A uncommon robust earthquake struck close to Midland, Texas, on Monday night, triggering greater than 1,000 experiences of shaking, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.
The temblor, initially measured at magnitude 5.1, struck at 7:49 p.m. at a depth of about 5 miles beneath the floor, round 21 miles west-southwest of Ackerly, based on the company.
No accidents had been initially reported.
The USGS acquired greater than 1,400 experiences of shaking. Individuals as far-off as Fort Value — 282 miles east — and Austin — 322 miles southeast — reported feeling the earthquake.
The USGS stated in a abstract of the area’s modern geologic exercise that temblors east of the Rocky Mountains are usually felt for longer distances and do extra injury even when they’ve comparable magnitude scores.
“Earthquakes east of the Rockies which might be centered in populated areas and huge sufficient to trigger injury are, equally, more likely to trigger injury out to higher distances than earthquakes of the identical magnitude centered in western North America,” it stated.
Ackerly is about 60 miles north of Midland. The world is understood for fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, a course of that injects water at excessive stress into the bottom to extract oil.
“There’s proof that some central and japanese North America earthquakes have been triggered or attributable to human actions which have altered the stress situations in earth’s crust sufficiently to induce faulting,” the USGS stated in its evaluation of the area.
No hyperlink between fracking and Monday’s earthquake has been established, nevertheless.
The USGS says that fracking could be linked to a small proportion of earthquakes and that extra are attributable to wastewater disposal.
Everton Soccer Membership will not be a contented place to be proper now, and the Carabao Cup might be the very last thing on many followers’ minds in the beginning of the 2024/25 season.
The Toffees are caught to the underside of the Premier League desk after 4 matches, with 13 targets conceded and back-to-back 3-2 defeats following 2-0 leads of their final two outings.
Boss Sean Dyche is beneath rising strain to encourage upward momentum, although the Carabao Cup will not be anticipated to be on his record of priorities.
Premier League new boys Southampton are additionally having a tough time of it on the backside of the pile. They’re the one different pointless crew within the division.
That is more likely to be the least consequential assembly between these two groups this time period with a lot at stake within the prime flight.
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When is Everton v Southampton?
Everton v Southampton will happen on Tuesday seventeenth September 2024.
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Everton v Southampton kick-off time
Everton v Southampton will kick off at 7:45pm.
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You possibly can watch the sport dwell on Sky Sports activities +.
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Find out how to dwell stream Everton v Southampton on-line
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Everton followers having fun with a spell away from the staff in the course of the latest worldwide break had been introduced proper again down once more, in an emotional sense, on the weekend. Everton blew one other two-goal lead in shedding on the highway to Aston Villa, the primary time a membership has managed to take action in consecutive video games within the Premier League period — previous to which soccer seems seemingly to have existed in a quasi-fantastical, unquantifiable state.
With stress mounting on Sean Dyche given the staff’s woeful begin to the season, he and the Blues want to start out selecting up some wins, to be able to keep away from being marooned on the backside of the desk. The subsequent run of fixtures, stretching to early December, gives up loads of alternatives to amass some factors.
Within the meantime, the EFL Cup gives up a well timed distraction from the membership’s league woes. Arriving at Goodison Park for tonight’s assembly are newly-promoted Southampton.
Kind
The Saints splashed greater than €147m in the course of the 2022/23 season in a determined – however finally failed effort – at staving off relegation. They then recouped €166m in shedding a number of first staff gamers to be able to take up the monetary shock of life within the English second tier, however had been in a position to obtain promotion on the first time of asking, through the playoff route, after ending fourth below new supervisor Russell Martin.
In preparation for his or her return to high tier soccer, Southampton backed their boss to the tune of a internet €76m final summer time. Essentially the most vital departees had been long-time Everton goal Che Adams, to Torino on a free switch, together with younger Argentine Carlos Alcaraz, who headed again to South America (Flamengo, €18m) and ahead Sekhou Mara, offered to Strasbourg for €12m.
Incoming had been a number of gamers — 18 in all. Among the many most outstanding to date this season have been West Ham midfielder Flynn Downes (€17.9m), Manchester Metropolis defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis (made everlasting for €23m, following a mortgage spell), AZ Alkmaar fullback Yukinari Sugawara (€7m) and one other former Blues goal – Ben Brereton-Diaz – signed from Villarreal for €8.3m. A late addition was made in Arsenal’s former beginning goalkeeper, Aaron Ramsdale, secured for a payment of €21.4m.
The Saints concede from a set-piece in opposition to United on the weekendPicture by GLYN KIRK/AFP through Getty Pictures
The newcomers have discovered the Premier League a troublesome prospect within the early levels of the marketing campaign. They by some means misplaced the opening fixture, away at Newcastle United, after largely dominating, however may make no impression the next weekend, happening meekly 1-0 to Nottingham Forest at St Mary’s Stadium. A closely rotated lineup noticed off struggling Championship outfit Cardiff Metropolis within the EFL Cup, in an eight-goal thriller, however they’ve been crushed closely of their final two league outings, transport a mixed six targets in opposition to Brentford and Manchester United.
