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- Outrage in Italy: Church Mural of Angel Resembles Giorgia Meloni
- Jamie Carragher selects Chelsea player as ‘one of the Premier League’s finest’
- Arsenal icon dismisses Paul Scholes’ controversial remark on Mikel Arteta’s team
- Tourists Terrified by 200ft Ride Malfunction: A Shocking Incident in the UK
- Medical Examinations: Impact on Player Transfers in Football
- Police officer menaced driving school owner after son’s course rejection | UK News
- Paul Merson ‘astonished’ Chelsea overlooked £55m transfer this January | Football
- EU Electric Car Sales Exceed Petrol Vehicles for First Time in December 2025
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Outrage in Italy: Church Mural of Angel Resembles Giorgia Meloni
9:32 pm
TL:DR – “Outrage in Italy: Church Mural of Angel Resembles Giorgia Meloni”
- A fresco in Basilica of San Lorenzo in Lucina, Rome, resembles Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, sparking controversy.
- The artwork, restored after water damage, originally depicted cherubs but now features an angel resembling Meloni.
- Critics, including opposition politicians, demand an inquiry, claiming the restoration may serve political propaganda.
- Meloni dismissed the backlash, jokingly stating, “I’m definitely not like an angel.”
- Authorities plan to investigate potential changes made during restoration, ensuring cultural integrity.
Church painting of angel resembling Georgia Meloni sparks outrage in Italy | News World
The striking resemblance has sparked backlash from opposition politicians (Picture: Shutterstock)
### Political Leaders as Angels: A Rare Sight
It is not often political leaders are portrayed as angels – usually quite the opposite. That’s maybe why an almighty row has broken out in Italy over a church fresco that looks suspiciously like Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
### A Controversial Fresco in Rome
A painting in the Basilica of San Lorenzo in Lucina, Rome, was spotted with the striking resemblance after undergoing repairs. The artwork portrays Umberto II, who reigned as Italy’s final king for just 34 days, and is meant to feature two cherub-like angels watching over him.
The Meloni-like angel is seen holding a map of Italy (Picture: Stefano Carofei/Sintesi/SIPA/Shutterstock)
### Restoration Denial
WTX News reported that the newspaper La Repubblica, who first reported on the angel, said: ‘Before the restoration, there was a generic cherub. Today, it is the face of the most powerful woman in the country.’ The volunteer restorer who freshened up the fresco denied depicting Meloni and said he was just restoring ‘what was there 25 years ago’. Bruno Valentinetti said: ‘They asked me to fix it and I did. I worked on it for two years and finished the work a year ago.’ He stressed ‘it’s not Meloni’ and described how he ‘traced’ the outline of ‘original design’ and ‘put the colour back in’.
### Church’s Perspective on the Restoration
The church’s rector, Monsignor Daniele Micheletti, said he had asked for the chapel to be restored exactly as it was. He expressed his thoughts on the resemblance: ‘There is indeed a certain resemblance, but we should ask the restorer why he did it that way; I don’t know.’ Father Micheletti mentioned that the restoration was necessary due to water damage and that it dated back to 2000, so it was not under heritage protection.
### Political Backlash and Investigation
However, Italian authorities have launched an investigation into what happened, and members of the opposition have even called for an inquiry. One opposition lawmaker, Irene Manzi, called the touch-up ‘unacceptable’. The Five Star Movement party stated: ‘We cannot allow art and culture to risk becoming a tool for propaganda or anything else, regardless of whether the face depicted is that of the prime minister.’
### Meloni’s Reaction to the Controversy
Meloni herself has laughed off the controversy, posting a picture of the fresco on Instagram and commenting: ‘No, I’m definitely not like an angel.’
Meloni laughed off the controversy (Picture: Vincenzo Nuzzolese/SOPA Images/Shutterstock)
### Cultural Heritage Oversight
Italy’s authorities for protecting cultural heritage, the Soprintendenza Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio, stated they will be inspecting the restoration. They added: ‘We will compare it with archive materials to determine not so much who the restoration resembles, but whether any changes have been made, because the restorer would have had to follow the original lines.’
