News 22/07/25

England are through to the final of the Women’s Euros after a dramatic 2-1 comeback win over Italy in extra time.

The Lionesses looked to be heading out of the tournament as they trailed 1-0 with less than a minute to play. But 19-year-old Michelle Agyemang kept England’s hopes alive, firing home a brilliant equaliser in the sixth minute of stoppage time.

With penalties looming, Chloe Kelly sealed the win, reacting quickest to a saved spot kick and tapping in from close range in the 119th minute.

The result sends England into the final in sensational fashion.

Coca-Cola is set to launch a US version of its classic drink made with cane sugar, just days after Donald Trump claimed he’d spoken with the company about the idea.

Coke has used high-fructose corn syrup in the States since the 1980s to cut costs, while cane sugar remains the norm in Mexico. The US president, a known fan of Coke and Diet Coke, posted on Truth Social that the company had agreed to bring back “REAL Cane Sugar” in its American recipe.

Over £14,000 has been raised to honour Windsor’s most famous feline, Dexter Windsor, who died last week in a road accident aged 13.

A local favourite, Dexter was known for his daily solo walks into town, often popping into shops and even cafés. His owner, Kirsty Jarvis, launched a fund to erect a life-sized statue in his memory, describing herself as his “extremely lucky human.” Dexter’s adventures turned him into a beloved local celebrity.

Heavy metal legend Ozzy Osbourne has died, just weeks after taking to the stage for what would be his final farewell concert.

The 76-year-old performed at Villa Park in Birmingham less than three weeks ago, reuniting with his Black Sabbath bandmates for a show billed as his “final bow” — joined by acts like Metallica and Guns N’ Roses.

In a statement, his family said, “It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love.”

At the concert, Osbourne told fans, “You’ve no idea how I feel – thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

A five-day strike by resident doctors in England will go ahead on Friday, the British Medical Association has confirmed.

Hopes of a resolution were raised during talks with te government, aimed at improving working conditions and pay. Health Secretary Wes Streeting had asked the BMA to postpone the strike to continue negotiations, but the union said the offer fell short and fair pay remains their core issue.

Ghislaine Maxwell is expected to meet with US prosecutors as part of ongoing efforts to uncover more about Jeffrey Epstein’s criminal network.

The Justice Department says it plans to ask Maxwell directly what she knows. Her legal team says she’ll testify truthfully. Pressure to release more files in the Epstein case is mounting, particularly from Donald Trump supporters. However, House Speaker Mike Johnson says no vote will be held before September.

UK households are set to spend an extra £275 on food and drink this year, as grocery prices continue to climb.

New data shows prices rose 5.2% compared to last year, pushing many to opt for supermarket own-brands or cut back on meal ingredients. Analysts say the surge mirrors the post-Ukraine invasion price spikes. Shoppers are now rethinking what they put on the table just to stay within budget.

A man who murdered his wife in front of their baby son has been jailed for life.

Kulsuma Akter, 27, was pushing their seven-month-old child in a pram through Bradford city centre when she was stabbed 26 times by her estranged husband, Habibur Masum. The child was unharmed. Masum, of Burnley, was found guilty last month and sentenced today to a minimum of 28 years behind bars. The judge described the attack as vicious and merciless.

Investigators remain baffled by the crash of Air India Flight 171, which killed 260 people in June.

A preliminary report has revealed that both fuel-control switches on the Boeing 787 were moved to “cut-off” seconds after take-off, shutting down both engines. The move, usually performed after landing, has led to growing speculation about the cause. A cockpit voice recording captures one pilot asking the other why he did it, to which the response was simply, “I didn’t.” Who said what remains unclear.

Kemi Badenoch has started reshaping her shadow cabinet.

Sir James Cleverly will now shadow Angela Rayner on housing and local government, but notably won’t take the shadow deputy PM role. Kevin Hollinrake becomes Tory chair, overseeing party operations and campaigning. Stuart Andrew moves to shadow health secretary after Ed Argar resigned due to ill health. Nigel Huddleston takes over the culture brief, having previously served as a minister in the department.

A nine-year-old girl was shot in the head during a gang-related shooting in Hackney, east London, a court has heard.

Gunmen on a motorbike fired six shots at rival gang members outside a packed restaurant, hitting three men and striking the girl in the head as she sat with her family. The bullet remains lodged in her brain. All four survived. CCTV footage of the incident was shown to the Old Bailey and described as distressing.

A retired City worker has been found guilty of offering to spy for Russia.

Howard Phillips, 65, from Essex, approached undercover MI5 officers posing as Russian agents after burning through his savings. He handed over the personal details of then-defence secretary Grant Shapps and said he wanted to avoid returning to a “nine-to-five office” job. Phillips was convicted under the National Security Act for assisting what he believed to be Russian intelligence.

Government borrowing last month rose far more than expected, driven by a sharp increase in debt interest payments.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics show the government borrowed just over £20.6 billion in June – the second-highest level for the month since records began in 1993.

The rise was fuelled by higher spending on public services and interest on existing debt, which outpaced the growth in tax income from sources like income tax and national insurance.

Only June 2020, during the height of the pandemic and furlough scheme, saw higher levels of borrowing.

The government has given the final go-ahead for a £38bn nuclear power plant in eastern England.

The Sizewell C project in Suffolk will be jointly funded by Canadian pension fund La Caisse, UK energy firm Centrica and Amber Infrastructure.

The Department for Energy Security & Net Zero (DESNZ) said Sizewell C will deliver clean power for the equivalent of six million homes, as well as support 10,000 jobs and create 1,500 apprenticeships once it is operational, which is expected to be in the 2030s.

The government will be the largest shareholder in the project with a 44.9% stake. La Caisse will hold a 20% stake, Centrica 15% and Amber Infrastructure will take an initial 7.6%.

James Cleverly is set to return to frontline politics, with reports suggesting he’s agreed to join Kemi Badenoch’s shadow cabinet.

It’s part of a wider reshuffle by the new Conservative leader — her first since taking the job — as MPs prepare to head off for the summer recess.

Cleverly, once seen as a strong contender for the leadership himself, held senior roles including home and foreign secretary in previous governments.

Buckingham Palace courtiers privately lobbied ministers over the future of the Royal Yacht Britannia, according to newly released official files.

By 1993, the vessel was nearing the end of its service, but John Major’s government had yet to decide whether to fund a replacement, which would have cost around £50 million.

Although the Queen was widely believed to support a new yacht, the Royal Family had to avoid any public perception of political interference.

However, documents released by the National Archives show that senior palace officials approached Downing Street to ask if the Prime Minister would highlight Britannia’s “inestimable value” during a statement in the Commons.

The UK and 27 other nations have issued a joint call for an immediate end to the war in Gaza, warning that civilian suffering has “reached new depths”.

Their statement criticises Israel’s aid delivery model, calling it dangerous, and condemns what they describe as the “drip feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians” trying to access food and water.

Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry claims more than 100 Palestinians were shot dead by Israeli forces while queueing for food over the weekend, with a further 19 said to have died from malnutrition.

Israel’s foreign ministry has dismissed the statement, calling it “disconnected from reality” and warning it sends the wrong message to Hamas.