2 weeks agoLatest NewsComments Off on Luke Littler into Dutch Darts Masters quarter-finals as he puts Bahrain nightmare behind him but Humphries crashes out
LUKE LITTLER bounced back from his Bahrain Darts Masters exit with a thrilling win over Dimitri Van den Bergh.
The 2025 World Championship winner returned to the oche at the Dutch Masters on Friday night for the first time since being bested by Gerwyn Price.
GETTYLuke Littler returned to the oche at the Dutch Darts Masters on Friday[/caption]
gettyLittler locked horns with Belgiums Dmitri Van den Bergh in the first round of the competition[/caption]
GettyLittler edged a pulsating match 6-4 to book his place in the quarter-finals of the tournament[/caption]
But there was no hangover from Bahrain for the 18-year-old, who defeated UK Open champion Van den Bergh 6-4 to book his place in the quarter-finals of the tournament.
Littler is now the clear favourite to win the competition following World No.1 Luke Humphries’ shock elimination.
Teenage sensation Littler celebrated his 18th birthday earlier this week.
But there was no trip to the pub for the 2024 Young SPOTY winner.
Littler, instead, spent the big day playing video games online with his pals.
He said of his big day: “I haven’t got anything planned really because there is a lot of darts around this time.
“I will probably just do something at home before the crazy schedule starts.
“But I gave myself the best early birthday present by winning the Worlds.
“My first year has been difficult, at the start of the year with the Premier League and travelling to the European Tours, I have been travelling up and down the country.
“‘It’s at the start of the year when the crazy schedule is.”
THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY..
The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.Like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheSunFootball and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunFootball.
2 weeks agoLatest NewsComments Off on Southport murderer’s life behind bars from paper jumpsuits to ‘bare cell’ and fears of attacks from CLEANERS
SOUTHPORT murder monster Axel Rudakubana will be the “No1 target” after he was moved to one of the UK’s most notorious jails.
The 18-year-old triple killer has been locked up at the 900-capacity HMP Belmarsh, South East London, alongside convicted terrorists and far-right extremist Tommy Robinson.
PASouthport killer Axel Rudakubana was sentenced to at least 52 years in jail[/caption]
Rudakubana has been caged at HMP Belmarsh, alongside convicted terrorists and murderersGettyRudakubana has been warned he faces a lifetime of fear of attacks – from all anglesRex
He will wear a paper jumpsuit so he cannot harm himself, and his cell will contain just a wooden bench, a mattress and a small window.
A former prisoner told The Sun: “He will be the No1 target in the prison population for the rest of his life after killing those little girls.
“The screws will know that he can’t come into contact with anyone or else he’ll be attacked.
“Category A prisons like Belmarsh are powder kegs anyway, but he would get attacked in a heartbeat if anyone can get their hands on him.
“Most likely it would be a group attack. They won’t mind doing a few more years for the kudos of giving him a kicking, stabbing him, or worse.”
Rudakubana had been held at HMP Manchester ahead of his sentencing.
And since Rudakubana was convicted of murder rather than terrorism offences, he is unlikely to be offered any protection by Islamist-inspired killers such as Hashem Abedi — brother of Manchester Arena bomber Salman.
Southport killer Axel Rudakubana will face a lifetime of hell behind bars.
He said the evil killer is currently being held at high-security Belmarsh Prison in Woolwich, south east London.
His fellow inmates include:
Urfan Sharif
Urfan Sharif was handed a minimum 40-year term last month for murdering innocent Sara in a two-year “campaign of torture” that saw her beaten, burned and bitten.
He was jailed alongside Sara’s stepmum Beinash Batool, 30, and uncle Faisal Malik, 29, who was convicted of allowing the death of a child.
Khairi Saadallah
Khairi Saadallah stabbed three people to death in a Reading park in 2020.
He is serving a whole life order in Belmarsh.
David Copeland
Neo-Nazi David Copeland who bombed a gay pub, Brixton Market and Brick Lane in 1999 killing three people and injuring 140.
Hashem Abedi
Hashem Abedi – brother of Manchester Arena bomber Salman – has spent time at Belmarsh after being handed a minimum 55-year life term for murdering 22 people in the May 2017 attack.
Merseyside Police have said it could take “years” to obtain details of what Rudakubana was looking at on his computers from Microsoft and Google.
But after being contacted by The Sun, Google claims the process can take just days.
