England star Fran Kirby has been named in the Lionesses squad for the first time in eight months after returning from a knee injury - but Beth Mead misses out despite her own recovery from a ruptured ACL. Kirby and Mead were key players as England won the Euros but both missed out on this summer’s Women’s World Cup because of significant injuries, and were major absentees as the Lionesses were defeated by Spain in the Sydney final. Kirby underwent surgery at the end of last season and made her first start of the campaign in Chelsea’s 2-0 win over West Ham at the weekend - Mead, however, only returned to the pitch on Sunday as a late substitute in Arsenal’s 2-1 comeback win against Aston Villa, where she set up Alessia Russo’s winner. But manager Sarina Wiegman has decided that this month’s double-header against Belgium in the Uefa Nations League has come too soon for the Euros golden boot winner. The Lionesses face Belgium in Leicester on 27 October before the return fixture in Leuven on 31 October. Mead had said after her return to the pitch that she was hoping for a recall and insisted she was “ready” to make the Lionesses squad, but Wiegman said the 28-year-old was “not close” after only just returning to the pitch following nine months out. Wiegman said Mead still needed time to “build” her fitness after such a lengthy lay-off. Elsewhere, Barcelona midfielder Keira Walsh returns having missed last month’s win against Scotland and defeat to the Netherlands due to a calf injury. Wiegman has meanwhile handed first senior call-ups to 20-year-old Grace Clinton, who is on loan at Tottenham from Manchester United, as well as 19-year-old Manchester City goalkeeper Khiara Keating. The Lionesses were beaten by the Netherlands last month in Nations League Group A1 and head into the double-header against Belgium third in the standings. England must win the group to have a chance of qualifying for next summer’s Paris Olympics as part of Team GB. England squad for Belgium double-header Goalkeepers: Mary Earps (Manchester United), Hannah Hampton (Chelsea), Khiara Keating (Manchester City), Ellie Roebuck (Manchester City) Defenders: Millie Bright (Chelsea), Lucy Bronze (Barcelona), Jess Carter (Chelsea), Niamh Charles (Chelsea), Alex Greenwood (Manchester City), Maya Le Tissier (Manchester United), Esme Morgan (Manchester City), Lucy Parker (Aston Villa), Lotte Wubben-Moy (Arsenal) Midfielders: Grace Clinton (Tottenham Hotspur, loan from Manchester United),Fran Kirby (Chelsea), Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich), Ella Toone (Manchester United), Keira Walsh (Barcelona), Katie Zelem (Manchester United) Forwards: Rachel Daly (Aston Villa), Lauren Hemp (Manchester City), Lauren James (Chelsea), Chloe Kelly (Manchester City), Jess Park (Manchester City), Alessia Russo (Arsenal) Read More Beth Mead hopes for England recall after returning from ACL injury The sporting weekend in pictures Arsenal vs Aston Villa LIVE: Latest Women's Super League updates Arsenal set to welcome Beth Mead back from injury in clash with Aston Villa New Rangers boss Philippe Clement keen to bring winning mentality back to Ibrox Chelsea unlock space for Stamford Bridge expansion with £80m purchase

LAUSANNE, Switzerland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun 16, 2023--

Chow Tai Fook Enterprises Ltd.’s $4.5 billion offer to buy NWS Holdings Ltd. only became public early Tuesday,

Though the incident left them shaken, Lauren Salamakis and her three children are unharmed, police said

Watch live as Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte, attend the funeral for French teacher Dominique Bernard, who was killed in a knife attack in a high school. The ceremony is held at the Notre-Dame-et-Saint-Vaast Cathedral in Arras, northern France, on Thursday 19 October. Mr Bernard was killed in the attack in Arras last Friday at around 11am, which left two other members of staff in critical condition. France is on heightened alert against feared terror threats following the stabbing incident. The Louvre Museum in Paris and Versailles Palace evacuated visitors and staff over the weekend after receiving bomb threats. Hours after the stabbing attack last Friday, Mr Macron visited the school, describing it as the result of “barbaric Islamist terrorism”, before praising Mr Bernard. “The teacher who was killed had come forward to protect others and had without doubt saved many lives,” he said. All French schools held a moment of silence on Monday afternoon in homage to Mr Bernard. Read More French-Iranian academic imprisoned for years in Iran returns to France Sunak could visit Israel as soon as Thursday – reports British girl, 13, confirmed dead following Hamas attack on Israel

Premier League referees’ boss Jon Moss apologised to Gary O’Neil and told him Wolves had been denied a “blatant” stoppage-time penalty in their 1-0 Premier League defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford, according to the Wolves boss. United’s debutant goalkeeper Andre Onana clattered into Sasa Kalajdzic deep into time added on, but Simon Hooper did not react and VAR Michael Salisbury deemed there was no foul, with an incredulous O’Neil instead booked for his reaction. O’Neil said after the match he though Onana was trying to take Kalajdzic’s head off, and then revealed he had received an immediately apology from Moss. “Having just spoken to Jon Moss, fair enough he came straight out and said it was a blatant penalty and it should have been given,” O’Neil said. “I sometimes feel bad. I’ve spent a lot of my day with him trying to understand the new guidelines and how to not get myself booked which I’ve failed in, but fair play to Jon in coming out. “He said it was clear and obvious and he can’t believe the on-field referee didn’t give it and he can’t believe VAR didn’t intervene. It’s probably made me feel worse to be honest because once you know you’re right you feel worse about leaving with nothing.” United boss Erik ten Hag tried to play down the incident, but he was largely alone in thinking the officials got the decision right. “When VAR looked at it and decided not to give it of course we are pleased,” the Dutchman said. “It’s about the referee and the VAR. I think the two players come together and Andre didn’t interfere with the action from them because first was the touch on the ball and then came Andre.” The controversial decision was not the only thing that left the impression United had been lucky to take three points from their opening Premier League match, with Raphael Varane’s 76th-minute header decisive in a laboured performance from the hosts. With O’Neil only a few days into his tenure, Wolves impressed with their attacking intent. They registered 23 attempts at goal, the most for any visiting team at Old Trafford since Chelsea had 25 in November 2005, another match that ended in a 1-0 win for United. Scoring goals was an all-too-familiar problem for Wolves last term but O’Neil was encouraged by what he saw. “Huge credit to the lads,” O’Neil said. “There’s been some negativity surrounding the place but they’ve committed to what we asked of them and gone toe to toe with a top side at a difficult place to come and they’re disappointed. “For the amount of shots we’ve had and the expected goals, we deserved at least a point… “Bigger picture stuff and where we want to take the group, tonight is a big step four days in. Coming to a place like this it could have gone very differently.” United struggled to find any flow and were second best in the second half until Aaron Wan-Bissaka latched on to a dinked ball from Bruno Fernandes, and lifted the ball over for Varane to nod home. “It was a tough game,” Ten Hag said. “I think we can do much better on the ball. We proved that last season and also in pre-season but the pre-season is not the season and when the league starts opponents are more aggressive. “Our decision-making could have been better and were not aggressive enough from that point of view, but there are a lot of positives to take. We fought for our lives and we survived with three points so well done.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Raphael Varane header earns Manchester United opening victory over Wolves How does Moises Caicedo’s Chelsea transfer compare to previous big-money deals? Majid Haq ‘disgusted and horrified’ following racial abuse while umpiring

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep 6, 2023--

From thrilling comebacks to disappointing losses, Week 7 of college football showcased the top quarterback prospects. Find out how they performed in our latest update.

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US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin on Thursday announced the deployment of a US Coastguard ship to Papua New Guinea, as Washington seeks to boost its military footprint in the region...