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No Writer
Jun 20
Britain facing 'tropical night' temperatures as extreme heat warning issued

The Met Office says the low 30s are likely in southern England on Sunday, before the heat is expected to "expand and intensify" on Monday and Tuesday. Humidity is set to be higher than last month's heatwave and the "tropical night" threshold - where temperatures don't fall below 20C (68F) - will be met in some areas. The Met Office amber extreme heat warning for Monday and Tuesday covers most of the South East, stretching to Norfolk, as well as parts of South Wales. The forecaster says there's a 40% chance of beating June's highest-ever temperature of 35.6C (96F), set in 1957 and 1976. It will also be hot further north at the start of the week, with 29C (84F) forecast in Manchester, 27C (80F) in Newcastle, 25C (77F) in Glasgow and 24C (75F) in Belfast. "Temperatures have topped 30C in places this afternoon but the real heat has yet to reach us," says Sky News weather presenter Jo Wheeler. After a slight cooling on Saturday, she says high pressure will "tap into the fierce heatwave over the near continent resulting in temperatures climbing day on day". High humidity will make things "quite uncomfortable", Wheeler adds. It's a message echoed by Met Office forecaster Honor Criswick, who says the upcoming heatwave will bring humidity "quite a bit higher" than the last one. "It's just going to make it feel that bit muggier and that bit more humid during the day and overnight as well," she said. The Met Office alert runs parallel with one from the UK Health Security Agency warning people to look out for the elderly and those with underlying health conditions. See the weather forecast where you are Travellers heading to Europe for an early summer break could also be hit by unexpectedly high temperatures. More than 50 areas of France are on heatwave alert, with interior minister Laurent Nunez warning of 40C (104F) in the day and a sweltering 30C at night in some parts from Sunday. Meteo-France - the French Met Office - describes the upcoming surge as "widespread, prolonged and intense". The water safety message is also being repeated after last month's UK heatwave - which set a new May record of 35.1C (95F) - saw at least 15 people die, including nine children. Cold water shock - which can induce panic and rapid breathing - is still a possibility as sea, lake and river temperatures remain surprisingly cold. People entering the water should go in slowly and gradually and swim in a lifeguarded area if possible, the RNLI advises. Explainer: What is cold water shock? "If you find yourself struggling in the water, remember to Float to Live: tilt your head back so your ears are submerged, relax and control your breathing," the RNLI's Samantha Hughes said. "You may need to gently use your hands to help you stay afloat, and it's OK if your legs sink - everyone floats differently."

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No Writer
Jun 19
Daveigh Chase, star of Lilo & Stitch and The Ring, dies aged 35

Chase, a former child star also known for her role as the villain in the 2002 US remake of the Japanese horror film The Ring, reportedly died on Tuesday from complications of bacterial meningitis and a blood infection. Her father, John David Schwallier, told The New York Times that Chase had been homeless in Los Angeles with her boyfriend near the hospital where she died. Mr Schwallier also told the outlet that his daughter had struggled with drugs since she was 13 years old, and that she had been estranged from her parents, who are divorced. He added that he had been in touch with Chase's boyfriend, Roy Hernandez, and arrived at the hospital where she was being treated just before she died. Chase is perhaps best known for her role as Lilo in the 2002 animated film, voicing the eponymous orphaned Hawaiian girl who adopts a genetically engineered extra-terrestrial, whom she names Stitch. She voiced the same character in the subsequent spin-off TV series, which first aired in 2003. For her role as Samara Morgan in The Ring, starring alongside Oscar-nominated actress Naomi Watts, Chase won an MTV movie award for best villain. She landed another prominent voice lead in the English dub of the 2001 Studio Ghibli film Spirited Away, and also appeared in the 2001 movie Donnie Darko and the 2003 show Oliver Beene. Read more from Sky News:Explainer: What's in the US-Iran deal?Teenager dies in horse-drawn carriage accident in New York Chase was born in Las Vegas and raised in Albany, Oregon. According to IMDb, she began singing and dancing at the age of three and starred in her first commercial - for Campbell's Soup - aged seven. An online fundraiser set up by her boyfriend has raised close to $4,000 as of Thursday. A post on the site read: "Many people know her as a talented childhood actor from 'Lilo & Stitch,' 'Spirited Away,' and 'Donnie Darko'. "But behind the scenes, she's faced more than her share of hardship."

