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  • Japan PM faces reckoning in upper house election

    Japan PM faces reckoning in upper house election

    Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba faces a reckoning from voters on Sunday with upper house elections that could end his premiership and see a right-wing populist party make inroads.

    With many Japanese hurt by rising prices, especially for rice, opinion polls suggest that Ishiba’s governing coalition could lose its majority in the upper house.

    This could be the final nail for Ishiba, having already been humiliatingly forced into a minority government after lower house elections in October.

    “Ishiba may need to step down,” Toru Yoshida, a politics professor at Doshisha University, told AFP.

    Japan could “step into an unknown dimension of the ruling government being a minority in both the lower house and the upper house, which Japan has never experienced since World War II,” Yoshida said.

    Ishiba’s centre-right Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has governed Japan almost continuously since 1955, albeit with frequent changes of leader.

    Ishiba, 68, a self-avowed defence “geek” and train enthusiast, reached the top of the greasy pole last September on his fifth attempt and immediately called elections.

    But this backfired and the vote left the LDP and its small coalition partner Komeito needing support from opposition parties, stymying its legislative agenda.

    “Energy prices have swung sharply in recent months, as the government has flip-flopped between removing aid for household energy bills and adding new supports,” said Stefan Angrick at Moody’s Analytics.

    – Trumped –

    Out of 248 seats in the upper house, 125 are up for grabs on Sunday. The coalition needs 50 of these to keep a majority.

    Not helping is lingering resentment about an LDP funding scandal, and US tariffs of 25 percent due to bite from August 1 if there is no trade deal with the United States.

    Japan’s massive auto industry, which accounts for eight percent of the country’s jobs, is reeling from painful levies already in place.

    Weak export data last week stoked fears that the world’s fourth-largest economy could tip into a technical recession.

    Despite Ishiba securing an early meeting with US President Donald Trump in February, and sending his trade envoy to Washington seven times, there has been no accord.

    Trump last week poured cold water on the prospects of an agreement, saying Japan won’t “open up their country”.

    “We will not easily compromise,” Ishiba said earlier this month.

    Ishiba’s apparently maximalist strategy of insisting all tariffs are cut to zero — although this could change post-election — has also drawn criticism.

    “How well his government is able to handle negotiations over US tariffs is extremely important, as it’s important for the LDP to increase trust among the public,” Masahisa Endo, politics professor at Waseda University, told AFP.

    – ‘Japanese first’ –

    The last time the LDP and Komeito failed to win a majority in the upper house was in 2010, having already fallen below the threshold in 2007.

    That was followed by a rare change of government in 2009, when the now-defunct Democratic Party of Japan governed for a rocky three years.

    Today the opposition is fragmented, and chances are slim that the parties can form an alternative government.

    One making inroads is the “Japanese-first” Sanseito, which opinion poll suggest could win more than 10 upper house seats, up from two now.

    The party wants “stricter rules and limits” on immigration, opposes “globalism” and “radical” gender policies, and wants a re-think on decarbonisation and vaccines.

    Last week it was forced to deny any links to Moscow — which has backed populist parties elsewhere — after a candidate was interviewed by Russian state media.

    “They put into words what I had been thinking about but couldn’t put into words for many years,” one voter told AFP at a Sanseito rally.

    bur-stu/fox

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  • Key Takeaways for Asset Managers: SEC Speaks 2025

    Key Takeaways for Asset Managers: SEC Speaks 2025

    In late May 2025, the SEC Commissioners and senior staff across the agency spent two days at “SEC Speaks” discussing the SEC’s priorities under newly installed Chairman Paul Atkins, providing the first significant window into the new SEC. It is clear that this SEC plans to make substantial shifts, including granting retail investors greater access to private funds that could be a robust benefit to both investors and private fund advisers. Equally clear, however, is that while there has been some movement in SEC priorities away from compliance-only charges, the Divisions of Examinations and Enforcement will remain active, including continuing to pursue historical fee and expenses cases.

    1) Look for Opportunities to Innovate in the Securities Markets

    Chairman Atkins began SEC Speaks with a speech focusing on innovation, promising a “new day at the SEC.” While much of the remarks’ particulars focused on crypto markets, Chairman Atkins highlighted various instances in the SEC’s history when, in his view, the SEC fostered innovation with respect to all manner of market issues. Chairman Atkins’ emphasis on the SEC’s embrace of entrepreneurial approaches and technologies strongly suggests that he will be open to innovation beyond the crypto markets.

    2) Engage in Constructive Dialogue with the SEC Staff

    Throughout SEC Speaks, the Commissioners and the SEC staff emphasized their openness to dialogue and collaboration with the industry. The SEC staff highlighted recent and forthcoming guidance and rulemaking with reminders that the staff are open to questions and feedback from affected parties. For example, the Division of Corporation Finance suggested firms develop targeted questions for the SEC staff after discussing the issues with their outside counsel and auditors, and encouraged seeking no-action relief. The Division of Examinations also encouraged open dialogue and communications between the SEC staff and registrants throughout the exam stages.

