A commissioned initial strategic assessment into a potential bid for the 2040s, led by UK Sport, will examine whether the UK could host the Games again following the success of London 2012 and whether a northern bid could deliver major regeneration and economic growth.

The assessment will examine factors including potential costs, the socioeconomic benefits of hosting and the likelihood of a successful bid.

Ministers say the move is part of a wider effort to use major sporting events and facilities to boost local economies, strengthen communities and enhance the UK’s global appeal.

This comes after The Great North, a group of mayors and leaders across the North, have kicked off their campaign with a joint letter to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, calling on the Government to pledge to back any potential future bids being based in the north for “a fairer redistribution of major events across the country”.

In the letter, The Great North, which is chaired by North East mayor Kim McGuinness, also ask the Government to work with them and support proportionate feasibility and preparatory work.

Kim McGuinness says the North has the passion and the sporting pride to deliver a world-class Olympic and Paralympic Games (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Ms McGuinness said: “From our great cities and towns to our coastlines and countryside, the North has the venues, the passion and the sporting pride to deliver a world-class Olympic and Paralympic Games that showcases the very best of Great Britain to the world. 

  “A Great North Olympics would be a global showcase, leaving a legacy of prosperity, unity and renewal.

“It’s an opportunity not to be missed, delivering transformational investment in transport, regeneration and public spaces across the North of England. This could become the most people-powered Games ever hosted – inspiring millions of people into sport, volunteering and community action. 

“Mayors and leaders across the North have made the case to Government, and I’m delighted ministers and sporting bodies are now exploring how we could turn this ambition into a reality.

“We stand ready to work together to develop a credible, deliverable vision that can make the case to the International Olympic Committee.” 

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said London 2012 had demonstrated the transformative potential of the Olympics but that the North had long been overlooked as a potential host.

She added: “London 2012 showed what the Olympics can do for our country. It inspired a generation through sport, attracted huge investment and showed the best of Britain to the world.

Fireworks at Tower Bridge in central London to mark the start of the London 2012 Olympic Games. (Image: PA)

“But while the North of England has driven so much sporting excellence, no matter the talent we produce, the sporting moments we create, and the world-class events we attract – for too long we have been told the Olympics is simply too big and too important to be hosted in the North.

“Not any more. It’s time the Olympics came North and we showed what we can offer to the world. I couldn’t be more pleased to announce that we’re starting the firing gun on a long overdue vote of confidence in the North.”

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said sport could play a central role in boosting economic growth.

She said: “Britain’s sporting prowess is recognised and respected around the world. It’s something we are determined to capitalise on to breathe life into our communities and build a stronger and more secure economy.

“That’s why we’re throwing our full support behind bringing the Games back home which will boost our Northern Growth Corridor. It’s also why we’re backing stadium regeneration plans, like at Elland Road, to deliver new homes, business opportunities and public spaces in Leeds and beyond.”

The plans form part of a wider government push to use sport as a catalyst for regeneration in towns and cities.

A new Stadium Regeneration Accelerator programme will work with sporting bodies on priority sports infrastructure projects that could unlock housing, jobs, apprenticeships, transport improvements and community sports facilities.

The programme will not provide direct funding for stadium redevelopment but will seek to remove barriers to large scale development by working with sports organisations and investors.

Government departments including DCMS, HM Treasury, the Office for Investment and the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government will collaborate with organisations such as the Premier League, the English Football League and the Women’s Super League.

Projects across England being considered include proposals in Greater Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle, Leeds, Liverpool and London, with ministers saying they could help drive regeneration in surrounding areas.

The mum couldn’t quite believe her shock when it took her 33 years to finally learn this trick at the arcade and now she had to share it with others who had no idea

There’s nothing better than visiting the seaside at the weekend. You stop for a quick fish and chips, possibly have a drink at the pub and end your day with a lovely stroll along the beach front.

Of course some people might make sure there’s a trip to the arcade in there somewhere. While the games can be addictive and super fun to play, they’re not always easy to win anything, let alone big money. Now one woman revealed it took her 33 years to learn this little trick with the penny pushers which might boost your chances of victory once and for all.

In an Instagram post with her 8,500 followers, Emily wrote: “How has it taken me 33 years of living in a seaside town to learn this hack?”

The mum also captioned the post: “Good job we live near the best arcades in the world – @llandudnopier.” The clip shows the mum popping in a few coins at once to multiply her chances of pennies dropping to the bottom.

