England may theoretically nonetheless draw this two-Check collection however on a chilly evening on the backside of the South Island they had been reminded of one among rugby’s oldest truths. If you wish to beat New Zealand on Kiwi soil it’s essential to be at your best possible and an incapacity to take your alternatives is invariably going to be deadly.

Whereas England had been gallant, dedicated and ceaselessly enthusiastic, they can even look again and know this was a recreation they allowed to slide away. In a decent contest, three missed kicks from Marcus Smith, one among them from nearly bang in entrance of the posts, permitted New Zealand simply sufficient wriggle room to safe a slim victory that ensures the Hillary Defend will keep within the southern hemisphere.

It was shut sufficient, although, with England nonetheless urgent ahead after the hooter had sounded. In the long run, two second-half penalties from Damian McKenzie had been sufficient to make sure a profitable All Black relaunch underneath their new head coach, Scott “Razor” Robertson. If his facet can carry on profitable tight video games we shall be seeing loads of “Razor sharp” headlines within the subsequent few months.

England shall be kicking themselves. This was so almost the third Check win they’ve managed in New Zealand, the final one having materialised 21 years in the past. This felt like their large likelihood. The All Blacks haven’t misplaced in Auckland since 1994 and placing them on their backsides shall be a good harder proposition subsequent Saturday than it was right here.

Between every now and then, they can even want to deal with one or two apparent deficiencies, with New Zealand’s counter-ruck and breakdown effectivity a minimize above. England’s scrum additionally had a clumsy time and, for all his sprint and power, Smith’s goalkicking was not the one side of his recreation that fell in need of the lofty requirements he aspires to succeed in. The bench couldn’t provide the additional last-quarter increase that may make all of the distinction at this stage.

So close to and but thus far. England have been right here earlier than, not least in final October’s World Cup semi-final in opposition to South Africa, and the event of this remodelled facet nonetheless has a solution to go. Right here, having taken a deliberate collective step ahead to problem the haka earlier than kick-off, the abiding reminiscence shall be New Zealand’s superior skill to take their half-chances and the blunt fact that England left too many factors on the market. Maro Itoje, Ben Earl and George Furbank, all tirelessly dedicated, had been amongst those that deserved higher.

The “what may need been” theme was significantly sturdy within the opening quarter, with Smith lacking his first penalty and a knock-on within the buildup denying England a attainable strive for Immanuel Feyi-Waboso. As an alternative, it was the All Blacks who scored the primary factors, with a cross-kick by McKenzie discovering Sevu Reece who rode Tommy Freeman’s sort out to attain.

With little respite on the scrums there was loads of pink rose aid, subsequently, when Itoje crashed over to reward a interval of close-range stress and Smith’s conversion put his facet briefly in entrance. Joe Marler, although, limped away earlier than the tip of the primary quarter with a foot damage, leaving the youthful Fin Baxter to trot on for essentially the most difficult of Check debuts.

New Zealand are too savvy a rugby nation to not recognise an excellent time to strike and, positive sufficient, all it took was one missed midfield sort out to provide a gleeful Ardie Savea the possibility to complete in the correct nook. England’s blitz defensive system will be extremely efficient at lowering the opposition’s time and area however it will also be a high-risk technique.

Regardless of the guests’ occasional furry moments, there was nothing to separate the groups at half-time. A Smith penalty after the hooter, after Scott Barrett had been pinged for not releasing on the ground, dragged his facet again stage at 10-10 and gave the England teaching employees the possibility to take a seat their gamers down and emphasise the chance nonetheless open to them.

The messages had the specified impact. Whereas Smith did waste a evident penalty alternative from straight in entrance of the posts, England had been instantly trying extra harmful with ball in hand. After a few ahead surges had been rebuffed, the ball was moved left to the unmarked Feyi-Waboso whose strive capped one other good efficiency.

The stakes, already excessive, rose by one other couple of notches. The noise within the indoor stadium, with its distinctive polytunnel-style roof, additionally elevated when McKenzie nailed a well-struck angled penalty to tug the rating again to 15-13.

