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Celtic visit ‘bigger than The Who’ for Auchinleck

By in News, Sports News
SNS
Lindsay, Clive

BBC Sport Scotland

The village of Auchinleck will be rocked the most by playing against Celtic on Sunday since The Who.

In preparation for their historic performance at the Woodstock music festival, the English Mod groundbreakers played Auchinleck Community Centre in 1969.

When you consider that one section of one of Celtic Park’s stands could accommodate all 3, 000 people, it’s an amazing accomplishment.

Even if every man, woman, and child purchased a ticket for the Scottish Cup fourth-round tie at Rugby Park on Sunday, they would still be outnumbered by the away supporters.

Due to the “surrounding infrastructure” around the 4, 000-capacity Beechwood Park being deemed unsuitable for such a big occasion, the game had to be moved 15 miles away to Kilmarnock’s home.

It is the most recent “what if” in Auchinleck Talbot’s illustrious career.

Scottish Cup: Auchinleck Talbot vs. Celtic

Sunday 18 January, 17: 30 GMT

On iPlayer, watch

What about Hearts’ Nearmiss?

Gordon Pope, a former Talbot left-back, recalls the day the part-timers faced fierce opposition 14 years ago in a moving situation.

With six minutes left, Hearts were held to a goal by goalkeeper Andy Leishman, who had earlier saved a penalty, collided with teammate Bryan Slaven and Gordon Smith.

Talbot won a free kick, and Pope was played through the Hearts defense before the linesman flagged offside as he slotted his equalizer five minutes into stoppage time.

As he watches a replay of the incident, Pope says, “It leaves a “what if” and continues to quote Pope from BBC Scotland. It’s a difficult choice, and it’s just one of those club’s historical moments.

Going back to Rugby Park for a replay would have been huge for the club because we had never played at that level [fourth round] before.

The first time James Latta led Talbot that day, he recalls, “We knew we would have a chance depending on how Hearts played,” he said. “Most of our team had played at senior level at some point.

The former defender is aware that they have a much more difficult task than Scottish champions, who have found new life since Wilfried Nancy’s dismissal.

Auchinleck Talbot, who are they?

Auchinleck Talbot's Beechwood ParkSNS

It will be the best day for Talbot program director Jim McAuley to play against a renowned team like Celtic. It will rival The Who’s performance at the Auchinleck Community Centre. David and Goliath

Being a club historian, McAuley has documented more than 100 awards since their founding in 1909.

For a club that is second in the West of Scotland League Premier Division, two points behind Troon but still has two games in hand after entering the senior pyramid, 14 Scottish Junior Cups are awarded, eight of which were this century.

He claims that he is “absolutely devastated” that the tie has been moved, “I would say we are the biggest weeist club in Scotland.”

Down here, I believe we would have had that first chance, but I believe Rugby Park will be too much for us. Celtic travel to Bologna in the days following. In Glasgow’s west, we travel to Pollok.

Can Talbot actually defeat Celtic?

Auchinleck Talbot manager Tommy SloanSNS

If Argyll McCoist had been able to play, this would have generated bigger headlines.

Ally, the 27-year-old son of former Rangers striker Ally, who has scored many goals for Celtic, is a cup-tied loanee from Drumchapel United.

He claims that his father has been calling him each day to make sure a rule has changed.

Due to the freezing conditions of the pitch, Talbot’s chances have not improved, as Captain Neil McPherson pointed out.

He points out that Celtic and Rangers fans have taken Monday off from their full-time jobs in anticipation of having to recover from giving it their all in on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Tommy Sloan, a forklift driver for Auchinleck, is the company’s manager, and he never anticipated that he would experience the same fate as O’Neill when he would eventually sit in O’Neill’s opposite dugout.

He claims that “they have certainly brought in a man who can do the job.” It’s amazing to be facing him in the other dugout, and he has a lot of experience.

On the day “We turned over”Ayr United in 2019 and how close they came to Hearts in 2012, Sloan will be drawing.

He recalls that the linesman’s face is still visible when he raises the flag. Nighttime sportsscene demonstrated that it was onside.

