After flash flooding stranded them in the Swat River due to the fact that several people believed to be members of the same family were captured on camera being swept downstream. According to the survivors, 18 members of the same family were either deceased or missing.
England’s new era under head coach Charlotte Edwards and captain Nat Sciver-Brunt started with a ruthless clean sweep against the West Indies, but their first real challenge begins on Saturday, with the first of five T20s against India taking place at Trent Bridge.
They are followed by three one-day internationals, which will be hugely important in preparation for the World Cup which is being hosted by India in the autumn.
Such is the anticipation for the series, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) commissioned ‘Bend it Like Beckham’ director Gurinder Chadha to direct a promotional trailer for the ongoing men’s, women’s and mixed disability series in which India face England in all three.
India are ranked third in the world in both white-ball formats with England in second, and the introduction of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) has significantly improved their strength in depth and experience of playing in front of packed crowds under pressure.
Sciver-Brunt and India batter Smriti Mandhana are two of the game’s biggest icons – at the first auction for the WPL in 2023, the England all-rounder sold for about £320,000 and the elegant India left-hander was the most expensive pick at £340,000.
Mandhana is the world’s top-ranked batter in ODIs with Sciver-Brunt in third, while they are fourth and ninth in T20s respectively.
Their individual successes could go a long way in defining the series. England win 79% of their ODIs if Sciver-Brunt passes 50, and that figure rises to 82% in T20s.
India rely a little more on Mandhana in the longer format with a win percentage of 76% if she scores a half-century, compared to 60% in T20s.
In general, India are likely to present a bigger challenge to England with the bat as their bowling looks depleted without the experience and prolific swing of the injured Renuka Singh Thakur.
In their warm-ups, they have conceded 353-5 to England’s Select XI in a 50-over match and 194-8 in the T20, eventually losing both.
Mandhana, named Wisden’s leading women’s cricketer in the world for 2024, has an excellent record against England, averaging 51.68 in ODIs and a fraction over 38 in T20s, but there are areas of weakness for the bowlers to target.
In T20s, England’s seamers should target Mandhana on the stumps early in her innings with movement into the left-hander – she averages 23 against in-swing compared to 40 against balls that swing away from her.
The return of Ecclestone, the world’s number one bowler in ODIs and ranked fourth in T20s, has dominated the build-up to the series as she returns to the England fold for the first time since the Ashes.
The left-arm spinner made headlines for her off-field behaviour in Australia when she refused a TV interview with former team-mate turned pundit Alex Hartley, who had criticised the team’s fitness after the T20 World Cup.
She was then left out of Edwards’ first squads for the West Indies series, having missed the start of Lancashire’s season with a knee injury. England insisted her absence was due to a lack of game time and to recover from the niggle, though Ecclestone played for her county on the same day the squad was announced.
It was confirmed at the beginning of this month that Ecclestone would take a break from county cricket to “prioritise her wellbeing” and to manage a quad problem, before Edwards named her in the squad to face India.
“This is the best preparation for Sophie, to be ready for India,” Edwards said after the final ODI against West Indies, when asked about her previous statements that she wanted to pick players based on form in domestic cricket.
“She has been playing, she has performed really well, including winning the T20 Cup with Lancashire, so I’m happy with how she is tracking.”
Despite a difficult period for England, Ecclestone’s numbers have never dropped – in 2024 she took 24 wickets in T20s, averaging 14.87 with an economy rate of just 5.59, and 13 scalps in ODIs at a remarkable average of 7.23.
One of England’s most significant weaknesses over the past couple of years has been their ability against spin, and an apparent lack of strategy against it.
Though West Indies’ bowling line-up was unthreatening and England’s batters dominated throughout, there were some suggestions this is still a concern and will be tested both in this upcoming series, and more significantly in the World Cup where conditions will suit the spinners.
In the T20s, West Indies opened with Zaida James’ spin and she removed Danni Wyatt-Hodge twice with the first ball of the match, while Hayley Matthews took 3-32 in the third T20 and 2-49 in the first ODI.
Though England drew the 2023 Ashes at home, 23 wickets fell to off-spinner Ash Gardner and a surprise T20 series defeat by Sri Lanka followed as the tourists wisely packed their side with slow bowlers.
Leg-spinner Alana King then matched Gardner’s tally at the start of this year as England lost 40 wickets to spin in the series at an average of just 12.3.
