Curacao goalkeeper Eloy Room wrote his name into World Cup history by making 15 saves, the most in a 90-minute match since records began in 1966, as the smallest nation ever to qualify for the tournament finals held Ecuador to a 0-0 draw.

Six days after losing 7-1 to Germany, Room, 37, produced a stunning performance to keep Curacao’s hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages alive.

“I grew, we all grew, this was a team effort,” he said. “We’ve been fighting, fighting up to the last minute. Earning a point this way for Curacao is absolutely great.”

Meanwhile, Egypt coach Hossam Hassan dismissed talk of unrest ​involving talisman Mohamed Salah, insisting there were no issues within the squad as they prepare to face New Zealand. Later, Spain bid to get their first win against Saudi Arabia, while Belgium are in action against Iran.

Last night, Tunisia became the third team to exit the World Cup after a 4-0 defeat to impressive Japan. Tunisia sacked their coach Sabri Lamouchi after their 5-1 defeat to Sweden, but the arrival of Herve Renard could not prevent another defeat.

Who is Eloy Room? How Curacao goalkeeper made history with 15-save performance

Curacao goalkeeper Eloy Room wrote his name into World Cup history by making 15 saves to earn the tiny Caribbean nation their first ever point at the tournament with a 0-0 draw against Ecuador.

Room, 37, broke the record for the most saves in a 90-minute World Cup match since records began in 1966. Only the USA’s Tim Howard has made more stops in a World Cup game, with 16 in an extra-time defeat to Belgium in 2014.

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Curacao is home to just 156,000 people, making them the smallest country to compete at the World Cup, and Room is the latest veteran goalkeeper to make his mark at the tournament following the performance of Cape Verde’s Vozinha in the 0-0 draw against Spain.

“I think I need a statue in Curacao now,” Room said.

Jamie Braidwood21 June 2026 10:18

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Baseball, Ella Langley concert and cowboy boots: Inside an England squad player’s different World Cup

Meanwhile, in Kansas City, one of the happier tourists in the England camp is Dan Burn. The Newcastle man is enjoying what promises to be his first and only World Cup at 34 years of age. And he told Senior Football Correspondent Richard Jolly just what it’s like to be a squad player for Thomas Tuchel at a major tournament. Beyond the training, to ensure he is fit and ready to feature against Ghana or Panama, Burn has taken in a Kansas City Royals baseball match, an Ella Langley concert and even dressed up as a cowboy. Burn’s impact on the pitch may be minimal, but it’s all part of Tuchel’s masterplan to blend different personalities and ensure harmony in the champ.

Jamie Braidwood21 June 2026 09:58

Germany’s Undav breaks Ivory Coast hearts with 94th-minute winner

Germany weathered a storm as the Ivory Coast gave them a fright before another unlikely star striker delivered the firepower to secure a knockout place for the first time since 2014. Julian Nagelsmann was thrilled to see super-sub, and former Brighton forward, Deniz Undav provide the spark needed to rally from behind against the Elephants. Is Kai Havertz’s place at risk? Well, it could prove a fascinating issue for Germany as they prepare for the last 32 with a final group stage game against Ecuador. “Maybe he can start next time,” said the Germany boss.

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Jamie Braidwood21 June 2026 09:38

Coach Hassan denies Salah rift as Egypt eye historic World Cup win

Egypt coach Hossam Hassan dismissed talk of unrest ​involving talisman Mohamed Salah, insisting there were no issues within the squad as they prepare to face New Zealand in their crucial World Cup Group G match at BC Place.

Salah, 34, scored nine goals in the qualifying campaign and provided an assist for Emam Ashour in their opener with Belgium. But he was substituted in the 76th minute of that 1-1 draw in Seattle, with highly-rated teenager Hamza Abdelkarim coming on.

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“Salah is an important player for our squad, and the 26 players who are here with me are ⁠very important,” Hassan told reporters. “Every player who has worked with me knows I ​deal ⁠with them in a professional manner. ‌I do not have favourites.

“Salah is a great player who helps his teammates. He has a lot of discipline and is a role model.

