As Israel prepares for a ground offensive into the Gaza Strip, the international community has mobilised to try to protect civilians and prevent the...

Malta’s home support at the Ta’ Qali Stadium can be their 12th man and ruin England’s hopes of a third-straight Euro 2024 qualifying win on Friday, according to former player David Carabott. The 122-cap veteran has a contentious claim to being Malta’s only ever goalscorer against England, after his penalty struck a post before rebounding in off goalkeeper Richard Wright during a friendly in the capital Valetta, 23 years ago. FIFA officially credit the goal – which drew the tiny Mediterranean island nation level after Martin Keown had scored for Kevin Keegan’s side – to then Ipswich keeper Wright, who was making his international debut. And Carabott had a chance to write himself further into his country’s folklore with a second spot-kick in the 88th minute to earn an unlikely draw, but this time Wright saved with his feet. Emile Heskey had already scored his first England goal to earn a 2-1 win, but it was an underwhelming finish to the team’s Euro 2000 warm-up schedule as the team laboured against a nation with a population of under half a million. Carabott, who finally signed off his international career in 2005 as the county’s third-highest goalscorer with 12, says Malta have made strides in the more than two decades since England squeaked past them, and that they have spirit in the squad to frustrate Gareth Southgate’s team. “What I can guarantee is that Malta will give England a hard time,” said Carabott. “They will put them under pressure, they will frustrate them, they will try to break the game, stop England from scoring early. “The longer that passes, the more frustrating it will become for them, nor for us. That’s where we will find our motivation, courage and fighting spirit. “We have a supporters club now that make a big difference to us at home, the ground will be a good asset for us. It can be the 12th man.” Malta are ranked 172nd in the FIFA ranking -, sandwiched between Bermuda and Moldova – but like many smaller European sides, they have become more competitive since the inception of the Nations League in 2018. They went down 2-0 after a battling display against European champions Italy at the Ta’ Qali Stadium in March, days after pushing Euro 2020 qualifiers North Macedonia all the way in Skopje, eventually losing 2-1. The team have followed the blueprint of other UEFA members in looking for talented players abroad with eligibility for citizenship, in the expectation that regular game time in bigger leagues will ultimately benefit the national team. Most notably the 33-cap midfielder Teddy Teuma, born and raised in France, played a key role as Union Saint-Gilloise came within a whisker of winning the Belgian title in 2022. The 29-year old will miss the meeting with England through injury. OK, we are tiny, but when we have to prove ourselves against a great nation like England, we can rise to the occasion David Carabott “Three days ago, Malta beat Luxembourg 1-0 away,” said Carabott. “We competed with them and beat them. They’re about 70 places above us in the rankings. “We’re getting more competitive, we’re exploring a lot of other talents with Maltese citizenship that play abroad, because our national league, the level is not that high. “When you can use players who play abroad, where the structure is on another level. “We have Teuma playing in Belgium. He makes all the difference for us, you see the level he is at, how high it is compared to the others.” Despite the passing years, Carabott still recalls vividly the day he almost snatched a famous draw for his country against England. “It was fantastic to show that we are Malta. OK, we are tiny, but when we have to prove ourselves against a great nation like England, we can rise to the occasion,” he said. “The people in the street after that game (were optimistic for the future) but in football it depends on the opposition. We played England, we had nothing to lose, it was a beautiful day and we performed brilliantly. “I cannot say that in the years since we haven’t improved, or we have not made headlines at home. “Improvement is being made and our national team have been doing well, but to compete against such great national sides as England, Italy, Ukraine and Macedonia – we know it’s a very, very tough group for a country like us.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live W Series enters administration after three seasons England batter Dan Lawrence to join Surrey from Essex on three-year deal Leighton Clarkson set to join Aberdeen on permanent deal

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A private investigator has revealed the top signs that your partner is cheating on you. Charlotte Notley, from Norwich, has spent years investigating suspicious activities, two-timing spouses, and secretive dalliances. Advising people to keep tabs on their other half, she recommends everything from checking browser satnav destinations to surprising your partner at work. Now she shares tips on how to spot a cheater, telling people to trust their guts. “Distance will be the first indicator,” the 32-year-old told NeedToKnow. “Hiding their phone and unexplained times away without much of an explanation is another sign. Check for changes in their social media- new followers and friends,” she said. “Check their browser history on shared devices. Check previous destinations on a Satnav and make a surprise visit to your partner's work or usual place they should be." “You know your partner the best, so if something feels off, then it probably is. “Most clients who come to us know there is something not right and they usually are correct. “Secretive behaviour is a key indicator for any relationship as trust must always be there. “If you feel concerned, ask your partner to reassure you and your trust. “If you are still not satisfied then trust your instinct.” According to the World Population Review, approximately half of the people in married relationships cheat on their spouse. Between January and March this year, 28,865 divorce applications were registered, reports Gov.co.uk. “If you have exhausted all avenues to get to the truth yourself then it is best to hire a professional,” she said. “Private Investigators cannot go through someone’s phone or breach any UK GDPR laws, therefore it is only for the case of if your partner is physically spending time with someone else that a PI can help but ensure the cost is always worth the reward. “Having evidence of your partner cheating will not assist in any divorce or legal proceedings but it will give you peace of mind one way or another.” However, not everything is always as it seems, with some surveillance efforts turning out to be wasted on innocent people. “We conducted surveillance for a female who was adamant her husband was cheating on her. “It turns out he was spending time in a restaurant car park with a coffee and a book. “He was being dishonest about it but he certainly wasn’t having an affair.” Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

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Brooklyn-based art collective MSCHF is back after their Big Red Boots took social media by storm. This time, they've launched a minuscule handbag – the size of a sand grain. The bag is just 657 by 222 by 700 micrometres and is modelled off the famous Louis Vuitton OnTheGo handbag. Impressively, they were even able to sketch out the LV logo on their tiny creation. The "bag" was specifically designed for an upcoming auction for Pharrell's Joopiter auction house. MSCHF told the New York Times that they actually haven't approached Louis Vuitton for permission to use their design. "We are big in the ‘ask forgiveness, not permission’ school," Kevin Wiesner, the chief creative officer of MSCHF told the publication. Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter The images soon spread across social media, where people took no time in chiming in with their takes. "Jesus f***ing christ where did we go wrong as a society," one harsh critic wrote, while another hilariously joked: "He made this for the roach at the Met Gala." "I can’t even fit my phone in this," a third humoured, while one Twitter user added: "My dreams about an apocalypse hitting the earth are making more sense now." The creation comes just after the creative brand restocked its Big Red Boots. Retailing at $350 (£280) a pair, the shoes caught the attention of the internet earlier this year for their unique appearance. The brand described them as: "CARTOON BOOTS FOR A COOL 3D WORLD. CARTOONISHNESS IS AN ABSTRACTION THAT FREES US FROM THE CONSTRAINTS OF REALITY. IF YOU KICK SOMEONE IN THESE BOOTS THEY GO BOING!" They've since become a big hit among celebrities with the likes of WWE wrestler Seth Rollins, rapper Lil Wayne and Diplo sporting the bizarre boots. Indy100 reached out to Louis Vuitton for comment. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

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