The president of Barcelona, Josep Maria Bartomeu, opened the presentation of Quique Setién as the new coach of the club thanking the coach who accepted the challenge. “We know him as a coach and as a great player who was characterized by his treatment of the ball, who took care of the game and style in the manner of Barça. We fully agree with him, ”he said.Bartomeu thanked “The two and a half years with Ernesto, with whom we had a very close relationship and made us improve, an endearing person. The change responds to how long we knew that The dynamics of the team were improved even though the results were good. We had commented on this fact several times with Valverde, with whom we maintained a very complicit relationship. The team was very improvable and we decided to change mid-season to give a boost in the second half of the course. I would have liked to do things differently. Our way of acting is not what we have seen. We have talked to many coaches because it is our obligation. It was kept secret, but the work was doneHas the board been touched?Things have gone as they have gone. We talked to coaches for a long time. It tastes bad, because Ernesto is a person we talked to in a good way, but there were shortcomings. He is a person who contributes and is very intelligent. We wanted everything to be different. Do you feel that you have been unfair to Valverde and that the process has not been the desired one?I reiterate that we had been talking with discretion for some time, but a name came out that shouldn’t have come out.When did you lose confidence in Valverde if you trusted him?A year ago I personally trusted him despite what was said and the requests for cessation, but in recent weeks the dynamics were not good. The sports team spoke with him, was aware of everything and we thought it was best to give the team a boost. And we started well, as first. Valverde has made a letter like he is, we are friends and he is a great person.Have you talked to any staff member about the change of coach?This morning I have been in the Ciutat Esportiva, we have given ourselves a big hug with Valverde and he with Quique. I have talked to them and they are professionals. He is known as a coach, less as a player. He has also been unanimously accepted on the board of directors.Is Xavi ruled out for next season?Setién has a contract until 22, but as there are elections there is a clause so that the next president can decide about it. read more

KANPUR, India (CMC):West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Smith produced a brilliant career-best four-wicket haul, but then suffered the ignominy of a first-ball ‘duck’, as Gujarat Lions held their nerve to beat Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by six wickets in the Indian Premier League yesterday.Choosing to bowl first at Green Park, Lions Limited KKR to 124 for eight off their 20 overs, with Man of the Match Smith proving the main destroyer with four for eight off four miserly overs of medium pace.Yusuf Pathan top-scored with a run-a-ball 36, while opener Robin Uthappa chipped in with 25.In reply, Lions slumped to 18 for two, but captain Suresh Raina stroked an unbeaten 53 from 36 balls to guide the hosts to a crucial win with over six overs to spare – a victory which carried them to second in the standings on 16 points.They are only below leaders Sunriders Hyderabad on net run rate.KKR, meanwhile, lie two points back in fourth spot in a tightly bunched top six, separated by all of four points.Smith struck as early as the fifth over when he had Manish Pandey caught at first slip by Raina for one with the score on 34 for two.OFFSIDE STROKEThe Barbadian right-armer then accounted for Uthappa in the seventh over to a catch at the wicket after the opener had struck three fours and a six, and he followed up by bowling Piyush Chawla middle stump for 11, as the batsman gave himself room for an offside stroke in the 10th over.Smith claimed his fourth wicket when he removed Shakib Al Hasan for three to a catch at third man as KKR slumped to 61 for five in the 12th over.West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo finished with one for 29 from his four overs.In reply, Lions lost Smith to the first ball of the innings, when he under-edged an attempted pull at seamer Ankit Rajput and his opening partner Brendon McCullum followed in the next over, when he was lbw to West Indies off-spinner Sunil Narine for six. read more

Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) embattled Chairman George Solo’s quest to retain his position as chairman, has suffered another major setback, as the electoral governing body—National Elections Commission (NEC) — “regrettably dashed his hope.”CDC on August 5, 2014 addressed NEC stating that its National Executive Committee has taken a decision to remove Solo as chairman.Under the signature of secretary general Nathaniel McGill, CDC went on to announce that Garblah Williams had been appointed to replace their embattled chairman.But on August 11, 2014, McGill withdrew his August 5th communication and submitted another communication conveying a decision of the National Executive Committee of CDC reducing Solo’s removal to a suspension and referring him (Solo) to the Grievance and Ethics Committee of party, for investigation into a complaint filed against Solo by some members of the party.Solo immediately protested his party’s decision before the National Elections Commission for possible redress.Based on said complaint, NEC launched a probe and held three conferences with parties involved, aimed at resolving the dispute.In a letter addressed to Solo dated September 19, 2014, NEC for the first time referred to Solo as “Mr. Solo not as Chairman.”Meaning, the Commission under the law, could no longer protect Solo’s image in this difficult period, a senior partisan of CDC hinted.NEC regrettably in that letter said, “Amid the claims and counter claims surrounding your removal as chairman of CDC, and consistent with the policy of the Commission, the Board of Commissioners took a decision to refer your letter and other related communications originating from the CDC to oversight Commissioner on Political Affairs and the oversight Commissioner for your party for handing. The purpose of the referral was for two Commissioners to reconcile the two sides to the dispute without the party necessarily restoring to the legal process.”The Commission informed Solo that responses from parties involved could not help resolve the matter, and as such, the Body decided that “When the Commission registers a political party, that party receives authority to exercise political franchise under relevant provisions of the constitution and laws of Liberia.“One such franchise is for political parties to adopt an internal democracy that suits their aspiration.“In the face of such political franchise, the Commission cannot dictate to political parties how to run their day-to-day affairs, in so far as such affairs are conducted within the confines of the law controlling.”The Commission further told Solo “the purpose for soliciting the constitution, Articles of Incorporation and Rules of political parties in keeping with Section 2.9(m) of the new Elections Law of 1986 is to ensure among others, that those constitutions and roles do not contravene any of the controlling legal instruments of the land. The decision on the implementation of those rules in the application of a political party’s internal democracy is solely the choice of each political party. Of course as a registered corporate entity, internal disagreements on the application of those internal rules are remediable in the courts of Liberia.”Solo has been instructed to revert to the party in order to have said intra-party resolution in keeping with the party’s standing rules.Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) read more

– Advertisement – Supt. Adama J. Robinson of Bomi County to answer involvement into disappearance of US$2M scrap and truck claims -In order to get a ‘speedy trial’Judge William B. Sando of the 11th Judicial Circuit in Tubmanburg, Bomi County, has granted an approval to transfer a US$2,000,000 scrap deal contract case to Monrovia, specifically  to the 1st Judicial Circuit, Criminal Assizes ‘A’ for Montserrado County for ‘speedy’ trial.The deal involved the county Superintendent Adama J. Robinson and Hans Armstrong as plaintiffs; Reginald Holder and Jehu Richardson as defendants.Judge Sando took the decision based on a request by the prosecution team for a change of venue preferably to Monrovia to give their witnesses and the defendants opportunity to have the matter speedily tried.“The case has been kept on the court’s document for years,” according to the record.Defendants Holder and Richardson were both charged with forgery and theft of property based on Armstrong’s and Robinson’s complaint that Holder prepared a counterfeit document in the name of Richardson as owner of the scrap metal equipment for them to sell it at the cost of US$100,000, which actually was valued at US$2,000,000.“The accused were allegedly acting on their own without any authorized note from any of the county’s officials,” the document claimed.Although lawyers representing the defendants rejected prosecution’s request for change of venue, Judge Sando ignored the defense’s resistance before approving the transfer document of the case to a new venue.“Prosecution request for change of venue was in accordance with section 5.7 (b) and (c) of the country’s criminal procedure law, and thereby it is hereby granted,” the judge declared.Judge Sando added: “This case is therefore transferred to the 1st Judicial Circuit, Criminal Assizes ‘A’ for Montserrado County for trial, same being consistent with law, practice and procedure extant in this jurisdiction is hereby granted.”He thereafter instructed the clerk to transfer all records of this case to the 1st Judicial Assizes ‘A’ to proceed with the case consistent with laws, practice and procedure extant in the jurisdiction.To make matters worse for the case, Sao M. Kortu and Vayanka A. Toure, claiming to be owners of the truck that Fountain-Liberia Incorporated, through the company’s representative, one Stanley Walker, also claiming to be the chief executive officer and president, allegedly contracted Kortu and Toure to transport the scrap metal to Monrovia.But the duo are now requesting the Criminal Court ‘C’ to authorize officers of the Liberia National Police to released the vehicle that is reportedly under police custody.Kortu and Toure are not party to the case, instead, they have claimed to have been contracted by Stanley Walker to transport the scrap metal from Sackie Town, Senjeh District, Bomi County to Monrovia for sale.Based on the contract, Kortu and Toure further claimed that they proceeded to Sackie Town, and loaded said contracted scrap metal in their vehicle for Monrovia.Before that could happen, Kortu and Toure also said there was a Memorandum of Understanding between Superintendent Robinson as owner of the scraps, and Walker as the vendor.The case grew on December 22, 2012, when Superintendent Robinson, based on his complaint, the Grand Jurors of Bomi County indicted both Holder and Richardson with forgery and theft of property.Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) read more

