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December 2, 2025

Russian tanker struck off Turkiye as Ukraine targets ‘shadow fleet’

by news organizations

The third vessel to be targeted within a week has been a Russian-flagged tanker in the Black Sea, according to reports of an attack off the Turkish coast.

The Midvolga-2 had reported being attacked about 130 kilometers (80 miles) away from land, according to the Turkish Directorate General of Maritime Affairs on Tuesday.

Turkish balancing act

A Kyiv official told Reuters that the Kairos and the Virat were being targeted by Ukraine as they approached a Russian port to load up with oil destined for foreign markets on Friday.

In the first nine months of this year, 113 of these vessels sailed under a false flag, carrying 11 million tons of Russian crude, which is worth 4.7 billion euros ($5.4 billion), according to a recent report from the Helsinki-based Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA).

Throughout the entire conflict, which was sparked by Russia’s massive invasion of its neighbor in February 2022, NATO member Turkiye has maintained cordial relations with both Kyiv and Moscow.

It has hosted three rounds of peace talks as a mediator.

Ankara has offered Ukraine military assistance as a member of NATO. It has, however, demanded that the Black Sea’s navigational security be maintained and resisted Western sanctions against the Kremlin.

In a televised address on Monday, Erdogan said, “We cannot condone these attacks, which are a threat to navigational safety, life, and the environment, especially in our own exclusive zone,” adding that Turkiye had issued a warning to “all related sides.”

Crude targets

In a bid to deprive Moscow of funds to sustain its war, Kyiv, which has endured stringent attacks against its energy infrastructure for years, has recently focused on rupturing Russia’s oil industry.

Russian refineries and crude terminals have been in particular the target of criticism.

The Ukrainian attacks on oil tankers and infrastructure in the Black Sea, according to Russia’s foreign ministry, were “acts of terrorism” that threatened regional freedom of navigation.

December 2, 2025

‘A fearless hero for hapless England’ – Robin Smith obituary

By 234Radio in News, Sports News

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Mark Mitchener

Senior journalist for BBC Sport

2 December 2025, 11: 21 GMT

Updated 9 hours ago

In a time when the England team was frequently seen as a national joke, Robin Smith, 62, was one of the best fast bowlers.

Smith, moustache bristling, bravely taking on the terrifying West Indies pace attack or battling it out against the unrelenting Australians, was a familiar sight for England supporters for nearly a decade.

His trademark shot, a particularly potent square cut, earned him admirers all over the world and a feared adversary.

Hampshire and Durban.

Getty Images

Robin Arnold Smith, a child of British-born parents, was born in Durban, South Africa, in 1963, and became a cricket and rugby prodigy.

He served as the inspiration for Barry Richards, a renowned South African Test opener, who later became a lifelong friend.

His parents even bought the next-door house, knocked it down and built a cricket pitch where Robin and his elder brother Chris could practise – complete with an early bowling machine – and hired ex-Natal player Grayson Heath to coach them.

At the age of 17, the younger Smith traveled to the Natal squad for drinks with Richards and Mike Procter, another great of South Africa, but his brother gave him an early break.

While Gordon Greenidge was away with the West Indies, Chris Smith made his debut for Glamorgan 2nd XI in 1979, scoring a century for the hosts. Hampshire were impressed enough to offer him a contract for 1980.

When Chris returned in 1981, 17-year-old Robin accompanied him and was quickly signed up after a successful trial.

The Smith brothers entered English cricket with a Walsall-born father and an Edinburgh-born mother at a time when the apartheid regime in South Africa imposed a permanent international ban.

The Judge is formally summoned from the bench.

Robin Smith playing for Hampshire in 1983

When Greenidge or Malcolm Marshall were unavailable, Robin had to patiently wait for opportunities to play overseas.

His Hampshire debut came against Pakistan at Bournemouth in 1982. The teenager was allegedly bowled round his legs by wily leg-spinner Abdul Qadir as a sign of future struggles against spin.

In contrast, second XI bowlers were subjected to criticism for how much money it cost to replace the balls Smith had thrown out of the ground.

