England face huge first innings deficit as batting fails to fire again

England are facing a huge deficit after the first innings of the third Ashes Test in Adelaide as they trail Australia by 158 runs with two wickets remaining heading into day three.

The hosts took control of the Test after being dismissed for 371 runs in the morning of day two with Jofra Archer claiming the final two wickets despite England allowing Australia to score a further 45 runs.

England’s reply started well enough with Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett showing signs of a more focused batting style only for Crawley to lose his wicket to a moving delivery from Pat Cummins. That dismissal sparked a collapse of three wickets for just five runs and England found themselves chasing the game.

Harry Brook made a well earned 45 before nicking a good ball from Cameron Green but the wickets continued to fall. Nathan Lyon took two in an over to overtake Glenn McGrath’s record and become the second highest wicket-taker in Australian history while Cummins finished with 3-47.

Ben Stokes (45*) and Archer (30*) ended the day with a partnership of 45 and both batters will resume in the morning with England needing to cut the gap as much as possible.

Follow updates from day two of the third Ashes Test below.

Australia to change hate speech laws after Bondi Beach attack

Anthony Albanese has announced a significant expansion of Australia’s hate speech laws following the deadly terrorist attack on Sydney’s Jewish community at Bondi Beach on Sunday.

Speaking after a meeting of the National Security Committee, the Australian prime minister outlined a suite of legislative and policy changes aimed at lowering the threshold for prosecuting hate speech, particularly targeting religious preachers and organisational leaders who incite violence or racial hatred.

The reforms come amid mounting criticism that the government failed to act decisively as antisemitism surged in Australia after the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, and Israel’s subsequent ground invasion of Gaza.

“Governments aren’t perfect. I’m not perfect,” Mr Albanese said when a reporter asked why his government didn’t do more to combat antisemitism. “Look, of course more could have always been done,” he added.

“I have done my best to respond… Anyone in this position would regret not doing more, and any inadequacies which are there.

“But what we need to do is to move forward.”

The proposed changes would introduce new federal offences for “aggravated hate speech”, increase penalties for speech that promotes violence, and make hatred an aggravating factor in sentencing for crimes involving online threats or harassment.

The federal government had already tightened its hate speech laws in February to address rising antisemitic and Islamophobic sentiment, but stopped short of criminalising vilification.

A separate framework would allow authorities to formally list organisations whose leaders promote violence or racial supremacy, expanding the government’s ability to disrupt extremist networks operating at the margins of the law, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported on Thursday.

The country’s home affairs minister Tony Burke said existing legislation had allowed individuals and groups to skirt legal consequences while spreading dehumanising rhetoric.

“There have been individuals who have managed to exploit a nation that had different principles of freedom of speech and have gone right to the limits of language that is clearly dehumanising, unacceptable, having no place in Australia, but have not quite crossed the threshold to violence,” he said.

“Today, we’re announcing that we’re shifting the threshold. We have no time for organisations where their mission is to hate Australia and to hate fellow Australians.”

The reforms also include expanded powers to cancel or deny visas to non-citizens who spread hate and division, alongside enhanced online safety measures to address antisemitic content.

And they will create a task force to ensure the country’s education system “prevents, tackles and properly responds” to antisemitism.

“Children aren’t born antisemitic. Children aren’t born racist. Children aren’t born with hate in their hearts. This is something that’s taught. This is something that’s learned,” education minister Jason Clare said.

The eSafety commissioner and the communications department will develop new guidance to tackle digital abuse and extremist messaging.

Announcing the reforms, Mr Albanese added: “It was an attack on our Jewish community – but it was also an attack on the Australian way of life. It is clear we need to do more to combat this evil scourge, much more.”

Rob Reiner’s family breaks silence as Nick appears in court on murder charges

Jake and Romy Reiner, the children of Hollywood movie director Rob Reiner and his photographer-producer wife Michele Singer Reiner, issued a statement Wednesday in the wake of their parents’ deaths, according to The New York Times.

“Words cannot even begin to describe the unimaginable pain we are experiencing every moment of the day,” the statement reads. “The horrific and devastating loss of our parents, Rob and Michele Reiner, is something that no one should ever experience. They weren’t just our parents; they were our best friends.”

