Food and drinks. What else does one need to enjoy life when you have these two items? British twin sisters&nbsp;Elma and Thelma certainly believe in this school of thought. Recently, the pair of sisters celebrated their 103rd birthday on Wednesday (August 3), supposedly making&nbsp;them the oldest British twins. However, they also shared their secret for leading such a long life.

While Thelma joked that her longevity was down to her love for food, Elma stated that she always enjoyed her glass of brandy, which should be served without ice. Elma also added that she enjoys a nice glass of lemonade every now and then.

Kept apart for over two years due to the pandemic, the sisters gathered with their families to celebrate their birthdays. Reportedly, Stockport's Mayor David Wilson also attended the celebrations and called the milestone 'incredible'.&nbsp;

"It's so wonderful. I didn't expect all this. It feels great. I'm happy," said Elma, before her sister, Thelma added, "It's lovely to be together because we don't get together very often."

The two sisters were born in the Stockport area of Greater Manchester in 1919, with Elma being the older one, arriving half an hour early than her sister Thelma.&nbsp;

Read more:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-posts-beautiful-martian-image-showing-blue-region-of-the-red-planet-502679"> NASA posts beautiful martian image showing 'blue' region of the red planet</a>

Both attended the Alexandra park School together and later worked as packers and labellers at a company named Smiths Crisps. Both got married afterwards at the age of 21 and started raising their respective families, having two kids in the process.

Now, at 103, both have multiple grandchildren and a loving family that adores and cherishes them. Talking about their bond, which has kept them close throughout the years, Elma added,&nbsp;"We didn't really need a friend because we had each other. We did have loads of friends, but you know what I mean?"

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
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Food and drinks. What else does one need to enjoy life when you have these two items? British twin sisters Elma and Thelma certainly believe in this school of thought.

Food and drinks. What else does one need to enjoy life when you have these two items? British twin sisters Elma and Thelma certainly believe in this school of thought. Recently, the pair of sisters celebrated their 103rd birthday on Wednesday (August 3), supposedly making them the oldest British twins. However, they also shared their secret for leading such a long life. While Thelma joked that her longevity was down to her love for food, Elma stated that she always enjoyed her glass of brandy, which should be served without ice. Elma also added that she enjoys a nice glass of lemonade every now and then. Kept apart for over two years due to the pandemic, the sisters gathered with their families to celebrate their birthdays. Reportedly, Stockport's Mayor David Wilson also attended the celebrations and called the milestone 'incredible'. "It's so wonderful. I didn't expect all this. It feels great. I'm happy," said Elma, before her sister, Thelma added, "It's lovely to be together because we don't get together very often." The two sisters were born in the Stockport area of Greater Manchester in 1919, with Elma being the older one, arriving half an hour early than her sister Thelma. Read more: NASA posts beautiful martian image showing 'blue' region of the red planet Both attended the Alexandra park School together and later worked as packers and labellers at a company named Smiths Crisps. Both got married afterwards at the age of 21 and started raising their respective families, having two kids in the process. Now, at 103, both have multiple grandchildren and a loving family that adores and cherishes them. Talking about their bond, which has kept them close throughout the years, Elma added, "We didn't really need a friend because we had each other. We did have loads of friends, but you know what I mean?" (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

British twins celebrate their 103rd birthday, reveal secrets to a long life

There remains no clarity regarding Cristiano Ronaldo's future at Manchester United. Ronaldo returned to the Red Devils club in 2021 and there is one more year left in his contract. However, the superstar footballer isn't reportedly happy at the Old Trafford club and has already handed in a transfer request.

The main concern for Ronaldo is that he wants to play in the Champions League (CL) and with Man United finishing sixth in the last EPL season, he will be deprived of CL football action for the 2022/23 season. Thus, the Portuguese star isn't willing to continue with the Red Devils. Amid such reports, the superstar striker had missed Man United's pre-season games, which further raised speculations regarding his exit.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/atletico-madrid-back-out-from-signing-ronaldo-from-man-united-due-to-financial-constraints-report-499050">Atletico Madrid back out from signing Ronaldo from Man United due to financial constraints: Report</a>

While new manager Erik ten Hag and the club's public stance has been the same that they are not willing to let go of&nbsp;Ronaldo, things have continued to remain unclear. In between all of this, Ronaldo has reached Manchester amid uncertainty over his future with the club. It remains unclear whether&nbsp;the Portuguese captain will return to training or only after talks&nbsp;happen&nbsp;over his future at Old Trafford.

As per a report in Sky Sports, Erik had stated that he expects Ronaldo to remain at Man United as he remains in his scheme of things for the future. "We are planning for Cristiano Ronaldo for the season and that's it. I'm looking forward to working with him. Cristiano is not for sale. He is in our plans and we want success together," the Dutchman stated.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/lionel-messis-chapter-at-barcelona-not-over-club-president-laporta-makes-bold-claim-on-argentines-return-500448">'Lionel Messi's chapter at Barcelona not over': Club president Laporta makes bold claim on Argentine's return</a>

"He's not with us and it's due to personal issues. I spoke with him before this issue came up. I had a conversation with him and I had a good talk. That is between Cristiano and me. What I can confirm is we had a really good conversation together. I didn't speak to him after (the news)," he had added.

There remains no clarity regarding Cristiano Ronaldo's future at Manchester United. Ronaldo returned to the Red Devils club in 2021 and there is one more year left in his contract.

There remains no clarity regarding Cristiano Ronaldo's future at Manchester United. Ronaldo returned to the Red Devils club in 2021 and there is one more year left in his contract. However, the superstar footballer isn't reportedly happy at the Old Trafford club and has already handed in a transfer request. The main concern for Ronaldo is that he wants to play in the Champions League (CL) and with Man United finishing sixth in the last EPL season, he will be deprived of CL football action for the 2022/23 season. Thus, the Portuguese star isn't willing to continue with the Red Devils. Amid such reports, the superstar striker had missed Man United's pre-season games, which further raised speculations regarding his exit. ALSO READ | Atletico Madrid back out from signing Ronaldo from Man United due to financial constraints: Report While new manager Erik ten Hag and the club's public stance has been the same that they are not willing to let go of Ronaldo, things have continued to remain unclear. In between all of this, Ronaldo has reached Manchester amid uncertainty over his future with the club. It remains unclear whether the Portuguese captain will return to training or only after talks happen over his future at Old Trafford. As per a report in Sky Sports, Erik had stated that he expects Ronaldo to remain at Man United as he remains in his scheme of things for the future. "We are planning for Cristiano Ronaldo for the season and that's it. I'm looking forward to working with him. Cristiano is not for sale. He is in our plans and we want success together," the Dutchman stated. ALSO READ | 'Lionel Messi's chapter at Barcelona not over': Club president Laporta makes bold claim on Argentine's return "He's not with us and it's due to personal issues. I spoke with him before this issue came up. I had a conversation with him and I had a good talk. That is between Cristiano and me. What I can confirm is we had a really good conversation together. I didn't speak to him after (the news)," he had added.

Cristiano Ronaldo transfer saga: Striker reaches England, likely to hold talks with Man United over his future

Wes Byrne, an Ed Sheeran lookalike, was moved to safety at one of the singer’s concerts in Manchester after being mobbed for selfies. The 30-year-old is a binman from Oldham, who was at Sheeran’s gig at Etihad Stadium earlier this month when he had to be moved by security guards after they feared he could cause a fire risk in the stadium as selfie-seeking people were blocking the gallery when he was on his way to the loo. Wes Byrne, who is often mistaken for being Ed Sheeran, was then shifted to the VIP zone from his seat.&nbsp;

"I get asked for selfies a lot, but I wasn't expecting that," Wes said to a daily

Wes' sister Sammy and his 8-year-old nephew AJ, who were also at the concert, had to be moved to safety along with Wes. "Nearly everyone knew I was a lookalike, although a few kids thought I was the real Ed, I wasn't going to ruin it for them," he added.&nbsp;

"About 15 minutes before Ed came on stage, the queue for selfies with me was all the way down a line of steps and out an exit, so security told us to go with them to some executive seats. We weren’t complaining – it was a much better view." Wes said that it was his nephew’s first-ever concert and he feels the attention they received was "hilarious."

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/ed-sheeran-teams-up-with-elton-john-for-christmas-single-418967">Ed Sheeran teams up with Elton John for Christmas single</a>

Until 10 years ago, Wes said he didn't know who Ed Sheeran was when people told him he looked like the ‘Shape of You’ hitmaker and says there is not a single day when he gets stopped or asked for a selfie. "My girlfriend Leah absolutely hates it," he added.&nbsp;

Wes recalls that he was approached by an agency in 2018 and was offered work as Sheeran’s double for Heinz tomato ketchup in 2019, where he met the singer in real life.&nbsp;

"The advert was based on him, but he was touring so didn’t have time to stay for all the photos. I was called in for shots that were meant to be the side and back of his head. I got to meet him too which was brilliant," he said."

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/ed-sheeran-is-uks-highest-tax-paying-celebrity-the-beckhams-are-a-close-second-448581">Ed Sheeran is UK's highest tax-paying celebrity, the Beckhams are a close second</a>

Wes said he would continue doing the lookalike work in addition to his present council binman job as long as it lasts. "As long as he is famous and people are asking me for selfies, I'll just go along with it. I don't worry about it, I'm just rolling with it," he added. Though he may look like Sheeran, Wes believes he cannot give the singer a competition when it comes to music and calls himself an "awful singer."&nbsp;

&nbsp;"I did try learning the guitar but I gave up because I was useless," Wes said.&nbsp;

Wes Byrne, an Ed Sheeran lookalike, was moved to safety at one of the singer’s concerts in Manchester after being mobbed for selfies. The 30-year-old is a binman from Oldham, who was at Sheeran’s gig at Etihad Stadium earlier this month when he had to be moved by security guards after they feared he could cause a fire risk in the stadium as selfie-seeking people were blocking the gallery when he was on his way to the loo.

Wes Byrne, an Ed Sheeran lookalike, was moved to safety at one of the singer’s concerts in Manchester after being mobbed for selfies. The 30-year-old is a binman from Oldham, who was at Sheeran’s gig at Etihad Stadium earlier this month when he had to be moved by security guards after they feared he could cause a fire risk in the stadium as selfie-seeking people were blocking the gallery when he was on his way to the loo. Wes Byrne, who is often mistaken for being Ed Sheeran, was then shifted to the VIP zone from his seat. "I get asked for selfies a lot, but I wasn't expecting that," Wes said to a daily Wes' sister Sammy and his 8-year-old nephew AJ, who were also at the concert, had to be moved to safety along with Wes. "Nearly everyone knew I was a lookalike, although a few kids thought I was the real Ed, I wasn't going to ruin it for them," he added. "About 15 minutes before Ed came on stage, the queue for selfies with me was all the way down a line of steps and out an exit, so security told us to go with them to some executive seats. We weren’t complaining – it was a much better view." Wes said that it was his nephew’s first-ever concert and he feels the attention they received was "hilarious." Also Read: Ed Sheeran teams up with Elton John for Christmas single Until 10 years ago, Wes said he didn't know who Ed Sheeran was when people told him he looked like the ‘Shape of You’ hitmaker and says there is not a single day when he gets stopped or asked for a selfie. "My girlfriend Leah absolutely hates it," he added. Wes recalls that he was approached by an agency in 2018 and was offered work as Sheeran’s double for Heinz tomato ketchup in 2019, where he met the singer in real life. "The advert was based on him, but he was touring so didn’t have time to stay for all the photos. I was called in for shots that were meant to be the side and back of his head. I got to meet him too which was brilliant," he said." Also Read: Ed Sheeran is UK's highest tax-paying celebrity, the Beckhams are a close second Wes said he would continue doing the lookalike work in addition to his present council binman job as long as it lasts. "As long as he is famous and people are asking me for selfies, I'll just go along with it. I don't worry about it, I'm just rolling with it," he added. Though he may look like Sheeran, Wes believes he cannot give the singer a competition when it comes to music and calls himself an "awful singer." "I did try learning the guitar but I gave up because I was useless," Wes said.

Ed Sheeran's lookalike gets rescued by security after fans mob him at singer’s Manchester concert 

It is a night of champions in European football with English champions Manchester City hosting Spanish champions Atletico Madrid. It is a clash of footballing ideologies as well with Pep Guardiola and Deigo Simeone both having their distinct coaching styles. The Champions League remains the holy grail for the two sides and both teams are expected to play to their strengths this evening. WION's football pundit Matt Holland tells previews the game with Sports Editor Digvijay Singh Deo.

Clash of footballing ideologies in Manchester

Britons are lining up for gas, staring at empty grocery shelves, paying higher taxes and worrying about spiraling prices as a grim winter approaches.

But to visit the Conservative Party conference in Manchester this past week was to enter a kind of happy valley, where Cabinet ministers danced, sang karaoke and drained flutes of Champagne — Pol Roger, Winston Churchill’s favorite brand, naturally.

Nobody captured the bonhomie better than Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who told a whooping crowd of party faithful, “You all represent the most jiving, hip, happening and generally funkapolitan party in the world.”

The cognitive dissonance extended beyond the Mardi Gras atmosphere. In his upbeat keynote speech, Johnson characterized the multiple ills afflicting Britain as a “function of growth and economic revival” — challenging but necessary post-Brexit adjustments on the way to a more prosperous future.

