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No Writer
Jul 29
Serial killer James Desborough gets whole life order - as police review deaths of four people he lived with

The 40-year-old was told he would never be released after killing two men he knew from his time at a homeless hostel in Newquay, Cornwall. Their bodies were dismembered and hidden near his cabin in the woods. Desborough - a fan of the serial killer show Dexter - murdered Daniel Coleman, 43, and Claudio Aquilino, 57, last summer. While waiting for his trial to start, he strangled his prison cellmate, Steven Kempster, after only a few days because he was irritated by his snoring. Desborough was found guilty of that murder in March and of the other two killings on Tuesday. The judge at Winchester Crown Court told him he was "a highly dangerous individual who has no regard for the lives of people who you think are worthless". "You are a person who can kill in extreme violence, with no remorse or indeed reflection on your actions," said Mr Justice Saini. Police have also revealed they are still reviewing the unexplained deaths of two men and two women who were at the homeless shelter at the same time as Desborough, between December 2024 and April 2025. Detective Superintendent Rachael Bentley said they currently don't believe Desborough is a suspect but the investigation into the deaths at Sandy Lodge Hotel is ongoing with "some final reviews to be done". Officers attended each of the deaths at the time and inquiries suggested natural causes. Read more:Who are the whole life prisoners who will never be released? The coroner paused its investigation when Desborough was arrested for murder and a review began that included extra forensic work, looking at CCTV and taking statements. "I said before there's no other information that's come into the investigation that suggests that he's linked to any of the deaths," said DS Bentley. "We don't believe we're looking for any victims, but I do want to stress that the investigations are ongoing. They are going to be reviewed again now the trial has concluded." Desborough, who weighs nearly 18st, killed Coleman and Aquilino and spent their money on drink and drugs. He claimed they had left Cornwall, but their bodies were found in Sticker Woods, near St Austell, where he lived in a wooden cabin. Some 1,900 burned bone fragments from Mr Aquilino were also discovered in a stream. Parts of Mr Coleman's body were found in a shallow grave nearby. His genitals have never been found and police haven't ruled out that they may have been deliberately removed. Prosecutors said Desborough was jealous of Mr Coleman because he had developed a sexual interest in his friend's ex-wife. The killer also told a forensic biologist he "particularly enjoyed the dismemberment scenes" in TV series Dexter. The father-of-one denied the murders and told jurors it was a "series of unfortunate circumstances" the two men died on his land within a short space of time.

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Stephen Murphy, Ireland correspondent
Jul 29
Oscar-winning musician and actor Glen Hansard killed in motorbike crash in Ireland

The 56-year-old, who shot to fame in The Commitments and later with his band The Frames, died following the single-vehicle crash near the Strawberry Beds area in Lucan just before 4.30am. Irish police did not name Hansard as the victim, but said in a statement that "the motorcyclist, a man in his 50s, was treated at the scene but was pronounced deceased a short time later". The statement continued: "The scene has been preserved for examination by Garda [Irish police] forensic collision investigators. Local traffic diversions are currently in place." Hansard, a married father-of-one, won an Academy Award for best original song in 2008, for Falling Slowly, co-written with Marketa Irglova. The song featured in the hit indie movie, Once, in which the pair starred. He played Outspan Foster in the cult hit The Commitments, the 1991 film based on Roddy Doyle's first novel. He performed as a musician with The Frames and the duo The Swell Season, and also as a solo act. During his career, Hansard collaborated with artists such as Eddie Vedder, Bono and Bruce Springsteen. A clip of him performing on stage with Springsteen in 2013 was shared on his Instagram account less than 24 hours before his death. He was well-known for busking with the U2 frontman on Dublin's Grafton Street every Christmastime, and was involved with various charitable and social causes. He also played a powerful rendition of Fairytale of New York during the funeral for Shane MacGowan in 2023. Police are appealing to anyone who witnessed the crash to contact them, and have urged motorists who may have dashcam footage to come forward. Read more from Sky News:US singer set to face murder trialDoctor Who and Bond actor dies Ireland has seen a surge in road deaths in recent years. Another man, a motorist in his 40s, was killed in Co Clare on Wednesday morning and the Gardai have appealed for road users to slow down. Some 107 people have been killed on Irish roads this year, 15 more than at the same time last year, which itself saw the highest number of deaths in a decade.

