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Real Mallorca shock Real Madrid in La Liga

Real Madrid’s hopes of retaining La Liga were dented Sunday as the champions fell 1-0 at Real Mallorca, to remain five points behind leaders Barcelona.

The Catalans host Sevilla later on and can open up an eight point lead after a frustrated Madrid fell against Javier Aguirre’s side, with Marco Asensio missing a penalty against his former club.

Nacho’s 13th minute looping header into his own net separated the teams in a hard-fought clash, frequently slowed by various fouls from the hosts.

Amid a constant battle between winger Vinicius Junior and Mallorca’s players and supporters, the islanders held off Los Blancos to record an impressive v

victory

Real Madrid, second, were without goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, hurt during the warm-up, along with the injured Karim Benzema, Eder Militao and Ferland Mendy, among other absentees.

Rodrygo started up front in place of Benzema, while Dani Ceballos and Fede Valverde were given starts in midfield ahead of veterans Toni Kroos and Luka Modric.

The match was heated from the start, largely due to historic bad blood between Vinicius and Mallorca. Mallorca captain Antonio Raillo has criticised the Brazilian winger on multiple occasions for lacking respect towards opponents and said he wouldn’t hold him up as an example to his son.

Home fans at the Visit Mallorca Stadium whistled Vinicius when he was on the ball and chanted Raillo’s name.Ancelotti was also frustrated his team were playing in the early afternoon after having faced Valencia on Thursday night and Madrid started sluggishly.

Mallorca, 10th, took an early lead when Nacho’s attempted header sent Dani Rodriguez’s in-swinging cross from the left looping over Courtois’s stand-in Andriy Lunin and dipping just under the crossbar.

The hosts shackled Vinicius well in the first half and reduced Madrid to pot-shots from distance, Antonio Rudiger and Valverde firing wildly off-target.

Vinicius was booked for stepping on Pablo Maffeo’s foot, leaving the Brazilian incredulous after various fouls against him had not been punished with a card.

Ceballos protested vehemently to the officials as the teams went in at the break and was also booked, as temperatures rose in the Mallorcan sun.- Heated -Vinicius pulled at the Madrid badge on his shirt while looking at the home fans to agitate them further.

Early in the second half Raillo responded by offering Vinicius the Mallorca badge on his shirt to kiss. Madrid had a golden chance to level when Mallorca goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic brought down Vinicius, but the Serbian denied Asensio from the spot.The Real Madrid forward, from Mallorca, tried to find the bottom right corner but Rajkovic flung himself full-length to tip away his penalty.

David Alaba returned from injury off the bench and his cross was volleyed narrowly over by Mariano Diaz, on a rare outing for the Dominican Republic striker, as Madrid’s desperation grew.

Rudiger sent a dipping header wide late in stoppage time as Madrid’s last chance slipped away.

Madrid will have to put defeat behind them quickly as they travel to Morocco midweek to take part in the Club World Cup.

_Bein Sports

7 Top Most Common Mistakes Travellers Make When Applying for a Schengen Visa

Applying for a Schengen Visa in 2023 is not an easy task, as it has never been. There are lots of documents to be collected, an interview to be attended and even a fee to be paid, which right now is 33 per cent higher than it was before the pandemic.

However, getting a visa can be made easier for many, if they only pay attention to some very common mistakes that usually result in the rejection of an application, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.

Most of the time, these mistakes are made due to lack of knowledge, or the applicant not understanding the importance of the documents meeting the criteria set by the Schengen country they wish to visit.

Following, we have made a list of the top most common mistakes that are made by Schengen visa applicants. If you try to avoid them, and make sure the rest of your application file is also in compliance with the criteria set by the Schengen authorities, then your chances for getting a Schengen visa are way higher.

Collecting the Required Documents Based on a Random List Provided by a Friend
Many travellers, in particular first-time Schengen visa applicants, make the mistake of taking advice from family members or friends who have obtained Schengen visas in the past, and apply it word by word throughout the whole procedures.

The required documents for a Schengen visa differ in many occasions from one country to the other, or from one embassy to the other. In addition, visa requirements are continuously reviewed and updated by Schengen Area embassies worldwide.

People who just get a random list from a friend or a family member and start collecting the documents according to the same, often make the mistake of leaving out crucial, newly added requirements, or documents that are required according to new criteria.

All Schengen visa applicants are advised to collect the documents based on the list published by the embassy of the country where they will file their application.

