal this season, and he sees it as an advantage.
“I think we had a really good pre-season and we put the boys in a really good condition to face this fixture congestion,” he said. “They have responded extremely well, especially the way we play which is really intense.
“I think we are the team in Europe who has rotated the most, and obviously that has its benefits as well. When you are winning, the energy is better and the mood is better, but the preparation is a bit easier, so overall I think they have coped with it really well.
“When they have been used, they have performed really well. For periods in games in the Premier League and when they have started games in the Europa League and the Premier League, I think they have been really consistent.
“It’s a joy of a group to work with because they’re really at it every day.”
Black Stars head coach Otto Addo has released another set of players who will not be playing at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Crystal Palace midfielder, Jeffrey Schlupp, Cremonese striker Felix Afena-Gyan, and Anderlecht midfielder Majeed Ashimeru, are the latest players to be dropped from Otto Addo’s 26-man squad.
According to sources, the trio were informed of Otto Addo’s decision via a personal call from the Black Stars’ head coach.
Joseph Paintsil’s exclusion was also confirmed on Tuesday.
Addo has yet to officially reveal his squad for this man’s World Cup, but he is personally phoning players to inform them of their exclusion or inclusion in the team.
Paintsil and Ashimeru were reportedly told there were other players considered better than them in their respective positions, while Addo reportedly told Schlupp he had not watched him enough to consider him for the team.
Ghana will open camp in Abu Dhabi on November 11, 2022. They will engage Switzerland in an International friendly in the United Arab Emirates capital on November 17 before flying out to Qatar.
Ghana is housed in Group H alongside Portugal, South Korea and Uruguay.
How often these days does Hollywood make a sequel to any film that isn’t a cartoon, a horror movie or a CGI-heavy action blockbuster? The answer is: not often at all.
But Knives Out was so ingenious, and its central character was so delightful, that Rian Johnson has written and directed another murder mystery in the same gloriously complicated vein. Daniel Craig returns as Benoit Blanc, the brilliant detective with an extravagant vocabulary and an even more extravagant Southern drawl.
As in Knives Out, he’s sniffing out a killer among a group of wealthy, entitled Americans, but this time the setting is a private Greek island and the suspects (played by Ed Norton, Dave Bautista, Kate Hudson, Janelle Monáe and others) have made their millions from tech and social media. BBC Culture’s Caryn James says that “this hugely entertaining follow-up [is] filled with delicious cameos and loaded with more comic moments than the previous film”.
Released in UK and US cinemas on 23 November, and on Netflix internationally on 23 December
(Credit: Warner Bros)
2. Bones and All
Luca Guadagnino and Timothée Chalamet, the director and star of Call Me by Your Name, reunite for another tender tale of budding romance, adapted from a novel and set in the 1980s.
But Bones and All is different in one key respect: its young lovers can’t resist eating human flesh. One of them, the 18-year-old Maren (Taylor Russell), thought she was the only person with this unconventional dietary requirement, but as she drives around small-town America, she finds that “eaters” are surprisingly common. Among her cannibalistic new acquaintances are the handsome Lee (Chalamet) and the horribly menacing Sully (Mark Rylance).
“Guadagnino has created an effective and gruesome shocker,” says John Bleasdale at Sight & Sound. “But Bones and All is also the tale of a lost young pair, finding each other and themselves. It is wryly funny, gleefully entertaining and oddly touching. Delicious and nutritious.”
Released internationally on 23 November
(Credit: Alamy)
3. The Fabelmans
Roma, Belfast, The Hand of God… there’s a trend at the moment for films about their directors’ own formative years. The latest example is Steven Spielberg’s The Fabelmans, a tender, autobiographical coming-of-age drama that has been widely tipped as a best picture contender at the Oscars.
Its young hero has been renamed Sammy Fabelman (played by Mateo Zoryon Francis-DeFord, and then by Gabriel LaBelle), but his life story follows Spielberg’s own, as he falls in love with cinema, moves from New Jersey to Arizona to Northern California, and witnesses the marital problems of his father (Paul Dano), a computer engineer, and his mother (Michelle Williams), a pianist.
