Archive July 21, 2025

Farrell to captain Lions against Pasifika team

By in News, Sports News
Images courtesy of Getty
English, Tom
Australia’s ABC Sport
  • 421 Comments

First Nations & Pasifika XV vs. Irish Lions and British &

Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium Date: Tuesday 22 July Kick-off: 11:00 BST

On Tuesday, Owen Farrell will lead the British and Irish Lions in Melbourne’s First Nations and Pasifika XV.

Following an off-the-ball loss to AUNZ Invitational in Adelaide, the Saracen made their debut on the tour.

In a Lions starting lineup without any of the players who played in the first-test victory over Australia, Farrell will play inside center alongside Jamie Osborne from Ireland.

Ben Earl, Marcus Smith, and Alex Mitchell, who have appeared in every game of the tour, including the Dublin warm-up game against Argentina, are the three Brisbane Test players who are on the bench.

After being selected from the England camp in Argentina, Jamie George, a star of the 2017 tour in New Zealand, makes his first appearance at hooker.

Blair Kinghorn has returned from injury and is playing fullback.

Duhan van der Merwe is on the left, and Darcy Graham, one of the many cover recruits, is on the right. Both wings are Scottish.

The half-backs are Fin Smith and Ben White, just like they were in AUNZ’s rout.

James Ryan and Scott Cummings renew a partnership that they had with the Waratahs in game three in Australia, with Pierre Schoeman and Finlay Bealham positioned either side of George in the front row.

For the first time on tour, Jac Morgan will join Josh van der Flier and Henry Pollock in the back row.

JavaScript must be enabled in your browser to play this video.

Can anyone enter the Test team by force?

Given that so many of the 23 players are firmly outside Farrell’s preoccupations for Saturday’s second Test, the relevance of this game is questionable.

However, there are some interesting points.

Given that Hugo Keenan was inconsistent in his first Test, Kinghorn might be able to start. King is likely to succeed him.

If Farrell performs well on Tuesday, perhaps at the expense of Marcus Smith, will he be a bench contender on Saturday?

Garry Ringrose, who is recovering from a broken leg, was on a storming tour prior to being concussed in Canberra against the ACT Brumbies.

Does Farrell dare to place Ringrose ahead of Huw Jones in a midfield match to break up the Scottish midfield? Does he place Ringrose ahead of Bundee Aki, a countryman, on Saturday on the bench?

What about the back-up, if the Lions did a fantastic job in Brisbane and there is no way to see a change?

Beale named captain for the second time against Lions.

The seasoned Wallaby Kurtley Beale will assist Tuesday’s foes.

The 36-year-old played for the Lions in all three of their Test matches 12 years ago.

The 95-cap utility back failed to convert a penalty to win the first Test, losing in the process.

“There are some elite players with real talent. It’s an absolute privilege and great honor to guide them on to the Lions’ park, Beale said.

“I can impart some knowledge and experience regarding what to expect.” We want to attract a good-looking, healthy crowd.

After their first Test victory in Brisbane, “the red sea will be bursting with joy.” It will be a wonderful occasion.

Beale has recovered from a hamstring injury that prevented him from participating in the Lions’ opening tour game against the Lions.

The squad’s fly-half is one of six indigenous players, with the other players coming from countries with Pacific Island heritage.

It is the first game of its kind, a celebration of the cultures of the First Nations, Samoa, Tongan, Fijian, and Cook Islands.

We have the chance to represent our shared culture and families, Bee added.

Taniela Tupou, a tonga-born prop, and Filipo Daugunu, a Fiji-born wing, have both been released from the Australia camp. Toutai Kefu, a 1999 World Cup winner, coached the team.

The addition of those two to the team gives them an injection of confidence, according to Kefu.

Kurtley Beale slips in 2013 against the LionsImages courtesy of Getty

Line-ups

First Nations & Pasifika XV: Muirhead, Reilly, Foketi, Feliuai, Daugunu, Beale, Thomas, Ieli, Paenga-Amosa, Tupou, Swain, Salakaia-Loto, Uru, Gamble, Tualima,

Replacements: McLeod, Pearce, Doge, Vocevoce, Leota, Goddard, Debreczeni, and Asiata

Kinghorn, Graham, Osborne, Farrell (capt), Van der Merwe, F Smith, White, Schoeman, George, Bealham, Ryan, Cummings, Morgan, Van der Flier, Pollock, and other Irish and British Lions

Replacements: Ringrose, Sutherland, Clarkson, Brown, Earl, Mitchell, M Smith, and Ashman.

