An election gimmick calling for price controls is asking for trouble, says Record View.
Basket case plan doesn’t check out
High school pupils currently studying for their Nat 5 exam in economics could have warned John Swinney of the perils of the state dictating price controls. The First Minister is right to want to do more to ease the cost-of-living crisis which continues to hammer household budgets.
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But state intervention on how much shops can charge for everyday items like bread or milk is asking for trouble. As a student of political history, the SNP leader should be aware of the mess Ted Heath’s Tory government found itself in during the early 70s when it introduced price controls across the UK in a desperate bid to reduce inflation.
The sums didn’t add up then and they don’t look any better in 2026. The independent Institute of Fiscal Studies yesterday warned that price controls could have the unintended consequence of creating shortages on supermarket shelves.
If prices for basic items such as bread are set above the market average, the policy is toothless. But if prices are set below, the sober-minded IFS warns this “radical and risky” position could cause havoc.
Given the polling lead commanded by the SNP with three weeks until the Holyrood election, it’s incredible that senior party figures agreed on such a bonkers policy. They might have no intention of seeing it through, and instead view it as a pleasing distraction from their decidedly patchy domestic record in office since 2007.
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But it’s now caused many Scots to question whether the party can be trusted to run the economy.
In his latest foray to Scotland, Nigel Farage has chosen to treat us to his views on independence. The Reform UK leader said IndyRef2 would be “quite reasonable” if the issue becomes “relevant” in future.
He said he remains opposed to independence but said he cannot predict how people will feel about the issue in 20 years’ time. The reality is Farage cares not a jot about Scotland and his views about independence are irrelevant.
He is no fan of the Scottish Parliament and would scrap the Barnett Formula, which provides Holyrood with a funding boost, in a heartbeat. Independence is a live issue north of the border but it is the people of Scotland whose views count.
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Farage is nothing more than an occasional day tripper whose bar room outbursts should be ignored. He is a menace and voters across the UK should give him the cold shoulder.
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Magdalene Robertson believes Emma Caldwell killer Iain Packer had more victims and even struck while on holiday abroad
A woman raped by Iain Packer at the age of 15 believes his reign of terror extended to holiday hotspots abroad including the USA and Spain.
Magdalene Robertson has even contacted the FBI in America with her concerns.
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Packer is serving life for the murder of Emma Caldwell and the rape and sexual assault of 22 other women, including Magdalene.
She says he visited Florida several times over the years including trips with his family on Boxing Day.
Magdalene gave the FBI a statement after contacting them in 2024 about Packer’s vacations in the Sunshine State.
She said:”You don’t be a serial rapist and sexual offender and say, I’m on holiday from that. Your habits go with you.
“For anything, you feel a bit more relaxed about your vices, don’t you?
“There is the fact of going to Florida and being around all these children and young people. that’s so scary in itself.
“There’s also the adult places that he would go to. We also know from the court case he used to join the sex clubs and he used to take it too far with the people who were already open-minded.
“We know that he’s committed so many rapes he’s been convicted of.
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“There’s all the other potential victims that we haven’t heard about, it’s reasonable cause to believe that he would have attacked people in the States in Florida.”
Magdalene was indecently assaulted by Packer at 14 and raped by him when 15 in 1990 at a property in the Garrowhill area of Glasgow.
She gave up her right to anonymity two years ago when giving evidence to a Scottish Parliament Justice Committee about her experience of making a complaint against the police.
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It has previously been reported that Packer visited Florida during the winter months including trips to theme parks like Walt Disney World.
Magdalene added:” The person I spoke to in the FBI was really polite and I told them the situation. We went over it from the beginning right to the end.
“He took down details of the police. He took the details of the court case.
“The court case was going on at the time and he took information down.”
Magdalene also claims she was told by police that they had carried out inquiries in Spain.
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She said:”I don’t know why and I don’t know who it was, but they had a reason to go to Spain to question people.”
Magdalene says Police Scotland should be sharing what they know about Packer with the US authorities.
She added:”There an alliance between the UK and America?
“Do Scotland not owe a duty of care to the States?”
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Magdalene also plans to hire a private investigator to probe Packer’s trips to Florida when she learns more about the places he visited.
She added: “That’s really what I want to do. I just need to find out that little bit of information.
“So if anybody’s got information to tell me exactly where he used to go in Florida.”