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Jon Craig, chief political correspondent
Jul 29
This time, it's personal: Burnham bids to break a legacy of failure

His father Roy has Alzheimer's, is in a care home and – Burnham has revealed – doesn't know his son has become prime minister. Politics Hub: Follow the latest Speaking of the family's heartbreak, Burnham said when he became PM last week: "That's a sadness because he would be (proud)." And fixing social care, for the new prime minister, is also unfinished business. He says he'll "expend quite a lot of political capital" on the challenge ahead. On past evidence, he'll need to. Two years ago, when Mr Burnham was standing for re-election as Greater Manchester mayor, he also spoke about his father's Alzheimer's and the social care crisis. "There's only one answer: the political parties have to show courage on this issue and fix social care properly," he said. "And I put forward a plan for that 14 years ago." Indeed he did. But ever since Mr Burnham, as health secretary, published a white paper "Building the National Care Service", a political consensus has proved hopelessly elusive. Let's see if the PM's "new kind of politics" can bring about a breakthrough. He's invited Kemi Badenoch and Sir Ed Davey for talks on Wednesday. Good luck with that. The Tory leader is sending shadow health secretary Stuart Andrew, saying she's having "pre-planned minor surgery" and complaining about only 18 hours' notice. "It's almost like it's only being done for show," said a Tory source. Well, steady on, Kemi, Mr Burnham has only been PM for just over a week. A legacy of failure Back in 2010, Mr Burnham's plans were denounced by the Conservatives as a "death tax", and when David Cameron's coalition government took office, they were scrapped. Ironically, now Lord Cameron is president of Alzheimer's Research UK; he's called for a solution and admitted, in 2023, that Tory governments had failed to cut the "catastrophic costs" of social care. That's certainly true. Theresa May's attempts to solve the crisis collapsed in chaos, falling apart spectacularly during her ill-fated 2017 general election campaign, when the Tories lost their Commons majority. She'd proposed raising the threshold for people paying for their own care from the £23,250 set by the coalition government in 2014 to £100,000. But that plan was condemned as a "dementia tax". That's because it was claimed it discriminated against people who required long-term residential care, such as those with dementia. During a disastrous news conference in the 2017 campaign, she shouted, "Nothing has changed!", despite announcing a new cap on social care costs, which she claimed was not a U-turn but a clarification. In 2021, it was Boris Johnson's turn to seek a solution, promising a once-in-a-generation shake-up funded by rises in national insurance. But that was sunk by a backlash of Tory grandees. Former chancellors Philip Hammond, Kenneth Clarke and Norman Lamont attacked his "health and social care levy", while Sir John Major called it "regressive" and Sir John Redwood said it was "stupid". Read more from Sky News:Zelenskyy on sackings, drone deal and 'long war' Rishi Sunak also proposed a national insurance increase, but in 2023 his chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, a former health secretary, was forced to retreat and postpone the plan for two years. Sir Keir Starmer, typically, didn't come up with any proposals in his two years as PM, instead setting up a commission under ace troubleshooter Baroness Louise Casey. How very Keir. What a legacy of failure over nearly two decades. A legacy that suggests Mr Burnham has a massive task if he is to succeed where up to six prime ministers have failed.

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No Writer
Jul 29
Bradley Barcola transfer news: Liverpool set to open talks with Paris Saint-Germain over winger with an opening offer prepared

After preliminary talks with his representatives, Liverpool have prepared an opening offer and are set to formalise their interest with an official approach. Signing a winger has been a priority since the departure of Mo Salah, and Barcola has been on Liverpool's radar for a number of years. Got Sky? Watch Premier League LIVE on your phone📱No Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW📺 The 23-year-old has two years left on his PSG contract and has indicated he will not be signing a new one amid frustrations at a lack of game time. The opportunity to join Liverpool is said to appeal to the player. The key to getting any deal moving will be PSG's willingness to reduce the price tag on the man they bought for around £40m back in 2023. Valuations of top-level players this summer have been high. Sky Sports News reported on Tuesday that PSG value the France international as high as £145m (€170m), however other sources have now indicated it could be around £128.5m (€150m). The success of Andoni Iraola's teams at Bournemouth and Rayo Vallecano centred around the pace, energy and work-rate from his wingers, so Barcola could be a key piece of the Spaniard's new Liverpool jigsaw. The fact that Barcola has won nine major trophies in the last two years, including two Champions League titles, shows the calibre of player they are trying to bring to Anfield. Arsenal also hold an interest in Barcola. Why is Barcola wanted by Liverpool and Arsenal? Sky Sports' Adam Bate: Bradley Barcola could be the most expensive transfer of this summer window with Liverpool and Arsenal among the clubs chasing the Paris Saint-Germain forward. But why is he so prized? He has achieved plenty already. But there is more to come. The 23-year-old France international has just won the Champions League with PSG back-to-back but had to be content with coming off the bench in both finals. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia's arrival from Napoli in January of 2025 established him as first choice on the left. But just because Barcola is not a guaranteed starter in Paris does not mean that he is not a guaranteed star. This is a player with pace, physicality and intelligence, someone whose skills have been honed under Luis Enrique. With Barcola, the potential is as vast as the fee. Read Adam Bate's feature on Bradley Barcola here... Could Arsenal come in for Barcola amid Vinicius Jr blow? Vinicius Junior will be staying at Real Madrid beyond this summer, Sky Sports News has been told. The Spanish club have no intention of selling him and are confident he will agree a new contract. This is despite the interest of Arsenal, who are monitoring his situation closely with a year remaining on his current deal. Sky Sports News' Dharmesh Sheth said this week: "Arsenal will continue to keep an eye on Vinicius Jr's situation still. He hasn't signed that new contract yet. As it stands, he has a year left on his contract. That's why they are exploring the conditions of a possible deal. "How Andrea Berta does his business at Arsenal is very clear. It's not about one target and then the risk of that target not coming. "They try to get their ducks in a row with three or four deals, get as far down the line as they can with as many targets as possible, and then decide which player they are going to go for. "One of those players is Bradley Barcola. He's intimated to PSG that he's not going to sign a new contract. That's primarily because in the biggest games last season, he was on the bench. "He doesn't want to go through that again. It looks like he could become available for a transfer."

