ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Australia beat England

 

**ICC Champions Trophy Group B, Lahore**

**England 351-8 (50 overs):** Duckett 165, Root 68; Dwarshuis 3-66  

**Australia 356-5 (47.3 overs):** Inglis 120*, Carey 69; Rashid 1-47  

**Australia won by five wickets**

 Scorecard Table :

England faced a tough start to their Champions Trophy campaign, suffering a significant defeat as Australia achieved an epic chase of 352 in Lahore, despite Ben Duckett’s impressive 165.

Duckett’s performance helped England reach 351-8, the highest score in Champions Trophy history. However, Josh Inglis delivered a stunning 120 not out off 86 balls, leading Australia to victory with five wickets in hand and 15 balls remaining.

This marked the highest score that England has ever failed to defend in One Day Internationals, made even tougher by their previous dominance when they had Australia at 136-4 at one point.

Inglis, who grew up in Yorkshire, formed a crucial 146-run partnership with Alex Carey, who scored 69 after being dropped on 49. Despite needing 70 runs from 51 balls, Inglis took control, smashing six sixes, including a decisive shot that highlighted the highest successful chase in a global 50-over tournament.

England’s chances of advancing are now slim, and they must secure victories in their final two group-stage matches against Afghanistan on Wednesday and South Africa next Saturday to keep their hopes alive for a semi-final spot.

If England’s confidence was already shaky due to their recent form, which included four consecutive series defeats and losses in 10 of their last 14 ODIs, this defeat will feel like a significant blow.

Ben Duckett batted in the disciplined manner that many had hoped for from the team, but Josh Inglis capitalized on England’s inability to build on that foundation and secure a larger total.

Although the dew made batting easier under the lights, England didn't help their cause. Brydon Carse was expensive, conceding 69 runs in seven overs, highlighting the team’s limited bowling options. Jofra Archer also made a costly mistake by dropping a straightforward catch to dismiss Carey when 104 runs were still needed from 73 balls, keeping the match in the balance. Archer's error was further magnified when he bowled the next over and was taken for consecutive boundaries.

Later, although Archer managed to have Glenn Maxwell, who finished with 32 not out off 15 balls, caught out, the result was overturned due to a waist-high no-ball. By that stage, with only 11 runs required, the game was effectively settled.

England will now remain in Lahore for their upcoming match against Afghanistan on Wednesday, who suffered a heavy loss to South Africa on Friday. The loser of this match will likely face elimination from the tournament.

Pope Francis is in critical condition.

 

ROME — Pope Francis is in critical condition as of Saturday, following a severe asthma-related respiratory crisis that necessitated high levels of oxygen, according to the Vatican.

The 88-year-old pontiff has been hospitalized for a week due to a complicated lung infection and has also received blood transfusions after tests revealed an anemia-related condition, the Vatican reported in a recent update.

“The Holy Father remains alert and spent the day in an armchair, although he is experiencing more pain than yesterday. Currently, the prognosis is reserved,” the statement indicated.

Doctors have stated that Pope Francis is fighting pneumonia and a complex respiratory infection, which remains unstable and will likely keep him hospitalized for at least another week.

Meanwhile, the Vatican continued its Holy Year celebrations on Saturday without the pope.

In a brief update earlier on Saturday, it was noted that Francis slept well overnight. However, doctors have cautioned that the main risk for him is the potential onset of sepsis, a severe blood infection that can arise as a complication of pneumonia. As of Friday, there were no signs of sepsis, and Francis was responding positively to the various medications prescribed, according to his medical team’s first detailed update on his condition.

“He is not out of danger,” stated his personal physician, Dr. Luigi Carbone. “Like all fragile patients, they are always on a delicate balance: it takes very little for things to tip.”

Francis, who has a chronic lung condition, was admitted to Gemelli hospital on February 14 after his bronchitis worsened over the course of a week. Initially diagnosed with a complex viral, bacterial, and fungal respiratory infection, he subsequently developed pneumonia in both lungs. The treatment plan includes "absolute rest," a combination of cortisone and antibiotics, and supplemental oxygen as needed.

