Sebastian Kalemba was promoted to creative director of CD Projekt Red in 2021.

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As Palestinians celebrated Israel’s release of prisoners outside Ramallah’s sand-colored municipality last Friday, green Hamas flags dotted the

On Wednesday, West Ham United fans all over the country will spend the day somewhere between utter anxiety and outrageous optimism, preparing for the chance to win their first major trophy since 1980. The Hammers face Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final, a little over a year on from making the semi-finals of another European competition and falling just short. This time, there’s real optimism over them going the distance and lifting silverware, a moment which would be truly unique for a generation of supporters. Among them will be a certain Carlton Cole, striker for the Hammers for close to a decade from 2006 to 2015, now a coach within the Academy setup - and still very much someone hoping the club go the distance this time. The memories of last year and being close enough to touch a final appearance will spur the side on, but nothing can be taken for granted at this stage, he says. “If we had beat Frankfurt over two legs I think we’d have gone on to win it. We were so disappointed but now we’ve done really well in the Europa Conference League - you have to congratulate David Moyes for that even without it being a great Premier League season,” Cole told the Independent. “A Premier League team in this competition should be capable of winning it but a final is a one-off, you can’t say it’ll definitely happen.” Cole played almost 300 times for the east London club and was capped seven times at senior international level by England. That was a career highlight - he debut against Spain and almost scored - a moment he describes as the “pinnacle” for any aspiring player. But that is his past, and Cole has both eyes firmly on the future. That is both professionally and in his personal life, with the now 39-year-old an engaging and enthusiastic talker across a range of issues. When we meet, it’s in an unexpected location: the Monaco E-Prix, a flagship race in the Formula E all-electric racing series. The rapidly growing championship is now in it’s ninth season and Cole has found it an exhilarating sport to be around, along with it fitting into his own ethos of improved sustainability. “I went to the London E-Prix last summer and it was brilliant, I had a great time. They taught me about it and how different it is - I was never an F1 fan to be honest but you can see the tactical nouse you need to be a Formula E driver,” he explained. “That’s what I fell in love with, the tactical side - it remains me of football. The team around you need to be on point or you’re not getting the result you really want. Then [Jaguar’s British driver] Sam Bird has been on our TalkSport show and giving his score predictions so we have a bit of back-and-forth with that! “The way they invite people in and explain what’s going on and it ties in with the work I’m doing in sustainability. I’ve done some work with other pundits where we pull together to keep our carbon footprint as low as possible. I’ve looked into an electric car, my recycling is better. EVs are the future so it’s nice to be involved in something which is helping the ecosystem but which you can enjoy along the way too. It has been an eye-opener.” That willingness to absorb new ideas and information, and form his own opinions of where they can lead him, is evident elsewhere in Cole’s life. Having retired from playing, he set about taking the first steps in coaching and is now a Uefa A-licence holder, working with West Ham’s U16s - but he hasn’t necessarily pigeon-holed himself into continuing that route. “When I started I didn’t realise I would get this embedded. I was doing my badges but suddenly you’re a mentor to these kids, not just making them better footballers but better people too. I’m really happy West Ham have trusted me with these boys and it’s come to a point where I understand how far I can go. “Transitioning from being a player was hard to begin with but I think I’ve adapted now. I’m not sure whether long-term it’ll be coaching I stay in but it’s good to know I can do this. I didn’t go fast track, I did it step by step with the FA. “I know my philosophy, I know the style I want to play, but I can use that in other areas: I might want to be a director of football and coaching is just a part of the journey which might lead to bigger things. You have to find your identity within the game.” Within the game and without, it appears. Cole is making changes in both his day-to-day life and his professional career, but some things never change in football - he’ll be desperate to see West Ham win on Wednesday night in Prague, just like every other supporter. Read More West Ham vs Fiorentina predicted line-ups: Team news ahead of Europa Conference League final tonight David Moyes will not compare himself to Ron Greenwood and John Lyall West Ham vs Fiorentina live stream: How to watch Europa Conference League final online and on TV tonight

Spanish soccer is again embroiled in a racism debate and the support for Vinícius Júnior is growing rapidly after yet another case of abuse against the Brazil forward this weekend