Magdalene believes that Packer, who was a sign erector, would be identified quite easily by other victims.
She added:” He didn’t wash, he wasn’t very clean.
“He stunk of cigarettes.
” He was small, he looked like a Neanderthal. And he’s very, very stocky.
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“So he’s got an extremely wide neck and he’s very strong. I think he’s very distinctive, plus his accent would have stood out as well.
“We have lots of photos that could be shared and I don’t know why the police have just not handed that over to the states. “
Magdalene, now a successful renewable energy consultant, believes there are other victims closer to home.
She added: “He’s travelling everywhere, he’s going to different places, he’s in a white van.
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“He’s working in a community. He has contracts.
“He had access. He worked in schools with children with disabilities and adults with learning difficulties.
“He had absolute access to different people.”
Magdalene, who is now in her early 50’s, believes she wasn’t Packer’s first victim and that there were others even younger than her.
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She also believes that Packer’s victims could number in the hundreds.
Magdalene added:” He is psychopathic. You have to understand that. There’s no human side to him.
“I don’t believe that I was the first one. Not at all.
“Because the first time when he went to try and attack me he knew what he was doing.
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“I swear to it, he’d been offending well before he even attacked me.
“There’s all the other people in my network that he approached when we were younger. There was a lot of them.
“There was basically every female, any young female. that wasn’t fully protected or didn’t have their parents with them or didn’t have somebody with them. I wasn’t the first.
“There’s many people that didn’t come forward
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“How many hundreds would it be?”
Packer’s victim Emma Caldwell was one of seven women involved in prostitution who were murdered between 1991 and 2005 while working in Glasgow.
Her body was found in Limefield Woods near Biggar in Lanarkshire in May 2005 after she had been reported missing
Magdalene was speaking out in the latest episode of the Clyde1 podcast Beware Book, about the seven murders.
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The title refers to a diary at a drop in centre where women like Emma logged dangerous clients’ names.
Packer was overlooked as a prime suspect in the original 2005 investigation even though he admitted taking Emma and other women to Limefield Woods for sex.
Instead senior officers focussed their attention on four Turks who were charged with Emma’s murder in 2007 but had the charges dropped the following year.
Packer then went on to carry out attacks on other women.
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He was named as the “the forgotten suspect” in our sister paper, the Sunday Mail, in 2015 and a fresh probe began, leading to his 2022 arrest.
A public inquiry into the original investigation by Strathclyde Police has begun and is due to hear evidence later this year.
One of the cops involved in the original Emma Caldwell investigation in 2005 and who helped identify Iain Packer as a prime suspect also believes there are more victims, at home and abroad.
Former Detective Constable Stuart Hall said:”When people go on holiday, they go on holiday to relax, to let their hair down
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“So I don’t see him going to stop any pattern of behaviour. That’s who he is.
“His campaign of violence towards women, goes way beyond my involvement.
“Prior to that, when he was a younger man, he was violent towards women. So that just seems to be who he is, how he deals with life and women.
“So, absolutely. There’ll be more in this country and I think wherever he’s holidayed. “
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Stuart was one of a number of detectives who investigated Packer but were told by their bosses that he was not a suspect and would never be an accused in the case.
Instead they learned that the focus of the murder investigation was on the four Turkish suspects who were later cleared of any involvement in Emma’s death.
Deputy Chief Constable Alan Speirs said: “Emma Caldwell’s family have shown incredible courage and determination following her murder in 2005 and we are absolutely committed to supporting the Inquiry and getting her loved ones the answers they deserve.”
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* The latest episode of Beware Book is available on the Rayo app, Apple, Amazon Music and Spotify.
France and Britain chair talks on Hormuz mission for when conflict ends
France and Britain are chairing a meeting of around 40 countries in Paris today aimed at planning a defensive multinational mission to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz once the conflict ends.
The meeting, attended in person by Emmanuel Macron, Keir Starmer, German chancellor Friedrich Merz and Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni, will address the safety of more than 20,000 stranded seafarers and trapped commercial vessels, as well as outline military options including mine-clearance, intelligence sharing and naval escorts.
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The initiative does not for now include the US or Iran, though European diplomats said any realistic mission would ultimately need to be coordinated with both. Britain, France and others have said joining Washington’s blockade on Iranian ports, imposed on Monday, would amount to entering the war, but have signalled willingness to help keep the strait open once a lasting ceasefire is in place.
