1006 articles found
Hurricane causes property damage and uproots after hitting Jamaica as category 5 storm before weakening to a still dangerous category 4 cyclone
Head coach of Ghana’s National Women’s Football Team, the Black Queens, Kim Lars Bjorkegren has dismissed the idea of exiting his role in the lead up to Ghana’s participation in the 2026 CAF Women’s AFCON in Morocco. He said this at a presser after guiding Ghana to next year’s competition via a 7-0 win on aggregate over Egypt in a two legged qualifier. After leading Ghana to clinch bronze at the 2024 AFCON, which was Ghana’s first medal win at the tournament since 2016, there were rumours of Bjorkegren potentially exiting the head coaching role for a more lucrative job based off his exploits at the tournament. He dismissed those suggestions before and reiterated his commitment to the course of the Black Queens after the second leg game against Egypt by stating, “No I will not [leave]. To be completely honest, I had another 14 offers at the time I signed for Ghana. I wanted to be here in Ghana and I think I can help the girls.” “Together, I think we are on the way to something really really good…so I’m here to stay with the girls” Bjorkegren said. The 2026 Women’s AFCON will serve as qualifiers to the 2027 Women’s World Cup; semifinalists automatically qualify to the world event.
Blue Jays star George Springer is not in the starting lineup for Game 4 of the World Series after leaving early Monday night with right side discomfort.
Ghana welcome Comoros to Accra Sports Stadium for the final day of the World Cup qualifying series, knowing that avoiding defeat would be enough to seal their ticket to the global tournament in North America. The Black Stars are three points clear of second-placed Madagascar, while the visitors are no longer in contention for qualification to the mundial. Match preview Ghana, who made their World Cup debut in 2006, remain one of Africa’s most consistent participants at the Mundial in recent times, having missed only one edition since then. Otto Addo’s men are now on the verge of another appearance, courtesy of a dominant qualifiying campaign that has seen them win seven of their nine games to sit top of Group I with 22 points. The Black Stars’s only blemishes in that run came in a 1-0 defeat to Comoros in round two and a 1-1 draw away to Chad on matchday seven, but back-to-back victories over Mali (1-0) and Chad (5-0) have left the team in pole position to secure a fifth appearance on the global stage. With a goal difference of +8 over Madagascar, it would take something extraordinary for Ghana to surrender top spot on the final day, and the four-time African champions could even look to press their advantage given their impressive numbers. Ghana have netted 22 times so far – the joint most in the qualifiers – while conceding only six at the other end, which reflects a side that is solid in both attack and defence as the Black Stars aim to clinch qualification in style. Comoros, meanwhile, travel to Accra seeking to end their campaign on a high after giving their all in pursuit of a first-ever World Cup berth, though their midweek defeat dashed any remaining hopes. Les Coelacantes needed a win against Madagascar to move second, but a sluggish start saw Stefano Cusin’s men fall behind to Clement Couturier’s early strike before conceding again in the 73rd minute, with Rafiki Said’s late effort proving mere consolation. Now four points adrift of second place and out of contention, Comoros sit fourth in Group I with 15 points from five wins and four losses, having scored 12 and conceded the same number. With two wins and as many draws from four away games in the qualifiers, the question now is whether Les Coelacantes can pull off an upset against hosts who have won all four of their home fixtures. Ghana World Cup Qualifying – Africa form: Ghana form (all competitions): Comoros World Cup Qualifying – Africa form: Comoros form (all competitions): With qualification virtually assured, Addo could use this opportunity to rotate his squad, giving non-regulars a chance as many Ghanaian fans have called for. Key figures like Antoine Semenyo, Jordan Ayew, Mohammed Kudus and Thomas Partey, who was on the scoresheet last time out, have all played their part in taking the Black Stars to this comfortable position, so some may be handed a rest. Benjamin Asare might also be given a breather in goal, paving the way for either Lawrence Ati-Zigi or Joseph Anang to start. It remains to be seen if Ayew will get another chance to add to his tally of seven in this campaign after his strike against the Central African Republic. Comoros will be without goalkeeper Salim Ben Boina, who received a red card in stoppage time against Madagascar, meaning Yannick Pandor is expected to start between the sticks. Myziane Maolida will again lead the line, with the Al Kholood forward having netted five of Comoros’s 12 goals in the qualifiers. Ghana possible starting lineup: Ati-Zigi; Mensah, Opoku, Djiku, Yirenkyi; P Owusu, Partey; J Painstil, Kudus, Sulemana; J Ayew Comoros possible starting lineup: Pandor; Bakari, Mdahoma, Toibibou, Boura; I Mohamed; R Said, M’Changama, Z Youssouf, Selemani; Maolida We say: Ghana 2-1 Comoros While rotation could make this less straightforward for Ghana, the Black Stars possess enough quality and depth to edge past Comoros, especially with home advantage on their side, though both teams are likely to find the net in what should be an entertaining finale. For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here. ID:583338:1false2false3false: from db desktop :LenBod:collect9051: No Data Analysis info Previews by email
