Raheem Sterling made his first appearance as a Chelsea player on Wednesday night but was unable to lead his new team to victory against MLS side Charlotte FC.
Sterling, signed last week from Manchester City, was one of 10 changes made by Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel at half time at the Bank of America Stadium, and he showed early glimpses of his ability.
The England forward was denied a first goal after a good save from Charlotte goalkeeper George Marks, which would have given Chelsea a 2-0 lead. United States international Christian Pulisic, playing in a stadium just 500 miles from his home town, struck in the 30th minute to break the deadlock for the Blues.
However, Charlotte were given a lifeline in injury time when a Trevoh Chalobah handball gave the hosts the chance to equalise from the penalty spot. Daniel Rios duly converted the penalty to send the match into a shootout, which Charlotte won after Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher's poor effort was comfortably saved.
Kai Havertz, Ben Chilwell, and Sterling all scored their penalties for Chelsea but Charlotte were faultless from the spot with midfielder Kamil Jozwiak slotted home the winning kick.
While there was a first appearance for Sterling, fellow new signing Kalidou Koulibaly is yet to get his first minutes in a Chelsea shirt. The Senegalese defender, signed from Napoli, could feature in Chelsea's final pre-season match in the United States when the Blues take on London rivals Arsenal in the Florida Cup in Orlando on Saturday.
Chelsea then have one more pre-season game against Udinese in Italy on July 29 before beginning their Premier League campaign away to Everton on August 6.
For the best photos from Chelsea's pre-season friendly against Charlotte, scroll through the gallery above. To move on to the next photo, click on the arrows or if using a mobile device, simply swipe.
100 major transfers of the summer so far
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21 Lessons for the 21st Century
Yuval Noah Harari, Jonathan Cape
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
More on animal trafficking
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
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Qosty Byogaani
Starring: Hani Razmzi, Maya Nasir and Hassan Hosny
Four stars
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The Outsider
Stephen King, Penguin