“If he starts … or ‌if he gets substituted, it’s fine. It is ‌his role as a player. Everyone knows that I am working for the benefit of the team and the national side.

“Rumours are being spread about stars, about players, about teams. But Salah is someone who is very disciplined,” he added.

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“He trains with us. He’s the first player that would also say yes to my decisions as a technical director. So I think he will be very positive tomorrow.”

Jamie Braidwood21 June 2026 09:31

Netherlands discover secret weapon to secure World Cup lift-off in Houston

The Netherlands have lift-off at this World Cup after a devastating performance in Houston to ease past Sweden 5-1 and it was led by a surprise protagonist. Brian Brobbey outshone everyone, as Lawrence Ostlere gathered inside the air-conditioned NRG Stadium, with the Sunderland man emerging as a secret weapon for Ronald Koeman. Solid at the back and midfield, with Cody Gakpo grabbing a brace, too, and Crysencio Summerville banishing bad memories from the past season with West Ham, the Oranje are finally dancing to the trance tunes of their army of supporters and threaten to go far.

Jamie Braidwood21 June 2026 09:18

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Julian Nagelsmann hints at Deniz Undav change after Germany striker inspires World Cup victory

Deniz Undav put himself in pole position to start for Germany moving forward at the World Cup 2026 after he scored two goals off the bench a thrilling comeback to beat Ivory Coast.

The 2-1 victory in their World Cup Group E match on Saturday secured their place in the knockout stage for the first time since they won the title in 2014.

And Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann conceded Undav may now start against Ecuador on Thursday in New York.

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“Maybe he can start next time,” said the Germany coach. “⁠I think that every player would love to be in ​the ⁠starting lineup, but I ‌think he’s very happy as it is right now.

“In the end, we deservedly won it. The boys invested a lot. I’m very happy for the whole team.”

Jamie Braidwood21 June 2026 08:59

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Today at the World Cup: Fixtures and where to watch

5pm BST – Spain 🇪🇸 v Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦 (Group H) – BBC One, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website

8pm BST – Belgium 🇧🇪 v Iran 🇮🇷 (Group G ) – ITV 1, ITV X, STV, STV Player

11pm BST – Uruguay 🇺🇾 v Cape Verde 🇨🇻 (Group H) – BBC One, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website

2am BST – New Zealand 🇳🇿 v Egypt 🇪🇬 (Group G) – ITV 1, ITV X, STV, STV Player

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Jamie Braidwood21 June 2026 08:44

ITV upgrades Emma Hayes’ tactics corner after sexism storm over ‘kitchen’ set

ITV pundit Emma Hayes received an upgrade to the set used for her tactical analysis after the kitchen-esque design initially sparked something of a sexism row at World Cup 2026.

Hayes, who is the current US women’s team manager and whose seven Women’s Super League titles during her time at Chelsea made her one of the most highly-respected tacticians in world football, delivered tactical insights during England’s impressive opening 4-2 win over Croatia on Wednesday.

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But viewers were left baffled and distracted by ITV’s decision to station her away from the main punditry in a part of the set that resembled a show kitchen, with a chalkboard affixed to a brick column, surrounded by cupboards and drawers that looked as if they should contain cutlery and crockery.

Jamie Braidwood21 June 2026 08:29

‘It’s different, the freedom I have’: Cody Gakpo leaves behind Liverpool struggles with World Cup show

Gakpo was criticised for his form at Liverpool this season but he comes alive in a Dutch shirt and delivered again on the World Cup stage as the Netherlands thrashed Sweden, reports Lawrence Ostlere from Houston

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Jamie Braidwood21 June 2026 07:59

‘They fought like lions’: Advocaat proud after Curacao earn first World Cup point

Curacao coach Dick Advocaat saluted his players and the tiny Caribbean island after holding Ecuador to a 0-0 draw to earn their first ever point at the World Cup.

Advocaat, 78, said the Curacao supporters deserved praise after the nation, which is home to just 156,000 people, were thrashed 7-1 by Germany in their opening game.

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The people on Curacao have given us their support from the of outset,” Advocaat said. “Particularly last week, after the 7-1, people ⁠were still celebrating on the island and people were ​full ⁠of joy.