It was at least his third explanation for the food and fuel shortages, which continued in some areas after three weeks. Initially, he denied there was a crisis. Then, he said the shortages were not about Brexit — contradicting analysts, union leaders, food producers and business owners — but were hitting every Western country as they emerged from the pandemic. And finally, he cited the stresses as evidence that Brexit was doing its job in shaking up the economy.

“It is the ultimate in post-hoc rationalization — the idea that this is a well-thought-out plan, that we intended to do this all along,” said Jill Rutter, a senior research fellow at U.K. in a Changing Europe, a London think tank.

Few politicians have either the indomitable cheer or the ideological flexibility of Johnson, so it was hardly surprising that he tried to put the best face on Britain’s run of bad news. He remains utterly in command of the Conservative Party, which has an 80-seat majority in the Parliament, and comfortably ahead of the opposition Labour Party leader, Keir Starmer, in opinion polls.

Yet political analysts and economists said there were risks in the Panglossian tone he struck in Manchester. With inflation projected to continue at a relatively high level, and the government admitting that shortages could continue until Christmas, voters could quickly sour on Johnson. Then next year come tax rises, after he broke his promise not to increase them last month.

In hindsight, some said, the conference might be seen as a high-water mark for the prime minister.

“A few days of disruption to fuel supplies makes the government look foolish,” said Jonathan Portes, a professor of economics and public policy at King’s College London. “Much larger fuel bills are a much bigger deal.”

Tim Bale, a professor of politics at Queen Mary, University of London, said Johnson could come to resemble James Callaghan, a Labour prime minister who was toppled in 1979 after a winter of fuel shortages and runaway inflation, when he did not appear sufficiently alarmed about the pileup of problems.

When Johnson bounded into the auditorium at the conference last week, stopping to kiss his wife, Carrie, he looked anything but alarmed. Between jokes and jibes at the opposition, he presented a blueprint for a post-Brexit economy that he said would deliver high wages for skilled British workers, rather than lower-cost immigrants from the European Union, and put the onus on businesses to foot the bill.

Companies and previous governments “reached for the same old lever of uncontrolled immigration to keep wages low,” Johnson said. “The answer is to control immigration, to allow people of talent to come to this country, but not to use immigration as an excuse for failure to invest in people, in skills and in the equipment, the facilities, the machinery they need to do their jobs.”

That model is worlds away from Singapore-on-Thames, the catchphrase once used by the intellectual authors of Brexit to describe an open, lightly regulated, business-friendly hub that they said Britain would become once it cast off the labor laws and other shackles of Brussels. Nobody is talking about removing labor laws now (indeed, Johnson may soon move to raise Britain’s minimum wage).

Contradictions between protectionists and free-marketeers have run through the Brexit movement from the start.

“I describe it as Little England versus Global Britain,” Portes said, noting that Johnson, because of his lack of fixed convictions, was well-suited to hold this coalition together.

Since Johnson’s landslide election victory in 2019, however, the gravity in the Conservative Party has shifted decisively toward protectionism and anti-immigration policies. That was the message that helped the Tories lure disenchanted, working-class, former Labour voters in the industrial Midlands and north of England.

Many of these voters want the jobs that would come with the revival of British heavy industry, not better opportunities for hedge fund managers in London. Conservative politicians who once championed the Singapore-on-Thames model now play it down.

Johnson has embraced a blame-it-on-business message, which, while at odds with his party’s traditional principles, is popular with his new base. He singled out the trucking industry, arguing that its failure to invest in better truck stops — “with basic facilities where you don’t have to urinate in the bushes,” he said — was one of the reasons young people did not aspire to becoming drivers.

“It’s all of a piece with his move toward a much more populist style,” Bale said. “Johnson is pressing the right buttons, as far as these people are concerned.”

His tough-on-business language has scrambled the traditional lines in British politics. On Friday, voters were treated to the curious spectacle of Starmer lashing out at Johnson for his attacks on business and presenting the Labour Party as the better partner for Britain’s corporations.

For Johnson, critics said, the biggest risk is a lack of credibility. His initial claim that the food and fuel shortages were not caused by Brexit sounded unconvincing, given that his own government predicted rising prices and shortages of both in a 2019 report on the potential disruptions in the event of a “no-deal Brexit,” in which Britain would leave the European Union without a trade agreement.

The report, known as Operation Yellowhammer, laid out “reasonable worst-case planning assumptions,” among them that “certain types of fresh food supply will decrease” and that “customer behavior could lead to local shortages” of fuel. Although Britain negotiated a bare-bones trade deal with Brussels, its effect was similar to that of no deal.

While it is true that Johnson is indisputably setting his party’s agenda, it is not clear that the internal debates over the shape of a post-Brexit future are entirely settled. Rishi Sunak, the popular chancellor of the Exchequer, spoke at the conference about his years in California, and how he viewed Silicon Valley as a model for Britain.

“I’m not sure that having a truck driver shortage is part of that vision,” said Rutter, the research fellow.

Britons are lining up for gas, staring at empty grocery shelves, paying higher taxes and worrying about spiraling prices as a grim winter approaches. But to visit the Conservative Party conference in Manchester this past week was to enter a kind of happy valley, where Cabinet ministers danced, sang karaoke and drained flutes of Champagne — Pol Roger, Winston Churchill’s favorite brand, naturally.

Britons are lining up for gas, staring at empty grocery shelves, paying higher taxes and worrying about spiraling prices as a grim winter approaches. But to visit the Conservative Party conference in Manchester this past week was to enter a kind of happy valley, where Cabinet ministers danced, sang karaoke and drained flutes of Champagne — Pol Roger, Winston Churchill’s favorite brand, naturally. Nobody captured the bonhomie better than Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who told a whooping crowd of party faithful, “You all represent the most jiving, hip, happening and generally funkapolitan party in the world.” The cognitive dissonance extended beyond the Mardi Gras atmosphere. In his upbeat keynote speech, Johnson characterized the multiple ills afflicting Britain as a “function of growth and economic revival” — challenging but necessary post-Brexit adjustments on the way to a more prosperous future. It was at least his third explanation for the food and fuel shortages, which continued in some areas after three weeks. Initially, he denied there was a crisis. Then, he said the shortages were not about Brexit — contradicting analysts, union leaders, food producers and business owners — but were hitting every Western country as they emerged from the pandemic. And finally, he cited the stresses as evidence that Brexit was doing its job in shaking up the economy. “It is the ultimate in post-hoc rationalization — the idea that this is a well-thought-out plan, that we intended to do this all along,” said Jill Rutter, a senior research fellow at U.K. in a Changing Europe, a London think tank. Few politicians have either the indomitable cheer or the ideological flexibility of Johnson, so it was hardly surprising that he tried to put the best face on Britain’s run of bad news. He remains utterly in command of the Conservative Party, which has an 80-seat majority in the Parliament, and comfortably ahead of the opposition Labour Party leader, Keir Starmer, in opinion polls. Yet political analysts and economists said there were risks in the Panglossian tone he struck in Manchester. With inflation projected to continue at a relatively high level, and the government admitting that shortages could continue until Christmas, voters could quickly sour on Johnson. Then next year come tax rises, after he broke his promise not to increase them last month. In hindsight, some said, the conference might be seen as a high-water mark for the prime minister. “A few days of disruption to fuel supplies makes the government look foolish,” said Jonathan Portes, a professor of economics and public policy at King’s College London. “Much larger fuel bills are a much bigger deal.” Tim Bale, a professor of politics at Queen Mary, University of London, said Johnson could come to resemble James Callaghan, a Labour prime minister who was toppled in 1979 after a winter of fuel shortages and runaway inflation, when he did not appear sufficiently alarmed about the pileup of problems. When Johnson bounded into the auditorium at the conference last week, stopping to kiss his wife, Carrie, he looked anything but alarmed. Between jokes and jibes at the opposition, he presented a blueprint for a post-Brexit economy that he said would deliver high wages for skilled British workers, rather than lower-cost immigrants from the European Union, and put the onus on businesses to foot the bill. Companies and previous governments “reached for the same old lever of uncontrolled immigration to keep wages low,” Johnson said. “The answer is to control immigration, to allow people of talent to come to this country, but not to use immigration as an excuse for failure to invest in people, in skills and in the equipment, the facilities, the machinery they need to do their jobs.” That model is worlds away from Singapore-on-Thames, the catchphrase once used by the intellectual authors of Brexit to describe an open, lightly regulated, business-friendly hub that they said Britain would become once it cast off the labor laws and other shackles of Brussels. Nobody is talking about removing labor laws now (indeed, Johnson may soon move to raise Britain’s minimum wage). Contradictions between protectionists and free-marketeers have run through the Brexit movement from the start. “I describe it as Little England versus Global Britain,” Portes said, noting that Johnson, because of his lack of fixed convictions, was well-suited to hold this coalition together. Since Johnson’s landslide election victory in 2019, however, the gravity in the Conservative Party has shifted decisively toward protectionism and anti-immigration policies. That was the message that helped the Tories lure disenchanted, working-class, former Labour voters in the industrial Midlands and north of England. Many of these voters want the jobs that would come with the revival of British heavy industry, not better opportunities for hedge fund managers in London. Conservative politicians who once championed the Singapore-on-Thames model now play it down. Johnson has embraced a blame-it-on-business message, which, while at odds with his party’s traditional principles, is popular with his new base. He singled out the trucking industry, arguing that its failure to invest in better truck stops — “with basic facilities where you don’t have to urinate in the bushes,” he said — was one of the reasons young people did not aspire to becoming drivers. “It’s all of a piece with his move toward a much more populist style,” Bale said. “Johnson is pressing the right buttons, as far as these people are concerned.” His tough-on-business language has scrambled the traditional lines in British politics. On Friday, voters were treated to the curious spectacle of Starmer lashing out at Johnson for his attacks on business and presenting the Labour Party as the better partner for Britain’s corporations. For Johnson, critics said, the biggest risk is a lack of credibility. His initial claim that the food and fuel shortages were not caused by Brexit sounded unconvincing, given that his own government predicted rising prices and shortages of both in a 2019 report on the potential disruptions in the event of a “no-deal Brexit,” in which Britain would leave the European Union without a trade agreement. The report, known as Operation Yellowhammer, laid out “reasonable worst-case planning assumptions,” among them that “certain types of fresh food supply will decrease” and that “customer behavior could lead to local shortages” of fuel. Although Britain negotiated a bare-bones trade deal with Brussels, its effect was similar to that of no deal. While it is true that Johnson is indisputably setting his party’s agenda, it is not clear that the internal debates over the shape of a post-Brexit future are entirely settled. Rishi Sunak, the popular chancellor of the Exchequer, spoke at the conference about his years in California, and how he viewed Silicon Valley as a model for Britain. “I’m not sure that having a truck driver shortage is part of that vision,” said Rutter, the research fellow.

As Johnson draws a happy face, Britons confront a run of bad news

Two of the biggest sports superstars of the modern- era are Virat Kohli and Cristiano Ronaldo. For the unversed, both Kohli and Ronaldo are at Manchester&nbsp;as the city cannot keep calm and is buzzing with the presence of the GOATs of their respective games.&nbsp;

To remind one and all, Ronaldo is at Manchester as he is gearing up for his second term to begin with Manchester United (in their clash versus Newcastle United on September 11) after he joined his former club in a splendid piece of summer transfer. Meanwhile, Kohli-led India will play England in the fifth and final Test at Old Trafford, Manchester from September 10 (Friday).

Interestingly, both the grounds are also situated close to each other, sending fans into a frenzy.&nbsp;On Thursday (September 8),&nbsp;Lancashire Cricket's official Twitter handle teased fans and asked them if they are interested to see a joint training session involving both Kohli and Ronaldo at the Old Trafford, Manchester. To this, Man United replied by saying, "One city, two GOATs"

Here's their fun interaction which broke the internet -

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One city, two GOATs
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) <a href="https://twitter.com/ManUtd/status/1435898429452992514?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 9, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Ronaldo joined the Red Devils after he showed his willingness to move out from Juventus, despite less than 12 months of his contract still remaining with the Italian club. He was on cards to get on board with Manchester City, United's rival, before the talks fell flat at the last moment and his former club joined the negotiations to rope him for a two-year contract. He is likely to make his second debut on September 11 (Saturday) during Man Utd's clash versus Newcastle United. If that happens, the noise that will be generated by his return for the Red Devils would surely be heard on the cricket ground, during Day 2 of the India-England Test.

Two of the biggest sports superstars of the modern- era are Virat Kohli and Cristiano Ronaldo. For the unversed, both Kohli and Ronaldo are at Manchester as the city cannot keep calm and is buzzing with the presence of the GOATs of their respective games.

