Anyone who lives in Japan and plays Final Fantasy 14 can net themselves in-game costumes or a shiba inu mount if they donate a certain amount of tax money.

Video games nowadays love to keep engagement up by offering players unique in-game items. Obviously, paid microtransactions, like skins in Fortnite, are the most common example but there’s usually plenty of freebies to be had as well.

Sometimes, it only requires booting the game up and participating in limited time events or completing a battle pass by a specific date. And sometimes, you get a free gift for it being your birthday or merely logging in.

Donating a portion of your own taxes might be the oddest example yet, but that’s exactly what Final Fantasy 14 players in Japan are being encouraged to do.

For the record, this doesn’t appear to be a scheme by Final Fantasy 14’s publisher, Square Enix, but rather the ward of Shibuya in the city of Tokyo.

In Japan, there’s something called a hometown tax where citizens can donate a portion of their taxes directly to a municipality. It doesn’t even need to be their hometown.

As a result, though, municipalities will offer rewards as incentive for donations. So in this case, the Shibuya ward is offering in-game items for Final Fantasy 14 that players would otherwise need to buy.

For example, this website lists three character costumes as requiring a donation of 7,000 yen (about £33) each, while the shiba inu mount can be acquired for 9,000 yen (about £42).

There is also a dance emote for 11,000 yen (about £52) and lastly a pack of five Fantasia potions (which let you edit your character’s appearance) for 17,000 yen (about £80).

If you’re thinking those prices seem awfully high, that’s because they are. On the Final Fantasy 14 store, those costumes are only £11.16 each, while the shiba inu mount is £13.80.

Emotes only cost anywhere from £1.15 to £4.20, while buying five Fantasia potions sets you back £28.75.

Anyone who just wants these items can save money just by purchasing them, rather than through the donation scheme. So, anyone who does donate is going to be mainly motivated by wanting to support the Shibuya ward rather than by the items themselves.

All this is being done with Square Enix’s permission, so you’d think the company would try to offer exclusive items to better encourage donations. Such a ploy, though, could risk inviting backlash from the player-base.

‘Final Fantasy 14 has deepened its ties with the local community through events held in Shibuya and other activities,’ reads a statement from Square Enix (via Famitsu).

‘Moving forward, we will continue to undertake various initiatives based in Shibuya, leveraging the characteristics of Shibuya as a hub of diverse cultures.’

Square Enix’s headquarters are based in Shinjuku, but it does have a Shibuya office, as well as a dedicated merchandise store called the Square Enix Garden.

Final Fantasy 14 also stands to see an influx of new players as the game will be launching for Nintendo Switch 2 in August, marking its first appearance on a Nintendo platform.

Square Enix recently expanded the free trial as well, allowing new players to experience not just the base game but its first three story expansions: Heavensward, Stormblood, and Shadowbringers.

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David Taylor described himself as ‘old fashioned villain’, with convictions dating back to 1977

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A prisoner who murdered a child-killer in his cell previously killed a young woman and tried to kill a police officer.

David Taylor, 64, has been convicted of two murders and an attempted murder, and could now face a whole life order.

The full details of his offending can now be reported in full for the first time after the lifting of reporting restrictions, and after his latest case concluded.

Taylor has admitted murdering 24-year-old Alisha Apostoloff-Boyarin, from Ashton, Greater Manchester.

Alisha was reported missing by her grandmother on February 2, 2022. She had last been seen eight days earlier, in a gold Volkswagen Passat, being driven through Derbyshire.

It has previously been said that her body has never been found, reports the M.E.N..

Her family issued several public appeals for help in finding her, but by March of that year they came to the conclusion that she had died.

More than two years later, in March 2024, Taylor was charged with her murder.

Months later, while in prison, Taylor told police that he had information about Alisha’s whereabouts.

But during an interview in July that year, Taylor suddenly produced an improvised weapon and stabbed Detective Constable Darren Bratby of Greater Manchester Police once to the chest.