Watch live as Harry Kane is officially presented as a Bayern Munich player on Sunday 13 August. The England captain made his debut for the Bundesliga champions on the same day his big move was announced - coming off the bench in the DFL-Supercup against RB Leipzig. Unfortunately, Kane was unable to inspire his team - already 2-0 down at the break - to victory. Leipzig won the game 3-0, meaning the striker’s wait for silverware continues. Kane, who wore the number nine shirt after training with his new team-mates for the first time on Saturday morning, has yet to win a trophy in his 14-year senior playing career. He has signed a deal until June 2027 after Tottenham agreed a £86.4million deal plus add-ons with the German champions, and was given a rapturous reception by the Bayern fans after stepping out of the dug-out at Allianz Arena on Saturday night. Read More Harry Kane finally gets his move — but it’s not the one he wanted Harry Kane makes debut as Bayern Munich suffer defeat in German Super Cup Harry Kane eyes immediate shot at first trophy after sealing Bayern Munich move

A new Nintendo Indie World showcase could be happening this week, according to leaks.

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The U.S. Treasury has levied a new round of sanctions on firms and ships that used U.S. service providers to carry Russian crude oil in violation of the multinational price cap — and imposed another set of sanctions on a group of Balkan people and firms tied to Kremlin influence in the region

Businessman and presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy appeared on Wednesday to call Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, who is Jewish, a “Nazi” during the latest GOP presidential debate. During a line of comments in which the Republican argued Ukraine is anti-democratic and undeserving of US aid, Mr Ramaswamy claimed, “It has celebrated a Nazi in its ranks – the comedian in cargo pants, a man called Zelensky – doing it in their own ranks. That is not democratic.” However, the entrepreneur may have stumbled over his words and actually been speaking about a separate person as a “Nazi.” During the debate in September, he put it slightly differently, telling the audience, “We need a reasonable peace plan to end this, this is a country whose president just last week was hailing a Nazi in his own ranks.” The attack is an apparent reference to an incident from Canada in September. After hearing a speech from Mr Zelensky, lawmakers there gave an ovation to 98-year-old Yaroslav Hunka, who fought for the Waffen-SS Galicia Division, a Nazi unit in WWII. The former soldier was invited to attend the address by then-House of Commons Speaker Anthony Rota, who has since resigned. Neither the Ukrainian delegation present nor the Canadian government was informed of the invitation, House government leader later Karina Gould told NPR. “No one in this House is above any of us. Therefore I must step down as your speaker,” Mr Rota said in Parliament in late September. “I reiterate my profound regret for my error in recognising an individual in the House during the joint address to Parliament of President Zelensky. “That public recognition has caused pain to individuals and communities, including to the Jewish community in Canada and around the world in addition to Nazi survivors in Poland among other nations. I accept full responsibility for my actions,” he added. Regardless of Mr Ramaswamy’s intended meaning, the comments generated controversy immediately, with critics arguing they played into Russian propaganda points. “Repeating offensive Kremlin talking points is an odd way to try to win votes in the USA,” retired Navy admiral James Stavridis wrote on X. Russia has repeatedly, falsely attacked the Ukrainian governments and its leaders as Nazis, and refered to its invasion of the country as “denazification.” “I’m increasingly convinced that Ramaswamy is a Ukrainian secret agent performing a parody of how stupid and cruel pro-Putin MAGA propagandists sound,” Russian chess champion and human rights activist Garry Kasparov wrote on X. “People advising Vivek Ramaswamay should be ashamed,” former Trump White House official Alyssa Farah Griffin added in a post of her own. “The paycheck is not worth propping up this ridiculous & offensive person. Antisemitism is on the rising globally & he has the gall to say this about a Jewish leader who is at war for his nation’s sovereignty. Despicable.” The Independent has contacted the Ramaswamy campaign for comment. Read More Ukraine moves step closer to EU membership as European Commission backs talks Russia-Ukraine war: Zelensky ‘sure of’ battlefield success – live Hundreds gather at vigil held for Ukrainian soldiers killed in missile attack Where the GOP presidential candidates stand on the war in Ukraine Trump challenged by Zelensky to come to Ukraine after claims he could stop war Ukraine opens criminal investigation into deadly Russian missile strike

Astronomy enthusiasts are in for a treat Wednesday night: a rare "super blue Moon" that won't be seen again for...