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No Writer
Jun 19
Burnham 'going to be PM' as 'herd is stampeding' against Starmer, says Harriet Harman

Speaking to Sky's political editor Beth Rigby on the Electoral Dysfunction podcast following Burnham's win in the Makerfield by-election, she said: "Well, I hate to quote Boris Johnson, but do you remember what he said, when he realised that he had to leave government? And he said about his ministers and his MPs, the 'herd is moving'. "Well, I have to say that it's not only that the herd is moving, they are stampeding." "We need an animal expert on this programme to tell us about herds, because the point about herds is that if you get left behind by the herd, you know, that's it. You know, you're extinct. And there is this sense of collective movement." Politics latest: Follow live To listen to Electoral Dysfunction twice a week - including the members-only Sky News Insider edition - click here. Subscribers to Sky News Insider will be able to enjoy ad-free access, bonus episodes and early releases. (Requires paid subscription. UK only. 18+). She said: "I think it's going to happen - that Andy Burnham is going to become prime minister. Keir Starmer is going to be leaving office." Around 100 Labour MPs have already called on Sir Keir Starmer to stand aside in the wake of the party's huge defeat in May's local elections. Starmer also has been hit with a number of high-profile ministerial resignations in recent weeks, including Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Defence Secretary John Healey. And it's expected that cabinet ministers will hold conversations with Sir Keir over the weekend to discuss his future, with some expected to tell the prime minister to set out a timetable for his departure from Downing Street. "I think things have really changed, and I don't think there's going to be any question of a timetable," says Baroness Harman. "I mean, some people were talking about September - we cannot have ministers in a state of paralysis all the way through the summer. "I don't think Andy Burnham is even going to be going on his summer holidays, because he knows people want change, so he will hit the ground running." Read more from on politics:Why Burnham's win is significantThe Labour MPs calling on PM to go She added: "Though by the time we come back in September, he will have done loads of things from the manifesto that people want to see happen. "And by the time we get to [The Labour Party] conference in September, we'll be at a complete different pace of change." Burnham's victory in Makerfield was declared early on Thursday morning, with him winning 24,927 votes (54.8% vote share) and a majority of 9,231 over second-placed Reform. Following his victory, he said it "could just be the turning point" for Labour as he promised to "lay out a new path for Britain". But Sir Keir has remained defiant, vowing to stand in any potential leadership contest, saying: "I will run, I will stand".

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No Writer
Jun 20
Roy Keane dismisses Scotland penalty claims in Morocco defeat: 'Scott McTominay is looking to go down'