“It will be a difficult ask,” he said. I’d be happy if we could score first and put them under some light pressure for a while.

related subjects

  • Scottish Cup
  • Celtic
  • Scottish Football
  • Football

Anti-ICE rally chases off US far-right influencer Jake Lang in Minneapolis

By in News, World News

A small group of people led by far-right influencer Jake Lang, who had announced a march on a neighborhood that is primarily made up of immigrants, have been chased off by hundreds of protesters in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

After the killing of a mother-of-three by a federal agent and the subsequent shooting of a Venezuelan immigrant a week later, the city’s tensions soared.

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The protesters gathered downtown near City Hall on Saturday, waving signs and screaming chants urging ICE and Border Patrol to leave Minneapolis.

After serving a number of criminal convictions related to the US Capitol on January 6, Lang, one of more than 1,500 people who received pardons from President Donald Trump, organized a “anti-fraud” rally.

Hundreds of counterprotesters gathered at the site, yelling at his attempts to speak, and chasing away his supporters within an hour to a nearby hotel, while about 10 people showed up for Lang’s anti-Islam, anti-Somali, and pro-ICE demonstration. The Reuters news agency only observed a small number of scuffles, but no serious violence.

Later, Lang claimed that he was stabbed in a scuffle but that his protective vest prevented the attempt. His account could not be verified by Reuters.

No official report to the department was filed with the city, despite the city’s police telling Reuters in an email that the city was aware of Lang’s social media post. Police claimed that there haven’t been any reports of injuries from victims of the protests.

A protester who opposes immigration, including one from Minneapolis City Hall, lifts Jake Lang’s vest following an altercation at the “March Against Minnesota Fraud” rally on January 17, 2026 [Yuki Iwamura/AP Photo]

Since the Department of Homeland Security hired more than 2, 000 federal agents to increase immigration enforcement in Minneapolis and Saint Paul, protests have been occurring daily.

Demonstrators have protested aggressive tactics used by masked immigration officers to remove people from cars and homes. At least one life has been lost as a result of the operation in the deeply liberal Twin Cities.

According to the Trump administration, she has been accused of telling blatant lies about what happened in Good’s death, which are being refuted by numerous videos, and she has been labeled a “domestic terrorist” without any supporting evidence.

Trump has repeatedly cited a scandal as the justification for the arrival of thousands of immigration enforcement agents in Minnesota as a result of the theft of federal funds intended for social welfare programs. The state’s community of Somali immigrants has been repeatedly targeted racist by the president and administration officials. Trump has referred to the neighborhood as “garbage.”

Before an armoured van and fully equipped city police arrived in Minneapolis, snowballs and water balloons were also thrown on Saturday.

Democratic Governor Tim Walz “mobilized” the state guard in a statement to support the Minnesota State Patrol “to assist in providing traffic support to protect life, preserve property, and support the rights of all Minnesotans to assemble peacefully,” according to a statement.

The guard’s spokesperson, Major Andrea Tsuchiya, described it as “staged and ready” but hasn’t yet been deployed.

A federal judge upheld the immigration officers’ right to detain or use tear gas on peaceful protesters who were obstructing authorities, including when they were observing them during the Minnesota crackdown.

Trump has warned that if state officials do not work to calm the protests there against federal immigration authorities, who he said are “only trying to do their job,” he might invoke the Insurrection Act to send US troops there.

The Democratic leadership of Minnesota and Trump are engaged in a fierce conflict due to the tense situation.

In response to rumor that the Trump administration is looking into comments he made while attempting to stop violent immigration raids in the city, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has stated that he will “not be intimidated.”

‘My kids would love another Spice Girls reunion tour,’ says singer, who is 50 this week

By in Entertainment News, News

Emma Bunton is more “mid-life Spice” than “baby Spice,” as she turns 50 next week, along with the millions of fans who celebrated girl power alongside her. She was the youngest Spice Girl to co-create Girl Power and set the world on fire with hits like Wannabe and 2 Become 1 as the group sold more than 100 million records and won the title of all time.

Plans for her 50th birthday on Wednesday (January 21) remain a secret, despite the fact that she is now a married mother-of-two and successful businesswoman. However, Emma will be on the frontline in “If You Wanna Have Some Fun,” which claims she would have been a florist without fame. After a friend’s birthday in November, she posted a celebrity-packed video on Instagram with Christine Lampard, Holly Willoughby, Natalie, Nicole Appleton, and Heidi Range, along with the caption “Sushi, baby Guiness, cake, and girlfriends”!

