Second tier sides dominate Welsh Cup last eight line-up
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The Independent
4 hours ago
- The Independent
Tottenham edge closer to Eberechi Eze deal with Crystal Palace – but key obstacle remains
Tottenham Hotspur have edged closer to a deal to sign Eberechi Eze after encountering difficulties over the weekend in negotiations with Crystal Palace. The FA Cup holders have made a request over the payment structure of the transfer, with a proposed deal for the England international discussed at £55m plus add-ons. Another round of negotiations concluded on Monday afternoon, and while no compromise has been reached, there is a feeling that talks are progressing towards an agreement, with the final details over how the sum will be paid between the clubs. Progress was made by Saturday, but negotiations hit a bump and have dragged into this week, with Eze featuring in the 0-0 draw at Chelsea and seeing his free-kick ruled out due to Marc Guehi's proximity to the wall. Palace want more of the eventual fee up front to ensure they can secure a replacement and also want that player in place before releasing Eze. The fact that Eze played on Sunday showed the deal was not as advanced as had initially been anticipated less than 24 hours earlier. Arsenal are also reported to be keen on the midfielder, who scored the winning goal in Palace's famous FA Cup final victory over Manchester City last May. The 27-year-old's contract did include a £68m release clause, but that expired last Friday. 'As much as I know, Eze has a contract with Crystal Palace, he's a Crystal Palace player and he showed it today,' said manager Oliver Glasner after the stalemate with Chelsea. 'As long as he is a Palace player and performs like this he will play for us. Nobody has told me something else. 'He was picked because he's a Crystal Palace player and he's a very good player. He trained the whole week so there was no reason not to pick him. 'The players are giving their answer (to press speculation) week by week. Last week winning against Liverpool on penalties (in the Community Shield) and here against the club world champions. 'Don't always believe what you read, especially on the internet. And here it's the same. Who knows that this is the truth, what is written? You've got rumours, so many rumours. 'I watch the players every day. If most of the things that are written about them are true, they couldn't perform like this, they couldn't be together like this, couldn't be committed like this.'
Reuters
9 hours ago
- Reuters
Spain's party island Ibiza also suffers housing crunch as rents soar
Tourists sleep at the Figueretas beach during the sunrise in Ibiza, Spain, August 31, 2025. REUTERS/Nacho Doce Photography and reporting by Nacho Doce Reporting and writing by David Latona Filed: August 18, 2025, 08 a.m. GMT It's another night, another party at a hotel in Ibiza. The international clientele dances to the house beat while laser lights reflect on the curvy swimming pool and on a sea of sunglasses worn after dark at the open-air venue. Many party-goers wear all-white; some show signs of altered perception. Ask those queuing outside this place and some of the Spanish Mediterranean island's legendary nightclubs and they'll say they're spending a lot but the experience is worth it. However, behind Ibiza's clubbing scene and beaches a housing crisis has forced many locals and seasonal workers to share cramped apartments, commute from off the island or stay in tents and motorhomes in unauthorised encampments. Ibiza's problems reflect a broader issue in Spain, where a lack of affordable housing in cities and popular coastal destinations has sparked protests to demand rent controls and denounce overtourism. Activists accuse landlords of preferring short-term tourist lets to less-profitable extended leases. In Ibiza, nearly 800 people have resorted to living in makeshift settlements, according to local authorities' figures from last year, which don't include an estimated 200 who lived in shacks, tents and vans at the 'Can Rovi 2' camp before being evicted last month. 'The island is paradise, the most beautiful place I've ever seen. But it has a flipside,' said Jeronimo Diana, a 50-year-old water technician from Argentina who stayed at Can Rovi 2. A normal monthly rent would swallow most of his 1,800-euro salary, Diana said. Ibiza's average rents peaked at 33.7 euros per square metre in July last year, a 23% rise from July 2023, data from property website Idealista shows. That translates to about 1,500 euros ($1,756) for a small one-bedroom apartment. Spain's national minimum wage is 1,381 euros per month. In one possible knock-on effect, Ibiza is seeing a growing shortage of teachers and health workers, according to regional government data. Some public servants commute from neighbouring Balearic islands Menorca and Mallorca. Maria Jose Tejero, a 24-year-old emergency medical technician, said she shares a small flat with two housemates to make ends meet because the rent is twice her salary. Crewing an ambulance at night sometimes makes her feel 'like a babysitter', Tejero said. 