A 16-year-old boy was also taken to hospital.

THE Premier League has closed in on an extra place in next season’s Champions League after dominating the first phase of the new expanded competition.

Six of the Prem’s seven sides earned automatic qualification for the last 16 of their respective competitions, with Liverpool and Chelsea achieving top seeding spots and Arsenal, Manchester United and Spurs in the top four.

Reuters

Prem clubs have excelled in Europe this season[/caption]

It means that with the initial league phase of the three revamped competitions now concluded, English sides have picked up an average of 20.892 coefficient points.

That puts the Prem more than 3.7 points clear of third-placed Spain, the equivalent of 13 individual match wins, in the fight for an extra place in the elite competition.

And it gives Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth and Newcastle even more encouragement as they seek a place in the most prestigious club competition in football.

Across the 54 matches played by Liverpool, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Manchester City, Tottenham, Manchester United and Chelsea – who had to play a two-legged Conference League qualifier, Prem sides have won 37 and lost just eight.

By contrast, Italy’s eight sides amassed 32 wins between them, losing 15, Spain clocked up 31 victories but had 19 defeats and Germany’s 29 triumphs were almost cancelled out by 26 losses.

And with Liverpool, Arsenal, Villa, Spurs, United and Chelsea all qualifying automatically for the last 16 of their respective competitions, the English sides have added a further 62.25 bonus points already.

England’s aggregate total of 146.25 points is the highest by 7.75pts, with Italy on 138.5 and Spain on 120.25.

But the position was strengthened by England having just seven teams in Uefa action, compared to the eight for Italy and Germany who earned an extra Champions League slot last term, as total points are then divided by the number of competing teams each nation has at the start of the season.

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While all the English sides have reached the knock-out phase, the other major nations have seen clubs fall at the league hurdle.

The Bundesliga lost both Leipzig and Stuttgart in the elite competition, while Bologna and Girona also missed the Champions League cut, meaning they cannot add to their countries’ totals.

Hoffenheim made an early Europa League exit as did French outfit Nice – also part of United chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe‘s Ineos sporting empire.

That means Germany are almost out of contention already.

England’s huge advantage – plus the European form of the teams – means it would need a huge meltdown when the teams return to Uefa action for fifth place in the Prem not to earn a place among Europe’s elite.

Despite their Prem wobbles, United and Spurs are now on course for a potential Europa League final showdown in Bilbao after finishing third and fourth in the league phase.

It means they cannot play each other until the Final, when a sixth Champions League spot would also be on the line.

Germany’s debacle leaves the Bundesliga fifth and more than six full coefficient points behind England, with Italy and Spain seemingly fighting for the second extra slot

THE UK government is planning to build a huge, motorway-style tunnel in a project that would cost some £9 billion.

To be called the Lower Thames Crossing, the 14.3-mile route – which will be the longest of its kind in the UK – will run through Essex and Kent.

National Highways

A mighty, motorway-style tunnel is being planned that would cost some £9 billion[/caption]

National Highways

It would link Essex to Kent, underneath the River Thames[/caption]

National Highways

It would also connect the A2 and M2 in Kent, as well as the A13 and M25 in Essex[/caption]

National Highways

It would run for over 14 miles – making it the longest of its kind in the UK[/caption]

The incredible project, that would link the town of Tilbury in Essex to Medway in Kent, would also be connected to the A2 and M2 in Kent, as well as the A13 and M25 in Essex.

It would also provide transport links between London and crossings to Dover – which, of course, account for half of the goods traded between Britain and mainland Europe.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves discussed the endeavour at length on Wednesday and pledged to explore private financing options ahead of the Transport Secretary’s decision on its future in May.

First planned back in 2009, the Lower Thames Crossing would reportedly see 13 million vehicles redirected away from the heavily congested Dartford Crossing.

It’s been estimated that the costs of lost productivity from congestion on the Dartford Crossing have exceeded £200million each year, with the route disproportionately used by freight vehicles transporting goods.

