20 hours agoUSA UpdateComments Off on Man Utd transfer news LIVE: Onana’s EXIT hint, Emi Martinez ‘interest’, United turn to Osimhen after Gyokeres snub
MANCHESTER UNITED are in for a crucial summer of transfers at Old Trafford.
But they may need to recruit a goalkeeper quickly as Andre Onana has hinted that an exit could be round the corner.
And that replacement could be in the shape of Aston Villa star Emi Martinez who is reportedly attracting interest from United.
20 hours agoUSA UpdateComments Off on Inter Miami 0 Al Alhy 0: David Beckham watches Messi draw a blank in CWC opener next to Wenger days after knighthood
FORGET the scoreline – this was a knight to remember for Sir David Beckham.
Fresh from receiving his knighthood, Becks was back in Miami, nestled into the posh seats alongside Arsene Wenger as his Inter Miami side kicked off the brand-new Club World Cup at Hard Rock Stadium.
SHUTTERSTOCKLionel Messi and his Inter Miami team-mates drew a blank in their Club World Cup opener against Al Ahly[/caption]
ALAMYCo-owner David Beckham was all smiles before the match as he’d received a knighthood from King Charles just a few days earlier[/caption]
AFPThe new Sir was the centre of attention, with Roberto Baggi, Ronaldo Nazario, and FIFA president Gianni Infantino all embracing him[/caption]
REUTERSBeckham took in the 0-0 draw next to former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger[/caption]
When he started building an MLS franchise back in 2014, not even Beckham’s wildest dreams could’ve conjured this — his boys in pink, led by Lionel Messi, opening FIFA’s glitzy new global tournament on home turf.
But here they were, bathed in Florida humidity, facing Egyptian titans Al Ahly in what promised to be a baptism by fire.
On the face of it, drawing 0-0 didn’t have Becks jumping up for joy.
Yet it was a gritty point which proved his side might not be the pushovers many predicted, even if there will be sterner tests to come in the shape of Porto and Brazilian side Palmeiras.
The odds coming into last night’s clash weren’t great. Miami have been in freefall in MLS.
Al Ahly — 45-time Egyptian champions and backed by a deafening sea of red in the stands — were tipped to cruise. And they nearly did.
On 42 minutes, they won a penalty – which showcased the new-fangled ref-cam for the first time – but standout keeper Oscar Ustari guessed right and denied Trezeguet with a brilliant save.
ALAMYLionel Messi and Luis Suarez were anonymous for large parts of the game[/caption]
Messi was quiet early on, unusually subdued. Luis Suarez barely got a touch.
But the second half told a different story.
Messi came alive, brushing the post with a trademark free-kick and gradually seizing control.
The tempo lifted and the crowd responded.
Concerns over empty seats at the 65,000 capacity stadium were quickly erased — the place was almost at capacity and rocking with 60,927 taking it all in.
Al Ahly began to fade, drained by the heat and Miami’s late surge.
Sub Fafa Picault almost grabbed a late winner, another Messi curler grazed the bar in stoppage time before Egyptian keeper Mohamed El Shenawi pulled off an incredible save at the death from Maxi Falcon’s close-range header.
Becks, suit and booted, looked like he was kicking every ball in the stands, grimacing as he was beamed onto the big screen with the game in the balance.
But in the end, a draw for the MLS side and their superstar owner was a decent result.
Not only was the opening match a lively affair, there was no repeat of the nightmare scenes at last year’s Copa America final where Colombian and Argentina fans stormed into the stadium following lengthy delays to enter.
FIFA, thankfully, installed a ring of steel around the perimeter to keep everyone safe for the first match of the new 32-team tournament.
Miami boss Javier Mascherano said: “We knew we were up against a strong team.
The nerves and anxiety played a trick on us in the first half,.
“But we had our chances to win. The team left a very good impression.
“This is the path forward, playing like this, we can beat anyone.”
REUTERSInter Miami’s participation in the Club World Cup is a dream come true for co-owner David Beckham[/caption]
20 hours agoUSA UpdateComments Off on I’ve visited over 100 cities across the world – here are my five European faves including 84p beers and £15 flights
HAVING been travelling the world for the best part of 15 years, it’s safe to say I’ve racked up a fair few city breaks.
And while that includes far-flung destinations from Colombia to Korea, these are a few that have taken my heart in Europe.
