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Sky News
37 minutes ago
- Sky News
Thomas Partey: Ex-Arsenal player charged with rape to appear in court today
Former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey is due to appear in court today, charged with raping two women. The 32-year-old, who was charged four days after leaving the north London club when his contract expired back in June, faces five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. He is accused of two counts of rape against one woman and three counts against another. The sexual assault allegation relates to a third woman, the Crown Prosecution Service has said. The alleged offences took place between 2021 and 2022. The Metropolitan Police said it first received reports of an allegation of rape in February 2022. Partey's lawyer Jenny Wiltshire has previously said the Ghanaian "denies all the charges against him" - and looks forward to the chance to "finally clear his name". Partey joined Arsenal from Spanish side Atletico Madrid in 2020 and became a regular for manager Mikel Arteta, who last month said he was "100% sure" the club followed the correct protocols. An Arsenal spokesperson previously said: "The player's contract ended on 30 June. Due to ongoing legal proceedings, the club is unable to comment on the case." Partey made 35 appearances for the Gunners last season, scoring four goals.


Times
an hour ago
- Times
Pumped galleries, rising rookies … only pundits let down Women's Open
Royal Porthcawl proved to be the perfect venue for the 25th edition of the AIG Women's Open as a major. Set on the stunning south Wales coastline, the R&A pulled off a hugely successful event, with a bumper attendance that totalled more than 47,000 and breaking records for broadcast audience share, digital reach and engagement. It was wonderful to meet overseas fans who had travelled to Wales to follow their favourite players and the entertainment provided for children was exceptional. After hosting the largest women's sporting event in Wales's history, Royal Porthcawl could be in line for more significant tournaments. Charley HullThe immensely popular Hull may have suffered another heartbreak by finishing second in a major for the fourth time, but such is her optimistic outlook on life you would not have known. Supported by huge galleries, who willed the Englishwoman to victory, she displayed grace, humour and searing honesty in equal measure after failing to chase down Miyu Yamashita. The 29-year-old's time will surely come. Japan's successIt took most people by surprise when Japanese players filled six of the top ten places after the first round. A solid junior programme and a thriving domestic tour have produced a succession of top players. Thirteen play on the LPGA, among them Yamashita, the diminutive rookie who delivered a links golf masterclass. Japan occupied three of the final top five slots. Mimi RhodesIn her rookie year on the Ladies European Tour, the 24-year-old from Somerset has stormed to three wins and after a decent finish of tied-19th, consolidated her position as the leading rookie. She engaged well with the crowds, impressing with her warm personality and easy smile. Rhodes will always be remembered for her hole in one at the par-three 5th in the final round, thanks to a fortunate nudge off her partner Steph Kyriacou's ball, which was sitting inches from the hole. Slow playThankfully, the scourge of the game failed to rear its head with players — unlike those at the Open at Royal Portrush, where rounds took up to six hours — taking well under five hours and even less at the weekend. The R&A issued official warnings as a group fell out of position and by the end of the third round had issued only one bad-time warning. Lottie WoadAfter all the hype surrounding her first major as a professional, and coming in as favourite, Woad faced a baptism of fire. The 21-year-old from Farnham, Surrey, dealt with it, using her customary composure, although by her high standards was probably disappointed with a tied-eighth finish. The crowds were privileged to witness the arrival of golf's rising star. Nelly KordaIt proved to be a dismal week for Nelly Korda, who has not won all season having collected six titles by May last year. Having reigned as the world No1 for 71 weeks, she has lost top billing to the talented young Thai Jeeno Thitikul. Korda was not the only one guilty of displaying a distracted air and a few more smiles would not go amiss. Scottish declineCatriona Matthew, who won the championship in 2009, once led a formidable array of Scottish players, among them Janice Moodie, Mhairi McKay, Dale Reid and Kathryn Imrie, but this year Gemma Dryburgh was the only one in the field and missed the cut. Louise Duncan showed huge promise as an amateur, but has struggled to break through on the Ladies European Tour. TV commentaryIt's infuriating to hear some, but not all, of the commentators constantly stating the obvious and describing what the viewers can see for themselves. Their job is to provide an insight into the difficulty of the shot, personal insights into the players or technical expertise. The adjective 'sensational' is overused, and we know it's a golf ball. Ball suffices.


Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Lime bikes to be banned in London borough - with rival companies handed rental e-bike firm's contract
A west London borough is set to ban Lime bikes following complaints of 'anti-social' parking on pavements and hand over contracts to a rival e-bike rental firm instead Hounslow Council terminated its two-year agreement with Lime due to riders blocking pavements and the high price. It comes as a victory to competing e-bike companies Forest and Voi who have both been given contracts to set up their bikes in the borough instead. Lime have the monopoly on e-bikes across London, owning most of the estimated 30,000 in the city. Companies submitted their bids for the highly-desirable contracts during a competitive procurement process. A council spokesperson said the decision was 'shaped by widespread community feedback' which found residents wanted 'stronger parking compliance, faster response times to resident concerns, and more tailored and affordable pricing'. A spokesperson for Lime told The Telegraph: 'Despite acknowledging the quality of our service was higher in our bid, Hounslow council selected another provider because it offered them more money. 'This is a really disappointing outcome for the thousands of Hounslow residents that rely on our bikes daily to connect to other areas of London.' The City of London seized more than 100 e-bikes in February amid a clampdown on pavement parking and dangerously dumped e-bikes. James Bolton, Voi's UK general manager, said: 'We're delighted to win this contract and extend our London e-bike pilot to Hounslow. 'We will work responsibly and closely with the council to ensure our scheme works for everyone in the borough, stretching from Bedfont Lakes Country Park in the west to Chiswick House Gardens in the east. A Forest spokesperson said: 'The Hounslow tender was a highly competitive process and we're delighted our bid stood out.' Lime bikes have become a nuisance for people who find them stacked up outside their homes, blocking walkways or abandoned in the road. Charities including the Sight Loss Council and the National Federation of the Blind of the UK have repeatedly warned councils about the bikes posing a trip hazard or unnecessary obstacles for blind people. Last month actor Robert Powell, 81, revealed he 'sent 570 photographs' to Camden Council showing the bikes taking over his doorstep. The Bafta-nominated actor urged the council to take action, saying that he and his wife, Barbara Lord, once counted at least 100 bikes in a parking bay in front of their Highgate home. 'You've got two octogenarians here who are in danger of being killed,' Powell said. 'The entire pavement has been blocked by bikes. Camden say they prioritise safety and safer travel, so do they know that allowing bikes on pavements is not safe for anyone? 'Last year we called the police about the bikes, they just laughed.' Riders can rent e-bikes on the street in London by picking them up with a mobile phone app, but they are often not required to put them in a designated area after use. This has led to them blocking pavements across the capital - with councils receiving thousands of complaints and some even threatening to ban hire firms altogether. Mr Powell admitted that he was 'terrified' of having a heart attack due to having to move 10 to 12 heavy bikes from the area each day. He said his GP has even written a letter to the council explaining how stressful the situation is for him and his wife. The spot is particularly busy as it is close to Hampstead Heath, the actor told the Camden New Journal. Camden Council responded by saying it is working to relocate the bay and has marked out a new bay further up the road. Last December, new powers to crack down on the scourge of e-bikes and e-scooters being dumped on pavements were hailed as the 'beginning of the end for the Wild West model'. Enforcement has however, become increasingly complex, although the new powers mean Mayor Sadiq Khan will able to fine users and operators who dump their devices in dangerous locations. It comes after Transport for London (TfL) warned rental e-bike operators could be fined as part of measures to tackle 'significant safety issues' around poor parking. In September, Brent Council threatened that Lime would have to remove its e-bikes from the borough by October 31 for allegedly ignoring its safety concerns amid 'havoc' caused by the cycles. But the council agreed to allow Lime to continue operating after the company addressed these concerns. In Hammersmith and Fulham, more than 100 e-bikes were seized by the council in August last year after complaints from residents that they were blocking roads and pavements. TfL revealed last November that rental e-bike operators could be fined as part of measures to fight back against poor parking in London. It published a new 'enforcement policy' in response to widespread concerns about e-bikes blocking pavements and said it will take action over dockless e-bikes being left on its red route road network outside designated places, and on its land such as station forecourts and bus garages. This brings e-bike regulations closer into line with those for rental e-scooters, which are already required to be parked in bays. It added that responses may include warning letters, fixed penalty notices (FPNs) to operators, prosecutions and removal of vehicles. FPNs would be £100 each, reduced to £50 if paid within 14 days.