Model of Play
Martin experimented along with his formations final time period, even switching to a again three in two of their three playoff video games, after utilizing a 4-3-3 nearly completely in the course of the second half of the marketing campaign. This season, he’s retained that profitable 3-5-2 system within the opening three league matches, however switched to a 4-2-3-1 for final weekend’s 3-0 residence defeat to the Crimson Devils.
The 38-year-old is firmly wedded to his ideas, which is to decide to a passing, possession recreation, backed by intense urgent — so very a lot in vogue with present tactical considering. His MK Dons facet famously holds a document for the best variety of passes accomplished in a goal-scoring transfer, at 56.
The previous Scottish worldwide is on document as saying he most likely wouldn’t have entered administration except he was in a position to arrange his groups to play within the fashion he personally most popular, as a participant. At his earlier golf equipment – MK Dons and Swansea Metropolis – Martin achieved improved league finishes in his sophomore season with every, however hit the bottom working instantly with the Saints.
He’s spoken of being ready for the anticipated criticism he’ll obtain ought to Southampton find yourself giving up targets via their fashion of play, which has already occurred. In some ways that is commendable, as why ought to a promoted facet robotically be anticipated to play in a conservative approach? Pundits likes to level out the likes of Burnley, who went straight again down trying an expansive fashion final season, however fail to say the preponderance of sides who arrange pragmatically, but get relegated anyway.
Teenage winger Dibling tormented United’s skilled defender Diogo Dalot on SaturdayPicture by Zohaib Alam – MUFC/Manchester United through Getty Pictures
Southampton will try and play out from the again and thru any press, irrespective of how lively. They’ll look to recycle possession and attempt to work for openings, whereas getting loads of gamers ahead in help. Their full backs will bomb ahead and look to offer overlaps and overloads. When play breaks down, the South Coast outfit will instantly counter-press, to be able to regain the ball as rapidly as doable.
Amazingly, the promoted facet ranks second – behind Manchester Metropolis – in each numbers of passes tried and completion share. Southampton are third in share of possession, with 62.0%. Solely 5% of their passes are performed lengthy.
Participant Evaluation
Downes operates as a fulcrum in midfield, boasting 78.5 touches per recreation and a move completion of 92.4%. He’s making 1.75 key passes (these resulting in an try on objective) per 90 minutes, however can also be lively with out the ball, amassing a mixed 4.75 tackles and interceptions and 1.25 blocked passes per match.
In his first begin final weekend, teenager Tyler Dibling made an impression. The 18-year-old has tried a certainly unsustainable ten dribbles per 90 (with a 42.9% success charge) and a pair of.86 carries into the opposition space (incomes a penalty kick in opposition to United). The suitable winger is producing an outlandish 8.64 SCA (Shot-Creating Actions) per recreation.
Answer
Southampton might be targeted on their league marketing campaign this season and can most likely rotate their lineup tonight, as might Everton. Their fashion of play will stay constant, nevertheless, although many modifications will certainly show to be extra disruptive to enjoying out of defence and triggering exact urgent actions, than to Dyche’s extra stripped down method.
We are able to count on plenty of alterations to the bedraggled outfit that was comprehensively outplayed by Villa on Saturday — the 3-2 scoreline being extremely flattering of Everton’s efforts. Jake O’Brien, Orel Mangala, Jesper Lindstrom and James Garner will certainly be handed beginning alternatives below the Goodison lights. I’d count on Joao Virginia to be given an opportunity too, with Jordan Pickford approach off final season’s type presently.
We should always get an honest have a look at Mangala tonightPicture by Shaun Botterill/Getty Pictures
Who else figures might be extremely instructive as to the place they stand within the supervisor’s reckoning. Abdoulaye Doucoure – a Dyche favorite beforehand – has been out and in of the Toffees facet to date. Younger full again Roman Dixon might be granted the possibility to accrue some priceless recreation time in opposition to top-flight opposition, albeit in a comparatively low-risk cup tie. Dominic Calvert-Lewin ought to be rested, in favour of Beto, who has performed solely 47 league minutes up to now, however does Dyche belief the massive striker in any respect? I’m not seeing it.
I can see Everton ceding territory, having fun with little or no possession, however trying to capitalize on breakdowns in Southampton’s ball-control system. The Saints regarded naive defending set-pieces in opposition to United, so assaults in transition and useless ball conditions seem like the hosts’ almost definitely path to objective. I’m unsure how a lot leading edge the guests have, so hopefully Everton’s so-far leaky defence is probably not examined to the diploma it has to date within the league.
Predication: Everton 2-1 Southampton
Stats offered courtesy of fbref.com, whoscored.comand transfermarkt.co.uk
The brand new-look UEFA Champions League is again for its 2024-25 season.
For the primary time in its historical past, 36 groups will take part in Europe’s premier membership competitors in a format that has been given a shake-up in a bid to make sure the continent’s greatest groups face one another extra usually.
Right here is every part it is advisable to know concerning the revamped match:
⚽ What’s the new Champions League format?
