Former England goalkeeper Carly Telford believes the injuries that have struck the Lionesses can inspire Sarina Wiegman’s side at this summer’s Women’s World Cup. England will head to Australia and New Zealand as one of the favourites, but their hopes have been hit by serious injuries that have ruled out captain Leah Williamson and Fran Kirby, while Beth Mead, Lucy Bronze, and Millie Bright also face a race against a time to be fit in time. The loss of key players could derail many of Wiegman’s plans for the tournament but Telford believes it will bring together those who do make the trip. “As much as they might be team-mates or enemies in the Super League, a lot of them are friends, and watching your friends get hurt, you know how short a football career is and how few tournaments you might get to go to,” Telford told the PA news agency. “It is hurtful when you see team-mates go down but it can inspire them as they will want to play for the girls who are missing it, and they will use it as motivation.” Telford believes the European champions, whose best World Cup finish was the third place achieved in 2015, will have a target on their back this summer after the successes enjoyed in the last few years. “I think we will see an ultra-competitive side,” she said. “We’ve had a couple of knock backs with injuries but they’ve had that taste of winning now and once you’ve had that it’s very hard to lose sight of what you want to do which is to win a trophy on a global stage. “The World Cup is a different animal, you’re playing against different nations, sides from South America and Africa you don’t often come up against, and you’re travelling to the other side of the world. It will be a difficult challenge but one Sarina will prepare them for… “When is there not pressure on England to do well and win a tournament? Even when we haven’t been one of the top sides. But of course once we’ve won something the girls have a target on their heads. “It’s been the Americans for a long time but England have some brilliant players and arguably the best manager in the world. It’s a huge opportunity to put England on the map again.” The last World Cup ended in disappointment as England were beaten in the semi-finals by the United States, a match in which Telford played. “Hurt,” she said when asked her memories of the tournament. “We got so far and fell at the final hurdle, but on reflection it was huge. We got so much support, we had a good tournament and took it as far as we could. We made strides on the pitch and I like to think it led to what came after.” The World Cup trophy was on hand as Telford spoke at a grassroots football session staged by Bloomsbury Football and the Football Association on Saturday morning at the Ark Elvin Academy within sight of Wembley Stadium. The session was part of a project led by Bloomsbury to offer more opportunities to play for children from underprivileged kids from across London. “Having the World Cup trophy here means we’re about to get kids excited about something they can dream about, but also just have some fun,” Telford said. “There needs to be so many more opportunities and pitches like this where kids can come all year round. There’s been funding from England, the FA and FIFA to make sure every kids has the opportunity to dream big because that’s what you want to do as a kid.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Eberechi Eze double secures win for Crystal Palace against Bournemouth Mark Robins relishing play-off opportunity as Coventry ‘rise together’ Man Utd boss Marc Skinner fires FA Cup final warning to favourites Chelsea

Elon Musk said he had engaged in direct conversation with Vladimir Putin, according to a former Pentagon official. Mr Musk’s comments had been made in a discussion the billionaire had with Pentagon officials in October last year about the satellite-based internet provided by SpaceX to Ukraine’s military. The billionaire had told Colin Kahl, then the under-secretary of defence for policy at the Pentagon, that he had spoken to Mr Putin personally, according a report on Monday in the New Yorker. “Even though Musk is not technically a diplomat or statesman, I felt it was important to treat him as such, given the influence he had on this issue,” Mr Kahl is quoted as saying. The conversation between Mr Musk and the then-Pentagon official occurred while Ukrainian forces were experiencing a disruption in their connection to Space Exploration Technologies Corp’s (SpaceX) Starlink service, coinciding with their entry into territory contested by Russia. “My inference was that he was getting nervous that Starlink’s involvement was increasingly seen in Russia as enabling the Ukrainian war effort, and was looking for a way to placate Russian concerns,” Mr Kahl told the outlet. Another source told the New Yorker that Mr Musk had previously expressed the same assertion in the weeks leading up to his tweet about a pro-Russia peace plan. He mentioned that his consultations with the Kremlin were occurring regularly. But he later denied having spoken to Mr Putin about Ukraine. A senior official is quoted as saying that on the phone call, Mr Musk said he was looking at his laptop and could see “the entire war unfolding” through a map of Starlink activity. “This was, like, three minutes before he said, ‘Well, I had this great conversation with Putin’,” the senior defence official was quoted as saying. “And we were, like, ‘Oh, dear, this is not good’.” SpaceX had put forward a request for the US and its allies to bear a larger portion of the expenses for Starlink in Ukraine. As per the unclassified talking points for the call, during the conversation, Mr Musk was reportedly appreciated for his endeavours in Ukraine, and the considerable expenses he had shouldered were acknowledged. Additionally, Mr Kahl said there was a plea made for a brief extension of a few weeks to formulate a contract. “If you cut this off, it doesn’t end the war,” Mr Kahl recalled telling Mr Musk. After a 15-minute call, Mr Musk reportedly agreed to give the Pentagon more time. Later though, in response to public backlash, he retracted his earlier statements of discontinuing the service. “The hell with it,” Mr Musk tweeted. “Even though Starlink is still losing money and other companies are getting billions of taxpayer $, we’ll just keep funding Ukraine govt for free.” In June this year, the Department of Defence disclosed that it had successfully reached an agreement with SpaceX. “We continue to work with a range of global partners to ensure Ukraine has the resilient satellite and communication capabilities they need. Satellite communications constitute a vital layer in Ukraine’s overall communications network and the department contracts with Starlink for services of this type,” the Pentagon said in a statement at the time. Read More Ukraine war – live: Russia closes major airports as Moscow apartments hit in drone strike Elon Musk ‘stopped Ukraine military using Starlink for military operation’ Elon Musk’s Starlink satellites are leaking radiation that harms deep space astronomy, study warns The Body in the Woods | An Independent TV Original Documentary The harrowing discovery at centre of The Independent’s new documentary

