England head coach Brendon McCullum has firmly dismissed speculation of a rift with Test captain Ben Stokes, describing the reports as "baseless" and even "amusing" ahead of England's crucial third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge. Speaking in Nottingham after a lengthy face-to-face conversation with Stokes, McCullum stressed that both their personal friendship and professional partnership remain stronger than ever despite recent scrutiny surrounding the England camp. The former New Zealand captain revealed that he directly addressed the rumours with Stokes following a turbulent fortnight for English cricket."I said: 'Do you know where this has come from, the conversations around our relationship over the last six months?' He said: 'No, I have no idea.' I said to him: 'As far as I'm concerned, I consider you a good friend.'"McCullum reiterated his unwavering support for Stokes, insisting that recent controversies have done little to alter the immense respect he holds for his captain."Everyone that has seen Ben over the course of his captaincy and worked intimately alongside him has an immense amount of respect for him, myself included. One blemish doesn't ruin all of that. It's just a slight blip, then you move on,'' McCullum ahead of the team's training session at Trent Bridge on Tuesday. He also highlighted that healthy debates are a natural part of any successful leadership partnership."There's going to be times where we discuss and debate things. We make decisions together, one will have to concede at times and vice versa. We are good friends, we work very well together. Ben and I are tight," McCullum added. How the rift speculation beganRumours of a growing divide between McCullum and Stokes emerged following a series of off-field and on-field developments. The biggest talking point was the one-match suspension handed to Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson after they breached a team curfew during a night out in London. The incident, which involved an altercation that led to an ECB security official being struck, resulted in both players missing the second Test at The Oval.Focus shifts to Trent BridgeWith Stokes returning to captaincy duties, England will look to bounce back from a crushing 253-run defeat at The Oval and clinch the home series against New Zealand in the decisive third Test beginning on Thursday at Trent Bridge.England Playing XI for Third Test vs New ZealandBen Duckett, Emilio Gay, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith (wk), Ben Stokes (c), Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir

Who has caught our attention with the most amazing -- or embarrassing moments this season?

The global Interactive Conference System Market, projected to reach US$ 5,122 million by 2032, is on a trajectory of significant expansion, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.3% from 2025. This growth is detailed in a comprehensive new report published by Semiconductor Insight. The study highlights the pivotal role of interactive conferencing solutions in enabling seamless...

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An image capturing England's Jude Bellingham with his hand over his mouth whilst speaking to Ghana's Jordan Ayew has sparked debate following the Three Lions' goalless World Cup encounter in Boston on Tuesday.The photograph raised immediate questions given Fifa's newly implemented regulation for this tournament, which permits officials to dismiss players who conceal their mouths during exchanges with opponents.Fifa president Gianni Infantino pushed for this rule change after Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni received a six-match suspension from Uefa for directing homophobic abuse at Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr in a Champions League fixture back in February.The regulation has already been enforced, with Paraguay midfielder Miguel Almiron becoming its first recipient when VAR recommended his dismissal during his side's match against Turkey at the weekend.TRENDINGStoriesVideosYour SayBellingham appeared to commit the same offence, but the crucial distinction lies in the nature of the exchange between the two players.Fifa's head of referees, Pierluigi Collina, outlined the parameters clearly before the tournament began.He said: "Players can continue to cover their mouth with an arm and the shirt because they may chat with friends."It's normal to a chat before, during or after the match.LATEST SPORTS NEWSEngland star appears to snub Thomas Partey handshake before Ghana World Cup clashAlan Shearer labels England's draw with Ghana 'a reality check' after poor World Cup performanceRobert Snodgrass identifies Brazil weak link as Scotland plot World Cup upset"So if the conversation is a friendly conversation, they can continue to do it without any problem."When the conversation is confrontational, covering the mouth means that you are doing something very wrong, potentially, and the sanction is the red card."Almiron's situation presented an entirely different set of circumstances.The incident occurred amid a confrontation that erupted after Paraguay's Isidro Pitta went down, saying there was a late tackle from Turkey's Ismail Yuksek.Players from both nations became involved in pushing and shoving.Although Almiron and Turkey's Mert Muldur were not directly involved in the physical altercation, the Paraguayan winger covered his mouth while speaking to his opponent during this volatile moment.Infantino defended the decision when speaking to SNTV on Tuesday, explaining that a red card is the only outcome.The Fifa president said: "This thing about covering the mouth is for us a very, very important rule."It's about respect. It's about the example that we should give. "If you have nothing to hide, you don't cover your mouth when you speak to somebody. The rules have been made very clear to everyone."Almiron now faces a one-match suspension, ruling him out of his country's final group stage fixture against Australia - a match where both sides will likely need at least a point to progress to the knockout rounds.Win two tickets to a FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-final. ExpressVPN are giving one lucky Friend or Member the chance to experience football's biggest tournament live, with flights and accommodation covered by GB News. Entries close 30 June. ENTER HERE.Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter

Rafael Grossi says the IAEA is "working on modalities" but an Iranian minister says such access would only be part of a final deal with the US.

According to the latest report published by Data Bridge Market Research, the LATAM Domestic Booster Pump Market LATAM Domestic Booster Pump Market size was valued at USD 271.78 million in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 463.48 million by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 6.90% during the forecast period. For generating the LATAM Domestic Booster Pump Market document; various steps...

Undav? Baumann? Amiri? Julian Nagelsmann will gegen Ecuador rotieren. Fr die Startelf des DFB-Teams gibt es gleich mehrere Kandidaten.[mehr]

Flexible OLED displays represent a significant advancement in display technology, offering lightweight, bendable, and highly efficient visual solutions for modern electronic devices. Unlike conventional rigid displays, flexible OLED panels are built on flexible substrates that enable manufacturers to create foldable, rollable, and curved devices. These displays deliver superior image quality,...