    Although the prior SEC also invited conversations with the industry, the SEC’s actions since January 20, 2025 suggest that such efforts to engage with the regulator will lead to more productive results. Recent helpful guidance that was based on reach outs includes (i) the March 12, 2025 no-action letter establishing a new method of verifying accredited investor status for funds relying on 506(c) of Regulation D and (ii) updated and enhanced FAQs regarding performance reporting under the Marketing Rule.

    Now is the time to identify issues for which engagement with the SEC staff would be beneficial to your business or the industry. This could include an idea for a new product, or identifying a challenge an existing SEC rule or guidance poses to the industry.

    3) Increase Retail Investor Access to Private Funds by Revisiting Limits on Who Can Invest in Closed-End Funds with Significant Private Funds Investments

    Both Chairman Atkins and Division of Investment Management leadership specifically stated an intent to review prior limits the SEC staff had placed on who could invest in closed-end funds that were significantly invested in private funds. Since 2002, the SEC staff had taken the position that an unlisted closed-end fund investing in underlying private funds (meaning funds that would be investment companies but for the exceptions outlined in sections 3(c)(1) or 3(c)(7) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended) must either: 1) limit the private fund investments to 15% of its assets or 2) restrict sales of its own shares to investors that meet accredited investors requirements and impose a minimum initial investment requirement of $25,000 (the “2002 Limits”). The SEC will revisit the 2002 Limits in order to “increase investment opportunities for retail investors seeking to diversify their investment allocation in line with their investment time horizon and risk tolerance.”

    Notably, Chairman Atkins stated that such increased access could be justified given “the increased oversight and enhanced reporting by both private fund advisers and registered funds.” Consistent with that framing, staff of the Division of Investment Management noted they would be attuned to disclosures regarding conflicts of interest, fees, and liquidity, and the Division of Enforcement multiple times noted they would continue to enforce the fiduciary duty under both the duty of loyalty and duty of care standards, as well as material failures to file required reports. As the SEC revisits these issues, private fund advisers should consider how (if at all) they want to expand the pool of investors for their funds.

    4) Continue Compliance Programs to Prevent Harm and Misuse of MNPI

    As the SEC is seeking to expand retail investor access to alternative investments, private fund managers should keep in mind that harm, especially as it relates to retail investors or vulnerable populations, was a recurring theme at SEC Speaks. Additionally, as noted above, at least three speakers from the Division of Enforcement referenced continuing focus from the Division on an investment adviser’s fiduciary duty, which will continue to be pursued under a negligence standard. Relevant to asset managers, the following enforcement issues were emphasized by the staff:

    • The Chief of the Asset Management Unit emphasized enforcing the fiduciary duty and harm, but also made a point of continuing to enforce certain rules even absent harm, including the Custody Rule and Section 204A’s requirement to have reasonable policies and procedures to prevent the misuse of material non-public information.
    • The Chief of the Market Abuse Unit revisited the long list of cases the SEC has previously brought alleging insider trading and cherry-picking, indicating such misconduct will continue to be a priority.
    • The Chief of the new Cyber and Emerging Technologies Unit will prioritize (i) the misuse of technology to commit fraud, (ii) false statements surrounding the use of emerging technologies (e.g., artificial intelligence), and (iii) the use of malware and other devices for hacking to enable securities fraud.

    Notably, there was no mention of the e-communications sweep or shadow trading that helped to characterize the Division under the prior SEC, and the focus on harm strongly indicates we are unlikely to see such cases or standalone compliance cases absent extreme instances of non-compliance or some other conduct resulting in harm. That said, the SEC staff was very clear that enforcement actions against investment advisers will continue.

    5) Expect a More Robust Wells Process in Enforcement Investigations

    The Commission staff emphasized its willingness to meet with registrants’ representatives to usher in more productive conversations and a more robust Wells process. Staff was nevertheless clear that this attention to process will not open the door to multiple meetings with senior leadership

    1 Paul S. Atkins, Chairman, Prepared Remarks Before SEC Speaks (May 19, 2025). (go back)

    2 See Latham & Watkins LLP (March 12, 2025) no-action letter (allowing more efficient verification for investors whose commitments exceed certain dollar thresholds). On March 17, 2025, Fried Frank issued a Client Memorandum with our insights regarding the guidance and no-action letter: https:// www.friedfrank.com/news-and-insights/sec-issues-helpful-guidance-regarding-verification-ofaccredited-investor-status-for-private-offerings-relying-on-rule-506-c-12318. (go back)

    3 On March 21, 2025, Fried Frank issued a Client Memorandum with our insights regarding the updated FAQs: https://www.friedfrank.com/news-and-insights/updated-sec-marketing-rule-faqsease-adviser-presentation-of-extracted-performance-and-certain-characteristics-12331. (go back)

