Latest news with #England
Business Recorder
36 minutes ago
- Sport
- Business Recorder
Smith to open for England in ODI series opener against West Indies
LONDON: Jamie Smith will open the batting for England in Thursday's ODI against West Indies at Edgbaston, captain Harry Brook confirmed on Wednesday ahead of the three-match series. 'He's got the strength to do so – the technique to be able to face the swinging ball,' said Brook, who takes charge of his first match since replacing Jos Buttler as captain. Smith, who will open alongside Ben Duckett, batted at three during England's disappointing Champions Trophy campaign, averaging a meagre eight with a top score of 15. He comes in at seven for the Test team. 'Baz (head coach Brendon McCullum] and I have this desire that he could be an unbelievable white-ball opener,' Brook said. 'I am not saying he has cemented his spot but he is going to get a good crack. He is such an immense player and can play the moving ball, as we have seen in Test cricket. There is no reason he can't bang it as an opener.' Former captain Buttler and all-rounders Jacob Bethell and Will Jacks are all in the side after returning from the Indian Premier League (IPL) while Joe Root is slated to come in at three with Brook at four. Pace bowlers Jofra Archer, Mark Wood and Gus Atkinson are all missing because of injuries but Brydon Carse has recovered from a toe issue and will be joined by Saqib Mahmood and Jamie Overton in the pace attack. Smith back at three as England rejig batting order for Australia clash England were de-throned as ODI world champions and then suffered a dire Champions Trophy within the space of nine months and Brook said it was time to begin a new chapter. 'Hopefully we can bring a lot of energy, competitiveness and lot of fun out there,' Brook said. 'We want to engage the crowd as much as we can and try to get some wins under our belt. I know lads have sometimes said that we don't care about winning but that's not true. Everybody hates losing.' England are ranked eighth in the ODI standings with West Indies ninth and with only the top eight, excluding hosts South Africa and Zimbabwe, earning automatic qualification for the 2027 World Cup, there is plenty at stake in the series. The second match takes place in Cardiff on Sunday with the third at the Oval on Tuesday.
The National
an hour ago
- Business
- The National
Europa Conference League win can be 'starting point' for Chelsea, says Maresca
Enzo Maresca says Chelsea's emphatic Europa Conference League final victory over Real Betis can serve as a launchpad for a new era of success at Stamford Bridge, following the club's turbulent spell since their last Premier League title in 2017. The Blues came from behind in Wroclaw to win 4-1, lifting their first European trophy since the 2021 Uefa Champions League. Cole Palmer was the architect of the comeback, supplying assists for Enzo Fernandez and Nicolas Jackson before late goals from Jadon Sancho and Moises Caicedo sealed a convincing win. Having secured Champions League qualification with Sunday's Premier League victory over Nottingham Forest, Maresca hailed the midweek triumph as further proof that his youthful squad is capable of challenging for major honours once again. 'Hopefully it can be a starting point to build a winning mentality,' said Maresca. 'You need to win games, you need to win competitions. And for sure, the trophy we won tonight is going to make us better.' Maresca, 44, took charge of Chelsea last summer in what was his first top-flight managerial role, inheriting a side that finished mid-table last season and had struggled to find consistency since their 2021 Champions League success under Thomas Tuchel. Despite the challenges, the Italian coach has overseen a resurgence. Chelsea ended the Premier League season in fifth and lifted their first silverware in three years, all while fielding the youngest squad in the division. 'I'm very proud about the journey we've done in the Premier League,' Maresca added. 'It's the most difficult competition in the world. You have to be consistent in 38 games – and with the youngest squad in the history of the Premier League, it's something unbelievable.' That youthfulness appeared to show early in Wroclaw. The Blues were rattled by the partisan crowd, and a defensive lapse from Malo Gusto allowed Abde Ezzalzouli to put Betis ahead inside nine minutes. The Spanish side dominated much of the first half, and Chelsea were fortunate not to fall further behind after Johnny Cardoso missed a clear chance. But Palmer, Chelsea's standout player this season, turned the game on its head with a moment of brilliance – floating a pinpoint cross for Fernandez to head home. Minutes later, he delivered another precise ball that Jackson converted, using his shoulder to steer it in. That brief flurry broke Betis' resistance. Sancho, on as a substitute, curled in a third before Caicedo capped the night with a fourth deep in stoppage time. 'We all know Cole is a top player,' said Maresca. 'He can decide games with a goal or an assist, and tonight he did both. Our job is to keep putting him in the right areas.' With a trophy secured and Champions League football returning to Stamford Bridge next season, Maresca said Chelsea's ambitions are only growing. 'This season, the Conference League was our target – and we won it. Next season, it's the Champions League. We'll see what we can do.'