Dr. Luigi Carbone, who, along with Francis' personal nurse Massimiliano Strappetti, coordinated care for the pope at the Vatican, admitted that he insisted on remaining at the Vatican to work despite being unwell due to "institutional and private commitments." Before his hospitalization, Francis was treated by a cardiologist and an infectious disease specialist in addition to his personal medical team.

Dr. Sergio Alfieri, head of medicine and surgery at Rome's Gemelli hospital, warned that the greatest risk for Francis is that some of the germs in his respiratory system could enter his bloodstream, leading to sepsis, which can cause organ failure and death. 

“Sepsis, given his respiratory issues and age, would be extremely difficult to overcome,” Alfieri stated during a news conference at Gemelli on Friday. “As the English say, ‘knock on wood,’ and we say, ‘touch iron.’ Everyone can touch what they wish,” he added, tapping the microphone. “But this is the real risk: that these germs could enter the bloodstream.”

“He is aware of the danger,” Alfieri continued, “and he asked us to communicate that.”

Meanwhile, deacons gathered at the Vatican for their special Jubilee weekend. Francis fell ill at the beginning of the Vatican's Holy Year, a celebration of Catholicism that occurs once every quarter-century. This weekend, he was scheduled to celebrate the deacon ministry, which precedes ordination to the priesthood.

In his absence, the Holy Year organizer will lead Sunday’s Mass, according to the Vatican. For the second consecutive weekend, Francis is expected to miss his traditional Sunday noon blessing, which he could have delivered from Gemelli if he were well enough.

“Even though he’s not physically here, we know he’s with us,” said Luis Arnaldo Lopez Quirindongo, a deacon from Ponce, Puerto Rico, who attended the Jubilee celebration on Saturday. “He’s recovering, but he’s in our hearts, accompanying us because our prayers and his are intertwined.”

Doctors have indicated that Pope Francis' recovery will take time, and he will need to manage his chronic respiratory issues once he returns to the Vatican.

Musk’s hand gesture at Trump’s inauguration festivities sparks controversy.

 

**WASHINGTON, Jan 20 ** - During a celebration for President Donald Trump's inauguration, billionaire Elon Musk's hand gesture while speaking drew online comparisons to a Nazi salute. However, a prominent antisemitism tracker suggested it appeared to be a moment of enthusiasm instead. Musk shrugged off the criticism, calling it a "tired" attack. He took the stage at Capital One Arena in Washington to roaring cheers, pumping his arms and exclaiming, "Yesssss."

"This was no ordinary victory; it was a pivotal moment in the course of human civilization," he declared. "This one truly mattered. Thank you for making it happen! Thank you." Biting his bottom lip, he thumped his right hand over his heart with fingers spread wide, then extended his right arm upward, palm down and fingers together. He then turned to the crowd behind him, repeating the same hand gesture.

"My heart goes out to you. It is because of you that the future of civilization is secure," he said as he completed the gesture. The gestures were soon met with intense scrutiny online. "Did Elon Musk just give a Sieg Heil at Trump's inauguration?"

The Anti-Defamation League, which monitors antisemitism, had a different perspective. "It appears that @elonmusk made an awkward gesture out of enthusiasm, not a Nazi salute. However, we understand that tensions are high," they posted on Monday.

In Germany, Charlotte Knobloch, president of the Jewish community in Munich and Upper Bavaria, called the gesture "highly irritating." She added, "Far more concerning are Elon Musk's political stances, his disruptive interference in the German parliamentary election campaign, and his support for a party with anti-democratic goals, which should not be underestimated." Musk has backed the far-right Alternative for Germany , an anti-immigration, anti-Islamic party classified as right-wing extremist by German security agencies, and he recently hosted a broadcast with the party's leader on his social media platform.

Musk responded on X, stating, "Frankly, they need better dirty tricks. The 'everyone is Hitler' attack is so tired," in reference to the criticism. Shortly after his speech, he shared a Fox News video clip that highlighted his speech but cut away when he made the gesture in front of the cameras, captioning it, "The future is so exciting."