Deputy travel editor Kara has been to more than 100 cities around the worldGettyMagical Copenhagen is one of the world’s happiest cities[/caption]
Kara loved the Only U hotel in Seville
From amazingly friendly locals and cheap bars to beautiful streets and fun theme parks, here are my top five – and how to visit without breaking the bank.
Seville
One of my most recent ventures to Spain took me to the southern city of Seville and it quickly became my favourite place to go in the whole country.
It felt much more uniquely Spanish than other, more touristy cities, and was perfect for wandering down side streets lined with historic buildings and tapas bars spilling onto the road.
While this might have meant I ordered the wrong thing a few times (I swear I asked for fish only for chickpeas to arrive), it also means you can expect some Spanish prices.
For example, rather than a large beer, locals drink cañas, which admittedly are smaller – but that means they’re still cold by the time you finish.
You can find these for as little as €1 (84p) in some bars.
Along with one of the cheapest beers, you’ll also want to head to 100 Montaditos for some cheap food.
A Spanish fast food institution, they sell 100 different varieties of small sandwiches for €1 (84p) a pop every Wednesday and Sunday.
And if you know where to look, you can even visit some top attractions for free.
I love the the historic royal palace, the Alcázar of Seville, which has limited free tickets on Mondays between 6pm-7pm in April to September, and from 4pm-5pm in October to March.
Similarly, the cathedral – the largest gothic cathedral in the world – has free tickets every day from 2pm-3pm if you’re fast enough.
Hotels might be on the pricier side but tour operators have some great deals.
For example, easyJetholidays has a three-night package deal (with flights and a four-star hotel) for just £160 per personnext month.
If you don’t mind splashing out a bit, the newish Only U is one of my favourite hotels in Europe, feeling more like a fancy members club with outdoor pool and onsite florist and cafe.
But it shouldn’t be, and not least because it hosts an amazing music festival every summer that most people haven’t heard of – Way Out West.
I was lucky enough to see live music acts such as Chvrches and Sia there, and this year’s line up is just as good, with Charli XCX and Chappel Roan appearing.
Day tickets cost around £130, while three-days ones are £230 – much cheaper than Glastonbury‘s £373.
The best part? It isn’t a camping festival so I was well-rested and comfy in my Airbnb every night.
You can find hotels for around £65 a night, and Ryanair flights are around £15.
If music doesn’t take your fancy, the small city has its own theme park, Liseberg, which is opening a number of new rides in the next few years (entry starts from £7).
AlamyCafes, bars, restaurants and shops in Gothenburg’s Haga district[/caption]
Meanwhile, the rest of the city feels like a fairytale town, especially the oldest neighborhood, Haga. My favourite cosy spot was Le Petit Cafe for a coffee and blueberry scone while people-watching and chatting to the owner.
Locals are big fans of ‘Afterwork’ or AW – AKA cheap beers and food after finishing work on a Friday.
For example, Kings Head lets you buy a beer for 59 SEK (£5) that comes with free access to the buffet – it’s simple food, but one of the most affordable when visiting between 5pm and 7pm.
Want to go full Swedish? Try the fried stömming fish, mashed potatoes and lingonberry sauce from food truck Strömmingsluckan – even I was converted.
Lille
If you want all the great parts of Paris without actually going to Paris, then Lille is a great option.
It has its own Arc de Triomphe, albeit on a much smaller scale, as well as the Palais des Beaux-Arts (nicknamed the Louvre of Lille).
Once known as being the “Manchester of France” due to its textile and industrial history, the fifth-largest French city is also home to cheap weekend markets and an amazing food scene.
A must-try is the Meert vanilla waffle, said to be loved byformer president Charles de Gaulle, which costs less than £3.
Lille Braderie Flea Market is the largest market in Europe, with more than 10,000 stalls, so you can find the perfect bargain souvenir. Just time your visit well as it only runs the first weekend of September.
AlamyThe Braderie flea market is the largest in Europe[/caption]
Lille is also a great place to visit for nervous flyers, as it is one of the few destinations with direct trains from London St Pancras.
Taking just 1hr22 on the Eurostar, you can find £39 tickets if you’re quick (although some are as little as £31 right now).
Be even savvier and go for Eurostar Snap for up to 50 per cent off tickets, as long as you don’t mind not knowing the time of day you are visiting until nearer the departure.
Make sure to pop to rooftop restaurant NU, which has beautiful views over the city and is right by the train station too.
I love staying at the Mama Shelter hotels, and while the rooms start from £95 in Lille (including an extensive breakfast) they also often have 3-for-2 nights.
