England fast bowler Mark Wood says he is “quietly confident” of being fit for the first Test of the Ashes series in Australia.
Wood has not played since a Champions Trophy defeat by Afghanistan in February and had an operation on a left knee injury in March.
The Champions Trophy and tour of India that preceded it was the 35-year-old’s return from an elbow injury that had kept him out of action since August 2024.
“It was a frustrating summer,” Wood told the Wisden Cricket Weekly podcast. “I didn’t get to play any cricket and my knee, at times when you think that you’re just about ready to play, it was not just quite there.
“I got knocked back a couple of times, but in the tent [training camp] it’s been going well. I’ve had the speed gun out and the pace is getting up there.”
The first match of the Ashes starts on 21 November in Perth, with England aiming to win their first Test series in Australia since 2010-2011.
“Hopefully, I’m in form, bowling well in the practice games and in the nets, and can put my hand up for that game [Ashes opener],” added Wood, whose last Test outing was against Sri Lanka 14 months ago.
“The rehab hasn’t just been a straight curve, it’s been a bit up and down, but I’m in a good position now where i’m hoping to kick on for that game.
Meanwhile, Australia’s concerns over the fitness of players has resulted in all-rounder Cameron Green being replaced by Marnus Labuschagne for the three-match one-day series against India, which starts on Sunday.
Australia already have doubts about the fitness of captain Pat Cummins, who has not played since July because of lumbar bone stress in his back.
“Cameron Green has been ruled out of the [India] series having experienced low-grade side soreness at training this week,” Cricket Australia said.
“Green will complete a short period of rehabilitation and is tracking to return to play in round three of the Sheffield Shield to continue his preparation for the Ashes.”
It was announced in October 2024 that former One Direction star Liam Payne had died after falling from a hotel balcony in Argentina, a year later the world is still in shock
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Liam’s sister has shared a tribute
Liam Payne’s sister has reportedly made a dig at Kate Cassidy a year after her brother’s death. The musician died in October 2024 after he fell from a balcony at a hotel in Argentina.
Kate was back in the US when her boyfriend died and has been open about her grieving process over the last year. However, she has also received a lot of backlash from fans who have disagreed with how she has been grieving.
Liam’s sister has now released a statement where she has spoken about how she and her family have been coping with Liam’s death over the last 12 months. Taking to social media, Ruth shared a four page tribute to Liam where she explained that the family haven’t been doing well.
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She also mentioned “some” people want to “gain fame” from Liam’s death, with many thinking this could be a dig at his ex-girlfriend. Ruth said: “Everyone only seems interested in the public side of this, some sadly seems more interested in the fame they can gain off this, but on the human side people need to remember when they speak, there is a son without his dad, parents without their child and I am lost without my brother.
“Love always Liam, in every lifetime,” Ruth wrote at the end of the headline. Some fans on social media think that the fame comment was aimed at Kate, with one person saying: “The SHADE about people trying to gain fame over his death!!! love her.”
While a second wrote: “I love how she subtly clapped back at those gaining fame using Liam’s passing! But man her saying I hope to get the chance to be your sister in every lifetime, that shattered me.”
Kate has stayed active on her social media pages since Liam died, as well a being interviewed by multiple outlets.
Kate was interviewed by Lorraine Kelly on ITV in March 2025. It is unknown whether Kate was paid to do the appearance or not where she spoke about the programme’s March4March campaign which encourages viewers to walk outdoors for an extra 10,000 steps per week to help their mental health.
At the time, Kate said that she was still referring to her boyfriend in the present tense which helped with her “healing journey”. Speaking on the show, she said: “It’s hard for me to refer to him in the past tense, and when I do refer to him in the past tense it almost stings that little bit more because it just… it’s more official.
“I find myself talking about him so much in the present tense, and it’s something where I don’t even feel the need to correct myself, because that’s part of my healing journey that I’m still working on accepting the fact he’s not here any more. I never thought I would be talking about him in the past tense, so it’s definitely really hard to accept.”