Nick Reiner, the couple’s middle child, made his first court appearance Wednesday morning after being charged with two counts of first-degree murder in connection with his parents’ deaths.

The 32-year-old, who is being held without bail, briefly appeared in court but did not enter a plea. His defense attorney, Alan Jackson, said it was “too early” and requested that his arraignment be moved back. He will appear in court again on January 7, 2026.

It has emerged that Romy, 27, was called to her parents’ house Sunday afternoon by the couple’s massage therapist after there was no answer at the Los Angeles estate, whereupon she found her father’s body, The New York Times said.

Golf v woke: Why tonight’s SPOTY could be the most controversial ever

Rory McIlroy will be feeling confident when he takes his seat in the audience at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award tonight. We will know that simply because of his presence in the room, and because it is an honour that still carries enough significance and prestige that you want to be there if there’s a good chance you’re going to win.

Others may disagree. McIlroy, in the past, has been among them. But then, for some, bashing the Sports Personality of the Year contest is as much of an annual ritual than the prize itself, an opportunity to take cheap shots at the BBC among other things.

McIlroy has enjoyed an exceptional year, the stuff of dreams, spearheaded by two successes at the Masters and Ryder Cup so astonishing that they may as well have been scripted. There’s no argument against that.

He won the Masters but did so on an agonising final round that displayed his vulnerabilities and the strength to overcome them, the qualities that make him such an endearing, inspiring champion. Leading Europe to an away Ryder Cup victory, against that American crowd at Bethpage Black, further strengthens his credentials and claim to a season that stands above the rest.

And with McIlroy, there is also the sense of if he isn’t crowned SPOTY this year, then when will he ever be? There may be an acknowledgement of legacy and past achievements now that he has completed golf’s career slam. Certainly, given Andy Murray won SPOTY three times and Lewis Hamilton has done so twice, few would argue that McIlroy would not belong in their company in terms of British sporting greats of the past 20 years.

So, sure, the Northern Irishman should probably win, but this is also a public vote, decided on the night, and the history of this award can tell us it is rarely that straightforward.

At which point, it is worth considering what may happen should McIlroy lose out, or, rather, what the reaction would be depending on who he could lose out to. The Daily Mail has already declared there would be a “stain” on SPOTY should McIlroy not win the award this year.

Why? Yes, McIlroy has the strongest case in terms of his achievements. Yes, his victory at Augusta and what Europe achieved at Bethpage Black stirred emotions and created unforgettable drama. But, increasingly, the biggest factor in SPOTY voting can be the divide between sport that is behind a paywall and sport that is open to the largest audience possible, and it is a line that McIlroy, through no fault of his own, falls on the wrong side of.

It is why Chloe Kelly or Hannah Hampton (unless they split the vote) may stand as the biggest threat to McIlroy after another major tournament victory for the Lionesses. It is why Ellie Kildunne is an excellent outside contender, and why her world champion Red Roses may beat both Europe’s Ryder Cup team and the Lionesses to team of the year.

Sport is ultimately at its best when it is bringing people together. Its power is greatest when it can uplift and inspire. Ultimately, the most-watched moment of 2025 was Hampton saving from Aitana Bonmati and Mariona Caldentey and Kelly thumping her penalty into the net as the Lionesses won the Euros again – becoming the first England football team to win a major tournament on foreign land. The victory that had within it the capacity to influence society was the Red Roses lifting the World Cup at a sold-out Twickenham, a dominant, jubilant team celebrating how it had broken down barriers while demonstrating that strength and athleticism comes in different shapes and sizes.

An accusation often levelled at the BBC is that its diminished offering of live sport means it has lost other events that consistently conjured this magic, such as the Masters. But in turn, the decision to platform the Women’s Euros and Women’s Rugby World Cup has seen audiences, particularly female viewership, hit record numbers. The success of a Lionesses or Red Roses team can now become a national event in the same way as men’s football or men’s rugby. It’s almost as if making live sport accessible and these athletes visible, following decades of marginalisation and catering to the male audience, has brought in new fans and levels of interest across a broader range.

