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For football fans, the international break can be an inconvenience. Many do not look forward to it, as it breaks up the competitive football leagues like the Premier League can often offer. In fact, the break might not be welcomed all that much by many parties. Clubs in the league might find it inconvenient. Broadcasters may also find it a little more of a hindrance. Indeed, there has been a great debate about them, with few favouring them. Why May Premier League Clubs Not Enjoy the International Break? Clubs in the Premier League may not like the international breaks that happen in the early stages of the season for several reasons. The placement of these breaks in September, October, and November can break up any momentum that may have been achieved between each one. The disruption to the rhythm that may have been accomplished can be difficult to find after a break. Player injuries can also happen and impact a club’s season in its entirety. Those teams that have been struggling and are among the favourites in the latest Premier League relegation odds can ill afford season-ending injuries or even knocks that force a player to spend time on the sidelines. They will need their best players available to escape the drop. Broadcasters May Find Themselves Impacted By the International Break As mentioned, many football fans don’t enjoy the international break. Many only like the major competitions, which typically happen in the summer. The games played during these months are usually considered nothing more than friendlies or exhibition matches, despite forming part of the Nations League or qualifiers for a major competition. Broadcasters may start to suffer because of the lack of interest. Some broadcasters may not have the rights to showcase the main game of their country, which can mean they miss out on viewers. With fewer viewers, they are unlikely to generate as much money as they may when broadcasting matches from leagues as big as the Premier League. Fans May Also Miss Out During the International Break Going to the football on the weekend or a weekday evening can be an experience that many around the UK share. It’s a part of their norm. Often, it can be an activity that they enjoy with loved ones, spending time enjoying something together that they are passionate about. The international break can disrupt things for those who attend Premier League or Championship matches. Call-ups of their players mean games can be postponed, rescheduled, or simply not played for almost two weeks. It can stop many other activities that are enjoyed as part of the matchday culture, too. We know that football is one of the most popular sports to follow, and so bookmakers will often offer other markets during this period, allowing people to view things like virtual horse racing results after placing bets. The break can also reduce fan engagement, as they may feel they have less to discuss because of the perceived lack of competitiveness these fixtures often have. Will the International Breaks Ever be Enjoyed? There aren’t many arguments that can be made about the potential success of the international break. Wherever you look, many negatives can be made about them, and you’d have to think the players probably don’t enjoy them all that much, either. With footballers being asked to play more and more matches each year, perhaps the international breaks are where games can be reduced from the schedule in the future. Of course, this could create an issue regarding the biggest tournaments, but nobody seems to like how things are now. Published: 22/10/2024 by Radio NewsHub

The 34 year old went missing from her home in Malton, North Yorkshire on 30th September Police searching for missing mother Victoria Taylor have found a body in the River Derwent, close to where she was last seen. Ms Taylor, 34, disappeared from her home in Malton, North Yorkshire, on September 30. Just over a week after her disappearance police said there was a “significant possibility” she had entered the river after recovering CCTV footage of her walking towards a play park near the water’s edge. A number of her possessions were also found in that area. Searches have been taking place on the river since Ms Taylor was reported missing on October 1, including the use of divers and specialist sonar equipment. Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Wayne Fox of North Yorkshire Police said a body had been recovered at 11.45am this morning by underwater search teams, close to the area where Ms Taylor’s possessions were found. Speaking at a press conference at Fulford Police Station in York, Mr Fox said formal identification had not yet taken place but Ms Taylor’s family had been informed and were “understandably distressed”. Published: 22/10/2024 by Radio NewsHub