“This is the movie we’ve been waiting 45 years for him to make,” says David Fear at Rolling Stone. “It’s one man’s thank you to the movies for saving him. And it’s a great American artist utilising his skill as a great storyteller to finally tell his own… It’s one of the most impressive, enlightening, vital things he’s ever done.”
Released on 23 November in the US, 24 November in Portugal, 25 November in Poland and Turkey, and 27 January 2023 in the UK
(Credit: Netflix)
4. The Wonder
In a remote Irish village in 1862, an 11-year-old girl (Kila Lord Cassidy) is said to have survived for months without food, so a sceptical English nurse (Florence Pugh) is sent to observe her.
The local bigwigs (Ciarán Hinds, Toby Jones, Tom Burke) want answers: is she a miracle or a cheat? A mastermind or a pawn in someone else’s game? Adapted from the novel by Emma Donoghue (Room), Sebastián Lelio’s “eerie and unusual period drama is a magnetic and mysterious little marvel rich in atmosphere and allure”, says Benjamin Lee in The Guardian.
But the real miracle in this “incredibly involving” film is Pugh, who is “never less than utterly, mesmerically convincing. She’s so totally in command here that it almost feels as if she’s directing the film from within”. Don’t be surprised if she picks up several best actress nominations this awards season.
Released on 16 November on Netflix
(Credit: Netflix)
5. Lady Chatterley’s Lover
Having won a Golden Globe for playing Lady Diana Spencer in The Crown, Emma Corrin stars as Lady Constance Chatterley in Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre’s film of DH Lawrence’s groundbreakingly torrid novel. (Is this the kind of book “you would wish your wife or servants to read,” asked the prosecutor in the British obscenity trial of 1960.)
Jack O’Connell co-stars as Oliver Mellors, the rugged gamekeeper who gives the Lady the physical attention she craves after her husband, Sir Clifford (Matthew Duckett), is paralysed from the waist down in World War One. And Joely Richardson, who played Lady Chatterley alongside Sean Bean in a 1993 television series, is Sir Clifford’s nurse, Mrs Bolton.
Tomris Laffly at The Wrap says that the film is “a handsome introduction to this feminine saga of sexual awakening, laced with both something old and something new, and plenty of frank, tastefully choreographed and actually steamy eroticism dearly missed in today’s increasingly sterile mainstream cinema”.
Released in UK cinemas on 25 November, and Netflix internationally on 2 December
(Credit: Searchlight Pictures)
6. The Menu
This month’s other satirical tale of the super-rich getting their comeuppance on a private island (see also: Glass Onion), The Menu features Ralph Fiennes as a devilish celebrity chef who presides over one of the world’s most exclusive restaurants.
Nicholas Hoult and Anya Taylor-Joy play two of the gourmands who have signed up for the $1250-a-head fine-dining experience. But they soon find that while the chef’s “molecular gastronomy” (including a rock covered in bits of seaweed) is not exactly lip-smacking, the way he treats his customers is even worse.
“The rarefied world of haute cuisine is not exactly a hard target to satirise,” says Wendy Ide at Screen Daily, “but this deliciously savage comedy from Succession director Mark Mylod makes every bitter mouthful count. A bracingly spiteful and very funny picture.”
Released internationally on 18 November
(Credit: Amazon Prime)
7. Good Night Oppy
Nasa’s Mars exploration rover, Opportunity, landed on the Red Planet in 2004. It was expected to function for just 90 days, but the solar-powered, remote-controlled robot kept trundling around, analysing minerals, for 15 years.
(Fifteen Earth years, that is, which translates as eight years on Mars.) It’s little wonder that scientists started to see it – or her – less as a machine than as a friendly relative of R2-D2 and Wall-E. Viewers of Ryan White’s documentary might have similar feelings. Alongside Nasa’s own footage, White uses computer-animated sequences to show Oppy’s Martian travels. That means that the “inspirational and wonderfully engaging… Good Night Oppy is more than just a documentary,” says Peter Debruge in Variety. “It’s an animated film as well – and a hugely entertaining one at that.”