India’s last tour of England in 2022 saw the visitors claim a 3-0 clean sweep in the ODIs, with Sciver-Brunt and then-captain Heather Knight’s absences sorely felt, but it was the final act of the series at Lord’s which saw it end in controversy.
In a thrilling finale, England needed 17 runs to win while India required just one wicket when spinner Deepti Sharma ran out Dean on 47 at the non-striker’s end – often referred to as a ‘Mankad’.
Dean was in tears, stand-in captain Amy Jones said she was “not a fan” while India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur backed her bowler.
Dean jokingly re-enacted the dismissal in a game for Southern Vipers the following day and the pair have since played together for London Spirit, winning The Hundred last year.
But at Lord’s on 19 July, their reunion will inevitably take the spotlight.
“It’s in the laws, it happens, so unless the laws change and become a little bit more obvious in terms of what counts and what doesn’t, then it’s going to keep happening,” said England batter Tammy Beaumont.
“We have to get on board with that unfortunately. I’m sure externally there will be plenty of replays but we’ll be keeping our bats behind the line for sure.
When Jake Paul and Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. meet on Saturday in California, Julio Chavez Sr. predicts that his son will leave him “like a chicken without a head.”
In a 10-round cruiserweight fight at the Honda Center will Paul, 28, take on Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, 39.
Chavez Jr., the son of a legendary Mexican fighter, won eight of his last 13 fights, earning him a middleweight title, but he has endured a turbulent past.
A “title run” will be started by Paul and Chavez Jr., but Sr ridiculed the American at a Thursday press conference.
In reference to Paul’s drab fight against 58-year-old Mike Tyson in November, he said, “Jake Paul just fought against Mike Tyson, who didn’t even throw one punch.”
“This is not Mike Tyson,” he said. You’re going to get your femur shot by [Jake].
You’re going to be running like a chicken without a head, Julio says, “and he’s going to go in throwing some serious punches.”
Losing to UFC legend and 46-year-old Anderson Silva in 2021 was one of Chavez Jr’s last three fights, with the latter having taken place against former UFC fighters.
Chavez Jr.’s 62-fight career has been plagued by weight issues and addiction issues, and he has only won three fights since 2021.
Chavez Jr. disagreed, though Paul called himself a “great boxer.”
No, I don’t believe he’s any good. He said, “I believe he tries, he trains hard, but he’s not a good fighter.” Without a doubt, he isn’t a good boxer.
Following a significant uprising by MPs, the UK government has abandoned its controversial plans to reduce disability and sickness benefits, a blow to the authority of Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
The climbdown on Friday raises questions about Starmer’s political acumen and the direction of the ruling Labour party. It is his third U-turn in less than a month.
The government confirmed concessions had been made to 126 rebel MPs who had threatened to scuttle the proposed changes just days after Starmer insisted he would continue with the reforms.
The turnaround comes just before Starmer’s anniversary, which Labour struggled to win back after 14 years of opposition to the Conservatives.
According to a spokesperson for Number 10, the government “listened to MPs who support the principle of reform but are concerned about the pace of change for those who already enjoy the support of the system.”
A bill that would have tightened eligibility for a significant disability benefit, removing the Personal Independence Payment from hundreds of thousands of people with chronic physical or mental illnesses, caused the most angst. Under the plans, people on low incomes would receive an additional health-related benefit as well.
The proposed changes, according to the government, would help people find employment while preserving a safety net for those who can never work. A welfare bill that has grown since the COVID-19 pandemic would also be a savings of an estimated 5 billion pounds ($6.8 billion) annually.
However, many Labour lawmakers objected to the proposed changes, which according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies estimate will reduce 3.2 million people’s income by 2030.
Due to Friday’s backturn, the welfare reforms-related Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Bill is likely to pass a parliamentary vote scheduled for next week.
Care Minister Stephen Kinnock said the concessions include a “staggered approach” to the reforms, which will be announced in parliament later on Friday.
This means that only new claimants will be able to meet the proposed narrower eligibility requirements, not those who have already received benefits.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves struggled to generate growth from a sluggish UK economy during her turbulent 12 months in office.
Following widespread criticism, including from its own MPs, the government announced on June 9 that it had reversed a policy that would have eliminated a million pensioners’ winter heating benefits.
Elon Musk, a billionaire in the United States, became aware of a landmark UK child sex exploitation scandal that had caught the attention of Starmer less than a week later, and Starmer made the announcement of a national investigation.