Jamie Carragher selects Chelsea player as ‘one of the Premier League’s finest’
9:00 pm
TL:DR – Jamie Carragher selects Chelsea player as ‘one of the Premier League‘s finest’
- Enzo Fernandez shines in Chelsea’s dramatic 3-2 win over West Ham, scoring his 11th goal of the season.
- Jamie Carragher praises Fernandez as one of the best in the Premier League, highlighting his scoring ability and versatility.
- Manager Liam Rosenior emphasises Fernandez’s importance and skill set, asserting he can play multiple roles effectively.
- Despite Chelsea’s big spending scrutiny, Fernandez’s contributions reaffirm their investment in midfield has paid off.
Jamie Carragher names Chelsea star who is ‘one of the best in the Premier League’ | Football
Enzo Fernandez celebrates a wild win over West Ham at the weekend (Picture: Getty Images)
Chelsea’s big-spending has not always paid off, but in Enzo Fernandez they have one of the best players in the Premier League, believes Jamie Carragher.
The Blues continued their good start to life under new manager Liam Rosenior with a dramatic 3-2 win over West Ham on Saturday.
The Blues conceded the first two goals of the game to their London rivals at Stamford Bridge, but bounced back impressively.
Joao Pedro and Marc Cucrella put the home side level before Fernandez burst into the penalty box in stoppage time to fire home the winner.
The 25-year-old has been in good goal-scoring form this season, with his strike against the Hammers his 11th of the campaign in all competitions.
While the Argentinian was thought to be more of a deep-lying midfielder when signed from Benfica for £106.8m in January 2023, Carragher feels he is flourishing into one of the best in the Premier League by moving further forward.
Speaking on Sky Sports, the Liverpool legend said: ‘Enzo Fernandez gets the winning goal. A lot is spoken about the top midfield players in the Premier League and we speak about his midfield partner [Moises] Caicedo and [Declan] Rice: who’s the best out of the two of them?
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Fernandez and Moises Caicedo have formed an impressive partnership (Picture: Getty Images)
‘There’s no doubt they’re two of the best midfielders in the Premier League, but he is right up there with the best players in the Premier League.
‘He is one of the best box-crashers we see in the Premier League. Permanently getting on the end of things. There’s talk of, is he a holding midfield player? Which is what we were told when he originally came in.
‘I don’t see that, He is a number 8 or a number 10, getting into the box and getting goals. He is one of the top midfield players in the Premier League.
‘A lot of criticism has come at Chelsea for the money that they’ve spent, but when they’ve spent big in the centre of the park, it’s paid off.’
Fernandez has already scored more goals this season than in any other of his career (Picture: Getty Images)
Fernandez was linked with a move to Real Madrid during the January transfer window, but Rosenior has made it very clear that he wants him to remain an integral part of his side in west London.
‘He’s a Chelsea player. He’s very important to me,’ said the manager. ‘I think we’re going to have a really good, hopefully winning relationship in the short term and the long term.”
‘He’s got an extreme skill set, technically he’s outstanding, he covers a lot of ground. He’s a very good athlete. He can finish, he can score, he arrives really well in the box when he plays higher up like a forward-running 8 or a No. 10.
‘What I need to do is find out what the chemistry is around the position. It’s not just him, it’s how other players fit around him.
‘He can play deeper as a 6, which he did really well against Arsenal. He came on against Charlton [at 10] and did really well.
‘I don’t like pigeon-holing players. In my career I’ve used players in different roles.’
After his match-winning strike on Saturday, Rosenior told the BBC: ‘I thought the right person scored the goal, I thought Enzo Fernandez’s performance was absolutely world class. In terms of his energy, in terms of his quality, his bravery to take the ball, the amount of second balls he picked up in midfield. He’s a special player.’
