The four who died had tried to board a dinghy at Equihen-Plage, near Boulogne-sur-mer, but were swept away by strong currents, a French government official said, in an incident which happened around 7am local time. Authorities said more than 40 were assisted, including three who required medical attention, between Equihen-Plage and Hardelot-Plage. Two children were among those taken taken to hospital, while another person was treated for hypothermia. The dinghy proceeded into deeper waters and continued its journey to the UK, local authorities ⁠said. It comes less than two weeks after two migrants died off the coast of France during an attempt to cross the Channel, one of the world's ​busiest shipping lanes. Francois-Xavier Lauch, an official for Pas-de-Calais, said: "We sadly have to report four deaths this morning. "The people who died were attempting to board a taxi-boat. "I have to commend the actions of our officers and firefighters who, as you know, are deployed every day to stop these crossings." Speaking of the four people who died, he said: "They were already quite far into the sea. "The currents, which can be dangerous here, swept them away. "This provisional toll - and I insist that it is provisional - states four deceased: two men, two women." In the ‌past year, traffickers have taken to motor dinghies along stretches of ‌the northern French and Belgiancoasts picking migrants up along the shore. Authorities refer to them as 'taxi-boats'. Read more from Sky News: British teen dies in VietnamFestival cancelled after Kanye West blocked from entering UK The UK government last month signed an extension with France over current arrangements on beach patrols as part of efforts to reduce the number of Channel crossings. Some 4,441 migrants arrived in the first three months of 2026, according to Home Office data. This is 33% lower than the number who had reached the UK by this point in 2025, which was 6,642.

Jasveen Sangha initially denied the charges but agreed to change her plea in a signed statement last year, just a few weeks before she had been due to stand trial. In a victim impact statement submitted ahead of the sentencing hearing, Perry's stepmother Debbie described Sangha as "heartless" and called for the judge to give her the maximum jail time. The Friends star and Emmy-nominated actor died in October 2023, aged 54. He had struggled with addiction for years, but released a memoir a year before his death during a period of being clean. He had been using ketamine through his regular doctor as a legal, but off-label, treatment for depression, but in the weeks before his death had also started to seek more of the drug illegally. His dependence on the drug was "spiralling out of control" in his final months, prosecutors said. Five people, including doctors and the actor's personal assistant, have pleaded guilty to various charges connected with his death. Sangha, who has dual British-American nationality, is the third person to be sentenced. In December last year, Salvador Plasencia, a doctor, was jailed for two-and-a-half years for illegally supplying ketamine to Perry in the weeks before his death. Another doctor, Mark Chavez, was sentenced to eight months home confinement after admitting selling ketamine to Plasencia. Sangha, who has been in custody since her arrest in August 2024, pleaded guilty in September to five federal charges, including distributing ketamine resulting in death. She is the only defendant whose plea deal included an acknowledgment of causing Perry's death. She also admitted to selling drugs to another man, Cody McLaury, 33, who had no connection to Perry, before his overdose death in 2019. Prosecutors wrote in March that after Sangha found out she had sold the drugs that caused Perry's death, "she didn't care and kept selling". Her conduct showed a "cold callousness and disregard for life. She chose profits over people, and her actions have caused immense pain to the victims' families and loved ones". But before sentencing, Sangha told the judge she wears her shame "like a jacket", admitting her actions "were not mistakes. They were horrible decisions" which "shattered people's lives and the lives of their family and friends". Keith Morrison, Perry's stepfather, said the judge delivered "a highly reasoned sentence", NBC, Sky's US partner, reported. He added: "We miss Matthew dreadfully, of course, and I feel badly for the perpetrator here as well. Nobody won today." Perry's role as Chandler Bing on NBC's Friends in the 1990s and 2000s made him one of the biggest television stars of the era. The actor was found dead in the hot tub at his Los Angeles home. He was lying face down in the water, NBC said. Read more on Sky News:RSPCA denies using AI dogs in pictureWhy Bake Off episode was droppedDeath penalty possible after guilty plea He died from an accidental overdose of ketamine, the Los Angeles County medical examiner's office said. Sangha sold him 25 vials of ketamine, including the fatal dose, for $6,000 (£4,482) in cash four days before his death, prosecutors said.

