Author: News Desk

England and Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard has been tipped for a sensational return to one of his former clubs. Gerrard, 44, is under huge pressure at Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq, who have slipped to 12th in the table after winning just three of their opening 12 league games. The Anfield hero took the job in Saudi Arabia in the summer of 2023 and signed a two-year contract extension in January to keep him at the club until 2027. But Al-Ettifaq are reportedly considering sacking Gerrard following a dismal run of form which has left the club just four points…

IPP scandal: Stop scaremongering over prisoners trapped by indefinite jail terms, ministers told Ministers have been accused of “scaremongering” after revealing they will not resentence thousands of prisoners trapped under indefinite jail terms. This will leave more than 2,600 languishing under “torture sentences” with no release date, including James Lawrence, who is still in prison 18 years after he was handed an eight-month jail term; Thomas White, who set himself alight in his cell after serving 12 years for stealing a phone; and Abdullahi Suleman, who is still inside 19 years after he was jailed for a laptop robbery. Despite…

Call to review ‘cancel culture’ in universities after ‘ostracised’ Oxford student takes own life A coroner has called on the government to examine the prevalence of “cancel culture” on university campuses, after ruling that a 20-year-old Oxford student took his own life after being “ostracised” by his peers. Alexander Rogers, a third-year studying materials science at Corpus Christi College, died in January. His body was recovered from the River Thames, and he was found to have suffered a head trauma. Following an inquest into his death, a coroner has now ruled that “in the preceding days Alexander had been ostracised”…

Ukraine war led my son to join the army, says defence secretary The defence secretary has revealed his son joined the army as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, saying the conflict is now “personal”. John Healey said his son’s decision to join the British army reservists has allowed him to better understand the real-life impact of decisions he may make in a ministerial capacity. He said: “It weighs heavily on me as defence secretary, knowing that if we face conflict, it will be my decision to send British forces and personnel into situations which put them at risk.…

Angela Rayner opens door to four-day working week in local councils The government has dropped official opposition to the introduction of a four-day working week by a local council: a move which could pave the way for other local authorities to do the same. The previous Conservative government objected to the plan by South Cambridgeshire District Council after it was introduced in 2023. But local government secretary Angela Rayner has criticised the previous administration for “micromanaging” local authorities over the policy. The four-day working week continued past the end of its trial period in March this year as the council…

NHS crisis ‘a million times worse’ than under Tony Blair, former health secretary warns The NHS is “drinking in the last-chance saloon”, Labour’s top health adviser and a former health secretary has warned, saying it must stop asking for more money. Alan Milburn, who was a minister under Tony Blair, said the service needs radical reform rather than more cash, calling for an end to what he said was a “more, more, more culture”. He called for clinics to be paid for keeping people healthy and out of hospital in an attempt to improve both care and efficiency. It comes…

Thousands of farmers to descend on London as Met Police gives green light Thousands of farmers are set to descend on London later this month in protest against the government’s extension of inheritance tax, after the Metropolitan Police gave the march the green light. There has been a growing backlash from the farming community following the decision to extend the duty to cover agricultural properties, with National Farmers’ Union (NFU) chief Tom Bradshaw warning that the government should be prepared for a “militant” response from farmers. The demonstration has been organised alongside a NFU lobbying event, after the union told…

Kate Middleton news: Princess of Wales joins King at major Remembrance event after cancer treatment The Princess of Wales has taken a significant step in her gradual return to public royal duties by attending the Festival of Remembrance. Joined by the Prince of Wales, her presence at the event comes after Prince William spoke candidly spoke of how 2024 has been “brutal” and “probably been the hardest year in my life”. The pair, both wearing poppies, were seen in conversation after taking their seats next to each other at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday evening. Asked by reporters how…

Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsi is “fine” after requiring 10 stitches to close a cut on his face, manager Hansi Flick says. The Spaniard, 17, was forced off in the 67th minute of Barcelona’s 5-2 Champions League win at Red Star Belgrade on Wednesday after being caught by Uros Spajic’s studs as he headed a corner clear. Cubarsi, who made his debut for the club at the age of 16, needed medical attention on the pitch before his substitution after being left with a bloodied face and an open wound. Flick said after the victory: “He needed stitches, but he’s fine.”…

Jose Mourinho has received a one-match ban and fine of about £15,000 for his actions and comments at the end of Fenerbahce’s dramatic win over Trabzonspor. The former Chelsea and Manchester United manager sprinted on to the pitch and attempted a knee slide after Sofyan Amrabat’s stoppage-time goal earned his Fenerbahce team a 3-2 victory in an incident-packed encounter. However, he then launched into a angry post-match tirade that condemned refereeing standards in Turkey and appeared to question the impartiality of match officials. In a statement, external the Turkish Football Federation said Mourinho’s comments were “contrary to sportsmanship, sports ethics…