House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy weighs in on President Biden’s approach to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s Taiwan visit and what Pelosi could have done differently on ‘Jesse Watters Primetime.’
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House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy explained how President Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi alike should have approached her Taiwan visit Friday on “Jesse Watters Primetime.”
REP. KEVIN MCCARTHY: Biden has shown weakness from the very beginning of Afghanistan. Watch how he allowed China to speak to America, first on our soil in Alaska. And then what did he do when Nancy Pelosi was going to Taiwan? He showed weakness again, said, “Well, the military doesn’t want her to go. Well, it’s Nancy.” Why didn’t he stand up for America and say China’s not going to dictate when and who goes to Taiwan?
NANCY PELOSI DEPARTS TAIWAN AFTER VISIT CRITICIZED BY CHINA
China would have had a different opinion about what they said and did. But the other point about Nancy Pelosi — I support Americans going to Taiwan. But if you’re Speaker of the House, wouldn’t it have been stronger if you took a bipartisan group? Every other congressional delegation that travels overseas has to be bipartisan. It’s only the speaker — when she goes to Ukraine, she makes it partisan — Democrats only. When she goes to Taiwan, she made it only Democrats. Wouldn’t it have been a stronger voice to China as well, if you had Republicans and Democrats together?
Former Adelaide Crows footballer Bryce Gibbs has admitted a controversial pre-season training camp fractured the playing group and says he regrets not speaking up about it.
Key points:
Bryce Gibbs joined the Adelaide Crows in 2017 shortly before the preseason training camp
He says he regrets not speaking up and supporting his teammates
Eddie Betts and Josh Jenkins this week shared their experience of the camp
Gibbs is the latest player to speak publicly about the camp, echoing concerns about the Gold Coast trip raised by former teammates Eddie Betts and Josh Jenkins.
Betts wrote in his book, released this week, how personal details he confidentially shared with a counselor were used to verbally abuse him in front of teammates, in an experience he found “traumatizing.”
In another example, Betts details how First Nations rituals were misappropriated, which he found “extremely disrespectful”.
Gibbs said incidents shared by Betts and Jenkins about the camp should not have happened.
“When I reflect, this is where I feel really disappointed in myself, this is when I started to take a back seat, watching guys stand up and say ‘this is not on, we need to address this, we need to tell people what happened’, they seemed to get shut down pretty quickly,” Gibbs told radio station SEN SA.
Gibbs was traded from Carlton at the end of 2017 and joined Adelaide weeks before the players went on the camp, where he was included in the more intensive “group one” version of the camp alongside nine other players and two coaches.
The retired AFL player said he was disappointed he did not support teammates who experienced a more difficult time during the camp than he did.
Eddie Betts’ biography, The Boy from Boomerang Crescent, includes claims about his traumatic experience during the training camp.(ABC News: Ben Pettit)
“Reflecting on those ongoing conversations when we were trying to flush it out, I do regret not speaking up when I probably should’ve been a more experienced and senior player of that group,” he said.
“It did fracture the playing group, it fractured relationships in the football department, players lost trust with members in that football department.”
In a statement made in 2021, the Crows said a SafeWork SA investigation “found neither the club nor any other person or organisation, breached any work-health-and-safety laws during or in relation to the camp.”
“We tried to move on where that was obviously the wrong thing to do and that’s probably why we’re speaking about it four years on,” Gibbs said.
“If it was handled correctly and people had taken responsibility, put their hand up and knocked it on the head a lot earlier when it happened, it still would’ve been hard as people still went through what they went through – and people will still carry some emotional scars from it — but at least it would’ve been dealt with in the proper manner then and there.”
‘It shouldn’t have happened’
Gibbs said he took a call from a counselor before the camp to discuss his childhood and past experiences, which he thought was “a bit of a red flag.” He said he was “pretty calculated” in what he disclosed.
He said by not divulging too much to the counsellor, his experience of the camp was different from what Betts and Jenkins spoke about this week.
“Reflecting on it all, it just shouldn’t have happened. It was easier for me to move on as I didn’t have that level of experience and trauma put to me, I found it easier to suppress it and squash it and just try and move on personally which I was able to do, which made it easier for me,” Gibbs said.
“That’s my experience of the camp, obviously very different to a lot of people.”