Two women find out they have cancer during or shortly after pregnancy every day, according to the charity Mummy's Star. But maternity leave cannot be delayed in the UK, meaning many mothers have to choose between spending time with their newborn and receiving treatment. Politics latest - follow live The longest-serving health secretary in British history is backing calls to change the law so that mothers diagnosed with cancer would be able to delay maternity leave for up to a year after birth, calling the move a "no-brainer". Sir Jeremy, who received a cancer diagnosis himself, said it is "one of the most terrifying things that can happen to you", and described how "you feel like there's a guillotine hanging over your head and you just don't know". His cancer was caught early, but the disease has taken both of his parents and his brother. Addressing the calls to change maternity leave, he warned ministers that "the longer you wait, the more people will suffer". Speaking to Sky News, Sir Jeremy added that such a change would face "zero opposition from any other parties in the House" if it was introduced as a draft law by the government, or as a private member's bill. The campaign has received cross-party support, being championed by a key aide to the prime minister, as well as by other Labour MPs and members of the Liberal Democrats. The move is being led by Mummy's Star founder Pete Wallroth, whose own wife, Mair, was diagnosed with breast cancer while pregnant in June 2012. Two months later, she gave birth to her second child - but the cancer spread and she died that December. He told Sky News that Mair's cancer diagnosis "really impacted her and her early days as a mum for the second time". "We can't be penalising people unfairly just because they got a cancer diagnosis around their pregnancy," he said. Ashleigh Eccles, who was diagnosed with cancer shortly after giving birth in 2023, said she felt "an immense amount of grief" at losing her entire maternity leave to cancer treatment. She routinely had to leave her newborn with her parents while she went for chemotherapy. "I really felt like I had missed out on this magical time to bond with my baby," she said. Ms Eccles was also "totally surprised" to learn that maternity leave couldn't be delayed, and that she was "never going to get that time back". Similarly, Beth Dedman was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma shortly after giving birth to her first child in 2024. She said her employers were "brilliant" about the situation – but "they didn't know what to do". "It all seemed like it was wrong, that something was missing," she said. "I was thinking 'that can't be right'. Everybody that I came across didn't really know how to tell me that [delaying maternity leave] wasn't even an option." Mr Wallroth believes that the current situation means "everybody loses", and pushes women out of their jobs, as they often don't return full-time, having spent precious few moments with their newborn. He said changing the rules on maternity leave would involve a short-term cost, but a long-term saving. "If you're able to better support that process, if you're able to offer a deferment, they're far more likely to stay in that job in the long-term," he said. "I know what the Treasury will say," said Sir Jeremy, who served as the chancellor for almost two years, under Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak. He continued: "They'll say, 'look, why make an exception for cancer? What about other illnesses that people could get as well?' The truth is that the law is always a bit messy, but in a compassionate society, we need to make some room for exceptions – and this is one that just seems to be very sensible." Labour MP Jon Pearce, who is a parliamentary private secretary for Sir Keir Starmer, raised the issue with ministers after hosting some of the campaigners in parliament last month. "You could not fail to be moved by the stories of mothers whose maternity leave was spent undergoing treatment for cancer," he told Sky News. "I cannot imagine what it must be like for a mum excited about bonding with their new baby to have their lives turned upside down." Changing the law "would benefit around 700 mums each year", he added. Ireland has already taken the decision to allow maternity leave to be delayed in certain circumstances, introducing the change in 2024. Referring to this, Sir Jeremy said: "If you can point to a country where it's happened, and it hasn't caused the skies to fall in, then that's a pretty good indication it's a sensible thing to do. "It's a real shame to hang around on something like this that really would make life better for lots of people." A spokesperson for the Department of Business and Trade said: "Receiving news of a cancer diagnosis is devastating for individuals and families at any time, especially for mothers on maternity leave who should be spending that precious time bonding with their newborn baby. "Our National Cancer Plan sets out how we will support people, including pregnant and postnatal women with cancer, and our parental leave review is exploring how we can better support working families so that parents can spend time doing what matters most – caring for their baby."

