Archive June 27, 2025

‘Pure talent’ Archer can create Test legacy – Key

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Jofra Archer’s “pure talent” gives him the opportunity to create a legacy in Test cricket, says Rob Key, managing director of England men’s cricket.

Fast bowler Archer, 30, has been named in England’s squad for the second Test against India which starts at Edgbaston on Wednesday.

The playing XI is yet to be confirmed but if included, it would be Archer’s first appearance in the longest format since 2021 after multiple injury setbacks.

“He’s got high skill, accuracy, pace, all of those things,” said Key, when asked about the qualities Archer brings England’s attack.

“He’s a pure talent, one of the best bowlers certainly I’ve seen play for England.

“There’s some brilliant players of other formats, but Test cricket’s the one where you make your name, that’s where you have a legacy – and that’s what Jofra will have the chance to do now, hopefully for the next few years.”

Archer is the only addition to the squad from England’s thrilling first-Test win at Headingley, where Chris Woakes, Josh Tongue, Brydon Carse and Ben Stokes formed the pace attack.

England have meticulously planned Archer’s return after multiple failed attempts at a comeback, with Key saying it has been a slow and patient two-year process to reach this stage.

After a sparkling debut summer in 2019 which saw him bowl the super over to seal a World Cup final win and take 22 wickets in the Ashes that followed, Archer has endured a series of setbacks, including elbow and back injuries.

With this Test call-up coming off the back of just one first-class game for Sussex where he bowled 18 overs, former England captain Michael Vaughan warned against rushing Archer back to Tests, and Key acknowledged the risk that comes with his inclusion in the squad.

“It’s been a two-year run of taking it very, very slowly with Jofra,” Key explained.

“And he’s ticked every box so far. Now, whether it’s the best thing to do to play at Edgbaston, we’ll make that decision when we get nearer the time.

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  • England Men’s Cricket Team
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Israeli soldiers ‘ordered’ to shoot at unarmed Gaza aid seekers: Report

According to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, Israeli soldiers intentionally shot at Palestinians who were being “ordered” to aid in Gaza.

According to Haaretz, Israel reportedly ordered an investigation into possible war crimes based on the allegations made by some soldiers on Friday.

The Gaza Government Media Office reported on Thursday that at least 549 Palestinians had been killed and 4, 066 were hurt while waiting for food to be distributed at locations supported by Israel and the United States, according to the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). Since its establishment in May, the GHF has received a lot of negative feedback.

Unnamed Israeli soldiers were cited in the Haaretz report as saying that Israeli troops were instructed to fire at Palestinians’ crowds and use unnecessary force against those who appeared to be ineffective.

One soldier told Haaretz, “We threw grenades and fired machineguns from tanks.” A group of civilians were hit while moving under the cover of fog once, according to one incident.

Another soldier claimed that between “one and five people were killed every day” while stationed in Gaza.

That soldier said, “It’s a killing field.”

Method of “control”

According to a military statement made available on Telegram, the Israeli army “strongly rejected” the claims in the report. Any claim of a deviation from the law or [military] directives will be thoroughly examined, and appropriate action will be taken. The article’s claims of deliberate fire directed at civilians are not acknowledged in practice, it said.

However, the report was denounced by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, who called it “blood libel” against the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), according to a statement released by The Times of Israel news outlet.

They claimed that “the IDF operates under difficult circumstances against a terrorist enemy that targets civilians.” “IDF soldiers follow through on their orders to avoid harming innocent civilians,” they say.

The Military Advocate General has instructed the army’s General Staff’s Fact-Finding Assessment Mechanism to look into alleged war crimes at these aid sites, according to Haaretz.

Nir Hasson, one of the report’s authors, claimed that the Israeli directive to fire on civilians was intended to “control” the aid seekers.

From West Jerusalem, he said, “You use fire to move people from one point to another, like if you wanted the crowd to run away [from] a place, you shoot them at them,” he said.

Hasson said he would likely hold a position in the army, even though the journalist and his colleagues are unaware of the name of the commander who might have issued a directive.

Despite this practice at these locations, the majority of Israeli soldiers and soldiers still hold the same conviction that the conflict in Gaza is legitimate, according to the journalist.

More and more people are asking themselves whether this war is necessary, as well as what the Gazan population is [paying] for this war, he said.

“A death trap,” that is.

According to the government media office of the enclave, “war crimes” are occurring at Gaza’s GHF aid distribution sites, referring to “the shocking confessions” published by Haaretz.

The statement added that the Israeli occupation army is using heavy machine guns, artillery, and shells against peaceful gatherings waiting for food as additional evidence that it is using a systematic policy of genocide under the false pretense of “relief.”

Hamdah Salhut, a journalist from Amman, Jordan, called the Haaretz report “shocking.”

Salhut claimed that Palestinians have now died at these distribution centers because of “people in Gaza.” Palestinians are left with no choice, according to aid organizations, who have stated that they must either starve themselves or go hungry in the GHF’s distribution centers.

Attacks on aid seekers have only increased since an Israeli blockade was lifted, and the GHF started distributing food at the end of May, and there are four locations where the GHF operates in Gaza, one in the center and three in the south.

