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Governor Alia has given civil servants in Benue state two-week holiday break ahead of the Christmas and New Year celebrations He encouraged civil servants to use the extended break to engage in farming activities, to boost food security in the state The governor also maintained that essential service workers are exempted from the public holiday PAY ATTENTION: Follow our WhatsApp channel to never miss out on the news that matters to you! Legit.ng journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements. Makurdi, Benue state - Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue state has declared two two weeks public holiday for civil servants in the state to celebrate the Christmas and New Year festivities. Alia approves two-week holiday for Benue workers Alia, announced this during a press briefing at the government house, in Makurdi , Benue state capital, on Tuesday, December 24. PAY ATTENTION: Follow us on Instagram - get the most important news directly in your favourite app! According to the governor, the holiday will commence on December, 24 and ends on January 6, 2025. Read also BREAKING: FG announces slash in transportation, details emerge Speaking further, Governor Alia noted that the the essence of the long holiday is to allow workers in the state to enjoy the season with their loved ones. He also enjoined the civil servants to use the holiday to engage in farming activities for food security in the state. He said: “I urge you to seize the opportunity of this long holiday to attend to your agricultural pursuit by engaging in farming activities so that there will be abundance of food in the state.” Essential service workers exempted As reported by Vanguard, Alia clarified that essential services such as banks, energy providers, and security agencies will continue to operate throughout the holiday period. He advised the people of the state to continue to imbibe the spirit of love and peace while remaining committed to a better Benue state . Read related reports on Christmas: Christmas: Governor Mutfwang launches free holiday transportation scheme for Plateau residents Lagos govt announces 72-hour shopping festival, date, venue, other details emerge Christmas bonus: Ebonyi governor announces N150k for workers Read also Nigerian gov issues ultimatum to LG chairmen over delayed salaries: “Resign if you cannot pay” Diri approves Christmas break for workers in Bayelsa Similarly, Legit.ng earlier reported that Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa state, announced holiday break for civil servants in the state. Civil servants in Bayelsa state will enjoy a seven-day break starting from December 24, 2024, through December 30, 2024, to celebrate the Christmas holiday. The state Commissioner for Information, Orientation & Strategy, Mrs. Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai, confirmed this in a statement and shared further details. PAY ATTENTION: Сheck out news that is picked exactly for YOU ➡️ find the “Recommended for you” block on the home page and enjoy! Source: Legit.ngHegseth meets with moderate Sen. Collins as he lobbies for key votes in the Senate
HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Texans didn’t need to see what Baltimore’s Derrick Henry is doing this season to be reminded of just how dangerous he can be. He ran all over the Texans for years while playing in the AFC South for the Tennessee Titans. Henry and the Ravens (10-5) visit AFC South champion Houston (9-6) on Wednesday, looking for a win to keep their AFC North title chances alive. Baltimore has clinched a playoff berth for a third straight season but needs wins in its last two games and one loss by the Steelers to capture the division. Henry, who ranks second in the NFL with 1,636 yards rushing, has had some of his greatest success against the Texans. Four of the 30-year-old’s six career 200-yard rushing games have been against Houston, including a career-high 250 in the season finale in the 2020 season to surpass 2,000 yards. “You talk about fast, explosive, physical — he’s looking probably the best he’s looked in his career,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “He’s found that fountain of youth ... he’s a great player. It’s fun to see guys rebound and bounce back the way that he’s done this year.” Dealing with Henry along with all the challenges that quarterback Lamar Jackson presents makes the top-ranked Ravens one of Houston’s more difficult matchups. “You talk about MVP, (Jackson’s) definitely the MVP in my mind just for what he’s doing not only in the run game but also throwing the football,” Ryans said. “The accuracy, the decision-making, like, he’s playing unbelievable ball right now, so it’s going to be a really tough challenge for us this week.” Another challenge for the Texans is moving on after Tank Dell sustained a season-ending knee injury in Saturday’s loss to Kansas City. His injury is another blow to a receiving group that already was without star Stefon Diggs, who tore his ACL in Week 8. “The position we’re in, it’s not a lot of times where you can sulk in your feelings for very long,” quarterback C.J. Stroud said. “You’ve got to just keep rolling. I think that’s a testament to just life in general. Everybody has stuff on their plate. Everybody is going through something. And just because we’re in this position, doesn’t mean you get to feel sorry for yourself.” Houston will rely on Stroud to keep the passing game rolling despite the loss of Dell, who ranks second on the team with 667 yards receiving. Baltimore coach John Harbaugh has been impressed with Stroud’s growth in Year 2 and knows that dealing with him will be difficult for his team, which ranks 31st in the NFL by allowing 254.9 yards passing a game. “He’s just a supertalented guy... he’s surrounded with some good weapons, and he gets the ball out quick,” Harbaugh said. “He handles pressure well, he can move, he’s athletic, scrambles and makes plays.” Jackson is a big fan of Beyoncé, though he didn’t know the title of his favorite song of hers, saying it was “To the left,” which is just the first lines of her hit “Irreplaceable.” And he doesn’t think playing in Wednesday’s game should stop him from seeing her halftime show on Christmas . “I’m going to go out there and watch,” he said. “First time seeing Beyoncé perform, and it’s at our game — that’s dope. I’m going to go out and watch. Sorry Harbaugh, sorry fellas." He later clarified that he was kidding about sneaking out at halftime to get a glimpse of Queen Bey. “I was just thinking about just seeing Beyoncé for the first time,” he said. “Not saying it like that; no disrespect, because I know how people can take things. Next question.” Houston receiver John Metchie could have a chance for a big game with Dell out. Metchie is playing in his second NFL season after missing his entire rookie year while undergoing cancer treatment. He has just 182 yards receiving this season, with his best game coming against Detroit, when he had a career-high 72 yards receiving and his only NFL TD. Stroud is looking for Metchie and fellow reserve Xavier Hutchinson to help make up for Dell’s absence against the Ravens. “Those guys have another opportunity to show who they are and I know that they can do it,” Stroud said. “I see them in practice do it every week. So, I’m excited for them and it’s a good opportunity for them to step up.” Jackson is up to 6,023 yards rushing for his career. The NFL record for a quarterback is 6,109 by Michael Vick, so Jackson could break it with a big game on Wednesday. Jackson also leads the NFL in passer rating and is in the conversation for his third MVP. Although it sounds like that’s a discussion he’d rather not get involved in. “No other choice but to hear it,” Jackson said. “They (are) tagging me in it. You don’t (have) to tag me. You can talk about it all you want, but you want to tag me to get like clickbait because you know sometimes I (will) say something back like, ‘That was stupid.’ It is what it is. I don’t care, though. I really don’t care about the talk.” AP Sports Writer Noah Trister in Owings Mills, Maryland, contributed to this report. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
The tangled web that links big unions and Labor to the $3.9 trillion super sectorHave you seen claims that Brian Thompson, the UnitedHealthcare CEO who was shot on Dec. 4 in New York, was killed because he was about to testify against Rep. Nancy Pelosi for insider trading? It’s gone viral on several social media platforms over the past week. But it’s not true. The oldest example of this false claim that Gizmodo could find dates to the night of Dec. 6, two days after the shooting. The X account HustleBitch wrote “ BREAKING: Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was set to testify against Nancy Pelosi for insider trading.” From that claim around 10:00 p.m. ET, other X accounts that went viral seem to have made their posts about it a couple of hours later. Politifact also found the claim being made on Threads and Instagram, though those posts were made on Dec. 7, the day after the earliest tweets spreading the false story, which were happening well before the arrest of Luigi Mangione , who’s been charged with the murder and is currently fighting extradition to New York from Pennsylvania. But the claim that Thompson was killed over this motive related to a sitting congresswoman isn’t true. There’s no evidence Thompson was going to testify against Pelosi for insider trading or anything else. But, oddly enough, Thompson was himself accused of insider trading before he was killed. The Hollywood Firefighters Pension Fund filed a lawsuit against Thompson and other executives at UnitedHealth back in May . The lawsuit alleges that the executives sold about $120 million worth of UnitedHealth shares when they learned the U.S. Department of Justice was investigating the company for anti-competitive practices. The stock went down only after it became publicly known the DOJ had opened an investigation. The suit states Thompson sold about $15 million worth of stock. Pelosi and other members of Congress have indeed received scrutiny over their activity trading stocks, and some Democrats have called for a ban, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who wrote back in 2021 , “There is no reason members of Congress should hold and trade individual stock when we write major policy and have access to sensitive information.” Some versions of the false claim on social media also use a video that purports to show Thompson talking about Nancy Pelosi providing help to UnitedHealth. The only problem, of course, is that the video doesn’t show the Thompson that was killed, as anyone with eyes can see. Matt Wallace , a conspiracy theorist who often spreads disinformation on X, helped spread the misidentified video along with several others. Wallace also made a video on Rumble claiming that Nancy Pelosi brainwashed the shooter with techniques from MKUltra, the mind control experiments of the CIA from the 1960s. There were also claims that the man who took a shot at Donald Trump over the summer in Butler, Pennsylvania. The CIA told Gizmodo after those claims went viral that any claims about MKUltra being involved in the assassination attempt were, “utterly false, absurd, and damaging.” Why are people online spreading this false story about Pelosi? We can only assume they’re either actively or unintentionally spreading false information that helps Trump. Many of the accounts that were sharing the false claim in its earliest iteration appear to have bios and images promoting the former and incoming president. HustleBitch, the account that appears to have shared the claim very early (if not possibly the first), has a history of sharing lies on the internet. That account was also one of the first to share a claim that a body double was actually used for Trump’s visit to watch a SpaceX launch with Elon Musk last month . But it’s not clear who’s actually behind the account. All we know for certain is that there’s no evidence that Thompson was killed because he was going to testify. And while Mangione’s lawyer has said his client intends to plead not guilty, all the available evidence seems to suggest that he may have been killed because his company makes billions of dollars in profits while denying life-saving medical coverage to Americans who are fed up with a broken healthcare system.