Fernandez said in interviews that he would welcome living in Madrid, leaving the door open to moving to Real Madrid in the summer. No talks have been held about selling Fernandez and he has a Chelsea contract until 2032. Chelsea fixtures & scores | FREE Chelsea highlights▶️Got Sky? Watch Chelsea games LIVE on your phone📱Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract📺 As a result of those comments, Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior announced last Friday that Fernandez would not be in the squad for two matches - the 7-0 win over Port Vale last Saturday and this weekend's game against Manchester City on Sunday, live on Sky Sports. Real Madrid will sign a midfielder this summer and Fernandez is one of their targets. He is valued at more than £100m but Chelsea are not trying to sell the player. Fernandez is one of the players seeking improved terms on his Chelsea contract - but his cause will not have been helped by the comments he made in Argentina. What did Fernandez and his agent say? Fernandez has been regularly linked with a summer move to Real and he cast doubt over his Chelsea future after their heavy Champions League last-16 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, telling ESPN Argentina "I don't know" when asked if he would still be at the club next season. "My focus is here now. Then the World Cup coming up, so we'll see after that," he added. During his time with Argentina in the international break, Fernandez told Marcos Giles, a media personality, "I really like Madrid - it's similar to Buenos Aires". Fernandez was then questioned on whether he would consider living in Madrid, saying: "Yes, of course." Speaking last Friday about Fernandez's punishment, Rosenior said: "A line was crossed in terms of our culture. We had to make a sanction." The Chelsea midfielder's agent - Javier Pastore - then branded the decision to drop Fernandez for two games as "completely unfair." Pastore said: "Enzo didn't understand the situation. When the coach told him, he accepted it because he's a highly professional guy who's always fully committed wherever he is and respects decisions. "But we don't understand the punishment because he doesn't mention any club or say he wants to leave Chelsea, far from it. "He only mentions Madrid, the city, because he was asked which European city he'd like to live in one day. "He said Madrid because of the language, because it's similar to Buenos Aires and because it's logical - it's only natural for an Argentine to say that - and also because of the culture and the weather. But at no point does he say he wants to leave Chelsea or London." Pastore also revealed talks over a new contract have stalled, adding: "There have been talks about renewing his contract, yes. We started discussing it around December or January, but we couldn't reach an agreement. "As Enzo's contract still has six years to run, we decided not to renew it because the terms weren't right for us or for the player. Given what Enzo is capable of today, he deserves much more than he's currently earning. "We haven't reached an agreement and it may be that this annoyed the club, given that he is a hugely important player, but these are things that have to be managed. "We felt that rather than renewing on terms that wouldn't make the player happy, it was better to leave things as they are and focus on playing and performing well. We don't want to get into discussions about figures, contracts and negotiations when the timing wasn't right. "Our plan after the World Cup is to meet with Chelsea again and, if there is no agreement, to explore other options." Speaking after the 7-0 win over Port Vale - the last time the Chelsea head coach has commented on the situation publicly - Rosenior said: "Me and Enzo are in a very good place. I saw him today [Saturday]. I had a really good conversation with him on a one-to-one. Things aren't what people maybe think they are. Asked about the comments of Fernandez's agent Javier Pastore, Rosenior said: "That's his opinion. I don't have anything to say on someone else's opinion. "Enzo knows what I think of him and it was brilliant to see him here to support the players today. We'll move forward and make sure we have a really good run-in to the season."

Carlo Tritta, from Eastleigh, Hampshire, had pleaded guilty to offences including making indecent images of a child, engaging in sexual communications with a child, and intimidating a witness. He was 18 when he began messaging his victim on the gaming app, building her trust online until she felt they were in a relationship. After moving to other platforms as well as Roblox, he then encouraged her to send explicit sexual images. Soon, the grooming moved offline and Tritta started sending the girl - whose identity is protected by law - gifts and takeaways at her family home. After a year of grooming, the victim's mother became concerned and reported Tritta to the police. "I can't even explain how I felt, what I'd seen on my girl's phone," the victim's mother told Sky News. "I can't even explain it, it's like... I have medication to calm me down, I'm in therapy. "It's like a continuing nightmare," she said. After his arrest, when he was ordered not to contact the girl, he continued to do so. Tritta, now 19, sent his victim greeting cards containing his new phone number, because his old phone was being held by the police, and contacted her friends. In one card, he warned her if the case against him ended up in court, "both our names" would be "ran through dirt for the world to see". He also warned her the officer leading the case was male and "would see anything", and claimed he had tried to stop that. Tritta travelled from his Hampshire home to her home in Manchester several times and maliciously called social services about the girl's mother, as well as telling the teenager he had called the police on her mother and brother "for your protection". In December, he was arrested for perverting the course of justice after he tried to get his victim to drop the charges. But, three days after he was given a suspended sentence, Tritta returned to her family home. He was rearrested and was charged with a series of child sex offences. In court the next day, Tritta pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of a child, engaging in sexual communications with a child, causing a child aged 13-15 to watch/look at a sexual image, two counts of intimidating a witness, and criminal damage. Read more from Sky News:Face of a 'vampire' revealedThis AI just passed the 'vending machine test' "Once the police came, and they sat talking to my daughter, and they asked, 'Where did you meet him?' [She said] 'Roblox'. I was like... 'Roblox? The kids game you go on? What?'" said the victim's mother. She blames Roblox for what happened to her daughter, because she said the company "should do more" to protect children. "[It's] a child's game where predators are going on. And they might not even be necessarily there to groom children but they can talk to them freely and do what they want," she said. "It's like a nice playing field for them with children, isn't it?" A Roblox spokesperson said: "We are deeply saddened to hear of this troubling case. With more than 144 million daily active users on Roblox, cases of harm are rare, but we know any incident of harm is one too many and we are committed to building safeguards designed to prevent that from happening." They added: "We cannot comment on this specific case but we work closely with law enforcement to support investigations and will take action where violations of our Terms of Service are found."

