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Bethany Minelle, arts and entertainment reporter
Mar 3
Rapper Ghetts jailed for killing student in hit-and-run

He was also disqualified from driving for 17 years. The grime artist, whose real name is Justin Clarke-Samuel, failed to stop after his BMW struck 20-year-old Yubin Tamang last October. Clarke-Samuel, 41, had pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving in Ilford, northeast London. Mr Tamang, who had come to the UK from Nepal to study, died in hospital from his injuries two days after the crash. Speaking after the sentencing, a spokesperson for Mr Tamang's parents said: "We speak today with hearts broken beyond repair. Our only child, a precious soul has been taken from us far too soon. He came to the UK to study and create a better life for himself and his family. Justin Clarke-Samuel has stolen our son's future and ours with it. "We are relieved that Justin Clarke-Samuel pleaded guilty and that he has now been jailed, but we can never forgive him for what he has done." The victim's mother, Sharmila Tamang, had earlier broken down in court, describing the "extreme pain" and "unimaginable sense of loss" of losing her only child. Evidence showed that Clarke-Samuel, 41, was driving his BMW M5 at 74mph in a 30mph zone moments before he hit Mr Tamang as he crossed Redbridge Lane at 11.33pm on 18 October. Clarke-Samuel then failed to stop at the scene. As the judge summarised the case, Clarke-Samuel, who was dressed all in black, sat in the dock with his eyes closed. He showed no emotion as the sentence was handed down. He has been in custody since a preliminary appearance at Barkingside Magistrates' Court on 27 October. Judge Mark Lucraft KC told Clarke-Samuel that CCTV footage showed a "quite appalling litany of incidents" leading up to the fatal collision which he described as "simply shocking". After the crash, Clarke-Samuel had continued to drive for eight miles before going home and having six or seven shots of Ciroc vodka and a "cannabis cookie", the court heard. When he was arrested several hours later, the BMW was found parked near his home, with significant damage including a smashed windscreen, extensive marks on the bonnet, damage to the front bumper and a missing wing mirror cover. The court was told the defendant had claimed he had driven dangerously because he feared someone was following him, but no evidence of a pursuit was found on CCTV. The judge noted Clarke-Samuel's "genuine remorse" and previous good work in the community, saying: "Your music has provided you with a following and a significant financial reward... I acknowledge that you have used that to good effect and done much to support many others." He went on to say it was a "real shame" all this has been impacted by his reckless actions on the night of the crash. Ghetts describes his 'extreme regret, shame and remorse' Speaking for the defence, Benjamin Aina KC, told the court that Clarke-Samuel had written a letter in which he expressed his remorse for his actions on that night. Mr Aina said Clarke-Samuel wanted to apologise to "the family of Mr Tamang, the community at large, to his own family, and to the court for his actions on that Saturday night of October last year". He also said he acknowledged the multiple aggravating factors surrounding the case, including his erratic driving at speed, and his failure to stop at the scene of the accident or contact the emergency services. Reading an extract from Clarke-Samuel's letter, Mr Aina said: "I write from a place of extreme regret, shame and remorse… I cannot express the enormous feeling of guilt and shame for the suffering I have caused." The letter went on: "I want Mr Tamang's family to know that I am so truly sorry. I offer no excuses, and I have let my family and community down." Erratic driving and an earlier collision The court was shown CCTV footage of Clarke-Samuel driving erratically through the streets of London and showed the moment Mr Tamang was hit by the car. Prosecutor Philip McGhee told the court Clarke-Samuel's vehicle had thrown Mr Tamang into the air before he crashed to the ground in the road. Mr McGee said Mr Tamang was hit at 67mph, more than double the permitted maximum speed in that area. The court was told Clarke-Samuel had been involved in a collision with a Mercedes before the fatal hit-and-run, and had also narrowly avoided striking a cyclist. In December, Clarke-Samuel admitted a charge of dangerous driving in Tavistock Place, in the Bloomsbury area of central London, and on other roads in Camden, Islington and Hackney ahead of the crash. Speaking outside the court after the sentencing, Shani Taggart, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: "Justin Clarke-Samuel knew he was in no fit state to drive and there was clear evidence of his excessive speed and disregard for road users as he drove incredibly dangerously across our city. "After presenting this evidence, we secured guilty pleas to these two charges and today's sentence will see Clarke-Samuel face the consequences of his fatal decision to get behind the wheel of a car after drinking." Detective Sergeant Faye Cook, who led the Met's investigation, said: "Our thoughts remain with Yubin's loved ones, especially his parents, Sharmila and Bikash, who have shown remarkable courage throughout this investigation. Their strength has inspired everyone involved in the case. "We hope today's sentencing brings some measure of comfort to Yubin's family, while also serving as a reminder to the public of the devastating consequences of dangerous driving." Who is Ghetts? The rapper and songwriter, a two-time Mercury Prize nominee, has collaborated on tracks with Skepta, Stormzy and Ed Sheeran, and performed at Glastonbury several times, including in 2024. He won best male act at the 2021 MOBO Awards and received the MOBO pioneer award in 2024. He also starred as a gang leader called Krazy in the Netflix sci-fi series Supacell about five black south Londoners who unexpectedly develop superpowers.

