Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Johnson considering extra bank holiday if England wins EURO 2020

Johnson considering extra bank holiday if England wins EURO 2020

UK prime minister Boris Johnson may call an extra bank holiday if England wins Sunday’s football final at Wembley.

According to the reports, ministers are discussing the possibility of a bank holiday on Monday (12), the day after the final, if England wins. 


On being asked whether he will declare Monday a bank holiday in the event of an England win, Johnson said: “I think that would be tempting fate; let’s see what happens.”

Not ruling out altogether the possibility of the holiday, Johnson’s spokesperson added that “clearly we want England to go all the way and win the final, and then we will set out our plans in due course”.

However, Downing Street sources suggested the timing of the match meant it will be much too late to give fans an emergency day off next Monday – but other options were being considered.

Either way, government officials think there should be a “national day of celebration” if Harry Kane and team co-lift the trophy. There are also reports of manager Gareth Southgate and players such as Raheem Sterling being in line for knighthoods, regardless of the result.

The government confirmed earlier this week that licensing laws will be relaxed to allow pubs to stay open until 11.15pm in case the game goes to extra-time and penalties.

Now that the England-Italy final will be held in front of a 60,000-strong crowd – the same as Wednesday’s semi-final, questions are being raised about the safety of allowing so many fans to watch the match in person during a pandemic. 

Since seven earlier matches in the tournament were held as part of the government’s events research programme, set up to test the safety of mass gatherings, shadow sports minister, Alison McGovern, has called on the government saying data about the safety of these matches should be produced before Sunday (11).

“If they have the data they should publish it, and if they don’t have it, they should say why,” she said.

More For You

Trump CEOs

Sitting at the centre of a long table, Trump was flanked by First Lady Melania Trump and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates on one side, and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg on the other. (Photo: Getty Images)

At White House dinner, Trump lauds Nadella, Pichai

US PRESIDENT Donald Trump praised Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and Google CEO Sundar Pichai during a White House dinner with top technology executives on Thursday. The two Indian-American leaders thanked him for his leadership and for policies in the technology and AI sectors.

Trump described the gathering as a “high IQ group,” calling the executives “the most brilliant people.” Sitting at the centre of a long table, Trump was flanked by First Lady Melania Trump and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates on one side, and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg on the other. Pichai and Apple CEO Tim Cook sat across from him, while Nadella was seated toward one end of the table.

Keep ReadingShow less
Starmer set for first India visit in October with focus on technology

Britain's prime minister Keir Starmer (R) and India's prime minister Narendra Modi (L) speak as they walk in the gardens of Chequers, in Aylesbury, England, on July 24, 2025. (Photo by KIN CHEUNG/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Starmer set for first India visit in October with focus on technology

PRIME MINISTER Keir Starmer is expected to make his first visit to India in early October, with technology and trade ties at the centre of his programme. He is scheduled to join Indian prime minister Narendra Modi at the Global Fintech Fest (GFF) 2025 in Mumbai, officials indicated on Tuesday (9).

The event, which runs from October 7 to 9 at the Jio World Centre, is organised by the Payments Council of India, the National Payments Corporation of India and the Fintech Convergence Council. It is promoted as the world’s largest conference in the sector and is supported by several Indian ministries and regulators, including the Reserve Bank of India and the Securities and Exchange Board of India.

Keep ReadingShow less
Khalistan supporters

Demonstrators gather in support of Khalistan during a Sikh rally outside the Consulate General of India, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on September 25, 2023.

Getty Images

Ottawa report says Khalistani extremist groups get financial backing in Canada

AT LEAST two Khalistani extremist groups have received financial support from within Canada, according to a new Canadian government report on terror financing.

The report, titled 2025 Assessment of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Risks in Canada, named Babbar Khalsa International and the International Sikh Youth Federation as the groups receiving such support.

Keep ReadingShow less
Bridget Phillipson

Education secretary Bridget Phillipson leaves following a cabinet meeting at Downing Street on September 9, 2025.

Getty Images

Bridget Phillipson joins race for Labour deputy leader

EDUCATION SECRETARY Bridget Phillipson has announced her candidacy for Labour’s deputy leader, becoming the most senior figure to enter the contest so far.

Clapham and Brixton Hill MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy is the only other declared candidate in the race to replace Angela Rayner.

Keep ReadingShow less
 Terminal 4 of Heathrow Airport

Passengers walk back to the reopened terminal after emergency services responded to what they called a 'possible hazardous materials incident' at Terminal 4 of Heathrow Airport.

Reuters

Heathrow’s Terminal 4 reopens after hazardous materials alert

HEATHROW Airport has reopened Terminal 4 after it was evacuated on Monday evening following what authorities described as a "possible hazardous materials incident."

The airport said the terminal was declared safe and apologised for the disruption. In a post on X, Heathrow said it was "doing everything we can" to make sure flights depart as planned.

Keep ReadingShow less