The former Radio 2 DJ, who was sacked by the BBC over an accusation relating to his "personal conduct", appears on the Channel 4 show. A spokesperson for the broadcaster said: "Having carefully considered the circumstances, we've taken the decision not to air the final episode of the 2026 series of The Great Celebrity Bake Off For Stand Up to Cancer, featuring Scott Mills. "Acknowledging the seriousness of the accusations that have been made against Scott, we don't believe it would be appropriate to air the episode at this time." Channel 4 has confirmed that an alternative episode of the show, which has been airing weekly since 22 March, will be broadcast instead. It emerged after his BBC sacking that the Metropolitan Police had launched an investigation into Mills in 2016 over "allegations of serious sexual offences against a teenage boy" between 1997 and 2000. Mills was not charged, according to police, as the Crown Prosecution Service determined that the "evidential threshold had not been met". BBC News reported that the presenter had been dismissed after it emerged that the alleged victim was under 16. On Tuesday, it was revealed that Mills was "stepping back" from his role as an ambassador for a multiple sclerosis charity over the historic allegations. Read more from Sky News:UK weather: Temperatures set to reach 26CBBC breached editorial standards over BAFTAs racial slur He has also been dropped as the host of the BBC's new Race Across The World spin-off podcast. In his first public statement since his sacking, Mills said: "The recent announcement that I am no longer contracted to the BBC has led to the publication of rumour and speculation." He went on to say: "An allegation was made against me in 2016 of a historic sexual offence, which was the subject of a police investigation in which I fully cooperated and responded to in 2018. "As the police have stated, a file of evidence was submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service, which determined that the evidential threshold had not been met to bring charges. "Since the investigation related to an allegation that dates back nearly 30 years and the police investigation was closed 7 years ago, I hope that the public and the media will understand and respect my wish not to make any further public comment on this matter."

After almost two decades in power, the SNP remain the party to beat. Ahead of the election on 7 May, we took to the streets of Clackmannanshire to ask voters what key challenges they want the next Scottish government to prioritise. The local authority area - known as the Wee County - often reflects the opinion of Scotland as a whole. Indeed, the late former first minister Alex Salmond once told Sky News that he began to write his concession speech during the Scottish independence referendum in 2014 after Clacks was the first to declare, and it was a resounding "no". Here are some of the top issues voters want to see tackled. Alleviating the cost of living crisis The UK barely emerged from the COVID pandemic before it plunged into a cost-of-living crisis. Years on, the situation is yet to improve for households across the country. All those we spoke to highlighted their financial woes - from having to spend more on food and general bills, to watching their energy costs soar. Jackie Conroy and Karen McInroy, who work at Coalsnaughton Post Office and Premier store, said they had noticed a change since the pandemic. Ms McInroy said: "Everything is getting dearer and dearer and dearer. "Even when your wages go up, they're not going up enough to cover everything else. Something needs to be done about that." Many spoke of their concern over the negative effects of the Ukraine-Russia and US/Israel-Iran conflicts. Ms McInroy said the recent warring in the Middle East had cost her extra at the petrol pump, with further fears a potential fuel shortage could affect her ability to travel to work. Married couple Liz and Grant Gillespie also agreed there has been a "build-up" since COVID, with careful consideration now given in regard to eating out for dinner, cinema trips and the like. Mr Gillespie added: "Everything is getting tighter and tighter. Some people can't afford these things anymore." Turning the NHS around Scotland's NHS continues to struggle with A&E delays and long waiting times for routine operations. The rollout of GP walk-in clinics has begun, with 16 planned centres across the country as part of an investment in primary care. Campaigner Linda McLeod knows all too well how important the health service is. She suffers from emphysema - an irreversible chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) - and would like to see additional funds funnelled into tackling debilitating lung conditions. Mrs McLeod said: "I think lung conditions are massively under-represented and under-invested. "Lung disease kills tens of thousands of people every year. "Whoever forms the next Scottish government needs to invest in and focus on early diagnosis, treatment, care and self-management." Mrs