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No Writer
May 31
Teenager dies after swimming at beach - as number of heatwave open water deaths rises to 15

Chiedza Nyanjowa, from Cheshire, was taken to Alder Hey Children's Hospital after getting into difficulty while swimming on Formby beach on Bank Holiday Monday, 25 May. Emergency services were called to reports of a concern for safety around 3.30pm. Chiedza died in hospital on Saturday. In a tribute, her family described her as a "bubbly person" who "loved Christ and going to church". "She loved cooking, she was a giver and wanted to be [a] nurse when she grew up so she could give back," they said. "She will be greatly missed and remembered for her kind spirit." The body of a man has also been discovered in a river in Norfolk, bringing the total number of open water deaths during the heatwave up to 15. Emergency services have been at the scene since Friday afternoon after reports of a concern for the safety of a man in the water on a stretch of the River Yare at Surlingham, near Ferry Road, at just after 2.30pm, police said. Read more from Sky News:Trump outlines demands for IranPolice mount investigation after rare miniature horses stolen Specialist equipment, including sonar, was used in the search, and a dive team discovered the body of a man in his 40s this afternoon, who was declared dead at the scene. The death is being treated as unexplained, but is not believed to be suspicious, Norfolk Constabulary said in a statement. Meanwhile, a 19-year-old died after getting into difficulty in New Balderton in Nottinghamshire. Emergency services were called to Balderton Lake at 2.35pm on Thursday, following reports of a man entering the water, Nottinghamshire Police said. The teenager, who had been at the lake with friends, was recovered from the water and treated at the scene before being taken to hospital. On Saturday, the force said the man had not survived. His family has been informed. Chief Inspector for Newark Clive Collings, said: "This is a tragic incident and our thoughts are solely with this young man's family. "During hot weather we know people want to keep cool but open waters are exceptionally dangerous as there is no way of telling what's beneath the surface." Listen: Why are so many young people drowning in open water? 👉 Listen to This Is Why on your podcast app 👈 High temperatures have attracted many to open water swimming, and there have been fatalities in South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Cornwall, Hampshire, Warwickshire, Cheshire, Pembrokeshire, Lincolnshire and Lancashire. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has issued a water safety warning following the spate of deaths, urging people to follow key safety advice if they find themselves in trouble in open water. It warned that: "While the sea or open water may look inviting during hot weather, it remains dangerously cold, putting even the strongest of swimmers at risk of cold water shock." Cold water shock is a physiological reaction that happens when a sudden change in skin temperature occurs - for example, from hot air to cold water. It can cause uncontrollable gasping and an increase in blood pressure and heart rate, which can lead to panic and drowning very quickly. Sky News meteorologist Christopher England said Saturday was the last of the really hot days of the current dry spell. Near-average temperatures are expected for the next week, with some rain as well.

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No Writer
May 30
Kanye West banned from performing in Italian city

The US rapper had been due to perform in the city of Reggio Emilia this summer. But local official ‌Salvatore Angieri ordered its cancellation because of concerns over the potential for protests, with West, known as Ye, having faced a wave of cancellations following years of antisemitic remarks. The northern city has also banned a concert from Travis Scott, another American rapper. Scott has faced scrutiny over safety at his concerts since ​a 2021 crowd crush at the Astroworld festival in Houston, Texas, that killed 10 people and injured hundreds. He had been due to perform at the Pulse ​of Gaia Festival on 17 July at the 103,000-capacity ⁠RCF Arena, with West scheduled to appear ⁠the following day. Angieri said the decision was taken following requests from a consumer group and the Jewish community ‌in Modena and Reggio Emilia, which had raised concerns about West. Italian authorities cited the close timing of the two shows and the high influx of ‌spectators expected within 24 hours as factors behind the ban. They also pointed to the cancellation of other West concerts in Europe, and the "concrete risk" of protests. This year's Wireless Festival was cancelled in April after West was blocked from coming to the UK. The ban was announced as his presence would "not be conducive to public good" after a backlash over West being booked to headline all three nights of the London event. In response, West offered to meet members of the British Jewish community. Read more from Sky News:Trump hits out at Kennedy Center ruling'Redaction errors' in Epstein files release Later that ​month, a concert in Poland was cancelled, and he also postponed a Marseille show after reports that the ​French government had sought to block it. West has apologised for his past remarks, saying they were linked to untreated bipolar disorder. He said in January: "I am not a Nazi or an antisemite. I love Jewish people". West is set ​to hold concerts in the Netherlands next month after its migration ​minister said there were no legal grounds to deny him entry. Dutch politicians had urged the ​government to bar West, citing his past remarks and expressions of admiration for Nazism and Adolf Hitler. Scott and West have been contacted for comment.