Up till the 2023-24 season, the Champions League featured 32 groups divided into eight teams of 4 and the highest two groups superior to the knockouts, starting with the spherical of 16.
Nevertheless, the 2024-25 season will see the competitors develop to 36 groups, who will play in a newly-coined “league section” as an alternative of teams.
Each workforce will play eight video games in opposition to eight totally different opponents in a home-and-away system within the new format.
The highest eight groups will advance immediately into the spherical of 16.
Sides ending from ninth to twenty fourth will enter the playoff spherical, which will likely be contested in eight knockout-style matches. The eight winners will full the lineup for the spherical of 16, which can result in the quarterfinals, semifinals and the ultimate.
The variety of matches underneath the brand new format will improve from 125 to 189.
UEFA, the governing physique of European soccer, has stated the brand new format permits “golf equipment to check themselves in opposition to a wider vary of opponents” and will increase the prospect for followers to see “the highest groups go head-to-head extra usually and earlier within the competitors”.
⚽ What occurred within the Champions League draw?
The draw for the league stage passed off on August 29, throwing up a sequence of heavyweight fixtures, together with a visit to Liverpool for holders Actual Madrid, and a repeat of final season’s closing between the Spanish giants and Borussia Dortmund.
Madrid, who received the UEFA Tremendous Cup final month after beating final season’s Europa League winners Atalanta, can even play AC Milan at dwelling and face Atalanta in an away sport.
Liverpool, who’re again within the Champions League after one season, can even meet Milan and tackle match debutants Girona. Their followers will maybe be most excited concerning the prospect of internet hosting German champions Bayer Leverkusen, coached by former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso.
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester Metropolis, winners of the competitors in 2023, will host Italian champions Inter Milan and journey to Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus. The English champions had been additionally handed ties in opposition to Membership Brugge, Sparta Prague and Slovan Bratislava, who’ve by no means performed within the fashionable Champions League correct.
Aston Villa are handed plum ties at dwelling to Bayern and Juventus as they enter the fashionable Champions League for the primary time. Scottish facet Celtic’s journey to Villa Park will arrange an thrilling British derby, whereas Celtic can even make journeys to Dortmund and Atalanta.
⚽ Which golf equipment are new to the Champions League?
Amongst them are French membership Brest, who’ve by no means performed in any European competitors earlier than. They’re handed video games in opposition to Madrid and Barcelona.
Girona’s foray into the competitors will see them host Liverpool and Arsenal, and go to PSG and AC Milan.
The Champions League group stage will run from September to January – extending it past Christmas for the primary time.
Which Champions League ties are scheduled for match day 1?
Tuesday, September 17
Juventus vs PSV (16:45 GMT)
Younger Boys vs Aston Villa (16:45 GMT)
Bayern Munich vs GNK Dinamo (19:00 GMT)
Milan vs Liverpool (19:00 GMT)
Actual Madrid vs Stuttgart (19:00 GMT)
Sporting CP vs Lille (19:00 GMT)
Wednesday, September 18
Bologna vs Shakhtar (16:45 GMT)
Sparta Prague vs Salzburg (16:45 GMT)
Membership Brugge vs Borussia Dortmund (19:00 GMT)
Celtic vs Slovan Bratislava (19:00 GMT)
Man Metropolis vs Inter (19:00 GMT)
PSG vs Girona (19:00 GMT)
Thursday, September 19
Crvena Zvezda vs Benfica (16:45 GMT)
Feyenoord vs Leverkusen (16:45 GMT)
Atalanta vs Arsenal (19:00 GMT)
Atletico Madrid vs Leipzig (19:00 GMT)
Monaco vs Barcelona (19:00 GMT)
Brest vs Sturm Graz (19:00 GMT)
Actual Madrid defeated Borussia Dortmund 2-0 within the 2023-24 Champions League closing. The pair will meet once more within the league section of this season’s competitors on October 22 [File: Claudia Greco/Reuters]
⚽ That are the important thing Champions League matches to be careful for?
October 1: Arsenal vs PSG (19:00 GMT)
October 22: Actual Madrid vs Dortmund (19:00 GMT)
October 23: Barcelona vs Bayern Munich (19:00 GMT)
November 5: Liverpool vs Bayer Leverkusen (19:00 GMT)
November 5: Actual Madrid vs Milan (19:00 GMT)
November 6: Inter vs Arsenal (19:00 GMT)
November 26: Bayern Munich vs PSG (19:00 GMT)
November 27: Liverpool vs Actual Madrid (19:00 GMT)
December 11: Borussia Dortmund vs Barcelona (19:00 GMT)
December 11: Juventus vs Man Metropolis (19:00 GMT)
January 22: PSG vs Man Metropolis (19:00 GMT)
⚽ When does the Champions League knockout stage start?
Knockout spherical playoff: February 11-12 and 18-19, 2025
Spherical of 16: March 4-5 and 11-12, 2025
Quarterfinals: April 8-9 and 15-16, 2025
Semifinals: April 29-30 and Could 6-7, 2025
Ultimate: Could 31, 2025
⚽ The place will the Champions League closing be held?
