The global governing body had also previously informed the ECB any footage shot in the PMOA must not carry audio or be released before the conclusion of a match.
Speaking at the close of the fourth day, Stokes explained why the public announcement was made during play, detailing it was a plan between his agents and the ECB.
“I just said, ‘You guys work with Michael Lumb and Neil Fairbrother, who work with me, and you guys just come up with a plan’,” said the all-rounder.
Stokes was in the middle of a bowling spell at the time of the announcement and, with his first delivery after news of his retirement spread, took the wicket of New Zealand’s Zak Foulkes.
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The Test, and Stokes’ international career, did not end until the following day.
The ICC adopted what it described as “minimum standards” for the PMOA in order to support its anti-corruption code.
Neither the ECB nor the ICC have commented. The letter from the ICC was sent the day before the Women’s T20 World Cup final at Lord’s, when ECB chair Richard Thompson met with Jay Shah, chairman of world cricket’s governing body. The ECB has yet to respond to the ICC.
Stokes’ retirement has left England looking for a new Test captain in time for the three-match series against Pakistan in August.
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Vice-captain Harry Brook has said it would be an “honour” to succeed him, but England are understood to be taking time over an appointment.
A factor in the decision could be uncertainty over the futures of other figures in the England management after a run of poor results in Test cricket and a string of off-field controversies.
Head coach Brendon McCullum and director of cricket Rob Key were both backed in the spring following a review into the Ashes series, which England lost 4-1.
The ECB are now reflecting on the situation around the men’s team, but may wait until the conclusion of the ongoing white-ball series against India before making any formal announcements.
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Neither Key nor chief executive Richard Gould have spoken publicly since Stokes’ retirement.
Southport killer Axel Rudakubana has been charged with multiple assaults on prison officers at HMP Belmarsh.
The 19-year-old was charged on Tuesday over the three separate alleged attacks in 2025, the Metropolitan Police said.
He was jailed for a minimum of 52 years for the murders of Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, Bebe King, six, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, and the attempted murders of eight other children, class instructor Leanne Lucas and businessman John Hayes.
In May last year, it was alleged he used a kettle in his cell to heat water up and then poured boiling water over a prison officer.
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Other guards heard their colleague’s screams and restrained Rudakubana following the attack, it is alleged.
The prison officer was taken to hospital as a precautionary measure and was discharged later that day before returning to work.
The Prison Service said at the time: ‘Police are investigating an attack on a prison officer at HMP Belmarsh.
‘Violence in prison will not be tolerated and we will always push for the strongest possible punishment for attacks on our hard-working staff.’
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Axel Rudakubana was charged on Tuesday over the three separate alleged attacks in 2025
In May last year, it was alleged he used a kettle in his cell to heat water up and then poured boiling water over a prison officer at HMP Belmarsh
The Metropolitan Police said Rudakubana has been charged with the following:
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Assault on an emergency worker on Tuesday, May 6, 2025
Attempted grievous bodily harm on Thursday, May 8, 2025
Unauthorised possession of an offensive weapon in prison on Thursday, June 26, 2025
Assault on an emergency worker on Tuesday, October 28, 2025.
He will appear before Westminster Magistrates’ Court via videolink on September 11.
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Southport killer Axel Rudakubana is charged with multiple assaults on prison staff at HMP Belmarsh
Cambridgeshire Police has warned drivers that there are “heavy delays” on the A14 between Easton and Brampton.
They said: “Please be aware that the westbound carriageway on the A14 between Easton and Brampton is currently experiencing heavy delays and a tailback caused by an unfortunate spillage, so look to take alternate routes.
“Be advised, those with children in the car or have a weak disposition may be affected by the scene.”
Cristiano Ronaldo and fiancée, Georgina Rodriguez, have got tongues wagging after a leaked invite appeared to suggest the pair were getting hitched this weekend
10:59, 31 Jul 2026Updated 10:59, 31 Jul 2026
Rumours are rife that Cristiano Ronaldo is getting married tomorrow after a leaked wedding invite appeared to confirm the news.
The former Man Utd star, 41, got engaged to fiancée, Georgina Rodriguez, 33, with whom he shares three children, last year after nine years together.