A spokeswoman for the firm said: “We are in touch with police to support their inquiries with regards to this case.’’
A Merseyside Police spokesman responded: “We have submitted requests through the correct channels for a criminal investigation.”
Yesterday, Sara Stanger, a solicitor representing the three girls’ families, said it was “shocking for everyone to see the number of missed opportunities” to stop Rudakubana before his murders.
She said the families were reassured by the length of his sentence.
It also emerged the fiend had been under the care of Alder Hey Children’s Hospital’s mental health team but stopped engaging with them 17 months before his attack.
Why didn't judge give Southport killer a whole life tariff?
AXEL Rudakubana carried out his twisted rampage when he was 17 years old but despite the horrific nature of his crimes, he was not given a whole life tariff.
The rare sentencing order can only be handed down to anyone aged 21 or over.
Due to Rudakubana’s age, this means he will not spend the rest of his life in prison.
Whole-life orders can sometimes be considered for those aged 18 to 20 in exceptional circumstances.
Although Rudakubana is now 18, he does not fall into this category due to the fact he was 17 when he committed his offences.
The killer was instead be given a life sentence but with a minimum tariff. This means he must spend that amount of time behind bars before he is considered for release.
The judge imposed a minimum term of 52 years, which is one of the highest on record and is thought to be the longest punishment handed to a killer of his age.
Taking into account the 175 days he has already served on remand, he will be required to serve 51 years and 190 days before he can be considered for release by the Parole Board.
Despite the length of the minimum term, it has already been referred to the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.
Manchester Arena bomber Hashem Abedi, 23, was handed a record-breaking 55-year minimum term in 2020 for 22 murders and attempted killings. The terrorist orchestrated the 2017 atrocity when he was 20.
Prior to that, the longest minimum term imposed on a terrorist in Britain is believed to have been 50 years in the case of David Copeland.
The 22-year-old was given six life sentences for targeting Brick Lane, Soho and Brixton in 1999 in a 13-day nail bombing campaign that left three people dead and 139 injured.
PAElsie Dot Stancombe, seven, was murdered at the dance class[/caption]
PABebe King, 6, was among the youngsters stabbed to death[/caption]
Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, was also killedPA
2 weeks agoLatest NewsComments Off on England ace Jude Bellingham pictured for first time with stunning model girlfriend…and she’s already met his parents
ENGLAND ace Jude Bellingham is seen for the first time with his new Instagram model girlfriend.
The Real Madrid star, 21, has been on a string of dates with American Ashlyn Castro, 27 — who met his parents this week in the Spanish capital.
Real Madrid star, Jude Bellingham 21, has been on a string of dates with American Ashlyn Castro, 27InstagramBackGridEngland ace Jude seen for the first time with his new Instagram model girlfriend Ashlyn[/caption]
InstagramAshlyn is from Los Angeles where Jude and best mate Trent Alexander-Arnold went on holiday after the Euros in July[/caption]
BackGridInstagram model Ashlyn Castro chatted to Jude’s mum Denise, left, and dad Mark, second from left, in Real Madrid’s WAGS and family box[/caption]
Instagram model Ashlyn chatted to his mum Denise, 56, and dad Mark, 48, in Real Madrid’s Wags and family box on Wednesday.
The American even hugged Denise as Jude’s team ran out 5-1 winners against Salzburg in the Champions League.
England superstar Jude and Ashlyn then went for lunch together the next day.
Pals say they have been on several dates after they began liking each other’s social media posts.
Jude was said to have been particularly drawn to one in November featuring pictures of Ashlyn in a low-cut dress laying on a bed.
Ashlyn, who has 140,000 Instagram followers, was rumoured to have previously dated Creed actor Michael B Jordan and was linked with basketball player LaMelo Ball, 23.
BackGridAshyn sips a drink in the executive box with the star’s parents[/caption]
BackGridThe American even hugged Jude’s mum Denise after the final whistle[/caption]
BackGridDespite the 5-1 drumming, Ashlyn did not appear to be overawed by the occasion as she watched from the executive box in the stands with Jude’s parents[/caption]
She suffered heartbreak in July 2021 when her dad died from Covid, aged 59. In a touching tribute, she described him as “superman to me”.
Jude was crowned Britain’s most eligible bachelor by posh gossip magazine Tatler in October.
