Man Utd confirm Mason Greenwood investigation is over - but no decision on future made
Manchester United say they have concluded their investigation into Mason Greenwood’s conduct but that no decision has yet been made on his future. Chief executive Richard Arnold will determine if the 21-year-old, who has not played for United since January 2021, will return to feature at Old Trafford – with intense internal conversations currently going on. United had intended to announce their decision before their first Premier League game of the season, Monday’s 1-0 win over Wolves, but the process has taken longer than they anticipated. The club also plan to explain their findings to stakeholders, including sponsors and commercial partners, the women’s team – some of whom are currently at the World Cup in Australia – and fans’ groups. Greenwood was suspended in January 2021 by United after images and audio emerged, seemingly of him, threatening a woman, and he was charged with attempted rape, assault and controlling and coercive behaviour. The Crown Prosecution Service dropped the charges six months ago and United launched their inquiry. The club stressed the wellbeing of the victim – who has to remain anonymous – has been of paramount importance, while they also have a duty of care to Greenwood. United said in a statement: “Following the dropping of all charges against Mason Greenwood in February 2023, Manchester United has conducted a thorough investigation into the allegations made against him. “This has drawn on extensive evidence and context not in the public domain, and we have heard from numerous people with direct involvement or knowledge of the case. “Throughout this process, the welfare and perspective of the alleged victim has been central to the club’s inquiries, and we respect her right to lifelong anonymity. We also have responsibilities to Mason as an employee, as a young person who has been with the club since the age of seven, and as a new father with a partner. The fact-finding phase of our investigation is now complete, and we are in the final stages of making a decision on Mason’s future. “Contrary to media speculation, that decision has not yet been made and is currently the subject of intensive internal deliberation. Responsibility ultimately rests with the Chief Executive Officer. Once made, the decision will be communicated and explained to the club’s internal and external stakeholders. “This has been a difficult case for everyone associated with Manchester United, and we understand the strong opinions it has provoked based on the partial evidence in the public domain. We ask for patience as we work through the final stages of this carefully considered process.” Read More Manchester United delay decision over Mason Greenwood’s return Australia vs England LIVE: Women’s World Cup 2023 result and reaction Sarina Wiegman v Jorge Vilda – a look at the coaches in Women’s World Cup final
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Chris Jones and 2 other fatal flaws keeping Chiefs from Super Bowl repeat
Chris Jones' absence from training camp and two other flaws could prevent the Kansas City Chiefs from repeating as Super Bowl champions this season.The Kansas City Chiefs overcame a lot to win their third Super Bowl title in franchise history. Some examples include trading away a top-tier w...
1970-01-01 08:00
Sarina Wiegman v Jorge Vilda – a look at the coaches in Women’s World Cup final
England head coach Sarina Wiegman and Spain boss Jorge Vilda will lead their teams into the Women’s World Cup final in Sydney on Sunday. Here, the PA news agency takes a closer look at the two coaches. Dutch courage brings England Euro joy Having guided her native Netherlands to success at Euro 2017 and then on into final of the 2019 World Cup, where they lost to the United States, Wiegman took over the Lionesses in September 2021. Wiegman – a former captain of the Dutch national team during her playing career and also having a spell as a PE teacher – went on to lead England to Euro 2022 glory on home soil with victory over Germany at Wembley last summer. The only defeat so far of Wiegman’s tenure came in a friendly against Australia at Brentford in April – and England fans will be hoping that impressive run is extended again on Sunday. Vilda steadies ship after player unrest Vilda had spells in the youth set-ups at both Real Madrid and Barcelona, but saw his dreams of a playing career cut short by two major knee injuries when he was 17. Having moved into a coaching role at CD Canillas in Madrid, Vilda held assistant roles with Spain’s Under-17s and Under-19s, enjoying success in their European Championship and World Cup campaigns. He was appointed senior head coach of the women’s national team in 2015, taking them into the Euro 2017 quarter-finals and also the World Cup, where they reached the last 16. Following Euro 2022, where La Roja were beaten by hosts England in the quarter-finals, a group of 15 players threatened to quit if Vilda remained in his position, claiming his regime was affecting their “health” and “emotional state”. He, though, was backed by the Spanish Football Federation, with the players subsequently frozen out of his squad, before some returned to the fold for the World Cup, including Aitana Bonmati, Ona Batlle and Mariona Caldentey. Same again for Lionesses? Wiegman named an unchanged side for the 3-1 semi-final win over against Australia. Her faith proved well-founded as England stepped up to the challenge of restricting the counter-attack threat of the Matildas, although there was little the well-drilled defence could do to prevent Sam Kerr crashing in a fine 25-yard equaliser. England had plenty of possession against Australia, particularly in the first half, and will certainly need to show similar bravery in their challenges against the Spaniards. Some ruthless finishing saw Ella Toone, Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo all on the scoresheet on Tuesday – and more of the same will be needed