The Northern Ireland-born New Zealand actor was best known for his leading roles in the blockbuster dinosaur franchise and The Piano, and appeared in more than 50 films over his career. The family of the screen star, who was one of New Zealand's most successful Hollywood exports, said his death had been "sudden and unexpected" in a statement on Monday. Neill was diagnosed with stage three angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, in 2022. After his cancer diagnosis, Neill said he would take a short break from acting, and had announced he was cancer free earlier this year. His family said he died on Monday in Sydney, Australia, but did not specify the cause of death. "Sam was surrounded by family and passed with the dignity that has characterised his whole life," they said. "The loss was sudden and unexpected but blessed by the fact that Sam remained cancer free." Neill was regarded as a versatile actor, who had traversed blockbuster and art house film throughout his career. His range saw him dodge velociraptors in Jurassic Park, chop off actress Holly Hunter's finger in The Piano, and gouge out his eyes in the sci-fi film Event Horizon in his on-screen roles. 'One of the greats' Tributes flooded in for Neill from around the world, from Hollywood directors to prime ministers. Colin Trevorrow, who directed Neill in Jurassic World Dominion, remembered the actor as a "deeply soulful and beautiful man". "He was a friend and collaborator at a challenging time, and his strength gave us all strength," he said. He added: "It's not every lifetime you get to befriend a legend." New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon described Neill as "one of the greats". "He started out when there was barely a film industry in this country to speak of," he said. "For more than fifty years he took New Zealand stories to the world and his talents helped make our film industry into what it is today - one of our greatest cultural exports. "His work will be watched and loved long after all of us." In a post on X, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said: "Sam Neill starred in so many beloved Australian stories and he earned a special place in Australian hearts. "Wry and dry, thoughtful and laconic, Sam fought illness with the same dignity, humour and conviction that gave strength to his every performance. He will be much mourned and long remembered." Australian actor David Wenham said: "Aside from being an international all-round legend. Sam was the kindest, cheekiest, most generous and supportive friend going around." Author Kathy Lette remembered Neill as a "wonderful actor but also the most charming, kind, intelligent and deliciously self-deprecating friend". Australian comedian Magda Szubanski said: "An exceptional man - talented, kind, classy, wryly hilarious and loving. Proud cancer survivor. My heart goes out to all Sam's family and friends." From Omagh to Hollywood Neill was born Nigel John Dermot Neill in Omagh, but moved to New Zealand aged seven when his father retired from the army. At the age of 11, he changed his name to Sam. In his 2023 memoir, he said "to land in a primary school with a plum in the voice and Nigel for a name was asking for trouble". He described himself as a nerdy, unsporty and stuttering boy, but took his first steps into acting through school plays. His big break came with the low-budget 1977 New Zealand film Sleeping Dogs, which led to bigger roles in neighbouring Australia. Neill was one of a host of actors and directors who achieved international fame after an explosion of Australian films that began in the late 1970s. These included Paul Hogan, Mel Gibson, Geoffrey Rush, Russell Crowe, Jane Campion, Peter Weir and Gillian Armstrong. He first came to the attention of international audiences in Armstrong's 1979 film My Brilliant Career. Neill later appeared in the 1989 thriller Dead Calm, also starring a then-relatively unknown Nicole Kidman. He twice co-starred with Meryl Streep in Australian director Fred Schepisi films Plenty and A Cry in the Dark, based on the true story of a dingo killing a baby in the Australian Outback. He missed out on a chance at mega-stardom in the mid-1980s when he did a screen-test for the role of James Bond but did not land the role. He would later achieve blockbuster fame in Steven Spielberg's 1993 hit Jurassic Park, as palaeontologist Dr Alan Grant. Younger audiences will remember Neill for his portrayal of ruthless chief inspector Chester Campbell in Peaky Blinders. Read more from Sky News:'Nothing to suggest' Ann Widdecombe murder politicalAntiques Roadshow star Theo Burrell dies aged 39 In 2022, Neill accepted ​a knighthood for outstanding contribution to film. Neill, who was married twice, divided his later years between Australia and his vineyard in New Zealand's Central Otago, which produced Pinot Noir under the label Two Paddocks. He is survived by his two sons and two daughters.