“It was a mad house tonight. So I think that for people whose life is not always that easy, I really wish them to celebrate `this success.

“Maybe Germany came too early,” he added. “That day they were simply out of our league, but today the team was standing as it should have been standing.

“They were fighting like lions and then you see what ‌you can achieve against a team that’s ⁠playing on a very high level with very high individual levels of the ⁠players.”

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Jamie Braidwood21 June 2026 07:44

More than 200 runners turned out for the R U Taking the P? run to raise awareness of prostate cancer on Sunday (June 21).

They were cheered off at the start line at Rowntree Park before taking on 5km and 10km routes around the nearby riverside area and finishing back at the park.

Max Burton, organiser of the R U Taking the P? fun run (Image: Dylan Connell)

Max Burton, organiser of R U Taking the P?, said it was “a fantastic day” and expected the run to raise thousands of pounds for York Against Cancer.

“We raised £18,000 last year which was phenomenal, so if we can get somewhere like that, it would be great,” he said.

It was the second year that the race has been held since 2019 after returning last year.

Runners during the R U Taking the P? fun run in York on Sunday (June 21) (Image: Dylan Connell)

Max said the aim is for the run to once again becoming an annual event raising money for York Against Cancer

“It’s great to see that people are supporting it – it’s a thrill, it’s really great,” he said.

Max said the event’s main goal is to raise awareness of prostate cancer, adding that this year’s event followed extensive media coverage of Jeremy Clarkson revealing that he had been diagnosed with an “aggressive” form of the disease. The 66-year-old TV star has since confirmed he is in remission from the prostate cancer after it was discovered early.

Max said he hoped the run would encourage more men to be checked for prostate cancer.

“It touches so many people – one in eight men are going to get prostate cancer, one in four if they’re black,” he said. “It’s the most common cancer for men.

“You need to be aware [of symptoms] – you need to be tested.”

The run was backed by Sir Stephen Fry, a prostate cancer survivor, who urged people to take part in the event and support the cancer charity.

Max described the actor and writer as a “top bloke”, saying: “He didn’t have to do that; a lot of people wouldn’t.

“For him to respond like that was just magic.”

Event is ‘absolutely wonderful’, says Lord Mayor

The Lord Mayor of York, Cllr Margaret Wells, counted the runners down before they set off from Rowntree Park.

She said the event is “absolutely wonderful”, adding: “Just to see all these local people is brilliant – I love it.”

The Lord Mayor of York, Cllr Margaret Wells, during the fun run at Rowntree Park on Sunday (June 21) (Image: Dylan Connell)

Cllr Wells, who returned to the role of Lord Mayor last month, said “any message we get out” about prostate cancer is “so important because it is something that an awful lot of men tend to put to the back of their minds – they don’t want to know”.

“We had the same with breast cancer many, many years ago – women didn’t want to think about it. But now, we can cure it.

“So I’m all in favour of people talking about [prostate cancer] and just understanding that it isn’t the end.”

Raymond Chalmers, 54, from Haxby, took part in the 5km run with his sons, Alexander, 21, and Christopher, 18.

Raymond, Alexander and Christopher Chalmers who took part in the R U Taking the P? 5km run in York on Sunday (June 21) (Image: Dylan Connell)

He said the trio took part to support York Against Cancer and to celebrate Father’s Day.

Raymond said he does “as much as I can” to raise awareness of prostate cancer.

He said he was checked for prostate cancer last year during a blood check and “all was well”.

He encouraged other men to get checked for the disease, saying: “I’m over 50, so there is a criteria that makes you more at risk than others – I felt it necessary.”

It was 2am and my baby was bouncing around my bed, twerking her nappy bum in my face, squealing with joy and making it clear that she was up for a party.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t.

It was the third night in a row that my darling eight-month-old daughter Ruby had decided sleep was for the weak. A few weeks earlier, she had been happily sleeping through the night save for the odd brief wake-up.