The New England Patriots traded away two former defensive starters Tuesday night, sending defensive end Keion White to the San Francisco 49ers and safety Kyle Dugger to the Pittsburgh Steelers, sources told ESPN. The trades occurred within minutes of each other, with the Pats sending White and a 2026 seventh-round pick to the Niners in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round pick, and sending Dugger and a seventh-round pick to the Steelers for a sixth-round pick, sources said. White's addition comes at a critical time for the Niners, who have seen their group of defensive ends dwindle by the week because of injuries. The biggest loss came in Week 3 when star end Nick Bosa was lost for the season with a torn right anterior cruciate ligament. The Niners left Sunday's loss to the Houston Texans with ends Bryce Huff (hamstring), Yetur Gross-Matos (hamstring) and Sam Okuayinonu (ankle) dealing with injuries that either prevented them from playing in that game or were suffered during it. While Huff and Gross-Matos are expected back soon and Okuayinonu is day-to-day this week, the 49ers clearly needed help at the position following their struggles generating any pass rush against Houston. For the season, the Niners rank last in the NFL in pressure percentage (21.3%) and 25th in pass-rush win rate (33.8%). In White, the Niners are taking a flier on a once-promising prospect who fell out of favor in New England as his fit in new coach Mike Vrabel's scheme wasn't as clear. He was a healthy scratch in the Patriots' win against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday and played in just 26% of the defensive snaps this season with six tackles and one pressure. White was originally a second-round pick of New England's in the 2023 NFL draft, the final draft with Bill Belichick as head coach. He played in 16 games as a rookie, with four starts, totaling 26 tackles, one sack, five quarterback hits and three pass breakups. When Belichick's former assistant Jerod Mayo took over as head coach in 2024, White's role expanded as he played in every game (13 starts) and amassed 56 tackles, five sacks, 16 quarterback hits, five pass breakups and two forced fumbles. White has one year remaining on his rookie deal at a base salary of $1.812 million for 2026. Given the injuries on the roster, the Niners might not be done making trades with more help for the defensive line still a possibility as they await the returns of Huff, Gross-Matos and Okuayinonu. Dugger, a second-round pick in 2020, started 69 games in five-plus seasons with New England, including four this season. ESPN's Mike Reiss contributed to this report.
Two crooks wearing construction vests and their getaway driver made off with $3.2 million in cash and jewelry, police said Tuesday.
Developers flock to build ‘affordable’ housing – but are poised to reap benefits while tenants could pay 50% of post-tax income in rent
Developers flock to build ‘affordable’ housing – but are poised to reap benefits while tenants could pay 50% of post-tax income in rent
The city Department of Environmental Protection will require major construction projects that operate "after hours" to install noise meters in an effort to brin...
Beever-Jones was a threat against Australia almost immediately as she came inches from getting on the end of a Beth Mead cross after just three minutes. She was offside when she lobbed goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold minutes later, but finally got on the scoresheet when Russo was brought down by Alanna Kennedy - the Australia defender receiving a red card - and Beever-Jones netted from the resulting free-kick. The 22-year-old continued to cause problems before she was forced off prematurely, picking up a knock with less than 10 minutes left. "She was so bright. She was making really good runs and making herself a nuisance," said former England defender Anita Asante on ITV. "She was also asking questions of Sarina because I'm sure she wants to play every single minute she can for England." Beever-Jones only played 74 minutes during their success in Switzerland, coming off the bench twice and starting once - an experience which taught her how to react to the disappointment of not being selected and how to manage those emotions. "I'm always a believer in timing. I look back to the Euros and yeah, I wish I could have played more, I wish I could have helped more," she told BBC Radio 5 Live. "But for me, as soon as it ended I thought, 'right, go back to my club, smash it, do what you can do and hit the ground running'." Beever-Jones did just that and has scored four goals in six WSL matches, leading to many calling for her to start this week's friendlies. She played 27 minutes as a second-half substitute in Saturday's defeat by Brazil, but Wiegman gave her the opportunity against Australia out wide and was pleased with what she saw. "[Beever-Jones and Russo] have played together before. I think we have three players who can play at centre-forward and all three are good and very different," said Wiegman. "Aggie can also play on the sides. That is what you saw today, that she is very agile and quick with the ball which can help the team." Chelsea team-mate Ellie Carpenter was part of the opposition's backline and aware of Beever-Jones' threat. She has taken on the regular number nine spot at Chelsea with Australia forward Sam Kerr still returning to full fitness and an injury to Mayra Ramirez. Former England striker Ian Wright told ITV that Beever-Jones has "the right attitude" by taking her opportunities and waiting patiently for them. "She can play in the nine and also out wide. She has every attribute to be a world-class striker," club-mate Carpenter added. "She is hard to defend against. I'm happy for her that she got more minutes tonight and has shown why she can be a regular starter for England."