McLeod chairs support group Breathe Easy Clackmannanshire - a registered charity affiliated to Asthma + Lung UK - and would like to see a tobacco-free Scotland. She said: "I'm concerned about the usage of vapes and the significant risk to lung health. "I struggle every day with my emphysema but hope to once again be a part of the next government's cross-party group on lung health. "I do believe that everything that can be done, should be done to protect the lung health of future generations." Other voters said they would like to see more money invested into retaining and attracting health workers, with some also calling for additional cash to boost mental health support. And while immigration is a reserved matter for Westminster, a number of those we spoke to said it was an important issue for the Holyrood election and should not be ignored. One woman, who did not wish to be named given the contentious debate, said: "People with legitimate concerns are being called racist and brushed aside. "I think people who come into this country and haven't contributed to it shouldn't be getting free National Health Service." Tackling Scotland's drug deaths 'shame' Drug misuse continues to blight Scotland's neighbourhoods. Official data released last year showed there were 1,017 drug-related deaths in 2024, down 155 (13%) from 2023. National Records of Scotland (NRS) said while it was the lowest annual number since 2017, the nation remains the drug death capital of Europe. Voter Peter Fisher said: "It's Scotland's shame, it's embarrassing. It's a national emergency. "But the shame isn't on the addicts - anyone could become an addict. It's the government that needs to do more to help people." Mr Fisher would like to see increased investment in treatment centres and additional support for those who need it most. Last month, separate statistics published by the Scottish government reported that suspected drug-related deaths had risen by 8% from 1,065 in 2024 to 1,146 in 2025. The highest number of deaths - 243 - were recorded in Police Scotland's Greater Glasgow division. When the official stats are released later this year, all eyes will be on that Glasgow number given the city is now home to the UK's first safer drug consumption facility (SDCF). The Thistle opened in January 2025 and allows users to be able to consume drugs, including injecting heroin, under supervision in a clean and hygienic environment. Up to March 2026, the service has been accessed 15,158 times by 671 people (525 men and 146 women). A total of 10,498 injections have taken place at the facility, with staff able to treat 137 medical emergencies. The pilot service is being backed by up to £2.3m of Holyrood funding a year in a bid to offset wider public costs, but it is not to be seen as a "silver bullet" to tackle the crisis. Meanwhile, a consultation is ongoing in Edinburgh amid plans to open a SDCF in the Scottish capital. While work will continue to widen access to treatment, residential rehabilitation and life-saving naloxone, a new Alcohol and Drugs Strategic Plan (2026-2035) will aim to prevent harm and promote recovery over the next decade. Douglas Ross' Right to Recovery (Scotland) Bill - which would have enshrined in law the right to treatment for people with drug addiction - was voted down at Holyrood last year. It came after the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee raised a number of concerns - including the cost of the proposal; its potential to put further pressure on over-stretched resources; and fears of a rise in litigation if health services were unable to meet the legal rights on time. Mr Fisher said: "I think the consumption room will work. And if it does, they should open more. "But if it doesn't, then they'll need to come up with another plan as that [situation] can't continue." Stop treating taxpayers' cash like 'Monopoly money' Voters appear to have had enough of politicians and public bodies treating taxpayers' cash like "Monopoly money". Some of those we spoke to voiced their condemnation of ministerial cars being misused, with Alex McEwan adding that government agencies should "rein in their spending". The Water Industry Commission for Scotland (WICS), which regulates Scottish Water, was one such body that was previously quizzed over its purchases - which included spending £77,350 to send a senior executive to Harvard University in the US and a further £2,600 to provide every staff member with a £100 gift card for Christmas. Ms McEwan said: "It actually infuriates me when I see MSPs, who get paid like £75,000 a year, charge taxpayers for things like toilet rolls or meals. "They treat it like Monopoly money. I pay my taxes to support public services, not buy an MSP a lunchtime juice when they're on double my wage." But for many, the biggest scandal of the last parliamentary term was Michael Matheson's £11,000 iPad data roaming bill. The outgoing Falkirk West MSP, who is not standing in the upcoming election, initially billed taxpayers but later U-turned after