The Northern Ireland-born New Zealand actor was best known for his leading roles in the blockbuster dinosaur franchise and The Piano, and appeared in more than 50 films over his career. The family of the screen star, who was one of New Zealand's most successful Hollywood exports, said his death had been "sudden and unexpected" in a statement on Monday. Neill was diagnosed with stage three angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, in 2022. After his cancer diagnosis, Neill said he would take a short break from acting, and had announced he was cancer free earlier this year. His family said he died on Monday in Sydney, Australia, but did not specify the cause of death. "Sam was surrounded by family and passed with the dignity that has characterised his whole life," they said. "The loss was sudden and unexpected but blessed by the fact that Sam remained cancer free." Neill was regarded as a versatile actor, who had traversed blockbuster and art house film throughout his career. His range saw him dodge velociraptors in Jurassic Park, chop off actress Holly Hunter's finger in The Piano, and gouge out his eyes in the sci-fi film Event Horizon in his on-screen roles. 'One of the greats' Tributes flooded in for Neill from around the world, from Hollywood directors to prime ministers. Colin Trevorrow, who directed Neill in Jurassic World Dominion, remembered the actor as a "deeply soulful and beautiful man". "He was a friend and collaborator at a challenging time, and his strength gave us all strength," he said. He added: "It's not every lifetime you get to befriend a legend." New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon described Neill as "one of the greats". "He started out when there was barely a film industry in this country to speak of," he said. "For more than fifty years he took New Zealand stories to the world and his talents helped make our film industry into what it is today - one of our greatest cultural exports. "His work will be watched and loved long after all of us." In a post on X, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said: "Sam Neill starred in so many beloved Australian stories and he earned a special place in Australian hearts. "Wry and dry, thoughtful and laconic, Sam fought illness with the same dignity, humour and conviction that gave strength to his every performance. He will be much mourned and long remembered." Australian actor David Wenham said: "Aside from being an international all-round legend. Sam was the kindest, cheekiest, most generous and supportive friend going around." Author Kathy Lette remembered Neill as a "wonderful actor but also the most charming, kind, intelligent and deliciously self-deprecating friend". Australian comedian Magda Szubanski said: "An exceptional man - talented, kind, classy, wryly hilarious and loving. Proud cancer survivor. My heart goes out to all Sam's family and friends." From Omagh to Hollywood Neill was born Nigel John Dermot Neill in Omagh, but moved to New Zealand aged seven when his father retired from the army. At the age of 11, he changed his name to Sam. In his 2023 memoir, he said "to land in a primary school with a plum in the voice and Nigel for a name was asking for trouble". He described himself as a nerdy, unsporty and stuttering boy, but took his first steps into acting through school plays. His big break came with the low-budget 1977 New Zealand film Sleeping Dogs, which led to bigger roles in neighbouring Australia. Neill was one of a host of actors and directors who achieved international fame after an explosion of Australian films that began in the late 1970s. These included Paul Hogan, Mel Gibson, Geoffrey Rush, Russell Crowe, Jane Campion, Peter Weir and Gillian Armstrong. He first came to the attention of international audiences in Armstrong's 1979 film My Brilliant Career. Neill later appeared in the 1989 thriller Dead Calm, also starring a then-relatively unknown Nicole Kidman. He twice co-starred with Meryl Streep in Australian director Fred Schepisi films Plenty and A Cry in the Dark, based on the true story of a dingo killing a baby in the Australian Outback. He missed out on a chance at mega-stardom in the mid-1980s when he did a screen-test for the role of James Bond but did not land the role. He would later achieve blockbuster fame in Steven Spielberg's 1993 hit Jurassic Park, as palaeontologist Dr Alan Grant. Younger audiences will remember Neill for his portrayal of ruthless chief inspector Chester Campbell in Peaky Blinders. Read more from Sky News:'Nothing to suggest' Ann Widdecombe murder politicalAntiques Roadshow star Theo Burrell dies aged 39 In 2022, Neill accepted ​a knighthood for outstanding contribution to film. Neill, who was married twice, divided his later years between Australia and his vineyard in New Zealand's Central Otago, which produced Pinot Noir under the label Two Paddocks. He is survived by his two sons and two daughters.

