SPORTS

Catalonia to declare independence from Spain

Catalonia will declare independence from Spain in a matter of days, the leader of the autonomous region has told, according to BBC. In his first interview since Sunday's referendum, Carles Puigdemont said his government would "act at the end of this week or the beginning of next". Meanwhile, Spain's King Felipe VI said organisers of the vote put themselves "outside the law". He said the..

Nepal slip six-position down in FIFA rangking

Nepal slipped six-position down in this month’s FIFA ranking, which are based on results over a four-year period, published on Thursday, THT report. According to FIFA, Nepal slipped to 175th position from 169th rank, in this month ranking with 101 points. India, top ranked team among the SAARC nations have slipped 10 positions down to 107th position with 316 points. The..

Paris & LA to host 2024 & 2028 respectively

Paris and Los Angeles have been named as hosts of the 2024 and 2028 summer Games respectively by the International Olympic Committee, according to BBC. Both cities had wanted to host the 2024 event, before LA agreed to wait an extra four years after the IOC made guarantees on funding. The Paris Games, which had fallen short with bids for 2008 and 2012, will mark 100 years since it was last..

Tajikistan beats Nepal in Asian Cup Qualifier

Nepal’s hope of qualifying to the next round of AFC Asian Cup 2019 hinge on thread as they slumped to 2-1 home defeat against Tajikistan, on Tuesday, THT report. The host failed to build on June’s goalless draw at home to Yemen and suffered a jaw breaking defeat to physically superior side of Tajikistan, in a crucial encounter today. The visiting team Tajikistan broke the deadlock on..

Tennis star Serena Williams gives birth to baby girl

Tennis star Serena Williams has given birth to a baby girl at a clinic in Florida, according to BBC. Williams, 35, whose partner is Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, was admitted to the St Mary's Medical Center in West Palm Beach on Wednesday. The 23-time Grand Slam winner said last month she was planning to return to tennis for the Australian Open in January. Congratulations have been..

Defending champion Chelsea suffered shocking defeat with Burnley in first match

Champions Chelsea suffered a nightmare start to their Premier League title defence, having two men sent off as Burnley claimed a superb win at Stamford Bridge, BBC report. It would be easy but misleading to lay the blame for the Blues' defeat on the decision to show a red card to new club captain Gary Cahill for a lunging tackle on Steven Defour midway through the first half. But that would..

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NO £109M COUTINHO TO BARCELONA DEAL AGREED

The La Liga giants have not improved on their £72m bid for the playmaker, and there have been no proposed sit downs scheduled with Barca officials, according to goal.com. Liverpool have not agreed a £109 million deal with Barcelona for Philippe Coutinho, nor have they held a meeting to negotiate with a delegation from the Catalan club, as they maintain the Brazil international is not for..

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 02: Captain Mikel Arteta of Arsenal lifts the trophy after their 1-0 win in the FA Community Shield match between Chelsea and Arsenal at Wembley Stadium on August 2, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

Arsenal defeated Chelsea to lift Community Shield

Arsenal defeated Chelsea in a dramatic penalty shoot-out at Wembley to open the new English season with silverware. Thibaut Courtois and Alvaro Morata missed from the spot as Arsenal claimed the Community Shield by beating 10-man Chelsea 4-1 on penalties. After a 1-1 draw in regulation time, the shoot-out saw goalkeeper Courtois, an unusual choice to take his side's second penalty,..

TOPSHOT - Brazilian superstar Neymar poses with his new jersey during his official presentation at the Parc des Princes stadium on August 4, 2017 in Paris after agreeing a five-year contract following his world record 222 million euro ($260 million) transfer from Barcelona to Paris Saint Germain's (PSG). Paris Saint-Germain have signed Brazilian forward Neymar from Barcelona for a world-record transfer fee of 222 million euros (around $264 million), more than doubling the previous record. Neymar said he came to Paris Saint-Germain for a "bigger challenge" in his first public comments since arriving in the French capital. / AFP PHOTO / Lionel BONAVENTURELIONEL BONAVENTURE/AFP/Getty Images

I wanted bigger challenge, Neymar says

The 25-year-old attacker says he "already feels at home" in the French capital, but says leaving Barca was "the most difficult decision of his life", goal.com report. Paris Saint-Germain forward Neymar has revealed that he has joined the Ligue 1 side to experience a "greater challenge". The 25-year-old Brazil striker signed for the Parc des Princes side from Barcelona for a world-record..

