TikTok's future in the U.S. appeared uncertain on Friday after a federal appeals court rejected a legal challenge to a law that requires the social media platform to cut ties with its China-based parent company or be banned by mid-January. A panel of three judges on The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled unanimously that the law withstood constitutional scrutiny, rebuffing arguments from the two companies that the statute violated their rights and the rights of TikTok users in the U.S. The government has said it wants ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, to divest its stakes. But if it doesn't and the platform goes away, it would have a seismic impact on the lives of content creators who rely on the platform for income as well as users who use it for entertainment and connection. Here are some details on the ruling and what could happen next: In their lawsuit, TikTok and ByteDance, which is also a plaintiff in the case, had challenged the law on various fronts, arguing in part that the statute ran afoul of the First Amendment and was an unconstitutional bill of attainder that unfairly targeted the two companies. But the court sided with attorneys for the Justice Department who said that the government was attempting to address national security concerns and the way in which it chose to do so did not violate the constitution. The Justice Department has argued in court that TikTok poses a national security risk due to its connections to China. Officials say that Chinese authorities can compel ByteDance to hand over information on TikTok's U.S. patrons or use the platform to spread, or suppress, information. However, the U.S. hasn't publicly provided examples of that happening. The appeals court ruling, written by Judge Douglas Ginsburg, said the law was “carefully crafted to deal only with control by a foreign adversary." The judges also rejected the claim that the statute was an unlawful bill of attainder or a taking of property in violation of the Fifth Amendment. Furthermore, Ginsburg wrote the law did not violate the First Amendment because the government is not looking to “suppress content or require a certain mix of content” on TikTok. TikTok and ByteDance are expected to appeal the case to the Supreme Court, but it's unclear whether the court will take up the case. TikTok indicated in a statement on Friday the two companies are preparing to take their case to high court, saying the Supreme Court has “an established historical record of protecting Americans’ right to free speech." "We expect they will do just that on this important constitutional issue,” a company spokesperson said. Alan Morrison, a professor at The George Washington University Law School, said he expects the Supreme Court to take up the case because of the novelty of the issues raised in the lawsuit. If that happens, attorneys for the two companies still have to convince the court to grant them an emergency stay that will prevent the government from enforcing the Jan. 19 divestiture deadline stipulated in the law, Morrison said. Such a move could drag out the process until the Justices make a ruling. Tiffany Cianci, a TikTok content creator who has supported the platform, said she was not shocked about the outcome of the court's ruling on Friday because lower courts typically defer to the executive branch on these types of cases. She believes the company will have a stronger case at the Supreme Court. “I believe that the next stages are more likely to produce a victory for TikTokers and for TikTok as a whole,” Cianci said. Another wild card is President-elect Donald Trump, who tried to ban TikTok during his first term but said during the recent presidential campaign that he is now against such action . The Trump transition team has not offered details on how Trump plans to carry out his pledge to “save TikTok." But spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said in a statement last month that he plans to “deliver” on his campaign promises. After Trump takes office on Jan. 20th, it would fall on his Justice Department to enforce the law and punish any potential violators. Penalties would apply to any app stores that would violate a prohibition on TikTok and to internet hosting services which would be barred from supporting it. Some have speculated that Trump could ask his Justice Department to abstain from enforcing the law. But tech companies like Apple and Google, which offer TikTok's app on their app stores, would then have to trust that the administration would not come after them for any violations. Craig Singleton, senior director of the China program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said enforcement discretion — or executive orders — can not override existing law, leaving Trump with “limited room for unilateral action." There are other things Trump could potentially do. It's possible he could invoke provisions of the law that allow the president to determine whether a sale or a similar transaction frees TikTok from “foreign adversary” control. Another option is to urge Congress