Author: News Desk

England win first-ever Women’s Finalissima in dramatic penalty shootout England’s Lionesses faced a tough test against a young Brazilian side in the first Women’s Finalissima on Thursday night, conceding a late equaliser and having to deal with the pressures of a penalty shootout at Wembley Stadium. But the team, under coach Sarina Wiegman, passed the test with flying colours, winning the shootout after maintaining their long unbeaten run, now standing at 30 matches. The victory was a valuable experience for the team as they head to the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in four months, ensuring they are…

Israel strikes Lebanon and Gaza after major rocket attack Israel has launched attacks on targets linked to the militant group Hamas in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said that Hamas’ “terrorist” infrastructure was hit in southern Lebanon in response to a major rocket barrage on Israel from Lebanon, which the Israelis blamed on Hamas. The tension between the two sides has been high after Israeli police raided Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa mosque on consecutive nights earlier in the week, triggering violent confrontations with Palestinians inside and causing outrage in the wider region. Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh, who…

Chinese scientists publish long-awaited data into Covid-19 origins A new peer-reviewed study has been published by a research team in China, detailing the analysis of biological evidence taken from the Huanan seafood and wildlife market more than three years ago, which has been linked to the outbreak of Covid-19. The study revealed that swabs collected from the market contained genetic material from wild animals, potentially opening up new lines of inquiry into how the outbreak began. While some scientists view this as further evidence of animal-to-human transmission, others have cautioned against interpreting the findings without more information. The study also…

Today’s news summary – Paper Talk Friday’s front pages lead on travel warnings as gridlocks have affected families’ attempts to get away for an Easter break. Royal news dominates some of the papers, with the King’s support of research into royal connections to slavery being reported on.  The Sun predicts “Bad Friday” for holidaymakers hoping to travel, warning of gridlock in the UK and “travel hell” for families. The Daily Mirror reports a slow start to the Easter getaway with the headline “Standstill”, while the Independent begins its story with “Oh no, not again…”. The Daily Mail questions whether the…

How to save money on pet care as the cost of living rises The rising cost of living crisis in the UK is affecting every aspect of our lives, and many animal lovers across the country are worried about rising bills and looking after our four-legged friends. From pet insurance to food, toys, treats and more – it all adds up and can make pet ownership a major stress in such difficult financial times. Animal charity PDSA has said the average dog over its lifetime costs around £30,800. For cats, the figure is around £18,000 for an average lifespan. Many…

Cost of living crisis UK: Cutting energy and water costs – 5 major changes you can make today As the cost of living crisis continues to grip the UK, many are looking on ways to reduce household bills – the bathroom is an area of the house that can rack up massive energy costs. Water bills have risen from April 1 and the energy rebate scheme finishes at the end of April 2023. The bathroom and the kitchen are two areas where we use a lot of water, and as the country continues to battle rising prices, we look at…

Cost of living crisis: Can’t afford the gym? Here are some tips for exercising at home As inflation continues to rise and the cost of living crisis in the UK continues to hit your finances, you may be looking at costs that you need to cut. For many fitness fans, that will likely mean ditching your expensive gym membership. But staying fit doesn’t need to be paused just because your gym membership is. On average, fitness fans spend an average of 40 per month on the gym – but you can stay active without parting with cash. Here are some…

Ex-PM of Italy Berlusconi is in intensive care Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, 86, has been admitted to intensive care with breathing difficulties. Local reports say the former PM is being treated for a form of leukaemia and remains in a stable condition and is alert.  He has been hospitalised on several occasions in recent years, including for heart surgery in 2016 and pneumonia in 2020 after contracting Covid-19. Berlusconi is a divisive figure in Italian politics, he was recently cleared of bribing young showgirls to lie about his “bunga bunga” parties. He still leads his Forza Italia party…

Frank Lampard appointed Chelsea manager until end of season Frank Lampard has been appointed as Chelsea’s manager until the end of the season, just two years after the club sacked him. Frank Lampard is a Chelsea legend, in his football playing days he was a Chelsea midfielder and in 2019 returned to the club for his first stint as manager. He was sacked in 2021 under Roman Abramovich and went on to manage Everton – before being sacked recently. He’s now back as Chelsea’s boss but only until the end of the season.  His appointment as interim manager comes after…

Nicola Sturgeon pulls out of climate event as police search continue Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s former first minister, withdrew from the Climate of Change event after her husband, Peter Murrell, the former chief executive of the Scottish National Party (SNP), was questioned by police on Wednesday in relation to party finances. Murrell was released without charge pending further investigation, and a police search of the couple’s Glasgow home resumed on Thursday. Ms Sturgeon said that the cabinet secretary for net zero, Màiri McAllan, would take her place at the event to ensure that the focus remained on the critical issue of…