“It can involve intelligence sharing, mine-clearance capabilities, military escorts, information procedures with neighbouring countries and more,” a senior French official told Reuters. “The resources deployed will naturally depend on the situation.”
Britain said today’s talks would feed into a multinational military planning meeting next week. China has been invited but it was not immediately clear whether it would attend.
Stuti Mishra17 April 2026 05:41
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UN chief welcomes Israel-Lebanon ceasefire
António Guterres, the secretary-general of the United Nations, has welcomed the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire.
“I hope this will pave the way for negotiations towards a long-term solution to the conflict & contribute to ongoing efforts toward a lasting & comprehensive peace in the region”, he wrote on X Thursday night.
Rachel Dobkin17 April 2026 05:20
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Trump hints at ‘historic’ developments in Lebanon in cryptic post
US president Donald Trump has hinted at significant developments in Lebanon without providing details, posting on Truth Social: “May have been a historic day for Lebanon. Good things are happening!!!”
The post comes as a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon has come into effect, following weeks of Israeli strikes on Hezbollah targets. Earlier, Mr Trump said he had held “excellent conversations” with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese president Joseph Aoun and planned to invite both to the White House for “meaningful talks.”
Stuti Mishra17 April 2026 05:00
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Trump claims inflation in US caused by Iran war is ‘fake’
Donald Trump has claimed inflation in US caused by the Iran war is “fake.”
The US president called war-related inflation “fake inflation” at an event in Las Vegas Thursday local time.
Inflation surged 0.9 percent since February, according to the US government’s Consumer Price Index for March. Driving inflation is the cost of energy, with gas prices rising a whopping 21.2 percent in March.
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After the US and Israel began launching strikes against Iran on February 28, Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil passageway, which caused gas prices to surge.
Rachel Dobkin17 April 2026 04:40
Oil remains below $100 on Iran peace hopes as Asian stocks set for second week of strong gains
Oil prices fell below $100 a barrel, as investors grew cautiously optimistic about a near-term resolution to the Middle East war despite the Strait of Hormuz remaining closed, with Asian stocks on course for a second consecutive week of strong gains.
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Brent crude futures fell more than 1 per cent to $98.14 a barrel and US West Texas Intermediate dropped 1.6 per cent to $93.15, after Donald Trump said the next meeting between the US and Iran could take place over the weekend, when the current ceasefire is due to expire. A 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel also went into effect yesterday.
MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan slipped 0.6 per cent this morning but remained close to its highest level since 2 March, the first trading day after the Iran war broke out. The index is up 14.5 per cent in April after dropping 13.5 per cent in March, with almost all stock markets now back to pre-war levels. Japan’s Nikkei fell 0.9 per cent after hitting a record high yesterday. The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq rose to record closing highs for a second straight day yesterday.
Stuti Mishra17 April 2026 04:18
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Israeli leader says ceasefire is ‘worse’ than status quo
Amit Sofer, head of the Merom HaGalil Regional Council in northern Israel, has said the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire is “worse” than the status quo of fighting.
“It is unreasonable for Donald Trump to tie the Lebanese arena to the Iranian arena; by doing so, he condemns northern residents to more years of a constant threat”, Sofer said in a statement shared by CNN.
Rachel Dobkin17 April 2026 04:00
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Lebanese Army says citizens fired weapons into the air after ceasefire went into effect
The Lebanese Army has said citizens fired weapons into the air after the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire went into effect early Friday morning local time.
“Following the ceasefire agreement entering into force, a number of citizens resorted to firing into the air using military weapons and rocket-propelled grenades, thereby endangering citizens’ lives and causing damage to public and private property.
“The army command warns against this dangerous phenomenon and calls on citizens to adhere to the laws and refrain from firing under any circumstances. It also affirms that it will pursue those who fire, work to apprehend them, and refer them to the competent judiciary”, the Army said.
Rachel Dobkin17 April 2026 03:30
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Hezbollah says it carried out nearly 60 military operations ahead of ceasefire
Hezbollah has said it carried out 56 military operations in the 24 hours before the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire took effect early Friday morning local time, Al Jazeera reported.
The Israeli military reported striking 380 Hezbollah targets ahead of the 10-day ceasefire, according to The New York Times.
Rachel Dobkin17 April 2026 03:00
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Trump insists US economy booming despite ‘our little diversion’ to Iran
Donald Trump has insisted that the US economy is booming despite “our little diversion” to Iran.
