Normal view

Received today — 14 December 2025

Ian Rush recovering in hospital after being admitted to intensive care with flu

14 December 2025 at 06:48
  • Former Liverpool forward has responded to treatment

  • ‘Everyone at Liverpool FC wishes Ian a speedy recovery’

Ian Rush is recovering in hospital after the former Liverpool and Wales striker was admitted to intensive care with flu.

Rush was taken to the Countess of Chester hospital last week after suffering breathing difficulties and spent two days in intensive care. The 64-year-old, who is an ambassador for Liverpool FC, has responded to treatment but remains in hospital.

Continue reading...

© Photograph: Liverpool FC/Getty Images

© Photograph: Liverpool FC/Getty Images

© Photograph: Liverpool FC/Getty Images

Received yesterday — 13 December 2025

Sunderland hero Gary Rowell dies aged 68 on eve of derby with Newcastle

13 December 2025 at 18:29
  • Former striker scored a hat-trick in 1979 derby

  • Rowell had been diagnosed with leukaemia

The former Sunderland striker Gary Rowell has died at the age of 68, the Black Cats have announced. He was being treated for leukaemia.

The Seaham-born Rowell, who scored a hat-trick in a 4-1 Division Two win over Newcastle at St James’ Park in February 1979, died on Saturday. His death comes 50 years to the day since he made his Sunderland debut and just a day before the Black Cats host the Magpies in the first Premier League derby between the clubs since March 2016, at which the hosts will mark Rowell’s death.

Continue reading...

© Photograph: PA Images/Alamy

© Photograph: PA Images/Alamy

© Photograph: PA Images/Alamy

Paul Lim, 71, becomes oldest player to win match at PDC World Championship

13 December 2025 at 18:42
  • Lim beats Jeffrey de Graaf to set up Luke Humphries rematch

  • Singaporean beat the future champion in 2020

Paul Lim made World Darts Championship history at Alexandra Palace – and then hoped lightning would strike twice against Luke Humphries.

Lim became the oldest player to win a match at the event as the Singaporean, who turns 72 next month, defeated Jeffrey de Graaf 3-1 to extend his own record set in 2020. On that occasion he overcame Humphries and the pair are reunited in round two after the world No 2 produced eight 180s in crushing Ted Evetts 3-1.

Continue reading...

© Photograph: Godfrey Pitt/Action Plus/Shutterstock

© Photograph: Godfrey Pitt/Action Plus/Shutterstock

© Photograph: Godfrey Pitt/Action Plus/Shutterstock

Championship roundup: Fatawu strikes from own half as Leicester sink Ipswich

13 December 2025 at 14:10
  • Winger’s 65-yard lob helps Foxes to 3-1 win

  • Coventry stay top; Boro tighten grip on second

Abdul Fatawu scored from inside his own half as Leicester cruised to a 3-1 win against Ipswich at the King Power Stadium. Fatawu’s remarkable lob from about 65 yards doubled Leicester’s lead two minutes before half-time, after Bobby De Cordova-Reid lashed home from distance on eight minutes.

Leicester sealed the points on 52 minutes when Jordan Ayew converted Ricardo Pereira’s cutback before substitute Jens Cajuste scored for the visitors after an error from goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk.

Continue reading...

© Photograph: David Rogers/Getty Images

© Photograph: David Rogers/Getty Images

© Photograph: David Rogers/Getty Images

Received before yesterday

Parling frustrated as Leicester blow half-time lead against Leinster to lose again

12 December 2025 at 17:44
  • Leicester 15-23 Leinster

  • Gibson-Park and Sheehan score visitors’ tries

Leicester’s director of rugby, Geoff Parling, was frustrated that his side failed to capitalise from a strong position to lose to Leinster at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.

Despite a spirited effort against error-ridden opponents, the hosts came away with nothing and remain pointless at the bottom of Pool 3 after their opening two fixtures.

Continue reading...

© Photograph: James Crombie/INPHO/Shutterstock

© Photograph: James Crombie/INPHO/Shutterstock

© Photograph: James Crombie/INPHO/Shutterstock

British backpacker on e-scooter given four years’ jail for Western Australia crash death

12 December 2025 at 00:07

Court heard Alicia Kemp, 25, from Redditch, Worcestershire was over the blood alcohol limit when she drove into Thanh Phan, 51, in Perth

A British backpacker has been sentenced to four years in prison after a fatal collision with a father-of-two while riding an electric scooter in Australia.

Alicia Kemp, 25, from Redditch, Worcestershire, appeared at Perth district court in Western Australia on Friday where she was sentenced after pleading guilty to dangerous driving causing death while under the influence of alcohol.

Continue reading...

© Photograph: Tik Tok

© Photograph: Tik Tok

© Photograph: Tik Tok

Trump plan for World Cup tourists to reveal social media activity described as ‘chilling’

11 December 2025 at 05:47
  • UK tourists would be among those affected by US policy

  • ‘Unacceptable’ and ‘chilling’, says European fan group

A plan to require supporters travelling to the United States for the World Cup to disclose information about their social media accounts has been described as “profoundly unacceptable”.

Tourists from 42 countries, including the UK, which use the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (Esta) as part of the visa waiver programme would be obliged to provide information about accounts they have held in the last five years in their applications. Previously it had been optional to provide the information.

Continue reading...

© Photograph: Sam Corum/PA

© Photograph: Sam Corum/PA

© Photograph: Sam Corum/PA

Final letter of Mary, Queen of Scots to go on display for first time in almost a decade

11 December 2025 at 03:20

Letter written hours before her execution in 1587 will form part of exhibition and programme of events in Perth aiming to bring queen’s story to life

A letter written by Mary, Queen of Scots hours before her execution in 1587 will go on display for the first time in nearly a decade when it forms part of an exhibition in Perth next year.

Mary wrote what is believed to be her last letter at 2am on Wednesday 8 February 1587 when she wrote to her brother-in-law Henri III in France to put her affairs in order. She was executed six hours later at Fotheringhay Castle in Northamptonshire.

Continue reading...

© Photograph: Neil Hanna/PA

© Photograph: Neil Hanna/PA

© Photograph: Neil Hanna/PA

Championship roundup: Boro close gap at top after Coventry held by 10-man Preston

9 December 2025 at 18:35
  • Lampard tells Coventry players to stay ‘level-headed’

  • Boro win at Charlton; QPR move up to sixth

Frank Lampard insisted the title race was never over after his Coventry side were frustrated in a 1-1 draw at 10-man Preston as their Championship lead was reduced to five points.

After Andrew Hughes deflected Jack Rudoni’s shot into his own net, it seemed as if Coventry would bounce back strongly from their 3-0 defeat by Ipswich at the weekend.

Continue reading...

© Photograph: Steve Taylor/PPAUK/Shutterstock

© Photograph: Steve Taylor/PPAUK/Shutterstock

© Photograph: Steve Taylor/PPAUK/Shutterstock

❌