    4 Paul S. Atkins, Chairman, Prepared Remarks Before SEC Speaks (May 19, 2025). (go back)

    5 Id. (go back)

    6 The SEC frequently uses data analytics to identify potential insider trading, and the Consolidated Audit Trail (“CAT”) was anticipated to be a huge repository for the SEC to conduct such analysis. During his opening speech, however, Chairman Atkins said that he has “instructed the staff to undertake a comprehensive review of the CAT” to examine not only cost, but also the scope of the data that is reported and collected, thus indicating that changes to the CAT are likely. (go back)

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  • Pokemon GO Quaxly Community Day Guide: All Bonuses, Featured Move, Research Tasks, Best Tips and Tricks, and More | Esports News

    Pokemon GO Quaxly Community Day Guide: All Bonuses, Featured Move, Research Tasks, Best Tips and Tricks, and More | Esports News

    Pokemon GO Quaxly Community Day (Image via Niantic)

    Get ready, Trainers! The adorable Duckling Pokemon, is stepping into the spotlight for July’s Pokemon GO Quaxly Community Day. Set to take place on Sunday, July 20, 2025, from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM local time, this event brings a flood of bonuses, shiny chances, and exciting research rewards.

    Pokemon GO Quaxly Community Day Event Details

    – Date: Sunday, July 20, 2025– Time: 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM local time– Featured Pokemon: Quaxly– Shiny Debut: Yes, shiny Quaxly, Quaxwell, and Quaquaval will be available!

    Pokemon GO Quaxly Community Day Bonuses

    Bonus Duration Details
    Increased Quaxly spawns Event hours Quaxly will appear more frequently in the wild
    3× Catch Stardust 2 PM – 5 PM Great for grinding Stardust
    2× Catch Candy 2 PM – 5 PM Level up Pokémon faster
    2× Chance to receive Candy XL 2 PM – 5 PM Great for high-level Trainers
    3-hour Incense & Lures 2 PM – 5 PM Excludes Daily Adventure & Golden Lure
    +1 Special Trade 2 PM – 10 PM Up to 3 Special Trades
    50% less Stardust for trades 2 PM – 10 PM Trade more efficiently

    Pokemon GO Quaxly Community Day Featured Attack

    Evolve Quaxwell during the event or up to Sunday, July 27 at 10:00 PM to get Quaquaval that knows the exclusive Charged Attack: Hydro Cannon.

    Move Type Trainer Battles Gym and Raids
    Hydro Cannon Water 80 power 90 power

    New Permanent Move:

    Quaquaval will also be able to learn Aqua Step going forward.

    Move Type Trainer Battles Gyms and Raids
    Aqua Step Water 55 power + raises Attack by 1 stage 55 power

    Extra Features during the Pokemon GO

    – Photobomb: Snap AR photos for surprise Quaxly appearances!– PokéStop Showcases: Look for active Showcases near you.

    Pokemon GO Quaxly Community Day Field & Special Research

    Field Research Tasks

    Complete simple tasks like “Catch 3 Quaxly” to earn:– Stardust– Poké Balls– Bonus Quaxly encounters– Possible Special Background Quaxly via:– Winning a 5-star raid– Trading a Pokemon– Completing a Party Challenge

    $2 Special Research: Pokemon GO Quaxly Community Day

    Quaxly in the anime

    Quaxly in the anime (Image via The Pokemon Company)

    Step 1

    – Use 5 Berries → Quaxly– Catch 5 Pokemon → Star Piece– Make 5 Great Throws → 50 Quaxly Candy– Spin 3 Stops/Gyms → Incense– Explore 1 km → 3× Silver Pinap– Do 2 Field Research Tasks → 30× Ultra BallsReward: Quaxly, 7500 XP, 1× Premium Battle Pass

    Step 2

    Catch 3, 5, 10, 15, and 20 Pokemon — all reward Quaxly!Reward: Quaxly, 7500 XP, 30× Quaxly Candy

    Step 3

    – Send 3 Gifts (with stickers) → Quaxwell– Earn 3 Buddy Hearts → Rocket Radar– Transfer 10 Pokemon → 5× Quaxly XL Candy– Evolve 2 Pokemon → 3× Rare Candy– Power up 10 Pokemon → Charged TM– Earn 3000 XP → QuaquavalReward: Quaxly, 10,000 XP, 1× Quaxly encounter

    Pokemon GO Quaxly Community Day Timed Research

    Login during Community Day to access a week-long Timed Research, ending Sunday, July 27 at 10 PM. Completing tasks across five days yields:

    Task Reward
    Catch on Day 1 1000 XP
    Catch on Day 2 Quaxly
    Catch on Day 3 1000 Stardust
    Catch on Day 4 Quaxly
    Catch on Day 5 5000 XP

    How to get the Special Background Quaxly

    While completing these tasks, you will encounter a few Quaxly. One of these encounters will have the Delightful Days special background and increased shiny odds.

