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Wynne, Flynne
Journalist for BBC Sport
Following a shoulder injury, England are hopeful that Sophie Ecclestone will be able to play in the women’s world cup semifinal against South Africa on Wednesday.
Ecclestone, the world’s top-ranked bowler in one-day internationals, fell awkwardly on her bowling shoulder during Sunday’s final group stage encounter with New Zealand.
Before having to leave the field for treatment, she was only able to bowl four balls in the match.
The England and Wales Cricket Board stated that Ecclestone’s left shoulder’s MRI scan revealed a minor joint injury to the collar bone.
Before the semi-final against South Africa, she will continue to be evaluated.
With 12 scalps, Ecclestone, along with fellow left-arm spinner Linsey Smith, is England’s joint-leading wicket-taker in the World Cup so far.
Captain Nat Sciver-Brunt stated to BBC Sport, “We’re expecting her to be okay.”
“Sophie will be great if she plays on that pitch tomorrow because she’s such a big player for us.”
At the end of the group stage, England defeated the Proteas to defeat them in Guwahati at 09:30 GMT, having defeated Laura Wolvaardt’s side for just 69 in their opening match of the tournament.
18 hours ago
17 hours ago
Semi-final matches of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup
Three new judges of the Katsina State High Court were sworn in by governor Dikko Radda on Monday, urging them to uphold public trust with honesty, fairness, and the fear of God.
Maryam Umaru Abdullahi, Shamsuddeen Ammama, and Abubakar Dikko are the newly appointed judges.
At the swearing-in ceremony, which took place at the Government House in Katsina, dignitaries from the state’s executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government, as well as members of the Katsina State Executive Council, traditional rulers, and appointees’ families.
The newly sworn-in judges’ profiles reflect distinguished academic achievements and professional accomplishments in a variety of legal field.
Justice Maryam has extensive experience in the justice sector and impressive academic credentials. She has held positions as State Solicitor, Head of the Supreme Court’s Notary Public Unit, and Deputy Director at the National Judicial Institute as well as an advanced degree from the University of Abuja.
Also Read: Governor Radda swears in eight permanent secretaries and three commissioners.
Justice Shamsuddeen joins the bench with youthful energy, academic excellence, and a wealth of professional experience. He has worked in academia, the National Judicial Institute, and the National Assembly as a graduate of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, with two Master’s degrees, including one in oil and gas law from the United Kingdom.
Justice Abubakar has spent more than 20 years working as the country’s Supreme Court’s Head of Litigation. He was a research assistant to a former Nigerian Chief Justice and a University of Abuja graduate with a Master’s degree in law.
Governor Radda praised the swearing-in as “a remarkable milestone in the state’s judicial history,” claiming that the new judges’ appointments would advance Katsina State’s system of justice and promote efficient justice delivery.
He praised the Katsina State Judicial Service Commission for conducting a thorough and merit-based selection process that resulted in credible and qualified applicants.
Given their impressive credentials and years of professional experience, Governor Radda expressed confidence in the new judges’ ability to make a significant contribution to the state’s justice system.
“We are swearing in three new Katsina State High Court judges today. The governor said that this significant advance for our judiciary will strengthen our capacity and the state’s ability to administer justice.
He prayed that Almighty Allah would guide the new judges through their responsibilities in a moral compass throughout their judicial careers.
“First of all, I want to congratulate you and wish you God’s guidance in carrying out your responsibilities. We as members of the Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary can all reflect deeply on the obligations we owe, he said. This oath of office and an act of allegiance are sufficient.
The governor advised the judges to regularly take their oaths, stating that their positions are sacred trusts in the eyes of Katsina State and God.
I suggest that we all go back and read this oath once more after a while, perhaps a month. It will serve as a reminder that God is watching over and aware of our actions, he continued.
The Governor reaffirmed the crucial role that the judiciary plays as society’s last hope, particularly for the underprivileged and the marginalized.
Everyone values your justice, including those who have voice and those who do not. particularly those who do not. If you carry out your duties with diligence and sincerity, I believe your position will point you in the right direction,” he said.
Governor Radda prayed for the judges’ wisdom, patience, and strength to carry out their duties with justice, courage, and humility. He assured that his administration would continue to support the legislature and the judiciary to promote effective collaboration between the three branches of government.
“To ensure harmony between the three branches of government, we will continue to support the judiciary and the legislature.” Without a strong and efficient judicial system, there is nothing that we can accomplish as a state. According to him, the judiciary is still our society’s foundation for peace, order, and justice.
He also reaffirmed the value of prompt justice delivery, warning that judicial system delays could harm the public’s faith.
Time waits for no one, as they say. To create the kind of society we all aspire to, one based on justice, peace, and unity, he added, “it is crucial that we dispense justice promptly and fairly.”
Jair Bolsonaro, the former president of Brazil, was given a 27-year prison sentence last month for a failed military coup after his 2022 election defeat, and his lawyer has filed an appeal.
