He has not scored in eight games though as Dortmund have slid down to 11th in the Bundesliga table, winning just one and losing five of their last seven league games.
Dortmund are eight points off the top four but are still in the Champions League, holding a 3-0 lead going into their play-off second leg against Sporting Lisbon.
Should they miss out on qualification for Europe’s elite club competition for next season, they may be forced to cash in on Gittens, believed to be valued at £80million.
Former Dortmund and Liverpool striker Karl Heinz-Riedle told SunSport in November that Gittens has the potential to emulate ex-team-mates Jude Bellingham and Jadon Sancho.
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS
The German, 59, said: “Jamie is still not 100 per cent what we expect from a world-class player — but he has all the talent to become one of those.
“He can become the next Sancho, Erling Haaland or Bellingham.”
Gittens has 16 goals for Dortmund in 91 matches – scoring 11 of those this season/.
5 days agoworld NewsComments Off on Cheryl Fergison announces ‘return to the BBC’ after being axed and forced to work in a Chinese restaurant
FORMER EastEnders star Cheryl Fergison has announced her ‘return to the BBC’ – over a decade on from being axed.
Cheryl, 60, played Heather Trott for five years, leaving in 2012 when the character was killed off.
GettyEastEnders’ Cheryl Fergison has revealed her ‘return to the BBC’[/caption]
BBCCheryl played soap favourite Heather Trott for five years[/caption]
tiktokCheryl shared her upcoming work in an online update[/caption]
Posting on TikTok, the actress revealed her upcoming projects – including filming for the BBC.
Cheryl shared to her followers: “I’ve been packing, getting ready for Londonnext week. Going to be doing a little secret project.
“Then, I will be filming for the BBC. And then I will be going to The Groove Chorus, working with the beautiful Groove Chorus at The Clapham Ground on the 21st and 22nd.”
It comes as Cheryl flogged tickets to fans to see her perform at a Chinese takeaway’s opening earlier this month.
Posting on social media, the formersoapactress said she’d sing for diners at the The Dragon Lounge in Blackpool.
She serenaded customers at the establishment across February 1 and February 2, kicking off at 7pm.
Revealing she had been conned out of a “humongous” amount of money, the actress told how she was forced to claimbenefitsand turn to a food bank for help.
She said on ITV’s This Morning: “There is a circumstance that started this, which I can’t talk about at this moment in time, but it started to spiral.
“The only way I can say it is I was conned out of a humongous amount of money.
“That led to the cancer thing and everything spiralled. I was robbing Peter to pay Paul.
“I ended up having to sell my house. Now I am living up north and renting.”
Cheryl made her first appearance as Heather Trott, sidekick to Shirley Carter (Linda Henry) in June 2007, initially as a guest character.
Owing to her popularity, Heather later became a full-time part of the BBC soap.
However, her time in Walford ended in tragedy after she was bludgeoned by Ben Mitchell (then Joshua Pascoe) in early 2012.
After Cheryl posted a cryptic message on Instagram last year, fans hoped it meant a return for Heather – despite the character’s death.
At the top of a snap, the star wrote the telling line: “Are you still watching this space?”
Darkest soap storylines
Over the years the likes of EastEnders, Emmerdale and Coronation Street have all tried to try outdo each other with their outlandish plots in a bid to keep us tuning in each week. But here are some of the darkest that had fans in shock…
EastEnders: Tony grooming Whitney (2008-2009) – Tony King first appeared in Albert Square in 2008 as the boyfriend of Bianca, played by Patsy Palmer. But it was quickly revealed he was a paedophile who had been grooming vulnerable Whitney, Bianca’s adopted stepdaughter from a previous relationship, since she was 12. The shocking storyline attracted more than 200 complaints within a week of it beginning. Whitney waited until her 16th birthday to reveal the truth to a horrified Bianca, who called the police.
Emmerdale: Holly’s drug addiction and shock death (2010-2016) – In 2010, Holly Barton (played by Sophie Powles) became Emmerdale’s first teenage drug addict. The shocking storyline saw her taking cocaine on a night out before developing a deadly heroin habit. Parents John and Moira desperately tried to help get their daughter clean but when Holly returned in 2016, following a four-year absence, she quickly relapsed. Fans were left stunned and heartbroken when distraught Moira found Holly dead in her bed from a heroin overdose.
Hollyoaks: Luke’s rape (2000) – Actor Gary Lucy was just 17 when he took on this groundbreaking storyline, which saw his character Luke Morgan become soap’s first male rape victim. Luke had endured a long-running bullying campaign by football rival Mark Gibbs – who raped him after Luke stood up to him. Luke was left suicidal following the brutal attack, before opening up to his brother Adam. Gibbs was sentenced to eight years in prison. Gary won the Best Actor gong at the British Soap Awards in 2000 for his performance.