in the final when clear chances are expected to be at a premium. Chelsea forward Lauren James will be available again following a two-game ban following her red card in the last-16 win over Nigeria, handing a potential selection headache for Wiegman. La Roja’s own ‘Total Football’ Vilda grew up steeped in Johan Cruyff’s football philosophy, with his father Angel having worked as the late Dutchman’s fitness trainer at Barcelona. Based around a 4-3-3 possession-based game, Vilda wants his team to play with a distinctly recognisable style. That belief never waivered as Spain bounced back from a 4-0 humbling by Group C winners Japan to thrash Switzerland 5-1 as they booked a place in the last eight, then went on to beat the Netherlands after extra-time before defeating Sweden in Auckland. England should expect to face high-tempo passing and movement as well as a relentless press in attack. Alexia Putellas, twice a Ballon d’Or winner, continues to be used sparingly in the tournament, having worked her way back from an ACL injury which ruled her out of Euro 2022. Teenager Salma Paralluelo came off the bench to open the scoring in the semi-final against Sweden and the 19-year-old will be out to prove herself the woman for the big occasion once more if given another opportunity by Vilda on Sunday. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live
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Summers Says 10-Year Yields Could Average 4.75% in Coming Decade
Former US Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers cautioned that the recent run-up in 10-year yields may have further to
1970-01-01 08:00
Lithuania closes two Belarus border crossings
The closures come amid rising concern over the presence of Wagner mercenary fighters in Belarus.
1970-01-01 08:00
US Mortgage Rate Climbs to 7.16%, Matching Highest Since 2001
The US 30-year mortgage rate rose to 7.16% last week, matching the highest since 2001 and crimping both
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A 9-year-old found a gun and fatally shot a 6-year-old in Florida, authorities say
A 6-year-old boy was fatally shot in the head this week by a 9-year-old boy who got a hold of a gun inside a Florida home, authorities said.
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A teen dead and two Nigerians extradited for sextortion. How a horror night on Instagram killed Jordan DeMay
The elaborate sexual extortion plot that led to 17-year-old Jordan DeMay’s death unravelled in less than six hours. In the early morning of 25 March 2022, the teenager died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, after being gripped by fear that his nude photos would be shared with the world. The exchange that led to the tragedy was initiated by three men far across the Atlantic posing as a woman on Instagram. The trio, who American prosecutors have since identified as Nigerian brothers Samuel and Samson Ogoshi, and Ezekiel Ejehem Robert, allegedly convinced the minor to send the explicit photos and then blackmailed him for $1,000. Jordan, known by loved ones for his passion for sports and kind-hearted nature, only managed to send $300. Despite telling the Instagram profile carrying out the extortion that he was seriously considering suicide as a result of the extreme duress he was being subjected to, the revolting threats continued to come. “There wasn’t really a chance for him to reach out or for us to stop anything because it happened in the middle of the night,” Jordan’s mother Jennifer Buta tells The Independent. “Losing a child is the worst thing that I could have ever imagined. For the first day, I was just banging my head asking, ‘What happened to my son?’ Because I saw him the night before. I talked to him the night before and when I started my day, he was gone.” The suspects were indicted earlier this year in Michigan, marking a rare instance in which federal authorities have successfully managed to prosecute one of the alarming growing number of sextortion schemes targeting young men in the US. The Ogoshi brothers were extradited to the US on Monday and are expected to appear in court in Grand Rapids for a bond hearing on Thursday. ‘I can’t imagine what Jordan went through’ Jordan was a senior student nearing graduation at Marquette Senior High School when he died. He played basketball and football and had worked hard to physically recover after suffering an injury during his freshman year. “He loved music ... We travelled a lot with basketball so some of my memories, my favourite memories with him are being in the car and listening to the music. Both of us singing, dancing around,” Ms Buta said. “He had a lot of friends and was really good at connecting with people. He wanted to be everybody’s friend.” His suicide came as a shock to his parents, who scrambled to process the sudden loss and work out what could have possibly driven their lighthearted, always-in-good-spirits son to kill himself. Jordan had deleted any messages on his phone that might have alerted his parents or authorities to the extortion scam before he died – but, a day after his death, one of his friends told his mother that they had received his nudes. “Once [law enforcement] got a hold of it, they were able to start digging and get some records from Instagram,” Ms Buta said. “It gave us like answers as to what did happen. What Jordan went through that evening ... as a mom, I can’t imagine how scared he was ... the torture. It makes me feel sick to think about it.” According to prosecutors, Samuel Ogoshi, 22, Samson Ogoshi, 20, and Mr Robert, 19, gained access to an Instagram account by the name of “dani.robertts”. While impersonating the user, they allegedly encouraged Jordan and more than 100 other victims to send them nude photographs. “I have screenshot all ur followers and tags can send this nudes to everyone and also send your nudes to your Family and friends Until it goes viral… All you’ve to do is to cooperate with me and I won’t expose you,” Samuel Ogoshi allegedly wrote. In