Football features

With a shade over 24 hours until England host Austria at a sold-out Old Trafford, a handful of construction workers are busy building a fan park in Manchester city center. A few kilometers northeast of the building site, UEFA's Chief of Women's Football takes to the stage in a stadium hospitality room. "I feel so many different kinds of emotions but can't wait for it to get started now," said Nadine Kessler , who won 29 caps for Germany between 2010 and 2016. "I really think it's completely incomparable to when I played. I might need to be a bit provocative, but I think in my days people were more concerned with how my jersey fit than the result. We've come a long way." The buildup to the tournament has seen plenty of reflection on the growth of the game in recent years. But the day before it starts, with unfinished fan parks, sporadic advertising boards and a reported shortage of England women's shirts in major sports shops, there is a sense that organizers may not have foreseen … [Read more...] about Euro 2022: Is England ready for the biggest tournament yet?

Published 25 July 2020 Share close Share page Copy link About sharing A public consultation has closed on changes to Scotland's hate crime laws, which opponents say could have a damaging effect on free speech. Ministers argue the bill offers great protection for victims at a time when the number of cases is on the rise. Scottish Labour's James Kelly said he had 'serious reservations', especially over the offence of stirring up hatred. But Scotland's justice secretary said people's freedom of expression was not under attack. As you are reading this news story on the BBC news website I am going to hazard a guess that you probably believe that freedom of expression is a fundamental human right. And that you think without the right to free speech many other freedoms may be threatened? You would probably also agree that it is wrong actively attempt to stir up hatred against … [Read more...] about Free speech row over new hate crime bill in Scotland

When Corrine Rojas comes into work, Mars is waiting for her. She drives to the office, grabs a cup of coffee, and then pulls up the latest dispatches from Perseverance, a car-size NASA rover situated inside a crater in Mars’s northern hemisphere. Rojas, an operations engineer at Arizona State University, checks that the rover’s main cameras are working well, and that they took the shots scientists back home had asked for. Then, she basks in the wondrous sights of our celestial neighbor. “I am often the first person to lay eyes on photos from Mars taken by the rover,” Rojas told me. And Mars has been looking particularly good lately. That’s not to say that the planet has been working on its appearance; aside from the winds blowing around some dust, it has remained mostly unchanged for a few billion years . The difference is us, and particularly the Perseverance mission, which has captured some of the sharpest views of the Martian surface to date. The rover’s job is to search for … [Read more...] about We’ve Never Seen Mars Quite Like This

If the Sopranos, which returns this week for its fourth series, is arguably the most accomplished drama in television history, there is no doubt at all that it's the most analysed. Never before has a programme been subject to such extensive interpretation. While the story concerns a New Jersey mafia boss and his middle-class suburban family, no self-respecting critic would ever say that's what it was about. Ever since he first appeared on US television back in January 1999, Tony Soprano, the show's monumental anti-hero played by James Gandolfini, has been a gift to the metaphorically minded. He is the American Everyman, the embodiment of ruthless free-market capitalism, the defining figure of balding fat manhood in midlife crisis, and much else besides. It's no wonder Gandolfini stoops, carrying that weight of symbolism around on his shoulders. That Tony also visits a shrink to discuss his problems, and that shrink in turn visits another shrink to discuss the problem of seeing … [Read more...] about Deconstructing Tony

Photo: Netflix Spoilers for Stranger Things 4 Part 2 Metallica more than gave their blessings for their song “Master of Puppets” to be used in the big damn finale of Stranger Things 4 Part 2. They leant one of their son’s to the effort. Tye Trujillo, son of Metallica bassist Rob Trujillo, recorded tracks for Eddie’s supernatural guitar solo, with help from Kirk Hammett. “**Spoiler Alert** That’s my boy! Proud of ya Tye!” Trujillo wrote on Instagram. “and big thanks to @kirkhammett on helping!” Sorry to Eddie, but this is an honor that he wouldn’t have recognized. Stranger Things 4 takes place in March of 1986, months before OG bassist Cliff Burton died in a tour bus accident. Trujillo began playing bass for Metallica during their Some Kind of Monster era, and was made an official band member in 2003. Metallica also shouted out Stranger Things in an official band IG post, writing “It’s an incredible honor to be such a big part of Eddie’s journey and to once again … [Read more...] about A Metallica Bandmate’s Son Shredded for Eddie on

