Deep took six wickets in the second innings as India levelled their five-match Test series against England 1-1.
Akash Deep, filling in for star bowler Jasprit Bumrah, took six wickets as India crushed England by 336 runs to level the cricket series 1-1 after they bowled out the hosts for 271 to claim their first Test victory at Edgbaston.
With Bumrah being rested in the second Test, Akash was the unlikely inspiration behind the visitors’ dominant, series-tying win just before tea on the final day of the second Test on Sunday.
Akash claimed the first five-wicket haul of his short Test career, removing four of the top five in England’s batting order and then top-scorer Jamie Smith (88) on the way to claiming figures of 6-99.
Akash finished with the bowling figures of 10-for-187 for the match.
Akash Deep celebrates with India teammates after taking five wickets on the final day of the second Test against England [Alex Davidson/Getty Images]
Set a world-record target of 608, England started the final day on 72-3 with a draw its only realistic hope and was all out with about two hours still to play on Sunday as India sealed a first win at Edgbaston in nine attempts.
The third Test begins at Lord’s on Thursday.
India recovered well after a tough defeat at Headingley last week, when England chased down 371 on day five.
Bumrah was left out to preserve his fitness, but Akash was a more-than-able deputy.
At age 28, he is a late bloomer – certainly at Test level, where he has played just eight matches since his debut in February last year – but looks the part already with his nagging line and length. He will likely retain his spot for the third Test.
India captain Shubman Gill was India’s other star in the second Test, making 269 in the first innings and 161 in the second innings in a record-setting performance.
Jamie Smith top-scored with 88 runs for England in their second innings run chase [Paul Childs/Action Images via Reuters]
BRIDGEWATER, N.J. — Elon Musk said he’s carrying out his threat to form a new political party after his fissure with President Trump, announcing the America Party in response to the president’s sweeping tax cuts law.
Musk, once an ever-present ally to Trump as he headed up the White House advisory team, which he calls the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, broke with the Republican president over his signature legislation, which was signed into law Friday.
As the bill made its way through Congress, Musk threatened to form the “America Party” if “this insane spending bill passes.”
“When it comes to bankrupting our country with waste & graft, we live in a one-party system, not a democracy,” Musk said Saturday on X, the social media company he owns. “Today, the America Party is formed to give you back your freedom.”
The formation of new political parties is not uncommon, but they typically struggle to pull any significant support away from the Republican and Democratic parties. But Musk, the world’s richest man who spent at least $250 million supporting Trump in the 2024 election, could affect the 2026 elections determining control of Congress if he is willing to spend significant amounts of money.
His reignited feud with the president could also be costly for Musk, whose businesses rely on billions of dollars in government contracts and publicly traded company Tesla has taken a hit in the market.
It wasn’t clear whether Musk had taken steps to formally create the new political party. Spokespeople for Musk and his political action committee, America PAC, didn’t immediately comment Sunday.
As of Sunday morning, there were multiple political parties listed in the Federal Election Commission database that had been formed in the the hours since Musk’s Saturday X post with versions of “America Party” of “DOGE” or “X” in the name, or Musk listed among people affiliated with the entity.
But none appeared to be authentic, listing contacts for the organization as email addresses such as ” [email protected]″ or untraceable Protonmail addresses.
Musk on Sunday spent the morning on X taking feedback from users about the party and indicated he’d use the party to get involved in the 2026 midterm elections.
Last month, he threatened to try to oust every member of Congress who voted for Trump’s bill. Musk had called the tax breaks and spending cuts package a “disgusting abomination,” warning it would increase the federal deficit, among other critiques.
“The Republican Party has a clean sweep of the executive, legislative and judicial branches and STILL had the nerve to massively increase the size of government, expanding the national debt by a record FIVE TRILLION DOLLARS,” Musk said Sunday on X.
His critiques of the bill and move to form a political party mark a reversal from May, when his time in the White House was winding down and the head of rocket company SpaceX and electric vehicle maker Tesla said he would spend “a lot less” on politics in the future.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who clashed with Musk while he ran DOGE, said on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday that DOGE’s “principles” were popular but “if you look at the polling, Elon was not.”
“I imagine that those board of directors did not like this announcement yesterday and will be encouraging him to focus on his business activities, not his political activities,” he said.
Jamie Smith offers admirable final-day resistance but India’s superb bowlers complete a thumping 336-run victory over England in the second Test at Edgbaston to level the series at 1-1.
July 6 (UPI) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is travelling Monday to Washington as Israel sends negotiators to Qatar amid ongoing talks toward a ceasefire with Hamas. The administration of President Donald Trump also seeks to ease tensions along the Israel-Syria border.
It marks the Israeli leader’s third visit to the United States since Trump returned to office, despite a warrant for his arrest issued by the International Criminal Court, of which neither the United States nor Israel are a party.
Netanyahu’s visit comes after the U.S. participated in airstrikes during Israel’s 12-day war against Iran. During Netanyahu’s last trip to the White House in April, the Israeli prime minister appeared to be surprised when Trump said his administration would negotiate directly with Iran regarding efforts to curb its nuclear program.
Since then, Trump has increased pushes for deals that would lead to peace in the Middle East and the normalization of relations between Israel and its neighbors, possibly including Syria under the rule of its new leader, former al-Qaeda militant Ahmed al-Sharaa, after the president lifted sanctions on the country.
The Monday meeting is primarily expected to focus on a 60-day pause in hostilities with Hamas. In January 2025, Israel and Hamas signed a three-phase ceasefire deal. Phase One, which ended in early March, saw reciprocal hostage releases, humanitarian aid flows and partial Israeli withdrawals.
Ahead of Phase Two, Israel presented a revised plan with Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff seeking additional hostages, troop presence and governance conditions. Hamas rejected the amendments and Israel launched a major airstrike on March 18 that collapsed the truce. Since then, U.S.-brokered talks — spurred by Trump’s push for a 60-day ceasefire — have resumed but remain stalled.
Last week, Trump announced that Israel had agreed to a new U.S.-backed 60-day temporary cease-fire proposal. Hamas has responded positively but is seeking to negotiate some changes.
