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Archive February 17, 2025

ICC Champions Trophy 2025: India-Pakistan and two other matches to watch

The ICC Champions Trophy begins on Wednesday with the world’s top eight teams competing in Pakistan and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates for the prestigious title.

Here are three highly anticipated matches in the group phase of the 50-over-a-side tournament:

Australia vs England (February 22):

The great Ashes rivals clash in Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday.

The one-day international (ODI) World Cup holders Australia have had the upper hand against their old foes in recent 50-over matches and won their previous series 3-2 last year.

But both come into the Champions Trophy with question marks hanging over them.

Australia are without their “big three” pacemen – Pat Cummins (ankle injury), Josh Hazlewood (hip injury) and Mitchell Starc, who opted out for personal reasons.

Add in the absences of all-rounders Mitchell Marsh (back injury) and Marcus Stoinis (retired), and half of their regular team is missing.

The depleted side suffered a heavy 2-0 ODI series defeat in Sri Lanka just before the tournament.

England, with Test coach Brendon McCullum now in charge, did no better and were whitewashed 3-0 in an ODI series in India.

Since winning the 2019 World Cup and 2022 T20 World Cup, England have struggled in white-ball cricket.

In the absence of injured Pat Cummins, Steve Smith will lead Australia in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 [File: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images]

Pakistan vs India (February 23):

TV ratings rocket with millions tuning in to watch Pakistan and India any time they battle it out, owing to the deep political rivalry between the nuclear-armed neighbours.

The two teams meet in Dubai on Sunday.

Tickets for the clash were sold out minutes after going on sale as more than 150,000 fans queued online to grab a seat in the 25,000-capacity stadium.

India refused to visit Pakistan for the tournament, forcing the latter to agree to partially relinquish hosting rights to Dubai after a long standoff.

On the pitch, India are favourites to win the tournament for a third time, in what is expected to be the international swansong for captain Rohit Sharma.

Pakistan are the Champions Trophy holders and field a talented but unpredictable lineup.

Cricket plays on field.
Hosts Pakistan, led by captain Mohammad Rizwan (L), will play India in Dubai, UAE on February 23 [File: Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images]

Afghanistan vs England (February 26):

More than 160 British politicians called for England to boycott the match in Lahore on February 26 over the erosion of women’s rights by Taliban authorities in Afghanistan.

However, skipper Jos Buttler rejected the idea, saying: “I don’t think a boycott is the way to go about it.”

Barring a shock last-minute about-face, the game will go ahead.

After being well beaten in India last week, Buttler insisted that England can be “dangerous” at the Champions Trophy, even if recent evidence suggests otherwise.

Afghanistan have become a rising force in white-ball cricket in recent years, rising to eighth in the ODI world rankings, one place below England.

The Afghans beat Australia on the way to a historic semifinal place at last year’s T20 World Cup, before losing to South Africa.

They also upset England at the 2023 World Cup in India, defeating the star-studded team by 69 runs in New Delhi.

Cricket players react.
ICC Champions Trophy debutants Afghanistan will play England in Lahore on February 26 [File: Gareth Copley/Getty Images]

Stacey Solomon reveals she ‘can hardly believe it’ as career move brings fans closer

Life is busy for Stacey Solomon and it’s no wonder. The successful business woman and mum of five is flying high with popular TV shows including a Kardashian-style reality show on the way, giving best friend and Mrs Hinch a run for her money on the cleaning, home and crafts stakes and now – an even bigger step into the world of beauty.

Stacey’s beauty journey started in 2023 when she joined forces to become an official partner and investor of haircare brand, REHAB, and the rest is history.

Stacey, who is mum to kids Zachary, 16, Leighton, 12, Rex, five, Rose, three, and two-year-old Belle, fell in love with the brand and in a massive career move, the brand has taken things to another level and made its way onto high street shop shelves.

Following in the footsteps of other successful celebrities who have brought health, wellbeing and beauty brands to high street stores, including Rochelle Humes with her My Little Coco range and Molly-Mae Hague with her Filer by Molly-Mae self tan, Stacey is on a roll as the award-winning brand makes its way into Boots this month.