Steve Clarke's side knew victory would guarantee a place in the knockout stages of a major tournament for the first time, but they were rocked after just 70 seconds when Ismail Saibari struck. John McGinn appealed for a penalty not long after the restart after being brought down by Neil El Aynaoui, but it was deemed a fair challenge. There was more penalty controversy when the Napoli midfielder McTominay went down under another dubious challenge from El Aynaou. But, again, the appeals were waved away. As it happened | Teams | Stats | Group C guideWorld Cup day-by-day schedule | Latest: World CupFollow our World Cup coverage in the Sky Sports App Keane said on ITV: "I don't think it's a penalty, he's looking to go down. It's a physical game. The referee let a lot go in the game, players were going down which would normally be a free-kick. So the referee had that attitude throughout the game especially in the box." Sky Sports' Kris Boyd shared a similar view, though thought the McGinn challenge had more merit than the McTominay claim, saying: "For me, the McTominay one wasn't a penalty. The one on John McGinn I've seen given. Once it wasn't given on the field, it was never going to be overturned." Scotland boss Steve Clarke said: "Everybody is talking about the Scott McTominay [penalty incident]. I actually looked at the John McGinn one, which was 50-50. Some referees would give it, some don't. Sometimes VAR will get involved. "I was also a bit 50-50 with Che Adams one where he was last man. He has a chance to go through and he is brought down. Again, the VAR chooses yellow and backs the referee. There's nothing we can do about that." VOTE: Should Scotland have had a penalty... Or two? 'I've never been in a game like that' Scotland midfielders Ryan Christie and Lewis Ferguson also spoke on the McTominay and McGinn claims post-match, and both claimed that they thought that referee Ilgiz Tantashev was too lenient throughout proceedings. Bournemouth star Christie said: "The one on McGinn I had a pretty good look at. I thought it could definitely be given. Not much was being given throughout the game to be honest. I've never been in a game like that, especially at this level. It's normally stricter than that. That's the most lenient I've seen." Ferguson concurred, adding: "The first thing I thought was foul. I don't know why John or Scott would go down in the box if it wasn't a foul. I thought the referee let a lot go for both teams which I was pretty surprised about. I'd have to see it back before I make a clearer comment." Adam: Recovering defender key in Adams incident Former Scotland international Charlie Adam agreed that the Scots should've had a penalty for the challenge on McGinn, but gave an alternative view on Clarke's claim about the red card for a last man challenge on Adams. He told Sky Sports: "I thought the John McGinn one was a definite penalty. I also get what Steve's talking about with Che Adams. The problem is his distance from the goal. There may have been an opportunity for the recovering defender. "It's a clear foul. Maybe where the ball is going through to the goalkeeper. Would he have actually gotten on the end of it." Clarke: I wish we could've started again! After beating Haiti in their Group C opener, Clarke's side needed only a draw against the AFCON champions at the Boston Stadium to all-but guarantee a spot in the knockout stages. However, Morocco showed why they are ranked sixth in the world, scoring through Saibari after 70 seconds - the earliest goal Scotland have conceded at a World Cup, on their return to the big stage after 28 years. Scotland could still reach the last 32 if they finish on three points but a draw against Brazil in Miami next week would significantly boost their chances of a first-ever appearance in the knockout stage. On the Morocco goal, Clarke said: "I wish we could start again! We lost a poor goal, we tried to step up when you want to track runners early in the game. We didn't defend it well, and that's why we went 1-0 down. "I thought in the second period of the first half after the hydration break, we were good. We were good in the game, we had good momentum and carried that into the second half and had a right go. "I'm proud of the players but we're all devastated and disappointed we didn't get the result we wanted to carry on in this tournament as long as we can."

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No Writer
Jun 20
Trump unveils new converted Air Force One jet he accepted as gift from Qatar

"This is considered the world's most luxurious plane. When it was built, it was built at a level that will probably never be seen again," Mr Trump told a crowd in a new hangar at Joint Base Andrews in Prince George's County, Maryland. The gift from Qatar is serving as a "bridge" aircraft to transport the president while Boeing works to deliver two purpose-built 747-8s under a $3.9bn (£2.9bn) fixed-price ​contract. That is currently slated for 2028, four years behind schedule, a delay that ​risks leaving Mr Trump without a ⁠new plane before the end of his term in January 2029. Questions were raised about the ethics and legality of a US president accepting such an expensive gift from a foreign government, but Mr Trump dismissed the criticism, saying it would be "stupid" ​to turn down the offer. The new bolder look, a departure from the iconic design used on Air Force One for decades, features a navy blue underbelly with a red stripe above it. Read more from Sky News:Britain facing 'tropical night' temperaturesTourist dies after huge fire destroys luxury beach resort The left side of the plane, where the president boards, features the presidential seal, and the tail of the aircraft has a huge American flag on it. Mr Trump confirmed that he would be taking the new plane to the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, next month and indicated he would be returning to China "at some point". China is hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in November. Mr Trump returned from Europe on Thursday morning on board a military-grade Boeing 747-200 that has served US presidents for more than three decades. He said it was the plane's final trip, adding that it would ultimately be housed in a museum. The upgrade cost for the Qatari plane has not been disclosed, but the air force has previously said that security modifications to the jet would cost less than $400m (£301m). Mr Trump said ​the upgrade was necessary to keep pace with more modern aircraft carrying foreign leaders. He said the rest of the Air Force One ​fleet will have the new design. Mr Trump has insisted in the past that he would not fly around in the Qatari jet once he leaves office and said it would instead be donated to a future presidential library.