to repeal the law. But that too would require support from congressional Republicans who have overwhelmingly supported the prospect of getting TikTok out of the hands of a Chinese company. In a statement issued Friday, Republican Rep. John Moolenaar of Michigan, chairman of the House Select Committee on China, said he was “optimistic that President Trump will facilitate an American takeover of TikTok” and allow its continued use in the United States. ByteDance has said it won't sell TikTok . And even if it wanted to, a sale of the proprietary algorithm that powers TikTok is likely to get blocked under Chinese export controls that the country issued in 2020. That means if TikTok is sold without the algorithm, its likely that the buyer would only purchase a shell of the platform that doesn't contain the technology that made the app a cultural powerhouse. Still, some investors, including Trump’s former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and billionaire Frank McCourt, have expressed interest in buying it. This week, a spokesperson for McCourt’s Project Liberty initiative, which aims to protect online privacy, said participants in their bid have made informal commitments of more than $20 billion in capital. The spokesperson did not disclose the identity of the participants.Chuck Woolery dies: Smooth-talking game show host of “Love Connection” and “Scrabble” was 83

LOMÉ, TOGO – EQS Newswire – 11 December 2024 – On Tuesday 3 December, after welcome remarks from Abdoulaye Sylla, Portfolio Manager & Head of Corporate Development, EnergyNet, the work began. Speaking on behalf of the World Bank Group, Kwawu Mensan Gaba, Practice Manager, Africa West Energy Unit, expressed the Group’s strong commitment to building a sustainable energy future for West Africa. “Since 2020, we have mobilised more than $5 billion for energy projects in West Africa. Through our Mission 300 initiative, launched in Washington DC in April 2024, in partnership with the African Development Bank Group, we aim to gather large-scale and innovative financing to deliver universal access to electricity in the region. This initiative, which is integral to our vision of a just energy transition, combines investments, reforms, and technological solutions to guarantee reliable, sustainable and affordable energy for all.” H.E. Honourable Sédiko Douka, Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy, and Digitalisation, ECOWAS, highlighted the challenge for communities in the ECOWAS region where, despite the vast energy resources available, only 56% of households have access to electricity. “The recent initiative by the African Development Bank and the World Bank to provide electricity to 300 million people in sub-Saharan Africa – half the continent’s population without access – is highly commendable. We hope to receive a proportionate share of this effort, which will benefit 100 million people in West Africa, based on the size of our population and current levels of access.” H.E. Honourable Robert Koffi Messan Eklo, Minister of Mines & Energy Resources, Togolese Republic, gave the ministerial opening and called for commitment and change. “The time has come to turn words into action. I solemnly call on all the stakeholders present to make a solid commitment to embrace this energy transformation. To policymakers, I urge you to create the favourable conditions for investment and innovation. To private investors, I call upon you to seize the opportunities offered by our rapidly changing energy sector. And to technical and financial partners, I call upon you to provide continuous support for our efforts.” The summit was honoured by the presence of H.E. Honourable Victoire Tomegah Dogbé, Prime Minister, Togolese Republic, who highlighted Togo’s significance in the region. “Togo stands out as a major energy hub, thanks to its world-class infrastructure dedicated to the transhipment and storage of hydrocarbons. Its dual expertise, both port and offshore, provides a secure fuel supply for both West Africa and the entire Atlantic corridor. Under the visionary leadership of His Excellency Mr Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, President of the Togolese Republic, Togo is fully committed to facilitating investment by providing a transparent and attractive regulatory framework, encouraging local innovations so that our energy solutions can be adapted to our current needs, and fostering regional and international exchanges so that we can move forward together.” By the close of the summit, on Thursday 5 December, progress had already been made, Tchapo Singo, Director General of Energy, Ministry of Mines & Energy Resources, summarised findings and actions to be taken, including guidelines for securing fuel and energy supplies, strengthening inter-state cooperation, committing to policy and regulatory reforms, focusing on skills developments, and increasing the role of natural gas, a key component of the region’s energy future. “We are delighted that the Summit provided an ideal framework for Togo to take concrete action by signing two memorandums