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England in New Zealand: Batting woes hamper Brendon McCullum’s Ashes preparations as top-order fail again

England’s 175 was some way short of the 244 average first-innings total in ODIs at Hamilton.

Indeed it was over a hundred runs adrift of the average winning score – 287 – when batting first at the ground.

Given so few runs to play with, England’s bowlers needed to marry incisiveness with control.

Archer brought them both during 10 overs of top-class fast bowling across two spells as he put down a marker in his first outing of the winter.

The 30-year-old set the tone early with a full delivery in his first over that had Young trapped plumb in front.

New Zealand’s batters were then hopping about the crease, as Archer showed his teeth with some rasping short balls.

Archer’s pace was up there as well. He averaged 87.4mph across his two spells with his fastest delivery of the day clocked at 90.2mph.

The Barbados-born quick bowler’s two other wickets owed a little more to fortune – Ravindra hooking him to Adil Rashid in the deep and Bracewell feathering one off his pads into the gloves of wicketkeeper Jos Buttler.

Yet they had been earned by spells of pressure. Archer’s 51 dot balls were the most he has bowled in an ODI when he has sent down 10 overs.

Archer’s injury problems and careful management over the past few years have been well documented.

But the fact he seems willing to throw himself about in the field – diving to stop balls on the boundary at fine leg – shows there are no scars.

There will be no holding back this winter.

England coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes will have excitedly taken note. So too, with a little more trepidation, will Australia.

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I’ve been a TUI rep for 26 years – there’s one thing Brits still do without fail

Diana Winskill, from Somerset, has lived in Majorca for the last 26 years, having moved to the Spanish island with her husband and kids to work as a TUI holiday rep

When Diana Winskill from Somerset left the UK for a six-month stint in Majorca as a TUI rep in 1999, she never imagined she’d still be welcoming British holidaymakers 26 years later—and still loving every minute.

While a lot has changed in the country and the world over the past quarter of a century, holidaymakers’ patterns are pleasingly regular.

“Brits still absolutely love their all-inclusive holidays. Knowing everything’s included means they can really indulge and not worry about extra costs. And then there’s bingo. Without fail, we have our loyal customers who love their bingo every evening. That’s never changed in my 26 years.”

For the past seven years, Diana has been a friendly face at one of the island’s most popular TUI hotels, the Globales Santa Lucia, welcoming and farewelling hundreds of British travellers each day.

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“I came here when I was 23 for what was supposed to be six months. I met my English-born husband Chris here, we had two daughters, Imogen and Amelia, and I’ve now lived in Majorca longer than I ever lived in the UK,” said Diana.

However, Diana has noticed some major shifts. British holidaymakers are increasingly seeking experiential travel, wanting to immerse themselves in local culture rather than just lounging by the pool.

“Excursions to see the markets in Majorca are getting much more popular. People want to get out and experience the local culture they’re in, and TUI have so many to choose from with local guides who know the island back to front. I’ve also noticed a rise in friendship groups travelling together, moving away from the traditional family or couple getaways”.

However, the biggest transformation has been technology.

“The TUI app has revolutionised everything. Customers now get all their transfer times and can book experiences directly on their phones. When I first started, we wrote everything by hand and phoned through excursion bookings.”

Yet despite the digital revolution, Diana insists that face-to-face contact remains crucial.

“Welcome meetings are still incredibly popular. In a world where everything’s going digital, people still love asking questions and meeting in person. Sometimes you just cannot replace human contact. And so we focus on ensuring we have the knowledge and know-how of the destination to help ensure our guests have the most memorable holidays.”

The adults- only Hotel Globales Santa Lucia is located between the beaches of Son Matias and Palma Nova, meaning there is sea views from each room and it’s just a five minute walk into town. It features an indoor and outdoor pool, and a sociable buffet restaurant and two bars.

“One customer told me she’d been back four times this year just to see me because I make her holiday so special. That’s what makes this job incredible. A lot of people think we’re just salespeople with a smile, but you have to be so well-rounded. We support people when things go wrong, but we’re also there for the magical moments. Holidays mean so much to people”.

Working from a beautiful beachfront hotel with year-round sunshine certainly has its perks.

“Even in winter, the average temperature only drops to 13 degrees, and you still get the most beautiful sunshine even in the colder months. My colleagues have become my family, and honestly, working around people on holiday is infectious because everyone’s so positive.”

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Pakistan minister warns of ‘open war’ with Afghanistan if peace talks fail | Politics News

Defence minister’s warning comes as countries hold talks in Istanbul to consolidate last week’s Doha ceasefire.

Officials from Pakistan and Afghanistan have met in Istanbul for talks on how to ensure a recent ceasefire deal between the two countries holds, with the Pakistani defence minister warning of “open war” should the efforts fail.

The discussions, which began on Saturday and are expected to continue on Sunday, come just days after a truce was brokered in Doha by Qatar and Turkiye to end deadly clashes between the neighbours. The cross-border violence killed dozens of people and injured hundreds more.

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“We have the option, if no agreement takes place, we have an open war with them,” Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said from the eastern Pakistani city of Sialkot on Saturday.

“But I saw that they want peace,” he added.

Reporting from Istanbul, Al Jazeera’s Sinem Koseoglu said the “technical-level talks” in Turkiye are expected “to pave the way for a permanent solution between the two neighbours”.

While Afghanistan’s Deputy Interior Minister Haji Najib is leading his country’s delegation in Turkiye, Pakistan has not given details about its representatives.

On Friday, a spokesperson for Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the negotiations must address “the menace of terrorism emanating from Afghan soil towards Pakistan”.

Pakistan has accused Afghanistan of harbouring what it calls “terrorist groups”, including the Pakistani Taliban (TPP). Kabul denies the allegation and has blamed Islamabad for violating its sovereignty through military strikes.

Key crossings between the countries remain shut following the recent fighting, with Afghanistan’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry estimating that traders are losing millions of dollars each day that the closure persists.

Ibraheem Bahiss, an International Crisis Group analyst in Afghanistan, told the AFP news agency that a key topic of discussion during the Istanbul talks would be intelligence-sharing on armed groups.

“For example, Pakistan would give coordinates of where they suspect TTP fighters or commanders are, and instead of carrying out strikes, Afghanistan would be expected to carry out action against them,” he said.

Meanwhile, the ceasefire that was announced in Doha last Sunday continues to hold.

“There has been no major full-scale terrorist attack emanating from Afghan soil in the last two to three days,” Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said.

“So, the Doha talks and outcome were fruitful. We would like the trend to continue in Istanbul and post-Istanbul.”

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Canadian leaders threaten legal action if Stellantis commitments fail

1 of 2 | Premier of Ontario Doug Ford pictured June 25 in Boston, Mass. This week, Ford said he got assurances from Stellantis the company will not permanently shutter its Ontario-based Jeep facility after Stellantis announced a major U.S. investment and plans to reopen old plants in America. Photo Provided by CJ Gunther/EPA

Oct. 16 (UPI) — Ontario’s Premier Doug Ford said he received an assurance from Jeep maker Stellantis’ Canadian chief the company will keep its Canadian plant open for future manufacturing.

Ford said Wednesday that the company’s Brampton auto plant will continue running despite Tuesday’s revelation that Jeep Compass production will shift to an American facility.

“I want to keep the Brampton plant open, no matter what,” Ford said following talks with Stellantis Canada president Jeff Hines. “He’s given me his word, they are going to keep it open.”

Stellantis, the parent company of multiple auto brands including Jeep and Chrysler, announced this week plans to invest billions in the United States to reopen facilities and add roughly 5,000 U.S. jobs plants in Illinois, Ohio, Michigan and Indiana over the next four years.

In April, Stellantis put a hold on production of its new electric SUV at its Canadian plant on Williams Parkway in the wake of tax-like tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump.

It was set to move forward with production later this year.

