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Gareth Southgate will stay on as England manager and will lead the Three Lions at the 2024 Euros, the Football Association has confirmed.

The 52-year-old had been mulling his future following the national side’s 2-1 quarter-final defeat to France at the World Cup.

Southgate had a contract until the 2024 European Championship, but admitted to feeling “conflicted” about staying on given what has often been a difficult 18 months.

But the former England defender will now remain in charge for a fourth major tournament.

In a statement on Sunday, the FA said: “We are delighted to confirm that Gareth Southgate is continuing as England manager, and will lead our Euro 2024 campaign.

“Gareth and Steve Holland have always had our full support, and our planning for the Euros starts now.”

Southgate led England to the World Cup semi-finals in Russia in 2018 and the final of last summer’s European Championship, before reaching the last eight in Qatar.

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In the build-up to this year’s tournament there had been significant criticism of Southgate following a run of poor results.

Relegation to League B of the Nations League after losing twice to Hungary, drawing two against Germany and a draw and defeat to Italy led to serious questions being asked about his future.

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Heartbreak for fans as England lose

But even after a positive response to the team’s World Cup run, Southgate stressed he needed a period of reflection to decide on the best course of action.

“I think, whenever I finish these tournaments, I’ve needed time to make correct decisions,” he said immediately after their exit.

“Emotionally you go through so many different feelings.

“The energy it takes through these tournaments is enormous.

“I want to make the right decision, whatever that is, for the team, for England, for the FA.

I’ve got to be sure whatever decision I make is the right one.”

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Former England defender Gary Neville welcomed the news Southgate was staying.

“I think it’s the right decision,” he told Sky Sports News.

“When I saw early last week it was going to be discussed in the new year I didn’t think that would work, letting it hang for so long.

“The fact it has come out is welcome, it puts it to bed and allows everyone to focus on the next 18 months.

“It means a succession plan can be put in place.”

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The story of the Qatar World Cup

Sky Sports News senior reporter Rob Dorsett: said: “The fact Southgate has decided, just eight days after England were knocked out by France, is significant.

“He’s recovered pretty quickly and there are a number of key factors which have convinced him it would be wrong to walk away now.

“Firstly, the players have all been hugely supportive of him. They were all adamant they wanted him to stay on.

“He also thinks England can win something. And that this squad, with the young players coming through, has a real chance of challenging in Germany in 18 months’ time for a European Championship. If he was to walk away now and someone else was to take that glory, I think he’d be pretty bitter about it and maybe regret it for the rest of his career.

“He spoke with his family about it and his assistant Steve Holland and he decided he needed to, he wanted to, and had the energy and desire to stay on as England’s boss until after Euro 2024.”

Southgate has won 49 of his 81 games as England manager, with 18 draws and 14 defeats, while England have scored 174 goals and conceded 57.

Only two previous managers have reached a half-century in the win column – World Cup winner Sir Alf Ramsey with 69 and England’s longest-serving manager Sir Walter Winterbottom on 78.

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Woman, 19, dies in dog attack in Bristol – two people arrested

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Woman, 19, dies in dog attack in Bristol - two people arrested

A 19-year-old woman has died after being attacked by a dog in Bristol, police have said.

Two people – a man and a woman both aged in their 20s – have been arrested and remain in police custody.

Neighbourhood Inspector Terry Murphy said: “A full investigation is now well under way to establish the full circumstances of the events that led to her death.”

At 7.19pm, police received a report from the ambulance service of the incident inside a flat in Cobhorn Drive, Bristol.

Despite the efforts of the emergency services, the victim died at the scene.

Two people were arrested on suspicion of offences under the Dangerous Dogs Act, including being in possession of a prohibited breed of dog.

File pic: Alexandre Bauer/iStock
Image:
An XL bully. File pic: Alexandre Bauer/iStock

A neighbour paid tribute to the victim, saying she “seemed a lovely girl” and had only lived in the property for a few weeks.

“I was up all night awake trying to process this,” the neighbour, who did not want to be named, said.

“I am shocked. I just can’t believe it’s happened and she hasn’t been there that long.”

Initial reports suggested the dog may be an XL bully, but confirming the breed will form part of the police assessment process, according to Avon and Somerset Police.

It was sedated and seized by officers.

A general view of floral tributes left near the scene on Cobhorn Drive, Hartcliffe, Bristol, where a 19-year-old woman died after she was attacked by a dog on Wednesday night. A man and a woman, both aged in their 20s, have been arrested on suspicion of being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury resulting in death and possession of a prohibited breed of dog, as the dog responsible for the attack is believed to have been an XL bully. Picture date: Thursday February 27, 2025. PA Photo. See PA story POLICE Dog. Photo credit should read: Rod Minchin/PA Wire
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Floral tributes left near the scene. Pic: PA

The neighbour said she had seen the dog on a lead with its owner and was certain it was an XL bully.

“I do feel so sad for the dog owner,” she said.

“She did mention the dog wasn’t great with men, fine with women and children.

“I feel for her so, so much. It wasn’t her fault.”

She added: “I genuinely feel that this was one of those freak accidents and wasn’t her fault – that’s how I feel.”

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Avon and Somerset Police inspector Terry Murphy said: “As part of this work, Cobhorn Drive was closed last night and I thank everyone for their patience and understanding about our need to do this,” said Inspector Murphy.

“There will be an increased police presence in the area over the coming days, including neighbourhood officers, and if you have any concerns please do speak to them.”

In February 2024, it became a criminal offence to own the XL bully breed in England and Wales without an exemption certificate.

Anyone who owns one of the dogs must have had the animal neutered, have it microchipped and keep it muzzled and on a lead in public, among other restrictions.

