Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin has turned his troops back from Moscow to “avoid bloodshed” in the Russian city. In an audio message, the mercenary group leader said his soldiers would return to their bases, in a dramatic U-turn just hours before they were expected to reach the city. He said he gave the order to turn back from their advance on Moscow “because of the risk of blood being spilled”. The announcement appeared to defuse a growing crisis as Moscow braced for the arrival of the private army led by the rebellious commander. It comes as President Vladimir Putin had vowed he would face harsh consequences for what he described as a mutinous assault on Russia. Mr Prigozhin said his men were just 120 miles from Moscow but he had decided to turn them back to avoid “shedding Russian blood”. He did not say if the Kremlin has responded to his demand to oust defence minister Sergei Shoigu. The announcement follows a statement from the office of Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko saying that he had negotiated a deal with Mr Prigozhin after previously discussing the issue with Mr Putin. Mr Prigozhin has accepted Mr Lukashenko’s offer to halt the Wagner group’s advance and further steps to de-escalate the tensions, Mr Lukashenko’s office said, adding that the proposed settlement contains security guarantees for Wagner troops. More follows... Read More Russia-Ukraine war live: Wagner boss turns troops back from Moscow as Kremlin denies Putin has fled Moscow tells residents ‘stay at home’ as Wagner rebels edge closer to Russian city Kremlin denies Putin has fled Moscow as Russia president’s plane ‘disappears’ Mapped: Inside Russian Wagner group’s location and road towards Moscow

Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich remains "defiant" six months after he was detained in Russia on spying charges, which he and the Journal strenuously deny, his mother told CNN's Anderson Cooper Thursday night.

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Scott McTominay says the whole team have to take responsibility for Manchester United’s bleak Champions League predicament after Andre Onana’s mistakes and a lack of killer instinct cost them at Galatasaray. Having lost three of their opening four Group A matches, Erik ten Hag’s side managed to throwaway a two-goal second-half lead in Istanbul as a pulsating, helter-skelter clash ended 3-3. Wednesday’s result leaves United bottom of the pool with only the home clash with already qualified Bayern Munich to come in a fortnight’s time. Copenhagen’s draw in Germany later that day keeps the Red Devils’ faint chances of progressing alive, but they must win their final game and hope Copenhagen draw with Galatasaray. “We have to wait and see,” McTominay told the PA news agency. “It’s not in our hands. “We’ve put ourselves in that position and we have to own it and that’s football. “We kept our cool really well, I felt like throughout large portions of the game. “Obviously towards the end it gets a little bit like a basketball game where everyone’s up and down and some tired legs and stuff like that. “We need to rest, recover and there’s is a big game coming up on Saturday, which we will be ready for as well.” United have little time to recover from their draining night in Turkey as attention turns to Saturday evening’s Premier League trip to Newcastle. All eyes are sure to be on goalkeeper Onana in the North East after the summer signing endured another chastening Champions League night for the Red Devils. Guilty of gaffes away to Bayern and in the reverse fixture against Galatasaray, the Cameroon international was somehow beaten by two Hakim Ziyech free-kicks on Wednesday. The second was particularly shocking and proved the catalyst to the hosts’ comeback but McTominay refused to blame him and acknowledged that outfield players should have put the game to bed. “We’re so disappointed not to come away with more goals than three, to be honest,” said the midfielder, who had put United 3-1 up in the 55th minute. “If you had said that to us before the evening started (we would score three) we would have been delighted with that, hopefully get another clean sheet. “But football’s football. There’s mistakes and different things that can happen in the game and it’s partly our fault at the other end of the pitch for not killing the game as well. “We had control and we were playing some good stuff. “That’s football. It can happen and there’s no individuals in this team. We all want to be a collective and push each other forwards together. “But, yeah, there’s another game on Saturday which we’re looking forward to and we’ll learn from this one for sure.” McTominay added that “whatever happens at both ends of the pitch we need to stick together” as United look to shake off their challenging Champions League disappointment. Newcastle have also been in midweek action away to Paris St Germain and St James’ Park is set to provide another hostile environment for Ten Hag’s team. “There’s no intimidation in football,” McTominay added. “You’ve just got to go there and take it on its head on and go for it. “That’s the way that this team wants to operate – we want to go and fight every challenge head on and that’s it. “There’s no ducking and diving out of situations. We want to go and push ourselves and test ourselves against some really good teams as well.” Read More Keira Walsh ‘feeling fresh’ before latest round of Women’s Nations League games He’s amazing – Martin Odegaard hails ‘brilliant’ Declan Rice impact at Arsenal On This Day in 2004 – Sir Matthew Pinsent announces retirement from rowing Arsenal through to last 16 as Manchester United squander lead again Erik ten Hag says Manchester United ‘have to learn’ from Galatasaray draw Man Utd set to face Galatasaray in Champions League despite bad weather

