Latest news with #Way
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
No promotion and relegation for 10 years in top league proposal
Kolkata: No promotion or relegation in Indian Super League (ISL) for at least 10 years, a moratorium on expansion for a minimum of five years, ISL's rights and that of national team matches will be in perpetuity with a joint-venture company comprising ISL clubs, All India Football Federation (AIFF) and its commercial partners Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL). There shall be no promotion and relegation in ISL for at least 10 years, it has been proposed. (HT) These are among the proposals in a 22-page draft document sent by FSDL to AIFF last March after meetings to negotiate a new agreement because the current commercial deal ends this year. Which means FSDL's mandate runs only till around the middle of the 2025-26 season. Talks are on hold because the matter of the new AIFF constitution, which includes ownership of India's top men's league, is in Supreme Court. The proposal for a closed league, one where there is no promotion or relegation, is not in line with roadmap approved by Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in 2019. This draft proposes a new roadmap 'pre-approved between existing parties.' 'At a meeting in April, AIFF informed the executive committee about these proposals,' said Bhaichung Bhutia on Friday. 'It is FSDL's right to give whatever proposal but did AIFF go to them after evaluating its assets including the national team? When I pointed this out, a committee was formed which would do the due diligence and talk to our commercial partners.' A former India captain, Bhutia is an AIFF executive committee member. 'In May, at a meeting in Bhubaneswar, AIFF told members that it had given a counter-proposal which pitched for continuing the current arrangement,' said another executive committee member. The member requested anonymity because the matter is in court. As per the proposal from FSDL, in the new company, 'that governs, operates, commercialises & funds ISL', AIFF will have 14% stake, ISL clubs 60% and FSDL 26%. FSDL will retain the right to veto 'with respect to certain key matters', the document says without elaboration. To be granted autonomous status by AIFF, the company will be the rights holders of ISL and national team matches in perpetuity, as per the draft document. There shall be no promotion and relegation in ISL for at least 10 years, it has been proposed. Apart from meeting sporting, licensing and financial criteria, clubs must also have the same ownership for five years to be eligible for promotion, as per the draft document. The proposal says, 'ISL shall be limited to the current number of teams (13) for at least 5 years.' HT has seen document titled 'ISL Way Forward, Draft Document for Discussion'. As per the roadmap approved by AFC, relegation from ISL was supposed to start from 2024-25. It has not. Accepted as India's top league by Asia's apex body in 2019, ISL allowed promotion for the winners of I-League from 2023-24. Punjab FC were the first team to qualify through that route followed by Mohammedan Sporting. Greenlighting this proposal would mean the 2024-25 I-League champions, to be decided in the Court of Arbitration for Sport because of a dispute over player eligibility, will be locked out of 2025-26 ISL. The proposal also calls for discontinuing the existing Master Rights Agreement through which AIFF now gets ₹ 50 crore annually. Barring ISL, football in India is run mainly through this amount. Instead, as per the document, the new company's losses will be funded or profits shared as per ownership stakes held by AIFF, ISL clubs and FSDL. Barring ISL and competitions involving national teams, AIFF will have full control of all other tournaments, according to the proposal. AIFF, the document says, should agree to this because it aligns with the 'best governance structures in the world of football.' Examples of Europe's top five leagues and those in Japan, South Korea, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE being run by a separate body are listed in the document. It also says this way AIFF will comply with 'new draft constitution' which mandates that the federation 'must play a direct role in the governance of Top National League.' Clubs can gain from having a say in policy matters and have a 'strong collaborative role' in running ISL, the document says. No representative from FSDL was available for comment. But officials at clubs they have reached out to said FSDL is waiting to hear from AIFF on the proposals. Because the agreement ends in 2025, FSDL feels its role is naturally limited until clarity is reached on the league's governance and structural future, the club officials said. The officials did not want to be named as the matter is sub-judice. The club officials said FSDL were not sure that the promotion of I-League champions is helping improve the standard of ISL competitively and financially, and that the commercial partners think it is best to wait for AIFF to get the lower rungs of the pyramid more competitive before promotion and relegation works out to the benefit of the entire football ecosystem.
