The White House is making a concerted effort to defend and explain the federal reaction to the Maui wildfires, highlighting what it describes as a "robust whole-of-government response" on the island.

The FA has said it is “disappointed” after reports suggested that World Cup semi-final tickets allocated specifically for England fans were bought by Australia supporters. A unique supporter code was reportedly leaked on social media ahead of the Lionesses’ crunch match with the Matildas on Wednesday – with a number of Australian fans claiming to have purchased tickets. The additional 1,970 tickets were released at the weekend, and around 8,000 England fans are expected to be in attendance at the Accor Stadium in Sydney. The Lionesses booked their place in the semi-finals following a 2-1 win against Colombia on Saturday. Commenting on the ticket code leak, an FA spokesman said: “We worked with Fifa to secure an additional allocation of tickets for England’s World Cup semi-final against Australia. We are working with Fifa to review this ticketing process FA spokesman “The details of how to purchase these tickets were communicated directly to our fans on our England Football channel, and we are disappointed to see reports that a limited number of these tickets have been accessed by other fans. “We are working with Fifa to review this ticketing process going forward.” Fifa has been contacted for comment. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

After Sarina Wiegman finished her press conference following the victory over Colombia on Saturday, she was so struck by the number of questions about England’s historic sporting rivalry with Australia that she immediately started asking staff members about the extent of it. The Dutch coach quickly realised she had underestimated how much this meant. Those at the England camp duly filled her in, although, as one staff member laughed, “it’s not like we showed her old clips of the Ashes”. They maybe didn’t need to. A trip to the shop beside England’s otherwise tranquil Terrigal base would have shown how intense it’s all getting, as the front page of The Western Australian - the newspaper that covers Sam Kerr’s home city of Perth- read, “And you thought the Ashes was big!” It is everywhere in the build-up to the game, where the widespread sentiment articulated by the Sydney Morning Herald is, “Now for the Poms”. All of this really shows just how much this Women’s World Cup has captured Australia, with Wednesday’s semi-final set to break all kinds of audience records. And yet, as much as even supporters who previously dismissed “soccer” are now looking forward to this match and trying to get tickets, this still feels like the game this tournament has been waiting for; a deserved crescendo, an event with real cut-through. That applies to England as much as Australia. In terms of pure narrative drama, it has so far almost been the ideal World Cup. The tournament has offered shocks, unpredictability, memorable moments, storylines and - eventually - a high-class semi-final line-up; the real elite separated from those extending themselves. One of those games will involve a rivalry that is among the oldest and most intense in sport, an alluring element that transcends whatever the event is. That event is meanwhile taking place around midday on Wednesday in the United Kingdom, which is almost perfect for passing viewers during the school holidays. Even if England and Australia have not met enough for there to be a true football rivalry - although there is already talk from within the camps that is changing - the point is about something much bigger than any sport now being transposed onto a new sport. This is going to be huge, to go with the stakes. England are a mere match away from the greatest stage in football. So, however, are Australia. The words “Til it’s done”, featuring an abbreviation of Matildas in vintage national style, are now everywhere on social media. Such has been the nationwide surge of enthusiasm that this game could be put on at any time and the country would still stop. “We can see there are a lot of people excited about this game,” Australia manager Tony Gustavsson said, before beckoning to the packed press conference. “Just look at this room here!” All of this is of course noise the players themselves have sought to turn down, and need to shut out. There have been the usual lines about how it’s “just another game”. Even Wiegman went from asking questions to insisting "we don't feel the rivalry that much". The noise is sort of the point, though. It can’t be said that all of this is irrelevant because it will charge the atmosphere around Stadium Australia, bringing this beyond the electricity of a home semi-final. This is where there’s a dynamic that only further fires this game, that adds to the tension. There may not be too much difference between the sides, but it doesn’t feel like they are quite going in on level terms. Australia are at home. Their campaigns have been too different. With England, it has almost flipped. After five successive games conditioned by the suspense of an embarrassing early exit, they are now the team that might undo something bigger - that might “spoil the party”. England have similarly achieved the minimum target of getting to the semi-finals. That might have been a battle, but it could now release them to go for the maximum. There was a sense of a team coming together in some of their best spells of football against Colombia. Georgia Stanway was knitting everything together, taking more responsibility. Australia have come together in a completely different way. Whereas England have ground their way through, gradually solving problem after problem, Gustavsson’s side have been on the rollercoaster that fits the way this World Cup has emotionally seized the country. If the manner of that penalty shoot-out win involved a lot of nerves and doubt, it also served to fortify belief. “I remember coming into the changing rooms after the France game and Sam came in and said ‘I think this is the time now when we can really believe we can go all the way’,” Mackenzie Arnold said of her celebrated teammate on the eve of the England game. It is that sense of resolve that Wiegman’s side have repeatedly enjoyed, and developed with. Those two different paths to the semi-final also bring multiple perspectives on this semi-final. One view of England is that they have fought their way through problem after problem, to the point they can now get through anything. Another view is that letting games become such battles is an indication you might run into real trouble when you face a truly elite side. But are Australia playing like that? The quarter-final against France threw up other concerns. That is the nature of a tournament, mind. They are usually about game-management and forcing your way through. Wiegman has developed that quality in England, especially through a cast-iron defence so well marshalled by Millie Bright. Should Kerr start, as many of the murmurs around the Australia camp are increasingly indicating, she may find the central area she most enjoys is completely covered. On the other side, it will be the first time England’s backline faces a forward who uses space and the ball in the unique way Kerr does. That is of course if she is even fit enough. "Australia is not just Sam Kerr," Wiegman said. "Yes we have a plan but she could start or be on the bench." Those questions persist, but so does this World Cup’s wait for its great star's first big moment. Alessia Russo has finally had hers. England’s forwards might have found something like form at the right time. It’s certainly the right game. Nobody would make the mistake of saying it’s the “real final” but it may well end up the World Cup’s biggest fixture. It’s an old rivalry on a new stage, with new stakes. Neither of these sides have been to a World Cup final before. There can surely be no better game to get there. It's a game the tournament has waited for. It's the moment the teams have waited for. Read More How to watch England vs Australia: TV channel and kick-off time for Women’s World Cup semi-final Australia is having a moment — will Sam Kerr finally get hers against England? The Lionesses will need to beat an entire nation in the grip of World Cup fever Olga Carmona fires Spain into first Women’s World Cup final amid late drama Women’s World Cup LIVE: England vs Australia build-up as Spain reach final How Georgia Stanway found World Cup ‘discipline’ thanks to surprise mentor

