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Aspinall reaches play-offs as Littler sets record

By in News, Sports News
PA Media
Frank Keogh
BBC Sport Senior Journalist

Nathan Aspinall secured the final Premier League play-off spot, while Luke Littler set a new seasonal points record in Sheffield.

Englishman Aspinall defeated Michael van Gerwen 6-2 in the quarter-finals to eliminate the seven-time champion.

Meanwhile, table-topping world champion Littler averaged more than 114 as he broke his own points record, reaching 42 after earning two in thrashing Stephen Bunting 6-1.

Aspinall, 33, had finished in fifth, one place below qualification, in the previous two seasons.

But he will join Littler, Luke Humphries and Gerwyn Price at the London finale on 29 May after beating Van Gerwen, the only player who could stop him going through.

The 36-year-old Dutchman, without a nightly win in the whole 2025 campaign, misses out on the play-offs for only the second time in 13 years of competing.

Aspinall said: “There was a lot of emotion as soon as I walked off stage. Michael didn’t look himself but I thought I put in a fantastic performance under that pressure.”

Aspinall silences doubters but misery for Van Gerwen

World number eight Aspinall has confounded critics who opposed his inclusion in the eight-man competition, having been ranked 11 when the picks were made.

His inclusion was questioned by fellow players Mike de Decker and Dave Chisnall amid suggestions his popular walk-on song Mr Brightside helped his case.

The Stockport-born player has battled online abuse over his participation, as well as recovering from injuries and dartitis to reach the final four.

“I came off social media because of the abuse I was getting,” said ‘The Asp’ after his second nightly win, in Aberdeen a week ago.

“I’m not being exaggerated here, but it ruined my life for a month, not just my life, my family’s. It was horrific. “

Aspinall has also come back from elbow, wrist and back injuries, along with tackling dartitis – a condition where players have a mental block when it comes to throwing on the stage.

Missing out on qualification seals a miserable campaign for Van Gerwen, whose last nightly win came back in April 2024.

The three-time world champion had seven victories and two runner-up spots from his previous 12 campaigns, with his last Premier League title in 2023.

“This is probably one of the hardest Premier Leagues I have ever played in – not in terms of players, but in terms of myself,” Van Gerwen admitted.

His cause was not helped when missing the ninth event of the season in Berlin with a shoulder injury sustained while trying to put a shirt on.

Premier League Darts Night 16 results

Final

Luke Littler v Luke Humphries

Semi-finals

Luke Littler 6-4 Nathan Aspinall

Luke Humphries 6-2 Chris Dobey

Quarter-finals

Gerwyn Price 5-6 Chris Dobey

Luke Humphries 6-4 Rob Cross

Nathan Aspinall 6-2 Michael van Gerwen

Premier League Darts – Night 17 play-offs schedule

O2 Arena, London – Thursday 29 May

Semi-finals

Luke Littler v Gerwyn Price

Luke Humphries v Nathan Aspinall

Best of 19 legs

Final

Littler or Price v Humphries or Aspinall

Best of 21 legs

How does the Premier League Darts work?

Every Thursday, the eight players go head-to-head in a straight knockout tournament. So, each player will be entered at the quarter-final stage, before moving to the semi-finals and then a final.

These matches are all played over the best of 11 legs (or games of darts).

Players take home points from each of these rounds. The winner of the night gets five points, the runner-up three points, and each semi-finalist wins two points.

All eight players are re-entered into the tournament for the next round on the following Thursday.

The players meet each other once at the quarter-final stage from weeks one to seven, and then again in weeks nine to 15. The matches in weeks eight and 16 are played based on position in the league at that point.

The four players at the top of the table by the end of night 16 qualify for the final play-offs, which take place on Thursday, 29 May.

Luke Littler, Luke Humphries, Gerwyn Price and Nathan Aspinall are through this year.

Related topics

  • Darts

Raphinha wants to retire at Barcelona after new deal

By in News, Sports News
Images courtesy of Getty
Adwaidh Rajan
journalist for BBC Sport

After agreeing to a new deal that will keep him at the La Liga club until 2028, Raphinha claims that his “dream is to be at Barcelona until the end of my career.”

As Hansi Flick’s side completed a domestic treble of La Liga, Copa del Rey, and Spanish Super Cup, the Brazilian winger has 34 goals and 25 assists in 56 appearances this year.

Raphinha, whose previous agreement lasted until 2027, said, “It’s something very special, and feeling like a part of the Barca family for another year makes me feel very happy.”

I’ve already told my family that I want to work here until I can finish my career, and I want to do so at the highest level.

The 28-year-old from Leeds United, who has scored 17 goals in the Premier League in its two seasons, signed for Barca in 2022.

Raphinha’s first two seasons in Spain were the only ones that allowed him to score 13 league goals, which made the club look like a selloff.

However, he made a remarkable turnaround in the 2024-25 campaign, scoring 18 goals to reclaim the La Liga title.

