Day three report: sun setting on England’s Ashes dream Play starts in Brisbane at 2pm local/3pm AEDT/4am GMT Ashes top 100 | Get the Spin newsletter | Email Geoff Good morrow, gentlefolk. It is afternoon in Brisbane and who knows what time anywhere else. More importantly, it is crunch time for England. Let us be honest: the show is almost over. Resuming 43 runs behind with four wickets in hand, England lost the Test in that dramatic final hour last night, ending up at six wickets down. “They haven’t lost yet!” Ah, you are correct, my apple-cheeked young interlocutor. Your belief in the impossible will stand you in good stead. So let’s consider, what must England do to turn this around? First, let’s have Ben Stokes and Will Jacks put on a double century partnership. Done. Then, Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse whack 40 each, and Jofra Archer finishes it off to round the late-order contributions up to a hundred. Continue reading...

Positive tone after Florida talks with Ukrainian president heading to London Street to see Starmer, Macron and Merz. What we know on day 1,383 Three days of talks between Ukrainian and US officials in Miami, Florida produced no evident breakthrough by the end of Saturday. Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said he joined his negotiators for a “very substantive and constructive” call with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. “Ukraine is committed to continuing to work honestly with the American side to bring about real peace,” Zelenskyy said on Telegram, adding that the parties agreed on the next steps and a format for talks. Zelenskyy will next turn to European allies when he visits London on Monday for an in-person meeting with leaders Keir Starmer of Britain, Emmanuel Macron of France and Friedrich Merz of Germany. Macron said the group would “take stock” of peace negotiations. The four leaders took part in a virtual meeting of the “coalition of the willing” about two weeks ago, where they discussed plans to put a European peacekeeping force in Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire. Russia launched more than 700 drones and missiles at Ukraine over Friday night, targeting critical infrastructure, such as energy sites and railways, and triggering heating and water outages for thousands of households. “The main targets of these strikes, once again, were energy facilities,” Zelenskyy said. “Russia’s aim is to inflict suffering on millions of Ukrainians.” Macron, the French president, slammed what he called Russia’s “escalatory path”, adding: “We will continue these efforts with the Americans to provide Ukraine with security guarantees, without which no robust and lasting peace will be possible. We must continue to exert pressure on Russia to compel it to choose peace.” The protective shield over the Chornobyl disaster nuclear reactor in Ukraine, which was hit by a drone in February, can no longer perform its main function of blocking radiation, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has announced. In February a drone strike blew a hole in the “new safe confinement”, which was painstakingly built at a cost of €1.5bn ($1.75bn) next to the destroyed reactor and then hauled into place on tracks, with the work completed in 2019 by a Europe-led initiative. The IAEA said an inspection last week of the steel confinement structure found the drone impact had degraded the structure. Hungary’s rightwing, Putin-friendly prime minister, Viktor Orbán, has announced he is sending a business delegation to Russia in preparation for the end of the Ukraine war – claiming he was in discussion with both Washington and Moscow and could not “share every detail”. “If God helps us and the war ends without us being dragged into it, and if the American president succeeds in reintegrating Russia into the global economy and the sanctions are dismantled, we will find ourselves in a different economic landscape.” According to media in Hungary, its MOL oil and gas firm is considering acquiring refineries and petrol stations in Europe owned by Russian groups Lukoil and Gazprom, both of which are subject to US sanctions. Under Orbán’s leadership, Hungary has remained dependent on Russian oil and gas, flouting decisions of the European Union whose other countries have diversified their imports away from Russia since the February 2022 invasion. Bulgaria has denounced the towing of a crippled tanker, the Kairos, into its waters just over a week after the ship was hit in a drone attack claimed by Ukraine. A Turkish ship towed it there and returned to Turkey, said Rumen Nikolov, director general of Bulgarian maritime rescue and relief operations. “This is not normal,” Rumen said, adding that an explanation was sought “through diplomatic channels”. Ten crew members on board had requested evacuation but the weather was too bad at the moment, said the Bulgarian transport ministry. The Kairos and another Gambian-flagged tankers, the Virat, were attacked on 28 November in the Black Sea off the Turkish coast. Both are under western sanctions for belonging to the “shadow fleet” that illicitly and unsafely continues to export Russian oil. They had been heading for the Russian port of Novorossiysk. Ukraine confirmed at the time that it had targeted vessels “covertly transporting Russian oil”. Continue reading...