The US president said at an event in Las Vegas Thursday local time, that the economy is even better than that of his first term “despite our little diversion to the lovely country of Iran”.
Trump painted a rosy picture for Americans struggling at the pump as the Iran war causes oil prices to surge. The national average price of gas has risen to more than $4 per gallon as Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway that carries about a fifth of the world’s oil.
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Rachel Dobkin17 April 2026 02:40
Israel says it struck nearly 400 targets in Lebanon in the 24 hours leading up to ceasefire
The Israeli military has said it struck 380 Hezbollah targets in Lebanon in the 24 hours leading up to the new ceasefire, The New York Times reported.
The 10-day pause in fighting started early Friday morning local time.
GUADALAJARA, Mexico (AP) — Yuji, a 6-week-old patas monkey in Mexico, wakes up every day clinging to a stuffed dog. More than a toy, this plush companion acts as a surrogate mom after the tiny primate was rejected by his own mother, Kamaria, a first-time parent unable to form a maternal bond.
Weighing a mere 673 grams (1.4 pounds), Yuji represents the most recent case of assisted rearing at the Guadalajara Zoo in western Mexico.
The story of Yuji has captured the attention of the Mexican public, drawing parallels to Punch, the Japanese macaque that went viral on social media after growing up clinging to a stuffed orangutan following his mother’s rejection.
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A baby monkey named Yuji drinks milk while receiving care at a special care center at the zoo in Guadalajara, Mexico, Wednesday, April 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Refugio Ruiz)
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A baby monkey named Yuji drinks milk while receiving care at a special care center at the zoo in Guadalajara, Mexico, Wednesday, April 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Refugio Ruiz)
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Unlike Punch, Yuji has not yet had physical contact with other members of his species; he spends most of his time inside a monkey crate at the Guadalajara Zoo’s Comprehensive Center for Animal Medicine and Welfare, CIMBA, where he is under the care of 12 veterinarians and biologists.
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No date has been set for Yuji’s transfer to a habitat shared by 12 other adult patas monkeys and three other infants. That will depend on when he is weaned from a milk-only diet and starts an adult diet complete with fruits and vegetables, said veterinarian Iván Reynoso Ruiz, head of the primate section at the Guadalajara Zoo. That could happen when Yuji is around 6 months old, he said.
Veterinarians take care of a baby monkey named Yuji at a special care center at the zoo in Guadalajara, Mexico, Wednesday, April 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Refugio Ruiz)
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Veterinarians take care of a baby monkey named Yuji at a special care center at the zoo in Guadalajara, Mexico, Wednesday, April 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Refugio Ruiz)
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A baby monkey named Yuji plays with with a stuffed dog that serves as a surrogate, while he receives care at a special care center at the zoo in Guadalajara, Mexico, Wednesday, April 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Refugio Ruiz)
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A baby monkey named Yuji plays with with a stuffed dog that serves as a surrogate, while he receives care at a special care center at the zoo in Guadalajara, Mexico, Wednesday, April 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Refugio Ruiz)
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Just hours after giving birth on March 3, Kamaria began exhibiting irregular behavior. She struggled to hold her firstborn correctly, leaving the infant unable to secure a grip on its mother.
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After noticing a problem, keepers separated the mother from her newborn, who weighed just 443 grams (less than a pound) and required immediate placement in an incubator at CIMBA to stabilize his temperature and safeguard his health, Reynoso Ruiz said.
This was the start of the infant’s assisted rearing, a process often used by zoos to protect the health and development of at-risk offspring. A caregiver named him Yuji after a popular Japanese manga character.
During his first few weeks, Yuji was under round-the-clock supervision and was bottle-fed fortified milk.
From the start, Yuji was given a stuffed animal for comfort. Reynoso Ruiz explained that the toy fulfills the role of a mother by serving as his primary source of security. To maintain hygiene, staff rotate the original stuffed dog with two other toys — a bear and a monkey — to ensure he always has a clean companion.
