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FILE PHOTO: Afghanistan Women's XI players pose for a team photo during the cricket match between Afghanistan Women's XI and Cricket Without Borders XI at Junction Oval in Melbourne on January 30, 2025. (Photo by MARTIN KEEP/AFP via Getty Images)
ICC funding gives Afghan women cricketers new hope
Apr 16, 2025
A FUNDING pledge from the International Cricket Council (ICC) has given Afghanistan's exiled women cricketers hope of recognition and the chance to play on the international stage in defiance of the Taliban.
The game's global governing body said last Sunday (13) it would set up a dedicated fund to support the Afghan women, most of whom have resettled in Australia after fleeing Afghanistan when the Taliban swept to power in 2021.
The ICC declined to provide financial details or a timeline for the disbursement of funds but the players are hopeful the pledge will prove a watershed for the women's game.
"We feel inspired and valued," said Nahida Sapan, one of the refugee cricketers based in Melbourne. "This news gave us a lot of confidence for the future.
"We messaged each other and called each other about it. Some of the girls were crying because we worked really hard for it."
Sapan was among 25 women contracted by the Afghanistan cricket board in 2020 who hoped to follow the men's team by playing on the game's global stage.
Most have started new lives in Australia, with some moving to Britain and Canada.
Captained by Sapan, the Australia-based cricketers played an exhibition match in January against a team arranged by Cricket Without Borders, a non-profit organisation supporting the women's game.
It was their first match since fleeing Afghanistan, and while it lacked international recognition it was facilitated by Cricket Australia and supported by local government officials.
Afghanistan has an established men's team which enjoys ICC funding despite human rights groups calling on the governing body to suspend the nation's membership and ban them from playing in international cricket.
Australia and other countries refuse to play the Afghanistan men's team in bilateral series citing deteriorating human rights for women in the county, where female sport has been crushed.
Since returning to power in 2021 the Taliban have restricted women's access to education and work, curbed their movement and forced them to cover their faces and bodies.
The Taliban say they respect women's rights in accordance with their interpretation of Islamic law and local customs.
The ICC said it will work with the Indian, Australian and England cricket boards to set up a taskforce aimed at sustaining the Afghan women's cricket careers but steered clear of acknowledging the players' hopes of recognition.
It declined to comment on whether there was a pathway to recognition for them.
Sapan said no cricketers from the Afghanistan men's squad had reached out to congratulate the women over the funding pledge.
But that was understandable given the politics involved, she added.
"It's difficult. We know about the Afghanistan situation. We know about the cricket situation in Afghanistan because, you know, the Taliban don't want Afghanistan cricket board to support the women's team," she said.
"If they support the women's team they might not be able to continue (playing) their matches and it will be like closing the cricket board door for all men."
(Reuters)
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Ananya Panday makes history as Chanel’s first Indian brand ambassador
Apr 16, 2025
Bollywood actor Ananya Panday has just landed a major global milestone; she is now the first Indian to officially represent French fashion house Chanel. At 26, she has carved a niche for herself not just in Indian cinema but also as a rising style icon. This move is in fact a turning point for both her career and Chanel’s growing focus on India as a key luxury market.
However, the decision does not come as a surprise to those who have been watching her closely. Ananya has been increasingly associated with Chanel over the past year from attending their Spring Summer 2025 show in Paris to being styled in the brand for Vogue India and Grazia India covers. She was also seen at high profile events like BoF’s Mumbai dinner, often dressed in Chanel, subtly hinting at a growing relationship with the brand.
Chanel, which entered the Indian market back in 2005, has been quietly expanding its presence. Its current footprint includes a fashion boutique in New Delhi, beauty stores in major cities like Mumbai and Bengaluru, as well as an online shopping platform launched last year. Appointing a homegrown ambassador now feels like a logical step, as India’s appetite for luxury goods continues to rise. A recent Bain and Company report estimates that Indian spending on luxury will triple by 2030, touching nearly £25 billion (₹2.6 lakh crore).
For Chanel, choosing someone like Ananya who is young, fashion forward and influential online reflects a clear effort to connect with Gen Z and millennial consumers in India. With over 25 million followers on Instagram and a growing list of film credits like Call Me Bae, Kho Gaye Hum Kahan and Gehraiyaan, she will bring both mass appeal and industry credibility.