Eddie Betts and Josh Jenkins (right) have both spoken publicly about the 2018 pre-season training camp.(AAP: Tracey Nearmy)
Jenkins recalled an exercise involving players being hoisted up in harnesses while having abuse hurled at them by facilitators and teammates, including “some of the barbs” being thrown at Betts.
Gibbs said he was told not to reveal details of the camp to players in the other groups of the camp.
“Getting spoken to and getting educated on what to say to family, friends and the other guys in the other groups, we were told not to go into detail about what happened and for whatever reason most of us stuck to that at the time,” he said.
‘Strange rules’ during camp
Gibbs said he experienced “unusual things” and “plenty of red flags” during the infamous training trip but convinced himself to keep an open mind and that the camp would help build stronger relationships with his teammates.
The 268-game veteran shared that on the trip to the campsite, Crows players were blindfolded and were not allowed to talk on the bus, which had blacked-out windows.
They played heavy metal music on the bus and talked about the 2017 Grand Final, in which Adelaide were heavily defeated by Richmond, and Gibbs’ departure from Carlton.
Gibbs said “strange rules” were enforced during the camp, including players being required to walk in a straight line and not being allowed to use their mobile phones or shower.
Bryce Gibbs plays for South Adelaide in SANFL since retiring from AFL in 2020.(Supplied: Nick Hook via South Adelaide FC)
He said some of the rules imposed were “hard to justify” and players were doubting the benefits of the training.
“I felt like we were in a bit of a state of mind, this whole experience was happening around us and a couple of guys spoke up about their concerns, it was sort of negotiated that we would continue on with what we were doing,” Gibbs said.
“I think Eddie used “brainwashed”, as he described it, but in the state of mind and in the moment we just continued doing what they’d set out to do.
“It probably wasn’t until later on when reflecting on it that it was probably an opportunity to speak up a bit more.”
The AFL and the Adelaide Football Club have both apologized to Betts for the trauma caused by the camp.
Prominent Adelaide lawyer Greg Griffin said he had spoken to at least seven players who were on the 2018 Crows’ list about a potential class action.
CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia’s new government announced on Thursday it plans to prevent development of a coal mine due to the potential impact on the nearby Great Barrier Reef.
Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek said she intends to deny approval for the Central Queensland Coal Project to be excavated northwest of the Queensland state town of Rockhampton.
The minority Greens party has been pressing the center-left Labor Party government, which was elected in May, to refuse approvals of coal or gas projects, to help reduce Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions.
“Based on the information available to me at this stage, I believe that the project would be likely to have unacceptable impacts to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, and the values of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area and National Heritage Place,” Plibersek said in a statement.
The marine park manages the network of more than 2,500 reefs that cover 348,000 square kilometers (134,000 square miles) of seabed off the northeast Australian coast. The World Heritage Area, designated by the United Nations and Australia’s National Heritage List, includes natural, historic and Indigenous places of outstanding significance to the nation.
UNESCO, the UN cultural organization, is considering downgrading the Great Barrier Reef’s World Heritage status mainly because rising ocean temperatures are killing coral.
The mine’s proponents have 10 business days to respond to the proposed refusal before the minister makes her final decision.
The Greens welcomed the news and urged the minister to reject another 26 planned coal mines.
“Now we need an across-the-board moratorium on all new coal and gas projects,” Greens leader Adam Bandt said in a statement.
The proposed decision was announced after the House of Representatives passed a bill that would enshrine in law the government’s ambition to reduce Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions by 43% below 2005 levels by the end of the decade. The bill passed 89 votes to 55.
The previous government’s target had been a reduction of between 26%-28%, set at the Paris climate conference in 2015.
A proposed Greens’ amendment that would have acknowledged no new coal, oil or gas projects could be started if Australia were to achieve its net-zero emissions target by 2050 was defeated on Thursday.
The government is confident that the bill will be passed by the Senate next month with support from all 12 Greens senators, who would prefer a 2030 target of a 75% reduction.
The apparently doomed mine would have been an open-cut operation that extracted up to 10 million metric tons (11 million US tons) of coal a year.
A fire that tore through a Pennsylvania house killed 10 people — including three children — early Friday morning, all of whom were members of the same family and related to a volunteer fireman who responded to the blaze.
Three children, ages 5, 6 and 7, and seven adults were killed in the Nescopeck blaze, state police said. Three others were able to escape the inferno, according to first responders.