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Gwyneth Paltrow has revealed that she still owns her infamous 2002 Oscars dress that “everybody hated,” and that her daughter Apple Martin even wears it on occasion. The Goop founder, 50, took to Instagram on Thursday 15 June to answer some questions from her fans and followers – including what she ate for breakfast and her go-to restaurant recommendations. When one fan asked Paltrow if her daughter Apple wears “any of [her] fashion archives,” the Shakespeare in Love star responded with a photo of the 19-year-old model dressed in the memorable Alexander McQueen gown, which Paltrow wore to the 2002 Academy Awards. In the snap, Apple – who Paltrow shares with ex-husband and Coldplay frontman, Chris Martin – could be seen standing in her mother’s walk-in closet while posing with one hand under her chin and the other on her hip. Back in 2002, the gothic Alexander McQueen dress caused quite a stir for its sheer, sleeveless bodice. The punk-inspired black gown also featured a flowing black floor-length skirt. Gwyneth Paltrow has previously discussed the criticism she received after attending the 2002 Oscars in the daring gown. In 2021, the Glee alum revisited some of her most iconic fashion moments, including the criticism she received for the black McQueen dress. “Everybody really hated this [dress] ... but I think it’s kind of dope,” she said in a video interview with Vogue. “I’m into it.” However, the lifestyle guru admitted she was hurt by the criticism over the dress at the time. “I had a weird hangover about it for a while because people were really critical,” Paltrow explained. “I think at the time it was too goth, I think people thought it was too hard, so I think it sort of shocked people. But I like it.” Paltrow also defended the dress – which was then dubbed “unflattering” and “a fashion disaster” – in a Q&A post shared to Goop’s website in 2013. “I still love the dress itself but I should have worn a bra and I should have just had simple beachy hair and less makeup,” she said. “Then, it would have worked as I wanted it to – a little bit of punk at the Oscars.” Apple Martin has since become somewhat of a fashion icon herself. Earlier this year, she made her Paris Fashion Week debut at the Chanel haute couture spring/summer 2023 show in January. For the occasion, Apple was pictured sitting front row in a black-and-white tweed skirt and jacket set by Chanel. The teen recently poked fun at the Iron Man star after she made some candid confessions about her love life during an episode of the Call Her Daddy podcast. In a video shared to the official Call Her Daddy Instagram account, Apple could be seen standing next to her mom and host Alex Cooper, as Paltrow shared many NSFW details about exes Brad Pitt and Ben Affleck. Apple proceeded to cover her ears as her mom divulged about her past relationships. “When your mom goes on Call Her Daddy,” the text over the clip read, along with a crying face emoji. In addition to daughter Apple, Paltrow shares 17-year-old son Moses with ex Chris Martin. These days, the entrepreneur is married to producer Brad Falchuk, while the Coldplay singer has been dating actor Dakota Johnson since 2017. Read More Gwyneth Paltrow recalls being hurt by criticism of 2002 Oscar dress that ‘everybody hated’ Apple Martin hilariously reacts to Gwyneth Paltrow’s candid confessions about love life on Call Her Daddy Apple Martin opens up about attending first fashion show and her ‘classic ‘90s’ style

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DALLAS & FORT WORTH, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 15, 2023--

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