This should be celebrated. But then, this is the BBC. To some, even the all-female presenting line-up of tonight’s event, in Gabby Logan, Clare Balding and Alex Scott, is evidence of an organisation and SPOTY award that has gone overly woke and lost its shine. You can probably imagine, then, what the reaction would be should either Kelly or Hampton follow Beth Mead in 2022 and Mary Earps in 2023 and win, even if more than 16 million people watched the Lionesses’ latest tournament victory.

How the votes between Kelly and Hampton are split will be another factor as, for the first time, two members of the same team have been named on the final shortlist. Why both? It may be down to England’s bewildering summer of survival and Kelly’s rather curious role within it, the star who delivered on the biggest moments but yet did not start a match. Over the course, Hampton was integral to keeping the Lionesses alive and the goalkeeper was unlucky to not win player of the Euro 2025 – she was certainly England’s.

The truth is that any of the six on the final shortlist would deserve to win. That includes the two individual world champions, one crowned at the start of the year and the other less than a fortnight ago, in Luke Littler and Lando Norris, both of whom are immensely popular as well. But, after the year of his life, it should be McIlroy. It does not, though, make it a scandal or bring a “stain” on the award if the public decides to crown someone else.

Family share pictures of ‘bubbly’ girl, 9, who died after stabbing

A nine-year-old girl who died from a stab wound has been pictured as her family paid tribute to the “lively and bubbly” schoolgirl.

Aria Thorpe was pronounced dead at a house in Weston-super-Mare after police attended the residential address on Monday evening.

Shortly after officers arrived, a teenage boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was arrested and later charged with the girl’s murder.

He appeared at Bristol Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, where he was remanded into youth detention accommodation to reappear at Bristol Crown Court on Friday.

In Lime Close in Weston-super-Mare, where Aria died, floral tributes have been put down as the seaside community attempts to come to terms with the tragedy.

Speaking to the BBC, one close family member said: “Aria was a lively and bubbly nine-year-old who was so full of life.” They added that she enjoyed listening to country music and teaching dogs new tricks.

At the school which Aria attended, bosses were working with professional agencies to provide support to children and staff.

Simon Marriott, chief executive of Kaleidoscope Multi-Academy Trust, said: “Our school and trust community are devastated and upset by the news of the tragic death of one of our pupils, Aria Thorpe.”

Dan Aldridge, Labour MP for Weston-super-Mare, said Aria’s death was an “utterly heartbreaking tragedy for the family and her loved ones”.

He said: “This is a moment that will understandably shock and sadden us all, and I know many in our town will be grieving, anxious, and seeking answers. I urge everyone to respect the family’s privacy and avoid speculation while the police carry out their enquiries.”

Catherine Gibbons, deputy leader of North Somerset Council, said: “On behalf of everyone at North Somerset Council, I offer our sincerest condolences to Aria’s family, friends and the school community. The pain of losing a child in such tragic circumstances is unimaginable.

“We are working closely with partner agencies, including schools across the Weston-super-Mare area, to make sure those affected have access to the support and advice they need.”

On Wednesday, Superintendent Jen Appleford asked for privacy for Aria’s family. The police force said a post-mortem examination had found her preliminary cause of death was a single stab wound.

Supt Appleford said: “The tragic loss of such a young girl has caused a huge amount of shock and upset, with there being a profound sense of loss felt throughout the community. We are working closely with partner agencies and schools across the Weston area to make sure those affected receive access to any support they need.”

Pit-Smoked and Bourbon-Soaked: how to eat in Kentucky like a pro

What’s a drop of Bourbon or a foot tapping beat without the perfect dish to accompany them? There’s more to the Bluegrass State than whiskey and music alone. Though those things are important. Vital actually.

In Kentucky, the good times come served with a side of soul-enriching food, from fine dining, to time-honed traditions passed down through generations. A combination of Southern know-how, bountiful farmland and top-notch ingredients, plus modern culinary talent combine to make Kentucky a truly world-class culinary destination.

So get your fingers sticky with the sweet tang of BBQ, find the ultimate comfort food at a ma and pop shop on the roadside, or pull up a chair beneath a crisp linen tablecloth. It’s all here. Let us guide you to the top spots.