This also puts her in the company of fellow Bollywood actors who have been snapped up by global brands: Deepika Padukone with Louis Vuitton and Cartier, Alia Bhatt with Gucci and Sonam Kapoor with Dior. But Ananya’s addition stands out because she is the first of the newer generation to land a solo ambassadorship with a legacy label like Chanel.
Alongside Chanel, Ananya also fronts campaigns for Swarovski, Jimmy Choo India, Lakmé, Beats and Timex, strengthening her status as a go to face for global brands eyeing Indian consumers.
Her next film, Kesari 2, releases on April 18. But for now, it is this fashion milestone that is making headlines.
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Jonathan Reynolds reacts during his visit to one of the Blast Furnaces at British Steel's steelworks site in Scunthorpe, northern England, on April 15, 2025. (Photo by DARREN STAPLES/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Jonathan Reynolds to visit China despite 'steel tensions'
Apr 16, 2025
BUSINESS and trade secretary Jonathan Reynolds is planning a trip to China later this year aimed at reviving trade relations, despite recent tensions over Chinese investment in the UK's steel sector.
The visit will focus on restarting the UK-China Joint Economic and Trade Commission (JETCO), which has not met since 2018, reported the Guardian. China currently ranks as Britain's fifth-largest trading partner
Reynolds' planned trip follows visits by chancellor Rachel Reeves to Beijing in January and Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi to London in February, marking increased engagement since Labour took office last year.
However, the planned visit comes just days after Reynolds publicly said that China was "no longer welcome" in Britain's steel sector. The comment followed emergency government action to take control of Chinese-owned British Steel's Scunthorpe plant amid deteriorating relations with its owner, Jingye Group.
"You've got to be clear about what is the sort of sector where actually we can promote and cooperate and ones, frankly, where we can't," Reynolds told Sky News. "I wouldn't personally bring a Chinese company into our steel sector."
Some government officials reportedly suspect Jingye's actions may have been intended to undermine Britain's ability to produce its own steel, forcing reliance on Chinese imports instead.
Despite these concerns, Reynolds has identified other sectors as less sensitive areas for potential Chinese investment, including car manufacturing, life sciences and agricultural products.
"A lot of UK-Chinese trade is in non-contentious areas," Reynolds noted, suggesting the government is taking a targeted approach rather than a wholesale rejection of Chinese economic engagement.
The Department for Business and Trade characterised its approach as "consistent and strategic," saying they are "engaging with China in areas of trade that benefit Britain's national interests," though they did not explicitly confirm Reynolds' trip.
The Labour government is also expected to complete a cross-Whitehall audit of UK-China relations by June, fulfilling a manifesto commitment. The audit may recommend improvements to China expertise within government, potentially including Mandarin language programmes and training about the Chinese system for civil servants and MPs.
The government's continued engagement with Beijing comes despite pressure from some quarters to take a tougher stance on human rights and security concerns.
Liberal Democrat MP Wera Hobhouse, who was recently refused entry to Hong Kong, argued that "no government minister should be visiting China on official business" until her situation is clarified.
Prime minister Keir Starmer is also expected to visit China later this year, signalling the government's intention to maintain its diplomatic engagement with Beijing despite the complications in the relationship.
The revival of JETCO appears to be a key priority, with Treasury documents published after Reeves's January visit explicitly mentioning plans to restart the dialogue. The commission serves as an important forum for high-level economic discussions between the two nations, the report added.
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David Blaine spotlights India’s ancient magic in the Disney Plus series 'Do not attempt'
Apr 16, 2025
Most people are perhaps not aware of the profound effect India has had on the world of magic.
American extreme magician David Blaine has drawn attention to India’s remarkable legacy in this field with his stunning new series Do Not Attempt, available on National Geographic Channel and streaming site Disney Plus.
The six-part series sees him travel around the world to different destinations, including East Asia, Brazil and the Arctic Circle. But it is episode three in India that is the most compelling and eye-catching.
Blaine points out that while other countries have conjurers who perform sleight of hand, India has, for centuries, been home to real extreme physical feats, inspiring him to attempt his own challenges that have captivated audiences worldwide. He reveals how he learned a lot from the Indian book Swami Mantra, which illustrates how to perform unbelievable feats of endurance, and how he applied these techniques to his act.
