59 m. ago Gary Neville launches mission to improve the UK's worst football pitches

The Best Worst Pitch initiative will provide line painting and pitch maintenance equipment, as well as maintenance training to 50 UK grassroots clubs

Events

90 m. ago Supermarket chain with 300 stores to shut branch this week as closing down sale launched

The supermarket chain has confirmed that its store at the Albion Centre, Ilkeston, is closing over the weekend after more than two decades in the town in a fresh blow to the high street

Economics

1 hour ago Labour's work to devise official definition of 'Islamophobia' should be suspended IMMEDIATELY as it risks worsening grooming gangs scandal, report warns

The Policy Exchange think-tank said the work of the Government's 'Anti-Muslim Hate/Islamophobia Definition Working Group', set up earlier this year, should be immediately suspended.

Events

2 h. ago From Street Fighter to Final Fantasy: Yoko Shimomura, the composer who put the classical in gaming’s classics

With a four-decade career beginning at Capcom in the 8-bit era, Shimomura is one of the most acclaimed names in gaming. She recalls her early struggles – and explains why her beloved classical music fits best with RPGsAlfred Hitchcock, David Attenborough, Harold Pinter, Stanley Kubrick, Ridley Scott, Hideo Kojima – these are just a few of the recipients of the Bafta fellowship, the highest honour the academy can bestow. Japanese composer Yoko Shimomura is the latest to receive the accolade; one of only 17 women and four Japanese people to have done so. She is also the first video-game composer to be recognised by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, and the first composer recognised at all since John Barry in 2005.It is with good reason that the academy has honoured her. Shimomura is an icon. You’ll know her music from Street Fighter, Final Fantasy, Super Mario, Kingdom Hearts, Legend of Mana, Streets of Rage and more than 70 other games she has contributed original comp...

Sport

2 h. ago Why Hugo Ekitike is hot property in the summer transfer window

The young Eintracht Frankfurt striker has rough edges but he may be the best value goalscorer on the marketBy WhoScoredAlexander Isak is a man in demand this summer. Liverpool and Arsenal have been linked with the Swede. It would take a monumental bid to convince Newcastle to sell their prized asset, and for good reason. Isak scored 23 goals in the Premier League in the season just finished; only Mohamed Salah (29) scored more.With few, if any, clubs prepared to match Newcastle’s reported £150m asking price, those keen on Isak could do worse than make a move for a striker whose style is eerily similar to that the Sweden international. An Isak-lite, if you will. Hugo Ekitike is hot property on the forward market after he enjoyed a fine campaign for Eintracht Frankfurt, scoring 15 times and providing eight assists. Continue reading...

Politics

3 h. ago Victoria Beckham enjoys swanky work do in New York as Brooklyn settles into new LA pad

Victoria Beckham Beauty held a lavish event in New York just days after it was revealed son Brooklyn Beckham was planning a permanent residency in Los Angeles amid the family fallout

Politics

3 h. ago The Royal's special bond with luxury hideaway Birkhall beloved by King Charles and the late Queen Elizabeth

King Charles III and Queen Camilla, who celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary this year, chose to spend Hogmanay at Birkhall, their favourite Royal residence.

Politics

3 h. ago Disturbing Snapchat footage of Ayr 'stabbing' as cops launch attempted murder probe

A man was found lying on the street with sickening wounds following an a vicious blade attack around 10am on the Ayrshire town's Braeside Road.

Events

3 h. ago America made a catastrophic mistake with the Iraq war. Is it about to repeat it in Iran? | Stephen Werthheim

If the United States joins Israel’s fight to try to finish Israel’s job, it will enter into a war of unknowable scope against a country of 90 million peopleTwo decades ago, as Americans debated whether their country should invade Iraq, one question loomed the largest: did Saddam Hussein possess weapons of mass destruction? If so, the implication was that the United States should disarm and overthrow his regime by military force. If not, Washington could keep that option in reserve and continue to contain Saddam through economic sanctions and routine bombings.In time, the implications of the Iraq war far exceeded the boundaries of the original debate. Saddam, it turned out, had no weapons of mass destruction. But suppose he had possessed the chemical and biological agents that the war’s advocates claimed. Invading his country to destroy his regime would have given him the greatest possible incentive to use the worst weapons at his disposal. The war would have been just as mistaken — ...