All Black followers are usually not the loudest within the sport – placing the “din” in Dunedin doesn’t come solely naturally – however they know an more and more tense match once they see one.

Even when one other, less complicated McKenzie penalty put the hosts again in entrance once more it was nonetheless anybody’s recreation. However by now England had modified each half-backs and their hopes had been in more and more callow arms. Regardless of being handed a attainable lifeline when McKenzie was timed out as he tried to take in a couple of further seconds as he lined up a possible match-clinching penalty, it was too little too late. Not for the primary time on this marathon season there was to be no fairytale ending.

Robust-guy actor Danny Trejo acquired into some real-life fisticuffs throughout a July 4 parade after a spectator threw a water balloon on the procession, based on a number of media stories.

Trejo, 80, was among the many individuals within the Sunland-Tujunga Independence Day Parade on Thursday morning, whose theme was “The Magic of Sunland-Tujunga.”

The parade started round 10 a.m., heading west on Foothill Boulevard from Mt. Gleason Avenue to Sunland Boulevard.

Someplace alongside the best way somebody hurled a water balloon at one of many automobiles within the procession, based on the leisure web site TMZ. Trejo then left his automobile to go after the perpetrator, based on the web site.In line with Fox11, Trejo was hit by a second water balloon, threw punches and was knocked to the bottom at one level.

“He was extra like confronting. It wasn’t like he went there to hit someone,” witness Arnie Abramiam instructed the station. “However then I believe as soon as he acquired hit, he was throwing punches.”

Video posted on the location confirmed a short confrontation and Trejo being held again by a couple of parade-goers, however police instructed TMZ that nobody was arrested.

Trejo is thought for his position as gadget inventor Isador “Machete” Cortez in 4 “Spy Children” movies and a special model of the character in “Machete” and “Machete Kills.” He’s the proprietor of eight eating places, together with Trejo’s Tacos and Trejo’s Cantina.

The actor, who was born in Los Angeles, has been open about his troubled youth, which included a number of stays in juvenile corridor and later state prisons, earlier than cleansing himself up and embarking on a profitable present businesscareer.

Trejo has not commented on Thursday’s incident.

So, it’s official: the polls are in, and the Labour Occasion has triumphed within the 2024 U.Ok. Normal Election. Keir Starmer will govern the nation with a substantial majority, shifting into Downing Avenue from his north London townhouse imminently, alongside his spouse Victoria Starmer. However who’s the brand new prime minister’s spouse and Britain’s new “first woman”?

Victoria, 51, is a former solicitor and now an NHS occupational therapist. She first met Keir once they have been each attorneys; Keir rang Victoria’s workplace in regards to the accuracy of some paperwork, and earlier than he hung up, he overheard Victoria exclaim: “Who the fuck does he suppose he’s?” It was, he informed British Vogue in his March 2024 profile, “completely basic Vic.” The pair would go on to marry on the Fennes Property in Essex in 2007, and have two youngsters: a 16-year-old son and a 13-year-old daughter.

Victoria Alexander, as she was then identified, grew up within the Gospel Oak space of London, the daughter of an economics lecturer father and a group physician mom. After attending the unbiased Channing Faculty, she studied legislation and sociology on the College of Cardiff within the ’90s. She first dipped her toes into politics when she determined to run for president of Cardiff’s Pupil Union; she gained “in a landslide,” receiving almost twice as many votes as her closest competitor. She then volunteered for Tony Blair’s marketing campaign, earlier than qualifying as a solicitor and dealing for a Soho agency specializing in road crime.

The opposite day I used to be pondering again to the tumultuousness of the Boris Johnson premiership and the way unsettling it was. Johnson had stated that he preferred chaos, as a result of then everybody needed to look to him for management. But it surely appeared like his spouse, Carrie, was on board with the chaos, too.

Bear in mind the untrained rescue pet, the infants born in fast succession, the Princess Nut-Nut accusations, the botched residence renovations, the limitless friction with advisers like Steve Hilton and Dominic Cummings. I’m allergic to chaos, so naturally all this made me seize up inside every time I thought of what day-to-day life should have been like.

