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MP Stands by Decision to Challenge Irish President’s Remarks

DUP representative Gregory Campbell expressed criticism towards President Catherine Connolly for omitting any mention of Londonderry in her address at the Guildhall.

Gregory Campbell, a Democratic Unionist Party MP, has spoken out in response to Irish President Catherine Connolly's comments during her inaugural visit to Londonderry on Thursday.

Shows a man with receding grey hair, a blue jack, light-coloured shirt and blue floral tie in the Guildhall in Derry.
The East Londonderry MP Gregory Campbell accused President Connolly of being 'one-sided' during her speech in the Guildhall

Campbell took issue with President Connolly's decision not to use the term "Londonderry" in her speech at the Guildhall, characterizing the address as "one-sided" in its approach.

The MP for East Londonderry made a point to tell President Connolly that he would be visiting her country the following evening, referencing his planned participation in a debate in Dublin.

Campbell pushed back against criticism that his exchange with President Connolly had been awkward or uncomfortable.

In an interview with BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme on Friday, Campbell described the conversation as "respectful, yet direct and to the point".

Shows a women with grey hair, a black jacket and white top, standing at a mic
The DUP MP Gregory Campbell says President Connolly's speech at the Guildhall on Thursday was 'one-sided'

He noted that President Connolly's speech in Londonderry stood in contrast to her remarks the previous day in Belfast, which he believed had struck a more balanced tone.

According to Campbell, the reports he had received from others suggested that the Belfast event had been more even-handed, whereas the Guildhall speech had not made a similar effort to present a balanced perspective.

However, Social Democratic and Labour Party councillor Catherine McDaid offered a different assessment, praising President Connolly's speech as "gracious" and characterizing Campbell's intervention as "somewhat awkward".

McDaid expressed surprise that Campbell had taken umbrage with the president's use of the term "Derry", suggesting that individuals should be free to use their preferred terminology without fear of rebuke.

She emphasized that, in her view, it was not appropriate to correct a head of state on their choice of words, particularly when they were making an effort to engage with all parties.

Campbell claimed that President Connolly had apologized to him following their exchange.

During her address, President Connolly discussed the legacy of Bloody Sunday, emphasizing that justice for the victims remained an outstanding issue, while also acknowledging the city's role in promoting peace and highlighting local reconciliation efforts.

The president also met privately with families of the Bloody Sunday victims on Thursday afternoon, as part of her visit to the city.

On the final day of her three-day visit to Northern Ireland, President Connolly met with young people from diverse backgrounds in Derry.

Shows an older woman with grey hair and a dark jacket talking to five younger women
President Connolly talking to young people at St Columb's Park House on Friday

At St Columb's Park House, a peace and reconciliation centre, the president engaged with approximately 40 youths and community workers, who shared their experiences and insights on cross-community and cross-border projects.

The group, comprising young people from various backgrounds, aimed to provide the president with a deeper understanding of their initiatives and the challenges they face.

Shows a women in grey hair and black jacket on the left, next to a woman in blond hair and blue, black and white shop and four young people - two girls and two boys. The girls are wearing headscarves.
The young people who met the president included members of the North West Islamic Association

Dominic Bonner, from Youth Action NI, noted that the programmes in question focus on fostering respect, understanding, and cooperation among young people from different backgrounds.

He explained that community leaders had been invited to share their experiences and perspectives, with the goal of promoting positive change and supporting the needs of young people.

Bonner emphasized that the president was eager to engage with the group and learn about their work, which he believed would have a lasting impact.

He stressed that young people have the potential to drive positive change, but require the support and leadership of others to do so effectively.

Shows seven people, including six students in school uniforms - three girls to the left and three boys to the right with a woman in the middle dressed in a blac suit with white top.
Pupils from Royal and Prior Comprehensive School and Deele College, both in Raphoe, County Donegal, were among those to meet President Connolly

Bonner highlighted the importance of empowering young people, describing them as the "present and future leaders" of their communities.

The delegation included representatives from Donegal youth service and Reach Across, a teenage cross-community project based in Derry, among others.

According to Bonner, the group also included young people from the Northwest Islamic Centre, who have faced hate crime and isolation, as well as those involved in peace projects and interface programmes at St Columb's Park House.

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Tudor to take interim charge of Tottenham

Igor Tudor has reached an agreement to take the reins as Tottenham’s interim head coach for the remainder of the season.

Tottenham has reached an agreement with Igor Tudor to take the helm as interim head coach for the remainder of the current season.

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UAE Defeats Canada to Enhance Super 8s Qualification Chances

The United Arab Emirates boosted their slim chances of advancing to the T20 World Cup Super 8s, securing a narrow five-wicket victory over Canada, thanks in part to Aryansh Sharma’s unbeaten 74.