The political week starts with the shockwaves from the murder of Reform politician - Ann Widdecombe - which has put MPs' security back in the spotlight. Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy have the latest on the police investigation, Nigel Farage's response and the wider political fallout. It comes as the row over political party donations intensifies, with Reform arguing that the current safeguards aren't strong enough. Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer enters his final week as Prime Minister, while his successor Andy Burnham faces another major test in front of the Parliamentary Labour Party. Plus, will the Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, be forced to soften her immigration reforms as she attempts to change the law to deport a recently released ringleader of a Rochdale grooming gang?

Sky Sports News understands the midfielder has a release clause in his contract that is being triggered by United. Discussions are advancing quickly after Belgium's exit from the World Cup. Tielemans has been at Villa since 2023, when he joined on a free transfer from Leicester City, and has made 134 appearances for the club, scoring 10 times. VOTE: Is Tielemans the right option for Man Utd?Transfer Centre LIVE! | Key dates for summer window 2026Premier League ins and outs | Papers - latest headlinesDownload the Sky Sports app and follow your club During that time, Villa have twice qualified for the Champions League, reached the quarter-finals in that competition and won the Europa League last season under Unai Emery, with Tielemans opening the scoring in the final against Freiburg. Before joining Villa, Tielemans won the FA Cup and Community Shield at Leicester. United already have agreed a £50m deal to sign Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos, while a move for Tielemans comes after Sky in Italy reported that United's pursuit of Atalanta midfielder Ederson is off. United agreed a £38m deal to sign the Brazil international - who featured for his country at the World Cup - and was set to sign a four-year deal at the club with an option to extend his stay for an additional 12 months. 'Villa do not want to sell but they have no choice' Sky Sports News' Dharmesh Sheth: "Why would Aston Villa want to sell Tielemans? They don't want to sell. They have got no intention of selling Youri Tielemans. However, they have been hamstrung slightly because part of his contract contains a release clause, which we understand to be around £36m, which Manchester United are prepared to pay. "This one is going to accelerate, and it has accelerated since Belgium were knocked out of the World Cup by Spain last week, and since that has happened, Manchester United put the wheels in motion. "And when you have a release clause and a club is prepared to meet it, this kind of deal can move very, very quickly. And that is look that's what looks like it is happening now. "The big priority throughout this transfer window has been midfield at Old Trafford, and from it being they need to sign one midfielder, maybe two midfielders. "We could even see Manchester United trying to sign three midfielders in this transfer window. So that has been the priority from minute one of this transfer window. "In fact, even before the transfer window opened, because we knew that Casemiro was going to be leaving Manchester United, and now there's the added complication that Manuel Ugarte has got a serious knee injury that he suffered during the World Cup with Uruguay, and you know what? "I think Manchester United might have been prepared to listen to offers for someone like Manuel Ugarte to free up some squad space, some wage space, and some transfer fee money to come into the club to be able to to fund other midfield moves, but it's clear that Ugarte isn't going anywhere at the moment, and it's clear he's not going to be playing for Manchester United, having that serious knee injury. So United are in the market for two, maybe even three, midfielders; Youri Tielemans looks like he could be one of them." Analysis: Tielemans is ready-made, reliable midfield option Sky Sports' Sam Blitz and William Bitibiri: Aston Villa have a lot of gems in their team - Emiliano Martinez, Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers to name a few. But ask any Villa fan who their most important player is and most will say Youri Tielemans. Many concluded that Villa's exit from the Premier League title race picture in February coincided with Tielemans' ankle injury. They went from a team who won 10 out of 13 league games to a side who lost four out of their next seven. So missed when absent, the Belgian is a crucial cog in the Villa midfield due to his all-round midfield control. He's outstanding in the duels - with one of the best tackle success rate among Premier League midfielders - but he's also pivotal on the ball. Tielemans is capable of breaking through the lines and providing that killer pass. His through ball numbers are among the most creative players in the Premier League. Tielemans has emerged as a shock candidate to anchor Manchester United's midfield rebuild but he's one that arguably ticks more boxes than anyone else on the Old Trafford shortlist. For a club preparing for the toils of the Champions League, alongside a desire to better their current Premier League position, Tielemans represents the ready-made option that proved so successful for United last season. Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha raised United's level last season and were examples of astute business from INEOS. The 29-year-old would join with a CV as impressive as his goal repertoire. He scored the winner in Leicester City's FA Cup final triumph in 2021, delivered again in Aston Villa's Europa League final victory last season and captained Belgium at the 2026 World Cup. Tielemans brings composure in possession, leadership without the armband and has done it all at the highest level. INEOS are planning for the long term but that shouldn't come at the detriment to what United want to achieve immediately. Tielemans is an obvious fit and may be an early shout for signing of the summer.

