Tyrone and Donegal flooding: Clean-up operation continues
Several homes, businesses and roads were left badly damaged after heavy rainfall at the weekend.
1970-01-01 08:00
Empathy was George’s great strength, he radiated it
You always walked away from him liking the human race more - writes friend and colleague Allan Little.
1970-01-01 08:00
Ukraine war: Russia attacks grain stores at River Danube ports
The attacks targeted grain for export along the Danube just across from the Nato member state.
1970-01-01 08:00
Chelsea transfer news: Michael Olise, Marc Guehi, Moises Caicedo, Callum Hudson-Odoi and more
After Chelsea experienced their worst season since the establishment of the Premier League, American owner Todd Boehly has taken significant measures to bring about change at Stamford Bridge. The Blues went through a revolving door of three managers last season, including Thomas Tuchel (now at Bayern Munich), Graham Potter, and interim manager and club legend Frank Lampard. Now, Mauricio Pochettino, who previously led London rivals Tottenham to a Champions League final, will take over the reins and attempt to restore stability to a club that won the Champions Leauge as recently as 2021. This summer, the club has witnessed an astonishing number of departures already, with several key players leaving who played pivotal roles at Stamford Bridge over the past few seasons. Among those having exited are Edouard Mendy, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Mateo Kovacic, Kalidou Koulibaly, N’Golo Kante, Kai Havertz, Mason Mount, and Christian Pulisic. These departures mark the beginning of a new era at Chelsea and may be the transformative change required for the club to regain its place in Europe. Here are the latest transfer rumours regarding the Blues: Michael Olise After a summer of outgoings so far for the west London club, Chelsea now appear to be turning their focus to incomings as they look to assemble a squad that can improve on last season’s miserable campaign. One player reportedly being eyed up is Crystal Palace’s Michael Olise, with RMC Sport suggesting that the Blues have tabled a bid for the French winger. Olise is said to have a £35m release clause in his contract, which runs until 2026, with Chelsea willing to pay above the buyout clause to secure preferable terms of payment for the 21-year-old. Chelsea are not alone in their interest in the playmaker, with Arsenal, Manchester City and PSG also said to be interested in Olise. Elye Wahi Another position Chelsea are keen to strengthen is the striker position. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has departed for Marseille while Romeulu Lukaku appears to not be in Pochettino’s plans. Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku have already arrived but Chelsea are also keen on French youngster, Elye Wahi. According to Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea have reached advanced negotiations with Montpellier for a deal to bring the 20-year-old to the club. The Frenchman scored 19 goals in 33 games in Ligue 1 last season with Chelsea reportedly keen to loan out the striker this season before bringing him into the first-team picture the following season. Marc Guehi After Wesley Fofana picked up a second long-term knee injury, Chelsea are said to weighing up a move for a centre-back in this window. Thiago Silva, Levi Colwill, Benoit Badiashile and Trevoh Chalobah remain on the books but, according to The Evening Standard, the club is said to be weighing up a move for Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi. The 23-year-old left Chelsea for Crystal Palace for £18 million in 2021 with no buy-back clause inserted into the deal. A fee of around £50m is said to be required to bring the English defender back to west London after a couple of impressive seasons for the Eagles. Moises Caicedo With Kovacic, Kante and Mount departing, Chelsea will look to bring in some central midfield replacements. According to The Evening Standard, one such player that the Blues may target is Brighton’s Moises Caicedo. The Ecuadorian was a key player as Brighton finished sixth but has been the subject of much interest from the league’s biggest club. Brighton turned down a £70m bid by Arsenal in January and look set to demand £100m for their prized asset. Reports suggest that a £60m bid has already been rejected but the London club believe that a fee in the region of £80m could be agreed with Brighton. Callum Hudson-Odoi Chelsea’s outgoings are not done for the summer, however, with Callum Hudson-Odoi the latest to be linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge. The 22-year-old had an unsuccessful loan spell at Bayer Leverkusen last season and is reportedly training with the Under-21’s currently. Hudson-Odoi only has one year left on his contract with The Evening Standard reporting that the winger has agreed personal terms with Fulham ahead of a move to the Premier League side. Lazio are another team said to be interested in the winger but the Serie A club are yet to table a formal bid. Read More Arsenal transfer news: Record Declan Rice bid, Jurrien Timber and Granit Xhaka latest Manchester United transfer news: Mason Mount bid accepted, David De Gea and Andre Onana latest Tottenham transfer news: Harry Kane latest after Bayern Munich bids and trio on centre-back list Mason Mount’s sale is one part of Chelsea’s ‘masterplan’, but what comes next? Dybala or Vlahovic: Which Serie A striker should Chelsea sign? Chelsea target two Serie A players in quest for experienced strikers
1970-01-01 08:00
‘We will keep singing it!’ Sir Tom Jones lives up to promise to keep belting out revenge murder ballad ‘Delilah’
After the Welsh Rugby Union's decision to stop playing ‘Delilah’ at Wales matches, Sir Tom Jones has lived up to his promise to keep belting it out for fans at his gigs.
1970-01-01 08:00
Sophie Ellis-Bextor teams up with 007 theme writing team for Christmas ballad about ‘importance of belonging’
Sophie Ellis-Bextor has teamed up with the James Bond theme song team of composer David Arnold and lyricist Don Black to create a Christmas song about the “importance of belonging”.
1970-01-01 08:00
Benin media guide
An overview of the media in Benin, including links to broadcasters and newspapers.
1970-01-01 08:00
How Twitter reacted to Al Hilal's world record offer for Kylian Mbappe
How football Twitter reacted to Al Hilal's world record bid to sign Kylian Mbappe.
1970-01-01 08:00
How stock market expectations have changed this year
The stock market has stayed remarkably resilient this year, to the surprise of many on Wall Street. As the economy and market continue to hum along, some investors' expectations for what's to come are shifting.
1970-01-01 08:00
Al Hilal make world record offer for Kylian Mbappe
Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal, financed by PIF, lodge a world record offer for Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe. But the Frenchman, out of contract next summer, intends to join Real Madrid instead of heading to the Middle East.
1970-01-01 08:00
Swedish court fines Greta Thunberg for disobeying police order
By Johan Ahlander and Tom Little MALMO (Reuters) -Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg was found guilty of disobeying a police
1970-01-01 08:00
Public Storage to acquire Simply Self Storage for $2.2 billion
Self-storage properties operator Public Storage said on Monday it has entered a deal to buy Simply Self Storage
1970-01-01 08:00