With Greenidge and Marshall away for the 1983 World Cup and then with West Indies in 1984, Smith had a longer spell in the side and hit the ground running as he became England-qualified in 1985, making more than 1, 500 runs that summer.

Even though Chris won eight Test caps, those who watched knew Robin was likely to surpass his brother. In 1988, Robin was called to England after playing a devastating innings in the Lord’s Benson &amp, Hedges Cup final.

The news broke on the morning of a Sunday League game at Edgbaston.

Allan Lamb and Robin Smith dressed as Mickey and Minnie Mouse

Smith entered Test cricket with England in disarray against West Indies. One of England’s four captains who took the field in the summer of 1988, Chris Cowdrey, led his first Test at Headingley.

Smith, who was born in South Africa, showed early that he was not overawed by a four-man pace attack led by his great friend Marshall, who had already hit 38 on the debut and who had teamed up with fellow South African-born batter Allan Lamb for a century.

This was an era when England chopped and changed players frequently, using 29 in the 1989 Ashes, but Smith soon established himself as one of the important cogs around which the team was built.

Smith’s bravery against fast bowling became a hallmark of his game after recording his first Test century in Manchester, which was a magnificent 143 against Australia.

He was at his happiest when he pulled, hooked, or cut the quicks while wearing a blue England helmet without a visor or grille.

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baseball offers and ODI records

Smith’s one-day international stats did not match his Test stats, but his 167 against Australia at Edgbaston in 1993 remained an England ODI record until 2016.

Smith was single-minded about batting – his first book was entitled Quest for Number One. In fact, in 1991, according to Smith, the International Cricket Council’s retrospective world rankings placed him second behind Graham Gooch, who he had previously described as his “perfect summer.”

He remained loyal to England despite being given a trial with the New York Mets, which could have potentially dwarfed his cricket earnings in a time before lucrative central contracts, while still giving his all for Hampshire in the middle of the Tests, winning man-of-the-match awards in two Lord’s finals.

But this was an England side in transition. At the conclusion of the 1992 summer, which also served as Lamb, David Gower, and Ian Botham’s last hurrah, Coach Micky Stewart left, who Smith adored and would later refer to as “my second father.”

Shoulder and spin problems

Michael Atherton and Robin Smith in 1995

Due to a turbulence in the calendar, Smith was 36 Tests and more than four years into his England career before taking the field for a Test on the continent. He had learned to bat on hard, bouncy tracks in South Africa.

It became a perception that Smith struggled against high-class spin bowling, and in 1993, after averaging only 24 in India before being dismissed seven times in 10 innings by either Shane Warne or Tim May in the Ashes, that perception became a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Smith underwent surgery following that summer to repair his nagging shoulder injury that had caused him to lose his “ball-like” throw from the boundary. Neither Stewart’s replacement Keith Fletcher nor Ray Illingworth’s new chairman of selectors were successful.

Smith had been a guaranteed pick for years, but Fletcher’s public criticism of his off-field prowess, including a company that made cricket equipment, had suddenly taken him out of the spotlight.

South Africa by now had been readmitted to international cricket, and Smith was hugely disappointed to be dropped for the first home series against the country of his birth – and then omitted for the 1994-95 Ashes.

Smith was recalled against the West Indies in 1995, which included a cheekbone fracturing by Ian Bishop and a tour ticket to South Africa that winter, but he continued to feel publicly underwhelmed by Illingworth, who was now serving as coach following Fletcher’s dismissal.

End of the cricketing road

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Smith continued to play for Hampshire between 1998 and 2002, beginning with a modest reluctance, while imagining an untimely England recall.

He later revealed in his 2019 book about the demons he faced in retirement, explaining how his cricketing self and private self deviated, and was told he would not be offered another Hampshire contract at the end of 2003.

“The Judge was a fearless warrior, Robin Arnold Smith was a frantic worrier”, he wrote.

He battled alcohol problems, the break-up of his marriage, and his brother who had moved there after moving to Perth, Western Australia.

However, Robin Smith’s warm response to his book and the struggles he confessed only strengthened how fondly he will always be remembered.