DC Bratby spent four days in hospital but recovered. After being transferred out to HMP Wakefield, he then joined forces with fellow murderers Mark ‘The Iceman’ Fellows and Lee Newell to target child killer Kyle Bevan, 33.

The trio were caught on CCTV entering Bevan’s cell one by one. About five minutes later, they re-emerged.

Bevan never left the cell alive. He was only discovered the next morning, after his body had been convincingly placed to look as though he was asleep.

Taylor, Fellows and Newell were all found guilty of murder following a trial at Leeds Crown Court which ended today (June 18).

He had previously gone on trial at Manchester Crown Court in December last year for the attempted murder of DC Bratby, and then pleaded guilty to murdering Alisha at a hearing at the same court on February 16 this year.

Restrictions were imposed prohibiting reporting on those two cases until the conclusion of his case in Leeds.

Taylor will be sentenced for the two murders and attempted murder on Friday (June 19). The full circumstances surrounding Alisha’s murder have not yet been disclosed in open court.

Taylor answered questions about her in his attempted murder trial, when he still denied the offence.

Giving evidence, Taylor described himself as an ‘old fashioned villain’, with convictions dating back to 1977 when he was a teenager.

Describing a conviction for wounding, Taylor, originally from Glossop, said: “It was an after school brawl. I’ve always been a bit of a scrapper.”

He told how in his later life he came to live in Ashton-under-Lyne, Skegness, and then Durham in 2019. Taylor still had friends in Manchester, including one man named Norman who has since died, he said.

Taylor told the court that he knew Alisha through Norman. “She was Norman’s son’s girlfriend,” Taylor said “She phoned me up asking me for help. I went down, back to Ashton-under-Lyne.

“She stayed with me with her boyfriend in County Durham.”

Asked when was the last time he’d seen her, Taylor said “Probably 2021 or 22? She just got on with her life as far as I was concerned, that was it.”

He told how he was spoken to by police as a person of interest, and then a suspect.

“I told them everything I could to help them with the case,” he said.

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Addressing the attack on DC Bratby, Taylor said the weapon came from the ‘side of the chair’ in the interview room.

He told how he ‘retrieved it’ during a visit with his solicitor.

Taylor said: “I knew exactly where they are stashed. They are everywhere.” Asked why he attacked the police officer, Taylor said: “Because I’m angry, I’m enraged with what’s going on in my life.”

When he was asked what had been going through his head at the time, Taylor responded: “I just don’t know. I just snapped. I lost it, I lost my mind, I lost my nerve. I completely lost it.

“All I think is I’m being accused of something I haven’t done. It all came pouring out on that particular visit.”

Prosecutors said that in an exchange with the prison governor a few days later, Taylor said: “It was a planned attack and I went to f****** kill him. There’s no two ways about it.”

In the same exchange, Taylor said he had attacked the wrong officer.

He said: “Even though they were still major crime team, the one I wanted was a sergeant, their sergeant, and obviously he’s f****** not come up so I were kind of, I was kind of disheartened by that he wasn’t there. I just f******, I thought f*** it.”

Speaking of HMP Frankland, Taylor said: “There are weapons everywhere. You are living in a seriously violent environment. It was one of the most violent prisons I have ever encountered.”

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He claimed it was a ‘common thing’ for prisoners to have weapons. Taylor added: “You are talking about out of 100 people, you’re talking 80 per cent of those people either carry shanks or one in close proximity.”

Alisha’s family released a statement in March 2022 via police, which read: “Alisha has not been seen for several weeks.

“She has made no contact with any of her family, which is unheard of. Alisha lived with her great-granddad, who she adored, and would never be away from home for this long.

“We know in our hearts that someone has prevented Alisha from coming home to us and that she is no longer alive. Alisha’s world revolved around her family. She was a shy girl and did not socialise very much.

“She was only comfortable when she was at home. Not knowing where Alisha is, or what has happened to her, is torment and we cannot begin to describe the pain and anguish we feel at the moment.