Now she was regularly spending hours awake in the middle of the night, absolutely vibing all over the bed, usually between 2am and 4am. Fun for her, very not fun for me and her dad. We were baffled – her sleep hadn’t even been this bad as a newborn.

Like many parents, I turned to sleep apps, social media, ChatGPT and parenting forums for answers, with most pointing to the same culprit: overtiredness.

I was told Ruby wasn’t getting enough sleep during the day. She needed longer naps. Earlier bedtimes. Shorter wake windows (the time babies spend awake between sleeps).

Overtiredness is the scariest concept in the baby sleep world. It crops up everywhere from Instagram reels to parenting forums, and the theory is so powerful because it appears to explain everything. A baby fighting a nap? Overtired. A baby waking up crying all night? Overtired. A baby waking at 4am ready for the day? Overtired.

Convinced I had accidentally created a chronically exhausted child, I started trying to squeeze more sleep into Ruby’s day.

It did not help and, if anything, things got worse.

At the end of my tether, I sought help from baby sleep consultant Lauren Eells, founder of Sound Asleep Guru, whose science-led and direct approach to sleep had long stood out to me among the sea of conflicting ‘experts’ on social media, who each insisted they had the top method to help your baby sleep.

The first thing Lauren had me do was work out how much sleep Ruby actually needed. For 10 days I tracked every nap and overnight sleep. The result? Ruby averaged 13 hours of sleep across a 24-hour period.

That number changed everything and, instead of encouraging more sleep, Lauren wanted us to try for less.

At the time, I was giving Ruby around two and a half hours of naps a day. ChatGPT was suggesting shorter wake windows, and the popular sleep app Huckleberry was steering me towards earlier bedtimes. Lauren, meanwhile, wanted Ruby awake for at least four and a half hours before bed and to reduce her daytime naps to one hour and 45 minutes in total.

I remember worrying that Ruby would be so exhausted. What about everything I had seen about overtiredness – wasn’t that exactly what I was supposed to be avoiding?

The explanation for approaching sleep in this way, Lauren says, comes down to two biological processes that need to work together.

The first is melatonin, the hormone that helps us feel sleepy as bedtime approaches. The second is sleep pressure, which builds the longer we stay awake.

‘What we do know is that there is melatonin that releases, and that you want to time your baby’s melatonin rise with going to bed so that you get the nicest settle to sleep,” she explains.

‘But in order for that nice settle to then lead to a nice night, you also need the right sleep pressure behind you.’

In practical terms, a baby who has napped too much or too recently before bed may still appear tired enough to fall asleep. But they may not have built enough sleep pressure to stay asleep for long.

That, Lauren believes, is where many parents get caught out.

‘The number one myth that I think harms sleep is overtiredness, because it leads parents to put their baby down too early, for too long and at the wrong times,’ she says.

‘They’ve used too much of their 24-hour sleep budget before they’ve even gone to bed that night.’

To my astonishment, Ruby could handle being awake for longer before bed. In fact, for the first time in weeks, I saw her getting properly tired before bedtime.

The very first day I capped Ruby’s naps, she slept for more than 11 hours overnight without waking. Then she did it again. And again and again.

Soon, it became clear that we didn’t need to sleep train at all. Ruby still fell asleep in our arms before being transferred to her cot, but she was sleeping through the night without needing us.

Lauren explains that while routine carries most of the weight when it comes to sleep, some babies are more sensitive to sleep associations than others.

A baby who is fed, rocked, cuddled or helped to sleep may expect that same help every time they wake overnight (which happens several times a night and is biologically normal), meaning they struggle to resettle independently, and this is where sleep training can come in useful – but it only works once the schedule is sorted.

Ruby, however, appears to be one of the rarer babies who can happily drift off in our arms and still connect her sleep cycles without needing us through the night.

According to Lauren, that’s because routine matters far more than many parents realise.

‘Sleep training is the icing on the cake,’ she tells me, adding: ‘The cake itself is getting the routine right.’

In other words, many babies aren’t waking because they’re getting too little sleep. They’re waking because they’re getting too much. Astounding, right? But spend five minutes on Reddit or on social media looking at baby sleep advice and you will generally hear that overtiredness is enemy number one.

