Man arrested after racially abusive messages sent to England star

A 59-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of malicious communications after racist and abusive messages were sent to England defender Jess Carter, police have confirmed.

The suspect, from Great Harwood, Lancashire, has been released under investigation.

Cheshire Police said that during the Uefa Women’s Euros in July they received reports that racist and abusive messages had been sent to Ms Carter.

The UK Football Policing Unit (UKFPU) launched an investigation with social media companies to identify who was responsible.

Officers from Lancashire Police on Thursday arrested the man on suspicion of malicious communications in relation to some of the messages.

Cheshire Constabulary Chief Constable Mark Roberts, the National Police Chief Council (NPCC) lead for football policing, said: “The messages directed towards Jess Carter were appalling, and I would like to commend her for standing up to this abuse and assisting with our investigation.

“Nobody should be subjected to such disgusting abuse, and I expect that today’s arrest will be the first of many over the coming months.

“We want to make it clear that racist abuse of this nature will not be tolerated. Everyone is responsible for what they do and say, and we want to ensure offenders cannot hide behind a social media profile to post vile comments.”

Ms Carter had admitted she was scared to play in the Euro 2025 final after suffering abuse and thanked her teammates for their support.

“The support I felt from the fans was incredible,” she said at the time. “I can’t thank them enough because without the fans, my team-mates and my family, I don’t know if I’d have every had the courage to back on the pitch and play again.

“I’m not normally someone who struggles with the hate they received because everyone is going to have their opinion. But this tournament has been tough and I wasn’t sure I’d be able to get back on the pitch and do me.”

The Lionesses stopped taking the knee following the abuse and called on authorities to “come together” and do more to prevent “online poison”.

Tour de France winner Chris Froome undergoes surgery after suffering serious injuries in crash

Chris Froome is undergoing surgery in France after a serious crash during training left him with a collapsed lung, broken ribs and a fractured spine.

The incident took place in Saint-Raphael, along the coast from Froome’s home in Monaco. Initial reports suggested he had collided with a car on the road, but his team Israel-Premier Tech made clear that no other vehicle was involved.

French newspaper L’Equipe reported that Froome was conscious on arrival at hospital in Toulon and able to speak to medical staff.

The injuries are likely to rule out the 40-year-old for the rest of the season and could even spell the end of his cycling career, with his contract due to expire at the end of the year.

Israel-Premier Tech said in a statement on Thursday: “Chris Froome was airlifted to hospital in Toulon yesterday afternoon following a serious training crash [no other cyclists or vehicles were involved].

“Fortunately, Chris is stable and did not sustain any head injuries, however, scans have confirmed a pneumothorax (collapsed lung), five broken ribs, and a lumbar vertebrae fracture, for which he will undergo surgery this afternoon. We will update on Chris’ condition following surgery.”

Froome is a four-time Tour de France champion and won seven grand tours in total with Ineos Grenadiers, previously known as Team Sky, in a period of dominance from 2011 to 2018. Only three riders in the history of men’s road cycling have won more of the sport’s iconic trio of stage races: French rider Jacques Anquetil won eight during the 1950s and 1960s; his compatriot Bernard Hinault won 10 between 1978 and 1985; and Belgian legend Eddy Merckx claimed 11 from 1968 to 1974.

But Froome has struggled since another crash in 2019 in which he hit a wall while travelling downhill at high speed during a reconnaissance ride at the Criterium du Dauphine, breaking his femur bone and sustaining fractures to his elbow, ribs and vertebrae. The incident caused him to miss eight months of racing and he did not return to the same level.

Froome was persuaded by Canadian-Israeli billionaire Sylvan Adams to join his new team in 2020, then known as Israel Start-Up Nation. They set an ambitious goal of delivering a fifth yellow jersey, recruiting a number of experienced support riders, but Froome has not made a significant mark on the general classification in any of his three grand tours with the team.

Team Sky’s legacy is currently under scrutiny after it emerged the International Testing Agency is investigating David Rozman, a team carer who worked closely with stars including Froome and Bradley Wiggins.

Rozman is alleged to have exchanged a series of messages with Mark Schmidt, a notorious German doctor who was convicted in 2021 of leading a sophisticated doping ring involving multiple cyclists and skiers.

Champions League draw: Latest updates as English clubs learn opponents

The draw for the league phase of the 2025/26 Champions League is underway in Monaco, with a record six Premier League clubs eager to find out their opponents for the second edition of the competition’s new league phase.

England’s top flight has six representatives in Europe’s top cup competition this year, with Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea having finished in the top four last season before Newcastle took a place from fifth thanks to England’s co-efficient ranking.