Speaking to the Express, Natalie Chapman, Head of Public Affairs for Logistics UK, said: “Our biggest current challenge is that the Dartford Crossing, as it stands, is operating daily over its design capacity.

“At the moment, there’s very little alternative when things go wrong, as they regularly do.

“The only alternative route for lorries is around the M25 via Heathrow, which can add up to two hours to journey times.”

Chapman described the Chancellor’s support of the project as a vote of confidence in British business.

She added: “The channel ports are a key route for UK exports.

“Produce like Scottish fresh fish is time-sensitive and perishable, so it’s crucial that the businesses we represent can move it quickly.

“We factor transport costs into everything we buy and all consumers will pay for these prices on the shelves.”

At present, the future of the project hinges on the Secretary of State for Transport, Heidi Alexander, approving a development consent order by the deadline of 23 May.

Reeves’s endorsement has been described as a “promising sign” of the government’s willingness to direct private investment towards transport infrastructure.

The building of the Lower Thames Crossing would also have a positive impact on motorists; journey times at the Dartford Crossing would likely improve by around 30% and increase to 46% between Kent and Essex.

It’s also estimated that it would inject around £40bn into the UK economy.

Chapman added: “As soon as this road opens, people will start to feel the benefits.

“In the short term, it will create jobs in construction and supply and it has the potential to unlock growth and inward investment on both sides of the crossing.”

Road Haulage Association managing director Richard Smith also said Reeves’ endorsement of the project was “a major victory for our sector” that has the potential to “turbocharge the economy”.

He added: “After many years of delays … today’s announcement will be a welcome relief to operators of lorries, coaches and vans who must navigate the daily knock-on economic impact of persistent delays.”

OVER the last year Xbox has given up on the idea of console exclusive games, and has ported its most popular games to other consoles.

Hi-Fi Rush, Grounded, Sea of Thieves, and Pentiment were the first games to be ported to PlayStation and Nintendo, with other games such as As Dusk Falls launching shortly after.

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Xbox began porting its games to other platforms early last year[/caption]

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PlayGround Games

Forza Horizon 5 is the latest Xbox game to be ported[/caption]

The biggest announcement was that Xbox’s biggest 2024 exclusive, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, would be released on PS5 in early 2025.

Upcoming big Xbox Studios games like Doom: The Dark Ages and The Outer Worlds 2 will launch on PlayStation simultaneously with Xbox.

Xbox recently announced that another huge exclusive will soon launch on PlayStation.

Forza Horizon 5 will soon be available for PS5 though an exact release date has not been given.

We do know that it will be available from early 2025, and is expected to be released around the same time as Indiana Jones.

Originally released in late 2021, Forza Horizon 5 is one of the most popular racing games, with a huge number of different cars to purchase and race.

Set in an open sandbox, you can search for different races to participate in, or just enjoy driving around the desert, or up the volcano.

It’s one of Xbox’s most popular exclusives, and had attracted over 20million players by mid-2022.

Xbox’s latest earnings report revealed that hardware sales have declined by almost 30%, and many believe that the company is shifting towards software over consoles.

Forza Horizon 5’s DLC will also be available for the PS5 version, as well as a new update called Horizon Realms that will add popular seasonal activities.

The game will also feature cross-platform play, so whether you are playing on Xbox, PC, or PlayStation, you’ll be able to race against each other online.

Xbox CEO Phil Spencer has previously said that releasing first-party games on other platforms is good for Xbox, and that the company has no “red line” when it comes to the games that may be ported.

Playground Games is currently developing a reboot of Fable, which is slated to release on PC and Xbox consoles, as well as Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, in 2025.

Forza Horizon 5 is currently available on Xbox and PC as well as Xbox Game Pass and is expected to remain on the service for the foreseeable future.

If you want to read more about Xbox, check out all of the announcements from the Xbox Developer Direct.

THOUSANDS of drivers may be let off speeding fines over a crafty loophole.

Speed signs along the major road in south-east London didn’t meet regulations – resulting in the pardon of over 60,000 speeding offences in the area.