questions were raised over the eye-watering sum. Mr Matheson had claimed the device had only been used for parliamentary work during a family holiday to Morocco, but it later emerged his teenage sons had been using it as a hotspot to stream football while on the trip. Mr Matheson stepped down as health secretary and was later suspended from the Scottish parliament and docked wages for breaching the MSP code of conduct. Voter Ryan Martin said: "If they step out of line, they shouldn't be protected by their party. They should be out on their ear. "I don't ever want to see a situation like the Michael Matheson one ever again." Read more:Party 'hotshots' hoping to become an MSP for the first time Other ongoing issues that will roll into the next parliament: • Scottish independence The campaign for Scottish independence has not stopped following the result of the 2014 referendum. Although indyref was touted as a "once in a generation opportunity to follow a different path", dissatisfaction with the outcome has led to campaigners continually calling for a second vote. The country has changed over the past 12 years, having gone through Brexit and the COVID pandemic, which has reshaped the constitutional debate. However, those who voted against independence and would continue to do so are frustrated the historic result is not being respected. The argument has gone all the way to the UK Supreme Court, which ruled in 2022 that the Scottish government cannot legislate for indyref2 without Westminster approval. If a majority of pro-independence MSPs are returned in May but Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer refuses a request for another referendum, the new administration will need to reveal how it intends to overcome the block. If the alternative happens and the new Scottish government instead wishes to remain part of the UK, then it will have to demonstrate the benefits of staying in the Union and win over sceptics before Holyrood 2031. • Overcrowding in prisons Scotland consistently has one of the highest prison population rates in Western Europe. Overcrowding in the estate is not a unique problem in the nation, as jails across the UK are facing similar issues. In a bid to tackle the continuous record-high numbers, more than 1,000 inmates have been released early from their sentences since 2024. The automatic release point for short-term prisoners has also been reduced from 40% to 30% of their sentence. HMP Highland, which is replacing HMP Inverness, is scheduled for completion this year. While the £1bn HMP Glasgow, replacing the notorious HMP Barlinnie, is not expected to open until 2028. As these are replacement jails with less than 500 additional spaces between them, there are concerns the overcrowding crisis will continue. As the judiciary acts independently, the Scottish government cannot control or dictate the specific sentences imposed by courts. The continual emergency early release of prisoners could risk eroding trust in the criminal justice system - but the call for building more jails is seen as unsustainable, ineffective and expensive. The independent Sentencing and Penal Policy Commission has recommended earlier intervention through greater use of alternatives to court, reducing the use of ineffective short prison sentences, and expanding high-quality, flexible community sentences to address the causes of offending. Without significant reform, the crisis risks continuing for many years to come. • The ferries fiasco The ferries fiasco has become one of Scotland's biggest political scandals - and looks set to continue to the end of the decade. Back in 2017, then first minister Nicola Sturgeon "launched" MV Glen Sannox with painted on windows. The vessel eventually entered service last year, with sister ship MV Glen Rosa not due to be handed over until the end of 2026. The total cost of both CalMac ferries - built by Ferguson Marine - has soared to around four times more than the initial £97.5m contract. And then to top it all off, the two vessels are too large to berth safely at Ardrossan Harbour to serve the mainland-Isle of Arran route. The Scottish government has spent £16m to bring the harbour into public ownership - but the work needed to allow both ferries to dock will not start until 2027 and is expected to take two years to complete. The Glen Sannox, which has been repeatedly sidelined due to issues since its first sailing, now uses Troon - around 15 miles away - as its mainland base. CalMac recently suffered ferry shortages on its west coast island network, caused by a mix of planned maintenance and unexpected technical issues. In an update on Tuesday, the ferry operator said the situation had worsened with almost a third of its entire fleet unavailable. MV Isle of Islay, one of four new CalMac ferries built in Turkey, has entered service to provide a mainland link to the people and businesses of Islay and Jura. Meanwhile, the publicly-owned Ferguson Marine - the last commercial shipyard on the Clyde - has been awarded contracts for