Poland is holding its largest military parade in decades on Tuesday, in a flex of defensive muscle that comes as tensions rise on the border between the NATO nation and key Russian ally Belarus.

ORLANDO, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug 15, 2023--

Spain will face either European champions England or co-hosts Australia in Sunday’s World Cup final after a dramatic 2-1 victory in their last-four showdown with Sweden. Jorge Vilda’s side, who had never won a knockout game at the tournament before their arrival in Australia and New Zealand, could be just 90 minutes away from lifting the biggest prize of all. Here, the PA news agency takes a closer look at a team which have perhaps already-exceeded even their own expectations. Coach Vilda learned his football at the feet of his father Angel, who worked as a physical trainer for – among others – Luis Aragones at Atletico Madrid, Johan Cruyff at Barcelona and Jupp Heynckes at Real Madrid. A physical education graduate, the 42-year-old was appointed boss in 2015 having worked with Spain’s under-age teams, but had to significantly remodel his squad after a rebellion in 2022 which saw 15 players make themselves unavailable – Aitana Bonmati, Ona Batlle and Mariona Caldentey have since returned to the fold – in protest at the conditions under which they were having to operate. Key players Twice Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas is undoubtedly the star of the Spain squad on paper, but having fought her way back from the anterior cruciate ligament injury she suffered on the eve of last summer’s Euros, the 29-year-old Barcelona midfielder has been used sparingly in the tournament and played only the opening 57 minutes of the semi-final, one of three starts to date. In her absence, Bonmati, Alba Redondo and Jennifer Hermoso have each scored three times, but Barca team-mate and former international sprinter Salma Paralluelo, 19, has proved the woman for the big occasion with vital strikes from the bench in both the last eight and the semi-finals. Pedigree Spain are playing at their third World Cup finals tournament, but had never before progressed beyond the last 16. They reached the quarter-finals at Euro 2022, where they led eventual winners England with six minutes of normal time remaining before going down 2-1 in extra-time. Ranked sixth in the world by FIFA, they are an emerging force in the international game and are bidding to add the senior World Cup to those they currently hold at under-17s and under-20s levels. Style of play Vilda favours a 4-3-3 formation and a possession-based game which he believes is aligned to the philosophy instilled by Cruyff during his time in charge at Barcelona. The system relies on high-tempo passing and movement and a relentless press in attack to create the space in which their highly-technical game-changers can thrive. Familiarity is a weapon too – seven of the starting XI against Sweden play their club football with Champions League winners Barca. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live We can do beautiful things – Micky van de Ven excited by Tottenham prospects Millie Bright confident England can cope with hostile atmosphere in Sydney Ben Stokes tipped to make U-turn and feature for England at World Cup

BURLINGAME, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug 15, 2023--

This came after Bobbi Althoff attended a concert of Drake's It's All a Blur tour tour in Los Angeles over the weekend