In a crucial match for the United Arab Emirates, Aryansh Sharma achieved his fifth T20 international half-century, contributing to the team's victory over Canada.

The Men's T20 World Cup, being held in Group D in Delhi, saw an intense competition between the two teams.

Canada's innings resulted in a total of 150-7 after 20 overs, with Harsh Thaker scoring 50 runs off 41 balls, while Junaid Siddique took 5 wickets for 35 runs.

The UAE team responded with a total of 154 runs in 19.4 overs, led by Aryansh Sharma's unbeaten 74 runs off 53 balls and Sohaib Khan's 51 runs off 29 balls, despite Bin Zafar taking 3 wickets for 14 runs.

The United Arab Emirates secured a five-wicket win over Canada, boosting their chances in the tournament.

Aryansh Sharma played a pivotal role in the UAE's win, scoring an unbeaten 74 runs to help his team overcome Canada's total.

With four overs remaining, Canada seemed poised to defend their total, but Sohaib Khan's aggressive batting reignited the UAE's chase, as he scored 17 runs off Dillon Heyliger's bowling.

In the final over, the UAE required eight runs to win, and Aryansh Sharma eased the pressure by hitting a six off Jaskaran Singh's first ball.

Sohaib Khan was dismissed after scoring a rapid 51 runs off 29 balls, including four sixes, leaving the scores level.

Muhammad Arfan then sealed the victory with two balls to spare, hitting a four off Jaskaran Singh, as Aryansh Sharma top-scored with 74 runs off 53 balls.

The UAE now stands third in Group D with two points, but they face an uphill task in their upcoming matches against full members South Africa and Afghanistan to advance to the next phase.

Although the UAE has never beaten a full member in any World Cup format, their performance in this match has given them some confidence.

Earlier in the match, Junaid Siddique achieved the best bowling figures by a UAE player in a T20 World Cup, taking 5 wickets for 35 runs at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.

Harsh Thaker's 41-ball half-century, which included three sixes and two fours, provided a solid foundation for Canada's total.

Thaker and Navneet Dhaliwal shared a 58-run partnership to help Canada recover from a difficult start, before Dhaliwal was run out for 34 runs.

After Thaker fell victim to Junaid Siddique's slower ball, Canada struggled to find boundaries against the UAE's tight bowling.

Shreyas Movva made a useful contribution of 21 runs off 21 balls, but Junaid Siddique took two wickets in the final over to claim his maiden five-wicket haul in T20 internationals.

In a separate match, Zimbabwe's Brilliant Muzarabani played a key role in his team's stunning win over Australia.

For more updates, notifications, and social media coverage, visit the BBC Sport website.

In another development, Paul Stirling has been ruled out of the remainder of the T20 World Cup due to injury.

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Guardiola Advocates for Cultural Embrace to Foster a Better Society

Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, has stated that accepting diverse cultures will lead to a more harmonious society, in reaction to comments made by Sir Jim Ratcliffe regarding immigration.

As a player, Pep Guardiola earned 47 international caps for Spain, showcasing his skills on the global stage.

Manchester City's manager, Pep Guardiola, believes that embracing diverse cultures is essential for creating a more harmonious society.

Guardiola was questioned about his thoughts on comments made by Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who stated that the UK had been "colonised by immigrants", sparking a debate.

Following criticism, Ratcliffe apologised for any offence caused, while still advocating for open discussion on the issue.

Ahead of Manchester City's FA Cup fourth-round match against Salford, Guardiola shared his perspective, saying that people seek better lives and opportunities, which can be found in their birthplace or elsewhere.

According to Guardiola, one's birthplace is not a determining factor in their potential or aspirations.

Many individuals are forced to leave their homelands due to problems in their native countries, rather than a desire to abandon their roots.

Guardiola emphasized that by genuinely embracing other cultures, society as a whole can improve, a notion he has no doubts about.

An examination of the facts behind Jim Ratcliffe's statements on immigration and benefits is also underway.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe, a billionaire, has made headlines, but who is he and how did he accumulate his wealth?

Born in Santpedor, Catalonia, Spain, Guardiola has had a diverse career, playing in Spain, Italy, Qatar, and Mexico, before transitioning to management.

As a manager, the 55-year-old has had stints in Spain, Germany, and England, taking the helm at Manchester City in 2016.

Guardiola views the issue of immigration as a global problem, stating that it is a concern that affects many countries.

He believes that immigrants are often unfairly blamed for problems in their adopted countries, highlighting the fact that one's birthplace is often a matter of circumstance.

Guardiola reiterated that people from all backgrounds strive for a better life, seeking opportunities that may be available in their birth country or elsewhere.

He stressed that factors such as skin colour or birthplace should not be barriers to achieving one's goals.

For the latest news, analysis, and fan perspectives on Manchester City, please refer to our dedicated section.

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