In their opening game of the Women’s Hundred against Manchester Originals at Old Trafford, England seamer Lauren Bell secures a comfortable six-wicket victory.
Women’s Hundred – Manchester Originals v. Southern Brave MATCH REPORT
The US Department of the Treasury has announced sanctions on assets of four individuals that it linked to Mexico-based Cartel del Noreste, including the popular hip-hop artist El Makabelico.
The sanctions target three “high-ranking members” of Cartel del Noreste (Northeast Cartel), which splintered off from Los Zetas, as well as an alleged “prominent associate” of the group, Ricardo Hernandez, a 34-year-old musician known as El Makabelico who has millions of followers on social media.
The Treasury said El Makabelico’s concerts and events are used to launder money on behalf of the organisation, “with 50 percent of his royalties from streaming platforms going directly to the group.”
The Treasury identified the three other individuals as Abdon Rodriguez, Antonio Romero, and Francisco Esqueda.
Washington said the sanctioned individuals have played a critical role in the cartel’s activities, including drug trafficking, extortion, and money laundering.
The Treasury said it had previously sanctioned two “high-ranking members” of the cartel in May. The cartel was among those that President Donald Trump’s administration in February designated as “global terrorist organisations”.
“The Treasury Department will continue to be relentless in its effort to put America First by targeting terrorist drug cartels. These cartels poison Americans with fentanyl and conduct human smuggling operations along our southwest border,” said US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in a statement by the Treasury Department.
“Treasury, in close coordination with our law enforcement partners, is committed to a full-frontal assault on the cartels, targeting the leadership and revenue streams that enable their horrific crimes.”
The Cartel del Noreste is considered one of Mexico’s most violent drug trafficking organisations and wields significant influence along the US-Mexico border, particularly in Laredo, Texas, the Treasury said.
So after all that…the show is basically the same apart from some minor tweaks. There are fewer jokes, a little less banter perhaps. But Gregg Wallace and John Torode are still very much front and centre of the new MasterChef series.
The BBC say the decision to air it at all is what the contestants wanted (bar one who demanded they were edited out). What a load of tosh.
This is all about what the BBC wanted: namely, saving money. Scrapping this series would have left a gaping – and very expensive – hole in the schedule for months on end.
READ MORE: Gregg Wallace trying to ‘earn a living’ after MasterChef exit amid ‘battle every day’READ MORE: John Torode’s wife Lisa Faulkner breaks her silence after his MasterChef sacking
The decision to show the series is also a kick in the teeth to all those who complained about the dodgy duo. Let’s not forget that more than 40 complaints against Wallace were upheld, including one of unwelcome physical contact and another three of being in a state of undress.
But there only appears to be a light touch editing of the former greengrocer. It’s perhaps most apparent when he floats around the contestants’ work stations. Whereas he would usually have a joke with them, he is strangely mute after his opening question.
In the first episode alone, there is a Black contestant, as well one who came to the UK from Thailand aged seven. How do they feel now watching back Torode – sacked after using a “severely offensive racist term” – judging their food?
Wallace, too, was alleged to have said culturally insensitive words. But should we really be surprised the BBC failed to strike this pair from our screens altogether despite their bad behaviour?
After all, execs stood by Brendan O’Carroll after he said the N-word during a read-through of Mrs Brown’s Boys which caused a Black staff member to quit. That show – like Masterchef – is big business, and a guaranteed ratings winner.
Who cares about racism – or men dropping their trousers – when it comes to the small matter of cold, hard cash…
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READ MORE: Shoppers rush to buy This Morning host Emma Willis’ ‘Parisian-inspired’ pinstripe co-ord
Rwanda-backed M23 rebels killed at least 319 civilians, including 48 women and 19 children, last month in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Volker Turk, UN high commissioner for human rights, said, citing “first-hand accounts”.
The violence in the Rutshuru territory of North Kivu Province produced “one of the largest documented death tolls in such attacks since the M23’s resurgence in 2022,” Turk said in a statement on Wednesday.
With Rwanda’s support, the M23 has seized swaths of the mineral-rich Congolese east from the DRC’s army since its resurgence in 2021, triggering a spiralling humanitarian crisis in a region already riven by three decades of conflict.
July’s violence came only weeks after the Congolese government and the M23 signed a declaration of principle on June 19 reaffirming their commitment to a permanent ceasefire, following months of broken truces.
“I am appalled by the attacks on civilians by the M23 and other armed groups in eastern DRC amid continued fighting, despite the ceasefire that was recently signed in Doha,” Turk said in a statement.
“All attacks against civilians must stop immediately, and all those responsible must be held to account,” he added.
Turk’s UN Human Rights Office said it had documented multiple attacks in North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri provinces, in the conflict-ridden east of the country bordering Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi.