Two of the biggest sports superstars of the modern- era are Virat Kohli and Cristiano Ronaldo. For the unversed, both Kohli and Ronaldo are at Manchester as the city cannot keep calm and is buzzing with the presence of the GOATs of their respective games. To remind one and all, Ronaldo is at Manchester as he is gearing up for his second term to begin with Manchester United (in their clash versus Newcastle United on September 11) after he joined his former club in a splendid piece of summer transfer. Meanwhile, Kohli-led India will play England in the fifth and final Test at Old Trafford, Manchester from September 10 (Friday). Interestingly, both the grounds are also situated close to each other, sending fans into a frenzy. On Thursday (September 8), Lancashire Cricket's official Twitter handle teased fans and asked them if they are interested to see a joint training session involving both Kohli and Ronaldo at the Old Trafford, Manchester. To this, Man United replied by saying, "One city, two GOATs" Here's their fun interaction which broke the internet - One city, two GOATs — Manchester United (@ManUtd) September 9, 2021 × Ronaldo joined the Red Devils after he showed his willingness to move out from Juventus, despite less than 12 months of his contract still remaining with the Italian club. He was on cards to get on board with Manchester City, United's rival, before the talks fell flat at the last moment and his former club joined the negotiations to rope him for a two-year contract. He is likely to make his second debut on September 11 (Saturday) during Man Utd's clash versus Newcastle United. If that happens, the noise that will be generated by his return for the Red Devils would surely be heard on the cricket ground, during Day 2 of the India-England Test.

Man United-Lancashire Cricket's interaction wins the internet as Manchester is buzzing with Virat Kohli-Cristiano Ronaldo's presence

Michael Vaughan, England's former captain, never shies away from expressing his views on the gentlemen's game. At times, he makes heads turn with his glaring remarks and did the same with his tweet slamming Indian cricket after the fifth and final Test versus England got cancelled, at Manchester, on Friday (September 10).

India and England were to take on each other in the fifth and final Test at Old Trafford, Manchester from Friday, however, the Covid cases in Indian camp meant that the visitors couldn't field a team. Hence, England Cricket Board (ECB) released an official statement saying, "Following ongoing conversations with the BCCI, the ECB can confirm that the fifth LV= Insurance Test between England and India Men due to start today at Emirates Old Trafford, will be cancelled."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifth-test-between-india-and-england-called-off-over-covid-19-concerns-412051">Fifth Test between India and England called off over COVID-19 concerns</a>

"Due to fears of a further increase in the number of COVID cases inside the camp, India are regrettably unable to field a team," the statement added. While nothing is finalised as to when the final Test can be played, either next year when India are already scheduled to tour England for a limited-overs tour, Vaughan raised eyebrows by slamming Indian cricket for not going on with the tour.

"India have let English Cricket down !!! But England did let South African Cricket down," Vaughan wrote in a tweet.

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India have let English Cricket down !!! But England did let South African Cricket down !!!
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The fifth Test could've been rescheduled by a day or two, however, that isn't possible as IPL 14's second and final leg is set to commence from September 19, not giving any window for accommodating the final Test immediately.&nbsp;

As of now, the series is 2-1 in Virat Kohli &amp; Co.'s favour after their 157-run win in the fourth and penultimate Test at The Oval, London.

Michael Vaughan, England's former captain, never shies away from expressing his views on the gentlemen's game. At times, he makes heads turn with his glaring remarks and did the same with his tweet slamming Indian cricket after the fifth and final Test versus England got cancelled, at Manchester, on Friday (September 10).

Michael Vaughan, England's former captain, never shies away from expressing his views on the gentlemen's game. At times, he makes heads turn with his glaring remarks and did the same with his tweet slamming Indian cricket after the fifth and final Test versus England got cancelled, at Manchester, on Friday (September 10). India and England were to take on each other in the fifth and final Test at Old Trafford, Manchester from Friday, however, the Covid cases in Indian camp meant that the visitors couldn't field a team. Hence, England Cricket Board (ECB) released an official statement saying, "Following ongoing conversations with the BCCI, the ECB can confirm that the fifth LV= Insurance Test between England and India Men due to start today at Emirates Old Trafford, will be cancelled." ALSO READ | Fifth Test between India and England called off over COVID-19 concerns "Due to fears of a further increase in the number of COVID cases inside the camp, India are regrettably unable to field a team," the statement added. While nothing is finalised as to when the final Test can be played, either next year when India are already scheduled to tour England for a limited-overs tour, Vaughan raised eyebrows by slamming Indian cricket for not going on with the tour. "India have let English Cricket down !!! But England did let South African Cricket down," Vaughan wrote in a tweet. India have let English Cricket down !!! But England did let South African Cricket down !!! — Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) September 10, 2021 × The fifth Test could've been rescheduled by a day or two, however, that isn't possible as IPL 14's second and final leg is set to commence from September 19, not giving any window for accommodating the final Test immediately. As of now, the series is 2-1 in Virat Kohli & Co.'s favour after their 157-run win in the fourth and penultimate Test at The Oval, London.

India have let English cricket down, says Michael Vaughan after Manchester Test called off

Manchester City took a big step towards their first Champions League final as goals by Kevin De Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez earned them a 2-1 comeback win at Paris St Germain in the semi-final first leg on Wednesday.

PSG went ahead courtesy of a Marquinhos header in the first half, but Mauricio Pochettino's side lost control after the break with De Bruyne and Mahrez finding the back of the net in the space of eight minutes to secure City's 18th consecutive away win in all competitions.

Last year's runners-up PSG then found themselves with a higher mountain to climb as midfielder Idrissa Gueye picked up a straight red card in the 77th minute for a reckless challenge on Ilkay Gundogan.

"The second half was much better, the way the first goal went in was a little bit lucky but we played great football in the second half, we did well," De Bruyne said.

Pochettino agreed the visitors were the better team after the interval.

"There were two different halves. In the first half we did well. We created chances and deserved the lead, but in the second half they were better than us," he said.

"The two goals were accidents, but they created more than us."

The French champions will need to show next Tuesday the same away form that enabled them to beat Barcelona at the Camp Nou and Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena in previous rounds if they are to progress.

"At halftime, I told the players we needed to be ourselves. We needed to be more aggressive and we didn't let them breathe after the break," City manager Pep Guardiola said.

City dominated the early possession but PSG were the more dangerous side with Brazilian forward Neymar twice testing City keeper Ederson.

Marquinhos, returning to the team from an injury suffered in the quarter-final first leg against Bayern, put the hosts in front when he headed home Angel Di Maria's whipped corner in the 15th minute.

City, overly cautious for fear of being punished on the break, were again exposed on a set-piece when Leandro Paredes headed Neymar's corner just wide.

Guardiola's side lacked their usual composure, with Joao Cancelo picking up a yellow card for a woeful challenge on Kylian Mbappe.

City's first real chance came in the 42nd minute when Phil Foden, played infield by Bernardo Silva, shot too close to PSG goalkeeper Keylor Navas.

The visitors were more attack-minded in the second half and they equalised after 64 minutes when De Bruyne, from a pass by Oleksandr Zinchenko who had just replaced Cancelo, sent in a cross and Navas failed to react as it curled into the far corner of the net.

Navas was beaten again seven minutes later when Mahrez's free kick flew straight through a flimsy PSG wall and past the helpless Navas.

Gueye's dismissal for a wild tackle on Gundogan made City's task easier and they will take a big advantage into the second leg in Manchester.

Manchester City took a big step towards their first Champions League final as goals by Kevin De Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez earned them a 2-1 comeback win at Paris St Germain in the semi-final first leg on Wednesday.

Manchester City took a big step towards their first Champions League final as goals by Kevin De Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez earned them a 2-1 comeback win at Paris St Germain in the semi-final first leg on Wednesday. PSG went ahead courtesy of a Marquinhos header in the first half, but Mauricio Pochettino's side lost control after the break with De Bruyne and Mahrez finding the back of the net in the space of eight minutes to secure City's 18th consecutive away win in all competitions. Last year's runners-up PSG then found themselves with a higher mountain to climb as midfielder Idrissa Gueye picked up a straight red card in the 77th minute for a reckless challenge on Ilkay Gundogan. "The second half was much better, the way the first goal went in was a little bit lucky but we played great football in the second half, we did well," De Bruyne said. Pochettino agreed the visitors were the better team after the interval. "There were two different halves. In the first half we did well. We created chances and deserved the lead, but in the second half they were better than us," he said. "The two goals were accidents, but they created more than us." The French champions will need to show next Tuesday the same away form that enabled them to beat Barcelona at the Camp Nou and Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena in previous rounds if they are to progress. "At halftime, I told the players we needed to be ourselves. We needed to be more aggressive and we didn't let them breathe after the break," City manager Pep Guardiola said. City dominated the early possession but PSG were the more dangerous side with Brazilian forward Neymar twice testing City keeper Ederson. Marquinhos, returning to the team from an injury suffered in the quarter-final first leg against Bayern, put the hosts in front when he headed home Angel Di Maria's whipped corner in the 15th minute. City, overly cautious for fear of being punished on the break, were again exposed on a set-piece when Leandro Paredes headed Neymar's corner just wide. Guardiola's side lacked their usual composure, with Joao Cancelo picking up a yellow card for a woeful challenge on Kylian Mbappe. City's first real chance came in the 42nd minute when Phil Foden, played infield by Bernardo Silva, shot too close to PSG goalkeeper Keylor Navas. The visitors were more attack-minded in the second half and they equalised after 64 minutes when De Bruyne, from a pass by Oleksandr Zinchenko who had just replaced Cancelo, sent in a cross and Navas failed to react as it curled into the far corner of the net. Navas was beaten again seven minutes later when Mahrez's free kick flew straight through a flimsy PSG wall and past the helpless Navas. Gueye's dismissal for a wild tackle on Gundogan made City's task easier and they will take a big advantage into the second leg in Manchester.

Manchester City fight back to beat 10-man Paris Saint-Germain in first leg

English giants Manchester United on Friday launched a new "See Red" anti-racism campaign calling on fans to report racist incidents, the Premier League club said in a statement.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bitter-news-for-us-thomas-mueller-on-robert-lewandowskis-injury-374900" hreflang="en">'Bitter news for us': Thomas Mueller on Robert Lewandowski's injury</a>

The campaign will encourage fans to report incidents of racism or other hate crimes and to stand up for those who may be on the receiving end of discriminatory abuse.

A video was used to accompany the launch, "Without diversity, who would we be? What would the club's history books say?"

"We are proud that players of all ethnicities, religions and nationalities have pulled on the Manchester United jersey over the years," Richard Arnold, Group Managing Director, said.

"We challenge our fans, and indeed fans of every club, to watch this and think about their own favourite memories, their top teams and their most celebrated players.

"How different would those memories be without the diversity of some of the best players in the world who have graced our game and our club? We call on those fans to join us in the battle against discrimination."

(Inputs from Reuters)

English giants Manchester United on Friday launched a new "See Red" anti-racism campaign calling on fans to report racist incidents, the Premier League club said in a statement.

English giants Manchester United on Friday launched a new "See Red" anti-racism campaign calling on fans to report racist incidents, the Premier League club said in a statement. ALSO READ: 'Bitter news for us': Thomas Mueller on Robert Lewandowski's injury The campaign will encourage fans to report incidents of racism or other hate crimes and to stand up for those who may be on the receiving end of discriminatory abuse. A video was used to accompany the launch, "Without diversity, who would we be? What would the club's history books say?" "We are proud that players of all ethnicities, religions and nationalities have pulled on the Manchester United jersey over the years," Richard Arnold, Group Managing Director, said. "We challenge our fans, and indeed fans of every club, to watch this and think about their own favourite memories, their top teams and their most celebrated players. "How different would those memories be without the diversity of some of the best players in the world who have graced our game and our club? We call on those fans to join us in the battle against discrimination." (Inputs from Reuters)

'See Red': Manchester United call on fans to report racism as part of new campaign

In Manchester, a woman was left exposed in her underpants as cops tried to arrest her. This happened days after a cop was accused of murdering a woman in London. WION's Palki asks: Isn't the UK police's brutality 'deeply concerning' for British Lawmakers?

Gravitas: Shocking behaviour by British Police

Manchester City's Premier League visit to Everton on Monday was postponed after multiple new positive tests for coronavirus were detected at City, the club confirmed.

"Based on strong medical advice the Premier League, in consultation with both clubs, have decided to postpone the fixture," City said in a statement.

City announced on Christmas Day there had been four positive tests at the club for players Kyle Walker and Gabriel Jesus and two staff members.

"After the latest round of Covid-19 testing, the club returned a number of positive cases, in addition to the four already reported on Christmas Day," City's statement added.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/lionel-messi-wants-to-play-in-united-states-says-want-to-experience-life-there-352949" hreflang="en">Lionel Messi wants to play in United States, says 'want to experience life there'</a>

"With the security of the bubble compromised, there posed a risk that the virus could spread further amongst the squad, the staff and potentially beyond."

The club's training ground will now close for an "indeterminate period" with further testing on players and staff to take place before it can reopen.

City are due to face Chelsea away in the Premier League on Sunday.

It is just the second time that a Premier League match has been postponed due to Covid-19 since the 2019/20 season resumed in June.

Aston Villa's clash with Newcastle earlier this month was called off due to an outbreak at Newcastle's training ground.

City manager Pep Guardiola's mother died of coronavirus earlier this year and speaking after Saturday's 2-0 win over Newcastle, he said the health of his players must take priority.

"What we want is that Gabriel and Kyle don't get worse and can be asymptomatic and pass this 8-10 days without tough symptoms," said Guardiola.

