Australia Kelpies win Test series against England Thorns
But Australia's Kelpies stretched their lead to 27-15 at the break and took command in the third quarter to move 47-21 ahead.England's men only played their first international match in 2022, while their opponents have been competing on the international stage since the 1980s.And that experience and quality showed as the Kelpies, led by the impressive Josh Byron, extended their lead in the fourth quarter.The third and final Test will take place on Sunday at the Copper Box Arena.
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Telegraph
23 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Beth Mead interview: We're now judged like England men's team – that is a good thing
Beth Mead has experienced the highest of highs as a footballer and the lowest of lows as a daughter who lost her mother just a few months later. It was three years ago that Mead won the European Championship with England, ending the tournament with the Golden Boot and the year as BBC Sports Personality of the Year. Her life changed forever. She became a household name, a celebrity. And at the same time, she was left without her mum, June, to help steer her through it. 'Our lives changed almost overnight,' Mead tells Telegraph Sport. 'It was a big change at rapid speed. I went into the tournament as a footballer and came out of it as someone who was famous. That wasn't what I was expecting. 'Women's football in this country changed forever after that tournament. At Arsenal, our attendances flew through the roof. There was more television coverage and the game changed for the better. 'In terms of the celebrity side, it was a little weird at first. On a personal level, it was a big change, but whenever someone came up to me, in the back of my mind, I knew this was good for women's football. I'm an extrovert, it comes more easily to me to speak to people, but some found it a little harder to adapt.' There were challenges ahead for Mead, though. An anterior cruciate ligament injury in late 2022 ruled her out of the following year's World Cup and then she had to navigate her way through the trauma of losing a parent, without the release of playing the sport she loved. 'I think I went from the highest high in my life to the lowest of lows in the space of six months,' she says. 'I found out quite quickly after the Euros that my mum's cancer was terminal. I was trying to manoeuvre being this person who had achieved something they had always dreamed of, to being a daughter who was going to lose her mum. 'I was trying to come to terms with a new life with the dread of knowing that my mum was not going to be by my side. We were incredibly close, that was a tough path to figure out. 'To then do my ACL alongside that, it was a really horrible time, but it has helped mould me into the person I am today. I am a very lucky person because of the people I have around me. The people who really love me. You find out who those people are in dark moments like that. 'I have a great family and a family away from family, the Arsenal girls. They showed up for me at the hardest time of my life. Those moments when I thought I can't do this, they were by my side to help show me I could.' It has given the 30-year-old a unique perspective on not just football, but life. Back in the England squad as they prepare to defend their European crown in Switzerland, Mead has been through so much. She has forged strength in the face of adversity; a sense that whatever is thrown at her, she will overcome. These are qualities England need more than ever. The Lionesses have reached at least the semi-finals of every major tournament since 2015, but their form recently has been patchy. There has been criticism of their performances and players have departed. The sudden retirement of Mary Earps on the eve of the Euros was closely followed by that of Fran Kirby, another key figure in their success. When England's captain in Australia, Millie Bright, announced she was making herself unavailable for selection for the Euros to prioritise her 'mental and physical wellbeing' there was a sense of crisis engulfing the camp. Bright, like Earps, is understood to have been told she was no longer a guaranteed starter by manager Sarina Wiegman. Where once there had been only praise and good wishes, there were now barbed questions and scrutiny of the motives behind those decisions. Expectations are incredibly high too. You might argue the Lionesses have become victims of their own success but, interestingly, Mead does not entertain the idea they are victims of anything. Her message is a blunt one: this is what women's football wanted – deal with it. 'We are being judged how the England men's team always has been,' said Mead, with the sort of straight-talking approach that betrays her Yorkshire roots. 'One hundred per cent that is a good thing for me. That is how big women's football has become. It doesn't make it easier for some people and yes, it can be difficult, but top and bottom, we have to deal with it and cope with it. If there is criticism in the media, if there is outside noise, it should give us an extra point to prove.' Reflecting on England's inconsistency since winning the Euros in 2022 and reaching the World Cup final a year later, Mead expands on her point. 'It has been up and down [since the World Cup],' she says. 'We've had some good performances and some not good ones. I guess we have been in a transition period. 'There was a lot of familiarity in the group and that changed through retirements. We've had more change on the eve of the tournament, but that is done. We have to pull together, make it right and deliver. I always back us going into tournaments that we will get it right. 'There might be a perception that we are not the same force we were. But that was around the team when we went to the World Cup and the team got to the final. 'We know what comes as part and parcel of playing for England now. The expectations are huge and there is pressure, there is noise, but we are going out there to win the thing. 'I don't shy away from that expectation and pressure, we have to embrace it and as one of the senior players that is what I've been drilling into people. We're playing for England, this is what comes with it. 