Hussam Badran, head of Hamas’ National Relations Office, said in a statement Sunday that the group held a series of extensive contacts with the leaders of other Palestinian factions to consult on Hamas’ response to the new framework.
“These contacts witnessed a high level of practical and serious consultation between Hamas and the national and Islamic factions, resulting in a unified national consensus in support of the position of the Palestinian resistance forces,” Badran said.
“Following the completion of internal and external consultations with the factions, Hamas’ response was presented to the mediators and was formulated unanimously and in a positive spirit. This unified response was welcomed by all Palestinian factions and forces.”
A senior Palestinian official told the BBC that Hamas has demanded that the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a new Delaware-based and Israel-backed nonprofit that took over the distribution of aid to Gaza, cease operations immediately.
Humanitarian organizations like Doctors Without Borders, Amnesty International and Oxfam have criticized the GHF after hundreds of people seeking aid have been shot at and killed by contractors and Israeli forces.
Hamas has also reportedly made a demand regarding Israeli troop withdrawal and has sought guarantees from the United States that Israel would not begin ground or air operations again, even if the ceasefire ended without a permanent truce.
The Gaza Health Ministry said Sunday that 80 people were killed and 304 people were injured in the enclave in the past 24 hours, bringing the number of deaths since the first ceasefire collapsed in March to 6,860. Nearly 60,000 people have been killed since the war began.
“The changes that Hamas is seeking to make in the Qatari proposal were conveyed to us last night and are unacceptable to Israel,” Netanyahu’s office said in a statement Saturday.
“In light of an assessment of the situation, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has directed that the invitation to proximity talks be accepted and that the contacts for the return of our hostages — on the basis of the Qatari proposal that Israel has agreed to — be continued. The negotiating team will leave tomorrow for the talks in Qatar,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, Naim Qassem — a leader of Hezbollah, the armed Lebanese political party that reached a ceasefire with Israel last year — delivered a speech Sunday that accused Israel of continuing to violate the terms of its deal while occupying parts of Lebanon.
In his speech, Qassem unequivocally opposed the normalization of relations with Israel, describing it as an unacceptable concession. He framed normalization as part of a broader effort to force surrender under the guise of diplomacy, which he said Hezbollah would never accept.
Qassem expressed conditional support for a Gaza ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, but insisted that any agreement must coincide with a complete halt to Israeli military operations in Lebanon.
BRICS countries have been in disagreement over how strongly to denounce Israel’s bombing of Iran and its actions in Gaza.
Brazil’s president says the world must act to stop what he describes as an Israeli “genocide” in Gaza as leaders from 11 emerging BRICS nations gathered in Rio de Janeiro.
“We cannot remain indifferent to the genocide carried out by Israel in Gaza, the indiscriminate killing of innocent civilians and the use of hunger as a weapon of war,” President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva told leaders from China, India and other nations on Sunday.
His comments came as Gaza truce talks between Israel and Hamas resumed in Doha and as pressure mounted to end the 21-month war, which began with Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attacks in southern Israel.
Lula said “absolutely nothing could justify the terrorist actions” of Hamas on that day, which resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, mostly Israeli civilians.
But he also offered fierce criticism of Israel’s subsequent actions. Israel’s military campaign has killed at least 57,418 people in Gaza, also mostly civilians.
BRICS countries have been in disagreement over how strongly to denounce Israel’s bombing of Iran and its actions in Gaza.
‘Autonomy in check once again’
Leaders in Rio called for reform of traditional Western institutions while presenting BRICS as a defender of multilateral diplomacy in an increasingly fractured world.
With forums such as the G7 and G20 groups of major economies hamstrung by divisions and the disruptive America First approach of United States President Donald Trump, expansion of BRICS has opened new space for diplomatic coordination.
In his opening remarks, Lula drew a parallel with the Cold War’s Non-Aligned Movement, a group of developing nations that resisted formally joining either side of a polarised global order.
“BRICS is the heir to the Non-Aligned Movement,” Lula told leaders. “With multilateralism under attack, our autonomy is in check once again.”
BRICS nations now represent more than half the world’s population and 40 percent of its economic output.
Leaders from Brazil, Russia, India and China gathered for the its first summit in 2009. The bloc later added South Africa and last year included Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates as members. This is the first summit of leaders to include Indonesia.
Some leaders were missing from this year’s summit, however. Chinese President Xi Jinping chose to send his prime minister in his place. Russian President Vladimir Putin is attending online because of a warrant issued for his arrest by the International Criminal Court.
Still, several heads of state were gathering for discussions at Rio’s Museum of Modern Art on Sunday and Monday, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
More than 30 nations have expressed interest in participating in BRICS, either as full members or partners.
BEVERLY HILLS — Julian McMahon, an Australia-born actor who performed in two “Fantastic Four” films and appeared in TV shows such as “Charmed,” “Nip/Tuck” and “Profiler,” has died, his wife said in a statement.
McMahon died peacefully this week after a battle with cancer, Kelly McMahon said in a statement provided to the Associated Press by his Beverly Hills-based publicist. He was 56, according to the New York Times.
“Julian loved life,” the statement said. “He loved his family. He loved his friends. He loved his work, and he loved his fans. His deepest wish was to bring joy into as many lives as possible.”
Additionally, he had roles in the TV shows “Home and Away,” “FBI: Most Wanted” and “Another World,” according to IMDB.
Actor Alyssa Milano, who appeared with McMahon on “Charmed,” mourned his death on social media, saying “Julian was more than my TV husband.”
“Julian McMahon was magic,” Milano said. “That smile. That laugh. That talent. That presence. He walked into a room and lit it up — not just with charisma, but with kindness. With mischief. With soulful understanding.”
Since October 7, 2023, the war of images has eclipsed the war of weapons. From Gaza’s pulverised hospitals and starving infants to mass graves and desperate fathers digging through rubble, every pixel captured on a smartphone strikes deeper than a missile.
These raw, unfiltered, and undeniable images have a far greater impact than any press conference or official speech. And for the first time in its history, Israel cannot delete them or drown them in propaganda.
The horrifying images of the Israeli army massacring people at aid distribution locations prompted newspaper Haaretz’s Gideon Levy to write on June 29: “Is Israel perpetrating genocide in Gaza? […] The testimonies and images emerging from Gaza don’t leave room for many questions.”