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Spain's top court orders Franco family to hand back Romanesque statues
MADRID - Spain's Supreme Court has ruled that the descendants of dictator Francisco Franco must return two valuable Romanesque statues to the northwestern city of Santiago de Compostela, according to a court statement released on Thursday. The statues were once part of the 12th-century "Door of Glory", a portico marking the entrance to Santiago's cathedral, which is widely considered a masterpiece of mediaeval art and which is where the famed pilgrim Camino (Way) ends. The works were removed during restoration works on the cathedral's facade and purchased by the city in 1948. Franco's wife, Carmen Polo, expressed interest in them during a 1952 visit to the city, after which they were sent to the Meiras palace - the dictator's summer residence. "Motivated by a desire to please the wife of the head of state", Santiago's then-mayor facilitated their transfer to Meiras, the ruling said. The court decided that despite Franco's family possessing the statues for a long time, they still belonged to the city of Santiago. Franco's descendants argued that the purchase by the city was never completed and claimed the statues were acquired through an antiquarian, citing an oral account passed down within the family. Francis Franco, the dictator's grandson, did not reply to a request for comment when contacted by Reuters. Franco rose to power through a military coup against the Republican government in July 1936 and ruled the country for almost 40 years, until his death in 1975. Fifty years later, his legacy still divides Spanish society. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
U.S. Virgin Islands Reports Strong Mid-Year Tourism Growth and Global Visibility in 2025
ST. THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands, June 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- At the halfway point of 2025, the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism is reporting strong gains across airlift, cruise arrivals, accommodations, cultural events, and global brand visibility. With continued momentum and sustained interest from travelers and industry partners alike, the territory remains one of the most dynamic destinations in the Caribbean. "We've reached the halfway point of 2025 with exceptional results that reflect the appeal and strength of the U.S. Virgin Islands," said Joseph Boschulte, U.S. Virgin Islands Commissioner of Tourism. "This is a testament to the dedication of the Department of Tourism team and local stakeholders who together remain focused on sustainable growth, strategic partnerships, and cultural authenticity." Air service continues to expand, making it easier for travelers to access the territory. New daily nonstop flights from Dallas to St. Thomas are now operating, while additional service from Chicago and Boston is scheduled to begin in December. St. Croix will also gain new nonstop connectivity from Chicago later this year. These new routes come on the heels of record arrivals in 2024. Air arrivals for 2025 are projected to be slightly below 2024's record numbers. Cruise arrivals are also trending upward. St. Thomas/St. John is projected to receive 1,487,753 passengers across 414 ship calls this year, marking a 4 percent increase. St. Croix anticipates 86 calls and more than 208,086 passengers, reinforcing the island's role in the territory's cruise strategy. Hotels and vacation rentals are performing well across the territory. Hotel occupancy has grown 4.3 percent, and hotel tax collections have surpassed 2024 April Year-To-Date (YTD) revenues by 6.7 percent and are 41.0 percent ahead of the same period of fiscal year 2023. Short-term rental revenue is also up, with fiscal year collections tracking nearly 11 percent ahead. The U.S. Virgin Islands now ranks third in the Caribbean for both average daily rate and revenue per available room, each more than 30 percent above the regional average. Signature cultural celebrations continue to be a major draw. The Crucian Christmas Festival and St. Thomas Carnival generated more than $5.6 million in combined earned media value and brought thousands of visitors to experience the music, food, and pageantry of the islands. The upcoming St. John Celebration, taking place June 29 through July 4, is expected to attract visitors from across the region and showcase the vibrant spirit of the U.S. Virgin Islands. National marketing efforts