of understanding: one with HAIER as part of a partnership to strengthen Togo’s technological capacity in the field of renewable energies, particularly for solar power plants; and another with RELP, providing technical and institutional support to the Ministry of Mines & Energy Resources with the aim of providing universal access to electricity. Togo has also made a commitment to young people in the energy sector by immediately offering internships and jobs to 50 young people.” Closing the ceremony, H.E. Honourable Mawusi Kakatsi, Minister Delegate to the Minister of Mines & Energy Resources, expressed his thanks to the World Bank Group and said: “We all understand that it is together, in a spirit of cooperation, that we will be able to accelerate the process and achieve the results desired by each of our countries, as well as to build the sustainable and prosperous energy future that is expected by our respective populations. Once again, I would like to reiterate the heartfelt gratitude of the Togolese Government to each and every one of you for taking part. Please allow me to extend our congratulations to the leaders of EnergyNet, our partner in organising this summit.” Distributed by APO Group on behalf of EnergyNet Ltd.. Download image (1): https://apo-opa.co/3ZuoKnR (Caption: Kwawu Mensan Gaba, Practice Manager, Africa West Energy Unit, World Bank Group) Download image (2): https://apo-opa.co/3ZvDOBN (Caption: H.E. Honourable Victoire Tomegah Dogbé, Prime Minister, Togolese Republic) Download image (3): https://apo-opa.co/3ZMsu5l (Caption: H.E. Honourable Sédiko Douka, Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy, and Digitalisation, ECOWAS) Download image (4): https://apo-opa.co/3ZO4Zcq (Caption: WA ECS group photo) Hashtag: #EnergyNet The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.World number one Luke Humphries retained his Players Championship Finals title with an 11-7 victory over teenager Luke Littler in Minehead. Littler, who won the Grand Slam of Darts last week, hit checkouts of 170, 164 and 136 as he threatened to overturn an early deficit, but Humphries held his nerve to win the last three legs. “I’m really, really proud of that one to be honest,” Humphries told Sky Sports. FOR THE SECOND TIME 🏆🏆 Luke Humphries retains his 2024 Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals title, beating Luke Littler 11-7 in the final. — PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) “I didn’t feel myself this week playing-wise, I felt like I was a dart behind in a lot of the scenarios but there’s something that Luke does to you. He really drives me, makes me want to be a better player and I enjoy playing him. “He let me in really early in that first session to go 4-1 up, I never looked back and I’m proud that I didn’t take my foot off the gas. These big games are what I live for. “Luke is a special talent and he was right – I said to him I’ve got to get these (titles) early before he wins them all. “I’d love to be up here and hitting 105 averages like Luke is all the time but he’s a different calibre, he’s probably the best player in the world right now but there’s something about me that never gives up. “This is a great way to go into the worlds.” HUMPHRIES GOES BACK-TO-BACK! 🏆 Luke Humphries retains his Players Championship Finals title! Cool Hand puts on an absolute clinic to defeat Luke Littler 11-7 in an epic final! 📺 | Final — PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) Littler, who lost the world championship final to Humphries last year, said: “It was tough, missed a few doubles and if you don’t take chances early on, it’s a lot to come back. “I hit the 170 and the 164 but just didn’t have enough in the end. “It’s been a good past two weeks. I just can’t wait to go home, chill out, obviously practice at home for the worlds. That’s it now, leading up to the big one.”Taylor Swift is an "authentic fan" of the Kansas City Chiefs

Jimmy Carter, the former U.S. president known as a champion of international human rights both during and after his White House tenure and who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his lifetime of dedication to that cause, has died at 100, ABC News has learned. Carter, whose wife of 77 years, Rosalynn, died on Nov. 19, 2023, at age 96, is survived by the couple's children -- John William (Jack), James Earl III (Chip) and Donnel Jeffrey (Jeff); and their daughter, Amy Lynn. MORE: Jimmy Carter's life in pictures Carter had endured several health challenges in recent years. In 2019, he underwent surgery after breaking his hip in a fall. Four years earlier, Carter was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma that had spread to his brain, though just months later, he announced that he no longer needed treatment due to a new type of cancer therapy he'd been receiving. In February of 2023, the Carter Center, the organization founded by the former president to promote human rights worldwide, announced that Carter, with "the full support of his family and his medical team," would begin receiving hospice care at home . "After