Archive: 2025 / 08

Has Joey Essex ever boxed before? Inside his nervy Misfits debut win in Manchester

Joey Essex won a majority decision in his professional boxing debut at Misfits 22 in Manchester, beating Numeiro over four rounds. He looked tense early, struggled defensively, but found success with straight shots as the fight wore on. Backed by a family steeped in boxing, including uncle Tony Sims, Essex used experience around him to steady the ship. His win adds new intrigue to crossover boxing.

UK heatwave to return: 34°C scorcher set to bake Britain — who gets the worst of it and when

A burst of late-summer heat is set to push parts of the UK into official heatwave territory, with highs up to 34°C in the south and temperatures topping 30°C widely. The warm spell could last several days, bringing hot nights, strong sun, and rising health risks. Rail, roads, and energy demand may all feel the strain as the high-pressure system strengthens.

Manchester United vs Burnley: Fernandes’ 97th-minute penalty seals 3-2 win and Amorim’s first league victory

Bruno Fernandes buried a 97th-minute penalty to give Manchester United a 3-2 win over Burnley at Old Trafford, Ruben Amorim’s first Premier League victory in charge. United led at half-time via an own goal but lost Matheus Cunha to injury. Burnley twice hit back before Brian Bumo restored United’s lead, and Fernandes clinched it deep into stoppage time in a wild finish.

EuroMillions results: €51m jackpot numbers, UK Millionaire Maker code and Irish raffle details

The EuroMillions draw on July 1, 2025 produced main numbers 1, 17, 28, 32, 34 and Lucky Stars 7 and 8, for a €51,016,731 jackpot. UK players saw Millionaire Maker code ZTFH 41326. In Ireland, EuroMillions Plus drew 5, 9, 11, 29, 42 and 10 €5,000 raffle codes. An independent adjudicator oversaw draw 1,855. Claim deadlines vary by country; Ireland’s window closes Sept 29, 2025.

AFG vs PAK, 1st T20I: Pakistan crush Afghanistan by 39 runs in Sharjah after stunning middle-overs collapse

Pakistan beat Afghanistan by 39 runs in the first T20I of the UAE Tri-Series in Sharjah. Skipper Salman Ali Agha hit a calm half-century and added a key 50-run stand with Mohammad Nawaz to lift Pakistan to 183. Afghanistan reached 92/2 but lost five wickets for four runs in 17 balls as Haris Rauf and Sufiyan Muqeem ripped through the middle order. The match doubled as a tune-up for the Asia Cup 2025.

Champions League qualifiers: Ferencvaros beat Ludogorets 3-0 to reach play-offs

Ferencvaros crushed Ludogorets 3-0 in Budapest to book a spot in the Champions League play-offs after a goalless first leg in Bulgaria. Barnabás Varga headed the opener from a Bence Ötvös cross and took Player of the Match. An early Ludogorets goal was ruled offside, and the hosts took control from there. The win was watched by 19,111 fans and officiated by Spain’s Alejandro José Hernández Hernández.

Chickenpox vaccine on NHS from January 2025: what parents need to know

England will offer the chickenpox vaccine free on the NHS from January 2025, using the combined MMRV jab at 12 and 18 months. The move follows JCVI advice and aims to protect around 500,000 children a year. Officials say the vaccine is highly effective and safe, and should cut hospital stays and missed school days. The rollout comes as routine childhood vaccine uptake has slipped below WHO targets.

Think Again review: Jacqueline Wilson revisits the Girls series for grown-up readers

Jacqueline Wilson returns to Ellie, Nadine and Magda in Think Again, a sequel pitched to the readers who grew up with the Girls series. The novel follows Ellie at a midlife crossroads as her daughter leaves for university, her cartoon collapses, and a risky romance with a former teacher resurfaces. Warmth and humor land, but questions about maturity, tone, and limited roles for Nadine and Magda linger.

Anti-Immigration Protests Sweep UK as Far-Right Targets Asylum Hotels After Court Ruling

A High Court ruling that backed Epping Forest’s bid to shut an asylum hotel has sparked a surge of anti-immigration protests across UK towns and cities. Far-right groups rallied outside hotels in Bristol, Leicester, Newcastle, Liverpool and more, while counter-protesters were often outnumbered. Reform UK amplified the action as it leads polls. Ministers vow to end hotel use by 2029, but an appeal is underway.

Park Hotel Diss: No sign of public reopening as council escalates fight over asylum use

There’s no confirmed plan to refurbish or reopen the Park Hotel in Diss to the public. Instead, a dispute has escalated after South Norfolk Council moved to block a Home Office plan to switch the hotel from housing families to single adult asylum seekers. The council has issued an enforcement notice and warned it could use a Temporary Stop Notice. The owner says the hotel could close if the plan goes ahead.