As a result of whereas it clearly issues who the prime minister is, it additionally issues who they’re married to. Denis Thatcher was a complete brick. Samantha Cameron reportedly made Dave do the dishes and drove his choice to stop (a call made, it’s claimed, earlier than Brexit). Cherie Blair couldn’t disguise how a lot she hated the press. Philip Might helped his spouse resolve to name a disastrous election. We by no means acquired time to know Mr Liz Truss, no matter his title was.

And whereas I’ve acquired no concept what sort of prime minister Keir Starmer goes to be, I do know for a indisputable fact that his spouse, Victoria, goes to be an ace PM’s spouse. And can deliver a dose of north London cool to No 10.

I first met Victoria in about 2015 as a result of we each dwell in Tufnell Park in north London. It’s typically described as “leafy”, and yeah, positive, there are some timber with leaves on them. However please don’t confuse us with Dartmouth Park. That may be a few streets away however a special world, with its multi-million pound homes, finished as much as the nines. Native residents embrace Benedict Cumberbatch, Ed Miliband and Camden City Brewery founder Jasper Cuppaidge. Now that actually is leafy. It’s not solely leafy, it’s hushed, with large streets main on to Hampstead Heath and good shiny automobiles.

Tufnell Park, then again, is significantly extra tough and will get rougher as you lurch in direction of Kentish City. We’ve acquired overflowing bins, fly-tipping, graffiti and a wholesome American XL Bully inhabitants, who appear neither muzzled nor neutered. And, belief me, we live in paradise instances in comparison with what the realm was like after I moved in in 2008.

The row of retailers on the prime of my avenue was a no-go zone. I used to be as soon as strolling down Ospringe Street with my children and two policemen chased a person out of a home in broad daylight, wrestled him to the bottom and actually stated the phrases: “You’re nicked.”

The youngest Starmer youngster is identical age as my eldest and so they attended ballet classes collectively after they have been small. Victoria proposed an initiative the place a small group of us took it in turns to herald a thermos of espresso, which we might drink and natter on for the 45 minutes that the lesson lasted.

After everybody grew out of ballet, Victoria’s every day commute to the Royal Free Hospital took her previous my home and I’d see her doing the not inconsiderable stroll to South Finish Inexperienced, come rain or shine. Our joke – probably not very humorous – was that every time I noticed her, she was at all times on the cellphone. And if not on the cellphone, she stopped to speak to anybody who wished to speak to her, and everybody wished to speak to her as a result of everybody preferred her. That might drive me bonkers, I’d take to carrying a hat and darkish glasses, however it by no means appeared to faze her. She was there for it, at all times accessible and very diplomatic.

I’m speaking prior to now tense, after all, as a result of Victoria – Vicky or Vic – has gone now, devoured up entire by Westminster. The household couldn’t keep of their residence after all, now they’re the primary household, safety makes that unimaginable.

After I contemplate being taken away from my strolling commute, away from the bins and leaves (similar to they’re), of Tufnell Park I really feel panicky and unhappy. I don’t envy Vicky’s new lifetime of shut safety officers (except they’re good-looking), governmental buildings and “residing above the store”. It’s most likely mind-blowing and hilarious for a couple of week after which a sequence of diminishing returns. The perma-demonstrations on the Downing Road gates would get previous fairly shortly.

I think about she’s going to look to prime ministerial spouses who’ve trodden this highway earlier than: like Samantha Cameron – the proper embodiment of a sure Conservative demographic, along with her tiny rebellious tattoo, holidays to Ibiza, a whiff of aristocracy and the style model. I met her a couple of times and was struck by how robust, organised and no-nonsense she is, alongside the glamour. My enduring thought was that she could be useful in an emergency. When you crash-landed within the Borneo jungle, she wouldn’t be a useless weight.

Although the politics are totally different, I’m positive, Victoria has the identical vitality – and I imply that as a praise.