Stacey Solomon


Stacey is thrilled to be a part of the high street
(
REHAB)

Speaking about the big move, Stacey said: “‘I genuinely can’t believe REHAB. is launching into Boots!

“When I invested nearly two years ago, I hope we’d hit huge milestones like this but you never really know. Seeing our brand grow and having places like Boots notice us is just amazing.

“Me, Vicky, Anastasia and the whole REHAB team are beyond proud to walk into stores and see our products here. I’m also SO proud that we’re a business founded and run by women.”

The loveable star, 35, admitted that the next step in her career feels like “a dream come true.”

“There’s nothing more I love than meeting our customers and hearing about what they think we should do next! The biggest thank you to every single person who has supported us over the years. You’re the reason we’re here.”

And if that wasn’t enough, Stacey doesn’t plan to stop here, with big plans across the pond underway.

Stacey, plus her team of Vicky and Anastasia, are in advanced talks with US retailers and looking to launch REHAB Your Hair stateside in the near future, following on from the UK expansion into Boots, and Selfridges.

Haircare brand REHAB, where you can find all manner of hair goodies from hair oils and shampoos, to hair perfume and treatments, launched in 2022, transforming hair in eco-conscious ways, and since Stacey’s input the brand has grown 2800% year on year, with two bottles of hair oil sold every minute.






Stacey Solomon


Stacey, plus her team of Vicky and Anastasia, are in advanced talks with US retailers
(
REHAB)

Stacey’s life has catapulted ever since her first appearance on The X Factor in 2009. She then went on to establish a successful TV career, carving out a gap in the market for a down-to-earth TV presenter, hosting the likes of Loose Women, fronting home improvements shows such as Stacey Solomon’s Renovation Rescue, Stacey Solomon’s Crafty Christmas and Sort Your Life Out, and guest appearing on fun projects like Bake Off: The Professionals.

Last month [January 2025], Stacey also announced plans to pivot into reality TV with her husband Joe Swash and the kids, allowing cameras into their beautiful Pickle Cottage in Essex in 2024, ready for their forthcoming series Stacey & Joe.

The show promises insider glimpses into life behind Pickle Cottage’s front door from family, work and ‘everything inbetween.’

She said on Instagram: ““It was a huge leap into the unknown and it’s been an absolute whirlwind making it.

“But last year as a family we decided to say yes to more and do things we’d never done. We have spoken about making a documentary for a long time, lots of you have asked too. So here we go.

“Through the laughter, the tears and the craziness… We hope it makes you smile, feel good and hopefully enjoy getting to know us all a little more.”

The series will air this spring and fans can expect Stacey and Joe’s second wedding anniversary celebrations, and lots of backstory on how they met while appearing on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here.

Fans will also watch as Zach eagerly awaits his GCSE results and join Stacey as she wins a National Television Award for her work on Sort Your Life Out.

Inside raucous BAFTA afterparties as A-list stars let loose in London after the ceremony

After the BAFTA Film Awards drew to a close on Sunday night, the stars were not ready to call it a night with many heading out to a series of parties from Vogue’s exclusive bash to the Don Julio Winners’ Bar.

BAFTA guests also enjoyed the Don Julio Winners’ Bar at the official after party to celebrate and enjoy tequila cocktails, where they waited for their personalised masks and to receive a bottle of Don Julio 1942 also engraved with their names.

Joe Alwyn, David Jonsson, Mikey Madison led the stars at the winners bar where they raised a glass to the night’s winners. Buzzing about their win, the Wicked team were dancing through life, as well as the after party as they raised their BAFTA masks in the air.






BAFTA guests enjoyed the Don Julio Winners’ Bar at the official after party to celebrate and enjoy tequila cocktails
(
Marco Bahler/Don Julio)






The crew from Wicked raise their masks at the official winners' after party


The crew from Wicked raise their masks at the official winners’ after party
(
Marco Bahler)

Stars from the silver screen gathered in London on Sunday afternoon to celebrate the year’s accomplishments, with Doctor Who’s David Tennant taking the stage as host. The night saw the arrival of major talents including Timothée Chalamet, Selena Gomez, Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Hugh Grant, and Warwick Davis, all making their way to the Royal Festival Hall to join in the festivities.

