95 m. ago Ricky Evans 'comes off the canvas' with 'miracle' win to continue Grand Slam fairytale

Darts fans were overjoyed on Wednesday evening as Rapid Ricky Evans "came off the canvas" to KO Luke Woodhouse and advance to a major quarter-final

Politics

1 hour ago England to begin Euro 2028 at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium

If England qualify, Wembley will host other group gamesTournament to be held across UK and Republic of IrelandEngland’s men will kick off their Euro 2028 campaign at the Etihad Stadium, assuming they achieve the relative formality of qualification for a tournament staged across most of the United Kingdom and in the Republic of Ireland.Manchester City’s home has not hosted an England men’s game since May 2016, when Turkey were beaten 2-1 in a friendly, but looks certain to welcome the national team for their first match on Saturday 10 June 2028. England are scheduled to play their final two group matches at Wembley but, should they win Group B, their last-16 tie would take place at Newcastle’s St James’ Park. Finishing second would mean starting the knockouts at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium. Continue reading...

Politics

2 h. ago Viggosdottir strikes late to cap Bayern comeback as Arsenal slump to WCL loss

Arsenal needed a performance and a result against a European powerhouse, their form in theWomen’s Super League letting them down, but Renée Slegers’s side relinquished their 2-0 advantage and all three points to Bayern Munich far too easily, plunging their Champions League defence into tricky waters.Last season, a battling comeback from 2-1 down to a 3-2 victory over Bayern in their final group game avenged their opening 5-2 loss to the Bavarian side and kickstarted their phenomenal run to the final. It marked a turning point in their season, demonstrating a mental toughness that carried them to a second Champions League title. Their collapse here showed they are yet to recapture the spirit that ensured success in May. Continue reading...

Events

2 h. ago Arsenal take ‘big hit’ as Viggósdóttir caps WCL comeback for Bayern late on

Arsenal needed a performance and a result against a European powerhouse, their form in the Women’s Super League letting them down, but Renée Slegers’s side collapsed, relinquishing a 2-0 advantage and all three points to Bayern Munich far too easily to plunge their Champions League defence into tricky waters.Slegers called the defeat a “big hit”. “We’re not happy, it’s not good enough, we can’t concede three goals so late in a game against Bayern when we have a 2-0 lead,” she said. Continue reading...

Events

2 h. ago Rangers are better than crying conspiracy over refs and risk being poked with the Celtic paranoia stick

Keith Jackson wants the tin foil hats taken off as he issued a reminder to when the green half og Glasgow was the butt of the jokes

Events

2 h. ago Peter Mandelson was in contact with Epstein till at least 2016, new emails reveal

UK ambassador was sacked in September after other tranche of emails showed he told disgraced financier to ‘fight for early release’Peter Mandelson, who was sacked as the UK’s ambassador to Washington over his association with Jeffrey Epstein, was in contact with the pedophile financier as late as 2016, new emails have revealed.Mandelson was sacked in September over leaked emails in which he expressed his support for Epstein and urged him to “fight for early release” in 2008 while the disgraced financier was facing charges of soliciting sex from minors. The tranche of emails revealed the pair had maintained contact until 2010. Continue reading...

Politics

2 h. ago Kirsty Gallacher reveals her benign brain tumour is 'growing very fast' and she 'doesn't know if radiotherapy will work' as she blasts court for showing 'no empathy' after driving ban

The TV presenter, 49, admitted the offence but asked not to be banned so she could continue to drive for family and work commitments, insisting she couldn't afford to pay for a taxi.

Events

2 h. ago Israeli president condemns ‘serious’ attack by settlers on West Bank villages

Isaac Herzog makes rare statement on often-ignored violence as settlers injure Palestinians and attack soldiersDozens of masked Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian villages in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, injuring four Palestinians and attacking Israeli soldiers in the latest incident of rising settler violence.The settlers attacked the Palestinian villages of Beit Lid and Deir Sharaf, setting vehicles on fire and damaging property belonging to a Bedouin community, with charred remains of cars left behind the next day. Continue reading...

Politics

2 h. ago Sri Lanka to continue cricket tour of Pakistan despite players raising security concerns

Sri Lanka Cricket has directed its national team to continue its white-ball tour to Pakistan despite several players wanting to return home because of safety concerns

Sport

3 h. ago Epstein emails thrust Trump back into spotlight over past ties

Newly released emails from Epstein’s estate reignite scrutiny of the US president’s old links to the sex offenderThe release of previously unseen emails sent by convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has thrust Donald Trump back into the center of the long-running Epstein controversy that has plagued his administration for months, inflamed parts of his own political base and offered Democrats an ongoing line of political attack.On Wednesday, Democrats on the House oversight and government reform committee released email exchanges from 2011, 2015 and 2019 that they say were provided by the estate of the late Epstein, who died by suicide in federal prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal charges of sex-trafficking minors. Continue reading...

Politics

3 h. ago ‘Lot to prove to ourselves’: Thomas Tuchel challenges England to maintain standards

Head coach unlikely to experiment against Serbia‘We still run at people, we still go after them’It was certainly a strong look, impossible to ignore, something only a top-level footballer could carry off – and even then, the jury was out. When Ezri Konsa strolled in to preview Thursday’s World Cup qualifier against Serbia at Wembley, the England defender did so in what, at first glance, appeared to be a cross between a pair of slippers and oversized Crocs. In garish, fluorescent red.On closer inspection, it was possible to make out grooves and nodules on them, and then it was time for the science part. Apparently, if you wear these your concentration improves. Well, that is according to the manufacturer. Something to do with the pressure points on the foot, perhaps. Was Konsa convinced? Unclear. How about Thomas Tuchel? Ditto. Continue reading...