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Arsenal icon dismisses Paul Scholes’ controversial remark on Mikel Arteta’s team
6:00 pm
TL:DR – Arsenal icon dismisses Paul Scholes’ controversial remark on Mikel Arteta’s team
- Martin Keown refutes Paul Scholes’ claim that Arsenal could be the “worst team” to win the Premier League, calling it “mischievous” (see reference 1).
- Arsenal leads the league with a six-point gap after a decisive victory over Leeds (reference 2).
- Critics point to Arsenal’s unattractive style and reliance on set-pieces; they currently rank low for goals from open play (reference 3).
- Keown urges Arsenal to ignore external noise and focus on winning (reference 4).
Arsenal legend rubbishes Paul Scholes’ explosive comment about Mikel Arteta’s squad | Football
Paul Scholes suggested Arsenal could become the ‘worst team’ in history to win the title (Picture: Getty)
Martin Keown has dismissed Paul Scholes’ recent criticism of Arsenal as nothing more than ‘mischievousness’, urging Mikel Arteta’s squad not to take any notice.
Arsenal have built an imperious six-point lead at the top of the Premier League table after a strong start to the campaign following three consecutive runners-up finishes in the English top flight.
After a disappointing 3-2 defeat at the hands of Manchester United, it proved a dream weekend for the Gunners, who thumped Leeds at Elland Road before seeing both Manchester City and Aston Villa drop points on Sunday.
But despite their dominance at the summit, the north London giants have faced their fair share of criticism for what many perceive to be an unattractive style of play under Arteta.
Arsenal have developed a reputation for their set-piece prowess over the last two seasons and, until this weekend, they were languishing way down in 17th in the Premier League when measuring on their percentage of goals scored from open play.
It was statistics such as this that led Manchester United legend Scholes to suggest that Arteta’s men could become the worst team to ever win the Premier League title on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast.
‘If Arsenal win the league, this could be the worst team to win the league,’ Scholes said.
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Arsenal hold a six-point advantage at the top (Picture: Getty)
The Gunners are doing ‘exceptionally well’ this season, says Keown (Picture: Getty)
‘If you’re thinking of picking a team of the season and picking the front four, nobody from the Arsenal team gets in that.
‘Look at previous champions – Liverpool’s forwards, brilliant. Possibly the only one is [Bukayo] Saka, and I don’t think he’s been brilliant.
‘He’s not scored many goals this year or assists.’
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Ex-Arsenal defender Keown urged Arteta’s players to ignore the outside noise as he addressed Scholes’ remarks on talkSPORT alongside Simon Jordan and host Jim White today.
Asked if Arsenal had provided the ‘perfect response’ with their emphatic win over Leeds, Keown replied: ‘Yeah, of course they did.
‘The journey of week-to-week, you’ve got to shut that noise out.
‘People talking about them being champions, some mischievously saying that this would be the worst ever team [to win it].
The leaders put Leeds to the sword at Elland Road (Picture: Getty)
‘You’ve just got to go and win it, it doesn’t matter what you look like. It doesn’t matter at all.
‘Obviously people try to create that pressure and when you don’t get what you want they look for all kinds of weaknesses.
‘But Arsenal are better than everybody else right now, that’s all they need to be.’
Keown hopes Arsenal block out the ‘noise’ spouted by the likes of Scholes (Picture: Getty)
Keown joked that Scholes’ comment about Arsenal was akin to one of his clumsy, ‘waist-high’ challenges that he became known for during his playing days.
‘Look, I love Paul but this comment is like one of his tackles, it’s waist-high,’ Keown added.
‘Paul has still got it in his head, this Arsenal thing is starting to emerge… maybe Manchester United are starting to emerge as well at the same time as well. Let’s get it on the future.
‘Maybe Manchester United aren’t ready to win it this year but they shut Arsenal up the week before.
City dropped points away to Spurs at the weekend (Picture: Getty)
‘I think Arsenal just need to concentrate, play their games, not listen to the noise that’s on the outside.