Louisville

Home of the world-famous Kentucky Derby, and with deep roots in the world of whiskey making, Louisville is a place where tradition is respected. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t reinterpreted, reinvented, and well, shaken up.

Kentucky’s largest metropolis, which straddles the slow running waters of the Ohio River, was built on whiskey. But as the new food hub of the South, it’s writing a new, distinctly delicious chapter.

‘New Southern Cuisine’, that’s the term coined for this new spirit of reverent playfulness where chefs across the city are putting new unique twists on traditional Southern fare from Hot Browns to Benedictine.

At 610 Magnolia, in the heart of Old Louisville, for chef and owner Edward Lee that means seasonal, multi-course menus that combine surprising global flavours into locally-inspired, often Bourbon laced dishes. Think seared scallops with kimchi or a sweet pea risotto with rock shrimp and magnolia.

Jack Fry’s is an institution. Behind its shutter board and mullioned window exterior, live jazz accompanies Southern flavours prepared with classic French techniques since 1933. Where once bootlegging occurred in a backroom, today spicy fried oysters, Bourbon braised short ribs, and peach cheesecakes laden the tables.

Don’t Miss:

Walk the distilleries and tasting rooms of Whiskey Row. This is mandatory. The imposing cast iron and red brick facades of Main Street once fronted the offices and warehouses for the burgeoning Bourbon barons. Today, they’re a playground for whiskey enthusiasts with exclusive bottlings, tastings and more to explore.

Follow Whiskey Row – and the Urban Bourbon Trail – across multiple blocks, and you’ll find NuLu (New Louisville). The East Market District of downtown draws an artsy crowd hang out to its neighbourhood murals, street art, galleries, and innovative eateries from Biscuit Belly to Royal Hot Chicken.

Lexington and the Bluegrass region

Combine fine dining with authentic Bluegrass charm in Lexington and beyond, where a visit to the world famous Keeneland Rack Track isn’t all about the horses. Yes, Lexington is a race horse capital, but sometimes the food is the main event.

Arrive purposefully hungry, and get amongst the smell of turf, saddle leather and smoked meats as jockeys, trainers and spectators alike head to the Track Kitchen. A morning staple and one of the city’s best-kept secrets, its home-style food feels like a hug. But careful, pace yourself.

Trackside concession stalls, only open during the races, beckon with their many culinary delights. From Keeneland’s signature Bourbon Bread Pudding to Kentucky Beer Cheese and the refreshing Keeneland Breeze cocktail, the food and drink here are as much a part of the experience as the races themselves. Classic Southern comfort meets local flair.

Don’t Miss:

Head out to the countryside, where the morning mist sits low on the pastures of Thoroughbred farms. Culinary star, Chef Ouita Michel may have just pioneered farm-to-table dining over the past 15-plus years. With all that high-quality produce in abundance surrounding Lexington, it just made sense to make the most of it.

Visit all eight of Ouita’s famous restaurants – or just a few – on a culinary tour. Honeywood at Fritz Farm is all about the locally-grown specialities, from sweet potato beignets to duck-fat basted New York strip. Meanwhile, Smithtown Seafood is a quintessential taste of the south with wild-caught fried catfish, fresh-shucked oysters and blackened catfish.

Owensboro

Breathe in the sweet smell of smoke and molasses. When you catch the scent of a true pit master at work, you follow it.

In Owensboro, Kentucky’s undisputed BBQ capital, a passion for flavour and a dedication to time-honed techniques, means you’re in for a treat.

In this city located on the south side of a deep bend in the Ohio River, BBQ is more than just a dish, it’s a tradition. With a history dating back to the 1830s, the area has developed its own unique style of pit BBQ, where vinegar-based sauces are mopped over the meat during a lengthy smoking process. Think tangy, tender, and melt-in-the-mouth.

Sure you’ll find chicken, beef, et al. But with sheep historically more plentiful, the main event here is mutton. Burgoo who? Look out for local dish Burgoo, a stew similar to Irish or Mulligan stew, most often served with a generous wedge of cornbread. Well, this is Kentucky.