Just a month before in February, Kate spoke out for the first time about Liam in an interview with The Sun. It was reported that she allegedly received a five-figure sum for the interview, but this has not been confirmed.
Kate approached the subject that she was not there when Liam had died as she had travelled back to their home in Florida. At the time, rumours emerged that the pair had a fall out, but Kate denied this and said she had actually gone home to look after their dog Nala.
She told The Sun: “I had a responsibility, we had a responsibility. We had our dog and obviously I never, ever thought this event would occur.
“It was a tragic accident and no, I never did think (he might die young). But, you know, we did have our own separate lives — this wasn’t the first time we have travelled separately. I just never thought this would have happened, that it would turn out the way it did.”
Similar to her other interviews, Kate spoke about her grief with podcast star Jay Shetty. It has not been disclosed how much the influencer was paid for the appearance.
She discussed how they first met when she was a waitress to New Jersey up to how she thought she would spend the rest of her life with the star. Kate opened up to Shetty about the moment she heard the news of Liam’s death.
She was in their shared home in Florida with their dog when she received a call from one of his friends. Kate had been there waiting for him to return home.
Kate has been making money through various brand deals on Instagram and monetised Snapchats. She revealed that she spent the lead-up to his one-year anniversary of his death on a brand trip to “keep her mind positive” and “busy”.
In a video shared on TikTok this week, Kate discussed her plans while getting ready for her day. She said: “I am getting ready to go on a trip. I’m obviously transparent and open about my life on social media. I have been for a while now. This week hasn’t been the easiest week and it’s not going to be the easiest week.
“I have so many mixed emotions and my grief comes in so many waves. No matter what I do, I get commentary so if I make this video, people are going to be like, ‘Of course she had to make this video’, but if I didn’t make this video and just went on a trip, people would be like ‘What is she doing? How is she not in bed crying?'”
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She added: “Doing nothing for me and laying in bed and sitting around the house does absolute not good things for my head space. It reminds me of the really dark place I was in last year and I finally am starting to see the light again in life.”
Kate went on to reveal she received an offer to go on a “wholesome” brand trip for two nights, with the itinerary including brunch, pilates, and poolside hangouts. One of her close friends, who also lost her partner, would join her on the trip.
It seems Kate Garraway has found a clever way to shop as she scores a knitwear accessory from the junior section
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Kate is serving major autumn accessory inspo(Image: BBC)
The only disappointment we have with the Celebrity edition of The Traitors is that it only shows on our screens two nights a week, which hardly feels like enough to watch the drama and the fashion unfold. This week, Paloma Faith admitted to packing six suitcases full of looks she didn’t get the time to wear on the BBC show, while Tom Daly also revealed a giant Antler suitcase packed with some fabulous fits on his own Instagram.
So, when a fashion moment does pop up from one of the stars, you can be sure we’re taking note because who knows how many more our favourite players have to show? Last night, it was Kate Garraway’s turn to pull focus with an accessory that you can shop for under £10 (take note, Claudia!).
Kate was sporting what looks to be H&M’s Detailed Rib Knit Beanie in the red shade, £8.99. Complete with mini red bows, the hat looked incredibly pretty sat atop of Kate’s bronde tresses. However, it seems like the GMB presenter picked it up from H&M’s junior section, because the hat only comes in a 6-10 year size. A savvy shopping hack or just something she borrowed from her daughter? who knows, but we love the look on her.
READ MORE: Claudia Winkleman’s Traitors tartan trousers have the ‘entire country’ searching for them
Kate is bang on trend with her accessory choice, considering bows are having a huge moment as we near party season. Emblazoned on jumpers, dresses, shoes and hats, it’s a coquette trend that isn’t quite so sugary sweet, thanks to this season’s colour palette veering towards the deep, rich tones rather than pinks.
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If you fancy getting involved in the bow trend for yourself, but you’re worried your head size is a little large for Kate’s hat pick, there are plenty of other styles to add to your baskets.
Madagascar has sworn in an army colonel as president, just days after a military takeover on the back of a popular rebellion that sent President Andry Rajoelina fleeing into exile.