Even staunchly pro-Israel commentator and New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman no longer buys into the Israeli narrative. In a May 9 op-ed, addressed to US President Donald Trump, he declared: “This Israeli government is not our ally,” clarifying that it is “behaving in ways that threaten hard-core US interests in the region”.
Once, Israel’s narrative was protected by the gates of editorial rooms and the gravity of Western guilt. But the smartphone shattered those gates. What we see now is no longer what Israel tells us — it’s what Gaza shows us.
The platforms carrying these images — TikTok, WhatsApp, Instagram, X — don’t prioritise context; they prioritise virality. While older generations might look away, younger ones are glued to the stream of suffering, absorbed by every pixel, every siren, every moment of destruction. The global public is agitated, and this works against the Israeli interest. Israel is no longer just at war with its neighbours; it is at war with the lens itself.
The psychological toll of this visual war is reverberating deep inside Israeli society. For decades, Israelis were conditioned to see themselves as global narrators of trauma, not subjects of international scrutiny. But now, with videos of Israeli bombardment, flattened Gaza neighbourhoods, and emaciated children flooding every platform, many Israelis are grappling with a growing ethical predicament.
There is unease, even among centrists, that these visceral images are eroding Israel’s moral high ground. For the first time, public discourse in Israeli society includes fear of the mirror: what the world now sees and what Israelis are forced to confront.
Internationally, the effect has been even more destabilising for Israel’s diplomatic standing. Longstanding allies, once unconditionally supportive, now face growing domestic pressure from citizens who are not consuming official statements but TikTok’s live streams and Instagram’s image feed.
Lawmakers in Europe and North America are openly questioning arms shipments, trade deals, and diplomatic cover, not because of the briefings they have on Israeli war crimes but because their inboxes are flooded with screenshots of scattered body parts and starving children.
The battlefield has expanded into parliaments, campuses, city councils, and editorial rooms. This is the backlash of a war Israel cannot win with brute force. To regain control of the narrative, Israeli officials have pressured social media platforms to curb content they dislike. Yet even Israel’s most sophisticated public diplomacy efforts are struggling to keep pace with the virality of raw documentation.
Behind closed doors, the Israeli military is no longer merely worried about public relations; it is concerned about prosecution. The Israeli army has admonished soldiers for taking selfies and filming themselves demolishing Palestinian homes, warning that such material is now being harvested as evidence by international human rights organisations.
Footage and images from social media have already been used by activists to target Israeli servicemen abroad. In a number of cases, Israeli citizens have had to flee countries they were visiting due to war crimes complaints filed against them.
In the age of smartphones, the occupation is no longer just visible — it’s indictable.
In the past, Israel fought wars that it could explain. Now, it fights a battle it can only react to — often too belatedly and too clumsily. The smartphone captures what the missile conceals. Social media disseminates information that official briefings attempt to suppress. The haunting images, digitally preserved, ensure that we never forget any devastating atrocity, or act of brutality.
Images of conflict do not just convey information; they can also redefine our perceptions and influence our political positions. The powerful “Napalm Girl” photo that captured the aftermath of an attack by the US-allied South Vietnamese army on civilians during the Vietnam War had a profound impact on American society. It helped create a significant shift in public opinion regarding the war, accelerating the decision of the US government to end it.
Today, in Gaza, the stream of powerful images does not stop. Despite Israel’s best efforts, the global opinion is overwhelmingly against its genocidal war.
Smartphones have completely changed the nature of conflict by putting a camera in the hands of every witness. In this new era, Israel struggles to defeat the relentless, unfiltered visual record of its crimes that calls for justice.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera’s editorial stance.
It was 7 a.m., and Fremont High’s Andrew Williams was sleeping at his grandmother’s house in South Los Angeles when she woke him up to tell him a USC football coach wanted to speak to him on her cellphone before he went to school.
Williams will never forget that moment on Feb. 12. Defensive line coach Eric Henderson was calling to officially offer him a scholarship to play for the Trojans.
“You don’t believe it until you see it,” he said. “When he told me in his tone and how serious he was, I knew it was real. It was destiny calling. It took me a couple hours to reflect what was going on. I was stunned.”
By lunch time in the school quad, while surrounded by friends and classmates, the 6-foot-5, 220-pound Williams was calling Henderson to tell him, “I’m ready to become a Trojan.”
Henderson replied, “Hold on. I have someone who wants to speak to you.”
Coach Lincoln Riley joined the called.
“He said, ‘We’re so excited to have you here.’ It was genuine,” he said.
Fremont High senior Andrew Williams has shown his versatility as a defensive end, tight end and fullback.
(Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Times)
Williams was so unknown in the recruiting world before committing to USC last February that he said, “I wasn’t mentioned by any recruiting sites. I had no stars. Honestly it didn’t make me feel any different. I was the same player before the stars and without the stars. Most people still don’t know about me.”
He said a three-touchdown, 10-tackle performance as a junior against L.A. Jordan last fall while playing fullback, defensive end and receiver caught the attention of Colorado State assistant Chad Savage, who later joined USC as an assistant.
Recruiting players from inner city Los Angeles used to be a priority for USC and UCLA. Fremont grad Ricky Bell, a star running back for USC, has his name on the Pathfinders’ stadium. Fremont grad Mark Bradford was a star receiver at Stanford. Crenshaw has sent numerous players to USC and UCLA. Dorsey’s head coach, Stafon Johnson, was a standout running back for the Trojans.
But a drop in talent in the City Section has made identifying potential success stories more difficult. Williams, who has a 3.8 grade point average and plans to graduate in December, said he hopes to be part of the start of a rebirth in championing players from the inner city.
“I’m comfortable with people looking up to me,” he said. “Somebody in the city is actually doing it. Just as I can do it, so can you.”
He doesn’t doubt the road ahead remains difficult.
“I feel I was one of the least privileged kids,” he said. “To have the opportunity I’m doing now. … If I was another 6-5 kid that wasn’t from South Central, I would have been known. They would have shot me up the rankings. They don’t show that in the city I love. That’s cool. That’s for them to keep sleeping on us.”