In Barca’s quest to reach the Champions League semi-finals attracted interest from clubs in the Premier League and Saudi Arabia, where Raphinha also scored 13 goals and nine assists.

Along with his team-mate and Spain winger Lamine Yamal and Paris St-Germain’s French forward Ousmane Dembele, he is also thought to be a contender for the Ballon d’Or after a stellar season.

Raphinha was chosen as one of Barca’s five captains for the season along with Ronald Araujo, Frenkie de Jong, Ronald Araujo, and Pedri, along with Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Ronald Araujo, and Ronald Araujo.

He declared, “I’m now Raphinha, the father, and the captain.”

“I have more responsibility than I did when I first arrived, but I believe I have since matured greatly.”

However, I believe I can still grow up, and I want to improve as a person and a footballer with your assistance.

In this shirt, I want to keep scoring goals, adding assists, and most importantly, winning titles. My personal objective is this.

related subjects

  • Spanish La Liga
  • Barcelona
  • Football

Several Dead As Plane Crashes Into California Neighborhood

By in News, Nigeria News
https://www.channelstv.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/AFP__20250522__47R33L4__v1__Preview__UsAccidentCrash.jpg

A small plane crashed into a California neighborhood at dawn on Thursday, killing several people and ignoring cars.

When the Cessna 550 slammed into the ground in San Diego, at least 10 homes were destroyed or hit by debris that spread over a large area. Cars on both sides of the street also caught fire.

According to Assistant Fire Department Chief Dan Eddy, San Diego, there have been more than one fatality so far, but we are still waiting to find the registered numbers on the plane itself.

Every car that was on both sides of the street was taken out when the jet fuel came down, he said, adding, “We have jet fuel all over the place.”

On May 22, 2025, a small plane crashed on a residential street in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sandy Huffaker/AFP)

One resident reported to the local Fox affiliate that he had eluded leaving his house quickly.

The man, who declined to provide a name, said, “I looked out the window and there was just flames everywhere.”

“Then the boom, boom, boom, boom, chain reaction began.” And I’m like: ‘ Whoa'”.

A line of burning fuel linked the flaming cars in the immediate aftermath of the collision.

No one on the ground was seriously injured or killed, according to Eddy, who added, “miraculously.”

Also read: Three Dead and Nine Missing as California’s boat crashes off California.

thick fog 

On May 22, 2025, a small plane crashed into a residential street in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sandy Huffaker/AFP)

Images of one home’s roof that were blackened and collapsing revealed how difficult it had been for some people.

A number of trees were burned, as well as twisted and charred vehicles. As authorities searched the area for clues hours after the crash, the smell of gasoline persisted.

When the plane, which had come from Kansas, was approaching Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport, there was heavy fog.

The Murphy Canyon neighborhood was hit by the plane, which can carry up to eight people, according to the Federal Aviation Administration, which crashed at 3:45 am (1145 GMT).

On May 22, 2025, a small plane crashed on a residential street in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sandy Huffaker/AFP)

The majority of the housing in the area was military-built. US Navy installations, Marine Corps installations, and Coast Guard installations are all located in San Diego.

Police officers had gone door to door removing people from their homes, according to Zane Baker, a senior in the area.

He told broadcaster KTLA, “I immediately just rushed to the front door, just looking outside, seeing what’s happening.”

“I made sure all of my siblings were present, conscious, and alright.”

Numerous people have been evacuated from their homes, with many now fumbling about in confusion, according to Baker, who described himself as a “Navy rat” — the son of a servicemember.

“Our parking lots and other areas are completely filled,” we claim. Many of the entryways are blocked. There is no entry or exit for visitors. It’s a confusing mess.

A number of incidents, which have heightened public confidence in flying, came at a time when there was more tension in the skies above America.

In recent weeks, there have been at least two air traffic control outages at the busy Newark airport on the East Coast, and a passenger plane and a military helicopter collided in midair over Washington in January.

A small plane crashed into a residential neighborhood northwest of Los Angeles, killing two passengers on board this month.

Gunmen Abduct 76-Year-Old Retired Major In Kogi

By in News, Nigeria News
https://www.channelstv.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/kogi-map.jpg

A 76-year-old retired Nigerian Army Major, Joe Ajayi, was taken from his residence in Odo-Ape, Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State, by gunmen.

Ajayi, a former member of the Kabba-Bunu chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), was reportedly kidnapped on Wednesday at around 11:30 p.m.

The attackers stormed the area and fired sporadic gunshots for more than an hour before escorting the retired army officer to an unknown location, according to a local source.

Ajayi’s health is deteriorating, which is becoming more fragile as a result of his age, and the potential dangers that his captivity may present to his fellow citizens.

The abduction has heightened local concern and spurred renewed calls for better security measures.

READ MORE: Gunmen Abduct Four Persons and Attack Kogi Community Once More.

Kogi is located in northern Nigeria.