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Gemma Peplow, culture and entertainment reporter
Mar 3
BAFTAs host Alan Cumming addresses 'trauma triggering' broadcast

During the ceremony, as Sinners stars Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo were presenting an award on stage, a racial slur was shouted out by Tourette's campaigner John Davidson, who was there to celebrate a movie about his life. The BBC failed to cut the slur from its broadcast of the 22 February event and viewers could see the offending moment for more than 12 hours before the programme was taken down from BBC iPlayer. By then, the incident was starting to make headlines and create online discourse around the world. Cumming, an actor and presenter who hosts the US Traitors, has now released a statement, saying: "It's now a week since I hosted the BAFTAs. What should have been an evening celebrating creativity as well as diversity and inclusion turned into a trauma triggering shitshow. "I'm so sorry for all the pain Black people have felt at hearing that word echoed round the world. I'm so sorry the Tourettes community has been reminded of the lack of understanding and tolerance that abounds regarding their condition." Cumming said the "only possible good" to come out of the incident is "a reminder that words matter, that rushing to judgement about things of which we are not fully cognisant is folly, that all trauma must be recognised and honoured". The BBC has said it did cut a second racist slur from the ceremony. Other moments, including a call to "free Palestine" by director Akinola Davies Jr, were also edited out. Cumming finished by referencing this, saying: "We were all let down by decisions made to both broadcast slurs and censor free speech. Congratulations to all the artists whose work was overshadowed by the night's events." The presenter apologised on stage for the language viewers may have heard during the ceremony, but this is his first statement addressing the fallout. Lindo says support 'means a lot' At the weekend, Lindo was in California where he appeared at the NAACP Image Awards, which celebrates outstanding achievements and performances of black and minority ethnic people in the arts. The British-born US actor addressed the incident while on stage with Sinners director Ryan Coogler, saying: "We appreciate - I appreciate - all of the support and love we have been shown in the aftermath of what happened last weekend, it means a lot to us. "It is an honour to be here amongst our people this evening, amongst so many people who have shown us such incredible support. "And it's a classic case of something that could've been very negative becoming very positive. Thank you so much for the support." Lindo praised the ceremony as "a room where being fully seen is not rare, but it is expected". Read more:John Davidson on I SwearWho is Robert Aramayo? What have the BBC and BAFTA said? The BBC and BAFTA both apologised in statements released last week. The BBC later described the incident as a "serious mistake" and said it was carrying out a "fast-tracked" investigation. Davidson, whose Tourette's causes him to involuntarily shout out words, has said he is "deeply mortified" by what happened. He was at the ceremony to celebrate I Swear, a film about his life and struggles, which was nominated for several awards and went home with two - best casting and best actor for Robert Aramayo. Aramayo plays Davidson in the movie and beat the likes of Hollywood stars Timothee Chalamet and Leonardo DiCaprio to win the award.

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Sam Coates, deputy political editor
Mar 3
Greens overtake Labour in sensational poll

The Greens are up four points to 21%, driven to a significant extent by the publicity from the Gorton and Denton by-election, according to the pollster. Politics Hub: Follow the latest Anthony Wells, head of global polling from YouGov, says this reflects the Greens appearing to be a more viable option and less of a wasted vote. The YouGov weekly voting intention poll puts Reform UK on 23%, down one, Greens on 21%, up four, Labour and the Tories tied on 16, both down two, and the Lib Dems unchanged on 14. The Greens are now the most popular party in all age categories under 50. Some 49% of 18-24 year olds would back the Greens, as well as 27% of 25 to 49-year-olds - the top choice. The latest poll underlines how voters who backed Labour in the 2024 general election are now spread across the electoral spectrum. Of those who voted Labour then, just 37% would vote Labour again, 25% would now vote Green, 8% Lib Dem and 20% don't know, would not vote or refused to say. Different factions inside Labour have been fighting to interpret the rise of the Greens and the result in Gorton and Denton, with some urging the party to move to the left and soften policies on things like immigration, while others say Sir Keir Starmer should stay tough or risk losing other parts of his electoral coalition. The polling suggests that the Greens' appeal is broader than white collar workers. Those classified as doing "routine" jobs also vote Green in significant numbers.