Ferne McCann has shown of her huge engagement ring on the red carpet this evening just days after announcing her whirlwind romance had become an engagement. The 31-year-old former TOWIE star announced her engagement to Lorri Haines on Sunday, after the 30-year-old Dubai-based property developer got down on one knee and asked her to be his wife during a trip to France. And the newly engaged couple stepped out in public together this evening as they strutted their stuff at the premiere for the new Marvel movie, Thor: Love and Thunder. Just seven months after going public with their romance, the loved up pair beamed as they posed for the cameras. Ferne looked stunning in a figure hugging white gown which showed off her toned stomach with a cut out section at her midriff. The dress featured sequin detail across the shoulders and down the sleeves – the perfect compliment to the glittering rock on her left hand. Newly engaged couple Ferne McCann and Lorri Haines ( … [Read more...] about Ferne McCann shows off stunning ring days after announcing engagement to Lorri Hanes

Denise Van Outen has gone Instagram official with her new beau, eight months after her heartbreaking split from her cheating ex fiance Eddie Boxshall . The Celebrity Gogglebox star, 48, went public with property developer Jimmy Barba at the 12th annual Grand Prix Ball on Wednesday (June 29) after the pair were reportedly set up by their mutual pal, All Saints singer Shaznay Lewis . Taking to social media the next morning, the mum-of-one was flooded with supportive comments from celebrity pals and fans as she introduced her new boyfriend to her 667,000 Instagram followers. In the collection of shots, Denise can be seen beaming alongside hunky Jimmy as they enjoyed the swanky bash amongst other pals and guests. Denise Van Outen is seemingly no longer a single lady ( Image: Instagram/ @vanouten_denise) The star has made things Instagram official with new beau Jimmy Barba ( Image: Instagram/ @vanouten_denise) The former West End star wowed in a … [Read more...] about Denise Van Outen goes Instagram official with new man in cute couple selfie

Stacey Solomon is set to return to Celebrity Gogglebox alongside fiancé Joe Swash . The couple - who will tie the knot in their Essex home later this month - have proven to be a huge hit on the celebrity edition of the hit Channel 4 series. Taking to social media yesterday (July 4), Stacey gave fans a glimpse into the show's upcoming episode, as she filmed in her living room. In the clip, 40-year-old Joe was seen sitting on the sofa alongside Stacey's dad Dave, who was looking after the couple's children. The Loose Women star, 32, went on to film the pair before displaying huge black out windows behind her dad. Stacey Solomon has given fans a glimpse into filming Celebrity Gogglebox The pair were joined by Stacey's dad Dave as they filmed Alongside the clip, Stacey wrote: "Now we are filming Gogglebox, they black it all out because it's too bright outside. "Grandad is on pickle watch but right now he's just eating our snacks." The Channel 4 show - … [Read more...] about Stacey Solomon shares sneak peak of Celebrity Gogglebox filming with fiancé Joe Swash

Published 21 May Share close Share page Copy link About sharing Related Topics Australia election 2022 Three years after a "miracle" victory, Scott Morrison's tenure as Australian Prime Minister and coalition leader is over. After his personal unpopularity dominated the campaign, Mr Morrison led his Liberal-National government to a significant election defeat in Saturday's general election. Mr Morrison kept his seat, but many of his party allies lost theirs. Speaking after calling rival Anthony Albanese to concede defeat, Mr Morrison said he accepted responsibility for the government's losses - and its wins - and would step down as leader. But Mr Morrison - nicknamed ScoMo - wasn't always considered a liability, building a reputation as a survivor and a shrewd political tactician before he ascended to the top job in 2018. Rise to the top The son of a police … [Read more...] about Australia election: What went wrong for Scott Morrison?