15+ min ago (333+ words) Ballymena United have confirmed they have parted ways with manager Jim Ervin. Ervin took over at the Showgrounds in 2023 and in his first season, kept the club in the Premiership by way of a playoff. Last season, they finished in the bottom half but it was enough to see Ervin sign a new contract until 2028. Currently, the Sky Blues sit in eighth position in the table, but on Saturday they suffered a 3-1 defeat to bottom club Glenavon. In midweek, they were also knocked out of the Count Antrim Shield, going down 4-1 at home to Cliftonville which ended a three-game unbeaten run. "Ballymena United Football Club can confirm that the club has parted company with first team manager Jim Ervin, this morning," the club confirmed in a statement. "The board would like to put on record their upmost thanks to Jim…...

32+ min ago (177+ words) Watch the two-year-old Jude Owen do a mock walk out at the UK Snooker Championhip. FOLLOW LIVE: UK Snooker Championship The cutest snooker player has arrived! Two-year-old Jude walks out. Video, 00:01:17The cutest snooker player has arrived! Two-year-old Jude walks out Up Next. Would players rather pot golden ball or win Riyadh Season Championship? Video, 00:02:08Would players rather pot golden ball or win Riyadh Season Championship? Emotional Higgins hugged by BBC presenter after match. Video, 00:00:53Emotional Higgins hugged by BBC presenter after match 'Never label me a thug' - Clarke and TKV face off. Video, 00:02:32'Never label me a thug' - Clarke and TKV face off Frank pleased with Spurs' performance despite defeat at PSG. Video, 00:02:37Frank pleased with Spurs' performance despite defeat at PSG Prince Albert's connection with New Orleans Saints. Video, 00:01:21Prince Albert's connection with New Orleans Saints 'It's really special' - Scott excited for home…...

43+ min ago (117+ words) Guernsey Ports has called for bids from companies to move its payment system for parking at the island's airport, online. An invitation to tender has been published, inviting contractors who can provide the service to get in touch by early February. The work may also enable customers to book parking spaces ahead of time. A spokesperson for Guernsey Ports said it was reviewing "ways to modernise our outdated parking infrastructure at Guernsey Airport. "For example, that could involve updating the infrastructure to enable simpler payment options, online bookings and more. "This work will prioritise the customer experience, ensuring each passenger's journey through the airport is as smooth as possible." Companies have until 2 February to make submissions....

44+ min ago (308+ words) An island sexual health clinic is offering free HIV testing ahead of World AIDS day on Monday. The States of Guernsey said it would be running a confidential walk-in clinic at the Orchard Centre where people could also ask for information about preventative treatments, safe sex advice and for any support. It said the day would be an "opportunity to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS", a virus that weakens the immune system and increases the risk of serious illness. Dr Nicola Brink, Lead HIV Clinician and Director of Public Health, said early detection was "essential" for ensuring access to treatment and preventing the spread of HIV. She said: "Individuals who are diagnosed with HIV early will have better health outcomes and can lead long and healthy lives. "If a person is having effective treatment for HIV with an undetectable…...

44+ min ago (405+ words) A husband and wife from Kazakhstan are alleged to have used a hidden camera and earpieces to fraudulently win nearly A$1.2m (593,00; $784,000) in an Australian casino. The couple were caught after staff at the casino in the central Barangaroo neighbourhood of Sydney noticed Dilnoza Israilova, 36, wearing the small, discrete camera on her Mickey Mouse T-shirt, New South Wales Police said. She and her husband, 44-year-old Alisherykhoja Israilov, were then arrested. Police searched them and allegedly found "magnetised probes" and a mirror attachment for a phone allegedly used to rig games. The pair have been charged with dishonestly obtaining a financial advantage and remain in custody. New South Wales Police said the couple had arrived in Sydney from Kazakhstan in October and applied for membership to the casino the same day. Over the following weeks, they made a number of visits to…...