"Covid is here. It is not just here in Man City, it is all around the world attacking hard so that's why we have to be careful and what we want is the next days is for them not to have symptoms and recov

Manchester City's Premier League visit to Everton on Monday was postponed after multiple new positive tests for coronavirus were detected at City, the club confirmed.

Manchester City's Premier League visit to Everton on Monday was postponed after multiple new positive tests for coronavirus were detected at City, the club confirmed. "Based on strong medical advice the Premier League, in consultation with both clubs, have decided to postpone the fixture," City said in a statement. City announced on Christmas Day there had been four positive tests at the club for players Kyle Walker and Gabriel Jesus and two staff members. "After the latest round of Covid-19 testing, the club returned a number of positive cases, in addition to the four already reported on Christmas Day," City's statement added. Also read| Lionel Messi wants to play in United States, says 'want to experience life there' "With the security of the bubble compromised, there posed a risk that the virus could spread further amongst the squad, the staff and potentially beyond." The club's training ground will now close for an "indeterminate period" with further testing on players and staff to take place before it can reopen. City are due to face Chelsea away in the Premier League on Sunday. It is just the second time that a Premier League match has been postponed due to Covid-19 since the 2019/20 season resumed in June. Aston Villa's clash with Newcastle earlier this month was called off due to an outbreak at Newcastle's training ground. City manager Pep Guardiola's mother died of coronavirus earlier this year and speaking after Saturday's 2-0 win over Newcastle, he said the health of his players must take priority. "What we want is that Gabriel and Kyle don't get worse and can be asymptomatic and pass this 8-10 days without tough symptoms," said Guardiola. "Covid is here. It is not just here in Man City, it is all around the world attacking hard so that's why we have to be careful and what we want is the next days is for them not to have symptoms and recov

Man City's clash at Everton postponed due to multiple Covid-19 cases

On the occasion of Diwali, many Premier League giants have wished their fans based in India. Also read: From Virat Kohli to Saina Nehwal: Sports fraternity in India wishes a very 'Happy Diwali' Premier League has a major fan base in India.

On the occasion of Diwali, many Premier League giants have wished their fans based in India. Also read: From Virat Kohli to Saina Nehwal: Sports fraternity in India wishes a very 'Happy Diwali' Premier League has a major fan base in India. This year's Diwali, which is also one of the most important festivals in India, commenced on a muted note on Saturday. Premier League's official account on Twitter wished their fans by posting a compilation of league icons. From all of us at the Premier League, wishing you a very happy and prosperous Diwali. 🪔 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲. 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲 #happydiwali pic.twitter.com/Zek4lOCtv7 — Premier League India (@PLforIndia) November 14, 2020 × Chelsea FC and Manchester City were the first to wish their fans on the occasion of Diwali. × #HappyDiwali to all our fans who are celebrating! “Light, my light, the world-filling light…” #lightourcity ⚽️ @PUMA 🙌 @MangteC 🤝 @HARRDYSANDHU pic.twitter.com/XVuHLN67TH — Manchester City (@ManCity) November 14, 2020 × Also read: Diwali 2020: India, along with the world, celebrates the festival of lights Defending champions Liverpool FC also wished their fans. To all our supporters in 🇮🇳 and around the world, wishing you all a safe and prosperous #Diwali pic.twitter.com/cuEvikaq9A — Liverpool FC (@LFC) November 14, 2020 × Mourinho's Tottenham Hotspurs also wished their fans. ✨ Wishing our fans in India 🇮🇳 a very happy & safe Diwali! 💙 Celebrate #DiwaliWithSpurs, have a sweet & watch football - like a true Spurs fan 😁🥰#THFC ⚪ #COYS pic.twitter.com/2OZgyt1qPx — Tottenham Hotspur (@Spurs_India) November 14, 2020 × West Ham United posted a compilation video of their players wishing their fans in India a very Happy Diwali. From all of us at West Ham United, here's wishing a very safe and #HappyDiwali to everyone celebrating.. pic.twitter.com/tCdSXnjiFZ — West Ham United (@WestHam) November 14, 2020 × Leicester City FC wished their fans. Best wishes to all #lcfc fans celebrating #Diwali pic.twitter.com/vGQeVzQKs7 — Leicester City (@LCFC) November 14, 2020 × Happy #Diwali to all of our supporters who are celebrating here and all around the world! pic.twitter.com/KGAFxrSIwE — Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) November 14, 2020 ×

From Chelsea to Manchester City: Premier League giants wish everyone a 'Happy Diwali'

The brother of a suicide bomber who killed 22 people at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester in 2017 on Wednesday refused to attend his sentencing hearing for murder.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/man-causes-motorway-accidents-in-berlin-in-islamist-act-prosecutors-321651" hreflang="en">Man causes motorway accidents in Berlin in 'Islamist' act: Prosecutors</a>

A jury found Hashem Abedi, now 23, guilty of 22 counts of murder, attempted murder and conspiring to cause explosions at the gig in northwest England after a trial that ended in March.

The attack, carried out by Salman Abedi, 22, inspired by the Islamic State group, was one of the deadliest terror attacks ever carried out in Britain, and left more than 200 people injured.

The defendant had sacked his legal team and refused to leave prison to attend the trial at the Central Criminal Court in London.

Judge Jeremy Baker said although he had been brought to court as required for the two-day sentencing hearing, he had refused to come to the courtroom and still had no legal representation.

"He has had every opportunity and has been encouraged to have legal representation. But he has made it clear and I am satisfied that he does not wish to be present at this hearing," he said.

Family members of some of the victims and survivors were in court for the sentencing, which will determine how long Manchester-born Abedi spends in prison.

Others were following proceedings via videolink in Manchester, Leeds, Newcastle and Glasgow.

Judge Baker said he cannot be given a whole-life term -- ensuring he would never be released -- because he was aged under 21 at the time of the offences.

Hashem Abedi was in Libya when the attack took place at the Manchester Arena on the evening of May 22, 2017, but his trial heard he had helped his brother plan it for several months.

He obtained chemicals for the homemade bomb, found an address to make and store it, and bought a car to transport the materials.

Detectives who investigated the blast said both brothers were equally responsible and called them "proper jihadis".

The brother of a suicide bomber who killed 22 people at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester in 2017 on Wednesday refused to attend his sentencing hearing for murder.

The brother of a suicide bomber who killed 22 people at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester in 2017 on Wednesday refused to attend his sentencing hearing for murder. Also read: Man causes motorway accidents in Berlin in 'Islamist' act: Prosecutors A jury found Hashem Abedi, now 23, guilty of 22 counts of murder, attempted murder and conspiring to cause explosions at the gig in northwest England after a trial that ended in March. The attack, carried out by Salman Abedi, 22, inspired by the Islamic State group, was one of the deadliest terror attacks ever carried out in Britain, and left more than 200 people injured. The defendant had sacked his legal team and refused to leave prison to attend the trial at the Central Criminal Court in London. Judge Jeremy Baker said although he had been brought to court as required for the two-day sentencing hearing, he had refused to come to the courtroom and still had no legal representation. "He has had every opportunity and has been encouraged to have legal representation. But he has made it clear and I am satisfied that he does not wish to be present at this hearing," he said. Family members of some of the victims and survivors were in court for the sentencing, which will determine how long Manchester-born Abedi spends in prison. Others were following proceedings via videolink in Manchester, Leeds, Newcastle and Glasgow. Judge Baker said he cannot be given a whole-life term -- ensuring he would never be released -- because he was aged under 21 at the time of the offences. Hashem Abedi was in Libya when the attack took place at the Manchester Arena on the evening of May 22, 2017, but his trial heard he had helped his brother plan it for several months. He obtained chemicals for the homemade bomb, found an address to make and store it, and bought a car to transport the materials. Detectives who investigated the blast said both brothers were equally responsible and called them "proper jihadis".

Manchester bomber's brother snubs sentencing hearing

A major incident has been declared in the Manchester area of Britain, allowing the creation of a "central command structure" to help tackle the rising number of coronavirus cases, a local official was quoted as saying on Sunday.&nbsp;

Health minister Matt Hancock said on Thursday the COVID-19 lockdown in parts of northern England - including Greater Manchester, parts of West Yorkshire and East Lancashire - would be tightened because of an increasing rate of transmission.

"Although the council and partner organisations have been working closely to tackle the impacts of the pandemic since early this year, declaring a major incident means we can ramp this up further," the Leader of Manchester City Council Richard Leese said in the Manchester Evening News.&nbsp;

"It allows the establishment of a central command structure to oversee the response and enables agencies involved to draw on extra resources."&nbsp;

The city council did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment from Reuters.&nbsp;

The pandemic has killed more than 46,000 people in Britain, the fourth highest toll in the world, according to a Reuters tally collated on Sunday.

A major incident has been declared in the Manchester area of Britain, allowing the creation of a "central command structure" to help tackle the rising number of coronavirus cases, a local official was quoted as saying on Sunday.

A major incident has been declared in the Manchester area of Britain, allowing the creation of a "central command structure" to help tackle the rising number of coronavirus cases, a local official was quoted as saying on Sunday. Health minister Matt Hancock said on Thursday the COVID-19 lockdown in parts of northern England - including Greater Manchester, parts of West Yorkshire and East Lancashire - would be tightened because of an increasing rate of transmission. "Although the council and partner organisations have been working closely to tackle the impacts of the pandemic since early this year, declaring a major incident means we can ramp this up further," the Leader of Manchester City Council Richard Leese said in the Manchester Evening News. "It allows the establishment of a central command structure to oversee the response and enables agencies involved to draw on extra resources." The city council did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment from Reuters. The pandemic has killed more than 46,000 people in Britain, the fourth highest toll in the world, according to a Reuters tally collated on Sunday.

'Major incident' declared in British city of Manchester to tackle COVID-19

Leroy Sane's transfer to Bayern Munich has left many Manchester City fans fuming.&nbsp;

The Bundesliga Champions had shown their interest in the player last year but they dropped the plan after Sane got injured during a match against Liverpool.&nbsp;

Man City agreed to a €45 million deal with Bayern Munich, this deal included €11 million in add-ons.&nbsp;

Winger Leroy Sane is set to sign a five-year-deal worth €22 million, this is double the amount Man City had offered in contract negotiations.&nbsp;

City fans took out their anger on Twitter, some said the fee was too as compared to player's abilities.&nbsp;

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Leroy Sané to Bayern for under €50m is an incredible signing. They have managed to successfully replace Robben &amp; Ribery with Gnabry &amp; Sané. An incredible duo alongside Lewandowski. Further highlights the importance of effective and efficient management by directors at a club.
— TR (@TacticalRole) <a href="https://twitter.com/TacticalRole/status/1278017227569029121?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 30, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Manchester City going to replace Leroy Sane with Jack Grealish? <a href="https://t.co/iMf1LtiYhe">pic.twitter.com/iMf1LtiYhe</a>
— Lee Lloyd (@leelloyd_) <a href="https://twitter.com/leelloyd_/status/1278015190966001664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 30, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Man City coach Pep Guardiola said that the team is unlikely to buy a replacement for Sane as there are many options in the team.&nbsp;

He said: "I don’t know if he (Sane) is going to leave this summer or at the end of his contract but we have enough good players upfront.

"Gabriel (Jesus) can play on the left, Phil Foden can play on the left, we have Raheem (Sterling) there. We have big, talented players upfront.

“Most of them are in good healthy conditions, like Phil, Riyad (Mahrez), Gabriel, Raheem, they can play quite regularly for a long period, they are so stable in terms of injury situations.

"I think we have other priorities maybe. And I don’t know, after the coronavirus, if the situation economically and financially for the clubs is changing.

“I don’t know what the situation is. We’re going to see at the end of this season.” 
&nbsp;

Leroy Sane's transfer to Bayern Munich has left many Manchester City fans fuming. The Bundesliga Champions had shown their interest in the player last year but they dropped the plan after Sane got injured during a match against Liverpool.

Leroy Sane's transfer to Bayern Munich has left many Manchester City fans fuming. The Bundesliga Champions had shown their interest in the player last year but they dropped the plan after Sane got injured during a match against Liverpool. Man City agreed to a €45 million deal with Bayern Munich, this deal included €11 million in add-ons. Winger Leroy Sane is set to sign a five-year-deal worth €22 million, this is double the amount Man City had offered in contract negotiations. City fans took out their anger on Twitter, some said the fee was too as compared to player's abilities. Leroy Sané to Bayern for under €50m is an incredible signing. They have managed to successfully replace Robben & Ribery with Gnabry & Sané. An incredible duo alongside Lewandowski. Further highlights the importance of effective and efficient management by directors at a club. — TR (@TacticalRole) June 30, 2020 × Manchester City going to replace Leroy Sane with Jack Grealish? pic.twitter.com/iMf1LtiYhe — Lee Lloyd (@leelloyd_) June 30, 2020 × Man City coach Pep Guardiola said that the team is unlikely to buy a replacement for Sane as there are many options in the team. He said: "I don’t know if he (Sane) is going to leave this summer or at the end of his contract but we have enough good players upfront. "Gabriel (Jesus) can play on the left, Phil Foden can play on the left, we have Raheem (Sterling) there. We have big, talented players upfront. “Most of them are in good healthy conditions, like Phil, Riyad (Mahrez), Gabriel, Raheem, they can play quite regularly for a long period, they are so stable in terms of injury situations. "I think we have other priorities maybe. And I don’t know, after the coronavirus, if the situation economically and financially for the clubs is changing. “I don’t know what the situation is. We’re going to see at the end of this season.”

