England's stand-in skipper Jos Buttler top-scored with 59 before their spinners ripped through the Pakistan batting unit to seal a 45-run win in the second Twenty20 International and level the series at 1-1 on Sunday.
Chasing 201 runs to win at Headingley, Pakistan's openers made a bright start with the bat but lost their way after England fast bowler Saqib Mahmood dismissed captain Babar Azam (22) in the sixth over.
England tightened their grip in the middle overs as leg-spinner Adil Rashid removed Mohammad Rizwan and Sohaib Maqsood in his second spell.
Off-spinner Moeen Ali removed Mohammad Hafeez and Fakhar Zaman cheaply as Pakistan were left tottering at 95-5.
Azam Khan was stumped off Matt Parkinson's leg-break, before Mahmood returned to rip through the lower order and restrict the tourists to 155-9 in 20 overs.
Earlier, Buttler marked his return to the national team with his 14th T20I fifty as England were bowled out for 200 with a ball to spare.
Buttler was declared fit after a calf injury and took the captaincy as Eoin Morgan chose to rest himself in a bid to rotate his squad ahead of this year's T20 World Cup.
After the hosts lost Jason Roy and Dawid Malan in the opening three overs, Buttler and Ali restored order with a brisk 67-run partnership.
Ali eventually fell for 36, scooping fast bowler Mohammad Hasnain to mid-off, but Buttler accelerated the England run rate alongside the hero of the last match Liam Livingstone.
Buttler picked out mid-off for Hasnain's second wicket of the innings, but Livingstone, fresh from scoring England's fastest ever hundred, went on to produce another entertaining innings for the home supporters.
Livingstone managed the biggest hit of the day, tonking Haris Rauf's delivery straight over the newly built Football Stand.
The right-handed batsman was run out for 38 off 23 balls before the lower order added another 35 off the last four overs to take England's score to 200 for the second consecutive game - this time to secure victory.
Both teams now head to Manchester for the series decider on Tuesday.
HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter reboot is already under fire, this time for casting Italian actress Alessia Leoni as Parvati Patil, a character rooted in Indian culture. The announcement has triggered widespread backlash from fans who accuse the makers of side-lining authentic South Asian representation in favour of what many see as surface-level diversity.
Parvati, originally portrayed by Shefali Chowdhury in the films, is one of the few explicitly Indian characters in the Harry Potter universe. The decision to cast someone with no clear Indian heritage has led to heated discussions across platforms like Reddit and X, with fans calling out what they perceive as performative inclusivity.
Fans question why Indian talent was overlooked again
Many online comments have shared similar frustrations: that casting a brown-skinned actor is not the same as casting someone of Indian origin. “They just picked someone who looks brown and called it a day,” one Redditor commented. Another added, “Parvati is not just a name, it’s a direct reference to Hindu culture. It deserved more thought.”
This is not the first controversy to hit the reboot. Earlier announcements like casting Paapa Essiedu as Snape and Arabella Stanton as Hermione also drew criticism from those who felt the series was playing fast and loose with established character identities. Supporters of accurate representation argue that while the intent may be diversity, the execution often feels tokenistic.
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Adding fuel to the fire is the casting history of the original films, where British-Bangladeshi actors Shefali Chowdhury and Afshan Azad played the Patil twins after being discovered through grassroots-level auditions. That sense of grounded authenticity, fans argue, is missing in the current reboot.
HBO's broader casting choices also under scrutiny
Alongside Leoni, HBO announced several other cast members: Katherine Parkinson as Molly Weasley, Lox Pratt as Draco Malfoy, Johnny Flynn as Lucius Malfoy, Leo Earley as Seamus Finnigan, Sienna Moosah as Lavender Brown, Bel Powley and Daniel Rigby as the Dursleys, and Bertie Carvel as Cornelius Fudge.
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The series, hoped to be a faithful adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s books, is scheduled to premiere in 2026. But with these early casting calls, many longtime fans feel HBO is missing the mark on cultural nuance—and all this before a single spell has been cast on screen.