SchengenVisaInfo.com also has a complete list of the documents required for a Schengen visa application, which are continuously reviewed and updated according to official sources.

Passport Does Not Meet the Requirements
Having a passport that has some several more months of validity left is not enough, and some travellers have learnt it the hard way.

The EU has specific and strict passport rules for those applying for a Schengen visa, as follows:

The passport must be valid for six more months beyond the date of their planned trip to the Schengen Area
The passport must have been issued in the last ten years on the date the passport holder plans to leave the Schengen country he or she is visiting
The passport must have at least two blank pages, but they must not be added later to the passport
Those who fail to meet any of these rules, are rejected from getting a visa.

In addition, travellers planning to get a visa with the multiple entry option, for periods of three or five years, must be aware that if the validity of their passport is shorter than the period of validity of the required visa, then they will not be getting the latter.

Instead, in most occasions, they will get a visa valid for shorter period of time, before the expiration of their passport.

Filling the Application Form With Info That Doesn’t Align With Other Documents

Every traveller needs to fill in the application form for a Schengen visa. This is the first document that is required. Many travellers make the mistake of putting into the application form different information than those in the other documents.

For example, if their passport is valid for six more months, some put in the application that the passport is valid for longer than that. In other occasions, they write the required period of visa validity in different dates, than the dates for which they have travel insurance, or accommodation.

Such mistakes, in particular when done intentionally, may result automatically in the rejection of the visa application.

Here you can find some clear instructions on how to fill in the visa application form.

The Applicant Doesn’t Have (the Right) Travel Insurance

Refusing to buy travel insurance with the idea “nothing’s gonna happen to me” is a huge mistake. The embassy does not care whether you are a person that never gets sick, or is very careful of accidents. Travel insurance worth €30,000 coverage that cover repatriation in case of death, is a must for every person.

In many occasions, people obtain travel insurance for a shorter period of time than that they are planning to spend in the EU, or buy it with a lower coverage than required.

In cases when insurance does not cover repatriation in case of death, no matter how much it covers other accidents, the requirement of having travel insurance is considered unmet.

Travellers always have the opportunity to buy schengen travel insurance online at very low cost from Europ Assistance or MondialCare.

Submitting an Application Too Early or Too Late
Like every other thing, the time when an application should be filed is also regulated by the Schengen Visa Code. According to it, the earliest that you can file an application is six months before your intended trip, and the latest is 15 working days before your intended trip.

Trying to file an application i.e. one year in advance, is not going to end well, not even at super crowded embassies.

The same with filing an application late. People who have previously gotten a visa in a very short period, i.e. five days from a particular embassy, and think that filing the next visa application late will not be a big deal risk getting their visa application delayed, or even not accepted at all.

Thus every traveller must make sure that he or she is submitting the application well in advance, but not earlier than six months before their planned trip.

Applying at the Wrong Embassy/Consulate/Visa Centre
Another very common mistake amongst people who plan on visiting several Schengen Area countries with a single visa, is submitting the application at the wrong embassy.

In cases when one wishes to visit two or more countries in the Schengen Area with the same visa in an uninterrupted trip, the application should be submitted as follows:

At the embassy of the country you will visit first, if you are planning to stay in each country for an equal amount of days. I.e. if you are planning to stay five days in Austria, five days in Germany, and five days in France, but you will enter the Schengen Zone through Austria, then you should submit you application at the Austrian embassy.
At the embassy of the country you will stay the longest, if you are planning to stay in each country a different amount of days. I.e. if you are planning to stay three days in Austria, five days in Germany, and seven days in France, then you should submit you application at the French embassy.

Not Bringing Cash to Pay the Application Fee

This one is not a mistake that could get you your visa rejected, but could cause you some unnecessary trouble.

On the day of the interview, many people do not bring cash with them to pay the Schengen visa fee under the idea that they can pay with card or online. This is not possible, as all embassies, consulates, and visa centres require travellers to have the exact amount required for a visa in cash.

Trying to pay with big banknotes might also be a problem, in particular if you are amongst the first applicants of the day. It is best for every applicant to have the exact amount, in order to avoid any headaches.

Ghanaian-American soldier killed by colleague at training in Alabama

The two reportedly got into an “altercation,” prompting Latifu to receive medical care. The 21-year-old died from his injuries on Tuesday, 10 January

A 21-year-old died after an “altercation” with a fellow soldier on a military base in Alabama, officials have said.