The African island nation’s High Constitutional Court on Friday formalised the appointment of Colonel Michael Randrianirina in a ceremony, crowning a tumultuous week in which Rajoelina was impeached for desertion of duty on Tuesday, with the military stepping in.
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Mass demonstrations in recent weeks over power and water shortages turned deadly, with the United Nations reporting that at least 22 people have been killed and more than 100 others were injured.
“Today marks a historic turning point for our country. With a people in full fervour, driven by the desire for change and a deep love for their homeland, we joyfully open a new chapter in the life of our nation,” Randrianirina said on Friday.
The ceremony was attended by military officers, politicians, representatives of the Gen Z youth-led protest movement and several foreign delegations, including from the United States, the European Union, Russia and France.
“We will work hand in hand with all the driving forces of the nation to draft a fine constitution … and to agree on new electoral laws for the organisation of elections and referendums,” Randrianirina said, thanking the youth for spearheading the protests that ousted Rajoelina.
“We are committed to breaking with the past,” Randrianirina said. “Our main mission is to thoroughly reform the country’s administrative, socioeconomic and political systems of governance,” he added.
Randrianirina said earlier that the military had taken power and dissolved all institutions except the lower house of parliament, or National Assembly.
Al Jazeera’s Fahmida Miller, reporting from capital Antananarivo, said that Randrianirina had carefully picked his attire: a civilian suit rather than his military uniform, and the location for the ceremony.
“I think what is important to him to bring across is an impression that there are constitutional guidelines around the swearing-in ceremony and going forward, the formation of a new government.”
The 51-year-old commander of the CAPSAT unit has pledged elections in 18 to 24 months and told local media that consultations were under way to appoint a consensus prime minister.
Amid international criticism, including from the United Nations, Randrianirina denied he had initiated a coup, pointing to the constitutional court’s backing of his new role.
Rajoelina’s camp has condemned the constitutional court’s support of the CAPSAT commander as riddled with procedural illegalities that risked destabilising the former French colony.
It has insisted that Rajoelina remain the leader and was working to find solutions to the problems dogging the impoverished island, which prompted the youth-led protest movement on September 25.
Government forces were accused of a harsh crackdown on the protesters, with many reported dead or wounded, until CAPSAT announced on October 11 that it would refuse orders to shoot at them.
The statement was a turning point in the uprising, with the unit hailed by the protest movement, which is now expecting a role in the new set-up.
Rajoelina’s office confirmed in a statement late Wednesday that he fled the country the same weekend CAPSAT stood behind the protesters, saying he feared for his life. He did not reveal his whereabouts.
Media reports said the 51-year-old was evacuated on Sunday on board a French military plane that took him to the French island of Reunion, from where he travelled to Dubai.
Madagascar is the latest of several former French colonies to have fallen under military control since 2020, after coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Gabon, and Guinea.
It is the third military transition in Madagascar since independence from France in 1960, following coups in 1972 and in 2009.
The country is one of the poorest in the world, despite an abundance of natural resources and a rich biodiversity.
About 80 percent of its roughly 32 million people live in poverty, according to the World Bank’s benchmark.
Rajoelina’s escape is the third time a Malagasy head of state has left the country after being ousted. Didier Ratsiraka fled to France in 2002 after post-electoral violence, and Marc Ravalomanana went to South Africa in 2009.
The African Union and regional SADC bloc said they would send fact-finding missions to the island and called for constitutional democracy to be upheld.
“The transition is now under way. We call for the full involvement of civilians in the ongoing process,” French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Thursday.
The Girls Aloud star shared one unusual thing that is part of her beauty routine – that you might expect to see in a war-time pantry more than a celebrity’s bathroom cupboard.
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Nicola Roberts shared the secrets of her skincare routine
Girls Aloud’s Nicola Roberts revealed her ultra-simple three-step skincare routine, including one very unusual product you might not think you can use on your face.
Nicola, who is currently performing on the West End stage as Persephone in the musical Hadestown, said her skin is suffering from what feels like “inches of thick makeup” slathered on her face every night. Her skin saviour? Beef Tallow, or beef dripping.