The 67,000-capacity Munich Soccer Area, dwelling of German Bundesliga membership Bayern Munich, will host the ultimate.
⚽ Who’re the favourites to win the 2024-25 Champions League?
Having received six Champions League titles since 2014, Actual Madrid are robust favourites to win the match but once more.
With a star-studded squad that includes newly-signed French striker Kylian Mbappe, England’s Jude Bellingham, ever-reliable Brazilian ahead Vinicius Jr and veteran midfielder Toni Kroos, supervisor Carlo Ancelotti has the proper mixture of expertise, youth and expertise.
France ahead Kylian Mbappe joined Actual Madrid as a free agent on a five-year contract in June, ending a switch saga that rumbled on for years [File: Manu Fernandez/AP]
Manchester Metropolis are among the many contenders, too, and the reigning Premier League champions can be desperate to raise the trophy for a second time underneath Pep Guardiola, who may depart the membership on the finish of the season.
Arsenal, Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Barcelona can even have their eyes on the silverware.
⚽ Who’re the gamers to look at within the 2024-25 Champions League?
Kylian Mbappe (Actual Madrid)
Erling Haaland (Manchester Metropolis)
Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan)
Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen)
⚽ What’s the Champions League prize cash?
The monetary rewards within the Champions League are larger than earlier than with the whole pot rising by about 25 % to nearly 2.5 billion euros ($2.79bn). The winners can pocket greater than 86 million euros ($95.6m) in prize cash.
All through the brand new Champions League season, you’ll be able to preserve updated on all the most recent soccer information, in addition to reside textual content commentary of choose matches, by way of the Al Jazeera Sport soccer web page.
Coronary heart Radio Breakfast co-host Jamie Theakston has introduced he has been recognized with stage one laryngeal most cancers.
He stated he “not too long ago had an operation to take away a lesion from my vocal cords” and that the prognosis was “very optimistic”.
He added that the most cancers was recognized by a biopsy.
Theakston, 53, stated in a press release: “So – I’ve most cancers – however most cancers would not have me.
“The prognosis could be very optimistic and I am hoping to be again with you in October.
“Till then, I have been instructed to offer my voice a relaxation and go away you within the principally succesful palms of JK (Jason King) and Amanda (Holden).
“Huge because of them and all of the International household who’ve been unbelievably supportive.
“Be pleased about at the present time, and after I subsequent see you, I’ve acquired an awesome story to inform … Jamie x.”
Coronary heart Radio posted a supportive message on Instagram, describing Theakston as “our beloved Jamie.”
His co-host, Amanda Holden, instructed listeners on Tuesday morning: “Now, although it has been recognized as most cancers, it isn’t all unhealthy information.”
Her present co-host JK, whose full title is Jason King, who normally does the Drivetime present with Kelly Brook, added: “The prognosis could be very optimistic, and Jamie has an incredible crew who’re going to get this sorted. He will be okay. He is hoping to be again with us very quickly.”
Holden stated Theakson instructed them “we have got to carry the fort, and he has instructed us that the present should go on, and completely, that is what we’re going to do.
“We’re going to do him proud, him and Sophie [his wife] and the boys, they’re listening at residence, and I do know that after this announcement, all of you listening as nicely are going to be sending your greatest needs to our king.
“Our beautiful Jamie, who’s going to be higher and again with us very quickly.”
Celebrities and followers responded to Theakston’s personal Instagram put up to want him nicely.
Singer Olly Murs posted: “Theakoo! Huge like to you mate! Get nicely quickly mate!”, whereas TV prepare dinner and restauranteur Jamie Oliver wrote: “Huge love brother you bought this sending love xxx.”
Emma Bunton, who used to co-host the Coronary heart breakfast present with Theakston, merely wrote: “Love you to bits.”
Different good needs got here from comedians Sarah Millican and Leigh Francis, presenters Mark Wright, Jenni Falconer and Lisa Snowden and All Saints’ Natalie Appleton.
Theakston rose to fame as a TV presenterwithin the Ninetieson BBC exhibits similar to The Ozone, kids’s Saturday exhibits Reside & Kicking, which he offered alongside Zoe Ball, and High of the Pops.
He additionally fronted quiz present A Query of Pop and Channel 4’s The Priory, teaming up once more with Ball.
Within the early 2000s, he offered actuality present The Video games on Channel 4, and in 2009, joined up with Ball once more for Channel 4 collection, Britain’s Greatest Mind.,
Theakston started co-hosting Coronary heart Radio’s flagship breakfast present in 2005 alongside Harriet Scott. She left in 2013 and was changed by Bunton. Holden started internet hosting alongside Theakston in 2019.
Laryngeal most cancers is a kind of most cancers affecting the larynx (voice field).
The larynx is a part of the throat discovered on the entrance of the windpipe (trachea), and performs an necessary position in serving to you breathe and converse.
There are greater than 2,000 new circumstances of laryngeal most cancers a yr within the UK.
It’s extra frequent in individuals over the age of 60, and males.
The primary therapies are radiotherapy, surgical procedure, chemotherapy and focused most cancers medicines.