Emma, who is well-known for her nighttime outings at Leigh Francis’ 50th birthday party in Mayfair’s Mandarin Oriental and Soho House, excelled herself at the occasion in 2023. Emily Atack, the actress, claimed she had “Holly Willoughby and Emma Bunton on her bum” when she woke up following the bash. She also enjoys staying in while having a takeaway meal at her North London home. She recently stated, “There’s a lovely restaurant nearby that does takeaway specifically for me.” At her son Tate’s lavish 13th birthday party in 2024, she served miso soup, salmon bao, crispy duck salad, and tuna maki, all of which she enjoys.

Emma rose to fame in 1996 with the Spice Girls under the direction of legendary pop mogul Simon Fuller, who they sensationally fired in 1997. She’d already had bit parts in EastEnders (1992) and The Bill (1993). After father-and-son managers Bob and Chris Herbert placed an advertisement for aspiring singers in The Stage magazine, she made history by joining Geri Halliwell, Melanie Brown, Melanie Chisholm, and Victoria Adams (now Beckham).

The girls won five Brit Awards, including the prestigious Outstanding Contribution to Music award in 2000, for their roles as Scary, Baby, Ginger, Posh, and Sporty Spice. Emmeminates our King, Prince Harry, and Queen Elizabeth II while performing with stars like Rod Stewart and Ronan Keating, like Nelson Mandela, Sir Elton John, and former Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair.

The Spice Girls had nine number ones in a row, including three consecutive Christmas number ones with Become 1, Too Much (Emma’s favorite song), and Goodbye, before Geri left the band in 1998 and the group eventually split in 2001. And in 2002, Emma signed a solo deal with Simon Fuller’s label 19 and went on to release seven top ten singles, including What Took You So Long, as well.

Emma is young, talented, and determined, according to Simon. In the following year, she made a cameo on Absolutely Fabulous and placed third on Strictly in 2006. Emma, who is still close to her fellow Spice Girls, wished Mel C a happy birthday last week on Instagram while watching Victoria’s Netflix documentary premiere.

And at her birthday party, there are certain Spice Girls hits in store. I’ll be dancing on the dance floor if someone plays Wannabe at a party, she told ITV’s This Morning. There is a whole new generation emerging from the children as they are listening to it.

In July 2021, Emma wed singer-songwriter Jade Jones, who was a member of the R&amp, B band Damage. Emma said, “Love at first sight, it was love at first sight,” when they first met in 1998. And when their son Beau, now 18, was born, followed by Tate, now 14, in May 2011, she became the “Spice Mum.”

She described her family as “very close, and we spend a lot of time together at home.” They are extremely proud of Mummy and Daddy. They enjoy learning more about the Spice Girls.

She continued, “I’ve kept everything from my Spice Girls days, including the microphones and costumes.” My Buffalos’]massive platform shoes, which the band frequently wore, are still comfortable. My kids adore it, and I occasionally take them away. Such a special time was had. I continue to enjoy every song.

She stated to one interviewer, “My kids would love another Spice Girls tour, too.” She is still eager to do another reunion tour. a group reunion. And we as the Spice Girls talk about it a lot too. Even the kids would be more interested. The Spice Girls’ first official Spice World tour in London ended up selling out in just 38 seconds after their resurgence in 2019.

However, Emma’s success can’t be measured by her singing. She published the bestseller Mama You Got This: A Little Helping Hand For New Parents in 2021. She then launched her Kit &amp, Kin business, which produces sustainable cleaning and baby products eight years ago. He and Jamie Theakston have co-hosted the Feel Good Weekend Show on Heart Radio since 2013 and have shared memories of Emma. Thank you for being you, there are so many happy memories.

Taylor Swift and Blake Lively are both “superfans,” despite the fact that Blake Lively and Taylor Swift were only interviewed for videos of the chats last year that went viral. The Spice Girls were very similar to the Sex Pistols, according to PR guru Alan Edwards in his book Dispatches From a Life in Rock and Roll in the year 2024 because they lived in a tabloid lifestyle with crazy things. They were hilarious because they resembled cartoon characters.

Emma has dedicated a lot of time to giving back, as well as the glamorous world of showbusiness, and has spoken out openly about how menopause affects her libido and causes brain fog. She has worked with The Princes Trust [now The Kings Trust] and regularly supports BBC’s Children in Need. She is an ambassador for inclusive theatre company Chickenshed and children’s rights organization UNICEF.