Abdul N. Latifu — known as a “promising young soldier” — landed at Fort Rucker for a training course. But his life was cut short after he was hurt “during an incident with another soldier,” the U.S. military wrote in a news release.

The two reportedly got into an “altercation,” prompting Latifu to receive medical care. The 21-year-old died from his injuries on Tuesday, 10 January, officials told the Dothan Eagle newspaper and WDHN.

“I extend our deepest condolences to Pvt. Latifu’s family, friends, and community,”

Maj. Gen. Michael C. McCurry, commander for the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence and Fort Rucker, said in a news release.

“Together we mourn the loss of a promising young soldier. Our hearts are with the families and units impacted by the incident.”

The Fort Rucker Department of Public Safety took the other soldier involved in the incident into custody, according to the military. “Fort Rucker leaders are working closely with military police and U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division as the investigation continues,” McCurry wrote.

After Latifu’s death, the military announced that counselors, chaplains and other resources were available to offer support. Officials said Latifu had been “assigned to the 1st Battalion, 13th Aviation Regiment, 1st Aviation Brigade, as he trained as an army air traffic control operator.”

He was from the Bronx borough of New York City. Fort Rucker — located about 95 miles southeast of Montgomery, Alabama .

-Asaase Radio

Official: FC Zurich unveils former Hearts of Oak striker Afriyie Barnieh

The former Phobians striker has been officially unveiled after putting pen to paper last week

Ghana forward Daniel Afriyie Barnieh has officially been unveiled by Swiss club FC Zurich.

The 21-year-old, who was named in Ghana’s squad for 2022 Fifa World Cup staged in Qatar last month, was linked with many clubs including Sudanese giants Al Hilal in a transfer fee rumoured around $1 million.

The youngster has been tipped to blossom in Europe after series of inspiring performances in Ghana Premier League and Ghana national teams.

Barnieh helped Hearts to win Ghana Premier League and FA Cup in 2021.

Ofori Amponsah to thrill Ghanaians in Telford, UK on New Year Day 2023

The multiple-award winning artist will storm the Shropshire to celebrate with Ghanaians in the diaspora as we enter 2023

Ghana’s High-Life superstar Ofori Amponsah has been billed to entertain Ghanaians in United Kingdom’s town of Telford on New Year Day in 2023.

The event which is being organized by Ozberga Events UK will take place at the 02 Centre in Wellington-Telford of Shropshire, on Sunday, January 1, 2023 will shower Ghanaians and other Africans in the diaspora into another new year filled with huge expectations.

Also performing on the night as a special guest will be award-winning actress cum musician Emelia Brobbey.

Tickets have been pegged at £20 and £30 for standard and VIP respectively and there will also be a table for family and friends.

Ozberga Events UK is one of the fastest-rising event organisers in the United Kingdom. In November, they held another musical concert which was headlined by legends Samini and K.K Fosu.

Interestingly, they used the event to raised funds for charity works in Northern Part of Ghana.

Watch Highlights: Asante Kotoko defeat Bechem United on penalties to progress in FA Cup

The Porcupine Warriors survived a late scare by Hunters as they cruised into the next stage of the Cup competition

Asante Kotoko defeated Bechem United 4-2 on penalties to progress to the Round of 32 of Ghana FA Cup at Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Monday.

The Porcupine Warriors took the lead early in the game after Steven Mukwala slotted in from close range before the striker added another minutes later after being played through by a teammate.

However, Bechem scored two crucial goals later on to push the game into penalty shootouts.

And despite Bechem’s motivation to go past their hosts, Kotoko managed to win 4-2 on penalties.

Highlights|| Kotoko vs Bechem United

On Tuesday, title holders Hearts of Oak will face Uncle T FC in a make or break encounter at Accra Sports Stadium.

WAFA, B.A United & others out of FA Cup while GoldStars, Nations progress

The oldest cup competition is still on course with some major upset

Ghana FA Cup round of 64 took place over the weekend across the country with some interesting results.

Last season’s finalists Bechem United will play Asante Kotoko at Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Boxing Day while champions Hearts of Oak battle Uncle T FC on Tuesday at Accra Sports Stadium.