“I’m too tired to be happy,” he said. He played 120 holes in fivedays in the Accenture Match Play Championship in Marana, Ariz., the last 35 on Sunday against Geoff Ogilvy in the final that featured five lead changes and countless mood shifts until Stenson made back-to-back birdies for a 2-and-1 victory. He reached the green in two on the 600-yard hole and lagged his 60-foot putt so close that Ogilvy conceded. “That’s just the way it goes,” said Ogilvy, who earned $800,000. “He wasn’t at his best, either, but he got it done when he needed to.” In the 18-hole consolation match, Trevor Immelman began the back nine with three straight birdies and won, 4 and 2, over Chad Campbell to claim third place and $575,000. Campbell earned $475,000. PGA: Fred Funk won one for the old guys. Playing with an achy back befitting his senior status, the 50-year-old Funk won the Mayakoba Golf Classic in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, on the second hole of a playoff with Jose Coceres to became only the second man to win a PGA Tour event after winning on the Champions Tour. “It shows that the old guy has still got something,” Funk said. “It’s a very satisfying win. “I think I validated how good the players are on the Champions Tour. Even though you are 50 or 51 through 55 … age doesn’t really mean anything. I just want to see how long I can last.” Funk led the tournament – the PGA Tour’s first in Mexico – since setting the course record with an 8-under 62 Thursday. He never gave it up, but was tied several times, including from the 14th hole Sunday until sinking the birdie putt in the playoff. Funk closed with a 1-over 71 to match Coceres (69) at 14-under 266 on the Greg Norman-designed El Camaleon course. Funk earned $630,000 for his eighth PGA Tour victory. Craig Stadler became the first Champions Tour winner to win a PGA Tour event when he followed his 2003 Senior Players win with a victory the following week in the B.C. Open. Funk has won twice on the Champions Tour, including the Turtle Bay Championship in Hawaii last month. Stadler and Funk both have a bit of an asterisk next to their feats because their 50-something wins came against fields diluted by other, bigger events – the British Open for Stadler, the Accenture Match Play Championship for Funk. Funk one-upped Stadler in another way: At 50 years, 8months and 12 days old, he jumped ahead of The Walrus as the fifth-oldest PGA Tour winner. Champions: Bobby Wadkins won The ACE Group Classic in Naples, Fla., for his fourth Champions Tour title, holing a 13-foot birdie putt on the final hole for a 4-under 68 and a one-stroke victory over Allen Doyle. Wadkins, the brother of 2000champion Lanny Wadkins, finished with a 15-under 201 total and earned $240,000. Doyle shot a 70. 160Want local news?Sign up for the Localist and stay informed Something went wrong. Please try again.subscribeCongratulations! You’re all set! Stenson will go to No. 5 in the world, taking his place among the elite, the highest ranking ever by a Swede. He earned $1.35 million to move atop the PGA European Tour Order of Merit. In a slugfest that came down to survival, Stenson played mistake-free over the final 10 holes and made four birdies to surge past the U.S. Open champion and become only the second European to win this most unpredictable tournament. “I was struggling big time with my game,” Stenson said. “Somehow, I managed to fight my way through the round and not let Geoff run away with it.” Trying to win his 12th straight match, Ogilvy had a 2-up lead with 10 holes to play until he lost momentum with a three-putt bogey, lost the lead with another and couldn’t stop a sensational finish by Stenson. Stenson hit 8-iron into 2 feet on the par-3 16th, and when Ogilvy missed his 6-foot birdie, the Swede went 2-up to the par-5 17th. The longest week of his career was behind him. The blue World Golf Championship trophy was at his side. Henrik Stenson soaked it all in by slowly lowering his head on the table and closing his eyes. read more

