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News.com.au
25-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
David Warner stranded in cricket's ‘Fyre Festival' as league hits back
David Warner has found himself at the centre of cricket's version of the ill-fated Fyre Festival scandal. Warner and 15 other Australian cricketers have been caught up a payment dispute with the Max60 Caribbean League T10 league in the Cayman Islands. The league burst onto the scene in 2024 but less than a year after it's inaugural season, turmoil has taken over. Players refused to walk out onto the field to play during the second season over unpaid wages before teams joined in on the strike action. The ugly dispute has been likened to the infamous Fyre Festival that was billed as an exclusive VIP music extravaganza in the Bahamas, only for it to turn into a nightmare upon arrival. 'It's very disappointing, what's happened,' Warner said to the SMH. Contracts for the league reportedly state players were to be paid 50 per cent of their fees 30 days before the tournament got underway with the remaining 50 per cent to be paid shortly after the tournament wrapped up. But as the second season got underway and with no money hitting player accounts, games were cancelled as players took action into their own hands. In a since deleted Instagram post, the league stated matches had been cancelled 'due to off-field issues'. On Friday morning, the league took to social media to hit back amid the turmoil and note that the second payments to players had been 'compromised'. Comments on the post were turned off. 'Firstly, Max60 would like to thank all the hard work and contributions from franchises, Cayman cricket, cayman department tourism & sport, sponsors, players and attending fans through S1 & S2,' the post read. 'It is with a heavy heart that we confirm several games did not proceed. The league was concluded as scheduled on Wednesday 23rd July, and the Caribbean Tigers were declared the winners, making it back-to-back victories. 'The issue of payments has been made and Max60 confirms following: 'We understand there were some aggrieved parties that instigated the missed matches. This will be investigated and appropriated action taken in due course to recover damages to the league. 'Max60 has always shown a lot of care/opportunities and respect for players again confirming 100 per cent payment in S1. We appreciate players are aggrieved from various leagues around the world. 'But it is inappropriate to take this stand in the Cayman Islands.' The action of the players striking over non-payments has been supported by the World Cricketers' Association (WCA). 'It's disappointing to hear that players still haven't been paid what they're owed under their contracts,' Tom Moffat, the WCA's chief executive said according to ESPNcricinfo. 'Players have fulfilled their commitments in good faith the whole way along, but it's unreasonable for anyone to expect them to continue to turn up and put on the show if the terms of their contracts have flagrantly been breached. 'This isn't an isolated or new issue. It's another example of an officially sanctioned cricket event treating player contracts like worthless pieces of paper, and of the lack of protections for players who compete in events that have been sanctioned by the ICC or its members. 'There are simple solutions to these issues and the game's global leadership and regulations should protect the whole sport, and people within it.'
Time of India
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
11-year old Yiheng Wang makes jaw dropping Rubik's Cube history with fastest World Championship win ever
11-year old Yiheng Wang makes jaw dropping Rubik's Cube history with fastest World Championship win ever (Image via Getty) The audience was hushed. Cameras were primed. And everybody held their breath. Something unexpected had just occurred at the 2025 Rubik's Cube World Championship. Standing center stage, an 11-year-old boy surprised everyone with his speed. As they witnessed his hands, faster than anyone had ever seen, spectators shouted in astonishment. Fans, judges, and other players were taken aback. Who was this kid? And how did he do it so fast? What happened next marked the beginning of the new history of all speedcubing. Yiheng Wang makes Rubik's Cube history with fastest-ever average solve Yiheng Wang, age 11, from China, won the 2025 Rubik's Cube World Championship in Seoul, South Korea on July 7, 2025; his average solving time of 4. 23 seconds was the fastest average time in World Championship final round history. Yiheng Wang entered the competition from the 3x3x3 cube section which was the main event in that tournament category. The finals consisted of 5 solves. The fastest and slowest were removed, and averaged of the three middle solves. Yiheng Wang's official average of 4.23 seconds shocked everyone. The World Cube Association (WCA), which ran the contest, said that Yiheng Wang's fastest single solve in the final round was 3.96 seconds and his slowest was 4.51. Although Yiheng Wang was one of the youngest finalists ever, he did not seem fazed by the pressure. Yiheng Wang said after the win, 'I just wanted to enjoy the competition. I didn't expect to win. This feels like a dream.' Also Read: World's Fastest Cube-Solving Robot Built By Students In Jaw-Dropping Time Yiheng Wang's journey from local champion to world record holder At the tender age of six, Yiheng Wang started cubing. Early on his parents saw his aptitude and helped him in national and regional competitions. He first gained notoriety in 2023 for his under-ten record in China. He has trained every day for hours ever since. His coach, Li Hua, said in an interview, 'Yiheng is very focused. He studies each cube scramble like a puzzle. He's never nervous.' Over 800 cubers from over 50 nations participated in the 2025 championship in Seoul. Yiheng Wang, meanwhile, stood out for his cool head and lightning- fast hands. Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
