Home Blog Page 239

India v England: Sharma and Gill sparkle as Stokes provides stand-out moment

Jon Fisher
-
0
India v England: Sharma and Gill sparkle as Stokes provides stand-out moment

Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill hit centuries as India made solid progress towards a 4-1 series win over England.

The home side ended day two of the final Test in Dharamsala on 473 for eight – a lead of 255 after England were bundled out for just 218 yesterday.

Read our other sports news stories here:
Saudi Arabian Grand Prix: preview and prediction
Six Nations 2024: This weekend’s preview and predictions
Joshua v Ngannou – preview and prediction

Sharma (103) and Gill (110) led the way although they were ably supported by debutant Devdutt Padikkal and Sarfaraz Khan who both hit half-centuries as England toiled with the ball.

Young spinner Shoaib Bashir was again the stand-out for the tourists, taking four for 170 and impressing with his durability across 44 overs.

Ben Stokes provided the highlight moment, however, by claiming the wicket of Sharma with his first delivery since last year’s second Ashes Test – the England captain declaring himself fit to bowl after knee surgery and making an immediate impact.

Unfortunately for Stokes and England, the horse had already bolted by that point.

Sharma started the day on 52 not out with Gill alongside on 26. The pair came out and showed plenty of attacking intent early on, adding another 50 inside the first 10 overs before reaching three figures within two balls of each other before lunch.

Stokes’ warm-up during the interval suggested he would finally get the chance to make an impact with ball in hand and he did just that, an absolute jaffa crashing into Sharma’s off-stump.

Gill followed almost immediately, James Anderson getting one to reverse into the stumps to move to 699 Test wickets.

If England thought they had done the hard work in getting rid of Sharma and Gill they bargained without Padikkal and Sarfaraz who both batted with great composure given their lack of Test experience.

The pair put on 97 for the fourth wicket before Bashir’s persistence was rewarded by snaring Sarfaraz for 56 and he followed that up eight overs later by also accounting for Padikkal, who made a fine 65.

Finally England were making inroads and Dhruv Jurel (15) and Ravindra Jadeja (15) both departed, as did Ravichandran Ashwin, who marked his 100th Test appearance with a five-ball duck.

India ended the day as they started it, however, with Kuldeep Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah putting on 45 before the close.

Saudi Arabian Grand Prix: Ferrari’s Sainz replaced by teenager Bearman

Harry Carr
-
0
Saudi Arabian Grand Prix: Ferrari’s Sainz replaced by teenager Bearman

Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz will miss Saturday’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix after being diagnosed with appendicitis and will be replaced by 18-year-old reserve driver Oliver Bearman.

Sainz sat out Wednesday’s media duties after feeling unwell, though he did participate in both of Thursday’s practice sessions at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.

Sainz, who described Thursday as his “toughest” day in Formula One, initially thought he was suffering from a stomach bug, but his team confirmed he had been diagnosed with appendicitis on Friday.

Read our other sports news stories here:
Arsenal can still move through the gears, says confident Arteta
Manchester United: Hojlund lands player of the month award
Can Manchester United defeat Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter finals?

“Carlos Sainz has been diagnosed with appendicitis and will require surgery,” a statement issued by Ferrari read.

“As from FP3 and for the rest of this weekend, he will be replaced by reserve driver Oliver Bearman. Oliver will therefore take no further part in this round of the F2 Championship.

“The Ferrari family wishes Carlos a speedy recovery.”

This weekend’s race will mark Bearman’s full Formula One debut, though the British teenager did drive for Haas in first practice at the Mexican and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix last year.

He has been part of Ferrari’s Driver Academy since 2021 and claimed pole position in Formula Two qualifying in Jeddah on Thursday.

Sainz will now undergo surgery and Ferrari have not said when they expect him to return to the grid.

This season will be the Spaniard’s last with Ferrari after he failed to agree terms on a new contract with the team, who have struck a deal to pair Lewis Hamilton with Charles Leclerc starting in 2025.

Sainz finished third at the Bahrain Grand Prix last week, racing from P4 as Mercedes’ George Russell and Ferrari team-mate Leclerc struggled with their cars on the opening weekend of the campaign.

Manchester United: Hojlund lands player of the month award

Jon Fisher
-
0
Manchester United: Hojlund lands player of the month award

Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund has been named the Premier League Player of the Month for February – becoming the first Dane to win the award.

Hojlund is currently sidelined by injury but enjoyed a fine run of form prior to his setback, scoring five goals and assisting one last month.