The 37 year old, who’s the daughter of ex-footballer Paul Gascoigne, says it happened while she was working at Harrods Reality TV star and model Bianca Gascoigne has spoken of how former Harrods boss Mohamed Al Fayed subjected her to an alleged “horrific” sexual assault. Speaking to Sky News, Ms Gascoigne, 37, the daughter of ex-footballer Paul Gascoigne, said the thought of bringing “embarrassment and shame” prevented her from speaking out sooner. Her words came after the department store said more than 250 people are part of its process to settle compensation claims over alleged historic sexual misconduct by Mr Al Fayed. The Met asked prosecutors to decide whether to charge the former Harrods and Fulham FC owner in relation to only two out of 21 women who made allegations, including of rape and sexual assault, between 2005 and 2023. Evidence was shown to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in 2009 and 2015, but it decided not to go ahead with either because there was not “a realistic prospect of conviction”. Addressing her time working at Harrods, Ms Gascoigne said: “He (Mr Al Fayed) used to tell me how much of a bad father my dad was, because he used to come into the store drunk. “He used to tell me that he (Gascoigne) was an embarrassment, that I should look to him as a father figure. “I just felt a false sense of security with him early doors, because I used to go into the store with my mum and dad, and he used to come over, be very charming, bring us gifts, very personable. “So I literally felt quite safe in his presence early doors.” Ms Gascoigne told Sky News that Mr Al Fayed had offered her the opportunity to stay in the Harrods Park Lane apartment before a work flight. She told the broadcaster: “He turned up at the apartment, to my shock. I just couldn’t believe it. “I was just gobsmacked. I was kind of very shell-shocked, that I just didn’t really know what to do. “He came in, and then he sat me down on the sofa and was obviously very forceful with the touching and the kissing. “He got his private out and got my hand and was trying to manoeuvre it on his parts, and when that didn’t work, he was trying to force my head on his lap. “I don’t know how but I managed to wiggle away.” Ms Gascoigne continued: “I think possibly that him knowing my parents… I don’t know, that might have saved me at that moment, but it was horrific. “Obviously, I loved my job, because it was exactly what I wanted to do – that was my dream. “He was doing all these things to me and I was close to people that he knew, and I felt like I couldn’t even tell them either because I didn’t want to bring embarrassment and shame.” Explaining why she had not spoken out about Mr Al Fayed sooner, Ms Gascoigne said: “I was just trying to deal with what I was dealing with, what was going on, because it was just so horrific – and I just didn’t want to lose my job at that point. “He told me that if I would say anything that I would lose my job. “So I just really got scared. “I look back now and just feel very sorry for my 16-year-old self, and wish I could protect her. “I feel like I have to do this, I want to do this, and I want to stand for the women and just hopefully make any kind of change (so) that in the future, my daughter wouldn’t have to go through something like this. “It would be spoken about, and these predators wouldn’t be able to get away with what they’re getting away with.” Mr Al Fayed acquired Harrods for £615 million in 1985. In 2010, after 26 years in charge, he sold the department store to the Qatari royal family for a reported £1.5 billion. Mr Al Fayed died in 2023, aged 94. Published: 22/10/2024 by Radio NewsHub

Around 1,100 inmates are being released in the latest attempt to free up prison space The Prime Minister “shares the public’s anger” at images of prisoners being released early, including one who said “big up Keir Starmer”. Around 1,100 inmates are due to be freed in a second wave of early releases under the Government’s policy to free up prison space. Inmate Daniel Dowling-Brooks said “big up Keir Starmer” as he celebrated his release with his friends, mother and sister, who picked him up in a convoy of a white Bentley and black Mercedes G-Wagon outside HMP Swaleside in Kent. The 29-year-old told reporters he had been in prison for seven years for kidnap and grievous bodily harm of someone who owed money to his friend, and was leaving jail seven weeks earlier than planned. He said the first thing he would do is “go to McDonald’s, go to my hostel and follow all the rules”. Also at HMP Swaleside, an inmate was reunited with his children who ran and hugged him outside, while another prisoner was welcomed with an embrace as he was picked up in a black Rolls-Royce by a group of men in matching hoodies. A number of men could be seen walking down the road with bin bags slung over their shoulders, one also shaking hands with a security guard, leaving the prison estates on the Isle of Sheppey, which is home to HMP Swaleside, HMP Standford Hill and HMP Elmley. At HMP Manchester, known locally as Strangeways, around a dozen prisoners emerged from behind the giant steel doors of the Victorian-era prison. None wanted to speak directly to media and many wore face masks or covered their faces with white release papers as they quickly headed for waiting family and friends. One man would only say he had been released nine months early from his sentence of seven and a half years thanks to the new scheme. It was not clear whether others were being released early or after serving their time. Sir Keir’s official spokesman said: “The Prime Minister