“Our government will continue to use every tool we have, including through our $20 million investment in POWER Centers to support displaced workers, including through retraining to re-enter the workforce as quickly as possible,” Ford posted Wednesday on X.

On Tuesday, Ford spoke with Canada’s Stellantis chief who reportedly said the company is “going to postpone it for a year” and claimed Stellantis will “find a new model” to build at the Canadian site.

“They are going to see what products they are going to put in there,” said Ford.

Ford, the leader of Ontario’s Progressive Conservative Party, added plans exist to add a third shift to a Windsor plant to possibly transfer up to 3,000 or less workers.

A Stellantis spokesperson pointed to its 100-year history in Canada and said Britain’s fellow commonwealth nation was “very important” to Jeep’s parent owner.

“We have plans for Brampton and will share them upon further discussions with the Canadian government,” the company stated.

Meanwhile, Canada’s Industry Minister Melanie Joly reminded CEO Antonio Filosa in a letter that Stellantis made critical commitments to Canadians.

“While the current U.S. tariff environment is creating complex challenges, Stellantis has made important commitments to Canada and to its workforce,” Joly wrote.

Joly said if Stellantis chooses not “to respect its obligations,” the Canadian government would “act in the interests of all Canadians and hold the company to full account, and exercise all options, including legal.”

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Settlement talks fail as trial pitting Skaggs vs. Angels begins

At its core, a civil suit is about money. Nobody pleads guilty. Nobody goes to prison. Somebody either pays somebody else or doesn’t.

That’s why roughly 95% of civil suits nationwide reach a settlement ahead of or during trial, legal experts say. Pretrial discovery is usually comprehensive and mediation can produce agreements. Trials are costly, and plaintiffs and defendants alike overwhelmingly prefer to eliminate the risk of an all-or-nothing jury verdict by agreeing on a compromise dollar figure.

That’s also why the case brought by the family of deceased Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs against the Angels has surprised some legal experts. A recent one-day settlement conference between lawyers went nowhere, and both sides are focused on a trial, which begins Monday in Orange County Superior Court with opening statements and witness testimony.

Skaggs was found dead in his hotel room in Southlake, Texas, on July 1, 2019, before the Angels were scheduled to start a series against the Texas Rangers. The Tarrant County medical examiner conducted an autopsy and found that in addition to the opioids, Skaggs had a blood-alcohol level of 0.12. The autopsy determined he died from asphyxia after aspirating his own vomit, and that his death was accidental.

Former Angels communications director Eric Kay was sentenced to 22 years in federal prison Tuesday after being convicted of providing the counterfeit oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl that led to the Skaggs’ overdose.

Prosecutors alleged Kay sold opioids to Skaggs and at least five other professional baseball players from 2017 to 2019. Several players testified during the trial about obtaining illicit oxycodone pills from Kay.

The Skaggs family filed their lawsuit in June 2021, alleging the Angels knew, or should have known, that Kay was supplying drugs to Skaggs and other players. Testimony established that Kay was also a longtime user of oxycodone and that the Angels knew it.

The Angels responded by saying that a former federal prosecutor the team hired to conduct an independent investigation into the circumstances that led to Skaggs’ death determined no team executives were aware or informed of any employee providing opioids to any player.

“The lawsuits are entirely without merit and the allegations are baseless and irresponsible,” the Angels said in a statement shortly after the lawsuit was filed. “The Angels organization strongly disagrees with the claims made by the Skaggs family and we will vigorously defend these lawsuits in court.”

The team has not budged from that position even after years of discovery that included more than 50 depositions, a pretrial ruling by the judge that Kay’s conviction cannot be questioned during the civil trial and Judge H. Shaina Colover denying the Angels’ motion for summary judgment by saying, “There is evidence that … Angels baseball had knowledge that Kay was distributing drugs to players and failed to take measures to get him to stop.”

The settlement conference held between lawyers for the Angels and the plaintiffs — which include Skaggs’ widow Carli, mother Debra Hetman and father Darrell Skaggs — merely underscored that the two sides see the case very differently, according to people close to the negotiations not authorized to speak publicly about the case.

Settlement conferences are confidential and the California Evidence Code protects statements and conduct during conferences from being used to prove liability. However, legal experts said it is clear the two sides remain far apart in assessing the value of the case.

“They definitely could have been talking settlement all along,” said Edson K. McClellan, an Irvine lawyer who specializes in high-stakes civil and employment litigation. “I would be surprised if they haven’t engaged in some settlement negotiations.”

Damages sought by the Skaggs family include his projected future earnings and compensation for the pain and anguish the family suffered.

Lawyers for the Skaggs family originally said they were seeking $210 million, although that number has risen during four years of pretrial litigation. A claim by Angels lawyer Todd Theodora in a hearing this summer that the plaintiffs were asking for $1 billion was shot down last week by a person in the Skaggs camp who said “we are not asking anywhere remotely close to that. My god, the whole world would turn upside down.”

Skaggs had unquestionable earning potential. The left-handed former first-round draft pick was only 27 and an established member of the Angels starting rotation when he died. He was making $3.7 million in 2019 and likely would have made at least $5 million in his final year of arbitration before becoming a free agent after the 2020 season.

Although Skaggs posted average statistics — his earned-run average was over 4.00 in each of his seven seasons and his career won-loss record was 28-38 — free-agent contracts for starters under 30 range from three to six years for $15,000 to $25,000 a year. And he could have merited another contract in his mid-30s.

Assuming he remained healthy — Skaggs missed the 2015 season because of Tommy John surgery and had other injuries during his career — experts said a reasonable prediction of future earnings could exceed $100 million. However, his established history of drug use could dampen the projections.

“Speculative projections, making the assumption that he played another 10 years, push an award into nine figures, but honestly, looking at the level of drug abuse, jurors could have doubts,” said Lauren Johnson-Norris, an Orange County-based defense lawyer.

Pain, suffering and mental anguish damages could add to an award either by jury verdict or settlement. Legal experts expect Skaggs’ lawyers — who include nationally renowned Rusty Hardin and Shawn Holley — to point out that losing a husband or a son that your life centered around is worth an award.

Opening statements this week should illustrate why the two sides aren’t close to a settlement.

Skaggs’ lawyers will say the Angels are responsible for his death because they knew Kay was a habitual drug user that procured opioids for players, pointing to evidence that Angels team physician Craig Milhouse prescribed Kay with hydrocodone 15 times from 2009 to 2012.

Also likely to be mentioned will be Angels star Mike Trout who, according to the deposition of former Angels clubhouse attendant Kris Constanti, offered to pay for Kay’s drug rehabilitation in 2018.

The Angels will counter by telling the jury that prosecutors in Kay’s criminal trial concluded he was not acting as an employee when he gave Skaggs the fentanyl-laced oxycodone. Kay was charged and convicted, not the team.

Skaggs and Kay, the Angels will contend, were two men engaging in criminal misconduct on their own time and they concealed it from the team. The Angels lawyers will tell the jury that taking opioids prescribed by a physician during recovery from surgery is vastly different than Skaggs chopping up and snorting counterfeit pills that were not prescribed for him.

Witness testimony will begin after the opening statements, and current and former Angels executives Tim Mead, Tom Taylor and John Carpino are expected to be the first called.

And as the lawyers make their best arguments and witnesses provide testimony in a trial expected to take more than two months, both sides will be silently evaluating whether pursuing a settlement is in their best interest.

An agreement could be reached at any time, abruptly ending court proceedings.

“Sometimes what triggers a settlement is a court ruling or a witness performing well or poorly,” McClellan said. “As the trial unfolds and evidence is actually coming in, risk is brought into focus and makes plaintiffs and defendants evaluate their case in a more clear light.”

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Watch as scorned woman fills cheating ex’s home and car with GLITTER – after he goaded her into taking revenge

THIS is the viral moment a woman douses her ex-lover’s car and apartment in heaps of colourful glitter – after catching him cheating.

