The Voice Reveal

Manager may have taken club as far as he can while Archie Gray offers hope to Tottenham and Thomas Frank Perhaps it’s appropriate that the last Premier League game of the Christmas weekend shouldn’t be a thriller. You’ve spent four days eating and drinking, the belly is straining at the belt, work is looming on Monday and there’s a dreadful sense that the holiday is over and you’ll soon have to get back to mundane chores: defrosting the freezer, filing the tax return, shopping for real food that might actually have some nutritional value. For neutrals, this was the ideal game for dozing through on the sofa. Very little happened, and almost none of what did was pleasing on the eye, with the possible exception of the two passages of play Tottenham put together that led to Richarlison scoring goals that were subsequently ruled out for offside. At the start of play it was ninth v 14th and in the first half especially, it looked like it. It was bitty, scrappy, ugly, and included many of t...

Curator says he was in a ‘state of shock’ watching match unfold ‘We’re very, very disappointed that it’s only gone two days’ The MCG’s head curator has conceded staff went “too far” in preparing a pitch that favoured the bowlers too heavily in the Boxing Day Test, saying he was in a “state of shock” while watching the match unfold. But the stadium’s chief executive is standing by the under-fire curator after the Test match between Australia and England finished within two days . Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/Vu0QUHa via IFTTT

World No 63 wins 4-3 to claim biggest victory of his career Luke Littler eases past Mensur Suljovic 4-0 in round three By the end, the room had gone still and quiet. The air was warm and smelled faintly of spilled pints. The chants of “One Stephen Bunting” had long since died away, and all that was left was one Stephen Bunting: three darts in his hand and no more tricks up his sleeve. No place left to run. And so as James Hurrell pinned tops to win 4-3 and claim the biggest victory of his life, there was just the merest whiff of anticlimax to it all: a seismic shock that also somehow felt like the most natural thing in the world. The crowds dispersed with barely a murmur. Hurrell packed up his darts and left the stage: not overawed or overcome, but bearing the immense calmness of a man who had seen this all coming in advance. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/3vJzlet via IFTTT

At the break Australia’s lead stood at 140. from The Independent Sport https://ift.tt/1tjusdS via IFTTT

Royals are expected to make separate trips after Donald Trump paused implementation of agreement King Charles III and the Prince of Wales are expected to make separate trips to the US in 2026 as part of a campaign to revitalise a trade deal with Donald Trump, it has been reported. Advanced talks on a visit by the king are said to be under way, the Times reported. The paper suggested that Charles’s visit to the US was likely to take place in April. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/yzu8pd0 via IFTTT

Patrick Dorgu’s superb 24th-minute volley was a worthy winner of the game but United spent most of the second half defending. from The Independent Sport https://ift.tt/lWG2S8J via IFTTT

Christian Aid annual report’s top 10 disasters amounted to more than $120bn in insured losses Cyclones and floods in south-east Asia this autumn killed more than 1,750 people and caused more than $25bn (£19bn) in damage, while the death toll from California wildfires topped 400 people, with $60bn in damage, according to research on the costliest climate-related disasters of the year. China’s devastating floods, in which thousands of people were displaced, were the third most expensive, causing about $12bn in damage, with at least 30 lives lost. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/2LQ5aoq via IFTTT

Yes, the kids are now 90% Adam’s apple. Yes, Winona Ryder has been unforgivably sidelined. And yes, some characters are trapped in a room filling with yoghurt. But despite our misgivings, this show still absolutely slaps Listen, this isn’t the place for newcomers. Stranger Things has been around for almost a decade, and it has spent almost all this time building a mythology that has grown so unwieldy that trying to explain it would cost me my wordcount and my will to live. However, in fairness, this new penultimate batch of episodes gives it a good try. The content of these new episodes can neatly be split into three categories. There’s action, which is high-octane and fun, and probably why you’re watching. Then there’s dialogue, which is less successful because it causes characters to stop moving and emote at each other, even though they should probably be concentrating on the imminent end of the world. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/ajrX23o via IFTTT

The expanded Champions League and exclusive weekends for the FA Cup has led to the Premier League scrapping its traditional feast of Boxing Day football from The Independent Sport https://ift.tt/klbft9L via IFTTT

Elections will be first since military seized power in 2021, but analysts say vote is far from a step toward democracy Myanmar is preparing to go to the polls for the first time since its military seized power in a coup in 2021, but with its former leader behind bars, its most successful political party disbanded and roughly a third of the country either disputed or in rebel hands, few believe claims by its military rulers that its 28 December election will be “free and fair”. “This is not for the people, this is for themselves,” says Pai, 25, who fled Myanmar after the military seized power. “They [the ruling junta] are looking for a way out of the trap they are [in].” Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/r0qBs8y via IFTTT

President claims strikes targeted militants in country’s north-west, accusing group of attacking Christian communities Donald Trump said the US has carried out airstrikes against Islamic State militants in north-west Nigeria on Thursday, claiming the militant group had been targeting Christians in the region. The president said in a post on Truth Social: “Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even Centuries! Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/5MUJhL2 via IFTTT

The island nation will take up to 75 migrants, months after lawmakers rejected a previous request from Washington Palau will take up to 75 migrants from the US in return for additional aid, after the tiny Pacific Island nation signed a memorandum of understanding with Washington on transfer of third-country nationals. US deputy secretary of state Christopher Landau spoke to Palau president Surangel Whipps in a call on Tuesday about transferring third-country nationals to Palau, the two sides said in separate statements, after Palau’s lawmakers rejected a previous request from Washington on the matter earlier this year. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/CELTXoI via IFTTT