Referee: Geo Referee Nika Amashukeli

Ben O’Keeffe (NZ) is Assistant Referee 1.

Andrea Piardi (Ita), Assistant Referee 2.

Marius Jonker (SA) TMO

related subjects

  • Irish Lions and British &
  • Rugby Union

Today’s horoscope for July 21 as Aries could transform an oppressive system into one that is more inclusive

By in Entertainment News, News

One star sign has charm in today’s horoscope for July 21, while another will discover a newcomer is difficult to trust.

Find out what’s written in the stars with our astrologer Russell Grant(Image: Daily Record/GettyImages)

One star sign could change a system that is oppressive into one that is more inclusive as of Monday, July 21.

There are 12 zodiac signs – Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces – and the horoscopes for each can give you the lowdown on what your future holds, be it in work, your love life, your friends and family or more.

These daily forecasts have been compiled by astrologer Russell Grant, who has been reading star signs for over 50 years. From Aries through to Pisces, here’s what today could bring for your horoscope – and what you can do to be prepared.

Aries (Mar 21 – Apr 20)

You are able to influence opinions, and you are incredibly charming. Raising your voice when you see injustice. For a fairer approach, speak out publicly. Your efforts could lead to a more inclusive, oppressive system.

Taurus (Apr 21 – May 21)

The biggest challenge is no longer making money; it’s saving it, which is no longer the main issue. Take a full day to think before purchasing non-essential items to prevent impulse buying. You might discover that you no longer desire them after this.

Gemini (May 22 – June 21)

A member of a family or a neighbor has knowledge of a recent awkward situation. Even though the news may be upsetting, you still have a chance. Selling a home, helping someone recover from a disease, or considering a buyout deal might be options.

Cancer (June 22 – July 23)

Delegate tasks to others that you don’t want to. You’re approaching a goal that appeals to you the most. Even so, trust your gut instincts and keep your plans to yourself. You’ll feel more content the further you advance. Your inner self is aware of your choices.

Leo (July 24 – Aug 23)

You have a charm that makes it difficult for anyone to reject you. Every event and location make you seem drawn to yourself. Simply put, being in your presence gives people a warm, sunny vibe. You are in such high demand and have so many friends, it’s obvious.

Virgo (Aug 24 – Sept 23)

The momentum is maintained by following a strategy. Imagine your satisfaction in achieving your objective. You’ll be able to overcome challenges with ease if you keep this vision in your mind. You may have made a significant breakthrough.

Libra (Sept 24 – Oct 23)

It’s likely that your initial assessment of a mysterious newcomer was accurate. For a reason, this person is being secretive. You’ll discover that they can’t be trusted if you do some research. Above all, please refrain from giving them any personal information.

Scorpio (Oct 24 – Nov 22)

Your unwavering commitment to your objectives is one of your greatest strengths. You will commit yourself to it with all your might once you’ve chosen your ideal career. You’ll continue to be undeterred despite the doubts that skeptics have. Continue to be authentic.

Sagittarius (Nov 23 – Dec 21)

A career risk is now a good idea. Both exploring a new field and launching a long-term business are wise choices. More than a dull job, your creativity and talent deserve. Take a small step in the direction of your professional goals.

Capricorn (Dec 22 – Jan 20)

You will soon assume new responsibilities as a result of your current arrangements. Accept this chance without any reservations or reluctance. A superior will perceive you positively if you apply for a promotion in the near future.

Aquarius (Jan 21 – Feb 19)

Working together will be more successful in almost any situation than working alone. Your partner brings the necessary skills to successfully implement a worthwhile project, while you have the influence and willpower to do so.

Continue reading the article.

Pisces (Feb 20 – Mar 20)

A new skill can lead to a different career path for you. Consider learning a foreign language if you’ve always wanted to travel the world. This will increase your appeal in the job market as well as provide a motivating mental challenge.

READ MORE: Boots shoppers who spend £36 can get over £139 worth of Sol de Janeiro, No7 and more free

Death toll from S Korea rains rises to 18 as met agency warns of heatwaves

By in News, World News

At least 18 people have died and nine others have been missing as a result of the government’s lifting of advisories for heavy rain and the meteorological agency’s warning about a return to heatwaves in the country, according to authorities.