A spokesman for the Hamas-run Civil Defence agency told the BBC that at least four people were killed, including three women, when a home belonging to the al-Banna family was bombed in the southern Sabra neighbourhood of Gaza City. Strikes also reportedly hit a courtyard of al-Shifa hospital, in the western Rimal area. The Civil Defence spokesman said another five people were killed, including two children and a woman, when a vehicle was hit on al-Qassam Street in Khan Younis. Hamas put out a statement denying that its fighters had attacked Israeli troops and condemning the Israeli strikes. "Hamas affirms that it has no connection to the shooting incident in Rafah and affirms its commitment to the ceasefire agreement," it said. "The criminal bombardment carried out by the fascist occupation [Israeli] army on areas of the Gaza Strip represents a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement." The group's military wing meanwhile said it would postpone the return of a hostage's body it had recovered on Tuesday due to what it called Israeli "violations". US Vice-President Vance told reporters in Washington: "The ceasefire is holding. That doesn't mean that there aren't going to be little skirmishes here and there." "We know that Hamas or somebody else within Gaza attacked an [Israeli] soldier. We expect the Israelis are going to respond, but I think the president's peace is going to hold despite that," he added.
"No Trump!" the rally of hundreds shouted, growing louder as it neared the United States embassy in the centre of South Korea's capital Seoul. A line of police buses stopped them reaching the gates, but a stage and loudspeaker ensured their voices would soar above Gwanghwamun square and within earshot of US President Donald Trump's representatives. This was a small rally by the standards of South Korea's vibrant protest culture. And it was not the only one under way. A few hundred metres to the north, at the gates of Gyeongbokgung palace, marchers held aloft more banners as they chanted a very different message. "No China," along with a smattering of "CCP [Chinese Communist Party] out!". Again, the numbers - several hundred people - were not huge for South Korea. Nevertheless, this footfall through central Seoul on a sunny Saturday is an indication of the diplomatic dance South Korea's President Lee Jae-Myung will have to perform this week as he hosts the leaders of both the US and China. Seoul is - and has long been - a key US ally. A friendship "forged in blood", as its leaders often say, during the Korean War from 1950 to 1953, when American troops helped repel the North Korean invasion. The South still needs Washington's protection, but it also needs China, its biggest trading partner and a vital market for exports. "It's a particularly fraught moment - South Korea finds itself caught between a rock and a hard place," says Darcie Draudt-Vejares, from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. "Year after year it is epitomising the choice of many countries worldwide that are deeply economically integrated with China, but also economically integrated with the US. Right now, Lee Jae-myung is trying to manoeuvre between these superpowers." So much so that his country is even hosting talks between Trump and Xi Jinping on Thursday that may well yield a breakthrough in their on-again-off-again trade war.