He wrote: “I wasn’t one of the all-time greats, but if people remember me as a good player of raw pace bowling then I’m chuffed with that because it’s something I worked so hard on”.

related subjects

England Men’s Cricket Team
Hampshire
Cricket

December 2, 2025

Former England batter Robin Smith dies aged 62

By 234Radio in News, Sports News

Images courtesy of Getty

Elizabeth Botcherby

journalist for BBC Sport

2 December 2025, 10: 41 GMT

Added 6 minutes ago

Robin Smith, 62, a former England batter, passed away.

Smith, who later became known as “Judge,” won 62 Test caps between 1988 and 1996 and ran 4 236 runs for an average of 43.67, including nine centuries.

In 71 one-day internationals, he also averaged 39.01.

Between 1998 and 2002, Smith captained Hampshire for the entire county, winning two Benson & Hedges Cups and a NatWest Trophy.

He finished his 22-year career in 2003, with 26, 155 first-class runs at 41.51.

Smith, who had relocated to Australia after his retirement, endured battles with alcoholism and mental health issues for several months before being hospitalized for several months in 2024.

We must announce the passing of Robin Smith with the deepest and most profound sense of sadness and loss, according to a statement from the Smith family.

“Robin became one of England’s most likable and well-known players.

He earned legions of admirers and friends along the way, and he was a brave and fervent batsman for both Hampshire and his adopted country.

Smith made his debut in 1982 after moving to Hampshire along with his older brother Chris and future England international from South Africa in 1963.

He made his Test debut against West Indies at Headingley in 1988, and after four years, he was eligible to play for England.

Later that summer, he made his international debut against Sri Lanka.

In a 4-0 home defeat by Australia in the Ashes the following year, Smith scored the most runs for England, scoring 553.

He averaged almost 50 on home soil and scored seven of his nine Test centuries in particularly high English conditions.

He was a member of England’s 1992 World Cup squad, but he did not participate in Pakistan’s final defeat.

Smith had the highest total by an England player in the format until Alex Hales made 171 against Pakistan in 2016 with a score of 167 from 163 balls against Australia at Edgbaston in 1993.

He made over 640 appearances for Hampshire before turning 40 just before his 40th birthday.

One of the greatest, if not the greatest, of all time Hampshire cricket heroes, according to chairman Rod Bransgrove.

He was one of the most courageous players this club has ever seen, especially against bowling of real pace, and one of the batsmen of awesome power and control.

Robin embodied the spirit of Hampshire more than anything else. He quickly returned from many of his 62 Test matches and 71 ODIs to join his county team to play Championship or List ‘A’ fixtures with relish after returning from numerous of his 62 Test matches and 71 ODIs.

“Everyone he came into contact with” the Judge communicated with him.

He was one of the most well-known players to ever play the game, which we all adore, and he will be greatly missed by fans, staff, players, and supporters across the nation and beyond.

Richard Thompson, the chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board, stated that Robin Smith, who faced challenges of hostile fast bowling with a defiant smile and incredible resilience, “stood toe to toe with some of the quickest bowlers in the world.”

“He did it in a way that gave England fans unmatched entertainment and great pride.

That unforgettable 167 balls against Australia exemplify how far he had come before his time.

related subjects

England Men’s Cricket Team
Hampshire
Cricket

Sean Combs: The Reckoning, a jaw-dropping P Diddy documentary produced by 50 Cent, the rapper’s archrival, premieres on Netflix today.

Bad boy star, P Diddy’s rise from millionaire music mogul to fallen felon is nothing short of jaw-dropping. The hugely successful music producer, 56, had the world at his feet until it all came crashing down last year when his ex, Cassie, filed a sexual assault law suit against him

In October, Diddy, real name Sean Combs, was sentenced to 50 months behind bars after being found guilty of federal prosecution charges. He is now serving time in New Jersey’s Fort Dix prison – a far cry from the mega mansions he has spent more than half of his life in.

Today, a bombshell documentary about the rapper drops on Netflix. Sean Combs: The Reckoning, which is produced by Diddy’s long-time foe, 50 Cent, promises to explore the both the rise and fall of the star, whose life is looking very different now…

READ MORE: Sienna Miller, 43, pregnancy reveal as she looks phenomenal on red carpet in sheer dressREAD MORE: Peter Kay shares gym nightmare that left him sobbing in the toilets as he opens up about weight loss

Steel beds, a thin mattress, and “paranoia” are what put people in jail.

