Author: National Tone

Lionel Messi was suspended by Paris Saint-Germain for taking a trip to Saudi Arabia without the club’s permission, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on Tuesday. The person would not specify the length of the suspension, though French media reported it to be two weeks. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the matter. A two-week suspension would mean Messi would miss PSG’s next two games. L’Equipe and RMC Sport both reported the suspension without citing sources. The person told the AP that the World Cup champion…

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United States lawmakers have taken aim at the ethics of the country’s highest court, saying that Congress must step in to increase oversight in the wake of recent reports that showed some justices had failed to report gifts and real-estate sales that could constitute potential conflicts of interest. US Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin, a Democrat, said he had called the hearing on Tuesday because the Supreme Court has for years “refused” to “step up and fix this themselves”. “It is critical to our democracy that the American people have confidence that judges cannot be bought or influenced, and…

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Montreal, Canada – As the United Kingdom prepares for the coronation of King Charles III, more than 5,000km (3,100 miles) away, in the largest country in the British Commonwealth, a celebration will be held to usher in “a new chapter”. Set to coincide with the king officially taking the crown at London’s Westminster Abbey on Saturday, the Canadian government is hosting an event in the capital, Ottawa, to welcome the new British monarch as Canada’s head of state. “His Majesty has a long history and a special relationship with Canada, and we look forward to celebrating his Coronation in May,”…

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Infantino on possible blackout of Women’s World Cup for EuropeFifa president Gianni Infantino has threatened to not broadcast the Women’s World Cup in five European countries unless TV companies improve their rights offers.Infantino said “disappointing” offers from the UK, Spain, Italy, Germany and France were a “slap in the face” of the players and “all women worldwide”.He added it was Fifa’s “moral and legal obligation not to undersell” the event.The World Cup, co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, starts on 20 July. Infantino said European broadcasters had offered world football’s governing body $1m-$10m (£800,000-£8m) for the rights, compared with $100m-$200m…

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After a disappointing Women’s Six Nations campaign Ireland will hold talks with head coach Greg McWilliams over his future; the competition was a whitewash for Ireland, with just three tries in five matches. Last Updated: 02/05/23 4:13pm Previously backs coach under Philip Doyle from 2009 to 2014, this is Greg McWilliams’ second spell with the Ireland women’s team The Irish Rugby Football Union insists discussions are ongoing with international women’s coach Greg McWilliams over his future. Ireland finished bottom of the Women’s Six Nations table, losing all their matches, and there have been reports that McWilliams is set to depart…

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Germany called for governments around the world to work on setting an ambitious target for renewable energy that would “ring in the end of the fossil fuel age” and help prevent dangerous global warming. Speaking at the start of a two-day meeting in Berlin attended by dozens of top climate envoys, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock noted on Tuesday the world needs to sharply cut greenhouse gas emissions in order to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit). “But we also know that not all countries are prepared to do so,” she said. “That is why I…

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England have been drawn alongside Scotland in the inaugural Women’s Nations League.The nations met at the 2019 World Cup in France when goals from Nikita Parris and Ellen White gave England a 2-1 victory, with Claire Emslie replying for Scotland. Belgium and the Netherlands will join them in Group A1 of the tournament, which commences later this year.Wales were drawn in Group A3 alongside Germany, Denmark and Iceland.Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland will face each other in Group B1, which also includes Albania and Hungary. The four teams make up League A Group A1 of the tournament, which…

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International Boxing Association (IBA) President Umar Kremlev has blasted the national federations who broke away from the body to form a new world boxing federation, describing the officials as “black sheep” and “hyenas” who do not belong in sport. A group, including the United States and the United Kingdom, announced a new federation – World Boxing – last month in a breakaway aimed at securing the troubled sport’s Olympic future while seeking recognition from the International Olympic Committee (IOC). With representatives from Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the Philippines, Sweden and the US, World Boxing has an interim…

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The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has raised Asia’s economic forecast for this year as China’s recovery underpins growth, but it is warning of risks from persistent inflation and global market volatility driven by Western banking-sector woes. The reopening of China’s economy is pivotal for the region with the spillover seen focused on consumption and service-sector demand rather than investment, the IMF said on Tuesday. “Asia and Pacific will be the most dynamic of the world’s major regions in 2023, predominantly driven by the buoyant outlook for China and India,” the IMF said its regional economic outlook report. “As in the…

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Novak Djokovic will be able to play at this year’s US Open after the United States announced it is lifting its vaccine mandate on international travellers.The world No 1 is not vaccinated against Covid-19 and had previously been unable to enter America. But US policy will change on May 12, allowing the 22-time Grand Slam winner to return to Flushing Meadows in August.A White House statement said: “Today, we are announcing that the administration will end the Covid-19 vaccine requirements for federal employees, federal contractors, and international air travellers at the end of the day on May 11, the same…

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