'There is going to be criticism attached to that. Throughout my career, I've always been criticised as well as praised. It's not something that worries me or bothers me. 'I understand that for some people it's not easy to have to deal with that and it can hurt. It's not our favourite part of playing the game, but we wanted the game to grow, we wanted the attention and with that expectation comes pressure. If you don't live up to it, there will be criticism. It should just give us an extra fire inside to prove people wrong. 'There is nothing better than shutting people up by performing on the pitch. That is the challenge we take on and it is one we are relishing. I think we should use it as motivation, not shy away from it. People can say what they want, we win games and it all goes away. Suddenly the story is different, isn't it?' Mead is diplomatic when asked about the loss of three senior players, insisting she respects their decision, but echoed the words of Wiegman when she said the squad had already moved on. 'They are big characters we are going to miss,' she says. 'They are players I've played with for a long time at international level. It will be a little bit weird not having them there, but at the same time, everyone has their own journey. These girls made their decisions for whatever reason and you have to respect that. 'We have to push on with the players we have here now. National teams evolve, there are always going to be changes. The last Euros was three years ago, you've got to make the best out of the situation, not worry about players who aren't going to be there.' There will always be one person Mead will miss; someone she will always struggle to cope without. 'I still think about my mum every single day,' she adds. 'Something will happen… a song on the radio, I'll hear her voice when someone says something. There are days when I think about her more than others, but there is always something. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Beth Mead MBE (@bethmead_) 'When I got the call from Sarina to say I had been called up to the England squad, she said to me I'm super happy for you to be in the squad, the first without your mum and that makes it very very different. 'For her to still understand and recognise that for me, it was very special. She lost her sister just before the Euros and we have that connection. We have lost someone we love and everything that comes with that. It never leaves you, but you have to get on with life.' It is an approach England will do well to follow this summer. 'I want to inspire kids when we play in Euros this summer' How do famous names spend their precious downtime? In our weekly My Saturday column, celebrities reveal their weekend virtues and vices. This week: Beth Mead 8am What time the day starts depends on what time kick-off is. I would love a lie-in, but my dog Myle really doesn't. She's a little cocker spaniel, brown with a white chest and ginger paws. I'm biased but she's gorgeous and I love her to bits. She's like me – full of energy, and a big personality, a big alpha woman 9am I've been away from my partner Vivianne [Miedema, who plays for Manchester City] since she left Arsenal, so it's nice to have quality time whenever we can. When it's not a match day, we'll go for a walk and have brunch and a coffee. I live by the countryside near St Albans so Myle is free to roam wherever she likes, as long as she behaves. 10am I live very close to the Arsenal training ground, so I drive over and get my breakfast at the club. I'm a creature of habit and eat what I eat to be able to feel good on the pitch, so it'll be avocado on toast with scrambled eggs or anything else to do with eggs, I'm a big egg fan. 11am We get on the bus to travel to the club. I play Monopoly Deal with Caitlin Foord, Katie McCabe and Alessia Russo. Katie has got 10 wins more than most of us, so we're not happy about that. We use a few rude words sometimes. 12pm Head into the stadium where I'll always go straight to see the physio. I'm actually very chilled before a match – when I'm on the physio bench, I play Candy Crush on my phone so that I don't think about the game too much, I just switch my brain off. 2pm When I go out for the warm-up, I'm in full focus mode. I'm getting old now so I've got to do that little bit of extra work, prepare correctly, and then get out there and play a good game of football. 5pm A lot of the girls find it really hard to switch off after a match, but it's one of my superpowers – I think some of them are very envious. But, win or lose, I'll always look at myself in the mirror, check my own performance, and look at what went right and what went wrong, and what could be done better. I'll then go over it the next day with coaches, looking at clips of the match. I'm my own worst enemy, definitely my harshest critic. 7pm It's nice to switch off and cook for myself. I'm very good at risotto and can make a nice lasagne or fajitas. I don't go out often but, if I do, it's for good food, good people and good chat. It depends where I am as to how much I get recognised. If one person talks to you, you're in trouble, other times, I pass by unnoticed. I meet a lot of young fans at McDonald's Fun Football sessions, where boys and girls have a safe environment to play for free. I never got the chance to do something like this as a kid and it would have made my footballing journey a lot easier. It's nice to meet them and give them a core memory – it depends who they support though, maybe not if they're the Chelsea fans! But I hope we can inspire every single one of them while we're out in Switzerland representing the nation. 9pm I've seen Game of Thrones right the way through before and gone back to the beginning. I'm watching it with Steph Catley, my close friend [and Arsenal team-mate], so it's fantastic seeing her reaction when a character dies. We've also been watching Married At First Sight: Australia – that is a very entertaining show. 10.30pm Chill in the bath. Then it's the same bedtime every night, I'm serious about my routine. My head hits the pillow and I'm out. My dad is like that so it's something he passed on to me, which I very much don't take for granted. Beth Mead kicked off the first McDonald's all-girls Fun Football day, with up to 300,000 hours of free coaching sessions across the UK this summer.