Read our other sports news stories here:
Saudi Arabian Grand Prix: preview and prediction
Six Nations 2024: This weekend’s preview and predictions
Joshua v Ngannou – preview and prediction

The 21-year-old started February with a goal in the 4-3 win at Wolves and backed it up with a cracking finish in the 3-0 victory over West Ham three days later.

He also netted in the 2-1 defeat of Aston Villa as Erik ten Hag’s men continued to show signs of encouragement, and Hojlund rounded off his performances for the month with a brace as United won 2-1 at Luton.

Mikel Arteta landed the manager’s award after guiding Arsenal to four league wins in February, scoring 18 goals in the process.

Speaking ahead of Arsenal’s Premier League clash with Brentford tomorrow, Arteta said: “It’s a great honour in this league to get recognised in this way so I want to say thank you to the team and the staff for always being supportive and making this happen.”

Arsenal beat Liverpool, West Ham, Burnley and Newcastle to maintain their title challenge.

Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo scored the goal of the month for his last-gasp winner at Wolves.

German motorcyclist reunited with bike stolen five years ago

Helen Greaney
-
0
German motorcyclist reunited with bike stolen five years ago

Greater Manchester Police’s Stolen Vehicle Examination Unit (SVEU) has recovered and returned a motorbike to its rightful owner, following a painstaking investigation.

The SVEU is responsible for examining vehicles recovered by police, which are either suspected stolen or have had their identities altered.

A German rider, who visited Edinburgh five years ago had his bike stolen and much to his heartbreak at the end of the trip had to return across the channel empty-handed.

But that wasn’t the end of the story – as the stolen bike popped up in September 2023, when GMP officers responded to a report of men making off from a scene and failing to stop on Bolton Road in Salford.

Sustaining minor damage from a crash with a tree, the bike was recovered and with no physical ID or check on the Police National Computer (PNC) as well as false details it got the investigative instincts of the vehicle examiners tingling.

With no registration, extensive enquiries identified it as stolen and with the assistance of counterparts from specialised officers in Europe they were able to call on their expertise to identify the motorbike to be of German origin.

This led to GMP contacting Interpol, who in turn made official contact with German authorities and later were able to contact the victim who provided the necessary details, preventing it from being crushed.

After sheer perseverance and doing what was morally right, the result showcases the vital work that is carried out by experienced employees who have a vast amount of knowledge of all makes and models of vehicles.

Pure determination

On reuniting the motorcycle and revealing its true identity vehicle examiner Dave Murphy said: “This was pure determination and a team effort to find the rightful owner. With the UK out of the European Union now direct access to systems from forces in other countries has meant it has been harder for us to track and trace, but with other inventive ways of working and the help of our recovery agents, Mansfield, we were able to return the motorbike to the rider.

“Being a rider myself it is a tight-knit and supportive community which means we have taken great pleasure in giving this story a happy ending as we didn’t want it to be crushed and unclaimed despite being stolen and then used in crime.

“Our work as vehicles examiners often goes unnoticed, but we know our skills, knowledge and expertise is crucial in finding evidence to link vehicles to crime but also back to victims.

“It was a nice surprise for all to receive and give the call to the victim after he thought he would never see his bike again and moving on with his life years ago.”

International Women’s Day: How Candice Bannister became a female founder

Helen Greaney
-
0
International Women’s Day: How Candice Bannister became a female founder

Owner and founder of Candy’s Cupcakes, Candice Bannister, began making tasty treats as  hobby from her home kitchen in 2011 and grew a local loyal customer base via social media.

Today, Candy’s Cupcakes offers nationwide delivery of its cupcakes, cakes in jars, cakes in boxes, brownies and cookies, and has recently announced a massive £900,000 turnover in 2023, up 31% from 2022.

She now has plans to break the one million pound turnover imminently.

In celebration of International Women’s Day, we spoke to Candice (pictured) all about being a female founder and even asked for some top tips to help the next women looking to start a business.

Top tips from Candice Bannister

Don’t be afraid of failure

“Starting my own business has taught me many things. Firstly, anything is possible if you put in the hard work and stay focused. It’s important to take the tough times with the smooth and don’t be afraid to fail! Failure is the key to growth as you will learn from your mistakes. If you’re looking to start your own business, don’t worry about needing a lot of money, as starting small is often the key to success.”

