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Jack Ma is preparing one of his biggest Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. stake reductions in recent years, and

Goldman Sachs Group Inc.’s Japan president is stepping down after 38 years at the US investment bank, a

The UK looks set to fail on a pledge to build 32 new hospitals in England by 2030,

Wales play their penultimate Euro 2024 qualifier in Armenia on Saturday. Automatic qualification is in Wales’ own hands as two closing victories will book their place in Germany next summer. Here, the PA news agency takes a look at some of the main talking points of the game in Yerevan. Deja vu The parallels between Wales’ successful Euro 2020 qualification and the current campaign are hard to resist. Wales reached Euro 2020 with a fast finish – holding 2018 World Cup finalists Croatia to a Cardiff draw before winning in Azerbaijan and downing Hungary after back-to-back summer defeats. Having suffered another pointless June and just beaten Croatia in Cardiff, Wales head to the Caucasus region again to take on Azerbaijan’s neighbour Armenia before finishing with a visit from Turkey. Six more points will do. Brennan’s back The loss of Tottenham forward Brennan Johnson to injury last month was a big blow. Johnson’s pace and movement can trouble any defence, but boss Rob Page plugged the gap against Croatia by utilising a three-man forward line of David Brooks, Harry Wilson and Kieffer Moore. All three performed superbly with Wilson claiming a match-winning double. Johnson is expected to return, however – possibly at the expense of Brooks – with Page also likely to use the pace of Daniel James from the bench. Midfield promise There was much wailing in Wales when Joe Allen hung up his international boots following the World Cup in Qatar. Allen played a massive role over the last decade and midfield was seen as a problem area in the wake of his departure. But Ethan Ampadu, with nearly 50 caps at the age of 23, has shown his leadership qualities in striking up an effective partnership with 19-year-old Jordan James. The pair were magnificent in getting the better of Croatia’s much-vaunted midfield last month. Repeat or revenge? Wales have failed to beat Armenia in three meetings. There were two draws in 2002 World Cup qualifying, 2-2 in Yerevan when John Hartson scored a brace, before a goalless Cardiff clash. Wales were expected to breeze past Armenia – 71 places below them on the FIFA rankings when they met in June – but a 4-2 defeat damaged their Euro 2024 qualification hopes. More than one Welsh player has mentioned avenging that loss in the build-up to the Yerevan return. Yellow peril Defensive pair Chris Mepham and Neco Williams will be walking disciplinary tightropes in Armenia. Both players have picked up two bookings in the campaign, and a third would rule them out of Tuesday’s final qualifier against Turkey. Wales have yet to lose any player to three bookings, although Joe Morrell and Kieffer Moore served two-match bans for respective red cards against Turkey and Armenia in the summer. Read More Athletics’ move from Oakland to Las Vegas approved by MLB owners On This Day in 2013: David Haye has to rethink his plans Cincinnati Bengals lose Joe Burrow as they go down to Baltimore Ravens Harry Wilson knew he had to step up for Wales after Gareth Bale retirement ‘Great spectacle of cricket’ – Australia relishing World Cup final against India Mallory Franklin: Kayak cross unknowns add to excitement ahead of Olympic debut

Traders are growing increasingly convinced that the European Central Bank will sharply lower interest rates to cushion the

Germany, through its KfW development bank, will as soon as Friday sign an agreement to lend South Africa

The European Central Bank’s decision to halt interest rate increases at its October meeting is fully justified by

The office of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has completed an implementation plan that will allow funds to

Luis Diaz scored twice as Colombia stunned Brazil 2-1 in a World Cup qualifier, days after his father was released by kidnappers. The Liverpool striker netted twice in four minutes late in the second half, watched by his father Luiz Manuel Diaz who was held for 12 days before his release last week. Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli had put Brazil in front after just four minutes. Colombia’s first win over Brazil for eight years lifts them into third in the South American qualifying table with Brazil, who suffered a second successive defeat in the competition, down to fifth. On a night of surprises, goals from Ronald Araujo and Darwin Nunez saw Uruguay beat Argentina 2-0. Lionel Messi struggled to impose himself, hitting the crossbar in the second half as Argentina’s 100 per cent record since lifting the World Cup was ended. Uruguay’s win lifts them to second in the table, two points behind Argentina. Venezuela are in fourth after a goalless draw with Ecuador, Chile and Paraguay also drawing a blank while Bolivia won the battle of the bottom two with a 2-0 win over Peru. PA Read More Moment Liverpool star Luis Diaz reunites with father after 12-day hostage ordeal Luis Diaz reunited with kidnapped parents after returning to Colombia Father of Luis Diaz reveals details of kidnapping ordeal

Will Ferrell wasn't surprised 'Barbie' did so well at the global box office.