Lucas Paqueta wants to leave West Ham, Tottenham are keen on Scott McTominay, and Napoli will make another attempt to sign Kobbie Mainoo. Brazil midfielder Lucas Paqueta, 28, is keen to leave West Ham in January. (Times - subscription required), external Tottenham are keen on signing 28-year-old Scotland midfielder Scott McTominay from Napoli. (Teamtalk), external Napoli will make another attempt to sign 20-year-old England midfielder Kobbie Mainoo from Manchester United in January. (Gazzetta dello Sport - in Italian), external Manchester City have opened negotiations with Spain defensive midfielder Rodri, 29, over a new contract and are confident of striking a deal by the end of the year. (TBR Football, external) Tottenham are unlikely to sign Marc-Andre ter Stegen from Barcelona in January, but a loan move to Chelsea could be possible for the Germany goalkeeper, 33. (Teamtalk), external Chelsea and Tottenham showed serious interest in Morgan Rogers, 23, during the summer but Aston Villa are currently holding talks with the England attacking midfielder over a new contract. (Fabrizio Romano, external) Fabio Carvalho will leave Brentford in January, with a permanent move being considered for the 23-year-old Portuguese winger. (Florian Plettenberg), external Sunderland are plotting another loan move for Marc Guiu in January after Chelsea recalled the 19-year-old Spanish striker just two games into a loan move they agreed last summer. (Football Transfers), external Chelsea are looking to strengthen at right-back with the addition of Strasbourg's Guela Doue, though Aston Villa and Brighton are also in the race for the 23-year-old Ivory Coast defender. (Football Transfers), external Liverpool are among the clubs considering a move for Club Brugge's Joel Ordonez, with Newcastle and Aston Villa also in the race to sign the 21-year-old Ecuador centre-back. (Ekrem Konur), external Manchester United are in negotiations over a transfer for AIK's 16-year-old Swedish forward Kevin Filling. (Florian Plettenberg), external Robbie Keane, Kieran McKenna and Ange Postecoglou are all on the shortlist to succeed Brendan Rodgers as the next permanent Celtic manager. (Telegraph - subscription required), external
Black Queens defender Comfort Yeboah has expressed her excitement after scoring her first goal for the national team on Tuesday afternoon in their 4-0 thumping of Egypt. The youngster was in action for Ghana in the second leg clash of the tie against Egypt in the qualifiers for the 2026 CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON). In the match played at Accra Sports Stadium, Comfort Yeboah put up a top performance and capped it off with a stunning strike in the second half. Reacting to what is her first goal for the Black Queens, the full-back shared her delight and urged Ghanaians to continue supporting the team. “Keep supporting us so that the team can go far. We thank you all. I’m very happy that I scored my first goal for the Black Queens in the big win against Egypt,” Comfort Yeboah said. Following the big win against Egypt, the Black Queens of Ghana have qualified for the 2026 WAFCON in Morocco with a 7-0 aggregate triumph.
Panama City: Through a significant event announcement published on its website, BAC Holding International Corp. (“BHI”) has informed the market that its Board of Directors has agreed to convene a Shareholders’ Meeting “in order to deliberate and decide on the relevant aspects related to the potential purchase by BAC International Corporation (BIC), a subsidiary of BHI, of 99.56906% of the shares of Multi Financial Group, Inc.” BAC International Corp. (“BIC”) is the Panamanian holding entity that owns 99.996% of the issued and outstanding shares of BAC International Bank, Inc. (“BIB”), and Multi Financial Group Inc. (“MFG”) is the Panamanian holding entity that owns 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of Multibank, Inc., and subsidiaries, which include Multibank Seguros, SA, and Multi Securities, Inc. The transaction will be completed once the relevant shareholders’ meetings and boards of directors authorize the signing of the agreements and once regulatory bodies grant their respective approval. With this transaction, the resulting entity after the eventual merger will strengthen its position, where it would be among the top 3 largest banks in Panama and as the bank with the largest market share in Central America with more than $43 billion in assets, $30 billion in portfolio and $32 billion in deposits, in addition to reaffirming its leadership in various market segments and serving more than 6 million customers in the six countries where it operates. “BAC is at the perfect moment to complete this transaction. In recent years, we have grown consistently and sustainably, which allows us to pursue this acquisition and further accelerate the generation of triple value. The subsequent merger would allow us to consolidate two organizations with more than 120 years of experience and strengthen the value proposition for banking customers,” emphasized Rodolfo Tabash Espinach, Chairman of the Board of Directors of BIC and CEO of BAC. “This decision reflects the strong confidence that Panama generates as an engine of economic growth in the region, and the optimism for the future, supported by the stability, strategic vision, and talent of our people, whose dedication and capacity are essential to building an environment conducive to investment and sustainable development,” added Ramón Chiari Brin, CEO of BAC Panama. During the transition process, each bank will continue to operate normally and provide their respective financial services. Both entities reaffirm their commitment to their customers, guaranteeing the continuity of services, the security of their operations, and the support of a highly trained team. Customers will continue to receive the same quality service and will be able to continue using their usual products and channels without interruption. This stage will continue until the corresponding approvals are granted and the integration and subsequent merger process is completed.