Mikey Madison, David Jonsson, and Rich Peppiatt came together at the afterparty, sharing hugs and congratulating each other on their wins. Excited about their success, the Wicked team celebrated by dancing and holding their BAFTA masks high in the air. The glamorous party came after an afternoon celebrating the best in cinema, with blunders, surprise appearances.






A Kneecap BAFTA win wouldn’t be complete without balaclavas. So, in true Irish hip hop fashion, Rich Peppiatt decorated his mask with the iconic Irish flag balaclava.


A Kneecap BAFTA win wouldn’t be complete without balaclavas. So, in true Irish hip hop fashion, Rich Peppiatt decorated his mask with the iconic Irish flag balaclava.
(
Marco Bahler)

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Alexa Chung, Poppy Delevingne, and a host of other stars turned heads at the Vogue event last night, dressed to impress in stunning outfits.

Model Rosie dazzled in a daring black bodysuit with a plunging neckline, while Alexa opted for a chic white and blue two-piece, adorned with frills and intricate lacing. Poppy, meanwhile, caught everyone’s eye in a soft pink low-cut gown, paired with delicate gold accessories. The star showed off her baby bump as she posed for the cameras.

Host David Tennant kicked off the 2025 BAFTA Film Awards with an exciting monologue, however he was hit with technical issues at the start of the ceremony in unaired scenes. At the start of the awards, David stepped out to make his opening monologue when his microphone wire fell out of his kilt. “We’ll cut that bit out,” he told the audience. It was cut out of the BBC programme that went on air shortly afterwards.






Guests were given personalised Don Julio drinks


Guests were given personalised Don Julio drinks
(
Marco Bahler/Don Julio)

There were also a few surprise appearances from unexpected celebrities. Reality TV star Kylie Jenner turned up to the event to support her actor boyfriend Timothée.

The Keeping Up With the Kardashians star, who was previously in a relationship with Travis Scott, and the Wonka actor have been going strong since they went public with their romance last year. Kylie avoided the red carpet but took to her seat and looked stunning in a black mesh gown with embellished details. The influencer added silver heels as well as silver earrings and wore her dark locks in a loose bun. As she took her seat, she could be seen chatting to Monica Barbaro as Timothée came over to join them.

Prince William also made a U-turn appearance at the BAFTA Film Awards. It comes after reports that the heir would be missing the ceremony alongside Princess Kate this year. Prince William, who is the president of BAFTA and has attended the film awards for several years running, was confirmed by Kensington Palace to be missing this year’s ceremony as he’s currently on a family getaway for Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis’ half term breaks.






Rosie Huntington-Whiteley dazzled in a daring black bodysuit with a plunging neckline


Rosie Huntington-Whiteley dazzled in a daring black bodysuit with a plunging neckline
(
Zak Hussein / BACKGRID)






Alexa Chung opted for a chic white and blue two-piece, adorned with frills and intricate lacing


Alexa Chung opted for a chic white and blue two-piece, adorned with frills and intricate lacing
(
Mike Marsland/WireImage)

However, the royal still managed to make an appearance in a pre-recorded video ahead of the BAFTA EE Rising Star Award. “As president of BAFTA, I’m delighted to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Rising Star Award which is presented in honour of casting director Mary Selway,” he said in a pre-recorded clip.

“What a 20 years and what a line-up of exceptional talent. Since 2006, this award has not only championed the industry’s rising stars but it’s helped inspire the next generation of acting talent to pursue their dreams. The five incredibly talented people nominated tonight demonstrate a remarkable range of performances and have each captured the imagination of audiences over the last year.”

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle hit back at Donald Trump with blunt statement

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s charitable foundation has donated huge sums to organisations linked to Donald Trump’s rivals the Democrats.

The Sussexes have been embroiled in a long-running war of words with the American president, who just last week branded Meghan “terrible”. During last year’s US presidential election, the couple did not endorse a candidate and like other members of the Royal Family, did not air their political views.