BBC News
an hour ago
- Business
- BBC News
Farage's Reform policies 'fantasy' economics, says Starmer
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has accused Nigel Farage of "fantasy" economics after the Reform UK leader set out a number of policies earlier this a speech later this morning, Sir Keir is expected to liken Farage to former PM Liz Truss and say that Reform's policies would lead to an increase in mortgage made big gains in the English local elections earlier this month, cementing it as a prime challenger to Britain's traditional main parties.A spokesperson for Reform dismissed the prime minister's comments as a "desperate attack" from a party "behind in the polls". Speaking at a business in the north-west of England later, Sir Keir, 62, will accuse the Reform leader of pledging unfunded tax cuts which, he will warn, could spark an economic meltdown."In opposition we said Liz Truss would crash the economy and leave you to pick up the bill," he is expected to say. "We were right. And we were elected to fix that mess."Now in government, we are once again fighting the same fantasy – this time from Nigel Farage."Farage is making the exact same bet Liz Truss did. That you can spend tens of billions on tax cuts without a proper way of paying for it. And just like Truss, he is using your family finances, your mortgage, your bills as a gambling chip on his mad experiment. The result will be the same."Thursday's speech is further evidence that right now the prime minister sees Farage as his principal political Tuesday, Farage pledged more generous benefits for pensioners and parents – but it was a commitment to raising the threshold at which someone starts to pay income tax from £12,570 to £20,000 that had some economists questioning whether his sums added Institute for Fiscal Studies said the policy could cost between £50bn and £80bn a year – and that Reform had not spelled out how they would raise the cash."Of course they don't have to do that yet – we're not at a general election," said IFS economist Stuart Adam. "But at some point, if they're going to be a party of government, they would have to make those numbers add up." In Farage's speech, the former Ukip leader, 61, said the Conservatives had become an "irrelevance", adding: "They've had a good 200 years."The local elections saw Reform make big gains at the expense of both Labour and the Conservatives – winning one by-election and two mayoral races, as well as gaining 677 new party won most votes, most seats and overall control of most councils. But, as politics professor Sir John Curtice highlighted, the party's share of the votes across all councils where elections took place was no more than 31% – so despite doing well, it secured far from a majority of those voting. A Reform spokesman said: "We will take no economic lectures from Keir Starmer."Labour's manifesto promised £10bn per year of increased spending."Their first budget raised spending by £70bn and they have added another £30bn since then for Chagos."The prime minister faces pressure from his own MPs on government spending decisions, including cuts to disability also said he would scrap the two-child benefit limit, which some Labour MPs also want to see abolished. The cap prevents most families from claiming means-tested benefits for any third or additional children born after April 2017.