'People come here, drink, take drugs and think life's just a party when that life can also end.' Deflated balloons litter a bar-lined street in popular tourist town Sant Antoni. Dealers discreetly inflate the balloons with nitrous oxide - laughing gas - selling the brief high for 5 euros a pop. Lia Romero, a 28-year-old nurse from Spain's Canary Islands who sometimes moonlights as a dancer at Ibiza's club Amnesia, said she also shares a flat and can't afford bar cover charges or dining out. 'Ibiza is all about posturing and displays of wealth,' she said, 'leaving no room for ordinary people.' According to the regional statistics institute, Ibiza received 3.28 million tourists in 2024, 76% from outside Spain, while the island's resident population reached a record 161,485. Jonathan Ariza, a mechanic and construction worker from Colombia who said he is seeking political asylum in Spain, lives in a trailer near the island's main hospital. 'As long as tourists keep coming, there'll be people willing to live in precarious conditions to be employed,' he said. Alejandra, a 31-year-old Colombian with a residence permit, lives in a shelter managed by Catholic charity Caritas after failing to secure a rental. She said she slept in a tent with her 3-year-old son David until they were evicted. Alejandra said she had a new hotel job and wanted to move out of the shelter, but worried about losing work 'for being slow' as she raced to log the Social Security contributions required to renew her permit. Social workers Gustavo Gomez and Belen Torres, who run the Caritas shelter, said landlords routinely discriminate against families with children and evict tenants to replace them with tourists during the more lucrative summer months. Local authorities are cracking down on illegal tourist rentals, imposing fines that start at 40,001 euros on those who post them. Vacation rental companies have agreed to automatically withdraw advertisements officials deem illegal instead of waiting for a slower judicial ruling, said Ibiza Council Vice-President Mariano Juan of the conservative People's Party, which governs the wider Balearic region. In Juan's view, high demand and limited buildable land result in 'absolutely illogical' rent prices on Ibiza. At a national level, the centre-left government has pledged to triple the state housing budget and speed construction of social housing. But a 2023 law that introduced some rent controls has seen limited success, as many opposition-controlled regions decline to apply the rules given they have a high level of autonomy in housing policy. National landlord lobby ASVAL rejects rent controls, arguing they shrink supply and raise prices. It says the best ways to bring down rents are public incentives and more construction. Saray Benito, 32, said work as a contortionist and torch juggler at the famous Cafe del Mar is scarce in winter. Over 12 years in Ibiza, she said she has had to move 20 times and sometimes sleep on balconies. Italian drag performer Eva Cavallini, who is famous in the LGBTQ-friendly La Virgen district near Ibiza Town's port, lamented that soaring travel and accommodation costs dissuade other artists from visiting. 'Ten years ago, we were around 200. Now it's just me - the only survivor here. If things keep going this way, the island is finished.' The Wider Image Photography and reporting: Nacho Doce Reporting and writing: David Latona Additional reporting: Horaci Garcia Photo editing: Marta Montaña and Maye-E Wong Design: Marta Montaña Text editing: Frances Kerry LICENSE THIS STORY Follow Reuters
Belfast Telegraph
10 hours ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Shels suffer Cup exit ahead of decisive dates with Blues
A Premier League-quality finish from Spurs-bound Mason Melia put the Saints in the driving seat at Richmond Park before a penalty from Chris Forrester after the break doubled the advantage for Stephen Kenny's men. After this Dublin derby defeat, Shels' wait for a first Cup since 2000 will go on another year. Joey O'Brien's side enjoyed two extra days to recover after their Europa League exit to Rijeka last Tuesday and the Dubliner made six changes with Thursday's Tolka Park tussle with Linfield on his mind. On the half-hour mark, Reds keeper Conor Kearns, making his first start since July 16 after coming back from a hamstring injury, suffered a blow as he was forced off with what appeared to be a leg issue. Melia's 11th goal of his final season at the club broke the deadlock before the break. On 50 minutes, Saints skipper Joe Redmond saw his effort blocked by the outstretched arm of Kameron Ledwidge. The referee pointed to the spot and Forrester made no mistake in doubling his team's advantage. O'Brien introduced Mipo Odubeko and Daniel Kelly with 25 minutes left and the latter almost pulled one back when a simple ball over the top caught out the home backline, but Joseph Anang kept his cool to deny Kelly with a fine save. For Shels, it's now all eyes on Linfield as they look to make history this month, while St Pat's are a step closer to making their own European dreams for next year a reality.