Signs embrace:
a change in your voice, similar to sounding hoarse
ache when swallowing or issue swallowing
a lump or swelling in your neck
a long-lasting cough or breathlessness
a persistent sore throat or earache
a high-pitched wheezing noise whenever you breathe
The Radio DJ introduced the information on Instagram, revealing that he has Stage 1 Laryngeal Most cancers.
Posting on Instagram, Jamie mentioned: “As – I lately had an operation to take away a lesion from my vocal chords. The biopsy has recognized this as Stage 1 Laryngeal Most cancers.
“So…I’ve most cancers…however most cancers doesn’t have me! The prognosis could be very constructive and I’m hoping to be again with you in October.
“Till then, I’ve been instructed to offer my voice a relaxation and go away you within the principally succesful fingers of JK and Amanda. Big due to them and all of the World Household who’ve been unbelievably supportive.
“Be pleased about today, and after I see you subsequent, I’ll have an amazing story to inform.”
Theakston’s Coronary heart radio co-host Amanda Holden posted {a photograph} of the pair collectively on Instagram.
She wrote: “Our great @jamie.theakston has been recognized with stage 1 laryngeal most cancers. His prognosis is excellent and he has an unimaginable group round him. Jamie. We love and miss you and look ahead to seeing you very quickly. With @sophietheakstonjewellery, your attractive boys, Us and your complete nation with you.. YOU WILL GET THROUGH THIS.”
He additionally obtained properly needs from Carol Vorderman, who wrote: “Sending greatest Jamie! Thank goodness your listeners noticed the change in your voice, all discovered early and also you’ll be again preserving everybody comfortable very quickly.”
Ashley Roberts added: “Sending all my love buddy.”
Whereas Ian Wright mentioned: “Get properly Jamie x.”
UEFA Champions League ball throughout a coaching session on September 16, 2024 in Dortmund, Germany (Photograph by Hendrik Deckers/Borussia Dortmund through Getty Pictures)
For many years, the UEFA Champions League group stage started yearly on the second or third Tuesday in September, and in 2024 … nicely, to some extent, right here we go once more.
Soccer’s preeminent membership competitors returns this week to 12 international locations throughout Europe and billions of screens globally. Actual Madrid opens yet one more title protection. Liverpool visits AC Milan. Juventus and Aston Villa, again after absences quick and lengthy, headline Tuesday’s curtain-raisers (12:45 p.m. ET, Paramount+).
However this, the beginning of the 2024-25 “Champions League correct,” just isn’t a gaggle stage — as a result of there aren’t any teams.
It is a “league section” that can doubtless confuse the hell out of viewers who attempt to know it — so the perfect strategy, for now, might be to not even strive.
One of the best strategy is to observe the video games, and recognize the soccer, and know that if Atalanta beats Arsenal on Thursday (3 p.m. ET, Paramount+), that issues.
If Girona upsets PSG on Wednesday in Paris, the upstart Spaniards will enhance their odds of reaching the knockout rounds.
The outcomes of Manchester Metropolis-Inter Milan (Wednesday, 3 p.m. ET), and Monaco-Barcelona (Thursday, 3 p.m. ET), and a dozen different video games must be significant.
However they will imply lower than early Champions League video games used to imply. Particular implications will not change into clear till January. Organizers have launched a brand new format that may finally make the competitors extra entertaining. For now, although, it should simply be harder to decipher.
The brand new Champions League format
The Champions League, in fact, was once superbly simplistic. Eight teams of 4; play every opponent twice; prime two advance.
Then UEFA went looking for extra — extra video games, extra groups, extra showdowns between superclubs, extra money. It expanded the sphere (from 32 to 36), and settled on a so-called “Swiss format” mostly utilized in chess tournaments.
Now, there’s one huge group of 36. There are eight video games apiece as a substitute of six. And there aren’t any pods, no clusters or groupings, no head-to-head aspect.
Arsenal, for instance, begins at Atalanta, then performs PSG, Shakhtar Donetsk, Inter Milan, Sporting CP (Lisbon), Monaco, Dinamo Zagreb and Girona.
Atalanta begins with Arsenal, then performs Shakhtar Donetsk, Celtic, Stuttgart, BSC Younger Boys, Actual Madrid, Sturm Graz and Barcelona.
Beforehand, Arsenal needed to be higher than two of its three group opponents. Now, it has to complete within the prime 24 of 36 groups to achieve the knockout rounds; and the highest 8 to skip straight into the Spherical of 16.
In different phrases, teams have been changed by a single league desk. And on the finish of the truncated season — the eight-game “league section” — a workforce’s place within the desk determines its destiny:
1st-Eighth: Qualify for the Spherical of 16
Ninth-Sixteenth: Play-in spherical vs. inferior workforce (from the Seventeenth-Twenty fourth bucket beneath)
Seventeenth-Twenty fourth: Play-in spherical vs. superior workforce (from the Ninth-Sixteenth bucket above)
Twenty fifth-Thirty sixth: Eradicated
Golf equipment will slide up and down the only desk as they win and lose video games. The desk will probably be a fixture on broadcasts and social media, serving to groups and their followers assess progress. If you would like to grasp the format, and observe your membership’s standing, and gauge knockout-round hopes, the desk is your finest wager.
