A woman and a seven-year-old girl died in a house fire in Grangetown, near Middlesbrough, on Wednesday - just one mile away from where two police officers and five young men were killed in a head-on car crash on Saturday. A vehicle also crashed into a wall outside a house in Steele Crescent, South Bank, in the early hours of Thursday morning, minutes away from the two other scenes. Alec Brown, leader of Redcar and Cleveland Council, said in a post on social media that authorities are "working 20-hour days to ensure the ongoing safety of innocent residents". "Over 200 extra police officers from forces around the country are here and are en route, from detectives to armed response," he continued. "I will be sending a letter today to our prime minister asking for even more resource." Adding the police "really are doing an amazing job", he continued: "If it is any reassurance at all, jobs called in to the police are actually down this week, however, the seriousness of the ones that have been called in need serious and swift action." Referring to the house fire, Mr Brown said: "Everyone is heartbroken over the loss of the aunt and little girl in Grangetown yesterday. "People need to feel safe in their homes." Redcar MP Anna Turley said in a Facebook post: "I know how worried people are, and understandably people want to know what is being done. "There is a significant response under way, with additional officers and resources being brought into our area and agencies working together around the clock. "People have a right to feel safe in their homes and in their communities. That is our absolute priority." PCs Matthew Blades and Tom Clough died in the head-on collision with a Volkswagen Passat on the A66 on Saturday. Cole Worthy, 17, Theo Rae, 17, Makai Saddington, 18, and 23-year-olds Michael Robert Cahill and Jakub Matusiak were also killed in the collision. Inquests into the deaths opened on Thursday morning. Police have arrested 17 people following the crash, as part of investigations into alleged organised crime. Two have been charged and the others have been bailed. Meanwhile, two men have been arrested on suspicion of murder in relation to the house fire that killed Natalie McDonald, 34, and her niece Valentina Foster, and injured four others.

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

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

The Premier League champions will also face Borussia Dortmund and Napoli in their bid to finish in the top eight automatic places, having topped qualifying with a perfect record last term. Meanwhile, both Man City and Aston Villa will host holders PSG. The Villa Park fixture will be a repeat of the recent Super Cup, which PSG won 2-1 in Salzburg. Among Liverpool's fixtures is a trip to Inter Milan and another tie against Atletico Madrid, with Man Utd also scheduled to face Diego Simeone's side. Transfer Centre LIVE! | Latest on YOUR Premier League club!Got Sky? Watch Premier League games LIVE on your phone📱Not got Sky? Stream Premier League games with no contract📺PL clubs' league phase opponents in full Arsenal: Real Madrid (H), Bayern Munich (A), Borussia Dortmund (H), Real Betis (A), Lille (H), Napoli (A), Sabah (H), Slavia Prague (A) Aston Villa: Barcelona (A), PSG (H), Borussia Dortmund (H), Club Brugge (A), Fenerbahce (H), Galatasaray (A), Viking (H), Slavia Prague (A) Liverpool: Inter Milan (A), Atletico Madrid (H), FC Porto (H), Club Brugge (A), Villarreal (H), Fenerbahce (A), Lens (H), Lask (A) Man City: PSG (H), Barcelona (A), Sporting CP (H), Porto (A), Napoli (H), RB Leipzig (A), AEK Athens (H), Lens (A) Man Utd: Atletico Madrid (A), Bayern Munich (H), Roma (H), Sporting CP (A), RB Leipzig (H), Villarreal (A), Sabah (H), Como (A) When do fixtures begin? The first round of games will be played September 8-10, with the first six rounds taking place through to December. The league phase resumes in January with the eighth and final round on Jan 27. The top eight teams in the final standings go direct to the round of 16 in March. Teams placed ninth-24th enter the knockout play-offs in February to decide the other eight teams in the round of 16. Teams placed 25th-36th are eliminated. Exact fixture dates, times and match schedule will be announced on Saturday. Four debutants in Champions League draw Four newcomers will debut in this Champions League edition. Como from Italy, coached by Cesc Fabregas, LASK of Austria, Viking from Norway, and Azerbaijani champions Sabah, who were only founded in 2017. Another first this season is an African coach leading a team into the main draw. Former Man City midfielder Yaya Toure guided Slovakian champions Slovan Bratislava through their qualifying play-off on Wednesday. League phase dates in full Matchday 1: September 8-10Matchday 2: October 13-14Matchday 3: October 20-21Matchday 4: November 3-4Matchday 5: November 24-25Matchday 6: December 8-9Matchday 7: January 19-20Matchday 8: January 27 Knockout phase dates Knockout phase play-offs: February 16/17 and 23/24Round of 16: March 9/10 and 16/17 March 2027Quarter-finals: April 6/7 and 13/14Semi-finals: April 27/28 and May 4/5Final: 5 June 2027 - Wanda Metropolitano Stadium, Madrid

The palace confirmed the death of the monarch, who was a great-great-grandchild of Britain's Queen Victoria, on Friday. Harald's son Crown Prince Haakon is now King of Norway. His death comes at a tumultuous time for the Norwegian royal family, which has been battered by multiple scandals in recent years. "King Harald passed away peacefully at Oslo University Hospital on Friday 28 August, 06:35 (local time)," theroyal palace said on its website. Harald, who was Europe's oldest living monarch, was taken to hospital on 17 August. He was being treated for a bacterial infection in his blood. Norway's royal family has come under scrutiny in recent years, with Crown Princess Mette-Marit, married to Crown Prince Haakon, facing criticism over her friendship with ​the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Her son Marius Hoiby, born from a relationship predating her marriage to Haakon, was found guilty in ‌June of two out of four counts of rape and one count of domestic violence and sentenced to four years in prison after a seven-week trial. This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version. You can receive breaking news alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News app. You can also follow us on WhatsApp and subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.