Police say the vehicle was set alight in the driveway of a property in St Kilda East in the early hours of Christmas Day Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast A car with a “Happy Chanukah” sign has been firebombed in a Melbourne suburb in the early hours of Christmas morning. The suspected antisemitic incident comes less than two weeks after the terror attack that targeted Jews celebrating the holiday of Hanukah at Sydney’s Bondi beach and claimed 15 lives. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/4QwjGCW via IFTTT

Gaming was once compared to drugs, gambling and alcohol in South Korea. Now its gaming academies offer a chance to earn a six-figure salary – if you make the grade Son Si-woo remembers the moment his mother turned off his computer. He was midway through an interview to become a professional gamer. “She said when I played computer games, my personality got worse, that I was addicted to games,” the 27-year-old recalls. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/apiWeDA via IFTTT

Winning margin of 28,000 votes announced a month late but before review of all ‘inconsistent’ ballots was completed Donald Trump-backed candidate Nasry “Tito” Asfura has been declared the winner of Honduras’s presidential election after a vote count that dragged on for almost a month and was marred by fraud allegations and criticism of interference by the US president . The rightwing Asfura, 67, a construction magnate and former mayor of the capital, Tegucigalpa, secured 40.27% of the vote, against 39.53% for the centre-right Salvador Nasralla, a margin of just 28,000 votes. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/cK48OAI via IFTTT

Known as Tea Tyme, Tynesha McCarty-Wroten arrested over 3 November death of Darren Lucas in Zion, Illinois The social media creator who allegedly hit and killed a pedestrian as she hosted a livestream while simultaneously driving through a Chicago suburb has been arrested, according to authorities. Known best to her online followers as Tea Tyme, Tynesha McCarty-Wroten was arrested Tuesday for her role in the 3 November death of 59-year-old Darren Lucas, said Lt Paul Kehrli of the Zion, Illinois, police department. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/U7O9yoN via IFTTT

Crystal Palace scored in stoppage time only for the Gunners to win the Carabao Cup quarter-final on penalties. from The Independent Sport https://ift.tt/WNru4b8 via IFTTT

The 35-year-old joined Saudi-funded tour in 2022 ‘Brooks is prioritising the needs of his family’ Brooks Koepka, the five-time major champion, has become the first player to defect from LIV Golf, a significant blow to the league funded by Saudi Arabia’s public investment fund and raises questions whether the PGA Tour will find a way for him to return. The 35-year-old American has made the decision in order to spend more time with his family. He joined the rival tour in 2022 and won five events over four seasons – he was also the first LIV player to win a major at the 2023 PGA Championship . Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/ZpH1uaq via IFTTT

Biologist says specimen filmed by a Victorian fisher is ‘unusual’, but not a rare albino as some had wondered Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Cody Stylianou thought he saw a huge trout. But, skimming just below the surface, it was moving differently than a fish would. The creature surfaced and, amazed, the Victorian fisher reached for his phone. Swimming in front of him was a pink platypus. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/UGljows via IFTTT

Mo Farah and Matthew Pinsent among those to speak out Playing fields and facilities at risk of being built over Sports playing fields and facilities in England are at risk of being built over en masse with devastating consequences for local communities, sports stars and governing bodies have warned. The former England footballer Jill Scott along with Olympic gold medallists Mo Farah, Alex Yee and Matthew Pinsent, are among 88 signatories to an open letter saying they are “deeply concerned” about proposed government planning reforms, and say they would hit poorest communities hardest. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/a43XKyd via IFTTT

The Africa Cup of Nations hosts, Morocco, overcame a nervy start to beat Comoros in the tournament’s opening game on Sunday after Brahim Díaz and the substitute Ayoub El Kaabi scored second-half goals. It was a far from convincing showing, however, from highly fancied Morocco who are 97 places above the small Indian Ocean island nation in the world rankings and had to toil hard for the points in the rain at Rabat’s Prince Moulay Abdellah stadium. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/fDjpeBh via IFTTT

Health secretary’s comments push further than government’s position on EU in wide-ranging interview A deeper trading relationship with the EU would be the best way of growing Britain’s economy, which has an “uncomfortable” level of tax, Wes Streeting has said. The health secretary said it would not be possible for any partnership with the EU to “return to freedom of movement”, but his comments appeared to leave the door open to the idea of a customs union. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/GuMbJUt via IFTTT

Inferiority complex has cost them before, but Premier League’s comeback kings have the character and spirit to step up On 20 October 2022, Aston Villa lost 3-0 at Fulham and Steven Gerrard was sacked . Villa had won only two of their first 11 games of the season and lay 17th in the Premier League table. Unai Emery was appointed as manager 12 days later, since when the transformation in Villa has been remarkable. In his three years in charge, no side in the top five leagues in Europe have won more home games and Villa have finished seventh, fourth and sixth, while reaching the quarter-final of the Champions League. It’s not just Emery, of course: significant money has been spent as well – £35m that January, £100m the following season, nearly £200m the season after that. It’s only fair to point out that significant sales have been made, so the net spend since Emery took over is only around £40m, but there has also been a significant increase in salaries, with the latest available fina...

Round-by-round updates from Kaseya Center in Miami Main event not before 10.30pm ET/3.30am GMT Britain’s Dubois defends 135lb title with masterclass Paul v Joshua is old logic in a louder digital age Get in touch! Email Bryan with your thoughts Say what you want of tonight’s main event, but there are four women’s world title fights on the undercard worthy of attention. Two of them are already in the books with two still to come. Caroline Dubois retained her WBC lightweight title on her US debut with a commanding 10-round unanimous decision over Camila Panatta . Dubois (12-0-1, 5 KOs), a 2020 Olympian and one of Britain’s most highly regarded young pros, found her range early and wore her opponent down with steady pressure and pinpoint accuracy, dropping Panatta with a check right hook near the end of the sixth round. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/4gA0692 via IFTTT