And it was Tottenham who completed the line-up with a victory in the all-English Europa League final, with each club now waiting to see their home and away fixtures across the opening eight games of the competition.

Top European clubs including Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and holders PSG will also be part of the draw, with the first round of fixtures taking place on 16/17 September.

Follow all the latest updates from Monaco below

Met Police volunteer officer found guilty of raping a child

A volunteer Metropolitan Police officer has been found guilty of raping and sexually assaulting a child.

James Bubb, who now identifies as a woman named Gwyn Samuels, groomed one of two victims online before sexually assaulting her when she was just 12 years old.

During a trial at Amersham Law Courts, jurors heard that the officer sexually assaulted the girl in public shortly before her 13th birthday.

The victim told police that the defendant choked and punched her.

On Thursday, in relation to one complainant, the officer was found guilty of one count of raping a child under 13, one count of sexual activity with a child, one count of assault of a child under 13 by penetration, and one count of assault by penetration.

The officer was found not guilty of one count of rape and one count of sexual activity with a child in relation to that complainant, and found guilty of one count of rape against another complainant.

All charges stemmed from incidents that took place between 1 January 2018 and 2 April 2024.

The defendant, who wore a black cardigan, glasses, and cream shirt, made no expression as the verdicts were read out but sobbed after the foreman finished speaking.

Judge Jonathan Cooper told jurors: “This has been a very challenging case, I’m sure, for you as individuals.”

The court heard the defendant met the first victim online in 2018 before meeting in person for the first time at a Christian festival a few months later.

The victim also said the defendant spoke “a lot about the powers he had” in their role with the Met as a special constable.

The court also heard the officer raped the second victim while the pair were in an on-off relationship between January 2018 and February 2023.

She said the defendant would “use police training techniques” on her, telling officers: “The control, the power he got. It sure as hell wasn’t consensual.”

The defendant, of High Street, Chesham, Buckinghamshire, will be sentenced at a date that the court has yet to set.

Carrie Johnson shares photos of new look Boris on family holiday

Carrie Johnson has shared a series of photos of her husband Boris Johnson and their four children enjoying a summer getaway in Greece.

Pictures show the former prime minister playing with his daughter Romy, who was born in 2021, near the seaside. He is sporting a new beard and has left behind his suits for casual beach clothes.

Captioned ‘Our favourite place’, other photos showed the mother-of-four tanning, eating out with friends and their three eldest children playing on the beach.

The couple welcomed their fourth child in May with a picture on Instagram of the former Conservative Party leader holding his baby daughter.

In the caption, Ms Johnson wrote: “Welcome to the world Poppy Eliza Josephine Johnson born on 21st May.

“I can’t believe how pretty and tiny you are. Feel so incredibly lucky. We are all totally smitten. Not sure I’ve slept a minute since you were born as can’t stop looking at how completely lovely you are.”

The couple were married in May 2021 at Westminster Cathedral and share three children, Wilfred, Romy and Frank, with Poppy joining as the “final gang member”.

Other pictures on Ms Johnson’s Instagram page show the family enjoying a trip to Italy in July, as well as celebrating birthdays and garden parties.

Mr Johnson, 60, also shares four children with his ex-wife, lawyer Marina Wheeler, and a child born in 2009 as a result of an affair with art consultant Helen Macintyre.

Succeeding Theresa May, Mr Johnson was prime minister from July 2019 until his resignation in September 2022.

Make the most of London this summer with this stadium experience

Whether you’re experiencing London for the first time or you’re a family with kids keen to create unforgettable memories during the holidays, a visit to this world-famous stadium in North London is a must.

After 90 years at their beloved Highbury stadium, Arsenal’s ambitions outgrew their original home and in 2006, the club opened the Emirates. With a seating capacity of over 60,000, the Emirates stadium is one of the largest in England. The sheer scale of this field of dreams must be seen to believed — and thanks to its easy-to-reach location, you can hop on a bus or train and get there in no time.

Once there, Arsenal’s award-winning tours open the doors to parts of the stadium that are usually off-limits to the public. For sightseers who prefer to go at their own pace and for those with little ones who tire easily, the club’s self-guided audio-visual tour is a great option.

Fans and families can take their time to soak in the atmosphere and stroll in the footsteps of footballing legends, imagining the roar of the crowd as you step into the players’ tunnel. Afterwards, feel the tension rise in the dugout and experience the best seats in the house in the directors’ box.

It’s a rare opportunity to glimpse the inner workings of a prestigious football club and explore normally restricted areas that also include the home and away dressing rooms, the media lounge and the exclusive members-only Diamond Club.