“We just want Alisha home so we can lay her to rest and have some closure. We ask that anyone who has information as to where Alisha may be, or who is responsible for what has happened to her, to please contact the police.”

A three-year-old boy is in a serious but stable condition after an incident at Johnsons Zoo in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, as a 30-year-old man is arrested on suspicion of attempted murder

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A toddler aged three has been rushed to hospital after allegedly being ‘thrown into a crocodile enclosure’ at a zoo, with a 30 year old man subsequently taken into custody.

Officers were called to Johnsons of Old Hurst at 1.24pm following reports of a distressing incident involving the young boy, who ended up inside the crocodile enclosure at the popular family attraction near Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire.

The child suffered injuries after being attacked by a crocodile and was swiftly transported to hospital, where he is reported to be in a serious but stable condition, reports the Daily Star.

Det Insp Verity McCann, from Cambridgeshire Police, said: “At this stage we are speaking to people who were at the zoo at the time of this distressing incident to understand more about the circumstances.”

She added: “We do not believe the man arrested and the child are known to each other. Officers are supporting the boy’s family at hospital, and our thoughts remain with them.”

The 30 year old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

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Amaar Abid was originally spotted by police driving through a red light in a Volkswagen Golf on Alan Turning Way at around 1.20am on June 10, 2025.

After refusing to stop for police, the 28-year-old was pursued onto Hyde Road and then the M60, heading towards Oldham.

According to the force, the car was being driven erratically and slowed to a crawling pace while on the motorway.

Officers decided to stop the car with a rolling road block.

Amaar Abid has been jailed (Image: GMP)

However, in a last ditch attempt to avoid arrest, Abid then decided to turn and drive the wrong way down the M60, before police came into contact with the Golf and stopped it.

Abid, of Copster Hill Road, was sentenced to 38 weeks for dangerous driving at Manchester Magistrates Court on Wednesday (June 17).

He was also given an extended driving test and £154 fine.

PC Oliver Garner from the Roads Policing Unit said: “Amaar Abid’s actions that night showed a complete disregard for the safety of everyone else on the road.

“Not only did he fail to stop for officers, but he drove erratically on the motorway and ultimately made the reckless decision to drive the wrong way on the M60 in a desperate attempt to avoid arrest.

“Driving towards oncoming traffic on one of the region’s busiest motorways could very easily have resulted in life-changing consequences, causing serious injury or even loss of life”

“Thanks to the professionalism and quick decision-making of our officers, the pursuit was brought to a safe conclusion and Abid was taken into custody before anyone was harmed”

“We will continue to take robust action against those who choose to put the public at risk through dangerous driving. Our roads must be safe for everyone, and offenders who endanger lives can expect to face the full consequences of their actions.”

The “backshift” are heading stateside to join around 50,000 other foot soldiers for the Morocco game on Friday.

The moment passionate Scotland fans belted out Flower of Scotland on a flight from London to Boston has been captured on camera.

The Tartan Army are still flying high after last week’s 1-0 victory over Haiti during Scotland’s World Cup opening match when John McGinn sparked mass celebrations on both sides of the pond with a stunning strike.

Scotland fans flying to the US for the second match against Morocco on Friday were in high spirits after boarding an American Airlines flight from London Heathrow to Boston.

One Scottish passenger stood up on the plane and began to lead the national anthem.

The man is seen standing up as he belts out Flower of Scotland, which is being piped by another passenger walking proudly up and down the aisle.

The whole plane bursts into song alongside the enthusiastic supporter, while an excited flight attendant can be seen videoing the joyful scene.

The clip has attracted more than one hundred comments from folks on both sides of the pond.

One wrote: “The backshift are arriving. Love to see it!” while another wrote: “We’re getting more Scots?! Yaaassss!” and a third penned: “Bet the air stewards loved this. So proud of my country. Small nation with massive hearts.”

A fourth enthused: “Second shift! We’re ready for ya!” while a fifth couldn’t contain their excitement, commenting: “Welcome! We look forward to your shenanigans and are rooting for a win! Go Scotland!”