The 39-year-old told a panel at Aveeno’s Aging Gratefully event: “I can’t face the prospect of a 16-step skincare routine. I go on social media and just see these women’s faces glistening with product.
“I just remove my makeup and cleanse with beef tallow, use the moisturiser [Aveeno’s age renewal face cream] and use an SPF on top of that.”
More commonly associated with war-time calorie hoarding, or crisping up roast potatoes, beef dripping is the fat that drips from a joint of beef during roasting once it has cooled and solidified, as per 1900s.org.
Available for £10 at Ocado or Holland & Barrett, this is a surprisingly cheap option and will be available in a range of supermarkets. Speaking about her new routine since joining the Hadestown cast, Nicola said she spends her Mondays off “just sleeping.”
The singer-songwriter also spoke about feeling more comfortable with herself and aging in her late 30s. She said: “When I was younger looking at fashion magazines all the girls would be like ‘I love her face’ or ‘I love her hair’- but I couldn’t relate to the girls in these pictures because I didn’t recognise myself in them.
She shared her biggest beauty regret from her twenties was trying to assimilate to these girls in magazines – and this included using fake tan.
“Stepping into myself has really only happened in the last few years. That could just be an age thing where you just care less. But it’s such a nice place to be in. When I speak to younger girls, I’m just like ‘you will get there – you sink into yourself finally.’”
It was rumoured Nicola would be joining the cast of Strictly Come Dancing before fans were confused to see her name missing form the line up.
During an interview with Scott Mills on BBC Radio 2, Nicola expressed her admiration for the production she is currently starring in, which is based on the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, calling it a “true masterpiece”.
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While discussing her new venture, Nicola said: “I start on Monday, it’s very daunting, I went to see the show again on Friday and it’s just unbelievable. They’re so tight and just fantastic.”
Mongolian Prime Minister Gombojav Zandanshatar has stepped down after only four months as leader of the country, after receiving a crushing vote of no confidence from politicians, the country’s parliament has announced.
Mongolia’s 126-seat national parliament, the State Great Khural, held the vote on Friday in which a reported 111 members of parliament cast their ballots, with 71 supporting Zandanshatar’s dismissal and 40 opposing, according to a parliamentary statement.
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On October 10, more than 50 members of the legislature submitted a motion to have Zandanshatar dismissed from his post, citing constitutional violations and concerns about governance, according to reports, with the prime minister’s recent appointment of a new minister of justice and home affairs at the centre of the controversy.
The MPs said Zandanshatar’s appointment was carried out unilaterally, without consultation with parliament as required under the Mongolian constitution, and had undermined “the principle of the separation of state powers”.
“[The appointment] encroached on the powers of the President of Mongolia and the State Great Khural, violates the fundamental principles of the constitution, and violates the principle of the rule of law,” parliamentarians said in a statement at the time.
A second criticism of Zandanshatar concerned his public statements about an ongoing investigation, which allegedly undermined judicial independence and the right to the presumption of innocence, while a third alleged that changes he made to pricing mechanisms for major mineral exporters fostered unfair competition.
It was only four months ago that Mongolian lawmakers overwhelmingly voted in the 55-year-old, Russian-educated economist and former vice-director of one of the country’s largest commercial banks.
Zandanshatar replaced former Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai, who was also forced out of office after weeks of protests prompted by reports of lavish spending by his son, which morphed into wider public anger at the country’s political elites.
The landlocked country in northeast Asia – sandwiched between superpowers China and Russia – has endured deep-seated corruption for decades, with wealthy elites facing public anger for hoarding the profits of a years-long coal mining boom.
Luvsannamsrai – who also lost a vote of confidence in parliament in June, before offering his resignation – warned at the time that his removal could lead to further instability in the still-young democracy.
He said if the political situation becomes “unstable, the economic situation deteriorates, and political parties cannot come to consensus” then that could put Mongolia’s “democratic parliamentary system at risk of collapse”.