The legendary footballer, who played his last World Cup match for Portugal this summer, has always kept coy about when he would walk down the aisle with Georgina, saying marriage is a significant milestone for him and that he would know when the timing was right.
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He has referred to Argentinian model Georgina – who he met when she was working as a sales assistant at Gucci – as his wife since last year, with the influencer often posting snaps of some serious bling on her wedding finger.
However, it appears the couple are finally making things official after a leaked invite set the date for August 1 – but is it really happening? Here’s what we know…
Leaked wedding invite
Recent reports from various Portuguese newspapers have suggested that Ronaldo and Georgina’s wedding might take place this Saturday.
The speculation came after an alleged invitation, purportedly for the couple’s nuptials, was leaked to the Portuguese programme ‘V+Fama‘.
The invite reportedly read: “Together with their families, Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez request the honour of your presence at the celebration of their marriage.”
However, while some versions of the invite said the ceremony would begin at 2:00 p.m., others said it would start at 5:00 p.m, leading some to speculate if it was real.
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All-black dress code
The invite also allegedly asks guests to dress all in black to celebrate the couple’s big day.
The strict dress code has lead to discussions about the significance of the colour, with some wondering Georgina, who we presume will be wearing in white, wants the contrast for a glossy magazine spread.
As one of the world’s most famous couples, there is sure to be a huge bidding war to get the first snaps from the special day – when it eventually happens.
Guest list
The guest list for the rumoured wedding has not been confirmed. However, according to one source, famous faces at the nuptials will include not only football players but stars from the showbiz world.
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Footballers Rio Ferdinand, Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappe and Rodriguez, are all said to have been invited as as well as actors Vin Diesel and Esther Exposito, who is dating Mbappe. Meanwhile, Rihanna, Jennifer Lopez, Drake and rapper Travis Scott are also said to be asked to attend.
Also said to be on the guest list is TV presenter Piers Morgan, who Ronaldo told he would marry Georgina after this year’s World Cup in one of the biggest clues yet the wedding is on.
Couple show off matching diamond rings
Shortly before the invite was leaked, Georgina shared an Instagram post, which got tongues wagging. The model often posts snaps of her eye-wateringly expensive diamond rings. However, relaxing aboard Ronaldo’s CR7 jet this week, the mum-of-three shared something a bit different.
After polishing off a scrumptious breakfast of scrambled egg and smoked salmon next to her enormous Birkin bag, Georgina posted a snap on Instagram in which both she and Ronaldo are wearing designer watches encrusted with jewels. However, the couple, who were papped onboard the footballer’s yacht in Majorca this week, are also both rocking some serious bling on their wedding finger in a post, which feels very much like a statement.
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Portuguese media appears to confirm wedding venue – but there’s a catch
Portuguese media claims the couple are set to wed in Portugal on Saturday, with local press suggesting they will marry at the stunning Quinta da Regaleira estate in Sintra.
One TV host has claimed the ceremony will be at the Quinta da Regaleira estate in Sintra, Portugal, however it still appears to be open to the public this weekend, adding doubt to the rumours.
In more confusion, the leaked invite specifies the date and venue: “Saturday, 1 August, 2026. At five in the afternoon at Quinta da Regaleira, Sintra, Portugal.” However, within hours, a family statement was released, unequivocally denying that Cristiano and Georgina would be marrying this coming weekend.
Ronaldo tells pal Piers Morgan he’ll get married after World Cup
Despite the denial, Ronaldo had previously claimed he was planning to marry Georgina after this year’s World Cup, which saw Portugal knocked out the Round of 16 after losing to Spain.
He told pal Piers Morgan: “I hope to arrive at my wedding with the champion’s trophy. I’m going to marry her because I believe it’s the right time. Not just because she’s the mother of my children — but because she’s the person I love most.”
Revealing he popped the question to Georgina at 1am in 2025, he continued: “It was like 1 am. My daughters were in bed sleeping. One of my friends gave me the ring to offer Gio, and as I was giving her the ring, my two kids come in and say: ‘Daddy, you’re going to give the ring to mum and you’re going to ask her to get married”‘.
“I said: ‘Wow, this is the right moment to say yes.’”