Manchester City fans left fuming with Leroy Sane set to join Bayern Munich

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../guardiola-says-league-form-sets-standard-and- will-not-prioritise-cups-275700">Pep Guardiola</a> took a&nbsp;dig at former Premier League's chief executive Richard Scudamore. Scudamore last year had expressed his concerns regarding Blues' win in the previous year's Premier League with five games to spare.&nbsp;

Also Read-&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/premier-league-tottenham-weather-manchester-city-storm-to-snatch-win-278220">Premier League: Tottenham weather Manchester City storm to snatch win</a>

“It doesn't take away from City's excellence, but we want the season to go to the last, I'd like multiple trophies needed in various locations on the last day because we don't know how it will end,” Richard had said angering members in the Manchester City management.&nbsp;

Liverpool is 22 points clear of the second positioned Man City with just 13 matches to go, to which Pep said: “The last two seasons, it was an owner from the Premier League that says that can’t happen again, City winning the titles that way with 100 points is not good for the Premier League, now it’s Liverpool, the owner has to be concerned again."&nbsp;

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Richard Scudamore is no more a part of the Premier League.&nbsp;

Pep Guardiola has accepted that it is Liverpool's year to win the Premier League, he said: "They are far away so they are unstoppable. They have a lot of points, we have dropped points quite similar to today."

He also feels that his stay with Manchester City will be a failure until his side manages to win the Champions League.&nbsp;

"Our targets are to win the remaining competitions and qualify for the Champions League next season," he added. &nbsp;

Pep Guardiola took a dig at former Premier League's chief executive Richard Scudamore. Scudamore last year had expressed his concerns regarding Blues' win in the previous year's Premier League with five games to spare.

Pep Guardiola took a dig at former Premier League's chief executive Richard Scudamore. Scudamore last year had expressed his concerns regarding Blues' win in the previous year's Premier League with five games to spare. Also Read- Premier League: Tottenham weather Manchester City storm to snatch win “It doesn't take away from City's excellence, but we want the season to go to the last, I'd like multiple trophies needed in various locations on the last day because we don't know how it will end,” Richard had said angering members in the Manchester City management. Liverpool is 22 points clear of the second positioned Man City with just 13 matches to go, to which Pep said: “The last two seasons, it was an owner from the Premier League that says that can’t happen again, City winning the titles that way with 100 points is not good for the Premier League, now it’s Liverpool, the owner has to be concerned again." Like the look of the #PL table? pic.twitter.com/xDL3EGLHzd — Premier League (@premierleague) February 2, 2020 × Richard Scudamore is no more a part of the Premier League. Pep Guardiola has accepted that it is Liverpool's year to win the Premier League, he said: "They are far away so they are unstoppable. They have a lot of points, we have dropped points quite similar to today." He also feels that his stay with Manchester City will be a failure until his side manages to win the Champions League. "Our targets are to win the remaining competitions and qualify for the Champions League next season," he added.

Pep Guardiola takes a dig at ex-Premier League boss Scudamore

New Manchester United signing Bruno Fernandes was unable to inspire a victory on his debut on Saturday as <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/with-rashford-sidelined-uniteds-solskjaer-eyes-signings-275370">Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side</a> were held to a 0-0 draw at home against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/premier-league-manchester-united-hit-new-low-after-getting-defeated-by-burnley-276109">Premier League</a>. The result leaves United in sixth place, six points behind Chelsea who occupy the fourth Champions League spot, while <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fa-cup-man-utd-held-by-wolves-man-city-cruise-through-272201">Wolves </a>are seventh, level on 35 points with United. Sheffield United are a point better off in fifth.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/solskjaers-man-utd-scrap-plans-to-set-training-camps-in-middle-east-amidst-high-tensions-274342">United </a>now have a two-week break before their crunch game against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Feb. 17. Portugal international Fernandes, who joined United on Thursday from Sporting in a move which reportedly cost an initial 55 million euros ($61 million), was thrown straight into the starting midfield. The 25-year-old was heavily involved in United's build-up play, playing in an advanced role in the first half and then switching to a deeper holding role after the break.

<img alt="Premier League" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d18eba49-377a-4a06-b4d0-0db46f885320" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202020-02-02T125348.422.jpg" /> 
[&nbsp;Manchester United's Fred, Diogo Dalot and Jesse Lingard react (Courtesy: Reuters) ]

"Bruno is a top player," said <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/hard-night-ahead-for-manchester-united-solskjaer-271952">Solskjaer</a>. "It's the first game. First half everyone was getting the ball into feet and Bruno is one of those who, when he gets into feet, he wants players moving in front of him and we didn't (do that). He'll be a top addition." Fernandes had a good opportunity just before the break with the ball falling to him invitingly but his well-struck effort was straight at compatriot Rui Patricio in the Wolves goal.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fa-cup-solskjaer-needs-time-to-make-lasting-impact-at-manchester-united-guardiola-272687">FA cup: Solskjaer needs time to make lasting impact at Manchester United — Guardiola</a>

The midfielder tested the Wolves keeper with a long-range free-kick after the break and Juan Mata saw an effort flash just wide of the post. After Wolves striker Raul Jimenez tested David de Gea at the end of a swift counter-attack, Romain Saiss then missed a great chance, heading wide from inside the box. United could have snatched the points in stoppage time when Aaron Wan-Bissaka delivered a dangerous cross from the right but substitute Diogo Dalot's header was off target.

Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo was satisfied with his team's effort."It was a good performance at Old Trafford and a good game for us. United are a good team. "It was balanced and both teams had chances and wanted to win. I'm happy with the performance," he said. 
&nbsp;

New Manchester United signing Bruno Fernandes was unable to inspire a victory on his debut on Saturday as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side were held to a 0-0 draw at home against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League.

New Manchester United signing Bruno Fernandes was unable to inspire a victory on his debut on Saturday as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side were held to a 0-0 draw at home against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League. The result leaves United in sixth place, six points behind Chelsea who occupy the fourth Champions League spot, while Wolves are seventh, level on 35 points with United. Sheffield United are a point better off in fifth. United now have a two-week break before their crunch game against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Feb. 17. Portugal international Fernandes, who joined United on Thursday from Sporting in a move which reportedly cost an initial 55 million euros ($61 million), was thrown straight into the starting midfield. The 25-year-old was heavily involved in United's build-up play, playing in an advanced role in the first half and then switching to a deeper holding role after the break. [ Manchester United's Fred, Diogo Dalot and Jesse Lingard react (Courtesy: Reuters) ] "Bruno is a top player," said Solskjaer. "It's the first game. First half everyone was getting the ball into feet and Bruno is one of those who, when he gets into feet, he wants players moving in front of him and we didn't (do that). He'll be a top addition." Fernandes had a good opportunity just before the break with the ball falling to him invitingly but his well-struck effort was straight at compatriot Rui Patricio in the Wolves goal. Also Read: FA cup: Solskjaer needs time to make lasting impact at Manchester United — Guardiola The midfielder tested the Wolves keeper with a long-range free-kick after the break and Juan Mata saw an effort flash just wide of the post. After Wolves striker Raul Jimenez tested David de Gea at the end of a swift counter-attack, Romain Saiss then missed a great chance, heading wide from inside the box. United could have snatched the points in stoppage time when Aaron Wan-Bissaka delivered a dangerous cross from the right but substitute Diogo Dalot's header was off target. Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo was satisfied with his team's effort."It was a good performance at Old Trafford and a good game for us. United are a good team. "It was balanced and both teams had chances and wanted to win. I'm happy with the performance," he said.

Manchester United held by Wolves on Fernandes debut

Raheem Sterling's second-half double ensured <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/manchester-city-not-on-par-with-european-elite-says-guardiola-267118">City</a> warded off a shock to win 3-1 at League One Oxford, while United ended fourth-tier Colchester United's fairytale run with a 3-0 win at Old Trafford.

Leicester set up a semi-final meeting with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/aston-villa-beat-liverpools-kids-to-reach-league-cup-semis-268863">Aston Villa</a> after the Foxes survived a second-half fightback from <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/football-everton-sack-manager-silva-after-merseyside-derby-humbling-266568">Everton</a> to secure their place in the last four 4-2 on penalties after a 2-2 draw at Goodison Park.

City have won this competition for the past two seasons with Pep Guardiola's only defeat in the League Cup coming to United three years ago.

Guardiola's men will have a chance to avenge their 2-1 Premier League defeat to the Red Devils earlier this month when the sides clash over two legs in January.

"You always want to win trophies. We've got a nice little draw coming up, it'll be exciting times," said United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. "We've shown before we can do well against City."

City made eight changes for the trip to Oxford, but still named a strong side and went ahead through Joao Cancelo's first goal for the English champions midway through the first half.

However, Oxford went toe-to-toe with their illustrious visitors all night and levelled through Matty Taylor a minute into the second half.

Oxford even had more attempts on target than City but did not have the predatory instincts of Sterling on their side as the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/football-sterling-dropped-by-england-after-training-ground-disturbance-261542">England</a> international twice tapped home from close range to spare City's blushes.

"It was a tight game with the wind making things difficult but we did well," said Guardiola, who was accompanied by assistant Mikel Arteta despite speculation suggesting he is set to be announced as <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/premier-league-arsenal-slump-to-first-home-defeat-by-brighton-266535">Arsenal</a>'s new manager.

"We suffered a lot in the second half. At 2-1 they play long balls with throw-ins, corners and we struggled but it's okay."

&nbsp;

United patience pays off&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/europa-league-manchester-united-thrash-az-basaksehir-dump-moenchengladbach-out-of-europa-league-268032">Manchester United</a> had to be patient before seeing off Colchester, who had beaten Tottenham and Crystal Palace to make the last eight.

Marcus Rashford was guilty of missing a host of chances in a goalless first half.

However,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/premier-league-rashford-double-as-united-spoil-mourinhos-return-266316">England forward</a> made amends six minutes into the second period with a calm finish to register a career-best 14th goal of the season.

Rashford was also the creator of United's other two goals as Ryan Jackson turned a cross into his own net before Anthony Martial stretched to convert at the back post.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/premier-league-leicester-break-club-record-with-4-1-win-at-villa-267125">Leicester</a>'s brilliant season continued as they held their nerve from the spot after blowing a comfortable lead at Everton.

The Foxes travel to City in the Premier League on Saturday, but Brendan Rodgers still named a near full-strength side and was rewarded when James Maddison and Jonny Evans struck in five first half minutes to give the visitors a 2-0 half-time lead.

But <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/everton-investigate-homophobic-chants-at-chelsea-fans-267115">Everton</a> are made of sterner stuff under caretaker manager Duncan Ferguson.

Ben Davies gave the Toffees hope 20 minutes from time and a sensational long-range strike from Leighton Baines sent the game to penalties.

Maddison then saw his spot-kick saved to start the shootout, but Kasper&nbsp;Schmeichel was Leicester's hero with saves from Cenk Tosun and Baines before Jamie Vardy scored the decisive penalty.

Raheem Sterling's second-half double ensured City warded off a shock to win 3-1 at League One Oxford, while United ended fourth-tier Colchester United's fairytale run with a 3-0 win at Old Trafford.

Raheem Sterling's second-half double ensured City warded off a shock to win 3-1 at League One Oxford, while United ended fourth-tier Colchester United's fairytale run with a 3-0 win at Old Trafford. Leicester set up a semi-final meeting with Aston Villa after the Foxes survived a second-half fightback from Everton to secure their place in the last four 4-2 on penalties after a 2-2 draw at Goodison Park. City have won this competition for the past two seasons with Pep Guardiola's only defeat in the League Cup coming to United three years ago. Guardiola's men will have a chance to avenge their 2-1 Premier League defeat to the Red Devils earlier this month when the sides clash over two legs in January. "You always want to win trophies. We've got a nice little draw coming up, it'll be exciting times," said United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. "We've shown before we can do well against City." City made eight changes for the trip to Oxford, but still named a strong side and went ahead through Joao Cancelo's first goal for the English champions midway through the first half. However, Oxford went toe-to-toe with their illustrious visitors all night and levelled through Matty Taylor a minute into the second half. Oxford even had more attempts on target than City but did not have the predatory instincts of Sterling on their side as the England international twice tapped home from close range to spare City's blushes. "It was a tight game with the wind making things difficult but we did well," said Guardiola, who was accompanied by assistant Mikel Arteta despite speculation suggesting he is set to be announced as Arsenal's new manager. "We suffered a lot in the second half. At 2-1 they play long balls with throw-ins, corners and we struggled but it's okay." United patience pays off Manchester United had to be patient before seeing off Colchester, who had beaten Tottenham and Crystal Palace to make the last eight. Marcus Rashford was guilty of missing a host of chances in a goalless first half. However, England forward made amends six minutes into the second period with a calm finish to register a career-best 14th goal of the season. Rashford was also the creator of United's other two goals as Ryan Jackson turned a cross into his own net before Anthony Martial stretched to convert at the back post. Leicester's brilliant season continued as they held their nerve from the spot after blowing a comfortable lead at Everton. The Foxes travel to City in the Premier League on Saturday, but Brendan Rodgers still named a near full-strength side and was rewarded when James Maddison and Jonny Evans struck in five first half minutes to give the visitors a 2-0 half-time lead. But Everton are made of sterner stuff under caretaker manager Duncan Ferguson. Ben Davies gave the Toffees hope 20 minutes from time and a sensational long-range strike from Leighton Baines sent the game to penalties. Maddison then saw his spot-kick saved to start the shootout, but Kasper Schmeichel was Leicester's hero with saves from Cenk Tosun and Baines before Jamie Vardy scored the decisive penalty.