1 Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has insisted he never considered his team potential Premier League champions in his first season in charge.The Reds went into Sunday clash against Newcastle in blistering form, having recorded three straight wins over Manchester City, Swansea and Southampton – an electric 6-1 drubbing in the League Cup.Many tipped the Merseyside outfit to capitalise on what has been one of the most open campaigns in years to launch a Premier League title bid, but their hopes were dashed by a surprise 2-0 defeat as the struggling Magpies finally found their feet.Newcastle head coach Steve McClaren was among those talking up Liverpool’s title chances ahead of the game, but Klopp was adamant he had never even considered a bid for the crown.The German said: “Everybody on your side of the table maybe [said that]. I didn’t hear anybody on this side of the table talking about it. I have no problem with anything you might talk about, but please don’t ask me now about this.“I didn’t say before we were title contenders, so why I should say now that we’re not? So I’m sorry.“We played this game today and at this moment I’m trying to understand why. We’ve got to try and understand why, but I won’t answer that question, because it’s not mine.“If in professional football you don’t feel defeats, you don’t feel a loss, then something is really wrong. We feel this defeat. We know for today it’s deserved, but it hurts, like it should do.” read more

Ashley Williams collided with teammate Jonny Williams 1 Wales expect skipper Ashley Williams to be fit for their Euro 2016 quarter-final clash with Belgium.Williams damaged his shoulder during the closing stages of Saturday’s 1-0 victory over Northern Ireland in Paris on Saturday.But Williams was able to complete the last-16 win and Wales manager Chris Coleman dismissed reports that his captain had suffered a dislocated shoulder at the Parc des Princes.“We think it was when he fell after he collided with Jonny (Williams),” said Coleman.“He landed on his hand with a straight arm which was a bit of an impact on his shoulder.“He’s a bit bruised and sore, but he’ll be fine and we’ll get him on the grass as soon as we can.“It probably won’t be for the next day or two, but he is not a worry or a doubt and I would be surprised if he doesn’t make the game.”James Collins was ready to replace Williams in Paris, but the Swansea centre-back stayed on the field as Wales saw out the game.“Ash being Ash he didn’t want to come off and we were right,” said Coleman. “He thrives on it.“All players at the top level want to play against top teams, where the excitement is, and Ash is no different.”Belgium’s 4-0 victory over Hungary on Sunday set up a reunion with Wales as the two nations were in the same Euro 2016 qualifying group.Wales drew 0-0 in Brussels and a 1-0 victory in Cardiff, when Gareth Bale was on target, extended their unbeaten run against Belgium to three matches.But Coleman says Belgium’s experience of major tournaments – they reached the quarter-finals of the 2014 World Cup – gives them a distinct advantage in Lille on Friday night.“Belgium have been here before in a quarter-final, this is new for us,” said Coleman.“They have players on the pitch and the bench that would grace any international team.“But in the last four years we’ve had four meetings and won one and drawn two, so there’s nothing to be afraid of.“The game will be built up as it’s a quarter-final of a major tournament, but if we get carried away with that it will go out of the window.“If you go too open against Belgium they will go through you like a knife through butter.“They are expected to win, but what we have is a good pressure because of what we expect of each other.“We are a good team and the pressure for me is how get this team to do what they’re capable of.” read more