Living 10 blocks from Fremont with his grandmother since he was 7, Williams said he didn’t discover football until his freshman year. He said he had too much free time until reaching high school and finding something to focus on.
“Have you heard the saying, ‘People get stuck and lost in the system?’ People become a product of their environment,” he said. “I needed time to figure my way out. I came to a realization when I came to high school that something was going to have to happen.”
With his height, athleticism — he can dunk — and agility — he also ran track — USC will watch him this fall to see whether his position will be tight end or defensive end. He’s a raw, intriguing prospect with lots of room to become stronger.
First-year Fremont coach Derek Benton was the coach at Jordan last season when Williams had his big game.
“He made his mark against me, then I knew and heard about him and it was one of the attractions coming here,” he said. “I’m very impressed with Andrew as a person.”
All Williams wanted was an opportunity to get a degree in college. He wants to study communications and learn about sports broadcasting. He said he didn’t need to visit multiple colleges or seek attention from social media. The USC offer was enough.
“Football teaches you can’t expect results without work,” he said. “People expect things in life, but they don’t put the work in. That’s a lesson football teaches you. It teaches unity, leadership, how to treat others.”
He has been rewarded for making good decisions and surrounding himself with people who want to see him succeed. All he’s ever wanted was a chance to prove himself.
An epic all-European clash and an upstart Brazilian side takes on London’s finest in the final four.
Three European teams and one from South America have their sights set on the FIFA Club World Cup (CWC) 2025 trophy as the tournament enters the semifinal stage on Tuesday.
The final two clubs qualified for the final four on Saturday. UEFA Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) spectacularly defeated Bayern Munich 2-0 in the quarterfinals despite being reduced to nine men. Five-time CWC winners Real Madrid played out a five-goal thriller to beat Borussia Dortmund 3-2 to seal their semifinal spot.
Here’s how the Club World Cup semifinals line up:
⚽ First semifinal : Fluminense vs Chelsea
When: Tuesday at 3pm (19:00 GMT) Where: MetLife Stadium, New Jersey
The opening semifinal pitches Brazil’s Fluminense against English Premier League side Chelsea.
Fluminense continue to impress at the CWC with goals from Matheus Martinelli and Hercules securing their place in the last four with a 2-1 win against Al Hilal in Orlando, Florida.
Chelsea scored the go-ahead goal on Malo Gusto’s 83rd-minute shot, which went in after a pair of deflections, beating Palmeiras 2-1 on Friday night to secure their spot in the semifinals.
Cole Palmer put Chelsea ahead in the 16th minute, but Estevao, an 18-year-old who will transfer to Chelsea after the CWC, tied the score against his future club in the 53rd. Gusto’s match-winning shot after a short corner kick that appeared to deflect off defender Agustin Giay and goalkeeper Weverton sent the Chelsea fans among the 65,782 spectators into a frenzy.
The match will take place at the 88,000-seat MetLife Stadium just outside New York City.
Cole Palmer of Chelsea scores the opening goal during the quarterfinal against Palmeiras at Lincoln Financial Field on July 4, 2025, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania [Chris Brunskill/Fantasista via Getty Images]
⚽ Second semifinal: PSG vs Real Madrid
When: Wednesday at 3pm (19:00 GMT) Where: MetLife Stadium, New Jersey
The second semifinal features a mouthwatering European heavyweight matchup between PSG and Real Madrid.
Nine-man Paris Saint-Germain advanced after defeating Bayern Munich 2-0 with goals from Desire Doue and Ousmane Dembele keeping the French side on track to achieve a historic quadruple of major titles in one season.
Luis Enrique’s side needed to dig deep in front of 67,000 fans at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, after late red cards for Willian Pacho and Lucas Hernandez.
Paris Saint-Germain’s French forward Ousmane Dembele celebrates scoring his team’s second goal in the quarterfinal against Bayern Munich on July 5, 2025 [Patricia de Melo Moreira/AFP]
Meanwhile, Gonzalo Garcia scored his fourth goal of the Club World Cup and Kylian Mbappe his first as Real Madrid beat Borussia Dortmund 3-2 in the final quarterfinal on Saturday.
Garcia put Madrid ahead from close range early on during a hot afternoon at the MetLife Stadium, and Fran Garcia then doubled their lead before the midway point.
Dortmund never seriously threatened a comeback before a remarkable late flurry of activity with Maximilian Beier pulling one back in the 93rd minute and superstar forward Mbappe registering Madrid’s third goal with a stunning overhead kick.
Mbappe, who has battled illness for most of the CWC, will face his previous club PSG for the first time since he departed the Paris-based side for Real Madrid in June 2024.
A map of the 11 host cities staging the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 [Al Jazeera]
The final will be played on Sunday at the MetLife Stadium, which will also the venue for the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.
The winning team in the Club World Cup could pocket as much as $125m in prize money.
A woman has shared the reality of being married to a pilot – and it’s not what you might think, with a particular regime she has to do every morning for her husband
A woman revealed what it’s really like to be married to a pilot(Image: Getty Images)
Ever wondered what it’s like to be married to a pilot? A woman has shared a glimpse into her life with her pilot husband, and there’s one thing she has to do every morning.
While we might assume that being married to a pilot comes with perks such as luxurious trips and free travel, the reality seems quite different. Ashton, known as @ashtonvonkessler on TikTok, took to the social media platform to reveal the reality.
In a TikTok video that went viral with over 300K likes and almost 500 comments, Ashton can be seen waking up at unusual hours to drive her husband to the airport. Ensuring he arrives for his shift before sunrise, she can be seen donning cosy wear and her hair tied up in a messy bun for the drive, showing the reality of their early morning routine.
At the end of the clip, Ashton kisses her husband as he waves goodbye to start his next shift. Rain or shine, Ashton is committed to waking up at all hours to ensure her husband gets to work.
Being married to a pilot isn’t as glamorous as you might think(Image: Getty Images)
Captioning the video, Ashton wrote: “You married a pilot, so you also signed up for the 5am drop-offs.” She also mentioned that she asked him to wake her up five minutes before they needed to leave so she could find her slippers.
Life as a pilot’s wife seems rather hectic, especially when early morning airport drop-offs are part of the routine. It’s a commitment to seriously early starts for life.
