Archive July 24, 2025

Clayton thrashes Bunting to set up Wade semi-final

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With a crushing victory over Stephen Bunting, fifth-seeded Jonny Clayton defeated former champion James Wade to advance to the World Matchplay semi-final.

The Welshman won the game 16-7 at Blackpool from the first time out after opening the door with a 5-0 lead.

After beating Dutchman Gian van Veen 16-13 to reach the final eight for the ninth time, he will now face Wade for a spot in the final.

Early on, Clayton, 50, was in top form against a out-of-sorts Bunting, who averaged 110 in the opening session.

Fourth seed Bunting was unable to capitalize on his struggles as his level dipped for a while before falling backwards as his frustration grew.

Clayton told Sky Sports, “I played right there.” “Total respect to Stephen, I sometimes put pressure on him even though he didn’t play his best game.” I liked the game.

Even though he had dominated almost every leg, he was 4-1 down to Van Veen earlier in the evening as a result of poor finishing.

After the break, the Englishman returned with renewed resolve and won the next eight legs of the spin to take the lead.

Wade was able to hold off on Van Veen’s closing advantage and finish the match with a better average (99.24 to 96.35) and better checkout percentage.

The 42-year-old told Sky Sports, “I thought I had thrown it away.” He was returning in the end, and it was God’s gift to me, not my ability, that secured the victory.

After the first session, I had a very stern word with myself; I was disgusted. You carry out your obligations.

He made the most of his opportunities, I’m fortunate. However, I would have been 5-0 or 10-0 up if I had made the most of mine. I’m buzzing right now.

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Mount says Man Utd should aim for European return

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Midfielder Mason Mount describes Manchester United’s focus on qualifying for Europe this year.

Since English clubs were outlawed by Uefa in the 1980s following the Heysel stadium tragedy, United will only have played in the 2025-26 campaign.

There will be no European games at Old Trafford for the first time since 14-15 due to their 15th-place finish last year in the league and their Europa League final defeat by Tottenham.

According to Mount, “Europe is a massive, massive thing for us.”

“We want to participate in the Champions League, which would be amazing for us,” he said.

Ruben Amorim’s side needs to improve on their 24-25 performance, which saw them finish 23 points clear of Nottingham Forest, who had to choose their final spot in the European qualifying group based on a league finish.

Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo have both been paid more than £125 million by United since moving them from Wolves to Brentford.

They are still linked with strikers, with Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa the most recent subject of speculation following reports of a move for Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson.

Both rumors implicated Alejandro Garnacho, a controversial winger, turning the other way.

Villa has previously claimed that Watkins is going nowhere, despite United sources who are adamant that no deal is imminent.

West Ham, Bournemouth, and Everton are the three Premier League Summer Series games the club will play in the United States during their three-game campaign there.

At United’s Carrington training facility, Garnacho and fellow outcasts Jadon Sancho, Antony, and Tyrell Malacia are training with club staff.

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Trump visits US Federal Reserve HQ amid feud with Chairman Powell

As tensions grow between the administration and the independent overseer of the country’s monetary policy, Donald Trump visited the Federal Reserve’s headquarters in Washington to tour the site of a $ 2.5 billion renovation of two historic buildings. The White House has criticized this move as overly expensive and ostentatious.

Less than a week before the central bank’s 19 policymakers meet for a two-day rate-setting meeting, where they are expected to leave the US central bank’s benchmark interest rate range of 4.25 to 4.50 percent, will the rare presidential visit to the Fed occur.

Trump has repeatedly urged the Fed to lower rates by 3%, and he has frequently posed the possibility of firing Jerome Powell, despite the president’s claim that he has no intention to do so.

Trump referred to the Fed chief as a “numbskull” on Tuesday.

As the two officials toured the unfinished project on Thursday, Trump publicly criticised Powell for the cost of a significant building renovation.

Trump and Powell both silently shook their heads as Trump claimed the project cost $3.1 billion, which is significantly higher than the Fed’s $2.5 billion figure.

“This came from us,” you ask? Prior to realizing that Trump was including the Martin Building’s renovation, which was finished five years ago, Powell said.

Do you anticipate any additional overruns of money? Trump posed a question.

Don’t expect them, Powell remarked.

Trump threatened to fire someone who worked as a real estate developer because of cost overruns. If Powell were to lower interest rates, the president made a joke about it.

As Powell watched with his face expressionless as he said, “I’d love him to lower interest rates”, Trump said, “I’d love him to do that.”

In order to prepare for the session, Powell typically spends the Thursday afternoon before a rate-setting meeting making back-to-back calls with Fed bank presidents.

Trump elevated him to the top of the Fed in 2018, and then reappointed him as president by appointing Joe Biden four years later. Powell last spoke with Trump in March, when the Republican president called him in to demand that he lower rates.

Trump is attempting to discredit a campaign promise by refusing to release documents pertaining to Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender. Epstein died in 2019.