Daily Mail
24 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Kate Middleton broke royal protocol during a poignant outing... but the reason she did so is heartwarming and shows her class
There's nothing like looking into a busy crowd and spotting a familiar face smiling back at you. Kate, the Princess of Wales, was seven months pregnant with Prince Louis when she visited the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists' London headquarters in February 2018. This marked the news that she had been announced as their new patron, as well as the patron of the Nursing Now campaign. While she was there, Kate toured many areas of St Thomas' Hospital and visited the children on the Snow Leopard ward. She then went on to meet several midwives and was reunited with someone very special. As she greeted the crowd, from the corner of her eye she saw Professor Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent - the midwife who helped deliver Princess Charlotte in 2015 - and gave her an enormous hug. Kate's midwives, Arona Ahmed and Professor Dunkley-Bent, were pictured smiling outside the hospital with the princess after Kate's short 154-minute labour in 2015. A team of three midwives was on standby for more than a month to cover three shifts over a 24-hour period in case Kate was admitted early. Professor Dunkley-Bent is said to have built up a rapport with Kate as she also delivered Prince George in 2012. In 2019 she was appointed into the most senior midwifery role in England, taking on the newly created role of chief midwifery officer. She is responsible for overseeing the delivery of measures to enhance safety and support. According to the Royal Family website, it suggests that upon meeting royalty, men should bow from the neck and women should dip into a small curtsey. The same rules follow when you address a royal. It's Your Royal Highness on the first meeting and subsequently Sir or Ma'am. But as royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told MailOnline: 'The Queen once told Michelle Obama that royal protocol is rubbish, meaning that the Royal Family adapt it when it is appropriate to do so.' Kate has often flexed the rules of royal protocol by giving out hugs and chatting extensively to adoring fans. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) has a strong connection to the Royal Family, particularly Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mothe r who was the College's Patron from 1947 and was also awarded an Honorary Fellowship. Kate, William and Professor Dunkley-Bent are pictured leaving the Lindo Wing with their newborn son, Prince George of Cambridge, at St Mary's Hospital on July 23, 2013 In December 2019 Kate paid tribute to midwives in an open letter and through her work with the Royal College of Midwives, expressing her profound admiration for their dedication and compassion. She highlighted the importance of the human-to-human relationships and acts of kindness midwives provide, emphasising that these are often what make the most difference during vulnerable times. She also acknowledged the impact of midwives on early childhood development. She said: 'You are there for women at their most vulnerable; you witness strength, pain and unimaginable joy on a daily basis. Your work often goes on behind the scenes, and away from the spotlight.' At the end of November 2019 Kate spent two days privately undertaking 'work experience' at Kingston Hospital maternity unit in south-west London to learn about what it was like to work in frontline maternity care, describing the experience as 'a privilege'. Kate and Princess Anne took part in their first joint royal engagement in 2022 as they arrived together at the headquarters of their respective patronages, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the Royal College of Midwives in London. During the outing, the Princess Royal left midwives and the Duchess of Cambridge in stitches when she recalled fearing one of her babies had become 'wedged' when she tripped over in a horse lorry while heavily pregnant. The royal duo heard about the ways in which the RCM and the RCOG are working together to improve maternal health care, ensuring women are receiving the safest and best care possible at one of the most significant times