It said: “For this midfielder, it’s all about the right or left swipe — and we aren’t talking about footwork. Rumours are swirling that he’s on celeb dating app Raya.”
In April there was speculation that Jude had been dating model Laura Celia Valk, 26, who was said to be “completely smitten”. Last month she said she was single.
In 2023 he was reportedly dating Ghanaian model Asantewa Chitty. He is also said to have dated US TikTok star Azra Mian.
BackGridJude and Ashlyn went for lunch in Madrid the day after the match, which Real won 5-1[/caption]
BackGridPals say Jude and Ashlyn have been on several dates after they began liking each other’s social media posts[/caption]
BackGridAshlyn and Jude seemed happy to wander the busy streets of Madrid as they enjoyed their public lunch date[/caption]
BackGridThe lunchtime outing was the first time the pair have been seen in public[/caption]
GettyJude ended up on the winning[/caption]
InstagramAshlyn’s photos have earned her 140,000 followers on Instagram[/caption]
instagramShe has also been previously linked with American basketball player LaMelo Ball[/caption]
InstagramA series of stunning pictures on Instagram are said to have grabbed Judes’s attention, according to pals[/caption]
InstagramJude’s heart seems to have been captured by Ashlyn’s stunning style[/caption]
InstagramIn 2023 The Sun revealed he had been messaging R&B singer Rmarni, but it seems he now only has eyes for Ashlyn[/caption]
Before meeting Ashlyn, rumours suggested the ace was on celebrity dating app Raya.InstagramAshlyn suffered heartbreak in July 2021 when her dad died aged 59 just 14 days after catching coronavirus, but it looks like Jude is helping her enjoy life againInstagram
2 weeks agoLatest NewsComments Off on Rachel Reeves’ Budget tax raid sparks fastest rate of job cuts since financial crisis
THE Budget tax raid on businesses has led companies to slash jobs at the fastest rate since the financial crisis, a survey shows.
They are now cutting staff at the highest level since 2009, other than during the pandemic.
Rachel Reeves’ Budget tax raid on businesses has led companies to slash jobs at the fastest rate since the financial crisis, a survey showsGetty
As well as trimming headcounts, they are freezing hiring and not replacing voluntary leavers to avoid rising payroll costs.
The closely-watched UK S&P PMI Index data signalled the dramatic scale of the rate of job losses in December and this month.
Chris Williamson, from S&P Global Market Intelligence, said: “The loss of confidence, combined with widespread concerns over higher staff costs associated with the Budget, pushed employment sharply lower.”
It came amid a record 50.2 per cent rise in UK businesses showing signs of “critical” financial distress in the final three months of last year, according to insolvency firm Begbies Traynor.
The S&P survey also indicated more firms would have to raise prices to cover higher costs, with the average prices increasing at the fastest pace for 18 months.
Mr Williamson said: “The rise in price pressures hints that the inflation genie is by no means back in its bottle.”
S&P data also signalled that while growth in the services sector was offsetting a manufacturing dip, businesses were already warning of a drop in new work and subdued demand.
The survey is at odds with Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ attempts to “bang the drum” about the UK’s mission for growth at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
2 weeks agoLatest NewsComments Off on Moment mother and daughter are only seconds away from being crushed by flying metal shed swept up in Storm Eowyn
THIS is the shocking moment a flying shed swept up in Storm Eowyn almost hit a mum and daughter.
Louise Haggarty was leaving her house in Wrexham, North Wales, to take nine-year-old Lily to school on Friday.
This is the moment a flying shed almost hit a mum and daughterFootage showed the metal structure hurling through the airLouise Haggarty was leaving her house with her nine-year-old Lily
A neighbour’s CCTV camera captured footage of the metal structure hurling through the air.
It shows the pair leaving their Caia Park home before going to their car parked a few yards away.
Seconds later, a shed from across the street crashes just outside Louise’s front gate.
She said: “I was taking my daughter to school due to the wind being so bad.
“If we had come out of the house seconds later the shed would of hit us both.
“Watching the CCTV back its made me so sad and upset to think we could have been seriously hurt.
“People need to be very careful when going out. I feel so lucky we were unharmed.”
Winds reached 100mph as Storm Eowyn left one person dead, more than a million people without power and caused significant travel disruption across the UK and Ireland.
Rail services, flights and ferries have been cancelled across the country as rare red weather warnings are in place on Friday in Scotland.
