Month: September 2019

The former Manchester United forward is showing no signs of slowing down as he helped Juve to yet another victory

Cristiano Ronaldo’s remarkable level of consistency at the top level of European football continued after he notched his 20th goal of the season for Juventus against Sassuolo on Sunday.

Ronaldo headed Juve’s second goal in a comfortable 3-0 victory at MAPEI Stadium  to extend their lead at the top of Serie A to 11 points.

It means the 34-year-old has now scored at least 20 goals in all competitions in each of the last 13 seasons.

It is an astonishing level of durability from the Portuguese, who shows no signs of slowing down.

His impressive start to life at the Bianconeri means he is likely to be in contention to win the Ballon d’Or for the sixth time – 11 years after he was first crowned the greatest football player in the world.

The last time Ronaldo failed to break the 20-goal mark was the 2005-06 campaign, when he scored 12 goals in what was just his third season at Manchester United.

He would go on to score 118 goals in 292 games for the Red Devils, winning nine major titles, before making the then world-record £80million ($103.6m) move to Real Madrid in the summer of 2009.

The Madeira-born forward’s goalscoring feats were even more impressive at the Santiago Bernabeu. After scoring 33 goals in his first season in the Spanish capital he never scored fewer than 42 in any single campaign, scoring an incredible 60 goals in 2011-12 and 61 in 2014-15.

Ronaldo would go on to score an astonishing 450 goals in 438 appearances for Madrid, helping the Spanish giants win 15 major trophies, including two La Liga titles and four Champions League trophies.

After nine seasons in the Spanish capital, Ronaldo made the move to Italy last summer, joining Serie A champions Juventus for €100million (£87.5m/$113m).

As he approached his mid-30s, some had questioned whether Ronaldo’s skills were on the wane, but his early performances for Massimiliano Allegri’s side suggest he is showing no signs of decline.

Eighteen of Ronaldo’s 20 goals so far have come in Serie A, putting him top of the goalscoring charts ahead of Fabio Quagliarella and Duvan Zapata.

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The Liverpool legend, and former Blues striker, believes a squad pieced together by Pep Guardiola may be the finest in Premier League history

Manchester City’s class of 2019 could be considered the finest side in Premier League history, says Robbie Fowler, with Pep Guardiola’s squad better than Arsenal’s ‘Invincibles’ and Manchester United’s Treble winners.

A record-breaking title triumph was enjoyed by the Blues in 2017-18, as they swept aside all before them.

They have returned to the summit this term, while still in the hunt for a possible quadruple, and crushed top-four hopefuls Chelsea 6-0 in their most recent outing.

Liverpool remain very much in the hunt to deny them back-to-back crowns, as do Tottenham, but Fowler – who represented the Reds and City in his playing days – believes those at the Etihad Stadium have the potential to cement a standing among the all-time greats.

He told The Mirror, amid accusations of the Blues’ title rivals showing signs of nerves: “This­ Manchester City squad is quite possibly the best I’ve ever seen in English football in terms of depth of quality.

“Better than Manchester United in ’99, better than the Arsenal squad of 2003-04? ­Definitely there is a case to be made. They could be the best of all time. After the 100 points of last season, they could still get 98 points this time.

“Yet Liverpool have matched them stride for stride. They tore Bournemouth apart ­[on Saturday], knowing victory would put them back on top of the table.

“To me, that’s not bottling, that’s ­showing immense ­quality and courage to take the fight to an unbelievable side and ­keeping it going for so long.

“Same with Spurs, too. I can’t even begin to quantify the amount of credit they deserve.

“In a season where their ­opponents just don’t lose, they have lost six… and yet after each defeat showed ­the character to bounce back and stay in the race. I don’t care what anyone says, that is ­bottle.

“City won the title at a canter last season, because no other team was anywhere near good enough to be spoken of in the same breath.

“At least we have a race this time, a three-way race for the first time in years and a proper fight. So, next time you want to call a side bottlers, just think about what you’re saying. And here’s a couple of stats to help.

“In 2003-04, the ­invincible ­Arsenal team drew 12 matches, or dropped 24 points. That wouldn’t win them the title this season. In 1998-99, United’s treble-winning side drew 13 in the Premier League and lost three for 79 points… which may not even be enough for the top four this time.