Guest Contribution – Have you ever stopped and just noticed how different the ordinary feels now? I was thinking about it the other day while paying for groceries with my phone. There was no grand plan for this digital life; we just sort of slid into it. One day you’re renting a DVD, the next you’re arguing with a smart speaker about the weather. This quiet revolution isn’t about flying cars, it’s about the disappearance of the wallet, the way news finds us, and how we fill our downtime. The texture of everyday life has been fundamentally altered, and honestly, we’re all just trying to keep up. A reshuffled world of information Remember waiting for the morning paper or the evening news broadcast? That whole idea feels almost quaint. Today, information comes at us in a chaotic, real-time stream. We learn about a storm from a push notification and a political crisis from a viral video on social media. Our sense of the world is now patched together from alerts, group chats, and algorithms that guess what we want to see. It’s incredibly empowering to have the world’s knowledge in your pocket, but it’s also a bit overwhelming. You have to become your own fact-checker, your own editor. It’s messy, but it’s also incredibly immediate. The distance between an event happening and you knowing about it has shrunk to almost nothing. The new rules of entertainment Let’s talk about fun. Our leisure time has been completely overhauled. The concept of ‘must-see TV’ on a specific night is a memory. We binge. We stream. We have access to nearly every song ever recorded, which is a miracle we’ve somehow gotten used to. This abundance has created a brutal fight for our eyeballs. In the connected entertainment ecosystem, first contact matters more than depth: audiences decide within moments whether to stay or bounce, and low-friction onboarding offers have become the norm across video, music, and online gaming ecosystems. In digital gaming, early access increasingly relies on clear, lightweight incentives embedded in editorial guides and informational resources; this is where a reference such as a list of no-deposit free spins can serve as a neutral starting point to explore offers and mechanics without promotional language and in line with local regulations. It’s all about that initial hook. The quiet death of cash In Latin America, the move away from physical money has been especially dramatic. Take Brazil’s PIX system. It exploded onto the scene and now everyone uses it, from a teenager sending money to a friend for a concert ticket to a small business owner paying a supplier. It just works, instantly. This isn’t just a convenience; it’s a massive shift towards including people in the financial system who were previously on the outside. It changes how you think about money. It’s not a thing you hold, it’s a number on a screen that moves with breathtaking speed. This digital fluency even changes how we approach bigger goals, like saving up for a new car, where the entire research and financing journey often happens online long before you ever step onto a dealership lot. The engines behind the screen This struggle for attention has spawned a whole new playbook for keeping us engaged. It’s a subtle science that goes far beyond simple advertising. Platforms are designed to be sticky, using feedback loops and rewards that make you want to check in just one more time. They create a sense of community and belonging. And sometimes, in the background, you have tools like ChatGPT helping to generate that endless, personalised stream of content that makes a platform feel alive and tailored just for you. The goal is simple: to become a habit. To be the app you open without even thinking about it. So here we are, living in a world that’s been quietly rewired. The biggest changes aren’t always the loudest. They’re in the forgotten feeling of cash in your pocket, the way you discover a new favorite show, or the instant you send money across the city with a tap. This digital shift is a mixed bag, for sure incredibly convenient yet sometimes draining. The trick, I suppose, is to not just live through it, but to actually see it happening. To understand the currents pulling at our days so we can navigate them with a bit more intention. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Advertisements placed in our Guest Contribution sections are in no way intended as endorsements of the advertised products, services, or related advertiser claims by NewsroomPanama.com, the website’s owners, affiliated societies, or the editors. Read more here.
The Patriots are trading veteran safety Kyle Dugger to the Steelers, sources confirmed to the Herald. ESPN reports the Patriots are sending Dugger and a seventh-round pick to Pittsburgh for a sixth-round pick. His trade mirrors the same return the Pats received for shipping defensive lineman Keion White to San Francisco. Unlike White, Dugger has been on the trade block for months. The 29-year-old endured a setback in his recovery from offseason surgery that addressed an ankle injury he played through last year and never returned to form. Dugger tumbled down the depth chart this summer in his first training camp under Patriots coach Mike Vrabel, whose defensive system different greatly from those Dugger thrived in playing under Bill Belichick and Jerod Mayo. Poor scheme fit and a lack of burst ultimately ends Dugger’s time in New England, which began when he was selected in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He started seven of 14 games as a rookie, then 45 of 47 games the next three seasons. He enjoyed a Pro Bowl-caliber season in 2022, recording 78 tackles, three interceptions, a sack, one forced fumble and two defensive touchdowns. Dugger was once viewed as a pillar of the Patriots’ defense, but finished his last Patriots season with 17 tackles in seven game appearances. He was the team’s third safety behind rookie Craig Woodson and veteran Jaylinn Hawkins.