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No Writer
Jul 29
FA 'deeply concerned' as uproar grows over FIFA plan to sell $4bn stake

FIFA wants to set up a separate $20bn company to run its competitions, with 20% of it ($4bn) offered to external investors. Joshua Kushner, the brother of Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, is reportedly in line to be the lead investor in the subsidiary, to be called FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE). The plans announced on Tuesday have sparked accusations football is being "sold off" and follow a string of controversies surrounding the recent World Cup. A spokesperson for England's Football Association (FA) said it had been "completely unaware" of the proposal. They said the organisation was "deeply concerned about the lack of process and governance to get to this point, and the apparent substance and principles involved". "When the proposal is shared in the full and transparent way now promised by FIFA, we will make our views clear, and comment further," the FA added. European governing body UEFA has also savaged the plan and will hold an emergency online meeting on Thursday. It urged clubs and national football associations to speak out and said the proposal "crosses a line that football's governing institutions should never cross". "The soul and governance of football are not assets to trade - especially with zero transparency as to who gains financially. None of us are the owners of football. It is not FIFA's to sell," said UEFA. European nations are discussing boycotting the World Cup if FIFA president Gianni Infantino pushes ahead. Mr Infantino has promised the new entity will solely be focused on "generating as much value as possible" for national associations to invest in homegrown football. However, regional governing bodies said they had been blindsided and accused FIFA of not consulting them. CONCACAF, which looks after football in North and Central America and the Caribbean, said it discovered the plans second hand - despite its leader, Victor Montagliani, being a FIFA vice president. It said it was disappointed details were "shared publicly before any discussion with the relevant governance bodies and stakeholders has taken place". The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) also said it was caught unawares by the plan. "Initiatives of this scale and consequence must be founded upon the principles of good governance, transparency and meaningful consultation," the AFC said. A similar rebuke came from the European Football Clubs (EFC) organisation, led by Mr Infantino's global football power rival, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, president of Paris Saint-Germain and chair of the beIN media network. It said the EFC had "serious concern" over the "sudden, unilateral media briefings and announcement by FIFA". The head of the Czech FA is a current outlier in supporting FIFA's plan. David Trunda told Mark Kleinman, Sky's City editor, it would provide valuable extra funding for grassroots football and infrastructure. "Of course we need more details, but my personal point of view is that I can see the positive impact of FIFA's intentions," Mr Trunda said. Infantino issues deadline Sky News sports correspondent Rob Harris said Mr Infantino had given national associations until 19 September to back his plan, with a boosted $40m incentive to accept. He made the offer in a letter to FIFA's 211 member associations. Mr Infantino warned they would have much less cash for development, grassroots football and national teams if they didn't support his plan. He said the launch of FFE needed the backing of its ruling council and more than 50% of its members. Mr Infantino wrote: "Should neither condition be satisfied, FIFA will continue as planned with the Forward Programme 4.0… meaning approximately $10m per ME [Member Association] for the next cycle." One football figure told The Times it was "pure bribery". UEFA said the deadline for associations to support the proposal "or have the one-off payout offer withdrawn... says everything you need to know about this plan". "FIFA cannot continue to use our sport to enrich themselves and their friends," it added. FIFA has not commented on how Mr Infantino might benefit personally from delivering the $20bn venture. Read more:World Cup winners get US-style championship rings In his letter, the Italian called his offer a "singular and unique funding opportunity only for those Member Associations who wish to participate, with their decision to be made by 19 September 2026 so we can plan ahead and with funds to be available immediately as of 1 January 2027". He said the new company would be "fully focused on one target objective; generating as much value as possible for FIFA's Member Associations". Thrive Capital - an investment firm run by Joshua Kushner, is being positioned as the lead backer of the deal. Mr Infantino has been accused of being too close to Mr Trump. He awarded him a special FIFA peace prize in the run up to the World Cup and suspended a red card given to America's star player after the president called him during the tournament. The growing commercialisation of the event, such as soaring ticket prices and the introduction of hydration breaks (which allow more adverts to be shown), has also been widely criticised. FIFA's boss said critics of this summer's World Cup were "consumed by hate" and had spread "false rumours". In a statement on his own and FIFA's Instagram accounts on Monday, he said they missed all the "joy and happiness" the tournament had brought.