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Faye Brown, political reporter
May 30
Burnham allies plan cross-party council to stop a Reform UK government

The "council for the progressive majority" is being instigated by Compass, a centre-left thinktank whose founder Neal Lawson is an influential supporter of the Greater Manchester mayor. The council will be comprised of two leading figures from each of the progressive parties in the UK - Labour, the Liberal Democrats, the Greens, the SNP and Plaid Cymru. Voters from these parties make up what Compass calls the "progressive majority" over the Conservatives and Reform and its previous incarnations. The thinktank argues closer collaboration is needed, as while the progressive majority has won the largest share of the vote in 10 of the 11 elections since 1979, there have only been four electoral victories under the first past the post system. There have been no official appointments to the council yet, but as well as Mr Burnham, figures Compass are close to include Green Party leader Zack Polanski and former Green MP Caroline Lucas. They are both due to speak at an event on Saturday hosted by Compass called Mobilising the Progressive Majority. Mr Burnham dropped out due to campaigning in the Makerfield by-election. However in a recent Observer interview, he did not rule out a pact with the Greens - something Mr Polanski has also suggested he is open to if Mr Burnham succeeds Sir Keir Starmer, who is facing threats of a leadership challenge. Compass wants people on the council who can be close to or act as proxies for their party's leadership - so this could be former leaders or ex-MPs as well as senior sitting MPs. It will have a chair that is non-party aligned, such as an academic or a senior civil society figure. Appointments are due to be made by the end of the summer, with the group expected to meet four times a year to discuss and organise all options for how the "progressive majority" can prevent a Reform UK victory at the next general election. This will include discussions around electoral pacts as well as hosting joint conversations and data sharing, it is understood. Mr Lawson told Sky News that Britain's fractured political landscape has ended the "century-long two-party order" and we are now "staggering into a two-bloc system, with up to seven political parties holding power". He said the progressive majority "could be a long-term transformative force in British politics" but it must "actively be formed into a progressive bloc both before and after the next general election". He added: "As the potential for electoral and political chaos - in which the populist right prosper - comes into view, there is a requirement to think through and plan for effective mobilisation of the progressive majority into a force that is capable of defeating Reform and the causes of Reform. "This is why Compass... is now instigating the council for the progressive majority as a key institutional space where leading politicians and influencers can assess the need for the effective mobilisation of this majority, and examine the tactics and strategy necessary to build progressive electoral and governing prowess." Read more from Faye Brown:Union to double strike fund to prepare for Reform governmentBurnham allies meet to discuss forcing PM to set exit date Mr Lawson will be speaking in a joint discussion with Mr Polanski at Saturday's event, which will host panels on how progressive parties can find common ground on policies and values, including immigration. Labour speakers include the soft left MPs Clive Lewis and Alex Sobel, as well as senior backbencher Stella Creasey. The event will also hear from Liberal Democrat MP Roz Savage, who has recently said her party needs a strategy for coalition. With Reform UK leading in the national polls, there has long been talk of electoral pacts at the next election to stop the left vote splitting. However the idea is divisive within all parties. Mr Burnham was criticised by some Labour MPs for initially being due to speak at the event with Mr Polanski. Many Labour MPs on the moderate wing believe there is a reputational risk to working with the Greens, who have been dogged by allegations of antisemitism recently. The Greens are also split on the issue. Some back the idea if Mr Burnham takes over from Sir Keir, given his support for proportional representation aligns with their long-standing party policy. But others have argued against giving him an easy ride, stating that it is the Greens' role to challenge Labour rather than assist it regardless of who is at the top.