Rafaela Justina, 28, staged her sparkly revenge in response to her boyfriend asking out another woman while they were still going out.

A car interior, including the seats, dashboard, and steering wheel, covered in gold glitter.

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A vengeful woman doused her ex-partner’s belongings in glitter after she caught him cheatingCredit: @bressanpiercing/newsX
Laptop covered in pink glitter.

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She posted footage of her former lover’s belongings littered in colourful dustCredit: @bressanpiercing/newsX

The defiant act played out nearly three weeks after the couple, from Cuiaba, Brazil, split up over the outrage.

Rafaela told local media that when she confronted him about the betrayal, he encouraged her to take revenge.

She said: “Being with someone else didn’t make sense anymore, as we were no longer together.

“The only thing I could think of was glitter.”

She added: “I’d seen something similar online and laughed a lot.”

In the jawdropping footage recorded in late September, Rafaela’s ex-partner’s home is seen flooded with the tiny shards of sparkles.

With Joan Jett’s “Bad Reputation” playing over the viral clip, Rafaela tours the apartment while showing off her proud work.

Piles of glitter are seen scattered across the furniture and floors.

And the unlucky lad’s car was also left coated in a layer of shimmering dust.

The video caption read: “POV: your boyfriend cheated on you and told you to get revenge.”

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The video of the glitter-filled payback has since amassed more than 12 million views on TikTok.

Emboldened social media users flooded the comments with jokes and more suggestions for their own glitter-based pranks.

Plotting viewers suggested adding the sparkles to air-conditioning vents so they would return even after cleaning.

Rafaela, who works as a body-piercer, said she usually used TikTok to promote her business.

But after discussing the matter with pals, she was persuaded to show her act of retribution to the world.

She said her relationship had lasted a year, but added that she had actually known him since they were both 13.

After a recent divorce, career change, and move to a new city, she said she had been emotionally vulnerable when the latest relationship began.

Reflecting on the viral success, Rafaela later wrote: “Glitter is eternal.”

A kitchen counter and coffee maker covered in gold glitter.

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Shocking footage showed multi-coloured dust all over the apartmentCredit: @bressanpiercing/newsX

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Buyers spot hilarious fail in Rightmove home listing – and it’s impossible not to spot

A FOUR-BEDROOM property in Dunfermline, is making the internet laugh for all the wrong reasons.

The Rightmove home has gone viral for photoshopping cars to a listing photo that look like they’ve been “stuck on with Pritt Stick.”

A living room with a purple wall, fireplace, floral couches, and a patterned rug.

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The living room that looks like its straight from a video game

What was meant to advertise a family home has instead become an internet meme.

On the market for £295,000 the house should be inviting and comforting but the listing makes it hard to see past the comedic value.

Instead, the photos look like a school art project.

The cars have been awkwardly stuck on the image to look as though they are “parked” on the driveway.

The photo, presumably there to show the spaciousness of the driveway, has done its job however.

The Emoov agent told Metro that the vendor had organised “quite a few viewings” off the back of the listing.

One social media user even noted: “Room for 4 or 5 cars but they only photoshopped 3 in!”

A kitchen with white cabinets, a black counter, and a table with a bowl of dried fruit.

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A high resolution photograph of the kitchen

The photographs of the interior are so saturated that the glow almost makes them look like stills from a video game.

Another person joked that the photos themselves “look like they were taken on a Game Boy,” in reference to the low-resolution, pixelated quality of some shots.

Reddit commenters called it “the worst Photoshop effort I’ve seen on Rightmove.”

Others compared the images to a “Sims build gone wrong.”

Each photograph showcases another bizarre detail, turning what should be a standard property listing into a hilarious set of meme-worthy pictures.

Rather than envisioning their future in living in the home, viewers are laughing at stuck on cars, gleaming interiors, and grainy, Game Boy–style images.

The Scottish property proves that in the age of social media, sloppy picture editing will get far more views than the actual listing.

A spokesperson for Emoov said: “As an online estate agent, our vendors manage their own property sale—conducting viewings and creating their listings.

“Unless vendors choose our professional photography package, the photos are taken (and, as in this case, edited) by the sellers themselves.

“The images in question were supplied entirely by the vendor and not produced by Emoov.

“Vendors are free to use whichever images they prefer, however creative they choose to be.

“It seems this vendor enjoyed a weekend of virtual arts and crafts and decided to put the results on display!”

Whether or not the comical advertising works and property eventually finds a buyer, this house will be remembered and laughed about for a long time.

A bedroom with one wall covered in wallpaper depicting historical buildings, a double bed, a floral armchair, and a window with dark curtains.

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A bedroom with bold interiors

This comes following last month’s Open House Festival during which Rightmove opened the doors to some of London’s most interesting and aesthetic houses.

Each year, over 700 properties, buildings and other sites of architectural significance across London’s 33 boroughs open their doors with many said to be a “once in a lifetime visit”.

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I’m trolled for my decision to never wear a bra but don’t get why people care – Jennifer Aniston did it so why can’t I?

A WOMAN who “never” wears a bra has hit back at those criticising her for the choice.

Lauren has never made a secret of her dislike of the underwear, but her openness has seen her hit with criticism online.

A woman in a white long-sleeved shirt and a beige mini skirt with text "I don't wear I don't like to" on the image.

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Lauren took to TikTok to hit back at people criticising her for not wearing a braCredit: tiktok/@laurenbische
A woman in a white long-sleeve shirt, beige skirt, and boots talks in a living room.

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She insisted she hates wearing bras because they make her itchy and antsyCredit: tiktok/@laurenbische
A woman in a white shirt and beige skirt looking into the camera.

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She also questioned why anyone even cares about her bra decisionCredit: tiktok/@laurenbische

However, in a video on her TikTok page, she responded to the backlash, and said she doesn’t understand why people care.

“I don’t know why so many of you have got such a problem with the fact that I don’t wear a bra,” she said.

“I don’t have enough chest, I don’t think, to warrant wearing a bra every single day.”

Lauren added that if she “absolutely has to”, she’ll put on a bra, but will always go for an unpadded, unwired ‘bralette’ type option.

But even wearing one of them makes her feel “anxious and antsy”, and makes her “skin itch”.

And considering Jennifer Aniston made it “trendy not to wear a bra” in the 90s, Lauren doesn’t get why she can’t get away with it in 2025.

“It doesn’t affect your day, whether I wear a bra or not… why do you care?” she continued.

“If somebody else walking down the street didn’t wear a bra, I’d be like, ‘oh, she’s not wearing a bra’ and continue with my day.

“I don’t care who wears a bra or who doesn’t. I don’t care what other women decide to do with their bodies.

“That is up to them. It is none of my business!

‘Finally’ big busted girls praise Primark’s new saucy matching £8 underwear sets and they now go up to size 44H

“If I don’t wear a bra because I don’t want to, that is none of your business. Okay?”

“I don’t care what other women decide to wear or not wear, if your comfortable and happy and living your best life then you do you boo,” Lauren captioned her video.

People were quick to comment on the video, with one admitting: “If I could get away without wearing one, I would.

“In the house I never do, or as soon as I’m home it’s off, but when I’m out I have to.

“They’re so uncomfortable and make me feel restricted. But no-one wants to see this swinging about in public.”

“The fact people care or have an opinion on other people wearing a bar is WILD to me,” another added.

Top bra tips

Fabulous’ Deputy Fashion Editor, Abby McHale has shared her tips for keeping your bras looking their best.

1. Don’t wash your bras in the washing machine on their own, this is how your wiring will get damaged. Instead either wash in a pillowcase or take them in the shower with you and wash as you would your body. 

2. Always start on the loosest hooks for your back, that way as the bra is worn more and the elastic stretches you can tighten it up with the tighter hooks. 

