England Women will tour Pakistan for the first time in October, joining the men's side in an unprecedented joint trip, cricket chiefs announced on Thursday.
No England team have played international cricket in the country since 2005.
Cricket-obsessed Pakistan spent a decade in international sporting isolation after gunmen targeted the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore in 2009, killing eight people and wounding several players and officials.
Eoin Morgan's white-ball team had already committed to a two-match Twenty20 series in Karachi on October 14 and 15, with those dates now turned into double-headers involving Heather Knight's side.
England Women, world champions in the 50-over format, will then stay in Karachi to compete in three one-day internationals, on October 18, 20 and 22.
“We are absolutely delighted to be making this historic announcement today," said Clare Connor, managing director of women's cricket for the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).
"The England women’s cricket team has never toured Pakistan before so this is another important step in our history and journey."
Wasim Khan, chief executive of the Pakistan Cricket Board, said the matches would be a good test for the hosts ahead of the 2022 World Cup in New Zealand.
“World champions England accompanying their men’s side for their first-ever tour to Karachi is an extremely powerful and strong announcement for Pakistan, our women’s cricketers," he said.
“Women’s T20Is taking place before the men’s matches at the iconic National Stadium will mean more eyeballs will follow these matches than ever before."
Peter Green Chilled, a key distributor to leading UK supermarkets including Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Aldi, has been hit by a cyber attack, disrupting operations and raising concerns over food supply and waste.
The cyber incident occurred on the evening of Wednesday 15 May. In an internal communication seen by the BBC, Peter Green Chilled informed partners the following day that no new orders would be processed on Thursday 16 May, though any deliveries prepared before the attack would still be dispatched.
Despite the disruption, managing director Tom Binks said the company’s transport operations remained functional. “The transport activities of the business have continued unaffected throughout this incident,” he stated.
The attack has had a direct impact on suppliers who depend on Peter Green Chilled to deliver time-sensitive goods. Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones, founder of The Black Farmer brand, said he had “something like ten pallets worth of meat products” at the distributor’s facility, warning the stock could go to waste if not delivered in time. “If those products don’t get out to the retailers, they’ll be thrown in the bin,” he said.
Peter Green Chilled joins a growing list of companies in the UK’s food supply chain affected by cyber crime. Earlier this year, M&S and Co-op were also targeted in major cyber attacks, highlighting a concerning trend within the sector.
Cybersecurity and logistics expert Tim Grieveson said attacks like the one on Peter Green Chilled demonstrate how digital threats can have tangible consequences. “Cyberattacks on the supply chain are not just about data breaches,” he said. “When hackers target logistics or warehouse operations, even short delays can be catastrophic—especially for perishable goods like fresh produce or pharmaceuticals.”
Grieveson warned that ransomware can disrupt refrigeration and delay deliveries, leading to “tons of spoiled inventory, lost revenue and empty supermarket shelves.”
In April, M&S suffered significant disruption after hackers accessed its systems through a third-party vendor, resulting in a weeks-long suspension of online orders and millions in lost sales. Co-op also faced a serious cyber breach that it initially downplayed, later admitting that hackers had accessed and leaked customer data.
Peter Green Chilled has not yet confirmed whether customer or supplier data was compromised, but the incident underscores the growing vulnerability of the UK’s food supply chain to cyber threats.
At a recent Bvlgari event in Sicily, Priyanka Chopra turned heads in an elegant beige outfit, joining BLACKPINK’s Lisa and Chinese star Liu Yifei for an evening filled with fashion, glitz, and glamour. The trio, all associated with the luxury brand, were seen posing together, sparking a wave of reactions online as fans shared photos and videos from the event.
While Liu dazzled in a silver-toned off-shoulder gown, Lisa chose a white dress with soft yellow accents. Priyanka, keeping things minimal and classic, wore a sheer beige dress with subtle gold detailing, matched with Bvlgari jewellery, and tied her hair back into a sleek bun.
During the red carpet moments, Priyanka stood out not just for her look, but also for her gesture of gratitude. After posing for the photographers, she folded her hands in a traditional namaste, a simple thank-you that felt personal amidst all the glamour.