Rape allegation against Jay-Z won’t impact NFL's relationship with music mogul, Goodell says
Missouri stuns top-ranked Kansas in 76-67 upsetGlobal Drone Command Vehicle Market to Witness Significant Growth Amidst Increased Military and Surveillance Applications | Valuates Reports 12-08-2024 07:24 PM CET | Advertising, Media Consulting, Marketing Research Press release from: Valuates Reports Drone Command Vehicle Market The drone command vehicle is a vehicle that communicates and commands through drones. It is well used in police law enforcement, environmental protection supervision, power inspection, post-disaster rescue, etc. The global Drone Command Vehicle market was valued at US$ million in 2023 and is anticipated to reach US$ million by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of % during the forecast period 2024-2030. Get Free Sample: https://reports.valuates.com/request/sample/QYRE-Auto-6I15870/Global_Drone_Command_Vehicle_Market_Research_Report_2023 Major Trends in the Drone Command Vehicle Market: 1.Increased Demand for Surveillance and Defense Applications: The rising need for real-time surveillance in defense, military, and law enforcement sectors is driving the growth of drone command vehicles. These vehicles provide mobile control stations for drones, allowing seamless operations for monitoring and tactical missions. 2.Integration of AI and Automation: The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation into drone command vehicles is enhancing operational efficiency. AI-driven features like autonomous flight control, data processing, and real-time decision-making are becoming key components of these vehicles. 3.Advancements in Communication Systems: Modern drone command vehicles are equipped with advanced communication technologies, enabling secure, high-speed data transmission between drones and ground control stations. This ensures effective and uninterrupted command over extended ranges. 4.Growth in Commercial Applications: While defense remains a dominant sector, commercial industries like logistics, agriculture, and infrastructure inspection are increasingly adopting drone command vehicles for tasks like delivery, crop monitoring, and surveying, leading to a diversified market. 5.Government Initiatives and Regulations: Governments across the globe are pushing for innovations in drone technology, including command vehicles, to strengthen national security and disaster management capabilities. Regulations governing the use of drones are becoming more refined, creating opportunities for the market. Major Challenges in the Drone Command Vehicle Market: 1.Regulatory and Airspace Restrictions: Stringent regulations on drone flights, especially in restricted airspaces or urban areas, pose significant challenges for drone command vehicle operators. Adhering to these regulations while maintaining operational efficiency is often difficult. 2.High Initial Costs: Drone command vehicles are expensive to develop and deploy, particularly when equipped with advanced AI, communication systems, and high-performance drones. This can make it challenging for smaller companies or organizations to adopt the technology. Purchase Regional Report: https://reports.valuates.com/request/regional/QYRE-Auto-6I15870/Global_Drone_Command_Vehicle_Market_Research_Report_2023 By Type •Small Command Vehicle •Medium Command Vehicle •Large Command Vehicle By Application •Public Safety •Emergency Rescue •Electric Power Inspection •Ecological Energy •Others Key Companies MBF Industries, FLYMOTION, Draxxon, Frontline Communications, Venari, Saxon, Accelerated Media Technologies, Jiangling Automobile Group, Chengdu Hermes Technology, BEIJING C.Z.B.F, CHENGDU TIMESTECH, Honeycomb Aerospace Technologies, Chengli Special Purpose Vehicl, GDU-Tech, HYTERA COMMUNICATIONS View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-6I15870/global-drone-command-vehicle Please reach us at sales@valuates.com Address: Valuates, 4th Floor, Balaraj's Arcade, Whitefield Main road, Bangalore 560066 Valuates offers an extensive collection of market research reports that helps companies to take intelligent strategical decisions based on current and forecasted Market trends. This release was published on openPR.December 24, 2024 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlightedthe following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: fact-checked trusted source proofread by Idun Haugan, Norwegian University of Science and Technology Iceland has a long and rich literary tradition. With its 380,000 inhabitants, the country has produced many great writers, and it is said that one in two Icelanders writes books. This literary tradition stretches all the way back to the Middle Ages. "Previously, the theory was that Iceland was so dark and barren that the Icelanders had to fill their lives with storytelling and poetry to compensate for this. But Icelanders were certainly part of Europe and had a lot of contact with Britain, Germany, Denmark and Norway, among others," said Tom Lorenz, a Ph.D. research fellow at the Department of Language and Literature at NTNU. He is hunting down hidden and forgotten pieces of Iceland's Sagas' literary history and has published an article in the journal Gripla (in Icelandic). "The Icelanders were part of a common European culture, and Iceland has been a great knowledge society for a long time," he said. Royal lineage We can thank the Icelanders for our relatively good overview of the royal lineage here in Norway, right from the early Viking Age up to the death of Magnus V Erlingsson in 1184. Icelandic "skalds" were skilled and sought after, and Norwegian kings engaged skalds to ensure that their story and their feats would be told and passed on. In the Middle Ages, the Icelanders wrote down these oral traditions both in Latin and in Old Norse. Snorri Sturluson was the last and most important in a long line of saga writers who wrote down the kings' sagas in the 13th century. This is how the kings' sagas were preserved. "In addition to sagas, eddic poems, and skaldic verse, scientific literature and political treaties were also written in Iceland during the Middle Ages," Lorenz said. Valuable vellum Books and texts from this period were written on parchment , which is animal skin that has been carefully processed so it can be written on. In Iceland, only exclusive calfskin was used to make parchment. Calfskin parchment is called vellum, and it took dozens of calves to create enough vellum for one book. Vellum was a very valuable material. If a book became worn out or obsolete, the parchments were reused. Some were used to make tools, among other things, and one fragment that has been preserved was made into a miter—a type of ceremonial headgear worn by the bishop of Skálholt in Iceland. Many parchments were also reused as covers for new books. Unique to Iceland A common method for reusing old manuscript pages was to remove the original text by scraping and polishing so that the parchment could be used to create new books and manuscripts. This is called a palimpsest. "Palimpsests were common in the Middle Ages across Europe, and were particularly widespread in Iceland. Although literarily rich, Iceland was a poor country. The supply of expensive parchment was limited, while the demand was high because the Icelanders had much they wanted to communicate," said Lorenz. In Iceland, parchment was also reused for printing books after Gutenberg invented the printing press in the 15th century. "The fact that there are printed palimpsest books in Iceland and not just handwritten palimpsest parchments is unique in a European context, and this has not been studied before," Lorenz emphasized. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matter— daily or weekly . Abandoning Latin in favor of the vernacular In Iceland, as elsewhere in Europe, texts and books were written in Latin during the Middle Ages, especially liturgical texts used in ecclesiastical contexts. Latin was the predominant written language of Catholic Europe. But then came the rebellious priest Martin Luther, the man who started the great protest movement against the powerful Catholic Church. In the wake of Martin Luther and the Reformation in 1517, many northern European countries converted to Protestantism, including Iceland between 1537 and 1550. The Reformation brought an end to ecclesiastical manuscripts and books being written in Latin. The language of the common man was now to be used. Latin script was scraped off existing parchments so they could be used for new texts written in Icelandic, and these became palimpsests. Old text shines through "In documents and books made from palimpsest parchments, fragments of the old, original text can sometimes be seen beneath the new text," said Lorenz. The texts and words that have been scraped away can also be retrieved using modern techniques, such as infrared rays, but quite a lot of the old text can often be read with the naked eye. And it is in the hidden remnants of old Icelandic parchments written in Latin that Lorenz is searching for hidden and forgotten pieces of history. He examines the preserved fragments from these ancient books and also studies the different forms of parchment recycling and reuse. "My goal is to create virtual reconstructions of some of the ancient fragments that have survived to shed new light on previous eras' culture and society," said Lorenz. However, this involves finding the remnants of the palimpsests, and they are few and far between. "Hardly any Latin books from medieval Iceland have survived. Due to their rarity, recycled parchment from disassembled Latin books is one of our most important sources in the history of medieval Icelandic books," said Lorenz. Drained Iceland of medieval literature "I follow Latin traces from Icelandic manuscripts, but the Latin written material has been forgotten. Previous research has focused mostly on texts in Old Norse in Icelandic manuscripts," he said. From the 17th century onwards, Old Norse texts became important in the building of identity, national pride and power in the Nordic countries. In Denmark, the Icelander and archivist Árni Magnússon (1663–1730) was tasked with collecting medieval documents from both Iceland and the rest of the Nordic countries. At this time, Iceland was under Danish rule in the absolute monarchy of Denmark-Norway. Árni Magnússon was particularly interested in texts about Icelandic history. He scoured the market, almost draining Iceland of medieval literature, and built a large collection of handwritten books, the Arnamagnæan Collection. The collection is now part of UNESCO's Memory of the World Program. Tracking down unknown text fragments However, Árni Magnússon was most interested in books written in Old Norse, not in Latin. He used parchments from the Latin books as covers for the Old Norse books. In the early 20th century, the book covers were removed and stored separately, and few people have shown much interest in them—until now. These ancient book covers are among the parchments that Lorenz is studying in his search for hidden and forgotten fragments of history. Between 1971 and 1997, half of Árni Magnússon's book collection was returned from Denmark to Iceland, and half of the original