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A veterinarian holds a baby monkey named Yuji, who lives with a stuffed dog that serves as a surrogate, while he receives care at a special care center at the zoo in Guadalajara, Mexico, Wednesday, April 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Refugio Ruiz)
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A veterinarian holds a baby monkey named Yuji, who lives with a stuffed dog that serves as a surrogate, while he receives care at a special care center at the zoo in Guadalajara, Mexico, Wednesday, April 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Refugio Ruiz)
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To stimulate his development, caregivers outfitted Yuji’s crate with a small hammock and ropes. As he began gaining weight and sleeping for longer intervals, his team adjusted his feeding schedule. Yuji now receives the first of his four daily bottles at 7:00 a.m.
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While the stories of Punch and Yuji have been popular on social media, some animal rights advocates oppose the practice of assisted rearing.
Diana Valencia, an animal rights activist, argues that there is no substitute for a natural habitat, and that animals “have the right to be born, grow, develop, and die where they belong.”
Responding to these criticisms, the Guadalajara Zoo’s primate expert emphasized that modern zoos provide a unique opportunity to protect species from global threats. He said the intervention was a matter of life or death, and that Yuji likely would have perished in the wild without a “second chance” at survival.
Universal Credit claimants may be entitled to some extra support and payments. The DWP has released an update regarding a grants scheme designed to assist claimants, as part of a wider package of reforms.
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The Government issued the update in response to a written question from an MP. Liberal Democrat representative Dr Al Pinkerton asked ministers what assistance is available to help young people into employment.
DWP minister Andrew Western provided the Government’s response. He set out what support is on the way to help young people into work. The minister said: “Building on the Youth Guarantee and Growth and Skills Levy announcement at Budget, the Government committed a further £1billion for young people on 16th March 2026, taking total additional investment into the Youth Guarantee and the Growth and Skills Levy to £2.5billion over the next three years.
“This investment will support almost one million young people and create up to 500,000 opportunities to earn and learn.” He shared some details of a grant scheme designed to assist employers in taking on and upskilling younger workers.
New grants available
The minister said: “The Government is taking action to support employers to recruit and train young people, helping to unlock up to 200,000 more employment opportunities. This includes a new £3,000 Youth Jobs Grant for employers who hire 18 to 24-year-olds who have been on Universal Credit for over six months, a new £2,000 apprenticeship incentive for small and medium sized employers hiring 16 to 24-year-old, and the Jobs Guarantee scheme, providing long-term unemployed 18 to 24-year-olds with a fully funded six month job.”
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A previous Government report indicated these grants could benefit around 60,000 young people over a three-year period. The DWP has also announced that from autumn 2026, the Jobs Guarantee will be extended to all eligible 18 to 24-year-olds who are claiming Universal Credit and have been seeking employment for 18 months.
Government guidance states: “They will benefit from 25 hours/week of fully subsidised six-month paid work. Young people on the scheme will be paid at the relevant minimum wage and also receive fully funded wrap around support.”
The minimum wage for those aged 18 to 20 currently stands at £10.85 per hour, or £12.71 for anyone aged 21 and above. At these rates, an 18 to 20 year old working 25 hours a week would take home £271.25 weekly, or £7,052.50 across six months. Someone aged 21 or over would earn £317.75 a week, or £8,261.50 over the same period.
Expanded support
Mr Western spoke about what other support is being brought in as part of the same package of reforms. He said: “The Government is delivering 8 Youth Guarantee Trailblazers in England, expanding Youth Hubs to more than 360 areas across Great Britain and introducing a new Youth Guarantee Gateway in Jobcentres.
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“The Gateway will provide 16 to 24-year-olds on Universal Credit a dedicated session and follow-up support to help them move into work, training or education.” Further plans are also in place to bolster support in schools.
This includes widening access to work experience opportunities, as well as plans to work with local authorities to automatically enrol students into further education.
Chelsea are in the midst of a dismal run, the only win in their last six matches coming in the FA Cup against Port Vale, and that run has seen them slip to sixth in the Premier League, four points adrift of the top five.
Liam Rosenior’s side are quickly losing credit with supporters, who will protest the club’s ownership outside Stamford Bridge pre-match, and he can ill afford to miss out on a Champions League berth as he plans for next campaign. A humbling defeat by Manchester City last time out did not help towards that end.
They remain third in the table despite that result, though, but must finish their season on a high as they look to return to continental competition.
Date, kick-off time and venue
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Chelsea vs Manchester United is scheduled for an 8pm BST kick-off on Saturday, April 18, 2026.
The match will take place at Stamford Bridge in west London.
Where to watch Chelsea vs Manchester United
TV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on TNT Sports 1, with coverage starting at 7pm BST ahead of an 8pm kick-off.