MTN FA CUP ROUND OF 64 MATCHES

FULL-TIME RESULTS

Heart of Lions 1-0 Adidome Unity Stars

STK Stars 1-0 Walewale Catholic Stars

Wa Power 1-0 Maana FC

Benab 0-0 Soccer 4 Souls (4-2 pen)

WAFA 1-1 Skyy FC (4-5 pen)

Bofoakwa Tano 1-0 Kaasena Nan-Kana

Legon Cities 1-0 Accra Lions

Liberty Prof. 1-0 Accra Athletic

MSK Zilina 2-0 Koforidua Semper Fi

Nzema Kotoko 1-1 Fijai Soccer Academy (5-4 pen)

RTU 4-0 Kumbungu Binbiem

B.A United 0-1 Debibi United

PRO Players Football Academy 0-2 King Faisal

Nations FC 1-0 PAC Academy

Krystal Palace 1-1 Okwawu United (4-3 pen)

Sefwi All Stars 0-1 Goldstars

Swedru All Blacks 1-2 Vipers

Volta Rangers 1-1 Aflao Agboba (5-4 pen)

Mighty Royals vs Berekum Arsenal

Kotoku Royals vs Na God FC

AS Rences vs Best XI
_

MONDAY (26/12/2022)

Tamale City vs Steadfast

Wa Suntaa vs Berekum Chelsea

Dormaa Unity vs Aduana Stars

Baffour Soccer Academy vs Nsoatreman

Asante Kotoko vs Bechem United

Golden Kick vs Great Olympics

Ebusua Dwarfs vs Kenpong Soccer Academy

Karela United vs Medeama

Adjoafuaman vs Samartex
_

TUESDAY (27/12/2022)

Asekem vs Dreams

Uncle T vs Hearts of Oak


ROUND OF 32 – QUALIFIED TEAMS

Heart of Lions
STK Stars
Wa Power
Benab FC
Skyy FC
Bofoakwa Tano
Krystal Palace
Legon Cities
Liberty Prof.
MSK Zilina
Nzema Kotoko
RTU
Debibi United
King Faisal
Nations FC
Goldstars
Volta Rangers
Vipers

+14 more to go…

FINA becomes World Aquatics as new brand launched

Written by: FINA Communication Department

Melbourne, 12 December 2022; FINA, the Fédération Internationale de Natation, has today become World Aquatics following a vote at an Extraordinary Congress on the eve of the World Swimming Championships (25m) 2022. Over its 114-year history, FINA and its 209 member federations have maintained responsibility for swimmers, artistic swimmers, divers, high divers, open water swimmers and water polo players.

The launch of the World Aquatics brand arrives after a series of major reforms that sees a modern organisation ready to lead and serve athletes united by water, with a broader scope and increased engagement with participants and audiences.

“Everyone in our community is proud of what FINA achieved in developing our sports. As we look to the future, World Aquatics will see all aquatics athletes united for the first time under one brand. The identity of our organisation now focuses on our shared vision: a world united by water, for health, life and sport,” said World Aquatics President Husain Al-Musallam.

“FINA is a French acronym. The word ‘Natation’ represents swimmers. These days, swimmers are only one, important, part of our FINA family. We need a name that reflects the whole FINA family. A name that can be used with pride by our divers, high divers, artistic swimmers, open water swimmers and our water polo athletes.

” I will always tell you that our athletes must come first, so I would never make a big decision like this without consulting our athletes. Their response has been very clear. More than seventy per cent of the athletes that we have spoken with have said that they would like us to change FINA’s name. Many of them could not even tell us what the letters in FINA stand for.”

By World Aquatics President Husain Al-Musallam announcing the new brand for global aquatics

The adoption of the World Aquatics name was confirmed by a vote of member federations at an Extraordinary Congress in Melbourne earlier today. It marks the culmination of 18 months of intensive organisational transformation, much of it guided by the FINA Reform Committee. During this process, World Aquatics has made very significant improvements to its governance, including the strengthening of the athletes’ voice in decision-making and the creation of an independent Aquatics Integrity Unit.

“World Aquatics will continue to deliver and develop the rewarding competition calendar that has become the foundation of successful elite careers while being the subject of dreams and ambitions for millions of young aquatics athletes all around the globe,” continued Al-Musallam.

“Our new vision and mission also reflect how World Aquatics and our members have already begun expanding our work beyond competition and swimming as a life skill, to include sustainability, environmental advocacy and wellbeing. Our new brand and visual identity will also enable us to connect with new audiences and encourage new generations of athletes across our disciplines to be united by water, safely, fairly and sustainably.”