shares the public’s anger at these scenes and thinks it is shocking that any government should ever inherit the crisis that this government has when it comes to our prisons. “But just to be clear, there was no choice not to act. If we had not acted, we would have faced a complete paralysis of the system.” He said this marks the “second and final” release of prisoners under the Government’s scheme. Asked if there could be another scheme for future early releases, he said the focus would move to reforms to sentencing and building prisons to create more spaces. The Government plans to increase the maximum period eligible offenders can spend under house arrest from six months to 12 months, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood told MPs in the House of Commons. She also said she would also address the soaring number of recalls – the return to prison of those released on licence or parole who break probation rules. “Later this month, I intend to review the risk-assessed recall review process so that lower risk cases can be considered for re-release after they have been recalled to prison for two to three months, where their further detention is no longer necessary to protect the public.” The Government will also “accelerate” the deportation of foreign nationals, as opposed to imprisoning them in the UK, she said. Ms Mahmood has launched a review into sentencing that will look at handing out more punishments to offenders outside prison. The review aims to explore tougher punishments outside prison while making sure there is space to incarcerate the most dangerous offenders. “We have to expand the use of punishment outside prison, and I’m very clear that that has to maintain the confidence of the public,” she earlier told BBC Radio 4’s Today. “People still have to know that you are being punished for breaking the laws of our land, even if you’re not serving time in custody. “There are real consequences, that you really feel the loss of your liberty still.” Tags are already being used to supervise and monitor offenders serving sentences outside prison but the review will consider bringing in emerging technologies used in other countries, she said. Asked if she was taking a new approach and wanted fewer people incarcerated in Britain, she said that the rate of increase is such that “nobody can keep up with demand”. The prison population is increasing by 4,500 every year and the Government has committed to creating 14,000 additional prison spaces. David Gauke, the former justice secretary who has argued that there is a strong case for abolishing most jail terms of six months or under, will chair the review panel. He wrote that the “capacity crisis in our prisons has meant that, at the very least, we have no choice but to pause the increase in the prison population”, in an article in the New Statesman on Tuesday. As part of the review, the Government will looking to foreign jurisdictions for ideas, such as in Texas where authorities have used good behaviour credits. Punishments outside prison could involve using wristwatches or apps that “nudge” offenders to ask if they have complied with licence conditions, in addition to sobriety tags or home detention curfews. Community alternatives and fines instead of prison time will also be examined, as will the impact of short custodial sentences. The review will also consider whether more can be done to tackle prolific offending and crimes committed against women and girls by drawing up sentences that reflect the severity of the act. Ms Mahmood announced plans in July to temporarily reduce how much of their sentences inmates must serve behind bars from 50% to 40% as the Ministry of Justice said overcrowding had pushed jails to the “point of collapse”. The first release of around 1,700 prisoners from jails across England and Wales started on September 10. The latest tranche has expanded eligibility to

There have been some outstanding Scottish-bred horses over the years. A few examples include Two Thousand Guineas winner Macgregor and Derby winner Thormanby. In recent years, one stable has produced over 1000 winners and could now be yours as it goes up for sale. We discuss the legendary Scottish stables available to purchase in the article below. Stables in South Lanarkshire Now empty, Belstane Racing Stables are situated in Carluke, South Lanarkshire. Extending for just under 19 acres, the property also includes Belstane Farmhouse. However, for those who want to get into the business of opening winning stables, it also comes with a range of items ready to get you started: Staff accommodation for over 100 horses, indoor and outdoor riding arenas and gallops, two motorised horse exercisers and offices. All for the princely sum of £750,000. The Former Home of Keith Dalgleish The stables are well known to have been the home of trainer Keith Dalgleish. He took over Belstane in 2011 and in his first year had 39 winners. In every season since then, he has been averaging around 50 winners a season with a whopping 86 in 2017. Some of his most famous horses and their wins were Summer Daydream. In 2018 the horse managed to win the Two-Year-Old Trophy at Redcar. Another of these was Clem Fandango. It placed in the Group