Lauren believes one of the biggest problems facing parents is the rise of generic sleep advice that treats all babies as though they need the same amount of sleep.

At the time I tweaked Ruby’s sleep, both Huckleberry and various Google sources suggested she should be getting around 14 hours of shut-eye in a 24-hour period, including up to three hours of naps. For my daughter, aiming for that amount of sleep was exactly what caused the problem.

‘This idea that every baby has a 14 to 16-hour sleep tank just isn’t true,’ Lauren says. Sleep doesn’t breed sleep.’

Lauren’s entire approach is built around the idea that babies, like adults, have different sleep needs. The challenge for parents is working out which type of baby they have.

She argues that generic schedules, wake windows and sleep apps can make parents lose confidence in their own instincts.

‘It really robs parents of their ability to read their baby and get to know their rhythms,’ she says.

In the end, my biggest takeaway from all of this was simple: my baby is my baby. Her sleep needs are individual, and trying to force her into somebody else’s ideal schedule was never going to work.

While at the Bathgate school, the inspector spent time speaking with children who attend the nursery, their families/carers and observed and spoke with members of staff to help inform their final judgement on practices at the nursery.

Windyknowe Primary School Nursery has received excellent praise from the Care Inspectorate.

An unannounced inspection from the Care Inspectorate took place in March of this year.

While at the Bathgate school, the inspector spent time speaking with children who attend the nursery, their families/carers and observed and spoke with members of staff to help inform their final judgement on practices at the nursery.

The Care Inspectorate has now released its verdict and it’s great news for everyone at Windyknowe Primary School Nursery as top marks have been handed out.

Following their visit, the Inspector evaluated the Nursery on the Care Inspectorate’s six point scale indicators as 6- Excellent for ‘Leadership’ and 5-Very good for both ‘Children play and learn’ and ‘Children are supported to achieve’. For context these are two of the highest marks a nursery can receive from the Care Inspectorate with the final report detailing the major strengths found throughout the nursery

The report from the Care Inspectorate noted that the service was exceptionally well led, and the dedicated staff team had created a very positive and nurturing ethos.

Leaders used highly effective quality assurance and involved all staff in improvement work, resulting in confident leadership at all levels and a positive impact across the nursery and wider community.

Children enjoyed a wide range of high-quality play experiences both indoors and outdoors. They were confident, engaged and empowered to lead their own play and learning.

Staff used warm, responsive interactions to support learning. They knew when to step in to extend thinking and when to give children time and space to explore independently.

Children experienced caring and respectful relationships that helped them feel safe, secure and included. Staff showed genuine care and love, and used wellbeing tools and rights based approaches to support children to understand and express their feelings.

Personal plans were clear and up to date, with strong involvement from families. Staff knew children well and used this information to provide consistent support that met individual needs.

Windyknowe Primary School and early Learning Centre Head Teacher, John Cloherty said: “We are very pleased with the outcome of the inspection from the Care Inspectorate.

“This is a true reflection on the excellent commitment of the nursery staff who go that extra mile for our children on a daily basis and who are a privilege to work alongside.

“It is hard to believe that the team have been working together for less than two years and achieve this in such a short period of time.

“We will use this feedback to build further on that ethos so that we can be the very best for our young people and their families.”

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It comes as the US and Iran sign an initial peace deal aiming to end the war.

Home heating oil prices in Northern Ireland are at their lowest since the start of the Iran war four months ago, new figures show.

The Consumer Council’s Home Heating Oil Price Checker, which is updated each Thursday, shows the average price for 300 litres of home heating oil is currently £238.30. This has decreased from £255.80 last week, and an average of £382.97 at the beginning of April.

The average cost of 500 litres of heating oil is currently £380.96, down from a high of £612.37 on April 9. Currently, 900 litres is costing on average £677.16, down from a high of £1,088.71 two months ago.

Across Northern Ireland, average prices for home heating oil vary depending on location. The Mid & East Antrim area is currently the cheapest spot to purchase 300 litres of oil, at an average of £236.01, £2.29 below average.