Mum-guilt is normal

“When it comes to being a woman in business, I felt I was only able and willing to begin growing my business when my children were growing up. I set up in 2011 but only began properly expanding and employing staff in 2019 when my youngest was 7 years old and in full time education. The parental responsibility and ‘mum-guilt’ is always there as a business owner.

“I am grateful that I share this experience with my husband and our children and they are able to understand when we are busy or need to work a little extra. I’ve also found that, more often than not, my insight into business pathways and opportunities get questioned, however being strong minded and having a clear focus has meant that I have been able to hold my ground and get my point across, despite this.”

Being a role model

“My physical capabilities as a female in the workplace often get underestimated as we get asked by delivery drivers, on a daily basis, if there’s “a man about to assist”. What I love about being a female founder is that I get to work with great people each day. Personally for me, I love the freedom of not working in a corporate environment anymore and more importantly being able to be a role model to my children and demonstrating to them that they can do whatever they want in the future.

“Both my children are creative and ambitious; they’re my biggest achievement. In fact, becoming a family-focused business, bringing my husband on board in 2021 has also been one of my biggest achievements, as it’s enabled the business to grow physically and financially.”

Seek peer support

“In 2022, we were delighted to get the keys to our current unit, taking it from a complete wreck, investing £35k, and turning it into the five star food hygiene rated kitchen it is today. This is one of our business highlights as it means we can now operate 8am-10pm and open 6 days a week.

“My advice for women looking to start their own business is to seek peer support and join local networking groups. The Business Growth Hub is a great starting place for peer support, as they offer free advice and more importantly signpost to others who can assist with common business issues as well as the more obscure. Also, make sure you find the right work/life balance and it’s important to take time out to do the fun things in life.”

Consistency is key

“If you’re going through a rough time, albeit financially, dealing with customers, managing a team, or simply working too many hours, you must always remember that tomorrow is a new day and you can wipe the slate clean. Don’t get worked up about something that has not yet happened because business is very unpredictable and things can change!”

Salford Business School Industry Advisory Board members selected for UN Conference

Helen Greaney
-
0
Salford Business School Industry Advisory Board members selected for UN Conference

Two women from the Salford Business School’s Industry Advisory Board – which helps to make decisions about the direction of the School and its industry partnerships – have been chosen as United Nations delegates at an internationally renowned event.

The 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68) takes place from March 11 – 22, and is the largest global gathering on gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls of the United Nations.

Dr Sally Penni MBE and Naomi Timperley (pictured main) are attending to share their expertise across the fields of law and technology respectively.

Co-founder of Tech North Advocates and We Are GSI, Naomi is an Honorary Industry Fellow at Salford Business School as well as a member of the Industry Advisory Board.

She has been a mentor for over 10 years, helping hundreds of businesses with her expert advice during that time and collecting many awards. She has featured in the top 50 Computer Weekly most influential women in UK IT, reaching 3rd and 4th in 2021 and 2022.

Dr Sally Penni Dr Sally Penni MBE (pictured left) is a high-profile and award-winning barrister specialising in crime, GDPR, data protection and employment law.

She is a bencher at Gray’s Inn, master of the bench. Outside of her role as a barrister, Sally is also a prolific public speaker, patron and board member, diversity leader, radio broadcaster and media contributor, as well as a proud mother of three.  She is also the founder of Women in the Law UK.

Both women will attend this year’s CSW68, which will be held in New York. The priority theme for this year’s conference is “Accelerating the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by addressing poverty and strengthening institutions and financing with a gender perspective.”

Dr Penni MBE said: “It is extremely exciting to be selected as a delegate for UN Women UK for the upcoming 2-week conference of the 68th session on the Commission of the Status of Women (CSW68). I’m really looking forward to learning and sharing my own experiences at this most impactful gathering.”

Naomi Timperley added: “I’ll be joining other gender equality advocates as we contribute to the largest global policy-making body dedicated to empowering women. It’s an honour to be involved with CSW68.”

To find out more about Salford Business School’s Industry Advisory Board, including a full list of board members, visit: Industry Advisory Board | University of Salford.

Solicitor shortlisted for prestigious award on International Women’s Day

Helen Greaney
-
0
Solicitor shortlisted for prestigious award on International Women’s Day

A top Manchester solicitor has been named among the finalists for a highly coveted legal award which celebrates women in the industry.

Amina Ali, partner at Veritas Solicitors (pictured) has been nominated “Mentor of The Year” in The Women, Influence & Power in Law UK Awards which honours top female lawyers who have made a difference in the profession.