The 85-page petition requested that Bolsonaro’s conviction, including his sentence, be reviewed.
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Donald Trump, the president of the United States, has referred to the prosecution of his far-right ally as a “witch-hunt” and raised a serious issue with Brazil’s relations with his country.
Following the 2022 election, Bolsonaro was found guilty in September for attempting to oust President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
A week after Lula’s inauguration, crowds reportedly stormed government buildings, drawing comparisons to the riot on January 6 at the US Capitol after Joe Biden defeated Trump in the 2020 presidential election.
Bolsonaro’s attorneys’ motion claimed that his conviction and sentence had been “deep injustices.” How much of a sentence reduction was being sought, it wasn’t stated.
failed coup
Bolsonaro was found guilty of five crimes last month by four of the five judges on a Supreme Court panel, including organizing a coup and participating in an armed criminal organization.
According to the prosecution, the plot involved the murder of Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, and was only successful because military leaders lacked support.
In July, Trump announced punitive tariffs against Brazil and put sanctions on Brazilian officials, citing his frustration with the prosecution.
Bolsonaro, who has been under house arrest since August, has denied having done anything wrong. He won’t go to prison until all legal avenues are exhausted, according to Brazilian law.
Possible judicial revisions
The Supreme Court has made changes in the past, including the sentence length, according to Thiago Bottino, a law professor at the Getulio Vargas Foundation.
According to Reuters, defendants who have been given Supreme Court sentences typically need two judges to disagree on a ruling and file an appeal that might have a significant impact on the outcome.
Bolsonaro’s attorneys filed a lesser motion for clarification or review of specific aspects of the conviction after only one justice disagreed.
Bolsonaro, 70, may ask for house arrest if his appeal is unsuccessful because of his poor health.
Adam Lanigan, BBC Sport, North East & Cumbria and Ellie Thomason, BBC Sport Senior Journalist
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“We want to reach 40 points as soon as possible”.
Sunderland are fourth in the Premier League after nine games, defying expectations this year.
Regis le Bris, however, insists that achieving 40 points and ensuring Premier League safety are still the goals rather than entertaining talk of European football.
The newly promoted side were among the favourites for relegation from the Premier League at the start of the 2025-26 campaign, with Opta’s Supercomputer tipping them to finish bottom.
The Black Cats now have 17 points, which is their best season-to-date return since Hull City, who had 20 in 2008-2009, nine games in.
Following the Black Cats’ most recent victory, a 2-1 comeback win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, Le Bris commented, “The emotions in the club are excellent, it’s impressive.”
“We’ve found this togetherness not only across the squad but also across the club with the fans as well. This is what they are entitled to. You can create many advantages when the energy is high. For us the target remains the same”.
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Underwhelmed was the dominant emotion when Sunderland announced Le Bris’ appointment in June 2024, it is fair to say.
Michael Beale’s permanent replacement had been impossible to find, and the club had chosen a player who had just been relegated from Ligue 1 to Lorient.
But with the Black Cats ending an eight-year exile from the top flight by beating Coventry in the play-off final, that has turned to immense pride among the club’s support.
Sunderland commentator Nick Barnes of BBC Radio Newcastle said, “The fans love him.
He has succeeded in achieving that saying that “the results are the first things that win them over.”
” But they also see that he is a genuinely nice guy with a nice demeanour about him. He smiles, can crack a joke, and is very patient, and I believe people have responded to that in public and at press conferences.
Le Bris is not your typical manager, with a doctorate in biomechanics and sport physiology to his name. His popularity on Wearside meant that a trip to the seafront at Roker early on in his tenure caught him by surprise when he was mobbed by fans.
This composed and sincere person has since slipped into Newcastle to occasionally enjoy an evening out with his friends and learned his lesson.
This football student is in his element at the Academy of Light, though.
” Regis is a bit shy, but he’s very personable and he has a wry sense of humour and he’s become a bit more comfortable in his own skin, “said Barnes.
He has a lot of focus, he says. He appears to devote his entire life to the position. He jokingly refers to being at his happiest in front of his laptop, watching matches.
Le Bris started out in Ligue 1 for Rennes, but this proud son of Brittany found his true calling when he joined Wasquehal at the age of 27. He had a modest playing career.
He quickly obtained his badges and was soon returning to his old club to take on a youth coaching role.
Before taking a similar job at Lorient, he had success there, winning the French equivalent of the Youth Cup and the U18 Championship.
He once again played a significant role in the youth program, winning the under-17s and then leading the reserve team.
But behind his involvement in youth football was a burning desire to improve himself and take on a top job.
Regis has always had ambitious goals, according to Mathieu Pelicart, regional newspaper Le Telegramme’s correspondent.
He had already made a few trips abroad to clubs in Germany and Spain and had never denied his desire to learn more about other leagues as he prepared to become the number one.
