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No Writer
Apr 21
X Factor singer accused of attempted murder makes heart sign from dock

Gabrielle Carrington, 29, allegedly tried to kill Klaudia Zakrzewska, an Instagram influencer, outside the Inca nightclub in Soho, London, at 4.30am on Sunday. She is accused of dangerous driving, being nearly twice the drink-drive limit, and causing serious injuries to two other people - a third woman and a security guard. Carrington, who has more than 365,000 followers on Instagram, made it to the X Factor live finals in 2013 as a member of the trio Miss Dynamix. At Westminster Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, the judge ordered that she be held in prison until the next court hearing at the Old Bailey on 19 May. Footage of the incident shared online shows a woman getting into a black Mercedes before it drives forward, striking Ms Zakrzewska, who goes under the vehicle. Outlining the allegations, prosecutor Rizwan Amin told the court: "The scene can only be described as lots of people shouting, it could be described as a melee, so to speak. "Many individuals who were there were from a nearby nightclub including security staff members. "The full extent of the incident wasn't appreciated at the time officers had attended. "Further checks of CCTV show that Ms Carrington had arrived in Argyll Street in her car, which was nearby to the Inca nightclub. "During this time, she seemed to have an altercation with a male as she exited her car. "This altercation escalated, involving several other members of the public. Security staff tried to intervene to separate those involved. Ms Carrington was then seen to re-enter the vehicle." Read more from Sky News:Boy charged with arson in connection with attack on synagogueWage growth hits five-year low Mr Amin said the vehicle "immediately moved off and sharply mounted the pavement". He continued: "During this manoeuvre, the vehicle has struck Ms Zakrzewska who was positioned to the front side of the vehicle and she was dragged forwards and dropped between the vehicle and a metal bike rack. "As the vehicle kept moving forward, it fully took her underneath the vehicle and at the same time had struck a security member of staff, Anoush Chyche, who was on the pavement." It is said Carrington reversed the car backwards as Ms Zakrzewska emerged from under the vehicle. "During the manoeuvre, a Ms Latisha Armstrong was also hit by the vehicle and suffered a fractured scaphoid bone in her wrist area," said Mr Amin. Carrington, of Broadfield Road, Manchester, has been charged with attempted murder, causing grievous bodily harm with intent, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, dangerous driving, and drink driving. She did not enter any pleas during the court hearing. Ms Zakrzewska remains in a life-threatening condition in hospital, the Metropolitan Police said on Monday evening. Mr Chyche, in his 50s, suffered "life-changing injuries", the force added. According to the court charges, Carrington had 61 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath when she tested after the incident; the legal limit is 35.

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No Writer
Apr 21
Harvey Weinstein 'did what he wanted', says prosecutor as rape retrial begins

Weinstein, 74, was once one of the most powerful people in the industry, producing films such as the Oscar-winning Shakespeare In Love, Pulp Fiction, and The Crying Game. Since becoming a focus of the #MeToo movement against sexual misconduct nearly a decade ago, he has been convicted of some sexual assault charges and acquitted of others in trials on two US coasts. The retrial that began on Tuesday concerns a rape charge over a 2013 encounter in a Manhattan hotel. It has already been the subject of an overturned conviction, followed by a jury deadlock. The disgraced filmmaker has again pleaded not guilty and denied assaulting anyone or having non-consensual sex. Prosecutor Candace White began the new trial telling jurors that Weinstein raped aspiring actress Jessica Mann in the hotel room while she resisted and repeatedly said "No". "This case will come down to power, to control and to manipulation," Ms White said, accusing Weinstein of preying upon "fragile and sheltered" young women who dream of becoming Hollywood stars. Jacob Kaplan, defending, accused Ms Mann of making up the rape allegation after regretting that her relationship with Weinstein failed to advance her acting career. He told the jury in his opening statement that emails would show Ms Mann's romance with Epstein was consensual, adding: "In the end, this case will be her word against her word." Ms White said that Weinstein "was used to getting his way". "He did what he wanted, when he wanted and with whom he wanted," she added. "Behind closed doors, power meant him taking what he wanted from the victim in this case." Weinstein shook his head slightly at one point as the prosecutor claimed he "silenced" Ms Mann by letting her know that crossing him could be professional quicksand. His defence emphasised that after the alleged rape Ms Mann kept seeing Weinstein, accepting invitations, asking him for career help and sending warm messages to him. Weinstein was convicted of raping Ms Mann in 2013 and assaulting onetime production assistant Miriam Haley in 2006, but New York's highest court overturned the conviction and Weinstein's 23-year prison sentence after ruling he didn't get a fair trial. In June 2025, a jury then convicted Weinstein of sexually abusing Ms Haley, but found him not guilty of assaulting former model Kaja Sokola. That jury was unable to reach a verdict on the third-degree rape charge relating to Ms Mann, leading to the judge declaring a mistrial on that count. The latest trial, before Justice Curtis Farber, is expected to last about a month. Weinstein will face a prison sentence of up to 25 years when he is sentenced for abusing Ms Haley. Read more from Sky News:The Osmonds singer dies aged 76Singer D4vd pleads not guilty to murder Weinstein is also serving a 16-year prison sentence after being convicted of rape in California ​in 2022. He is appealing that conviction and sentence. Weinstein's lawyers ​say his health has deteriorated rapidly while he has been imprisoned in ​New York's notorious Rikers Island jail.