‘Arsene Wenger said this to us many years ago: there’s no meaning to everyone telling us that we’re favourites, don’t listen to it. Just go and do it.
‘That’s what Arsenal did at the weekend, I think it was quite an emphatic result.’
Scholes and Keown were club rivals and England team-mates (Picture: Getty)
Keown hopes to see Arsenal ramp up the pressure on Manchester City when they return to action at home to Sunderland on Saturday, with Pep Guardiola’s side facing Liverpool the following day.
‘Do you know? No one is going to be listening to Paul Scholes on the Arsenal team,’ Keown – who won three Premier League titles with Arsenal – went on.
‘For God’s sake, you just get on with your game and you try and win. This would be the first title in 22 years. They’re doing exceptionally well.
‘There will be lots of twists and turns between now and the end of the season.
‘What I would say is that Paul has been at a lot of these races to the finish and it’s one of those where just one victory doesn’t mean you’re going to be champions. It’s onto the next one.
‘Arsenal can go nine points clear next weekend and then Manchester City go to Anfield the next day.
‘Make it nine points, make them look at nine points overnight, and it starts to sink in, then City start to question themselves.
‘If City go to Anfield and win then they’re still massively in this race without a doubt.’
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Tourists Terrified by 200ft Ride Malfunction: A Shocking Incident in the UK
4:59 pm
TL:DR – Tourists Terrified by 200ft Ride Malfunction: A Shocking Incident in the UK
- Tourists stranded 200 feet high after the Super Gyro Tower malfunctioned in Balneario Camboriu, Brazil, on January 30.
- Rescue operations involved lowering around 40 people using ropes; many waited in the cabin for over two hours.
- A park representative confirmed a power outage triggered the safety lock, leading to the incident.
- The attraction, launched just three months prior, will undergo maintenance following the evacuation.
- The Super Gyro Tower offers panoramic views but safety concerns have emerged.
Terrified tourists left dangling 200ft in the air after ride malfunction | News World
Thrillseekers got more than they bargained for after what was supposed to be a fun family amusement ride broke down, leaving them stranded almost 200 feet above the ground.
Dozens had to be rescued after the 59-metre (194-ft) high panoramic tower ride jolted to a sudden stop over the seaside city of Balneario Camboriu in Brazil.
The Super Gyro Tower suddenly stopped rotating while carrying dozens of tourists and staff on January 30.
Attorney Andre de Oliveira Couto, who was on the ride with his family, said that the ride then slowly began descending before it jolted and then froze in place.
A person is left dangling from a rope from a dizzying height
Video footage shows passengers suspended high above the park as rescue teams secured ropes and safety gear, before lowering people one by one down the side of the structure using the tower’s maintenance access.
Visitors said those inside the cabin waited for long periods with limited information as the evacuation was organised.
Park employees later informed passengers that the ride’s safety lock had been automatically triggered following a power outage.
Selfie from one of the groups trapped inside the cabin (Picture: Andre Couto/Newsflash)
At least you get your money’s worth with a cracking view of Balneario Camboriu (Picture: Andre Couto/Newsflash)
Around 40 people, including tourists and workers, had begun descending by rope, while later a ladder truck arrived to accelerate the removal of those still stranded.
Mr. Couto said: ‘We were up there for more than two hours. They were bringing people down by rope.’
The Super Gyro Tower, opened to much fanfare three months ago, can carry up to 50 people per ride and operates around 300 trips a day, offering panoramic views from nearly 300 metres (980 feet) above sea level.
Parque Unipraias said all passengers were evacuated through the emergency exit with support from trained safety teams and confirmed the attraction would undergo maintenance.
Still, they can count themselves lucky because in America, it took rescuers twice as long to reach the people stuck on the Star Tower at Casey’s Rides in May.
Last year, 25 people had to be rescued on the Skegness Pleasure Beach fairground after the Super Trooper ride got suspended in the air.