Events

4 h. ago NHS issues health advice to residents in West Dunbartonshire over weekend heatwave

Members of the public are being encouraged to stay safe in the sun as the current warm weather is expected to continue this weekend.

Society

4 h. ago Natalya Wright looks ‘unreal’ in a ‘gorgeous’ black midi that’s perfect for wedding season

Fans have gone wild over Natalya Wright's recent look as she headed out on the town in a 'gorgeous' black midi from sister Jess - and we know where to shop your own

Politics

4 h. ago Weather tracker: Mexico’s Pacific coast hit by tropical storm and hurricane

Tropical Storm Dalila brings flooding to Acapulco, while Hurricane Erick causes disruption in Oaxaca stateWhile the western Atlantic has experienced a quiet start to the hurricane season, the eastern Pacific has recently become fairly active, producing a tropical storm and a category 4 hurricane within a few days.The first and weaker of these systems, Tropical Storm Dalila, developed into a tropical storm late last week. Although this storm stayed off the coast of Mexico and was relatively weak to other storms that have developed in this region, Dalila brought flooding and mudslides to the resort town of Acapulco, in western Mexico. Continue reading...

Events

4 h. ago 'If you're moving to Spain don't make the same mistake I did'

EXCLUSIVE: Travel blogger Bea Meitiner, 39, has spent the past few months trying to get Spanish residence and has been left frustrated by the process

Politics

4 h. ago The Scottish town set for a new Aldi as seaside spot branded 'priority location'

The budget supermarket is expanding its portfolio across Scotland and UK.

Politics

4 h. ago Good Morning Britain viewers 'wince' as Kate Garraway makes 'disrespectful and insensitive' joke at worst possible time

Thursday's episode of the ITV breakfast news show (pictured) saw the presenter, 58, with co-host Adil Ray, 51, report a particularly sad story to viewers.

Politics

5 h. ago North Kensington fire: Nine rescued and dozens evacuated as blaze erupts at block of flats

Trapped residents were rescued from windows and baconies

Events

6 h. ago The controversial trans activist tearing her own community apart: Trans women say influencer Lilly Tino's 'rage

The controversy stemmed from a viral post that included mirror selfies of the 31-year-old as she 'rated' the women's bathrooms at Disney World in Florida.

Science

6 h. ago Fergus Ewing makes 'at its worst' comment as he confirms whether he will stand for 2026 Scottish election

SNP MSP Fergus Ewing released the statement, after being at odds with the party for an extended period.

Politics

6 h. ago Dog walking business owner applies to North Lanarkshire Council for planning approval for garden shed

In their application documents, the Forrest Street resident explains that they have already established a dog walking business but they also hold a diploma in dog grooming.

Politics

7 h. ago Bring the House Down by Charlotte Runcie review – the joy of the hatchet job

Is giving an artist a one-star review an act of abuse? An influential theatre critic finds out in this smart story of #MeToo-era revengeWhen Jesus is pressed to condemn the woman taken in adultery, he says, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” No one does, and a lesson in critical generosity is learned. Judge not, that ye be not judged.Is giving an artist a one-star review an act of abuse – casting the first stone? Is it worse when the reviewer is male and the artist female? That’s the starting point of this entertaining and very timely debut novel from Charlotte Runcie, an arts journalist who, as a young intern, was lambasted on stage by a successful standup to whom she’d given a bad review.There was an interactive customer feedback device propped up on the bar. Tell us what you think of our service, it said, and underneath there were two buttons you could press: an angry red face or a smiling green one. Excellent or worthless, nothing in...

Society