“Things have changed. The gap between the top six and the rest has widened, meaning you have to win more matches.

“That is the level these sides are at – and we should all rejoice in it – not succumb to the ­insanity which is making football a scary place to be with a tide of racism and abuse around the game.”

City and Liverpool have 65 points to their name at present, with the former occupying top spot on goal difference, while Spurs – who like those at Anfield boast a game in hand on the leaders – sit five points off the pace.

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BEIJING – China’s housing market is expected to make a smooth transition toward the use of the loan prime rate, or LPR, as the new benchmark for setting the interest rate on newly issued commercial individual housing loans.

Beginning Oct 8, the loan benchmark interest rate in use will be replaced by the LPR as the central bank seeks to set its interest rate for commercial individual housing loans in a more market-based manner.

New mortgage rates for first-home purchases should not be lower than the related LPRs, while those for second-time buyers should be at least 60 basis points higher than the LPRs, said the People’s Bank of China.

Sources from relevant governmental departments said the switch has been quite smooth, with banking institutions in various regions making steady progress on deciding the minimum basis points to be added to the LPR, in line with the conditions of local property markets.

The move is to ensure the implementation of differentiated credit policies for housing loans and better regulate the country’s property market.

So far, 13 provincial regions have disclosed the minimum basis points to be added, while others are expected to release theirs before the end of month.

In Beijing, for instance, the interest rates for first-home loans will rise by at least 55 basis points from the LPR, while those for second-home loans will go up at least 105 basis points.

However, the interest rates of housing loans would not change much after the new benchmark was put into use, and no rush of property purchases or surge of home loan applications has ever occurred, according to sources with the loan departments of State-owned banks.

Newly added home purchase loans have not reported a great increase from the period before the new policy was unveiled, and for buyers, factors relating to the house are more influential than the interest rate when applying for bank loans, said a staff member from a Shenzhen branch of China Merchants Bank who sought anonymity.

Li Wanbin, an analyst from the mobile financing platform Rong360 said it would take some time for borrowers to adapt to the new interest rate formation policy.

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Meanwhile, considering the strong market expectations for lower interest rates, property buyers will find it relatively easy to accept the new pricing mechanism and sign purchasing contracts, said Li.

The World Cup winner, who took in a spell at Old Trafford during his playing days, briefly discussed a return to England while in charge of PSG

Laurent Blanc has revealed that he held talks with Manchester United about becoming the club’s manager following the dismissal of David Moyes in 2014.

The Red Devils were in the market for a proven coach at the very highest level after abandoning an experiment with the man chosen to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson.

Moyes lasted a matter of months in that role, with United enduring a humbling fall from grace under his guidance.

Ryan Giggs was handed the reins on a caretaker basis in the wake of his departure, but an experienced option was sought to fill a permanent post.

World Cup winner Blanc, who had spent time at Old Trafford in his playing days, was among those considered.

He was in charge of Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain at the time and discussions did not get far before the decision was taken by United to appoint Louis van Gaal.

“I had a call from a director, I’d prefer not to say who, and some discussion,” Blanc told The Times.

“But I was in Paris so it was very difficult for me to leave. We kept in touch but they went with Van Gaal in the end.”

Blanc has continued to figure on United’s radar since being overlooked in 2014.

He was mooted as a potential option once again when Jose Mourinho was shown to the door at Old Trafford back in December.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer ended up being the former star brought back to familiar surroundings and he has enjoyed an 11-game unbeaten start to his reign.

Blanc – who won 11 trophies during his time at PSG – may miss out on a role in Manchester when a definitive call is made this summer, but the Frenchman is eager to experience life in Premier League management.

He added: “Managing in England is a big ambition.

“I have big experience at Paris.

“It’s difficult for me to go to another club in France. I want a different challenge in England, Spain or Italy. I played in those countries, I know them, so I keep going to games and I see what calls come in.”

Blanc spent time with the likes of Montpellier, Napoli, Barcelona, Marseille, Inter and United over the course of a distinguished career which saw him retire in 2003 after two years at Old Trafford.