Diddy was languishing while on trial at the reported rat-infested Metropolitan Detention Centre, but he is still a million miles away from his home comforts.

Combs’s recent appearance as a sleeping companion on a steel bed with a thin mattress is a stark reminder of how far the father-of-seven has come from his former life of attentive staff, Michelin-starred chefs, and lavish accommodations abroad.

Since being imprisoned, Diddy has also been reported to have had paranoia. His early apprehensions about eating jail food and his belief that he couldn’t trust other lags were well documented.

He is currently incarcerated in a federal prison, but his new home, reportedly not easing the psychological strain, is still there. This is a common placement for high-profile inmates and those at risk.

adjusting to a new routine

Diddy appears to be settling into a regular work schedule despite making a significant lifestyle change. Combs is finishing his shift at the prison’s media library, which is located in the chapel, according to TMZ’s footage.

His alleged responsibilities include distributing religious material and films to fellow prisoners, which keeps him in regular contact with the compound’s residents.

He reportedly helped organize a Thanksgiving lunch for his fellow lags, according to reports, with a photo of the star with his new pals last week in the prison yard that clearly showed his hair as being clearly gray.

Donald Trump’s defense

Combs’ legal team confirmed to CNN that they have reached out to president Donald Trump to explore a pardon for the disgraced rapper.

It appears that we have spoken and exchanged information regarding a pardon, according to his attorney, Nicole Westmoreland.

Trump did acknowledge that he had received the request, but he made it clear that he was not interested in releasing the Bad Boy star, citing the gloomy relationship they had after their 2020 presidential campaign.

Trump remarked to Newsmax that “when I ran for office, he was very hostile,” adding that the perception of pardons frequently comes down to personal history.

We’re people, he said clumsily, “We’re human.” We dislike having our judgment be influenced by circumstances. Trump has stated on numerous occasions that he only grants pardons when he believes a person was “mistreated” within the legal system.

Diddy’s release date is when?

Combs will have years of the same rigid routine ahead of him as the federal records indicate that his earliest possible release date is June 4th, 2028. His hysterical lawyers are, of course, trying to make this happen quickly, with some claiming that he might be freed next year.

Continue reading the article.

However, good conduct and successful prison programs are both essential for a premature release, neither of which can significantly shorten the sentence. The rapper’s release may be delayed by ongoing investigations into allegations made against him.

Diddy must now prepare for Fort Dix’s daily grind, which is a far cry from the epic empire he once held.

December 2, 2025

Kate Middleton handed key role ahead of historic state visit – details in full

By 234Radio in Entertainment News, News

Kate Middleton is given a significant role in The Mirror’s full report on the historic state visit.

Skip to the main article

Beginning tomorrow, King Charles will make his third major state visit to Windsor, where the Prince and Princess of Wales will play a significant part.

Here’s everything we know about the German president’s three-day visit to the UK now that the King and Queen are gearing up for their third inward state visit of the year.

The three-day trip will begin in Windsor on Wednesday as King Charles prepares to meet the German president for a historic state visit.

Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife, former judge Elke Budenbender, will be formally welcomed by the Prince and Princess of Wales on behalf of the monarch when they touch down in Heathrow tomorrow, before travelling to Windsor.

Mr. Steinmeier will be welcomed ceremonially in the castle quadrangle following a carriage ride through the streets of the castle with Camilla, William, and Kate as guests. On Wednesday evening, the German leader will receive a lavish state banquet in St George’s Hall, a former royal residence.

Before joining the King and Queen for a Big Help Out reception to highlight the positive impact volunteering can have on communities, he will privately place flowers at the late Queen Elizabeth II’s tomb in the castle’s St George’s Chapel.

This will be Germany’s first state visit since 1958, and it will also be its fifth state visit from Germany. King Charles will also make his third state visit this year, joining Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron, who were both first introduced in September.

President Steinmeier has been to Britain on numerous occasions, most recently to the Their Majesties’ Coronation in May 2023.