Coronation Street: Evil Richard Hillman (2001-2003) – Just a mere mention of ‘Richard Hillman’ is enough to send a shiver down the spines of soap fans. He is often ranked one of the most evil soap villains and it’s not hard to see why. The smooth-talking financial adviser bashed his ex-wife Patricia over the head with a shovel. In a bid to keep his mother-in-law Audrey quiet, he set fire to her house. And when Maxine caught him trying to murder Emily Bishop, he took a crowbar to her head. He made his exit from the cobbles in 2003 when he drove Gail Platt, played by Helen Worth, and her family into the canal. They survived, but he didn’t.
In her image caption she added: “Soon all will be revealed,” followed by a red Emoji love heart.
One fan wrote: “Come on Heather dig your way out of that grave.”
Another added: “So hoping you are coming back to EE with Shirley.”
EastEnders airs on BBC One and iPlayer.
RexCheryl has previously opened up about her money struggles[/caption]
5 days agoworld NewsComments Off on Ireland to hold open training session at Aviva Stadium ahead of Six Nations Championship finale
IRFU brass have announced that Ireland will hold an open training session at Aviva Stadium.
Fans will be allowed attend the event that takes place at the Dublin 14 venue on Thursday, 27th February.
Ireland will hold an open training session ahead of their final Six Nations clash against FranceFans are invited to attend the Aviva Stadium for free but MUST have tickets
The session will kick off at 11am, with gates open at 10am.
The event will come ahead of Ireland’s final round of the Six Nations Championship against France on March 8.
Tickets for the open session are free and will be available on a first come, first served basis.
You can get your tickets on Ticketmaster.ie on Tuesday, 18th February from 12pm.
Speaking about the open session, Ireland Head Coach Simon Easterby said:“Welcoming thousands of our supporters to Aviva Stadium for an Open Training Session is a highlight of the Six Nations campaign.
“The support you have given us over the last couple of years has been a real boost to the team and we hope that you will join us on the day.
“Make as much noise as you can and enjoy the action on the pitch.”
Simon Easterby‘s side face lowly Wales this weekend in a vital clash in Cardiff.
Tournament champions Ireland will look to keep their Grand Slam hopes alive.
The green machine are also on course for a record-breaking third successive title.
Wales sacked head coach Warren Gatland last week after a 14-game losing streak.
5 days agoworld NewsComments Off on Nasa fires up ‘boomless’ supersonic jet that will travel at speeds over 900mph ahead of first flight this year
NASA has completed the engine ground tests on its supersonic jet, which is expected to take to skies later this year.
The X-59 jet is Nasa and Lockheed Martin’s joint offering, which the pair hope will retire the deafening sonic boom that is usually associated with supersonic aircraft.
Lockheed Martin / Gary TiceWhen planes exceed the speed of sound at Mach 1 – or about 767mph – they produce a thunderous boom[/caption]
Lockheed Martin / Gary TiceThe sonic thump will be about 75 decibels, according to Nasa – which roughly as loud as a toilet flushing[/caption]
Lockheed Martin / Gary TiceThe X-59 is designed to hit speeds of 924mph, at an altitude of roughly 55,000ft[/caption]
“We have successfully progressed through our engine ground tests as we planned,” said Raymond Castner, X-59 propulsion lead at NASA’s Glenn Research Center, in an agencyrelease.
“We were getting smooth and steady airflow as predicted from wind tunnel testing.
“We didn’t have any structural or excessive vibration issues. And parts of the engine and aircraft that needed cooling were getting it.”
When planes exceed the speed of sound at Mach 1 – or about 767mph – they produce a thunderous boom.
The explosion-like noise was part of the reason supersonic aircraft were banned in the US more than 50 years ago.
These aircrafts were so loud they made people’s windows rattle, and scared livestock.
It was caused by air pressure waves combining to form a shock wave produced by the plane’s extreme speed.
The X-59 is designed to hit speeds of 924mph, at an altitude of roughly 55,000ft.
But Nasa and Lockheed say the research jet won’t have a troublesome sonic boom when it eventually flies.
The 30m-long and 9m-wide plane has a sharp, stiletto-style nose that engineers believe will quieten the noise – demoting it from a sonic boom to a “sonic thump”.
“We expect the X-59 sonic thump to be as low as about 75 perceived loudness decibels,” Larry Cliatt, sub-project manager for the Quesst acoustic validation phase, said in an update last year.
“That is a lot quieter than the Concorde, which was over 100 perceived loudness decibels.”
75 decibels is about as loud as a toilet flushing – and half as loud as a balloon popping.
The jet’s F414-GE-100 engine is also mounted on top of the aircraft, in an effort to reduce the amount of noise that reaches the ground.
It’s unclear when the X-59 will take to the skies for the first time.