The football fans on board are heading to join around 50,000 other Scotland fans in the host city for the Morocco game, which takes place on Friday, June 19 at Boston’s Gillette Stadium.

Scotland stands on the brink of World Cup history as a win over Morocco would get us out of Group C and qualifying for the next round of the global tournament.

Scotland’s win over Haiti means Steve Clarke’s men stand just a point from guaranteeing knockout football for the first time ever.

The three we currently have could well be enough to send us through as one of the better third-placed sides but it would be leaving a lot to chance.

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A 22-year-old man has died in a crash in Pembrokeshire. Dyfed-Powys Police is investigating a two-vehicle collision on the A4075 between Canaston Bridge and Yerbeston, that occurred at around 6.20pm on Wednesday, 17th June.

The collision involved a grey Kia Sorento and a white Yamaha motorcycle.

Tragically, the 22-year-old male motorcyclist died at the scene. A 22-year-old female pillion passenger of the motorcycle was taken to hospital where she remains.

Next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers.

The driver of the Kia Sorento, a 60-year-old man, did not sustain injuries.

The road remains closed for a collision investigation to take place, and motorists are advised to avoid the area and find alternative routes.

Investigating officers would like to speak to any motorists who were travelling along the A4075 at the relevant time, or anyone who has dash cam in their vehicles.

Almost every sector of the economy has been hit by Brexit, according to a new analysis which warns that some of the proposals for closer ties with the European Union would do little to repair the damage.

Researchers at the Centre for European Reform think tank found exports of chemicals and pharmaceuticals have fallen by 21 per cent since the UK left the EU, while those classed as “agrifood” are down 29 per cent.

The report argues that many of the economic costs of Brexit stem from Britain’s departure from the bloc’s single market, suggesting recent calls for a new customs union with the EU would only have a limited impact.

Almost ten years on from the Brexit vote, the experts urge politicians not to risk repeating the mistakes of that era by pursuing “options that are either unavailable on the terms they envisage, or… unlikely to contribute meaningfully to economic growth”.

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The findings come amid a growing debate over what the UK’s relationship with the EU should look like.

While calls for a customs union have gained support among some politicians and business groups, the researchers argue that rejoining the single market would do more to boost trade and economic growth.

Such a move, however, would likely involve a return to freedom of movement and substantial contributions to the EU’s Budget – both of which would be politically fraught.

But the scale of the challenge is laid bare in the report, which found that Brexit “has reduced trade in nearly every sector of the UK economy”.

When it comes to services, for example, the travel industry is down 39 per cent, while financial services exports have fallen 24 per cent.

Total UK exports to the EU have fallen by about 12 per cent and total imports by about 16 per cent. And, overall, the losses amount to a reduction in Britain’s world-wide exports of 5 per cent and imports of 8 per cent.

Both of Keir Starmer’s main rivals Andy Burnham and Wes Streeting have said they want the UK to rejoin the EU one day.

Before then, however, discussions about what a much closer relationship would look like are “happening behind closed doors”, the authors of the report John Springford and Anton Spisak said.

They identify three main options for stronger links – a customs union, rejoining the single market in goods or returning to the single market in full.

The appeal of a customs union is that it would reduce barriers to trade in goods without requiring freedom of movement, they suggest.

However, the report warns the economic benefits would be limited.

The Treasury has been approached for comment.

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Millions of Brits are being warned to prepare for a spell of dangerously hot weather worse than the May heatwave, with government health alerts coming into force this evening and lasting until Monday

Brits are staring down the barrel of a dangerously hot spell due to start in the next few hours and last into next week, the UK government has warned.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued amber health alerts for heat as Met Office forecasters warned of a heatwave more severe than the one in May. Millions living in London, the south-east, south-west and east of England fall under the health alerts, which come into force on Thursday afternoon until 8pm on Tuesday June 23.

The amber alert means “significant impacts are likely across health and social care services due to the high temperatures including a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions. There may also be impacts on younger age groups,” the agency warned.