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The Blues defender was involved in an incident in Manchester as tensions ran high in a historic loss for the club

Antonio Rudiger was involved in a heated exchange with Chelsea supporter as he gave his match shirt to a fan as he went to apologise for an embarrassing 6-0 defeat to league leaders Manchester City.

The Blues defender was the last of many players including Eden Hazard, David Luiz, Cesar Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso to go to apologise to the travelling support on Sunday.

Stewards at the Etihad Stadium stepped in to pull away from the supporter, who was shouting at the Chelsea centre back, as he handed his shirt over.

Rudiger confronted the angry fan by saying: “I’ve come over to say sorry – stand in front of me if you‘ve something to say.”

The scene, which has been both filmed and pictured, came after Chelsea suffered their heaviest defeat for 28 years and as they drop to sixth place, the lowest position that they have yet registered this season.

The majority of the away section chanted “Rudi, Rudi, Rudi” after seeing his passion in what was an emotional moment for those at the club.

Manchester City’s huge win helped propel them back above their main title rivals Liverpool, as Sergio Aguero’s hat-trick, a Raheem Sterling brace and Ilkay Gündogan’s long-range effort humbled the Stamford Bridge club.

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Chelsea’s vice-captain Cesar Azpilicueta was one of the few to face the media after the painful result, and he used the opportunity to apologise to fans. 

“It is one of the worst nights in my career. It is difficult to explain what happened,” he told  Sky Sports .

“The first five or six minutes went well but that is not enough. It is very frustrating and disappointing. We are conceding a lot of goals and we cannot accept that.

To French artist and architect Martine Delaleuf, also President of Société des Artistes Français, art can be the best medium to resolve misunderstandings among cultures.

“I was visiting Yunnan (in Southwest China) and I made a painting of local women, who were wearing beautiful (ethnic) clothes.

“I saw people who were very kind. It was very different from how things were reported in the newspaper. It is a marvelous way to discover a country,” said the Parisienne who has been known for her clean lines, vibrant colors and devotion to painting for more than two decades.

Delaleuf, who has organized numerous exhibitions that have encouraged art and cultural exchanges between China and France, said during an interview with China Daily Website at the China Cultural Center in Paris that she sees art as a language without borders.

“Artists have special feelings when they are in front of a work of art. They understand a lot without words. With very old art, we feel that (connection) stronger, so it is easy for us to exchange even if we don’t speak the same language,” said Delaleuf.

And sometimes that abstract-yet-solid connection is even harder to put in words.

“It’s difficult to explain a painting or a drawing. That’s why it’s better for us to meet even if we don’t speak the same language. It’s easier to understand other countries (that way),” she said.

Among the Chinese art Delaleuf has seen, both during her three visits to China and at exhibitions she has helped to organize or attended herself, ink wash is her favorite, because it is something so far from what she is used to working with.

“Ink wash was very strange for us. I love ink wash because I don’t know how to paint that way. In our last salon we invited five Chinese artists who work with old materials, like ink wash, but used them in new ways to make modern art. It’s a very new feeling for me,” Delaleuf said.

“I love ceramics too: the old ones and the modern ones are both appealing. I know I’m not alone to love that,” the artist added.

As for the exhibitions themselves, Delaleuf said these forms of exchanges between artists from China and France should continue.

“I think we must go on this way because we learn to appreciate each other. (It is a chance for) artists to talk to each other. It’s a real pleasure to see that. It is a good way for French people to learn about China.

“Our countries have a historical link and I hope this friendly link lasts a long time. Artists are welcome in France. Chinese people are welcome in France. I hope the French people and French artist are too in China,” Delaleuf said.

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Violent mobs vandalized public and private properties in Wan Chai, Hong Kong on Sunday. The Starbucks store became the target of rioters.

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The Belt and Road Journalists Network and its first presidium were founded at the 2019 Belt and Road Journalists Forum in Beijing on Saturday.

The BRJN, a platform for exchanges and cooperation, was jointly initiated by the All-China Journalists Association and other journalist groups in the countries and regions involved in the Belt and Road Initiative.

The purpose of the BRJN is to promote the Silk Road spirit of “peace and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning, mutual benefit and win-win results”, to deepen exchanges and cooperation with journalist groups in the countries and regions involved in the BRI and to facilitate friendly people-to-people exchanges between different countries.