Syrian forces capture Tabqa, nation’s largest dam amid swift push on Raqqa

By in News, World News

According to state media reports, the Syrian army has taken full control of Tabqa, a strategically important city, and its military airport on the Euphrates River, accelerating a rapid offensive in Raqqa province.

After releasing fighters affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), information minister Hamza al-Mustafa announced early on Sunday that government forces had secured Tabqa and the largest dam in Syria, Tabqa.

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The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and PKK-affiliated organizations are also accused of killing prisoners and detainees in Tabqa.

Turkiye, the European Union, and the United States have labeled the PKK a “terrorist” organization.

According to Damascus, the killings, “especially of civilians,” constituted “a fully-fledged crime under the Geneva Conventions” and a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law.

Syrian army “rapid” takeover

According to Al Jazeera’s Zein Basravi, who is based out of Aleppo, fighting is now moving quickly in northern Syria, with Syrian government troops launching attacks on Raqqa.

According to Basravi, “Rapid is the right word,” noting that Aleppo’s neighbourhood clashes occurred “less than two weeks ago,” while other SDF strongholds have since returned to government control. He continued, “All of that instantly feels like a history lesson.”

According to Basravi, Syrian forces have since moved their military operations away from Aleppo province to Raqqa, advancing into SDF-held territory. He claimed that “this rapid advance of Syrian troops” is what we are seeing right now toward important population centers from border towns.

He described unconfirmed fighting inside Tabqa, where Syrian forces appear to be launching clearing operations similar to those carried out elsewhere.

Basravi claims that the military is moving quickly through the Arab-majority towns where the Kurdish-led SDF has not historically received organic support.

He claimed that Aleppo and the Raqqa provinces are now experiencing “a massive pincer movement” that is causing retreats that seem more defensive.

SDF units were seen evacuating a military hospital in videos that were available online as fighting raged near the city’s southern entrance.

Raqqa served as ISIL’s (ISIS) self-declared capital from January 2014 until its liberation in October 2017 by the US-backed SDF. Under ISIL rule, the city was left in pieces and the city was the victim of atrocities and mass executions.

SDF fighters give themselves up.

Authorities claim that an explosion that damaged main pipelines close to the old bridge caused the water supply in Raqqa to be cut. The SDF destroyed the bridge over the Euphrates, according to the state news agency Syrian Arab News Agency.

The army’s operations command said its troops had earlier taken control of the Mansoura Dam and several nearby towns, placing them less than 5km (3 miles) from Raqqa’s western gate. It later reported that 64 SDF fighters give themselves up.ed in the Mansoura area after being encircled.

The army claimed in a separate statement that its units “from several axes” were circling PKK fighters inside the military airport while they “took several axes” of entering Tabqa.

Following the demand that SDF leaders leave east of the Euphrates and the capture of numerous villages around al-Rasafa, the advance came.

In eastern Deir Az Zor, tribal forces claimed to be battling SDF units in coordination with the Syrian army in several eastern towns. According to a tribal military source, the SDF has seized numerous positions and urged tribespeople to lay down their weapons.

The SDF claimed that government forces attacked its positions in several Deir Az Zor towns as artillery shells aimed at areas east of the Euphrates. As operations spread across northeast Syria, the army announced that it would be sending reinforcements to the province.

Territories being lost by SDF

William Lawrence, a former US diplomat in the area and current professor at the American University, claimed that the current events are inconsistent with what was agreed in March of last year.

According to Lawrence, “the speed surprised me,” noting that the March 10 agreement envisaged a gradual withdrawal. According to the March 10th agreement, this was meant to be a gradual withdrawal. The Syrian army is supposed to replace it with the SDF, but the SDF is supposed to leave the same areas.

Instead, he claimed, “the Syrian army is moving in much more quickly than they were supposed to,” leaving the SDF “between a phased retreat and a tactical retreat that’s supposed to be under the agreement”

Lawrence warned that the agreement was now being undermined by both sides. He claimed that “we’re having a chaotic change of the guard rather than a phased change of the guard” and that both sides are sort of violating the spirit, if not the exact terms of the agreement.

He warned Washington against narrowing its security-related attention. According to Lawrence, “the US needs to really concentrate on politics as much as security.” This is because counterterrorism tends to prioritize the latter, which could undermine any long-term agreement.