Entertainment
England thrash South Africa by 10 wickets at Women’s World Cup
GUWAHATI: After bowling out the Proteas for a paltry 69 in just 20.4 overs, England’s openers Tammy Beaumont and Amy Jones made light work of the chase, cantering home in 14.1 overs.
Electing to bowl first, England rolled the dice early by tossing the new ball to spin, a move captains often shy away from in the power play. But left-arm tweaker Linsey Smith turned out to be the ace up their sleeve, exploiting a tacky surface that had South Africa groping in the dark.
“To get that start was very special. I only found out yesterday that I was opening the bowling and I was excited for the challenge. The conditions suited me well,” said Smith.
It was just Smith’s fifth ODI, but the 30-year-old is no stranger to international cricket, having been part of England’s T20 side since 2018. Now a permanent fixture in the 50-over team, her willingness to bowl in the danger zone of the power play could be a trump card for England going forward in this campaign.
Smith struck in each of her first three overs and was unlucky not to bag a fourth when a stumping chance off Sinalo Jafta went begging. Jafta clung on grimly for 22, the lone South African to reach double figures in a sorry tale of collapse.
It was the Proteas’ third lowest total in ODIs and their worst against England.
The chase was little more than a formality, though Jones survived a let-off on 31 when Masabata Klaas spilled a return catch. She finished unbeaten on 40 with Beaumont on 21 not out.
“Not the way we wanted to start the tournament. We’ve shown resilience in the past and we’ll bounce back,” South African skipper Laura Wolvaardt insisted as her batters were left searching for answers.
England’s dominance was such that Heather Knight, marking her 150th ODI appearance was not required to bat or bowl as her team-mates were so dominant against South Africa. She became only the second player from England to feature in 150 women’s ODIs.
The emphatic win vaulted England to the top of the points table with all eight teams now having played one game each.
Entertainment
Robert Duvall, known for his roles in "The Godfather" and "Apocalypse Now," dies at 95
Oscar-winning actor Robert Duvall died on Sunday at the age of 95. Duvall starred in classics like “The Godfather” and “Apocalypse Now.” Vladimir Duthiers looks back at his career.
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Streets are about to turn purple, green, and gold as communities celebrate Mardi Gras.
The celebration dates back centuries, preceding the Christian season of Lent.
Commonly known as “Fat Tuesday,” Mardi Gras is celebrated the day before Ash Wednesday, representing the start of Lent, 40 days of fasting and reflection leading up to Easter.
The tradition linked to European Christians serves as a final opportunity to enjoy rich foods before the more solemn season starts.
Here are some surprising facts about Mardi Gras that you may not know.
It’s a legal holiday in Louisiana
Mardi Gras is officially celebrated across the United States. However, the government of Louisiana declares it an official holiday. Considering how deeply the festival is woven into the state’s culture, the government offices and schools remain closed.
Mardi Gras colors have meaning
The official colors (purple, green, and gold) are not chosen randomly. In 1872, the Krewe of Rex in New Orleans assigned meaning to them. Purple represents justice, green indicates faith while gold is the symbol of power.
Mask wearing is required by law
Legal bodies in New Orleans have mandated float riders to wear masks. The rule dates back to the 19th century and was designed to encourage anonymity and social equality during the festivities.
UNESCO Belgium recognises it formally
The Carnival of Binche in Binche holds so much significance culturally that it was recognised by UNESCO as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Performers known as Gilles throw oranges into crowds as part of the celebration.
Largest free party in the U.S.
Mardi Gras is also known as the largest free party in the United States, attracting over a million visitors in peak years.
From medieval Europe to modern-day America, the celebration continues to blend faith, culture, and community. Mardi Gras is set to conclude at midnight.
Jackie Chan is clueless about the Kardashians and fans are not surprised by the revelation at all.
A throwback video has resurfaced on the internet, where Jackie was asked to name his favourite Kardashian and he was completely confused.
The incident occurred in 2017, while he was promoting his film The Foreigner on Access Hollywood Live.
The host asked him, “Who is you favourite Kardashian”. Chan, who was totally perplexed, replied, “Kardashian? What do you mean, Kardashian?”
The Rush Hour actor even inquired “if the name was English”.
Fans are not surprised at all by Chan being clueless about the popular American media and business dynasty, led by Kris Jenner as they emphasized that both belong to “different worlds.”
“Jackie Chan has been making action classics for decades… Meanwhile the Kardashian family built a whole empire off reality TV. Two completely different worlds colliding”, wrote one.
Meanwhile, another one highlighted how big of a star Jackie himself is that even the Kardashians are his fan.
A social media user commented, “The truth that’s not everyone knows the kardashians and Jackie wasn’t a new school type of person He’s an icon from way back, even the Kardashians are his fans.”
Work wise, the 71-year-old Hong Kong based actor last featured in Karate Kid: Legends (2025). He is all set to return for a potential Rush Hour 4 movie.
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