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Faye Brown, political reporter
Apr 21
Mandelson drama turns 'high stakes' debate on economy into sideshow

Not whether Sir Keir Starmer should stay or go, or who is telling the truth over the Mandelson vetting saga - but about how we grow the economy in a way everybody benefits. The National Growth Debate - an event organised by the Good Growth Foundation - brought together cabinet ministers, backbench MPs, senior opposition figures, business leaders, unions and think tanks to answer that question. The discussions were not about abstract GDP numbers - but something more tangible - about how you build an economy that lets everyone have a stake, so that if you work hard, you will be rewarded. It's the social contract that people all over the country feel is broken, and why they are increasingly turning against mainstream politicians. To quote Louise Haigh, the former transport secretary who made the first intervention of the day: "For well over a decade, voters have been sending the same message, 'the system isn't working, the economy feels rigged, their lives aren't getting better'. "Our tax system is on the side of billionaire owners while people who work for them are abandoned and squeezed." Haigh, who resigned from cabinet 18 months ago after a past criminal offence came to light, now leads the Tribune group of soft left MPs. She was speaking alongside Chris Curtis, who chairs the moderate Labour Growth Group. They came together to outline an economic agenda they believe can unite the party and Labour's fragmented voter base. The policies they are calling for include reforms to stamp duty and council tax - described by Haigh as "regressive property taxes" - as well as reforms to business rates, VAT thresholds and the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR). The fiscal watchdog's five-year forecasts are holding the country back, Haigh argued, by prioritising short term costs over long term gains from investment. For her, the "obsession" with fiscal headroom to meet "shaky" OBR forecasts is one of this government's "original sins". For Curtis, it was the manifesto pledge not to raise VAT, Income Tax or NI: "It didn't win us a single vote, you shouldn't make commitments you don't believe you can stick to." That, and the "ming vase" election campaign strategy which meant "we couldn't talk about a vision, who we were for or against", the former YouGov pollster said. Read More from Faye Brown:Louise Haigh to set out economic policies that can 'unite Labour' Government looking at decoupling electricity and gas prices to bring down bills Haigh and Curtis will both publish more work on these ideas after May's local elections - which are expected to be disastrous for Starmer and could lead to fresh calls for him to go. The groups they lead represent 200 Labour MPs - almost half the Parliamentary Labour Party. Are they putting the PM on notice, or is this a signal to whoever might replace him to back this plan if they want their support? If it's the latter then Angela Rayner is certainly paying attention. Often tipped to succeed Starmer, the former deputy PM was not originally scheduled to speak at Tuesday's event but is said to have taken an interest in what her backbench colleagues had to say. During a short speech at the evening reception she thanked them for their contribution as she urged the government to be bolder: "Let's take bold action, let's tell a bold story about how we are building an economy for the one interest we should all serve and that's the British people" she said. It was not as critical as her previous intervention, when she warned Labour's "very survival" is at stake as she shot down the Home Secretary's immigration reforms. But this time it comes as the decision to appoint Lord Mandelson as US Ambassador rears its head again - casting further doubt on whether the prime minister can survive. It's unfortunate for the Good Growth Foundation (GGF) organisers that Tuesday's long-planned event coincided with Olly Robbins' Commons testimony - just the kind of Westminster psychodrama this Labour government pledged to stop. It also risks overshadowing a significant announcement from Energy Secretary Ed Miliband on decoupling gas from electricity prices - which could massively bring down household bills. Having absolved himself of anything to do with Mandelson in a punchy Sky News interview this morning, the former Labour leader was in good spirits as he told the GGF event that the impact of his policies were being felt "straight away". Miliband added: "Hope is the commodity that we have to offer as a government - people haven't felt it since 2008." It struck a different tone to Darren Jones, chief secretary to the prime minister, who when asked about the earlier interventions of his colleagues, said there were "no easy answers". That's exactly the narrative Tuesday's event tried to push back on. Ideas put forward included a bespoke customs union with the EU, championed by Lib Dem deputy leader Daisy Cooper. For the Conservatives, shadow chancellor Mel Stride talked about slashing the benefits bill and getting people into work while Green MP Adrian Ramsey called for a bigger windfall tax on oil and gas profits. Chancellor Rachel Reeves was among those listening. As Praful Nargund, the GGF's director said in his opening remarks: "When the stakes are high people show up." But whether government is listening is another matter.