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No Writer
Jul 29
Game of Thrones, James Bond and Doctor Who actor Tom Chadbon dies

The British star also appeared in the 2006 James Bond film Casino Royale, Daniel Craig's first outing as 007. Chadbon enjoyed a versatile career in TV and film as a character actor and had recurring appearances in shows such as Casualty, Where The Heart Is and Crown Prosecutor. He died last weekend, a publishing company he worked with said in a statement. "We are sorry to hear the news that Tom Chadbon passed away last weekend," Fantom Events said on Instagram. "Tom was a familiar face to many from his numerous television and film credits, including Doctor Who, James Bond and Game Of Thrones. "He was always a warm and friendly man to work with and we send our condolences to his family at this sad time." The late actor, who was born in Luton, in Bedfordshire, was known for his many supporting roles and featured across a range of TV shows including Blake's 7, Heartbeat, Holby City, Silent Witness, Rebecca and The Bill. RADA-trained, he made his theatrical debut at the Phoenix Theatre in Leicester in 1967, according to IMDB, and went on to act in classical plays at the Bristol Old Vic, the National Theatre and in London's West End. Read more from Sky News:FA 'deeply concerned' over FIFA plans to sell stakes in competitionsFan of serial killer TV show guilty of double murder Chadbon also has TV credits in shows such as Taggart, Peep Show, Midsomer Murders and Father Brown, as well as Within These Walls and The Memoirs Of Sherlock Holmes. Alongside Casino Royale, his film credits included The Beast Must Die, Coming Out Of The Ice and Dance With A Stranger. The actor's performances in Doctor Who were among his most high-profile roles. He first played a private detective, Duggan, in an episode in 1979, and returned to the show as Merdeen, who helped the sixth reincarnation of the Doctor (Colin Baker) oppose the corrupt system on his planet, Ravolox, in 1986. His portrayal of High Septon Maynard in the HBO fantasy series Game Of Thrones in 2017 was one of his final TV appearances.

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No Writer
Jul 29
Who is Ed Miliband really listening to?

Anne shares what she's been hearing about the new top team at the Foreign Office and Ed Milliband reveals what his grandfather would have said about his new job. Meanwhile, can Andy Burnham really fix Britain's social care system? That's the big question as the new prime minister hosts cross-party talks on one of the country's biggest challenges. There's just one problem: the invitations only went out on Tuesday, and neither Kemi Badenoch nor Ed Davey will be in the room. The Conservative leader is sending the shadow health secretary in her place, while Davey will join by Zoom. Nigel Farage and the Green Party's Zack Polanski weren't invited. Sam and Anne dig into what, if anything, today's meeting could achieve.

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No Writer
Jul 27
Vinicius Jr transfer news: Arsenal interest explained as Real Madrid step up efforts to sign Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig

What is the latest on Vinicius Jr? Brazil star Vinicius Jr, 26, is entering the final year of his contract at Real Madrid. Negotiations over an extension have dragged on without a breakthrough and it has caused increasing speculation over his future at the club. That intensified last week when it emerged that Arsenal are interested in signing him this summer if he cannot agree a new deal at Real. Meanwhile, Real Madrid have made a significant move for another winger - the exciting Ivory Coast international Yan Diomande at RB Leipzig. It means doubts around Vinicius' future at the Bernabeu have grown over the past few days. Transfer Centre LIVE!Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW📺Choose the Sky Sports push notifications you want! 🔔How serious is Arsenal's interest and can they afford him? Arsenal's interest is real but in the early stages and conditional on a number of factors, not least the cost - which would be significant should the door open for Vinicius to leave Real. There have been no club-to-club talks and there is no guarantee it progresses to a formal bid. Arsenal, as newly-crowned Premier League champions, are looking to add another top-class forward despite signing Christos Tzolis. He was brought in to replace Leandro Trossard and there is doubt around the future of Gabriel Martinelli. Last year they were keen on Vinicius's Real Madrid team-mate Rodrygo, while this summer Sky Sports News has reported their interest in Julian Alvarez and Morgan Rogers, who has since joined Chelsea from Aston Villa. With one year left on his contract, the financial side of purchasing Vinicius would not be as severe as it previously has been - but it is worth remembering the sheer scale of an offer for the player two years ago from the Saudi Pro League. They were ready to pay him €1bn over five years and a transfer fee to Real Madrid of more than £300m (around €350m), which would have made him the most expensive transfer in history. It would not cost anywhere near that much this time, but it gives a sense of what both Real and Vinicius were willing to forego in 2024. Although the exact figure is confidential, Vinicius is believed to earn between €15m and €17m net per year. That's around £247,000 to £279,000 per week after tax. To earn that amount in the UK, Arsenal would need to pay him somewhere between £450,000 and £500,000 per week. That would make him Arsenal's highest-paid player by far. Bukayo Saka is widely believed to be the current highest-paid, earning more than £300,000 per week. A report in The Telegraph this morning claims Arsenal would be willing to go to £400,000. But that would still not equal Vinicius' current salary. Widespread reports in Spain claim that part of the current impasse with Real stems from his increased salary demands. So is it just a dispute over a new contract? The situation has some of the classic hallmarks of a new contract dispute; reports of an impasse over salary demands, emerging Arsenal interest, further talks to come. But there is no strong public evidence yet that Vinicius wants to leave Real Madrid for any reason, sporting or otherwise; no quotes, no interviews, no suggestive social media posts. Real Madrid and - most importantly - new manager Jose Mourinho want him to stay and agree new terms. Sky Sports News reported on Monday morning that there will be further talks this week between Real and Vinicius' representatives, with Arsenal monitoring things closely. Club president Florentino Perez is personally involved and has publicly expressed a desire for Vinicius to stay long term. Reports in Spain have long claimed that both parties have indicated a preference for him to remain at the club. Real Madrid do not want him to run down the deal into a free agent situation either. Vinicius is more than just an outstanding left winger. He is a global superstar - and a Galactico in every sense. In that way he embodies everything about Real Madrid and fits right in. Can the same be said about Arsenal? Signing such an icon has not been part of Mikel Arteta's Arsenal project so far, however exciting it might be to go in that direction. What's the latest on Diomande? Real Madrid have upped their offer for winger Yan Diomande during talks with RB Leipzig, according to Sky in Germany. They are reporting the offer, worth between £94m and £98m, has not been rejected yet, but further talks are required to satisfy Leipzig's demands. According to Sky in Germany, around £102m is considered a realistic final price for Diomande, with Leipzig seeking a higher guaranteed fee from Real Madrid. As things stand, there is no final agreement, but Leipzig are expecting the deal to be completed soon. Leganes have a sell-on clause for between five and eight per cent of the sale. Diomande is at Leipzig and continues to train with the German club. At the figures being discussed, Diomande looks set to become the most expensive African player ever, surpassing the £72m Arsenal paid for Nicolas Pepe in 2019. Does Real Madrid's pursuit of Diomande impact Vinicius Jr? Sky Sports News has been told Real's proposed deal for Diomande has no real bearing on the Vinicius situation. It says nothing about their desire to keep Vinicius, and only suggests they see a front three with both of these players in the team. Diomande can play on the right wing as well, and he only strengthens the attacking options of the biggest club in the world. According to Spanish newspaper AS, the players whose futures would be affected by Diomande's arrival are more likely to be striker Goncalo Garcia - who is wanted by Fulham - and winger Brahim Diaz. Rodrygo is still recovering from a long-term injury, so Diomande has space to come into the team quickly, even at only 19 years old. What is the most likely outcome? At this stage, all signs still point to Vinicius signing a new deal with Real Madrid. The fact that they will all meet again this week to discuss this suggests this is the direction of travel. It will most likely come down to how closely Vinicius' earnings can approach those of Mbappe and satisfy his Galactico status in the squad. Normally, you do not say no to Real Madrid. Real would not want to go into the new season with his contract running down and the resulting intensification of media speculation. Arsenal's interest is likely to become more concrete only if the renewal fully fails, so this week is a crucial one.

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