Victoria is the most effective of north London. She walks in all weathers, is cheerful and relaxed, is dedicated to public service already in her work for the NHS and isn’t above placing on a pleasant frock if the scenario requires it. (I’m positive she’d be nice within the jungle, too.)

As a citizen of this nation, I’m so glad that Victoria is repping us. She gained’t do something mad, or let Keir do something mad. She’ll be good to all of the civil servants and if she will get a canine she’ll make sure that it’s home educated. She will certainly not let the bins overflow. This stuff matter! Making a steady setting during which everybody can flourish is a activity that so usually falls to ladies. The work goes largely unsung, however it’s arguably crucial work of all.

So good luck, Vicky. We’ll all miss you within the mornings. Come and see us quickly for a thermos of espresso and produce your CPO. However provided that he’s good-looking.

DeMar DeRozan continues to be the ultimate massive prize left on the free agent market.

Extra information: High 5 NBA Free Brokers Nonetheless Obtainable

DeRozan, 34, is a six-time All-Star and three-time All-NBA Crew honoree who averaged 24 factors, 4.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.1 steals throughout 37.8 minutes per recreation final season with the Chicago Bulls.

DeRozan has been linked to a number of contenders together with the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Warmth, however on Friday, a brand new favourite has emerged within the sweepstakes for the star free agent. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski stated on SportsCenter on Friday that the Sacramento Kings are the “group to observe” within the DeRozan sweepstakes.

“(The Kings and Bulls) have been speaking this week,” Wojnarowski stated. “They’re gonna want a 3rd group concerned in a sign-and-trade. Chicago, whereas they definitely are keen to facilitate serving to DeMar DeRozan get greater than the mid-level exception on a group that does not have cap house, they do not wish to take again contracts, or definitely important contracts. They’re going to want a 3rd group to route an even bigger wage to, however these conversations proceed.”

The Kings are coming off a 2023-24 season through which they went 46-36, however fell simply wanting a postseason look after dropping to the New Orleans Pelicans within the remaining recreation of the NBA Play-In Event. In 2022-23, the Kings had been in a position to attain the postseason after going 48-34 and ending because the West’s No. 3 seed, however misplaced within the first spherical to the Golden State Warriors.

The Kings are led by star level guard De’Aaron Fox and versatile massive man Domantas Sabonis, and have an excellent core of gamers that features Keegan Murray, Harrison Barnes, and Malik Monk, who agreed to an enormous four-year, $78 million extension earlier in free company.

Sacramento did transfer off of backup level guard Davion Mitchell forward of this yr’s draft, the place they chose his presumed substitute in windfall guard Devin Carter.

DeRozan would slide into the beginning lineup as a dominant playmaker and scorer, particularly within the clutch. DeRozan completed second in Clutch Participant of the 12 months voting this previous season behind Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry. Fox completed twelfth after profitable the award in 2022-23.

DeRozan and Fox would make up the perfect clutch duo within the league, and will catapult the Kings up the Western Convention standings.

Since Chicago is seeking to assist DeRozan earn more money with a sign-and-trade, the Kings will possible have to contain a 3rd group to tackle outgoing wage in any potential deal. As for the Bulls, they might possible obtain some type of draft compensation for dropping DeRozan.

Lee Anderson has been re-elected as Ashfield MP after defecting from Conservative to Reform.

It’s the primary time Reform UK has ever had an elected MP and comes after the previous Tory beat Labour’s Rhea Keehn into second.

Ashfield Impartial candidate Cllr Jason Zadrozny, who can also be chief of Ashfield District Council, completed in third place.

Turnout was 58 per cent, the bottom within the constituency since 2005.

Mr Anderson mentioned he desires his “nation again” after he was declared the winner, and promised Ashfield would play a component in that.

•  Election End result: Rushcliffe turns Labour after 50 years of Conservative MPs

Nevertheless, different candidates expressed concern about “the politics of hate and division.”

It was a second of defeat for Labour on an evening which noticed them obtain an anticipated landslide victory and success throughout Nottinghamshire.

