Author: Andrew Rogers

Plans to stage a Serie A match between AC Milan and Como in Australia have been abandoned. The fixture was due to be played in Perth on 8 February but collapsed after late objections.Serie A said “unacceptable requests” from the Asian Football Confederation made the match unviable. League president Ezio Simonelli cited rising financial risks and last-minute conditions.The match had been approved because San Siro was unavailable due to the Winter Olympics ceremony. UEFA reluctantly cleared the plan, seeing it as global promotion.However, the AFC demanded control over match officials, complicating arrangements. The cancellation follows a similar decision by La…

Morgan Rogers scored twice as Aston Villa beat Manchester United at Villa Park.The win extended Villa’s league streak and kept them within three points of leaders Arsenal. Villa started quickly and created chances through Ollie Watkins and John McGinn.Rogers opened the scoring before half-time with a curling strike into the far corner. United responded immediately through Matheus Cunha, who finished clinically to equalise.The goal briefly shifted momentum before the interval. After the break, Villa regained control and pressed United deeper.Rogers struck again, drifting inside and finding the same corner with confidence. Unai Emery celebrated wildly as Villa tightened their grip…

Kylian Mbappé matched Cristiano Ronaldo’s Real Madrid scoring record during a 2-0 win over Sevilla.He scored a late penalty to reach 59 goals in 2025, marking his birthday with a decisive moment.Jude Bellingham had earlier given Real the lead before Sevilla were reduced to ten men.Strong goalkeeping secured the win as Real moved one point behind Barcelona. Juventus also boosted their title hopes with a 2-1 victory over Roma in Serie A.The result kept Roma fourth while Juventus closed the gap behind them. In Germany, Bayer Leverkusen overturned a deficit to beat RB Leipzig 3-1 away.The comeback lifted Leverkusen into…

In the mountains of the southern Peloponnese, Greek firs – usually among the country’s hardiest species – are turning brown and dying in vast patches. When forest researcher Dimitrios Avtzis surveyed an area after a spring fire, he found hundreds of hectares of dead and dying trees well outside the burn zone. The scale was so unusual that he immediately alerted the environment ministry. Experts say prolonged drought is the main driver. Greece has seen steadily drier conditions and a sharp decline in winter snow, which normally provides slow-release moisture. Between 1991 and 2020, the country lost an average of…

About one in 10 people in the UK aged 70 and over may have brain changes linked to Alzheimer’s disease, according to the first large, population-based study of its kind. The research, published in Nature, used a blood test on nearly 11,500 people and found markers associated with Alzheimer’s, though this does not mean those affected have dementia. The results suggest more than 1 million people could meet NHS criteria for anti-amyloid treatment, far higher than previous estimates. Researchers say the findings could transform early detection, but warn that current treatments are expensive and not widely available on the NHS.

Rutgers student-athletes have earned multiple honors this season, receiving recognition for both athletic performance and academic excellence. Athletes across swimming, football, gymnastics, and field hockey were celebrated at conference and national levels. In swimming, Rutgers competitors were acknowledged for standout performances in recent meets. Swimmers not only posted impressive times but also demonstrated dedication in training and teamwork, earning praise from coaches and conference officials. The football program saw several athletes honored for their on-field achievements. These players contributed to team success while also meeting academic standards, reflecting a balance between athletic commitment and scholastic responsibility. Recognition at the conference…

Scientists have discovered that the carnivorous pitcher plant Nepenthes khasiana uses a chemical nerve agent to incapacitate insects before digesting them. The plant secretes a sweet nectar along the rim of its pitcher-shaped traps, attracting ants and other insects. But the nectar contains isoshinanolone, a toxic nerve agent that disrupts the insects’ nervous systems, causing sluggish movement, muscle weakness and excessive grooming. Many victims eventually fall into spasms and drop into the pitcher, where some die outright. The nectar also includes sugars that absorb water, making the rim extremely slippery and increasing the chance that drugged prey will slide into…

The U.S. House of Representatives has approved a major defense funding bill that includes a 4% pay raise for military service members and support for allied security initiatives, including aid to Ukraine. The bipartisan legislation aims to strengthen national defense while boosting troop morale. The pay increase applies to all active-duty service members and is part of a broader effort to ensure military personnel are fairly compensated for their service. Lawmakers emphasized that the raise reflects the government’s commitment to supporting troops and maintaining a strong, ready force. In addition to the pay raise, the defense bill allocates funding for…

The first new treatments for gonorrhoea in decades have been approved in the US, raising hopes of tackling the rapid spread of drug-resistant strains of the sexually transmitted infection. Gonorrhoea causes an estimated 82 million infections worldwide each year, with cases rising sharply in Europe and at record levels in England. Resistance to existing antibiotics has increased alarmingly, prompting the World Health Organization to label the disease a priority pathogen. Two new antibiotics have now received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration. Zoliflodacin, approved on 12 December, cured more than 90% of genital infections in clinical trials and…

The US company behind the Roomba robot vacuum cleaner has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and agreed to be taken over by a Chinese supplier, Picea Robotics. iRobot, listed in the US and founded in 1990 by MIT roboticists, said the restructuring deal will see it acquired by a subsidiary of Picea, one of its main manufacturing partners. The company has struggled in recent years due to supply chain disruptions, rising competition from cheaper rivals and falling demand after the pandemic boom. Chief executive Gary Cohen said the takeover would strengthen iRobot’s finances by combining its product design and…