collection of 3,000 manuscripts is now back in its country of origin. However, some medieval manuscripts are still located in archives and museums in Norway, Denmark, and also Sweden. So, Lorenz's search has taken him on a journey through the nooks and crannies of many archives. "I have identified several previously unidentified Latin fragments related to Iceland. These new discoveries contribute to greater knowledge about which theological and liturgical texts were in circulation in medieval Iceland. The texts show that medieval Icelanders followed and participated in European intellectual culture," said Lorenz. The text fragments he has found include hymns, prayers, sermons, hagiographies and church music. It started with the Vikings Lorenz is from Schleswig-Holstein in Germany, which used to be part of Denmark-Norway. He developed an interest in the Viking Age and saga literature at an early age, which led him to study Nordic languages in Kiel. He is now a Ph.D. research fellow at the Department of Language and Literature at NTNU's Center for Medieval Studies. He has also chosen to learn Norwegian Nynorsk in addition to Norwegian Bokmål. "I am fascinated by small phenomena and therefore chose to learn Nynorsk when I started my studies in Norway. It is probably also why I became fascinated and intrigued by the fragments of history that might be contained in the small, hidden and forgotten palimpsests that have remained unknown until now," said Lorenz in fluent Nynorsk. More information: Tom Lorenz, Endurvinnsla og endurnýting í íslenskum uppskafningum frá miðöldum og á árnýöld, Gripla (2024). DOI: 10.33112/gripla.35.1 Provided by Norwegian University of Science and TechnologySubscribe to our newsletter Privacy Policy Success! Your account was created and you’re signed in. Please visit My Account to verify and manage your account. An account was already registered with this email. Please check your inbox for an authentication link. Support Independent Arts Journalism As an independent publication, we rely on readers like you to fund our journalism. If you value our coverage and want to support more of it, consider becoming a member today . Already a member? Sign in here. We rely on readers like you to fund our journalism. If you value our coverage and want to support more of it, please join us as a member . The trailblazing poet, artist, educator, and lifelong activist Nikki Giovanni, known as the “Princess of Black Poetry,” died on Monday, December 9 at a hospital in Blacksburg, Virginia. She was 81. Giovanni’s publicist told local reporters that she passed away after complications related to lung cancer with her wife, Virginia “Ginny” Fowler, by her side. Born Yolande Cornelia Giovanni Jr. on June 7, 1943, in Knoxville, Tennessee, she grew up between her birthplace and Ohio and attended Fisk University, graduating in 1967. In the wake of the death of her grandmother and the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. the following year, she began writing poetry to process her grief. Giovanni went on to publish over 20 poetry collections and more than a dozen illustrated children’s books, winning numerous prizes including the inaugural Rosa Parks Woman of Courage Award in 2002. Her best-known works include her first three poetry collections, Black Feeling, Black Talk (1968), Black Judgment (1968) and Re: Creation (1970), which drew inspiration from her key role in the Black Arts Movement of the 1960s and ’70s , when Black American intellectuals and artists of various disciplines used their work to celebrate African-American culture and create new community spaces focused on self-determination. It was also during this period that Giovanni had a historic multi-topic conversation with writer James Baldwin for the public television program Soul! Originally filmed in London in 1971, the episode was later transcribed and adapted into the collaborative book A Dialogue (1973) and continues to resonate decades later for its illuminating questions and candid commentary on subjects spanning race, gender, and politics. “An educator, activist, and iconic poet, Nikki Giovanni challenged us to examine love, revolution, and what it means to be human — all while being a beacon of light to anyone who met her, including me,” Joy Bivins, director of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in New York City, told Hyperallergic . Get the latest art news, reviews and opinions from Hyperallergic. Daily Weekly Opportunities “Each of us had our own treasured Nikki Giovanni work that not only lifted our spirits but reminded us to use our own voices to make change,” Bivins said. In 2023, Giovanni was the subject of Michèle Stephenson and Joe Brewster’s biographical documentary Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project . The poet made headlines earlier this year when she joined the filmmakers and writer Doreen St. Félix in boycotting a scheduled screening and discussion around the film at the Brooklyn Museum to protest the institution and its program partner, PEN America, for their alleged silence on Israel’s ongoing attacks on Palestine. “I stand with my producers and understand pain. I hope peace and the prayers for peace will be answered,” Giovanni told Hyperallergic in March. In addition to her poetry and activism, Giovanni is widely recognized for her children’s works, including the illustrated biography Rosa (2005) about Civil Rights activist Rosa Parks, whom Giovanni knew personally. She also produced several nonfiction works and essays, edited anthologies, and created multiple audio recordings merging spoken-word poetry with music, such as Truth Is On Its Way (1971), Like a Ripple on a Pond (1973), and The Way I Feel (1975). More recently, Giovanni published Make Me Rain: Poems & Pros e (2020), which celebrates her Black heritage while also delving into the enduring effects of racism and white nationalism. Her final collection of poetry, The Last Book , is slated to be released next year. “My dream was not to publish or to even be a writer: My dream was to discover something no one else had thought of. I guess that’s why I’m a poet. We put things together in ways no one else does,” Giovanni wrote on her website . In addition to her literary contributions, Giovanni held teaching positions at Rutgers University and Queens College before taking a job at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, where she met Fowler, who became her life partner. The couple later married in 2016. Her commitment to advocacy is what inspired artist Robert Shetterly to paint her portrait for his Americans Who Tell the Truth series (2002–ongoing), which pays tribute to past and present American truthtellers. Shetterly told Hyperallergic that he included her in his project “because of her fearless insistence of telling the truth about racism and misogyny in this country.” “The power and precision of her words were like an arrow into our stubborn, unwoke hearts,” Shetterly said. In addition to Fowler, Giovanni is survived by her only child, Thomas Watson Giovanni, and a granddaughter, according to the New York Times . “We mourn this profound loss and find comfort in the fact that Nikki Giovanni’s incredible words are a legacy that will continue to heal, delight, and inspire generations to come,” Bivins said. We hope you enjoyed this article! Before you keep reading, please consider supporting Hyperallergic ’s journalism during a time when independent, critical reporting is increasingly scarce. Unlike many in the art world, we are not beholden to large corporations or billionaires. Our journalism is funded by readers like you , ensuring integrity and independence in our coverage. We strive to offer trustworthy perspectives on everything from art history to contemporary art. We spotlight artist-led social movements, uncover overlooked stories, and challenge established norms to make art more inclusive and accessible. With your support, we can continue to provide global coverage without the elitism often found in art journalism. If you can, please join us as a member today . Millions rely on Hyperallergic for free, reliable information. By becoming a member, you help keep our journalism free, independent, and accessible to all. Thank you for reading. Share Copied to clipboard Mail Bluesky Threads LinkedIn Facebook
Giants release quarterback Daniel Jones just days after benching him EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — The Daniel Jones era in New York is over. The Giants quarterback was granted his release by the team just days after the franchise said it was benching him in favor of third-stringer Tommy DeVito. New York president John Mara said Jones approached the team about releasing him and the club obliged. Mara added he was “disappointed” at the quick dissolution of a once-promising relationship between Jones and the team. Giants coach Brian Daboll benched Jones in favor of DeVito following a loss to the Panthers in Germany that dropped New York's record to 2-8. Conor McGregor must pay $250K to woman who says he raped her, civil jury rules LONDON (AP) — A civil jury in Ireland has awarded more than $250,000 to a woman who says she was raped by mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor in a Dublin hotel penthouse after a night of heavy partying. The jury on Friday awarded Nikita Hand in her lawsuit that claimed McGregor “brutally raped and battered” her in 2018. The lawsuit says the assault left her heavily bruised and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. McGregor testified that he never forced her to do anything and that Hand fabricated her allegations after the two had consensual sex. McGregor says he will appeal the verdict. Week 16 game between Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers flexed to Thursday night spot The Los Angeles Chargers have played their way into another prime time appearance. Justin Herbert and company have had their Dec. 22 game against the Denver Broncos flexed to Thursday night, Dec. 19. Friday’s announcement makes this the first time a game has been flexed to the Thursday night spot. The league amended its policy last season where Thursday night games in Weeks 13 through 17 could be flexed with at least 28 days notice prior to the game. The matchup of AFC West division rivals bumps the game between the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals to Sunday afternoon. NBA memo to players urges increased vigilance regarding home security following break-ins MIAMI (AP) — The NBA is urging its players to take additional precautions to secure their homes following reports of recent high-profile burglaries of dwellings owned by Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis and Kansas City Chiefs teammates Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. In a memo sent to team officials, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, the NBA revealed that the FBI has connected some burglaries to “transnational South American Theft Groups” that are “reportedly well-organized, sophisticated rings that incorporate advanced techniques and technologies, including pre-surveillance, drones, and signal jamming devices.” Red Bull brings wrong rear wing to Las Vegas in mistake that could stall Verstappen's title