The Okun Development Association (ODA) raised concern about Okunland’s rising rate of insecurity shortly after this incident. In Okoloke, Yagba West Local Government Area, the ODA had earlier decried the recent abduction of a top-class traditional ruler, and it was therefore urgent that both the federal and state governments as well as security forces do so.

The community is in shock and fear as a result of the most recent abduction, which further underscores the concerns of the ODA.

A council member was kidnapped from his home earlier this year. A child and three other people were taken from a farm in the same community just days later, highlighting the region’s growing threat of insecurity.

Four people were abducted while gunmen attacked Okoloke, an agrarian community in Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State for the third time in seven days.

An unidentified number of armed men stormed the area on Tuesday morning in the early hours of the incident.

Our Economic Reforms Are Working, APC Not A Failure – Tinubu

By in News, Nigeria News

Bola Tinubu, president, stated on Thursday that his administration’s economic reforms are working as planned.

Tinubu said the ruling party is not a failure at the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Summit held at the State House in Abuja’s banquet hall.

We set off on this journey two years ago, driven by a bus of hope and unwavering faith in Nigeria. We pledged to resurrect trust and promote prosperity in Nigeria by facing the challenges head-on.

I’m proud to report today that our economic reforms are successful. Nothing good comes easily. He claimed that the government no longer provides subsidies for the benefit of this nation.

READ ALSO: Umahi’s government denied funding for any project in the South East.

President Tinubu took the steps to implement a comprehensive economic reform plan after taking office in May 2023, which the government and international financial institutions felt was necessary to bring down the continent’s most populous nation.

Many regular Nigerians are facing the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation, and these measures, including liberalizing the battered naira currency and cutting fuel subsidies, have been financially harmed by these measures.

According to the bank, nearly half of Nigerians lived in poverty in 2024 as a result of years of rising inflation and slow growth.

The government’s harsh economic reforms, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), have not yet had an impact on the average citizen.

APC Applauds Tinubu

The ruling party’s support for Tinubu’s candidacy for the 2027 presidential election was revealed during the program.

Abdullahi Ganduje, the APC National Chairman, made this announcement at the gathering.

Tinubu’s Govt Inherited No Project In South East — Umahi

By in News, Nigeria News

When President Bola Tinubu took office, the minister of works, David Umahi, revealed that there had been “almost no projects” in the South-East of Nigeria. He also highlighted that significant improvements have since been made to close the infrastructure gap.

He made a speech on Thursday at the All-Presidential Congress (APC) National Summit in Abuja, where the Federal Government presented its two-year works sector performance report.

Umahi said, “We inherited almost no project in the South-East, but the Enugu to Onitsha project is ongoing, and the Enugu to Abakaliki road is also in progress.

The Second Niger Bridge, which provides both the Delta and the Anambra states, is also making steady progress.

Umahi praised the president for putting emphasis on infrastructure as a means of increasing the country’s GDP. “We may have challenges, but I must commend you very highly because you know that the works sector is the one that grows a country’s GDP, and other sectors build on it. You and I have a great working relationship. You are an excellent man.

He also praised the positive social media feedback. What is happening on social media makes me very happy. You’re receiving a lot of praise for the work you’re doing, he continued.

Investment-driven

Umahi described the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway as a groundbreaking investment-driven project while highlighting the Federal Government’s vision.

The 750-kilometer highway, in his opinion, serves as a strategic economic artery as well.

Let me begin with the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway by stating that these four legacy projects are investment-driven projects rather than just road projects. Many of our already-existing roads across states will be connected to this project when it is finished, he said.

Read more about Eleme Road to Open in 10 Days – FG, East-West Road Ready By December, and East-West Road Ready By December.

He added that Section 1 of the highway, which extends 47.47 kilometers by two lanes, has been fully constructed and is about 80% finished. The 55-kilometer stretch of Section 2 runs from Elepe Junction to the Ogun border. By the end of June 2025, Umahi promised to finish ten kilometers of that section.

The project’s economic and environmental benefits were further explained by the works minister.

Part of the project will be supported by the use of low-emissions reinforced concrete and solar power. We will now be transloading our goods because the draft at Apapa Wharf is shallow, but with the help of this road and connection to the deep seaport. We will also be generating carbon credits, “Umahi stated.

Shagari’s “Highway Dream”

The Shehu Shagari administration’s initial plan to revive the long-abandoned Sokoto-Badagry Highway was later revived by President Tinubu.

The Shagari administration had a dream about the Badagry-Sokoto highway, but you arrived and realized it. You requested that the over 1, 068 km stretch of that road be made of concrete pavement. He claimed that we have already procured 258 kilometers (by two lanes) in Kebbi State.

Umahi also pointed out that President Tinubu inherited 2, 604 ongoing works projects worth totaling $113 trillion. 260 new projects totaling $ 208 billion were scoped and are now fully operational, just to name a few of them, between 2023 and 2024.