Author: Loveworld UK

The bookmaker which owns The Tote will axe more than 4,500 jobs if the Government implements plans to slash maximum stakes on gambling machines to just £2. Sky News has learnt that Betfred has told ministers that almost 900 of its shops – more than half its UK estate – will become loss-making overnight if they press ahead with reforms to Fixed Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs).In a letter to members of the home affairs sub-committee, Mark Stebbings, Betfred’s managing director, warned that “much upset and heartache will go into having to make…redundant” close to 4,500 people who work in the…

Theresa May has called for an inquiry into the “tragic” deaths in Gaza as Israel faced growing condemnation over its killing of dozens of Palestinians. The prime minister urged Israel to “show restraint” after soldiers shot dead two more Palestinians near the border on Tuesday.Monday was the deadliest day in the region since the 2014 Gaza war, as 60 Palestinians were killed and more than 2,700 wounded amid protests over the US embassy’s move to Jerusalem.At a UN Security Council meeting, Palestine insisted Israel had committed a war crime by firing at the protesters, while Hamas – the rulers of…

UK wages grew at their fastest pace in almost three years during the first three months of the year, according to official data. Average growth in earnings, excluding bonuses, rose to 2.9% in the three months to March after a 2.8% rise in February. The latest reading is more than the Inflation rate of 2.5% in March.It follows a year in which wages fell against inflation. Real wages grew by just 0.4%, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).A decade on from the financial crisis real wages are still worth £24 a week less than in 2008, according to…

Israeli forces have shot and killed at least 58 Palestinians and left 2,771 injured during mass protests against the opening of the US embassy in Jerusalem, Palestinian health officials say. The bloodshed marks the deadliest day in the region since the 2014 Gaza war, with Israeli soldiers firing at protesters who had to flee for cover.The AP news agency reported some Israeli forces had opened fire from tanks.Palestinians along the Gaza border had earlier hurled firebombs and stones towards troops.Israel’s military claimed its forces had come under fire during the clashes, adding that some protesters had tried to break through…

It was obvious that it was going to be a black day. Large crowds had been arriving at the border from mid-morning.We watched them trudge in groups across the fields of watermelon, which run alongside the security fence with Israel.Clouds of smoke from the burning tyres belched into the blue sky – the smog was supposed to provide a curtain of cover from the sniper fire.Israel had sent large numbers of soldiers to reinforce the existing line of troops.The IDF had warned, with leaflet drops from the air, that anyone approaching the fence was putting themselves at risk.It made no…

Kensington Palace has asked for “understanding” ahead of Prince Harry’s wedding to Meghan Markle amid reports her father will not attend. “This is a deeply personal moment for Ms Markle in the days before her wedding,” said a palace spokesman.”She and Prince Harry ask again for understanding and respect to be extended to Mr Markle in this difficult situation.”Reports emerged on TMZ that former Hollywood lighting director Thomas Markle had decided not to appear at Windsor Castle on Saturday after being left “deeply embarrassed” by the release of pictures that appeared to show him colluding with photographers.:: Royal wedding 2018:…

Slashing maximum bets on gaming machines will leave Britain’s biggest independent bookmaker at risk of being swallowed by an overseas rival, its chairman and chief executive warned ministers on Monday. Sky News has obtained a letter sent by Roger Devlin, the new chairman of William Hill, to Matt Hancock, the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Secretary, in which he claimed that proposed reforms to Fixed-Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs) could leave it vulnerable to a takeover bid.Mr Devlin also highlighted the risk to tens of thousands of jobs across the gambling sector if the maximum FOBTs stake is, as widely expected,…

Investors in UK bookmakers have taken a punt on a surge in sports betting in the United States following a ruling that paves the way for it to be legalised in the country. A 1992 law called the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) meant that Nevada, home to Las Vegas, was the only state where a person could wager on the results of a single game.Horse racing is currently the only legal form of sports gambling widely available across the US in person and online.But in a 6-3 majority decision by judges on Monday, the US Supreme Court…

Hundreds of tearful mourners threw flowers and applauded as a hearse carrying 23-month-old Alfie Evans passed his father’s favourite football club. Members of the public and “Alfie’s Army” said their goodbyes to the youngster on Monday as his funeral procession passed Everton’s Goodison Park ground ahead of a private burial in Liverpool.His coffin sported images of toy soldiers and the Everton club motif, while the lead two hearses carried floral wreaths spelling out the words “Warrior”, “Our Hero”, “Son”, “Nephew”, “Grandson” and “Blue”.People also placed flowers, messages and balloons at the foot of the Dixie Dean statue outside the stadium.One…

A talent agency which manages the careers of some of the media industry’s biggest names is in talks about a £140m sale weeks after TV presenter Ant McPartlin – one of its leading clients – was handed a record fine for drink-driving. Sky News has learnt that private equity firms including Bowmark Capital, Inflexion and Trilantic Partners are among a pack of potential buyers of James Grant Group, which represents elite athletes, musicians, writers and broadcasters.Sources close to the auction, which is being run by bankers at Lazard, said that formal bids for James Grant were due to be tabled…