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Admitting he hadn’t actually planned to propose at that moment, he concluded: “It was the time. I knew that I was going to do it one day, but I hadn’t planned to do it then.”
A food expert says that ditching the bowl and whisking your eggs can create incredibly soft and fluffy scrambled eggs
Scrambled eggs are a beloved breakfast — or brunch — staple that can be prepared in just a few minutes. Every chef and home cook swears by their own preferred technique, but one expert has revealed a straightforward way to speed up the process without sacrificing flavour or texture.
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Food expert Kris Osborne has disclosed that whisking eggs together is not actually necessary to achieve soft and fluffy scrambled eggs. Instead, the trick is to make them directly in a frying pan.
As Kris wrote for Simply Recipes: “Somewhere along the way, though, I realised there are days when I actually prefer it this way. The scrambled eggs come out soft and fluffy, but instead of uniform yellow curds, they have ribbons of white and golden yolk running through them.”
This particular cooking technique is also referred to as “frambled eggs” — a hybrid of scrambled and fried, whereby “ribbons of white and golden yolk” form the finished dish, rather than the more familiar “uniform yellow curds”, reports the Express.
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In essence, you bypass the step of whisking the eggs in a bowl beforehand, streamlining the whole process. Kris has admitted she had actually been making frambled eggs for years without even realising it, and they are remarkably simple to prepare.
As an added bonus, it also eliminates the need for extra washing up.
How to make frambled eggs
To begin, heat a non-stick pan over a medium-low heat and add a knob of butter, allowing it to melt until it turns slightly foamy. Keeping the heat low is essential, as eggs can transform from soft to rubbery “in a matter of seconds”.
Crack two eggs directly into the pan, seasoning with salt and pepper, and resist the urge to stir them straight away.
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As the eggs begin to cook, the whites will gradually turn opaque and start to set around the edges. Once the whites have fully set but the yolk remains runny, use a spatula to break up the yolk.
Gently fold the eggs over themselves using the spatula. Kris advises folding just enough so the eggs are “loosely combined” without fully blending the whites and yolks together.
Remove the pan from the heat while the eggs are still “slightly glossy”, as they will carry on cooking from the residual warmth left in the pan.
Kris wrote: “I still make traditional scrambled eggs. But I have to admit, I feel a little more justified when I skip the bowl. Whether you call it a technique or just a shortcut, it turns out the ‘lazy’ way and the good way can be the same thing.”
As any parent will tell you, the summer holidays are quite the endurance test. Yes, there are beautiful memories to be made and far more quality time than there is throughout the year but there is also the seemingly neverending list of things to do.
While we’re juggling the load of keeping the house in some sort of orderly shape, keeping the kids fed, keeping some semblance of a routine… Where are we supposed to find the time for creating summer holiday magic?
Well, according to the experts at Kendamil, there is actually a perfect formula for staying on top of it all without falling into parental burnout.
How the “42% Rule” can get families through the summer holidays
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Dylan McMahon, co-founder at Kendamil explains: “The ‘42% rule’ is where you look to spend almost half of your time in the day on rest or slower-paced activities.
“For example, this may include allocating time for more relaxing activities with the kids, such as reading books or doing puzzles, or setting time aside to disconnect from screens. This can help to regulate your nervous system, keeping you calmer and contributing to a more rational frame of mind.”
The children’s education experts at Twinkl also recommend colouring for children, saying: “Colouring is a fun and relaxing activity that will have your kids encapsulated. It is a great way to help reduce stress and anxiety as it calms the mind and helps children to let go of any negative thoughts and emotions.
“Colouring encourages creativity and imagination, as kids independently select different colours and create colour combinations when colouring an illustration. It is also a fantastic way for kids to develop their fine motor skills. This is done through improved pencil grip and manipulating colouring materials such as crayons or pencil crayons.”
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McMahon adds that sharing the load can be very beneficial, too: “Getting support from family, friends, partners or local services will help to reduce the mental and physical load. Sharing parenting responsibilities can lower stress levels for both parents, whereas spending time at community playgroups allows you to connect with other parents, helping you to feel more supported knowing you’re not alone in how you’re feeling.”