Ards & North Down is the cheapest location to buy both 500 and 900 litres at the minute, at £374.97, £5.99 below average for the former, and £666.50, £10.66 below average for the latter.

Armagh, Banbridge & Craigavon is the most expensive area to buy 300 litres this week, £3.19 above average at £241.49. For 500 litres, Newry, Mourne & Down has the most expensive price at £389.72, £8.76 above the regional average.

Derry City & Strabane is the most expensive area to purchase 900 litres of heating oil this week, with prices £14.99 above average at £692.15.

The lower home heating oil prices in Northern Ireland come as the presidents of the US and Iran sign an initial peace deal aiming to end the war.

The agreement includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a $300bn (£224bn) plan for Iran’s “reconstruction”, and the US terminating “all types of sanctions” on Iran.

However, the issue of Iran’s nuclear programme, the main reason stated by the US for the conflict, is still to be negotiated over a 60 day period.

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

Manchester have been told they would be stupid to sell Marcus Rashford to Arsenal.

Arsenal have been mentioned as a possible destination for the England international, but former United forward Louis Saha has warned Old Trafford chiefs that they would regret sanctioning any deal with the reigning Premier League champions.

He said: “For me, selling Marcus Rashford to Arsenal is a complete no-go. I wouldn’t give any strength to the reigning Premier League champion.

“Look at Robin van Persie coming to United and helping them win the league. There’s no good in those kinds of deals for the selling club.

“You have Rashford, who went to Barcelona and they won La Liga. He was a massive asset.

I think that giving a discount on assets to your rival for the Premier League is stupidity.

“I consider Rashford a real danger for anyone who wants to compete in the league. If this guy is in form, he’s able to score 20-25 goals. So no, don’t give that power to somebody you consider a rival.”

West Lothian Council’s Executive has been asked to approve a plan proposing a 30- year lease of Pumpherston Juniors’ ground at Drumshoreland Place in the village to Livingston FC.

Livingston Football Club has teamed up with one of the county’s most famous teams with plans which will create a dedicated training facility for the club, and boost facilities for one of the county’s oldest clubs.

West Lothian Council’s Executive has been asked to approve a plan proposing a 30- year lease of Pumpherston Juniors’ ground at Drumshoreland Place in the village to Livingston FC.

Currently Pumpherston Juniors Football Club (PJFC)- originally founded in 1896- lease the football ground from the council under the terms of a Community Benefit ground lease that is due to run until 31 March 2041.

The facilities at the ground include an 11-a-side grass pitch, a small sports court with a synthetic surface, changing facilities and car parking. The site is the home ground of PJFC, who currently play in the East of Scotland pyramid system.

The council has been approached jointly by PJFC and Livingston Football Club (LFC) with a proposal that would see PJFC renounce their existing Community Benefit lease and a new thirty-year commercial lease of the facilities at Drumshoreland Place granted in favour of LFC.

Under that joint proposal, LFC would undertake significant capital investment in the facilities at the football ground, replacing the existing grass pitch with a new 3G pitch, as well as installing new flood lighting and providing modern changing facilities.

The proposed works would be fully funded by LFC and would significantly improve and modernise the existing facilities at the ground.

The proposed new lease to LFC and their subsequent capital investment would mean LFC has a dedicated training facility for their first team, women’s team, reserves team, along with their nine affiliated clubs.

LFC also have a Scottish Football Association (SFA) requirement to convert the existing synthetic playing surface at the Almondvale Stadium to grass ahead of the 2027 season and the proposed new lease would ensure they continue to have access to training facilities during the new pitch installation works at Almondvale Stadium.

If LFC do not have access to alternative training facilities during the pitch installation works at Almondvale Stadium, they would be unable to install that new pitch, which is an SFA requirement should LFC secure promotion back into the Scottish Premiership.

LFC have explored the provision of training facilities in and around the footprint of Almondvale Stadium, however it has not been possible to identify a viable solution due to the physical restrictions of the property.

PJFC supports the proposal, and their own security of tenure at Drumshoreland Place would be secured by way of a legally binding sub-lease between themselves and LFC that would run concurrently with the proposed new thirty-year lease between LFC and the council.

