Baltimore fires France to opening win against England to end Wiegman’s Euro record

The folded bodies of the players in white shirts at the close told the story. England were lacklustre and they are down, but they are not out. The Lionesses kicked off their European title defence with a 2-1 defeat by an impressive France team, delivering Sarina Wiegman’s first major tournament defeat outside of a final.

After a promising and pressing start fell away, Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Sandy Baltimore delivered for a resurgent France, Keira Walsh’s late strike from a corner reducing the reigning European champions’ blushes. A late charge was not enough and England have a lot of work to do to escape the tournament’s group of death.

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Continue ReadingBaltimore fires France to opening win against England to end Wiegman’s Euro record

Novak Djokovic plays God-mode tennis to dismantle friend Miomir Kecmanovic

  • Seven-time champion cruises to 6-3, 6-0, 6-4 victory

  • Win is Djokovic’s 100th in singles at Wimbledon

Novak Djokovic last lost a match at Wimbledon to anyone other than Carlos Alcaraz in 2017. And even that defeat, to the Czech player Tomas Berdych, was down to an elbow injury that forced him to retire.

It is a staggering run, stretching over eight years and 45 matches. Yet rarely has Djokovic played as well as he did here against his fellow Serb Miomir Kecmanovic on Saturday night. Over the course of three destructive sets, Djokovic hit 60 winners to just 19 unforced errors as he put a masterclass of spin and subtlety, guile and laser-like power, to a wildly appreciative Centre Court.

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Continue ReadingNovak Djokovic plays God-mode tennis to dismantle friend Miomir Kecmanovic

US hit with mass shootings and fatal accidents on Fourth of July holiday

Violence and shootings tend to surge during the summer, especially on one of the deadliest days of the year

Friday’s US Independence Day holiday was marked by multiple shootings across the US, including one in Indianapolis that left at least two dead and five wounded as a police chief voiced frustration over the latest acts of violence in his city.

Indianapolis metropolitan police chief Chris Bailey told reporters early Saturday morning that the Fourth of July mayhem a day earlier was “completely unacceptable and unnecessary” – and that parents and guardians needed to better control their children.

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Continue ReadingUS hit with mass shootings and fatal accidents on Fourth of July holiday

Hegseth falsely cited weapon shortages in halting shipments to Ukraine, Democrats say

Reports indicate defense secretary unilaterally acted to halt shipment even as Pentagon suggested US arsenal is stocked

Pete Hegseth, the US defense secretary, unilaterally halted an agreed shipment of military aid to Ukraine due to baseless concerns that US stockpiles of weapons have run too low, it has been reported.

A batch of air defense missiles and other precision munitions were due to be sent to Ukraine to aid it in its ongoing war with Russia, which launched a full-scale invasion of its neighbor in 2022. The aid was promised by the US during Joe Biden’s administration last year.

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Continue ReadingHegseth falsely cited weapon shortages in halting shipments to Ukraine, Democrats say

The moment I knew: he pulled me close for my last-ever first kiss

Mariah Reynolds and her workout buddy were at a restaurant in their sweaty gym gear. By the end of the meal, it felt like a romance novel

Moe and I met at an obstacle course race in south-western Sydney in 2015 when I was 21. He’s a naturally charismatic guy and, while I wasn’t immune to his charms, I didn’t think of him again until nearly a year later when I saw him on a dating app.

I swiped to say hello and he invited me to go rock climbing. I chickened out at the last minute but a few months later Moe joined the same gym as me. We became fast friends, regularly training and trail running together.

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Continue ReadingThe moment I knew: he pulled me close for my last-ever first kiss

James May: ‘When I’m mistaken for Jeremy Clarkson, I have to go home and examine myself very deeply’

The TV presenter on his disdain for sandwiches, dying in space and why his pub is better than Clarkson’s

James May. But what would James Definitely Not?

All sorts of things. Skydiving. Morris dancing. Living as a monk. Agricultural work. Being a high court judge. Anything that involves dressing up. I’m not too fussy about food. I can’t think of anything I wouldn’t eat, although I have a strange ambivalence about broccoli. I can’t make my mind up about it and it infuriates people. People say: you’re not doing it properly. I think: how do you know how I’m doing it? I’ve heard you can roast it with bits of bacon, garlic and olive oil. In which case, it’s not only broccoli any more, is it?

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Continue ReadingJames May: ‘When I’m mistaken for Jeremy Clarkson, I have to go home and examine myself very deeply’