A previous red warning covering Northern Ireland has been downgraded to amber.
A gust of 100mph was recorded at Drumalbin in South Lanarkshire in Scotland, the strongest gust so far today in the UK, the Met Office said.
In Ireland, a record-breaking wind speed of 183kmh (114mph) was measured in Mace Head, Co Galway on Friday morning, Met Eireann said.
Police in Ireland said a man had died after a tree fell on his car in Raphoe, County Donegal.
Police Scotland said its officers had responded to around 1,500 weather-related incidents across the country related to Storm Eowyn by 6pm on Friday.
Several trees, some more than 60 years old, have been uprooted or split in half because of high winds.
On Friday, about 20 per cent of all flights scheduled to operate to or from airports in the UK or Ireland have been cancelled, according to Aviation analytics company Cirium.
A total of 1,124 flights have been cancelled, and Dublin, Edinburgh, Heathrow and Glasgow airports are the worst affected, according to the company.
Satellite imagery suggests a dangerous weather phenomenon known as a sting jet developed over Ireland, the Met Office has said.
A sting jet is a small area of very intense winds, according to the weather service.
MET OfficeThe red warnings cover parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man[/caption]
PAA roof blown off during strong winds rests on some bungalows in Amble, Northumberland[/caption]
PAAn ambulance attends the scene of a crash during strong winds on the north bound A19[/caption]
EPAA fallen tree blown over in the wind during storm Eowyn in Belfast[/caption]
2 weeks agoLatest NewsComments Off on ‘Quickest fine I’ve ever paid’ jokes Rob Cross as he admits he’s ‘guilty’ of X-rated gesture after World Championship KO
ROB CROSS admitted he was “guilty as charged” for making an X-rated gesture at the World Championship.
The World No.4 has revealed he has already been fined by the Darts Regulation Authority less than a month after his Ally Pally poor show.
REXRob Cross was dumped out of the World Championships by Scott Williams[/caption]
GettyThe World No.4 made a lewd gesture during the match[/caption]
The list does not include winners from the pre-Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) era or BDO world champions.
That means Raymond van Barneveld, for example, is only listed once – Barney also won four BDO titles – and none of Eric Bristow’s five BDO titles are included.
1994 – Dennis Priestley
1995 – Phil Taylor
1996 – Phil Taylor (2)
1997 – Phil Taylor (3)
1998 – Phil Taylor (4)
1999 – Phil Taylor (5)
2000 – Phil Taylor (6)
2001 – Phil Taylor (7)
2002 – Phil Taylor (8)
2003 – John Part
2004 – Phil Taylor (9)
2005 – Phil Taylor (10)
2006 – Phil Taylor (11)
2007 – Raymond van Barneveld
2008 – John Part (2)
2009 – Phil Taylor (12)
2010 – Phil Taylor (13)
2011 – Adrian Lewis
2012 – Adrian Lewis (2)
2013 – Phil Taylor (14)
2014 – Michael van Gerwen
2015 – Gary Anderson
2016 – Gary Anderson (2)
2017 – Michael van Gerwen (2)
2018 – Rob Cross
2019 – Michael van Gerwen (3)
2020 – Peter Wright
2021 – Gerwyn Price
2022 – Peter Wright (2)
2023 – Michael Smith
2024 – Luke Humphries
2025 – Luke Littler
Most World Titles
14 – Phil Taylor
3 – Michael van Gerwen
2 – John Part, Adrian Lewis, Gary Anderson, Peter Wright
1 – Dennis Priestley, Raymond van Barneveld, Rob Cross, Gerwyn Price, Michael Smith, Luke Humphries, Luke Littler
“You need a win just to get your platform and what you are going to kick off for the year.
“I picked a few darts up this week because I had to.
“I’ve been a bit lazy and guilty for enjoying being with the family too much.
“I want the height from a good performance, it’s not quite there at the minute.
“I went into the Worlds in good form. It was probably my worst performance of the year. It was a massive disappointment to do that.
“It kicks you a bit. I spent a bit of time away from the game because of that just to forget. It’s all about this year now.
“I just want to play myself into a bit of form. Hopefully tomorrow you can watch the proper Bobby turn up. That needs to happen.”
2 weeks agoLatest NewsComments Off on Fading US climate leadership opens door for Australia
Australia could end up with cheaper electric cars and renewed opportunities for green manufacturing as United States' climate leadership goes on hiatus.