Indian Express
27-06-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Only fair they get their share of pound of flesh: Ravi Shastri wants India to get a bigger share of ICC revenue
With India claiming 38.5% of ICC's total revenue share for the 2024-27 cycle, former player Ravi Shastri defended the decision saying India should get an even bigger share considering their contribution to the cricket body's revenue. 'I would want more because most of the money that's generated comes from India. So it's only fair that they get their share of pound of flesh. It's relative, it's economies, if tomorrow there might be another economy that's stronger. Money might come from there like it did in the 70s, 80s and the chunk of the money went somewhere else. So I think it's only fair and, it just shows in the revenues,' Shastri said on Wisden. 'When India travel, look at the television rights, look at the television income that comes for an India series. So it's only fair that they get. Whatever they're getting now, if not more,' he added. 🗣️'When India travels, look at the television rights.' 📈 Ravi Shastri believes India deserve an even greater share of the ICC revenue 🇮🇳💰 — Wisden (@WisdenCricket) June 26, 2025 Meanwhile, earlier this year, the World Cricketers' Association (WCA) had released an extensive report titled: 'History, Embracing Change. A Unified Coherent Global Future' to fix the current 'broken global structure' of cricket. After a six-month review the WCA came up with key recommendations which include protected windows for international cricket, more equitable revenue distribution model that supports growth and competitive balance, better regulation of player movements in T20 leagues and an ICC that is a global governing body like FIFA and not a members' club. The report said the current global cricket's finances are not optimised, balanced or used effectively to achieve competitive balance and growth, resulting in the sport not reaching its global potential. Moreover, it also says players do not receive a fair earning relative to the wealth they generate. The report finds that 70% of the revenues are generated in just three months of the year and 83% of all revenue is shared between just three countries and the revenue generated by other than the Big Three — India, England and Australia — is less than 4%. From this, payments to players is approximately around 10% of all revenue. To improve this, the WCA wants an optimal calendar to be in place which could result in an additional $246 million revenue annually. It calls for the establishment of minimum and maximum distribution parameters of ICC revenues. As an example, it says 'a minimum 2% and maximum 10% for the top 24 countries, and a minimum 10% distribution collectively for countries 25+.' It means the BCCI share will cut from 38.5% to 10%. The WCA also wants in place a centralised Global Growth and Development Fund built from a percentage of ICC events revenue, T20 leagues and pooled media rights from CIC.
Sky News
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Sky News
What is Sir Keir Starmer's welfare bill and why is he facing a major Labour rebellion over it?
Why you can trust Sky News Sir Keir Starmer faces the biggest rebellion of his premiership next week when his controversial welfare reforms are voted on in the Commons. After initially securing support for the welfare bill - in principle, at least - a mutiny is building within the parliamentary party at the scale and potential impact of billions of pounds in cuts. More than 100 Labour MPs have now signed a "reasoned amendment" to oppose the government's proposals - which, if passed, would effectively kill the legislation. In the amendment, the MPs, who represent a broad spectrum of opinion in the party, call for a delay to assess the impact of cuts to personal independence payments (PIP), one of the main types of benefit for those living with a long-term health condition or disability. They also cite the government's own figures showing that 250,000 people, including 50,000 children, could be pushed into poverty as a result. Sky News takes a look at what the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill proposes and why the prime minister has a major rebellion on his hands. What are the welfare changes? PIP The biggest shakeup to the system involved changes to PIP - money given to people - some of whom are in work - who have extra care needs or mobility needs as a result of a disability. People who claim it are awarded points depending on their ability to do certain activities, such as washing and preparing food, and this influences how much they will receive. There are two components to PIP: the "living" component for everyday activities and the "mobility" component for getting around. From November 2026, people will need to score a minimum of four points in at least one activity to qualify for the daily living element of PIP - instead of fewer points spread across a range of tasks. The standard rate for the living component for PIP starts at £73.90 a week for the living component, while the higher rate is set at £110.40 per week. 8:08 Currently, the