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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.

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The Marienplatz square in Munich, where the memorial service will be held[/caption]

EPA

It comes after a car drove into a crowd of people in the city last week, killing two[/caption]

Alamy

People 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.

“Thank you for your support.”

Celtic fans were almost banned from travelling to Germany for the game by Uefa, due to previous supporter indiscretions.

A green smoke bomb was thrown from the away end during the team’s game against Aston Villa last month – an incident that occurred with a one-match Uefa ban already hanging over their heads because of a mass pyrotechnic display at Borussia Dortmund last year.

But the club was given a 10,000 euro fine instead by the governing body.

Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page

A PREMIUM Dublin nightclub with VIP sections and double toilet cubicles is set to open its doors to the public in WEEKS.

Dublin is about to get a fresh nightlife addition with the opening of Envy.

Social media collect

Envy is a new exclusive nightclub set to open in Dublin[/caption]

Social media collect

The new spot has undergone a €2 million renovation[/caption]

Located beneath K Sixty Seven in Swords, Envy has been in the works for over a year and has undergone a €2million renovation.

And it is ready to make its debut on March 1.

The club, formerly known as Rouge, has undergone a massive transformation.

It promises a completely revamped experience for clubgoers.

One of the standout features of the new venue is its VIP sections, offering a luxury feel for those looking to elevate their night out.

What’s more, Envy will feature double toilet cubicles – allowing groups of friends to go to the bathroom together.

Meanwhile, the largest Lidl in Northern Ireland this month – and a sports star is set to cut the ribbon.

The new store will open on Thursday February 27, at Riverside Retail Park in Coleraine, Co Derry.

Former Irish rugby star and Coleraine local Andrew Trimble will cut the ribbon at the grand opening and welcome both new and returning customers.

Shoppers will enjoy supplier sampling, family-friendly entertainment, and special opening day offers – including gift cards for the first ten customers in line.

At 2,514 square meters, this store will be the largest Lidl store in Northern Ireland.

Regional Managing Director for Lidl Northern Ireland Ivan Ryan said they’re excited to start the year with the opening of the region’s largest store.

He said: “We are thrilled to kick off the year with the opening of our largest regional store in Northern Ireland.

“We look forward to opening the doors to our loyal Coleraine customers at the end of February, and to delivering more new stores in 2025, allowing Lidl to continue driving growth and supporting job creation in communities across Northern Ireland.”

Lidl recently announced it invested a record £360m into Northern Ireland’s economy last year and supported nearly 6,900 jobs – including 1,300 direct employees.

The retailer also plans to invest £150million in new stores, aiming to expand its network to 50 locations by the end of the decade.

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It features VIP lounges and double toilet cubicles[/caption]

TANAISTE Simon Harris today asked China’s Foreign Minister to use his country’s influence to help end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Minister Harris met with foreign minister Wang Yi in Government buildings in Dublin to discuss strengthening trade between Ireland and China.

This year marks 50 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

During the meeting, Minister Harris asked China to use its influence on Russia to try bring about an end to the war in Ukraine.

Speaking after the meeting, the Tanaiste said: “I asked that China use its influence on Russia to end their illegal invasion of Ukraine.

“Any peaceful solution to the war in Ukraine must be based on the UN Charter and must respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.

“There can be no discussion about the future of Ukraine, without Ukraine.

“We also discussed the crisis in Israel and Palestine, including in the context of China’s role as President of the United Nations Security Council this month.

“We agreed that the ceasefire and hostage release deal must be implemented and that all involved must meet their commitments, including further releases of hostages and ensuring continuing humanitarian aid into Gaza.”

This comes after the Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky told world leaders on February 15 that it’s time create a European army to combat Russia as the United States may no longer stand with the EU.

The war time leader met with Taoiseach Micheal Martin at the annual Security Conference in Munich, Germany.

In a speech, President Zelensky said Europe cannot rule out the possibility that America might say no to Europe on issues that threaten it.

He said that European leaders must now consider creating a joint army.

He said: “I really believe that time has come. The armed forces of Europe must be created.

“Here in Munich, the US vice president made it clear [that] decades of the old relationship between Europe and America are ending.

“From now on things will be different and Europe needs to adjust to that.”

PEACE DEAL TALKS

Zelenskyy also alluded to a phone conversation between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this week about ending the war in Ukraine.

After this phone call, Trump said the two leaders would likely meet soon to negotiate a peace deal over Ukraine.

Trump later assured Zelenskyy that he, too, would have a seat at the table to end the war that was sparked by Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Tanaiste Simon Harris were both in Munich for the Security Conference with the Taoiseach meeting President Zelensky to bilateral talks.

The Fianna Fail leader also told how he will engage with others leaders to discuss Russia’s “ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine”.

‘STEADFAST SUPPORT’

He said: “It is more important than ever to stress our steadfast support for Ukraine and our strong commitment to helping them achieve a just and sustainable peace based on the principles of the UN Charter.

“The terms and conditions for any peace agreement must be in line with these principles.

“There can be no agreement on Ukraine without Ukraine.”

PA

Simon Harris amet with China’s foreign minister Wang Yi today[/caption]

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 Tice

When planes exceed the speed of sound at Mach 1 – or about 767mph – they produce a thunderous boom[/caption]

Lockheed Martin / Gary Tice

The sonic thump will be about 75 decibels, according to Nasa – which roughly as loud as a toilet flushing[/caption]

Lockheed Martin / Gary Tice

The 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 agency release.