Alamy

The Sidcup bypass had new speed limits enforced after flooding caused a ‘danger to life’[/caption]

The A20 near Sidcup was reduced from 70mph to 40mph in October 2023.

The slower rule was implemented for a year after flooding caused cars to skid off the road.

However, it could bring good news for those slapped with penalties as it was discovered the signs failed to meet regulations.

According to the Government Traffic Signs Manual, speed limit signs should be at least 750mm wide.

Thomas Turrell, the Conservative member of the London Assembly for Bexley and Bromley, pointed out that the Transport for London (TfL) signs were 450mm wide.

TfL argued that the signs were “correct and compliant with the regulations”

The MP told The Telegraph: “This isn’t a handful of Top Gear enthusiasts who have ignored the signage and then claim they haven’t seen it.

“This is a huge amount of people who have been hit by this, and lots of people would not have even realised they’d done anything wrong,” he added.

LBC presenter Iain Dale was one of those motorists hit with a speeding fine after not spotting the signs.

He was dragged to Willesden Magistrates Court over the offence, which collapsed after the key police witness failed to attend.

Taking to his blog, he wrote: “I was accused of speeding on the A20 dual carriageway heading out to the M25.

“It’s a road I know well, and I am well acquainted with the speed limit.

“There was no signage in the central reservation to tell me so, and apparently only one small 40mph sign over the left, which would be invisible at night either due to another car obscuring it, or as there was no streetlighting.”

Drivers are forced to pay a minimum of £100 and three penalty points on their licence.

A driving ban is put in place after 12 penalty points.

A spokesperson for TfL said: “Safety is our number-one priority, and we temporarily introduced a 40mph speed limit on the A20 Sidcup Road in response to a number of incidents caused by ongoing flooding issues, which posed a risk to life.

“New regular speed limit signage, compliant with all traffic sign regulations, was installed to ensure that everyone driving on this stretch of road was aware of the new limit.

“All signage installed by TfL for the 40mph speed limit was correct and compliant with the regulations.”

However, a lawyer who specialises in motoring offences, said the signs were “definitely too small”.

“Obviously, if they’re tiny, the motorist can’t read them,” he added.

This comes after a motorist was let off three points and £100 after he was given a helpful heads-up from a resident of the road.

The stretch of road in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, was subject to a 30mph Traffic Restriction Order (TRO), which had recently been lowered to 40mph.

However, it transpired that the order had not been enforced properly, so the limit was not active.

Moreover, the driver argued that the improper introduction of the new limit voided the old 40mph TRO.

He then consulted Warwickshire County Council’s Highways Department, claiming that its legal team confirmed that the road is no currently subject to any limit.

He told Coventry Live: “So the B4112 Nuneaton Road between Chetwynd Drive Nuneaton and Weston Lane Bulkington is not subject to enforceable speed restrictions.

“£100 and three points returned leaving me again with a clean licence and a rare apology.”

The driver accepted that speeding is an offence but urged others to look into whether they may have been wrongly fined.

A letter he received from Warwickshire Police stated that the charge was being withdrawn due to an “error during the processing of this offence”.

Warwickshire County Council declined to comment.

Thomas Turrell

Thomas Turrell found that the signs were too small, arguing they were impossible to see[/caption]

MANCHESTER UNITED are reportedly preparing a £50million bid for Sporting Lisbon wonderkid Geovany Quenda.

Ruben Amorim could be set to raid his old club for the versatile right sider, who can play as either a forward or a wing-back.

AP

Man Utd are preparing a £50m offer for Sporting Lisbon whiz Geovany Quenda[/caption]

Quenda, 17, has burst onto the scene this season with two goals in 33 outings.

He joined Sporting’s academy from rivals Benfica in 2019.

And Quenda has already won two caps for Portugal’s U21s.

The Athletic claims United are now looking at signing him this summer in a bid to boost their right-sided options.

Quenda turns 18 in April and the Red Devils are ready to intensify their efforts once the January transfer window closes.

However, reports in Portugal claim United have already wrapped up a deal.

A Bola claim that no money is yet to swap hands.

But the deal has been “assured” and Sporting are expecting to receive around £50m for their starlet.

