Author: News Desk

Uefa promises 1bn euros to European women’s football UEFA Commits €1 Billion to Transform Women’s Football in Europe UEFA has unveiled a bold €1 billion (£830 million) investment plan for women’s football over the next six years, aiming to establish it as the most-played team sport for women in Europe. This historic commitment draws from competition revenues and UEFA’s own investments, with funds earmarked for national team competitions, club competitions, and national associations. Through its ambitious initiative, UEFA aims to make Europe “the home of the world’s top players,” with a vision of creating six fully professional leagues and supporting…

Budget 2024 costing: How could Labour find £40bn in tax rises and spending cuts? Rachel Reeves will announce Labour’s first Budget in nearly 15 years today. There has been intense speculation around the highly-anticipated event as the new government continues to manage expectations. Only a few weeks after the General election, Ms Reeves revealed that the Treasury was grappling with a £22bn “black hole” in public finances, placing the blame squarely on the outgoing Conservative government. Just a few months later, reports indicated that the chancellor is looking to raise closer to £40bn from the upcoming budget. A Labour spokesperson…

Woman texted friend ‘oopsie xx’ after trying to kill boss with a hammer An ambulance worker who texted her friend saying “oppsie xx!” after trying to kill her boss with a hammer has been jailed for 20 years. Stacey Smith became “filled with rage after a prolonged row over work shift patterns” with the manager whom she had worked with since 2017, Greater Manchester Police said after her sentencing on Tuesday. The 46-year-old waited outside her manager’s home in Tameside from 5:30am on 11 November last year before launching an “unprovoked and frenzied” hammer attack as she left for work,…

Miracle baby born after mum died in fall from father’s ninth-floor flat, inquest hears A heavily pregnant woman gave birth to her baby after falling from her father’s tower block flat, an inquest opening has heard. Emma Atkinson’s died after her fall from Shakespeare Towers, in the Burmantofts area of Leeds, last Tuesday but her baby survived the fall. The baby, who has been named Posie, was miraculously delivered in hospital five-weeks premature with a fractured leg. It is now receiving critical care. The inquest opening in Wakefield on Wednesday heard mother-of-five Ms Atkinson, 38, died from multiple injuries after…

Buffer zones finally set to be implemented outside abortion clinics in ‘milestone moment’ Abortion providers have welcomed the introduction of buffer zones outside clinics in England and Wales as a “milestone moment”. Buffer zones will be implemented outside abortion clinics from Thursday to stop women seeking abortions from being harassed by protesters, with it becoming illegal to influence, harass or provoke those using or delivering pregnancy termination services. The new laws will apply to a 150-metre radius of the abortion service provider, and those who infringe the new rules will face an unlimited fine. It comes after healthcare providers told…

Zip World attack: Halloween clown ‘attacked with needle’ at Ffear Fforest event in Betws-y-Coed, North Wales A Halloween clown was taken to hospital after being attacked with a needle at a “scare-fest” event. Attendees told local media that they were left waiting in the dark for hours following the alleged attack, as police scoured the ‘Ffear Fforest’ event in Betws-y-Coed, North Wales. The company behind the event, Zip World, told the BBC that a staff member came into contact with a “potentially dangerous medical device” on Monday night, with North Wales Police now confirming the victim sustained a needlestick injury.…

Southport Stabbing suspect Axel Rudakubana appears in court accused of terror offence and making ricin A teenager accused of murdering three children in a stabbing at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club in Southport has appeared in court charged with a terror offence and making the poison ricin. Axel Rudakubana appeared via videolink from HMP Belmarsh at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday after police and the Crown Prosecution Service announced the new charges. He is accused of producing a biological toxin after officers discovered a substance which was found to be ricin, a poison found in castor beans, in a search of…

Watch live: Rachel Reeves unveils Labour’s Budget October Watch live as Rachel Reeves presents Labour’s first Budget in 14 years on Wednesday, 30 October. In her speech, the chancellor is expected to say the “prize on offer” is “immense”, and she will lay out new funding to cut hospital waiting lists, build more affordable homes and rebuild crumbling schools. “More pounds in people’s pockets. An NHS that is there when you need it. An economy that is growing, creating wealth and opportunity for all. Because that is the only way to improve living standards,” she will add. “And the only…

Starmer’s message to Sunak during Tory leader’s final PMQs Rishi Sunak’s final appearance at the despatch box as Conservative party leader was marked by a jovial exchange with Sir Keir Starmer during Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, 30 October. The prime minister thanked his predecessor for his “decency” and wished his family the best for the future. They laughed together as Mr Sunak, who is MP for Richmond and Northallerton in North Yorkshire, told MPs: “I’m particularly looking forward to doing the coast to coast walk that runs through my constituency and many others. “Can I ask the Prime Minister…

Budget 2024 live: Reeves sets out plan for £40bn in tax hikes and more borrowing in historic speech Rachel Reeves has announced tax hikes that will raise an eye-watering £40bn in her historic first Budget. The chancellor blamed previous Conservative governments for the measures. She accused them of blowing a hole in the public finances and failing to fund compensations schemes, such as the one for those affected by the infected blood scandal. After months of warning the public of the “tough choices” ahead, Ms Reeves promised to “invest, invest, invest” in order to “fix public services”. Delivering the first…