four new vessels as part of efforts to help it succeed. Given that the Glen Sannox and Glen Rosa disruption is scheduled to continue until 2029, do not expect the political pressure to ease up at Holyrood until both ferries are floating comfortably at Ardrossan Harbour and CalMac has a full working fleet fit for the future. • The management of transgender prisoners The Scottish government is currently in the midst of legal action over its policy on the management of transgender prisoners. For Women Scotland (FWS) is challenging the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) guidance, arguing that only those born biologically female should be held in the women's estate. It follows the campaign group's landmark win at the UK Supreme Court last year, which ruled the definition of a "woman" and "sex" in the Equality Act 2010 refers to "a biological woman and biological sex". That long-running battle with the Scottish government has cost taxpayers more than £766,000. Both parties are now awaiting Lady Ross' ruling on the latest judicial review at the Court of Session in Edinburgh. Current guidance allows for a transgender woman to be admitted into the female estate if the inmate does not meet the violence against women and girls criteria, and there is no basis "to suppose" they could pose an "unacceptable risk of harm" to those also housed there. FWS is arguing the policy is "inconsistent" with the Supreme Court judgment. During three days of hearings earlier this year, lawyers acting on behalf of the Scottish government argued it is right for ministers to take a "case-by-case" approach to transgender prisoners. Gerry Moynihan KC cited case law and article eight of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) in relation to the rights of trans people to live in their acquired gender. Whatever the outcome, the next Holyrood administration will be keen to avoid another Isla Bryson moment. The transgender criminal - who raped two women while known as Adam Graham - was initially housed in a women-only prison before being swiftly moved to the male estate following a public outcry in 2023. The controversial case continues to rumble on to this day.

Rory McIlroy is defending champion after last year's play-off victory over Justin Rose, seeing him become the sixth player in history - and first since Tiger Woods - to complete the career Grand Slam. World No 1 Scottie Scheffler is the pre-tournament favourite to win the tournament for a third time, despite entering the week without a top 10 in his last three PGA Tour starts, with Bryson DeChambeau and Xander Schauffele others expected to impress. The Masters tee times: Full R1 groupings and UK start timesWhen is The Masters live on Sky Sports? Key ways to watch Official leaderboard from The Masters (external site)Get Sky Sports or stream golf and more with no contract Cameron Young looks to replicate Scheffler and McIlroy over the past two years by following a win at The Players with another at The Masters, while Rose, Matt Fitzpatrick and Tommy Fleetwood are all looking to become just the third Englishman to win a major at Augusta National. There are 91 players in the field for this week's major, the first of four in as many months in men's golf. The Masters is followed by the PGA Championship (May 14-17), US Open (June 18-21) and The Open (July 16-19). The Masters weather: What is the forecast at Augusta National? There is no rain forecast throughout this year's Masters, with the temperature getting warmer each tournament day. Here's the forecast issued by the on-site meteorologist, issued the day before the tournament. Thursday: A cool start. Partly cloudy and breezy. Winds 10-15 mph, with gusts to 20 mph. High temperature: 23°C (73F)Friday: Mostly sunny and warmer. Winds 5-10mph. High temperature: 26°C (79F)Saturday: Mostly sunny and hot. Winds 4-8 mph. High temperature: 29°C (85F)Sunday: Mostly sunny and hot. Winds 5-10mph. High temperature: 29°C (85F) When is The Masters live on Sky Sports? Wall-to-wall coverage from the tournament begins at 2pm on Thursday, with Featured Group action and regular updates from around the course available on Sky Sports Golf until the global broadcast window begins at 6pm. The same timings will apply on Friday, before an earlier start kicks in for the weekend - with coverage starting at 4.30pm ahead of full coverage getting under way at 5pm and lasting until long after the final putt is holed. The notorious Amen Corner stream will also be available, focusing on the famous three-hole stretch from the 11th, with that Featured Group offering also available on the Sky Sports+ channel. A feed of the fourth, fifth and sixth holes will go live each day as soon as the opening group reach that part of the course and another stream covers the 15th and 16th holes, with Featured Groups also available on Sky Sports+. Who will win The Masters? Watch the opening major of the year exclusively live throughout the week on Sky Sports. Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract.