Wales head coach Craig Bellamy has warned against writing off potential World Cup play-off opponents Northern Ireland.
The teams could meet in a play-off final in Cardiff in March, but only if Wales win their semi-final at home to Bosnia-Herzegovina and Northern Ireland progress from theirs with an against-the-odds victory in Italy.
The prize on offer for the play-off final winners will be a place at next summer’s World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, in Group B alongside Canada, Switzerland and Qatar.
Four-time World Cup champions Italy are the favourites but, having missed out on the previous two editions of the competition in Qatar and Russia, the Azzurri will be under severe pressure to qualify this time.
“Everyone thinks it’ll be Italy we’ll have to play if we beat Bosnia, but if there’s one team that’s happy not to have the ball it’s them [Northern Ireland],” said Bellamy.
“I think they’re ranked 48th of 54 teams in Europe for possession. They know where they’re going and… they were the one team I didn’t want to play.
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Northern Ireland are 69th in the Fifa world rankings, 57 places below Italy and 27 adrift of Wales, but two spots above Bosnia.
Michael O’Neill’s side finished third behind Germany and Slovakia in the World Cup qualifying group but secured their play-off place thanks to their Nations League success.
Italy, Wales and Bosnia all finished second in their groups, behind Norway, Belgium and Austria respectively.
Northern Ireland are looking to qualify for their first major tournament since Euro 2016, when they were knocked out in the second round by a Wales side who went on to reach the semi-finals under Chris Coleman.
O’Neill was in the midst of his first, nine-year spell in charge of Northern Ireland at the time and is now three years into his second stint as his country’s manager.
“Down the years they’ve just had something and they know what they are. They’ve got a brilliant manager who I really like,” Bellamy added.
“I was lucky enough to spend a bit of time with him as well, and I loved him. No wonder his players do well. They won’t be playing at their home ground [against Italy], but I just feel they’ll be comfortable in any situation you throw them into.
“There will be pressure coming on Italy because they haven’t qualified for two World Cups. If I was Italy going into that game, with everyone expecting you to win, I’m telling you I’d be edgy. I wouldn’t be comfortable with it.
Marketing manager Georgina Shannon used the money to buy a cottage in Cornwall
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Georgina came to realise she had too much stuff and not enough space
For Georgina Shannon, it was the small purchases on Vinted, the odd new outfit and the frequent trips to Superdrug that proved problematic. While she was not a compulsive shopper, she eventually recognised she had accumulated far too many possessions for the space available.
She was also concerned about how much of her shopping was destined for landfill. That is why in 2022, she made a commitment to stop buying anything for an entire year.
Apart from food and cleaning supplies, she banned herself from purchasing new books, clothes, jewellery, beauty items, gadgets or household goods. She even ruled out second-hand purchases.
“I am a bit of a hoarder and I was finding the clutter a bit overwhelming and depressing,” says Georgie, 35, a marketing manager. “And I can be a reactive shopper in that I will see someone wearing a skirt and I will buy it. I realised I was buying things based on how they look on other people and not me.
“So I was constantly putting stuff I didn’t need anymore on Vinted, doing clothes sales and sorting through piles. And I’d had enough.”
She then established clear guidelines for herself: no clothes, shoes or accessories to be purchased new unless something breaks, no new or pre-owned homeware, and no extra beauty, skincare or hygiene products, given she already had cupboards full in her bathroom. Beyond her ambition to purchase a property, she was equally troubled by environmental impact.
“We are inundated with messages on TikTok and social media to just buy, buy, buy. I was buying a lot of second hand but I was working with the Cornish Seal Sanctuary at the time and I was doing a lot of beach cleaning and seeing what is happening to our oceans because of consumerism, and I didn’t want to be adding to that,” she explains.
She discovered the experiment to be remarkably straightforward, and with such a defined target ahead, resisted any urge to splash out. The outcome was extraordinary.
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Within a year, she and boyfriend Fred accumulated £20,000, sufficient for a deposit on a delightful Cornish cottage they now call home.
Once the twelve months concluded, she’d amassed such wealth that reverting to previous spending patterns felt unthinkable. Her living space felt more organised, her mind more peaceful and her finances considerably stronger.
“It completely changed my life. And I didn’t run out of clothing, even though I was decluttering at the same time. I still have socks from 10 years ago which are fine.
“It just taught me to appreciate what I have and it felt like I was taking my power back as a consumer”, Georgie, who shares on Instagram as @georgies_corner, says. The initiative proved so triumphant that she’s launching another no-buy year in 2026, aiming to fund home improvements and finance some adventures abroad.
“There will be temptations as I know I will want to get new clothes for my trip to Italy. But I will try not to. We all get swept up with this aspirational lifestyle of wanting the new shoes and the new bag, but you can’t throw stuff away that you don’t need. There is no away. There’s just not enough room on the planet for all the stuff we have,” she adds.
Georgie’s tips for no-buy living
1. Delete the apps!
If you are making purchases on TikTok shop or Vinted, just take away the lure. Get the apps off your phone and you wont be tempted. 2. Tell everyone you do not want any gifts
And that way, they might say the same to you and everyone will consume and spend less. I did buy a few presents in 2022, but only for close friends and family. You will probably find most people will be happy to be part of your no-buy project.
3. Don’t see shopping as a hobby
Either online or in real life. Avoid town. There’s no need to go into the shops if you don’t need anything. And see if you can distract yourself with a new hobby – like arts and crafts. Or even better, running or swimming – hobbies that don’t require you to buy more stuff. 4. Take your credit card details off the computer and Amazon account
You get a dopamine hit every time you buy something online which will have disappeared by the time it arrives. If you put a barrier between you and those online purchases, they will be harder to make. 5. Shop your own wardrobe
If you have an event to go to, like a party, festival or wedding, take everything out of your wardrobe and see what you already have before heading to the shops. The likelihood is that you already have something that will work that you had forgotten about. 6. Do not be hard on yourself.
If you slip up sometimes, that’s fine. You’re doing this for yourself, nobody else. If no-buy seems too much to you, even reducing the amount of shopping you do can help. Some people do a month of no-buy at a time. Whatever works can make a difference to your savings. 7. When you do shop, make sure it’s mindful shopping
As we get further into December, many of us start to feel that we’re losing control of our finances.
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There are easy ways to help curb spending this Christmas(Image: Getty)
From spiralling food and drink costs, non-stop socialising and taking the children to festive experiences to trips to your local city to see the lights, our credit cards can take a beating. And that’s all before you’ve started buying presents for your friends, family and colleagues. For those who haven’t spent months saving up for Christmas or haven’t decided on a strict gifting budget, it’s all too easy to panic, throw caution to the wind, spend too much and enter the new year feeling anxious and stressed about money.
Fortunately, there are easy ways to help curb spending, cut financial leaks and take control of our finances. Laura Linden, a chief financial officer and author of UnF*ck Your Business Finances: Unlearn the Shame, Reclaim the Power and Change the Game, advises using two rules when you’re shopping for presents. “Consider this the first step to taking control of your finances by forming better habits and changing your money mindset. These are part of setting you up for success in 2026,” says Laura.
The ROI (return on investment) test
Ask yourself if the present you’re buying will give a return on joy to the recipient. “Before you spend on a gift, ask yourself if this will bring real pleasure to the recipient. If not, is it worth the money?“ says Laura. “This ‘return on joy’ test helps you prioritise giving that has meaning.”
Five minute rule
When you’re hunting for gifts, build in an important pause before handing over your credit card or pressing ‘buy’ online. “If you’re online shopping, place the item in the basket and then do something else for five minutes,” she says. “If you’re in a physical shop, take a picture of the item and the price tag but then walk away for five minutes.
“Then before buying, ask yourself, is there a less expensive alternative? And make sure you’re not falling victim to the trap of ‘nice person spending’ – pouring more money that you intended into presents because you want to get the ‘perfect’ gift. Generosity is a lovely trait but not if it’s causing you financial hardship behind the scenes. This is about having boundaries, being confident in saying no or not putting your hand in your pocket first,” she says.
“If you still think the items are reasonably priced, and you believe they’ll bring joy to the recipient, go ahead and purchase, feeling confident that you’ve made a good decision.
Find gifts that feel expensive but are just £5
Treat your loved-ones and stay well within your budget: Famed 19th century artist and designer William Morris said, “Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful”. Let this be your guiding philosophy when you’re picking up presents this year – give loved ones something that feels expensive, and that will be a pleasure for them to actually use – and not extra clutter they’ll have to take to the charity shop in 2026.
Australia wicketkeeper Alex Carey says he got a “bit of luck” after admitting he’d thought he’d hit been caught on the opening day of the third Test between Australia and England. Carey was given not out on the field of play, after the “Snicko” technology appeared to reprieve him; a decision the operator of the technology said was an “error” following the day’s play in Adelaide.
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TV reporter, Christina Chambers, and her husband, Johnny Rimes, have tragically been found dead inside their home with gunshot wounds in Alabama, America
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Christina Chambers and her husband have been found dead in their family home(Image: Christina Chambers Sports/Facebook)
A popular TV presenter and her husband have been found dead in their family home in what police suspect to be a murder-suicide.
Sports reporter, Christina Chambers, and her husband, Johnny Rimes, who share a three-year-old son and who got married in 2021, were found with gunshot wounds by a family member in heartbreaking scenes. The couple’s son escaped unharmed.
Police were called to the pair’s home in Alabama, America, at 9am on Tuesday morning after the relative made the tragic discovery. Confirming Christina and Johnny died from gunshot wounds, the Hoover Police Department said: “Hoover Fire-Medics responded to the residence and pronounced a male and a female deceased from gunshot wounds.
“Although the investigation is in its early stages, it appears these deaths are the result of a murder/suicide, and there is no threat to the public related to this case.”
According to a LinkedIn page, Johnny was a financial analyst at the American Case Iron Pipe Company for almost 14 years, Meanwhile, local news station WBRC, where Christina worked for a decade, paid tribute to the presenter.
In a statement to ABC 33.40, they said: “We are heartbroken to confirm the death of former WBRC reporter Christina Chambers. Christina was a valued member of our newsroom and a beloved colleague whose warmth, humour, and passion for sports left a lasting impact on everyone who worked with her.
“Christina was an accomplished journalist and athlete who brought energy, professionalism, and genuine care to her work,” the statement continued. “She was especially proud of her ties to UAB [University of Alabama Birmingham], high school sports, and her community. We are praying for Christina’s family, friends, and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.”
Reporters at WRBC also paid tribute to their colleague during the news bulletin on Tuesday afternoon. In a heartbreaking statement, one of her former co-workers said: “Knowing Christina was knowing joy.”
Christina joined WBRC, which is an affiliate of Fox News, in November 2015. Her reporting was focused on covering sports at college and local high school football games across Alabama and Georgia.
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After she married Johnny, the reporter began her new job as an educator at a local high school where she advised students on TV and film. Meanwhile, she continued to do occasional freelance reporting. The investigation into the couple’s deaths is ongoing.
Israeli authorities are expected to advance plans to build 9,000 new housing units in an illegal settlement on the site of the abandoned Qalandiya airport in occupied East Jerusalem, in another attempt to cut off Palestinian lands from each other and block any possibility of a contiguous Palestinian state ever emerging.
The so-called Atarot neighbourhood in northern East Jerusalem, reminiscent of the E1 plan to undermine Palestinian statehood, is to be discussed and have its outlines approved on Wednesday by the District Planning and Building Committee, according to Israeli group Peace Now.
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The advocacy group said the new settlement is envisioned to be built within a densely populated Palestinian urban area, stretching from Ramallah in the occupied West Bank and Kafr Aqab in the north through the Qalandiya refugee camp, ar-Ram, Beit Hanina and Bir Nabala.
It would build an Israeli enclave in an area where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians live in close proximity, with the aim of blocking development in a key area and further damaging the likelihood of a sovereign Palestinian state being established.
“This is a destructive plan that, if implemented, would prevent any possibility of connecting East Jerusalem with the surrounding Palestinian area and would, in practice, prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel,” Peace Now said.
Translation: The massacre government is working to establish a new ultra-Orthodox mega-settlement across the Green Line north of Jerusalem. The new political attack called ‘Atarot’ is planned to be built in the heart of the Palestinian state that will be established alongside Israel. This involves 9,000 housing units that Israel will have to evacuate. Isn’t it a shame?
The organisation said the far-right government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seizing every moment to bury chances for a future of peace and compromise.
“Especially now, when it is clear to everyone that the ideas of ‘managing the conflict’ and ‘decisive victory’ have led to a security disaster for Israel, we must act to resolve the conflict.”
The plan’s advancements date back to early 2020, when Israel’s Housing Ministry sent it to the Jerusalem municipality to prepare it for approval. It completed the bureaucratic preparation process within months, but faced objections from the Environmental Protection and Health ministries, according to Peace Now, which said the administration of United States President Barack Obama had also opposed it.
It would need further government consideration and approval before being given legal effect and moving towards tender processes to select construction contractors.
Most of the plan area is designated as “state land” by Israeli authorities, meaning they would not have to seek permission from Palestinian landowners.
Israel has been quickly advancing with several major projects to build illegal settlements on occupied Palestinian territory and pursuing annexation of the occupied West Bank, alongside its genocidal war on Gaza that started in October 2023 and has now killed more than 70,000 people.
The E1 plan, which would see the construction of thousands of illegal Israeli homes in the occupied West Bank, is hailed by Israeli officials despite international condemnation.
Israel’s security cabinet last week signed off on plans to formalise 19 illegal settlements across the West Bank.
Demolitions and widespread arrests
Israeli forces continue to launch raids across the occupied West Bank and support violent settlers in attacking Palestinian lands while issuing permits to demolish Palestinian homes.
Israeli authorities began carrying out demolition operations Wednesday morning in the town of Biddu, located northwest of occupied East Jerusalem, under the pretext that the Palestinian buildings lacked permits.
In the central part of the West Bank, settlers, who have been rampaging with impunity often backed by the Israeli military, burned Palestinian vehicles and wrote racist slogans in the village of Ein Yabrud in Ramallah on Wednesday.
Several Palestinians were also arrested during raids across the West Bank, including in Nablus.