Mr Anderson was elected because the Pink Wall’s seat’s first Conservative in many years in 2019, however was kicked out of the celebration earlier this yr over feedback about London Mayor Sadiq Khan.

He joined Nigel Farage’s Reform UK Celebration, changing into its first MP.

His majority of round 5,500 stays nearly unchanged from his 2019 election win.

Talking after his victory, he mentioned: “I received right here 4 years in the past as a Conservative candidate. The folks of Ashfield backed me, and so they’ve now backed me as a Reform.

“I mentioned a couple of weeks in the past that there can be a looking on election evening. Ashfield, which is the capital of frequent sense, goes to have a large say in how this nation is formed sooner or later.”

Mr Anderson refused to talk to the media for a number of minutes after his victory as he waited for a stay look on GB Information, the place he hosts a present however finally gave up.

Counting at Kirkby Leisure Centre proceeded unexpectedly rapidly as a result of decrease turnout.

Labour candidate Rhea Keehn mentioned: “There’s a priority that the politics of hate and division are on the rise.

“My workforce have executed an outstanding job in pushing again in opposition to the rise of the far proper and Reform.”

Jason Zadrozny got here second to Mr Anderson in 2019 however was pushed again into third.

“Labour have been in a position to leapfrog me as folks see them as a automobile for change, however between me and Lee, there’s a large anti-establishment vote in Ashfield,” he mentioned.

He insisted that he would work with the re-elected MP in his day job as Ashfield District Council chief.

“We could have totally different opinions on a variety of issues however he does care about Ashfield.

“We’ll work collectively the place we now have frequent floor. The partnership with the council remains to be there.”

Conservative Debbie Solomon fell was a distant fourth, regardless of the celebration profitable the seat in 2019.

Alexander Coates of the Inexperienced celebration was in fifth, and Liberal Democrat Daniel Holmes in sixth.

Full outcomes:

Lee Anderson (Reform): 17,062

Rhea Keehn (Lab): 11,553

Jason Zadrozny (Ash Ind): 6,276

Debbie Soloman (Con): 3,271

Alexander Coates (Inexperienced): 1,100

Daniel Holmes (Lib Dem): 619

President Joe Biden, in an unique interview with ABC Information anchor George Stephanopoulos, acknowledged final week’s debate was a “dangerous episode” however pushed again strongly in opposition to broader questions on his age and psychological health.

Stephanopoulos, over the course of twenty-two minutes, pressed Biden repeatedly not solely on his debate efficiency in opposition to Donald Trump but in addition on stories that his lapses have turn into more and more widespread these previous few months — and on what he could be prepared to do to reassure the American individuals.

“Are you an identical man right this moment that you simply have been whenever you took workplace three-and-a-half years in the past?” Stephanopoulos requested.

“By way of successes, sure,” Biden responded. “I additionally was the man who put collectively a peace plan for the Center East that could be comin’ to fruition. I used to be additionally the man that expanded NATO. I used to be additionally the man that grew the economic system. All the person issues that have been achieved have been concepts I had or I fulfilled. I moved on.”

“Do you dispute that there have been extra lapses, particularly within the final a number of months?” Stephanopoulos requested.

“Can I run the 100 in 10 flat? No. However I am nonetheless in good condition,” Biden mentioned.

Stephanopoulos adopted up, asking, “Are you extra frail?”

“No,” Biden mentioned, flatly.

Biden’s sit-down with ABC Information is his first tv interview for the reason that June 27 debate. ABC Information reached out to Trump to supply him an equal interview alternative, however his crew declined.

The interview is a part of a push from the White Home and the marketing campaign to recalibrate after Biden’s halting debate efficiency left some Democrats panicked about his skill to hold out a grueling reelection marketing campaign and a second time period.

Looking forward to a attainable second time period, Stephanopoulos mentioned the query on the minds of many People is whether or not Biden would be capable to serve successfully. If reelected, Biden could be 86 on the finish of a second time period.