Trump has recently intensified his pressure on Powell, accusing the Fed of running the renovation and putting forth unfavorable decisions and potential fraud.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called for an in-depth review of the Fed’s non-monetary policy operations, citing operating losses at the central bank as a cause for concern about the renovation’s spending, and White House budget director Russell Vought has estimated the cost overrun at “$700m and counting.”

These losses are caused by the Fed’s policy rate management, which includes paying banks to park their cash at the central bank. The Fed reported a total net loss of $114.64 billion in 2023 and $77.56 billion in 2024, a turnaround from years of record profits to the Treasury at low interest rates and inflation.

The spotlight has undergone renovations.

The project, which is the first complete renovation of Washington’s two buildings since they were constructed nearly a century ago, encountered unexpected challenges, including toxic materials abatement and higher-than-estimated materials and labor costs, according to the Fed in letters to Vought and lawmakers and with supporting documents posted on its website.

Fed staff escorted a small group of reporters around the construction sites prior to Trump’s visit. They spoke over the sounds of drills, banging, and saws as they whizzed around cement mixers and construction equipment. In addition to tariffs and escalating labor and material costs, according to Fed staff, security features, such as blast-resistant windows, are major cost-cutters.

The move-in is scheduled for March 2028, and the renovation project started in mid-2020. According to the pool report, a visit to the roof of the Eccles Building revealed an impressive view of the Lincoln Memorial and the National Mall, which was brought to light by White House critics who were concerned about the renovations’ ostentatiousness.

The cost of rooftop seating, according to staff, had been reduced because it appeared to be an amenity and one of only two changes from the original plan. The other was a couple of anticipated fountains were canceled.

The Republican who visited Powell on Wednesday and sent him a letter asking questions about the cost and other details of the renovation as well as Powell’s own statements about it is a part of the visit as well.

Trump’s visit had a modest response in the market. After data revealed new jobless claims dropped in the most recent week, higher yields were added to benchmark 10-year Treasury bonds, indicating a stable labor market that lacked the support of a Fed rate increase. Wall Street’s stock was sparse, in fact.

Trump’s criticism of Powell and his feigning dismissal have previously upended financial markets and threatened a fundamental principle: that central banks are independent and free from political meddling.

His visit contrasts with a small number of other Fed-related visits that have been documented. In 1937, the newly constructed headquarters, one of the two Fed buildings currently being renovated, was dedicated by then-President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. In 2006, former US President George W. Bush visited the Fed to swear in as its chief financial officer.

Is it important to have central bank independence?

Senator Cynthia Lummis, a Republican member of the Senate Banking Committee, said, “I think it’s important that he send a signal that he really isn’t happy with how things are going at the Fed.” She claimed Trump made a “good decision” during the visit.

Senator Mike Rounds, a Republican who chairs the Senate Banking Committee, stated on Thursday that Powell’s independence as Fed chief is “critical for the markets.” He added that Powell’s appointment was “critical for the markets.” I believe he did a good job of that.

According to Rounds, “I think the more information the president can get from this, the better off we are in terms of resolving any issues that are still unresolved,” adding that Powell had stated “that they have had a significant amount of money, just in terms of foundation work and so forth, that was not anticipated to begin with.”

Former Fed chiefs Janet Yellen and Bernanke wrote an opinion piece for The New York Times this week, warning that the public’s belief that the US central bank is politically independent and willing to make tough decisions is “an important national asset.” It is difficult to acquire and difficult to lose.

Economic experts are in agreement with each other.

The credibility of central banks around the world has been instrumental in lowering inflation expectations and lowering inflation across many nations in the world, according to International Monetary Fund spokesman Julie Kozack on Thursday. “As we’ve seen through the disinflation process that has been taking place over the last few years, we’ve seen that.

“Understanding independence must coexist with clear accountability to the public, of course.

Coldplay couple drama continues as HR boss ‘quits’ and is seen without wedding ring

In light of the “cheating” scandal, the two Astronomer employees have both since parted ways after being caught canoodling at a Coldplay concert.

The pair went viral for their antics at a Coldplay concert (Image: instaagraace/Tiktok)

Astronomer HR executive Kristin Cabot was spotted without her wedding ring as she broke cover after reportedly resigning from her job. She was swept up into a viral social media storm when she was seen getting very close to CEO Andy Byron at a Coldplay concert.

They snuggled into each other at the band’s gig in Boston, Massachusetts in a clip that has since gone viral across the globe. The pair, who are married but not to each other, were left red-faced after the camera pointed at them during the gig.

However, it was their reaction that caught the attention, as Kristin covered her face and turned away from the 55, 000 people as Andy shot down toward the ground to hide from the camera. The pair were either having an affair or being “very shy,” according to frontman Chris Martin.

Kristin Cabot
Kristin Cabot has now reportedly stepped down(Image: Linkedin)

Both employees took leave of absence shortly after. After “failing to meet company standards,” Andy later resigned from the organization.

Kristin is alleged to have left as a staffer reported to TMZ, saying: “Kristin Cabot is no longer with Astronomer, she’s resigned.” Kristin was seen for the first time tending plants in her garden as a result of the widespread attention she received.