Senior officer had told MPs some Jewish representatives did not want Maccabi Tel Aviv fans at Aston Villa game classified as high risk A senior police officer has apologised to Birmingham’s Jewish residents after he told MPs that some had expressed support for the exclusion of Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending last month’s match against Aston Villa. The decision to ban supporters of the Israeli team from the Europa League game at Villa Park in Birmingham had triggered political uproar, including Keir Starmer saying he was “angered by the decision”. Continue reading...

Fire broke out at midnight in the popular club in Arpora in the North Goa district, according to reports At least 23 people have been killed in a fire at a popular nightclub in the Indian resort city of Goa, officials said. Several tourists were among the dead in the fire, which broke out at about midnight at a club in Arpora in the North Goa district, according to the Press Trust of India. Continue reading...

While the tension between meritocracy and ‘jobs for mates’ is always there, the best boards are more than the sum of their parts Many years ago, I was encouraged to put my name forward to chair a significant government board. It seemed like a long shot to me, I wasn’t in anyone’s club, but my supporters were insistent. I agreed to let my name go into the mix. It was a surprise then when the chair of the selection committee called a few weeks later and said with an apologetic tone: “Sorry Julianne, it’s just not your turn.” Julianne Schultz is deputy chair of the Sydney writers’ festival board Continue reading...

Mediators of delicate truce say troop removal and deployment of international force crucial to second phase Qatar and Egypt, the guarantors of the Gaza ceasefire, called on Saturday for the withdrawal of Israeli troops and the deployment of an international stabilisation force as the necessary next steps in fully implementing the fragile agreement. The measures were spelt out in the US- and UN-backed peace plan that has largely halted fighting, though the warring parties have yet to agree on how to move forward from the deal’s first phase. Continue reading...

Messi sparks Miami’s opening goal De Paul scores 71st-minute winner Miami end record 58-game season Inter Miami began the year in contention for five trophies. But this was the one they wanted, and now it is theirs. The Herons are MLS Cup champions after a 3-1 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps, finishing a turbulent year having played 58 games – an all-time MLS record for games played by a team in a calendar year. This was an MLS Cup moment won by moments of the small, everyday sublime – combined with less-picturesque moments that proved decisive. And while Messi was at the genesis of both goals, both were scored thanks to his larger influence on a team crafted specifically for him. A Vancouver own goal opened the scoring off a move that was set up by a minor moment of Messi Magic. Vancouver equalized in the second half with after a botched save from a near-post effort from Ali Ahmed. And Messi’s Argentina teammate Rodrigo De Paul, a midseason arrival from Atlético Madrid, delivered the goal that won the 48th title in the career of his countryman in the 71st minute off a poor turnover by the otherwise excellent Whitecaps midfielder Andrés Cubas. Tadeo Allende’s goal in stoppage time, off another brilliantly lobbed assist from Messi, removed all doubt. The on-loan Celta Vigo man finished calmly past Whitecaps goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka, head coach Javier Mascherano sprinted on to the field, kissed the grass, and celebrated as if he was a player once again. Continue reading...

Forward launches astonishing attack on Arne Slot Salah benched at Leeds for third consecutive match Mohamed Salah has accused Liverpool of throwing him “under the bus” after being left out of the starting lineup for the third game running as the champions drew at Leeds, saying he has been made a scapegoat for the poor start to the season and casting severe doubt on his future at the club. “I can’t believe … I’m sitting on the bench for 90 minutes,” the Egypt international said. “The third time on the bench, I think for the first time in my career. I’m very, very disappointed. I have done so much for this club down the years and especially last season. Now I’m sitting on the bench and I don’t know why. Continue reading...

Several additional people, including children, have severe liver damage amid 21 cases of amatoxin poisoning California officials are warning foragers after an outbreak of poisoning linked to wild mushrooms that has killed one adult and caused severe liver damage in several patients, including children. The state poison control system has identified 21 cases of amatoxin poisoning, likely caused by death cap mushrooms, the health department said Friday. The toxic wild mushrooms are often mistaken for edible ones because of their appearance and taste. Continue reading...

So long as the Premier League invests in its players and Fifa pays it lip service, the continent’s flagship tournament will always struggle to fit in Perhaps attitudes are not quite as parochial as they once were, but it remains true that, in England at least, the Africa Cup of Nations is discussed less as a tournament in its own right than in terms of what it means for the Premier League. There will be the usual harrumphing about why the tournament is played in the middle of our season, but the Confederation of African Football has tried to satisfy European clubs only to be thwarted by Fifa and the increasing demands of the calendar. Continue reading...