Under the terms of that sublease, PJFC would have access to the facilities to fulfil their home fixtures and training sessions at no cost to PJFC.

The lease would generate £10,000 per annum for the council.

Council officers are recommending that it is considered to be in the council’s best interests for the existing lease to PJFC to be renounced, for a new thirty-year lease to be granted to LFC.

The council’s Executive will decide on Tuesday.

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Wyndham Clark leads the US Open by six shots heading into the final round at Shinnecock Hills

Scottie Scheffler has positioned himself for a tilt at completing the career grand slam, though he faces a formidable challenge in overcoming Wyndham Clark’s commanding six-shot advantage at the US Open at Shinnecock Hills.

The world number one, who made straight for the practice green following his round of 69 that lifted him into a share of second place, celebrates his 30th birthday on Sunday. With Father’s Day also falling on the same date, he’ll be hoping for a treble celebration.

Yet Scheffler must not only work out how to post a score low enough to apply genuine pressure on Clark – who is attempting to become the first player since Martin Kaymer in 2014 to lead a US Open from start to finish – but also rely on his fellow American’s fortune and recovery skills finally running out.

Clark demonstrated remarkable resilience, converting vital par saves from 14 feet, seven feet, six feet and three separate putts from five feet. He also delivered some spectacular shotmaking, none better than a 275-yard approach that finished inside five feet to set up the tournament’s first eagle at the par-five 16th.

That stroke extended his cushion to seven over his nearest challengers, and Clark’s good fortune persisted at the following hole where, despite finding thick rough, he received a free drop due to a television tower before being permitted to replace his ball after it rolled away twice.

Questions were also raised regarding the extent of his ‘gardening’ along his putting lines during the final holes on the Poa annua surfaces, which are notorious for becoming progressively more challenging as the day progresses. The regulations permit golfers to tap down spike marks, though Clark took a considerable amount of time perfecting his putting lines.

A missed five-foot par putt on the final hole gave hope to those trailing behind, as he completed a level-par round of 70.

Since the first Masters in 1934 there have been 13 previous instances of players holding a six-shot advantage or greater after three rounds, with Greg Norman’s 1996 collapse at Augusta being the sole exception to converting such leads into victory.

Scheffler, who will partner Clark in the final pairing, commented: “I think it’s appropriate to understand what’s at stake,” adding: “I think understanding the moment and giving it your best shot I think is all part of the process.

“I mean, I’d rather be leading but I have an opportunity to go out there and have a great round and give myself a chance to win the tournament.”

While Scheffler managed to stay competitive, Rory McIlroy’s quest for his first US Open title since making his major breakthrough in 2011 ended in disappointment. After a promising outward half of two-under 33, his challenge unravelled spectacularly.

Three consecutive birdies from the fifth brought him within four shots of Clark, who was just teeing off, but an overhit approach at the challenging 10th for the second day running sparked a collapse. Five dropped shots on the back nine resulted in a 40 and an overall 73, leaving him three over par with his hopes in tatters.

Clark remained confident about his prospects, saying: “I feel good. I have got more and more comfortable every time I have got in these positions,”.

“I’m hoping I can bring my A-game finally.”

There are only five players under par, with Sahith Theegala (70), Tom Kim (72) and Sam Stevens (72) joining Scheffler, while four sit at level par. English pair Matt Fitzpatrick, who laboured to a 74, and Tommy Fleetwood, who battled his way to a level-par 70, are one over.

Fleetwood memorably carded a final-round 63 when the US Open last visited Shinnecock, falling short by a single stroke, but given the present conditions, a similar performance appears improbable.

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Two suspects have been arrested

A man who was stabbed in Failsworth is fighting for life in hospital. Emergency services attended Hale Lane on Friday evening (June 20).

The victim was rushed to hospital with serious stab wounds. He remains in a critical condition this morning (Sunday), according to Greater Manchester Police.

Two men, aged 19 and 46, were later arrested in Moston on suspicion of grievous bodily harm. Officers were seen in attendance on Hale Lane, near the junction with Moston Lane East, on Saturday morning.