However, if the stress of the holidays is getting on top of you, reach out to Action for Children’s free Parent Talk service for support.
The North Sea has increasingly become a topic for political debate.
In its 2024 general election manifesto, Labour said it would not issue new licences for drilling, but would honour existing ones.
But in recent months, as the Iran war pushed up global oil prices, calls have grown for more North Sea drilling to be approved, from the Conservatives, Reform UK and from President Trump, while also becoming a divisive issue within the Labour party.
Some Labour MPs have urged the government to take a more liberal approach, warning that the transition away from oil and gas must protect jobs and the cost of energy bills.
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But others have backed the government’s existing approach, arguing that expanding renewable energy is key to improving energy security and reducing the impact on climate change.
As energy secretary in Sir Keir Starmer’s government, Ed Miliband was a staunch supporter of the manifesto position. Miliband is now the foreign secretary in Burnham’s government.
Burnham himself has seemingly left the door open to future drilling. He said he told President Trump this week: “There is a resource there. When people are struggling – you can’t ignore that.”
Labour’s deputy leader Lucy Powell previously told the BBC that Burnham would stick to the party’s manifesto commitments, but there would be a “change of emphasis” on North Sea oil and gas.
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Oil and gas companies have also criticised the UK’s windfall tax, which they argue means the North Sea has lost some of its appeal in recent years.
The Asian Football Confederation said it “stands in solidarity” with European body UEFA and North America’s CONCACAF which on Thursday respectively threatened a boycott of FIFA competitions and rejected Infantino’s offer of one-off $20 million payments to each member federation.
“Football should never have been placed in such a position,” said the Asian soccer body, which counts 46 of FIFA’s 211 member federations that Infantino gave a Sept. 19 deadline to accept the $20 million offer.
Infantino has proposed spinning off FIFA’s commercial businesses — including World Cups and Club World Cups for men and women — into a $20 billion subsidiary with 20% owned by private investors.
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The “anchor investor,” described by FIFA, is a New York-based investment firm created by Joshua Kushner, the younger brother of U.S. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.
“(T)he proposed (FIFA Forward Enterprise) cannot realistically achieve the necessary broad consensus and unity required to move forward” and must be reconsidered, the AFC said.
The statement did not name Infantino yet criticized FIFA for problems beyond the content of the private equity plan plus failing to consult about a secretive proposal that was revealed Tuesday in media reports.
“Rather, it has exposed fundamental weaknesses in FIFA’s consultation and decision-making processes that must now be addressed,” the AFC said. “Accordingly, the AFC calls upon FIFA to undertake an urgent review of its governance and decision-making framework.”
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The statement came hours after FIFA blamed the media and doubled down on pursuing the project which now seems to have a majority of the 211 members in opposition.
“Our planned consultation process was disrupted by incorrect media reports,” FIFA said in a statement early Friday. “We will proceed with this consultation process to ensure that each (member) has the ability to express its vote based on facts.”
The next FIFA event that would be targeted by the threatened European boycott is within weeks — the Women’s Under-20 World Cup hosted by Poland from Sept. 5. The four British federations comprise FIFA’s only bidder to host the 2035 Women’s World Cup. That decision is due Nov. 23.
DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Human Rights Watch said Friday that Russian government-controlled Africa Corps aircraft killed eight civilians, including three children, in an airstrike on a village in central Mali last month.
The rights group said an attack aircraft identified as a Russian Sukhoi Su-24 dropped two munitions on Kyrnia village in the Mopti region on June 15. One strike hit near the home of the village chief, killing his wife and three children. The second hit a nearby cattle market, killing four men. No fighters from the Islamic militant group JNIM, which has controlled the village for six years, were reported among the casualties.
The Associated Press was not able to independently verify the claims by Human Rights Watch.
Mali has been plagued for over a decade by militants affiliated with al-Qaida and the Islamic State group, including JNIM, as well as a Tuareg separatist rebellion in the north.
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Violence escalated in recent months after an alliance of JNIM and Tuareg separatists carried out the largest coordinated attack in over a decade, targeting the airport of the country’s capital, Bamako, the nearby garrison town of Kati, and several northern and central cities.
