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Ducks and geese are seen on a snow-covered pond in Central Park in New York City on December 27, 2025. New York City receieved around 4…
Jacob Bethell was not supposed to be England’s headline act in the fourth Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground but he looked like a player who belonged when the tourists made their nervous chase for victory against Australia.Replacing the dropped Ollie Pope at number three, 22-year-old Bethell had appeared on a hiding to nothing in Melbourne on a difficult pitch in front of a record crowd of 94,000.His debut Ashes innings on Boxing Day, the biggest occasion in Australia’s cricket calendar, was no fairytale, producing one run from five balls and a caught-behind dismissal off Australia’s fifth-choice seamer Michael Neser.His second innings, however, gave a glimpse of why England have such high hopes for the left-hander.Bethell delivered a composed 40 off 46 balls to help prevent an Ashes whitewash and claim England’s first test win in Australia in 15 years.”I was pretty nervous,” he said. “Not so much with the number of people, just the occasion. I’ve played in India where it feels like there’s 160,000 watching.”Bethell was speaking of his stint in the Indian Premier League (IPL) where he played two games for Royal Challengers Bangalore.While the IPL helped him get used to big crowds, it also meant missing out on more first class cricket, including a one-off test against Zimbabwe in May.Having shown great promise with three fifties during his debut test tour of New Zealand a year ago, Bethell was not selected for England until the fifth test of the home series against India and managed only single-figure scores.He hardly needed to tap into his limited experience at test level on day two in Melbourne, though, with England facing a white ball-style chase of 175 runs.On his second ball he lofted Jhye Richardson high over the slips cordon for a streaky four to get off the mark and had his second four off Scott Boland a few balls later when he stepped forward to drive him to the long-on fence.Bethell looked in full control of the situation but his hopes of a maiden Ashes fifty were crushed by a sharp catch in the covers by Usman Khawaja and he marched off hugely disappointed.Tailender Brydon Carse took the number three spot for the second innings in Melbourne but Bethell, who came out at four, would like it back for the fifth and final test in Sydney starting on January 4.”I like number three. You come in when the ball is new and in some scenarios the ball’s going all over the shop,” he said.”But in other scenarios it presents opportunities to score when bowlers are trying to take wickets and the field is attacking, there’s loads of gaps.”It’s a double-edged sword, but I’m enjoying it.” Related Story Source link
File photo of Argentina’s President Javier Milei. Argentina’s Congress passed the 2026 budget on Friday, the first approved by legislators since President Javier Milei took office in late 2023.The budget, passed 46 votes to 25 with one abstention, includes spending of $102bn (148bn Argentine pesos) and projects South America’s second-biggest economy will grow 5% with inflation at 10.1%.The bill projects a primary budget surplus equivalent to 1.2% of the gross domestic product. The 2023 budget was the last one passed by Congress. During the first two years of his term, Milei’s government had extended the budget of the previous year without passing a bill in Congress, resulting in sectors being dramatically hit by inflation, which hit an annual rate of almost 300% in April 2024.According to a report by the Civil Association for Equality and Justice, a Buenos Aires-based think tank, the new budget reflects a 7% increase in real terms from 2025 but a 24.6% drop in real terms compared to the 2023 Congress-approved budget. However, the think tank noted that some inflation projections are significantly higher than the executive branch’s forecast.Milei has ruled with sweeping austerity measures, which have often generated massive protests, and in 2024 Argentina had its first budget surplus in more than a decade. Congress this year overrode Milei’s vetoes of bills boosting funding for public universities, paediatric health care and people with disabilities. While the new budget boosts funding for social services -including health, social security and education – the bump does not compensate for sharp falls over the last several years, the ACIJ report said.After a strong showing in midterm legislative elections in October, Milei’s La Libertad Avanza party gained considerable power in the newly elected Congress, becoming the largest minority in the lower house and increasing its bloc in the Senate. The government hopes that will help it push forward a series of overhauls, including overhauls to the labour and tax systems, in the coming months. Related Story Source link
The General Assembly of the Qatar Table Tennis Association (QTTA) on Monday elected Hamad Ahmed al-Hammadi as President by acclamation for the 2025-2028 term. This was announced during the General Assembly held on Monday, chaired by Khalil al-Mohannadi, the former President QTTA, after a quorum was reached. The meeting was attended by members of the General Assembly, representatives of the sports clubs and the Qatar Olympic Committee. Ahmed Khalil al-Mohannadi was elected Secretary General of QTTA by acclamation. The newly elected members of the QTTA’s Board of Directors by acclamation are: Jaber Saeed Afifa, Mohammed Hassan al-Rumaihi and Abdullah Bader al-Sada. Al-Hammadi said on Monday: “It is an honour at assuming the leadership from the esteemed sports figure, Mr. Khalil al-Mohannadi. This new role is a historic code of trust bestowed on me. I feel this is a double responsibility to preserve the great legacy achieved over the last three decades.” Al-Hammadi said the new board of directors will operate according to a vision focused on continuing the path of global successes, with a strong emphasis on developing the youth base and discovering promising Qatari talent to ensure the sustainability of achievements. Al-Hammadi paid tribute to