    Shiny Quaxly Family Preview in Pokemon GO

    – Shiny Quaxly – Teal and green color palette– Shiny Quaxwell – More vibrant blue– Shiny Quaquaval – Color-shifted feathers and striking patterns

    Final Tips to enjoy the Pokemon GO Quaxly Community Day

    – Use Star Pieces and Incense early to maximize gains– Prioritize evolving Quaxwell during or after the event for Hydro Cannon– Trade and power up with reduced Stardust cost– Hunt those Shiny Quaxly and Showcases!Make the most of July’s Community Day and get quacking with Quaxly!


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  • Marcus Armstrong Continues to Impress, Climb in Standings

    Marcus Armstrong Continues to Impress, Climb in Standings

    Marcus Armstrong continued his strong run of form by qualifying third in the No. 66 SiriusXM/Root Insurance Honda for Sunday’s Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto.

    “It was a good day in the office,” Armstrong said. “The lap felt pretty average if I’m brutally honest.”

    The result ties Armstrong’s best career NTT INDYCAR SERIES start in his 42nd attempt. His best finish is third, most recently achieved last Sunday at Iowa Speedway.

    Armstrong has surged from 16th to seventh in points, powered by seven top-nine finishes in his last eight starts.

    “We’re on a bit of a roll right now, so (Sunday) could be a good one,” he said.

    Together with Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb-Agajanian teammates Felix Rosenqvist and Helio Castroneves (Indianapolis 500-only starter), MSR has tallied a team-record 17 top-10s in a single season, led laps in eight of 12 races and earned multiple podiums for the first time in team history.

    Armstrong finished fifth in Toronto last year, driving for Chip Ganassi Racing. MSR’s best Toronto finish came last year with a sixth from David Malukas.

    “Love the circuit from the first laps I drove around here in 2023,” Armstrong said. “It’s a track that I enjoy going to and a city that I really love and even go to in the offseason. Cool place and cool fans. Had some decent results here the last two years.”

    Sunday’s race coverage begins at noon ET on FOX, FOX Sports app and INDYCAR Radio Network.

    Palou Makes Fast Six for First Time in Toronto

    Alex Palou earned his best career start at Toronto by qualifying second in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing.

    In his previous three Toronto starts, Palou was eliminated in the opening round of qualifying, starting 22nd, 15th and 18th, respectively.

    “We’ve normally been struggling quite a lot here in Toronto,” Palou said. “Honestly, our target was to try and start up front. It’s a surprise that we’re starting on the front row, honestly.”

    This marks Palou’s sixth front-row start of the season. He said the car improved with each run on track this weekend, including qualifying, a promising sign for him but scary for the 26 other drivers who battle him in Sunday’s 90-lap race.

    The three-time series champion has shown an ability to charge through the field in Toronto, finishing sixth, second and fourth in previous starts. With just one spot left to gain, he’ll look to earn his eighth win of the season on Sunday.

    “Super proud of everybody’s work,” Palou said. “Happy to be starting on the front row.”

    Kirkwood Believes He Threw Away a Pole

    Back on May 31 in Detroit, Kirkwood believed he had a car capable of winning the NTT P1 Award but made a mistake and settled for third on the grid for the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear. He ultimately rebounded to win the race.

    On Saturday in Toronto, a similar story played out. Kirkwood made another mistake during the Firestone Fast Six round. The No. 27 Silver Gold Bull Honda for Andretti Global was on a one-lap strategy to go for pole, but a near-crash just before crossing the timing line spoiled the effort, leaving him sixth on the starting grid.

    “Definitely just gave away a pole, without a doubt,” Kirkwood said. “Just started the lap — the first time all weekend that happened to me — got a huge snap, a bit of understeer. The one time I go through there when it matters for a pole, it bottoms out and I get a huge snap.

    “Unfortunately, it just feels like I’m throwing away poles left and right on street courses. That one didn’t feel very good, if I’m being honest. Very, very disappointed with that performance. I tried to come into pit lane because I knew the lap was already shot and wanted to get fuel to try another run, but they said no. In hindsight, that probably cost us a few positions because I didn’t even complete a lap, So yeah, a lot of dumb things.”

    Despite the disappointment, Kirkwood has proven he can bounce back. He leads the series with a 2.33 average finish on street courses and finished second in Toronto last year, just behind teammate Colton Herta. He was quickest in Friday’s practice session and second on Saturday morning.

    Herta Sweeps Street Course Qualifying Front Rows

    Herta earned NTT P1 Award honors at Toronto, completing a clean sweep of front row starts on street circuits this season.

    Along with his pole in Detroit, Herta also qualified second at both the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding and the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach.