standard rate is given if people score between eight and 11 points overall, while the enhanced rate applies from 12 points. The changes to PIP will not affect the mobility component. It is estimated that the government's package would lead to 800,000 fewer people being eligible for PIP. Universal Credit Universal Credit, which is also claimed by those who are in and out of work, is also undergoing changes. The government intends to freeze the health element of Universal Credit, claimed by more than two million people, at £97 a week during this parliament, and cut the rate to £50 for new claimants. There will also be a consultation on delaying access to the health top-up on universal credit until someone is 22, with the savings to be reinvested into work support and training opportunities. However, ministers have pointed out that the standard universal credit allowance will be increased by £775 per year by 2029/30. The Work Capability Assessment (WCA), which determines if a person is fit for work, will be scrapped in 2028, with financial support for people who are sick or disabled determined solely through the PIP assessment. 1:14 Other reforms include: • Merging jobseeker's allowance and employment and support allowance • Introducing a "right to try" initiative so people who want to attempt to get back into work won't lose their benefits while they do • The government will provide £1bn for targeted support schemes to help disabled people into work. But it's estimated these will only help 70,000 people find employment. Why are some MPs unhappy? While many MPs believe reform of the system is necessary due to the ballooning cost of the welfare bill - with the cost of long-term sickness and disability benefits for working-age people forecast to hit £70bn over the next five years - they are concerned that the bill does not take the right approach. Concerns among backbenchers range from thinking the cuts are too harsh and will penalise some of the most vulnerable in society, to fear that not enough money and effort is going into the plan to get people into work, and that there has not been a formal consultation with disabled people. One Labour MP told Sky News they believed the fact that the text of the welfare bill was published before the end of the consultation was proof the government was "not listening". They said the £5bn savings package was a "hammer to crack a nut" and added: "We have gone for cut first and reform second. All we are doing is causing pain to people. "We have to make the savings, but this is not the right way to do it." What could the government do now? For now, the government is insisting that the vote on Tuesday will go ahead. Standing in for Sir Keir at the despatch box, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner defended the reforms, arguing that ministers "won't walk away and stand by and abandon millions of people trapped in the failing system". The prime minister repeated Ms Rayner's insistence, telling Sky News' political editor Beth Rigby at the NATO summit: "We're committed to reforming our welfare system. It doesn't work. It traps people. And it has to be reformed. "And it also has to ensure that we've got a welfare system that is fit for the future.
STV News
25-06-2025
- Business
- STV News
Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner to defend welfare reforms at PMQs
Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner is set to defend the UK Labour Government's welfare reforms amid a growing rebellion at PMQs on Wednesday. It's the second week in a row that Rayner is filling in for Starmer at PMQs. Last week, the Prime Minister was returning to the UK from the G7 summit in Canada. This week, Starmer is attending a Nato summit at The Hague. Discussions have focused on the volatile situation between Israel and Iran, with leaders, including Starmer, urging diplomacy and the maintenance of a fragile ceasefire. Although the growing global unrest is likely to come up, opposition leaders are expected to focus on a growing Labour party rebellion over the welfare reform proposals. Last week, the UK Government published more details about its proposals. The Bill seeks reductions to the Universal Credit health top up for new claims from April 2026, and to scrap the Work Capability Assessment (WCA). There are plans to review PIP assessments and 'focus PIP on those with higher needs'. The Government tried to make some small concessions to appease unhappy Labour MPs, like ensuring that 200,000 people with the most severe and permanently disabling conditions' Universal Credit benefits would not be reassessed and promising a 13-week transition payment for people losing the daily living component of PIP. However, these clearly did not go far enough for some. On Tuesday, the names of more than 100 Labour MPs who signed an amendment to the welfare reform bill were revealed. Among the rebels are nine Scottish Labour MPs. The amendment essentially seeks to block the cuts to disability and sickness-related benefit payments. Starmer has already doubled down and vowed to press ahead with his Government's proposed welfare changes, despite the rebellion being large enough to wipe out Labour's working majority in Parliament. The Prime Minister will ultimately either be forced to concede and make changes to his welfare reform plans or rely on votes from opposition parties, like the Conservatives, to get the changes approved. Nonetheless, Rayner is likely to be challenged over the situation while she's filling in for Starmer on Wednesday. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