La Liga rejects payment by Neymar’s lawyers

La Liga has rejected an attempt by lawyers for Barcelona forward Neymar to pay his buyout clause of 222m euros (£200m), BBC report. The Brazil international, 25, is set to sign for Paris St-Germain for a world record fee, after telling Barcelona he wanted to leave on Wednesday. La Liga officials believe PSG are violating Uefa's Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules. But PSG do not think..

ICC Asia U-19s World Cup qualifier: Nepal defeat Malaysia by 5 wickets

Nepal kept their hope alive of qualifying for U-19s World Cup in New Zealand next year by battering Malaysia by five wickets with more than 166 balls to spare in ICC Asia U-19s World Cup qualifier, THT report. The game was played at the Indian Cricket Ground in Malaysia, today. After winning the toss, Nepali skipper Sandeep Laminchhane invited Malaysia to bat first in 5th match of..

Trump plans Obamacare fail

President Donald Trump has said the new Republican healthcare policy should be to allow the current law to collapse, BBC report. "As I have always said, let ObamaCare fail and then come together and do a great healthcare plan. Stay tuned!" he tweeted. Support for the Republican Senate bill fell apart on Monday when two more senators said they could not back it. The party's Senate leader,..

Spanish football chief Angel Maria Villar Llona arrested

The president of the Spanish Football Federation and his son have been held as part of a corruption investigation, police in Spain say, BBC report. Angel María Villar Llona was arrested on suspicion of embezzling funds, El Pais and Efe news agency reported. Mr Villar, a former Spain international footballer, has been president of the association since 1988. His son Gorka was among a..

Nepal thrashes Malaysia in ICC U-19 World Cup Qualifiers Asia Region

Nepal youth team have continued their winning streak with another five-wicket win over Malaysia in the second match of the ICC U-19 World Cup Qualifiers for Asia Region at Singapore Cricket Club in Padang on Tuesday, THT report. Nepal had won the toss and chose to bowl first. Malaysia started their innings with Muhammad Amir and Saifullah Malik but lost Amir for 0 after just..

Federer beats Marin Cilic to win record eighth Wimbledon title

Roger Federer became the first man to win Wimbledon eight times and extended his record to 19 Grand Slam titles with victory over Croatia's Marin Cilic, BBC report. The Swiss third seed won 6-3 6-1 6-4 as seventh seed Cilic struggled with a blister on his left foot and broke down in tears during the second set. Federer, 35, finished the contest in one hour and 41 minutes to claim his..

What is Lionel Messi’s net worth?

The Argentine has signed a new contract with the Catalans to become the best-paid player in Europe ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale. Lionel Messi has become the best-paid player in European football by agreeing a new four-year deal to extend his stay at Barcelona. The Argentine's existing contract was set to expire in the summer of 2018 and whether at Camp Nou or elsewhere, it..

Messi signs new deal with Barcelona

Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi will sign a new four-year deal with the club, keeping him with the Spanish giants until 2021, the side said on Wednesday. Five times a Ballon d’Or winner, the Argentinean forward was entering the final 12 months of his current deal before the new one was agreed. Messi, who scored 37 times in La Liga last season, has been at Barcelona since the..

France Election 2017 Mourinho accused of tax fraud

Manchester United boss José Mourinho has been accused of tax fraud by Spanish prosecutors investigating his time as Real Madrid's head coach, BBC report. The Portuguese manager is accused of defrauding Spain of €3.3m (£2.9m; $3.6m) in taxes between 2011 and 2012. He has yet to comment on the claim. A prosecutor says he did not declare income from the use of his image rights in order to..

Pakistan lifts Champions Trophy by thrashing India

Pakistan produced an incredible display to thrash fierce rivals India and win the Champions Trophy at The Oval, BBC report. Fakhar Zaman hit a spectacular century to propel Pakistan to 338-4 in the scorching south London sunshine. Mohammad Amir then tore through the India top order to help reduce the defending champions to 54-5. India eventually limped to 158, Pakistan winning by 180 runs..

Rafael Nadal lifts French open title

Spain's Rafael Nadal made history by winning a record 10th French Open title with victory over Stan Wawrinka in the Paris final, BBC report. Nadal, 31, came through 6-2 6-3 6-1 against the Swiss third seed to claim his 15th major title. He becomes the first man or woman in the Open era to have won a Grand Slam tournament 10 times. Wawrinka, 32, was beaten in a major final for the first..