By Sinchita Mitra Continued hiring caution and declining demand in the U.S. and life sciences sector dented SThree's

Beth Mead has returned to the England squad for the first time in over a year ahead of the Lionesses’ crunch Women’s Nations League double-header against the Netherlands and Scotland. The news comes 364 days after Mead confirmed she had ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) playing for Arsenal, an injury which subsequently ruled the Euro 2022 golden boot winner out of this summer’s World Cup. The 28-year-old recently revealed she went through some “very dark moments” as she dealt with not only missing the World Cup due to a long-term injury but also the loss of her mum, who died in January after a battle with cancer. Mead returned to action with Arsenal last month but England manager Sarina Wiegman said she was not ready for international selection. However, the forward has since picked up more minutes for the Gunners and made her first start of the season in Sunday’s 3-0 win over Brighton in the Women’s Super League. Mead’s last appearance for the Lionesses came in a 4-0 victory over Japan last November and her return comes at a key time ahead of must-win fixtures against the Netherlands at Wembley on Friday 1 December and Scotland at Hampden Park the following Tuesday. The Lionesses’ hopes of earning Team GB a spot at next summer’s Olympics Games were dealt a significant blow following a shock defeat in Belgium last month, just the fourth suffered since Wiegman took charge. It means England trail both the Netherlands and Belgium in Nations League Group A, with three points separating the three sides, leaving the Lionesses requiring victories against the Dutch and Scotland while hoping other results also go their way. Wiegman has named a 23-player for the clashes against her former side Netherlands and rivals Scotland, with no place for Manchester City goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck or Manchester City forward Jess Park, who is replaced by Mead. Uncapped City goalkeeper Khiara Keating, 19, and Tottenham’s on-loan midfielder Grace Clinton, 20, retain their places after receiving their first call-ups in October’s squad, as does Euros winner Fran Kirby, who marked her return from a year-long injury absence in the home win against Belgium. England squad for Netherlands and Scotland Goalkeepers: Mary Earps (Manchester United), Hannah Hampton (Chelsea), Khiara Keating (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), 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), Beth Mead (Arsenal), Alessia Russo (Arsenal) Read More England’s Euro 2024 squad: Who’s on the plane and who has work to do? Kyle Walker urges England to get mentality right in bid for Euro 2024 glory Gareth Southgate reveals what he learned from England’s November double-header England’s Euro 2024 squad: Who’s on the plane and who has work to do? Kyle Walker urges England to get mentality right in bid for Euro 2024 glory Gareth Southgate reveals what he learned from England’s November double-header

Ryan Mountcastle homered and doubled after entering the game as a pinch-hitter, and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Los Angeles Angels 7-3

Australia edged out Pakistan by 14 runs in a high-scoring World Cup warm-up on Tuesday as India travelled 3,400km from one corner of the country to another only...

A wedding was ruined after a woman reported to be the groom’s ex showed up and threw poo over the newlyweds. The happy couple were walking through the square outside the church in Bolivia, having just tied the knot, when the alleged attack happened. A crowd of smiling onlookers had gathered to cheer and congratulate the pair on their big day. However, a woman, not identified by name but believed to be the groom’s ex, reportedly approached the newlyweds with a bucket filled with excrement and oil. She allegedly threw the contents over the couple, covering the bride’s white dress, hair and face in the muck. The groom’s military outfit was soiled by the oily poo, while at least one guest was also doused. The woman allegedly carried out the attack out of jealousy for her ex marrying someone else, according to local media. The bride took to social media afterwards, saying that she hopes her husband’s former partner “will let us live in peace after getting her revenge”. It is unclear if the attack was reported to the authorities. One local commented: “Hahaha, that's crazy.” Maria said: “That's stooping low as a woman. No matter how damaged or cheated you feel, never seek revenge. Let him be happy with his new partner.” Paula wrote: “What a shame for the bride, she will always have this uncomfortable moment in her mind.” Jazmin added: “How ridiculous he didn't want to marry that woman for some reason...” Gabriel said: “These types of acts should be reported. We all have an ex. I wouldn’t want to see this kind of thing happen to my daughters or anyone else.” Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter How to join the indy100's free WhatsApp channel Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings

The LA Galaxy have cut ways with president Chris Klein.