It is not known what is officially the longest time people have been stuck when rides have broken down.
But in 2017, 30 riders were trapped around 70ft in the air for five hours at the historic Hull Fair. They were given blankets to stay warm.
Two people suffered critical injuries after a funfair ride collapsed at the Lambeth Country Show in south London last summer.
Medical Examinations: Impact on Player Transfers in Football
4:37 pm
TL:DR – Transfer news: What happens in a Football medical?
A player’s medical exam is not a definitive pass or fail; it informs the buying club of potential risks. Dr. Charlotte Cowie emphasises the subjective nature of these evaluations, noting decisions depend on the club’s needs and the player’s condition.
Historical examples include Ruud van Nistelrooy’s delayed transfer and Kurt Zouma’s failed medical, showcasing the complexities involved in player signings.
Medical Examinations: Impact on Player Transfers in Football
A player’s medical is often described as the final hurdle in completing a transfer, but in practice it is far more complex than a simple pass-or-fail test.
Rather than delivering a definitive verdict, medical examinations provide clubs with detailed information about a player’s physical condition, allowing them to assess risk before deciding whether to proceed with a deal. The outcome ultimately depends on how that information is interpreted by the buying club.
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Why football medicals are not a simple pass-or-fail test
Football medicals involve a series of physical examinations, scans and performance assessments designed to identify existing injuries or potential long-term issues. However, doctors do not decide whether a transfer goes ahead.
Instead, their role is to present findings to club decision-makers, who then weigh those risks against the player’s expected contribution, cost and availability.
Dr Charlotte Cowie, who has previously worked within the medical departments at Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham, has explained that identical medical results can lead to very different outcomes.
A concern that halts one transfer may be accepted by another club if the player’s role, workload or contract length makes the risk manageable. In that sense, the medical functions more as an advisory process than a final judgement.
How clubs weigh risk in transfer decisions
The way clubs interpret medical findings often mirrors other high-value decisions, such as property purchases. Just as a survey informs a buyer rather than dictating the outcome, a medical report equips clubs with information that helps them decide how much risk they are willing to take.
If a club is determined to complete a signing, it may proceed despite issues highlighted during the examination. That calculation depends on several factors, including the player’s age, injury history and the demands of the position they are expected to play.
A recurring muscle problem may be acceptable for a squad player, but far less so for someone expected to play every minute of a congested season. Financial considerations also play a role, with transfer fees and wages influencing how much uncertainty a club is prepared to absorb.
Football transfers that collapsed after a failed medical
Several high-profile transfers have highlighted where medical findings have significantly altered transfer plans. Ruud van Nistelrooy’s proposed move to Manchester United in 2000 was delayed after concerns emerged during his medical, a decision that proved prudent when the striker ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament shortly afterwards. In other cases, deals have collapsed over findings that were less clear-cut.
George Boyd’s move from Peterborough United to Nottingham Forest fell through in 2013 after an eye test produced inconclusive results, despite the midfielder going on to continue his career elsewhere.
More recently, Kurt Zouma’s anticipated transfer from West Ham United to Shabab Al-Ahli did not proceed after the defender failed his medical examination in the United Arab Emirates. Each case highlighted how clubs differ in their tolerance for medical risk.
While supporters often view medicals as a routine formality, they remain one of the most complex stages of the transfer process. Far from offering a definitive answer, they force clubs to make calculated decisions that can shape the success or failure of a signing long after the paperwork is completed.
Police officer menaced driving school owner after son’s course rejection | UK News
2:01 pm
TL:DR – Police officer menaced driving school owner after son’s course rejection | UK News
- Police Sergeant Gabriel Chandler, with Kent Police since 2002, was dismissed for gross misconduct after harassing a driving school.
- His son failed to secure an intensive driving course, leading Chandler to demand a full refund despite a non-refundable deposit.
- He inundated the school’s owner with threatening emails and hundreds of calls, including claims of fraud and accusations linked to serious crimes.