44+ min ago (405+ words) A husband and wife from Kazakhstan are alleged to have used a hidden camera and earpieces to fraudulently win nearly A$1.2m (593,00; $784,000) in an Australian casino. The couple were caught after staff at the casino in the central Barangaroo neighbourhood of Sydney noticed Dilnoza Israilova, 36, wearing the small, discrete camera on her Mickey Mouse T-shirt, New South Wales Police said. She and her husband, 44-year-old Alisherykhoja Israilov, were then arrested. Police searched them and allegedly found "magnetised probes" and a mirror attachment for a phone allegedly used to rig games. The pair have been charged with dishonestly obtaining a financial advantage and remain in custody. New South Wales Police said the couple had arrived in Sydney from Kazakhstan in October and applied for membership to the casino the same day. Over the following weeks, they made a number of visits to…...

48+ min ago (1060+ words) Sportsound commentary from Easter Road & Ibrox Maeda rolls in after Sallinger error & Engels heads in bravely 33 seconds later Maeda effort ruled out for offside early on before Boyle spurns chance Chaiwa one of three new Hibs faces; Saracchi in for Tierney for Celtic 'Strong possibility' game won't be O'Neill's last in charge Rangers v Falkirk (14:00) Livingston v Aberdeen (15:00) From a Hibs point of view, it's really disappointing. You go a goal down, you have to regroup. You have to ride it for a wee bit, Celtic had their tails up. A quick one-two from Celtic and Hibs are on the canvas seeing stars. Yang Hyun-Jun breaks down the left and his cross is met by a firm header from Arne Engels. The Belgian takes a kick to the head in the process and Jamie McGrath is booked for the desperate…...

50+ min ago (402+ words) Moneyglass will face holders Kilkerrin-Clonberne in the All-Ireland final next month Ulster champions Moneyglass produced a superb semi-final display as they beat Kilmacud Crokes 1-12 to 1-10 to book their place in their first All-Ireland LGFA Senior Club final. Cathy Carey and Maria O'Neill starred for the St Ergnat's club, who become the first side from Antrim to make it to a top-tier ladies football national club final. They will face the holders Kilkerrin-Clonberne in the decider on Saturday, 13 December at Croke Park. The four-in-a-row All-Ireland champions saw off Comeragh Rangers 1-11 to 0-3 in Sunday's other last four encounter. Moneyglass, who become Antrim's first Ulster senior winners last month, trailed 1-5 to 0-6 at half-time in Pairc de Burca after a competitive first half. The influential Carey and O'Neill cancelled out early scores from Eabha Rutledge and Niamh Cotter for the Leinster champions. Kilmacud, who…...

1+ hour, 4+ min ago (353+ words) Ben Whittaker, pictured with his WBC Silver light-heavyweight belt, took just 135 seconds to complete a knockout win over Benjamin Gavazi on Saturday British light-heavyweight Ben Whittaker has offered a reward for information after his house was burgled while he was out fighting. Whittaker completed a stunning first-round stoppage of German Benjamin Gavazi in Birmingham on Saturday night, but arrived back at his house in Wednesbury, West Midlands, to find it had been ransacked. "They even took my IBF belt - what are they going to do with that?" said the 28-year-old in a video on his Instagram account, external, referring to the IBF International light-heavyweight title belt he won in June 2024. Whittaker showed a window in his kitchen had been smashed, with the blinds hanging down. West Midlands Police told BBC Sport: "We are investigating after a home was broken into…...

1+ hour, 13+ min ago (559+ words) A notorious gang that once terrorised Kent and Sussex in the 1700s were revealed to be "paper tigers" after they were defeated by a village militia, a historian has said. Smuggling was rampant across the UK in the 18th Century, but one of the most fearsome groups was the Hawkhurst Gang. Historian Joseph Dragovitch likened their brutality to those of a "South American drug cartel"; anyone who stood in their way were beaten, murdered or kidnapped and sold to jailers in France to be galley slaves, he said. At the height of their dominance in the 1740s, they took control of areas including Hawkhurst and Goudhurst in Kent, while running protection rackets, Mr Dragovitch said. They mainly smuggled tea, one of the commodities on which the government imposed heavy taxes, he added. Locals soon had enough of the oppression and formed a militia,…...