a series of short hospital stays, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter today decided to spend his remaining time at home with his family and receive hospice care instead of additional medical intervention," the Carter Center said in a statement. Carter attended the public memorial service for his late wife on Nov. 28, 2023, some nine months after the announcement that he'd entered hospice care. Frail and in a wheelchair, he didn't speak at the memorial. Instead, his daughter, Amy, spoke on his behalf , reading from a letter Carter sent to Rosalynn some 75 years earlier, when he was away serving in the Navy. "My darling, every time I have ever been away from you, I have been thrilled when I returned to discover just how wonderful you are," the letter read, in part. "While I am away, I try to convince myself that you really are not, could not be, as sweet and beautiful as I remember. But when I see you, I fall in love with you all over again." MORE: Jimmy Carter, more than a year into hospice care, reaches another milestone Carter turned 100 years old on Oct. 1, 2024, an occasion that was celebrated with events both at the Carter Center in Atlanta, and in Carter's Plains, Georgia hometown, though Carter himself was by that time too frail to attend them. Just 16 days later, the Carter Center announced that the former president had cast his ballot by mail in the presidential election. Carter's grandson, Jason, previously told ABC News that his grandfather would vote for Vice President Kamala Harris. The son of a Georgia peanut farmer, Jimmy Carter first appeared on the national political scene in 1976 with a toothy grin and the simple words that would become his trademark: "My name is Jimmy Carter, and I'm running for president." Among his administration's most notable achievements were the Camp David Accords, which Carter brokered between Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat in 1978, and that led to the Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty the following year. Carter's time in office also saw the first efforts toward developing a U.S. policy for energy independence. MORE: Sept. 17, 1978: Sadat, Begin sign the Camp David Accords at the White House However, the Iran hostage crisis, in which 52 Americans were held hostage in Iran for a total 444 days, beginning Nov. 4, 1979, battered Carter's 1980 reelection campaign. He won just six states and the District of Columbia, for a total of 49 electoral votes compared to Republican challenger Ronald Reagan's 489 electoral votes. Reagan also defeated Carter by more than eight million ballots in the popular vote. Though political pundits of the era predicted he would be remembered as an average, one-term president, it's often been observed that Carter's reputation became more distinguished after he left the White House. He continued to champion international human rights and peace efforts, prompting Time magazine to declare in 1989, just eight years after the end of his presidency, that Carter "may be the best former president America has ever had." Carter "redefined the meaning and purpose of the modern ex-presidency," Time wrote. "While Reagan peddles his time and talents to the highest bidder and Gerald Ford perfects his putt, Carter, like some jazzed superhero, circles the globe at 30,000 feet, seeking opportunities to Do Good." MORE: Dec. 10, 2002: Jimmy Carter accepts Nobel Peace Prize Carter was the third U.S. president, following Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson, to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, which he received in 2002 after creating the Carter Center. Barack Obama became the fourth, in 2009. In selecting Carter for the honor, the Nobel Committee cited "his decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development." Peanut farmer to politician James Earl Carter Jr. was born in Plains, Georgia, on Oct. 1, 1924, to James Earl Carter Sr., a peanut farmer and businessman, and Lillian Gordy Carter, a registered nurse who famously became known as 'Miss Lillian.' Though he was the first American president born in a hospital, Carter was raised in a farmhouse without indoor plumbing or electricity. Carter graduated from the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, in 1946 and after spending seven years as an officer -- he volunteered for submarine duty and was honorably discharged in 1953 -- he returned to farming. He began his political career in 1962 when he was elected to the first of two terms as a state senator in Georgia. During his tenure, he promised to read every bill that came to a vote, even taking a speed-reading class to keep up. After an unsuccessful bid for the Democratic gubernatorial primary in 1966, Carter fell into a spiritual crisis, emerging as a born-again Christian. He later recalled this period as one that changed his life dramatically, saying on the campaign trail: "Since then, I've had an inner peace and inner conviction and assurance that transformed my life for the better." Armed with this renewed energy, Carter launched an aggressive