Scientists at the University of Oxford have been working to develop a jab to protect against the Bundibugyo type of Ebola and now plan to assess its safety and immune response in 50 healthy adults aged 18 to 55. Volunteers are now being recruited for the trial, and the vaccinations will begin in the coming weeks pending regulatory approval. The project started when the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended prioritising the development of an Ebola vaccine, shortly after the outbreak was declared on 17 May. Some 620,000 doses of the vaccine, known as ChAdOx1 BDBV, has been stockpiled for potential future use, and 4,000 investigational doses have been supplied for the Oxford trail. The vaccine uses the same viral vector as the as the Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine, meaning it could be developed speedily. Professor Teresa Lambe, the study's lead scientific investigator, said: "The ongoing Bundibugyo ebolavirus outbreak continues to devastate affected communities, underlining the urgent need for effective vaccines and treatments. "Our team has worked tirelessly with global partners to develop a candidate ChAdOx BDBV vaccine, demonstrating how collaborative partnerships can enable rapid response in the face of rapidly evolving outbreaks. "This milestone comes after only 57 days since the WHO declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern." The number of Ebola cases has continued to grow, with 1,926 cases including 702 deaths being confirmed in the DRC on Monday. Read more from Sky News:'Nothing to suggest' Ann Widdecombe murder politicalWildfire of 'exceptional scale' breaks out near Paris Meanwhile a US citizen who was working for a humanitarian organisation in the DRC was admitted to Frankfurt University Hospital in Germany on Monday, after contracting the Bundibugyo variant. A senior WHO official has warned the true scale of the outbreak could be two to four times larger than official data suggest, underscoring the challenges faced by health workers. Dr Nicole Lurie, an executive director at the global Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), said: "The deadly Bundibugyo epidemic is already the third-largest Ebola outbreak on record, and infection numbers are continuing to rise. "The University of Oxford's work to progress their Bundibugyo vaccine candidate ready to enter Phase I trials in a matter of weeks is a pivotal milestone in the response effort. "Every step that brings a safe and effective vaccine closer helps strengthen our ability to protect vulnerable communities, save lives and bring this outbreak under control."