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No Writer
Mar 2
Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins and Newcastle's Nick Pope suffering poor form but James Garner stars for Everton

Welcome to The Debrief, a Sky Sports column in which Adam Bate uses a blend of data and opinion to reflect on some of the key stories from the latest Premier League matches. This week: Watkins' numbers becoming a concernPope's shot-stopping under scrutinyWhy Garner is now Everton's key manWhat's happened to Watkins at Villa? Given that Aston Villa were, Unai Emery has now admitted, in a Premier League title race until a month ago, it is perhaps surprising to note that their centre-forward Ollie Watkins is having his most difficult season since joining the club almost six years ago. Watkins had a decent chance to give Villa a first-half lead at Wolves but was unable to get his shot away quickly enough after being put through on goal. Emery's out-of-form side went on to lose 2-0 to the bottom club and have now dropped to fourth in the table. Calls for Tammy Abraham to start are growing. Watkins has scored only once in his last 11 appearances. He might point to the absence of Youri Tielemans' passes but his problems are twofold. His finishing levels have dipped and his dynamic movement is down too. Throughout his five previous seasons at Villa, Watkins' goal tally had tracked his expected goals numbers consistently. He had scored 75 Premier League goals with an expected goals figure of 75.11. An average of 0.44 goals per 90 minutes on both metrics in that time. This season, his goals per 90 minutes tally of 0.34 is as low as it has been since being at the same level in the season that Dean Smith was replaced by Steven Gerrard and Villa finished 14th. Interestingly, his expected goals is also at its lowest since that campaign. Why isn't Watkins getting the same volume of chances? Emery needs to work on that with his team but one concern might be that Watkins, now 30, could be losing a little of the spark that set him apart. The intensity of his work up top is integral to his game. His top speed this season is 33.12 kilometres per hour, which is down on last season, which was down on the season before that, which was down on his record high of 36.10 kilometres per hour in the 2021/22 season. A steady dip in speed that looks like a trend. With more clever movement and improved service, it need not be catastrophic. Watkins can find a way. But his struggle to find the spaces that he once did coupled with a lack of confidence in front of goal has put the spotlight on him. Emery is still backing his man. Asked how Watkins could turn it around in the press conference after the Wolves defeat, Emery said: "Hard work and looking forward. Working. Preparing the next game. And of course, he is going to score goals again." Villa need that to be sooner rather than later. Live Premier League table | Watch FREE PL highlightsGot Sky? Watch Premier League games LIVE on your phone📱No Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW📺Pope's form is a problem for Newcastle Eddie Howe blamed "avoidable mistakes" for Newcastle's 3-2 home defeat to Everton, citing the concession of one goal, in particular, as the pivotal moment in the match. "The second one especially hurt us mentally," argued Howe when speaking to the press afterwards. There could be no denying who was responsible. It was Nick Pope who fumbled Dwight McNeil's shot into the path of Beto. The error was his third of the Premier League campaign, according to Opta. No player has made more such errors leading to goals this season. What will frustrate the Newcastle goalkeeper is that he himself has never made this many mistakes before in any season dating back to his Premier League debut for Burnley in 2017. It is the manner of the mistakes that is surprising given his hard-earned reputation. Pope's kicking has long been regarded as a weakness but his shot-stopping and handling of the ball have always been his strengths. This latest error was another that had nothing to do with his uncertainty with the ball at his feet. It is becoming a problem. Howe will have been aware that there was always a trade-off with Pope. Others were more assured on the ball, but the Newcastle goalkeeper has consistently prevented more goals than expected - outperforming the expected-goals metric year after year. This season, he has dipped below it, costing more goals than the average goalkeeper. With Aaron Ramsdale already sat on the bench and fans encouraging the club to buy a new goalkeeper in the summer, it is a tricky time for a player who turns 34 next month. Asked to elaborate on Pope specifically, Howe added at the weekend: "I think it is difficult for me to comment on any one player or any one position. Just collectively, we have got to defend our goal better." But Pope is surely under pressure to raise his levels again. Why Garner is Everton's key player It was Jordan Pickford's stunning save that allowed Everton to leave St James' Park with three points on Saturday. But it was the performance of James Garner that set it up with a dominant midfield display. He has been Everton's best player this season. In the second half, in particular, Garner screened the defence, providing protection with his interceptions. In total, there were six of them in the game. Nobody else made that many over the Premier League weekend. Nobody else in the game made more than one. It is the intensity of his work in those defensive areas that catches the eye. For high-intensity pressures in central zones inside his own half, Garner ranks ahead of the similarly industrious Dominik Szoboszlai and Joao Gomes as the league's standout player. For overall distance covered in the Premier League, he is fourth. But Garner is more than a runner, he has shown quality in possession for Everton this season, not just tidy in his work but often the midfielder who takes responsibility for making those incisive passes. David Moyes certainly relies on him. Speaking to the Everton boss after Garner scored a fine goal from left-back in the opening Premier League game at the club's new stadium in August, he said: "He is really a midfield player. His versatility is so important to us." Thankfully for Garner, he has since moved to his favoured role and is flourishing. With Everton up to eighth, wider recognition could follow. Uncapped by England, he turns 25 later this month and timing is everything. Do not rule out that World Cup call just yet.