3. If you wear your bra two to three times a week then it should last between six months to a year before you need to replace it. 

4. You should always be able to feel your bra throughout the day, if you don’t it means it’s not doing its job properly. 

5. It’s actually the band across the back that keeps your boobs upright and not the cups itself.

“You do you babe!”

“It’s no business of anyone else, you do what is comfortable for you, and sod the haters!” a third insisted.

“You look absolutely fabulous without one and I think you should wear whatever you like,” someone else agreed.

“Just be free and enjoy,” another urged.



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Great Britain fail to win gold amid worst World Championships return for 20 years

Great Britain and Northern Ireland failed to win a gold medal at a World Athletics Championships for the first time in 22 years, as they secured their joint-lowest overall return since 2005.

GB ended the nine-day competition with a total of five medals, just managing to achieve their target of winning between five and eight.

That was level with their 2019 tally in Doha, while they last won fewer 20 years ago in Helsinki – where they finished with three.

The team’s fortunes were summed up in the event which provided their final medal opportunity in Japan, as the women’s 4x100m relay quartet – winners of Olympic silver last year – finished two-tenths of a second off the podium.

That confirmed Great Britain would fail to win a relay medal, of any colour, for the first time since Paris in 2003.

That was also the last occasion they finished without a gold.

The 64-strong British squad finished 21st in the medal table.

It comes after the team equalled their best haul of 10 medals to finish seventh at the previous World Championships two years ago.

On that occasion, they brought home two gold medals, three silvers and five bronze from Budapest.

They also achieved GB’s best return at an Olympics for 40 years with 10 athletics medals at Paris 2024.

Reflecting on the championships, Great Britain head coach Paula Dunn told BBC Sport: “Definitely a mixed bag. Five medals which is good and I’m pleased to see, and some missed opportunities.

“So it’s time for us to go back sit down with the coaches and athletes, reflect and do a review and see how we move forward.”

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Mum finds the ‘cutest’ autumn outfit at Tesco but then spots a spelling mistake – how long did it take you to find it?

WITH the chilly season well and truly here, many retailers have been launching new autumn stock.

But it looks like Tesco might have to remove an item after one eagle-eyed mum spotted a spelling mistake on their kid’s clothing.

Cream children's sweatshirt with a pumpkin design and a spelling mistake.

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Mum-of-three Rebecca took to TikTok to share the epic blunderCredit: tiktok/@rebeccaanicole_x
Cream-colored baby outfit with a spelling mistake.

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Many social media users admitted it took them ’embarrassingly long’ to spot the mistakeCredit: tiktok/@rebeccaanicole_x
Child's cream-colored sweatshirt and pants with a misspelling in the text "Best Little Pumpkin Picker."

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One mum said that she got the set for her daughter – and didn’t realise there was a spelling mistake after watching the videoCredit: tiktok/@rebeccaanicole_x

The error was picked up by mother-of-three Rebecca Jeffs, from Northamptonshire, who took to TikTok to tag the popular supermarket.

According to Rebbeca, who posts under the username @rebeccaanicole_x, she stumbled across an adorable autumn-themed two-piece whilst shopping at Tesco.

The cosy co-ord consisted of comfy joggers, as well as a matching cream sweatshirt with a pumpkin design.

On the front side there was a little pumpkin, as well as a sticker that said ”Look at my back”, urging customers to check out the rest of the design.

However, what the major retailer clearly didn’t realise is the spelling mistake they’d missed during the printing process.

Sharing the epic blunder on social media, the mum-of-three said in the video: ”The cutest outfit but turns out it has a mistake.

”Didn’t even notice. If anyone’s picked this up, has yours got this mistake?!” Rebecca wondered in the caption where she also tagged the retailer.

As well as having several adorable pumpkins printed on the back of the cosy sweatshirt, there was also text in a bold fond that was supposed to read as ”best little pumpkin picker”.

While at first glance the text looks absolutely fine, there is a letter missing – and dozens of social media users admitted it took them a while to spot it.

One TikToker commented: ”The dyslexia in me didn’t spot a mistake, I had to look in the comments to see what was wrong.”

How to make 10p kids’ birthday parcels instead of party bags according to crafting queen, Sara Davies

”Genuinely thought for a second the mistake was it was beige and who takes there kid pumpkin picking in a beige outfit,” another joked.

A fellow mum said: ”I got this for my girl the other day i didn’t even realise.”

”What’s the mistake?” someone else was struggling to spot the missing letter.

How has Tesco’s F&F upped its game

By Fabulous’ Fashion Editor Clemmie Fieldsend

ZARA has become a high street staple in recent years thanks to its hot-off-the-catwalk designs and affordable prices.
But recently those prices have risen with the brand’s popularity.
However, if you are looking for high fashion inspired outfits with low price tags you needn’t drag yourself to your local shops, just head to the supermarket instead.
F&F has come a long way from selling a few backs of T-shirts and fluffy dressing gowns and is now a must have shopping destination for thousands.
They produce good quality, long lasting and on trend clothes that puts others to shame.
F&F is filled with Zara dupes and other looks inspired by our favourite shops that will set you back less than £50 – and you can get them while you pick up your dinner.
I for one love F&F denim, it’s durable, fits really well and has all the best silhouettes.
So even if you’re not looking for reasonable prices but just want good clothes, get yourself to Tesco.

Are you still looking at the text and everything looks like it should?

”It says best lttle instead of best little. It took me an embarrassingly long time to work it out,” one of the 250k viewers finally figured it out.

”Maybe nobody will really notice as took a lot of us ages to realise,” a shopper joked.

Want to test your eyesight even more? Earlier this year, Primark shoppers spotted a ‘‘spelling mistake’’ on new Rita Ora top – and you can’t unsee it.

Fashion fans were also gasping as Matalan launched an £18 jumper with glaring spelling mistake.



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I ordered a pearl dress for a birthday photoshoot – it’s so bad, people joke and say I was ‘sent the PDF version’

ORDERING your wardrobe online is always a risky business as you never quite know what you’re going to end up with.

And now one fashionista has proven why you might be better off trying on clothes in-store rather than trying your luck online – especially, if it’s a lesser-known website.

Woman reacting disappointedly to a pearl dress she received.

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Stunned by how gorgeous the item was, Chris ordered the lavish gownCredit: tiktok.com/@vivala_mamacita
Woman in a patterned dress.

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Following the epic fail, the fashionista said she’ll ‘only be sticking with companies’ she’s familiar with from now onCredit: tiktok.com/@vivala_mamacita

Ahead of a birthday photoshoot, the shopper, only known as Chris, decided to treat herself to a stunning pearl gown she had spotted online.

The jaw-dropping gown, which looked incredible on the model, was advertised by a brand called Divacc – a website which no longer seems to be accessible.

The showstopper of a dress featured a busty neckline and hundreds of pearls of varying sizes, which hugged the tanned model’s body perfectly.

The gown, which appears to have since been taken down along the website, also boasted a sexy thigh-high split, making for a leggy display.

Stunned by how gorgeous the item was, Chris ordered the lavish gown – but much to her disappointment, the contents of the parcel were a far cry from her expectations.

Horrified, the online shopper took to TikTok where she shared the epic fail, leaving millions of viewers in hysterics.

”This is what I ordered for a birthday photoshoot,” she said at the start of the now-viral video.

”And this is w*f I got,” Chris said, as she modelled the actual dress she received in the post.

Unlike the stunning gown advertised online, the real dress appeared to be made out of a flimsy material – and the pearls were simply a printed design.

Although the figure-hugging dress did have a thigh-high split, that was pretty much the only similarity to the luxe gown she had ordered for the photoshoot.

Olivia Attwood flashes her knickers AGAIN in ultra-short minidress after backlash

Unimpressed, Chris gave horrified viewers a look of the epic fail from different angles.

”At this point @divacc you gone have to fight me,” Chris wrote in the caption.