The award celebrates female lawyers across the country who shape the law and achieve excellent results for their clients – and the shortlisting comes perfectly timed for International Women’s Day. (March 8)

Mrs Ali, who heads up the clinical negligence department at Veritas Solicitors, said she was surprised but very proud to be shortlisted having started mentoring early on in her career.

“It’s nice to be considered because I was always given that responsibility of training new starters, helping them progress at their own pace,” she said.

“It gives me a sense of pride seeing somebody that I have mentored progress over the years, and I’m humbled to be recognised among such great company.”

The worldwide celebration recognises the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women while also raising awareness about the ongoing challenges they face worldwide.

Pushing barriers

Mrs Ali said it was a massive achievement getting such praise and exposure, particularly being from an ethnic minority background.

“It’s really inspiring to see ethnic minority women doing so well in these top positions and being recognized for their skills, knowledge, and expertise.

“Women are pushing barriers and I’m somebody that has always given a lot of importance to my career.

“I’ve managed to hold down a high responsibility job and balance a family life which hasn’t been easy, but worthwhile in the end. And I have no doubt there are many others with similar circumstances to mine. If my nomination inspires other women, that’s a very positive thing.”

The mum of one said she is very grateful to be in the position she’s and glad to see awards specifically for women in what she says is a very male dominated industry.

“I think managing and mentoring isn’t an easy job, and it requires a lot of patience and fortitude. If done well, it can really help someone advance and has a lasting impact,” she added.

“When I get messages from people who I’ve mentored over the years, it’s a nice feeling knowing they’re still thinking of me and how I have helped them.

“The best feeling for me is when I see a person whom I’ve mentored go from a paralegal to a qualified solicitor, independently running a caseload and winning trials because I know that I’ve had some part to play in that.

“To all the mentors everywhere, your actions have the power to profoundly impact lives for the better.”

LandlordBuyer Unearths 41% Boost in UK Housing Construction in the Last Decade

News Desk
-
0
LandlordBuyer Unearths 41% Boost in UK Housing Construction in the Last Decade

A recent exploration by LandlordBuyer has unearthed a 41% boost in the construction of new homes across the UK over the previous ten years, in the face of ongoing challenges with housing overcrowding that plague local government bodies.

The exploration indicates that from January through September 2023, the UK saw the erection of 138,570 new residential units. This figure shows a significant 41% boost over the homes constructed in the same timeframe ten years earlier, where 98,080 homes were built from January to September 2013.

However, even with this considerable increase, the problem of overcrowded living conditions remains, affecting over 1.1 million households in England and Wales, which makes up 4% of all households.

The predicament of overcrowding is particularly acute in cities such as Birmingham, London, and Leicester, with a higher incidence among households in private rentals (7% of households) and social housing (9% of households), compared to those owned outright (2% of households).

Jason Harris-Cohen, Managing Director at LandlordBuyer, remarked, “It’s absolutely essential that we build more new homes, and it’s great to see an uplift in supply over the last decade. While this is positive, we need to look at how the figures break down to establish why we still have a serious issue of overcrowding.”

He further observed, “While 153,300 new build homes were started in 2023, only 138,570 were actually completed/built. That means almost 15,000 new homes never made it over the line in the year construction started.”

Harris-Cohen cited the shortage of labour and the escalation in the cost of building materials as significant barriers to the completion of many new housing projects, urging local government bodies to offer more backing to developers.

He also questioned the allocation of new homes, stating, “The allocation of new homes also needs scrutiny. Overcrowding is most prevalent in the social housing sector but housing associations and local authorities only gained 32,290 new homes in 2023. Conversely, the private sector gained 106,280 new homes – an out-of-kilter proportion given owner-occupiers were the least likely to suffer overcrowding.”

Harris-Cohen pointed out that private landlords could be instrumental in mitigating overcrowding issues.

He expanded on this, saying, “New builds are an attractive proposition as they are low maintenance and energy efficient but they have always attracted a price premium. Furthermore, landlords have tended to favour apartments in city centre locations – the locations identified where overcrowding is at its worst. When figures show 7% of private renting households suffer from overcrowding, more houses to rent, rather than a saturation of flats, may help address the issue.”

He wrapped up by suggesting that developers could better encourage private landlords to invest in family homes through various incentives, “It does fall on housebuilders, however, to incentivise private landlords in the same way they do owner-occupiers. Legal fees paid, a stamp duty contribution and a furniture pack attached to family homes would help property investors reassess what they purchase and where.”