Released in UK cinemas on 4 November, and Amazon Prime internationally on 23 November
(Credit: BBC Film/BFI)
8. Aftersun
Charlotte Wells’ debut as a writer-director is one of the most acclaimed films of the year.
Essentially a two-hander, the wistful, intimate Aftersun stars Francesca Corio and Paul Mescal (Normal People) as an 11-year-old girl on a rare holiday with her 30-year-old father in the late 1990s: she still lives with her mother in Scotland while he has moved to England, with no intention of returning. They tour the discos, amusement arcades and karaoke bars of a fading Turkish resort, but it becomes clear that Calum isn’t quite the happy dad he is struggling to be.
“Deftly constructed and utterly heartbreaking,” says Pat Brown at Slant Magazine, “Aftersun announces Wells as an eminent storyteller of prodigious powers.”
Released on 18 November in the UK and Ireland
(Credit: Walt Disney Studios)
9. Strange World
Don Hall and Qui Nguyen, the director and writer of Raya and the Last Dragon, use their latest Disney cartoon to pay homage to the classic science-fiction adventure yarns of Jules Verne and HG Wells: the cartoon’s explorer heroes, voiced by Dennis Quaid, Jake Gyllenhaal and Gabrielle Union, discover a land of weird and wonderful flora and fauna under the Earth’s surface. But like The Incredibles, among other Disney and Pixar films, Strange World is also about family life. “We know this is about Don [Hall] and his dad,” Nguyen told Jamie Jirak at ComicBook.com, “about his children, and what he thinks is important to the world and what he wants to give to the world as a legacy… it’s our love letter to our kids as both fathers and sons.”
Released internationally on 23 November
(Credit: Walt Disney Studios)
10. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Chadwick Boseman was so revered as King T’Challa of Wakanda, aka Black Panther, that when he died of cancer in August 2020, executives at Marvel Studios knew that they couldn’t recast the part. Instead, Ryan Coogler, the film’s director, made a sequel which pays tribute to Boseman.
In part, the film is about T’Challa’s Wakandan friends and relatives battling the aquatic armies of Namor, the Sub-Mariner (Tenoch Huerta). But it is also about a nation grieving for its lost king.
“I dreaded the start of this shoot because I could not imagine how we would proceed without Chadwick,” Lupita Nyong’o told Devan Coggan at Entertainment Weekly. “It was unfathomable to me. But Ryan managed to honour his life and his role in both the film and our lives with his moving, truthful, and clear vision.”
Gerard Pique’s exit from football did not take a pleasant turn as he was sent off in his final match without getting as far as the pitch as Barcelona played at Osasuna on Tuesday.
With Barcelona 1-0 down away from home at half-time, Pique, who was named on the bench, was shown a red card for dissent at half-time by referee Jesus Gil Manzano.
Pique had been seen in animated discussion with the official after Robert Lewandowski was earlier given his marching orders.
After an emotional send-off at Camp Nou at the weekend, an eighth LaLiga dismissal brought a premature end to his career.
Veteran British actor Leslie Phillips, known for his roles in several Carry On films and the Harry Potter series, has died aged 98.
The star died “peacefully in his sleep” on Monday, his agent Jonathan Lloyd confirmed.
Phillips made his first film appearances as a boy in the 1930s and went on to have an illustrious career on stage and screen, particularly in the Carry On films – which included Carry On Teacher, Carry On Columbus, Carry On Constable and Carry On Nurse.
He became well known for his suggestive catchphrases such as “Ding Dong!”, “Well, hello”, and “I Say!”.
Image:Leslie Phillips with Joan Sims in Carry on Teacher. Pic: Studiocanal/Shutterstock
During a long and varied career in entertainment that spanned several decades, the actor worked with a huge range of stars, from Steven Spielberg and Laurence Olivier to Anthony Hopkins and Angelina Jolie.