Often when you play this game, you’d use one coin at a time and hope for the best but with Emily’s method, she’s taking a risk and it’s safe to say it paid off. You can also try this method with the 10p pusher game.

Llandudno Pier, which is located on the North Shore promenade of Conwy, is the longest pier in Wales. There are two arcades located at the pier, Leisure Island and The Deck Arcade, both packed with iconic games.

There’s also a prize shop at Leisure Island where you can exchange your tickets for anything ranging from sweets, board games to plush toys and more.

Winning big in a 2p pusher doesn’t come easy, but there specific ways of boosting your chances.

How to double your chance of winning at the arcade:

Claw machines are notoriously difficult to win anything with one expert recently sharing their best tips.

You could begin by targeting the limbs and focusing on the smaller parts of the toys where you really win.

The expert claimed in order to get the best grab, it’s important for the claw to completely close around the plush, like the head.

Secondly nail the technique, you could try the “swinging” method to alter the rotation of the claw.

You’l need to manoeuvring the joystick in a swinging motion, you can position the claw directly over the smaller part of the toy’s body.

And finally before you even think about victory, make sure you pick the right toy.

President Donald Trump ranted about Republican Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, calling him a “disloyal disaster” and a “terrible guy” before polls closed in a contentious primary election to keep control of his seat.

The president lashed out at Cassidy in a Truth Social post shared Saturday morning as polls opened across the state. Hours later, Cassidy was defeated.

“Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana is a disloyal disaster,” Trump wrote. “His entire past campaign for the Senate was about ‘TRUMP,’ how he’s with me all the way, and then, after winning, he turned around and voted to IMPEACH me for something that has now proven to be total ‘bulls***!’”

“He knew that at the time, but didn’t care,” the president added. “Bill Cassidy is a sleazebag, a terrible guy, who is BAD FOR LOUISIANA. Now he’s going to get CLOBBERED, hopefully, in today’s BIG election, by two great people!!!”

Cassidy faced two other GOP candidates — including Trump-endorsed Representative Julia Letlow — in Louisiana’s Republican primary.

Cassidy was among the seven GOP senators who voted to convict Trump in 2021 during his impeachment trial over the January 6 Capitol attack. Trump was ultimately acquitted after 57 Senators voted to convict, three short of the supermajority needed to convict.

Last month, Cassidy told NBC News that his 2021 vote “might be” a liability in the primary election. But he said he has been trying to emphasize his working relationship with the president.

“If you want somebody who works well with President Trump, you vote for Bill Cassidy. He may not like me, but he has signed into law four bills that I either wrote or negotiated in the last four months,” Cassidy told The Washington Post.

Trump urged Louisiana residents to vote for Letlow, calling her a “winner who will NEVER let you down.” Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry also joined Trump in endorsing Letlow earlier this year.

The congresswoman first took office in 2021 following a special election to replace her husband, who initially won the seat in 2020 but died from COVID-19 complications just days before his swearing in.

Cassidy’s defeat marked the first time an incumbent senator lost a primary election in more than 10 years.

The senator, who has also worked as a physician, was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2008 and won his first Senate race in 2014.

“I’m focused on the now and the future,” he told NBC News last month. “If you want somebody delivering for our state, to make Louisiana a place where people move to set down roots, raise their children and grandchildren, I’m your guy.”

The Independent has requested comment from Cassidy’s campaign.

The DWP has the power to deduct money from Universal Credit payments for a number of reasons, including to pay for rent arrears or benefits overpayments

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has published the complete list of 27 grounds for imposing Universal Credit benefit sanctions.

Universal Credit is a means-tested benefit that was initially launched in the UK to supersede the previous benefits system in 2013. By 2018, all new claimants were obliged to apply for UC, while those already receiving legacy benefits continued to receive their existing awards.

The DWP holds the authority to reduce Universal Credit payments for various reasons, including to recover rent arrears or benefits overpayments. According to the DWP website, money can be deducted from your Universal Credit payments to cover things such as:

• Child maintenance
• Court fines
• Rent arrears
• Overpayments or arrears from tax credits, Council Tax, Housing Benefit, Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), and Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• Utility debts, like electricity, gas and water

However, deductions cannot be made from elements such as your child allowance, childcare and housing costs, reports the Manchester Evening News.

The Government department outlines 27 grounds for reducing Universal Credit payments specifically through benefit sanctions.