DERBY, England -- England cruised to a comfortable 3-0 win over Australia, compounding the Matildas' pain from their 2023 World Cup semifinal defeat. Yet the victory was overshadowed when Euro 2025 hero Michelle Agyemang was stretchered off in the second half after collapsing and clutching her knee. Up until that point, it had been a near-perfect night in Derby for the Lionesses. Australian defender Alanna Kennedy was shown a red card in the 19th minute for a juvenile challenge, with Aggie Beever-Jones finding the back the net in response. Lucy Bronze, England's player of the year, added a second in the first half, before Georgia Stanway sealed the result from the penalty spot deep into stoppage time. The performance was an emphatic response to England's 2-1 defeat to South American champions Brazil on Saturday. Manager Sarina Wiegman had described the Australia clash as a chance to "right the wrongs" from that loss and her side delivered convincingly. For Australia, however, the defeat laid bare a number of familiar frailties that new head coach Joe Montemurro must urgently address. A passive, toothless attack failed to trouble the European champions, highlighting just how far the Matildas remain from their peak form. -- Emily Keogh Perfect night for England marred by injury Just when we thought this was going to be a near-perfect evening for the Lionesses -- a night when Wiegman's five changes paid off, and all was well again for the Euro 2025 champions -- the 73rd minute ticked around, and the party atmosphere fell into hushed quiet as Agyemang fell to the ground. The concern of her teammates around her was palpable, Agyemang in obvious agony and distress. A few minutes later, Beever-Jones left the pitch injured, making it 10 vs. 10. Suddenly the changes, the goals and the return to winning ways were overshadowed. For the first 73 minutes of this one-sided match, this was as Wiegman would have hoped, her testing England's depth. Having said all along Maya Le Tissier was a right back, she started her at center back. Debuts were handed to Lucia Kendall and Taylor Hinds. Beever-Jones is usually a striker at Chelsea but was on the left wing Tuesday night, and Hannah Hampton returned in goal. All the changes worked, and all looked to be well again after the Brazil defeat on Saturday. The reminders of Euro 2025 are still everywhere: the montage of the triumph, injured duo Lauren Hemp and Grace Clinton bringing out the trophy prematch. But the decision to start Le Tissier at center back and hand Hinds and Kendall debuts was Wiegman taking England into the next cycle, the focus solely on the 2027 World Cup, rather than on what's already come before. While England lacked fluidity and a cutting edge against Brazil, they looked far more urgent in front of goal this time around. But this comes with a caveat -- the 19th-minute red card to Australia's Kennedy changed everything. After Kennedy's lapse of judgement, Australia's game plan was scattered into the cold Derby sky, and their threat minimal. It allowed Kendall time on the ball in midfield -- a great option at No. 8 for Wiegman and someone to throw into the mix alongside Clinton as competition for Stanway. Hinds did well at left back -- one notable contribution was tracking back in the first half to prevent Ellie Carpenter carving out space to find Sam Kerr. Beever-Jones grabbed England's first with a powerful strike from the edge of the box, but also was wonderfully elusive in the box. She frequently lost her marker at the far post and found space, only for her finishing to be a touch off. Hampton was assured in goal, but Le Tissier fans would've been delighted to see her back at her usual home at center back. The noise over England's positioning of Le Tissier has been a curious subplot to these pair of internationals -- her club side Manchester United reacting to Wiegman's assertion that she sees her as a right back by posting her club stats, reading 103 games at center back out of 104 appearances. She looked far more at home in the middle of defense alongside Esme Morgan -- frequently an outlet at the back to restart play and reshape the focus of England's attack. Bronze -- on her 142nd cap and birthday -- got England's second with a well-struck effort. Two goals to the good at halftime, England rang the changes and Australia offered a minimal threat in front of the sold-out crowd. Wiegman had further chances to test new-look combinations and it was all going so well. Agyemang was given her chance in the 62nd minute -- her name receiving one of the loudest cheers of the night, the savior of England's Euro 2025 championship. She played with her usual boundless energy until the 73rd minute struck. Minutes later Beever-Jones was walked off, unable to finish the match. Now comes the nervous wait on their prognoses. Stanway slotted a late penalty, but still thoughts were with Agyemang. England had re-found their winning touch, but potentially at some cost. -- Tom Hamilton