Ms Burrell joined the BBC show in 2018, and was among the team of specialists who examined and appraised items brought in by members of the public. The TV star was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a highly aggressive and incurable form of brain tumour with a life expectancy of 12-18 months, in June 2022. Following her diagnosis, she became a vocal advocate for the fight against the disease, with campaign work focused on increasing government funding, improved diagnostic times, and the advancement of clinical trials. She became a patron of Brain Tumour Research in 2023. In a statement shared on her Instagram account on Saturday, Ms Burrell's family said: "It is with great sadness that I share the news that Theo passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Wednesday afternoon. "Neither she nor her medical team foresaw this happening quite so quickly. "She was an incredible person who fought hard for her family, friends and raising awareness of this cruel disease." The statement continued: "She saw life events, like her son's first day at school and her wedding that a little over four years ago, we thought she'd never see. "The cancer community provided so much comfort and strength to her in her darkest moments. "But most of all it provided hope, and I think what she would want most of all is for other people to find hope in her story. Hope that the statistics aren't gospel, and that one day they'll be very different." Ms Burrell was diagnosed at the age of 35 after several months of worsening symptoms, and later underwent treatments including life-extending surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The TV star had previously discussed having "dark thoughts" after her diagnosis, and expressed fears that she "wouldn't see my son's second birthday". "But I'm lucky enough to say I did! And no one can take that away from me," she wrote in a recent Instagram post. Ms Burrell married her husband Alex earlier this year, saying on social media that it "feels so nice" to finally be wed after many years together. Around 3,200 people a year are diagnosed with Glioblastoma in the UK, of whom about 160 will live for five years or more. There has been no advance in treatments for two decades. Read more from Sky News:Linda Noskova wins women's Wimbledon singles titleMan, 28, arrested on suspicion of murdering Ann Widdecombe Dan Knowles, the chief executive officer of Brain Tumour Research, said: "We are heartbroken that we have lost the phenomenal, determined and truly inspiring Theo Burrell to this devastating disease. "She was always very open about her prognosis, and knew from the outset her cancer was terminal, but she was absolutely determined to make a difference for others. "She constantly inspired us with how big her heart was, and we will continue on our mission, driven by everything she taught us. "Our thoughts are with her family, her friends and with all those who had the privilege of knowing her."

Baroness Harman praised Burnham for saying he will reach out more to the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP), attending their weekly meetings and voting alongside Labour MPs in parliament. Politics latest: Follow live She also backed Burnham's claim that he will require ministers to engage with Labour MPs more, and to use the whipping system as more like a HR department rather than to "punish" MPs. But speaking to our political editor Beth Rigby on Sky's Electoral Dysfunction podcast, former Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson called Burnham's plans "absolute vapid bollocks". Baroness Harman, who was deputy Labour leader from 2007 to 2015, said Burnham has "got this different organism now, which is not just ministers sitting in their departments and him sitting in Number 10 and issuing edicts from the whips, but a kind of bottom-up thing from MPs' constituencies right through to Number 10 and him as prime minister, because he'll be mingling with them on a regular basis". "And I cannot tell you how different that is from how things work currently," she added. Baroness Davidson, however, was sceptical that Burnham would attend a meeting of the PLP every week. She said that if Burnham attends the PLP more than once every three months it would be "nonsense". She criticised "the idea that he's gonna stay home and do that instead of go to the G7 or NATO". Burnham received 322 nominations to become Labour leader on Thursday, with nominations open until Wednesday. He's expected to become Labour leader on 17 July, and prime minister on 20 July. Baroness Harman added that while a lot of Labour MPs "wish we weren't here and it had worked out better for Starmer", most are "really, really happy" about Burnham likely becoming leader. But, she said there were still "tough choices" that Burnham would have to make, such as on welfare reform. It was the discontent of many Labour MPs over Starmer's attempt to reduce the welfare bill that some have cited as the beginning of his leadership troubles, which ended with his resignation last month. Burnham has said he will devolve more power to mayors to help people get back into work, which he hopes will reduce the benefits bill. 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+).