Don’t get us wrong. BBQ is a year-round way of life with secrets passed down generations. Head to the Moonlite Bar-B-Q Inn, where smoked meat has been slung since the 1950s. Or Old Hickory BBQ, where the grills have been firing since 1918.

But once a year Owensboro becomes the global BBQ capital. At the International Bar-B-Q Festival, BBQ and Barrels, held every second weekend in May, 80,000 assemble for two days of BBQ heaven, while teams fiercely compete over secret recipes and sizzling coals.

Don’t Miss:

What goes better with a smoked slice, than the twang of strings? Owensboro is the Bluegrass world capital too. Stop by the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum – the only international museum dedicated to preserving and showcasing the history and culture of this soulful, uniquely American genre.

US military kills four in Venezuela boat strike after president touts achievements

The U.S. military has killed another four people in its latest missile strike on an alleged drug boat in the eastern Pacific, taking the death toll to at least 99 from 26 strikes since the beginning of September.

The attack came hours after the House of Representatives rejected two efforts to limit President Donald Trump’s power to use military force against the drug cartels.

The president meanwhile delivered a televised primetime address on Wednesday evening in which he touted what he sees as his accomplishments over the past 11 months in a speech that featured attacks on his predecessor in the White House Joe Biden and a number of false claims.

“When I took office, inflation was the worst in 48 years, and some would say in the history of our country, which caused prices to be higher than ever before, making life unaffordable for millions and millions of Americans,” Trump insisted.

“This happened during a Democrat administration.”

He also unveiled a “warrior dividend” for more than 1,450,000 military servicemembers and said they would each receive $1,776, which he claimed would be paid for in part by his tariffs.

Farmers ‘frightened of what might lie ahead’ amid tractor tax concerns

The farming sector “is bewildered and frightened of what might lie ahead”, with farmers saying changes to inheritance tax are the biggest issue regarding viability they face, a review for the government has found.

Farmers have repeatedly protested against the changes since they were announced last year, which will see them pay tax on inherited agricultural assets worth more than £1m at a rate of 20 per cent.

And the review lands amid an atmosphere of hostility to the Labour Party in the countryside with farming communities believing that they were misled by Sir Keir Starmer before the election over his promises to support them.

The farm profitability report by former National Farmers’ Union president Baroness Minette Batters has called for a “new deal for profitable farming” that recognises the true cost of producing food and delivering for the environment.

The terms of the review by Baroness Batters did not include the controversial changes to inheritance tax, which are set to apply to farm businesses worth more than £1 million.

But she said it was raised as the single biggest issue regarding farm viability by almost all respondents to her review.

The issue saw Lancashire Labour MP Cat Smith clash with Sir Keir Starmer earlier this week when he appeared before the Commons Liaison Committee.

She warned that he had pulled “the rug from under family farms”; that those who had voted Labour felt “misled” and some farmers with terminal diagnoses were trying to “expedite” their own deaths so they could pass on their farms before April.

Another MP, Markus Campbell-Savours, who represents the rural Cumbrian seat of Penrith and Solway, has been suspended from the Labour parliamentary party over voting against the government on the issue.

In the review, which was commissioned six months ago and has had publication delayed twice, Baroness Batters warned that the sector had faced a sharp rise in costs and increasingly extreme weather, with severe drought this year.

Uncertainty surrounding the closure of applications to the sustainable farming incentive scheme – the main post-Brexit agricultural payments – and proposed changes to inheritance tax had created “significant” ongoing concern, with some farmers questioning viability let alone profitability.

The government has indicated that it will not formally respond to the report immediately but insisted that it is already putting action in place to help farmers.

Environment secretary Emma Reynolds said: “When farming thrives, the whole country benefits. British farmers are central to our food security, our rural economy and the stewardship of our countryside.

“Baroness Batters’ review underlines the need for government, farming and the food industry to work much more closely together. That is exactly what the new Farming and Food Partnership Board will do.

“This is about serious action to remove barriers, unlock investment and make the food system work better, so farm businesses can grow, invest and plan for the future with confidence.”

This is a breaking story – more follows…