chances LAS VEGAS (AP) — Max Verstappen is suddenly in jeopardy of being denied a fourth consecutive Formula 1 title Saturday night. Red Bull apparently brought the wrong rear wing to Las Vegas and GPS data showed its two cars to be significantly slower on the straights than both McLaren and Mercedes, which led both practice sessions. Red Bull says it doesn’t have a replacement rear wing in Las Vegas to fix the issue and little chance of getting two flown in from England ahead of the race. Caitlin Clark to join Cincinnati bid for 16th National Women's Soccer League team WNBA star Caitlin Clark has joined Cincinnati’s bid for an expansion National Women’s Soccer League team. Major League Soccer franchise FC Cincinnati is heading the group vying to bring a women’s pro team to the city. The club issued a statement confirming Clark had joined the bid group. NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman has said the league plans to announce the league’s 16th team by the end of the year. The league's 15th team will begin play in 2026 in Boston. Alyssa Nakken, first full-time female coach in MLB history, leaving Giants to join Guardians CLEVELAND (AP) — Alyssa Nakken, the first woman to coach in an MLB game, is leaving the San Francisco Giants to join the Cleveland Guardians. Nakken made history in 2022 when she took over as first-base coach following an ejection. A former college softball star at Sacramento State, Nakken joined the Giants in 2014 and was promoted to a spot on manager Gabe Kapler’s staff in 2020, becoming the majors’ first full-time female coach. It’s not immediately known what role she’ll have with the Guardians, who won the AL Central last season under first-year manager Stephen Vogt. In Cleveland, Nakken, 34, will work with former Giants coaches Craig Albernaz and Kai Correa. Aaron Judge won't be bothered if Juan Soto gets bigger contract from Yankees than his $360M deal NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge won’t be bothered if Juan Soto gets a bigger deal from the New York Yankees than the captain’s $360 million, nine-year contract. Speaking a day after he was a unanimous winner of his second MVP, Judge says “It ain’t my money” and adds "that’s never been something on my mind about who gets paid the most.” Judge led the major leagues with 58 homers, 144 RBIs and 133 walks while hitting .322. Soto batted .288 with 41 homers, 109 RBIs and 129 walks in his first season with the Yankees, then became a free agent at age 26. In a 'Final Four-type weekend,' two top-6 clashes put women's college basketball focus on West Coast LOS ANGELES (AP) — Two games featuring four powerhouse teams has put the focus in women's college basketball on the West Coast this weekend. JuJu Watkins and No. 3 Southern California host Hannah Hidalgo and No. 6 Notre Dame on Saturday. Top-ranked South Carolina visits Lauren Betts and fifth-ranked UCLA on Sunday. Both games are nationally televised and the arenas are expected to be packed. WNBA scouts will be on hand to check out some of the nation's top talent. Two teams will come away with their first losses of the season. USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb calls it “a Final Four-type weekend.” A documentary featuring Watkins will air on NBC ahead of USC's game, which leads into the Army-Notre Dame football game. Noodles and wine are the secret ingredients for a strange new twist in China's doping saga Blame it on the noodles. That's what one Chinese official suggested when anti-doping leaders were looking for answers for the doping scandal that cast a shadow over this year's Olympic swim meet. Earlier this year, reports that 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive for a banned heart medication emerged. None were sanctioned because Chinese authorities determined the swimmers were contaminated by traces of the drug spread about a hotel kitchen. In a strange twist, the leader of China's anti-doping agency suggested this case could have been similar to one in which criminals were responsible for tainting noodles that were later eaten by another Chinese athlete who also tested positive for the drug.Why did NORAD start tracking Santa Claus? It started with a wrong numberNew shoplifting data explains why they’re locking up the toothpaste
The Los Angeles Dodgers won the World Series in 2024 but they may not be content with their roster. They could look to sign Rōki Sasaki and bring another international star to Los Angeles. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said he expects Sasaki to sign in the 2025 signing period, according to ESPN's Jorge Castillo . While listing top landing spots for Sasaki, FanSided's Christopher Kline named the Dodgers as one of the top suitors for the 23-year-old Chiba Lotte Marines star. With Sasaki signing in the 2025 window, it gives the Dodgers an even better chance to sign him. "The Dodgers may have the upper hand due to Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, two major international stars who immediately elevated the Dodgers to must-watch status in Sasaki's native Japan," wrote Kline. "There is a certain undeniable popularity that comes with playing for the reigning champs and pitching behind Ohtani and Yamamoto." Money won't matter too much in landing Sasaki. He won't be able to sign a huge deal like Yoshinobu Yamamoto did last winter. Teams can only use the money from their international signing bonus pool allotment. The 2024 period ends on December 15 and the Dodgers have $2.5 million remaining . However, when the 2025 window opens on January 15, the Dodgers will have $5.1 million at their disposal . With the news that Sasaki will sign in the 2025 window, the Dodgers will have all $5.1 million at their disposal. Sasaki had 129 strikeouts in 18 games in Nippon Professional Baseball in 2024. He is a two-time NPB All-Star. He was electric in the World Baseball Classic when his fastball was on full display. Sasaki has the potential to be a No. 1 starter and the Dodgers could get him without spending huge like they did to add Yamamoto last offseason. More MLB: Dodgers predicted to poach $2.4 million All-Star from Mets in free agencyLONDON: Gaza Cola, a Palestinian soft drink launched as a “genocide-free” alternative, has taken the UK by storm. According to an International media outlet, this unique beverage, branded as “racism-free,” is gaining traction amidst global boycotts of major companies accused of supporting Israeli actions in Palestine. Available at Hiba Express, a Palestinian restaurant located in Holborn, central London, the drink’s cans feature Arabic calligraphy and the Palestinian flag, embodying a powerful message of resistance. The food chain, housed in the six-story Palestine House , serves as a hub for Palestinian culture and solidarity. Osama Qashoo, the 43-year-old creator of Gaza Cola, launched the drink in November 2023. Inspired by a mission for justice, Qashoo said, “This drink is about freedom — a taste untainted by violence or oppression.” A refugee forced to flee Palestine in 2003 for opposing Israel’s controversial wall, Qashoo’s vision for Gaza Cola is clear: to boycott brands linked to oppression and provide a sip of liberation. The cola, sweet and fizzy like Coca-Cola but made with a unique recipe, is rapidly becoming a symbol of ethical consumerism and solidarity with Palestine. Read More: Pope Francis suggests international study into possible genocide in Gaza In December 2023 South Africa filed a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice for allegedly violating the Genocide Convention. In January 2024 the judges at the court ordered Israel to ensure its troops commit no genocidal acts. The court has not yet ruled on the core of the case – whether genocide has occurred in Gaza. Israel says accusations of genocide in its Gaza campaign are baseless and that it is solely hunting down Hamas and other groups. “Following today’s report in Vatican News: There was a genocidal massacre on 7 October 2023 of Israeli citizens, and since then, Israel has exercised its right of self-defense against attempts from seven different fronts to kill its citizens,” said Yaron Sideman, ambassador to the Holy See. “Any attempt to call it by any other name is singling out the Jewish state,” he posted on social media.Best Pro Landscape Wins the 2024 Quality Business Award for The Best Landscaping in Pickering, Ontario
PRIMARK fans are racing to snap up their new pyjama range, which is guaranteed to transport you back to the early 2000s. Every girl with a passion for fashion who grew up in the early noughties will likely have been obsessed with Bratz. 3 Primark has everything you need to treat your loved ones this Christmas Credit: Getty 3 Primark fans will love these Bratz pyjamas Credit: tiktok.com/@primark 3 This velour tracksuit means you can lounge about in style Credit: tiktok.com/@primark The stylish dolls became icons, with kids desperate to be as chic as Cloe, Jade, Yasmin and Sasha. And now fashion fans can relive their youth with the launch of a pyjama range inspired by the sassy dolls. Featured in the new range is a pair of leopard print long-sleeved pyjamas featuring the beloved Bratz logo. The pyjamas are priced at £20, and would make perfect stocking fillers. Read more Primark stories SPARKLE SEASON Fashion fans are gushing over the new Primark partywear range MOUSE BE KIDDING First look at Primark’s Disney cafes' new Xmas menu with shakes & toasties Primark said: "These Bratz PJs will leave you with a passion for catching fashionable Z’s! "The long-sleeved top and full-length bottoms showcase a fierce animal print pattern with hot pink Bratz logos scattered throughout. "Perfect for fans who want to bring their favourite dolls into their nighttime routine. Fans can also get their hands on a pink velour Bratz hoodie, priced at £15. Most read in Fabulous CHEERS! I tried UK's first trending drink delivery service - it's perfect for Xmas nights SNAP IT UP I make five figures a month & splash cash on surgery & business class flights FOOD FOR THOUGHT People are only just realising they’ve been making beans on toast wrong MYSTIC MEG Single? You can make not just the first move, but all of them – and feel great The hoodie comes with matching tracksuit bottoms, meaning that you can lounge around the house in style this Christmas. Primark said: "Bring Y2K vibes to your loungewear in this bubblegum pink Bratz velour hoodie. ‘Obsessed’ cry Primark fans as they spot viral jumper in snowy colour for winter "The all-over tonal logo print adds a subtle shimmer to the plush fabric, while the dropped shoulders create a relaxed silhouette perfect for casual styling. "A bold leopard-print Bratz logo features on the back, adding that signature sass we know and love" Primark showed off the new range on their official TikTok page, proudly declaring it to be "Bratz winter." Shoppers raced to the video's comments section to share their love for the range . One person said: "Running to my Primark right now." Read more on the Scottish Sun THE FAB THREE I'm A Celeb's finalists REVEALED as last star evicted ahead of closing show AISLE BE THERE Lidl's cheeky Coca-Cola Christmas truck tour adds two more Scots spots A second person said: "Ohhhh cute." A third added: "OMG."