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Sky News
May 31
PSG vs Arsenal: Hundreds of arrests made across France after Paris Saint-Germain win Champions League final

The French ministry of the interior said there had been 416 arrests across France, with 283 in the Paris area, according to BFMTV, Sky News' French partner. Nearly 20,000 people were present on the Champs-Elysees at one stage during Saturday night's celebrations, according to figures from the Paris police headquarters cited by the broadcaster. Arsenal suffer penalty heartache as PSG win Champions League final Huge crowds massed along the avenues near the Arc de Triomphe, with some setting off flares and blaring car horns. PSG called on fans to celebrate "with pride, responsibility and respect". A total of 22,000 police officers were mobilised in advance of the final in France, including 8,000 in the Paris metropolitan area. Laurent Nunez, the French minister of interior, said disturbances had been "foreseen and anticipated". In an initial assessment of the violence overnight, Nunez said there had been 416 arrests, including 283 within the jurisdiction of the Paris police prefecture. Seven police officers were also injured in France, "one of them quite seriously," he added. Fans tried to storm police station during unrest The Paris police prefecture said smaller groups caused problems in various locations. This included vandalising shops and starting fires, including setting cars alight, and one officer was injured. A group also attempted to storm a police station in the well-off 8th Arrondissement neighbourhood, but were dispersed, police said. By 10pm local time, 45 people had been arrested and large crowds gathered at other landmarks, including the Eiffel Tower. The main road around Paris was briefly blockaded by a crowd before officers dispersed them too. A bakery and restaurant were also damaged. Officers contained around 1,000 people near PSG's stadium in the 16th Arrondissement and cleared makeshift barricades formed from bicycles. This isn't the first time PSG fans have caused unrest after a triumph for the club. In May last year, following PSG's first Champions League title success, 201 people were injured in the French capital and police made more than 500 arrests across France. Macron to welcome PSG players PSG will celebrate their Champions League victory on Sunday after also clinching the Ligue 1 title. They will host a public celebration on the Champ de Mars, in front of the Eiffel Tower, starting at 2pm local time. PSG said: "The players will cross the Champ de Mars on a 450m-long stage and present the Champions League trophy to their fans. Between 85,000 and 90,000 people will be able to take part in this unique celebration in the heart of the capital. The gates will open at 2pm." Then, the players will be received by French President Emmanuel Macron, at the Elysee Palace. Celebrations will continue at the Parc des Princes, PSG's stadium, where fans and players will come together from 7.30pm local time.

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No Writer
May 31
Former M&S boss drafted in to help ministers tackle NEET crisis

Marc Bolland has been chosen by Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden to deliver the "youth guarantee" for every young person aged 18 to 21 to have access to employment, training or education. Speaking on Sky's Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, Mr McFadden said that "the experience that he'll bring to this will be really valuable". Earlier this week, a review by former Labour health secretary Andy Milburn found that one in eight 16 to 24-year-olds are not employed and risk becoming a "lost generation" without urgent intervention. Mr Milburn also warned of a moral and economic "crisis" posed by the rising number of NEETs. Meanwhile, figures from the Office for National Statistics suggest youth unemployment reached 16.2% in the three months to March - the highest level in 11 years. Mr McFadden said Mr Bolland's appointment "sends a clear signal that we are serious about tackling that challenge". "His track record in business and through Movement to Work make him uniquely placed to bring employers together and open up real opportunities for young people who need them most," he added. As well as running Marks & Spencer, Mr Bolland was chief executive of Morrisons and chief operating officer at Heineken. In 2012, he founded the charity Movement to Work in response to the previous year's riots, helping more than 200,000 disadvantaged young people into work. Read more from Sky News:Number of heatwave open water deaths rises to 15Police mount investigation after rare miniature horses stolen Speaking about his new appointment, Mr Bolland said: "I believe the government is serious about tackling this generational crisis of youth unemployment, and I know that working hand in hand with business to support young people gives them the best possible chance of success." After the release of Mr Milburn's report, the government announced some of Britain's biggest businesses would back 300,000 work experience and training placements - from construction to hospitality - for young people over the next three years.