Mr. Steinmeier will visit Downing Street on Wednesday afternoon for talks with Prime Minister Keir Starmer and attend a meeting of UK and German business leaders. On Thursday, Mr. Steinmeier will address Parliament.

Continue reading the article.

The Duke of Kent and the German president will pay a moving visit to the former Coventry Cathedral, which was bombed by the Germans during World War II, on Friday. The Coventry Blitz in November 1940, which resulted in the deaths of 568 people and the destruction of 4,300 homes, as well as the destruction of St. Michael’s Cathedral, 85 years old, is observed today.

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December 2, 2025

Liam Gallagher teases ‘big announcement imminent’ as fans get ready

By 234Radio in Entertainment News, News

By implying that there will be significant news coming, Liam Gallagher has enraged his fans. Fans are eager to learn what the Mancunian has to say about a Knebworth residency and a stadium tour that is on the rise.

He took to Twitter/X on Tuesday to express himself in capital letters, “Big announcement imminent.” And excited fans quickly flooded the comments section.

One follower complained, “Every time you say this, the timeline looks like it’s 1996 again.” We’re prepared for it, whatever you’re about to drop.

Another said, “My heartbeat just complained about noise.” Drop . The. “Announcement”

This year, Oasis reunites (AFP via Getty Images).

Additionally, Oasis star Paul “Bonehead” Arthurs made a tease to fans by telling Liam to “hurry up.” “Hurry up @liamgallagher,” He later wrote, “I’m going out.”

One fan remarked, “European Tour Bonehead or we riot.” Another phrase was added, “My dog will be very sad if you don’t play Knebworth again.” You guys are cooler than Mr. Freeze, according to Jenny.

Some fans, who claimed to have been here before, didn’t want to raise their hopes too high. They remarked, “Big announcement is imminent,” “Oh Liam”?

Mate, you yelled “I work out” while constructing our bodies like this last time; you were just flexing in the mirror and doing it! or declaring yourself “The B*****ks”. I’m rioting if Noel and I have to have another pint of tea together. Spray it before we all get a new decade of age.

Any upcoming shows the legendary band left unsure after their comeback tour was over. Following Brazil’s final performance, they shared a message with the audience.

There will now be a period of reflection, the band declared a week ago. However, his most recent message has now sent them back into high gear.

After Liam had a question about the band’s future, it arrived. According to Liam, it wasn’t just his decision, as there were rumors about a Knebworth residency in the summer of next year and additional shows at venues like their beloved Etihad Stadium in Manchester.

After casting doubts over the potential showpieces, Liam responded to a fan by saying, “Oasis’ future plans aren’t just down to him. He had a different perspective from what he had previously said to Wembley Stadium’s fans after he said he would see them again next year.

Since returning to Cardiff in July, they have played 41 sold-out stadium shows this year as part of their epic comeback. As they settled their differences and performed together on stage for the first time in 16 years, Noel and Liam Gallagher successfully rekindled the nostalgia they had for so long.

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Category News

Russian tanker struck off Turkiye as Ukraine targets ‘shadow fleet’

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Turkish balancing act

Crude targets

‘A fearless hero for hapless England’ – Robin Smith obituary

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Hampshire and Durban.

The Judge is formally summoned from the bench.

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

baseball offers and ODI records

Shoulder and spin problems

End of the cricketing road

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related subjects

Former England batter Robin Smith dies aged 62

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More on this story.

Diddy’s prison life now as bombshell Netflix documentary by 50 Cent released

Sean Combs: The Reckoning, a jaw-dropping P Diddy documentary produced by 50 Cent, the rapper’s archrival, premieres on Netflix today.

Steel beds, a thin mattress, and “paranoia” are what put people in jail.

adjusting to a new routine

Donald Trump’s defense

Diddy’s release date is when?

Kate Middleton handed key role ahead of historic state visit – details in full

Beginning tomorrow, King Charles will make his third major state visit to Windsor, where the Prince and Princess of Wales will play a significant part.

Here’s everything we know about the German president’s three-day visit to the UK now that the King and Queen are gearing up for their third inward state visit of the year.

Liam Gallagher teases ‘big announcement imminent’ as fans get ready