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The AC Milan striker is under more pressure to perform than any of his teammates this summer, and has had to deal with calls to install Ciro Immobile in the lineup at his expense. The questions being asked are with justification. It was a tumultuous season for Balotelli at San Siro, and potentially his last. He picked up almost as many cards as goals for the Rossoneri - 14 yellows, one red and 18 goals - and often looked dismayed at what was going on around him....

WHAT’S NEW There isn’t much new in Baltimore to start 2014, but that’s OK. The offense, which produced the league leader in home runs (Chris Davis), a five-tool asset (Adam Jones) and one of the game’s most exciting young position players (Manny Machado) returns largely intact. In fact, the top six spots of the lineup should be the exact same as last season. That’s a good thing. Every one of those hitters, with the possible exception of Nick Markakis, will be drafted in mixed leagues and all should provide solid fantasy production....

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) selectors have reposed their faith in the team that played South Africa in the first Test at Chittagong. There are no changes in the squad that takes on the Proteas in the second Test at Mirpur. The BCB named a 14-man squad on Saturday, on the last day of the rain-marred Chittagong Test that ended in a draw following incessant rain in the last two days, reports bdnews24....

After an eventful couple of matches in the on-going Chattogram leg, Rangpur will be looking to end with another formidable performance although it is far from straight forward for them as they encounter Laurie Evans, one of the best batsman of this edition. Considering the high-scoring nature of Chattogram and with dew playing a huge factor in the night games, this match is sure to deliver as far as entertainment goes....

Democratic Representatives Ted Lieu and Mondaire Jones drafted a letter to the association Friday, urging them to “open an immediate investigation” into Giuliani, the former mayor of New York City. “We request that your office open an immediate investigation into the President’s attorney for his statements calling for a ’trial by combat’ preceding a violent insurrection at the Capitol in which five people died, including a U.S. Capitol Police Officer, and Members of Congress and the Vice President were credibly threatened with violence,” the letter said....

BARCELONA (Reuters) - Barcelona’s 100 percent start to the Liga season will be severely tested at Atletico Madrid on Saturday in an atmosphere certain to be intensified by political fervour. It will be the first time Barca have visited the capital since a disputed referendum on independence in Catalonia which has stoked tensions with the Spanish government. As the Catalan region’s most famous export, Ernesto Valverde’s Barca side can expect an even more intimidating welcome from the Atletico fans than usual....

Kane has been linked with Barca, who are reportedly seeking a long-term successor for Luis Suarez, despite signing a six-year contract before the World Cup, where he won the Golden Boot in England’s run to the semi-finals. Barca head coach Ernesto Valverde described Kane as “exceptional” ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League meeting between the clubs at Camp Nou. Kane has shown little public interest in leaving Spurs but Pochettino noted Premier League stars including Philippe Coutinho and Cristiano Ronaldo have previously been tempted to Spain....

With the summer transfer window just a few months away, teams across Europe’s top five leagues already seem to be preparing for next season. As usual, there has been plenty of transfer talk and speculation today. Today’s top transfer stories feature giant clubs like Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester United, Juventus, Liverpool, Arsenal, and Paris Saint-Germain, among others. They also feature some high-profile stars who are being linked with moves away from their current clubs....

VID: Chape survivor takes first steps Chapecoense players, backroom staff and officials were among the victims when a flight carrying the team to the Copa Sudamericana final against Atletico Nacional crashed in Colombia last week. The football world has united in its support for the Brazilian Serie A side, with numerous clubs and players having offered to help in the wake of the tragedy. Brazil will play Colombia in January to help raise money for those affected, and Barcelona are also keen to assist Chapecoense’s recovery by offering a place in their pre-season plans for the 2017-18 campaign....

The Liverpool midfielder is keen to complete a move to Camp Nou in January after the Reds rejected three bids over the summer. Read the full story on Goal! PSG to make Seri move Paris Saint-Germain are set to make a January move for Nice midfielder Jean-Michael Seri, according to the Daily Mail . The 26-year-old almost joined Barcelona in the summer, but a £32.5 million bid was rejected by the Ligue 1 side....

In case you didn’t know… 27-year-old Brazilian forward Neymar enjoyed four trophy-laden seasons at the Nou Camp from 2013 to 2017, after arriving from Brasilerao side Santos. Alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, Neymar formed one of the most fearsome front three’s ever in world football, dubbed the ‘MSN’. The superstar strike force smashed in 122 goals in an incredible 2014-15 season, inspiring the Blaugrana to a sensational treble....

Das Gupta who is also the president of the Badminton Association of India (BAI), was asked if India’s top shuttler was forced to take to the court in spite of not being fit. However, the sports administrator assured everyone that the Hyderabadi was not pressurised by anyone to play. “Saina was not fit which is why she did not play in Mumbai and Hyderabad. It is up to the player to decide whether he or she is fit to play or not....

Bairstow attracted criticism in the week leading up to the crucial Edgbaston clash for saying people were waiting for England to fail, the hosts having suffered successive damaging defeats to Sri Lanka and Australia. Former captain Michael Vaughan slammed his mindset as “negative and pathetic” following those remarks but Bairstow was nothing but positive as he and Jason Roy got England off to a fantastic start. They piled on 160 for the first wicket and, shortly after the returning Roy fell to Kuldeep Yadav, Bairstow reached his first World Cup hundred from 90 balls....

Carolina announced that it was waiving the fifth-year quarterback less than six months after the team acquired him in a trade with the Browns. Mayfield reportedly asked to be released after falling to the third-string position on the Panthers’ depth chart. Carolina was happy to grant that request though the coaching staff was complimentary of the quarterback’s effort on his way out the door. “Baker Mayfield has been a complete pro,” interim coach Steve Wilks said, per The Charlotte Observer....

After all, the health benefits of standing for part of the workday have been long known, but the social stigma of being the only person standing in your office – or perhaps the more practical challenge of persuading your employer to pay for it – always got in the way. Not so when you’re at home, where no-one except your family and pets can give you funny looks for standing at your desk, and where the only FY22 budget you need to worry about is your own....

Lucas Hernandez arrested for assault The deadline of January 27 for associations to file their interest in hosting the showpiece came with Azerbaijan putting forward the Olympic Stadium and Spain nominating Atletico Madrid’s Estadio Metropolitano, which is due for completion later this year. Azerbaijan, which lies north of Iran, has never hosted the final of the competition previously and has never had a club reach the group stage of the competition, having become affiliated with UEFA in 1994....

Well if Baldwin would like additional motivation he can get it from the player ratings in Madden NFL 15. The Seahawks receiver corps isn’t even considered mediocre — they’re rated among the worst in the league as of the most recent roster update from Jan. 15. What receivers are asked to do in Seattle differs some from other teams — a higher level of importance is placed on run blocking and improvisation given Russell Wilson’s tendency to extend plays....

The campaign, which has received much criticism, showed images of children posing with teddy bear handbags for the luxury fashion brand’s holiday gift shop. The bears appeared to be dressed in bondage gear, including leather harnesses, collars and fishnet shirts, and empty wine glasses could be seen on a table in front of the child models. The campaign has been removed from all platforms, the company said last week....

In November 2022, the brand released an advertising campaign on Instagram that featured images of children holding teddy bears dressed in bondage. After receiving floods of criticism, Balenciaga apologized and removed all traces of the campaign. However, just hours later, Balenciaga had to make a second apology for another campaign that featured images of Supreme Court opinion in the Ashcroft v. Free Speech Coalition child pornography case. Balenciaga joins other big designers including Gucci, Burberry and Dolce & Gabbana in making a major blunder....