And the magician kisses a king cobra
In the captivating India episode, Blaine meets a rickshaw driver with a mind-blowing fire act, where he sets himself ablaze without any protective gels, using just water and incredible skill. There is also a Punjabi man with phenomenal physical strength and a remarkable individual who repeatedly jumps into a huge pile of broken glass and smashes bottles on his own head.
Blaine also encounters Indian holy men who perform extreme feats, ranging from headstands with their faces completely buried in sand to piercing themselves with sharp metal objects. Some parts are difficult to watch, but they reveal the rich history of superhumans who have existed in India for centuries. There is one particularly shocking moment when a holy man passes a sword through his own neck – even the seasoned magician, watching in astonishment, could not explain how it was done.
Away from the more severe acts, Blaine also highlights India’s street magicians, who keep the tradition of illusion alive. From rope tricks to coin illusions, the roots of many modern magic tricks lie deep within India’s centuries-old street performances.
After watching this episode, you may feel squeamish at times but will walk away with a greater appreciation of India’s rich legacy and the profound impact it has had on the world. The next time you see a magician perform a physical stunt, the root of it likely lies in India.
Beyond India, the series showcases other fascinating locations where Blaine explores the limits of human endurance and illusion. Each episode of Do Not Attempt reinforces Blaine’s philosophy that magic is not just about deception, but about the astonishing capabilities of the human body and mind.
Blaine learns from those he meets and attempts to master some of their feats, including kissing a deadly poisonous king cobra. But it is the India episode that stands out in particular, because it highlights a side of magic rarely seen on mainstream platforms – one that is raw, spiritual and deeply embedded in history.
With Do Not Attempt, Blaine ultimately reminds us that the origins of many modern stunts go far beyond contemporary showmanship. For centuries, Indian fakirs, yogis and street magicians have defied expectations, using the body’s resilience and the mind’s strength to create jaw-dropping spectacles.
David Blaine’s stunning series is a fitting tribute to that tradition, ensuring that these incredible feats receive the global recognition they deserve.
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Donald Trump gives directions to Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) in his now-controversial cameo
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Chris Columbus says Donald Trump’s cameo in Home Alone 2 feels like a mistake that won’t go away
Apr 16, 2025
More than three decades after Home Alone 2: Lost in New York hit cinemas, director Chris Columbus is still dealing with the fallout of a seven-second scene that’s aged badly in his eyes. In a recent chat with the San Francisco Chronicle, Columbus opened up about how he regrets including Donald Trump’s blink-and-miss-it appearance in the holiday sequel. “It’s become a curse,” he admitted. “An albatross.”
The cameo in question features Macaulay Culkin’s Kevin McCallister walking into the Plaza Hotel and asking Trump who owned the hotel at the time for directions. That brief exchange has become one of the most talked-about moments from the film, but not for the reasons Columbus would’ve hoped.
- YouTubeyoutu.be
Columbus has shared before that the production team wanted to shoot in the Plaza and were told the only way they could do that was if Trump got to be in the movie. They agreed, filmed the scene, and initially thought nothing more of it. But during a test screening in Chicago, the audience’s loud reaction convinced Columbus to keep it in. “They cheered. They loved it. I thought, okay, maybe it works as a moment,” he recalled.
Fast forward to today, and the director can’t shake off the regret. “I wish it wasn’t there,” he said. “It’s become something I don’t want to be associated with.”
Director Chris Columbus reflects on the lasting impact of a seven-second cameo he never wanted to keepGetty Images
Trump, on the other hand, has claimed that Columbus and his team were practically “begging” him to appear. Posting on Truth Social last year, he dismissed Columbus’s version of events and insisted the cameo helped boost the film’s success.
Columbus, not amused, denied ever asking Trump to be part of the film for artistic reasons. “There’s no version of this story where I’m begging a non-actor to be in my movie,” he said. “We just needed the hotel.”
The original poster for Home Alone 2Getty Images
While Trump’s fans still celebrate the moment, others including Culkin himself have shown support for the idea of digitally removing the scene altogether. In fact, when a fan suggested replacing Trump with an older version of Culkin, the actor replied simply: “Sold.”
For Columbus, it’s not just about politics. It’s about a brief moment that’s come to define more than it should. “I just wish it was gone.”
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