Carson Daly took a few days off to support his best friend, Blake Shelton, as the latter bid his goodbyes to ‘The Voice’ Season 23

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BBC chief Tim Davie on Tuesday insisted on allowing a high-profile presenter accused of paying a teenager for sexually explicit images to remain anonymous, despite mounting calls...

Arsenal stylishly cruised into the Champions League knockout stages as Group B winners by thrashing French club Lens 6-0 at Emirates Stadium. The Premier League leaders kicked off needing just a point to reach the last 16 of the competition following PSV Eindhoven’s 3-2 comeback win at Sevilla earlier on Wednesday evening. Mikel Arteta’s men duly delivered in devastating fashion thanks to first-half goals from Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard. Substitute Jorginho completed the scoring with a late penalty, awarded following VAR intervention for a handball by Abdukodir Khusanov. A one-sided encounter in north London was marred slightly by visiting fans throwing a lit flare at home supporters in the aftermath of Saka’s 23rd-minute strike. With first place in the pool emphatically secured with a game to spare, Gunners boss Arteta now has the luxury of being able to rotate his squad for next month’s visit to Eindhoven amid a hectic December fixture list which could determine the seriousness of his side’s title ambitions. The Spaniard made just two changes from Saturday’s dramatic 1-0 win at Brentford, which moved the Gunners top of the table. Havertz was recalled as reward for his late winner against the Bees, while on-loan goalkeeper David Raya was restored having been cup-tied against his parent club. Arsenal controlled proceedings from the first whistle and quickly blew away last season’s Ligue 1 runners-up. The recalled Havertz, who had already headed narrowly wide, capitalised on static defending to open the scoring in the 13th minute, poking beyond France keeper Brice Samba from close range following Jesus’ nod down. Lens’ vocal travelling support responded by throwing a pyrotechnic device on to the field before quickly seeing the game run away from their outclassed team. Jesus doubled the hosts’ advantage in the 21st minute, calmly sidestepping Kevin Danso and coolly slotting past Samba following strong running from Saka. England forward Saka quickly added to the punishment by finishing with his left thigh on the rebound after Samba poorly parried Martinelli’s initial effort. That unorthodox finish led to unsavoury scenes as an active flare was launched from the away end into home spectators in the tier above. Dominant Arsenal continued to shine brighter on the pitch and Martinelli lit up the contest with a wonderful fourth with only 27 minutes on the clock. The Brazil international raced away down the left flank and then cut inside Przemyslaw Frankowski to curl a sumptuous finish into the far corner. Arsenal’s first defeat of the season came in the reverse fixture in northern France at the start of October. On this evidence, most inside the ground must have been wondering how, albeit Lens’ Facundo Medina rattled the right post from distance during a rare foray forward. That proved to a fleeting moment of positivity for the away side, who went into the break 5-0 down after Odegaard expertly volleyed home Takehiro Tomiyasu’s cross. Arteta used a more subdued second period to rest some of his star names, with Saka and the outstanding Declan Rice among those withdrawn. Substitute Reiss Nelson came close to adding to the visitors’ embarrassment but his deflected effort was repelled by former Nottingham Forest keeper Samba. Lens’ misery was completed four minutes from time when Jorginho calmly sent Samba the wrong way from the spot after substitute Khusanov was punished for handling on review. Read More Erik ten Hag says Manchester United ‘have to learn’ from Galatasaray draw Man Utd set to face Galatasaray in Champions League despite bad weather Judd Trump marches into UK Championship quarter-finals Luke Donald humbled by players’ support for his return as Ryder Cup captain Exeter’s Rob Baxter urges football law-makers to be careful over sin-bins trial Defender Manuel Akanji admits Man City made ‘a lot of mistakes’ against Leipzig

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Hull4Ukraine intends to send 33 pallets of aid to regions affected by the Kakhovka dam breach.