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Amorim gave Quenda his big break with the Portugese side before joining United in November.

It could mean United go into next season with two dynamic new wing-backs as they also close in on Lecce left-footer Patrick Dorgu.

He is expected to move to Old Trafford before Monday’s transfer deadline.

While Marcus Rashford’s future continues to rumble on after he reportedly rejected Tottenham in favour of a possible move to Barcelona.

THE world’s first tower over a kilometre high finally has a completion date after a $1.2billion splurge and a string of delays.

Jeddah Tower, soon to be the world’s tallest building, is rapidly rising into the Saudi Arabian sky as construction steams ahead.

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Jeddah Tower will be the tallest man-made structure ever at over one kilometre high[/caption]

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AFP - Getty

Jeddah Tower is part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 prjoect[/caption]

And now its developers have announced they expect it to be completed by the end of the decade in time for Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 national re-brand.

This is an all-encompassing scheme to re-orientate the Gulf state’s economy, culture and society.

The tower has long been touted as the next Burj Khalifa – the world’s current tallest building.

But the tower has been beset by problems, with work grinding to a halt when it was only a third built.

The project was halted by scandal, after key figures connected to it were arrested in 2017, and then the Covid pandemic threw another spanner in the works.

But after seven years of inaction a ceremony last year kicked things off again.

So far, 63 of the planned 157 stories have been layered onto the building.

When fully erected, the tip of the tower will stand a staggering 3,280ft above the ground.

It will dwarf the Burj Khalifa by a margin of over 500ft, and will be more than three times the height of the Shard in London.

First unveiled in 2011, the original plans included a hotel, a shopping mall and the world’s highest observation deck.

The tower was designed by US architect Adrian Smith, who used the building’s “three-petal” footprint and tapered aerodynamic shape to overcome the massive technical challenges of building at such heights.

The architect’s Chicago-based practice, Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill, has said the tower’s shape “evokes a bundle of leaves shooting up from the ground.”

Smith and Gill told Architectural Digest: “The design for Jeddah Tower is rooted in the symbolism of Saudi Arabia while looking toward the future by being technologically expressive.”

Saudi Arabia has encountered serious problems with a lot of the ambitious projects it is pursuing.

Reuters

So far 63 of the 157 stories have been constructed[/caption]

Reuters

The half-built tower already casts a long shadow across the land[/caption]

Work is currently underway to build Neom, a $1trillion megacity sprawling through the desert near its north-west Red Sea coast.

Last month, a reel of horrors including gang rapes and suicides were reported from the migrant-worker camps around the building site.

Employees reported incidents of rape, attempted murder and drug crimes riddling the hell holes housing construction workers.

There has also been a string of on-site deaths, with a British company recording “no evidence” of any safety procedures.

The crown jewel of Neom – a futuristic 106-mile long city called The Line – is also causing Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman a headache.

Last month he was forced to admit that The Line would not be finished for the next five decades.

EASTENDERS have confirmed that fans will be able to make TWO interactive decisions during the show’s live episode for the 40th anniversary.

Previously, the soap had shared how fans would be able to vote for which suitor Denise Fox ended up with but now it has been clarified that it won’t be the only decision that viewers get to make.

BBC

Denise Fox’s love story outcome will be made by the EastEnders viewers – as well as a brand new mystery decision[/caption]

BBC

Will she finally get together with Ravi Gulati?[/caption]

BBC

Or will she get back with Jack Branning?[/caption]

As well as being able to decide the fate of Denise’s love story, it has now been confirmed that another decision will be left up to the fans.

Whilst details are remaining under wraps, it has been confirmed that the outcome of the decision will have a monumental effect on Walford.

It will go down in Walford’s history and likely leave the viewers shook.

Details on how to make the two decisions next month have now been revealed with fans just needing a BBC Account to cast their vote.

Following an hour-long episode aired on the anniversary of the show’s first episode on 19 February, a vote will open, allowing fans to choose Denise’s suitor and the mystery decision.