Last season, there was a coldly efficient streak to Liverpool. They rolled out a series of unremarkable 2-0 wins, a title rooted in unfussy competence. This season could hardly be more different; they are neither unfussy nor competent. They led 2-0 and, four minutes intostoppage time, they led 3-2, and yet still they didn’t win it. It was tremendous fun, but Arne Slot will have hated it. Just as no side can be sure whether a win at West Ham in their previous away match means they’ve played well or were just playing West Ham, so it would be unwise to read too much into this mishmash of the haplessness and excellence. Their three goals all resulted from fine finishes and one from clever buildup play, but the image of the game – once again – would be Virgil van Dijk standing hands on hips, steam rising both literally and metaphorically as he glared in disbelief at the bizarrely diffident defending around him. Continue reading...

Montmorency Bakehouse decided to tackle online abuse head-on, asking viewers to ‘please stop with the thirsty comments’ Lawrence Du knew instinctively that his parents’ bakery had the potential to pop off on social media. Shaun Du and Cindy Vuong opened Montmorency Bakehouse on the fringe of Melbourne’s east in 2003, after migrating to Australia from Vietnam. They started selling pillowy, coconut-dusted lamingtons, vanilla slices, chunky steak pies and crusty loaves of bread alongside crispy banh mi and rice paper rolls, creating a traditional country-style Australian bakery with a Vietnamese twist. Continue reading...

From his home town of Los Angeles, the architect designed a career around defying what was predictable In Frank Gehry’s world, no building was left untilted, unexposed or untouched by unconventional material. The Canadian-American architect, who died in his Los Angeles home at 96, designed a career around defying what was predictable and pulling in materials that were uncommon and, as such, relatively inexpensive. Gehry collaborated with artists to turn giant binoculars into an entryway of a commercial campus, and paid homage to a writer’s past as a lifeguard by creating a livable lifeguard tower. And while dreaming this up, he transformed American architecture along the way. Continue reading...

After meeting Miranda at a footy screening, Darcy Green found her a little terrifying. Months later, their feelings came pouring out Find more stories from the moment I knew series In 2018 I moved from Sydney to Oxford to complete my masters. My mum was born in London, and I was raised on my gran’s stories about England, so moving to Oxford felt oddly like going home. I was excited to get my degree, visit as many beautiful libraries as possible and play all the sports I could cram into my calendar. Falling in love wasn’t on my wishlist, but then I met Miranda. Continue reading...

Inter Miami host Vancouver for MLS championship Drop Beau at line on Bluesky or email Messi. Müller. It’s a World Cup rematch in which someone will be the first World Cup champion to add an MLS Cup to that virtual-yet-very-real trophy case. But look past the big names. These are two exceptional teams. As MLS has expanded, the talent pool has been stretched thin, but these two teams would easily hang with the old-school DC United dynasty or the strong LA Galaxy teams. Continue reading...

It’s Musicals Week, so prepare for tunes from The Greatest Showman and West Side Story – plus the all-new Dance Relay. But whose quarter-final performance will get bad reviews – and who will bring the house down? As well as the Dance Relay, this week’s five “proper” routines from our couples are heavy on the Latin and speciality dances, with a Charleston, an Argentine tango, a salsa and a samba. Om;y Balvinder Sopal is flying the flag for ye olde trad ballroom with her Viennese waltz. Extra dancers are also back for the first time since Blackpool, lending that big production feel to the musicals-themed numbers. Fifteen minutes until that ba-ba-da theme tune… Training VT sees couple visit the West End cast of the musical they’re channelling for “tips” Celebrity gushes unconvincingly about how much they love musical theatre Overuse of the words “iconic” and “legendary” Anton refers to his Musicals Week routines of yore, even though he only made it this far twice Fickle Claudia transfers her affections from Dave Arch to Paddington Craig modestly mentions his West End choreography credits Anton ropes in a secretly delighted Shirley to demonstrate waltz frame or tango hold Motsi says someone “brought their A-game” or “shut this ballroom down” Someone gets compared to Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers/Gene Kelly/Bob Fosse Shirley picks up a female celebrity on her footwork fundamentals but male celebs get away with it Continue reading...

National League South side into third round for first time Cheltenham come from behind to beat Buxton 6-2 Louis Britton scored twice as Weston-super-Mare booked their spot in the third round of the FA Cup for the first time with a 2-0 win at fellow National League South side Chelmsford. To compound Chelmsford’s misery, Taylor Clark was given his marching orders late on, 12 minutes after coming off the bench, for a dangerous high tackle. Continue reading...