If you want something cheaper, there are lots of Ibis budget hotels around the city, some as little as £57 a night.
Copenhagen
While Copenhagen is the one of the pricier cities to visit in Europe, it’s still one of my favourites and I think worth the price.
Getting there is cheap as Ryanair has £15 flights from the UK.
My favourite place for brunch is Mad & Kaffe, where three small bowls of anything from protein, fruit or bakery items costs around £9, or try Grodwhich serves just porridge and risotto (hearty and warming when visiting in winter), for breakfast.
Alcohol is expensive here, so I recommend heading to one of the city’s bodegas if you really want a cheap drink.
Or try the new Kissavesterbro cocktail bar, where you can find cocktails for just over a fiver.
If you don’t mind a small room for the night, one of the cheapest stays that isn’t a hostel is the CityHub Copenhagen – a Japanese-like pod hotel with rooms from £50 a night.
You’ll have to share a communal bathroom but it’s more stylish that you’d think, with your own robes, rowels and Rituals toiletries.
Don’t mind splashing out? I love the stylish Hotel SP34 which starts from £155 a night, but has a free wine hour every evening at 5pm so you can make some of that money back.
Faro
Most people fly into Faro as a stopping point to the Algarve, but it is a great affordable base to explore the nearby areas.
For example, for a few euros and a 20-minute boat ride, you can visit an island nicknamed the Caribbean of Portugal.
Ilha Deserta has golden sandy beaches where you won’t see many other tourists – I was the only one there when I visited in May.
Make sure to grab some fresh fish from Estamine, the only restaurant on the island as well.
AlamyFaro in Portugal is a great base for exploring the surrounding area[/caption]
AlamyNo wonder Ilha Deserta is known as the Caribbean of Portugal[/caption]
There is also Ilha Armona, also just a few minutes from the mainland, with a only few houses and food stalls.
Or just 15 minutes from Faro is the pretty fishing town of Olha, where you have to visit Terra i Mar for amazing seafood and massive glasses of local wine for £3.
I stayed at 3HB, the first five-star hotel in the area with one of the few infinity rooftop pools in Faro – easyJet Holidays has seven night holiday packages for £724pp.
Otherwise Loveholidays has seven-night stays with return flights for £279pp when staying at budget hotels like Best Western.
20 hours agoUSA UpdateComments Off on Arsenal transfer news LIVE: Viktor Gyokeres makes Gunners ‘priority’ Williams’ release clause, Kepa ‘done deal’
ARSENAL have a HUGE summer of business to take care of in the transfer market.
Viktor Gyokeres has reportedly made it his priority to push through a move to Arsenal after snubbing Manchester United.
Elsewhere, the Gunners are willing to meet Nico Williams’ £48.1million release clause, according to reports but they face competition from Bayern Munich.
And Kepa Arrizabalaga to Arsenal is a done deal, according to Telegraph journalist Matt Law.
20 hours agoUSA UpdateComments Off on Cyber police dismantle Pattaya gambling network with 9 million baht flow
Yesterday, June 14, cyber police dismantled a significant online gambling network known as FAST24H in Pattaya. The operation revealed a monthly circulation of over 9 million baht. Police Major General Trirong Phiewphan ordered the raid, which resulted in the arrest of two people. Police Major General Trirong Phiewphan, together with Police Major General Kritchat Bumrungrattanayot …
20 hours agoUSA UpdateComments Off on Illegal bar raid in Nakhon Nayok uncovers sex trafficking ring
Yesterday, June 14, police from the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division raided an illegal bar in Mueang district, Nakhon Nayok province. The establishment, managed by 45 year old Apirak and 43 year old Malaitip from Laos, was allegedly involved in sex trafficking, employing both Thai and Laotian women. Police Colonel Songkrod Koekritaya led the operation, instructing …
20 hours agoUSA UpdateComments Off on Iran striking Israel with new guided ballistic missile named after infamous general killed on Trump’s orders in 2020
Iran used a newly developed ballistic missile in its latest barrage of airstrikes against Israel Saturday that is named after General Qassem Soleimani who was killed on orders from President Trump 2020.
20 hours agoUSA UpdateComments Off on Wife of Minnesota State Sen. John Hoffman used her body as a ‘shield’ to protect daughter during shooting: family
The wife of the wounded Minnesota state senator targeted during an overnight assassination attempt shielded the couple's daughter as the masked gunman opened fire on the family, missing the couple's vital organs by inches, according to reports.