Either Ravi Gulati or Jack Branning will be able to win Denise’s affections as a result of the vote.

It will remain open for just under 24 hours when the vote will close ahead of a special live episode to be broadcast on the 20th February.

The vote will close at 7:10pm – just 20 minutes prior to the live episode.

When all the votes have been cast via the BBC website, the vote will be independently verified before being directly handed to the EastEnders executive producer, Chris Clenshaw.

Over the following 20 minutes, Chris will inform the cast and crew of the outcome whereby the scripts will be ditched and the ensuring drama will take hold.

The live episode will then kick off at 7:30pm on the 20th February.

In order to mark the momentous occasion, the Beeb will be going all out to dedicate its schedules to the show for the week with an abundance of accompanying content.

An exclusive documentary entitled EastEnders: 40 Years on the Square, fronted by Ross Kemp, will take fans on a lookback at the show’s biggest moments and most impactful plots over the past four decades.

Elsewhere, BBC Three will air a special 45-minute interview show called EastEnders Revealed: The Lock In, fronted by Joe Swash.

In the show, Joe will chat to some of the cast at the heart of the episode and to find out the behind-the-scenes gossip of the high-stakes antics.

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What will be the outcome?[/caption]

BEING ill often leaves us so exhausted all we want to do is collapse into bed.

But sleep can remain elusive once we’re horizontal, tossing and turning as we try to find a position to ease soreness or discomfort.

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It can feel impossible to drift off when you’re ill[/caption]

Lisa Artis, deputy CEO of Simba’s charity partner The Sleep Charity, said: “Ultimately, sleep is the best medicine. A solid eight hours of uninterrupted rest helps the body fight infections, speeding up recovery and restoring energy.

“Without enough sleep, we wake up feeling overtired and irritable, making it even harder to shake off illness.

“Taking to our beds to rest and recharge can make all the difference in how our bodies cope with a heavy cold, reinforcing the simple truth that good sleep is essential for good health.”

But what’s the best way to achieve that?

According to Lisa, nestling into a certain sleep position – depending on what illness you have – could actually help ease your symptoms.

She shared the best sleep positions to assume if you’re plagued by colds and flu, period cramps, constipation, and acid reflux.

Plus, she highlighted the sleep positions to avoid and which might be sabotaging your recovery.

1. Coughs, colds and flu: Prop yourself up

If you’re wracked by coughs, sniffles and a runny nose, chances are you’re struggling to breath while huddled up in bed.

According to Lisa, the best position to assume is on your back with your head and shoulders propped up with extra pillows at a 45-degree angle.

“This position prevents mucus from pooling in your throat, which can trigger coughing fits and make breathing more difficult,” she said.

She recommended you avoid sleeping flat on your back, as this can cause snot to settle in your airways and make congestion worse.

Worst sleep position: Face-down, as this puts unnecessary strain on your neck and limits airflow.

2. Constipation: Left to digest

Constipation can leave your stomach feeling bloated and sore – not ideal conditions for drifting off into restorative slumber.

According to Lisa, flipping onto your left side can help relieve constipation and ease irritable bowel symptoms – such as cramps and bloating – by using gravity to support better digestion.

“This position encourages the natural flow of food and waste through your digestive system, allowing gravity to move waste from the small intestine to the large intestine more efficiently,” she explained.

Sleeping on your stomach may place unwanted pressure on your digestive organs, adding to your discomfort.

Worst sleep position: Lying flat on your back, as it may slow digestion and cause bloating, making constipation symptoms linger longer.

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Sleeping on your front can reduce airflow and place pressure on your stomach[/caption]

3. Stomach bugs: Right for relief

Stomach bugs can leave you with a whole host of unpleasant symptoms, such as diarrhoea and vomiting.

In between toilet trips and wracked by nausea, it may seem like you’ll never be able to get to sleep.

But according to Lisa, it’s worth turning to your right side to ease your symptoms.

She said: “While there’s no scientific proof, some believe sleeping on the right side may help reduce nighttime bowel movement during diarrhoea.