continue to elevate the territory's profile across key markets. Strategic partnerships with the LPGA, Chicago Cubs, New York Jets, Boston Red Sox, Klutch Sports Group, Fenway Sports Management "Way Up with Angela Yee" and I Heart Radio are helping extend USVI visibility. The destination was also featured at the 2025 Dreamville Festival and is preparing for activations at major lifestyle events later this year, including the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, LPGA FM Championship, Angela Yee Day and One Musicfest. Meetings and incentives travel has also gained traction, with more than 17 programs booked during fiscal year 2023–2024, generating nearly 7,000 room nights, $2.7 million in room revenue, and over $330,000 in tax revenue. According to Cvent, St. Thomas is now ranked as the fifth most preferred Caribbean destination for incentive travel, ahead of Puerto Rico and Jamaica. Recent accolades continue to reinforce the U.S. Virgin Islands' standing as a top Caribbean destination. In 2025, Caribbean Journal recognized the territory as both Caribbean Yachting Destination of the Year and Event Destination of the Year. St. Croix earned the title of Caribbean Culinary Destination of the Year, while local chef David "Benji" Benjamin was named Caribbean Chef of the Year. The territory also received global praise from Tripadvisor, which ranked Trunk Bay and Magens Bay among the top ten beaches in the world in its Travelers' Choice Best of the Best Awards. For more information about the U.S. Virgin Islands and its offerings, please visit About the U.S. Virgin Islands About 40 miles east of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands comprise a United States territory located in the northeastern Caribbean Sea. The three islands are St. Croix, St. John, and St. Thomas, where the capital of Charlotte Amalie is located. Perfect for leisure or business travel, the U.S. Virgin Islands features breathtaking, world-renowned beaches, an international marine industry, European architecture, and a burgeoning restaurant industry. No passports are required from U.S. citizens traveling from the U.S. mainland or Puerto Rico. Entry requirements for non-U.S. citizens are equivalent to entering the United States from any international country. Upon departure, a passport is required for non-U.S. citizens. For more information about the United States Virgin Islands, go to follow us on Instagram (@visitusvi) and Twitter (@usvitourism), and become a fan on Facebook ( View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Chicago Tribune
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Addie Way sings and sways to ‘Sweet Caroline' as Lockport reaches state for first time in 20 years. ‘Always up.'
BLOOMINGTON — After four intense scoreless innings with a trip to state on the line, Lockport broke the ice in the fifth inning Monday. And it was time for Addie Way to have some fun. And, boy, did she ever have fun. The junior third baseman laughed it up with her fellow infielders before the start of the sixth. Then before the seventh, while senior pitcher Kelcie McGraw warmed up, Way and junior first baseman Alexis Vander Tuuk were singing and swaying to Neil Diamond's 'Sweet Caroline.' Yes, good times never seemed so good. 'We felt the pressure going into the game,' Way said. 'But as the night went on, we trusted our teammates and we trusted each other. It's just fun all of the time. 'We're always up. We're always cheering.' There was plenty to cheer about at Inspiration Field at Carol Willis Park after Way scored the second run in a two-run fifth inning, helping the Porters beat Bradley-Bourbonnais 2-0 in the Class 4A Illinois Wesleyan Supersectional. Way and Rheanna Slavicek scored the runs for Lockport (31-9), while Taylor Lane hit a sacrifice fly and the Colgate-bound McGraw singled home a run and struck out 10 in a two-hit shutout. Loyola recruit Lydia Hammond allowed four hits for Bradley (22-12), but back-to-back walks to Slavicek and Way in the fifth helped start the Porters' rally and send them to the state semifinals. Lockport will play at 3 p.m. Friday in the final four at Louisville Slugger Sports Complex in Peoria against Barrington (34-3-1), a 4-1 supersectional winner Monday over St. Charles East (23-16). And for the close-knit Porters, that means everything. 'I really feel like we are a family,' Way said. 