Since sharing the video, hundreds of people have commented, asking all sorts of questions. Many even expressed their interest in dating a pilot themselves.
One social media user quipped: “Him driving y’all to the airport only for yourself to drive yourself back home is so unbelievably accurate.” Echoing the sentiment, another chimed in: “As a pilot daughter, valid.”
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A third person joined in with a laugh: “Haha, this is so accurate, and the slippers too.” On a different note, a fourth shared: “Lol, don’t worry that stops when you have kids. The kids love picking him up though.”
Ashton also opened up to her followers about her husband’s journey to becoming a pilot, which took four years, and gushed that they’re super happy together. Regarding those late-night airport runs, she revealed they typically happen at 11pm, leading to some seriously long days.
She further reassured curious commenters that despite the odd hours, they manage plenty of quality time together. In response to queries about their time spent together, Ashton disclosed: “Almost everyday. He is only gone a couple of days at a time, and I follow him on trips sometimes.”
The race started on a wet track after a soaking wet morning, but with the sun out and more rain heading towards Silverstone.
Verstappen held the lead through a brief challenge from Piastri off the line but he could not shake the McLarens, and Piastri was soon challenging him hard for the lead.
Before he could try a move, though, a virtual safety car was deployed after Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto crashed at Turn Two on lap four.
The race was restarted on lap seven, and Piastri was past Verstappen on the Hangar Straight before two laps were over, building a 2.9-second lead after just one lap.
It was then Norris’ turn to challenge the Red Bull, but Verstappen gifted him the position when he slid off at Becketts on lap 11, just as heavy rain started.
That brought the drivers into the pits for fresh intermediates. By then, Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll had gained time by an earlier change to soft tyres when the track was drying and emerged in fourth place, with Hulkenberg in fifth after stopping for inters on lap 10, so benefiting when others had to drive on a wet track on slick tyres and then pit.
The rain became heavier and a safety car was deployed on lap 14. The race restarted on lap 18, but a second safety car was sent out within a lap after Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar ran into the back of Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes at Copse because he could not see him in the spray.
When the race restarted for the last time on lap 22, with Verstappen spinning from second down to 10th, Piastri started to try to build a lead but he was not able to get more than four seconds ahead before Norris came back at him – he was less than two seconds back by the time Piastri pitted to serve his penalty with nine laps to go.
Stroll was unable to hold on to his third place, soon being passed by Hulkenberg and then Hamilton and eventually dropping down to seventh place.
Behind Verstappen, Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, who was fifth at the restart, lost places to Hamilton and the Dutchman but was able to secure sixth place.
Williams’ Alex Albon was eighth, ahead of Fernando Alonso, who was frustrated by his team’s strategy costing him places in the topsy-turvy early part of the race, and then pitted a couple of laps too early for slick tyres as the track dried in the closing stages.
That dropped him to last, but he recovered to take ninth, ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell, who also stopped early for slicks for the final time.
Love Island viewers are in for some serious drama as Casa Amor launches into chaos as one of the boys dives straight into bed and does ‘bits’ with a new girl
Love Island mayhem as boy ‘does bits’ with Casa Amor girl in outrageous scenes(Image: ITV/Shutterstock)
Casa Amor has barely kicked off, and already one Islander has taken things too far after jumping into bed with a new girl just hours after her entrance to the iconic villa.
The steamy moment reportedly took place on Friday night in the main bedroom, where the pair got down and dirty under the duvet. Though the footage hasn’t aired, insiders say it’s one of the most outrageous moments the show has seen in many years.
“This could be one of the most shocking Casa moments since Andrew Le Page licked Coco’s t** or whatever,” said a source. “They hit it off and one thing led to another.”
The identities of the couple are being kept secret to preserve the surprise, but the boy involved has already caused drama earlier in the series. “The lad has been in a love triangle and has made a girl cry with his actions,” the insider told The Sun.
The boys have proved that they can’t help themselves(Image: ITV/Shutterstock)
ITV is reportedly undecided about when, or if, the intimate scene will air. “It was all under the duvet in the main bedroom on Friday night,” the source said.
“Viewers will have to wait and see if ITV decide to air the footage or not. Tonight’s show will show the first day of Casa Amor, but the bedroom moment could be pushed to Monday or Tuesday because there’s already so much drama. It’s already looking like this could be one of the best Casa Amors ever.”
Elsewhere, tensions are rising in Casa Amor and the boys aren’t wasting time. On their first night, Dejon kicks things off with a flirty round of Truth or Dare to break the ice.
Things heat up fast as Ben dives in with a bold three-way kiss, including Harry’s ex, Emma. Harrison follows suit, locking lips with the girl he fancies most, until the group has to step in and call time on the unusually long snog.
Harry’s ex Emma is in Casa Amor(Image: ITV/Shutterstock)
Harry soon comes face to face with his ex girlfriend Emma, who greets him with a cheeky: “Surprise!” He later confirms the ‘E’ tattoo on his wrist is, indeed, for her.
As the Islanders chat about their types, Yaz says she needs emotional depth in a partner. Emma doesn’t miss a beat, leaning toward Harry and saying: “Well that’s you out.”
When asked to rate his connection with Toni, Harrison admits: “Seven, could be better.” Meanwhile, Tommy doesn’t hold back with the new arrivals: “There’s definitely a few of you that tickle my fancy.”
The six new girls have arrived(Image: ITV/Shutterstock)
After the shock of her entrance, Harry and his ex Emma finally catch up, and he says, “I don’t need you to come and tell me off.” But Emma has no plans to stay quiet as she calls him out on his bad behaviour with Helena.
“It’s disgraceful though… like, how are you still doing the same thing?” she says. “The way you’ve been moving with Helena honestly… you two deserve each other… two snakes.”
BBC Sport pundits Anne Keothavong and Tracy Austin praise Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova’s ability to bounce back from being denied a game winning point due to “an operating error” deactivating the automatic line calling system in her fourth round win over Sonay Kartal at Wimbledon 2025.
On June 16, the Ukrainian government started the process for opening bids for foreign companies to mine lithium deposits in the country. Among the interested investors is a consortium linked to Ronald S Lauder, who is believed to be close to United States President Donald Trump.