California water agencies serving 27 million people will get 10% of the water they requested from state supplies to start 2024 due to a relatively dry fall

Boss Unai Emery admitted Aston Villa got lucky after fighting back to beat AZ Alkmaar. Ollie Watkins’ winner put them on the brink of qualification in the Europa Conference League after a 2-1 home win. Yet, the fightback started in controversial fashion when Diego Carlos levelled after Boubacar Kamara had blazed over and referee Luis Godinho mistakenly awarded Villa a corner. Vangelis Pavlidis gave the hosts a deserved lead but last year’s semi-finalists are now facing an early exit. Villa are second, behind Legia Warsaw on head-to-head, and a point from their final two games will seal progress from Group E. Emery said: “It was a very good chance for Kamara, it was fantastic, but it was not a corner, it’s clear, and after this mistake we score. “I’m very happy because when we are winning a game like tonight we can understand this competition better and the processes we’re trying to build. “I’m very proud of our work in this competition. We’re getting better. “We scored one that was offside more or less. We have to accept the referee’s decision, always. “I’m very proud of our work in this competition. We’re getting better. AZ are a very good team. I’m very happy. The reaction when they scored the goal was fantastic.” Villa started brightly and Clement Lenglet headed in Leon Bailey’s cross – after Pavlidis blocked Watkins’ goalbound header – only for the winger to have been ruled offside. Yet the hosts lost their way as the half wore on, Pavlidis tried to lob Emi Martinez and Alkmaar finished on top with Pavlidis testing Martinez. It turned out the striker was just getting his eye in as he opened the scoring six minutes into the second half. Villa were caught out by Riechedly Bazoer’s ball over the top and Pavlidis outpaced Lenglet to beat Martinez. The hosts were not behind for long, though, when Diego Carlos nodded in Bailey’s corner – after the officials had missed it was Kamara who blazed over from six yards. Villa had the initiative and it was no surprise when Watkins popped up with the winner with nine minutes left, nodding in Douglas Luiz’s clever pass. Alkmaar boss Pascal Jensen said: “The interesting thing I was looking at was can we compete better in the first game (a 4-1 loss)? In Alkmaar we lost because we conceded two easy goals. “I was a bit shocked when we started off, we conceded an early goal and we were fortunate it was disallowed. We were very unfortunate to concede a corner which wasn’t, they scored from it and the whole stadium woke up. “I contacted the fourth official and I asked him and he said ‘I don’t know.’ I think in international competition VAR can come on the radio and help but he didn’t. With all the technology and extra eyes it shouldn’t be possible.” Read More ‘Great result’ cheers David Moyes as West Ham have another good European night Tottenham demands will benefit Brennan Johnson and Wales – Rob Page Ollie Watkins header seals win over AZ Alkmaar as Aston Villa eye last-16 spot Lucas Paqueta goal proves decisive as West Ham sink Olympiacos Katie Taylor ‘aware of what is at stake’ in Chantelle Cameron rematch Brighton complete double over Ajax to boost Europa League hopes

Italian officials have secured the shorter of two 12th century towers in Bologna, fearing that its leaning could lead to collapse

Corey Kiner rushed for 129 yards and two touchdowns as Cincinnati piled up 204 rushing yards and the Bearcats earned their first Big 12 win with a 24-14 win over Houston Saturday night

The Yankees are reportedly targeting Rockies outfielder Randal Grichuk as an unspiring alternative to the natural fit of Cody Bellinger.It's not a very good time being a Yankees fan right now.Sure, the team has 50 wins, but they're tied for last place in the AL East after the first...