    “I think it just shows what this team is capable of on street courses,” Herta said. “We continue to be, I feel, a dominant force in the league when it comes to that style of racing.”

    Though winless so far this season, Herta won last year’s Toronto race from pole and has claimed three of his nine career victories on street circuits. He’s also been consistently strong in Toronto, finishing second, third, and first in his last three starts.

    “They keep impressing me every time we come here,” Herta said. “The car’s still that much faster than everybody else.”

    Changes To Turn 3

    The city of Toronto laid new asphalt in the braking zone at Turn 3 on Friday night, following requests from drivers who noted a newly developed bump since the series last visited in July 2024. Harsh Canadian winters had worsened the surface, making cars unstable under heavy braking and potentially compromising overtaking opportunities in what is considered the best passing zone on the circuit.

    “I think they need to grind it,” Will Power said after Friday’s practice. “It will hurt the racing. I’m very apprehensive about going up the inside. There’s a massive new bump at the end of the straight, right in the braking zone.”

    Herta believed that spot was much better on Saturday.

    “It was pretty brutal yesterday,” he said. “I didn’t really mind it because I think it adds character and whatnot. But it was on a limit. It was very aggressive. I think you saw quite a few guys have mistakes because of it.

    “It’s a very difficult part of the track to be standing on the brakes like that and have the bump there.

    “I thought INDYCAR did a good job. I think there are no problems at all with it.”

    Odds And Ends

    · Arrow McLaren confirmed that both Pato O’Ward and Christian Lundgaard will have new Chevrolet engines installed for Sunday’s race. According to team principal Tony Kanaan, the change was prompted by Chevrolet after detecting a potential issue. As this will be the fourth engine of the season for each driver – within the limit — no grid penalties will be applied. O’Ward rolls off 10th. Lundgaard starts 19th. The 2023 race winner started 16th and climbed to seventh last year.

    · Scott McLaughlin admitted to making a driver error by missing the Turn 5 apex during his qualifying run and will start 15th in the No. 3 Gallagher Insurance Team Penske Chevrolet. He was second and fourth, respectively, in practice this weekend and had averaged a fifth-place starting position in three previous street course starts this season. This marks the first-time in four Toronto appearances that McLaughlin was eliminated in the opening round of qualifying, having previously started sixth, second and fourth, respectively.

    · Callum Ilott had 20.5 average starting spot through the opening eight races of the season. Ilott starts 12th in the No. 90 PREMA Racing Chevrolet and improved to 15th the last five races.

    · Kyffin Simpson will start 14th in the No. 8 Journie Rewards Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, marking his best street course start this season. He previously climbed from 17th to finish 10th at Long Beach and surged from 19th to finish fifth in Detroit.

    · Will Power will start fourth in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet, the fourth time he has qualified in that position at Toronto. He previously won the race from fourth in 2016.

    · By qualifying fifth, Graham Rahal (No. 15 United Rentals Honda) earned his first Toronto top-five start since qualifying second in 2017. He finished ninth that year. Rahal also qualified fifth in Detroit but suffered a six-spot grid penalty for an engine change.

    · Honda has won 11 of the 12 races this season and 12 of the last 13 on street circuit events dating back to Toronto in 2022. The manufacturer also secured eight of the top nine starting positions for Sunday’s race.

    · Andretti Global and Chip Ganassi Racing drivers combined for nine of the last 12 top-three finishes at Exhibition Place, including a podium sweep last year. Their drivers share the front row and have three of the top six starters.

    · Green Flag for Sunday’s 90-lap race is 12:22 p.m. ET on FOX, FOX Sports app and INDYCAR Radio Network.


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  • Scheffler seizes control | The 153rd Open

    Scheffler seizes control | The 153rd Open

    “It was incredible. It was so much fun,” he said.

    “I got off to the perfect start, 3-under through 4. I felt like at the end of the front nine there, at least through 11, the par on 7 felt like a bogey, and then the bogey on 11.

    “Then to play those last seven holes at 3-under I thought was a good effort. Yeah, I played well. I rode my luck at times, but yeah, it was an incredible atmosphere out there. I feel like I’ve at least given myself half a chance tomorrow.”

    Fitzpatrick frustrated while compatriots shine

    Matt Fitzpatrick started the day just a shot adrift of Scheffler but now has five to make up after a frustrating day.

    His short putting has been a hindrance at times throughout the week and a miss from inside five feet for par on the 1st was far from the tone setter he was hoping for.

    He responded with a chip-in eagle at the 2nd and a birdie at 7 kept him in touch.

    But three bogeys on the way in proved damaging for one of only three players in the top 33 not to shoot under-par.

    Tyrrell Hatton enjoyed one of the moments of the day, holing out from 140 yards for an eagle on the 7th, and carded a 68 to stand at eight-under. A bogey at 16 was his only blemish and just as at last month’s US Open, he enters the final day at the business end.