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No Writer
Jun 19
Rap producer Tay Keith, who worked with Travis Scott, Drake and Beyonce, dies aged 29

The musician, whose real name was Brytavious Chambers, was found in his flat in Nashville, Tennessee, by police during a welfare check. The hip-hop producer behind Scott's hit track Sicko Mode and Drake's Nonstop, had also worked with stars including Eminem, Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion, J Cole and 21 Savage. Metro Nashville Police Department said: "No foul play is suspected in the death of Brytavious Chambers, 29, also known as Grammy-nominated record producer Tay Keith. "He was found dead in his Martin Street apartment this afternoon by officers performing a welfare check. His death is unclassified pending autopsy results." Keith was nominated for a Grammy for best rap song for Sicko Mode with Travis Scott, which also topped the US charts. He was nominated again in 2024 for his production on Drake and 21 Savage's Rich Flex. He recently worked on Megan Thee Stallion's 2024 album Megan, Jack Harlow's single Just Us featuring Doja Cat, and Travis Scott's single 4×4. Keith also worked on tracks including Beyonce's Before I Let Go BlocBoy JB's Look Alive, and Sexyy Red's 2023 song Pound Town. Read more from Sky News:Lilo & Stitch star died at 35BBC to cut hundreds of jobs In tribute, BlocBoy JB shared a broken heart emoji on his Instagram after news of Keith's death came to light. He wrote, "Damn Cuz You Just Hurt Me Bad", alongside a photo of him and Keith. He also shared a screenshot of his phone call log, showing frequent calls between the two, writing: "We talked everyday yeen tell me you was leaving." Keith founded music label Drumatized Music Group, based in Memphis, alongside his manager, Cambrian Strong. The duo were featured together on Forbes' 30 Under 30 Music list in 2024 and Billboard magazine named Keith one of the top producers of the 21st century.

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Ali Fortescue, political correspondent
Jun 19
Epstein survivor to meet Starmer's chief secretary Darren Jones as PM says his 'door is open'

He wrote: "As a first step, my Chief Secretary will meet with you to discuss the issues raised in your letter." Sky News understands a meeting with Darren Jones has been scheduled for Tuesday next week with former victims' minister Alex Davies Jones, who has supported Lisa's campaign, also attending. Ms Phillips had written to the prime minister three times asking for a meeting, although Sky News understands that because she is not a constituent, only the second letter reached him. In the letter to Ms Phillips and human rights campaigner Carly Hamilton, the prime minister praised their "incredible bravery" and said he shared their determination to tackle sexual exploitation and abuse. But while Sir Keir said he remained committed to securing justice for victims, he did not answer their central question of whether he supports a UK public inquiry into Jeffrey Epstein. Responding to the letter, the campaigners welcomed the prime minister's engagement but made clear they are still waiting for a direct answer. "Our question has always been a simple one: Will Prime Minister Keir Starmer support a public inquiry?" they said. "We continue to seek a clear answer". Their statement notably singled out a number of MPs, including Wes Streeting, Andy Burnham and Al Carns, who have all indicated they would enter a race to succeed Keir Starmer, to thank them for their support. Read more from Sky News:Two PM arsonists jailedBurnham's route to No 10 In his letter, Sir Keir pointed to his record as director of public prosecutions and reiterated his pledge to halve violence against women and girls. Ms Phillips also called for clarification regarding Peter Mandelson following comments made in Westminster and said they looked forward to a "full and transparent response". Their statement concluded: "No one should be above the law. The law must take its course."