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A crime scene investigation van was also pictured on the scene as forensic officers scoured the area for evidence. A GMP spokesperson said on Saturday: “We are investigating an incident on Hale Lane, Failsworth, last night that resulted in a man needing hospital treatment for stab wounds.

“We have arrested two men, aged 46 and 19, on suspicion of grievous bodily harm. We will provide further updates when we have them.”

OBBUERGEN, Switzerland (AP) — U.S. Vice President JD Vance and senior Iranian officials arrived in Switzerland on Sunday to formally launch negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear program and build out the fragile interim deal to end the war in Iran.

The framework was signed last week, and now top U.S. and Iranian negotiators are in a 60-day sprint to reach an agreement on the technical details that hold massive implications for the world economy and global security.

Yet only days after signing the agreement, it’s being stress-tested after fighting escalated in Lebanon between Israel and the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah — and by the subsequent announcement by Iran’s military that it had closed the Strait of Hormuz, the vital waterway that transits a fifth of the world’s traded oil and natural gas.

Vance had originally been slated to be on the ground at the picturesque Bürgenstock resort near Lucerne on Friday, but his departure from the United States was delayed after fighting escalated in Lebanon and Iranian officials canceled plans to attend the talks.

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Delegations from the U.S. and Iran, as well as mediators Pakistan and Qatar, arrived at the picturesque mountainside resort near Lake Lucerne on Sunday morning. Talks were expected to begin soon, according to the Swiss government.

U.S. Central Command disputed Iran’s claim that it had once again shuttered the strait and said U.S. forces continued to monitor the situation to ensure traffic continues to flow through the waterway. Vance has said that millions of barrels of oil have moved through the strait in recent days.

Vance departed the U.S. just after Iranian state TV said Iran’s negotiators had arrived in Switzerland. Tehran’s negotiators include parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, along with central bank and oil officials.

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The U.S. vice president joins special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, who have already been on the ground to begin sifting through the technical details of the nuclear talks.

The talks between the U.S. and Iran will also include Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, as well as Qatari mediators. Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Sharif will also meet separately with each delegation from Iran, Switzerland and the U.S. “to reaffirm Pakistan’s enduring commitment to dialogue and durable peace in the region.”

While Vance said he planned to be in Switzerland for just “a day or two,” leaving much of the detailed negotiations to be spearheaded by Witkoff and Kushner, his role in the talks has heightened scrutiny of the vice president at a time when he’s actively considering a 2028 presidential campaign.

Trump and Vance have come under searing criticism from parts of their own party for the deal, with Republican hard-liners unfavorably likening it to a nuclear agreement signed by the Obama administration that Trump and the GOP have insisted did nothing to actually terminate Iran’s nuclear program.

The agreement signed by Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian immediately allows Tehran to sell its oil freely and paves the way for Iran to tap into billions of dollars in assets that are currently frozen. It also calls for Iran to dilute its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, believed to be buried under nuclear sites that were targeted in U.S. strikes last summer.

The agreement says commercial vessels can pass through the Strait of Hormuz for 60 days without a charge, but does not preclude future fees imposed by Iran. Trump made his own threat on Saturday to levy U.S. tolls on the strait if there is no deal with Iran in 60 days, insisting in a social media post that the money would be for “services rendered as the Guardian Angel to the countries of the Middle East.”

The Trump administration has been working to reassure global markets that the Iran war has been merely a blip on oil prices, as Americans have complained the conflict resulted in hiking gasoline prices ahead of peak summer travel months. After the White House announced the deal a week ago, oil futures dropped almost 8% — and markets are expected to closely track the progress of talks when they open for trading on Sunday evening.

Further complicating matters, neither Israel nor Hezbollah is a signatory to the deal between the U.S. and Iran, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to keep his forces in southern Lebanon until any threat to Israel is eliminated. Hezbollah has refused to halt its attacks unless Israel commits to withdrawing from Lebanon.

Fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in the initial days after the agreement between the U.S. and Iran killed 47 people in Lebanon, as well as four Israeli soldiers.

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Kim reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Munir Ahmed in Islamabad contributed to this report.