However, with the schedule unbalanced and the “league” so bloated, the desk may even be crowded and misleading. For a lot of the “season,” Twenty fifth place (elimination) and Eighth (bye) will doubtless be separated by lower than six factors — lower than two video games.
Worrying about particular opponents and placements, subsequently, will probably be pointless. Specializing in the broader image will probably be futile. The one certainty — and the one lens by means of which to view these early rounds — is that three factors are higher than one, and one higher than zero.
What is going to it take to qualify for knockout rounds?
If you would like to trace progress within the early rounds, give attention to thresholds.
We do not know who would be the workforce to beat to crack the highest eight, however we will predict what number of factors will probably be required. Historical past and simulations recommend that the thresholds will probably be, roughly:
1st-Eighth: 16+ factors
Ninth-Sixteenth: 12-16 factors
Seventeenth-Twenty fourth: 9-12 factors
Twenty fifth-Thirty sixth: 0-9 factors
In different phrases: Win six of your eight video games, and also you’re into the Spherical of 16; win 5 of eight, and you’ve got a good likelihood.
Win 4, and you will head to the play-in spherical; win three, and you will doubtless sneak in as nicely.
There is no such thing as a approach to guess whom you may sneak in forward of; so, for seven of eight rounds, there isn’t any sense in caring about eventualities or foes. There is no such thing as a must look forward at matchups. There’s solely a must win — and attempt to hit these targets (say, 17 factors, or 10).
If teams had been a six-lap, four-man race round a observe, that is basically an eight-lap time trial; and the qualifying reduce, the time to beat, is projectable however not fairly fastened, and fully out of anyone workforce’s management.
The cynical view of the Champions League
The cynical view of this gluttonous format is that will probably be a roundabout path to a well-known vacation spot.
Does it actually matter if Bayern Munich drops a couple of video games, or Man Metropolis slips out of the highest eight?
They might absolutely run roughshod over Celtic or Brugge, or whichever overmatched opponent they draw within the play-in spherical.
The half-dozen true contenders, those with multiples extra money than everyone else, will certainly end within the prime 24; and sure find yourself within the latter phases, regardless of the place, precisely, they end on this “league section.” As a result of they virtually at all times do.
However the romantic view is that the Champions League is not all in regards to the superclub that wins it. It is about deafening European nights at Celtic Park, and difficult journeys to Prague or Zagreb. It is in regards to the stage that Aston Villa and Stuttgart and Bologna and Girona and Brest now get to share with Liverpool, Bayern, Juventus, Barcelona and PSG. It is about tales like Shakhtar Donetsk, and erstwhile giants like Crvena zvezda (Purple Star Belgrade). It is about Feyenoord and a dozen different golf equipment who now, not like earlier than, can realistically intention for the knockout phases — and dream.
The best way to watch Champions League video games
All of them start their campaigns this week, on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday.
On Matchday 2, in early October, the acquainted Tuesday-Wednesday rhythm resumes, with 9 video games every day — two at 12:45 p.m. ET, seven at 3 p.m. ET — and the Europa League and Convention League on Thursdays.
Paramount+ and CBS networks will broadcast all of it to america in English. The Spanish-language broadcaster within the U.S. is Telemundo.
The betting favorites are the final two champions: Manchester Metropolis and Actual Madrid.
Hezbollah has relied closely on pagers as a low-tech technique of communications to attempt to evade location-tracking by Israel.
A pager is a wi-fi telecommunications system that receives and shows alphanumeric or voice messages.
Cell phones have lengthy since been deserted as just too susceptible, as Israel’s assassination of the Hamas bomb-maker Yahya Ayyash demonstrated as way back as 1996, when his telephone exploded in his hand.
In February, Hassan Nasrallah directed Hezbollah fighters to do away with their telephones, saying they’d been infiltrated by Israeli intelligence. He instructed his forces to interrupt, bury or lock their telephones in an iron field.
Consultants now say the directive, issued throughout a stay televised handle, might have forewarned Israeli intelligence operatives that the group can be looking for a brand new – seemingly decrease tech – technique of communications.
One Hezbollah operative instructed the AP information company that the pagers had been a brand new model that the group had not used earlier than. A Lebanese safety official instructed the Reuters information company that round 5,000 pagers had been introduced into the nation about 5 months in the past.
Labels seen on fragments of exploded pagers level to a pager mannequin referred to as the Rugged Pager AR-924. However Taiwanese producer Gold Apollo has denied any involvement with the explosions. When the BBC visited Gold Apollo on Wednesday native police had been swarming the corporate’s workplaces, inspecting paperwork and questioning workers.
The founder, Hsu Ching-Kuang, mentioned his firm had signed an settlement with a Hungarian-based firm – BAC -to manufacture the gadgets and use his firm identify. He added that cash cash transfers from them had been “very unusual”, with out elaborating.