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ChatGPT has experienced a significant outage, with OpenAI confirming widespread service disruptions affecting users. The chatbot, known for generating human-like responses and assisting with various queries, has grown rapidly since its launch in November 2022, becoming a widely used AI tool with approximately 500 million users globally.
The issue was first investigated at 7:36 am on Tuesday, with OpenAI later acknowledging the problem on its website at 11:30 am, stating: "Some users are experiencing elevated error rates and latency across the listed services. We are continuing to investigate this issue."
OpenAI addresses technical failure
Two hours after its initial statement, OpenAI reported that the root cause of the outage had been identified and that work was underway to implement a fix.
During the disruption, users encountered various error messages, including "Hmmm... something seems to have gone wrong," while others saw notifications stating "A network error occurred. Please check your connection and try again."
Many users also complained of longer response times, making interactions with the chatbot frustrating.
A growing AI powerhouse
OpenAI, currently valued at $300 billion, is among the world’s most valuable private companies. The firm reported in February 2025 that it had more than 400 million weekly active users, including 10 million paying subscribers on ChatGPT Plus.
Recently, OpenAI launched GPT-4o, an AI image-generation feature, which became available to free-tier users.
AI’s increasing role in society
The rise of AI has sparked ongoing debates about its impact on society. While some argue that it enhances efficiency by reducing time-consuming tasks, others worry that it could replace jobs and profit from human creativity.
There has also been concern over AI use in education, with reports of students using platforms like ChatGPT to assist with school and university work, raising academic integrity issues.
Preparing for an AI-driven future
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced new educational initiatives aimed at equipping secondary school students with AI-related skills to help them secure jobs in the evolving digital economy.
According to research by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), AI is projected to play a role in the jobs of around 10 million workers by 2035.
OpenAI continues to monitor the situation as it works on restoring ChatGPT's services for its global user base.
The tense deliberations in Harvey Weinstein’s New York sex crimes retrial have descended into open conflict. Jurors are reportedly attacking each other, pressuring hold-outs, and improperly considering the disgraced movie mogul’s notorious past, information explicitly banned from their discussions. This internal strife forced the jury foreperson to urgently alert the judge on Monday morning about a “situation which isn’t very good”, casting serious doubt on their ability to reach a fair verdict.
Infighting and forbidden arguments taint deliberations
According to a court transcript, the foreperson painted a grim picture for Judge Curtis Farber. Jurors are “not on the same page”, with some actively “attacking” others in a bid to change minds. Crucially, they are “pushing people” by bringing up Weinstein’s public history, details not presented as evidence during this specific trial.
As per reports, Jurors are in a heated debate during Weinstein retrial deliberationsGetty Images
This is similar to the earlier “playground stuff” reported last week, where one young juror felt unfairly “shunned” and questioned the fairness of the process, though the judge kept him on the panel. The jury itself signalled deep divisions, requesting a reread of “reasonable doubt” rules and guidance on “avoiding a hung jury”.
Mistrial denied, but jury reminded “Stick to the evidence”
Weinstein’s lawyers, citing a “tainted” and “runaway jury”, immediately seized on the turmoil to demand a mistrial. Defence attorney Arthur Aidala argued jurors were “ganging up” and considering “things that were not brought into this trial”. Prosecutors countered that some past context was legally permissible. Judge Farber denied the mistrial but took swift action. He hauled the entire jury back in, sternly instructing them that deliberations must focus only on evidence presented during the retrial concerning the three specific charges, including rape and criminal sex acts involving three women. He reiterated they must disregard anything else they knew about Weinstein.
Weinstein jury divided by heated disputes over forbidden pastGetty Images
The jury ended Monday claiming they were “making progress”, even asking for coffee to fuel further talks and requesting to revisit some testimony. However, the damage from the infighting and forbidden discussions lingers.
Weinstein, 73, already serving a long sentence for a separate California rape conviction, awaits this jury’s verdict on charges stemming from allegations by a former production assistant, an aspiring actress, and a model. This retrial, ordered after his landmark 2020 New York conviction was overturned, remains a critical, though now deeply troubled, chapter in the #MeToo saga he set to fire.
