GENEVA (AP) — National tensions are erupting over slow coronavirus vaccine rollouts and production delay issues are real, but “no one is safe until everyone is safe,” the European chief for the World Health Organization says. Dr. Hans Kluge said Thursday that international solidarity in the fight against the virus that has already killed 2.1 million people was “key,” but he noted tensions Thursday between that wider goal and the responsibility each leader felt to protect their own people. He said “the telephone line is very hot” in conversations with European Union officials and others clamoring for more vaccines, fearing new virus variants that are more contagious that have already swept through Britain and are gaining elsewhere. read more

Swansea boss Michael Laudrup has revealed he ignored overtures from several “big clubs” during the summer to stay at the Liberty Stadium. Press Association The Swans’ fine Barclays Premier League showing and Capital One Cup success last season served to enhance Laudrup’s reputation and spark speculation that he could be set to leave the club. However, the Dane insists he never considered walking away. Laudrup, currently in Holland with his squad for a pre-season training camp, told www.walesonline.co.uk: “Yes, there were clubs – a couple of big ones as well – who wanted me, but it never became anything more than that.” He added: “As I said and confirmed many times, I wanted to stay and I told players the same when they asked me before they extended their contracts. I don’t want to run away from that. “It’s normal after a season we which was good for everybody that there is a lot of interest and eyes on all of us, domestically and internationally. “But it never went further than that and I didn’t have to speak to anyone because I want to stay here.” read more

Oxlade-Chamberlain knows Arsenal have to first match the work-rate shown by Slaven Bilic’s well-organised side – who hit the crossbar from kick-off through former Chelsea striker Demba Ba – before then looking to make the most of their own talents, which will be boosted by the return of German World Cup winners Mesut Ozil, Per Mertesacker and Lukas Podolski ahead of Saturday’s trip to Everton. “We have to have confidence in ourselves to come through this test,” Oxlade-Chamberlain said. “Besiktas are a quality side, and it is not going to be easy at all, they will fancy their chances as well, which will make it a good game. “But I am confident in our team, if we approach the game in the right way, match them physically and competitively, then hopefully our technical side of our game will come through at the Emirates and we will be able to come away with a win.” Arsenal could expect to earn around £7million from reaching the group stages for what would be a 17th consecutive season, with each subsequent home match worth around £3million of additional match-day revenue. Oxlade-Chamberlain maintains tackling Europe’s elite clubs once again is about more than just financial benefits. “It (Champions League) is something that everyone wants to play in, especially at a club like Arsenal, you almost expect us to try to qualify for,” he said. “We worked extremely hard last season to get ourselves into this position and it is something we don’t want to give away at this stage. “It is massive for the club, for the players and the supporters, we all know how important it is and I am sure you will see next week how much everyone wants to be a part of the competition.” Arsenal will assess the fitness of captain Mikel Arteta after the midfielder left the stadium in a protective boot around a twisted ankle and so could miss the return to his old club. Full-back Kieran Gibbs and forward Yaya Sanogo missed the trip to Turkey because of respective hamstring problems. The Gunners battled to a goalless draw at the cauldron of the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul on Tuesday night, where midfielder Aaron Ramsey was sent off late on for a second yellow card and so will miss the return leg back in England next week. Indeed, but for a late fingertip save by Tolga Zengin to push an angled drive from substitute Oxlade-Chamberlain onto the post, Arsenal might even have snatched a crucial away goal which to defend back in London next Wednesday night. Press Association Midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is confident Arsenal’s technical ability will give them the edge needed to get past Besiktas and secure a place in the Champions League group stages. read more

Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. Gov’t to employ 6,000 displaced by Taal Japeth Aguilar embraces role, gets rewarded with Finals MVP plum The oddly angled ballpark became an echo chamber even before the first pitch. Chants of “Beat LA!” began early, Kershaw got heckled with a sing-song serenade and Dodgers villain Manny Machado heard loud boos all evening.Only one person wearing Dodger blue drew a cheer: Roberts, saluted in pregame introductions for the daring steal that turned the tide in Boston’s 2004 playoff comeback against the Yankees.“I think we had the advantage tonight with the weather and stuff. We’ve been playing through it,” Red Sox pitcher Nathan Eovaldi said.It was 53 degrees at first pitch and it dropped into the mid-40s by the end. That was the coldest game for Los Angeles this season and quite a contrast from last year’s World Series, when it was a record 103 degrees for the opener at Dodger Stadium against Houston.“We won Game 1 last year and lost the Series, so maybe we’ll try it out this way. See if we can win one,” Kershaw said.Game 2 is Wednesday night, when it’s supposed to be even colder. David Price, fresh from beating Houston in the ALCS clincher, starts against Hyun-Jin Ryu.Both teams rely heavily on analytics, and it showed: With each manager searching for the most beneficial matchup, the clubs combined to use 12 pitchers and six pinch-hitters.Benintendi scored three times for Boston, trying for its fourth championship in 15 seasons.Matt Kemp homered and Justin Turner had three hits for the Dodgers, aiming for their first crown since 1988. Machado drove in three runs, and his RBI grounder in the fifth inning made it 3-all.Boston retook the lead in the bottom half when Xander Bogaerts hustled to beat out a potential inning-ending double play — Dodgers reliever Ryan Madson seemed to celebrate a little too early. Boston Red Sox’s Eduardo Nunez reacts as he runs the bases after hitting a three-run home run during the seventh inning of Game 1 of the World Series baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018, in Boston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)BOSTON — The Fenway Funhouse proved too tricky, too cold and just too much for the beach boys.Andrew Benintendi, J.D. Martinez and the Boston Red Sox came out swinging in the World Series opener, seizing every advantage in their quirky ballpark to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-4 on a chilly, windy Tuesday night.ADVERTISEMENT Price had been 0-9 in 11 postseason starts before pitching six scoreless innings to help close out the Astros in Game 5. Ryu was 1-1 with a 3.40 ERA in three playoff starts this year.Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next Benintendi had four hits, Martinez drove in two early runs and pinch-hitter Eduardo Nunez golfed a three-run homer to seal it. The 108-win Red Sox got a solid effort from their bullpen after an expected duel between aces Chris Sale and Clayton Kershaw never developed.From the get-go, old Fenway Park caused all sorts of problems for the Dodgers.FEATURED STORIESSPORTSGinebra beats Meralco again to capture PBA Governors’ Cup titleSPORTSJapeth Aguilar wins 1st PBA Finals MVP award for GinebraSPORTSGolden State Warriors sign Lee to multiyear contract, bring back ChrissMookie Betts led off for the Red Sox with a popup that twisted first baseman David Freese as he tried to navigate the tight foul space near the stands and gauge the gusts. Lost, he overran the ball and it dropped behind him.“You never really know,” Benintendi said. “The flag will be blowing one way, and the wind is actually blowing the other. You have to be on your toes pretty much.” Underprivileged Filipino kids join int’l football training programs via TM Sports Para sa Bayan Tim Cone, Ginebra set their sights on elusive All-Filipino crown Lights inside SMX hall flicker as Duterte rants vs Ayala, Pangilinan anew Allen Durham still determined to help Meralco win 1st PBA title View comments Lights inside SMX hall flicker as Duterte rants vs Ayala, Pangilinan anew Given a second chance, Betts lined a single that set up a two-run first inning.“It was important for us to score first and kind of put some pressure on them,” he said.In the seventh, newly inserted left fielder Joc Pederson looked hesitant as he chased Benintendi’s soft fly, rushing toward the seats that jut out down the line. The ball ticked off his glove for a ground-rule double, and soon Nunez connected off Alex Wood to break open a 5-4 game.“We didn’t play the defense that we typically do. I thought we left some outs out there,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “And it didn’t make Clayton’s job any easier.”The crowd and cold temperatures were no picnic for Los Angeles, either.ADVERTISEMENT Rafael Devers followed with an RBI single, making it 5-3 and giving himself an early birthday present. He turned 22 at midnight, three minutes before the game ended.Martinez, who led the majors with 130 RBIs, gave the crowd a scare when his foot slipped rounding second base on a run-scoring double in the third. He fell hard, but soon got up.Steve Pearce, ruled safe at first on a replay review, scored from there on Martinez’s double. The ball hit a metal garage-type grate on the far center-field wall and took a weird carom, giving Pearce extra time to score.A garage-style grate, used for groundskeeping vehicles and such. What other park has that in play?A day before this opener, Kershaw and most of the Dodgers pooh-poohed the prospect that Fenway would cause them trouble. Most of them had never played at the oldest ballpark in the majors, built in 1912, but said they were sure they’d be OK.It didn’t quite turn out that way in their first trip to Fenway since 2010.Besides, clubs coming to Beantown have other things to worry about.“I think the biggest challenge for a team coming in here is you’re playing the Boston Red Sox,” Eovaldi said Monday.The only other time the Dodgers and Red Sox met in the World Series was 1916, when Babe Ruth helped pitch Boston to the championship. Those games were at Braves Field, the bigger home park of the city’s National League franchise.Kershaw and Sale each started out wearing short sleeves, but neither warmed to the possibility of the marquee matchup. In similar outings, both were pulled before getting an out in the fifth. MOST READ Kershaw took the loss in his first appearance at Fenway, tagged for five runs on seven hits and three walks. The three-time NL Cy Young Award winner fell to 9-9 in the postseason, his October results falling short of his brilliant regular-season resume.“All the way around it wasn’t a good night,” Kershaw said.Sale threw 91 pitches in his first outing since the ALCS opener. He was hospitalized last week for an unspecified stomach illness.Matt Barnes, the first of six Boston relievers, got the win. Eovaldi pitched the eighth and Craig Kimbrel worked the ninth as the Red Sox bullpen held the Dodgers to one run on three hits in five innings.Boston manager Alex Cora won in his first try guiding a club in the Series. This also marked the first World Series game between teams led by minority managers.YAY FOR YAZRed Sox great Carl Yastrzemski bounced the ceremonial first pitch, and decided that just wouldn’t do. So he called for another ball, and the 79-year-old Hall of Famer threw a strike to injured Boston star Dustin Pedroia.FIRST UPThe Red Sox have won Game 1 in six straight World Series, dating to 1975 vs. the Big Red Machine. … Boston is 8-0 this postseason when scoring first. … The team that wins the opener has won 62 percent of the championships.UP NEXT LATEST STORIES Gretchen Barretto’s daughter Dominique graduates magna cum laude from California college Nadine Lustre’s phone stolen in Brazil Will you be the first P16 Billion Powerball jackpot winner from the Philippines? 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