BBC Confirm has accessed BAC’s firm data, which reveal it was first included in 2022. Its registered handle reveals a really nondescript constructing in a Budapest suburb, and repeated calls to its workplaces by the BBC on Wednesday went unanswered.
9 individuals, together with a toddler, have been killed after handheld pagers utilized by members of the armed group Hezbollah to speak exploded throughout Lebanon, the nation’s well being minister says.
Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon was amongst 2,800 different individuals who have been wounded by the simultaneous blasts in Beirut and several other different areas.
Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran, mentioned the pagers belonged “to workers of varied Hezbollah models and establishments” and confirmed the deaths of eight fighters.
The group blamed Israel for what it referred to as “this prison aggression” and vowed that it will get “simply retribution”. The Israeli army declined to remark.
Hours earlier than the explosions, Israel’s safety cupboard mentioned stopping Hezbollah assaults on the north of the nation to permit the protected return of displaced residents was an official warfare aim.
There have been virtually each day exchanges of fireside throughout the Israel-Lebanon border for the reason that day after the beginning of the warfare between Israel and Hamas in Gaza on 7 October.
Hezbollah has mentioned it’s performing in assist of the Iran-backed Palestinian group.
In its newest assertion on Wednesday, Hezbollah mentioned it will keep on its “operations in assist of Gaza”, including that this was a “steady path separate from the onerous value that awaits the enemy in response to its bloodbath on Tuesday”.
Each Hezbollah and Hamas are proscribed as terrorist organisations by Israel, the UK and different nations.
The UN’s spokesman mentioned the newest developments in Lebanon have been “extraordinarily regarding, particularly provided that that is happening inside a context that’s extraordinarily risky”.
Many Lebanese have been in a state of shock and disbelief on Tuesday night, unable to get their heads round an occasion that was unprecedented in scale and nature.
Hezbollah mentioned an unspecified variety of pagers – which the group depends on closely for communications as a result of danger of cell phones being hacked or tracked – exploded at round 15:30 native time (12:30 GMT) within the capital Beirut and plenty of different areas.
One CCTV video confirmed an explosion in a person’s bag or pocket at a grocery store. He’s then seen falling backwards to the bottom and crying out in ache as different buyers run for canopy.
Hours later, ambulances have been nonetheless dashing to hospitals overwhelmed with the variety of casualties, 200 of whom the well being minister mentioned have been in a important situation. Exterior, kinfolk have been ready within the hope of receiving updates.
The LAU Medical Centre in Beirut’s Ashrafieh district closed its predominant gate and was limiting the variety of individuals getting in. “It’s very delicate and a few scenes are horrific,” one employees member informed the BBC.
Many of the wounds have been on the degree of the waist, face, eyes and arms, he mentioned, including: “A variety of casualties have misplaced fingers, in some circumstances all of them.”
The spouse of Iranian ambassador Mojtaba Amani mentioned he was “barely injured” by one of many explosions and that he was “doing nicely” in hospital.
Hezbollah’s media workplace introduced the deaths of eight fighters. It didn’t give particulars on the areas and circumstances, saying solely that they have been “martyred on the street to Jerusalem”.
A supply near the group informed AFP information company that the son of Hezbollah MP Ali Ammar and the 10-year-old daughter of a Hezbollah member within the Bekaa Valley have been amongst these killed. Later, the supply mentioned the son of one other lawmaker, Hassan Fadlallah, was wounded, having initially reported that he was lifeless.
Fourteen individuals have been additionally wounded by exploding pagers in neighbouring Syria, the place Hezbollah is preventing alongside authorities forces within the nation’s civil warfare, based on the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
“We maintain the Israeli enemy absolutely accountable for this prison aggression,” Hezbollah mentioned in a press release on Tuesday night.
“This treacherous and prison enemy will definitely get his simply retribution on this sinful aggression from the place it counts and from the place it doesn’t rely,” it added.
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati additionally blamed Israel for the explosions, saying that they represented a “critical violation of Lebanese sovereignty and against the law by all requirements”.
Iranian International Minister Abbas Araghchi mentioned he informed his Lebanese counterpart that he “strongly condemned Israeli terrorism”.
The US, Israel’s closest ally, denied any involvement and urged Iran to not heighten tensions.
EPA
Family members of these injured by the pager blasts gathered at hospitals in Beirut and elsewhere
Hezbollah didn’t say what it believed had precipitated the pagers to blow up.
The Wall Avenue Journal cited a supply as saying the affected units have been from a brand new cargo that Hezbollah had obtained in latest days. A Hezbollah official additionally informed the newspaper some individuals had felt the pagers warmth up earlier than the blasts.
Overheated lithium-ion batteries can catch fireplace, however specialists mentioned hacking into the pagers and making them overheat wouldn’t often trigger such explosions.
A former British Military munitions professional, who requested to not be named, informed the BBC the pagers would have doubtless been filled with between 10g and 20g of military-grade excessive explosive, hidden inside a faux digital element.
As soon as armed by a sign, referred to as an alphanumeric textual content message, the subsequent individual to make use of the gadget would have triggered the explosive, the professional mentioned.