Although he was known for his plummy accent and exaggerated portrayals of the English upper-class, Phillips was born in Tottenham and grew up speaking estuary English – taking elocution lessons and losing his accent later in life as it was seen as an impediment in the acting industry at the time.
He released his autobiography, Hello, in 2005, detailing how he discovered acting after growing up “in a poverty-stricken childhood in north London” and the death of his father when he was just 10 years old.
Phillips appeared in TV series such as Heartbeat, Midsomer Murders, Monarch Of The Glen and Holby City, films including Empire Of The Sun, Scandal, and Out Of Africa, and plays including Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard.
In 2007, the actor starred in Hanif Kureshi’s film Venus alongside Peter O’Toole, a performance for which he was nominated for a BAFTA for best supporting actor.
And in recent years, his voice had become instantly recognisable to younger generations as that of the Sorting Hat in the Harry Potter films.
He was made an OBE in the 1998 Birthday Honours and was promoted to CBE in the 2008 New Year Honours.
Born Leslie Samuel Phillips on 20 April 1924, the actor learned his craft at the respected Italia Conti Stage School before serving as a lieutenant in the Durham Light Infantry between 1942 and 1945, when he was invalided out.
Afterwards, he was soon back in the limelight and the Carry On Films came in the 1950s and 60s – cementing his reputation for playing smooth and roguish but incompetent members of high society.
Image:Leslie Phillips was nominated for a BAFTA for his performance in Venus, starring alongside Peter O’Toole. Pic: Miramax Films
Image:With Angelina Jolie in Tomb Raider. Pic: Paramount
Films such as Brothers In Law, The Smallest Show On Earth and The Man Who Liked Funerals followed and he also became well known for his appearances in the Doctor series, as well as comedies in which he was paired with Scottish comedian and impressionist Stanley Baxter – including Very Important Person, Crooks Anonymous, The Fast Lady and Father Came Too.
Like most of his contemporaries, he pursued a stint in Hollywood, but said he preferred Britain.
“I could have stayed,” he said once, “but I am a Londoner through and through. I want to go everywhere, but I will always want to live in London. So I came back.”
Stars pay tribute
Following the news of his death, stars who worked with him and met him were among those paying tribute.
Actor Sanjeev Bhaskar shared a clip of Phillips appearing on his show The Kumars At No 42. In the footage, Phillips recalled how he once found himself stuck on the London Underground surrounded by members of the public demanding he do his catchphrases.
“A truly warm, funny and gentle man #RIPLesliePhillips,” Bhaskar wrote.
Coronation Street actor Tony Maudsley said working with Phillips “was a joy”.
The wonderful Leslie Phillips CBE has left us. Aged 98. A true gentleman, fantastic actor and the nicest man I’ve ever met. His stories were the best.. RIP Leslie Phillips pic.twitter.com/2uS0OAyZmh
The Supreme Court has quashed an Accra High Court order for investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, to testify in-camera against Kwesi Nyantakyi for his documentary dubbed ‘Number 12’.
With this ruling, the ace investigative journalist has to appear in court without his trade mark mask.
Presided over by Justice Baffoe-Bonnie on Tuesday, November 8, 2022, the Judge granted an application for certiorari filed by Kwesi Nyantakyiquashing the order of High Court 2, Criminal Division, Accra granting a dispensation to Anas Aremeyaw Anas to testify in camera as a prosecution witness in the criminal case entitled Republic v Kwesi Nyantakyi & Another.
It may be recalled that in March 2022, during Case Management Conference, the High Court 2, criminal division presided over by her ladyship Elfreda Dankyi peremptorily granted an ORAL application by the prosecution for Anas Aremeyaw Anas to give evidence in camera as a prosecution witness in the case of Republic v Kwesi Nyantakyi and Another.
Dissatisfied with the said decision of the High Court, Mr Nyantakyi through lead counsel, Thaddeus Sory of Sory@Law, applied to the Supreme Court for an order of certiorari to quash the dispensation given to Anas Aremeyaw Anas by the High Court.