Romanians are casting ballots on Sunday in the first round of a presidential election that could pit a far-right nationalist against the incumbent leftist prime minister in the runoff. Thirteen candidates are vying for the presidency in the European Union and NATO member country, and the vote is expected to go to a second round on Dec. 8. Polls opened at 7.00 a.m. local time (0500GMT) and will close at 9.00 p.m. (1900GMT). Romanians abroad have been able to vote since Friday. By 8 p.m. local time (1800GMT), 9.2 million people — about 51% of eligible voters — had cast ballots, according to the Central Election Bureau. The final vote could see George Simion, the leader of the far-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians, or AUR, face off against incumbent Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, backed by Romania’s largest party, the Social Democratic Party or PSD. The presidential role carries a five-year term and has significant decision-making powers in areas such as national security, foreign policy, and judicial appointments. Romania will also hold parliamentary elections on Dec. 1 that will determine the country’s next government and prime minister. Simion, 38, is a vocal supporter of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and has long been a controversial figure. He campaigned for reunification with Moldova, which this year renewed a five-year ban on him from entering the country over security concerns, and he is banned for the same reason from entering neighbouring Ukraine. “I would like that in the next five to ten years, for Romanians to be really proud to be Romanians, to promote Romanian culture, Romanian products,” he told reporters on Wednesday in the capital, Bucharest. “As a Romanian president, I will promote Romanian interests. In most cases, Romanian interests coincide with partner interests.” Ecaterina Nawadia, a 20-year-old architecture student, said she voted for the first time in a national election on Sunday and hopes young people turn out in high numbers. “Since the (1989) revolution, we didn’t have a really good president,” she said. “I hope most of the people my age went to vote ... because the leading candidate is not the best option.” Cristian Andrei, a political consultant based in Bucharest, says Sunday’s vote will be “a tight race” in which the diaspora will likely play a key role in which candidates make it to the runoff. “We are at a point where Romania can easily divert or slip toward a populist regime because (voter) dissatisfaction is pretty large among a lot of people from all social strata,” he told The Associated Press. “And the temptation for any regime, any leader — will be to go on a populist road.” He added that Romania’s large budget deficit, high inflation, and an economic slowdown could push more mainstream candidates to shift toward populist stances amid widespread dissatisfaction. Ciolacu told the AP that if he is elected, one of his biggest goals is “to convince Romanians that it is worth staying at home or returning” to Romania, which has a massive diaspora spread throughout EU countries. “Romania has a huge chance to become a developed economy in the next 10 years, where honest work is fairly rewarded and people have the security of a better life,” he said. “But for this, we need balance and responsibility ... I am running for the Presidency of Romania because we need a change.” Other key candidates include Elena Lasconi of the Save Romania Union party, or USR former NATO deputy general secretary Mircea Geoana, who is running independently and Nicolae Ciuca, a former army general and head of the center-right National Liberal Party, which is currently in a tense coalition with the PSD. Geoana, a former foreign minister and ambassador to the United States, told the AP that he believes his international experience qualifies him above the other candidates. “I think I bring a lot of competence and experience and connections in this complicated world,” he said. Lasconi, a former journalist and the leader of the USR said she sees corruption as one of the biggest problems Romania faces and that she supports increased defence spending and continued aid to Ukraine. Romania has been a staunch ally of war-torn Ukraine since Russia launched a full-scale invasion in February 2022. But Simion of the AUR party said he opposes Romania — which has sent a Patriot missile system to Ukraine — contributing further military aid and that he hopes Trump can “stop the war.” In 2020, the AUR party went from relative obscurity to gaining 9% in a parliamentary vote, allowing it to enter parliament. Opponents have long accused Simion and AUR of being extremists, charges he denies. “We are sort of a Trumpist party in this new wave of patriotic political parties in Europe,” Simion said.
By MARY CLARE JALONICK and MATT BROWN WASHINGTON (AP) — Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Defense Department, said he had a “wonderful conversation” with Maine Sen. Susan Collins on Wednesday as he pushed to win enough votes for confirmation. He said he will not back down after allegations of excessive drinking and sexual misconduct. Related Articles National Politics | Donald Trump will ring the New York Stock Exchange bell. It’ll be a first for him National Politics | FBI Director Christopher Wray says he intends to resign at the end of Biden’s term next month National Politics | FBI Director Wray says he intends to resign at the end of Biden’s term in January National Politics | The Trump and Biden teams insist they’re working hand in glove on foreign crises National Politics | ‘You don’t know what’s next.’ International students scramble ahead of Trump inauguration Collins said after the hourlong meeting that she questioned Hegseth about the allegations amid reports of drinking and the revelation that he made a settlement payment after being accused of a sexual assault that he denies. She said she had a “good, substantive” discussion with Hegseth and “covered a wide range of topics,” including sexual assault in the military, Ukraine and NATO. But she said she would wait until a hearing, and notably a background check, to make a decision. “I asked virtually every question under the sun,” Collins told reporters as she left her office after the meeting. “I pressed him both on his position on military issues as well as the allegations against him, so I don’t think there was anything that we did not cover.” The meeting with Collins was closely watched as she is seen as more likely than most of her Republican Senate colleagues to vote against some of Trump’s Cabinet picks. She and Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a fellow moderate Republican, did not shy from opposing Trump in his first term when they wanted to do so and sometimes supported President Joe Biden’s nominees for the judicial and executive branches. And Hegseth, an infantry combat veteran and former “Fox & Friends” weekend host, is working to gain as many votes as he can as some senators have expressed concerns about his personal history and lack of management experience. “I’m certainly not going to assume anything about where the senator stands,” Hegseth said as he left Collins’ office. “This is a process that we respect and appreciate. And we hope, in time, overall, when we get through that committee and to the floor that we can earn her support.” Hegseth met with Murkowski on Tuesday. He has also been meeting repeatedly with Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst, a military veteran who has said she is a survivor of sexual assault and has spent time in the Senate working on improving how attacks are reported and prosecuted within the ranks. On Monday, Ernst said after a meeting with him that he had committed to selecting a senior official to prioritize those goals. Republicans will have a 53-49 majority next year, meaning Trump cannot lose more than three votes on any of his nominees. It is so far unclear whether Hegseth will have enough support, but Trump has stepped up his pressure on senators in the last week. “Pete is a WINNER, and there is nothing that can be done to change that!!!” Trump posted on his social media platform last week.MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Tua Tagovailoa threw for 317 yards and four touchdowns, including two scores to running back De'Von Achane, and the Miami Dolphins routed the New England Patriots 34-15 on Sunday. The Dolphins (5-6) have a thin margin for error the rest of the season but have kept themselves afloat with a three-game winning streak. With their win at New England (3-9) in Week 5, the Dolphins have swept their division rivals in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1999-2000. Tagovailoa, who moved to 7-0 in his career against New England, entered the game with a league-high 73.4% completion rate and went 29 for 40. Backup Skylar Thompson replaced Tagovailoa with about 11 minutes left in what was already a blowout, but a bad handoff on his first play resulted in a fumble that was recovered by cornerback Christian Gonzalez and returned 63 yards for a touchdown. It cut New England's deficit to 31-15, and Tagovailoa returned the next drive. Miami's defense held the rest of the way. Linebacker Tyrel Dodson intercepted rookie quarterback Drake Maye on New England's penultimate drive, then Miami stopped the Patriots on fourth down on the next. Jaylen Waddle caught eight passes for a season-high 144 yards and a 23-yard touchdown that stretched Miami's lead to 31-0 entering the fourth. Achane scored on a 9-yard screen pass and then walked into the end zone for an 11-yard TD in the first half. Jonnu Smith finished with 87 yards on nine catches to continue his strong first season as a Dolphin. One week after catching two touchdowns with a career-high 101 yards receiving, Smith found the end zone for a 7-yard TD catch on the Dolphins' second drive. New England was shut out until tight end Austin Hooper got behind the Dolphins defense for a wide-open 38-yard touchdown catch from Maye to make it 31-7 with 13:43 left. Maye completed 22 of 37 passes for 221 yards with 26 yards rushing. But he couldn't overcome an overall sloppy performance by the Patriots in which they got nothing going offensively until the final quarter. New England's best drive of the first half lasted 12 plays and covered 80 yards but included three accepted offensive penalties and ended in a missed 45-yard field goal by Joey Slye. The Patriots forced a Dolphins punt and moved down the field again on the opening drive of the second half, with Maye completing an improvised 10-yard throw on third down to receiver Kendrick Bourne. New England then tried a double pass with Bourne, whose cross-field throw fell short of Rhamondre Stevenson on 3rd-and-17. DeMario Douglas led the Patriots with 61 yards receiving. Antonio Gibson had six rushes for 30 yards. Dolphins: LB Anthony Walker Jr. sustained a noncontact hamstring injury in the second quarter. He was helped slowly off the field by trainers and did not return. Patriots: Host Indianapolis next Sunday. Dolphins: At Green Bay on Thursday. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