Jiang Jianguo, deputy head of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said the rapid development of information technology and new media has changed the media landscape and modes of communication, making exchanges and cooperation between journalist organizations more important.

Jiang said he hoped journalist organizations from various countries and regions will guide the public to learn about each other objectively and rationally, and deliver positive energy for exchanges and cooperation between countries in all fields.

The first presidium is composed of the heads of journalists associations and unions from China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Indonesia, Argentina and Nigeria. Their term in office will last five years.

The position of chairperson of the presidium will rotate among the members on an annual basis.

Lidia Irma Fagale, president of the Union of Journalists of Buenos Aires, was named the first chairwoman of BRJN.

More than 60 heads of journalist organizations from over 50 countries and regions attended the forum, which was organized by the ACJA with the theme of “promoting news cooperation and sharing the spirit of the Belt and Road”.

Fagale said the world is divisive, contradictory and full of conflict, and it needs journalists to take part in global media platforms like the BRJN and act as communicators to promote understanding between cultures.

She said the network should work together to address the challenges of society and to counter some negative developments globally.

Shanaka Maliyadda, a member of the executive committee of the Sri Lanka China Journalists Forum and director of Shalya Total Solution, a provider of television content, said the network and journalists’ cooperation will unite all countries involved in the BRI and promote exchanges.

“ACJA is also helping us with media development in many aspects,” he said.

“We also help the public in Sri Lanka understand what China is doing.”

Monthslong rehearsals have become treasured personal memories for people taking part in Tuesday’s grand parade in Beijing to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.

“Joining this spectacle is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and it will be one of my most important memories,” said Qiu Qian, a fruit farmer from the suburban village of Bajianfang in Beijing.

The 32-year-old will be among the more than 100,000 participants in the parade who will march past Tian’anmen Square. They will be divided into 36 formations escorting 70 floats.

Themed “farmland of hope”, Qiu’s unit has 2,269 people, more than half of them farmers and people working in agriculture. They will wave straw hats with green scarves attached to imitate a billowing wheat farm.

Qiu said the training began in early August, and they had rehearsed dozens of times. Three rehearsals were held at Tian’anmen Square.

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“Marching during a sizzling summer was not easy for us, but nobody complained,” she said. “It is a stage our country gives to us farmers. My heart was pounding marching past the square.”

The Scotland international is pleading with the club to show patience with his manager as they did with his compatriot Sir Alex Ferguson

Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay is convinced that manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is the right man to lead the club and continue the legacy of Sir Alex Ferguson.

Solskjaer is the club’s fourth full-time manager since Ferguson left the club and is the bookmakers’ second-favourite to be the second Premier League manager to be sacked this season.

But McTominay believes that his boss needs time to restore United to glory after six seasons without a league title.

“It takes time for a new manager coming in,” the Scotland international told The Mirror. “It’s not all of a sudden just going to click straight into place.

“Once Sir Alex left, it was going to take time for the club to find the right manager, and I do believe that we have the right manager now in Ole.

“You see different eras in football teams – everybody goes through transitional stages and we’re going through one right now.”

Solskjaer the player was a beneficiary of the long-term approach Manchester United showed with Ferguson.

The Red Devils were trophyless in the Scot’s first four seasons, but sticking with him ushered in an unprecedented era of success in Manchester, with the current manager a key figure in the 1999 treble-winning team.

McTominay believes the same patience must be shown with the Norwegian.

“You have to have that continuity at any club.

“In this day and age, clubs are just willing to sack a manager without really thinking about the consequences for how that team is going to go forward in the next five or six years.

“Ole definitely has a plan for the short-term and long-term, and when you’ve got a guy like that, it’s important you stick by him.”

Perhaps the most galling aspect of United’s fall from grace has been the ascent of Liverpool and Manchester City at the same time.

McTominay identifies the success of their arch-rivals as more motivation to restore United to prominence.

“They’re doing well and that’s life,” he added. “Sometimes teams can do well and other teams who’ve had amazing histories can drop off a little bit.

“But it’s up to us now as players to stick together and really push towards those standards we’ve set over different matches last season and seasons before.

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“Getting that success back to Manchester United – there’s nothing more that I want than to see us right back at the top, where we belong.”