By Elida Moreno PANAMA CITY The Panama Canal will extend restrictions on ships' maximum depth, it said on

Manchester United moved a step closer to playing in the Champions League next season as Casemiro’s brilliant overhead kick earned a 1-0 win away at Bournemouth. Victory on the south coast, together with Liverpool’s failure to beat Aston Villa, strengthened United’s grip on a top-four spot with two games to play and meant Erik ten Hag is close to achieving his primary objective in his first season in charge. This was not Ten Hag’s side at their best, but once they were in front they limited a spirited and organised Bournemouth to a handful of chances, with David de Gea in form to deny Gary O’Neil’s side whenever they threatened. A point against Chelsea at Old Trafford on Thursday will ensure the team go into the final day with the top-four job complete. United took the lead after nine minutes, partly through good fortune, but the goal owed much to the quick thinking and improvisational brilliance of Casemiro. Christian Eriksen’s floated ball into the box was flicked on inadvertently by the boot of Marcos Senesi. The defender’s intervention played Casemiro onside and in one movement he swivelled acrobatically and whacked an effort on the turn past Neto to give United the perfect start. The game settled down, United largely controlling the ball and probing for gaps in behind Bournemouth, most of which were plugged well by O’Neil’s side. The next real chance fell to Dominic Solanke. A long, reaching pass arrived invitingly at his feet, though the opportunity looked to have gone when Aaron Wan-Bissaka hustled him off the ball. But Solanke would not be deterred and, winning it back, he cut inside United and made space for a low drive which De Gea turned aside brilliantly. Casemiro tried once again to execute the spectacular when he hit a thumping drive first time from 35 yards which Neto got down well to and held. On the whole, though, the first half ended with Bournemouth in the ascendency, Solanke reminding United once again of his and his team’s threat by planting a header fractionally over with the last action before the break. David Brooks, making his first start since being diagnosed with cancer in 2021, tested the reflexes of De Gea minutes after the restart, the goalkeeper throwing up an arm to turn a fizzing drive over the bar. Brooks was substituted shortly afterwards and left to a standing ovation from the Vitality Stadium. United were without top scorer Marcus Rashford, out with an unspecified illness after also missing the previous victory against Wolves, and their attack lacked a focal point in his absence. A goalscorer of Rashford’s instincts might have brought Bournemouth an equaliser when Solanke ran the ball to the byline and sent over a cross that rolled inches in front of the goal. No one in red and black had kept pace with the forward and the ball drifted to safety. Illya Zabarnyi was in the right place at the right time to turn Bruno Fernandes’ first-time effort over the bar from Wan-Bissaka’s cut-back as United probed for a second. Fernandes stung the palms of Neto with a volley from outside the box, the keeper requiring two strong palms to beat it away. Dango Ouattara came off the bench and caused problems down United’s left, bursting past Luke Shaw and crossing one moment, linking up well with Solanke the next. If Bournemouth were going to find a way back, it looked likely that it would be via the substitute. Instead it was another of O’Neil’s replacements, Kieffer Moore, that spurned the hosts’ best chance. Moore’s movement was clever to run in behind, but, with only De Gea to beat, his shot was straight at the keeper, who saved with his leg. United hearts were in mouths when Senesi volleyed on to the roof of the goal in added time. But the visitors saw the job out and one more point will ensure Ten Hag can turn attentions to an FA Cup final meeting with Manchester City at Wembley. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Callum McGregor rescues point for Celtic from dramatic draw with St Mirren Joel Ward’s late equaliser earns Crystal Palace draw with Fulham Yerry Mina’s last-gasp equaliser at Wolves gives Everton hope of survival

Israeli communities are struggling as bodies continue to be found after Hamas attacked on 7 October.