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United, Apple rolling out new way to track lost luggage with AirTagsLucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], November 22 (ANI): Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav unveiled the statue of late Samajwadi Party patron Mulayam Singh Yadav on the latter's birth anniversary, in Uttar Pradesh's Lucknow on Friday. During this, senior party leaders remained present and paid floral tribute to the veteran leader. Also Read | Bengaluru Shocker: 2 Children Aged 7, 3 Strangled to Death; Police Investigating Parents Amid Accusations and Counter-Accusations. Earlier in the day in a post on X, the Samajwadi Party said, "Humble salutations and heartfelt tributes on the birth anniversary of Samajwadi Party founder, former defence minister of the country, former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh and our ideal 'Padma Vibhushan' Netaji Mulayam Singh Yadav ji!" Meanwhile, Yadav who is also the elder son of Mulayam Singh Yadav in a post on X said, "On Netaji's birth anniversary, we pay our heartfelt tributes to him! Netaji's birth anniversary is an 'oath-day' for all of us to reiterate our resolve towards 'socialist values'." Also Read | Bengaluru: Woman Accused Hangs Self, Alleges Harassment by Investigating Officer in Suicide Note. Apart from this, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and political leaders cutting across party lines paid tribute to Mulayam Singh Yadav. Adityanath took to X to pay tribute to the three-time former UP CM on his birth anniversary and wrote, "Humble tribute to former Defence Minister, former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh 'Padma Vibhushan' Mulayam Singh Yadav on his birth anniversary!" Mulayam Singh Yadav, had founded the Samajwadi Party. He died on October 10, 2022, at the age of 82. He was elected 10 times to the Uttar Pradesh assembly and seven times to Lok Sabha and was popularly known as 'Netaji'. Mulayam Singh Yadav was conferred the Padma Vibhushan posthumously by President Droupadi Murmu and the award was received by his son Akhilesh Yadav. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)At the home of Pilsner, Andre Onana would be forgiven for buying Rasmus Hojlund a beer or two after the striker got him out of jail following another mistake to add to his collection. It has been a week of turmoil at Manchester United with Dan Ashworth leaving his role as sporting director, so it is easily forgotten that Onana has made glaring errors – the type he was prone to in the dark days of the Erik ten Hag era. Ten Hag was loyal to Onana throughout his poor form last season, but it is difficult to see Ruben Amorim being so tolerant, having seen a straightforward shot go through his goalkeeper against Nottingham Forest last weekend. Here in the Czech Republic, where the largest brewery in the country stands, he took one too many risks with his passing and was punished by Matej Vydra. It was another shocker from the Cameroon goalkeeper, even if Matthijs de Ligt failed to cover himself in glory showing for the ball. Andre Onana won't want to see that again 🫣 A gift from the United keeper and Reading old-boy Matej Vydra pounces to put Plzen ahead 😱 📺 & — Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) United captain Bruno Fernandes insisted “we don’t look at individuals” when mistakes happen, but which teams have been successful with an error-prone goalkeeper? “We have huge belief in him. He knows he made a mistake because he is a clever guy, he is going to help us many times and we trust his qualities on the ball,” added Fernandes. “Mistakes are part of football. If they don’t happen then goals don’t happen. But we did well to show the resilience to come back and find the victory.” At least United flew back to England with a victory under their belt, thanks to Amorim’s substitutes coming on and changing the game. Rather than lager, it was the tonic they needed before Sunday’s derby against Manchester City. They were led by Hojlund, who tapped in the first and finished off a smart set-piece in a frantic final few minutes. He was also involved in a bust-up with Amad Diallo for failing to pass to each other on counter-attacks, but Amorim welcomes the intensity of his team – and has plenty of other concerns. Impact player 💥 Hojlund taps in to level the scores for Manchester United ⚽️ 📺 & — Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) Marcus Rashford had another evening to forget and was hooked before the hour mark to save himself from a sending-off. He had been needlessly booked for a trip on Sampson Dweh and the Plzen bench were calling for a second yellow when he went into another challenge. Amorim had seen enough, subbing him for his own good after failing to make an impact on the game. Joshua Zirkzee was no better, losing the ball often and not getting shots away before his number was called. It was the right move from Amorim, with Hojlund the match-winner and good contributions from two forgotten men – Antony and Mason Mount came on and added themselves to the competition to get into this team. “That is what we have to understand, the game has 90 minutes, we have games in three days so we don’t know which player is going to be the most important player in the game and they did it, they changed the game, they are there to do that, so I’m pleased with that,” said Amorim. “In this moment, in this context, the way we give a goal to the opponent was important not to give up, so that’s a great message. It was not a great game, but we manage to do these good things that are good when you are building a team and I think we deserved the win.” Set piece magic for United 😍 Hojlund gets his second as some 'Bruno Brilliance' sets him clear to give Man Utd a late lead 👀 📺 & — Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) Hojlund now has five goals in four appearances and is among those thriving under the new manager. His game has changed from when Ten Hag was in charge. It was the type of performance that will have Pep Guardiola studying clips ahead of the weekend. “He is improving, he is more near the goal now, he knows better the movement he has to do, he could score more this evening, but he is scoring and working and controlling the ball better, so he is improving,” Amorim added. Hojlund’s winning goal came after a short quick free-kick, with Plzen expecting Fernandes to cross deep. “I have watched Bruno do that before. I remember the goal with Anthony Martial when he did the chip for him. I just thought I had a good opportunity because I am strong, I could push the defender and spin him and finish,” Hojlund said. 08:02 PM GMT Bruno Fernandes speaks to TNT Sports It was a good performance overall but in the final third we could have kept the ball more. The man marking from them was difficult as well. We dealt with the transition game and got the win. We want to play from the back., Andre missed the pass, that’s nothing we have to focus about. It’s not about Andre making the mistake. We don’t look at individuals here. We have huge belief in Andre. He knows he made a mistake he’s a clever guy. We don’t need to tell him but he’s going to help us many times playing it out from the back. 07:46 PM GMT Victory puts Man Utd up to fifth Before the 8pm games, that is. Two matches left after Christmas to avoid the play-off route Ruben Amorim is keen to swerve to give him more time on the training ground to train hearts and minds. They host Rangers on Jan 23 and go to the artists formerly known as Steaua Bucharest, now FCSB, on Jan 30. 07:42 PM GMT Substitutes got United over the line Mount, Antony and Hojlund all had a very positive impact and earned Manchester Unitd their first away win in Europe since March 2023. 07:39 PM GMT Full time: Plzen 1 Man Utd 2 Dweh has a chance to hoy it into the box but double crosses United with a short throw to Souare who blazes over and the ref blows for time as the ball hits halfway up the stand. 07:38 PM GMT 90+4 min: Plzen 1 Man Utd 2 End to end now as United use the pace of Garnacho to counter but again he delays the release pass and Amorim ought to gon spare with him for losing the ball when he could have gone to the corner. 07:37 PM GMT 90+2 min: Plzen 1 Man Utd 2 Five minutes of stoppage time are signalled and United break from successfully defending the corner and Antony is teed up for a shot by Garnacho after racing through with Amad three on one. The pass isn’t ideal and Antony hits the keeper when he strikes from the left, tentatively given his peripheral status and all the criticism he has swallowed. 07:35 PM GMT 90 min: Plzen 1 Man Utd 2 Plzen launch a ferocious attack, the game stretched, but United manage to get enough bodies back to block Sulc’s cross at the price of a corner. 07:31 PM GMT GOAL! Shrewd free-kick move, which they tried on Saturday as well. Bruno slides the free-kick to the left of the wall having shaped to float it to the right. Hojlund peels off, controls it and then thuds the half-volley across goal and in at the far post. Set piece magic for United 😍 Hojlund gets his second as some 'Bruno Brilliance' sets him clear to give Man Utd a late lead 👀 📺 & — Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) 07:31 PM GMT 88 min: Plzen 1 Man Utd 1 Bruno tenaciously wins a corner that Plzen defend solidly but Prince controls the outball with his arm and concedes a free-kick. 07:30 PM GMT 86 min: Plzen 1 Man Utd 1 Mount, who has looked sharp, creeps in round the back of Jamelka and Hojlund plays a diagonal pass which Mount tries to hook in from an angle of about 45 degrees to the left post. The keeper is too well positioned to beat. 07:28 PM GMT 83 min: Plzen 1 Man Utd 1 Amorim is bellowing at his players and urging them to keep pushing on, to be bold. Garnacho goes down the left wing and bends a cross with the outside of his right foot that the keeper cuffs away. Then Martinez almost finds the perfect ball down the inside left but found no team-mate on his wavelength. 