Politics

3 h. ago Red, white and shoe: Tuchel and England embrace their new World Cup super slipper

Thomas Tuchel is all for the marginal gains and the Three Lions have taken to new, fluorescent red shoes to boost their focusIt was certainly a strong look, impossible to ignore, something only a top‑level footballer could carry off – and even then, the jury was out. When Ezri Konsa strolled in to preview Thursday’s World Cup qualifier against Serbia at Wembley, the England defender did so in what, at first glance, appeared to be a cross between a pair of slippers and oversized Crocs. In garish, fluorescent red.On closer inspection, it was possible to make out grooves and nodules on them, and then it was time for the science part. Apparently, if you wear these your concentration improves. Well, that is according to the manufacturer. Something to do with the pressure points on the foot, perhaps. Was Konsa convinced? Unclear. How about Thomas Tuchel? Ditto. Continue reading...

Events

3 h. ago US strikes against boats in Caribbean ‘disregard international law’, French minister says

G7 foreign ministers questioned Marco Rubio about the attacks on what the Trump administration claims are drug smugglersStakes rise as Trump deploys world’s largest aircraft carrier to the CaribbeanIs US preparing to attack Venezuela and how has Maduro regime responded?The US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, is facing questions from his fellow G7 foreign ministers about the legality of the US strikes in the Caribbean on ships it says it suspects of carrying drugs.The French foreign minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, criticised the military operations, saying they could contribute to instability in the region, but his suggestion that the attacks were unlawful was also a rare criticism of the Trump administration. Continue reading...

Politics

3 h. ago Pressure grows on Starmer to sack chief of staff over briefing row

Growing calls for Morgan McSweeney to go after extraordinary briefing operation against Wes StreetingKeir Starmer is coming under intense pressure from a wide range of ministers and MPs to sack his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, after No 10 was accused of an extraordinary briefing operation against the health secretary, Wes Streeting.Starmer is understood to have told MPs he will not sack his chief of staff and would not respond to several demands to ensure there were “consequences” for the briefers. Continue reading...

Events

3 h. ago 'He will take all the beating despite a 6lb rise in the weights' – Jason Heavey's Thursday tips

The Daily Star Chief Tipster reckons a novice chaser can score again at Market Rasen and he also believes a five-year-old mare can continue where she left off last term later on the same card

Politics

3 h. ago The Guardian view on special Trump treatment for Hungary: roll on the next election | Editorial

As polls suggest that Viktor Orbán’s authoritarian rule is under threat, Brussels can only wait and hopeDuring the US presidential election campaign of 2016, Viktor Orbán was the only European Union leader to back Donald Trump. Which was hardly surprising. Whether in relation to the the normalisation of great replacement theory, or the bullying and harassment of the media, Mr Orbán more or less wrote the playbook for the Maga movement. The former White House strategist Steve Bannon has eulogised Hungary’s prime minister as the “Trump before Trump”.Last week, ahead of crucial Hungarian elections in less than six months’ time, the US president returned some political favours. As Mr Orbán seeks a fifth consecutive term presiding over a nation which he boasts of having turned into an illiberal democracy, his Fidesz party trails in the polls. As well as a few signed Maga baseball caps, an Orbán visit to Washington yielded considerably more valuable pre-election gifts. Continue reading...

Politics

3 h. ago Cop30 live: ‘literally insane’ that we are letting global heating happen, says Al Gore

Former US vice-president also critical of Donald Trump and Bill Gates as negotiations begin in earnestHello comrades, this is Nina Lakhani in chilly New York City taking over the blog for the next few hours. Thanks very much to my colleague Matt Taylor in London Town who will be back in the hot seat on Friday morning.Leading climate activists and influencers have signed a letter criticising PR firm Edelman over its role at the Cop30 summit in Brazil. Continue reading...

Society

4 h. ago Zelenskyy fires ministers accused of involvement in bribery scheme as public outrage grows

Ukraine president also calls for sanctions against friend and former business partner, saying ‘there must be maximum integrity’Volodymyr Zelenskyy has moved to contain growing public outrage in Ukraine over a corruption scandal in the energy sector by firing two ministers who are accused of involvement in a large-scale bribery scheme.Ukraine’s president said the pair – justice minister Herman Halushchenko and energy minister Svitlana Grynchuk – could no longer remain in their jobs. He also called for personal sanctions against his friend and former business partner Timur Mindich, the scheme’s alleged organiser. Continue reading...

Politics

4 h. ago Willie Collum goes against Rangers on big Auston Trusty call as referee chief gives personal approval

It’s understood Rangers will use the KMI verdict to demand more talks with the game’s top brass but the Celtic decision has been exonerated

Politics

4 h. ago I was miserable and negative – until I discovered how to get fit despite 'gymtimidation'

Writer Muminah Koleoso explains the benefits of physical activity, the pitfalls of toxic trends on social media and what it’s like lifting weights in a gym as a Black Muslim woman

Politics