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No Writer
Apr 21
Arne Slot future: Liverpool boss expected to stay at Anfield next season as club close in on Champions League qualification

Any doubts about the Dutchman's future appear to be subsiding rapidly as a seven-point gap has opened up between Liverpool in fifth place and Chelsea in sixth. Fifth place will secure Champions League football next season after Arsenal's progression to the semi-finals - and Liverpool's form has picked up while Chelsea are slipping. Transfer Centre LIVE! | Liverpool news & transfers🔴Liverpool fixtures & scores | FREE Liverpool PL highlights▶️Got Sky? Watch Liverpool games LIVE on your phone📱Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW📺 Slot, who led Liverpool to the Premier League title last season, has come under pressure during his second campaign, with the Reds set to end the season without a trophy and well off the pace set by Arsenal and Manchester City. But speaking on Monday Night Football, Carragher said: "Arne Slot's job has been spoken about all season. We've spoken about it a lot on Monday Night Football. "There's probably a split in the Liverpool supporters over whether he should stay or go, but the noises I am hearing is Slot will be the Liverpool manager next season if they can secure Champions League qualification, which they look like doing right now." Sky Sports News understands that is the case after a season of increasing speculation over Slot's future, as a transitional season at Anfield has borne frustrations on and off the pitch. Slot is set to retain the support of the hierarchy ahead of a summer in which more work is expected to be done to the squad following the announcement Mo Salah will be leaving. RB Leipzig's Yan Diomande is among their top targets for a new forward while several other positions are also being looked at. Van Dijk offers honest assessment of 'below-standard' Liverpool season after derby win Virgil van Dijk says Liverpool still have to do better despite their Merseyside derby win over Everton at the Hill Dickinson. The Liverpool captain scored late as the Reds put themselves in a strong position to qualify for next season's Champions League. Liverpool still have to play two of the top five in their hunt for Champions League and also face sixth-placed Chelsea. "We've got five more games left against teams that are also fighting for the Champions League spots," Van Dijk told Sky Sports after the derby win. "Every game is a big one. We are very disappointed as a whole for the season that we're having, because of the quality we have. It's below standard. "But we have to keep fighting, keep going, and make the best out of this poor season we're having. That's the reality, on to the next. Everton was a good three points, and next up is Crystal Palace at home, who we couldn't beat for many, many games before. "[The situation] is definitely not Liverpool-worthy, in my opinion, but it is the reality, and it was important we got the win. I'm glad we did."

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No Writer
Apr 21
Two UK ticket-holders each win £41.8m share of EuroMillions jackpot

The winning numbers in Tuesday's draw were 13, 16, 29, 40 and 47 with the Lucky Star numbers 3 and 4. There were three winning tickets in total, including two bought in the UK and one bought in France. They all matched the winning numbers and shared the jackpot, with a prize of £41,844,862.30 each. Andy Carter, the senior winners' advisor at Allwyn, urged players to check their tickets, saying: "It's been another great night for EuroMillions players as two lucky UK winners have won an incredible share of tonight's £126 million jackpot prize. "These lucky ticket-holders join the £181 million jackpot winner from 10 March - another big UK win." Read more from Sky News:The Osmonds singer Alan Osmond dies aged 76King pays emotional tribute to 'darling mama' on her centenary Friday's jackpot is now an estimated £14m. Just last month, another UK ticketholder won more than £180m in the EuroMillions jackpot draw. The UK ticket holder matched all five main numbers plus the two lucky star numbers to land the third-biggest UK national lottery win of all time. All told, they won £181,073,415.70 Allwyn said. The record for the largest prize ever scooped by a UK EuroMillions player stands at £195m, which was won in 2022.