The jet was supposed to make its inaugural flight last year, but it was postponed.
Nasa has yet to issue an updated timeline on its flight schedule, though the first flight is expected to occur in 2025.
Once the X-59 flies for the first time, the space agency will put the plane through a series of tests to see how the sonic thump is experienced at ground-level.
These demonstrations are expected to run through 2027, although they depend on when the jet eventually flies.
AlamyThe 30m-long and 9m-wide plane has a sharp, stiletto-style nose that engineers believe will quieten the noise – demoting it from a sonic boom to a “sonic thump”[/caption]
Lockheed Martin / Gary TiceThe jet’s F414-GE-100 engine is also mounted on top of the aircraft, in an effort to reduce the amount of noise that reaches the ground[/caption]
Supersonic and Hypersonic Jets
There are several types of hypersonic and supersonic jets. A breakdown of what's been happening in the industry and what's expected in the coming years.
5 days agoworld NewsComments Off on NBA rumors: Mavericks were ‘never’ going to offer Luka Doncic $345 million contract
Even weeks after the news dropped, the Luka Doncic trade is still absolutely stunning, even after watching the Slovenian superstar suit up for the Los Angeles Lakers a few times. Day by day, more information trickles out about what led the Mavericks to this bombshell decision. Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison spearheaded the trade talks, […]
5 days agoworld NewsComments Off on Stefon Diggs, Cardi B romance rumors heat up after Valentine’s Day outing
The rumors of a romance between Houston Texans star Stefon Diggs and Cardi B have been further fueled after they were seen together on Valentine’s Day. TMZ snagged photos of Diggs and Cadi B together in Miami, Florida, the morning after Valentine’s Day. The photos and videos were taken early Saturday morning as they arrived at […]
5 days agoworld NewsComments Off on Athletics’ Mark Kotsay gets contract extension ahead of first season in Sacramento
The Athletics are preparing for their first season in West Sacramento. After a five-decade run in Oakland, the team left the Bay for a temporary stay in Sacramento before their permanent home opens in Las Vegas. Through all of that turmoil, Mark Kotsay has been the Athletics manager, steadying the ship through uncertain times. Kotsay […]
5 days agoworld NewsComments Off on Celtics’ Jaylen Brown puts San Francisco All-Star Game fans on blast
Boston Celtics All-Star Jaylen Brown didn’t hold back when he endorsed bringing the NBA’s All-Star Game to Boston but threw shade toward San Francisco in the process. After Brown’s Team OGs defeated the Global Stars, 41-25, in the final round of the first-to-40 tournament, his teammate Jayson Tatum suggested a change in the new format. […]
5 days agoworld NewsComments Off on NBA Power Rankings Week 17: Where every team ranks during All-Star break
The NBA All-Star break is a time for teams to prepare for the final stretch of the regular season. It is weird that we refer to these next several weeks as the “second half” of the NBA season, especially since the halfway point has already passed. Anyway, the NBA power rankings are symbolic of those […]
5 days agoworld NewsComments Off on Celtic fans urged to respect memorial service in Munich before Champions League match
CELTIC fans in Munich have been asked to be mindful of a memorial service taking place in the city before their match against Bayern Munich.
The Hoops take on Bayern in the second leg of their Champions League play-off tie on Tuesday evening at the Allianz Arena.
GettyThe Marienplatz square in Munich, where the memorial service will be held[/caption]
EPAIt comes after a car drove into a crowd of people in the city last week, killing two[/caption]
AlamyPeople have been gathering with flowers to commemorate the lives lost[/caption]
Last week a mother and daughter were killed and dozens more injured when a car rammed into a crowd of people on the streets of the city.
The mum was aged 37 and her child was just two years old, and they died in hospital as doctors tried to treat their injuries.
German police said at least 36 people were injured in the tragedy, which happened on Thursday.
The driver, who was in a Mini Cooper, has been identified and named as Farhad N, a 24-year-old asylum seeker from Afghanistan.
Munich public prosecutor Gabriele Tilmann told reporters last week that the suspect said “Allahu Akbar”, which translates from Arabic to English as “God is greatest”, when he was detained. It’s believed he acted alone and he had no previous criminal record.
A service will take place tonight at 6pm to pay respects to the victims.
Local authorities in Munich contacted Celtic to make them aware of the plans and to ask any fans who are in the city to be mindful that it is taking place.
The vigil will be held at the Dome in the Marienplatz area of the city.
A statement from the Glasgow club read: “We have been informed today (Monday) by the local authorities in Munich that a memorial service will take place in the city centre following the tragic attack last week which saw more than 30 injured and a mother and two-year-old child lose their lives.
“The service will take place at the Dome (Frauenkirche) in the Marienplatz area and we ask that our supporters are aware and mindful that this service is taking place at 6pm this evening.