gubernatorial campaign and won the office in 1970. Carter announced his bid for the presidency in December 1974 as his term as governor of Georgia was ending. A relative unknown, Carter won early victories in the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary. He became more well-known as he steadily picked up delegates and beat back challenges from Rep. Morris 'Mo' Udall and U.S. Sen. Henry M. Jackson to secure the nomination. MORE: July 15, 1976: Jimmy Carter explains his vision for America at the DNC The deeply religious candidate caused controversy late in his campaign when he told an interviewer from Playboy magazine, "I've looked on a lot of women with lust. I've committed adultery in my heart many times." While there was considerable criticism of that line and some of the other language Carter used in the interview, then-U.S. Rep. Andrew Young, whom Carter later appointed as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that Carter had "taken care of his religion problem once and for all." In November 1976, Carter defeated President Gerald Ford with 297 electoral votes to Ford's 241 to become the 39th president. Energy and economy From the moment of his inauguration, Carter set a different tone in Washington. He avoided formality, taking the oath of office as 'Jimmy' instead of 'James Earl' Carter. He and the first lady even walked the mile-and-a-half inaugural parade route to the White House, rather than ride in a limousine. Once in the Oval Office, Carter continued to bring a common touch to the presidency. He discontinued limousine service for presidential staff and even personally controlled the schedule of the White House tennis courts. As America weathered an energy crisis, Carter ordered his staff to turn the White House thermostats down in the winter and up in the summer, an energy-conscious practice he continued throughout his public career. Focus on foreign policy Carter struggled with domestic policies, fighting near-record highs in inflation and unemployment. Among his few victories was the establishment of the Department of Education and the Department of Energy, the latter in response to a continued energy shortage at the time. Yet, while his domestic policies drew criticism, Carter found widespread success in foreign affairs. His administration attracted worldwide praise for distinguishing itself with a firm commitment to international human rights. Unlike his predecessors, Carter did not hesitate to criticize repressive right-wing regimes, saying in a 1977 commencement speech at Notre Dame, "Because we know that democracy works, we can reject the arguments of those rulers who deny human rights to their people." The Iran Hostage Crisis and the end of an administration The largest stain on Carter's foreign policy record came in November 1979, when a group of Iranian militants seized the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and took hostage 52 American citizens. The militants demanded the return to Iran of the deposed Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi from the U.S., where he was seeking medical attention, to stand trial. Carter initially responded to the crisis by cutting diplomatic ties with Iran and blocking imports from the country. But when those measures failed, in April 1980, he ordered a secret armed rescue mission. It ended in disaster when several American helicopters malfunctioned and two aircraft collided, killing eight U.S. servicemen. MORE: Video Jan. 20, 1981: The Iranian hostage crisis ends The hostages were freed Jan. 20, 1980, after 444 days in captivity. Perhaps as a final insult to Carter, Iran released the hostages just minutes after President Ronald Reagan had been sworn in. The new president sent Carter to Germany to greet the hostages. Post-presidency legacy of public service It wasn't until years after he left the White House that many came to appreciate Carter. The former president embarked on a new phase of his career in public service, devoting his days to peacemaking and humanitarian efforts. "He has made the post-presidency an institution that it had never been before," said historian and author Steve Hochman, who helped establish the Carter Center. "He has been the most successful, most influential former president in American history." Among the organization's many efforts, the Carter Center helped spearhead a successful campaign to eradicate Guinea worm disease, a debilitating parasitic infection spread by drinking water contaminated with the worm's larvae. In 1986, the disease affected 3.5 million people per year in 21 African countries, but by 2017, it had been reduced by 99.99%, to just 30 cases, according to the Carter Center . Carter told ABC News in 2015 that his goal was to eradicate the disease entirely. "I think this is going to be a great achievement for -- not for me -- but for the people that have been afflicted and for the entire world to see diseases like this eradicated," Carter said. Carter also became the highest-profile supporter of Habitat for Humanity, the nonprofit devoted to creating affordable