Stars at the Bvlgari event Getty Images
Inside the event, she was seen chatting with Bvlgari CEO Jean-Christophe Babin and later sharing a light-hearted moment with Lisa. A short clip from the evening shows Priyanka asking Lisa to switch spots while posing, leading to a burst of laughter between them.
Priyanka’s elegant beige look paired with Bvlgari jewellery turns heads on the red carpetGetty Images
This isn’t the first time Priyanka has represented the brand at their global events. She attended a similar gathering in Rome last year, wearing an off-shoulder cream and black dress and flaunting Bvlgari’s Serpenti Aeterna necklace alongside Anne Hathaway and Shu Qi.
Beyond red carpets, Priyanka is staying busy with a packed slate of projects. She’ll be seen in Heads of State, co-starring Idris Elba and John Cena, and in The Bluff, where she plays a pirate in the Caribbean. Back in Indian cinema, she’s confirmed to be part of SSMB29, a much-anticipated film by SS Rajamouli with Mahesh Babu. The project is expected to unfold in two parts, with releases slated for 2027 and 2029.
Star Wars Battlefront 2 has experienced a significant resurgence in popularity, nearly eight years after its original release. The renewed interest follows the conclusion of Andor’s second season and the annual May the 4th celebrations, both of which appear to have reignited enthusiasm among fans for the multiplayer title.
Originally launched in 2017 by EA and DICE, Star Wars Battlefront 2 was met with controversy at the time due to its use of loot boxes, which drew widespread criticism. Despite the rocky start, the game was praised for its expansive content, covering all eras of the Star Wars universe—from the original trilogy to the prequels and sequel series. The game received substantial post-launch support for several years, introducing new characters, maps and modes, before official updates ceased in 2020.
Now, in 2025, Battlefront 2 is enjoying renewed popularity. Over the recent weekend, the game reached its highest concurrent player count on Steam since its launch on the platform in 2020, with nearly 8,000 players online at its peak. It also climbed to 22nd place in the most-played games on Xbox, even surpassing titles such as Destiny 2. Although data for PlayStation was not disclosed, it is believed the player surge is consistent across platforms.
The revival coincides with the critically acclaimed second season of Andor, which has been widely praised by fans and critics alike. The Disney+ series, which focuses on the early days of the Rebellion and the character of Cassian Andor, appears to have bolstered enthusiasm for the franchise’s wider universe. Additionally, Star Wars content remains prominent in popular culture, with events like May the 4th and ongoing crossovers in games like Fortnite—which recently introduced an AI-controlled Darth Vader—keeping the brand in the public eye.
- YouTubeYouTube / EA Star Wars
While Battlefront 2 has not received any official updates in over five years, the game maintains a loyal player base. Content from the game continues to circulate widely on social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, where fans showcase gameplay, cinematic moments and character customisations. Its large-scale multiplayer battles and inclusion of iconic characters like Luke Skywalker, Darth Maul and Rey continue to set it apart from other Star Wars games, most of which are either single-player focused or family-friendly LEGO titles.
The surge in player numbers has reignited calls for a third instalment in the series. Despite continued fan interest, there has been no confirmation of Star Wars Battlefront 3. Developer DICE is currently focused on completing Battlefield 6, which is expected to release within the next year. Given EA’s ongoing support obligations for the Battlefield franchise, any return to Star Wars for DICE may still be years away.
This is not the first time hopes for a third game have emerged. A Star Wars Battlefront 3 was originally in development during the mid-2000s under a different publisher but was ultimately cancelled despite reports suggesting it was nearly complete.
For now, Star Wars Battlefront 2 remains the most accessible large-scale multiplayer Star Wars title available. Its current success shows that there is still a strong appetite for this style of gameplay within the franchise. Whether EA or another publisher will revisit the series in the future remains to be seen, but the current resurgence signals that demand is far from fading.
Keep ReadingShow less
He was jailed in October after admitting to breaching an injunction that barred him from repeating false claims about a Syrian refugee who had successfully sued him for libel. (Photo: Getty Images)
STEPHEN YAXLEY-LENNON, also known as Tommy Robinson, is set to be released from prison within a week after the High Court reduced his 18-month sentence for contempt of court.