“This position could slow stool frequency by encouraging it to stay in the lower part of the digestive tract longer, preventing it from reaching the colon too quickly and reducing urgency.”

While you might be tempted to curl into a foetal position to ease your suffering, this might suppress your abdominal area and add to your discomfort.

Worst sleep position: Sleeping on your stomach can make diarrhoea and nausea worse because it can compress your stomach and organs.

4. UTIs: Curl up

Urinary tract infection can cause some pretty nasty symptoms, from pain or burning when you wee to pain across your lower tummy and back or under your ribs.

Lisa recommends you sleep on your side in a relaxed foetal position or on your back with legs slightly apart.

“These positions ease pressure on the bladder and promote pelvic relaxation, which can alleviate discomfort,” she said.

“Have a hot shower and put a hot water bottle on your abdomen or between your legs for 15 minutes before bed.”

You should avoid sleeping on your stomach, as this will trap heat and pressure on your pelvic area and could make your symptoms worse.

Worst way to sleep: Wearing tight constricting nightwear or a thong.

According to Lisa: “E. coli, the most common bacteria in the colon and a leading cause of UTIs, can easily cling to the string back of a thong.

“Even slight movements during sleep can cause the material to shift, potentially transferring E. coli bacteria dangerously close to the vaginal area.”

5. Period cramps: Pillow power

Trying to get to sleep while battling period cramps is a monthly occurrence for many of us.

Lisa advised using your pillow to guarantee painless slumber.

Lie on your back and nestle the pillow under your knees, or turn to your side and slot it between your thighs, she said.

But avoid stretching out flat on your back as this position can strain our lower back and worsen bloating.

Worst sleep position: Curled up tightly. While tempting, this can restrict blood flow and increase muscle tension.

Getty

Propping yourself up with pillows can help with colds and migraines[/caption]

6. Migraines: Neutral neck position

To ease the searing pain of a migraine, Lisa advised you lie down with your neck and back aligned.

“A firm supportive pillow is essential to keep your spine in a neutral position, reducing tension that could worsen migraines,” she added.

But keep the pillows to a minimum, as loading them on and using overly thick ones can push your neck out of alignment.

Worst sleep position: Face-down, as this compresses your neck and can exacerbate migraine symptoms.

7. Kidney stones: Switch it up

Kidney stones can leave you feeling sick and with a severe pain in the side of your tummy that comes and goes.

Lisa said: “Research indicates that the most effective way to ease kidney stone pain while resting is to lie on your side with your knees slightly bent.

“Studies also suggest that this position improves blood flow, which may help in passing the stone more easily.

“For added relief, try sleeping on your back with a pillow under your knees to reduce kidney pressure.”

Avoid curling into a foetal position, even if it’s tempting, as this can also increase pressure on the kidneys and worsen the pain.

Worst sleep position: Sleeping in the same position for too long.

According to Lisa: “Sleeping on one side for too long might increase the risk of kidney stones on that side.”

She cited research from the University of California, San Francisco on people with reoccurring kidney stones.

It showed that people who consistently slept on one side developed stones on the same side.

8. Acid reflux: Left is best

The burning at the back of the throat from acid reflux will wrench many of us out of a peaceful sleep.

To ease your symptoms, Lisa recommended sleeping your left side with your body elevated.

“This position keeps stomach contents below the oesophagus and minimises acid reflux.

“Elevating the head with an adjustable pillow can enhance comfort.”

Lisa said you should avoid lying flat on your back after eating, as this allows acid to flow back into the oesophagus.

Worst sleep position: On your right side. Research shows this can increase reflux symptoms.

9. Ear infection: Bad ear up

If you have an earache, your first instinct might be to sleep with your bad ear against the pillow to protect it.

But according to Lisa, the best position is on your side with the infected ear up.

“This promotes drainage and keeps pressure off the inflamed area,” she said.

“Airflow around the ear also speeds up healing.”

You should avoid lying down completely flat can make ear pressure and pain worse, she added.

Instead, prop up your head up so your affected ear is higher than the rest of your body

Worst sleep position: On the infected ear. This compresses the area and may worsen pain.