In the agreement signed in Doha, the warring parties agreed to “uphold their commitment to a permanent ceasefire”, refraining from “hate propaganda” and “any attempt to seize by force new positions”.
The deal includes a roadmap for restoring state authority in eastern DRC, and an agreement for the two sides to open direct talks towards a comprehensive peace agreement.
It followed a separate agreement signed in Washington by the Congolese government and Rwanda, which has a history of intervention in the eastern DRC stretching back to the 1990s.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame and Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi are due to meet in the coming months to firm up the Washington agreement, whose terms have not yet been implemented.
Last week, the two countries agreed to a US State Department-brokered economic framework outline as part of the peace deal.
“I urge the signatories and facilitators of both the Doha and Washington agreements to ensure that they rapidly translate into safety, security and real progress for civilians in the DRC, who continue to endure the devastating consequences of these conflicts,” said Turk.
Rich in key minerals such as gold and coltan, the Congolese east has been riven by fighting between rival armed groups and interference by foreign powers for more than 30 years.
The Hundred women’s competition, Old Trafford
Manchester Originals 95-8 (100 balls): Smale 40* (34); Bell 3-28
Southern Brave 96-4 (89 balls): Wolvaardt 42* (37); Gregory 1-11
Southern Brave won by six wickets
England seamer Lauren Bell took 3-28 as Southern Brave cruised to a six-wicket win in their opening fixture against Manchester Originals in The Hundred.
Mady Villiers chipped with in with figures of 2-19, while 17-year-old Tilly Corteen-Coleman claimed 1-12 in a dismal Originals batting performance.
Only Seren Smale emerged with any credit from the home side’s innings, finishing with an undefeated 40 to take her team to 95-8 from their hundred balls.
South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt top-scored in Brave’s chase, striking 42 not out against her former team.
The visiting side never looked in danger of failing to reach their low target, but did see four wickets fall, with Dani Gregory taking 1-11.
After reaching the final of the first three editions of The Hundred, winning in 2023, Southern Brave had a shocking campaign last year – winning just one of their eight matches as they finished bottom.
On this evidence they will fare better this season, with an attack spear-headed by Bell and a supporting cast of impressive spinners.
England’s opening bowler broke the stumps of Kathryn Bryce in her first set and saw New Zealand international Melie Kerr paddle the final ball of the powerplay straight to Chloe Tryon.
Meanwhile Villiers accounted for Originals captain Beth Mooney, with the world’s number one batter cutting to Danni Wyatt-Hodge for just one.
Originals slipped to 66-8 after 74 balls, with 17-year-old Corteen-Coleman bowling the big-hitting Deandra Dottin for eight and Bell catching Fi Morris off her own bowling.
Smale dragged her side towards vague respectability, putting on an unbroken partnership of 29 with Gregory.
Her score of 40 from 34 deliveries was easily the highest of the Originals innings, with Kerr (14) the only other batter to make double figures.
Brave lost opener Maia Bouchier early on, caught by Ecclestone off Dottin for six, bringing Wolvaardt to the crease.
The South African, who was making her first appearance in a Brave shirt after two years at Old Trafford, put on 48 for the second wicket with Danni Wyatt-Hodge, who made 32.
She saw Wyatt-Hodge and Sophie Devine dismissed in the space of five balls and Freya Kemp caught off Kerr with 16 more runs required.
We’re off to Headingley on Thursday as Northern Superchargers take on Welsh Fire in another double-header.
Fort Stewart, Georgia’s Army has fired five soldiers, according to a statement posted on social media.
A spokesperson said that after an active shooter was discovered on the sprawling Army post, parts of Fort Stewart in southeast Georgia were closed on Wednesday.
All personnel in the locked-down area were advised to “stay inside, close and lock all windows and doors,” according to a Facebook post from Fort Stewart’s Facebook page.
Fort Stewart, the largest Army post east of the Mississippi River, is located about 40 miles (64 kilometers) southwest of Savannah. Taus of soldiers from the 3rd Infantry Division of the Army are based there, along with their families.
All gates on Fort Stewart are currently closed, according to the fort’s social media post.
According to the fort, the shooter was located close to the 2nd Armoured Brigade Combat Team.
Community Superintendent Brian Perry reported to WTOC-TV that the fort’s three elementary schools are also on lockdown. The Department of Defense estimates that there are nearly 1,400 students in the schools.
The Liberty County School System announced online that three schools close to the base are “taking steps” that resemble a lockdown “out of an abundance of caution.”
According to a statement from Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, he spoke with responding law enforcement. US Representative In an online post, Buddy Carter claimed to be keeping an eye on the shooting and that Fort Stewart is included in his district.