The military also announced sending thousands of troops to flooded areas to aid in recovery efforts, as a result of the toll on Monday.

Some of South Korea’s central and southern provinces experienced some of the heaviest hourly rainfall ever due to the downpours that started on July 16 and poured in some of the provinces. Homes were destroyed by the five-day deluge, which also caused landslides, flash floods, and which also swept away cars and campers.

According to the Ministry of Interior and Safety, four people are still missing in the southern county of Sancheong and at least 10 have died there.

A man who had been camping nearby a stream there was found dead after being swept away by rapid currents, and another person was killed when their home fell to the town of Gapyeong, northeast of Seoul.

The man’s wife and teenage son are still missing, according to South Korean JoongAng Daily. In the same town, two other people were reported missing, including a 70-year-old man who had been buried in a massive earthquake.

According to the Yonhap news agency, the rains also caused “extensive property damage” and forced some 14, 166 people to leave their homes in 15 cities and provinces.

Sancheong, South Korea, was a village that was ruined on Sunday by torrential rains.

According to the organization, 2, 238 cases of damage were recorded at private residences and buildings, compared to 1, 999 cases of damage that were reported at public facilities.

The South Korean military announced that to aid in the recovery efforts, it has sent about 2,500 personnel to the southwest of Gwangju as well as the provinces of South Chungcheong and South Gyeongsang.

The troops will be rehabilitating the affected homes and businesses, the statement read.

Because of the monsoonal rains that were forecast this year, Associate Professor Hannah June Kim of the Graduate School of International Studies at Sogang University in Seoul, told Al Jazeera.

She said, “We anticipated that monsoons wouldn’t show up this summer.” Therefore, many local areas were unprepared when this heavy rain started to fall this week.

She continued, “We are seeing the severe effects of climate change and how it’s affecting various regions.”

The southern regions of South Korea were expected to experience more rainfall on Monday, but the Meteorological Administration (KMA) warned of a heatwave in the area. The JoongAng Daily reports that parts of South Jeolla, the east coast of Gangwon, and Jeju Island have already received heatwave advisories and warnings.

According to the report, “daytime lows will remain between 23 and 26 degrees Celsius]73.4F to 78.8F] and daytime highs will range from 30 to 35 degrees Celsius [86F to 95F] in the morning and 29 to 33 degrees Celsius]84.2F to 91.4F] during the day.”

According to scientists, extreme weather events are more frequent and frequent all over the world due to climate change.

At least 11 people died as a result of record-breaking rains and flooding in South Korea in 2022.

Three of them died trapped in a Seoul basement apartment, similar to the one that gained international notoriety with the Oscar-winning Korean film Parasite.

Southeast Asia’s foreign assistance to fall more than $2bn next year

By in News, World News

A significant Australian think tank predicts that due to recent cuts by Western governments, development financing for Southeast Asia will decline by more than $ 2 billion in 2026.

In a recent report released on Sunday, the Sydney-based Lowy Institute predicted that Southeast Asia’s development assistance would drop from $29 billion to $26 billion.

The figures are billions of dollars below the $33 billion average before the pandemic.

According to the report, bilateral funding is projected to decline by 20%, dropping from about $11 billion in 2023 to about $9 billion in 2026.

According to the report, “social sector priorities like health, education, and civil society support that rely on bilateral aid funding are likely to lose out the most,” and this will hit poorer nations in the regions hardest.

Alternatives to lessening

As NATO members plan to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP in the wake of Russia’s ongoing conflict with Ukraine, funding cuts have been made by Europe and the UK.

Between 2025 and 2029, the European Union and seven of the EU’s governments will reduce foreign aid by $ 17.2 billion, while the UK announced this year that it would reduce spending by $ 7.6 billion annually, according to the report.

The United States, which announced earlier this year that it had cut back on nearly $ 60 billion in foreign aid, has caused the biggest uproar. The US Senate recently made additional $ 8 billion in spending adjustments.

According to The Lowy Institute, countries that are closer to home, like China, will continue to play a significant part in the development landscape.

According to the report, “the center of gravity in Southeast Asia’s development finance landscape appears to be moving East, particularly toward Beijing but also toward Tokyo and Seoul.” Southeast Asian nations “risiko finding themselves with fewer options to support their development” combined with potential weakening trade ties with the US.