Available in seven languages on a state-of-the-art handheld device, the tour is narrated by Arsenal presenter David Frimpong, otherwise known as ‘Frimmy’, as well as featuring commentary from Arsenal legends Alex Scott and David Seaman.

As well as audio, the tour recreates the electric atmosphere of matchday using 360-degree augmented footage and includes brand new interactive elements. You can also take souvenir photos with iconic Arsenal trophies, including that of the UEFA Women’s Champions League.

The Arsenal Legend Stadium Tour is a more bespoke alternative to the self-guided tour, where visitors can explore the stadium for 90 minutes alongside an Arsenal hero. Tour guides include Nigel Winterburn and Perry Groves, as well as former women’s captain Faye White MBE.

During the tour, the Arsenal legend will share memories, anecdotes and behind-the-scenes stories from their time on the pitch, offering a unique insider’s perspective on life at the club. Expect plenty of humour, fascinating insights and a chance to hear back-room gossip straight from the legends themselves. There’s also a chance for a Q&A and photo opportunity with your Arsenal legend of choice.

Included with every tour ticket is entry into Arsenal’s interactive museum situated right next door to the stadium. Chart the club’s evolution from humble origins in Woolwich in 1886 to its modern powerhouse status with a global following of over 100 million fans.

The museum features two impressive video theatres, showing highlights from the club’s origins to the present day as well as twenty major displays of Arsenal’s proud history. Feast your eyes on silverware from the club’s most successful eras, Michael Thomas’s boots from Anfield 1989 and Jens Lehmann’s goalkeeper gloves worn for every league match of the unbeaten Invincibles season in 2003/4.

For lifelong Gooners, it’s a trip down memory lane. For families and tourists, it’s an eye-opening lesson in why football matters so much to the UK and is the perfect outing to experience London at its most authentic.

This content is brought to you by Living360, a digital lifestyle destination keeping you up to date with health and fitness, food and drink, homes and gardens, beauty, travel, finance trends and more.

Think Rylan is right about asylum-seekers? So does Tommy Robinson…

When the This Morning presenter Rylan Clark shared his thoughts about asylum seekers live on air, fingers in the ITV production studio will surely have been hovering nervously over the kill switch. Because what came out amounts to a tirade – I found his comment to be misinformed, exaggerated and, quite frankly, incorrect.

During a discussion about Nigel Farage’s hardline immigration plan unveiled this week, the former star of The X Factor star said it was “insane” that illegal migrants were being put up in hotels, and that there was “something wrong” in the way refugees are welcomed into the UK: “This is the narrative we’re being fed: Here’s the hotel, here’s the phones, here’s the iPad, here’s the NHS in reception of your hotel. Here’s three meals a day, here’s a games room in the hotel. Have a lovely time – and welcome…”

Barely pausing for breath, he added: “This isn’t me getting on my soapbox.” It wasn’t the only statement he made that was incorrect.

I watched with my jaw dropping as every new line came out of Rylan’s mouth. Let’s take them one by one and, in exposing the myths, show what kind of welcome migrants to the UK actually receive.

“Here’s the hotel…”? Asylum seekers who land on beaches in Kent are quickly taken to temporary accommodation with no choice as to where they stay.

“Here’s the phones…”? Asylum seekers are not routinely provided with phones by the Home Office, although sometimes charities give out reconditioned handsets to those who need to communicate with people back home, lawyers or refugee charities. But at no point is taxpayers’ money used to pay for phones.

“Here’s an iPad…”? Asylum seekers are not given iPads.

“Here’s the NHS in the reception of your hotel…”? Healthcare in Britain is free at the point of use and given to anyone who needs it. In that regard, asylum seekers are no different from the rest of us. We all have access to NHS healthcare and, like us, they will sit for hours in a waiting room before being seen and offered treatment. It is untrue to imply there are dedicated NHS services set up in the receptions of asylum hotels.

And surely the issue here isn’t that refugees have access to free healthcare, it’s that the NHS is underfunded. We need to stop blaming asylum-seekers for this.

But it was when Rylan said: “I find it absolutely insane that all these people are risking their lives coming across the Channel like they are,” that I realised what he really meant: he thinks asylum seekers choose to risk their lives, and the lives of their children, to come to the UK. You only have to think of Alan Kurdi, the two-year-old who made international headlines a decade ago, after his body was found face down on a Turkish beach after trying to escape war in Syria, to know that crossing the Channel for the chance of a better life in Britain is no choice at all.

The one thing Rylan said that was right was: “I believe something major needs to be done about this.” I agree, given the un-welcome that awaits refugees seeking asylum – in part, a hangover from when Theresa May instigated the Home Office’s “hostile environment policy” aimed at making the UK a more difficult place for illegal immigrants – and the lack of an adequate plan to house them.