al-Mohannadi, emphasizing that his experience will remain a valuable resource and a distinguished legacy for QTTA. He stressed that the coming phase will witness a concerted effort to elevate the sport to new technical and administrative levels that align with the aspirations of Qatari sports and its future plans. The new QTTF president further emphasized that the motto of continuity with renewal will be the driving force behind the new board of directors, striving to solidify Doha’s position as a global capital of the sports world and enhance its role in shaping the future of table tennis regionally and internationally. Ahmed Khalil al-Mohannadi, the new Secretary General of QTTA, said the next phase will aim to consolidate the gains achieved by the sport over the past three decades. He said the General Secretariat will serve as a fundamental pillar in supporting the vision of the board of directors, headed by Hamad al-Hammadi, by activating communication channels with the clubs and developing local competitions to be the primary source of talent for the national teams. He concluded by saying: “We promise you that we will do our utmost to provide the best possible support for our national teams. We look to the future with eyes full of optimism and hearts determined to achieve plenty of good name. Our biggest desire is for Qatari table tennis to remain at the top.” The agenda of the General Assembly included ratifying the minutes of the previous General Assembly meeting in 2024, the Board of Directors’ report on its activities during the 2024-2025 sports season, future participation plans, and approving the draft budget for the upcoming year (2026). During the meeting, Khalil al-Mohannadi was unanimously approved to be the honorary president of QTTA in recognition of his great contributions to the federation over the past 30 years.In a moving address during the General Assembly meeting, outgoing president al-Mohannadi said the last three decades were spent forging Qatar table tennis into a major regional and global force, on and off the field. “The last three decades were a journey to build a Qatari sporting legacy that we all take pride in on the international stage. The successes achieved would not have been possible without the generous support of the wise leadership of Qatar and the unity of the Qatari table tennis family,” al-Mohannadi said. Al-Mohannadi expressed his confidence in the new Board of Directors, headed by al-Hammadi, urging them to continue building upon past achievements with a spirit of innovation and development. He said the “House of Qatari Table Tennis” will always remain a model of excellence to ensure the continued superiority and leadership of the sport regionally and globally. Al-Mohannadi said: “I thank our wise leadership in the State of Qatar for their unlimited support, and I thank everyone who worked with me, from board of directors and technical committees to administrators, coaches, players and the media.”END Source link
Yau Yiu-wai poses for a photo in Hong Kong’s Sham Shui Po district. – AFP Scores of residents flocked to a cramped shop in Hong Kong’s old district to bid farewell to the city’s “king of umbrellas”, who is retiring after spending decades repairing umbrellas at his family business.Established in 1842 during the Qing Dynasty, the Sun Rise Company was founded by the Yau family in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou.Current proprietor Yau Yiu-wai, 73, announced earlier this month that his 183-year-old family business would close its doors at year’s end.The family-run shop has been passed down through five generations, but due to shifting consumer habits towards online shopping and his advancing age, it has to cease operations, Yau told AFP on Friday.”We’ve upheld our family’s reputation, and this legacy has come down to me… It truly pains me to end it,” Yau said. “I’m sorry to my ancestors.”After enduring wartime turmoil, the shop relocated to Hong Kong, eventually finding its place amid the bustling meat and vegetable vendors in Sham Shui Po district.”(Today’s) wheel of time rolled over me and crushed me beneath its weight,” Yau said.News of the closure spread across social media, with one user calling it “another loss of a wonderful community business”.”He genuinely cared about selling customers a good, practical umbrella,” student Niki Lum told AFP, referring to Yau.”I could tell he put his heart into running this shop,” said the 20-year-old.Resident Peter Tam, 60, said witnessing the disappearance of these classic shops felt like the end of an era.”It’s such a pity… These are all pieces of history,” he said. “And we ourselves are becoming history too.”While most retailers rely on customers replacing damaged umbrellas with new ones, Yau said he aims for durability. “This is for environmental protection. It’s a social responsibility.”Those who brought umbrellas for repair included couples hoping to mend their relationships and married couples who had used umbrellas as tokens of affection.Yau said that fewer than five repairmen like him remain in Hong Kong practising this “barely profitable” umbrella trade.However, now Yau said he has no choice but to end the service he took pride in.”I’m getting old. You have to forgive me, I just can’t carry on any more,” he said, adding he had suffered a stroke several years ago.”The most important thing for you is to stay smart… and learn to be eco-friendly,” he added. Source link
Soccer Football – Premier League – Crystal Palace v Tottenham Hotspur – Selhurst Park, London, Britain – December 28, 2025 Tottenham Hotspur’s Archie Gray reacts after…