Chinese overseas development assistance has started to recover after the COVID-19 pandemic, reaching $4.9 billion in 2023, according to the report.

However, according to the report, it prioritizes spending on infrastructure projects like ports and railroads over social sector issues. Southeast Asia’s middle- and high-income countries benefit from non-concessional loans offered at commercial rates, but its poorest countries, such as Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, and East Timor, are less benefitted by Beijing’s preference.

Less clear is how Japan and South Korea can fill in the blanks, according to experts, as China and other countries like the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank gain more traction in Southeast Asia.

South Korea and Japan

According to Grace Stanhope, a researcher at the Lowy Institute and author of the report, both nations have expanded their development assistance to include projects involving civil society.

We’ve been seeing Japan especially enter the governance and civil society sectors, with projects in 2023 that are explicitly focused on democracy and the protection of vulnerable migrants, she said. “[While] Japanese and Korean development support is frequently less overtly “value-based” than traditional Western aid.

The approach of the Japanese and Korean development programmes is moving beyond just the realm of infrastructure, as is the case of South Korea, which recently supported projects to improve the transparency of Vietnamese courts and protect women from gender-based violence.

Tokyo and Seoul are, however, under the Trump administration’s pressure to increase their defense budgets and reduce their development aid, as Europe is.

Shiga Hiroaki, a professor at Yokohama National University’s Graduate School of International Social Sciences, said he was more “pessimistic” about how Japan might help to fill the void left by the West.

He claimed that as Tokyo increases defense spending to a historic high and a “Japanese-first” right-wing party presses the government to rein in funds from abroad, cuts could even be made.

It is highly likely that the aid budget will be sacrificed to finance defense spending, he said, “in light of Japan’s enormous fiscal deficit and public opposition to tax increases.”

Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,243

By in News, World News

On Monday, July 21, 2018, this is how things are going.

Fighting

  • According to the state-run RIA Novosti news agency, Russian forces have taken control of the village of Bila Hora in eastern Ukraine.
  • A 78-year-old woman was killed in a Russian attack on the Sumy region of Ukraine, according to Governor Oleh Hryhorov.
  • Local governors claim that there were six more fatalities in Russian attacks on Synelnykove and Pavlohrad in the Dnipropetrovsk region, as well as Kostiantynivka, Pokrovsk, and Raiske in the Donetsk region.
  • Governor Ivan Fedorov reported that three women were hurt in a third Russian attack on the Zaporizhhia and Vasylivka districts of Ukraine, adding that Russia had already launched 457 attacks on 18 settlements in the area on Sunday.
  • Ukraine’s Air Force reported shooting down 18 of 57 Russian drones overnight into Sunday.
  • Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported on Telegram that several Ukrainian drones “flying toward Moscow” had been shot down eight times in total over the course of 24 hours. In each case, he stated, “Emergency services are working at the location of the debris fall.”
  • Russian forces shot down 216 Ukrainian drones in total, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense, on Sunday at 11:20 p.m. (Moscow time).

diplomacy and politics

  • Vladimir Putin, the country’s president, said Moscow’s main goal was to reach its goals, despite the fact that spokesman Dmitry Peskov claimed that the Kremlin was ready to pursue a peace agreement with Ukraine. The comments were made days after Donald Trump gave Moscow a 50-day deadline to accept a ceasefire or be subject to more stringent sanctions.
  • Russian conductor Valery Gergiev’s performance was canceled as part of Russian efforts to use “culture as a tool of propaganda,” according to the Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
  • According to the Kyiv Independent, Ukraine has sanctioned former Ukrainian lawmakers Natalia Korolevska and Hennadiy Balashov, as well as exiled Russian journalist Yulia Latynina and Ukrainian blogger Andrii Serebrianskyi, who allege they had assisted in spreading Russian propaganda.
  • The sanctions against India’s Nayara Energy refinery by Rosneft, Russia’s largest oil producer, were criticized by the EU as being unlawful and unjustifiable, claiming they directly threatened India’s energy security.

Israeli fire mows down starving Palestinians in Gaza as hunger deaths surge

By in News, World News

In one of the deadliest single incidents involving aid seekers since May, Israeli forces killed at least 115 Palestinians in Gaza on Sunday as they waited patiently for desperately needed food aid.

Health officials claim that more Palestinians have been injured.

