Author: News Desk

Mark Allen downs Mark Selby in Masters slugfest after ‘ridiculous’ luck Mark Allen battled his way into the semi-finals of the Masters after a 6-2 win over Mark Selby on Thursday night. It finished an impressive scoreline in Allen’s favour but the match did not feel one-sided, with a string of close and long frames. The game began at a nice pace with Allen making 81, Selby responding with 88 and the Northern Irishman retaking the lead with a 104. However, the one-visit frames ended there for some time as the next three were lengthy, tight and edgy. They all…

Owen Hargreaves blasts ‘mad’ Man Utd transfer decision after Southampton win Owen Hargreaves has described Manchester United’s decision to listen to loan offers for Marcus Rashford as ‘madness’ and has also urged the club to keep Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo. Rashford has made it clear that he is keen to leave United in order to find a ‘new challenge’ and the 27-year-old has attracted interest from several clubs across Europe, including Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund and AC Milan. However, Rashford’s £325,000-a-week salary is a major hurdle and United are understood to be asking clubs to contribute at last half…

The Conservative Party leader has been called on to ‘urgently clarify’ what she meant in an LBC interview Kemi Badenoch in row over pension triple-lock interview question Kemi Badenoch has come under fire after she was asked whether the Conservative Party would look at the triple-lock pension system in a radio interview. The leader of the opposition was asked on LBC on Thursday evening about how certain people benefit from the triple-lock when, the caller claimed, they do not need it. The current system ensures state pensions rise by whichever is highest out of the rate of inflation, average earnings…

The exact location of most of these small chips remains a mystery Search for 30 missing fragments from ancient Stone of Destiny after Westminster Abbey heist A search is underway for more than 30 fragments of the ancient Stone of Destiny after they separated from the ancient artefact following its famous theft from Westminster Abbey and secret repair. The exact location of most of these small chips remains a mystery as they have been passed down through families or are in private collections. Professor Sally Foster has been painstakingly collating the history of as many of the pieces as possible,…

Rising temperatures could see more pests introduced on increasingly tropical plants Snakes and spiders slipping into country in flowers and plants Spiders, insects, fungi and agricultural pests are being imported into the UK and northern Europe in cut flowers and other ornamental plants. Snakes and lizards are also slipping unnoticed into northern Europe in vast shipments of flowers and potted plants, researchers have warned. Continental European snakes, geckos and Italian wall lizards are among the animals making their way to the region in potted olive trees destined for gardens and green space, according to the study published on Friday in…

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch spoke about the risk of reduced attention due to the automation of Tube trains London Underground passenger who fell on Tube tracks was run over by four trains after going unnoticed A passenger who fell onto the London Underground tracks and went unnoticed was repeatedly run over by four Tube trains, a report has revealed. The incident occurred on Boxing Day in 2023 at Stratford station, with the passenger fatally injured after they were unable to reach a position of safety. The Rail Accident Investigation Branch said that the incident had unfolded after the individual…

The crash with Staffordshire Police’s unmarked Skoda Octavia happened in early December Elderly woman dies on Christmas Day following crash with unmarked police car  A police force has referred itself to a watchdog after a pensioner died following a crash with an unmarked police car in Stoke-on-Trent. A red Nissan Micra was in a collision with the unmarked Skoda Octavia, driven by Staffordshire Police, shortly after 3.50pm on Thursday 5 December. The police car was using its blue lights at the time. The driver of the Nissan, who was a woman in her eighties, was taken to hospital following the…

Labour said it will ‘re-consult’ on the Conservative plans, but the government is looking to find the same savings High Court rules disability benefit reforms plan as unlawful – but Labour remains committed to cuts  The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) consultation into plans to cut billions in disability benefits has been ruled unlawful by the High Court for being “unfair and misleading”. The planned changes, focused on an overhaul of the work capability assessment (WCA), would have seen nearly half a million claimants worse off by as much as £416.19 a month. Although drawn up by the previous…

Watchdog investigating allegations against Jason Hogg over ‘inadequate’ probe around sensitive police information retention Thames Valley Police chief constable suspended over gross misconduct claims  The chief constable of Thames Valley Police has been suspended from duty amid an investigation into allegations of gross misconduct. Police and crime commissioner for Thames Valley, Matthew Barber, said Jason Hogg’s suspension would take effect immediately. The police watchdog, the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC), is investigating the allegations. It’s claimed Mr Hogg failed to adequately investigate allegations relating to the improper retention of sensitive police information, Mr Barber said. He said the matters…

Home secretary announces a number of local grooming gang inquiries and a ‘rapid national review’ to consider causes of crime Labour bows to pressure to announce new grooming gang inquiries  Yvette Cooper has announced a “rapid national audit” into the scale and nature of grooming gangs across the country amid growing calls from MPs for a new inquiry. The home secretary also pledged five new local inquiries backed by government funding in a statement to the Commons on Thursday. The “no holds barred” rapid review, which will report within three months, will be led by crossbench peer Louise Casey and…