a series of texts encouraging Jordan to kill himself after Jordan only paid $300, the social media account responded: “Good/Do that fast/Or I’ll make you do it.” Cyber ‘sextortions’ lead to dozens of suicides The number of reported sextortion cases carried out overseas and targeting Americans have increased in alarming numbers in recent years. In May, the FBI issued a national public safety alert to warn parents after seeing a tenfold increase in online sexual blackmail cases. According to the bureau, 3,000 children were victims of sextortion plots that were connected to more than a dozen suicides in 2022. “These crimes have had devastating effects on children and their families,” FBI San Francisco Acting Special Agent in Charge Sean Ragan said in the statement. “We need to disrupt these criminals by making potential victims and their parents aware of the sextortion threat. Parents and guardians should talk to their children about the dangers of online communication, and the importance of speaking up if anyone makes them feel uncomfortable or threatened.” The Justice Department announced earlier this year that agents from the bureau had travelled to Nigeria to conduct a cooperative investigation with the African country’s law enforcement officials regarding Jordan’s case. Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) then arrested Samuel and Samson Ogoshi and Mr Robert. The indictment against the three men was announced in May and, late last month, a Nigerian judge ordered the Ogoshi brothers to be extradited to the US. The process was finalised earlier this month after the Nigerian solicitor-general signed the final surrender order. Both Ogohsi brothers face charges of conspiracy to sexually exploit minors, distribution of child pornography and stalking. Samuel Ogoshi is also charged with sexual exploitation of a minor resulting in death and faces a minimum sentence of 30 years in prison if convicted. Mr Robert is currently awaiting extradition to the US. Ms Buta said she plans to attend the Ogoshis’ hearing on Thursday as she spoke of her gratitude to US authorities. “This is a huge undertaking and accomplishment for our justice system and the FBI. I am so grateful for it and so grateful for the cooperation that they had from their counterparts in Nigeria and the Nigerian Government,” she said. Raising awareness Since her son’s death, Ms Buta has been in touch with other families who have lost their children under similar circumstances. “His dad and I agreed that we needed to let everybody know about this. To let our community know because everyone was affected by this and everybody’s thinking, ‘What did we miss? Here we have this homecoming king who is happy and took his own life ... If we didn’t know about this and we were talking about it with our son, we were certain that other parents weren’t having this conversation and they needed to sit down and have that conversation immediately,” she said. She says she now hopes that by sharing Jordan’s story, other teens going through similar experiences will realise that help is there. “I get messages weekly from parents that this happened to their child and that their child came to them and spoke to them and they were able to stop what was going on,” Ms Buta told The Independent. “Because it’s happening so frequently and because of the sensitivity and the embarrassment factor ... we need to talk about it from all ends of the country. [It happens] in the middle of the night to these young kids. They just aren’t ready to handle a situation.” Jordan was larger than life and always cared for others, his mother said. He was an older brother to four sisters whom he enjoyed sharing his time with and planned to attend Michigan University to study athletic training. “I want my son to be remembered as that smiling kid, there’s one picture out. One of the things that Jordan would say to people was ‘I got you.’ Meaning, ‘I have your back.’ And this is something that friends and family in our community, we’ve really latched on to,” Ms Buta said. “It’s something that we say to each other to provide support. And in a way, Jordan is saying, ‘I got you,’ by us sharing his story and being able to change how these cases are handled.” She added: “And sending a message to the people that are engaging in this that if you are doing it, you can be caught. You’re not just a face on the other side of the computer.” If you are experiencing feelings of distress and isolation, or are struggling to cope, The Samaritans offers support; you can speak to someone for free over the phone, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch. If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call National Suicide Prevention Helpline on 1-800-273-TALK (8255). The Helpline is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you. Read More Michael Oher’s rags-to-riches story inspired millions in The Blind Side. Now he says it wasn’t true Two years on, I’m haunted by the moment the Taliban brought death to Kabul
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Libya clashes toll hits 55 dead - medical agency
TRIPOLI (Reuters) -The casualty toll from clashes in Libya's capital Tripoli over Monday and Tuesday was 55 killed and 146
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Millions More West Africans Going Hungry Amid Coups, Instability
The number of West Africans suffering acute hunger has surged fourfold since 2019, driven in part by Nigeria’s
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Libya militias battle in Tripoli after commander's arrest
Fierce clashes kill 55 people as many families are left trapped in their homes in Tripoli.
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Will Jake Paul fight Claressa Shields? GWOAT challenges 'problem child' to intergender boxing match: 'I would win and he knows that'
'I would really fight Jake Paul,' Claressa Shields stated, claiming his victory against Nate Diaz doesn't really count
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