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  • Amy Jones’s steady hands steer England past India in dramatic second women’s ODI | Women’s cricket

    Amy Jones’s steady hands steer England past India in dramatic second women’s ODI | Women’s cricket

    Sophia Dunkley struck the winning boundary with three overs to spare as England overcame India and the rain at Lord’s to level the one-day international series, but that was only half the story in a match which was always in danger of being overshadowed by an incident which took place three years ago, the last time India played at this ground.

    If you’ve not yet seen the blockbuster trailer directed by Bend It Like Beckham’s Gurinder Chadha, shot at Lord’s by the England and Wales Cricket Board to promote its 2025 summer of cricket, make sure to search it out. It’s a slightly odd piece of theatre involving Heather Knight, Lauren Filer and Danni Wyatt-Hodge, which culminates in Wyatt-Hodge attempting to run out Filer with a samosa.

    None of the above were actually on show at Lord’s on Saturday – Knight is injured, Wyatt-Hodge is not in the ODI squad, and Filer was dropped for this fixture in favour of Em Arlott – but the key players on this stage were actually a different pair. Because, of course, the “Whack It Like Wyatt-Hodge” trailer was gently poking fun at the storm which erupted in September 2022, when Deepti Sharma controversially ran out Charlie Dean at the non-striker’s end.

    On Saturday, therefore, there was inevitably a certain frisson when Deepti came to the crease with India 72 for five, and quickly found herself facing Dean. A crowd that had patiently sat through the four-hour rain delay, which meant the match was reduced to 29 overs a side, were suddenly on the edge of their seats.

    Deepti narrowly survived the first ball of Dean’s second spell, which turned sharply and beat her bat. But she then saw off her remaining 11 balls without theatrics – eventually progressing to an unbeaten 30 as she tried to wrestle back some advantage for India, who struggled to 143 for eight on a pitch made stodgy by the rain.

    Charlie Dean boots the ball away after taking a catch off Smriti Mandhana. Photograph: Steven Paston/PA

    Dean had to be content with holding on to a catch at extra cover to see off Smriti Mandhana for 42, after earlier taking the return catch proffered up by Jemimah Rodrigues. Sophie Ecclestone, meanwhile, took three for 27, including rattling the stumps of Harmanpreet Kaur after Sophia Dunkley had twice let off the India captain at cover.

    Perhaps this match might pass without controversy, despite the recent tensions between these sides (Pratika Rawal was fined 10% of her match fee this week after barging Ecclestone and Filer during the first ODI at Southampton)? No: it was simply biding its time. The real drama came in the second act, in the fifth over of England’s run chase, when Tammy Beaumont appeared to deliberately kick the ball out of the way of the wicketkeeper, Richa Ghosh. Ghosh appealed for Beaumont to be given out obstructing the field, the umpires referred it upstairs, but Jacqueline Williams adjudged that Beaumont had merely been making her way back to her crease after deciding against taking a single.

    “Richa [Ghosh] and Jemi [Rodrigues] definitely felt that maybe she kicked it, but the umpires referred it and it was not out,” Mandhana said. As for the fact that the bowler who sent down the ball in question happened to be Deepti Sharma? “We cracked a joke about Lord’s and Deepti.”

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    Tammy Beaumont in discussions with the umpires after India thought she had obstructed the field. Photograph: Philip Brown/Getty Images

    Amy Jones described the incident as “weird”. “I’ve never been out there for one of those before,” she said. “Tammy had no intent of actually obstructing them, she was just trying to get back into her crease.”

    Beaumont added just nine more runs before Sneh Rana trapped her leg-before, attempting a reverse sweep, but – after a brief further delay for rain, in which five more overs were lost and England’s target was revised to 115 – an unbeaten 46 from Jones ensured England eventually got across the line with relative ease. That was despite an attempt at time-wasting by India, who referred a not-out caught-behind decision against Dunkley, despite Ghosh being overheard on the stump microphone telling Harmanpreet that Dunkley had not made contact with the ball. “We tried not to get drawn into it,” Jones said.

    The series decider takes place at Durham on Tuesday: don’t be surprised if there is more drama still to come.

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  • Google Maps navigation missing media controls on Android 

    Google Maps navigation missing media controls on Android 

    After the deprecation of Assistant Driving Mode earlier this year, Google Maps is now missing media playback controls for YouTube Music and Spotify on Android.

    With the removal of Driving Mode, users had to use the “Show media playback controls” feature that works with apps like YouTube Music and Spotify. 

    When navigating, this extends the bottom sheet with a bar that has album art, song name, and artist at the left. In addition to playback controls at the right, tapping “Browse” shows nine suggestions to quickly switch. There’s also a shortcut to “Open YouTube Music.”

    Enabling this blocks the bottom half of the “Report” button, but it’s still tappable. 