This occurs when the DWP believes you have not fulfilled everything you committed to do as part of your ‘claimant commitments’ – resulting in a reduction to your payment.

Examples of why a claimant might face sanctions include missing an interview, voluntarily leaving employment and not applying for jobs.

On the GOV.UK website, it confirms that claimants must ensure they fully understand all the requirements they must meet to receive Universal Credit, and the consequences if they fail to complete one or more of their work-related activities. It also states that ensuring your claimant commitment remains current by reporting any changes to your circumstances is essential.

Below is the complete list of 27 reasons for Universal Credit benefit sanctions from May 2016 to the present day, along with the number of sanctions issued for each reason.

Full list of 27 reasons for Universal Credit benefit sanctions

• Failure to Attend or Participate in a Mandatory Interview: 578,758
• Failed to comply with an interview requirement: 567,776
• Availability for Work: 32,264
• Employment Programmes: 22,053
• Failed to participate in an employment programme: 21,917
• Failed to undertake all work search action: 21,639
• Reason for leaving previous employment: 9,538
• Failed to comply with a work focused interview requirement: 8,738
• Left work voluntarily: 5,968
• Failed to undertake particular specific work preparation action: 5,436
• Lost work because of misconduct: 3,563
• Failed to apply for a job: 3,519
• Failed to comply with an interview requirement self employed: 2,243
• Other: 1,429
• Failed to undertake particular specific work search action: 1,099
• Lost pay voluntarily: 726
• Loss of pay through misconduct: 437
• Failed to accept an offer of paid work: 300
• Failed to maintain a CV: 238
• Failed to be available to take up work: 182
• Failed to attend skills assessment: 90
• Failed to participate in training: 81
• Failed to participate in work experience or work placement: 52
• Failed to comply with requirement to provide evidence or confirm compliance: 21
• Failed to comply with requirement to report specified change in circumstances relevant to work related requirements: 8
• Failed to improve personal presentation: 7
• Unknown: 5

Conor McGregor will return to action for the first time in five years when he faces Max Holloway in a welterweight bout at UFC 329 in Las Vegas on 11 July.

The 37-year-old Irishman has not fought since breaking his leg in defeat by Dustin Poirier in 2021.

He was scheduled to return against American Michael Chandler in 2024 but pulled out just over two weeks prior to the bout after breaking his toe.

The fight with Holloway is a rematch of their featherweight bout in 2013, which McGregor won on points.

Holloway, 34, is a difficult return opponent for McGregor as the Hawaiian has consistently competed at the highest level at lightweight in recent years.

One of the biggest MMA stars in history, McGregor has 22 wins and six defeats since making his debut in 2008.

McGregor was the UFC’s first simultaneous two-weight world champion after winning titles at featherweight in 2015 and lightweight in 2016 but his career has been dogged by controversy in recent years.

Last year he accepted an 18-month ban for violating the UFC’s anti-doping policy after missing three drugs tests within a 12-month period in 2024.

The ban, which was backdated to the date of the third missed test in September 2024, concluded in March.

McGregor has been tested eleven times, external by Combat Sports Anti-Doping (CSAD) this year, which is more than any other fighter on the UFC’s roster.

Expert evidence was heard at Preston Crown Court in the trial of high school teacher Jamie Varley, 37, who adopted Preston Davey along with his partner, John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32.

Dr Joanne Gifford, an expert in child sexual abuse and clinical lead for the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, told the jury that Preston had sustained multiple injuries during the four months he lived with the couple.

She said: “The injuries are clinical signs of sexual abuse, more than one occasion.”

Her 173-page report detailed around 40 trauma injuries, including internal and external injuries including tears and lacerations, with “in excess” of 30 bruises across his body.

Preston was born on June 16, 2022, and taken into care by Oldham Council. He was placed with foster parents at five days old.

In April 2023, when he was 10 months old, he was adopted by Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley.

It is alleged Preston was routinely ill-treated, had indecent images and videos taken of him and was sexually abused and physically assaulted.

Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley deny all charges.

The court heard that Preston was taken to Blackpool Victoria Hospital three times before his death.

He died after being taken to A&E at around 6.30pm on July 27, 2023.

Varley told police he left Preston in the bath for three or four minutes and returned to find him submerged.

Despite nearly an hour of resuscitation attempts, Preston could not be saved.

Dr Alison Armour, a Home Office pathologist, ruled out drowning as the cause of death.