Trump promises to "act with historic speed" following a presidential inauguration that represents his redemption.

Donald Trump will be inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States, inside the U.S. Capitol.

Two and a half months after decisively winning the election against Vice President Harris, the president-elect returns to office, marking a significant moment of reinvention and redemption following his departure from the White House four years earlier.

"We put America first, and it all starts tomorrow," Trump told thousands of supporters packed into Washington, D.C.'s Capitol One Arena during his inauguration eve rally. "We begin a brand-new day of American strength, prosperity, dignity, and pride."

President Biden, Vice President Harris, former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton, along with members of Congress from both parties, foreign dignitaries, and tech moguls like Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Jeff Bezos—among the world's wealthiest individuals—will gather in the U.S. Capitol's Rotunda for Trump's inauguration. This event will be held indoors for the first time in four decades due to an arctic blast affecting much of the nation.

Following Trump's inaugural address, a series of fast-paced events will take place, starting with a formal farewell for Biden and Harris as they exit the Capitol. Shortly after, members of Congress will witness Trump and JD Vance, the new vice president, participate in a signing ceremony, followed by an inaugural lunch and a review of the troops.

### TRUMP PLEDGES 'BIGGEST FIRST WEEK' IN PRESIDENTIAL HISTORY

Trump will return to Washington, D.C.'s downtown arena for a shortened parade moved indoors due to the frigid weather, where thousands of supporters will gather. Following this, the new president will head to the White House for an Oval Office ceremony before attending the traditional inaugural balls in the evening.

Trump is set to hit the ground running, planning to sign over 200 executive actions on his first day in office, as reported by Fox News Digital on Sunday.

"I will act with historic speed and strength to address every crisis facing our country," Trump promised during his inauguration eve rally. "You'll see executive orders that will make you very happy—many of them. We need to put our country on the right path."

Trump's initial policy priorities will center on the key issues he emphasized during his presidential campaign, such as border security, energy, inflation reduction, and the elimination of DEI programs within the federal government.

A senior administration official, who is familiar with the executive actions and authorized to speak on the matter, informed Fox News Digital's Brooke Singman that on his first day, Trump plans to end the "catch and release" policy for illegal immigrants, pause all offshore wind leases, terminate the electric vehicle mandate, abolish the Green New Deal, withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord, and take significant steps to assert presidential control over the federal bureaucracy.

"By sunset tomorrow, the invasion of our borders will stop, and all illegal border trespassers will, in one way or another, be on their way back home," Trump promised.

He also stated, "We will put an end to the Biden war on American energy and unleash our resources to swiftly combat inflation, achieving the lowest energy and electricity costs in the world."

### HOW TRUMP WILL BE SWORN IN AT HIS INAUGURATION

Monday's inauguration is a stark contrast to President Biden's inauguration four years ago, which took place two weeks after Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol in a failed attempt to halt the congressional certification of Biden's 2020 election victory.

Trump, who contested the election results, declined to attend the inauguration or recognize Biden's victory.

Four years ago, Trump departed Washington in a significantly weakened position, with widespread anger from the nation—including many Republicans—over the Capitol riot that led to members of Congress fleeing for safety. 

However, following a two-year presidential campaign and a decisive popular vote victory, along with a sweep of all the key battleground states, Trump returns as a conquering hero.

"Today, the U.S. will witness the return of President Trump at the peak of his political power," observed veteran political scientist Wayne Lesperance.

As Trump resumes the presidency, the latest Fox News national poll shows he has reached his highest favorable rating—50%, compared to just 42% when he first entered the White House in 2017—with half of registered voters approving of his handling of the presidential transition.

### BIDEN'S FAILURE TO MOVE ON FROM TRUMP HINDERS HIS PRESIDENCY

"Trump's journey since his 2020 election loss has been nothing short of extraordinary. His denial of the election results, support for the January 6 insurrection, and the resulting legal challenges—including indictments and convictions—would have typically derailed any future political ambitions," Lesperance remarked.