Manchester City to compete Manchester United in League Cup semi-finals derby

The owners of Premier League champions<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/manchester-city-owner-to-sell-500-million-stake-valuing-itself-at-48-billion-financial-times-264809"> Manchester City</a> are set to acquire a 65 per cent stake in Indian Super League (ISL) football team Mumbai City FC, a source with direct knowledge of the development told Reuters on Thursday.

Manchester City is the crown jewel of the City Football Group (CFG), which is majority-owned by Abu Dhabi-based Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan.&nbsp;

The ISL team would become the eight club in the CFG network. CFG will become a majority shareholder in the Mumbai club, while existing shareholders Ranbir Kapoor and Bimal Parekh will together control the remaining 35 per cent&nbsp;stake.

"The investment will showcase the interest of the world in Indian football," said the source, who asked not to be named as the talks were private.

The deal is set to be announced just a day after CFG <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/manchester-city-owner-to-sell-500-million-stake-valuing-itself-at-48-billion-financial-times-264809">agreed to sell a $500 million stake</a> to US&nbsp;private equity firm Silver Lake, making it the world's most valuable soccer group with a $4.8 billion price tag.&nbsp;

"City Football Group is committed to the future of football in India and to the potential for Mumbai City FC," Chairman of City Football Group Khaldoon Al Mubarak said.

"We are very much looking forward to playing an active role in Mumbai City FC's fan and local communities, and working with our co-owners to further develop the club as quickly as possible.

Mumbai City FC declined to comment on the matter.

CFG, which will outline the details of the deal at a news event in the Indian financial hub of Mumbai on Thursday, already owns stakes in seven soccer teams in countries ranging from the United States to China.

Mumbai City, has had the likes of Freddie Ljungberg, Nicolas Anelka, and Diego Forlan as their marquee players in the past, and they are currently placed seventh in the 10-team ISL.

Cricket-mad India, home to 1.3 billion people, is a massive underachiever as far as soccer is concerned and the country has yet to make a single appearance at a World Cup finals.

A number of European clubs have, however, come to India over the last few years to set up academies on a franchise basis to establish a foothold in a market where the popularity of soccer is burgeoning due to stars such as <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/cristiano-ronaldo-hits-milestone-with-700th-career-goal-256054">Cristiano Ronaldo</a> of Juventus and Barcelona's<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/messi-scores-in-700th-match-as-barcelona-ease-into-knockout-stages-264968"> Lionel Messi</a>.

Earlier this year, CFG said it has been looking at India for over two years and that it hoped to complete a deal to buy a club in the world's second-most populous nation by the end of 2019.

Multiple sides in the ISL, which is promoted by billionaire Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries and Rupert Murdoch's Star India, confirmed to Reuters that they previously had held talks with CFG.

The first edition of the tournament with celebrity owners and a sprinkling of high-profile players was won by Atletico de Kolkata, which then counted Spanish club Atletico Madrid as one of the co-owners.

The Asian Football Confederation, the continental governing body of the sport, recently confirmed the ISL as the top league in India.

The owners of Premier League champions Manchester City are set to acquire a 65 per cent stake in Indian Super League (ISL) football team Mumbai City FC, a source with direct knowledge of the development told Reuters on Thursday.

The owners of Premier League champions Manchester City are set to acquire a 65 per cent stake in Indian Super League (ISL) football team Mumbai City FC, a source with direct knowledge of the development told Reuters on Thursday. Manchester City is the crown jewel of the City Football Group (CFG), which is majority-owned by Abu Dhabi-based Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The ISL team would become the eight club in the CFG network. CFG will become a majority shareholder in the Mumbai club, while existing shareholders Ranbir Kapoor and Bimal Parekh will together control the remaining 35 per cent stake. "The investment will showcase the interest of the world in Indian football," said the source, who asked not to be named as the talks were private. The deal is set to be announced just a day after CFG agreed to sell a $500 million stake to US private equity firm Silver Lake, making it the world's most valuable soccer group with a $4.8 billion price tag. "City Football Group is committed to the future of football in India and to the potential for Mumbai City FC," Chairman of City Football Group Khaldoon Al Mubarak said. "We are very much looking forward to playing an active role in Mumbai City FC's fan and local communities, and working with our co-owners to further develop the club as quickly as possible. Mumbai City FC declined to comment on the matter. CFG, which will outline the details of the deal at a news event in the Indian financial hub of Mumbai on Thursday, already owns stakes in seven soccer teams in countries ranging from the United States to China. Mumbai City, has had the likes of Freddie Ljungberg, Nicolas Anelka, and Diego Forlan as their marquee players in the past, and they are currently placed seventh in the 10-team ISL. Cricket-mad India, home to 1.3 billion people, is a massive underachiever as far as soccer is concerned and the country has yet to make a single appearance at a World Cup finals. A number of European clubs have, however, come to India over the last few years to set up academies on a franchise basis to establish a foothold in a market where the popularity of soccer is burgeoning due to stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo of Juventus and Barcelona's Lionel Messi. Earlier this year, CFG said it has been looking at India for over two years and that it hoped to complete a deal to buy a club in the world's second-most populous nation by the end of 2019. Multiple sides in the ISL, which is promoted by billionaire Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries and Rupert Murdoch's Star India, confirmed to Reuters that they previously had held talks with CFG. The first edition of the tournament with celebrity owners and a sprinkling of high-profile players was won by Atletico de Kolkata, which then counted Spanish club Atletico Madrid as one of the co-owners. The Asian Football Confederation, the continental governing body of the sport, recently confirmed the ISL as the top league in India.

Manchester City owners to add Mumbai City FC to their collection

Five people were stabbed at a shopping centre in the northern English city of Manchester on Friday and police said counter-terrorism detectives were leading the investigation.

Video uploaded to social media showed a police officer pinning down a man to the ground, while others ran towards the scene.

The stabbings took place at the Arndale shopping centre in the heart of the city. The mall was evacuated as armed police rushed to the scene.

"In these early stages we are keeping an open mind about the motivation of this terrible incident and the circumstances as we know them," Greater Manchester Police said in a statement.

They said a man in his 40s had been arrested at the scene on suspicion of serious assault. David Allinson, director of the mall, told the Manchester Evening News the centre had been evacuated.

The city was the location for Britain's most deadly militant attack in recent years when a suicide bomber killed 22 people in May 2017 at the end of a pop concert by Ariana Grande at the Manchester Arena, not far from the Arndale centre.

Five people were stabbed at a shopping centre in the northern English city of Manchester on Friday and police said counter-terrorism detectives were leading the investigation.

Five people were stabbed at a shopping centre in the northern English city of Manchester on Friday and police said counter-terrorism detectives were leading the investigation. Video uploaded to social media showed a police officer pinning down a man to the ground, while others ran towards the scene. The stabbings took place at the Arndale shopping centre in the heart of the city. The mall was evacuated as armed police rushed to the scene. "In these early stages we are keeping an open mind about the motivation of this terrible incident and the circumstances as we know them," Greater Manchester Police said in a statement. They said a man in his 40s had been arrested at the scene on suspicion of serious assault. David Allinson, director of the mall, told the Manchester Evening News the centre had been evacuated. The city was the location for Britain's most deadly militant attack in recent years when a suicide bomber killed 22 people in May 2017 at the end of a pop concert by Ariana Grande at the Manchester Arena, not far from the Arndale centre.

Man arrested after five stabbed at UK shopping mall

British Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/brexit-row-boris-johnson-defeated-by-uk-supreme-court-but-he-could-still-emerge-as-a-winner-251957">Boris Johnson</a> on Thursday lost yet another vote in parliament over a government request for a three-day recess to allow his Conservative party to hold its annual conference.

The government lost the vote, which could affect the timing of the conference in Manchester, by 306 votes to 289.

The vote could force the party to shorten its party conference, which is scheduled to last from Sunday to Wednesday or even cancel it altogether.

There is no obligation for MPs to be in recess during the party conferences but it is customary.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled "unlawful, void and of no effect" Johnson's decision to suspend parliament earlier this month in the run-up to Brexit.

Following the judgement, MPs reconvened on Wednesday for an ill-tempered debate in which Johnson accused his opponents of trying to reverse the result of the 2016 Brexit referendum.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday lost yet another vote in parliament over a government request for a three-day recess to allow his Conservative party to hold its annual conference.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday lost yet another vote in parliament over a government request for a three-day recess to allow his Conservative party to hold its annual conference. The government lost the vote, which could affect the timing of the conference in Manchester, by 306 votes to 289. The vote could force the party to shorten its party conference, which is scheduled to last from Sunday to Wednesday or even cancel it altogether. There is no obligation for MPs to be in recess during the party conferences but it is customary. The Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled "unlawful, void and of no effect" Johnson's decision to suspend parliament earlier this month in the run-up to Brexit. Following the judgement, MPs reconvened on Wednesday for an ill-tempered debate in which Johnson accused his opponents of trying to reverse the result of the 2016 Brexit referendum.

UK PM loses new parliamentary vote, over party conference

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ashes-2019-australia-hail-steve-smith-as-bradman-incarnate-247942">Steve Smith</a> is regarded as the best "problem solver" in cricket today by Australia coach Justin Langer, himself a former Test batsman.&nbsp;

Smith, who played match-winning knocks during the ongoing Ashes series, has been a vital cog for the team.&nbsp;The five-match series has been tied 1-1 so far and the fourth Test match in Manchester&nbsp;is underway.&nbsp;

Smith, who is&nbsp;on course to enjoy one of the most productive series by any batsman in Test history, hit a splendid double century which was the centrepiece of Australia's 497/8 declared on the second day of the fourth Test.&nbsp;

It was his third century in four innings this series following scores of 144 and 142 in the opener at Edgbaston — Smith's first Test since completing a 12-month ball-tampering ban.&nbsp;

Smith's 211 at Old Trafford has put the team in a good command as Aussies look to retain the urn.&nbsp;

During the presser after the end of the second day, Smith was asked if this series feels different following a year ban.&nbsp;

Smith replied, "It doesn't really feel too different. I guess the first two innings at Edgbaston felt a little bit different."&nbsp;

"They were incredibly satisfying in my first game back. Since then I've just felt, yeah I'm just playing the game. I'm trying to represent Australia to the best of my ability and my job's to score runs," he added.&nbsp;

"Fortunately this series I've been able to do that and help the team and get them into a good position," Smith added.&nbsp;

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Australia have declared on 497/8 after some late hitting from Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Starc! 
 
England's new-look opening pair of Rory Burns and Joe Denly will face a tricky 40-minute spell tonight. Can they survive to the close? 
 
Follow the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ashes?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ashes</a> live 👇<a href="https://t.co/zrb0K55IBc">https://t.co/zrb0K55IBc</a> <a href="https://t.co/QjA2ZP8nL0">pic.twitter.com/QjA2ZP8nL0</a>
— ICC (@ICC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ICC/status/1169662248010375168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 5, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting described Smith as a "genius" and seemingly impervious to any bowler's plans.

"To think how good Bradman must have been -- to be a third again better than what Steve Smith's doing at the moment -- is ridiculous," Ponting told Cricket Australia's website (cricket.com.au).

"(Smith's) got four, five, six years of good cricket ahead of him, which if you add it up, that's probably another 80, 90 test matches.

"Then he's played 150 games and could have all sorts of numbers and records by then and let's hope he does, because the way he's going about it now, the way he's playing, he deserves to get the rewards from that."

Steve Smith is regarded as the best "problem solver" in cricket today by Australia coach Justin Langer, himself a former Test batsman. Smith, who played match-winning knocks during the ongoing Ashes series, has been a vital cog for the team.

Steve Smith is regarded as the best "problem solver" in cricket today by Australia coach Justin Langer, himself a former Test batsman. Smith, who played match-winning knocks during the ongoing Ashes series, has been a vital cog for the team. The five-match series has been tied 1-1 so far and the fourth Test match in Manchester is underway. Smith, who is on course to enjoy one of the most productive series by any batsman in Test history, hit a splendid double century which was the centrepiece of Australia's 497/8 declared on the second day of the fourth Test. It was his third century in four innings this series following scores of 144 and 142 in the opener at Edgbaston — Smith's first Test since completing a 12-month ball-tampering ban. Smith's 211 at Old Trafford has put the team in a good command as Aussies look to retain the urn. During the presser after the end of the second day, Smith was asked if this series feels different following a year ban. Smith replied, "It doesn't really feel too different. I guess the first two innings at Edgbaston felt a little bit different." "They were incredibly satisfying in my first game back. Since then I've just felt, yeah I'm just playing the game. I'm trying to represent Australia to the best of my ability and my job's to score runs," he added. "Fortunately this series I've been able to do that and help the team and get them into a good position," Smith added. Australia have declared on 497/8 after some late hitting from Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Starc! England's new-look opening pair of Rory Burns and Joe Denly will face a tricky 40-minute spell tonight. Can they survive to the close? Follow the #Ashes live 👇https://t.co/zrb0K55IBc pic.twitter.com/QjA2ZP8nL0 — ICC (@ICC) September 5, 2019 × Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting described Smith as a "genius" and seemingly impervious to any bowler's plans. "To think how good Bradman must have been -- to be a third again better than what Steve Smith's doing at the moment -- is ridiculous," Ponting told Cricket Australia's website (cricket.com.au). "(Smith's) got four, five, six years of good cricket ahead of him, which if you add it up, that's probably another 80, 90 test matches. "Then he's played 150 games and could have all sorts of numbers and records by then and let's hope he does, because the way he's going about it now, the way he's playing, he deserves to get the rewards from that."