Two Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2016 and then won the Listed Harry Rosebery Stakes at Ayr. In 2023 Dalgleish sent shockwaves across the racing world by announcing his retirement, still in his prime as a trainer. He said this was to spend more time with his family and that he wanted to do other things for a while. This alarmed many who were concerned about the declining number of British trainers in horse racing. The face of racehorse ownership and training has changed dramatically in the last five years, with new ways for fans to invest and modern revenue streams available for stable owners and trainers. One popular method is through online syndicacy, which allows people to purchase shares in a racehorse for a relatively low entry point. Websites and applications let shareholders track the horse’s progress and they even get a share of the winning if a horse romps home. Whoever takes over the stables must consider this modern approach to survive with so much competition from France and Ireland. Famous Scottish Racehorses Only two Scottish-trained horses have won the fabled Grand National: Rubstic and One For Arthur. The latter was the most recent in 2017. Owned by Belinda McClung and Deborah Thomson, he was fifth favourite at 14/1. Taking the lead at the final two fences, he came out to beat Cause of Causes. Despite only a few winners at the Grand National, horses born, bred and trained in the country are aplenty. The most recent of these has to be Corach Rambler. In 2023 the horse managed to land a second successive win in the Ultima Handicap Chase. Another Scottish horse that always did well was the Alan King-trained Voy Por Ustedes, which recorded over 16 wins at Cheltenham in some of its most famous races. Horse training is an intense job that requires a lot of skill and capital. However, if you are thinking of setting up shop in Scotland there is probably no better place to start than a stable once owned by the cream of the crop when it comes to Scottish horse racing. Published: 22/10/2024 by Radio NewsHub

But it will be a scaled-down version featuring 10 sports Glasgow has been chosen to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games, it has been officially confirmed. The Games will take place from July 23 to August 2, the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) has announced. Glasgow 2026 will feature a 10-sport programme across four venues within an eight-mile corridor, with more than 500,000 tickets made available for spectators. Around 3,000 athletes are expected to compete from up to 74 Commonwealth nations and territories representing a combined total of 2.5 billion people – a third of the world’s entire population. Para sport will once again be fully integrated as a key priority for the Games, with six Para sports included on the programme. The four venues confirmed to host events are Scotstoun Stadium, Tollcross International Swimming Centre, Emirates Arena and the Scottish Event Campus. The Glasgow 2026 Games is estimated to deliver more than £100 million of inward investment into the city. CGF CEO Katie Sadleir said: “On behalf of the entire Commonwealth Sport Movement, we are delighted to officially confirm that the 2026 Commonwealth Games will take place in the host city of Glasgow. “The Games promise to be a truly immersive festival of sport and celebration of culture and diversity that inspires athletes and sports – with a fan experience more accessible than ever before. “The 2026 Games will be a bridge to the Commonwealth Games of tomorrow – an exciting first step in our journey to reset and redefine the Games as a truly collaborative, flexible and sustainable model for the future that minimises costs, reduces the environmental footprint, and enhances social impact – in doing so increasing the scope of countries capable of hosting. “With the reassuring legacy of Glasgow 2014 providing existing sporting, transport and accommodation infrastructure, and world-class venues and expertise, we look forward to working with the Glasgow team to deliver a very special Commonwealth Games in 2026.” Commonwealth Games Scotland chief executive Jon Doig said: “We’re absolutely delighted to have secured Glasgow as hosts of the 2026 Commonwealth Games. “Glasgow 2026 will have all the drama, passion and joy that we know the Commonwealth Games delivers even if it is to be lighter and leaner than some previous editions. It will be more accessible, delivered on a smaller footprint which brings our fans closer to the sporting action. “The Commonwealth Games has a special place in the hearts of athletes around the globe, and we’re really looking forward to welcoming them, their support staff and fans from all four corners of the Commonwealth to experience the famous Scottish and Glasgow hospitality. It is an exciting moment for the city and the country.” Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney said: “The Commonwealth Games is a hugely important event for Scottish sport and an exciting opportunity for the people of Scotland. “As well as an action-packed, inclusive sports programme that will inspire and excite audiences across the globe – Glasgow 2026 will also be a cultural celebration. “I would like to thank Commonwealth Games Scotland for their hard work and dedication to produce a viable proposal for Glasgow 2026 – and to the Commonwealth Games Federation and Commonwealth Games Australia for their assistance in helping to secure the Games.” Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said: “It’s fantastic news that the Commonwealth Games Federation has formally confirmed Glasgow as the host city of the 2026 Commonwealth Games. “This is good news for the Commonwealth Games and yet another opportunity for Glasgow and Scotland to demonstrate their ability to put on world class sporting events.” UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: “We’re thrilled to welcome the Commonwealth Games back to Glasgow for 2026, where Scotland’s renowned hospitality and unwavering passion for sport will once again light up the city on the world stage. “The UK Government has long supported the Games, and we’re proud to have played our part in making Glasgow 2026 a reality, backing the Scottish Government, Commonwealth Games Scotland and the Commonwealth Games Federation to deliver a world-class event. “Together, we are dedicated to creating an unforgettable Games that will inspire athletes, fans and communities across the country for generations.” Glasgow City Council leader Susan Aitken said: “The 2026 Games are an opportunity to set out a new blueprint for the future of sustainable, accessible Commonwealth sport – and it should come as no surprise that the organisers believe Glasgow is the place they can make that happen. “Our city has a track record that is second to none when it comes to staging major events – and, in particular, working with organisers to make sure new competitions and formats get off to the best possible start. “Glasgow benefited greatly from hosting the Games in 2014 and officials have shared expertise and experience with both Commonwealth Games Scotland and the Commonwealth Games Federation as they have developed their plans for 2026. “These Games will be, by design, different from those the Glasgow hosted a decade ago – but the city will play its part in helping make them a success on their own terms.” Published: 22/10/2024 by Radio NewsHub

He was fatally shot by a police firearms officer, who was cleared of murder yesterday Chris Kaba was a “core member” of one of London’s most dangerous criminal gangs and was allegedly directly linked to two shootings in the six days before he was shot dead by police, it can now be reported. The 24-year-old was said to have shot a rival in the legs at a nightclub six days before he died in September 2022, and would have stood trial for attempted murder had he survived. He was also found to have gunshot residue on his sleeve and a balaclava in his pocket on the night he was killed by a police marksman, which it was suggested was evidence he had been involved in a second shooting the previous night. He had previous convictions for possession of weapons, and the Audi that he was driving when he was killed was linked to three previous firearms incidents in five months. Details of his criminal background can now be revealed after Mr Justice Goss lifted reporting restrictions at the Old Bailey on Tuesday. Police marksman Martyn Blake, 40, was cleared of Mr Kaba’s murder at the same court on Monday. He shot the 24-year-old through the windscreen of an Audi Q8 as the 24-year-old tried to ram his way past police cars on September 5 2022. An application had been made by Mr Kaba’s mother Helen Lumuanganu to keep a ban on revealing the details in place until after any future inquest into her son’s death. But this was rejected after the media successfully challenged the bid. In a letter to the court, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stuart Cundy had argued that “open and transparent public disclosure” of Mr Kaba’s bad character would “significantly reduce the risk of unrest on the streets of London and keep the public safe”. Police officers did not know who was driving the Audi on the night Mr Kaba died, but they did know it had been used as a getaway car in a shooting in Brixton, south London, the night before. It was also linked to the Hackney nightclub shooting for which Mr Kaba would have stood trial for attempted murder. The prosecution case was that he had gunned down a key figure in a rival gang after spotting him at the Oval Space nightclub in Hackney, north London, early on August 30 2022. Footage allegedly shows him firing the gun in the crowded club and again taking aim at his victim outside, before Brandon Malutshi, a member of the rival 17 gang, collapses to the ground. Before Mr Blake’s trial began, his defence team had argued that the full background should be put before the jury, because the nightclub shooting explained why Mr Kaba wanted to escape police. Patrick Gibbs KC said Mr Kaba had been intent on getting away “at any costs no matter the danger to another person”. Neither the 24-year-old rapper’s gang history nor criminal record was revealed in the trial of firearms officer sergeant Mr Blake after a senior judge ruled it had no bearing on the issues for jurors to decide. Anger has been sparked on all sides following Mr Blake’s acquittal in just over