top of page
1170x312.jpg
907 x 250 (1).jpg
Template for national news
No Writer
Aug 29
Man killed and six injured after large sign falls at Big Church Festival in West Sussex

Police said they were called to reports that a "large sign" had fallen at the Big Church Festival at Wiston Park, near Steyning, on Friday afternoon. A 41-year-old man from Eastbourne was pronounced dead at the scene. His next of kin have been informed. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dame Sarah Mullaly, has said she is 'sad and shocked' and praying for the families of the grieving. Detective Chief Superintendent Richard McDonagh said at least six other people had been taken to hospital. Festival-goers were initially told Friday's show had been cancelled, before organisers confirmed the whole festival had been brought "to a close". It had been due to end on Sunday. A festival spokesperson said on social media: "We are devastated by the serious incident that took place at Big Church Festival 2026 today, in which a sign fell, injuring at least seven people, one of whom tragically lost their life. "First and foremost, all of our thoughts are with those who have been affected, their families and friends, and everyone who witnessed what happened." Police were still at the scene on Friday night and the incident has been reported to the Health and Safety Executive and the local authority. Anyone with relevant video footage is asked to call 101 and quote Operation Igloo, or visit the Sussex Police website. Big Church Festival was founded in 2009 and organisers say it is the UK's biggest Christian festival. Winds of up to 27mph were recorded about five miles away in Shoreham on Friday, according to the Met Office.

Template for national news
Laura Bundcock, Royal correspondent
Aug 29
'No chance' Meghan's possible return to acting was reason for Sussexes' UK move, industry insiders say

The executives, who asked not to be named, also noted that while casting the duchess might generate interest, it would also be "risky". Harry and Meghan landed in the UK this week - just days after announcing they would relocate to the country with their children Archie and Lilibet. The couple stepped back from royal duties in 2020 and went to live in California. The surprise announcement sparked speculation - and the duchess was said to have had talks about a role in season three of Guy Ritchie's Netflix hit, The Gentlemen. One producer who has worked with Netflix told us: "You don't uproot your family for one role in a show." They added: "There's no chance the reason they're coming back is TV roles like The Gentlemen." As for whether Meghan could join the cast of the show, they added: "I think the producers have said, 'There's a part for two episodes, let's look into that' - but then decided, 'reverse, reverse, the publicity is terrible'. "I doubt the producers or Netflix are enjoying this kind of attention." Another told us that if she was cast, "I don't think people would stop watching because she is in it. They have a fanbase already and there is the possibility that Meghan could add some audience." The insiders agree the duchess would "attract publicity", which could generate "higher ratings" for shows. But casting her would come with its own set of problems, too, the industry insiders have told us. "You need actors who inhabit roles and are believable. How do you get over the fact she's a duchess?" said one. "I don't think Meghan would get a project greenlit just with her attached because, despite her being quite famous, it's quite an unknown, and she is divisive." Since the Sussexes left their lives as full-time working royals, their popularity in the UK has plummeted. Read more from Sky News:Four men plead guilty to Golders Green ambulance arson attackTeenager has dissolvable heart implant fitted in UK first There are practical issues too. "Imagine the security we would need on set," said another TV insider. When she married Prince Harry in 2018, Meghan ended her acting career to focus on her charitable causes and royal duties. She rose to fame on the screen playing paralegal Rachel Zane in the show Suits for seven series. Together, Harry and Meghan signed multi-million-pound deals with Spotify for a podcast series and with Netflix for programmes including the duchess's lifestyle show With Love, Meghan. Their podcast deal ended, and Meghan's Netflix show was not renewed for a third season, but it's reported that the Sussexes remain on a downgraded first-look deal with the streaming giant. 👉Listen to This Is Why on your podcast app👈 And the couple were executive producers on the documentary Cookie Queens, which was released in January. There is little precedent for women who marry into the Royal Family returning to their careers. When Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, married Prince Edward, she gave up her job working in PR. "It will be hard for Meghan to find the right roles. She's had success, and she's a good actress," another executive said. "But she's not Grace Kelly, who was a world-famous actress who became a princess."

Template for national news
Sarah Taaffe-Maguire, business and economics reporter
Aug 26
One in two Britons back Israeli settlement trade ban - regardless of who they vote for

A survey carried out by YouGov pollsters showed 50% favoured the measure. Only a minority (16%) of the 6,142 people surveyed on Wednesday opposed an embargo, while 34% did not know. While backing for a ban was strongest among Labour, Lib Dem and Green voters, the policy had cross-party support. The majority of surveyed Conservative and Reform voters said they "strongly support" a prohibition. About a third of the governing Labour party MPs (140) in June had signed a letter calling for an Israeli settlement trade ban. The government confirmed in July it was working towards a ban on imports and exports to illegal Israeli settlements. Both services and goods will be prohibited from flowing to and from the outposts, the trade minister at the time, Sir Chris Bryant, told MPs of the Business and Trade Committee. The policy will be announced in September, according to reporting in The Times and Middle East Eye. How would it work? Exactly how a ban is implemented is unclear but the current sanctions regime could be used, Sir Chris told the committee last month. Another difficulty arises from identifying where goods come from. "We all know perfectly well that it's very difficult to enforce [customs rules] because [Palestinian] territories and the settlement areas and, and the rest of Israel... goods travel in and out very easily, both heavy machinery and foodstuffs and so on," Sir Chris said. Also considered by the UK government, though ultimately rejected, was pausing its trade agreement with Israel. The Department for Business and Trade undertook an impact assessment on suspending the UK-Israel Trade Partnership Agreement, the 2019 post-Brexit continuity arrangement through which Israeli imports mostly enter the UK tariff-free. Attempts to access the impact assessment have been denied by the department, in part, on international relations grounds. "Disclosing the information would be likely to prejudice the UK's relationship with Israel," the department told Sky News. What are settlements? Israeli settlements, in areas like the West Bank, have long been opposed by the UK government, which believes them to be a breach of international law and a threat to a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine. Settlements have rapidly expanded in recent years, with more planned by the Israeli government. Palestinians face increasing attacks and, in the past weeks, have had homes besieged. Creating settlements can involve confiscating land and displacing Palestinians, which is illegal under the Geneva Convention, as is the moving of Israeli civilians into territory Israel occupies. Israel disputes this, saying it cannot be classed as an occupying power, as no country owned the land before it took the territory in 1967, and it has not transferred its population to the territories; people move freely.

Template for national news
No Writer
Aug 29
Champions League 2026/27 fixtures, dates, schedule, format and who has qualified from Premier League and around Europe

Last season's European finalists Arsenal will play Real Madrid and Bayern Munich in this year's Champions League league phase. The Premier League champions will also face Borussia Dortmund and Napoli in their bid to finish in the top eight automatic places, having topped qualifying with a perfect record last term. Champions League fixturesTransfer Centre LIVE! | Latest on YOUR Premier League club!Got Sky? Watch Premier League games LIVE on your phone📱Not got Sky? Stream Premier League games with no contract📺 Meanwhile, both Man City and Aston Villa will host holders PSG. The Villa Park fixture will be a repeat of the recent Super Cup, which PSG won 2-1 in Salzburg. Among Liverpool's fixtures is a trip to Inter Milan and another tie against Atletico Madrid, with Man Utd also scheduled to face Diego Simeone's side. Arsenal's Champions League fixturesSeptember 9, SSC Napoli (A), 20:00October 13, LOSC Lille (H), 20:00October 21, FC Bayern Munich (A), 20:00November 4, SK Slavia Praha (A), 20:00November 24, Borussia Dortmund (H), 20:00December 9, Real Madrid C.F. (H), 20:00January 20, Real Betis (A), 20:00January 27, Sabah FC (H), 20:00Man Utd's Champions League fixturesSeptember 10, Sabah FC (H), 20:00October 13, Atletico de Madrid (A), 20:00October 21, Como 1907 (A), 17:45November 3, AS Roma (H), 20:00November 25, Sporting Clube de Portugal (A), 20:00December 8, RB Leipzig (H), 20:00January 20, FC Bayern Munich (H), 20:00January 27, Villarreal CF (A), 20:00Man City's Champions League fixturesSeptember 8, FC Porto (A), 20:00October 14, Paris Saint-Germain (H), 20:00October 20, AEK Athens FC (H), 20:00November 4, RB Leipzig (A), 20:00November 24, SSC Napoli (H), 20:00December 8, FC Barcelona (A), 20:00January 20, RC Lens (A), 20:00January 27, Sporting Clube de Portugal (H), 20:00Liverpool's Champions League fixturesSeptember 9, Atletico de Madrid (H), 20:00October 14, LASK (A), 17:45October 20, Villarreal CF (H), 20:00November 4, Fenerbahce SK (A), 17:45November 25, Club Brugge KV (A), 20:00December 9, FC Porto (H), 20:00January 19, FC Internazionale Milano (A), 20:00January 27, RC Lens (H), 20:00Aston Villa's Champions League fixturesSeptember 8, Club Brugge KV (A), 17:45October 14, Fenerbahce SK (H), 20:00October 21, Viking FK (H), 20:00November 3, FC Barcelona (A), 20:00November 24, Galatasaray A.S. (A), 17:45December 8, Paris Saint-Germain (H), 20:00January 19, Borussia Dortmund (H), 20:00January 27, SK Slavia Praha (A), 20:00League-phase dates in full Matchday 1: September 8-10Matchday 2: October 13-14Matchday 3: October 20-21Matchday 4: November 3-4Matchday 5: November 24-25Matchday 6: December 8-9Matchday 7: January 19-20Matchday 8: January 27 Knockout-phase dates Knockout-phase play-offs: February 16/17 and 23/24Round of 16: March 9/10 and 16/17 March 2027Quarter-finals: April 6/7 and 13/14Semi-finals: April 27/28 and May 4/5Final: 5 June 2027 - Wanda Metropolitano Stadium, Madrid How does the league phase draw work? A total of 36 teams will enter the competition at this stage after 29 qualified at the end of last season. The remaining seven places were determined by the qualifiers. In the new format, which is entering its third season since being implemented, teams now play fixtures against eight different teams - two teams from Pots 1, 2, 3 and 4. Half of the eight league-phase matches are at home, with the other half away. Who qualifies for the knockout rounds? The top eight sides in the league will qualify automatically for the round of 16, while teams finishing 25th or lower are eliminated and do not drop into the Europa League. The teams finishing in ninth to 24th place compete in a two-legged knockout-phase play-off. Teams finishing between ninth and 16th are seeded, meaning they will face a team in 17th-24th with the return leg at home. The eight clubs who win their knockout-phase play-off each meet one of the seeded top-eight finishers in the league-phase table for a place in the quarter-finals. Champions League knockout-phase match dates and schedule The draw for the two-legged knockout-phase play-offs is yet to be determined. Knockout-phase play-offs: February 16/17 and 23/24Round of 16: March 9/10 and 16/17Quarter-finals: April 6/7 and 13/14Semi-finals: April 27/28 and May 4/5Final: June 5 When and where is the final? The final will take place at the Estadio Metropolitano in Madrid, Spain, on June 5 2027.

Template for national news
No Writer
Aug 29
Murder arrest after man found dead next to seriously injured girl in Northern Ireland

The dead man was found in Dungannon, County Tyrone, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said. The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service received an emergency call just after 11am on Saturday and took one patient to the Royal Belfast Hospital for sick children. A terraced house has been sealed off at the scene in Lisnahull Road, with a number of officers and police cars in attendance. A forensic officer was seen at the property with an evidence bag, and police have urged members of the public to avoid the area. Sinn Fein councillor Deirdre Varsani said there was a "strong police presence" in the area. She went on: "There appears to be a strong sense of shock and trauma and again we ask people to be respectful of the news that might be coming out, and if you have any information, even the smallest piece of information, to please pass that on to police." Read more from Sky News:Festivalgoers face more rainInside underground rave scene in Ukraine The PSNI said in a statement: "Detectives from the Police Service of Northern Ireland's major investigation team have launched a murder investigation after a man was found dead alongside a seriously injured child in the Lisnahull Road area of Dungannon this morning, Saturday, 29 August. "A male has been arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder and remains in police custody at this time."A further update will follow in due course."

Template for national news
No Writer
Aug 27
Peter Cullen, who voiced Eeyore and Optimus Prime, dies aged 85

Cullen, who gave voice to Eeyore and Optimus Prime in numerous TV shows and films, died surrounded by his family. The Canadian actor also voiced the titular character in the 1987 Predator movie. A family statement issued by his agent read: "Peter Cullen passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family - and held in the hearts of his many friends and countless fans worldwide. "His family asks that you honour his remarkable legacy by serving your communities and leading others with compassion, integrity, and loyalty and always remember, be strong enough to be gentle." Cullen first voiced Optimus Prime in the 1980s TV show The Transformers and its spin-off film The Transformers: The Movie (1986). He reprised the role in 2007 in the first live action film of the series directed by Michael Bay. He went on to appear as the shapeshifting truck robot in Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011), Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014), Transformers: The Last Knight (2017), Bumblebee (2018), and Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023), as well as numerous other TV projects. Read more from Sky News:Children who went missing from asylum hotels still unaccounted forRise in UK salmonella cases linked to imported eggs The actor also voiced Eeyore in series including the cartoon The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, which ran from 1988 to 1991, The Book of Pooh and My Friends Tigger and Pooh, as well as films such as The Tigger Movie (2000), Piglet's Big Movie (2003) and Pooh's Heffalump Movie (2005). Alongside his more famous roles, the actor provided the voice of the title role in King Kong (1976) and King Kong Lives (1986), as well as voicing Grundle and Ahgg in My Little Pony: The Movie (1986). In 2023, he won the lifetime achievement award at the Children's and Family Emmy Awards.

Template for national news
No Writer
Aug 25
Young people leaving care are dying at a troubling rate - and one age stands out

The number of young care leavers dying has risen by around a quarter. In 2025, 112 care leavers aged 18 to 24 died. And the government's own review warns that the true number may be higher because councils simply lose contact with some young people after they leave care. Look beyond that headline figure, and the picture becomes even more troubling. Care leavers are estimated to be dying at three to four times the rate of other young people their age. More than a third of the deaths examined were believed to be suicides. Drug and alcohol misuse, homelessness, loneliness and serious mental health problems feature repeatedly. And one age stands out: 18. More care leavers died at 18 than at any other age examined by the review. This can be the moment the system around them changes dramatically. Take Joash McCullough. Joash was autistic and had ADHD. His parents had spent years trying to cope with increasingly complex behaviour and serious mental health crises. Eventually they made the agonising decision that he needed care they could no longer provide at home. At 14, he was moved around 200 miles away to a children's home. He would later move again. Then Joash turned 18 and entered the transition from children's services to the adult system. He died later that year on railway lines near to where he lived. An inquest has yet to fully examine the circumstances of his death, so no conclusions should be drawn about what happened to Joash. But his story helps explain why this government's findings matter. Read more from Nick Martin:Questions for council over deaths of teens Why experienced foster carers are quitting The problem is that very little in this review will come as a surprise to ministers. Even the review itself accepts that. Governments have known for years about the so-called "care cliff". They know there aren't enough foster carers. They know councils are spending huge sums placing children wherever they can find beds. They know the quality of children's homes and supported accommodation varies. And they know the transition between children's and adult mental health services can be brutally difficult. So identifying the problems is arguably the easy bit. Fixing them is much harder. Better children's homes require money and skilled staff. More foster placements require a serious recruitment and retention effort, something the government says it is trying to do. Better mental health provision requires capacity on both sides of the 18th birthday. The political question now is: what is government actually going to do differently? The age of 18 is now accepted to be a perilous point for young people in care. They are most at risk. Acknowledging the "care cliff" is no longer enough. The challenge for ministers is working out how to stop young people from falling off it. Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for free on 116 123 or visit samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK.