She was spotted at her $2.2million home on Wednesday as she watered her shrubs with a garden hose. In photos seen by the Daily Mail, the former HR boss wasn’t wearing her wedding ring.

The ring was notably absent from her notorious concert appearance despite being previously worn in social media photos. She and Privateer Rum CEO Andrew Cabot haven’t seen their home in a while, and their relationship is still in limbo.

According to the company, Astronomer is committed to the principles that have guided us since our founding, as previously stated in a statement.

Our leaders are expected to uphold the highest standards for conduct and accountability, but recently that standard was not upheld. The board of directors accepted Andy Byron’s resignation, and he has submitted a written resignation.

Chris Martin catches horrified couple on camera at Coldplay show
The pair went viral for their reactions(Image: instaagraace/Tiktok)

As Cofounder and Chief Product Officer Pete DeJoy continues to serve as interim CEO, the Board will begin looking for our next chief executive.

Andy’s wife is said to be hiding out at the family’s $2.4million Maine mansion while holding crisis talks over the future of their marriage. Megan Byron is reportedly laying low at their luxury property in Kennebunk, 106 miles away from their $1.4million marital home in Northborough, Massachusetts.

She has changed her social media accounts several times in the last few days, but she has yet to publicly discuss her husband’s actions. The mother-of-two has since changed to Kerrigan as her maiden name on Facebook and removed a number of family photos that included Andy from her page.

Kristin joined the Astronomer nine months ago as the team’s chief people officer, with Andy posting gratifying reviews of his new teammate at the time.

Continue reading the article.

The tech chief praised her for “exceptional leadership and deep expertise in talent management, employee engagement, and scaling people strategies,” which he said would be crucial as we move along our rapid trajectory.

WAFCON: Tinubu Approves Full Payment For Super Falcons Ahead Of Final

Before their 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) final game against Morocco, President Bola Tinubu has approved the Super Falcons’ full payment of allowances and match bonuses.

Shehu Dikko, the chairman of the National Sports Commission, confirmed on Thursday that all payments had been made for players, coaches, and officials for the time being until the July 26 final.

Under President Tinubu’s leadership, Dikko described the gesture as “politique in motion” and a sign of a renewed commitment to Nigerian athletes. &nbsp,

Read more about Super Falcons visiting injured South African forward Salgado in a hospital.

He assured me that this would now be accepted, with no drama or delays, for future payments.

The move also applies to the Nigerian women’s basketball team D’Tigress, which is set to launch its 2025 FIBA Women AfroBasket campaign in Côte d’Ivoire. Additionally, they’ll get better allowances and bonuses.

Wakefield beat rivals Leeds with late Lino drop-goal

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Betfred Super League

Wakefield (8) 15

Goals: Jowitt (3), Lino, Walmsley

Leeds (8) 14

SWPix

Wakefield improved to a sold-out Belle Vue with the exception of Mason Lino’s dramatic last-play drop goal, which gave them a slim lead over Yorkshire rivals Leeds Rhinos.

After Jarrod O’Connor’s late try, the Rhinos looked poised to win, but Matty Storton ran over with just under an hour to equalize.

Brodie Clark’s drop goal attempt for Leeds was almost on point, but Lino, who had been outstanding all evening, fired from close range to earn the win for Trinity.

The outcome places Daryll Powell’s side in the top six, while Leeds missed out on a chance to share the spoils with Wigan in second place.

After a free-flowing attacking set, Wakefield changed the situation, with Lachlan Walmsley advancing towards the line.

Leeds immediately responded, but Sam Lisone was used as a battering ram to storm over to level the scores in place of the hosts’ attacking flair.

O’Connor dribbled for the line for his first try of the season in the second half despite having less possession but using it more effectively in the second half.

The second 40, which was Wakefield’s lowest possible threat, resulted in equal scores going into the final ten minutes thanks to Storton’s late finish, which was converted by Matt Jowitt.

With only ten minutes left, Clark’s attempted drop goal for Leeds, which was dragged just to the left of the posts, left the 10, 000 capacity crowd in Belle Vue on the lookout for an extra 10 minutes of rugby.

With just a few seconds left, Lino, who had been combining brutal physicality with speed and agility all night, kicked from 35 meters to seal a thrilling victory.

Head coach Powell and chairman Craig Barrass were filmed celebrating wildly in the stands as Wakefield beat their close friends for the second time this season while the Samoan was mobbed by his team-mates.

Victory places them sixth, significantly improving their chances of winning.

Wakefield includes Pitts, Walmsley, Hall, Pratt, Myers, Trueman, Lino, McMeeken, Smith, Faatili, Griffin, Scott, and Jowitt.

Nikotemo, Atoni, Storton, and Rourke are exchanges.

Leeds: Hall, Handley, Newman, Edgell, Croft, Connor, Palasia, O’Connor, Jenkins, McDonnell, Bentley, Watkins, and others.

Changes: Littlewood, Lisone, Cassell, and Sinfield

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