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No Writer
Apr 21
The Osmonds singer Alan Osmond dies aged 76

The American singer, 76, who was a creative backbone of the group, co-writing hits including Crazy Horses, and singing on Love Me For A Reason, died on Monday, according to a statement from his brother Merrill. "I was grateful to be with him shortly before he passed and to share a final meaningful moment together," the statement said. "Alan was a gifted creator, a man of faith, and a deeply loving soul whose life blessed many." Donny Osmond also paid tribute, sharing a photo of the pair together when they were young. "Even back then, you can see that he had his arm around me, watching over me," he wrote. "That's who he was. My protector. My guide. The one who quietly carried so much responsibility so the rest of us could shine." Osmond had battled progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) since 1987, a disease of the central nervous system which affects the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves, causing symptoms like fatigue, numbness, visual issues and walking difficulties, according to the NHS. His career began in 1958 when he formed a barbershop quartet with his brothers Wayne, Merrill and Jay. They were later joined by younger siblings Donny and Jimmy to form The Osmonds. Read more from Sky News:Singer D4vd pleads not guilty to murder of 14-year-old girlAmy Winehouse's father loses court challenge The group was eventually discovered by Jay Emerson Williams, father of American singer Andy Williams, and in 1962 they became regular performers on his variety programme The Andy Williams Show, one of the most popular programmes at the time. The Osmonds regularly featured on the show over a seven-year period, bringing them national fame in the US In the 1970s, with the arrival of Donny, they became teen idols and shot to fame globally, selling more than 77 million records worldwide, registering five UK top 10 singles, including a number one with Love Me For A Reason, as well as four UK top 10 albums. Alan then took charge of the group as its songwriter and composer, producing some of their most popular songs, including One Bad Apple and Down By The Lazy River. A weekly Saturday-morning cartoon series titled The Osmonds launched on US TV network ABC in 1972, which followed the family around and featured their most popular songs. The family performed together up until their 50th anniversary in 2007, when Alan and his younger brother Wayne retired due to health issues. Wayne died aged 73 last year. Alan published his memoir One Way Ticket in 2024. The book follows his journey to international stardom as the leader of The Osmonds and his battle with MS. He and his wife Suzanne had eight children together, who followed in the family's footsteps to form The Osmond Boys, also known as the Second Generation.

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No Writer
Apr 21
The Cathy Newman Show to launch on Sky News

The Cathy Newman Show, launching on 27 April at 7pm, combines agenda-setting interviews, exclusive investigations and spirited debate from Sky News' Westminster studio. The show, airing Monday to Thursday on Sky News and YouTube, is designed to cut through the noise and make sense of the stories that matter. 'The perfect time to get started' Newman, who joins Sky News after two decades at Channel 4, will lead a show featuring uninterrupted conversations that challenge perspectives – with a warm but rigorous approach. The show will include interviews with leading political, public and cultural figures, original reporting and investigations, and analysis of the biggest UK, US and European stories. "With the local elections coming up, it feels like the perfect time to get started," said Cathy Newman. "I'm looking forward to welcoming guests on to the orange velvet sofa for big interviews, exclusives and real conversations that help make sense of it all. Join me from next week for a friendly but forensic chat." There will also be longer-form investigations and documentaries that sit alongside the show, with a new podcast launching this autumn. The programme is part of Sky News' 2030 strategy for premium, video-first journalism, designed to bring personality-led reporting to audiences wherever they are. "Cathy's journalism is forensic, fearless and engaging, and this new format brings that to life in a way that truly connects with audiences," said Jonathan Levy, executive editor and managing director. Join us from 27 April at 7pm for interviews that probe, investigations that reveal, and conversations that matter.

