Ex-England player arrested on suspicion of attempted rape

A recent report by Dame Elish Angiolini reveals that a quarter of police forces in England and Wales have not implemented basic policies for investigating sexual offences, highlighting ongoing failures in protecting women since the murder of Sarah Everard in 2021.

Robin Smith, the former England cricketer born in South Africa, has passed away at the age of 62. Smith was known for his impressive batting skills, having scored over 4,000 Test runs during his career in the late 1980s and 90s.

Former England cricketer Robin Smith has died at the age of 62, leaving his family and former county Hampshire devastated. Smith had a notable career, playing 62 Tests and 71 one-day internationals for England from 1988 to 1996, and was particularly recognized for his performance against fast bowlers, including a high score of 175 against the West Indies in 1994.

Twelve prisoners in England and Wales were mistakenly released from custody in the past month, as confirmed by Justice Secretary David Lammy. This brings the total number of such incidents to twelve, with two of the released individuals still at large. Lammy stated that despite these occurrences, the overall trend of errors in prisoner releases is declining due to system improvements.

The UK Labour government has announced a comprehensive action plan to eliminate new HIV cases in England by 2030, which includes routine testing for HIV at Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments. This initiative, set to be detailed on World Aids Day, aims to re-engage individuals who have disengaged from HIV care and includes a £170 million funding package for opt-out testing in high-prevalence areas such as London and Manchester.

England's water companies have issued £10.5 billion in green bonds since 2017, despite a persistent record of sewage pollution, according to research by Unearthed, part of Greenpeace UK. This issuance is criticized by River Action as being a form of corporate greenwashing, as the environmental benefits claimed are undermined by ongoing pollution issues.

In September, 386,849 patients in England faced delays exceeding six weeks for critical diagnostic tests, including those for cancer and heart conditions, raising alarms among healthcare professionals about potential harm to patients. This situation highlights significant inefficiencies within the NHS, as reported by the Royal College of Radiologists.

Joe Root expressed his skepticism about the necessity of day-night Tests in the Ashes series, stating, 'I personally don’t think so,' while acknowledging the format's popularity in Australia. As England prepares for the second Test at the Gabba, Root's performance under lights will be crucial, especially in light of the team's recent struggles.