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Live stream: TNT Sports subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the HBO Max app and website.
Live blog: You can follow all the action on matchday via Standard Sport’s live blog, with expert analysis from Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea vs Manchester United team news
Elsewhere, Reece James remains sidelined along with Jamie Gittens and Filip Jorgensen.
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Back on the grass: Trevoh Chalobah
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United’s injury load is remarkably light. It is hoped Kobbie Mainoo can return to the side after he missed the Leeds match with a knock, while Matthijs de Ligt remains sidelined with the same mysterious lower back injury which has kept him out since November.
Patrick Dorgu, meanwhile, is threatening to return from a hamstring injury.
Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez will both miss the match through suspension.
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Marching orders: Lisandro Martinez was sent off against Leeds for pulling Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s hair
REUTERS
Chelsea vs Manchester United prediction
Chelsea never quite looked like scoring as Pep Guardiola’s imperious City visited Stamford Bridge last week, despite Rosenior naming a strong side. That will be cause for concern as squad morale appears to be plummeting.
In defeat by Leeds, though, United showed sustained threat, even if their clinical edge was rather lacking. Bruno Fernandes is in fine form, as are his forward team-mates Amad Diallo and Matheus Cunha.
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The only strike against Michael Carrick on Monday night was the decision to start Benjamin Sesko in place of Bryan Mbeumo. Get his selection right at Stamford Bridge, though, and he can be confident of taking three points back up north.
Manchester United to win, 2-1.
Head to head (h2h) history and results
This storied rivalry always seems to produce drama. Its last six instances have produced 22 goals
Slot’s team go into this weekend’s fixtures in fifth place in the Premier League table, with Chelsea four points behind them and Brentford and Everton one further back. Five English teams will qualify for next season’s Champions League through their league position but there is little margin for error.
Just 24 hours after Liverpool dropped out of Europe, their former defender Trent Alexander-Arnold followed suit. Alexander-Arnold and his Real Madrid team-mates gave themselves a fighting chance of overturning a first-leg deficit against Bayern Munich but were ultimately undone by two late goals.
We’ve got a pointed reaction from the right-back’s brother as well as a fresh verdict on Slot’s future. Here are Mirror Football‘s latest lines from around Anfield.
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s brother Marcel snapped back at Liverpool fans while on a stream during Real Madrid’s European exit. The comment which appeared to prompt the response involved a Reds supporter asking “weren’t you a Liverpool fan yesterday?” and this prompted him to bring up the Reds’ home defeat.
“I am a Liverpool fan but the hate that comes in here comes purely from Liverpool fans. So I will stand on business,” Marcel replied. “Listen, I am a Real Madrid fan but when Liverpool win, I’m happy to see them win. But I care more about my brother than I care about Liverpool. Simple as that.
“So if someone is hating on my brother, I will roast whatever team you support. If it’s Liverpool, then so be it. Your team got cooked yesterday. Relax.”
Slot sack verdict
Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane believes Liverpool can’t sack Arne Slot so soon after the Dutch coach delivered a league title. Speaking on Stick to Football, Keane backed the Merseyside club to still end the season in the Champions League places.
“Yeah, you can’t be sacking the manager a year after winning the league,” the Irishman said. “They’re [the fans] restless. Of course, but aren’t most fans?
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“It’s about how they finish the season. They’ve got United in a couple of weeks. So, they’re big games emotionally for the fans, aren’t they? But I’ll think they’ll be fine for top five.”
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Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package
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Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.
Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.
Rivas Hernandez – who lived about 75 miles (120km) away from where her body was discovered – had last been reported missing by her family in April 2024, but it was not the first time she had run away from their Lake Elsinore home. A first-generation daughter of immigrant parents from El Salvador, neighbours recognised her as a girl who would visit the corner store almost daily to buy candy and soda, according to the Los Angeles Times.
This week’s Q&A takes a look at how defensive plans are shaping up for next season as well as potential arrivals over the summer.
05:00, 17 Apr 2026
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Manchester City have given themselves a chance of doing something very special. Their win over Chelsea on Sunday followed Arsenal’s shock home defeat at the hands of Bournemouth to spice up the title race and set up a titanic clash between the top two this Sunday.
Having already claimed the Carabao Cup and with Southampton standing in their way of a fourth straight FA Cup final, City are starting to dream of the Premier League again. With so much going on at the club, we’ll be hosting weekly Q&A sessions with our chief City writer Simon Bajkowski.