The bid is part of a minerals deal signed in April that is supposed to give the US access to Ukraine’s mineral wealth. The agreement was negotiated over months and was touted by Trump as “payback” for US military support for the Ukrainian military.
The final text, which the Ukrainian side has celebrated as “more favourable” compared with previous iterations, paves the way for US investment in the mining and energy sectors in Ukraine. Investment decisions will be made jointly by US and Ukrainian officials, profits will not be taxed and US companies will get preferential treatment in tenders and auctions.
Trump’s demand for access to Ukrainian mineral wealth was slammed by many as infringing on Ukrainian sovereignty and being exploitative at a time when the country is fighting a war and is highly dependent on US arms supplies. But that is hardly an aberration in the record of relations between Ukraine and the West. For more than a decade now, Kyiv has faced Western pressure to make decisions that are not necessarily in the interests of its people.
Interference in domestic affairs
Perhaps the most well-known accusations of Western influence peddling have to do with the son of former US President Joe Biden – Hunter Biden. He became a board member of the Ukrainian natural gas company Burisma in May 2014, three months after Viktor Yanukovych, the pro-Russian president of Ukraine, fled to Russia during nationwide protests.
At that time, Joe Biden was not only vice president in President Barack Obama’s administration but also its pointman on US-Ukrainian relations. Over five years, Hunter Biden earned up to $50,000 a month as a board member. The apparent conflict of interest in this case bothered even Ukraine’s European allies.
But Joe Biden’s interference went much further than that. As vice president, he openly threatened then-Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko with blocking $1bn in US aid if he did not dismiss the Ukrainian prosecutor general, whom Washington opposed.
When Biden became president, his administration – along with the European Union – put pressure on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to give foreign “experts” a key role in the election of judges for Ukraine’s courts. As a result, three of the six members on the Ethics Council of the High Council of Justice, which vets judges, are now members of international organisations.
There was fierce opposition to this reform, even from within Zelenskyy’s own political party. Nevertheless, he felt compelled to proceed.
The Ukrainian government also adopted other unpopular laws under Western pressure. In 2020, the parliament passed a bill introduced by Zelenskyy that removed a ban on the sale of private farmland. Although polls consistently showed the majority of Ukrainians to be against such a move, pressure from the West forced the Ukrainian president’s hand.
Widespread protests against the move were muffled by COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. Subsequently, Ukraine’s agricultural sector became even more dominated by large, export-oriented multinational companies with deleterious consequences for the country’s food security.
Attempts to challenge these unpopular laws were undermined by attacks on courts. For example, the Kyiv District Administrative Court ruled that the judicial reform law violated Ukraine’s sovereignty and constitution, but this decision was invalidated when Zelenskyy dissolved the court after the US imposed sanctions on its head judge, Pavlo Vovk, over accusations of corruption.
The Constitutional Court, where there were also attempts to challenge some of these laws, also faced pressure. In 2020, Zelenskyy tried to fire all the court’s judges and annul their rulings but failed. Then in 2021, Oleksandr Tupytskyi, the chairman of the court, was sanctioned by the US, again over corruption accusations. This facilitated his removal shortly thereafter.
With Western interference in Ukrainian internal affairs made so apparent, public confidence in the sovereignty of the state was undermined. A 2021 poll showed that nearly 40 percent of Ukrainians did not believe their country was fully independent.
Economic sovereignty
In step with interference in Ukraine’s governance, its economy has also faced foreign pressures. In 2016, US Ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt urged the country to become an “agricultural superpower”. And it appears that the country indeed has gone down that path, continuing the process of deindustrialisation.
From 2010 to 2019, industry’s share of Ukraine’s gross domestic product fell by 3.7 percentage points while that of agriculture rose by 3.4 percentage points.
This didn’t benefit Ukrainians. UNICEF found that nearly 20 percent of Ukrainians suffered from “moderate to severe food insecurity” from 2018 to 2020, a figure that rose to 28 percent by 2022. This is more than twice as high as the same figure for the EU.
This is because the expansion of agriculture has favoured export-oriented monocrops like sunflowers, corn and soya beans. Although Ukraine became the world’s biggest exporter of sunflower oil in 2019, a 2021 study found that the domination of agriculture by intensively farmed monoculture has put 40 percent of the country’s soil at risk of depletion.
The 2016 free trade agreement with the EU also encouraged low-cost exports. Due to the restrictive provisions of the agreement, Ukrainian business complained that domestic products were often unable to reach European markets while European producers flooded Ukraine. Ukraine had a 4-billion-euro ($4.7bn) trade deficit with the EU in 2021, exporting raw materials and importing processed goods and machinery.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s industrial output collapsed under the blows of closed export markets, Western competition and neoliberal economic policies at home. According to the Ministry of Economy, by 2019, automobile production had shrunk to 31 percent of its 2012 level, train wagon production to 29.7 percent, machine tool production to 68.2 percent, metallurgical production to 70.8 percent and agricultural machinery production to 68.4 percent.
In 2020, the government under the newly elected Zelenskyy tried to intervene. It proposed new legislation to protect Ukrainian industry, Bill 3739, which aimed to limit the amount of foreign goods purchased by Ukrainian state contracts. Member of parliament Dmytro Kiselevsky pointed to the fact that while only 5 to 8 percent of state contracts in the US and EU are fulfilled with imports, the same figures stood at 40 to 50 percent in Ukraine.
But Bill 3739 was immediately criticised by the EU, the US and pro-Western NGOs in Ukraine. This was despite the fact that Western countries have a range of methods to protect their markets and state purchases from foreigners. Ultimately, Bill 3739 was passed with significant amendments that provided exceptions for companies from the US and the EU.
The recent renewal of EU tariffs on Ukrainian agricultural exports, which had been lifted in 2022, is yet another confirmation that the West protects its own markets but wants unrestricted access to Ukraine’s, to the detriment of the Ukrainian economy. Ukrainian officials worry that this move would cut economic growth this year from the projected 2.7 percent to 0.9 percent and cost the country $3.5bn in lost revenues.
In light of all this, Trump’s mineral deal reflects continuity in Western policy on Ukraine rather than a rupture. What the US president did differently was show to the public how Western leaders bully the Ukrainian government to get what they want – something that usually happens behind closed doors.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera’s editorial stance.