Both are supremely self-confident, honest and opinionated, and they expect the highest of standards from everyone around them. Both are winners, and want nothing more than for England to win the World Cup. But here's the rub - each has a different idea about how Jude Bellingham should best be utilised for England to try to achieve that goal. While the Real Madrid star has traditionally wanted a much freer role to influence the game, the head coach has told him to work within the team system he has devised. Tuchel's deliberate tactic has been to use more stick than carrot with his talisman, to try to mould him into an ever-better player. His praise has always been measured, monitored and carefully targeted. Like an over-strict father to his precocious son, who can't quite find it in himself to praise his brilliant offspring in public. The German coach has very rarely praised Bellingham's ability, nor his unique capacity to inspire his team-mates and drive the side on to a higher level. Instead, he has focused his compliments on the moments when Bellingham has toed the line, sacrificed himself for the team, worked tirelessly off the ball. Neville's goosebumps over Bellingham: I have never seen anything like itMerson: Teams win leagues, X-factor wins World Cups - and Bellingham has itWorld Cup semi-finals schedule | Report: Norway 1-2 EnglandFollow it all on the Sky Sports App | Golden Boot race And, it could be argued, it has worked. Bellingham has been the best form of himself for England at this World Cup - eclipsing his performances for Real where the Galactico spirit hails all things individual, all things superstar. If you look at his statistics from the quarter-final, you get the full picture of what a complete player he is. As well as the obvious attacking prowess, where he scored more goals, had more shots, more shots on target, and had more touches in the opposition box than anyone else on the pitch, he also won more duels and was second for the number of times he successfully pressured an opponent in their own half. Tuchel can claim much credit for that all-round dominance. The battle of wills between the two has lasted for more than 18 months. At its worst moment a year ago, it led to Tuchel ill-advisedly saying his own mother sometimes finds Bellingham "repulsive" on the pitch. That really upset Bellingham, and his family. Tuchel apologised, and it has now been mostly smoothed over. It seemed bizarre in October when Tuchel went to extremes to try to force his message through to his star man by dropping him from the England squad completely for the friendly against Wales and the World Cup qualifier against Latvia. Forty-eight hours before Tuchel announced his Bellingham-free squad, the 22-year-old had been named England's player of the year. Pointedly, Tuchel didn't sugarcoat the message by suggesting that maybe Bellingham needed a rest, or that he was nursing an old injury. "Team spirit is the key factor in the end," said Tuchel at the time, emphasising he wanted to stick with the players who had done well in the previous camp, when Bellingham was unavailable because of a shoulder injury. Was that clever man-management from Tuchel? Give the superstar a kick when his nation didn't need him, so that he is even more motivated right now when England need him desperately? Back to this World Cup, and after the quarter-final win over Norway in Miami, Bellingham bristled when I asked him his thoughts on what Tuchel had said - namely, that overall the boss thought it was a "sloppy" team performance, and that England had ridden their luck. Bellingham's spiky response fired back, saying Tuchel didn't know what it was like to play in a top-level knockout game in temperatures that were the equivalent of 44 Celsius. Was that a dig at the fact Tuchel's short and unspectacular playing career in Germany never hit the heights before a knee injury forced him to retire at the age of 25? Probably. Bellingham had won La Liga, the UEFA Super Cup and the Champions League by the age of 22. There was mitigation for both, in what each said post match. And both were correct in their sentiment. Bellingham was utterly drained. He had given his all, and then some. You could see it in his eyes. And he was still elated from making it to his first World Cup semi-final, when in walked the Sky Sports News journalist to tell him that his boss had just said he wasn't happy with the performance. Bellingham's response was perfectly understandable. As for Tuchel, he was right to say that England's performance was lacking quality [with the notable exception of Bellingham and a handful of others], that England rode their luck with Norway's disallowed goal and the mysterious "spidercam wire" shenanigans. He was also absolutely correct to suggest England will need to play much better if they are to beat Argentina in the semi-final, and then either Spain or France in the World Cup final. It was a spontaneous spilling of bile, but it was also a call to arms for the squad. Bellingham was right too. He felt that Tuchel was diminishing the Goliath-like effort that he and his England team-mates had put in, in the most humid and difficult conditions that any of them had ever played in. Bellingham speaking up for his team-mates, praising their efforts and sheer will to win was admirable. And ironically, it was exactly the sort of collective-feeling Tuchel had been calling for from the Real man for months. So, forget any suggestion there is a rift between Tuchel and Bellingham. There isn't. There are just two hyper-competitive, super-passionate sportsmen, at the top of their game, driving each other to new heights. This love-hate relationship has been going on ever since The Football Association appointed a new head coach 18 months ago. Everything you have seen from the two, and between the two, men is positive, it's healthy, and it's great news for England in their hopes of winning the World Cup. POLL! Who will lift the trophy? Have your say now...