April’s attacks exposed the weaknesses of Mali’s strategy to combat the rebellion, including relying on Russia, which has partnered with the military-led government after it distanced itself from former allies such as France.
Russian mercenaries have been present in Mali since late 2021 to help its military junta fight militants and separatists. Last year, Africa Corps, which reports to Russia’s Defense Ministry, replaced the private mercenary Wagner Group in the country.
Human Rights Watch said it interviewed 19 people, analyzed satellite imagery, and reviewed a video the Africa Corps posted online describing the strike last month as targeting a “terrorist” gathering. Researchers said roughly 100 JNIM fighters were in the village at the time but were mostly gathered elsewhere, and that the strikes did not appear to target a clear military objective.
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The rights group called on Mali’s government to investigate the strike and hold those responsible accountable, saying it could otherwise be complicit in war crimes.
Russia’s Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Thousands of passengers jet off from the airport each day
Now that the summer holidays are well underway millions of people will be jetting off abroad to make the most of the school break.
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This year Manchester Airport is expecting its busiest summer on record, with 5.7million passengers set to pass through the travel hub in the coming weeks. Those who fly from the airport will benefit from the changes made as part of the airport’s £1.5billion transformation programme, which is set to wrap up later this year.
Terminal 2 has been renovated and extended, with new additions including the Great Northern Market, a foodhall-style eating spot where diners can choose from a range of kitchens serving up pizza, Greek food and more. Meanwhile in the Boutique Mall area passengers can browse luxury retailers like Coach, Reiss, Jo Malone and Tom Ford.
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Passengers flying from Terminal 3, which now only serves Ryanair, can visit the new sports bar, Sporting Chance, which has more than 500 seats. Work is still underway to expand Terminal 3, using space from Terminal 1 which has closed.
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Those flying in the next few days are urged to plan their journey to the airport carefully as Metrolink maintenance works are still underway, lasting until August 2. This means there are no trams running through the city centre, and no trams operating on the Altrincham, Eccles and Trafford Park lines, while the East Didsbury and Airport lines terminate at Firswood. Instead, passengers can use tram replacement buses. These will be operating between Exchange Square and Rochdale, between Bury and Piccadilly, and between Piccadilly and Ashton-under-Lyne.
If you’re due to fly today it’s important to monitor the status of your flight. Below are delayed flights (by more than 30 minutes) and cancelled flights from Manchester Airport on Friday July 31, according to Flight Radar 24, as of 9.30am.
Delayed flights
11.50am easyJet flight U22105 to Paris, estimated departure 12.40pm
3.20pm easyJet flight U22275 to Enfidha, estimated departure 4.03pm
7.10pm easyJet flight U22033 to Alicante, estimated departure 7.58pm
Cancelled flights
There are no cancelled flights from Manchester Airport today so far.
Cambridge is one of the first cities to benefit from the new electric vehicles
Cambridge will be one of the first cities to benefit from Royal Mail’s new electric vehicles. Royal Mail has launched its first electric cargo cycles, known as the Pedal 4 cycles, with the first 20 to be deployed this month.
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These will be delivered to cities including Cambridge, London and Brighton. Using e-cargo cycles will help the mail service to reduce carbon emissions, improve local air quality and make delivery rounds more efficient.
Mark Riley, delivery design manager at Royal Mail, said: “Our new electric cargo cycles mark another important step towards reaching Net-Zero by 2040 and making our delivery network more efficient for the future.
“They will help reduce emissions and improve air quality in the communities we serve, while creating new opportunities for people to join Royal Mail without needing a driving licence.”
The e-buggies have been manufactured at Minimal’s microfactory in West London, amid Royal Mail’s efforts to try and achieve Net-Zero by 2040. The Pedal 4 cycles don’t require a licensed driver, which the company says will open up delivery opportunities to a wider range of people.
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They can run on roads with speed limits of up to 30mph, in cycle lanes, cycle paths, and greenways.
Patrick Bion, chief executive officer at Minimal, said: “Royal Mail operates one of the most demanding delivery networks in the country. Their decision to scale Pedal 4 throughout the UK is the clearest possible signal that right-sized electric vehicles will be central to how we move goods through cities more efficiently.”
Royal Mail plans to deploy more vehicles to other locations in the future.
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