07:25 PM GMT 81 min: Plzen 1 Man Utd 1 Ugarte → Casemiro Garnacho → Dalot. Garnacho is now left wing-back, Antony is on the right. 07:24 PM GMT 79 min: Plzen 1 Man Utd 1 Antony shifts it infield to Casemiro who passes it on to Bruno who goes backwards to move it forwards and Antony, for the second time, wafts a shot over. De Ligt is booked for protesting that United were not awarded a penalty for a collision instigated by Bruno. 07:21 PM GMT 76 min: Plzen 1 Man Utd 1 Good chance for Mason Mount who has been lively, but instead of trying to chip the keeper who was sliding towards him, he goes for power instead and smash it through him. Amorim’s subs have done well. Antony involved in the equaliser and Hojlund tapping it in. Marcus Rashford did not speak to the manager when he went off, he went straight to the bench. It was an awful night for him. 07:18 PM GMT 74 min: Plzen 1 Man Utd 1 Prince Kwabena Adu → Vasulin. The sub almost makes an immediate mark with a right-wing cross to Vydra whose shot whistles past the right post and thumps into the hoardings. 07:16 PM GMT 71 min: Plzen 1 Man Utd 1 Amorim will one day be as bald as Ten Hag if United keep wasting chances by not making runs into the six-yard box to meet a wonderful cross from Bruno Fernandes, whipping it from the list so invitingly. Hojlund was too late with his lunge. 07:15 PM GMT 68 min: Plzen 1 Man Utd 1 A series of United corners instigated by a crunching but fair sliding tackle from Mrakovic on Mount. United shout ‘handball’ but without much hope of a penalty as it was ball to a hand which never left the player’s side and when Plzen break, Mazraoui diligently sweeps up. 07:11 PM GMT 65 min: Plzen 1 Man Utd 1 Antony takes a pass from Mazraoui down the left and scuttles into the box with the ball on his left toe. He bends a good pass into Hojlund seven yards out, back to goal. He tries to backheel it and falls under pressure from Markovic and Plzen scramble it away. Hojlund appealed for a penalty but there was next to no meaningful contact. 07:06 PM GMT GOAL! Masterstroke from Amorim as Antony wins possession, flies up the right and releases Amad who dazzles with his dribbling as eh scoots in from the right to shoot with his left. The ball hits Markovic and sits up for Hojlund to hook into an open goal from a few yards out. That’s a proper predator’s finish. Impact player 💥 Hojlund taps in to level the scores for Manchester United ⚽️ 📺 & — Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) 07:05 PM GMT 60 min: Plzen 1 Man Utd 0 Amorim rings the changes: Mount → Malacia Antony → Zirkzee. 07:04 PM GMT 58 min: Plzen 1 Man Utd 0 Hojlund is given a gift by Sulc’s lax back-pass putting him through on goal as he drives in from the right. For some reason he slows down and allows Dweh to come in on the cover. Though he slips the ball past him on the defender’s left, his belated shot from 18 yards is straight at the keeper. 07:01 PM GMT 56 min: Plzen 1 Man Utd 0 Hojlund moves to centre-forward and Zirkzee takes Rashford’s role on the left. It’s very stop-start and too many soft fouls are impeding United from finding any real rhythm. 06:59 PM GMT 54 min: Plzen 1 Man Utd 0 Hojlund → Rashford. The substitution could be a hedge against the risk he could be sent off or simply because he hasn’t been good enough tonight. 06:58 PM GMT 52 min: Plzen 1 Man Utd 0 Rashford slips and catches Dweh with his trailing leg. Plzen lobby the referee to give him a second yellow card but, rightly, he doesn’t. 06:51 PM GMT GOAL! Garbage from Onana who is so prone to error that it beggars belief Ten Hag paid so much for him and booted out De Gea to make way. He passes out looking for De Ligt, telegraphed it and Sulc pounced, intercepted and squared for Vydra to tap in from six yards. Andre Onana won't want to see that again 🫣 A gift from the United keeper and Reading old-boy Matej Vydra pounces to put Plzen ahead 😱 📺 & — Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) Zombie Nation!! You love to hear it... Plzen seize on Onana’s mistake and Pavel Sulc squares it for Matej Vydra to score. He was Alexis Sanchez’s team-mate at Udinese before doing the rounds in English clubs. Easy finish for the Czech striker. 06:51 PM GMT 46 min: Plzen 0 Man Utd 0 Well, hopefully Amorim has instructed Manchester United to play at a quicker tempo. If he did it’s not showing yet as Zirkzee loses possession and Plzen counter and Kalvach lets fly with a shot that hits Vasulin on the back. 06:36 PM GMT Half-time: Plzen 0 Man Utd 0 That was pretty dispiriting to watch for United fans, I suspect. No pace, no guile, no quickness of mind, no belief. They have to improve in the second half, buy into what Amorim wants and, if in doubt, just run instead of slowing it down all the time. This has been a dreadful half of football. The second half can only get better. United had one shot on goal by Bruno – that’s about it in the way of action. Time to get a cuppa and regroup. 06:34 PM GMT 45+3 min: Plzen 0 Man Utd 0 Vydra has a pot shot from 25 yards to end the half that Onana could have thrown his cap on. 06:33 PM GMT 45+2 min: Plzen 0 Man Utd 0 Fernandes turns amusement arcade with a rabona pass out to Rashford on the left of the Plzen area but his first-time, half-volleyed, stabbed cross hits the first defender and Plzen clear. 06:31 PM GMT 45 min: Plzen 0 Man Utd 0 Yellow card for Rashford for shoving Cerv over to stop him breaking into space. Three minutes of stoppage time go up on the board. 06:30 PM GMT 44 min: Plzen 0 Man Utd 0 Cerv launches himself across Zirkzee just aside the United box to nick the ball off him as the away side play out from the back too slowly. His tackle diverts the ball to Kalvach who falls but diverts it to the right of the 18-yard line to Souare who tries a Theierry henry right-foot bender into the top right but can’t get it creep back inside the post. 06:27 PM GMT 42 min: Plzen 0 Man Utd 0 Mazraoui times a tackle perfectly on Vydra who throws himself on to the ground and unjustly earns a free-kick 40 yards out on the left. No damage, though, as the cross is sent in too deep and high. Souare can only flick his header behind. 06:25 PM GMT 40 min: Plzen 0 Man Utd 0 Jemelka grabs Zirkzee round the waist by the centre-circle and concedes a free-kick which United play back to Onana. More pace, more urgency, a much higher tempo needed and more penetrative runs from Amad and Rashford who have to gamble more. 06:23 PM GMT 38 min: Plzen 0 Man Utd 0 Amad nutmegs Kalvach but there’s no one there to run on to the pass. 06:22 PM GMT 37 min: Plzen 0 Man Utd 0 Martinez wins a header challenging Vasulin but also nuts him on the crown of his head. He goes down and gives it a vigorous rub. 06:21 PM GMT 35 min: Plzen 0 Man Utd 0 United’s strategy is for Zirkzee to hold the ball while Amad and Rashford bomb ahead of him and a midfield runner or wing-back then makes the pass. It’s a fine idea but the passes aren’t precise enough. 06:18 PM GMT 33 min: Plzen 0 Man Utd 0 Both sides of Onana – an assured catch preceded by a flap as Plzen tried to chip it over the top. 06:18 PM GMT 31 min: Plzen 0 Man Utd 0 Bruno is allowed to dribble all the way from halfway to 20 yards out when played in by Zirkzee. The United captain floods into the space and then hammers an awkward Barnes-Wallis skimmer of a shot that Jedlicka bats away. 06:14 PM GMT 29 min: Plzen 0 Man Utd 0 Promising Plzen counter-attack is wrecked by Vasulin straying offside. 06:13 PM GMT 27 min: Plzen 0 Man Utd 0 Jemelka brings down Amad rashly and concedes a free-kick about 40 yards out on the United right. Bruno bends in a cross, Zirkzee runs a cross his marker to flick it on from the right of the penalty spot and Casemiro needed an extra six inches as he telescoped out his left leg to try to hook it in but ended up kicking fresh air instead. United have been flat, particularly with their attacking. They need a spark from somewhere and some drive from midfield. Plzen are looking to counter and have a very tidy playing in Lukas Kalvach in the middle of the park. 06:11 PM GMT 25 min: Plzen 0 Man Utd 0 Kalvach dispossesses Bruno in midfield but De Ligt sweeps up. The travelling fans give us a resonant rendition of 06:09 PM GMT 23 min: Plzen 0 Man Utd 0 Amad injects some much needed pace when Zirkzee lays it off to him. The wee man belts up the inside-left but then plays a woeful pass out to his left for RAshford, forcing him wide when a dink with his instep to Bruno on his right would have teed up a shot from the D. Rashford has a swing at a shot with his left foot and slices it wildly over. 06:06 PM GMT 20 min: Plzen 0 Man Utd 0 United go back to Onana several times in a two-minute spell before finally pinging it long, looking for Rashford but knocking it so far the keeper gobbles it up. 06:04 PM GMT 18 min: Plzen 0 Man Utd 0 Mazraoui gives the ball away with a lazy pass infield and Casemiro, scrapping on the floor to the left of the D firts stops Sulc and then Vasulin from shooting before, Kalvach, I think, blazes over from 25 yards. 06:02 PM GMT 16 min: Plzen 0 Man Utd 0 Manchester United are finding it difficult to pass through the lines and look far more effective against the low block when running through. Zirkzee and Bruno are the best at it. 06:00 PM GMT 14 min: Plzen 0 Man Utd 0 Bruno drives up the right and makes it to the byline but is tagged by the whitewash before he can cross and as Plzen try to pass it out, Dalot catches Souare with his arm and the left wing-back goes down like a sack of lead lifted from a cathedral roof. 05:57 PM GMT 12 min: Plzen 0 Man Utd 0 Casemiro gets his breath back after the break for treatment and joins a packed United penalty area to defend Dweh’s rocket of a long throw. Again Onana flaps at it and United scramble it clear, defending by the seat of their pants. Bruno is a fine player but he’s not best used in the pivot. 05:54 PM GMT 10 min: Plzen 0 Man Utd 0 Kalvach floats the free-kick diagonally into the box, Onana flies off his line and in flapping for the ball he knees Casemiro in the solar plexus and the Brazil midfielder is left winded and writhing in agony. That was nuts from Onana. 