The west’s sanctions on Russian oil exports are failing to deprive the Kremlin of revenue to fund its

Gareth Southgate feels privileged to be anywhere near a century of matches at the England helm as he prepares for a repeat of the fixture where it all began for him seven years ago. Having rebuffed the Football Association’s initial approach after Euro 2016, the then Under-21s boss was parachuted into the hotseat after Sam Allardyce’s swift, ignominious exit. Southgate’s first game in temporary charge was a World Cup qualifier against Malta, with Daniel Sturridge and Dele Alli securing a 2-0 win in October 2016. Friday sees the Mediterranean minnows return to Wembley for the first time since then – a night when the England boss will take charge of his 90th senior international. “I know the numbers and I am aware that Bobby Robson was 95 games,” Southgate said. “If you had said to me the first time we played Malta that would be the case, I don’t know how I would have thought about that. “It has been a privilege to take as many games as we have and we have had some wonderful experiences and incredible nights along that journey. “I am very happy to be in with the sort of names that have managed that many games.” I am very happy to be in with the sort of names that have managed that many games Gareth Southgate Southgate is on track to become the first England manager to oversee a century of matches since Sir Alf Ramsey – a feat that could be achieved in the Euro 2024 knockout phase. But silverware in Germany rather than individual milestones is the only focus ahead of potentially his final tournament in charge. England sealed progress to next year’s Euros with two games to spare, yet a packed Wembley crowd will still be in attendance on Friday for the home game of an unbeaten year. Southgate wants to bring the curtain down in style against Malta after a disruptive build-up in which five of his players withdrew through injury, two were absent for personal reasons and three uncapped players were called up. “We want to play well,” Southgate said. “We’ve got close to 90,000 people coming – this is the last time we play at home in this calendar year. “Our performances across the calendar year have been very good and we want to finish the year well. “There are some individual things we would like to see and like to learn a little bit more about. “But clearly that is tempered by the sort of test that is going to be. “There are specifics for this game where you are going to have to break down a packed defence and we have to make sure we have the players in the starting team that can unlock those doors as well. “So, you are always trying to achieve a number of different objectives. “It has been a complicated week in that the five days leading into the camp, we lost a lot of players. “Each day, somebody else seemed to go so there has been a lot of change within the squad and it has not been easy to get all of the players on the pitch every day. “Tuesday, we hardly did anything training-wise so it has been a much shorter week and we are pleased with where the team is for the game and we are looking forward to seeing them play.” England complete this year’s schedule away to North Macedonia on Monday, before attention turns to the Euro 2024 draw in Hamburg on December 2. Preparations are well under way and Southgate says winning is “implicit in everything” he does as he looks to turn seven years of learnings into silverware. “I guess the biggest thing I have experienced is that you take charge of one of the most high-pressured jobs in world football and had to manage some of the biggest matches in world football,” he said. “There is only a World Cup final that we haven’t done. “You understand what that means in the longer term, in terms of what you have learned, what you have taken from those experiences. “And the fact we have dealt with those challenges and that pressure, which can sometimes really inhibit people and, frankly, a lot of people could not cope with that pressure, so I feel pleased we have shown that we can do that. “I am sure there will have been a lot of doubts some years ago whether I was capable of doing that and, of course, there will be other doubts people will have and that will always be the same. “You will always have questions asked of you but as a person, and as a coach, you will always learn through every experience you have and every day will throw a different challenge and you are learning all the time.” Read More Gareth Southgate highlights Sir Bobby Charlton legacy ahead of Wembley tribute How Gareth Southgate can make England vs Malta exciting If England were playing Malta in my front garden, I’d close the curtains Jude Bellingham and Levi Colwill injuries add to England absences Sir Alex Ferguson and Prince William among mourners at Sir Bobby Charlton’s funeral Alexander-Arnold studying Gerrard and Pirlo to master midfield role