Among other risks, the warning said the heat could also impact “the ability of the workforce to deliver services” in the affected areas as temperatures are likely to rise into the mid 30s. The east and west midlands are also subject to yellow health alerts for heat meaning they may also see impacts on services as a result of the roasting temperatures.

The government warnings come as forecasters have warned of an incoming high pressure system that will leave much of the country “feeling increasingly hot with temperatures well above the June average.” Temperatures are expected to reach the high 20s Celsius quite widely, with the potential for 32°C to be reached in the south of England on Sunday and potentially 34°C or higher on Monday, the Met Office has said. Conditions will remain noticeably humid as the heat increases with an increased risk of thunderstorms.

Met Office meteorologist Honor Criswick said: “It’s a bit different to the last heatwave, because last time the humidity wasn’t as high, whereas this time the humidity is quite a bit higher. It’s just going to make it feel that bit muggier and that bit more humid during the day and overnight as well, so it just means it’s going to be more uncomfortable, the heat itself.”

She added: “Because the humidity is so high, there’s a chance that this could potentially spark off some thunderstorms. It’s always tricky with thunderstorms, because they could pop up pretty much anywhere, particularly across central, southern, south-east parts of England.

“But wherever they do hit, it’s probably going to be quite an intense, heavy downpour for a time with some rumbles of thunder, some sparks of lightning, but exactly where they’ll be is a tricky one to forecast at the moment.” While it is not yet known when the heat will subside, it is likely to be prolonged over the weekend and for at least the first part of next week, Ms Criswick said.

A record-breaking heatwave last month saw May 26 become the hottest May day on record for both England and Wales, with 35.1C recorded at Kew Gardens and 32.9C at Cardiff Bute Park. According to the forecaster, a heatwave is defined as three consecutive days with daily maximum temperatures meeting or exceeding the heatwave temperature threshold.

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The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) heat health alerts also warn of the danger of water‑related incidents, including risks from cold‑water shock and drowning.

During the previous record-breaking heatwave , from May 24 to 31, the UK saw a horrifying death toll of 19 children and adults killed in water related incidents during one week. In response the Mirror launched our ‘Save Lives for Sam’ campaign to stop the “catastrophic” deaths of 33 children who drown in England every year – “the equivalent of a classroom of children lost”.

Bereaved families, Olympic legends and safety organisations have joined together to call on the Government to take five key steps to save young lives across the country.

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People heading to the coast in the coming days should be mindful that sea-surface temperatures are not as high as they would be in mid-summer, the Met Office warned. Samantha Hughes is the National Water Safety Partner at the RNLI. She said: “With warmer weather approaching, it’s important to remember that the water is still cold. Entering it unexpectedly can lead to cold water shock, causing a sudden increase in breathing and heart rate, which may trigger panic.

“If you find yourself struggling in the water, remember to Float to Live: tilt your head back so your ears are submerged, relax and control your breathing. You may need to gently use your hands to help you stay afloat, and it’s ok if your legs sink—everyone floats differently.

“Where possible, always choose a lifeguarded beach, and swim between the red and yellow flags. In a coastal emergency remember to call 999 for the coastguard.”

At ten years old, some children may still struggle to tie their shoelaces or use a knife and fork properly. Yet under the law of England and Wales, a child of this age is old enough to be held criminally responsible for their actions. This is the age at which, in the eyes of the justice system, childhood effectively ends. But there could soon be a chance to bring this law into line with that of other comparable nations.

The current age of criminal responsibility sits in stark contrast with other legal protections we afford to children. Prime minister Keir Starmer’s announcement of a planned social media ban for under-16s from spring 2027 is a potent example of this.

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UK under-16 social media ban: what parents need to know

Under-18s in England and Wales cannot purchase vape products or alcohol. They cannot marry or vote, and they must be 17 to drive. Society has constructed these protections on sound developmental logic: children are not yet adults and the law should reflect that.