Packing can be a nightmare when you’re trying to stick to cabin bag limits, but there is one change you can make that will ensure extra space in your bag – and it’s not the common rolling technique
There’s one simple switch to make when packing your suitcase that could free up some much-needed space(Image: Getty Images)
One of the biggest hurdles when jetting off abroad is trying to cram all your essentials into the airline’s limited luggage allowance. If you’re aiming to travel light, sticking to cabin bag restrictions can be a real headache – but there’s one simple switch that could free up some much-needed space in your suitcase.
A common trick for conserving space is rolling your clothes; not only does it make use of the suitcase space, but it also helps avoid deep creases from forming when packed down. While many travellers have adapted to this technique, there’s an alternative method proven to be even more effective.
The KonMari folding technique, popularised by Marie Kondo, involves folding your garments into rectangles, rather than rolling them into cylinders, as we often see. This allows the clothes to stand upright next to each other in your suitcase, optimising even more space, reports the Express.
Here’s what to do:
Take your item of clothing and fold one side to the middle, then the other side over it, creating a rectangle
Then, fold it in half lengthways
From here, fold it into thirds until it’s a small rectangle that can be slotted in alongside other items
Ditching the common rolling hack for the triangle folding method could save you even more space in your suitcase(Image: Boy_Anupong/Getty Images)
In addition to this nifty technique, it’s also smart to ditch hefty toiletries like shampoo and body wash, as most hotels supply these complimentary. If you’re heading overseas for an extended period, think about purchasing these upon arrival to spare suitcase space.
Alternatively, numerous hotels are happy to receive online deliveries prior to your stay, allowing you to order your bathroom necessities to arrive before you do. It’s a straightforward strategy to lighten your load and prevent overpacking items you may not even use.
Investing in jewellery and cable organisers is another savvy move. These will keep your belongings safe and untangled, saving you from rummaging through your suitcase in search of what you need.
Now you’ve mastered the rectangular folding technique, there’s another tip to be aware of when you’re at the airport.
Waiting for your suitcase to appear on the carousel at the airport can be a tense wait, but there’s an easy trick to ensure your suitcase is one of the first to be taken off the plane – and it won’t cost you an extra penny.
A nifty trick could help your suitcase be one of the first to appear at baggage reclaim(Image: Getty Images/EyeEm)
Hadleigh Diamond, Commercial Director at SCS Chauffeurs, revealed that a lot of the company’s clients use the same hack to get out of the airport as efficiently as possible. He explained: “Clients regularly tell us that the difference between a good travel day and a stressful one often starts with baggage reclaim.
“If you’re standing waiting for 30 minutes while the carousel clunks out someone else’s bags, your trip can feel so much longer. But the fragile sticker trick is a game-changer, and it often works.
“We’ve heard this tip from both airport ground staff and frequent flyers. You don’t need to lie or explain – just politely ask the check-in agent to add a ‘fragile’ sticker to your suitcase. It’s not guaranteed, but more often than not, your bag is among the first out. We’ve seen it work time and time again.”
The reason it works is that airport ground handlers will typically load ‘fragile’ items last into the aircraft’s hold to avoid them getting crushed, and then these get removed first on the other side to avoid sitting under heavy loads. Of course, it won’t save you hours of time, but those 20 minutes it might save you could just mean a bit of extra pool time (or getting to your hotel early enough to be one of the first at the buffet!).
The Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday has been celebrated with cake and cultural performances by devotees around the world, including actor Richard Gere. The Nobel Prize-winning Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader says he will reincarnate after his death, but hopes that isn’t any time soon.
NOT going through these 15 checks before you go on holiday could land you with a huge bill.
It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of heading off on a break.
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Fridges and freezers can usually be left running unless you’re going away for a long timeCredit: Alamy
But research by BOXT has found one in Brits have returned home to be hit with an unexpected home emergency – with the average repair bill totalling a massive £390.
Some of the common culprits include break-ins, boiler problems, mould, flooding and fires.
If you want to avoid being landed with a hefty bill, these are the 15 things you should be checking for before you head off on your travels.
Check for fire risks
An estimated 35,000 house fires happen in the UK every year.
Here’s how to protect your home while you’re away.
Look at your electricals
Electrical fires are one of the most common causes of house fires in the UK.
You’re particularly at risk when you go away on holiday, and the main culprits are often tumble dryers, chargers and toasters.
Sam Starbuck, home expert at HomeServe, says: “It’s worth unplugging things like TVs, audio systems, Wi-Fi routers, kitchen appliances like coffee machines and toasters, dishwashers, and washing machines, all of which can use power when on standby and, in some cases, cause an electrical fire.
“Fridges and freezers can usually be left running, unless you’re going to be away for an extended period. Just make sure they’re working properly before you go.”
You should also check for overloaded plug sockets and ageing wiring.
I’m a mum-of-12, I swear by £1.15 bathroom cleaner and £3.25 mould cleaner in our busy house
Move mirrors and glassware
Another fire risk is sunlight reflecting off everyday items in your home.
Avoid putting magnifying mirrors, mirrored display trays or even glass ornaments near windows as these can concentrate sunlight into a beam hot enough to ignite curtains, furniture or carpet.
Kara says: “Before you head off on holiday, it’s worth doing a quick sweep of your home to make sure anything reflective is moved away from window ledges or sunlit spots.
“It takes just a minute to reposition a mirror, but the damage from a fire could be devastating.”
Don’t leave things charging
You should avoid leaving electronics to charge while they’re away, especially ones with lithium-ion batteries.
This type of battery can be found in most rechargeable devices such as power banks, e-bikes, vapes and smart watches.
If left unattended they can overheat and start fires.
Kara says you should always store these types of electronics in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and flammable materials.
Never throw these devices in the rubbish or your standard recycling bins, as these batteries can ignite if they’re crushed or damaged.
Check your curtains
You should avoid draping curtains or blinds over radiators or plug sockets, as this can also create a fire risk.
Thief-proof your home
Another major risk while you’re away is falling victim to a break-in.
These are the steps you can take to try to prevent it…
Safeguard your garden
Stop thieves from being tempted to steal from your garden by storing your tools and equipment in a locked shed or garage.