Nescopeck volunteer firefighter Harold Baker told The Citizens’ Voice of Wilkes-Barre that the victims included his son, daughter, father-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, three grandchildren and two other relatives.
“When we turned the corner up here on Dewey [Street] I knew right away what house it was just by looking down the street,” Baker told the paper. “I was on the first engine, and when we pulled up, the whole place was fully involved. We tried to get in to them.”
Thirteen dogs were also in the home it went up in flames around 2:30 am, Baker told WNEP. It was unclear if any of them survived.
Crews work to demolish the house destroyed by a fatal fire on the 700 block of 1st Street in Nescopeck on Aug. 5, 2022.APA Pennsylvania State trooper and members of the Luzerne County Coroner’s Office are at the scene of the fire in Nescopeck on August 5, 2022. AP
“The kids that were there and my two kids were just visiting their aunt and uncle. Those were the ones who owned the house. They were there visiting and going into the pool and all that,” Baker reportedly said.
A loud popping sound or explosion was heard by neighbors, who reported seeing the home quickly go up in flames.
“They’re all dead,” a young man screamed in front of the home, some neighbors reportedly said.
A “complex criminal investigation” was underway, Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Derek Felsman said.
A corner of East Lothian may forever belong to a family from Western Australia. Should Minjee Lee prevail at the Women’s Open – and a second round of 70 leaves her in fine position to do precisely that – she will have shown the local specialty already displayed by her brother de ella.
Min Woo Lee’s win at the Scottish Open last July was the biggest of his career. It is hardly unfair to suggest the 24-year-old has been firmly upstaged in sporting context by his older sister of him. The quirk here is that Minjee Lee is in hot pursuit of a third major – and second of 2022 – at Muirfield, literally over the wall from the Renaissance Club where Min Woo Lee emerged from a playoff.
Minjee Lee offered only that a family double in the same postcode and more than 9,000 miles from home would be “pretty cool” before a ball was struck in the Women’s Open. A four under par total at the halfway point has only intensified strong attention around her, including in her native country.
Lee eased to victory the US Open in June and would almost certainly become Australia’s first female world No 1 with a win at Muirfield. At the halfway mark she is four shots off the leader, South Korea’s Chun In-gee, and shielding herself expertly from the noise.
“I try not to think too much about that other stuff,” Lee said. “I’m still the same person. I hit a little white golf ball around a field. That’s always been my mindset and whatever comes with it, I’m going to embrace it and be the best person that I can be.” And the best golfer, clearly. Lee’s second round included two birdies and one bogey. She rolled missed chances on the greens. “I played really smart out there,” she added. “I couldn’t quite capitalize on my birdie opportunities so hopefully they will all drop tomorrow.
“The course is really set up quite fair and the design of the course is actually rewarding when you play to the safe side. I definitely think it’s a very fair, challenging but fun course.” Indeed, Muirfield has generally been deemed a huge success by competitors.
Martin Slumbers, the R&A’s chief executive, has placed emphasis on big-time sport requiring big-time audiences and big-time venues. It also needs big-time leaderboards. Job done on that front: Chun, the Women’s PGA winner this year, leads with seven-time major winner Inbee Park two shots back. Madelene Sagström, last year’s runner-up, and South Africa’s Ashleigh Buhai are sandwiched between them in a tie for seconds.
New Zealand’s Lydia Ko is also in the mix at one under par. Ko added a 70 to day one’s 71 despite a messy double bogey at the 18th. Charley Hull, a renowned pessimist when it comes to links golf, has matched Ko’s aggregate. Ireland’s Leona Maguire, chasing the first of what many believe will be multiple major successes, is two under after a 69. She had aspirations of an even better Friday after an eagle at the par five 5th.
“I birdied 14 and 15 which are probably two of the hardest holes out there, so that was a nice boost heading into those last few holes,” Maguire said. “I was three under for the last five so that’s really good momentum heading into the weekend.
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“I would have liked to have got to four or five under but you have to take your chances where they come. I didn’t take advantage of some holes and then I birdied two of the hardest holes. That’s links golf and you just really have to be patient. I feel like I did that today. It would have been easy to kind of get frustrated and finish a couple over. I dug in for those last few which were nice. I hit it in a few of those bunkers, which are really penal.” Louise Duncan, the young Scot making just her second professional start, slipped back to minus two and alongside Maguire after a 73.
