The biggest oil companies in the United States are playing hardball in unionized labor negotiations in a bid to get more concessions from workers' unions in the new contracts.
Over the past few years, some of the top U.S. refining companies have resorted to lockouts to ensure most of the company management's proposals in new labor contracts are accepted.
The trend began earlier this decade with Exxon locking out in 2021 as many as 650 workers out of the Beaumont refinery for 10 months. This was the longest labor dispute at a U.S. refinery in four decades.
Five years later, BP and Marathon are currently in a similar position, locking out workers at their Whiting, Indiana, and Martinez, California, refineries, respectively, amid labor disputes over union contracts.
The refineries continue to operate with contractors, supervisors, and replacement workers. The continued operations show that Big Oil is not as afraid as it used to be to use replacement staff while seeking concessions from the unions.

#contracts #unions #refinery

The biggest oil companies in the United States are playing hardball in unionized labor negotiations in a bid to get more concessions from workers' unions in the new contracts.
Over the past few years, some of the top U.S. refining companies have resorted to lockouts to ensure most of the company management's proposals in new labor contracts are accepted.
The trend began earlier this decade with Exxon locking out in 2021 as many as 650 workers out of the Beaumont refinery for 10 months. This was the longest labor dispute at a U.S. refinery in four decades.
Five years later, BP and Marathon are currently in a similar position, locking out workers at their Whiting, Indiana, and Martinez, California, refineries, respectively, amid labor disputes over union contracts.
The refineries continue to operate with contractors, supervisors, and replacement workers. The continued operations show that Big Oil is not as afraid as it used to be to use replacement staff while seeking concessions from the unions.

#contracts

An Olympic rower has recalled the "frightening" moment he feared a motorboat rider was going to "ram" him on the River Thames.
Jack Beaumont, who won silver in the men's quadruple sculls at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, said he had been training when he saw a motorboat collide with a rowing boat near Maidenhead Rowing Club at around 7.15am on Sunday.
He said that after trying to intervene, the man driving the motorboat then began "shouting and swearing" and "threatening" him.
A man aged 67, from Windsor, was arrested after the alleged incident.
He has since been released on conditional police bail while the investigation continues, Thames Valley Police said.

#motorboat #rowing #beaumont

Yastika Bhatia on Sunday became the first woman to score a Test century at the Home of Cricket as India closed in on a famous victory over England in the historic first-ever Women’s Test at Lord’s.

While vice-captain Smriti Mandhana was unfortunate to be caught down the leg side off Lauren Bell for 70 (130b, 9x4, 1x6), the less-fancied left-hander Yastika produced a sublime maiden Test hundred, scoring 113 off 158 ****** with 14 fours, as India declared at 341 for seven shortly before tea.

The visitors set England a daunting target of 457.

England, who had been bowled out for 170 in their first innings, ended Day Three reeling at 130 for six, still needing 327 runs with only four wickets in hand.

India’s seamers once again led the charge. Kranti Gaud (2-40), fresh from her first-innings five for 37 that made her the first woman to claim a Test five-wicket haul at Lord’s, struck twice early. She bowled Tammy Beaumont for a firstball duck in the opener’s farewell Test before removing former captain Heather Knight (13), who was caught behind by Richa Ghosh after being given a guard of honour by the Indian players following her retirement announcement on Saturday.

Gaud has figures of seven for 77 in the match. Sayali Satghare (2-19) provided excellent support, trapping Maia Bouchier (2) lbw before claiming another wicket.

Earlier, Yastika produced an innings to remember.

Resuming on her overnight 39, the 25-year-old enjoyed an early reprieve when a Lauren Bell delivery clipped her leg stump without dislodging the bails. She responded immediately by driving Bell straight down the ground for four and soon completed her second Test fifty. Batting with elegance and ****** urance, the Baroda wicketkeeper unfurled crisp cover drives, authoritative pulls and deft late cuts while using her feet confidently against the spinners.

On 91, she struck back-to-back boundaries off Issy Wong before nudging a single to deep extra cover to bring up a landmark maiden Test century.
132358985
Brief scores: India 285 & 341/ 7 decl (Y Bhatia 113, S Mandhana 70, R Ghosh 50*, S Ecclestone 5/118) vs England: 170 & 130/6 (A Jones 52, S Satghare 2/19, K Gaud 2/40)

India Women moved to the brink of a historic maiden Test victory at Lord's after a dominant third day, powered by Yastika Bhatia's record-breaking maiden century before the bowlers reduced England to 130/6 in pursuit of an improbable 457-run target.

