
Politics latest: PM says Albania partnership is 'delivering security' - but the Tories want credit
Sir Keir Starmer has travelled to Albania to announce an expanded crackdown on migrant smuggling gangs in the Balkans - a key staging post on the route to Britain. But the Conservative shadow home secretary says the Tories agreed the Albania returns deal.
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BBC News
20 minutes ago
- BBC News
'Kudos to Martin for backing himself to win over support'
After four months of searching, and numerous candidates in the mix from Steven Gerrard to Davide Ancelotti, we finally have our head coach to kickstart the new era for the responsibility has been given to Russell Martin, that's right - don't squint your eyes or think this is a typo - it's actually him. Frankly, as always, I hope it works and he is successful but it appears he's the one that almost no one the online reaction, you have to give him some kudos for taking the job and backing himself to win over the trust of the thing that irked me with regard to Philippe Clement's style of football was the lack of control - it was all very will be the polar opposite. What I hope for is that he can come in and keep the positive parts of his play - the high press and high tempo - and tighten up the I always feel the sign of a good manager is someone who can improve players already at a club when you arrive. If he can get a right few of them to take their games to the next level such as Mo Diomande, Nico Raskin and Hamza Igamane, I'd be delighted with that as a starting from Martin at his first media conference today will be interesting, particularly his thoughts on the fan noise and more importantly, how he wants to move this team forward and try and win games of sporting director Kevin Thelwell and new technical director Dan Purdy must give him the tools to succeed by adding to the players mentioned above, if they remain at the club beyond the summer. It's a tough job ahead, and the recruitment has to be spot on all across the squad to get players that fit the Martin's currently have a mishmash of players who lack direction. Hopefully with a new manager and new players coming in things will become more cohesive on the pitch.I'm intrigued where this will go, what calibre of player we can attract and how Martin's philosophy will work both domestically and in be honest, going into next season, fan opinion, possession stats and philosophies won't really matter. It's silverware that counts and if you wanted Martin or were a bit dubious, like myself, you just hope he comes in and delivers.


The Sun
21 minutes ago
- The Sun
Finland women accidentally call up long-retired 51-YEAR-OLD for international clash with 23-year-old pro now banned
FINLAND accidentally called up a retired 51-YEAR-OLD for international duty. And it meant her namesake missed out on a crucial Nations League match. 2 2 Finland women's manager Outi Saarinen apologised for the incredible blunder. Saarinen named Stina Ruuskanen in the squad for Finland's clash with Serbia. However, Ruuskanen was born in 1974 and has long been retired. Instead, she was supposed to include her namesake Nanne Ruuskanen - a 23-year-old defender who plays for Djurgarden. The pair are not related. But with the error not spotted until after the team sheet deadline, it was too late to make the change - meaning Nanne could not play in the 1-1 draw, one of Finland's last matches before Euro 2025. Stina earned two caps for Finland in the 1990s - with the latter coming a whopping 29 years ago. That is why she was on Uefa's database system, leading to the clerical error - forcing Nanne to wait to make her senior national team debut. Stina took it well and joked to Finnish reporters: "It's amazing to still be called up to the national team at this age. "It's a must-win match tonight so that's probably why I've been selected. "I'm definitely ready if the call comes. "Just yesterday I was playing in a hobby league match... so my game feel is good." Saarinen, meanwhile, expressed her sincere regret over the unfortunate incident. She said: "Nanne was, of course, disappointed but took the news very well considering the circumstances. "I am very sorry for the mistake."


Telegraph
36 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Scrap net zero costs from energy bills, bosses urge Miliband
Bosses have urged Ed Miliband to scrap net zero costs from energy bills as Britain's businesses suffer the highest electricity prices in the world. Rain Newton-Smith, the director general of the Confederation for British Industry (CBI), will warn in a speech that the levies act as 'an anchor' on the UK's ambition as businesses also contend with high taxes and labour costs. The plea from the head of Britain's biggest lobby group comes ahead of the Government's publication of its long-awaited industrial strategy. In a speech at the trade body's national business dinner on Thursday, Ms Newton Smith will say: 'Bringing more renewables too fast on to the grid without storage can push electricity prices up. And the cost of building the network is immense. That is being felt by bill-payers across the country. 'But UK firms cannot carry their part of that without hitting our ability to compete. That's why we're calling on government to remove policy costs from electricity bills.' British companies pay the highest electricity prices of anywhere in the developed world, according to government figures. The cost of power for industrial businesses is now about 50pc more expensive than in Germany and France, and four times as expensive as in the US. Businesses have blamed green levies for contributing to the growing cost of bills, which have been imposed to help meet Mr Miliband's target of decarbonising the electricity grid by 2030. Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the chief executive of Ineos, has previously warned that soaring energy costs and the race to hit net zero targets has put the UK's multibillion-pound chemicals industry at risk of 'extinction'. Earlier this year, Ineos shut down a synthetic ethanol centre at Grangemouth in Falkirk, Scotland, resulting in 80 job losses. The chemicals company said that high energy costs in the UK meant the plant was losing money. Ms Newton Smith will add that survey data from the CBI showed that almost 90pc of UK businesses had reported an increase in their energy bills over the past three years. The trade body also found that four in 10 businesses surveyed said they were cutting back on investment owing to the high costs of energy. Ms Newton Smith will say: 'Nowhere is that more urgent than our energy-intensive industries. From metals to chemicals, these are bedrock industries. Foundations of our economic security. But right now they are bearing the heaviest load. One minerals firm told us their UK energy bill is up to 450pc higher than in the US.' The CBI's push to scrap net zero levies marks a shift in tone from Ms Newton Smith. The CBI boss is known for her green credentials and previously worked at Barclays where she was responsible for the bank's environmental and sustainability policies. Her speech comes as ministers are preparing to unveil their industrial strategy for Britain, with Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, under pressure to help businesses with their energy bills. Ms Newton Smith's call to scrap net zero costs from energy bills comes after she met with the Chancellor on Tuesday to make a last ditch plea for removal of the levy ahead of the publication of the Government's industrial strategy. The CBI boss will argue there is an urgent need for the UK to achieve energy competitiveness in order to deliver economic security. She will say: 'This Government has already shown it can put prosperity over politics on the world stage. Well now it must do the same for energy at home. Because this isn't about culture wars. It's about common sense.' Scrapping net zero costs from bills would instantly slash the electricity price paid by manufacturers by about a quarter, according to analysis by Make UK.