ROWLAND HEIGHTS – The scene at Casa Alvarez was chaotic – after a loud sound “like an earthquake,” the floor swelled 2 feet above ground, a 30-foot water geyser shot up outside and customers fled, leaving half-eaten bowls of menudo and plates of fajitas. A burst water main next to the Mexican restaurant March 1 left the Alvarez family business wrecked. “I think they might have to tear the place down,” said Elva De La Torre, whose father, Jose Alvarez, opened the restaurant 15 years ago. But De La Torre and her two sisters and brother, who have all waited tables, played hostess or host and washed dishes at the family business, are planning to rebuild. “We’re going to remodel it and it’s going to be better than before,” said older brother Gus Alvarez, 36, of Diamond Bar. The siblings say they are praying customers will come back after the repairs. They hope to be back in business in about three months. “For a lot of folks, this is more than a restaurant,” said Alvarez, who had his wedding reception at Casa Alvarez. Their insurance company is still determining what caused the broken water main and if anyone is at fault, they said. The restaurant was the culmination of a lifelong dream for their father, an immigrant from Mexico who started his career in the restaurant business as a busboy at Denny’s. Some of their most loyal customers have come to dine there since the day they opened, Feb. 22, 1991, said Teresa Garcia, Alvarez’ sister, who is now a registered nurse. Garcia said she was surprised customers came back after that opening day, when they ran out of chips, beans and salsa because they underestimated the number of people who would show up. Steve Paschal, 43, of Diamond Bar, has been eating at the restaurant for 13 years and has never ordered any meal but the carne asada burrito with grilled onions, extra cheese and diablo sauce topped with green sauce and cheese and served with guacamole and cilantro. He ordered it so much other customers now request the “Senor Steve Burrito.” “It’s not on the menu,” said Paschal, a volunteer baseball and football coach at Southlands Christian High School in Walnut, who estimates he puts away at least one burrito a week. The family also remembered fondly one customer who never paid: an elderly homeless man who showed up at the restaurant and introduced himself as an “Alvarez, so we are family,” they recalled. They were skeptical of the familial ties, but Jose Alvarez cooked the man a meal every day for 10 years, until he stopped showing up one day, his children said. On March 1, the underground water main “just gave way” and broke in half, possibly due to old age, said fire Capt. Gary Cross of county fire Station 119. Firefighters shut the main off and nobody was injured, he said. Cross said he liked eating huevos rancheros for breakfast at the restaurant before it was destroyed. shirley.hsu@sgvn.com (626) 962-8811, Ext. 2306 AD Quality Auto 360p 720p 1080p Top articles1/5READ MORECasino Insider: Here’s a look at San Manuel’s new high limit rooms, Asian restaurant160Want local news?Sign up for the Localist and stay informed Something went wrong. Please try again.subscribeCongratulations! You’re all set! read more

Sinn Féin Finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty has said that today’s payment of a €1bn unguaranteed and unsecured bond by AIB is yet further evidence of the Government’s failure to deal with the debt crisis.Deputy Doherty accused the Government of having no strategy to deal with the massive pay-outs of taxpayer’s money to speculating bond holders.Deputy Doherty said: “Today AIB will pay out €1bn of taxpayer’s money to speculating bondholders. It is likely that the holder of this bond will make a massive profit at the expense of citizens. “It is totally unacceptable for this bond to be paid. It is double the total cut to the social protection budget for 2012. It is almost double the total cut to the health budget in 2012. It is just under a third of the total adjustment the Government is set to make in next year’s budget.“The fact that this bond is being paid today is further evidence of the Government’s failure to deal with the debt crisis. Just as they have no clear strategy to deal with the Anglo Irish debt or the pillar bank debt, they have no plan to deal with the on-going payment of unguaranteed and unsecured bonds.“The Government should have put a plan in place months ago to deal with these bonds, signalling well in advance the state’s inability to pay. This would have created an opening for negotiations to secure a write-down of the debt. Unfortunately the government does not have the political will to deal with this matter. As a result today is yet another bonanza pay-out day for bondholders.“This is not public debt. It should not be paid with public money. The Government must change course and adopt a new approach. It must signal its intention that the taxpayer is not in a position to pay these private banking debts. Failure to do so will result in more cuts to hospitals, schools and other vital front line services.”  TD’S ANGER AS GOVERNMENT HANDS OVER ANOTHER €1BN TO UNSECURED BONDHOLDIERS was last modified: October 2nd, 2012 by BrendaShare this:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window) Tags:Pearse DohertyTD’S ANGER AS GOVERNMENT HANDS OVER ANOTHER €1BN TO UNSECURED BONDHOLDIERS read more

SANTA CLARA — Panic did not set in as the 49ers rolled loss after loss into an 0-9 start in 2017 under new coach Kyle Shanahan. Two years later, egos appear to be in check amid a 7-0 start. Win or lose, fans clamor their concerns, hence this Week 9 mailbag via my Instagram and Twitter couch:How far do you think the 49ers will be undefeated? (@doobie_mane)The next three games are vital for division purposes (at Arizona, vs. Seattle, vs. Arizona), because the 49ers want to win the NFC West … read more