'Problem solver' Steve Smith talks about playing Ashes series after a year ban

Three men who helped restrain a knife-wielding man in Sydney who went stabbing rampage in downtown Sydney said they would do it all again on Wednesday. Hailing from Manchester in the United Kingdom, brothers Paul and Luke O'Shaughnessy and their friend Lee Cuthbert ran from their fourth storey office when Luke saw the man through a window, brandishing a knife and jumping on a car bonnet.

Britons who restrained knife attacker in Sydney say they would do it again

Hundreds of people were evacuated from a town in central England as a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/british-airways-suspends-flights-to-cairo-for-seven-days-237378">British</a> military helicopter was called in Friday to prevent a reservoir dam from collapsing.

The Toddbrook Reservoir dam was feared to be on the verge of caving in following heavy rain, threatening the lives and homes of residents in Whaley Bridge.

One side of the dam spillway weakened when the panels started to come away on Thursday.

A Royal Air Force (RAF) helicopter lowered bags of aggregate into the damaged part of the dam wall on Friday, while firefighters, scrambled from around the country, have been pumping water out of the reservoir.

"It is a critical situation," said Julie Sharman, chief operating officer of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-waterways-connect-bhutan-and-bangladesh-235391">Canal and River Trust</a> which runs the reservoir.

She said water levels had reduced by around eight inches (20 centimetres) overnight.

The British government has issued a "severe flooding -- danger to life" warning for the area directly below the dam.

Whaley Bridge in Derbyshire is on the edge of the Peak District National Park and 16 miles (26 kilometres) southeast of the city of Manchester.

The reservoir dates back to the 19th century.

Fast-flowing water had been rushing over the spillway before the collapse.

"I've lived in Whaley for the best part of 45 years, and I've never seen water flood over the dam like that, ever, nor thought that we could be at risk in this way," said resident Carolyn Whittle.

The RAF Chinook heavy-lift helicopter was dropping some 400 one-tonne bags of sand, gravel, and stone into place.

Derbyshire Police assistant chief constable Kem Mehmet said more than a thousand people had been evacuated from areas that would be flooded immediately if the dam wall failed.

"As there is still a risk the dam will fail, please stay away from the area," he said.

"Being asked to leave your home is an extremely difficult and worrying situation to find yourself in. However, it is not a decision we have taken lightly."

He said "everything humanly possible" was being done "to save the reservoir wall and to protect the town". 
&nbsp;

Hundreds of people were evacuated from a town in central England as a British military helicopter was called in Friday to prevent a reservoir dam from collapsing.

Hundreds of people were evacuated from a town in central England as a British military helicopter was called in Friday to prevent a reservoir dam from collapsing. The Toddbrook Reservoir dam was feared to be on the verge of caving in following heavy rain, threatening the lives and homes of residents in Whaley Bridge. One side of the dam spillway weakened when the panels started to come away on Thursday. A Royal Air Force (RAF) helicopter lowered bags of aggregate into the damaged part of the dam wall on Friday, while firefighters, scrambled from around the country, have been pumping water out of the reservoir. "It is a critical situation," said Julie Sharman, chief operating officer of the Canal and River Trust which runs the reservoir. She said water levels had reduced by around eight inches (20 centimetres) overnight. The British government has issued a "severe flooding -- danger to life" warning for the area directly below the dam. Whaley Bridge in Derbyshire is on the edge of the Peak District National Park and 16 miles (26 kilometres) southeast of the city of Manchester. The reservoir dates back to the 19th century. Fast-flowing water had been rushing over the spillway before the collapse. "I've lived in Whaley for the best part of 45 years, and I've never seen water flood over the dam like that, ever, nor thought that we could be at risk in this way," said resident Carolyn Whittle. The RAF Chinook heavy-lift helicopter was dropping some 400 one-tonne bags of sand, gravel, and stone into place. Derbyshire Police assistant chief constable Kem Mehmet said more than a thousand people had been evacuated from areas that would be flooded immediately if the dam wall failed. "As there is still a risk the dam will fail, please stay away from the area," he said. "Being asked to leave your home is an extremely difficult and worrying situation to find yourself in. However, it is not a decision we have taken lightly." He said "everything humanly possible" was being done "to save the reservoir wall and to protect the town".

British town evacuated as dam disintegrates

British Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/brexit-is-a-massive-economic-opportunity-uk-prime-minister-johnson-238855">Boris Johnson cautioned the European Union</a> on Saturday that the "anti-democratic" Irish backstop must be ditched if they were to strike a Brexit divorce deal.

Johnson, since taking office on Wednesday, has repeatedly said that if the EU continues to refuse to renegotiate the Withdrawal Agreement agreed by his predecessor Theresa May, then he will take Britain out on October&nbsp;31 without a deal.

His biggest demand is that the most hotly-contested element of the Brexit divorce agreement, the Irish border backstop, be struck out of the Withdrawal Agreement, a demand that has angered Ireland and perturbed other EU capitals.

"If we get rid of the backstop, whole and entire, then we are making a lot of progress," Johnson said, when asked if it was only the Irish border backstop that he wanted changed.

Speaking before a Stephenson's Rocket, a 19th-century steam locomotive, in the northern England city of Manchester, Johnson dedicated most of his speech to improving public services, transport and the internet and driving up economic growth.

"Our post-industrial towns have a proud, great heritage but an even greater future. Their best years lie ahead of them," he said, announcing new long-term rail links and promising immediate improvements to bus services.

That message, aimed at what Johnson called "left behind" towns, is seen as the early stages of an election campaign, even though Britain is not due a parliamentary election until 2022 and Johnson is adamant he will not hold one before Brexit.

His Conservative Party does not have a majority in parliament, is divided over how to deliver Brexit and under threat of a no-confidence vote when parliament returns in September.

Anti-Democratic

European leaders are prepared to talk with Britain's new leader over Brexit but have so far insisted they will not reopen the Withdrawal Agreement. Many EU diplomats think the United Kingdom will hold a snap election soon.

Johnson, who discussed Brexit with US&nbsp;President Donald Trump on Friday, brushed aside those concerns.

"My friends, I do not want a no-deal Brexit, that is not where we're aiming, but we have to face the fact that at the moment we're being told, as we have been told for the last three year 'rien ne va plus' - 'the deal is fixed' - and can't be changed. I doubt that," he said.

Nevertheless, investors fear a no-deal exit would send shock waves through global markets and hurt the world's economy.

Ireland is crucial to any Brexit solution.

Watch:&nbsp;Is Boris Johnson 'The British' Trump?

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The backstop is an insurance policy designed to prevent the return of border controls along the 500-km (300-mile) land border between Ireland and Britain's province of Northern Ireland that were ended by the 1998 Good Friday peace agreement.

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said the question of the unification of Ireland and Northern Ireland would inevitably arise if Britain leaves the EU without a divorce deal on October&nbsp;31.

"The approach of the UK government is not going to be disengaged or aloof or waiting for them to come to us: we are going to try to solve this problem and we are going to do it in a spirit of friendship and cooperation," Johnson said.

"But we can't do it as long as that anti-democratic backstop, that backstop that seeks to divide our country, divide the UK, remains in place," he said. "We need to get it out and then we can make progress, I think."

The Withdrawal Agreement that May struck in November with the EU says the United Kingdom will remain in a customs union "unless and until" alternative arrangements are found to avoid a hard border.

Many British lawmakers oppose the prospect of being bound to EU rules and customs duties that would prevent Britain doing its own trade deals and leave it overseen by EU judges.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson cautioned the European Union on Saturday that the "anti-democratic" Irish backstop must be ditched if they were to strike a Brexit divorce deal.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson cautioned the European Union on Saturday that the "anti-democratic" Irish backstop must be ditched if they were to strike a Brexit divorce deal. Johnson, since taking office on Wednesday, has repeatedly said that if the EU continues to refuse to renegotiate the Withdrawal Agreement agreed by his predecessor Theresa May, then he will take Britain out on October 31 without a deal. His biggest demand is that the most hotly-contested element of the Brexit divorce agreement, the Irish border backstop, be struck out of the Withdrawal Agreement, a demand that has angered Ireland and perturbed other EU capitals. "If we get rid of the backstop, whole and entire, then we are making a lot of progress," Johnson said, when asked if it was only the Irish border backstop that he wanted changed. Speaking before a Stephenson's Rocket, a 19th-century steam locomotive, in the northern England city of Manchester, Johnson dedicated most of his speech to improving public services, transport and the internet and driving up economic growth. "Our post-industrial towns have a proud, great heritage but an even greater future. Their best years lie ahead of them," he said, announcing new long-term rail links and promising immediate improvements to bus services. That message, aimed at what Johnson called "left behind" towns, is seen as the early stages of an election campaign, even though Britain is not due a parliamentary election until 2022 and Johnson is adamant he will not hold one before Brexit. His Conservative Party does not have a majority in parliament, is divided over how to deliver Brexit and under threat of a no-confidence vote when parliament returns in September. Anti-Democratic European leaders are prepared to talk with Britain's new leader over Brexit but have so far insisted they will not reopen the Withdrawal Agreement. Many EU diplomats think the United Kingdom will hold a snap election soon. Johnson, who discussed Brexit with US President Donald Trump on Friday, brushed aside those concerns. "My friends, I do not want a no-deal Brexit, that is not where we're aiming, but we have to face the fact that at the moment we're being told, as we have been told for the last three year 'rien ne va plus' - 'the deal is fixed' - and can't be changed. I doubt that," he said. Nevertheless, investors fear a no-deal exit would send shock waves through global markets and hurt the world's economy. Ireland is crucial to any Brexit solution. Watch: Is Boris Johnson 'The British' Trump? The backstop is an insurance policy designed to prevent the return of border controls along the 500-km (300-mile) land border between Ireland and Britain's province of Northern Ireland that were ended by the 1998 Good Friday peace agreement. Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said the question of the unification of Ireland and Northern Ireland would inevitably arise if Britain leaves the EU without a divorce deal on October 31. "The approach of the UK government is not going to be disengaged or aloof or waiting for them to come to us: we are going to try to solve this problem and we are going to do it in a spirit of friendship and cooperation," Johnson said. "But we can't do it as long as that anti-democratic backstop, that backstop that seeks to divide our country, divide the UK, remains in place," he said. "We need to get it out and then we can make progress, I think." The Withdrawal Agreement that May struck in November with the EU says the United Kingdom will remain in a customs union "unless and until" alternative arrangements are found to avoid a hard border. Many British lawmakers oppose the prospect of being bound to EU rules and customs duties that would prevent Britain doing its own trade deals and leave it overseen by EU judges.

Ditch backstop or face no-deal Brexit: UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson tells European Union

The brother of the suicide bomber who blew himself up in a deadly 2017 attack in the northern city of Manchester appeared in a London court on Thursday after his extradition from Libya.

Hashem Abedi, 22, who returned to the UK on Wednesday, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court charged with the murder of the 22 people who died in the explosion, attempted murder and conspiracy to cause an explosion.

His lawyer said he would be denying the charges.

Wearing glasses and a grey tracksuit, Abedi stood to confirm his name, date of birth. He also confirmed that he currently had no fixed address. When asked for his nationality, he replied "British."

His older brother Salman Abedi blew himself up at the end of a show by US singer Ariana Grande at the Manchester Arena two years ago.

Zafar Ali, representing Abedi, said his client denied all the charges and had not opposed his extradition back to the UK because he wanted to clear his name.

Abedi will next appear via video-link at Oxford Crown Court on July 22 for a bail hearing. A pre-trial hearing will take place at the Old Bailey court in London on July 30.

The brother of the suicide bomber who blew himself up in a deadly 2017 attack in the northern city of Manchester appeared in a London court on Thursday after his extradition from Libya.

The brother of the suicide bomber who blew himself up in a deadly 2017 attack in the northern city of Manchester appeared in a London court on Thursday after his extradition from Libya. Hashem Abedi, 22, who returned to the UK on Wednesday, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court charged with the murder of the 22 people who died in the explosion, attempted murder and conspiracy to cause an explosion. His lawyer said he would be denying the charges. Wearing glasses and a grey tracksuit, Abedi stood to confirm his name, date of birth. He also confirmed that he currently had no fixed address. When asked for his nationality, he replied "British." His older brother Salman Abedi blew himself up at the end of a show by US singer Ariana Grande at the Manchester Arena two years ago. Zafar Ali, representing Abedi, said his client denied all the charges and had not opposed his extradition back to the UK because he wanted to clear his name. Abedi will next appear via video-link at Oxford Crown Court on July 22 for a bail hearing. A pre-trial hearing will take place at the Old Bailey court in London on July 30.

