Arsenal sporting directors risk wrath of fans and owners if they fail to tie up Caicedo, Rice transfers early
Arsenal infamously missed out on the signing of priority January target Mykhailo Mudryk from Shakhtar Donetsk when the deal was hijacked at the final hour by Chelsea. Although that may prove to be a blessing in disguise given Mudryk’s terrible start for Chelsea, any repeat of Arsenal failing to complete transfers will not be tolerated by the ownership or fans.
Sudan and South Sudan Siamese twins conjoined at the hip, the bloodbath in Khartoum is bleeding both
In 2012, President Salva Kiir claimed that his own government officials had “stolen” $4 billion of the public’s money and that they needed to return it so that it could be used to lift the people out of poverty.
Football’s big stars’ scramble for petrodollar in ME is part of Saudi Arabia’s soft power tactic to control world opinion – expert
PIF is Saudi Arabia’s version, worth some $620 billion (£514 billion), making it the seventh largest such fund in the world. It holds stakes in some of the western world’s best-known companies, including Disney, Uber and Boeing.
Climate change fuels human-wildlife conflict in Kenya as Maasai herders spear lions that feasted on their livestock
Last month, one of Kenya’s oldest lions, Loonkiito, was speared to death as it wandered out of the Amboseli National Park in search for food. The Kenya Wildlife Service said it is working on lasting solutions that would address the conflict while protecting both humans and wildlife.
With 60 per cent of its citizens overweight, obese or diabetic Saudi Arabia now taps into football icons to fight menace
There is undoubtedly a public health benefit. Seventy per cent of the population are aged under 35, with the government keen to improve the statistic that some 60 per cent of the population are overweight or obese. One aim, given by Al-Misehal, is to increase the number of registered male players from 21,000 to over 200,000. He did not mention a target for female players.
Premier League’s most polished midfielder N’Golo Kante on verge of exiting Chelsea for Saudi’s Al Ittihad
A number of current stars are anticipated to be leaving, including the likes of Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Edouard Mendy, Mateo Kovacic, Kalidou Koulibaly and Cesar Azpilicueta. Should Kante leave, the Blues would be left with few players capable of playing in a deeper midfield role, with Kovacic linked with a switch to treble-chasers Manchester City.
Inside Arab world plan to pull rag from under Western cultural dominion, expand the emirate via sports
Saudi Arabia’s announcement will also bring controversy. The nation has a terrible human rights record, homosexuality is illegal and there are severe restrictions on freedom of speech and women’s rights. This relaunch will bring accusations of ‘sportswashing’ – that by repackaging its flagship competition for global consumption, Saudi Arabia is attempting to repackage its reputation in front of a global audience.
Bombing of Fulani herders underlines pattern of deadly military assaults in Nigeria ‘overseen’ by US and Britain
Clashes between farmers and semi-nomadic herders have killed more than 3,600 people since 2016 in parts of Nigeria, according to a report published by London-based Amnesty International in December 2018. The violence is often painted as ethnic or religious in nature: chiefly Muslim Fulani herders clashing with mainly Christian farmers. But many experts say climate change and expanding agriculture are creating competition – and conflicts – over access to water and land, regardless of faith or ethnicity.
Bombing, killing of Fulani herders raises human rights concerns about US’ supplies to Nigerian military
The airstrike near the village of Akwanaja provides a stark example of a broader trend: The nation’s military, which is backed by the United States, the UK and other non-Western allies in a long war against Islamist insurgents in the northeast, has been unleashing deadly aerial assaults for years in other parts of the country.
Man City’s stock soars above Real Madrid as English clubs dominate Brand Finance ranking
Arsenal’s brand value had risen 16 per cent to £782 million following their strong challenge for the Premier League title. Chelsea’s had risen by two per cent to £742 million off the back of a disappointing campaign and lower half finish, making them only the sixth-highest English club. Spurs’ value rose five per cent to £774 million.
