fit

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain says Celtic is the “perfect fit” for him after joining the Scottish champions on a deal to the summer.

The former Arsenal and Liverpool midfielder has been a free agent since leaving Turkish side Besiktas in August, and has not played since May.

However, the 32-year-old understands the expectation on him as he looks forward to working under Martin O’Neill.

“Speaking with the manager, it just felt like the perfect fit for me and I feel like I can come in and help out the lads,” said Oxlade-Chamberlain.

“Just talking to the manager, he told me the expectations on the club and what it means to play here, what our targets are and that he’s going to push me.

“That’s all the stuff I identify with and that’s the environment I’ve always been in and been lucky enough to be in.

“It’s exactly what I need.”

Oxlade-Chamberlain, who scored seven times in 35 England appearances, has been training recently with Arsenal, where he won three FA Cups in six years.

“He still has so much to offer the game, and I am sure he can add another dimension to us with his great ability and wealth of experience in the game,” said O’Neill.

“Above all, he is passionate and excited about this move himself so we are welcoming a great player who is hungry to help us achieve as much as we can.”

Jan. 26 (UPI) — The International Criminal Court ruled Monday that former Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte is fit to take part in pre-trial court proceedings and scheduled a hearing for Feb. 23.

Duterte’s defense team asked for an indefinite adjournment of the case because of his health, alleging that he wouldn’t be able to participate in his defense. The court had a panel of three medical experts to examine him. The panel sent a report on Dec. 5 with its observations, and the court said it was satisfied that Duterte was fit for pre-trial proceedings.

The Feb. 23 hearings will decide if there is enough evidence to charge Duterte. If the court decides the charges are valid, it will transfer the case to the trial phase.

Duterte, 80, is facing charges of crimes against humanity for alleged extra-judicial killings of suspected drug dealers and users in the Philippines.

In March 2025, Duterte was arrested in Manila on the ICC’s warrant after the ICC began a formal investigation in September 2021. In October, the court denied his release because he was deemed a flight risk and said he must remain jailed in the Netherlands. The national police in the Philippines say Duterte killed about 6,000 people in his war on drugs, but human rights groups say he killed 30,000.