“Do you have got the psychological and bodily capability to do it for one more 4 years?” Stephanopoulos requested.

“I imagine so. I would not be runnin’ if I did not assume I did,” Biden mentioned. “Look, I am runnin’ once more as a result of I feel I perceive greatest what must be achieved to take this nation to a totally new new degree. We’re on our means. We’re on our means. And, look. The choice not too long ago made by the Supreme Court docket on immunity, you already know, the subsequent President of america, it isn’t nearly whether or not she or he is aware of what they’re doin’.

“It is– it’s– it is not– not a few con– a conglomerate of individuals making selections,” Biden continued. “It is in regards to the character of the president. The character of the president’s gonna decide whether or not or not this Structure is employed the suitable means.”

Stephanopoulos then pressed him, asking if in on a private degree, Biden was being sincere with himself about his psychological and bodily skill to steer for 4 extra years.

“Sure, I’m, as a result of, George, the very last thing I wish to do shouldn’t be be capable to meet that,” Biden mentioned. “I feel, as a few of senior economists and senior international coverage specialists say, if I cease now, I am going down in historical past as a fairly profitable president. Nobody thought I might get achieved what we obtained achieved.”

Biden declined to comply with have an unbiased medical analysis that included cognitive checks and share the outcomes with the general public.

Biden additionally repeatedly dismissed latest ballot numbers that present him behind Trump each within the common election and in particular swing states, in addition to considerations voiced by some Democrats that staying within the race shouldn’t be within the curiosity of the get together or the nation.

“When you could be satisfied that you simply can not defeat Donald Trump, will you stand down?” Stephanopoulos requested.

“It is determined by — on if the Lord Almighty comes down and tells me that, I’d try this,” Biden mentioned.

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‘Essential points’

Evaluation: Brendan Hughes – BBC Information NI political reporter

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‘Strategic planning’

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Jess Phillips was heckled by pro-Palestine activists after narrowly defeating a far-left candidate who has accused Labour of backing Israeli “genocide”.

The re-elected MP for Birmingham Yardley beat Staff Celebration candidate Jody McIntyre by simply 700 votes on Thursday night time.

After being declared the winner, Phillips’s try to provide a victory speech was interrupted by chants of “free Palestine”.

She advised the viewers on the rely: “I see we’re going to proceed with the category we had through the marketing campaign.”

The Labour MP continued: “I’ll stick with it with my speech. I perceive {that a} robust lady standing as much as you is met with such reticance.”

Confronted by extra chanting, she requested officers to throw these heckling her out of the venue. 

The marketing campaign, Phillips stated, was the “worst election I’ve ever stood in”.

“I like that my seat was a marginal seat, I feel marginal seats make higher members of Parliament,” she stated.

A “good” group activist who had joined her to marketing campaign was filmed on the road and had her tyres slashed, Phillips claimed, whereas a lady canvassing on her personal was screamed at by an older man.

She wouldn’t enable the household of Jo Cox MP, who was killed by a far proper extremist through the Brexit marketing campaign, to marketing campaign along with her due to the “aggressive” temper.

Phillips concluded: “I didn’t carry my kids right here tonight, as a result of I knew this could occur and so they deserve higher.”

Phillips gained 11,275 votes whereas McIntyre recieved 10,582.

Talking to Muslim information web site 5Pillars through the marketing campaign, McIntyre stated Labour would lose seats in Birmingham “god keen”.

“Sure Palestine is a giant challenge… however this isn’t the one challenge we’re campaigning on and it’s not the one motive we’ve obtained the overwhelming quantity of help that we’ve obtained.”

Labour’s place on Gaza is “abhorrent, disgusting, if not prison,” he added.

Many Muslim voters supporting his marketing campaign would by no means return to supporting the social gathering, McIntyre claimed.

“We name them the genocide social gathering, we name them the social gathering of injustice and corruption,” he added.

In a WhatsApp message revealed by LBC, he was in the meantime revealed to have stated: “I actually suppose the trans group are a hazard to society… however we will have completely different views.”