in their lives. Home to a collection of women's healthcare organisations, the headquarters has been designed by the RCOG to foster collaboration across the sector. The royals met with representatives from Tommy's National Centre for Maternity Improvement, and learnt about the innovative digital tools that are being developed to identify and support women with higher risk pregnancies. They watched Dr Katie Cornthwaite, an obstetrics and gynaecology registrar, give a demonstration of new training for health workers faced with delivering, via caesarean, an infant whose head is wedged in the pelvis - an issue that is a growing litigation problem for the NHS. Kate has previously spoken about her challenging pregnancies and battle with severe morning sickness. Speaking on Giovanna Fletcher 's Happy Mum, Happy Baby podcast in February 2020, Kate shared that she preferred being in labour to being pregnant. She said: 'Because it had been so bad during pregnancy, I actually really quite liked labour. 'It was an event that I knew there was going to be an ending to! 'But I know some people have really, really difficult times, so it's not for everybody. No pregnancy is the same, no birth is the same.' And Kate is not the only royal who reveres her midwives. In 2014 Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, burst into tears the moment she met one of the midwives who helped her deliver Lady Louise. This was discussed during a new Channel 5 documentary, Edward & Sophie: The Reluctant Royals?. She gave birth to Lady Louise following a difficult' pregnancy on the 8 November 2003. Lady Louise was also born with esotropia, a condition that made her eyes turn inward and which was later corrected with surgery. The Daily Mail's Rebecca English said: 'A few years ago, she went back to the Frimley Park Hospital and met one of the midwives that was responsible for helping her deliver Louise. 'Sophie just burst into tears. It was clearly still a very emotional experience for her. That is not something you often see on royal engagements. 'I think it was a sign of how deeply the experience had affected her and how much she owed the incredible NHS team at that hospital.' Kate's recognition of Professor Dunkley-Bent in the crowd is indicative of her respect for midwives. Throughout her time as a senior working royal, Kate has actively supported pregnant women and new mothers. She has visited maternity units, met with midwives and healthcare professionals and spoken about the importance of mental health during pregnancy and childbirth. She also uses her platform to raise awareness about early childhood development and the challenges faced by mothers, particularly those dealing with mental health issues. WHO IS PROFESSOR DUNKLEY-BENT? Professor Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent was hailed by The Daily Mail for being an 'unsung heroine' for helping deliver Princess Charlotte. Charlotte, now three, was born in May 2015 at the exclusive Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital, which can cost £5,900 for a one night stay. Despite being private, the wing is ran by Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, where Professor Dunkley-Bent is the director of midwifery. Professor Dunkley-Bent delivered Charlotte alongside midwife Arona Ahmed. Both were described as being 'unflappable'. It is understood a team of three midwives has been on standby for more than a month to cover three shifts over a 24-hour period should Kate have been admitted early. By establishing a specific team for the Royal birth, Kate and William ensured that the care of other patients, NHS or private, was not affected or disrupted. Hospital insiders claimed Professor Dunkley-Bent struck up a close rapport with Kate when she delivered Prince George two years before. It is not known if Professor Dunkley-Bent was also present at the birth of Prince Louis in April 2018. Professor Dunkley-Bent's career as a midwife started at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Trust in 2001. She has since gone on to become a professor of midwifery at London South Bank University. And she also holds the role of head of maternity, children and young people for NHS England and the Department of Health's national champion for maternity safety.