Video: Cristiano Ronaldo cries bitterly as he retires from International football after World Cup shock

The former Manchester United star was spotted crying uncontrollably as he left the stadium following Portugal’s exit from the World Cup

Cristiano Ronaldo could not resist the shock and pains as he wept uncontrollably following Portugal’s 1-0 defeat to Morocco in the quarterfinals of 2022 Fifa World Cup ongoing in Qatar on Saturday.

The 37-year-old was a second half substitute but his presence wasn’t enough as Morocco held on to a goal from Youssef En-Nesyri.

Before the World Cup, Ronaldo publicly admitted that he would retire from international football regardless of the outcome of the tournament and this means that he would be exiting the international stage in a horrible manner despite having an incredible campaign with Portugal.

Morocco have always made history at the FIFA World Cup for Africa. They became the first African nation to pick a point at the tournament and the first African nation to make it out of the group.

And, now, most importantly, the first ever African nation to make it to the Semifinals.

They will face the winner between England and France for a place in the final.

How cold weather affects your health

It’s not just illnesses you need to protect yourself from in winter. Winter weather can bring many risks to you and your family.

There’s the usual winter coughs, colds and flu, and this year we will also need to be aware of coronavirus, but then there are also risks to your health associated with flooding and storms.

Why is winter weather a risk to our health?

Cold temperatures have an impact on our health, but there are other risks in winter including physical injuries from slips, trips and falls.

As we get older it becomes harder for our bodies to detect how cold we are, and it takes longer to warm up which can be bad for our health. For older people in particular, the longer the exposure to the cold, the more risk of heart attacks, strokes, pneumonia, depression, worsening arthritis and increased accidents at home (associated with loss of strength and dexterity in the hands).

Here’s a video about how weather can affect our health and what you can do to manage the possible impacts:

Dealing with winter illnesses

If you are normally healthy, many of the coughs, colds and minor illnesses that seem to happen more frequently during winter can be safely managed yourself. There’s plenty of advice about dealing with common winter illnesses from the NHS and you can also talk to your local pharmacist. 

Flu

Flu can affect people in different ways and can be more serious than you think. The flu vaccination is offered free of charge to people who are at most risk from the effects of the virus to protect them from catching flu and developing serious complications. Find out who is eligible for a free flu jab.

Contact your GP or pharmacist if you think you, or someone you care for, should be eligible for a free flu jab. There’s further information about flu and the flu vaccine on the NHS website.

Coronavirus

If you have any of the main symptoms of coronovirus it’s important that you get tested as soon as possible:

  • A high temperature
  • A new continuous cough
  • A loss or change to your sense of smell or taste

If you have any of these symptoms follow the latest guidance.

Handwashing

This is important now more than ever. Washing your hands with soap and water is one of the easiest ways to protect yourself and others from illnesses such as food poisoning, diarrhoea, flu and coronavirus.

Keep warm and active

It is important to keep warm in winter both inside and outdoors. Keeping warm can help to prevent colds, flu and more serious health problems.

Eating regularly helps keep you warm so try to have at least one hot meal a day along with regular hot drinks.

Keep your house warm and your bedroom window closed especially on cold winter nights, as breathing cold air can be bad for your health as it increases the risk of chest infections.

With many of us having to spend more time at home it can make it harder to keep active. It’s important to continue to do what you can to stay active as this can help with both your physical and mental health. Try to keep moving when you are indoors, try not to sit still for more than an hour or so. Break up your time spent being inactive by walking around your home or standing up from your chair when you are on the phone.

If you are heading outside for a walk or maybe some gardening, wear several layers of light clothes. Remember that several thin layers of clothing will keep you warmer than one thick layer as the layers trap warm air.

It doesn’t matter what you do to keep active, as long as it’s something you enjoy and keeps you moving. There is strong evidence that people who are active have a lower risk of heart disease, stroke, depression and can also reduce the risk of falling.

Cold  weather alerts for healthcare professionals

The Met Office issues Cold Weather Alerts that are sent directly to social and healthcare services in England. These alerts ensure that staff are fully prepared for any cold weather periods, and those who are more vulnerable to cold weather conditions are aware and prepared.

The UK Health Security Agency produces a Cold Weather Plan for England which helps to raise awareness of the harm to health from cold weather, and provides guidance on how to prepare for and respond to cold weather.