housing. The Carters personally helped to build, renovate and repair 4,390 homes in 14 countries, according to the organization , which also called Carter and wife Rosalynn "two of the world's most distinguished humanitarians." Guided by 'deep Christian faith' In addition to his extensive humanitarian work, Carter wrote more than two dozen books after leaving the White House, including "Keeping the Faith: Memoirs of a President" (1982), "An Hour Before Daylight: Memoirs of My Rural Boyhood" (2001), "The Personal Beliefs of Jimmy Carter" (2002), and "Faith: A Journey for All," (2018). He also wrote poetry collections, as well as a fictional work about the Revolutionary War, titled "The Hornet's Nest" (2003). Carter referenced his Christian faith in the opening lines of his presidential inaugural address on Jan. 20, 1977, quoting the biblical Old Testament call "to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God." Carter's faith and seemingly limitless energy manifested themselves as he taught at his church's Sunday school in his Plains, Georgia hometown, where congregants lined up to attend. He was also known for walking the length of every plane on which he traveled – he always flew commercial – to shake hands with every passenger. Yet behind Carter's easygoing Southern manner was an iron will and inexhaustible determination. Biographer Douglas Brinkley recalled the 39th president as "a kind of military man" who never seemed to get tired. "I mean," Brinkley noted, "the Secret Service nickname for him was 'Dasher' because he could move around so much." Jimmy Carter's commitment to the principles that defined his life was, again, expressed in his presidential inaugural address: "Our commitment to human rights must be absolute, our laws fair, our natural beauty preserved," Carter declared. "The powerful must not persecute the weak, and human dignity must be enhanced." ABC News' Patricio Chile and Christopher Watson contributed to this report. This is a developing story. Check back for updates.Luke Humphries defeats Luke Littler to retain Players Championship Finals title

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Falling behind early, hitting the lead, missing a penalty, conceding late, more injury blows, boos from the fans, it has became an all too familiar tale for Tottenham. Get all the latest football news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!! The ever-repeating script played out once again in a 2-2 draw at home to relegation-threatened Wolves as the scrutiny on Ange Postecoglou intensifies. The visitors, who are unbeaten with two wins and a draw since Vitor Pereira took over as manager, opened the scoring in the seventh minute with Hwang Hee-chan curling home a superb strike from the top of the box after a brilliant set play from a free kick. To add to the moans and groans of the home fans, the first goal created an unwanted slice of history for Spurs. It was the 15th time in 2024 they have conceded the opening goal of a Premier League game at home, the most ever in a calendar year. Things looked back on track as Rodrigo Bentancur header from a corner and Brennan Johnson’s classy finish from a pass from Dejan Kulusevski put Tottenham in front at half time. It could have been a two goal advantage however, as Johnson was brought down in the box minutes before his goal but Son Heung-min’s penalty was saved, and it proved to be costly. Tottenham looked spent in the second half and they paid the price in the 87th minute when Strand Larsen smashed the ball into the roof of the net from a ridiculously tight angle to equalise, and create more unwanted records for Spurs. They are now winless in five straight home Premier League matches, the first time since October 2008 when they failed to win eight straight times at home before manager Juande Ramos was sacked. At present, Tottenham sit 11th on the table with 24 points from 19 outings. They have won once in their last seven matches, and a dealing with an injury crisis at the back. All those factors are why The UK Telegraph’s football news correspondent Matt Law wrote that “watching Spurs should come with a health warning even for the club’s young fans”. Postecoglou made the bold call to play Radu Dragusin despite the centre back clearly not being match fit after sustaining an ankle injury in Spurs’ Boxing Day loss at shock second-place sitters Nottingham Forest. It is an example of things going from bad to worse with Postecoglou justifying the decision to send the Romanian onto the pitch by saying “we had no choice. If Radu doesn’t play I don’t know who plays”. First choice centre back pairing Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven have been sidelined with injury for Tottenham’s past six matches in all competitions, while other option Ben Davies has been out of action since their trip to Bournemouth earlier this month. As a result, 18-year-old Archie Gray, who has mainly been a midfielder or right-back during his young career, has been trying to hold the fort in the central defensive positions alongside Dragusin, and even with the