She concluded the cause of death was an upper airway obstruction, leading to Preston’s collapse by a deliberate act of smothering, or an object or objects inserted into his mouth.

Dr Gifford said there had been three previous “near miss” episodes where Preston was in critical condition.

The court heard of a 29-second video allegedly found on Varley’s phone, showing Preston in distress and struggling to breathe.

Another video allegedly from the same phone, recorded about 90 minutes before Preston was taken to hospital, showed him in a babygrow on a bed, displaying what Dr Gifford described as “extreme respiratory distress.”

She told the court: “Clinically I watched that and I wanted to resuscitate him immediately, he looks terminal in that video.

“There are parts of not breathing. Gasping. I would describe as agonal gasp.

“He’s a child in that video who needs to be resuscitated.”

Dr Gifford identified nine facial bruises and one on Preston’s chin prior to his death.

Dr Gifford said the sheer number of bruises and the fact they often appeared in clusters and patterns suggestive of “grip-type” marks was indicative of physical abuse.

Dr Gifford told the jury it was not “clinically remotely plausible” they could be accidental.

She also discussed a video where Varley “jump scared” Preston by shouting “Boo!” as the child was falling asleep. Other footage reportedly showed the child left alone in a bath for 14 minutes.

“They are hard videos to watch,” she said, “They are a child having unpleasant experiences.”

Varley denies murder, manslaughter, two counts of assault by penetration, five counts of cruelty to a child, grievous bodily harm, sexual assault of a child, 13 counts of taking indecent photos or videos of a child, one of distributing an indecent photo of a child, to his co-accused, and one of making an indecent photo.

McGowan-Fazakerley denies allowing the death of a child, three counts of child cruelty and one count of the sexual assault of a child.

The trial has been adjourned until Monday next week.

Running from June 6 to June 14, Tadcaster Creates will transform public spaces with exhibitions, workshops and performances designed to make art accessible to all.

The programme includes displays in shop windows, open studios, hands-on sessions and pop-up performances.

Beth Elsdon, of Beth Elsdon Art, said: “There is such a vibrant creative community in Tadcaster and giving people a platform to showcase their work is so important.

“Raising the profile of our high street and business community is vital for its survival, even more so in difficult economic times.”

A key feature of the festival is a strand led by Tadcrafters, a community interest company celebrating its 10th anniversary.

Tadcrafters repurpose donated materials into items for charity and will host an exhibition at 43 Kirkgate along with practical workshops and skills-sharing sessions during the festival.

Su Morgan, founder of Tadcrafters, said: “We’ve been lobbying for an Arts Centre in Tadcaster for some time, and it’s still yet to happen.

“In the meantime, we’ve taken matters into our own hands – and made the whole town our arts centre.”

Maldivian authorities on Saturday suspended the search for the bodies of four Italian divers believed to be deep inside an underwater cave, after a military diver died during a perilous mission to try to reach them.

The group of five Italian divers is thought to have perished on Thursday after exploring a cave at a depth of approximately 50m (160ft) in Vaavu Atoll, according to Italy’s Foreign Ministry. This depth significantly exceeds the Maldives’ recreational diving limit of 30m.

One body – belonging to instructor Gianluca Benedetti – has already been recovered.

Mohamed Mahudhee, a member of the Maldivian National Defence Force, succumbed to underwater decompression sickness. He was transferred to a hospital in the capital, where he later died, Maldives presidential spokesperson Mohammed Hussain Shareef confirmed.

“The death goes to show the difficulty of the mission,” he said.

Earlier, Mr Shareef said the searchers had prepared a plan based on their progress exploring the cave on Friday. Mahudhee was part of the group that briefed Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu on the rescue plan when he visited the search site on Friday.

Rough weather has repeatedly hampered rescue efforts.

Italian foreign minister, Antonio Tajani, said everything possible would be done to bring the victims home. His ministry stated it was coordinating with Divers Alert Network, a specialist diving organization, to support recovery operations and the repatriation of the bodies. The cause of the deaths remains under investigation.

The victims have been identified as Monica Montefalcone, an associate professor of ecology at the University of Genoa; her daughter, Giorgia Sommacal; marine biologist Federico Gualtieri; researcher Muriel Oddenino; and diving instructor Benedetti, according to the Maldivian government.

Benedetti’s body was recovered on Thursday.