Posted just a week ago under the username @vivala_mamacita, the video has already gone viral, winning the young beauty more than a whopping 11million views.

Fashion tips to make you look rich

Fashion Tips to Elevate Your Look

  1. Invest in Classic Pieces
    –Quality Over Quantity: Prioritise well-made, timeless items like a tailored blazer, a little black dress, or a crisp white shirt.

Neutral Colors: Opt for neutral shades such as black, white, beige, and navy, which are versatile and exude sophistication.

  1. Accessorize Wisely

Statement Pieces: Invest in a few high-quality accessories like a designer handbag, a classic watch, or elegant jewelry.
Minimalist Approach: Less is more. Choose one or two standout accessories to avoid looking cluttered.

  1. Tailoring is Key

Perfect Fit: Tailored clothing can make even affordable items look high-end. Ensure your clothes fit perfectly by having them altered if necessary.

  1. Maintain Your Wardrobe

Iron and Steam: Wrinkled clothes can ruin an outfit. Keep your garments wrinkle-free with regular ironing or steaming.
Proper Care: Follow care instructions to keep your clothes looking new. Dry clean when necessary and store items properly.

  1. Footwear Matters

Quality Shoes: Invest in a few pairs of high-quality shoes. Classic pumps, loafers, and sleek boots can elevate any outfit.
Conditioning: Keep your shoes in good condition by cleaning and polishing them regularly.

  1. Monochrome Outfits

Single Color Palette: Dressing in one color or varying shades of a single color can make you look polished and put-together.

  1. Attention to Detail

Grooming: Well-groomed hair, nails, and skin are crucial. A polished appearance starts with personal care.
Subtle Makeup: Opt for a natural makeup look that enhances your features without overpowering them.

  1. Layering

Sophisticated Layers: Layering can add depth and interest to your outfit. Think blazers over blouses, or sweaters over shirts.

  1. Confidence is Key

Own Your Look: Confidence can make any outfit look more expensive. Stand tall and wear your clothes with pride.

By incorporating these tips into your fashion routine, you can effortlessly achieve a luxurious and sophisticated look without breaking the bank.

As over 20,000 people gave it a like, thousands flooded to comments in total disbelief.

One fast fashion fan said: ”Even SHEIN can’t do dirty like this.”

Many also shared their best jokes, with one viewer laughing: ”They sent the pdf version.”

”Girl did you order it or did you download it,” someone else wanted to know.

”The store is called DIVACC cause what DIVACC did you order,” another was in hysterics.

”I set my expectations low but this hit on another level,” a viewer couldn’t believe how bad the gown turned out to be.

Chris, who has since made a gorgeous pearl gown herself, went on in the comments: ”I saw it on Pinterest and went through their site on there. It’s Called Divacc.

”I’ll only be sticking with companies I’m familiar with from now on.”



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Man spends day at the beach as has people howling over tanning fail

Lewis Blackburn went on a beach trip with his wife Lisa and their children. He decided to go for a paddle on the beach and had his kids howling after the spotted his tanning fail

Lewis Blackburn shows off tanning fail at Newquay beach
Lewis Blackburn suffered an unfortunate tanning fail at the beach

A holidaymaker left his children in fits of laughter after revealing his comical tanning disaster whilst at the seaside this week. Lewis Blackburn was savouring a holiday trip to Newquay, Cornwall, with his spouse Lisa when he opted to wade into the water – completely forgetting that his bronzed legs contrasted dramatically with his pale feet.

Sporting work boots throughout the week, the craftsman’s feet haven’t glimpsed sunlight all summer, whilst his legs are tanned from donning shorts. Snaps of the seasonal blunder became a sensation on Facebook, amassing 16,000 likes and sending onlookers into fits of giggles.

“I work outdoors so my legs, arms, neck and face are always exposed to the sun – just not my bare feet, hence the whiteness of them,” Lewis, from Northampton, told What’s The Jam.

He posted the image on Facebook, penning: “Second day into our Cornish holiday, staying near Bodmin, [we] decided today would be a beach day in Newquay.

“I decided to go for a paddle in the sea with my kids, so I duly removed my footwear to expose the brightest, whitest feet on the beach.

Lewis Blackburn shows off tanning fail at Newquay beach
His kids were left howling when they spotted his pasty feet

“Kids ran screaming, the elderly unable to run or turn away are blinded by the glare… it wasn’t until I’d seen these photos [that I realised why].”

The viral post generated thousands of responses.

One observer commented: “This made me laugh out loud way too much!”

“Maybe you can guide Santa’s sleigh this year,” another person joked.

Someone else remarked: “Hi-viz socks! Good to see you’re being safe at the beach.”

Others labelled it the “tradie tan”, while another joker asked: “Did you say beach day or bleach day? I was confused.”

Those who are planning a UK beach staycation with the kids during the summer holidays may want to consider one ‘breathtaking’ location that people have been talking about later.

Cheswick Sands near Berwick-upon-Tweed in Northumberland has been dubbed ‘perfect’ for those after some tranquility and peach and quiet.

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We went on what we thought was a normal cruise but were surrounded by swingers trying to have sex with us, it was awful

A WOMAN who thought she was going on a romantic cruise with her partner was left stunned after she realised what was really going on.

Robyn-Jay was looking forward to her 10-day cruise, but that excitement quickly faded when she realised many of the holiday makers were swingers.

Couple posing for a photo outside.

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Robyn-Jay and her partner, William, were approached by swingers on the tripCredit: tiktok.com/@robynjaym/
Woman explains why she would never go on a cruise again.

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Robyn-Jay said she would never go on a cruise again after her experienceCredit: tiktok.com/@robynjaym/

Taking to TikTok to share her story, she explained that she and her partner went to the ship’s nightclub on the first night as they tried to settle in and get their bearings.

That’s when things began to take a turn and as they decided to sit in a booth and people watch when a man came up to them to ask if they “wanted a third”, Robyn-Jay claimed.

But the strange encounters didn’t end there, as on the second night Robyn-Jay claimed a woman called their room and tried to hook up with the couple, despite having never met them before.

According to Robyn-Jay, the woman needed to know their room number, which they didn’t share, to be able to call, which made the couple feel uneasy.

The pair said they could also hear couples from other rooms on the ship shouting at each other from their balconies.

“It’s not that they were friends, they were trying to arrange hook ups,” she said in the viral video.

But it was what allegedly happened next that drew the line for the holidaymaker.

She explained that one night she got all dressed up to enjoy some of the entertainment the cruise put on.

After finding a quiet place to sit with her partner, Robyn-Jay claimed she noticed a man sat at another tabled was staring at her.

“This was something different, this was a whole other level. I felt so uncomfortable in my skin, it really gives you that horrible feeling inside,” she said.

Terrified sprinting tourists are LEFT BEHIND after cruise ship flees Hawaii tsunami as Brit reveals mad dash to escape

That’s when the man, who was sat with his wife, allegedly bent down to try and look up Robyn-Jay’s skirt.

She went on to explain that her partner, William, soon noticed and called the man out on his behaviour before he got up and left with his wife.

The holidaymaker went on to claim that she even saw an older man act inappropriately towards a young girl on the ship and he was overly touchy with her.

“I just really think [cruises are] a place for a bit of lawlessness and I think people go there knowing that and I honestly dread to think what goes on in the eyes of other people,” she said.

After sharing her experience, people chimed in to share their experiences on cruise ships, and many thought Robyn-Jay got unlucky.

“I’ve just been on a Marella Cruise and never experienced anything like this,” one person said.

And a second agreed: “Been on a few cruises – not my experience,” they commented on the video.

“This could have happened absolutely anywhere, it’s not because you were on a cruise. It’s also completely common knowledge that cruises are swinger’s paradise,” someone else wrote.

And someone who claimed to work for a cruise company added: “This is a well known thing on some cruise ships.