You could also add certain features like a gravel pathway to deter intruders as the sound of footsteps crunching on gravel could alert homeowners.
Plus, planting thorny bushes near your fences can act as a natural barrier.
Secure your doors and windows
Mark Hodgson, chairman of Tremark and vice president of The Association of British Insurers, says you should invest in high-security door locks.
You could also consider installing deadbolts.
Don’t forget about your windows too – you can upgrade your window locks to make it harder for people to enter.
You could also apply security film to your windows to make them shatter-resistant.
Mark your valuables
You can use UV light to mark your valuables and it won’t show up under normal lighting.
“This technique not only makes it easier to identify stolen items, but also signals to potential thieves that the property is traceable, serving as a strong deterrent,” Mark says.
“Items such as electronics, tools and expensive garden equipment should be labelled accordingly.”
Get a security camera
Installing a security camera or doorbell device can serve as a deterrent for thieves.
Plus, it can let you monitor your home while you’re away.
You might even be able to use a “decoy” security camera that looks genuine but isn’t operational.
Avoid plumbing and boiler disasters
If you’re way from home for a while, it can cause issues with your heating and plumbing.
Here’s what to do to prevent it…
Switch your boiler to ‘holiday mode’
Some boiler systems have a “holiday mode” or “away mode” that you can use when you’ll be out of the house for a few days or more.
The setting turns off your central heating to conserve energy but keeps essential heating functions such as frost protection and minimal hot water circulation active.
This can stop you having issues like frozen pipes or stagnant water while also saving you from wasting energy.
Adam Knight, lead engineer at BOXT, says: “Running the boiler for a short period could help prevent components from sticking or seizing, particularly if you’re away for extended periods of time.”
Turn off your stop tap
If you’re going away for more than three days, you should make sure to switch off your water supply.
This can protect you against surprises such as damp, floor damage or burst pipes.
The stop tap is usually located under the kitchen sink but it might also be in a kitchen cupboard, a downstairs toilet, a utility room or garage, basement, or under the stairs.
Turn the tap clockwise to switch off the water supply and anti-clockwise to turn it back on again.
Make sure you always turn slowly and gently to avoid damaging the valve.
Avoid pesky pests
The last thing you want is to come home to a pest infestation.
You’ll want to make sure you do these things…
Get rid of food scraps
Rats and mice can do a surprising amount of damage to your home – and they love finding food scraps in bins or crumbs under the sofa.
Kara Gammell says: “Rats can gnaw through almost anything, including concrete and metal.
“They’ve been known to cause flooding by chewing through pipes.”
You can avoid this problem by clearing away clutter, getting rid of food scraps, keeping your bins tightly shut and sealing up gaps and holes in your home.
Protect your car too
Rats can also nibble their way through car engines and fuel hoses and damage headlights.
Make sure you park away from rubbish or food sources and use a garage if possible.
Also keep your car’s interior clean and food-free.
Prevent mould
Another common issue that can happen while you’re away is mould growth.
SONAY KARTAL bowed out of Wimbledon – amid more Centre Court line-calling controversy.
Kartal, the last British player in the women’s singles and making her Centre Court bow under a roof closed for daylight play for the first time this Championships gave her all in a topsy-turvy roller-coaster of a match against Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
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Sonay Kartal is out of Wimbledon following defeat on Centre CourtCredit: Reuters
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Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova argues with the chair umpireCredit: Shutterstock Editorial
Despite earning a set point in the opener, the 23-year-old Kartal was eventually out-hit as she lost 7-6 6-3 in a two hours and two minutes.
But the BIG talking point was the latest malfunction of the new automatic line-judging system in operation in SW19 for the first time this year.
Just two days after Emma Raducanu publicly called out the AI judging on the All England Club’s showpiece venue, the last British woman left standing was involved in another bizarre incident.
Kartal’s forehand at game point to Pavluchenkova in the ninth game of the opener was clearly out but there was no call from the electronic officials.
With both players perplexed, German umpire Nico Helwerth halted play for three minutes as TV replays showed the non-call was totally wrong.
Eventually, Helwerth announced: “The electronic system was unable to track the last point”, ordering a replay, which saw Pavlyluchenkova volley wildly and eventually lose serve again.
It was a bizarre moment in a strange match, which saw neither player able to dominate on their serve.
Getting her third break – in those circumstances – could have been the springboard to a victory which would have seen her tournament earnings reach £400,000 – compared to her previous CAREER prize money of £333,000.
But despite a set point, Kartal was unable to serve out before being swept aside in the tie break.
And while the Brighton star bounced back from losing her opening service game in the second set she was crucially broken once more at 2-2, a missed forehand starting to put the writing on the wall.
‘You took the game away from me’ – Major Wimbledon controversy as new technology FAILS and Kartal rival fumes at umpire
Kartal refused to give up, asking the ultimate question of her opponent as she made the Russian serve out for the victory.
But Pavlyuchenkova, who matched her 2016 feat of reaching the last eight here in SW19, did not fold.
Kartal, though, can be proud of her run and she deserved the standing ovation that accompanied her exit.
Pavlyuchenkova, 34, apologised to the home fans after her victory ended Kartal’s dream run.
She said: “Sorry guys. I’d like to thank you for the great energy.
“I understand that she was local and that’s it. But it’s nice to play in a full stadium.”
The Russian added: “I was so impressed with her – but also myself, too.
“I was getting out of breath at one stage but to keep up with these young guys at this age and for me to play at this level is incredible.”
Had the ball been correctly called out, Pavlyuchenkova, who had the advantage, would have won the point and taken the lead.
Instead, it was replayed, Kartal won the point and went on to break for a 5-4 lead.
A frustrated Pavlyuchenkova was heard telling the umpire at the changeover: “They stole the game from me. They stole it.”
A spokesperson for the All England Club said: “Due to operator error the system was deactivated on the point in question.
“The chair umpire followed the established process.”
The automated line-calling system, which was introduced at Wimbledon for the first time this year, has been under scrutiny this week, with several players questioning its accuracy and sound level.
Debbie Jevans, chair of the All England Club, said on Friday she was confident in the accuracy of the electronic line calling and in the decision to bring it in.