Get MEN Premium now for just £1 HERE – or get involved in our City WhatsApp group by clicking HERE. You can also join our City Facebook page by clicking HERE and don’t miss out on our brilliant selection of newsletters HERE.
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This week we are looking at some of the potential incomings this season and how the defence could shape up next season with another batch of young players pushing to be part of City’s plans. Elliot Anderson remains City’s top target for the summer window but there are set to be other moves in both directions.
I’m curious about the extent of our contact with Anderson, including whether an official bid has been made and what the expected transfer fee might be. There has been talk about viewing him as a number 8, so I’m wondering if he is considered purely as a replacement for Bernardo Silva, and if a midfielder like Kovacic were to leave, whether we would sign another midfielder. Lastly, I’d appreciate any updates on our progress in bringing in a new right-back. ddide
What’s the update on Elliot Anderson to City? MCFC1894
The update on Elliot Anderson is that there isn’t much to update on Elliot Anderson. My colleague Jeremy Cross, the chief sports writer for Reach’s national titles, reported last week that City believe they have won the race to sign him and that Anderson wants a move. It feels like the Morgan Gibbs-White deal last season that City lined up, where it isn’t to say that it will definitely happen but things are in place before the end of the season. Before then, though, City are trying to win two trophies, and Anderson is trying to keep Forest in the Premier League while also upsetting the odds and attempting to win the Europa League. It is a busy time for both that doesn’t need to be interrupted with anything transfer-related.
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It is definitely a possibility that City sign two midfielders this summer and there are players that they like; Sandro Tonali is one name that has cropped up who could well be available given Newcastle’s position. But it depends on whether City feel like they need another player in that position and what kind of price point they are looking at. Nico Gonzalez will expect to take a heavy chunk of Bernardo Silva’s minutes, providing he stays, while Tijjani Reijnders and Phil Foden will also be looking for more.
Add in Rico Lewis if he stays and Nico O’Reilly who can move into midfield and there are lots of options for City. Signing one midfielder is a necessity that is basically set in stone for the window but any more remain up in the air.
How can we improve our defence? I feel like that has been our major concern all season. We’ve lost or tied games we should’ve won but the defence didn’t show up. Thank you, from Chicago! Andrew Gomez
Thanks for the question, Andrew. I must admit it’s not the question I expected after three clean sheets in a row against Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea, but equally all of those games contained top saves from either James Trafford or Gianluigi Donnarumma. City have been pretty fortunate to have not conceded any goals in the last three games and they will have to be switched on if they are to keep Arsenal out on Sunday.
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Strangely, I’d say they’ve been okay from set-pieces but it has been more in open play that they have been caught out with O’Reilly or Nunes targeted. I’d say City’s fortunes now will be more about their attack though. They were sticky in March and Erling Haaland had been struggling but now they’ve shown they can dominate teams and score multiple goals when they are on top. If the attack is clicking, the defence should take care of itself.
What have you heard about Vitor Reis’s future at City? Will he be part of the club’s defensive lineup next season? Vladimir
With Guehi and Khusanov being incredible, Gvardiol back soon and Reis doing amazing, why would City not cash out on Dias this summer? Seb
Vitor Reis is a player who impressed enough for City to sign him in January 2025 and his reputation has gone up since then. He has looked really good in a Girona team that has got better and better this season, and he has eyes on returning to Manchester next term and being part of Guardiola’s plans. When you consider the players already there though, it isn’t a given. Which one of Gvardiol, Dias, Guehi and Khusanov would Reis be starting ahead of at the beginning of the next campaign?
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It would be controversial if it were any of them, in which case Reis could decide to be part of the group anyway and force his way into Guardiola’s thinking, but equally, having played for a year in Spain’s top division, the best option may be to build his reputation that way. William Saliba joined Arsenal as an 18-year-old and spent the first three years of his deal on loan before coming in as a ready-made option at the Emirates, and at 20 Reis has time on his side.
City have plenty of other contenders to fill that fifth spot if it isn’t deemed right for Reis. Max Alleyne and Jahmai Simpson-Pusey have both been out on loan this season and would be a greener option for that place in the squad. City had five central defenders this term and still ended up needing to bring back Alleyne from his loan and then sign Marc Guehi in January to be able to survive the season, so quite why they’d want to sell one of their senior defenders and probable captains in Dias is beyond me.