support of midfielder Yves Bissouma when Dragusin went down at Forest. To add further pain, left back Destiny Udogie also picked up a hamstring injury and Bentancur’s late booking rules him out of Saturday’s match at home against Newcastle. The selection headaches make for “fragile foundations”, as Postecoglou famously said of the club after their fans were cheering for their side to lose to Manchester City in the penultimate match of last season to prevent rivals Arsenal from winning the league, that only grow the Australian’s frustrations. “It doesn’t feel like we’re getting a smooth run at anything,” Postecoglou said post-match. “As soon as we get one back we lose one. We have to get through it. There’s still a hell of a lot for us to play for. With what’s on the horizon, we have to give the players all the support we can to perform at their best.” Speaking on Sky Sports post-match, former Tottenham and England striker Darren Bent expressed his belief that most of Tottenham’s issues stem from what is happening at the club during the week, rather than on match day. Bent, who scored four goals from 13 appearances at international level, is adamant that Spurs’ current playing group’s conditioning is not at the level required for Postecoglou’s high octane style of play. “The medical department, surely Ange is saying ‘what is going on here?’ because I do feel for him in that regard, that he’s getting so many injuries, but they’ve got to look at that,” Bent said. “You can’t keep having the same players breaking down with the same injuries. “When you look at the way that they play, the intensity that they play at, clearly they’re not training at the same level that they’re playing at cause that’s where the injuries come from. “Usually, if you train a lesser tempo and you’re expected to go out on a Saturday and play at this Angeball pace that’s 100 miles an hour, you’re going to break down all the time. “Also, the recovery situation. They have players that keep getting the same injury has got to be a concern as well, van de Ven, we know how quick he is. He changes the whole dynamic of the back line, but you can’t keep having the same injury, hamstring, over and over and over again. At some point, someone’s got to go. You know what, he may be ready now but let’s give it another two weeks, three weeks, just to make sure.” In the same panel discussion on Sky Sports, former Tottenham midfielder and manager Tim Sherwood agreed with Bent that more of the heat needs to be directed towards Spurs’ medical staff. Sherwood, who captained Blackburn Rovers to the Premier League title in 1995, also believes that Postecoglou needs greater support from the club in the form of spending more money to build greater squad depth in the upcoming January transfer window. “He’s going to stick to what he’s doing. What he knows best and that’s playing this way. He just needs a little bit of help in the transfer market in January, I’d suggest,” Sherwood said. “I’m not sure what sort of quality of players they can bring in, or get some players back. Udogie gets injured today, another hamstring, so something must be happening. “I thought in the world of sports scientists, that was all eradicated but it seems to be increasing. I don’t think they’re overtrained, players these days, I think they’re undertrained. “I don’t know what goes on day-to-day at the training ground, but to continually pick up muscle injuries, there must be something they need to look at.” As for how Postecoglou is managing this incredibly difficult stretch, Sherwood believes he is simply doing what he can. “I don’t think he’s running out of ideas because he’s got clear ideas of how he wants to play. I think what he is struggling with is the depth of the squad. He’s not being able to rest his squad,” Sherwood said. “I made a point during the game of, they’ve got the two centre backs missing, Micky van de Ven and Romero, and Vicario, the goal keeper. “Other than that, it’s a full strength side. “What the problem is, is when he wants to make the changes, he doesn’t have the quality off the bench to make the changes, and everyone is having to play all of the minutes, all of the time. “He’s trying to rest them. He’s trying to juggle it up to keep them fresh. “Talk about sharpness in the final third, they haven’t got a problem scoring goals. We all know they can score goals. It’s trying to keep the opposition out.” Tottenham fans have recently protested against club chair Daniel Levy for his reluctance to spend more to build a deeper squad. It will fascinating to watch in the January transfer window how proactive Spurs are, but before any reinforcements can be brought on, Levy will be demanding better from the existing troops. “Levy had a face like thunder in the stands and may well fear the worst ahead of a run of games that include Newcastle United next, Liverpool in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup and a trip to Arsenal,” the UK Telegraph’s Matt Law wrote. “The way things are going, Spurs might not even be particularly confident about their FA Cup trip to Tamworth.”