Olga Carmona’s stunning late winner fired Spain into the World Cup final with a 2-1 win against Sweden. In a cagey contest with few chances for either side, the game suddenly sprung into life in the final stages with three goals in the final 10 minutes of normal time. Barcelona winger Salma Paralluelo, 19, gave Spain the lead in the 81st minute, but her goal was soon cancelled out by Rebecka Blomqvist. But Carmona responded in emphatic fashion just one minute later, sealing a final clash against either Australia or England on Sunday. Spain kept possession well in the opening stages and had a chance when a looping cross found Alba Redondo at the back post, but her header was cleared by Sweden. They struck again minutes later with some good build-up around the box allowing Carmona to shoot from the edge of the area, but it just whistled past the bottom corner. Sweden then had a half-chance at the other end when Johanna Rytting Kaneryd headed wide before Aitana Bonmati looped a cross in for Jennifer Hermoso but goalkeeper Zecira Musovic comfortably collected. Another attack came from a Spanish free-kick which went as far as Alexia Putellas, who whipped the ball into the box and Magdalena Eriksson did well to quickly head the ball away. Sweden had a great opportunity to take the lead just before half-time when Nathalie Bjorn picked out Fridolina Rolfo at the back post, but her half-volley was pushed away by Cata Coll. A slow start to the second half saw Stina Blackstenius try her luck from the right-hand side of the box, but her attempt was easily saved by Coll, who then made an excellent dive to palm Rytting Kaneryd’s cross away. Spain had some tidy build-up play around the box and had a great opportunity when Hermoso found Redondo in the box, but she was unable to cleanly strike it. The match looked destined for extra time with neither side having any real clear-cut chances, but it suddenly burst into life in the final 10 minutes with three goals in eight minutes. After dominating possession, Spain finally found the breakthrough in the 81st minute when Hermoso’s cross was cleared into the path of Paralluelo and the substitute tucked the ball into the bottom corner. Their lead was short-lived though as Sweden hit back in the 88th minute when Lina Hurtig headed down a cross for Blomqvist to smash the ball first time across the goalkeeper and into the top corner. Spain snatched the winner just one minute later when a short corner was played out to Carmona on the edge of the area and she smashed the ball from the outside of the box above Musovic’s head, with the goalkeeper unable to get a strong enough hand to keep it out. Read More England and Australia’s old rivalry has new stage as World Cup arrives at its biggest moment FA ‘disappointed’ after Matildas secure tickets in allocated England section England vs Australia: Kick-off time and how to watch on TV Old rivalry has new stage as World Cup arrives at its biggest moment Women’s World Cup LIVE: England vs Australia build-up as Spain reach final

CULVER CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug 15, 2023--

Ex-president Donald Trump and 18 other defendants were indicted in Georgia on 41 counts related to their alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election which includes violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. A grand jury in Fulton County Georgia handed down the indictment on Monday, stemming from a years-long investigation by district attorney Fani Willis. Jurors found Mr Trump along with some of his allies including Rudy Giuliani, John Eastman, Sidney Powell and Mark Meadows of “knowingly and willfully” joining a conspiracy to “unlawfully change the outcome of the election in favor of Trump” in Georgia. Each defendant is facing a specific set of charges unique to their alleged involvement. Read the indictment in full here: Read More Trump indictment live: Trump and allies indicted by Georgia grand jury in 2020 election investigation Trump and 18 allies indicted on RICO charges in Georgia election case Trump indicted for efforts to overturn 2020 presidential election in Georgia. Follow live updates

Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has swiped the second spot in the upcoming New Hampshire primary from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis even as former President Donald Trump remains dominant. A new poll from Emerson College released on Tuesday shows Mr Christie at nine per cent support, while Mr DeSantis is at eight per cent, down from 17 per cent in March. Mr Christie’s lead is within the poll’s 3.4 per cent margin of error. Mr trump received 49 per cent. Spencer Kimball, the executive director of Emerson College Polling, said that “DeSantis has been the alternative to Trump in Emerson polling this presidential cycle. This is the first time we have seen DeSantis drop out of second place in our polling, and fall back into the pack of candidates”. Meanwhile, the 2024 election looks set to be a rematch between President Joe Biden and his predecessor Donald Trump. Despite his mounting legal problems, Mr Trump is by far the most popular candidate in the Republican field. The Republican primary is scheduled to begin with the Iowa caucuses on 15 January and the New Hampshire primary on 23 January. Read More Read the explosive Georgia indictment against Trump and his inner circle - PDF in full Who is Fani Willis, the Georgia prosecutor who could take down Trump In 'Bidenomics,' Congress delivered a once-in-generation investment — with political promise, peril What is Georgia’s RICO law? Why a law created to prosecute the Mafia is being leveled against Trump All the bombshell charges against Trump and his allies in Georgia RICO case