Manchester bomber's brother appears in UK court charged with murder

The Imitation Game: Bank of England picks World War-II code breaker Turing on £50 notes

The rain gods played spoilsport on Tuesday in the semi-final 1 between <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/indias-jasprit-bumrah-has-bowled-most-maiden-overs-in-world-cup-2019-234432">India </a>and New Zealand as the match was halted and the players were off the field at Old Trafford in Manchester in the 47th over of the New Zealand innings.

The rain continued throughout the day and the umpires decided to call off play on Tuesday and take the World Cup 2019 semi-final 1 onto the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/world-cup-semi-final-new-zealand-2115-against-india-as-rain-stops-play-234446">reserve day</a> (Wednesday, July 10).

New Zealand thus will continue their innings at 211 for 5 in 46.1 overs if there is no further rain delay.

The weather forecast on Wednesday is not too bright either.&nbsp;

It is expected to be cloudy in the morning and the sun may come out when the semi-final resumes on the reserve day at 10:30 AM BST (3 PM IST).&nbsp;

Rain is expected to hit the pitch again at 12 PM BST (5:30 PM IST) and again by 5 PM (9 PM IST).

The chances of rain are very high and Team <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-virat-kohli-takes-stunning-catch-to-dismiss-new-zealands-martin-guptill-in-semi-final-234308">India </a>will hope to have a full game instead of a 20-over game to have better chances to win the match.

If there is a shortened game today and New Zealand do not resume their batting, according to the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method (DLS) the targets as per the overs in play would be:

<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 500px;">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Overs</td>
			<td>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Target</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 46</td>
			<td>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 237</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 40</td>
			<td>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 223</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 35</td>
			<td>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 209</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 30</td>
			<td>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 192</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 25</td>
			<td>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 172</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 20</td>
			<td>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 148</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

For the semi-final match to be completed, India are required to bat for at least 20 overs.&nbsp;

If after the reserve day the match is also washed out and does not reach a result, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/live-updates-cricket-world-cup-2019-semi-final-1st-india-vs-new-zealand-234231">India </a>will progress to the final as they finished higher in the points table to New Zealand in the group stage.

The rain gods played spoilsport on Tuesday in the semi-final 1 between India and New Zealand as the match was halted and the players were off the field at Old Trafford in Manchester in the 47th over of the New Zealand innings.

The rain gods played spoilsport on Tuesday in the semi-final 1 between India and New Zealand as the match was halted and the players were off the field at Old Trafford in Manchester in the 47th over of the New Zealand innings. The rain continued throughout the day and the umpires decided to call off play on Tuesday and take the World Cup 2019 semi-final 1 onto the reserve day (Wednesday, July 10). New Zealand thus will continue their innings at 211 for 5 in 46.1 overs if there is no further rain delay. The weather forecast on Wednesday is not too bright either. It is expected to be cloudy in the morning and the sun may come out when the semi-final resumes on the reserve day at 10:30 AM BST (3 PM IST). Rain is expected to hit the pitch again at 12 PM BST (5:30 PM IST) and again by 5 PM (9 PM IST). The chances of rain are very high and Team India will hope to have a full game instead of a 20-over game to have better chances to win the match. If there is a shortened game today and New Zealand do not resume their batting, according to the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method (DLS) the targets as per the overs in play would be: Overs Target 46 237 40 223 35 209 30 192 25 172 20 148 For the semi-final match to be completed, India are required to bat for at least 20 overs. If after the reserve day the match is also washed out and does not reach a result, India will progress to the final as they finished higher in the points table to New Zealand in the group stage.

World Cup: Rain may play spoilsport again on reserve day at Manchester in India vs New Zealand semi-final 1

Two-time champions India and 2015 runners-up New Zealand will leave no stone unturned when they will battle for final World Cup berth at Manchester's Old Trafford cricket stadium.&nbsp;

However, the rain gods might have something else planned for today's game.

Light showers are expected in the morning, which will lead to overcast conditions in the late morning at Old Trafford.&nbsp;

Fast bowlers will love the cloud cover over the Old Trafford pitch, if Indian captain Virat Kohli wins the toss he would want to make use of his pace attack spearheaded by Bumrah &amp; Co although Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed had chosen to ball first at the same venue after winning the toss against India and lost, so it will be a tough call for anybody calling the toss.

The rain is expected to affect the crucial first hour of the match, according to the weather report.

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/world-cup-know-what-will-happen-if-india-vs-new-zealand-match-gets-abandoned-234101">Know what will happen if India vs New Zealand match gets abandoned</a>

Showers are expected at 11 am BST (3:30 pm IST) and after clearing up in an hour again it is set to hit by 6 pm BST (10:30 pm IST) in the last stages of the game.

The maximum temperature in Manchester is expected to be around 20 degrees.

Cloud cover is expected throughout the day and selection of the playing XI will depend on the conditions of the pitch.

India's league-stage match against New Zealand in Nottingham was washed out due to rain.

In case of another washout today, the reserve day will come into play and the two teams will play the semi-final on Wednesday.

Watch: Virat's pre-match press conference

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<img alt="Cricket World Cup." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ea498ba5-2c11-4c4d-a4a3-3f1ca09746f3" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/semi-final_4.jpg" />
If Wednesday's game is also washed out, then India, with more points in the group stages than New Zealand, will progress to play the final.

Two-time champions India and 2015 runners-up New Zealand will leave no stone unturned when they will battle for final World Cup berth at Manchester's Old Trafford cricket stadium.

Two-time champions India and 2015 runners-up New Zealand will leave no stone unturned when they will battle for final World Cup berth at Manchester's Old Trafford cricket stadium. However, the rain gods might have something else planned for today's game. Light showers are expected in the morning, which will lead to overcast conditions in the late morning at Old Trafford. Fast bowlers will love the cloud cover over the Old Trafford pitch, if Indian captain Virat Kohli wins the toss he would want to make use of his pace attack spearheaded by Bumrah & Co although Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed had chosen to ball first at the same venue after winning the toss against India and lost, so it will be a tough call for anybody calling the toss. The rain is expected to affect the crucial first hour of the match, according to the weather report. Also Read: Know what will happen if India vs New Zealand match gets abandoned Showers are expected at 11 am BST (3:30 pm IST) and after clearing up in an hour again it is set to hit by 6 pm BST (10:30 pm IST) in the last stages of the game. The maximum temperature in Manchester is expected to be around 20 degrees. Cloud cover is expected throughout the day and selection of the playing XI will depend on the conditions of the pitch. India's league-stage match against New Zealand in Nottingham was washed out due to rain. In case of another washout today, the reserve day will come into play and the two teams will play the semi-final on Wednesday. Watch: Virat's pre-match press conference × If Wednesday's game is also washed out, then India, with more points in the group stages than New Zealand, will progress to play the final.

World Cup: Overcast clouds, rain expected at Manchester ahead of India vs New Zealand semi-final

The first semi-final of Cricket World Cup 2019 between India and New Zealand, which is underway in Manchester's Old Trafford,&nbsp;has been stopped due to rain.&nbsp;

Opting to bat first,&nbsp;New Zealand reached 211/5 off 46.1 overs before the match was halted.&nbsp;

The umpires will try everything they can to complete the game today and have&nbsp;at least a&nbsp;minimum of 20 overs per innings as there is an additional two hours' playing time to complete the match.&nbsp;

Although, if the conditions don't allow to get the match started then play will resume tomorrow, which is scheduled as the reserve day for today's match.&nbsp;

But the reserve day will only come into operation if the minimum 20 over-per-side match needed for a result under the Duckworth-Lewis method&nbsp;cannot be finished.&nbsp;

In that case, the match would continue Wednesday from where it left off rather than be re-started.&nbsp;

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/world-cup-old-trafford-becomes-no-fly-zone-for-india-vs-new-zealand-semi-final-clash-234279">Old Trafford becomes 'no fly zone' for India vs New Zealand semi-final clash</a>

Watch: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-virat-kohli-takes-stunning-catch-to-dismiss-new-zealands-martin-guptill-in-semi-final-234308">Virat Kohli takes stunning catch to dismiss New Zealand's Martin Guptill in semi-final</a>

But if a 20 overs per side match cannot be completed on Wednesday as well, India would reach the final owing to their better finish in the 10-team group stage.&nbsp;

In the match, Ross Taylor was 67 not out and Tom Latham three not out when persistent rain worsened sufficiently for the umpires to take the players off the field at 2:00pm (1300 GMT) with 23 balls of the scheduled 50 overs in the innings left.

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson had earlier made 67.

India's pacer Jasprit Bumrah led a&nbsp;disciplined bowling attack as in his eight overs, he took&nbsp;1 wicket and gave 25 runs.&nbsp;

The first semi-final of Cricket World Cup 2019 between India and New Zealand, which is underway in Manchester's Old Trafford, has been stopped due to rain. Opting to bat first, New Zealand reached 211/5 off 46.

The first semi-final of Cricket World Cup 2019 between India and New Zealand, which is underway in Manchester's Old Trafford, has been stopped due to rain. Opting to bat first, New Zealand reached 211/5 off 46.1 overs before the match was halted. The umpires will try everything they can to complete the game today and have at least a minimum of 20 overs per innings as there is an additional two hours' playing time to complete the match. Although, if the conditions don't allow to get the match started then play will resume tomorrow, which is scheduled as the reserve day for today's match. But the reserve day will only come into operation if the minimum 20 over-per-side match needed for a result under the Duckworth-Lewis method cannot be finished. In that case, the match would continue Wednesday from where it left off rather than be re-started. Also Read: Old Trafford becomes 'no fly zone' for India vs New Zealand semi-final clash Watch: Virat Kohli takes stunning catch to dismiss New Zealand's Martin Guptill in semi-final But if a 20 overs per side match cannot be completed on Wednesday as well, India would reach the final owing to their better finish in the 10-team group stage. In the match, Ross Taylor was 67 not out and Tom Latham three not out when persistent rain worsened sufficiently for the umpires to take the players off the field at 2:00pm (1300 GMT) with 23 balls of the scheduled 50 overs in the innings left. New Zealand captain Kane Williamson had earlier made 67. India's pacer Jasprit Bumrah led a disciplined bowling attack as in his eight overs, he took 1 wicket and gave 25 runs.

India vs New Zealand, semi-final: Know about reserve day rules

Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday sent good wishes to the Indian cricket team, ahead of their <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/world-cup-coach-ravi-shastri-backs-team-india-ahead-of-clash-vs-new-zealand-234242">semi-final clash</a> against New Zealand in the ongoing ICC Mes Cricket World Cup.

"I have sent my good wishes to the Indian cricket team and I am hopeful they will perform well," Rijiju told ANI.

India have won the World Cup twice (1983 and 2011) whereas New Zealand are yet to lift the trophy.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/live-updates-cricket-world-cup-2019-semi-final-1st-india-vs-new-zealand-234231">The Men in Blue</a> finished the group stage at the top of the standings with 15 points, whereas New Zealand finished fourth with 11 from nine matches each.

India would enter the semi-finals with winning momentum behind their back as they won their last two matches.

On the other hand, the Kiwi side have lost their last two matches and they would look to change their fortunes around.India will take on New Zealand in the semi-final match later in the day.

Following are the squads:

India:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/world-cup-decision-making-will-be-crucial-says-virat-kohli-ahead-of-semis-234029">Virat Kohli</a> (c), Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, MS Dhoni (wk), KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravindra Jadeja, Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik, Kuldeep Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami&nbsp;

New Zealand:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-expects-as-new-zealand-bid-for-world-cup-semi-final-upset-234174">Kane Williamson</a> (c), Ross Taylor, Martin Guptill, Tom Blundell, Trent Boult, Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham (wk), Colin Munro, James Neesham, Henry Nicholls, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee.

Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday sent good wishes to the Indian cricket team, ahead of their semi-final clash against New Zealand in the ongoing ICC Mes Cricket World Cup.

Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday sent good wishes to the Indian cricket team, ahead of their semi-final clash against New Zealand in the ongoing ICC Mes Cricket World Cup. "I have sent my good wishes to the Indian cricket team and I am hopeful they will perform well," Rijiju told ANI. India have won the World Cup twice (1983 and 2011) whereas New Zealand are yet to lift the trophy. The Men in Blue finished the group stage at the top of the standings with 15 points, whereas New Zealand finished fourth with 11 from nine matches each. India would enter the semi-finals with winning momentum behind their back as they won their last two matches. On the other hand, the Kiwi side have lost their last two matches and they would look to change their fortunes around.India will take on New Zealand in the semi-final match later in the day. Following are the squads: India: Virat Kohli (c), Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, MS Dhoni (wk), KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravindra Jadeja, Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik, Kuldeep Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami New Zealand: Kane Williamson (c), Ross Taylor, Martin Guptill, Tom Blundell, Trent Boult, Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham (wk), Colin Munro, James Neesham, Henry Nicholls, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee.

Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju sends good wishes to team India ahead of semi-final vs New Zealand

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