Template for national news
No Writer
Aug 28
England vs Pakistan: Ollie Robinson and Jofra Archer skittle visitors as Joe Root's side take 261-run lead in second Test

England's bowlers excelled with both the ball and the bat, as the hosts started the day with Josh Tongue (30no) and Gus Atkinson (45) at the crease. Scorecard: England vs Pakistan, second Test at Lord'sECB chair disappointed by England's off-field anticsWith alarm bells ringing, what's gone wrong for Pakistan cricket?Not got Sky? Latest Sky Sports deals or stream no contract The tailenders set the tone early, moving England to a first-innings score of 290, thanks to their 47-run stand, before the hosts' fiery bowling attack returned to the field to skittle Pakistan for 110 runs inside 37.2 overs. England's four-pronged pace attack of Robinson, Archer, Josh Tongue and Atkinson ran riot, producing a relentless and highly impressive hour of bowling before lunch, but were unlucky not to take more wickets, with Pakistan heading into the pavilion at 16-2. Back at his happy hunting ground of Lord's, Robinson, who took a haul of seven wickets here against New Zealand in June, was the pick of England's bowlers, taking impressive figures of 4-11. Archer, who showcased his phenomenal pace, took 3-26, while Tongue also impressed, removing both Abdullah Shafique (5) and Pakistan's captain Babar Azam (8) either side of lunch. Azan Awais top-scored for the visitors and proved difficult for England to remove, hitting 46 runs off 102 balls, before he was caught out at mid-on by Emilio Gay, off a Robinson bouncer. England returned to the field after tea, but lost wickets quickly, with Ben Duckett (1), Jordan Cox (11), and Joe Root (24) all falling inside 17 overs. Play was abandoned at 6.50pm due to bad light, with England 81-3 at stumps, and Gay (30no) and Harry Brook (7no) set to return to the crease on Saturday morning. Tongue and Atkinson excel with the bat Pakistan struggled to remove Tongue and Atkinson early on Friday morning, and it proved costly. While Atkinson saw little of the striker's end as Tongue nipped away doubles, singles and boundaries with authority, they combined nicely to move England's score on by 42 runs. Tongue was impressive with the bat, sweeping away four boundaries, and questions were again raised about Pakistan's field setting, with the England batter targeting the gap between their third slip and gully. At around 11am, Atkinson took strike and bludgeoned Ali Usman back down the ground for four. He tried again on the next ball, but was caught at long-off by Ali. Robinson and Archer shine at Lord's It had been anticipated that England's bowlers would deliver on the Lord's wicket, but on Friday, they exceeded expectations, producing an incredibly relentless hour-long spell of bowling before lunch. It took England four overs to take their first wicket, with Archer sending down a fiery delivery to Shan Masood (1), who edged behind to Smith. Smith, who had top-scored yesterday for England with a 61, found himself back in the action again soon after, with Tongue sending a jaffa down to Shafique, who also edged behind to leave Pakistan 2-16 after 14.1 overs. England began again after the break and continued with the same intensity, which culminated in Tongue taking the huge wicket of Pakistan captain Babar. Robinson once again worked his magic on the Lord's pitch and removed Saud Shakeel (16) lbw following a review. It was one of two decisions off Robinson's bowling that England successfully overturned, with the Sussex bowler trapping Mohammad Rizwan (7) lbw also after a brief rain break. As the clouds gathered over the Home of Cricket, Robinson and Archer took two more wickets apiece, with the latter skittling Usman (1), before Brook took an edge in the slips from Robinson to dismiss Khurram Shazad (1), after shelling Azan earlier in the day off an Atkinson delivery. Archer clattered another delivery into Mohammad Abbas' (2) stumps to wrap up Pakistan's innings, with Imam-ul-Haq unable to take to the bat due to a calf injury. England's top order out cheaply, as Gay battles back England's second innings got off to a poor start with Duckett clumsily driving Khurram to Babar at mid-off, before Cox also came up a cropper to the Pakistan bowler, being dismissed for lbw. There was more woe for England, who lost their captain for 24, as Ali replicated one of the epic deliveries he used to dismiss Brook on Thursday, jagging back into Root's front pad. While England held a commanding lead, it piled pressure on Brook and Gay, with the former overturning an lbw decision by the umpire, following a review on his first ball. Gay was hugely impressive at the crease, battling back the advances of Abbas and Ali to bring up a score of 30 off 69 deliveries, which included six boundaries, before play was suspended due to bad light. Watch day three of England's second Test against Pakistan live on Sky Sports Cricket from 10.15am on Saturday. Not got Sky? Latest Sky Sports deals or stream no contract

bottom of page