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Since April 2024, British citizens and settled residents have needed to earn at least £29,000 to apply for a partner visa. (Representational image: iStock)
THE UK’s independent Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has said the government could lower the minimum income requirement for family visas but warned that doing so would likely increase net migration by around 1 to 3 per cent.
Since April 2024, British citizens and settled residents have needed to earn at least £29,000 to apply for a partner visa.
The MAC has proposed a new threshold of between £23,000 and £25,000, which it said would still allow families to support themselves without needing to earn above minimum wage.
It also suggested that setting the threshold between £24,000 and £28,000 could prioritise economic wellbeing over family life.
The panel opposed the previously announced plan to raise the threshold to £38,700, calling it incompatible with human rights obligations, including Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
MAC chair Prof Brian Bell said the final decision was political but urged ministers to consider the impact of financial requirements on families.
The report recommended keeping the income threshold the same across all UK regions and not raising it for families with children.
Campaigners criticised the lack of a recommendation to scrap the threshold entirely.
The Home Office said it would consider the MAC’s findings and respond in due course.
Gifts are not just gestures of politeness or ways to mark an occasion. They reflect the structure of society, its values, customs, and even economic models. Gifting can teach us what a particular culture considers appropriate, meaningful, touching, or symbolic.
Who gives gifts, when, what is given, and how — each of these details carries implicit social messages. In some cultures, price matters; in others, it's the packaging or the practicality. How a society structures gift-giving reveals its internal ethics, priorities, and even levels of trust.
It’s no coincidence that in fast-paced urban cultures, new formats emerge—such as bento cake London—small, personalized treats that reflect a desire for restrained, thoughtful gestures in socially dynamic environments.
East and West: Different Approaches
Japan: The Art of Etiquette
In Japan, gifting is a refined practice governed by precise rules. The presentation and context of a gift often matter more than the item itself. A gift that’s too expensive can cause discomfort. Balance and modesty are essential, and symbolism and aesthetics — including wrapping, texture, and color — are deeply significant.
The US and Europe: Spontaneity and Individuality
In Western cultures, uniqueness and personal meaning are valued. A gift is a way to express emotions, humor, or personality. Creativity is encouraged, and formal rules are minimal. However, corporate or institutional gifting may follow specific regulations, including value limits.
The Middle East and Asia: Hospitality and Generosity
In many Arab and Asian cultures, gifts are woven into hospitality rituals. Generosity is seen as a social virtue. Lavish gifts are often used to demonstrate respect and honor. But symbolic meanings also matter—certain colors or items can carry specific messages and must be chosen carefully.
Gifts as Reflections of the Times
Gifts also reveal how society evolves in response to technology, economic trends, and globalization. A few notable shifts include:
Digitalization: Digital gift cards, subscriptions, and online services are replacing physical items
Minimalism: Conscious consumption encourages small but meaningful gestures
Personalization: The focus is shifting from universal items to tailored experiences
Cross-cultural exchange: Cities now blend dozens of gifting traditions in one space
New formats — themed boxes, eco-friendly gifts, or edible mini-compositions — reflect a search for balance between individuality and social awareness.
Symbols and Meanings: What’s Behind the Gift
Every gift has both material and symbolic value. For example:
Books — a sign of trust or intellectual connection
Flowers — short but meaningful emotional messages
Food — warmth, care, shared experience
Crafts — respect for culture and uniqueness
Small details, such as the origin, wrapping, or an attached note, form part of the gift's “language.”
Gifting in an Era of Social Change
Today, gifts are increasingly becoming acts of communication rather than consumption. We are not simply giving “objects” — we’re sending messages: “I’m thinking of you,” “I understand you,” “You matter to me.”
In an age of abundance and constant motion, light, unpretentious, and intentional gestures are valued more than ever. A mini cake, a single flower, a handmade card, a spontaneous note—these gifts speak of attention and emotional awareness.
Conclusion
Gifts are cultural markers. Through them, we learn how a society constructs relationships, what it values, and how it expresses respect or affection. Observing how gifting traditions change allows us to track broader transformations — from ethics to economics.
Modern gifts are becoming quieter, lighter, and more mindful. This shift signals that it’s not what we give that matters most, but how—and why—we deliver it.