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No Writer
Mar 3
Armed police called after man stabbed and woman injured in Birmingham

West Midlands Police said a 32-year-old man had been arrested over the incident in the Alum Rock area. Firearms officers were among those called to Bridge Road shortly after noon, while a nearby nursery was locked down after witnesses saw a man stabbing another man in the street. Police said the woman's injuries were not believed to be life-threatening or life-changing. A ambulance spokeswoman said: "Crews arrived to find a man with serious injuries and administered advanced life support on scene. "A second patient, a woman, was treated for less serious injuries." Detective Superintendent James Munro added: "We believe this to be a contained incident with a man in custody. "We are reviewing CCTV footage and speaking to a number of people in the area. But would appeal to anyone who has any information to get in touch. "We understand how deeply distressing and concerning this incident is and we will have extra officers in the area to offer reassurance to the community." Read more from Sky News:BAFTAs host addresses 'trauma triggering' broadcastThe police problem with rape and sexual offences Witnesses or anyone with information, including mobile phone or dashcam footage, is asked to contact police.

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Bethany Minelle, arts and entertainment reporter
Mar 2
The Actor Awards fashion: All the best looks from the red carpet

Actors including Timothee Chalamet, Emma Stone, Jenna Ortega, Michael B Jordan, Kate Hudson, Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley were there to honour the best on-screen performances in TV and film of last year. It's the final big awards show ahead of the Oscars. Here are some of the best outfits of the night. Read more: Sinners shakes up Oscars race as Jessie Buckley remains undefeated

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No Writer
Mar 2
Starmer 'stands by' decision not to join in strikes on Iran with US and Israel

The UK leader was speaking in the House of Commons, as he updated MPs and the public on the latest situation in the Middle East. Sir Keir restated that the UK was not involved in the initial strikes carried out on Saturday. Iran war live: US vows to 'finish war' The prime minister said he had faced criticism from US President Donald Trump for his decision not to join in the strikes. "It is my duty to judge what is in Britain's national interest," Sir Keir said. "That is what I've done, and I stand by it." The prime minister also appeared to challenge whether Mr Trump had a plan for the next stage of the conflict in the Middle East when the offensive began. Several times, Sir Keir referred to the need for a "lawful basis" and a "viable, thought-through plan" before committing British service people to action. "The lessons of history have taught us that it is important, when we make decisions like this, that we establish there is a lawful basis for what the United Kingdom is doing. "That is one of the lessons from Iraq. "And that there is a viable thought-through plan with an objective that can be achieved or has a viable prospect of being achieved. "That is the principles that I apply to the decisions that I made over the weekend, the principles I applied to the decision not to get involved in the offensive strikes of the US and Israel." Sir Keir said he took two decisions over the weekend - one not to join in with the initial strikes, and then one to allow US planes to conduct defensive actions from UK bases. Hours after Sir Keir announced on Sunday he had allowed US use of UK bases, a drone hit RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. Read more:Starmer denies U-turning on support for USWhy Starmer is cautious on IranFollow live politics here Regime change from the skies? Speaking to The Daily Telegraph earlier, Mr Trump criticised the first decision. "That's probably never happened between our countries before," the president said. "It sounds like he was worried about the legality." Speaking about the latter decision to allow US use of British bases, Mr Trump said: "It is useful. It took far too much time. Far too much time." Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the Conservatives, criticised the prime minister for his "dither and delay" in joining in the action against Iran. 👉Listen to Politics At Sam And Anne's on your podcast app👈 Another Tory MP, Sir Edward Lee, asked what evidence there was Iran was about to acquire nuclear weapons, and whether "regime change from the skies" ever worked. Sir Keir said: "This government does not believe in regime change from the skies."