The far-right anti-Islam activist was jailed in October after admitting to breaching an injunction that barred him from repeating false claims about a Syrian refugee who had successfully sued him for libel.
The Solicitor General had taken legal action against Yaxley-Lennon for comments made in online interviews and a documentary titled Silenced, which was viewed millions of times and shown in Trafalgar Square in July.
The sentence was made up of a 14-month punitive element and a four-month coercive element. Mr Justice Jeremy Johnson had said the four-month part could be lifted if Yaxley-Lennon complied with the court order to remove Silenced and related content from social media and other platforms.
On Tuesday, Yaxley-Lennon appeared via video link from HMP Woodhill in Milton Keynes. His lawyer, Alex Di Francesco, told the court that Silenced had been removed from accounts under his control and that requests were made to remove other interviews where the false allegations were repeated.
Judge Johnson ruled that Yaxley-Lennon had “purged” his contempt. “The practical effect is that the defendant will be released once he has completed the punitive element, which I understand will be within the next week,” he said. The original release date had been set for 26 July, but it has now been moved up to 26 May.
The judge noted that while there was “an absence of contrition or remorse”, Yaxley-Lennon had given assurances that he would comply with the injunction in the future and understood the consequences of breaching it again. The court accepted that he had shown a “change in attitude” and had taken steps to comply with the order.
Yaxley-Lennon, 42, was jailed for 10 admitted breaches of the injunction after two contempt of court claims were brought against him by the Solicitor General. The injunction was first issued in 2021 after he falsely accused a Syrian teenager in a viral video of being violent. The teenager later won a libel case against him.
He was accused by some media and politicians of inflaming tensions that led to riots across Britain in July and August last year, following the murder of three girls at a dance workshop in Southport.
In January, a post from his social media account claimed that US billionaire Elon Musk was paying some of his legal fees. Musk has not confirmed this.
(With inputs from agencies)
Keep ReadingShow less
Denzel Washington reacts emotionally to receiving a surprise lifetime honour at Cannes
Cannes 2025 took an emotional turn when Denzel Washington was presented with an unexpected Honorary Palme d’Or just before the premiere of Highest 2 Lowest, his latest film with long-time collaborator Spike Lee. The moment came as a surprise not just to audiences, but to Washington himself.
The announcement was made by Cannes festival director Thierry Frémaux after a career-spanning tribute reel played at the Palais. Spike Lee, who has directed Washington in five films, stepped on stage to hand over the award personally. “This is my brother,” Lee said, pulling Washington into a warm embrace. The audience responded with a long-standing ovation.
Spike Lee presents the Honorary Palme d’Or to his longtime collaborator Denzel Washington Twitter/Absoluto Cine
Washington, visibly moved, called the moment “completely unexpected.” “I’m emotional right now,” he told the crowd. “To be back here with Spike, to make another film together, I’m grateful. Truly grateful.”
The film they’re reuniting on, Highest 2 Lowest, is Lee’s take on Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 classic High and Low. Washington plays King David, a music mogul caught in a kidnapping mix-up involving his son and his driver’s child. The cast includes Aubrey Joseph, Elijah Wright, Jeffrey Wright, A$AP Rocky, Ice Spice, and Wendell Pierce. The film is being shown out of competition at Cannes and will release in cinemas on 22 August before streaming on Apple TV+ in September.
— (@)
This is only Washington’s second time at Cannes. His first was over three decades ago, in 1993, for Much Ado About Nothing. The Honorary Palme d’Or is rarely given, only 22 recipients since 2002, and even fewer have received it without prior announcement. The last time this happened was in 2022, when Tom Cruise was surprised with the honour for Top Gun: Maverick.
Washington’s film legacy is already packed with milestones: two Oscars, a Tony Award, a Presidential Medal of Freedom, and multiple Oscar nominations including for Malcolm X, Flight, Fences, and The Tragedy of Macbeth. But this Cannes honour adds another rare jewel to his crown.
— (@)
The award also landed on a symbolic date: 16 years to the day after Do the Right Thing, Lee’s breakthrough film, made its explosive Cannes debut. Monday night wasn’t just a celebration of Denzel Washington, but a nod to a creative partnership that continues to shape cinema even today.