However, Lesperance, president of New England College, pointed out that "voters in 2024 chose a different path. Trump's return to the Oval Office reflects the unwavering loyalty of his supporters and widespread dissatisfaction among Americans regarding the direction the country has taken under Democratic leadership. For Trump, Inauguration Day symbolizes a day of redemption."

Alabama and Mississippi will also pay tribute to Robert E. Lee on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

 The U.S. is preparing to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a federal holiday dedicated to honoring the civil rights leader's legacy. However, in Alabama and Mississippi, the day also commemorates Robert E. Lee, the Confederate general.

Both states recognize King and Lee on the third Monday in January. Their state governments established Lee's holiday over a century ago and later merged it with the federal holiday for King, which was created in the 1980s.

This peculiar contrast of honoring two figures with vastly different legacies has continued for many years.

### How It Happened

Both Robert E. Lee and Martin Luther King Jr. share January birthdays—Lee was born on January 19, 1807, while King was born on January 15, 1929.

In the aftermath of the Civil War, white politicians in Southern states established several holidays to honor Confederate leaders and fallen soldiers. Alabama lawmakers designated a state holiday for Lee in 1901, followed by Mississippi in 1910.

In 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed legislation establishing Martin Luther King Jr. Day on the third Monday of January to commemorate the civil rights leader. Over time, states gradually incorporated this holiday into their calendars. Alabama and Mississippi officially recognized Martin Luther King Day as a state holiday in the 1980s, merging it with their existing holiday for Lee.

While some other Southern states once observed a combined holiday, they have since discontinued the practice, leaving only Alabama and Mississippi with a single day honoring both King and Lee.

### Efforts to Separate the Holidays

In recent years, Black lawmakers in Alabama and Mississippi have made several attempts to separate the holidays honoring Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert E. Lee, but they have yet to succeed.

Rep. Kenyatté Hassell plans to renew efforts in Alabama when the legislative session begins next month. He believes it is disrespectful to celebrate King alongside a Confederate general. "There are fundamental differences between General Lee and Dr. King. The Confederate general fought to preserve slavery and uphold the institution of white supremacy, while Dr. King was a civil rights leader advocating for equality and justice for all," said Hassell, a Democrat from Montgomery.

Both holidays are observed in states where Black residents comprise over a quarter of the population—36% in Mississippi and 27% in Alabama.

King gained prominence in the 1950s as the leader of the boycott against Montgomery's segregated bus system. In 2023, Hassell introduced legislation, co-sponsored by more than a dozen lawmakers, aimed at removing Lee's name from the January holiday. Another proposed bill would have shifted Lee's holiday to Columbus Day in October, aligning with the month of his death. Neither bill was brought to a floor vote.

In Mississippi, Rep. Kabir Karriem, a Democrat from Columbus, introduced legislation this session to remove recognition of Lee from the holiday. The bill emphasizes the goal of "reflecting the transformative power of Mississippi from its past to its present by celebrating holidays that fully acknowledge the remarkable strides made by all citizens."

### Fewer Confederate Holidays Across the South

Many Southern states have chosen to abolish or rename holidays associated with the Confederacy.

In 2022, Louisiana removed Robert E. Lee Day and Confederate Memorial Day from its list of official state holidays. Virginia followed suit in 2020 by eliminating a holiday honoring Lee and Confederate General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson, both of whom were born in the state, in favor of making Election Day a state holiday.

Georgia changed Confederate Memorial Day to the more neutral “State Holiday” in 2015. Arkansas ended the practice of commemorating Lee alongside King in 2017, leaving Alabama and Mississippi as the only states still recognizing this dual holiday.

Currently, Alabama and Mississippi have three Confederate-related state holidays. Both states observe Confederate Memorial Day in April and celebrate the birthday of Confederate President Jefferson Davis. South Carolina marks Confederate Memorial Day in May.

power of storm.ঝড়ের শক্তি.