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No Writer
Mar 3
Lewis Hamilton: Ferrari driver says 'no holding back' for 20th Formula 1 season as he targets 2026 success

Hamilton prepares for this weekend's season-opening Australian Grand Prix having already said he feels "re-set and refreshed" ahead of a second campaign with Ferrari in which he will bid to quickly banish the disappointments of the first, when he failed to record a podium finish for the first time in his career. Ferrari head to Melbourne hotly tipped alongside Mercedes to fight at the front of the field after an impressive pre-season of testing and seven-time champion Hamilton has made clear he is looking forward to his landmark campaign. Martin Brundle's 2026 season preview | New F1 rules and racing terms explainedWhen to watch the Australian GP live on Sky SportsF1 2026: Calendar, line-ups, new regulations, how to watch on Sky SportsNot got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW📺 Writing on Instagram in a post containing images from his record-breaking career so far, the 41-year-old said: "Twenty seasons as an F1 driver. It's hard to even grasp the reality of that number. "It started with a dream. A dream some called ridiculous and said would never amount to anything. Despite that, the dream never changed, and I never stopped chasing it. "A dream has to be matched with action and, above all, belief. Belief that doesn't break no matter what's thrown in your face or what you come up against. There will always be people who doubt you, people who try to block you, but you can't ever stop fighting. "Twenty years filled with incredible highs and brutal lows, with more mistakes than I can count. But those mistakes made the journey even sweeter. You hold the power to your destiny. Everything you need to succeed is within you. You will need help along the way, like I did, but that spark, that fire, is already inside you. "I'm forever grateful for the lessons, the quiet moments, the chaos, and the many people who helped me chase and achieve my dreams. "I'm grateful for the doubters and for the ones who tried to knock me down, too. I'm still here, 20 years on, still standing, still hungry, still focused on the dream. "No holding back." Can Hamilton enjoy a stronger 2026 campaign? In a feature assessing the grid's leading driver line-ups, Sky Sports F1's Anthony Davidson said: "Lewis has found things tough the last couple of years. Let's see if he can bounce back with this new iteration of cars. "I believe they're going to suit his style more. He'll be able to get more out of the equipment than he has done in the last couple of years with the ground-effects cars. "[Team-mate Charles] Leclerc is a phenomenal driver, super-fast, probably one of, if not the fastest drivers on the grid, especially in qualifying. He doesn't mind a car that moves around under him. He's very flamboyant in the way he drives, and I really enjoy watching that. "But I think the pair of them last year at certain points found things tough. I'm sure the car wasn't easy to drive, so let's see how they go this year. I'm expecting them to be a force to be reckoned with once again." Sky Sports F1's Martin Brundle: "As F1 fans, we always want Ferrari to do well. I'd love to see that come right for Lewis. He seems a bit happier. He will be great at using the tools available to him on these new cars. "He's got to beat Charles Leclerc, who is right on it as well. "A happy Lewis has always been, and not just at Ferrari, a fast Lewis. And I have to say Ferrari have been quite innovative over the winter, so I'm confident Lewis will have a better year." Sky Sports F1's Australian GP schedule Thursday March 53am: Drivers' Press Conference6am: Paddock Uncut9.45pm: F3 Practice10.55pm: F2 Practice Friday March 61am: Australian GP Practice One (session starts at 1.30am)*2.55am: F3 Qualifying*3.30am: Team Bosses Press Conference3.50am: F2 Qualifying*4.35am: Australian GP Practice Two (session starts at 5am)*6.15am: The F1 Show* Saturday March 70.10am: F3 Sprint*1.10am: Australian GP Practice Three (session starts at 1.30am)*3.05am: F2 Sprint*4.10am: Australian GP Qualifying build-up*5am: AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX QUALIFYING*7am: Ted's Qualifying Notebook*9.45pm: F3 Feature Race* Sunday March 812.20am: F2 Feature Race*2.30am: Australian GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday*4am: THE AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX*6am: Australian GP reaction: Chequered Flag*7am: Ted's Notebook*7.55am: Australian GP race replay*10am: Australian GP highlights (also on Sky One)* *Also on Sky Sports Main Event Watch every race of the 2026 Formula 1 season live on Sky Sports, starting with the Australian Grand Prix from March 6-8. Stream Sky Sports with NOW - no contract, cancel anytime

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