“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.

Alamy

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”[/caption]

Lockheed Martin / Gary Tice

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[/caption]

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 […]

The post Athletics’ Mark Kotsay gets contract extension ahead of first season in Sacramento appeared first on ClutchPoints.

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. […]

The post Celtics’ Jaylen Brown puts San Francisco All-Star Game fans on blast appeared first on ClutchPoints.

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 […]

The post NBA Power Rankings Week 17: Where every team ranks during All-Star break appeared first on ClutchPoints.

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, […]

The post NBA rumors: Mavericks were ‘never’ going to offer Luka Doncic $345 million contract appeared first on ClutchPoints.

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 […]

The post Stefon Diggs, Cardi B romance rumors heat up after Valentine’s Day outing appeared first on ClutchPoints.

LOVE Island’s Ron Hall and Chuggs Wallis have waded into Grace Jackson’s ‘screenshots’ row as the feuding cast take sides over Olivia Hawkins’ shock claims.

During last night’s episode, Liv, 29, made a surprise comeback to the South African villa, weeks after she was dumped – and while back, she dropped a massive bombshell about Grace.

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Love Island’s Ron Hall and Chuggs Wallis have waded into Grace Jackson’s ‘screenshots’ row[/caption]

Rex

Grace is accused of previously saying she wanted a showmance[/caption]

The ring girl accused Grace, who is coupled up with Luca Bish, of previously saying she wanted a showmance.

And she claimed to have proof.

Now, Ron and Chuggs have spoken out on the drama on a TikTok Live, insisting that until concrete evidence is produced, the allegations are just speculation.

Ron said: “Final’s over and people have had their phones properly. Until we see the receipts, it didn’t happen.”

Chuggs defended Grace’s character, adding: “Yeah, I can’t imagine Grace saying something like that.”

Ron then weighed in, explaining how emotions run high in the Love Island villa, making any potential remarks insignificant in the grand scheme of things.

He said: “Right, do you know what it is, right, for me, the biggest thing? Even if she did, and I don’t think she did personally, even if she did, I feel like your opinion, and when you catch feelings with someone, the way I know Grace has caught feelings and the way Luca has caught feelings, I actually think it’s the best thing ever.

“But when you…because it’s so intense in there and you can catch feelings, I don’t think it even matters, me personally. I actually don’t.”

Chuggs agreed, adding, “Yeah, I agree with you. And you know, you’re really good mates with Luca as well, and like bonded with him well in the villa, and he’s a very genuine bloke, and he’d see straight through it if they were lying.”

Ron then defended Luca against accusations of clout-chasing, saying, “I’ll tell you one thing for a fact, out of everyone that’s been on All Stars, Luca is, and this is including myself, the least clout-chaser person, because he doesn’t need it. He doesn’t need it.

“We want to do it together, because we enjoy ourselves. He doesn’t need it, he doesn’t care for it.

“The geezer posts literally twice a year, so he doesn’t care, and he’s caught feelings, and I think Grace has as well, so that’s all it is.”

Chuggs wrapped up the discussion, reiterating that until the alleged texts are addressed publicly, there’s no way to know the truth.

He concluded: “Yeah, these text things, until everyone’s come out and they’ve addressed it, what can we say about it? Nothing, nothing.”

The pair then shared their winner predictions, with Ron backing Luca and Grace, while Chuggs placed his bets on Gabby and Casey.

Mitch Taylor and Ella Thomas, however, have both backed Olivia on social media.

“Messy Mitch confirming what Liv said is true on his Snapchat,” penned one person on X.

They also shared a screenshot from Mitch’s Snapchat where he wrote: “Liv low key gutted she’s said that.

“Hats off to her for speaking her mind.

“I can’t say too much, but I heard this story loads in the last two weeks.”

While another person on X said: “And the fact that Ella don’t usually speak on these things, yeah, something is going on,” alongside a video that Ella shared on social media.

“I’m not gonna lie, I believe everything Olivia says,” Ella said as she filmed the chaos going down during last night’s episode.

The dumped star was the first to cast her vote as couples Elma Pazar and Sammy Root, Harriett Blackmore and Ronnie Vint and Catherine Agbaje and Omar Nyame were up for elimination.

While Liv was back in the villa on Sunday night, she left the Islanders reeling when she said: “So I’ve seen text messages of Grace just saying to someone that she’ll do whatever it takes to win the show this time from someone back home.”

Harriett Blackmore was quick to chime in, telling Grace: “She probably made it up babe, like she did with Ronnie.”

Grace added: “Baby, that is absolutely not true. I do not care about winning this show.”

She then asked Liv who showed her the messages, but she simply replied: “I’ve seen the screenshots. I’m not saying who.”

Harriett then said to Liv: “Babe, you’ve made it up like you’ve made up that Ronnie was into you.

“F***ing go home, honestly. Is she alright?”

Samie Elishi – another former bombshell who had her sights set on Luca – then weighed in.

“We have seen the screenshots,” Samie said.

Grace then added: “On my life, I have never written that sentence in my life. It’s b******t, and someone’s forged that, that’s not true. I am gobsmacked.”

“Liv’s probably texted herself and used it as an answer,” Harriett added, “Babe, we all know you wouldn’t do that.”

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