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No Writer
Jun 20
US Open golf: Wyndham Clark holds halfway lead as Rory McIlroy slips back after rollercoaster round at Shinnecock Hills

Clark returned early on Friday morning to par the final two holes of an opening-round 64, following a fog-delayed first day, then mixed three birdies with two bogeys in a one-under 69. The 2023 champion holed a long-range birdie on his final hole to move to seven under, the lowest 36-hole score ever in a US Open held at this major venue, putting him top of a star-studded leaderboard filled with past major champions. Wyndham Clark leads US Open: Second round recapLatest US Open leaderboard and other golf scoresUS Open golf: Latest news, headlines and highlightsGet Sky Sports or stream golf with no contract Xander Schauffele jumped to tied-second alongside 2022 winner Matt Fitzpatrick and American Sam Stevens, with Collin Morikawa a further shot back after equalling the round of the day with a five-under 65 in challenging conditions. McIlroy threatened to be Clark's closest challenger when he reached the turn in 33 and within four of the lead, only to mix two birdies with three bogeys and a double bogey on the back nine to post a one-over 71. The world No 2 is joined on level par by Scottie Scheffler, who posted a second-round 68 as he looks to complete the career Grand Slam, while two-time US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau missed the cut for a third consecutive major. Back-nine struggles leave McIlroy chasing Clark McIlroy holed from 10 feet to save par at the first and made a patient start to his second round, before a 393-yard drive at the par-five fifth set up a two-putt birdie and lifted him closer to Clark. The six-time major winner slotted in a 15-foot birdie at the eighth but missed a six-foot attempt at the par-five next to get within three of the lead, before going long of the green with approaches into the first three holes of his back nine and bogeying them all. McIlroy responded by firing a wedge to tap-in range at the 13th and nailed a 40-footer at the next, but undid those successive bogeys - and slipped back to level par - when he double-bogeyed the par-four 15th. The world No 2 had to get up and down from off the par-five 16th to save par and scramble from the sand to avoid a bogey at the 17th, with McIlroy struggling with distance control during an eventful back-nine 38. "I just kept hitting it long," McIlroy told Sky Sports. "It was tough. I feel like our side of the draw played in the windiest of the conditions and the scores sort of bear that out, but I held in and hung in there as best I could. "Even par going into the weekend isn't terrible. Hopefully go out there and keep playing the way I'm playing. I'm doing the right things. I made a couple of mistakes, which put me behind the eight ball a little bit, but still a really solid two days." Fitzpatrick, Schauffele chase Clark as Scheffler moves forward Clark held a two-shot lead over Dustin Johnson after the opening round was completed and briefly moved five clear on Friday, with the American posting back-to-back rounds in the 60s at a major for the first time since his 2023 US Open win. "The great thing about that is I didn't feel like I had my best and I still am leading," Clark said. "Hopefully I can bring my A-game on the weekend." Schauffele - who has never finished outside the top 15 at the US Open - posted a four-under 66 to move to three under alongside Fitzpatrick, who birdied two of his last three holes, while Stevens (69) and Kim (67) complete the quartet in second behind Clark. Only 10 players remain under par, with Justin Thomas, Sam Burns, Sahith Theegala and Harry Higgs all rising to one under, as Scheffler produced a much-improved display as he carded just one bogey in a two-under 68. Last month's PGA Championship winner Aaron Rai sits in the group on one over alongside compatriots Justin Rose and Tommy Fleetwood, as DeChambeau made another early exit after posting back-to-back double bogeys in a five-over 75. Jon Rahm played his first 21 holes bogey-free but also missed the cut when he dropped six shots in a five-hole stretch during an eight-over 78, leaving him six over, with Viktor Hovland (+5), Patrick Reed (+5), Shane Lowry (+6) and Adam Scott (+8) also failing to reach the weekend. Who will win the US Open? Watch throughout the week live on Sky Sports. Live coverage continues Saturday from 4pm on Sky Sports Golf. Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract.

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