Montefalcone and Oddenino were in the Maldives on an official scientific mission to monitor marine environments and study the effects of climate change on tropical biodiversity, the University of Genoa said in a statement Friday. However, the scuba diving activity during which the deadly accident occurred was not part of the planned research and was “undertaken privately,” it said.

The statement also said the two other victims – student Sommacal and recent graduate Gualtieri – were not involved in the scientific mission.

Cave diving is a highly technical and dangerous activity that requires specialised training, equipment and strict safety protocols. Risks increase sharply in environments where divers cannot head straight up and at depth, particularly when conditions are poor. Experts say it’s easy to become disoriented or lost inside caves, particularly as sediment clouds can sharply reduce visibility.

Diving at 50m also exceeds the maximum depth recommended for recreational divers by most major established scuba certifying agencies, with depths beyond 40m considered technical diving and requiring specialized training and equipment.

Mr Shareef said Benedetti’s body was found near the mouth of the cave and authorities believed the remaining four had entered the cave.

Two Italians, a deep-sea rescue expert and a cave diving expert, are expected to join the recovery effort, Mr Shareef said.

Italian officials said that around 20 other Italians on the same expedition aboard the vessel “Duke of York” were safe. Italy’s embassy in Colombo was providing assistance to those onboard and had contacted the Red Crescent, which offered to deploy volunteers to help provide psychological aid.

The Maldives tourism ministry said it has suspended the operating license of the “Duke of York” pending an investigation.

The Italian foreign ministry said the cave is divided into three large chambers connected by narrow passages. Recovery teams explored two of the three chambers on Friday, but the search was limited due to considerations over oxygen and decompression.

On Saturday, they will explore the third chamber, the ministry added.

Italian officials and the honorary consul are in contact with the victims’ families to provide assistance.

Sir John Major, the former prime minister, agreed with Matt Chorley on BBC Radio 5 Live, that voters wanted quick and easy answers to complicated problems. “I’m afraid we do, and that is because nobody is telling us we can’t have that,” he said. “Governments have lost the capacity, it seems, to say no. And part of the job of politics is to say, no.”

It’s a symptom of modern life for many people

A surgeon has shared one of the worst things you can do for your joints every day. When people think about protecting their joints, they often assume the answer is extreme exercise, strict diets or expensive supplements.

But according to cartilage and joint preservation specialist Professor Paul Lee, one of the worst things many people are doing to their joints every day is sitting still for hours at a time. Modern office life, long commutes and working from home have dramatically changed how people move throughout the day.

Many now spend eight, 10 or even 12 hours largely stationary, often without realising the effect this can quietly have on their joints over time. Professor Lee said the issue is not about blaming people or calling them lazy – he believes that kind of messaging is completely unhelpful.

He added: “We should not make people feel guilty for modern working patterns. Humans were simply not designed to stay still for 10 hours a day. Modern office life may be starving our joints quietly. Not because people are lazy, but because the body evolved around regular low-level movement.”

Unlike muscles, cartilage behaves very differently biologically.

Professor Lee continued: “Cartilage has no direct blood supply; it feeds from joint fluid. If we sit still all day, that fluid circulation slows down.

“Cartilage behaves more like a sponge than a muscle. Movement helps compress and release the joint, allowing nutrients to circulate.”

This means joints rely heavily on regular and gentle movement to stay biologically active and healthy. Professor Lee stressed that this does not mean people suddenly need to become fitness fanatics.

He added: “You do not need to become a marathon runner. But your joints do need movement to stay biologically active.”

In many cases, simply standing up more regularly throughout the day could help.

Professor Lee continued: “Your joints are biologically designed for gentle movement. Standing up regularly may help ‘feed’ the cartilage cells fresh nutrients and energy.”

The message around joint health has become too extreme and overly simplistic, he added. Many people assume they are either “healthy” because they exercise intensely a few times a week or “unhealthy” because they sit at a desk job.

But joint biology is often more subtle than that. Sitting at your desk all day is not necessarily damaging in itself and, in some cases, may even temporarily protect cartilage from excessive physical stress or impact.

The problem is prolonged stillness without enough low-level movement throughout the day. Professor Lee said people should stop thinking about exercise only in terms of gym sessions and instead focus more on how regularly they move.

He added: “The body responds very well to small, consistent movement. The issue is not whether somebody runs marathons. The issue is whether the joints are being stimulated often enough to maintain healthy biological function.”