three hours by a jury at the Old Bailey on Monday. Mr Kaba’s family said they are “devastated” at the verdict, and have vowed to keep on fighting for justice for their son. Police figures have questioned why the case was ever brought to court, with colleagues said to “remain astonished” that Mr Blake ever faced charges. A fellow firearms officer who was at the scene on the night Mr Kaba died told Radio 4’s Today programme “at no point was there any evidence that (Mr Blake) had done anything wrong”. The former marksman called for police officers who take fatal shots to face court martial-style hearings rather than jury trials, adding: “There’s a problem when police officers are scrutinised by people who don’t necessarily understand the pressures and the issues involved.” Mr Blake will be immediately reinstated to his job but will need to undergo refresher training before being deployed operationally. Watchdog the Independent Office for Police Conduct will decide whether he should face disciplinary proceedings. Before the jury delivered its verdict on Monday, it had sent a note to Mr Justice Goss asking for permission also to pass comment, which was denied. Following speculation about what the jury might have said, the media, supported by a lawyer for Mr Kaba’s family, asked the senior judge to release the note. Mr Justice Goss refused. Published: 22/10/2024 by Radio NewsHub

15 people are injured A passenger has died following a collision between two trains in Wales, the PA news agency understands. British Transport Police (BTP) said a further 15 people were taken to hospital following the incident near Llanbrynmair in Powys shortly before 7pm on Monday night. Their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening or life-changing. All remaining passengers were evacuated from the trains, which were operated by Transport for Wales (TfW). Network Rail and TfW said in a joint statement it was a “low-speed collision”. Both trains remained on the tracks. BTP Superintendent Andrew Morgan said: “We can sadly confirm a man has died following (the) incident. “We extend our deepest sympathies to his loved ones, alongside everyone else impacted and specialist officers continue to provide support.” The dead man’s next of kin have been informed. Mr Morgan said BTP is working with emergency services and the rail industry “to understand the circumstances leading up to this collision”. He added: “Residents will see an increased policing presence in the area in the coming days as a result.” The trains involved were the 6.31pm service from Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth and the 7.09pm service from Machynlleth to Shrewsbury. Network Rail and TfW said: “Our first thoughts are with the family and loved ones of the man who has lost his life, as well as all the other people involved in this incident. “We’re extremely grateful to the emergency services who attended the scene and helped our passengers and staff in challenging circumstances. “We are working closely with other agencies, including emergency services, to understand how this incident happened and they will have our full support.” They said the Cambrian railway east of Machynlleth will remain closed while specialist teams investigate the collision. Multiple emergency services, including the Welsh Ambulance Service, Mid and West Wales Fire Service, Dyfed Powys Police and the HM Coastguard, have been working alongside railway staff at the scene. First Minister of Wales Eluned Morgan said: “My thoughts are with all those involved in the rail incident in Powys (on Monday). “I would like to thank the emergency services for their response and have asked to be kept informed of any developments throughout the night.” Anthony Hurford, a witness travelling to Shrewsbury, told BBC Breakfast: “The word that keeps coming to my head is just brutal really. Just going from, I don’t know how fast we were going, maybe 40, 50, 60 miles an hour, to nothing in the blink of an eye. “Somehow my body bent the leg of a table and ripped it off its bolts attached to the wall. Suddenly I was on the floor with my laptop strewn ahead of me wondering what the hell had happened. “We tried to stop at the lights. At the top of the hill there’s a signal that I guess would’ve been a passing place and for whatever reason the train wouldn’t stop. “There must’ve been 30/40 people from fire (service), there was British Transport Police who had come from Birmingham, there were three helicopters, people had come from north and south Wales as far as I’m aware. I was checked by three or four different medics.” Leaves cause major disruption every autumn when they stick to damp rails and become compressed by train wheels. This creates a smooth, slippery layer similar to black ice on roads, reducing trains’ grip. Speed restrictions are often imposed in an attempt to reduce accidents such as the crash between two trains outside a tunnel near Salisbury, Wiltshire, in October 2021 which left 13 passengers and a driver requiring hospital treatment. A South Western Railway train slipped on crushed leaves, causing it to slide past a stop signal and smash into the side of a Great Western Railway service. Published: 22/10/2024 by Radio NewsHub