The recently published youth justice white paper, which sets out the government’s strategy on young people in the criminal justice system, stated that the government will assess the age of criminal responsibility in England and Wales. But it has made no firm commitment to raise it.

England and Wales have the lowest age of criminal responsibility in Europe, alongside Switzerland. In the Republic of Ireland children can be held criminally liable from 12, while in Croatia it is 14, along with Germany, Italy and Spain. In Denmark, Norway and Sweden it is 15, and it is 16 in Portugal.

The United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child has long called for an absolute minimum age of 14, and Scotland raised its age of criminal responsibility from eight to 12 in 2021. Northern Ireland is facing renewed calls to raise the age to 16 following a previous consultation on raising the age from ten in in 2022.

Politicians have dismissed calls for reform by claiming there is no public appetite for change. But leading justice figures have since come out in support of the proposed amendment to the crime and policing bill, due to come into force on June 29 2026. This would raise the criminal age of responsibility to 14.

Raising it to at least 14 appears to have widespread support among the UK public. Crucially, this was consistent across the political spectrum – suggesting it is seen as a question of basic child protection.

What neuroscience tells us

Knowledge of adolescent brain development has advanced considerably in recent decades. A substantial body of research demonstrates that children have developmentally immature brains. Experts can also say with confidence that the brain does not reach full maturation until after the age of 30.

The adolescent brain is characterised by heightened impulsivity, reduced capacity to consider consequences, and heightened emotional reactivity. These traits are neurologically normal, not moral failings. But the intersection of childhood, responsibility and serious violence exposes the deep complexities within youth justice.

Taking victims’ experiences seriously and questioning a system that criminalises children at a younger age than most comparable democracies are not competing goals. A mature justice system can – and must – do both.

But by and large, children who end up in England and Wales’s youth justice system are not budding criminals. Around 66% of children in custody have experience of the care system, and 80% have special educational needs or disabilities.

Around half come from racial minority backgrounds, and research shows that racial disparities begin early – with school exclusions and at the point where decisions are made about whether to divert children away from the justice system. The vast majority of children who have come into contact with the justice system have been excluded from school.

These are children who have been let down by services such as education, healthcare and social care. And any racial disparities they might face compound every stage of this process.

À lire aussi :
Black detainees twice as likely as white detainees to be strip-searched in police custody – new study

Young offender institutions have been condemned as sites of institutionalised abuse. Children can be held in isolation for 22 hours a day, while educational provision is inadequate and rehabilitative support is minimal.

As researchers focused on children and young people at the Institute for Children’s Futures at Manchester Metropolitan University, we bring together legal expertise and criminological insight in the study of children, society and the law. We argue that England and Wales must raise the age of criminal responsibility to 12 as a minimum, with a serious ambition to reach 14 in line with the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child recommendations from 2023.

This means diverting children away from criminal justice processes and towards the health, education and social support they need. Raising the age of criminal responsibility is not only better for children – it produces better outcomes for victims and society too, with evidence showing that diversion from the formal justice system reduces reoffending far more effectively than early criminalisation.

This is not because children should face no consequences for harmful behaviour – they should. But the system as it currently exists does not rehabilitate, it harms. And no child, whatever they have done, deserves to be processed through a machine that was never designed with their wellbeing in mind.

There could also be impacts on younger age groups

A heat health alert has been upgraded for Cambridgeshire, with temperatures expected to reach up to 28C this week. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued an amber heat health alert for the East of England.

This will begin at around 12pm on June 18. Cambridgeshire isn’t the only area impacted – surrounding areas such as Essex and Norfolk also have a heat health alert in place.

It will last for about five days until 8pm on June 23, which is next Tuesday. UKHSA says there could be a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions. There may also be impacts on younger age groups.

The Met Office says of this time period: “Mostly fine with some sunshine. Turning very warm or locally hot, and feeling humid. Winds remain light and variable. Maximum temperature 30c.

“Changeable on Saturday with some spells and showers moving erratically eastwards. Perhaps drier with warm sunny spells Sunday and Monday with temperatures climbing.”