“Unfortunately you have experienced some awful behaviour and some people should understand that not everyone’s a swinger. Not all cruise lines behave like this.”

Pros and cons of going on a cruise ship

Whether you’re considering a long holiday, working remotely or even living on board a cruise ship for a few months or years, here are the pros and cons from a former cruise shipper.

Pros 

  • Travel the world, learn and experience new cultures
  • Meet new people 
  • Don’t have to think or worry about room cleaning, or food

Cons

  • Internet connection can be painfully slow and expensive 
  • Limited luggage allowance so have to wear the same clothes on rotation 
  • Having no control of where the ship would go next and the possibility of visiting the same ports 
  • Having the same onboard entertainment, on-demand movies, and little choice of TV channels 
  • No fresh newspapers or new books unless someone adds them to the library
  • Relatively the same food week after week unless major menu changes occur seasonally.
  • Occasional rough seas, bad weather and viral outbreaks while inboard.



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Pension Commission to look at why four-in-ten fail to save enough

Lucy Hooker

Business reporter

Getty Images Middle-aged woman with money and calculator in front of an open laptop on a deskGetty Images

People retiring in 2050 will be worse off than pensioners today, the government has warned, unless action is taken to boost retirement savings.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is reviving the Pensions Commission, which first reported nearly 20 years ago, to look at how to tackle the issue.

Almost half of working-age adults are not putting any money into a private pension at all, with low earners and the self-employed less likely to be pension saving, the DWP said.

The shortfall is also worse among women and some ethnic groups, with only one-in-four people of Pakistani or Bangladeshi background saving in a private pension.

People drawing their pension 25 years from now are set to be £800 or 8% worse off per year than their counterparts today, the department said, with four in 10 people currently not saving enough for their retirement.

Rather than launching a new commission from scratch, the government said it was reviving the “landmark” Turner Pension Commission which reported in 2006, under the last Labour government, and led to the roll-out of automatic enrolment into pension saving. As a result 88% of eligible employees are now saving, up from 55% in 2012, the DWP said.

Despite that progress, the DWP said new analysis revealed “stark” findings including that:

  • more than three million self-employed workers are not saving into a pension
  • only one-in-four low earners in the private sector are saving into a pension
  • only one-in-four of people of Pakistani or Bangladeshi heritage are saving

The analysis also found a 48% gender gap in private pension wealth among people currently retiring, with a typical woman receiving just over £100 a week and a man receiving £200 from private pension income.

The commission is not designed to directly address issues around the cost of the state pension.

Recent reports have raised questions over the affordability of the “triple lock”, introduced in 2010, which guarantees that state pensions will rise every year by the same amount as average wages, inflation, or 2.5%, whichever is higher.

As the population ages, and people live longer, the cost of that policy is set to grow significantly.

Its cost is forecast to be three times higher by the end of the decade than was original estimated, after successive years of high inflation, followed by strong wage growth.

Instead, the relaunched Commission, which will report in 2027, will look at savings in private sector pensions.

It will bring together trades unions, employers and independent experts, some of whom also took part in the original Commission. It will look at what is preventing people from putting more into their retirement pots and will aim to build a national consensus around future strategy.

Kate Smith, head of pensions at pension firm Aegon, urged the Commission to make “bold, brave and possibly unpalatable recommendations”, including “significant increases” to auto-enrolment contributions after 2029.

Paul Nowak, General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress described it as “a vital step forward”.

“Everyone deserves dignity and security in retirement, but right now many workers – especially those in the private sector – will find themselves without enough to get by on,” he said.

Caroline Abrahams, charity director of Age UK said that while the state pension provided the bulk of income for most pensioners, it was “hugely important” to consider the role of private savings, as the current system was leaving many pensioners struggling to make ends meet.

“Hopefully this can be avoided in future and particularly disadvantaged groups, including low-paid women and self-employed people on low incomes, can be helped to put money aside when appropriate for them to do so,” she said.

Catherine Foot, director of the think tank Standard Life Centre for the Future of Retirement, said that 17 million people were not saving enough to achieve the retirement they wished to have.

“The next two decades is when the effects of the savings crisis will really start to bite,” she said.

It was crucial that the Commission was able to take a step back and view the system in its entirety,” she added.

“There’s an opportunity to examine how different elements of the system are working together.”

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UN talks with Cypriot leaders fail to reach deal on new border crossings | News

Negotiations aimed at reuniting the divided island have been stalled since 2017.

The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said he would have liked more results from his meetings with the rival leaders of the divided island of Cyprus, while the Turkish Cypriot leader said he was “very, very upset” that there was no agreement on opening four new border crossings.

Guterres on Thursday called the meetings at the UN in New York “constructive” and pointed to progress on four of the six initiatives that the leaders had agreed to in March. He cautioned, however, that “there’s a long road ahead.”

The Mediterranean island was divided in 1974 when Turkiye invaded, following a coup by Athens’ military government-backed supporters to unite the island with Greece.

Mass deaths and displacement of the Greek Cypriot population followed as the island’s northern third was occupied – only Turkiye recognises a Turkish Cypriot declaration of independence, and it maintains more than 35,000 troops in the north.

Negotiations between the rivals have been stalled since 2017. When asked whether he would start a new round, Guterres responded that there is more to be done before any negotiations.

“I think we are building, step by step, confidence and creating the conditions to do concrete things to the benefit of the Cypriot people,” the secretary-general said.

The agreed-upon, UN-endorsed framework for a peace deal has been a reunified Cyprus as a federation composed of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot zones.

Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar has been demanding a two-state deal ever since his 2020 election. He faces re-election in October and says he’s running on the same two-state platform with Ankara’s full backing.

Greek Cypriots reject any agreement that would formalise partition, fearing Turkiye would seek to control the entire island in light of its demand to maintain a permanent troop presence and military intervention rights in Cyprus.

Turkiye also insists that the minority Turkish Cypriots should have veto rights over all federal government decisions.

The meeting included the foreign ministers of guarantor countries Turkiye and Greece, and a United Kingdom deputy minister.

Despite differences on the future of Cyprus, the rivals have made some progress on trust-building measures.

Achievements

Guterres told reporters that four initiatives had been achieved: Creating a technical committee on youth; initiatives on the environment and climate change, including the effect on mining areas; the restoration of cemeteries; and an agreement on demining, where technical details still need to be finalised.

He said discussions will continue on opening four new crossings between the Greek and Turkish sides of the island, and on solar energy in the buffer zone between them, which is patrolled by a UN peacekeeping force.

Tatar accused Nikos Christodoulides, the president of Cyprus, of preventing the announcement of the four border crossings on Thursday by insisting that one of them go through the buffer zone, which he called unacceptable to Turkish Cypriots.

He also sharply criticised Greek Cypriots for pursuing legal action over the sale of properties in the Turkish Cypriot north, saying the moves “are certainly damaging to the relations of the two peoples and are aimed at damaging our economy and our tourism”.

Property rights are a deeply contentious issue in Cyprus. A recent boom in the construction of luxury villas and apartments in the north has prompted Cypriot legal authorities to take a more assertive stance towards realtors and developers, to discourage what they say is the large-scale “illegal usurpation” of Greek Cypriot land.

The secretary-general said Tatar and Christodoulides agreed to meet with him in late September, during the annual gathering of world leaders at the General Assembly, and to hold another informal meeting later in the year.

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Angels fail to capitalize on chances in loss to Nationals

Game 81. The halfway point of the season arrived at Angel Stadium — and the Angels, albeit squarely in contention at .500, were dealing with a bit of organizational uncertainty.

Angels general manager Perry Minasian announced before Friday’s game that manager Ron Washington would remain on medical leave for the rest of the season because of an undisclosed health issue.

Bench coach Ray Montgomery took over on June 20 as the acting — now interim — manager as the Angels entered Friday winners in seven of their last 10 games.