05:53 PM GMT 9 min: Plzen 0 Man Utd 0 Plzen defend the corner and break and Bruno somehow escapes a yellow card for a scything, professional foul on Cerv from behind to stop him making it any further towards the penalty area. 05:52 PM GMT 7 min: Plzen 0 Man Utd 0 Zirkzee shows his qualities to uses his speed and strength to monster Kalvach, run into the box and cross from a position that was perhaps too tight but his effort was turned behind for a corner. Quick VAR check for a Plzen handball as Zirkzee barged the defender over, did he touch it on the floor? Yes, but it was not in the penalty box. Carry on! 05:49 PM GMT 5 min: Plzen 0 Man Utd 0 Rashford’s very heavy touch makes a gift of the ball for Vydra but Bruno and Malacia bail him out. 05:48 PM GMT 3 min: Plzen 0 Man Utd 0 Amad wins the ball, intercepting it with his left and works it out to Malacia who is hounded by Vydra. The left-back loses the ball but Plzen give it right back. 05:46 PM GMT 1 min: Plzen 0 Man Utd 0 After the huddles, Manchester United kick off, attacking from left to right. Zirkzee rolls the ball back into midfield and they shuffle it backwards and begin to horseshoe the ball in a U shape up, down, across, up down, across. 05:41 PM GMT The players are in the tunnel Plzen are in red with royal blue socks and trim. Man Utd are in white. 05:39 PM GMT In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan The temperature is falling in Plzen, it is sub-zero here at the Doosan Arena. The pitch looks fine for Ruben Amorim’s team but it will be a test for them in these conditions. Amorim has made changes as he looks for the right formula for his 3-4-3 formation. Here, he has made six changes from the team defeated by Nottingham Forest. All eyes will be on Marcus Rashford following news emerging this week that United would be willing to sell him for the right deal in future transfer windows. 05:36 PM GMT Amorim on why he makes many changes match-to-match We are trying to see everything, quality, characteristics, that’s why we are using so many [changes] at this moment. But not in the future. 05:27 PM GMT Options limited for Rashford and United in loveless marriage Marcus Rashford may be in the starting line-up this evening, but, writes , his wage demands and a high transfer fee may mean potential suitors will be thin on the ground, despite United seeking offers. But it is clear that Rashford is going nowhere for now. The era of high-fee transfers for players of his age, and with his contract expectations, might have passed already as PSR and squad costs bite across the Premier League and Europe. In all but England, broadcast revenues are falling. Read 05:23 PM GMT ‘Freezing industrial splendour’ Freezing industrial splendour and the flood of lights, Plzeň. Bring on United. — Andy Mitten (@AndyMitten) 05:17 PM GMT Amorim: ‘Ashworth exit a bad situation for United’ Ruben Amorim has described Dan Ashworth’s departure as Manchester United’s sporting director as a “bad situation” after seeing major upheaval behind the scenes in the first month at the club. The United head coach insists Ashworth’s departure will not change the running of the club, with Jason Wilcox, the technical director, now assuming the role as point of contact for potential deals in next month’s transfer window. But Ratcliffe’s first year in control of football operations has been turbulent, with cutbacks behind the scenes, Amorim’s appointment and the new structure of the club ripped apart within five months. “Of course, it’s a bad situation,” said Amorim, on the eve of his team’s Europa League match with Viktoria Plzen in Czech Republic. “We are talking about a human being, a professional, that supports us as a team but I think the most important thing is the vision is really clear and that don’t change if one person leaves.” Ashworth was axed at the weekend after five months at the club, having spent that amount of time on gardening leave when United looked to thrash out a deal for him. Amorim disputed the suggestion United are a more unstable club than when he joined on November 11, adding: “I don’t think so. I felt since day one the support from everybody. One person leaving doesn’t change anything. “The first thing I want to say since the first day I felt great support from the ownership, from Omar [Berrarda, chief executive], from them also, from Jason, and Dan was part of that. And I really, really, really [received] support from Dan also. “But this is football and sometimes this happens, happens with players, with coaches, I know it’s not the best situation but the important thing is we continue in our way. The path is really clear for everybody and I think this can happen in football.” Amorim has made changes to his team in each of his five games and more are expected as he finds the right combinations to fit his 3-4-3 system. Tyrell Malacia is set to start in Plzen, with the club also looking at long-term wing-backs for the left side of the team. Diego Leon, at Paraguayan club Cerro Porteno, is one they have scouted. “I’m really focused to see my players and to understand my players, that is one of the problems of the club,” Amorim said. “We have to focus on what we have, we have to focus on the academy and to have a clear profile of the players. “So it’s a lot of details you have to manage. You can see at set-pieces, sometimes you look at our team, we are a small team compared to others, every detail counts and we have to be very clear in the profiles, arrange all the process and go to that phase of buying and selling players.” 05:12 PM GMT Wish you were here? 05:05 PM GMT Koubek: ‘We are expecting a big football festival’ Miroslav Koubek, the Viktoria Plzen manager, sounds relatively pleased about the prospect of facing the mighty United who won this competition in 2017. “We are all expecting a big football festival,” Koubek said. “A team like Manchester United doesn’t come to Plzen often. “It is of course a test for us. We are playing against a quality team. We are facing a very difficult match. United are huge favourites.” 04:55 PM GMT Amorim: ‘It is important we win and play well’ Ruben Amorim, the United manager, is hoping for not only a win, but also a good performance. With the Manchester derby coming on Sunday, a morale-boosting bit of early-evening togger will, we are sure, settle the natives. “It is really important for us as a club, as a team, in this moment that if you pass to the next stage without play-off, you take two games from our schedule and that is massive,” he has said. “We have to be so much better in set-pieces and we have to win it. It is so important that we win but not just win but to play well.” 04:50 PM GMT Starting XIs in the traditional format Jedlicka, Dweh, Markovic, Jemelka, Cadu, Cerv, Kalvach, Souare, Vydra, Sulc, Vasulin. Tvrdon, Baier, Hejda, Paluska, Kopic, Sojka, Mosquera, Panos, Havel, Sloncik, Jirka, Prince Adu. Onana, Mazraoui, de Ligt, Martinez, Dalot, Fernandes, Casemiro, Malacia, Diallo, Rashford, Zirkzee. Bayindir, Lindelof, Maguire, Mount, Hojlund, Eriksen, Yoro, Garnacho, Antony, Ugarte, Mainoo, Collyer. Marian Barbu (Romania). 04:46 PM GMT ‘It is as cold as Oldham’ , the founding editor of the fanzine, is on the ground in Czechia where, he says, it is as cold as . . . Oldham. Cheer up son, it could be worse: you could be watching your side play in the Conference League and in sub-zero conditions in Almaty, Kazakhstan. That’s where Chelsea are currently earning their corn, where they are beating Astana 3-1. , if you are that way inclined. In Plzeň for the latest MUFC drama. It's as cold as Oldham. — Andy Mitten (@AndyMitten) 04:40 PM GMT While hosts Viktoria Plzen will look a little like this . . . Two tweaks for the hosts to the side that won 2-1 at MFK Karvina last weekend. Cadu replaces Milan Havel, while Daniel Vasulin has been chosen ahead of Erik Jirka up front. ZÁKLADNÍ 1️⃣1️⃣ Do utkání proti Manchesteru United vstoupíme takto ⤵️ Viktorka do toho! ❤️💙 — FC Viktoria Plzeň (@fcviktorkaplzen) 04:38 PM GMT And the Manchester United starting XI is in . . . Manchester United have made five changes to the side that started in the 3-2 defeat by Nottingham Forest last weekend. Tyrell Malacia comes, while Noussair Mazraoui, Casemiro, Marcus Rashford and Joshua Zirkzee also start. Ready to go 👊 || — Manchester United (@ManUtd) 04:37 PM GMT Christmas is cancelled ... for backroom staff Manchester United may have a new manager in Ruben Amorim, but the horror stories surrounding the club are showing no sign of slowing. In true Scrooge-like fashion, multi-billionaire co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe earlier this week continued with . Having already overseen 250 redundancies, Ratcliffe and his team decided to cancel the staff Christmas party, after which their normal £100 bonus has been replaced with a £40 Marks & Spencer voucher. Read more on the at Old Trafford 04:34 PM GMT Preview: Square pegs Good afternoon and welcome to live coverage of Viktoria Plzen vs Manchester United from Uefa’s Europa League. This match features the sides placed in 12th and 13th of the 36-team table, United above their hosts on goal difference to the tune of one having both won two and drawn three of their five matches to date. Manchester United began their campaign with three draws under Erik ten Hag followed by victories over PAOK with Ruud van Nistelrooy at the wheel and Bodo/Glimt after Ruben Amorim’s appointment. The new manager, after back-to-back league defeats by Arsenal and Nottingham Forest, will doubtlessly shuffle his pack again with the derby looming on Sunday and we should expect to see the likes of Joshua Zirkzee, Marcus Rashford and his big ‘for sale’ sign, Tyrell Malacia, Harry Maguire, Casemiro, Christian Eriksen and even Antony being given some minutes. Plzen, who were third last year in the Czech First League and are currently second after 18 games of the 2024-25 season, beat Hearts 1-0 home and away in the play-off round and have followed their opening three draws, like United, with impressive victories over Real Sociedad, secured by Daniel Vasulin’s 89th minute winner, and Dynamo Kyiv The home side won the domestic title in 2022, their sixth in a decade, and have been striving to get back to their best with a typically Czech League style of canny overseas recruitment which has enticed Brazilains Cadu and Ricardinho, Colombian Jhon Mosquera, Nigerian Rafiu Durosinmi and Ghanaian Prince Kwabena Adu to join the ranks of established Czech internationals such as Vaclav Jemelka, Lukas Cerv, Lukas Kalvach and the former Watford/West Brom/Reading/Derby/Burnley enigma Matej Vydra. It is 20 years since Manchester United last played a competitive match in Czechia, drawing 0-0 with Sparta Prague in 2004 and as much as Amorim would love a positive result and a performance brimming with promise to match, Plzen are tricky customers and have to be handled carefully by a 3-4-2-1 system that currently looks like round repositories for expensive square pegs.
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