The government moved to ban XL bullies followed a series of attacks on people and other dogs.

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Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan land in Florida after travel ban was lifted in Romania

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Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan have left Romania for the US - reports

Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan have landed in Florida in the US after a travel ban in Romania was lifted, a spokesperson for the influencers has said.

The Tates landed in Fort Lauderdale in a private plane at around 11:30am local time, their representative Mateea Petrescu added.

Speaking around an hour later, Andrew Tate told reporters: “We’ve yet to be convicted of any crimes in our lives ever. We have no criminal record anywhere on the planet ever.

“Our case was dismissed on 19 December in Romania under the Biden administration, and our prosecutor recently decided, because we have no active indictment in court, to let us go and return.

“This is a Democratic society, we’re supposed to be innocent until proven guilty, as my brother and I are.”

The brothers, who champion US President Donald Trump, are facing charges in Romania of human trafficking, sexual misconduct and money laundering, as well as starting an organised crime group.

The self-styled misogynists are dual UK and US nationals whose controversial views are shared widely on social media platforms such as TikTok and X.

Their arrival in Fort Lauderdale comes after the Financial Times reported last week that the Trump administration had lobbied their Romanian counterparts to ease restrictions on the brothers while they face charges.

Romanian foreign minister Emil Hurezeanu said the Tates were mentioned during his brief hallway meeting with Mr Trump’s special envoy Richard Grenell at the Munich Security Conference earlier this month.

Romanian prosecutors later said they had approved a request from Andrew Tate, 38, to travel outside of the country, pending the outcome of a criminal investigation.

The pair had been released from house arrest, but were not allowed to leave the country and were required to check in with the police regularly.

“The request to change the obligation of not leaving Romania was approved,” prosecutors said in a statement on Thursday.

“All the other obligations have been maintained, including the requirement to check in with judicial authorities every time they are called.”

A spokeswoman for the Tates told Sky News the Romanian courts had decided they will return to the brothers all of their assets.

This includes restoring their ownership of all previously frozen bank accounts, five properties, six cars including two Audis and a Ferrari, and company shares. Some assets will remain under precautionary seizure, according to the court ruling.

The brothers are fighting a series of legal battles not just in Romania, but also in the UK and the US.

They have consistently denied any wrongdoing in connection with all the legal action taking place.

The Tates grew up in Luton and have millions of social media followers. Andrew Tate also appeared in the UK version of Big Brother in 2016.

The pair are often criticised for their misogynistic views online – particularly as they have a predominately young, male audience.

A number of banned Twitter accounts have been reinstated by Elon Musk. Tate was among those brought back on 18 November 2022 after Musk took over and rebranded it X.

A British court ruled in March that the brothers are also under a European arrest warrant and will be extradited to the UK – where allegations of rape and human trafficking are being investigated by Bedfordshire Police – after Romanian trial proceedings finish for a separate investigation.

A recent lawsuit filed in Florida accuses both Tate brothers of conspiring to coerce a woman into sex work, luring her to Romania and defaming her after her testimony to Romanian authorities. The Tate brothers had previously sued her for defamation in 2023.

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Four British women who allege they were raped and coercively controlled by Andrew Tate said they have been “retraumatised” by today’s events.

“It is clear that there is now a major risk that the criminal prosecution for his alleged crimes in Romania will not proceed, and he may use this development as an opportunity to harass further and intimidate witnesses and his accusers as well as continue to spread a violent, misogynistic doctrine around the world,” the alleged victims said in a joint statement.

Tate is facing civil action brought by the women at the High Court. He denies the allegations and has threatened to pursue the women for defamation.

Matthew Jury, their solicitor at McCue Jury & Partners, said: “The news that pressure by the Trump administration has led to Andrew Tate, and his brother Tristan, being allowed to leave Romania by its authorities is equal parts disgusting and dismaying.”

He added: “The UK government knew this might happen more than a week ago. The fact that nothing seems to have been done to prevent it is concerning. One can only hope action will now be taken. Given that Prime Minister Starmer is in the US today to meet with President Trump, perhaps his team may take the opportunity to raise this issue.”

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Christopher Hughes: Eggheads star and former Mastermind and Brain of Britain winner dies

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Christopher Hughes: Eggheads star and former Mastermind and Brain of Britain winner dies

Christopher Hughes, who was one of the stars of the hit TV show Eggheads, has died.

Hughes was a member of the regular panel of quiz experts on the programme, which was first broadcast in 2003.

He passed away at his home in Crewe at the age of 77, according to reports.

Hughes was in the original line-up and joined the show more than 20 years ago after winning Mastermind and International Mastermind in 1983.

He was also crowned Brain of Britain in 2005.

The Eggheads programme wrote on social media: “It is with immense sadness that we announce the passing of Eggheads great Chris Hughes.

“Chris joined the show at the very start in 2003 and over the next 20 years gave us not only brilliant answers but very many laughs and happy memories.

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“He loved being an Egghead and will be hugely missed by all his Eggheads family.”

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‘An amazing Egghead’

Eggheads producer Robert Dean wrote on X: “Very sad to say that our brilliant Egghead Chris has sadly passed away. He was an amazing Egghead who considered everyone on the production team part of his family.

“I have such fond memories of him and count myself lucky to have known him. I’ll miss him tremendously.”

The general knowledge challenge programme began on the BBC before moving to Channel 5.

In the show, a team made up of members of the public tried to beat the “eggheads”.

If they were successful, they would take home a cash prize, and if not £1,000 would roll over to the next show.

The series was fronted by news presenter Dermot Murnaghan, before Radio 2 DJ and Channel 5 talk show host Jeremy Vine took over the role.

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