The Guardian
37 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Friday briefing: The court case trying to stop Palestine Action being designated a terrorist group
Good morning. On Wednesday, MPs including home secretary Yvette Cooper wore sashes to celebrate the legacy of the Suffragettes, whose methods included arson attacks, non-lethal bombings, and disabling railway lines. Then many of them voted to make wearing a Palestine Action t-shirt punishable by up to six months in prison, and membership of the group liable for a sentence of up to 14 years. The legislation is the result of Cooper's decision to proscribe Palestine Action. Today, the high court will hear a case brought by co-founder Huda Ammori asking for a temporary block on the order. If it fails, a group which pursues disruptive direct action aimed at buildings, equipment, and institutions rather than violence will be designated a terrorist entity for the first time. Cooper says that Palestine Action must be banned because it attacks the UK's defence industry, which is 'vital to the nation's national security'. For today's newsletter, I spoke to Martha Spurrier, a human rights barrister and former director of Liberty, about a new frontier in the UK's view of the line between disruptive protest and menacing force. This is my last newsletter for a while – I'm going on paternity leave, ahead of the imminent arrival of our, er, second edition. Aamna will be with you from Monday, and I'll be back in the autumn. Here are the headlines. UK politics | The MP Zarah Sultana, who was suspended from Labour last year, has said she will 'co-lead the founding of a new party' with Jeremy Corbyn. But Corbyn, who has not yet publicly committed to establishing a formal party, is understood to be frustrated at Sultana's unilateral announcement and reluctant to take on the title of leader. Diogo Jota | Jürgen Klopp and Cristiano Ronaldo led the tributes from across the football world to Diogo Jota after the 28-year-old Liverpool and Portugal forward was killed in a car accident in Spain. Jota's brother, André, also died in the crash in the province of Zamora. Middle East | Israel has escalated its offensive in Gaza before imminent talks about a ceasefire, with warships and artillery launching one of the deadliest and most intense bombardments in the devastated Palestinian territory for many months. In all, about 300 people may have been killed this week and thousands more injured, officials said. US politics | The US House of Representatives narrowly passed Donald Trump's sweeping tax and spending bill on Thursday. The 'big beautiful bill' makes sweeping cuts to safety net programs but adds trillions to the national debt through major tax cuts and spending increases on immigration enforcement and the military. UK politics | Rachel Reeves said she is 'cracking on with the job' of chancellor after her she was seen visibly distressed in the Commons on Wednesday. Speaking after a public show of unity alongside Keir Starmer at the launch of the NHS 10-year plan, she said she had been upset over a 'personal issue'. Yvette Cooper announced the decision to proscribe Palestine Action a few days after activists from the group broke into RAF Brize Norton and spray painted two military planes red. The home secretary called that incident 'disgraceful', and said it was part of a 'long history' of criminal damage that has 'increased in frequency and severity'. She said that the attacks had done millions of pounds worth of damage and sparked panic among bystanders, who had been 'subjected to violence'. But she did not suggest that Palestine Action is a group devoted to violence as the mechanism for securing its political aims, because it isn't. The proscription order was voted through parliament this week – but doesn't come into force until Saturday. Here's what you need to know. What's at stake in today's hearing? At the high court today, Huda Ammori will seek an interim order from the judge on the case, Martin Chamberlain, preventing Cooper's decision from taking effect until a court makes a decision on a judicial review. It is not a full examination of the substantive issues raised by the case, Martha Spurrier said. 'It will probably be focused on questions of process: does the complainant understand why the order was made? Has she been given the underlying evidence and the reasons? Has the process been fair, and have the right people been consulted? 'Part of it will be about creating the legal mood music for the judge,' she added. 'This has all happened very fast, and the level of the debate has not really been proportionate to the seriousness and novelty of the change, and so they will hope that the judge will find it more attractive to press pause and ventilate the issues thoroughly in court in a few weeks time.' The government, for its part, is likely to argue that the threat posed by Palestine Action is so serious and immediate that the UK's national security requires an instant response. If they succeed, the order will take effect on Saturday and place Palestine Action alongside the likes of Islamic State, al-Qaida, and the neo-Nazi group National Action. Here are some of the consequences. (For more detail, see Netpol's useful breakdown.) Membership or encouraging others to support the group will become a criminal offence, punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Informal expressions of support, including through clothes and banners, will become a criminal offence that could attract a six-month prison sentence. (None of this would apply retrospectively, and challenging or protesting the ban itself would still be allowed.) Organising or attending meetings of as few as three people would be banned along with fundraising or providing logistical support. Payment platforms would face investigation if they facilitated donations. Intelligence services and police would not be granted new powers of surveillance and infiltration directly, but proscription would likely increase resources flowing to monitoring suspected members of the group and might strengthen the case for warrants. Can the proscripton order still be overturned if the government wins today? If the government prevails, that is not the end of the story – but the route to overturning the ban becomes significantly harder. 