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No Writer
Apr 21
Brighton 3-0 Chelsea: Every word from Liam Rosenior's explosive interview to Sky Sports after embarrassing Premier League defeat

The Blues were well beaten from start to finish in a woeful display, falling behind to Ferdi Kadioglu's third-minute opener from a corner, before second-half goals from Jack Hinshelwood and Danny Welbeck sealed the win for the Seagulls. Brighton 3-0 Chelsea - report & highlightsLive Premier League table | Watch FREE PL highlightsGot Sky? Watch Premier League games LIVE on your phone📱Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW 📺 Chelsea failed to register a shot on target and did not even muster a tackle until the 32nd minute as their season hit a new low and led to head coach Liam Rosenior facing chants from the away end to be sacked. An annoyed and unimpressed Rosenior did not hold back in his post-match interview with Sky Sports' Johnny Phillips and then doubled down on the criticism of his players in his post-match presser. Read every word below... Was it the worst result of the lot? "By far. By far. Was unacceptable in every aspect of the game. I keep coming out and defending the players, that was indefensible, that performance tonight. The manner of the goals we conceded, the duels that we lost. Something has to change drastically right here, right now." Why did it happen? "Why? We need to look in the mirror. I need to look in the mirror. But I can't keep coming out here and defending some of the things that we're seeing. Manchester United, genuinely result wasn't there but I felt we turned a corner. "But the general attitude, spirit was lacking - determination from three or four of the starting eleven. That's nowhere near enough for this club. I can't come out and lie. I tell the truth. That was an unacceptable performance at every level." Was it coming from the start? "The first goal was terrible. We had an easy header and missed the header. The passage before the first goal upset me even more. We had four or five moments to show moral courage, and take the ball down and play. We just kicked the ball back to Brighton. "You can speak about a lack of confidence, or results not going our way. That doesn't represent anything that I want to see, and I won't ever see it again. "The performance in terms of professionalism wasn't there. It was a really, really difficult night, the most difficult night - not even here at this magnificent football club - but in my career. Some of the things I witnessed today, I don't want to ever see again." Did the players throw the towel in? "You have to ask the players. If you're playing at this elite football club, or any football club, to be even accused of throwing the towel in is unacceptable. That's all I'm going to say. I'm hurting, I'm feeling numb. That doesn't represent me. That doesn't represent the football club in any way. That has to change, starting with the FA Cup semi-final on Sunday." On Chelsea being out-run in every single league game this season... "I don't want to go into that right now. I have my own thoughts, my own feelings. I have discussed in depth about this football club -regardless of who is the manager - about what needs to happen at this football club for it to be where it needs to be. "It's about this football club, Chelsea represents fight, spirit and determination. That was lacking in every department this evening." On if injuries are part of it... "We've had injuries. It's not an excuse, it's a reality. That team we put out today was far better than its engagement in the game. I will pick a team that will represent the club in the correct manner." On if Sunday's FA Cup semi-final with Leeds is massive... "This was a huge game and we didn't hit anywhere near the mark. Every game between now and the end of the season is a huge game, and it needs to look like that in the way we play." On if the players are bereft of confidence... "That's your opinion, I have to see it with the staff. We have to make sure we get it right for Sunday." On the fans chanting for him to leave the club... "I understand their frustration and it's my job as the head coach and the manager of the football club. The buck stops with me. "I have thick skin and I understand why the fans are frustrated. I'm frustrated with the performances we're putting in. I've just got to keep working hard with the staff, with the players, but what I do need to do is really look at how we go about games, how the personnel of the team, who I can trust and rely on in difficult moments because not enough players showed that today in the game. "I'm an emotional person. That's just unacceptable. The word is unacceptable. "We lost 80 per cent of duels. We didn't win a header. Two of the goals come when we can head the ball, the basics of football. At any level, if you make those errors and lack of engagement to the game, you're not going to win games of football." On whether he has lost the Chelsea dressing room... "Whether it's playing for me, it's not about playing for me. "It's about playing for the club. It's about playing for the shirt. It's about playing to win games of football. I can only speak on what I saw tonight. You can read anything into it that you want, whether they're playing for me or not. That performance in itself was damning. "It stood everything against what I believe in. "We'll find out [if the players will react]. I haven't criticised them up to now. "I've defended them. They've deserved that. "I always come out here and tell the truth and I blame myself as well. It's not just blaming the players. I'm part of that process. "I always said I will be honest and I've been honest with the players and I'm honest with you as honest as I can. I'm not throwing anyone under the bus. "We're playing for Chelsea and I'm managing Chelsea. The criticism and pressure comes with the football club. So if you can't handle that, then you shouldn't be here. It's as simple as that. And that's something that needs to be addressed this week. But it also needs to be addressed in the long term."

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