'We are a family on the softball field and off the softball field. We really trust each other.' The trustworthy Way, meanwhile, has been dangerous this spring with her bat. She's hitting .344 with 33 runs and 18 walks, but she also helps the Porters in other ways. 'She brings so much energy to the field,' McGraw said of Way. 'She's a great person and a great teammate. Everybody loves her. We wouldn't be the team we are without her. 'She makes great plays on defense. She hits. We wouldn't be here without her.' Lockport's Marissa Chovanec, who in her second year as coach won the Class AA state championship in 2004 but last reached state in 2005, appreciates what Way brings to the table. 'Addie brings energy and is one of our leaders,' Chovanec said. 'She stepped in at third base when we had an injury earlier in the season. She's done a great job hitting in the No. 2 spot, just keeping the spark in the lineup going. 'She helps not only with her body language but with her performances.' To even get to the supersectional wasn't easy for the Porters. After a 17-0 win over Thornwood to open the playoffs, Lockport topped Shepard 2-0, defeated Lincoln-Way East 3-0 and slipped past Lincoln-Way Central and Florida State-bound pitcher Lisabella Dimitrijevic 2-0 in 10 innings. Way is generally positive, but there was a time in the season that she wasn't so sure the Porters would get this far. They were 3-6 during a stretch in late March and early April, but things turned around and now Lockport has won 17 straight. 'They way we started, we were down on ourselves,' Way said. 'We knew we had to pick it up. We talked to our coach. We talked to our players. 'We all came together in our locker one day and said, 'We really gotta pick it up. We were good last season and shouldn't be playing like this.' Ever since then, it's been great.'
Daily Mirror
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Mark Wright and Michelle Keegan share parenting flight tip after 'scary' warning
Mark Wright recently returned from a family holiday to Spain where he went with his wife, Michelle Keegan, and baby daughter, Palma, who had her first experience of an aeroplane Mark Wright shared a parenting flight hack he and his wife Michelle Keegan executed after being warned about how 'scary' flying with an infant could be. The celebrity couple became parents in March and in recent days they took baby girl Palma on her first ever family holiday abroad. And despite being anxious, travelling with the tot went smoothly. The Only Way is Essex star Mark, 38, returned from his trip to Spain for his Heart FM radio show with Olly Murs. And opening up about his sunny voyage, he said: 'I've just got back from Spain. It was lovely, bit of tapas. Palma's first holiday, she was fantastic.' He described the break with his loved ones as 'amazing' and explained how he and actress Michelle, 38, navigated the plane journey. He said earlier this morning: 'We come up with a great plan on the flight because you warned me about how scary it could be with a new kid on a flight. 'We just made sure we fed her on the way up for the take off, two-and-a-half hour flight, fed her on the way down, she slept during the middle, it was beautiful.' Olly replied: 'Mate, that is exactly that plan we tried to do for Miami but we realised the flight is ten hours!' Mark, laughing, responded: 'It didn't work.' Olly was in Miami where he spent time writing more songs and he described having a 'mad four or five weeks' where 'so much has been happening to me'. He also spoke about having to pull the plug on a Glasgow gig during the show after his voice started to give way. Referencing the unfortunate moment from last month, he said on his radio show: 'Obviously I got ill in Glasgow and had to cancel some shows which still really hurts me to say because I'm not that type of artist.' Michelle meanwhile, who has 7.5 million followers on Instagram, shared pictures of the family holiday to the Sotogrande Spa & Golf Resort Hotel. Writing a post, she said: 'Princess P's first family holiday.' Another wrote: 'Love the fact she didn't have a baby until 37. Now she can enjoy it. She didn't feel pressured and I'm glad you have shown there is no rush.' A third added: 'The first holiday is always full of such fond memories, and is also the most anxiety provoking. Looks like you smashed it.' Mark also shared a video from the trip showing how he surprised his nephews at the resort, saying: 'I arrived at the resort a day earlier than my nephews, who never knew I was going to be on the same holiday…. When they saw me, they were buzzing.'