'The minute the order is effective it is strengthened by being the status quo,' Spurrier said. 'The deference shown to the government on national security issues is enormous.' Should the case enter the appeals process, the first route is to the home secretary, whose view seems fairly predictable. After that it enters the legal system – but rather than being heard in open court, the case might end up in closed hearings, where Palestine Action would be represented by special advocates under severe limits on what they can share with their clients. For that to happen, the government would have to demonstrate that it has evidence which presents a national security risk to share publicly. If they succeed, the challenge for Palestine Action becomes incredibly steep, because they will only hear the parts of the case against them that have been agreed by the court not to present a national security risk. 'You can't answer the specific allegations, whether by saying I wasn't there on that date, or if you think our modus operandi is X or Y I can prove that it's not,' Spurrier said. 'It's the special advocate's job to make the strongest case they can in the absence of their client being able to give them instructions – but fundamentally they are working with both hands tied behind their back.' Is this a new frontier in the definition of terrorism? In the 1990s, Greenpeace was involved in a number of radical direct actions, like occupying the Brent Spar oil platform so it couldn't be disposed of in the sea, and destroying a field of genetically-modified maize. When the terrorism bill under which the Palestine Action decision has been made was going through parliament in 1999, Jack Straw, the home secretary at the time, dealt with the question of whether Greenpeace could be caught in the definition. 'I make it clear that the new definition will not catch the vast majority of so-called domestic activist groups,' Straw said. 'To respond to a recent example, I know of no evidence whatever that Greenpeace is involved in any activity that would fall remotely under the scope of this measure.' 'I don't think there's any evidence that parliament's intention was that groups like this would be caught by the definition of the terrorism act,' Spurrier said. 'This is the first time where the primary accusation is of property damage and not harm to people.' That obviously opens the way to wider applications in an era where direct action – often over the climate crisis – has become a major political issue, she added. 'It's really unclear to me what the principled distinction would be if Just Stop Oil began another wave of damage to property. There would surely be at the very least a political conversation about whether they should be proscribed.' Crucially, there are already plenty of laws in place for which members of groups like Palestine Action can be prosecuted for criminal damage – and which do not involve imposing the draconian restrictions of proscription. That is part of a wider political shift in the definition of acceptable protest, Spurrier said. 'I remember giving evidence to MPs about this a few years ago – and it was so noticeable that the fault line, which had always been peaceful or not peaceful, had moved – and suddenly it was disruptive or not disruptive. I had MPs saying to me that if it got in the way of the school run surely it should be banned. So there has been a paradigm shift.' What will it mean in practice? If the ban goes ahead, 'I don't expect you'll see white grannies being carted away for carrying a Palestine Action sign,' Spurrier said. 'They will be astute in who they arrest and who they prosecute. But you will see communities of colour bearing the brunt of it in the way they always do. And there will be a chilling effect – people who can't afford to be arrested because they will lose their job or they are just frightened by the prospect, simply won't show up.' There are reasons to worry about the broader consequences, including how the ban might interact with a bill going through parliament seeking to criminalise face coverings at protests and expanding the use of facial recognition. It might also lead to children being referred to the authorities under the Prevent scheme if they tell a teacher that their parents support the group, Spurrier said. 'There are so many pieces of architecture that can sweep people up for things that aren't criminal acts but speak to some kind of intention – and then you're in the dragnet.' Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion With all that in mind, it may seem extraordinary that the legislation passed the House of Commons this week by 385 votes to 26. 'I was really disappointed,' Spurrier said. 