    Advertisement – scroll for more content

    Old vs. new

    As of Google Maps 25.28 (stable) and 25.29 (beta), these media controls have disappeared over the past week or so. Settings > Navigation loses the “Show media playback controls” toggle and “Default media app” option. 

    It’s unclear whether this is a bug as the feature remains available on iOS today. Without  Assistant Driving Mode, Google Maps really should provide easy access to media controls. Hopefully, this is not an intentional removal. 

    More on Google Maps:

    Thanks Dan

    FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

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  • Football gossip: Sancho, Ekitike, Kolo Muani, Wharton, Estupinan, Ferguson, Sterling, Pickford

    Football gossip: Sancho, Ekitike, Kolo Muani, Wharton, Estupinan, Ferguson, Sterling, Pickford

    Juventus ready to meet Jadon Sancho asking price, Newcastle and Manchester United target Randal Kolo Muani, and Liverpool remain favourites to sign Adam Wharton from Crystal Palace.

    England winger Jadon Sancho’s switch from Manchester United to Juventus is close to being completed as the two clubs have finalised some details of the 25-year-old’s move. (Tuttosport – in Italian)

    Juventus are ready to meet Manchester United’s 25m euros (£21.6m) asking price for Sancho, who is in full agreement with the Serie A giants over a four-year contract worth 6m euros (£5.2m) per year. (Sportmediaset – in Italian)

    Liverpool have submitted an offer of £69m plus add-ons – £78m in total – for Eintracht Frankfurt’s 23-year-old French striker Hugo Ekitike. (Sky Sports)

    Liverpool are favourites to land Crystal Palace and England midfielder Adam Wharton, 21, over Tottenham – but not until next summer, as the player wants to spend another year at Selhurst Park. (Sun on Sunday)

    Barcelona will pay all of Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford’s £325,000-a-week salary in the deal which is set to take the 27-year-old England international to the Spanish club on an initial season-long loan. (Times – subscription required)

    Manchester United and Newcastle have identified Paris St-Germain’s France striker Randal Kolo Muani, 26, as a priority target following last season’s successful loan spell at Juventus. (Footmercato – in French)

    Everton and England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, 31, is close to signing a new four-year deal at the Merseyside club. (Sun on Sunday)

    AC Milan are looking to close a deal with Brighton to sign the Premier League club’s Ecuador left-back Pervis Estupinan, 27, as a replacement for France defender Theo Hernandez, 27, following his move to Al-Hilal. (Gianluca di Marzio)

    Bayern Munich are making progress in their attempts to sign Liverpool forward Luis Diaz after having two bids rejected, with the two clubs expected to hold a meeting soon about the 28-year-old Colombia international. (Bild – in German)

    Evan Ferguson is set to join Roma on loan from Brighton after the Serie A side reached a verbal agreement, including a 40m euro (£34.6m) option to buy the 20-year-old Republic of Ireland striker. (Fabrizio Romano)

    Fenerbahce have agreed deals to bring in Slovakia defender Milan Skriniar, 30, and Spain attacking midfielder Marco Asensio, 29, from Paris St-Germain. (Footmercato – in French)

    Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, 36, has turned down an offer from Al-Ettifaq after leaving Al-Qadsiah and the ex-Arsenal forward has instead chosen to join Marseille. (Footmercato – in French)

    Chelsea hope to sell England winger Raheem Sterling for around £20m, recouping some of the £47.5m they paid Manchester City three years ago for the 30-year-old. (Sun on Sunday)

    Atletico Madrid could be forced to sell England midfielder Conor Gallagher, 25, after exceeding the number of non-EU players they are allowed to register under La Liga rules. (Cope via Goal)

    Tottenham are in talks with Bayern Munich to buy Portugal midfielder Joao Palhinha, but would have to pay the Bundesliga champions £26m for the 30-year-old. (Christian Falk)

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  • Young Singapore squad enjoys first badminton success at Rhine-Ruhr 2025

    Young Singapore squad enjoys first badminton success at Rhine-Ruhr 2025

    While many badminton teams arrived in Germany with well-known international players, Singapore — and several other nations — are represented by emerging student-athletes. Although they may not be famous yet, these young talents are eager to make their mark at major events like the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games.

    On Saturday, 19 July, on the consolation side of the bracket, Sabrina Lee and Seo Shien Grace Tan clinched a 3-2 win for Singapore over Macau, China in mixed team quarterfinal action with a 2-0 win in the deciding duel. Remarkably, it was Lee’s first career victory on the international stage.

    Teamwork makes the dream work

    Facing strong competition from other Asian countries early in the tournament, the Singaporeans were rattled at first. But Lee knows best how to deal with stressful situations.

    “It was nerve-wracking, but I tried to let go of everything else and pretended I was just playing for fun with my friends. We laughed a lot and smiled a lot. Having Seo Shien Grace as my partner also helped, because she’s always smiling and laughing. That makes me feel much more relaxed,” she explained after the match. 