Those to miss the cut included Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist, who won this major in dramatic fashion at Carnoustie 12 months ago, Catriona Matthew and Lexi Thompson. The world No1, Ko Jin-young also crashed out at five over par. A disastrous second round of 81 for Laura Davies comprehensively ended her prospects of lasting more than 36 holes. Nelly Korda squeezed in for the weekend at plus two after a disappointing 74.
Registered nurse Sugan and business development manager Divyashree had their hearts set on breaking the rule for traditional wedding attire, and it was a hit with their guests.
The pair donned green outfits, as opposed to the typical black and white get-up, and shared their glorious big day with beloved friends and family who flew over from Singapore especially.
Their two best friends co-ordinated the big day, and nailed every element from start to finish.
The Sugars wedding Credit: ALVIN GANNY
when and where
The couple hired out Mills Park in Beckenham on June 3, 2022, which was a perfect fit for their extended family reunion.
The Sugars wedding Credit: ALVIN GANNY
Dress
Finding a dress for any bride can have its challenges, but throwing a colored element into the mix made it just that much harder for Divyashree.
But with perseverance, and a lot of research, she found her perfect gown from Sentani Boutique in Queensland.
The Sugars wedding Credit: ALVIN GANNY
honeymoon
After not being able to travel for two years, the couple plan to visit the picturesque Maldives for their honeymoon.
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Republican Rep. Dan Newhouse, who voted to impeach Donald Trump, advanced Friday to the general election following days of vote counts in Washington state’s primary, but fellow Republican Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler saw her advantage against an opponent endorsed by Trump rapidly shrink to within recount territory with thousands of votes left to count.
Both drew interparty challenges due to their vote to impeach Trump following the Jan. 6 attack on the US Capitol.
Newhouse, the four-term incumbent in the 4th Congressional District in central Washington and Democrat Doug White were essentially tied, with each capturing about 25% of the vote on a crowded ballot. White also advanced to the fall ballot. Loren Culp, a Trump-endorsed former small town police chief who lost the 2020 governor’s race to Democrat Jay Inslee, was at about 21%.
In the 3rd Congressional District in southwestern Washington, Democrat Marie Perez was the top vote getter, with 31% of the vote. Herrera Beutler, who had about 24% on Tuesday night, dropped to 22.6% Thursday night, 257 votes ahead of Joe Kent – a former Green Beret endorsed by Trump — who was at 22.5%.
A mandatory recount would occur if the margin of votes between the No. 2 and No. 3 candidates is less than half of 1% and closer than 2,000 votes.
Because Washington is a vote-by-mail state and ballots just need to be in by Election Day, it often takes days to learn final results in close races as ballots arrive at county election offices throughout the week.
An estimated 35,000 votes are left to count, and the three counties where votes remain to be counted — the majority of it in the 3rd District’s largest county, Clark, — won’t update their tallies again until late Monday afternoon. Counties have until Aug. 16 to finish their count and for canvassing boards to certify the results, followed by certification by the secretary of state by Aug. 19.
Under Washington’s primary system, all candidates run on the same ballot, and the top two vote getters in each of Tuesday’s races advance to the November election, regardless of party.
Of the 10 House Republicans who voted for Trump’s impeachment, four opted not to run for reelection. Michigan Rep. Peter Meijer was defeated in a primary Tuesday by Trump-endorsed John Gibbs and Rep. Tom Rice of South Carolina lost to a Trump-endorsed challenger in June. Rep. David Valadao of California — which has an open primary like Washington — survived a primary challenge. Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming is bracing for defeat in her Aug. 16 primary against a Trump-backed rival.
In another key match in the 8th Congressional District, incumbent Democratic Rep. Kim Schrier advanced to the November ballot with more than 47% of the vote, and will face former state attorney general candidate Matt Larkin in November.
With about 17% of the vote, Larkin edged out King County Council Member Reagan Dunn, a former federal prosecutor whose mother once held the seat. Dunn granted the race Thursday. The district is a key target of GOP efforts to retake control of the House.
Rising interest rates might be putting off some people from purchasing a property amid fears they cannot afford the mortgage stress.
But whether you are looking for a house to make your home, or an investment property, there are still some bargains to be found across Australia.
Real Estate Institute of Australia president Hayden Groves told NCA NewsWire markets like Sydney, spurred on by low interest rates and economic stimulus, had experienced rapid price gains of about 30 per cent in 2021, peaking earlier this year.