At least 67 people were killed near the Zikim crossing in northern Gaza when an Israeli bomb struck aid gatherings. In the south of the country, there were also six fatalities close to a separate distribution site. 36 Palestinians were killed in similar circumstances the day before.

More than 900 people have been killed trying to access food relief as a result of the death toll since May, bringing the total to more than 900.

The Israeli forces opened fire on Ahmed Hassouna, who was attempting to collect food from a Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) aid site, when he attempted to get food from it.

A young man and I were accosted, and they began to shoot gas at us. With the gas, they used to kill us. We hardly managed to escape the air, he claimed.

A wounded elderly man was saved from the gunfire by an additional man, Rizeq Betaar.

There are no ambulances, no food, no life, and no longer a way to live, according to the statement from the group that carried him on the bicycle. We’re just about hanging on. He prayed, “May God comfort us.”

A convoy of 25 aid trucks, according to the UN World Food Programme (WFP), opened fire shortly after entering Gaza.

The organization stated in a statement that WFP reiterates that any violence against civilians seeking humanitarian aid is completely unacceptable.

Israel’s military denied intentionally attacking aid convoys, but claimed that its forces fired “warning shots” at what it called “an immediate threat.”

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) issued a warning on Sunday that the Gazan situation has reached “catastrophic” levels, with some children dying before aid arrives.

People are taking their lives to search for food, OCHA said, calling the situation “unconscionable.”

Israel’s ongoing attacks on aid seekers were also denounced by the US-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).

The ongoing massacres of starving Palestinian women, children, and men who have been denied food by the US and the government are both a human tragedy and an indictment of a Western political order that led to this genocide, according to Nihad Awad, CAIR’s national executive director, in a statement.

Western governments are unable to deny ignorance. They are choosing to do nothing as innocent civilians are purposefully starved, forced to relocate, and slaughtered in real time. The Western world’s indifference to Gaza’s forced starvation, ethnic cleansing, and genocide will stick in history’s minds forever. ”

starvation caused by humans

UNRWA’s head of UNRWA, Phillipe Lazzarini, claimed that Gaza’s staff were ecstatic about the lack of food.

“All created, in complete impunity. Only a few kilometers away, he wrote on X, adding that UNRWA has enough supplies at the border to feed Gaza for three months. However, since March 2, Israel has been preventing aid.

According to Dr. Mohammed Abu Afash, the Gaza-based Palestinian Medical Relief Society’s director, women and children are suffering from hunger.

We are entering the unknown, the author says. He warned of a looming disaster if aid is not immediately given that children are at their highest levels of malnutrition.

Israa Abu Haleeb, a mother of Palestine, cares for her five-month-old daughter Zainab at Khan Younis’ Nasser Hospital for malnutrition.

The Ministry of Health in Gaza echoed that warning, warning that a number of Palestinians who are dehydrated and malnourished could soon pass away.

We issue a warning that hunger poses the greatest risk of death for hundreds of people whose bodies have been wasted, according to a spokesperson.

According to Palestinian families, the only basic staples are flour. Since the start of the war in 2023, according to the ministry, at least 71 children have died from malnutrition, while 60,000 others have shown signs of severe undernourishment.

It reported 18 deaths tied to hunger alone on Sunday.

Most people in Gaza are unable to afford food because of the rising prices there. 3 million people are battling to survive in Israel’s strict siege arrangements.

A 35-day-old baby in Gaza City and a four-month-old child in Deir el-Balah had both passed away from malnutrition at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, according to Al Jazeera’s reporter from central Gaza, Hind Khoudary.

Khoudary said, “The mother was touching her body and saying, I’m sorry I couldn’t feed you.”

Parents who visit the GHF distribution centers run the risk of killing their children. We ran into a mother who only fills her children’s stomachs with water. She can’t afford flour, and when she could, she couldn’t find it. ”

more forced evictions

More Palestinians are being forced to flee in the meantime. Residents of Deir el-Balah reported air attacks on three homes after Israel issued leaflets warning residents to leave with what little they could carry.

Israel’s military stated that it had not yet entered those areas, but that it would be doing so even if it had been “terrorist infrastructure”.

Hani Mahmoud, a Deir el-Balah-based reporter, reported that “we are facing yet another misleading evacuation order. Palestinians have been killed there since day one despite the instructions to move to al-Mawasi, a rumored safe zone.