BBC News
2 hours ago
- General
- BBC News
Golden eagles flying back to northern England
After years of absence, golden eagles are beginning to venture back into England from the south of Scotland, leading to hopes they might nest. Among those crossing the border in 2025 was a young male called enthusiast Ian Glendinning has seen the UK's second biggest bird of prey many times in the Scottish Highlands, but he never expected to encounter one in his home county of Northumberland. "It was the end of March and I was driving in a remote corner of the national park with a couple of friends and the rear passenger suddenly shouted out 'what on earth is that?'," he says. "I looked over to my right and about 30 metres away there he was, sitting on a rocky outcrop."Before I could get my phone out for a photo it glided away, but it was absolutely colossal, there was just no doubting what it was."I would defy anyone not to be impressed seeing such a huge bird at close range." Talla is one of around 50 golden eagles living in the Scottish Borders and Dumfries and resurgence is thanks to the work of the South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project (SSGEP), set up when the population in the region had dropped to a mere to more about the return of golden eagles on BBC SoundsSince 2018, SSGEP has successfully translocated 28 juveniles, collected at six to eight weeks of age, and 15 sub-adult golden eagles between four months and three years from the Scottish Highlands. SSGEP chair Michael Clarke said: "Thanks to our satellite tagging, we can confirm that some are beginning to venture into Northumberland and further afield and these sightings reaffirm the importance of us extending our groundbreaking work."The birds have also visited the North Pennines and the Lake District, even travelling as far as the Forest of Boland in Lancashire and Nidderdale in Yorkshire. "While it is too early to say if they are settling in these areas, it is a potentially exciting and significant milestone," Mr Clarke said. Golden eagles were wiped out in England and Wales by the mid-19th Century, mainly due to persecution by those who saw them as a threat to livestock or game birds. Despite a brief return following the two world wars, when driven shoots largely ceased, numbers gradually declined again with the last resident golden eagle in England disappearing from the Lake District in UK's remaining population was then largely confined to the Scottish Highlands and Islands, particularly in remote, mountainous regions. Dr Cat Barlow, CEO of the charity Restoring Upland Nature, which has taken SSGEP under its wing, said it is not surprising to the birds "exploring in England"."In the first few years of life, the birds will go looking for new territory, looking for a mate, looking for new feeding grounds," she said. "They'll get up high in the sky and head for the areas that look interesting to them, usually those remote upland areas."They create a visual map of where they've been and when they find what they think is a good place, they'll settle there and try and attract a mate." Welcoming a possible move south, she said: "I'm from County Durham myself and I'd love to see them back for good there." It is not yet clear whether a golden eagle population in areas like the Lake District, or the Northumberland Uplands will establish itself without birds being brought from Scotland. "In theory, as available territories fill up in the south of Scotland, eagles will begin to move into England and they have been visiting old nest sites," Dr Barlow Wildlife Trust CEO Mike Pratt said: "They don't see a border and the landscape either side of the borders of England and Scotland is so similar it's not a surprise they're coming south."The sightings are almost like the golden eagles giving their blessing and saying that the landscape can take them." The charity has recently acquired the Rothbury Estate in Northumberland; 9,500 acres of land which include the Simonside Pratt hopes one day golden eagles will be present there. "It won't be a rushed process and we'll be consulting carefully, but the project in the south of Scotland has been such a success, people really love them."I would like to think the same could happen here." Mr Glendinning has seen golden eagles three more times since that first shock sighting in March and feels a sense of "wonderment" each time. "They just fit in perfectly with the landscape, I just felt a real sense of amazement that they are there and I can see them," he said. "It just feels like they belong here." Follow BBC North East on X and Facebook and BBC Cumbria on X and Facebook and both on Nextdoor and Instagram.
Daily Telegraph
2 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Telegraph
‘Most cluttered home' hits market after major reno
Britain's most cluttered home has hit the market for £300,000 ($A627,000) after receiving a major makeover. Previous occupants had left it a mess both on the inside and out, The Sun reports. Some rooms were not even possible to access as debris piled on the floors and furniture. The house has now undergone a major transformation becoming a stunning family home, with three vibrant bedrooms and a modern kitchen. MORE: Stanley Kubrick's former home hits market Major update on developer's failed $77m home Inside Ed Sheeran's $18.5m waterfront pad The property was auctioned off in November 2021, where the bidding started at £110,000 ($A230,000). Despite the rubbish that had accumulated throughout the property, it received offers in £5,000 ($A10,400) increments from buyers. A proxy bid finally brought the auction to £145,000 ($A303,000). Following its makeover, the property is back on the market for just over double the price. The current owner has turned the home into an ample living space with a large corner garden. There is also a large loft area above bedrooms two and three, which could be converted into a further two rooms with the necessary planning permissions. As the property description states: 'Upon entering, you are greeted by a bright and airy open-plan lounge/diner, perfect for entertaining or relaxing with the family. 'The newly fitted kitchen/breakfast room is a true highlight, boasting contemporary units and ample space for culinary creations.' The property has also been given a new roof, plumbing, gas central heating and a complete rewiring. On top of that, doors and architraves, skirting and some floors have been sanded back to their original wood. It is due to go on the market via Purplebricks after once being dubbed 'Britain's most cluttered house'. Parts of this story first appeared in The Sun and were republished with permission. Sign up to the Herald Sun Weekly Real Estate Update. Click here to get the latest Victorian property market news delivered direct to your inbox. MORE: Dad's response to son's $177m inheritance Charles turns royal retreat into $13k-a-week pad Emma Stone ditches dream in huge $41m call