With just four wickets separating them from scripting history at the Home of Cricket, Harmanpreet Kaur's side ended the day firmly in control despite a spirited lower-order resistance from Amy Jones and Mady Villiers.
Resuming Day 3 with a healthy first-innings lead, India continued to pile on the runs despite England enjoying a better opening session with the ball. Lauren Bell removed Smriti Mandhana (70) early before also dismissing Jemimah Rodrigues. Sophie Ecclestone then trapped Harmanpreet Kaur lbw as England briefly clawed their way back into the contest.

However, Yastika Bhatia remained unfazed. Displaying remarkable composure and elegant strokeplay, the left-hander brought up her maiden Test century to become the first-ever woman to score a Test hundred at Lord's. Her memorable knock of 113 off 158 ***** also became the highest score by an Indian woman in the third or fourth innings of a Test match.

England spinner Sophie Ecclestone fought tirelessly and completed her fourth five-wicket haul in Women's Tests, but lacked support from the other end as India continued to dominate.
Following Bhatia's departure, wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh injected fresh momentum into the innings with a brisk unbeaten 50 off 52 ***** , taking the attack to the England bowlers. With India's lead swelling beyond 450, captain Harmanpreet Kaur declared the innings at 341/7, leaving England with a mammoth 457-run target to survive or chase down.
India's bowlers wasted little time in tightening their grip on the contest.

Debutant Kranti Gaud and Sayali Satghare produced another outstanding new-ball spell, removing openers Tammy Beaumont and Maia Bouchier inside the opening four overs. Beaumont's dismissal also marked the end of her international career, while former captain Heather Knight, playing her final Test before retirement, was later dismissed by Kranti Gaud and received a touching guard of honour from the Indian team as she walked off.

England's problems deepened when Sneh Rana bowled Nat Sciver-Brunt with a beauty before Sayali breached Alice Capsey's defence, reducing the hosts to 59/5.
Just when India appeared set to wrap up the match on the third evening itself, Amy Jones and Mady Villiers mounted a determined fightback. The duo stitched together a resilient 67-run partnership, frustrating the Indian attack and briefly keeping England's hopes alive.

The stand was eventually broken in spectacular fashion as Richa Ghosh pulled off a stunning close-in catch at silly point to dismiss Villiers off Sneh Rana's bowling. Jones continued her resistance, bringing up a gritty half-century, but England still finished the day in deep trouble at 130/6, requiring another 327 runs with only four w

Former England captain Heather Knight has revealed she is at peace with her decision to retire from international cricket, saying she is excited about the next chapter of her life after bringing the curtain down on a glittering career at the conclusion of the historic one-off Women's Test against India at Lord's.

Knight admitted she had made up her mind months before the start of the English summer and felt the timing was perfect to step away from the international stage.

"I definitely knew about two or three months ago. I came into the summer pretty sure it was going to be my last one. I have thought about it for quite some time, as you do, and talked to a lot of people close to me. To be able to finish with a home World Cup and a Test match at Lord's, it felt really right. I am happy and content with the decision. It is not an easy thing to step away from, but I am really grateful for the career I have had. It is perfect timing for me to go," Knight said during a chat with the broadcasters.

The 34-year-old also revealed that while retiring from international cricket is never an easy decision, she feels her motivation has begun to shift towards life beyond the game.

"The main thing is that I am excited for what's next in my life and career. Things are dragging me away from the game and, after this summer, I probably feel that I haven't got the drive and energy to keep going, to keep doing what you need to do to be an international cricketer," she added.

At the end of Day 2's play, Knight confirmed she would retire from international cricket alongside opening batter Tammy Beaumont after the conclusion of the first-ever women's Test at Lord's.

Knight will bring down the curtain on an illustrious career spanning 320 international appearances, having scored 7,988 international runs across formats. She also holds the distinction of being the first England cricketer to score centuries in all three international formats.

Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana (83, 108b, 11x4, 1x6), captain Harmanpreet Kaur (58, 121b, 7x4) and seasoned allrounder Deepti Sharma (57, 87b, 7x4) struck resolute fifties as India posted 285 before pacer Kranti Gaud's early breakthrough left England at 21 for one on an engrossing opening day of the historic first-ever women's Test at Lord's.