- A misconduct hearing concluded his actions severely breached professional standards, leading to his termination.
Police officer threatened driving school boss after son missed out on course | News UK
A police officer who launched a campaign of abuse at a driving school after his son missed out on an intensive course has been sacked.
Police Sergeant Gabriel Chandler, an officer at Kent Police since 2002, targeted the school with dozens of calls and emails over five months.
In online reviews of Intensives UK, he accused the business of being linked to child sexual abuse and suggested owner Mark Elliot had previously been ‘inappropriate with young female drivers’, an internal inquiry found.
The misconduct hearing, which took place between December 8 and 12 last year, concluded PS Chandler’s behaviour amounted to gross misconduct.
It investigated the officer’s actions after he booked an intensive driving course for his son in June 2021, paying £1,359 in a deposit and course money to Intensives UK.
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However, the course did not happen, as the school was never informed that PS Chandler’s son had passed his driving theory – a requirement of their terms and conditions.
The police officer demanded a full refund in response, but did not receive one.
Beginning in February 2022, PS Chandler embarked on a campaign of calls, emails and online reviews aimed at Intensives UK and Mr Elliot.
Staff at the school told the hearing the police officer would sometimes make ‘up to 50 calls a day’, with logs showing he rang the firm 44 times on one day in August.
Kent Police said the officer’s behaviour ‘fell far below’ what was expected (Picture: Cover Images)
Extracts from the emails included in the misconduct hearing report show him describing Mr Elliot as a ‘thief’ and a ‘criminal’ with ‘links to funding drugs, paedophilia and child sexual exploitation’.
In one message, he warns the school owner: ‘You’re [sic] homes and offices will be raided. You will all face heavy custodial sentences.
‘And in my experience fraudsters aren’t built for prison. Your families they’ll be ripped apart.’
Later that same day, he wrote in another email: ‘Even your legitimate accounts will be frozen. I’d hate for that to affect your families. But it happens.’
In March, PS Chandler was offered a partial refund of around £1,122 but did not accept it.
Even when he was eventually offered a full refund, the police officer turned it down and did not stop his abuse.
Another email says: ‘Forget the money. Your [sic] a criminal. I’m going to take you down and yes I’m going to enjoy doing it.’
Gabriel Chandler told the driving school boss to ‘keep looking over your shoulder’ (Picture: Mid Kent Police/Cover Images)
You fraudsters are funding a paedophile ring
Reviews left online by PS Chandler accused Intensives UK staff of using fake names and claimed Mr Elliot and his partner were Scottish rather than Welsh.
Another said: ‘You fraudsters are funding a paedophile ring exploiting child sex slaves. It’s a fact known to every agency seeking you out.
‘The vigilantes have seen it all the dark web for that matter. That’s where our money is being used. Keep hiding you cowards.’
Mr Elliot reported the behaviour to the police as a criminal matter in August 2022, and PS Chandler reacted by flagging ‘malicious reports’ from ‘criminals’ to the Professional Standards Department.
In January 2023, the police officer made a civil claim against Mr Elliot which was described by the misconduct panel as ‘purposefully misleading’.
According to the misconduct report, PS Chandler continued to target the business even after it rebranded.
The report described him as an ‘intelligent and successful police officer’ who should have realised he needed to follow the standards of professional behaviour whether on or off the clock.
It continues: ‘It was absolutely plain that the tone and content of the emails demonstrated that he failed to do this.’
The panel concluded the ‘only sanction’ that would maintain public confidence and preserve the police’s reputation was dismissal without notice.
Detective Chief Superintendent Jon Armory, head of professional standards at Kent Police, said: ‘Even when off duty, police officers are still held to the highest standards of professional conduct and, in this case, PC Chandler’s behaviour fell far below what is expected of our officers and staff.
‘The vast majority of Kent Police officers and staff uphold the expected standards of Kent Police, often going above and beyond to ensure crimes are solved, victims are protected, and offenders are brought to justice.’
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