In southern Gaza, doctors claimed on Friday that six people had been shot while trying to get food.

Aid organizations, including the UN, have condemned the GHF vehemently for its “weaponization” of crucial items.

In response to a question from Al Jazeera about the Haaretz report, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said, “We don’t need a report of that nature to acknowledge that there have been massive violations of international law in Gaza.” At a press conference in New York, he continued, “There must be accountability when there is a violation of international law.”

The GHF’s aid distribution sites were described as “slaughter masquerading as humanitarian aid,” according to the medical charity Doctors Without Borders, which is known by its French initials as MSF.

Frankie Bridge shows how to style a sarong as she wows fans with yacht party snaps

We know where to buy your own sarong, and Frankie Bridge recently shared stunning photos of her vibrant and colorful sarong, which gives fans an insight into a yacht party.

Frankie Bridge shows how to style a sarong as she wows fans with party snaps(Image: Frankie Bridge/Instagram)

A sarong is a timeless summer staple that effortlessly transitions from poolside to bar-side with ease. It’s no wonder women still pack sarongs when traveling to the beach or taking vacations abroad because they can be worn in a variety of ways. Frankie Bridge is no exception, having just shown fans the best way to style them.

Taking to Instagram to share snaps from a recent yacht party she attended, Frankie demonstrated how simple it is to style a sarong with a bodysuit or swimming costume to create a beach-ready look.

Read more: Amanda Holden is dazzling in a red linen combo that solves the officewear conundrum of the summer.

This Shark portable fan, which Louise Thompson calls “the best,” replaces the “built-in air conditioning.”

Frankie Bridge
Frankie showed off this PUCCI Printed cotton-voile pareo(Image: Frankie Bridge/Instagram)

The PUCCI printed cotton-voile pareo sarong Frankie donned comes in one size that promises to comfortably fit and suit all bodies. Boasting a vibrant pink and purple motif that’s ideal for exotic adventures on the coast, Frankie’s sarong is available to shop at Net-A-Porter.

With the signature “Iride” pattern created in the 1970s, Frankie adds a retro flair to her ensemble. For a hippie and overtly bold finish, the pattern was created using an eye’s eye. It can be paired with your favorite swimwear for a chic summer style and is made from lightweight, airy cotton voile.

Continue reading the article.

This sarong is made of lightweight, non-stretchy fabric, comfortably sized for people between Xsmall and Xlarge. This keeps the look light while preventing heat on your upcoming vacation. Additionally, the non-stretchy material allows for a desired style that is form-flattering.

Lyon included in Ligue 1 fixtures despite demotion

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Lyon have been included in the Ligue 1 fixtures for next season despite being relegated to French football’s second tier because of the poor state of their finances.

In the schedule released on Friday, Lyon have been earmarked to play Lens in their opening game of the 2025-26 campaign – which starts on the weekend of 16-17 August.

Lyon were provisionally demoted in November by the DNGC, the body which oversees the accounts of French professional football clubs.

Last October Textor’s Eagle Football Group, which owns a 77% stake in Lyon, announced debts of £422m.

Lyon previously described the DNGC’s decision as “incomprehensible” and have taken steps to appeal.

Les Gones finished sixth in Ligue 1 last season and qualified for the Europa League.

Their relegation could prove significant to FA Cup winners Crystal Palace, whose hopes of playing in the Europa League next season are under threat because of Uefa rules which prevent multiple teams under one multi-club ownership structure competing in the same European competition.

Textor owns stakes in both clubs although he agreed a deal to sell his 43% share in Palace on Monday.

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  • Lyon
  • European Football
  • French Ligue 1
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At least one killed as Israeli strikes pummel southern Lebanon

The Israeli military said it attacked sites linked to Hezbollah, killing at least one person, and injuring more than a dozen others, according to the health ministry.

According to a report released on Friday, Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported that an air raid that hit a residential apartment complex in Nabatieh targeted a woman and 13 other people. In addition, the air raids carried out on the city’s fringes left seven people injured.

Hezbollah’s fire and defense system is housed underground, according to the Israeli army, in Belfort, which is located in the Nabatieh governorate. After Israel had previously stopped using it, the Lebanese group’s efforts to resume operations there were identified by the military.

The two parties’ agreement to resume activities there would have violated the November truce, which had put an end to more than a year of firefights and nearly two months of a total war.

Later on Friday, an Israeli army spokesman said that “the reports that an Israeli drone hit a residential building and injured civilians were untrue.”

Avichay Adraee stated in a post on X that “a rocket located at the Hezbollah site, which detonated as a result of the Israeli strike, caused the explosion that damaged the civilian building.”

He claimed that Hezbollah is continuing to store its provocative rockets close to residential buildings and Lebanese civilians, putting them in danger.

Large plumes rise from the hill where Israeli aircraft struck their target, as evidenced by footage that was shared on social media and verified by Al Jazeera’s Sanad fact-checking agency.

Joseph Aoun, president of Lebanon, charged that Israel had continued to violate the US-brokered ceasefire agreement by continuing to bomb Lebanon.

According to the ceasefire agreement, Israeli soldiers must leave southern Lebanon as Lebanese troops are stationed there, and all fire that is fired across the Israeli-Lebanese border must stop.