“Other east coast markets have performed similarly well and are now beginning to moderate as affordability constraints impact,” he said.
“In contrast, the markets of Perth and Darwin, since early 2020, have underperformed comparative to east coast cities.
“They are now enviable, more affordable and continue to grow thanks to migration-led demand, strong economies and tight housing supply.”
Mr Groves observed that in the hyper-inflated markets of Sydney and Hobart, prices were beginning to rationalize due to buyer uncertainty.
“Brisbane’s market remains buoyant thanks to migration pressures fueling demand, whereas Adelaide continues to perform well thanks to the flow-down effects from relocations from higher priced regions across Melbourne,” he said.
“Price rises have already reversed in Melbourne, Sydney and Hobart, while Perth and Adelaide remain strong off the back of more constrained growth.”
Mr Groves said Perth remained the most affordable capital in Australia.
“Average mortgage holders part with around 24 per cent of their wages to service their loans,” he said.
“Compared this to Sydney-siders who currently give up on average 46 per cent of their salary to meet their mortgage payments.
“Median house prices in Perth are about $550,000, less than half that of Sydney’s median prices and well below Hobart, Brisbane and Adelaide.”
Darwin and some major regional city areas in eastern Victoria, north Adelaide and northeast Tasmania also offered good value, Mr Groves added.
He noted interest rates remained low and were coming up from “emergency” levels.
“It is good news that Australian property markets head back to a more balanced environment, although as housing supply remains below underlying demand, property values are likely to retain much of their gains experienced since early 2020,” he said.
If 2022 is the year of the movie star thanks to Tom Cruise’s resurgent form, then Brad Pitt makes for a convincing rival.
Because the largely entertaining action flick Bullet Train rolls along on the power of Pitt’s megawatt charisma – and sometimes on that alone.
The David Leitch-directed action comedy has a lot going for it, an unapologetically rambunctious tone, slick stunts and combat sequences and a colourful, pizzazzy visual aesthetic that pops.
But it’s also messy, swerving from euphoric highs to sloppy lows with its uneven pacing sometimes speeding at the breakneck pace of a, well, bullet train, while other times it feels as if it’s moving about as fast as a sloth on land.
Pitt stars as Ladybug, a relatively mild-mannered assassin who’s only just getting back into the game. Armed with his bucket hat, his winning smile and a heavy dose of skepticism, Ladybug boards a bullet train from Tokyo to Kyoto for his assignments from him, a supposedly simple snatch and grab job.
His target is a briefcase containing lots and lots of money.
But nothing is simple in the guns-for-hire business, especially when Ladybug is convinced he’s the unluckiest person on Earth.
As bad luck – or a vast, overly complicated scheme – would have it, Ladybug isn’t the only assassin on the train. Far from it. This particular train is a convergence point for several killers, all with equally adorable codenames.
There’s The Prince (Joey King), a ruthless killer who uses her appearance of British schoolgirl-in-distress to great effect, Tangerine (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and Lemon (Brian Tyree Henry), two assassin brothers with matching checked coats, The Wolf (Benito A. Martinez Ocasio), an assassin with vengeance on his mind and The Hornet (Zazie Beetz), a poison specialist.
And they all want either the case or someone connected to it, which makes Ladybug’s simple task rather complicated.
That’s Bullet Train‘s main failing – just how convoluted the plot is. It labors to contrive all these complications involving myriad killers, hidden agendas and a boss-level target (Michael Shannon), and it struggles to keep its flow.
Just as you’re pulled into the visceral joys of a stylish, high-octane action sequence, you’re being asked to simultaneously keep track of the increasingly knotty plot. Wait, what’s that guy’s beef with this dude again?
There are some genuinely great “phwaor” moments, including a scene-stealing turn from legendary Japanese actor and martial artist Hiroyuki Sanada, who plays The Elder, another – you guessed it – assassin.
Or the legitimately endearing, continued references to Thomas the Tank Enginewith which Lemon is obsessed, and becomes something of a fun touchpoint in various scenes.
And the fight sequences are creative, imaginative and well-staged – and they punch. But that’s what you would expect from Leitch, who spent many years as Pitt’s stunt double before moving into directing with John Wick, Atomic Blonde and Dead Pool 2.
Given the caliber of Leitch’s history, plus an exciting cast and a riotous vibe, Bullet Train should’ve been a fantastic movie if it had been tighter, or even more brazen with its bloodshed.