Prior to now opposing calls for an investigation into the so-called “grooming gangs,” which saw girls as young as 10 being raped by various male groups, Starmer had favored a number of local investigations.
The prime minister should be able to pass any legislation through parliament thanks to the vast majority of his 165 MPs.
However, many of his own MPs criticize the disconnect between Labour’s traditional centre-left principles and Starmer’s leadership, which is focused on preventing the rise of the far-right Reform UK party.
The disability cuts and the planned winter fuel shortages are what made Labour’s reputation stand for fairness, according to Steven Fielding, a political scientist and professor at Nottingham University.
He continued, noting that Labour’s tightening of employment rights and investment in housing and green industries are also overshadowed.
Labour is losing voters to Reform, according to a YouGov poll of more than 10,000 Britons this week, but it also loses supporters to the Liberal Democrats and the Greens on the left.
Fielding remarked, “They’ve been making so many forced errors.”
U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei announced that a 33-year-old Nigerian man had been detained for his role in a significant business email compromise and money laundering scheme.
Edikan Adiakpan, who is scheduled to appear for the first time at 2 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter Bray, has been detained, according to authorities.
Adiakpan is accused of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering, and illegal money transmission in a three-count indictment filed on June 11 in Houston by a federal grand jury. According to the indictment, Adiakpan and co-conspirators plotted a business email compromise scheme in 2021 that targeted businesses in at least eight states, including a California research group that was working on treating American veterans.
According to the allegations, victims were sent “spoofed” emails that appeared to be from well-known suppliers and creditors. They allegedly were defrauded into sending money to banks that the fraudsters controlled rather than the actual customers.
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Further, according to the allegations, the conspirators transferred the funds quickly between various bank accounts under their control and laundered them. The funds were then allegedly transformed into cashier’s checks. Adiakpan allegedly cashed the checks and paid a portion of the proceeds.
Ayobami Omoniyi, a 26-year-old Nigerian citizen, is currently awaiting sentencing before the U.S. Judge Andrew S. Hanen for the US District.
Adiakpan faces charges of conspiracy, money laundering, and conspiracy conspiracy conspiracy for up to 20 years in prison, as well as five years in prison for transmitting illegal money. A maximum fine of $250, 000 is possible for each conviction.
Made In Chelsea star Sam Thompson, is back on celebrity dating app, Raya, just hours after his split with Samie Elishi. The Mirror reported that Sam, 32, and Love Island star, Samie, 25, have called it quits despite being papped locking lips in the street a few weeks ago, with a source telling us: “They both have busy lives, it just didn’t work out.”
Since his split with Samie – and shock separation from ex-girlfriend, Zara McDermott, in December – Sam is now said to be looking for love after taking to ‘Tinder for the illuminati’, Raya, to connect with a whole host of famous faces, who have been granted access to the exclusive dating site.
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Sharing screenshots of Sam, reportedly taken from Raya, in which the reality star can be seen larking around with best pal, Pete Wicks in photos which display his name, age and occupation – listed as: ‘Presenter/podcaster’ – the Mail reports his profile on the site is active.
Sam was reported to have last been seen on the app in March after splitting from Love Islander, Zara, because of its famous clients.
Meanwhile, Zara has now moved on with One Direction star, Louis Tomlinson, which is said to have left Sam, ‘blindsided’.
However, he returned to the scene and began dating Samie, who he had met during a Love Island Aftersun episode.
The pair were spotted embracing in a close-knit embrace last month at Bacchanalia in Mayfair, just before Olivia Attwood’s birthday party. As his fans sat quietly in awe of the potential for a new romance as Sam sat down to watch Samie’s face in his hands.
On the Chloe Mediumship podcast, Samie discussed her exes and remained optimistic about the relationship. She claimed that she had a “gut feeling” about things that “weren’t meant to be,” and that her relationship is currently “positive right now.” She continued, “There’s been no bad stuff at the moment so yeah I suppose it’s all good.” It’s still early days.
Meanwhile, Sam discussed being single on his podcast with co-host Pete.
He stated on Staying Relevant that he felt “ready to go out there” and that he was “ready to start approaching women.”
He continued, “I feel good because the world is currently very nice.” And I’m content, too. No more brave faces are present, causing Pete to proudly declare: “Sam’s ready to date!” ‘”.
However, it appears Sam is back on the market and will soon be cruising around Raya in search of love once more.
Sam’s representatives have been contacted by The Mirror to comment on this story.
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