After opting to bat, India looked set for a much bigger total at 190 for three but suffered a collapse, losing seven wickets for 95 runs.

England dominated the final session, taking the last four wickets for just 11 runs in 42 ***** . Leftarm spinner Sophie Ecclestone (368) finished with three wickets, including the final three, as India were bowled out in 74.5 overs.

India struck back late when pacer Kranti Gaud trapped opener Tammy Beaumont (2), playing the final Test of her career, lbw with a sharp inswinger. Gaud nearly dismissed Heather Knight too, but India declined a review that balltracking later showed would have hit the stumps. Maia Bouchier was unbeaten on 17 and Knight on one at stumps.

Earlier, England made the perfect start. Lauren Bell and Lauren Filer struck inside the opening seven overs, removing Shafali Verma for a duck and Yastika Bhatia (12). Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues (35) rebuilt with a brisk 64run stand before Rodrigues dragged Issy Wong onto her stumps.

Mandhana then combined with Harmanpreet in an 89-run fourthwicket partnership that steadied India after a shaky start. The lefthander played with characteristic fluency, peppering the off-side with elegant drives and also launching Ecclestone for six. However, she fell for 83, edging Wong behind while chasing a wide delivery.

Harmanpreet, under scrutiny after India's group-stage exit at the Women's T20 World Cup, responded with a patient half-century despite battling cramps. Soon after Mandhana's dismissal, she was undone by debutant off-spinner Mady Villiers, who picked up her maiden Test wicket with a delivery that drifted and turned through the gate.

Richa Ghosh (13) failed to make an impact, but Deepti's composed knock and a 46-run stand with Sneh Rana kept India afloat before another collapse ended the innings.

Brief Scores:

India 285 (Mandhana 83, Harmanpreet 58, Sharma 57) lead England 21-1 by 264 runs.

India and England shared the honours on an engrossing opening day of the historic first-ever women's Test at Lord's, with the visitors posting 285 before reducing England to 21/1 at stumps on Friday.

After England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt won the toss and chose to field, India appeared well placed for a much bigger total thanks to impressive half-centuries from Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma. However, a late collapse ensured England regained control before the close of play.

The hosts then negotiated 11 overs in fading light but lost opener Tammy Beaumont cheaply, leaving the match finely balanced heading into Day 2.
India endured a shaky start after losing Shafali Verma and Yastika Bhatia early, but Smriti Mandhana once again showcased her class with a fluent innings of 83 off 108 **** . The left-hander was positive from the outset, driving elegantly through the covers and punishing anything overpitched. She struck 11 fours and a six while stitching together crucial partnerships that helped India recover from the early setbacks.

Jemimah Rodrigues looked comfortable during her brief stay, adding a valuable stand with Mandhana before throwing away a promising start.
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur then joined Mandhana to steady the innings with an important 89-run partnership. While Mandhana played the aggressor, Harmanpreet anchored the innings with a patient 58 off 121 deliveries, ensuring India remained in a commanding position through the afternoon session.

At 190/3, India looked set to cross the 350-run mark. But Mandhana's dismissal shifted the momentum dramatically.

England's spinners, led by Sophie Ecclestone, exploited the ageing ball brilliantly. Ecclestone extracted sharp turn and bounce to finish with 3/68, while debutant Mady Villiers made an immediate impact as India slipped from a position of strength.

With wickets falling regularly around her, Deepti Sharma produced a composed knock under pressure. The experienced all-rounder compiled a valuable 57 from 87 **** , striking seven boundaries and guiding India to a competitive 285 before becoming the last batter to fall in the 75th over.
England had only 11 overs to negotiate before stumps and suffered an early setback when Kranti Gaud dismissed Tammy Beaumont for just two. Maia Bouchier looked **** ured during her unbeaten 17, while captain Heather Knight remained unbeaten on one as England closed the day on 21/1, trailing India by 264 runs.
India: 285 all out in 74.5 overs (Smriti Mandhana 83, Harmanpreet Kaur 58, Deepti Sharma 57; Sophie Ecclestone 3/68, Issy Wong 2/41)

England: 21/1 in 11 overs (Maia Bouchier 17*, Heather Knight 1*; Kranti Gaud 1/8)