Fierce rivalry trending downward for Australia England broke Matildas fans' hearts once again, following up their 2023 World Cup semifinal triumph with another victory -- this time made easier by Australia's own struggles. The Lionesses' 3-1 win in Sydney ended the Matildas' dream of reaching a World Cup final on home soil, and when the two sides met again, emotions were running high. The Australians were desperate to avenge that heartbreak and prove themselves against the reigning European champions, but the night ended in familiar disappointment. A red card for Kennedy and an ineffective, at times invisible, attack led to the Matildas' second straight defeat to England. It was a dismal showing from Australia, who managed only three attempts on goal, and just one on target. Even the return of prolific striker Kerr, who made her comeback to international football after 725 days away in a 2-1 win over Wales on Saturday, couldn't spark the side. Kerr and the wingers were left isolated as the Matildas completed just 40 successful passes into the final third and recorded only 14 touches inside England's box. They were called in for defensive help, leaving their counterattack non existent. By contrast, England dominated with 250 passes and 47 touches in Australia's area. Once Australia did get the ball, they were incompetent at keeping it, outplayed and outclassed by England's suffocating press. They did not learn enough after the first half to correct their frailties in the second half. Their halftime preparation, firing shots at goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold, proved their focus was simply to limit the drubbing -- which it did -- and not expose themselves pushing for a goal and worsening the scoreline. This passive approach is unusual, but hopefully more time under the Australian coach will create a more proactive game plan. Montemurro, appointed in June after a season with Lyon, has now overseen six matches with a mixed record of two wins, one draw and two losses. While it's still early days, the weaknesses on display -- particularly in creativity and composure under pressure -- will need urgent attention ahead of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and the Asian Cup on home soil at the start of that year. Moreover, while the match was officially labelled a friendly, any clash between England and Australia is anything but. The rivalry remains fiery and full of emotion, and after this latest defeat, the scars from last year's World Cup heartbreak will sting even deeper for the Matildas. -- Keogh
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Brad Paisley is continuing a quirky MLB tradition. The country music star, 53, performed at World Series Game 3 on Monday, Oct. 27, which saw the Los Angeles Dodgers face off against the Toronto Blue Jays at Dodger Stadium. His national anthem performance came after Canadian singer-songwriter JP Saxe performed the Canadian national anthem, "O Canada." Paisley's performance marked the fourth time he has sung the National Anthem ahead of a World Series game – and the fourth time his performance preceded a surprisingly long game. The "She's Everything" singer previously performed at World Series Game 2 in 2017, which lasted 11 innings; World Series Game 3 in 2018, which lasted 18 innings; World Series Game 1 in 2024, which lasted 10 innings; and Monday evening's game, which lasted 18 innings, per MLB's official X account. In the bottom of the 18th, the Didgers finally secured the 6-5 win with Freddie Freeman's walkoff home run. The 2018 World Series' third game, which coincidentally saw the Dodgers beat the Boston Red Sox, also lasted 18 innings. They are both the longest games in World Series history. Fans also noted that Paisley has a knack for performing at really long World Seires games. Though Paisley has yet to comment on the fan theory, his wife Kimberly Williams Paisley referenced it in a comment on his Instagram video post from the performance. "Is it your fault it went 18 innings again? Nice of the @dodgers to win for your birthday! ❤️🎉," she wrote. Brad and Kimberly have had plenty to celebrate in recent days, including Kimberly's 54th birthday on Sept. 14. They marked the occasion by announcing that a donkey had just joined their crew, with Brad posting a photo on Instagram of Kimberly posing with the animal. "A beautiful donkey was just born on our farm," the country singer began the post's caption. "Speaking of," he continued, "it's the beautiful @kimberlywilliamspaisley's birthday today! Happy birthday!" Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. He then joked: "As I write this I realize what a bad idea it may have been to combine the two announcements. I'm not saying they are in any way similar. Or that she is a....Maybe I should edit th..." The couple's romance began in 2001, when the "Whiskey Lullaby" musician asked the actress to star in one of his music videos, and they started dating not long after.