The application was premised on three grounds; that the order of the High Court offended the human rights of the applicant as guaranteed under the 1992 Constitution, that the order was made without regard to the procedures and rules of court which required that a formal and not an oral application be made in such circumstances; and the order of the court was made in excess of jurisdiction of the court.
The Supreme Court upheld the application and quashed the order of the High Court as having been made without the requisite legal basis.
By today’s decision, Anas Aremeyaw Anas must testify in open court as any other witness does in court without any privileges.
The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has confirmed that it ensures chicken and other meat products imported into Ghana are taken through internationally-accredited protocols to ensure they are safe for the Ghanaian market.
This follows an earlier claim by the Vice Chair of the AGI-Agriculture Sector, Fatima Alimohamed, that imported frozen chicken and other meat products are preserved for, at least, three years before reaching destination markets in Africa and Ghana.
“This imported meat and chicken were slaughtered years back. They were not killed last month and shipped here the following month. Most have been injected for preservation purposes – including cancer, which is on the rise in Ghana,” she told the Business and Financial Times (B&FT).
In response to this, a statement issued by the CEO of FDA on Tuesday, November 8, said there is a mini laboratory at the Tema Port, which is used for testing meat products before their release onto the market.
“In addition, the FDA performs thorough inspection on each consignment that arrives at the ports to ascertain product’s compliance with food safety standards.
“Specifically, each consignment is checked for discolouration and odour, packing integrity,” part of the statement explained.
The FDA added that microbiology tests for the absence of microorganisms such as salmonella and listeria are conducted before such products are released onto the market.
Even so, any consignment found to be unwholesome is subjected to the requisite regulatory procedures, “including safe disposal and sanctioning of the importer.”
“The Authority hereby reassures the public that the health and safety of the citizenry is a priority for the Authority and as such would continue to work assiduously throughout this Christmas season and beyond to ensure that only safe and nutritious foods are sold on our markets.”
“Consumers are also encouraged to immediately bring to the notice of the FDA any observation of an instance of contaminated, spoilt or expired chicken or other meat products that come to their notice,” it directed.
According to Mrs Cynthia Asare Bediako, per reports from a state media house, the majority of the delegation, consisting of state and none-state actors, were funded by development partners.
“It is the responsibility of MESTI to coordinate and register persons attending the annual meeting. This does not mean the government is sponsoring all of these delegates. Delegates traveling on government’s ticket are not many.”
“Their funding is sourced from different agencies, including Global Environment Facility- UNFCCC, World Bank, Climate Vulnerability Forum, UNDP and UNICEF. These agencies also sponsor some government of Ghana officials to participate in the conference,” she said.
COP27 is the meeting of countries to take action towards achieving the world’s collective climate goals under the Paris Agreement and the Convention.
Building on the outcomes and momentum of COP 26 in Glasgow last year, the nations are expected to demonstrate at COP 27 that they are in a new era of implementation by turning their commitments under the Paris Agreement into action.
The conference is from 6th to 8th November, 2022, in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.
Responding to the question of the high number of delegates, she said but for inadequate funding, Ghana required “many people to participate in the many technical negotiations at the annual conference”.
“The more people attend the conference the better it is for Ghana because they will learn and understand the issues. They will then support the implementation of the climate plans.
“The COP is also a platform to raise funds and forge partnerships for technical support. We need more technical hands to help,” she said.
At the Pre-COP Press Conference on Thursday, 3rd November 2022, Dr Kwaku Afriyie, the Minister of MESTI, explained that out of a total of 322 people attending, 226 were from government institutions.
About 72 were non-state actors and 24 from Climate Vulnerable Forum.
“Half of the number on the government platform are NGOs and partner institutions,” he clarified.
“Therefore, the actual government staff attending the COP is about 150.
The people attending this will be participating in diverse programming, including negotiations, workshops, side events and bilateral meetings,” he said.
Ghana is said to require between US$ 9.3 and US$ 15.5 billion of investment to implement the 47 nationally determined contribution measures from 2020 to 2030.
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