Lina Khatib, a Center East analyst on the UK-based Chatham Home assume tank, informed the BBC: “Israel has been partaking in cyber operations towards Hezbollah for a number of months, however this safety breach is the most important in scale.”
Nicholas Blanford, a Beirut-based senior fellow of the American assume tank the Atlantic Council, mentioned: “Israel in a single fell swoop has rendered fight ineffective lots of if not hundreds of Hezbollah fighters, in some circumstances completely.”
He warned that Hezbollah’s leaders would now “face excessive strain from the ranks and supporters to retaliate closely”, describing it as “essentially the most harmful second” within the Hezbollah-Israel battle since October.
AFP
Lebanese military troopers block an entrance of a southern suburb of Beirut following the blasts
A press release put out by the Israeli army on Tuesday night didn’t touch upon the pager explosions, however mentioned the chief of employees Lt Gen Herzi Halevi had held a situational evaluation with commanders “specializing in readiness in each offence and defence in all arenas”.
It additionally mentioned there was no change in defensive tips to the Israeli public however requested them to stay alert and vigilant.
Earlier within the day, the army mentioned an air strike had killed three “Hezbollah terrorists working inside a terrorist infrastructure website” within the Blida space, close to Lebanon’s border with Israel.
Lebanon’s well being ministry confirmed that three individuals had been killed in an Israeli strike, whereas Hezbollah’s media workplace mentioned it had carried out missile and drone assaults focusing on Israeli troops and army websites.
Israel’s Shin Wager inner safety service additionally mentioned it had foiled a Hezbollah bomb assault focusing on an unnamed former senior Israeli safety official. Hezbollah didn’t touch upon the accusation.
This comes at a time when Israel’s authorities is threatening to step up its army effort towards Hezbollah.
On Tuesday morning, Israel’s safety cupboard made the protected return of 60,000 residents displaced within the north by Hezbollah assaults an official aim of the Gaza warfare.
Defence Minister Yoav Gallant mentioned throughout a gathering with US envoy Amos Hochstein on Monday that the one approach to return northern residents was by means of “army motion”.
“The chance for an settlement is operating out as Hezbollah continues to ‘tie itself’ to Hamas, and refuses to finish the battle,” a press release from his workplace mentioned.
For the reason that hostilities escalated in October, no less than 589 individuals have been killed in Lebanon, the overwhelming majority of them Hezbollah fighters, based on the Lebanese well being ministry.
On the Israeli aspect, 25 civilians and 21 members of safety forces have been killed, the Israeli authorities says.
Individuals have began catching a brand new Covid variant that would quickly take off and change into the dominant kind, in response to scientists.
Recognized in Germany, in June, instances of the XEC variant have since emerged within the UK, US, Denmark and a number of other different nations, say customers on X, previously referred to as Twitter.
It has some new mutations that may assist it unfold this autumn, though vaccines ought to nonetheless assist forestall extreme instances, consultants say.
For these extra prone to change into critically ailing from Covid, the NHS gives a free booster shot.
The vaccines have been up to date to higher match latest variants, though not XEC, which has emerged from earlier Omicron subvariants.
Prof Francois Balloux, Director of the Genetics Institute at College School London, informed BBC Information that though XEC has a “slight transmission benefit” over different latest Covid variants, vaccines ought to nonetheless provide good safety.
He says it’s attainable XEC will change into the dominant subvariant over the winter although.
‘Taking cost’
Director of the Scripps Analysis Translational Institute, in California, Eric Topol says XEC is “simply getting began”.
“And that is going to take many weeks, a pair months, earlier than it actually takes maintain and begins to trigger a wave,” he informed the LA Occasions.
“XEC is certainly taking cost.
“That does look like the following variant.
“However it’s months off from moving into excessive ranges.”
What are the signs of XEC Covid?
Signs are regarded as the identical chilly or flu-like ones as earlier than:
a excessive temperature
aches
tiredness
a cough or sore throat
Most individuals really feel higher inside just a few weeks of Covid however it will probably take longer to get better.
There was “robust development” of XEC in Denmark and Germany, Covid knowledge analyst Mike Honey says on X.
There may be far much less routine testing than earlier than, making it tough to understand how a lot Covid is likely to be round.
The UK Well being Safety Company (UKHSA) says it’s regular for viruses to mutate and alter.
Individuals qualifying for a free booster vaccine embrace:
adults aged 65 years and over
these residing in a care dwelling for older adults
these over the age of six months in a scientific danger group
some front-line NHS, care-home and social-care staff
The principle vaccination drive for flu and Covid will begin in October, though some might obtain their photographs earlier.
Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, UKHSA Deputy Director, mentioned: “It’s regular and anticipated for viruses to genetically change over time. UKHSA continues to observe all obtainable info referring to rising Covid variants within the UK and internationally, and to publish our knowledge often.
“Vaccination supplies the perfect safety towards severe sickness from COVID-19, and we urge those that are contacted by the NHS to come back ahead to obtain their autumn vaccine.”
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