Thousands of early births have been avoided with improved outcomes for women and babies, according to analysis of a world-first Australian initiative. A study recently published in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology, & Women's Health, examined the impact of a national preterm birth prevention program introduced in Australia in 2018. It found since the prevention measures were introduced, the rate of preterm and early term births — a major cause of death and disability — had lowered by between 7 and 10 per cent, or about 4,000 fewer early births a year. University of Western Australia Professor of Obstetrics and Chair of the Australian Preterm Birth Prevention Alliance, John Newnham, spearheaded the preterm birth prevention program and was lead author of the study, which examined nearly two million Australian births. He said the lessons learned would significantly change the lives of many Australian families. "No one in the world has ever been able to lower their rate of pre-term birth across the nation, and Australia's rate, like all similar countries, has been rising dramatically in recent years," Professor Newnham said. "We set out to form a national program to lower Australia's rate of pre-term birth, funded by the federal government, but with support all the way down through to individual hospitals, and we were successful." Preterm birth — which is defined as birth between 20 and 37 weeks of pregnancy — is the leading cause of death and one of the major causes of disability in children across the world. Early term birth is defined as between 37 and 39 weeks of pregnancy. Professor Newnham said while 37 weeks used to be considered full-term, there was evidence to suggest planned births between 37 and 39 weeks — without medical justification — put babies at additional risk of having issues like having respiratory problems or needing neonatal care. The six-year program was run in two three-year phases. The first phase saw the rate of preterm births fall by 8 per cent, the equivalent of 1,342 cases each year. While the second phase looked at the rate of early term births, showing a reduction of 10 per cent over a 16-month period, which equated to about 5,300 fewer cases. The initiative involved implementing seven clinical strategies including avoiding births being planned before 39 weeks without medical justification. "There are medical reasons such as high blood pressure, but in the absence of those reasons, babies should be left where they belong until at least 39 weeks," Professor Newnham said. The clinical strategies also include measuring the length of the cervix during pregnancy scans and using vaginal progesterone — which can help prevent the uterine contractions that can lead to early birth — for women with a short cervix or a history of preterm birth. Health professionals were also encouraged to help women who smoke to quit and provide expectant parents with access to continuity of care — where they see the same health professional during their pregnancy. "Australia for many years has been a very safe place for women to have babies. This program has made it even safer," he said. Baby born 'the size of a tub of butter' For Perth mother Yasmine Phillips, the research has been "truly life saving". Her eldest daughter Ava, now five, was born via an emergency caesarean at 25 weeks after Ms Phillips developed a severe form of life-threatening preeclampsia. "I was quite unwell and the future was really unknown for Ava at that point as well," Ms Phillips said. "[Ava] only weighed 580 grams when she was born, which is basically the size of a tub of butter that you might have in your fridge at home." Ava spent 101 days in the neonatal intensive care unit. While her lungs will never be as strong as a child born at full term, she is now a "happy and healthy" little girl, Ms Phillips said. When Ms Phillips and her husband Chris Robinson decided to try for a second baby, Australian research into preventing preterm births gave doctors clear guidance on how to reduce the chance of another premature birth. "We managed to make it safely to 37 weeks … that was all thanks to the knowledge that has come out of this world-first initiative," Ms Phillips said. She believed the research was a game changer for her second daughter Sage. "It's genuinely life saving work and we are so lucky to have these teams of people working together not only on the research side but with hospitals all over Australia to ensure that the life saving work that they are coming up with is being enacted in real life." Doctors are now implementing the strategies Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists president, Nisha Khot, said doctors were already implementing the strategies. "Looking at the length of the cervix every time you do a morphology scan at 20 to 22 weeks is something that has now pretty much become routine across the country," Dr Khot said. "Doctors will definitely take a lot out of this … and already I see doctors have changed practice. "I think the other really important thing that obstetricians have taken from this is that we must not plan to deliver babies before 39 weeks if there isn't a good reason to do it." Dr Khot said while she was "very excited" about the study's success, more work was needed to prevent births of babies prior to 32 weeks gestation. "We know that babies that are born at less than 32 weeks are more likely to have… physical disability, learning difficulties, other issues throughout their lifetime." Professor Newnham said he would keep working to continue to reduce harmful early births, saying he first started the work as an obstetrician in Perth in the 1980s. "This has been my career-long project and I started it and I still run it, but I'm surrounded by wonderful people all over the country who really have put their shoulder to the wheel to make it work," he said.