3 h. ago Women’s Euro 2025: England kick off with French test as Wales make history – live

Holders face France in Zurich as Wales face the DutchPlayer guide | David Squires’ wallchart | Mail JohnFriday’s matches saw a couple of favourites win.Here’s where it all starts for the Lionesses. The beginning of the end or the end of the beginning? A huge test awaits in the challenge of France. A new-look team, though one full of established stars, needs to get out of the group stage, and then perhaps the competition opens up for them. That’s all in the future, perhaps, but for Wales this is history, to quote in the news Noel Gallagher, the end of a long journey to be at a finals. Jess Fishlock leads her team against the Dutch, and Wales could be the wild card. So, a big day awaits, with news from the footbal industry as a whole coming in all day. Continue reading...

Politics

7 h. ago Saturday’s briefing: Saying goodbye to Diogo Jota and England start Euros

England and Wales get under way at Euro 2025 in Switzerland.

Politics

20 h. ago Spain dazzle, Ada delivers and England prepare for France – Women’s Football Weekly

Faye Carruthers is joined by Tom Garry, Sophie Downey and Tim Stillman to review the opening games of Euro 2025 and preview England and Wales’ tough starts in Group DOn the podcast today: Euro 2025 is officially under way, and it’s Spain who’ve set the pace with a dominant 5-0 win over Portugal. Elsewhere, Italy edges Belgium to stake their claim as dark horses, and Ada Hegerberg’s 50th international goal helps Norway stun hosts Switzerland.There’s a shock win for Finland over Iceland, Vicky López announces herself on the big stage, and we learn a lot about cheese, fondue, and Swiss wine along the way. Continue reading...

Politics

23 h. ago Healthy life expectancy at record low for women in most deprived areas

The ONS has released separate estimates for healthy life expectancy across England and Wales.

Politics

23 h. ago Matt Sherratt ‘doubles down on the basics’ in bid to end Wales’ losing streak

The country’s last Test win came against Georgia in October 2023.

Politics

23 h. ago Is the traditional family unit making a comeback? Proportion of births in wedlock hits highest level for a DECADE at 52.4%

Some 52.36 per cent of babies had parents who were married or in a civil partnership in England and Wales last year.

Events

26 h. ago Inside the Britannic Explorer: New luxury sleeper train coming to England and Wales in July

The British countryside just got a little more luxurious this summer with Belmond’s new sleeper train – starting from £11,000

Politics

27 h. ago Pressure and pain of football’s trialist: the ultimate test to win golden ticket

It’s the time of year when out-of-contract players go from club to club to prove themselves worthy of a new dealPlayers are returning for pre-season up and down England and Wales. There will be little time for catching up about holidays and families before each has their fitness tested and boots are laced to see whether they remember how to kick a ball. Among the regular faces and new signings, there will be some interlopers in the form of the mystical trialist.“It is life or death,” says Gboly Ariyibi, who has had trials at six clubs. Football League and National League teams are offered out-of-contract players from all angles, regularly needing to pick through up to 20 to decide whether any deserve the chance to prove themselves for what remains of the budget. From agents suggesting clients to players putting forward a friend in need of work, managers and heads of recruitment are inundated with names and clips sent on WhatsApp by those hoping for a golden ticket. Continue reading...

Sport

28 h. ago Hundreds of town centres to see more police patrols in crime ‘blitz’

More than 500 towns across England and Wales have signed up to the Home Office’s safer streets summer initiative, which will run to September 30

Events

48 h. ago DWP confirms Winter Fuel Payment schedule for 9 million in England and Wales

The DWP has confirmed that the Winter Fuel Payments will be issued automatically to eligible pensioners in November or December. Find out if you're eligible and how much you will get.

Economics

52 h. ago Josh Macleod returning from injury ‘massive’ for Wales – Matt Sherratt

Only four survivors from the side humbled by England in their last Six Nations Championship game in March will start against Japan.

Events

2 d. ago Martin Lewis urges people to lock in energy fix to avoid overpaying on new price cap

The consumer champion warns two-thirds of homes in Scotland, England and Wales are on the ‘Pants Cap’.

Economics

3 d. ago Miscarriage of justice watchdog chief quits after public confidence ‘badly damaged’

Karen Kneller resigns from Criminal Cases Review Commission, heavily criticised for bungling of Andrew Malkinson caseThe chief executive of the miscarriage of justice watchdog for England, Wales and Northern Ireland has resigned after serious failings in the case of Andrew Malkinson.Karen Kneller, who had held the position since 2013, has left her job at the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) after one of the worst miscarriages of justice in British legal history, it was announced on Wednesday. Continue reading...

Events

3 d. ago Cass review: how has report affected care for transgender young people?

Review led to profound changes, some of which made young people feel unsupported, yet new clinics are openingAt the heart of the controversy about how to meet the needs of young people questioning their gender has been the huge rise in referrals to the Tavistock – previously the only dedicated clinic in England and Wales treating children with gender dysphoria.The clinic was closed one month before the Cass review into youth gender identity services, commissioned by NHS England and led by the British paediatrician Hilary Cass, which found that children had been “let down” by the NHS amid a “toxic” public discourse. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Switzerland hoping for festival of football as hosts get Euro 2025 party started

Enthusiasm is palpable as fans buy in to a tournament where progress should be made on and off the pitchIn any downtime from ensuring Euro 2025 passes smoothly, Uefa staff can take a short walk to watch Nyon’s summer jazz festival in full flow. Rive Jazzy is in its fourth decade and there should be something for everyone. The Greasers will be on stage to set a tone before England face Wales on 13 July; this Friday anyone with a penchant for swing can turn up at Place du Molard to enjoy harmonies by the Hot Shooters.The more pressing hope is that there will be plenty of those on Switzerland’s football pitches across the next 25 days. At its elite level, the women’s game has never before been blessed with the depth of quality it can showcase this month. There is justified optimism that no weak link will stick out like a sore thumb among the 16 contenders in this European Championship; at the top end a valid expectation exists that, while Spain are obvious favourites, at least three or...

Politics

3 d. ago Last month hottest June on record in England, Met Office figures suggest

Provisional figures indicate that June 2025 was also the second warmest for the UK since data began in 1884.

Politics

3 d. ago Brits issued warning as UK beaches invaded by jellyfish with 'painful stings'

As the waters off England, Ireland, Wales and even as far north as Scotland get warmer, they become a more favourable environment for the reproduction and survival of jellyfish

Events

4 d. ago Rise in births in England and Wales helped by ‘notable’ jump in older fathers

The largest increases were in West Midlands, up 3.4%, and London, up 1.8%.

Politics

4 d. ago DWP confirms Winter Fuel Payment dates and amounts for every pensioner household

The DWP has also published the process for opting out of this year’s Winter Fuel Payment.

Economics

4 d. ago Aldi giving away free £50 every day throughout summer holidays to lucky shoppers

Aldi is holding their draw every day through July and August across Scotland, England, and Wales.

Economics