His wish was granted as he took over Lorient in 2022, and after eight wins in his first 10 games the club reached second in the table.
They eventually finished 10th, but they still won at Paris St.Germain, where Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe were both a part, and still did well there.
Le Bris describes himself as a “real coach.”
Images courtesy of Getty
Owner of the French team, Kyril Louis-Dreyfus, was one of the men who had been monitoring Lorient’s events.
Sunderland had put together a talented but youthful squad and they needed a guiding hand.
Le Bris was almost the ideal candidate for this project, despite having only two years of English football experience and no previous success.
French football expert Julien Laurens called Regis Le Bris a “pure coach.”
“All he cares about is the training pitch, doing his sessions, transmitting his ideas across and the game itself. What surrounds him in a way that isn’t really his thing.
Le Bris was once one of France’s top youth-level coaches and academy directors. What he loves the most is coaching young players. He excels at guiding them in how to improve.
‘ Sunderland was perfect for him ‘
Le Bris was proud of his ancestry and the strong Breton cultural identity of the area when he was a child.
Moving to the north-east of England may seem miles away when the 49-year-old has decided to leave, but Wearside has a strong attachment to her.
“He used to be in a club in Lorient that had so much identity”, said Laurens.
“Sunderland was perfect for him,” he said. Because of his previous experiences, he could only have attended a club like Sunderland, which he now associates with.
” He’s a very proud Breton and he knows how much this means to people in Sunderland and in the region overall. “
Le Bris is the first French manager to leave Crystal Palace in March 2023.
Only four newly promoted Premier League managers, Kenny Dalglish, Bryan Robson, Phil Brown, and Frank Clark, have collected more points than Le Bris after nine games.
” I’m hugely impressed, “Michael Carrick said of the Frenchman on Match of the Day.
Fans in ‘ dreamworld ‘
Images courtesy of Getty
Given the number of new players Sunderland have signed, their start this season is all the more impressive.
Nine of their starting XI against Chelsea were summer signings, and they spent £161 million on 15 new players, which is a record high for a promoted side.
” We have bought quality signings that have fitted in really quickly and that is down to Le Bris, “former England captain and Black Cats fan Steph Houghton told BBC Radio 5 Live.
A big thank you to the manager for making it so difficult for the players to defeat, and to the players for believing in themselves and living out their Premier League dreams.
You’re in dreamworld right now, Sunderland fans, and we’re hoping to keep going.
Sunderland’s 17 points equals their best start in the Premier League, matching their tally from the 1999-00 season, and former defender Nedum Onuoha has backed the club to stay in the top flight – as they did 25 years ago.
Onuoha told 5 Live, “Many people were saying they were one of the favorites for relegation at the start of the season, and who knows, that might still happen.”
You can purchase a cardigan coat like Martine McCutcheon’s for just £12 at Primark, which she wears as her beloved Love Actually character on an autumn dog walk.
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Martine wore a head-to-toe outfit from Primark(Image: 2025 Getty Images)
It might be at least another month until it’s acceptable to start watching Christmas films, but Martine McCutcheon is already channelling her iconic Love Actually character with her cosy cardigan-style coat – or coatigan, if you will. Martine was spotted wearing the Contrast Stitch Cardigan, which you can pick up from bargain retailer Primark for just £12.
You can order the cardigan for click and collect so you can make sure you get her exact cozy knit before it runs out, even though you can’t directly purchase it online. Your local Primark store may still have plenty of sizes in stock, but Martine’s cream cardigan is only available online in XS and small.
In the new Tesco partywear range, Abbey Clancy displays her incredible legs.
The cable knit vest by Claudia Winkleman is a must-have layering piece for the winter.
Although Martine opted for the cream version, the Contrast Stitch Cardigan also comes in grey and chocolate brown colourways, however currently these are both showing as out of stock on the Primark website. Don’t despair though, because you can still check stock levels for your local Primark shop and make a quick trip in-store to nab one.
For a chilly autumn dog walk in London on Monday, Martine wore hers with a pair of flared jeans, which she purchased from Primark for only £8 and some chocolate brown accessories. Her large scarf, ankle boots, and knitted beanie hat perfectly suited her Love Actually character Natalie, and we’re already looking forward to snuggling up with our favorite Christmas movies.
Despite having a price of £12 or less, the Primark cardigan still has a very high end appearance. The cosy knit has two front patch pockets and contrast blanket stitching that, for less money, resembles designer garments like the one on the cuffs and hems.
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Its oversized boxy silhouette, which enables layering over everything from fitted tops to flowing dresses, and its minimalistic, classic design make it wearable with almost anything. For a casual weekend look, you can copy Martine with ankle boots and jeans, or you can wear it with heels and a maxi dress.
In a friendly international match on Tuesday, England takes on Australia. The two have met for the first time since their 2023 World Cup semifinal match.
The Lionesses won the World Cup final with a 3-1 victory in Sydney that day.
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