'But, whether you're talking about protest or asylum or criminal justice, the prevailing view is that a hardened anti-rights, anti-rule of law stance is almost a centrist position. So I was surprised that the numbers were quite so low. But I was never under the illusion that it would meet with serious resistance.' Holloman Lake, a 1965 wastewater pond in New Mexico, was a wildlife oasis until researchers tested strange shoreline foam and uncovered the devastating impact of forever chemicals on the ecosystem. Aamna A year after winning the election, Labour is at a low ebb, Polly Toynbee writes. It is time to be honest about the need for significant tax rises, she says – and to 'remind citizens that their taxes go to things everyone values most'. Archie A jury has acquitted Sean 'Diddy' Combs of sex trafficking, convicting him only of transporting male prostitutes. The case hinged on consent: the women said no; he said yes. The jury sided with him, cementing what feminist Moira Donegan calls the #MeToo backlash era. Aamna Ahead of the first date of the Oasis reunion tour tonight, I enjoyed Simon Armitage's tribute: as they return to the stage, 'fans will be back on each other's shoulders or arm in arm, singing gnomic phrases and occasional nonsense, united by some irresistible bond.' Archie To save time, people brush their teeth in the shower or wear slip-on shoes. Are these 'life hacks' clever conveniences, or a depressing sign of how overstretched, overworked and overwhelmed we've all become? Aamna Football | 'It is impossible not to feel a deep sense of pain, sadness and shared heartbreak at news of the sudden death of Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva,' Barney Ronay writes. He was 'the kind of footballer who barely seems to leave a dent in the grass, who, for all the tactical match-smarts seems still to be playing the same endless teenage game.' Tennis | The British No 1 Jack Draper was taught a grand slam lesson by the veteran Marin Cilic, losing 4-6, 3-6, 6-1, 4-6 in the second round at Wimbledon. Iga Świątek went about her business almost unnoticed as she defeated Caty McNally 5-7, 6-2, 6-1 to reach the third round. Football | It took under 90 seconds for Esther González to score the first goal for Spain against Portugal in the Women's Euros, and then they came quickly, finishing up at 5-0. Italy defeated Belgium 1-0 with Arianna Caruso's stunning, curling first-half goal. The Guardian splashes on 'Hundreds killed as Israel steps up Gaza strikes despite ceasefire hope.' The Times leads with 'NHS app to give patients a 'doctor in your pocket',' while the Mail has 'The doctor in your pocket will see you now.' The FT leads on 'Big asset managers piled in to gilts as markets dipped during Reeves crisis,' the i Paper has 'Pensions face tax hike to pay for Labour welfare U-turn,' and the Telegraph goes with 'Corbyn's hard-left challenge to Starmer.' Pictures of Diogo Jota, who died in a car crash in Spain, feature on many front pages. The Mirror splashes on 'Liverpool star tragedy: Devastating,' for the Sun, it's 'Football has lost a champion,' and the Express leads with ''Our hearts are broken' …fans in shock over death of Kop star.' Our critics' roundup of the best things to watch, read, play and listen to right now TVGaza: Doctors Under Attack | ★★★★★ Several powerful documentaries have emerged on Palestine this year, but this is the most unflinching. Its central thesis: the IDF systematically targets medics in all 36 of Gaza's hospitals. The pattern they lay out is chilling: first bombardment, then siege, followed by raids with tanks and bulldozers. Medical staff are detained, hospitals destroyed and the forces move on. The aim appears to be long-term devastation and ensuring Palestinians have nothing to return to. The documentary's slow, methodical unfurling of this thesis is the stuff of nightmares. Stuart Heritage Film Heads of State | ★★★★☆ Idris Elba and John Cena return in this gun show from Nobody director Ilya Naishuller, playing a UK prime minister and US president at odds. After a joint press conference goes sideways and derails a Nato-backed energy deal, the two are forced to fly together to repair the damage, only for their Air Force One trip to end in a fiery crash. Elba deftly toggles between Odd Couple chemistry with Cena and romantic tension with Priyanka Chopra. Naishuller delivers action with pratfalls and one-liners. This is the perfect summer movie – fun, fiery, and totally frivolous. Andrew Lawrence Music . (Period): Kesha | ★★★★☆Kesha's sixth album marks a fresh start, bringing back the artist who once brushed her teeth with Jack Daniel's and danced with giant penises on stage. Only the piano ballad Cathedral feels fully rooted in her recent legal battles. This is clearly an album designed to put Kesha back at the centre of pop. The songs are strong, full of smart twists, drops, and funny, self-referential lines: 'You're on TikTok / I'm the fucking OG.' The army of collaborators, from Jonathan Wilson to Madison Love, rally behind her. Kesha plays the part of Kesha 1.0 to perfection. For all the lyrical excess, nothing feels forced. Why would it? She's simply reclaiming the role she created. Alexis Petridis Guilty … and not guilty: understanding the Sean 'Diddy' Combs verdict – podcast The rapper faced charges often levied at mafia bosses. Anna Betts explains what the jury heard, and Andrew Lawrence tells Nosheen Iqbal what the verdict means for the music mogul A bit of good news to remind you that the world's not all bad Spain's women's football team has battled systemic misogyny and poor treatment for years, culminating in a World Cup win in 2023 overshadowed by an unwanted kiss from football chief Luis Rubiales. The incident ignited global outrage and amplified calls for equality. The outcome of the scandal was that it sparked wider social debate in Spain about gender and power, and ultimately gave young women the voice they needed. The players now say that this turning point has led to a positive change. Player Aitana Bonmatí says, 'It was tough to play here; the situation wasn't good … Now everything is better.' And finally, the Guardian's puzzles are here to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow. Quick crossword Cryptic crossword Wordiply