However, it has now emerged their Archewell Foundation has donated around $600,000 (£476,000) to organisations linked to the Democrats, including $250,000 (£199,000) Women’s Wellness (Spa)ce, a trauma-informed wellness center for women founded by former Democrat president Joe Biden’s daughter Ashley.






Harry and Meghan in Whistler


Harry and Meghan’s charitable foundation is called Archewell
(
Samir Hussein/WireImage)

Others who have also received donations are Jiore Craig, a media strategist dubbed the Democrats’ “go-to” for “countering disinformation,” who was given $146,500 (£116,400). Meanwhile, $90,000 (£71,000) was given to New York-based Markup News Inc., which is funded by Craigslist founder and Democrat donor Craig Newmark.

However, Harry and Meghan’s spokesperson defended the donations saying the couple are “committed to investing in people and initiatives that truly make a difference.” They told the New York Post: “It’s important to note The Duke and Duchess did not endorse any candidate in the [2024 presidential] election.

“To suggest they’re trying to curry favour with the Democratic Party — simply because a donation went to Ashley Biden’s nonpartisan nonprofit focused on women’s mental health, or because they hired a consultant specialising in digital safety — is misguided.”






US President Donald Trump


US President Donald Trump
(
AFP via Getty Images)

There has been no love lost between the Sussexes and Trump, with last week the president ruling out deporting Harry over a row over his US visa but adding: “I’ll leave him alone. He’s got enough problems with his wife. She’s terrible.” Meanwhile, Harry appeared to hit back during a speech at the Invictus Games by criticising the “weak moral character in the world“.

Back in 2016, Meghan called Trump “misogynistic and divisive’ and then, in 2020 during the US election campaign between Trump and Joe Biden, the Sussexes appeared in a video urging Americans to ‘”vote against hate speech”.

While they did not specifically mention anyone by name, the remarks were interpreted as referring to Trump and therefore an endorsement of Mr Biden, with some claiming it was a breach of the Sandringham Summit agreement, which was written up when the couple quit their royal duties in 2020. Later Mr Trump spoke out saying he was “no fan” of Meghan.

Meanwhile, earlier this month, a judge hinted that he is open to the possibility of releasing some of the sealed documents from Harry’s US visa application. Court documents reveal that a judge has now set a date for next Thursday (February 20) for the US government to state which legal documents related to the case can be disclosed.

The long-running legal case was sparked when conservative Washington DC think tank The Heritage Foundation questioned why the Duke, who is currently at the Invictus Games in Canada, was allowed into the US in 2020 after he admitted in his book Spare taking cocaine, marijuana and psychedelic mushrooms. The think tank has argued that Harry either received special treatment from the Biden administration or had lied on his immigration forms.

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Rea out of Superbike opener after practice crash

Getty Images

Jonathan Rea will miss this weekend’s opening round of the World Superbike Championship in Australia after sustaining multiple foot fractures in a crash during testing at the Phillip Island circuit.

A statement from the 38-year-old’s Yamaha Racing team said the six-time world champion had fallen in the closing stages of Monday’s first test session.

“He was taken to the circuit medical centre before being transferred to Cowes for further assessment, where it was confirmed he had sustained multiple fractures to the left foot,” said a Yamaha team statement.

“He will take no further part in testing or the race weekend.”

Rea is in his second campaign with Yamaha after a disappointing debut season for the team in 2024.

Related topics

  • Motorsport
  • Northern Ireland Sport
  • Motorbikes

Rea out of Superbike opener after practice crash

Getty Images

Jonathan Rea will miss this weekend’s opening round of the World Superbike Championship in Australia after sustaining multiple foot fractures in a crash during testing at the Phillip Island circuit.

A statement from the 38-year-old’s Yamaha Racing team said the six-time world champion had fallen in the closing stages of Monday’s first test session.

“He was taken to the circuit medical centre before being transferred to Cowes for further assessment, where it was confirmed he had sustained multiple fractures to the left foot,” said a Yamaha team statement.

“He will take no further part in testing or the race weekend.”

Rea is in his second campaign with Yamaha after a disappointing debut season for the team in 2024.

Related topics

  • Motorsport
  • Northern Ireland Sport
  • Motorbikes