I recently read reports mentioning that Leverkusen’s Ibrahim Maza is a transfer target for City. I’m curious to know if he is actually on our shortlist and whether there is a possibility of signing him this summer. Yjj
Hi, you read correctly! Although it may depend on what you view as a target. He is definitely a player that City have watched and like, but the list that that places him on is not short. City have obviously had plenty of success recruiting from the Bundesliga and Maza is an interesting prospect, it is just that City have other priorities for the window so will concentrate on that business and then see what they need and want. Hugo Viana has already shown that he is willing to strike if he feels an opportunity is there so Maza is one to keep an eye on, even if there are many more like him.
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Man City vs Arsenal VIP and hospitality tickets
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Seat Unique offers hospitality packages for Manchester City’s Premier League clash with Arsenal, including ‘premium’ seats at the Etihad and complimentary food and drink.
When do you expect City to be going on tour and why no announcement yet? Hugo
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Hi Simon, I was wondering if you have any insight into this summer’s pre-season tour plans. With many senior players likely to be unavailable due to the World Cup, is the club considering an overseas tour—perhaps to places like Korea or Japan—with a squad made up largely of younger players? Or is it more likely that you’ll opt for a smaller, warm-weather training camp in somewhere like the UAE instead? I’m sure overseas fans like myself are very curious about where the team will be heading for pre-season this summer. TJ Lee
Fans will soon find out about the tour, although it’s worth pointing out there is a lot of uncertainty owing to the war in Iran. A warm-weather training camp in the UAE does not sound as appealing as it did before all the bombs started flying around that area of the world. It is likely that nearly everyone in the City squad barring a handful (if that) of senior players will be at the World Cup but I am not expecting a watered-down tour even if City have to push the schedule a bit later and have more from the squad join up for later parts of it. The other big question for the tour is will Guardiola still be in charge to oversee it? You would expect an answer on that in the coming weeks as well.
Aldi made the donations over the Easter period as part of its wider food redistribution efforts across the UK, supporting families facing extra expenses during the school holidays.
Aldi has helped provide more than 1,600 meals to people in need across County Durham during Easter as part of its UK-wide food redistribution efforts. (Image: Daniel Graves Photography)
Luke Emery, national sustainability director at Aldi UK, said: “We know the school holidays can put real pressure on families who may already be struggling – especially when it comes to putting food on the table.
“By working with Neighbourly, we can ensure good food reaches families who need it, rather than going to waste.
“That’s food on people’s plates that might otherwise have been missed.”
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The supermarket chain works in partnership with Neighbourly, a community engagement platform, to donate surplus fresh and chilled food to charities and community groups.
The scheme aims to ensure families can enjoy festive occasions, regardless of their financial situation.
Aldi’s nationwide food donation programme connects each of its UK stores with a local charity or community organisation to make use of surplus food throughout the year.
More than 710,000 meals were donated across the UK during the recent school holidays, with more than 14 organisations in County Durham alone benefiting from the scheme.
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The donations contribute to Aldi’s ongoing partnership with Neighbourly, which has seen the delivery of the equivalent of more than 50 million meals since the collaboration began in 2019.
Steve Butterworth, CEO of Neighbourly, said: “Aldi’s commitment means local charities and community groups can rely on regular food donations to support people in their communities.
“For many of these organisations, that consistent support is vital – helping them provide food day in, day out.”
Beyond the Neighbourly partnership, Aldi works with other organisations to redistribute surplus goods.
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This includes Company Shop Group, which distributes excess food and household products from Aldi’s Regional Distribution Centres to households across the UK.
The supermarket has also expanded its work with The Bread and Butter Thing, enabling suppliers across the UK to donate products that cannot be sold in stores—such as items with packaging damage or labelling errors—but are still perfectly good to eat.
He said: “And for those who are able to, picking up an extra item to donate in store can make a real difference to local communities.”
Residents in Toronto, Canada have been left shaken after a blast sent shockwaves through the city.
Video footage circulating online captures the scene following the incident, which appears to have occurred close to Downsview Airport, a decommissioned military airfield.
Posting another image online, one user wrote: “Barely caught this explosion in Toronto, made a whole Twitter account to ask what’s going on.”
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A second commented: “Explosion aftermath in Toronto around downsview airport.”
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