It’s certainly not John Wick on a train. If it had been, it would’ve been a less shambolic experience.
“At the end of a match like that, when it’s that close, you feel like, ‘Yeeeeeaaah!’ Donna said. “But my heart just sunk. I’m happy we won but gutted we’re the ones who put them out of the tournament. It doesn’t feel good. I hope it never happens again.”
Squash at this pace isn’t for the faint-hearted. Certainly not for the claustrophobic. As London broadsheet The Times headlined a story after a particularly fiery match at Glasgow in 2014: “Fear and Loathing in Glass Cages.”
This match was tinged with controversy, just as Donna’s women’s double fixture with Rachel Grinham had been earlier in the day when they lost on the final point of the third set when the referee didn’t award a controversial let call.
On that occasion, Grinham threw her racquet into the glass background and stormed off devastated.
Against her husband, she got the rub of the green in the final points of the third set.
Doubles squash is a funny beast. It’s only played every four years at Commonwealth Games with the court widened and the tin at the front lowered.
Players clamor all over each other and the interpretation of what constitutes a “let” (when the point is replayed) and a “stroke” (when a point is awarded) after a player gets in the way of the ball they’ve just struck is confusing.
“They do give some shocking decisions,” Donna said. “But I’ve had just as many go against me. I don’t think the last no-let they got was a no-let, but Rachael and I lost 11-10 on a no-let that should never have been a no-let this morning. We are briefed on what it should be, but it’s a mixed bag. The best we could do is play the ball as much as we could, so we couldn’t let the refs a chance to get involved.”
Either way, it doesn’t matter now. Donna didn’t just win the match but also a bet: Greg must cook dinner for the couple for the next month.
“I don’t know if I want him to make dinner,” she said with a laugh. “I should’ve bet that if I win he has to shave off his mullet and mustache from him. That would’ve felt good. I might have to put up with him being in a terrible mood for a while.
“To be fair to him, after I had a tough loss this morning, he was still there for me. He’s still the main person that’s there for me, and I’m there for him. We’re not signing the divorce papers after today. We’re still all right.”
wet and wild
youve heard of Bondi Rescue, but what about Canal Rescue?
Thankfully for the good people of Birmingham, and the legions of sports fans who have converged on this city in recent days, there are water rescue types to save anyone who happens to fall in the 35 miles or so of canals in this fair city.
None of the canals have fences to stop people staggering into the water.
Just by chance, your humble correspondent happened to be drinking a shandy at a pub along one of the canals on Friday afternoon when we spotted the “water rescue” boat flying past.
We shouted at them to come back and tell us how many people they must pull out of the water.
New Zealand beach volleyball players try to fish their ball out of a Birmingham canal during a photoshoot.Credit:AP
“About one or two every Saturday night,” one canal lifesaver told us. “More since the Games started because a lot of people seem to have alcohol in their system.”
Straight Outta Brumpton is determined to not become a statistic on this assignment. That said, we have three days to go.
It’s just not cricket
There’s a lot of debate about which sports should be included in the program at the 2026 Commonwealth Games when they are held in regional Victoria.
There are serious discussions under way about a men’s competition in the Twenty20 cricket, after women’s teams were included at this Games.
Australia’s cricketers celebrate during their win over Pakistan at Edgbaston this week.Credit:Getty
Personally, I think we have enough cricket played throughout the year. It shouldn’t be included at all. But we have some alternative suggestions: snooker, darts, poker, poker machines, five-leg multies, greyhound racing, caber toss, Scotch egg eating, bagging our sports editor.
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THE QUOTE
“Um, yeah. I don’t know what to say. I’m really…yeah.” – England’s 17-year-old Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix‘s giggling reaction after winning gold in the women’s diving 10m platform when asked by the BBC how she felt.
THUMBS UP George Miller – the 75-year-old Scottish for lawn bowler, not the Academy Award-winning director of Mad Max – became the oldest Commonwealth Games gold medalist in history when he claimed the mixed pairs B2/B3 title.
THUMBS DOWN
Andrew Parsons, the president of the International Paralympic Committee, has categorically ruled out any notion of the Para program being merged with the program at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Boo! The integration of the two has been a real winner here in Brum.
Get all the latest news from the Birmingham Commonwealth Gameshere. We’ll be live blogging the action from 4pm-10am daily.