Business Expo Wigan makes its return to the borough this March 

Helen Greaney
-
0
Business Expo Wigan makes its return to the borough this March 

Business owners and entrepreneurs are invited to attend Business Expo Wigan, which makes its return to the borough this March.

Businesswomen Nichola Howard and Jo Leigh, who are founders of the event, are delighted to launch the expo, marking their first in-person event in the borough in four years.

The free-to-attend event will take place at The Edge on Tuesday, March 12 and invites business people at every stage of growing their company to network and attend skills workshops throughout the day.

Business owners will gain start-up advice from the Build A Business team at Manchester Libraries, finance know-how from event sponsors Simplify and marketing lessons from Apprentice semi-finalist, Lewis Ellis.

The event will conclude with a panel debate featuring award-winning Leigh business owners, Adam Vause and Tyldesley’s Antony Grace and Bury-based entrepreneur and Prince’s Trust Ambassador for their “women supporting women” campaign, Charlotte Knowles.

The panel will be hosted by Standish-based social entrepreneur, Grace Dyke.

Nichola said: “After four years, we’re excited to bring the Business Expo in Wigan back to life.

“We are a survivor of the pandemic – 74% of events companies sadly failed to make it through – and we wouldn’t have made it without the support of other businesses in the borough who are all rooting for each other to succeed.

“Our goal is to create a space where Wigan and Leigh’s businesses can connect and feel supported to take on the challenges that running a business throws at them.

“It’s the perfect place to find opportunities, build meaningful partnerships, and invest in yourself and your local business community.”

The event will take place 10am to 3pm. To register for free, visit: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/launch-north-west-presents-business-expo-wigan-tickets-656607078447?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

Pictured (from left) are event organisers, Nichola Howard and Jo Leigh 

Can Manchester United defeat Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter finals?

Helen Greaney
-
0
Can Manchester United defeat Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter finals?

Following Manchester United’s 1-3 defeat at the hands of their rivals Manchester City on Sunday, the Red Devils face another crisis. Helped by Marcus Rashford’s wonder strike, United’s first-half performance at the Etihad Stadium was bullish, but City’s second-half showing blew the visitors away with three unanswered goals. Phil Foden, in particular,  produced an unstoppable performance for Pep Guardiola’s men.

The defeat has further dented Man Utd’s slight UEFA Champions League qualification hopes as well as the club’s potential chances of competing in other European competitions next season. As a result, Erik ten Hag will place increased emphasis on his squad’s FA Cup campaign as it remains the only trophy Man Utd can still win in 2023/24.

After a promising start to 2024, consecutive Premier League defeats, with a 1-2 loss to Fulham at Old Trafford preceding the Man City reversal, Man Utd’s next match against a hapless Everton takes on even more importance, not only from a result perspective but also as a confidence builder. 

By the time Bruno Fernandez leads his team out to face an in-form and confident Liverpool at Old Trafford in their all-important FA Cup quarter-final on March 17, supporters and sports bettors alike will expect a more cohesive and positive showing from The Red Devils. 

While sportsbooks listed on safebettingsites.com make Jurgen Klopp’s Reds the overwhelming 10/11 favourites for the clash, Man Utd’s home-ground advantage and the unpredictability of FA Cup ties mean the host’s 3/1 odds will encourage many punters to risk its underdog status with the bookies before or on match day.

Man Utd’s recent talisman, striker Rasmus Hojlund, will likely be fit for the FA Cup quarter-final, with his muscle injury responding well to treatment. England international Harry Maguire should be fit to join Raphael Varane in central defence, providing a welcome boost against a Liverpool side that welcomed back Darwin Nunez in time to score a last-gasp winner against Nottingham Forest last time out. 

Man Utd defenders Luke Shaw and Lisandro Martinez will miss the mid-March encounter, with ten Hag hopeful to have Aaron Wan-Bissaka back to join Diego Dalot on the flanks and further bolster his defence against a Liverpool attack also likely to include star player Mohamed Salah. 

The United boss will hence prepare to face a full-strength Reds attacking line-up, while defensive playmaker Trent Alexander-Arnold may also be available for the clash.  

While the return of Hojlund should boost Man Utd’s chances substantially in the quarter-final, much will also depend on which Marcus Rashford turns up on the day. In the first half against Man City, Rashford’s pace occasionally troubled the hosts, and his long-range goal was from the top draw. Unfortunately,  the forward’s impact faded as the game progressed, leading to a premature second-half substitution.

Editorial credit: Debu55y / Shutterstock.com

1...238239240...1,071Page 239 of 1,071