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No Writer
May 31
Donald Trump makes Elvis Presley claim as he floats 'major speech' after artists pull out of birthday concerts

The summer shows in Washington DC were planned as part of The Great American State Fair, which is being staged to commemorate the country's 250th anniversary. However, a number of artists, including Martina McBride, Bret Michaels and the Commodores, have dropped out of the celebrations, which are being organised by the Freedom 250 group. It is described as a "non-partisan" organisation, but was launched last year by Mr Trump and is headed by Keith Krach, a first-term Trump appointee for the State Department. 👉 Follow Trump100 on your podcast app 👈 On Friday, ​Michaels, the lead singer of the rock band Poison, ⁠became the fifth performer to withdraw ⁠from the concerts. In an Instagram post, Michaels wrote that he had thought his show would be a chance to "honour our veterans, active military, first responders, teachers and hardworking Americans from all walks of life". But he concluded that the event had "evolved into something much more divisive". The withdrawals have seemingly prompted a rethink, and on Saturday Mr Trump floated the idea of an "America is back rally" in a post on Truth Social, suggesting that he is a bigger draw than the late Elvis Presley "in his prime". Trump wrote: "I am thinking about bringing the Number One Attraction anywhere in the World, the man who gets much larger audiences than Elvis in his prime, and he does so without a guitar, the man who loves our Country more than anyone else, and the man who some say is the Greatest President in History (THE GOAT!), DONALD J. TRUMP, to take the place of these highly paid, Third Rate 'Artists,' and give a major speech, rallying the Country forward like I have done ever since being President!" He added: "I am ordering my Representatives to look at the feasibility of doing an AMERICA IS BACK Rally on Wednesday, Washington, D.C., same time, same location. "Only Great Patriots invited - It will be a Wild and Beautiful Celebration of America!" Read more from Sky News:US treasury prepares Trump $250 bill'Errors' made in Epstein files release Mr Trump also lashed out after a federal judge who ordered the removal of his name from the Kennedy Center in Washington. He branded US District Judge Christopher Cooper an "an anti Trump Hater" - and predicted that the performing arts venue he wanted to close for a two-year overhaul would "soon" shut, "probably never to open again".

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No Writer
May 29
AI to be used to check age of asylum seekers posing as children

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No Writer
May 31
Amanda Serrano stops Cheyenne Hanson in second round as Stephanie Han beats Holly Holm by decision in rematch

Serrano was always heavily favoured over German boxer Hanson (17-3) and only needed two rounds to secure her 32nd KO to tie Christie Martin's record, which has been held for 21 years. The Puerto Rican boxer started the fight clearly with the intention of securing the record-equalling finish, trading blows with Hanson in the first round and stepping it up in the second to force the stoppage with 2:25 left in the round. Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOWDownload the Sky Sports app for expert analysis, best video & more "This is my time," Serrano said. "With the three minutes we get to set up shots. I was feeling her out in the first round. But I think the three minutes gave us more time to have fun in there, and that's what I was doing, I was having fun." "I can break the knockout record in my next fight. I can get my 50th win and break Christy Martin's knockout record." Han beats Holm by decision in thrilling title rematch Stephanie Han retained her WBA lightweight title and mantained her undefeated record as she secured a controversial win by decision in her much-anticipated rematch with Holly Holm. Despite a visible cut over her eye in round two, Holm landed many of the harder punches in a thrilling fight that went the distance. Han, though came out on top, with two judges scoring the bout 96-94 in her favour despite one judge calling the match a draw at 95-95. Han has now won both fights between the two by decision after their first fight had to go to the scorecard early after an accidental headbutt. The American could now be set to fight Katie Taylor in the Irishwoman's final fight - and made sure to make her intentions known straight after the fight. "The next fight I want, I know all the fighters want her: Katie Taylor. She beat my sister, Jennifer Han - I want to have this revenge fight for her." Watch Chris Billam-Smith vs Ryan Rozicki on the Zuffa Boxing show in Bournemouth in June 6, live on Sky Sports.

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