The Angels are in a much better spot than 2024. This time last season, after game 81, they were 11 games under .500 — squarely out of the postseason hunt.

Friday, however, even after losing 15-9 in a three-hour, 11-minute slog of a series opener against the Washington Nationals (34-48), the Angels (40-41) still are just two games out of the third American League wild-card spot.

In a game where the Angels and Nationals combined for 24 runs and 30 hits — with the 19 hits and 15 runs given up by the Angels’ pitching staff representing season-worst marks — what ultimately separated the teams was the Angels’ inability to come through with runners on base.

In the sixth and seventh innings — down one and two runs, respectively — the Angels had opportunities to take the lead or tie the score with runners in scoring position, but failed to capitalize. From there, the Nationals’ lead grew, with Hunter Strickland giving up four runs in the ninth as part of a 10-run barrage against the bullpen.

“It kind of just felt like an off-night tonight all the way up and down,” Montgomery said. “Those guys have been asked to do a lot over the last few weeks, and they’ve responded. So tonight wasn’t the night.”

Angels interim manager Ray Montgomery, second from left, waits on the mound with catcher Logan O'Hoppe.

Angels interim manager Ray Montgomery, second from left, waits on the mound with catcher Logan O’Hoppe during a pitching change in the fifth inning Friday.

(Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Associated Press)

In the early innings, the Angels had plenty of opportunities against Nationals starting pitcher Jake Irvin, who struggled against the heart of the lineup.

Jo Adell struck a 92-mph fastball high and away to right field for a solo home run — his 18th overall and 11th in June — in the second. An inning later, Nolan Schanuel and Taylor Ward received hanging breaking balls — a high curveball and slider, respectively — and pulled the ball for short-porch home runs.

“The idea is that if we’re hunting the pitches that we want to do damage with pitcher to pitcher, we’ll avoid the chase and kind of be able to get better pitches to hit,” Adell said, who has helped the Angels post four or more walks in the last four games. “You know, our thing is, you’re only as good of a hitter as the pitches that you get.”

Three home runs in three innings helped the Angels build a three-run lead. Across 4 ⅓ innings of work against Irvin, the Angels’ lineup continued to click. They tallied nine runs (eight earned to Irvin) on nine hits — just enough for an early lead as José Soriano trudged through his worst outing of the season.

Soriano couldn’t get out of the fifth against the Nationals. The shutdown pitching he had featured in his last three starts — giving up just two runs across 20 ⅔ innings — looked like a distant memory. The right-hander struck out four and walked two, while giving up eight earned runs and nine hits.

“I mean, that’s not what we would have expected, given what he did in his last three outings and what we talked about a little bit yesterday,” Montgomery said. “Just wasn’t sharp, didn’t feel crisp from the get go.”

Added Soriano in Spanish through team interpreter Manny Del Campo: “I feel a little bit upset because of my performance tonight. … I feel upset because I wasn’t able to help win tonight.”

Angels shortstop Zach Neto (shoulder) returned to action, striking out in the seventh inning as a pinch hitter.

Before the game, Neto said that he’d likely be able to hit before throwing — something he’s yet to do — after jamming his shoulder on a stolen base attempt Tuesday.

“He proved to me, proved to the medical staff, proved to everybody else he was capable of coming in,” Montgomery said. “We thought it was a good time to give it a shot right there.”

The Angels will try to even the series Saturday with right-hander Kyle Hendricks (5-6, 4.83 earned-run average) on the mound.

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Jannik Sinner in sportsmanship fail as French Open final gesture to Carlos Alcaraz backfires

JANNIK SINNER paid for WRONGLY awarding Carlos Alcaraz a point in their sensational French Open final.

Poland’s World No.1 sportingly but incorrectly told the umpire an Alcaraz forehand was in – only for replays to show it went LONG.

Tennis umpire signaling on a clay court.

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The umpire responded gratefully to Jannick Sinner’s intervention

The Spaniard had earlier saved THREE Championship points in that fourth set.

And Alcaraz went on to complete a comeback of incredible quality, winning 4-6 6-7 6-4 7-6 7-6 in five hours and 29 minutes.

Unlike the three other Grand Slam tournaments, Roland Garros does NOT use HawkEye technology to check line calls.

And midway through the final set Sinner looked frustrated when an Alcaraz shot was called in – with replays suggesting it 31mm out.

And although fans praised Sinner for his sportsmanship in the fourth, many viewers blasted the French Open for being stuck in their ways.

The tight line call came when Alacaraz served to go 6-5 up in the fourth.

Line judges called it out and the chair umpire got down from her seat to examine the mark.

But as she strode quickly across the court, Sinner signalled  he thought the ball was good.

She immediately acknowledged that with a raised hand and returned to her seat.

Tennis player on court during a match.

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Sinner signalled to show he thought Alcaraz’s shot had been in

BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK

However, freeze-frame replays  of the incident suggest the ball had clearly landed beyond the baseline.

And that led to observers hailing both players for the spirit in which they played such a gripping contest, but also questioning the tournament for snubbing HawkEye.

Novak Djokovic digs out French Open rival for ‘spying’ on him and seeing Champions League trophy

One fan said: “They are both acting like saints here.”

Another described them as “class acts all around”.

A third posted: “So nice to see some civility in the world!”

And a fourth wrote: “That is why they are 2 favourites.”

But another moaned: “So many missed called because they refuse to use technology. Joke of a tourny .”

And another viewer said: “Honestly thought it looked clearly out at full speed. A number of very questionable calls at the end of that set…”

Around 90 minutes after the line shout, Alcaraz clinched his victory from two sets down with a dominant 10-2 Championship tie-break in the fifth.

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Sparks fail to hold 18-point lead in loss to Mercury

Sunday’s matchup between the Sparks and Phoenix Mercury felt like déjà vu. When the Sparks faced Phoenix last month, the game ended with a failed Sparks comeback.

In a twist of fate, Sunday’s comeback belonged to Phoenix.

Unable to stay ahead after building an 18-point lead, the Sparks fell 85-80 to the Mercury at Crypto.com Arena for their third consecutive loss.

As with the first meeting, the third quarter proved to be the Sparks’ undoing. After scoring just seven points in the third quarter of their loss to Phoenix on May 21, the Sparks were outscored 24-9 in the third Sunday.

“You’ve got to live with it,” Sparks coach Lynne Roberts said. “Sometimes we have a bad day. It’s a bad day to have a bad day. We have a lead like that, but that’s the game.”

Before the game, Roberts said consistency in transition defense, avoiding prolonged bad stretches and fluid ball movement would define a strong third quarter. None of that materialized against Phoenix (5-2).

But even more costly was their inability to score in the second half.

“This game came down to us not shooting,” Roberts said. “We had eight threes in the first half. We finished with eight. They had the same amount of field goals we did. They just hit four more threes.”

After opening with their best first quarter of the season, the Sparks became visibly frustrated in the second half. A three-pointer from Kathryn Westbeld with 2:11 left in the third gave the Mercury their first lead, 58-57, and capped a 21-5 run.

The shift in energy was palpable in what became a chippy, physical game. Momentum swung in Phoenix’s favor late in the third when Satou Sabally was fouled by Kelsey Plum while scoring on a layup, pointing and shouting to the Sparks bench as she celebrated.

Sabbaly exchanged words with the Sparks bench throughout the game, and drew a technical foul before halftime. After the game, she said her and-one celebration was aimed at her former assistant — now Sparks assistant coach — Zak Buncik.

“Well, he just motivated me a little bit. So, I was telling him, ‘Thanks,’” she said.

Sabally finished as the Mercury’s leading scorer with 24 points. She also had nine rebounds.

The teams traded leads early in the fourth quarter. Trailing by two, with 25 seconds left, Plum turned over the ball while trying to pass to an open shooter. Plum then fouled Kitija Laksa, who made two free throws to make it a four-point game.

Plum was one for 13 in the second half, finishing with 15 points and six rebounds.

“I just missed,” Plum said. “I had four really good looks that felt good coming out of my hands at the end of the game. I’m going to get another chance to do it, and I’ll hit them. But, I mean, I just didn’t feel like I had my legs.”

Playing seven games in 15 days, the loss capped off a grueling stretch — one that Roberts attributed to the team’s inconsistency as a result of lost practice time.

The Sparks (2-6) were a different team in the first quarter behind a new starting lineup of Julie Allemand, Dearica Hamby, Azurá Stevens, Odyssey Sims, Plum. With Allemand in the lineup, Sarah Ashlee Barker, who had started the previous five games, came off the bench.

The Sparks scored 27 points and had a 10-point lead going into the second quarter. After struggling with flat starts all season, the team finally found an early rhythm — one they’ve shown in flashes, but haven’t sustained.

Standing at 5-foot-8, Sims — one of the Sparks’ fiercest competitors — helped keep the team in the game, scoring a game-high 32 points.

She relentlessly attacked the basket, giving Mercury defender Sami Whitcomb the “too small’ gesture in the process. She hit the floor multiple times on hard drives, fighting through contact, and getting in the faces of Mercury defenders to confront them about foul calls. At times, the toll of her effort showed, as she walked with a slight limp between plays.

“It was a little bit more aggressive,” Sims said of her performance. “I think the run was kind of big for me today. I tried to stay in that mode. We were up going into halftime, and I just wanted to just basically keep my foot on their necks.”

Despite the effort, Sims says the team “let this one slip away.”

Plum praised Sims’ ability to respond to the Mercury’s runs almost single-handedly — she scored 15 of the Sparks’ 30 second-half points — but it wasn’t enough to secure a much-needed win for a Sparks team that plays eight of its next 11 games on the road.

“Of course, this one stings,” Sims said. “We know it’s the third quarter. We keep saying the same thing over and over, kind of beating a dead horse at this point, but it’s going to be less talking about it, and more doing it.”

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British MotoGP 2025: Bezzecchi wins after Quatararo fail, red flag drama | Motorsports News

Aprilia’s Marco Bezzecchi takes first MotoGP win in 20 months after leader Fabio Quartararo exits with a technical issue.

Marco Bezzecchi has won a chaotic British Grand Prix for Aprilia’s first victory of the 2025 season in a race that was initially red-flagged for an oil spill as riders crashed or retired while in the lead, including pole-sitter Fabio Quartararo.

The victory was a first for Aprilia since the Grand Prix of the Americas last year. LCR Honda’s Johann Zarco came second on Sunday and Ducati’s Marc Marquez pipped Franco Morbidelli to finish third and extend his lead in the riders world championship.

Both Alex Marquez and his brother Marc crashed while leading before the race was restarted for an oil spill while Yamaha’s Quartararo took the lead at the second time of asking before being forced to retire on lap 12 due to a technical issue with his bike.

Bezzecchi’s victory was his first since the 2023 Indian Grand Prix, and the Italian also became the 11th different winner at Silverstone in the past 11 races.

“It’s amazing. It has been a really tough time for me in this past month. …  Aprilia trusted in me, and we worked really hard,” Bezzecchi said.

“The team made a wonderful job. … I was waiting for a day like this since my last win.”

On the first start, sprint winner Alex Marquez had a perfect launch to take the lead from Quartararo, but just as he leaned into turn one, he lost control and crashed, allowing Marc Marquez to take the lead.

The elder Marquez also lost control, however, and crashed out of the lead – but the Marquez brothers earned a reprieve when the red flag came out for an oil spill in the final sector after Franco Morbidelli and Aleix Espargaro collided and crashed.

Fabio Quartararo in action.
Monster Energy Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo, right, exits the race after a mechanical failure during the MotoGP British Grand Prix [Adrian Dennis/AFP]

Race restarted

Since three laps had not been completed, all riders were eligible for the restart. Quartararo took the lead from Francesco Bagnaia and streaked away to a full second’s lead on the opening lap.

Both factory Ducatis suffered on lap three at Copse corner when they went wide as Marc Marquez and Bagnaia dropped to ninth and 10th place.

Bagnaia’s race ended on the following lap when he crashed while Bezzecchi moved up to third behind Pramac Racing’s Jack Miller.

Behind them, Marc Marquez was a man on a mission as he methodically picked his way through the pack, and by lap 11, he had moved up to fourth.

Yamaha’s dreams of taking the chequered flag went up in smoke as Quartararo signalled he had a problem with his bike, and the Frenchman relinquished his lead of nearly five seconds as his ride-height device had failed.

Quartararo stopped by the side of the track, hopped off his bike and sank to his knees with his head on the tarmac as the shell-shocked Yamaha garage looked on.

“When I saw Fabio with a technical problem, I even thought about a victory,” said Zarco, the first Honda rider to take back-to-back podiums since Marc Marquez in 2021.

Bezzecchi held on to win, though, while Marc Marquez swapped places with VR46 Racing’s Franco Morbidelli several times on the final lap before taking third in a photo finish.

“Today we were lucky because I made a mistake,” said a fuming Marc Marquez, who now leads his brother by 24 points in the world championship.

Marco Bezzecchi in action.
Aprilia Racing team’s Marco Bezzecchi leads during the MotoGP British Grand Prix [Adrian Dennis/AFP]

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Galaxy fail to end their record winless streak in draw with LAFC

Records aren’t supposed to matter in Derby matches. When you’re facing your most bitter rival, the past is just that — the past.

So it meant nothing that the defending MLS Cup champion entered Sunday’s El Tráfico winless in 13 matches while LAFC was unbeaten in six straight.

“That all becomes irrelevant,” LAFC coach Steve Cherundolo said. “Those games are kind of isolated on their own.”

Perhaps it was fitting, then, that LAFC and the Galaxy played to a 2-2 draw in front of a crowd of 23,083 at Dignity Health Sports Park.

The draw kept LAFC (6-4-4) unbeaten since April 5. For the Galaxy (0-10-4), the tie ended a five-game losing streak — their longest since 2020 — but it also extended their winless one to 14 matches, the worst start in franchise history and the worst ever for a reigning MLS champion.

LAFC’s goals came from Denis Bouanga and Nathan Ordaz, one in each half, while Marco Reus had both scores for the Galaxy.

With playmaker Riqui Puig, who hasn’t played since undergoing surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament last December, looking on, the Galaxy attacked from the start and were rewarded in the sixth minute when Reus knocked in the rebound of a Gabriel Pec shot that LAFC keeper Hugo Lloris had stopped. The goal was the second of the season for Reus and it marked just the third time in 14 MLS games that the Galaxy had scored first.

But the lead didn’t last long, with Bouanga tying the score by lining a right-footed shot from about 30 yards into the side netting at the far post in the 13th minute. The goal was Bouanga’s seventh in seven games and was one he celebrated with a trademark front flip.

Former Galaxy midfielder Mark Delgado, who got his team-leading fourth assist on the play, chose not to celebrate the goal against his old team.

LAFC went in front five minutes into the second half when a low through ball from Ryan Hollingshead split Galaxy center backs Maya Yoshida and Emiro Garces and found Ordaz cutting into the penalty area. After catching up to the ball, Ordaz used his first touch to lift a left-footed shot by Galaxy keeper John McCarthy for his third goal of the season and the second in three starts.

The Galaxy appeared to even the game on a brilliant counterattack goal from Pec in the 78th minute, but after a long video review referee Drew Fischer ruled Pec was offside.

The Galaxy refused to quit and were rewarded when Reus chipped in a free kick from just outside the box in the 87th minute, giving the Galaxy their first point in a month — a point McCarthy saved with a brilliant goal-line stop of Hollingshead’s back-heel try deep in stoppage time.

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