Tuchel’s team will play at Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium Other Group L games in Boston and New York/New Jersey England will kick off their World Cup campaign against Croatia in Dallas at 9pm UK time on Wednesday 17 June, it has been announced. Thomas Tuchel’s team will play at the AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, which has a retractable roof and air conditioning, which will mitigate the effects of a 4pm ET kick-off or 3pm local time. Continue reading...

Andrew Wolfe was shot in the head on 26 November, while Sarah Beckstrom died from her injuries The West Virginia national guard soldier who was wounded in the 26 November shooting that killed a colleague of his in Washington DC is “slowly healing”, according to West Virginia’s governor. Andrew Wolfe, 24, was shot alongside fellow West Virginia national guard soldier Sarah Beckstrom, 20, while they patrolled the US capital as part of the Trump administration’s push to deploy military members on to the city’s streets. Beckstrom died of her injuries the day after she was shot while Wolfe was hospitalized in critical condition. Continue reading...

For second time this season, rain ends Rovers match early Hosts were again leading match when referee halted play Blackburn’s match against Sheffield Wednesday was abandoned with the hosts leading 1-0 due to a waterlogged pitch – the second time that has happened this season. Valérien Ismaël’s men came into the game four days after fulfilling the rearranged fixture against Ipswich, a game they were also originally on course to win 1-0. This time, Yuki Ohashi’s fifth goal of the campaign had given them the lead in the 33rd minute and Blackburn had only faced one moment of real danger when Bailey Cadamarteri’s strike was saved by Aynsley Pears early in the second half. Continue reading...

Long before the end Burnley were down to 10 men, well en route towards a sixth straight Premier League defeat and concerned, largely, with damage limitation. Yet to their considerable credit, Scott Parker’s side never surrendered and somehow even dragged themselves back into things thanks to Zian Flemming’s late penalty. Continue reading...

A moment of sheer brilliance in the 65th minute from Rayan Cherki had all at the Etihad Stadium sucking air in awe. The Frenchman burst along the right and cut back, then delivered a scintillating rabona plum on to the head of Phil Foden, who nodded home off the bar. Manchester City had cruised to a 3-0 lead and were heading for second, two points off the top, after Arsenal’s defeat at Aston Villa. The manager will adore Cherki’s man-of-the-match display as much as there being no second-half defensive horror show to follow the one at Fulham, and you have to wonder if City will again break the hearts of the Gunners come May, when the title is handed out. If Cherki continues to star as he did here then he will join Foden and Erling Haaland as City’s gun attackers who will give them the best chance of yet another crown. Continue reading...

⚽ Premier League updates from the 5.30pm GMT kick-off ⚽ Live scores | Table | Follow us on Bluesky | Email Scott Readers react to the updated Premier League table. “I’ve been fairly relaxed about Liverpool’s form so far. The title memory is still fresh and, being only the second in 35 years, still worth celebrating. And 450m quid is a lot, but it wasn’t my money. But seven places behind Everton? If that doesn’t qualify as a crisis, then I’m not sure what does: – Tim Woods “Following Villa’s victory earlier, it’s On! The league is back On!*” – Matt Dony Continue reading...

Sean Dyche would not have recognised Everton on his return to the club he saved from relegation and possible administration not so long ago. The former Everton manager was greeted by plush new surroundings, a contented fanbase and a vibrant, confident opponent as the home team rose to fifth in the Premier League with a comfortable defeat of Nottingham Forest. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall produced another immaculate performance in the heart of Everton’s midfield as a fourth win in five games reinforced the advances made since David Moyes replaced Dyche in January. Dewsbury-Hall forced the first goal and scored the third, with Thierno Barry finally getting off the mark to wild acclaim in-between. Forest were subdued and second-best throughout. Continue reading...

Any momentum Chelsea had picked up in the final week of November, through outclassing Barcelona and matching Arsenal with 10 men, appears to have been stunted in December. After Wednesday’s defeat at Leeds, a point against Bournemouth is no disaster but, with Arsenal’s earlier loss to Aston Villa, it is a chance missed. Eight points separate Enzo Maresca’s side and the top of the Premier League. Bournemouth took a leaf out of Leeds’ book and hounded Chelsea from the start. The visitors, behind within six minutes at Elland Road, were let off the hook twice early on. Antoine Semenyo thought he had given Bournemouth the lead when he pounced on a loose ball inside the area, only for the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) to intervene because Evanilson was marginally offside from Alex Scott’s incisive pass into the box. Continue reading...