When the T20 World Cup begins on Friday, it will be the first women's World Cup in the UK since England famously won the 50-over ******* le in 2017.
Everyone remembers the iconic final at a sold-out Lord's - one of the most significant days in the history of the women's game.
But leading up to it there was the dropping of legendary captain Charlotte Edwards, a poor opening-day defeat by India, a tense group stage and a nail-biter of a semi-final against South Africa.
This is the story of England's 2017 World Cup triumph, told by those who were at the centre of it - captain Heather Knight, openers Tammy Beaumont and Lauren Winfield-Hill and bowler Anya Shrubsole.
A shock group-stage exit? T20 World Cup team guide

A "chance encounter" in a park in Leicester led to the death of a "defenceless" grandfather who was floored by a single punch.
Leicestershire Police said Joshua Moore was riding a quad bike with a young child when he confronted 62-year-old James McKeown as he walked home from a pub through Beaumont Leys Park on 6 April.
Leicestershire Police said Moore hit McKeown once, causing him to fall to the ground and suffer a head injury. He died a short time later in hospital.
The 33-year-old, of Fowler Close, Beaumont Leys, pleaded guilty to manslaughter at Leicester Crown Court on Thursday, and will be sentenced on 31 July.
Police said after attacking McKeown, Moore placed him in the recovery position and left the park on the quad bike, with no attempt to contact emergency services.

When you read about old baseball players, doesn’t it seem like they led more interesting lives than their current-day brethren? It seems so to me. Consider the life of Gus Zernial.
Zernial was born in Beaumont, Texas in 1923, one of ten children. He was a multi-sport star at Beaumont High and, after graduation, played one season with the Waycroft Bears, an unaffiliated team in the Class D Georgia-Florida League.
At the end of the season, Zernial joined the United States Navy, where he served three years as a radio technician.
The time in the Navy was good for Zernial. He went in at 6 ft. and 180 pounds and came out at 6’2″ and 220 pounds.
In 1946, he played for the Class C Burlington Bees and led the Carolina League in home runs (41) and slugging percentage. He also hit .333, drove in 111, and scored 114 times.

England Women have announced a 15-player squad for their one-off Test against India, which will mark the team's historic maiden women's Test match at Lord's Cricket Ground. The squad includes five uncapped players as England prepares for the landmark fixture.

Star all-rounder Alice Capsey is expected to make her Test debut against India. The right-handed batter has already represented England in 89 limited-overs internationals and is among the most exciting young talents in the women's game. Cricketing prodigy Tilly Corteen-Coleman is also in contention for a place in the playing XI, while Durham all-rounder Mady Villiers, Grace Potts and Ellie Threlkeld are the other uncapped players named in the squad.

England's current T20 captain, Nat Sciver-Brunt, has been named to lead the side for the historic encounter. However, her availability remains subject to fitness as she leads the T20 squad from the sidelines in the ongoing T20 World Cup with a calf strain. The four-day Test is scheduled to begin on July 10, just four days after the World Cup final.

Emma Lamb and Issy Wong also remain in contention for selection. Meanwhile, Sophia Dunkley, Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Ryana MacDonald-Gay are among the notable omissions despite featuring in England's most recent Test appearance against Australia at the MCG during the 2024-25 Women's Ashes.

Tammy Beaumont is another notable inclusion in the squad. The 35-year-old has yet to feature for England in any format.
"We have selected a strong Test squad under the leadership of Nat Sciver-Brunt for what will be another historic few days at Lord's for women's cricket," Clare Connor, the ECB's managing director of women's cricket, said.

"Test cricket is a rare and wonderfully challenging experience in the women's game and I know how proud our players are to represent England in this format. For the 11 women who will get the chance to be the first to enjoy that feeling at Lord's, it will be a moment to savour," she added.

England Test squad: Nat Sciver-Brunt (C), Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Alice Capsey, Tilly Corteen-Coleman, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Amy Jones, Heather Knight, Emma Lamb, Grace Potts, Ellie Threlkeld, Mady Villiers, Issy Wong.

Cornwall head coach Graham Dawe says "inspirational" captain Sam Matavesi was a key reason for his side's County Championship success.
The Black and Gold won the Bill Beaumont Cup for the first time in four years when they beat Lancashire 39-24 at Twickenham on Saturday.
Camborne's Fiji international forward Matavesi returned to the side this year, a decade after helping the Duchy win the 2016 ****** le.
In between, he won a Premiership ****** le with Northampton, played for Lyon in the French top flight and featured in the past two World Cups.
"Sam Matavesi is an inspirational person, absolutely inspirational," Dawe told BBC Radio Cornwall.