The global star of contemporary art was best known for her bold polka dot paintings, immersive "infinity room" installations and iconic red bob. She died on 14 August at a hospital in Tokyo, her studio said. No cause of death was given. Kusama was also well known for her pumpkins, which were a signature of her art from the 1940s onwards, and her infinity room mirrors. "She continued to paint until her final days, never setting aside her brush, and continued exploration of forever love and eternal soul," the studio's statement said. "We will carry forward Kusama's wishes and, through art, continue to bring hope and strength for the future to people around the world." Kusama's fixation with polka dots and repetitive motifs were inspired by hallucinations she said she had from childhood in Japan. She moved to New York to pursue art in 1957, where she became known for her anti-war performances in the late 1960s in which she adorned people's bodies with patterns. It was there that she befriended artists such as Andy Warhol, Georgia O'Keeffe and Joseph Cornell. Kusama was in and out of psychiatric institutions for decades, but she remained devoted to artwork that came to focus on her polka dot visions. "Polka dots are fabulous," Kusama said in a 2012 interview. "I want to create a thousand paintings, maybe two thousand paintings, as many as I can draw," she said in her childlike but matter-of-fact tone. "I will keep painting until I die." Read more from Sky News:From rags to rhinestones - farewell to Dolly PartonThe Rocky Horror Picture Show actor dies She signed on with fashion brands such as Louis Vuitton as well as other licensed products like teacups, T-shirts and key chains with her illustrations. In 2008, Christie's auctioned one of her early dot paintings for $5.8m (£4.27m). Kusama won the most prestigious award Japan gives its artists, the Order of Culture, in 2016.

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

A deluge of rain postponed play until 12.20pm on Thursday afternoon, and much like the weather, England's day got off to a dreary start, with the hosts going 3-36 after just 10.3 overs, after Pakistan won the toss and elected to bowl. Scorecard: England vs Pakistan, second Test at Lord's England without Carse for Lord's Test after nightclub incidentWith alarm bells ringing, what's gone wrong for Pakistan cricket?Not got Sky? Latest Sky Sports deals or stream no contract After a week dominated by England's latest off-field incident involving bowler Brydon Carse, captain Joe Root's mood would not have lifted much as he was dismissed on Thursday by Abbas for just four runs. That was further compounded by the cheap dismissals of Ben Duckett (17) and Emilio Gay (8), who were also snared by Abbas. Abbas would take figures of 4-56 in, while Ali returned 3-67, producing three sensational 'nip-backers' to remove Harry Brook (15) as well as Jamie Smith (61) and Ollie Robinson (0). With captain Babar Azam back in the side, Pakistan produced a much-improved performance from their innings and 103-run defeat at Headingley last week. But issues remain with Pakistan's fielding, with Mohammad Rizwan and his slips standing far too deep behind the wicket and saw multiple chances drop short in front of them. England, meanwhile, rallied as the weather began to improve, with Jordan Cox (55) hitting back-to-back half-centuries, while Smith also brought up his fifty after what's been a lean period for the wicketkeeper-batsman. "I was trying to ride the wave a little bit," Smith told Sky Sports. "It is not the most free-scoring at times here - you can feel a bit out of rhythm but then catch up. "I felt I scratched around at the start, but once I found the middle of the bat, it was slightly different to how I usually play, which is almost at top tempo to start with. "That seemed to help today." Gus Atkinson (34no) also performed well at the crease, and will return on Friday morning alongside Josh Tongue (1no), after play was suspended at 6.10pm on Thursday due to bad light, before the umpires chose not to return to the field. Abbas gets Pakistan off to a flying start After taking only one wicket against England at Headingley, Abbas was in prolific form on Thursday, first dismissing Gay with the help of the agile reflexes of Rizwan, who dived down the leg side to glove an edge from the Durham batter. Pakistan had come close to dismissing Duckett early in the first over, with the England opener edging a ball out to the slips but the ball did not carry. Duckett would face 20 deliveries before Abbas finally had him pinned lbw. The decision was initially given not out, looking like it was bouncing over the stumps, but Abbas was convinced it was plum, and he was proven right thanks to a successful review. Root then arrived at the crease and initially rode his luck, with Imam-ul-Haq shelling an edge from the skipper at third slip, before Usman came close to taking a catch on the edge of the slip cordon. In the next over, Abbas swung a ball into Root's leg stump, with the England captain unable to get his bat to the ball in time, as he was dismissed lbw. Brook then entered the fray and angrily smashed Ali for four through square leg on his first delivery. But his stay at the crease was short-lived, with Brook skittled by a beauty from Ali, who jagged the ball back into his off stump, in what was perhaps the delivery of the day. England dig in after lunch England found themselves 80-4 at lunch and in need of some stability, which came to a degree in the form of a partnership of 43 between Cox and Dan Lawrence, before the latter was run out following a bizarre mix up. Cox hit seven boundaries on his way to his half-century, and after a couple of good starts with Brook and Lawrence, he and Smith set about mounting a score, with the pair posting a stand of 67 off 97 deliveries. It was a moment of brilliance, though, from Salman Agha that broke the partnership, with the Pakistan all-rounder diving in the air to take a spectacular one-handed catch off an edge from Cox. Smith would follow, with Ali taking both his and Ollie Robinson's wickets with two stunning nip-backers in the space of three deliveries. Archer was the last of the England batters to be dismissed by Abbas, but not before he slogged a six back into the Lord's Pavilion, with Abbas later removing his bails before the players left the field. Watch day two of England's second Test match against Pakistan at Lord's live on Sky Sports Cricket from 10.15pm on Friday. Not got Sky? Latest Sky Sports deals or stream no contract