Thailand and Cambodia agreed to an “immediate” ceasefire Saturday, the two countries said in a joint statement, pledging to end border clashes that killed dozens of people.UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the announcement “as a positive step towards alleviating the suffering of civilians… and creating an environment conducive to achieving lasting peace”, spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.At least 47 people were killed and more than a million displaced in three weeks of fighting with artillery, tanks, drones and jets, according to official tallies.The conflict spread to nearly every border province on both sides, shattering an earlier truce for which US President Donald Trump took credit.Cambodia and Thailand agreed to the ceasefire that took effect at 12pm (0500 GMT), said the declaration signed by the Southeast Asian neighbours’ defence ministers at a border checkpoint on the Thai side.The truce applies to “all types of weapons, including attacks on civilians, civilian objects and infrastructures, and military objectives of either side, in all cases and all areas”.Both sides agreed to freeze all troop movements and allow civilians living in border areas to return home as soon as possible, the statement said.They also agreed to co-operate on demining efforts and combatting cybercrime, while Thailand was to return 18 captured Cambodian soldiers within 72 hours.Thai Defence Minister Nattaphon Narkphanit said the initial three-day window would be an “observation period to confirm that the ceasefire is real”.He called the truce “a door to a peaceful resolution” in a speech earlier.The ceasefire was holding, Thai defence ministry spokesperson Rear Admiral Surasant Kongsiri told Reuters about two hours after it went into effect.”So far there’s been no report of gunfire,” he said.Cambodia’s ministry of national defence did not report any clashes after what it said had been a Thai airstrike early on Saturday before the ceasefire announcement.Displaced Cambodian Oeum Raksmey told AFP that she was “very happy that people can return home” if the fighting stops.”But I dare not return home yet. I am still scared,” said the 22-year-old, who has sheltered with her family in Cambodia’s Siem Reap province.On the other side of the border, 55-year-old Thai village head Khampong Lueklarp was similarly cautious.”I personally think the ceasefire won’t really happen,” said the head of Ban Ta Sawang Samakkee village in Sisaket province, adding that he hoped for “a real peace”.The ceasefire followed three days of border talks convened following a crisis meeting of foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).EU foreign affairs spokesman Anouar El Anouni, in a post on X, thanked “Asean for playing a positive part” and called on Cambodia and Thailand to implement the agreement “in good faith”.The European bloc was ready to provide any needed support, he added.The United States and China also pushed for an end to the fighting.Beijing’s foreign ministry said the ceasefire “demonstrates that dialogue and consultations are a realistic and effective way of resolving complex disputes”, offering support moving forward.China’s top diplomat Wang Yi will host the Cambodian and Thai foreign ministers for talks in Yunnan province on January 28-29, the countries said.The conflict stems from a territorial dispute over the colonial-era demarcation of the 800km (500-mile) Thai-Cambodian border, where both sides claim ancient temples.Five days of fighting in July killed dozens of people before a truce was brokered by the United States, China and Asean chair Malaysia.Trump witnessed the signing of an expanded agreement between Thailand and Cambodia in October, but it was broken within months, with each side blaming the other for instigating the fresh fighting.At least 25 Thai soldiers and one Thai civilian were killed in the latest round of clashes, officials said.Cambodia, outgunned and outspent by Bangkok’s military, said 21 civilians were killed.Phnom Penh has reported no military deaths, even though an official Facebook post showed first lady Pich Chanmony, the wife of Cambodia’s leader Hun Manet, at a funeral for troops killed in the fighting.The violence was still raging while this week’s border talks were underway.On Friday, Cambodia accused Thailand of intensifying its bombardment of disputed border areas, and Thai media reported Cambodian attacks overnight.While both sides agreed to halt the fighting, they will still need to resolve the demarcation of their border following the ceasefire.The contested temples are claimed by both nations because of a vague demarcation made by Cambodia’s French colonial administrators in 1907.”War and clashes don’t make the two countries or the two people happy,” Thailand’s Air Chief Marshal Prapas Sornjaidee told reporters. “I want to stress that the Thai people and the Cambodian people are not in conflict with each other.”UN human rights chief Volker Turk said he hoped the ceasefire “will pave the way for confidence building & peace”. 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The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) said on Monday that approximately 235,000 people in the Gaza Strip were affected by Storm Byron, which caused buildings to collapse and damage to tents between Dec. 10-17. In a post on its official X account, UNRW affirmed that months of war and displacement have forced people in Gaza to live among unstable rubble, temporary shelters or worn-out tents. It described Storm Byron, which struck the Gaza Strip on Dec. 10, as “a natural disaster, but its consequences were man-made,” referring to the exacerbation of the damage due to widespread destruction and the lack of safe shelters following Israel’s ongoing genocide. According to UNRWA, at least 17 buildings collapsed, and more than 42,000 tents or temporary shelters were completely or partially damaged, affecting at least 235,000 people,” according to the Gaza Shelter Cluster, which includes UN agencies and NGOs. Since the onset of severe weather systems in Gaza earlier this month, 18 people, including four children, have died, and nearly 90 percent of the shelters housing displaced people whose homes were destroyed by Israel have been flooded. Related Story Source link
(FILES) Britain’s Anthony Joshua attends the official weigh-in at the Fillmore Miami Beach on December 18, 2025, ahead of his fight against US boxer and influencer…
Local people rescue an elderly woman during a fire at the Werdha Damai retirement home in Manado, North Sulawesi Province, Indonesia, Monday. Sixteen people died in the tragedy which occurred late Sunday. The home's caretaker said its residents were the elderly, and about 30 people had been in the complex. Source link