    The bond between the two student-athletes extends beyond the court. They often share meals together, which has strengthened their teamwork.

    “We aren’t professional athletes, just students,” Lee pointed out, emphasizing the importance of enjoying the experience and fun of playing as much as the competition itself. But having a great team isn’t the only key to success. Hard training and healthy eating are just as essential. “We need to take care of ourselves before coming here. That means, sadly, no fast food from McDonald’s for us right now,” she added with a laugh.

    A new shooting star to watch?

    Their teammate Sharifah Danial praised Lee and Tan for their performance. “We’re very proud of them. The two played even better than I did,” he summed up.

    This win has Team Singapore dreaming big, especially after their previous losses to the Republic of Korea, a badminton heavyweight, and Ukraine.

    Heading into a consolation semifinal tilt against Poland on Sunday, 20 July, Singapore looks stronger and more confident. Looking ahead, Danial believes her side is prepared for whatever lies ahead. Approaching upcoming matches with a playful yet positive mindset, Team Singapore is ready to take on the challenge.

    The Rhine-Ruhr 2025 badminton mixed team final is also set for Sunday.

    The Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games take place from 16-27 July. Watch all the competitions live on fisu.tv. Click on the link to find the full schedule.

    Written by Johanna Horn, FISU Young Reporter, Germany

    The Young Reporters Programme exemplifies FISU’s commitment to more than sports competitions. At every FISU World University Games, a group of talented aspiring sports journalists are chosen to cover the competition.

    We warmly thank FISU Official Partner Qiaodan Ltd. which provides remarkable uniforms to FISU Family and International Technical Officials since 2015. Qiaodan is a valuable partner for FISU as it continued to provide its support during the postponement of events due to the global pandemic, and recently extended the relationship with FISU up to and including 2025.

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  • Japanese can maker says it’s OK to microwave cans with their new invention

    Japanese can maker says it’s OK to microwave cans with their new invention

    Daiwa Can, whose latest product, called the Range de Can, claims to let us microwave metal cans with impunity. It’s quite simply just a plastic cap, or rather an anti-cap, as it goes on the bottom of the can rather than the top.

    According to Daiwa Can, the hazard of microwaving cans is that the bombardment of microwaves can cause free electrons in the can’s metal to come loose and ionize the air around it. This is most likely to occur near the bottom of the can, where the space is tight and microwaves/ionized air can become more dense, creating little lightning storms.

    ▼ On the left side, a normal can in a microwave lights up like the Fourth of July, but on the right Range de Can provides enough clearance so electricity is less likely to arc.

    Range de Can fixes this simply by putting more space between the can and the bottom of the microwave. This reduces the chances of ionized air condensing and triggering sparks. According to Daiwa Can’s testing, the chances of sparking drop from 28.3 percent to 0 percent when Range de Can is used.

    There are some very important things to note before using this item though. First, you have to open the can. Keeping it closed could cause pressure to build up inside until it explodes and creates a much bigger problem than a few sparks.

    Secondly, it’s very important to note that metal reflects microwaves, so the food inside might not cook so well. On the other hand, the metal can could also transfer the heat of the food throughout it more easily than other materials, so depending on the size and shape, it could all balance out.

    Thirdly, neither microwaves nor cans are all created equally. Some ovens might have certain layouts or wattages that Range de Can isn’t prepared to handle. Also, some cans use certain plastic or chemical linings that aren’t meant to be heated in a microwave and could affect the quality of the food inside, so make sure you know what you’re working with.

    ▼ Thermal imaging of a can of Pacific saury in miso sauce heated with Range de Can.

    screenshot-2025-07-14-at-15-32-46.png

    In all of Range de Can’s promotional images, a can of fish is shown. This would make sense since these cans are shallow enough for the food to heat up more thoroughly than taller cans. This kind of fish is also cooked while inside the can during manufacturing, meaning the material of the can is designed to safely withstand high temperatures.

    This item is not quite at the mass production stage yet, though, so more detailed information about what can and cannot be used by Range de Can may come out by the time it goes on sale. For now, however, it appears more suited to a nice can of mackerel than some Chef Boyardee, but good luck finding Chef Boyardee in Japan anyway.

    Source: Daiwa Can, PR Times, NariNari.com

    Images: PR Times

    Read more stories from SoraNews24.

    — Sony Warns Not to Put Your Gaming Console in the Microwave, Leaves Online Community Dumbfounded

    — Canned fish rings now on sale at capsule machines across Japan!

    — Fact: CDs and Candles Produce Stunning Effects When Microwaved (Don’t Try This at Home)

    • External Link

    • https://soranews24.com/2025/07/14/japanese-can-maker-says-its-ok-to-microwave-cans-with-their-new-invention/

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