How powerful the machine is

Russian gas supplies to Europe through Ukraine have stopped following the expiration of the transit agreement.

 The five-year gas transit agreement between Russia and Ukraine expired on Wednesday, with Kyiv declining to extend it due to the ongoing war.

A Gazprom employee walks beside pipelines at a gas measuring station located at the 

Russia-Ukraine border in Sudzha, near Kursk.

Russian natural gas exports through Ukraine to several European countries have been suspended after Kyiv declined to renew a transit agreement that expired on Wednesday.

Ukraine had previously indicated that it would not extend the five-year transit deal due to the ongoing military conflict with Russia.

"We have halted the transit of Russian gas. This is a historic moment. Russia is losing its markets and will face financial losses. Europe has already decided to move away from Russian gas," stated Ukraine’s Energy Minister German Galushchenko.

Russia’s energy giant Gazprom announced that gas exports to Europe ceased at 8 a.m. Moscow time (05:00 GMT) following the expiration of the transit deal.

"Due to the repeated and clearly expressed refusal of the Ukrainian side to renew these agreements, Gazprom no longer has the technical and legal capability to supply gas for transit through Ukraine starting January 1, 2025," Gazprom stated on the Telegram messaging app.

Ukraine has been a transit route for Russian natural gas to several European countries, including Slovakia, Moldova, and Hungary.

Meanwhile, Brussels has downplayed the impact of the loss of Russian gas supplies on the 27-member bloc.

“The Commission has been preparing for over a year for a scenario where Russian gas is not transiting through Ukraine,” it told AFP on Tuesday.

Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico criticized the decision on Wednesday, warning that Europe would bear the consequences.

“Halting gas transit via Ukraine will significantly affect everyone in the EU but not the Russian Federation,” Fico stated in a video message on Facebook.

Fico, who has expressed criticism towards the EU’s support for Kyiv, visited Moscow last week to meet with Putin in anticipation of a gas stoppage.

The situation is most critical in Moldova, which borders Ukraine and faces challenges from Russian-backed separatists within its territory.

The small nation had already declared a 60-day state of emergency earlier this month in anticipation of Kyiv's expected gas cut.

“Moscow has once again resorted to energy blackmail to influence the 2025 parliamentary elections and undermine our European ambitions,” said Moldova’s President Maia Sandu.

The termination of Russia's oldest gas route to Europe marks the end of a decade of tense relations following Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014.

“It ultimately ends Russia’s previous dominance in the EU energy market. In the past, it leveraged that dominance to impose economically damaging higher prices or threatened to cut off supplies in the middle of winter,” reported Al Jazeera’s Jonah Hull from Kyiv.

“And, of course, this has come at a cost to the European Union, which has had to shift towards more expensive liquefied natural gas, negatively impacting the bloc's economic output and raising concerns about its future global competitiveness.”

Following the outbreak of the military conflict in Ukraine in 2022, the EU intensified its efforts to reduce dependence on Russian energy by seeking alternative sources.

As of December 1, the EU received less than 14 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas from Russia via Ukraine, a significant decline from 65 bcm per year when the last five-year contract began in 2020. The European Commission has stated that this volume can be fully replaced by liquefied natural gas and non-Russian pipeline imports.

Russia continues to export gas through the TurkStream pipeline, which runs under the Black Sea.

Hungary, which, like Slovakia, has maintained a friendly relationship with Moscow, receives the majority of its Russian gas imports through the Black Sea pipeline. Consequently, Budapest is likely to remain largely unaffected by Ukraine’s decision.

At least 10 people have died after a vehicle drove into a crowd on Bourbon Street in New Orleans.

 

Bourbon Street in New Orleans, Louisiana, early on Jan. 1, 2025, after a vehicle reportedly slammed into a crowed in the French Quarter, causing multiple casualties.

Ten people were killed and dozens injured early Wednesday when a man deliberately drove his pickup truck into a crowd on Bourbon Street in New Orleans' French Quarter, where revelers were celebrating the New Year, officials said. New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick reported that the man bypassed barricades and sped down Bourbon Street with "very intentional behavior" before opening fire on officers.