And while Rylan claims the rise in immigration is costing taxpayers money, what he may not be aware of is the billions that the privatisation of refugee accommodation is making for three Home Office contractors. In 2019, Clearsprings, Mears and Serco were invited by the Conservative government to handle all asylum-housing needs; a report published in May said that between September 2019 and August 2024, they made a combined profit of £383m.

It is lazy to go on national TV and say things that aren’t fact-checked. It is misinformation – and scare-mongering. Unfortunately, many people will believe what Rylan has said. After coming in for criticism for his diatribe, Rylan defended his remarks, saying: “You can be pro-immigration and against illegal routes.”

But when you provoke a social media storm and Tommy Robinson comes out in your support, saying: “Rylan speaking the most common sense ever spoken on ITV’s ‘This Morning’”, maybe it’s time to hit that kill switch after all.

My son’s lucrative summer jobs are a warning sign for British industry

Our son has had a good summer. Back from university, he’s been flat out working as a waiter and behind the bar. His employer is an agency that supplies staff to events. It suits him down to the ground; some days he has a shift, others he doesn’t. He’s making good money. It’s the gig economy, and he’s on a zero-hours contract.

Except he’s not only been doing parties and weddings. He’s also been filling in at restaurants. Slots that might once have been taken by a staffer are now not. He is doing very well out of businesses that are not hiring permanent workers.

His experience is being repeated everywhere – more and more people are being taken on temporarily. He is a student, and has Rachel Reeves’ hiking of employers’ national insurance and the national living wage to thank for his good fortune. Others are not so lucky. They want proper jobs with career paths, and they cannot get them. They have next to no chance of renting, let alone saving to buy a home, and are stuck.

Conditions are worsening, not improving. Research from the Resolution Foundation suggests unemployment will hit 5 per cent for the three months to August, up from 4.7 per cent in the second quarter. “Unemployment has not yet peaked,” said Gregory Thwaites, research director at the think tank. “The ongoing loosening of the labour market appears to be taking the form of a hiring freeze rather than a firing spree, but this is still bad news for jobseekers as vacancies look set to continue being scarce.”

They based their study on a range of indicators, looking at vacancies, wages, company surveys, and jobless benefit claims. The official ONS data says otherwise, that employment is up over the past year. The Resolution Foundation analysis says no, pointing to a level below where it was on the eve of the pandemic.

To complicate matters, pay has been rising. Presumably, what that really means is that if you’re blessed to be in work, your earnings are up, keeping in line with inflation and the rising cost of living, and possibly, having to go that bit further to cover for those who are not being permanently hired.

Which is to be believed, ONS or Resolution? The former gives Reeves and Sir Keir Starmer reasons for boosterism, for insisting their “further and faster” approach is having an effect. The latter, plus anecdotal evidence such as our son’s, is telling a different story. As Thwaites describes: “It worryingly indicates that economic inactivity has been on an upward trajectory.”

Has been and is. Starmer promised in his election campaign to “Get Britain working”. Yet, the new Department of Work and Pensions tally for those receiving some form of worklessness welfare – incapacity benefit, unemployment support and Universal Credit – stands at 6.5 million, a rise of 500,000 since Labour took office. It is well ahead of the previous peak of 5.9 million reached during the pandemic.

The government maintains that this is misleading, that what it highlights is a welfare system that is not fit-for-purpose and needs reforming. There may be some truth in that, but it ignores the bigger picture, which is increasingly bleak.

More signs: the latest statistics for NEETs – those 16- to 24-year-olds not in education, employment or training – continue to push upwards to just short of one million. The general secretary of the TUC, Paul Nowak, blames the “Tory legacy” of low pay and deregulation. He wishes to see additional state support in “a comprehensive plan to ensure all young people across the country can access high-quality training and decent, well-paid work as well as timely and effective healthcare”.

Where is his “decent, well-paid work” if the response from employers to higher national insurance contributions and the increased living wage is not to employ at all?

The housing market is almost lifeless; in flats, it is virtually non-existent. Britain has stopped moving.

This week, the cost of UK public borrowing also climbed to an almost 27-year high, forcing up the cost of servicing government debt to more than £100bn a year, or almost 10 per cent of the annual budget.

Repeatedly, the talk is that Reeves may soon have to go cap-in-hand to the IMF for a bailout. While that seems fanciful at this stage and is confined to her opponents rubbing salt in, the direction the economy is heading is troubling.

Whatever Reeves and Starmer set out to do simply isn’t happening. Contrary to what they pledged, their policies – and Britain – are not working.