"This man was trying to run over as many people as he could," Kirkpatrick stated, noting that two police officers were struck by gunfire but are in stable condition.

Mayor LaToya Cantrell referred to the incident as a "terrorist attack," but an FBI official who spoke alongside her did not categorize it in that manner.

The bustling tourist district was packed with New Year's Day revelers at the time of the incident.

Witnesses told CBS News reporter Kati Weis that a white truck sped into the crowd on Bourbon Street before the driver exited the vehicle and began firing a weapon, prompting police to return fire.

In a statement posted online, the City of New Orleans reported that 30 people were taken to local hospitals with injuries, and 10 fatalities were confirmed. Kirkpatrick later mentioned that the number of hospitalized individuals exceeded 30.

Weis observed multiple individuals on the ground receiving treatment for injuries near the intersection of Bourbon and Canal Streets.

Jim and Nicole Mowrer, visiting from Iowa, witnessed the incident unfold. Nicole recounted to CBS News that they had just enjoyed the city's fireworks display and were taking in the New Year's Day atmosphere in the French Quarter when they heard loud crashing noises from down the street. They then saw a white truck speeding through a barricade "at a high rate of speed."

After the crashes, the Mowrers reported hearing gunshots and rushed to assist those they found wounded, only to realize that some victims had already died.

"We were pretty, pretty close to where it all began," Nicole said, estimating that the truck struck people just a block away from where they had been walking.

"Once it passed us, we heard gunfire and saw police running in that direction," Nicole continued. "After the gunfire stopped, we stayed in an alcove until it was safe, then stepped into the street and came across several people who had been hit, wanting to see what we could do to help."

Blake Lively Claims Against Justin Baldoni for Sexual Harassment ... Claims of Wild Behavior on Set

 

Blake Lively has launched a legal battle against her former "It Ends with Us" co-star and director Justin Baldoni, accusing him of sexual harassment and alleging a coordinated effort to damage her reputation. Baldoni's team has responded, calling her claims a false attempt to restore her image.

The lawsuit, obtained by TMZ, reveals that tensions escalated to the point where an all-hands-on-deck meeting was convened to address what Lively describes as a hostile work environment, with her husband Ryan Reynolds among the attendees.

Lively's lawsuit outlines several demands related to Baldoni's alleged conduct, including a ban on showing nude videos or images of women to her, prohibitions on discussing Baldoni's supposed "pornography addiction," restrictions on conversations about sexual conquests in her presence, and no further mentions of the cast and crew's genitalia. Additionally, it demands no inquiries about her weight and no references to her deceased father.

The lawsuit also includes a demand for "no more additions of sex scenes, oral sex, or on-camera climaxing by BL beyond the script approved by BL upon joining the project."

According to the suit, these demands were accepted by the studio, but a significant conflict arose over the marketing strategy. Blake wanted a more optimistic portrayal of her character’s resilience, following the marketing plan, while Baldoni preferred to center the focus on domestic violence and deviated from the agreed-upon script.

Lively alleges that Baldoni and his team orchestrated a "social manipulation" campaign aimed at "destroying" her reputation. The lawsuit includes messages from Baldoni's publicist to the studio publicist, stating that Baldoni "wants to feel like [Ms. Lively] can be buried," adding, "We can't write that we will destroy her."

The lawsuit claims that the campaign harmed Lively's business and caused her family "severe emotional distress."  

Baldoni's attorney, Bryan Freedman, criticized the lawsuit, arguing that it was aimed at "repairing her negative reputation." He added that the allegations are "false, outrageous, and intentionally salacious with the intent to cause public harm."

Freedman further claims that Lively was difficult to work with on set, "threatening not to show up, threatening not to promote the film, which ultimately contributed to its poor release."

As we've previously reported, this dispute has been ongoing for months and includes allegations that Baldoni asked his trainer about Lively's weight. While Lively perceived this as fat-shaming, Baldoni contends that he was only inquiring because he had a bad back and was trying to protect it.