top of page
970x250.png
News image template
No Writer
May 5
Murder probe launched after south London shooting victim dies

Police were called at 1.14am on 2 May following reports that multiple shots had been fired in Coldharbour Lane, Brixton. One victim found by emergency services who was taken to hospital has since died. He has been named as 25-year-old Keanu Taylor. Three others were also taken to hospital after suffering injuries that were not life-threatening or life-changing. They were aged 21, 47 and 70. Police have appealed for help in identifying who was responsible. Detective Chief Inspector Allam Bhangoo, who is leading the investigation, said: "As we work quickly to identify those responsible, our thoughts are with Keanu's family and friends at this incredibly difficult time. "This was a shocking act of violence which has had a devastating impact on those involved and the local community. I want to reassure residents that we are working urgently to identify and apprehend those responsible. Read more from Sky News:Two pubs closing every dayWorst airports for delays revealed "It is vital that anyone who saw what happened, or has any information or footage, comes forward. Even the smallest detail could prove crucial to our investigation. "Local residents will continue to see an increased police presence in the area over the coming days. If you have any concerns, please speak to officers."

News image template
No Writer
May 4
Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni reach settlement over It Ends With Us lawsuit

Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and co-ordinating a smear campaign against her in a lawsuit filed a few months after the release of the 2024 romantic drama, which Baldoni also directed. A judge had dismissed most of the star's claims, including harassment, but allowed three to proceed to a trial: breach of contract, retaliation, and aiding and abetting in retaliation. The trial, which was due to begin in New York later this month, will no longer go ahead following the settlement agreement. Lively 'deserved to be heard' In a joint statement published on Monday, lawyers for Baldoni and Lively said: "Raising awareness, and making a meaningful impact in the lives of domestic violence survivors - and all survivors - is a goal that we stand behind. "We remain firmly committed to workplaces free of improprieties and unproductive environments. It is our sincere hope that this brings closure and allows all involved to move forward constructively and in peace, including a respectful environment." The lawyers also said they "acknowledge the process presented challenges and recognize concerns raised by Ms Lively deserved to be heard", but insisted It Ends With US remains "a source of pride to all of us who worked to bring it to life". A public rift The rift between the two co-stars became public in December 2024, when Lively filed a complaint with the California civil rights department, followed by her lawsuit. However, there had been speculation in the months beforehand as the pair promoted the film separately following its release. Baldoni and his Wayfarer Studios production company countersued Lively and her husband, Deadpool actor Ryan Reynolds, accusing them of defamation and extortion. His case was dismissed by a judge in June last year. The case sent shockwaves through Hollywood, revealing private texts among A-listers - including singer Taylor Swift - and raising questions about the power, influence and gender dynamics in the industry. Read more from Sky News:Follow: Met Gala 2026 liveBritney Spears pleads guilty to reckless driving It Ends With Us is an adaptation of Colleen Hoover's bestselling 2016 novel, a story which begins as a romance but takes a dark turn into one of domestic violence and abuse. The film grossed more than $350m worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo, despite receiving mixed reviews. Lively is known for the TV series Gossip Girl and other films including The Town and The Shallows. Baldoni starred in the TV comedy Jane The Virgin, directed the 2019 film Five Feet Apart, and is the author of Man Enough, a book challenging traditional notions of masculinity.

News image template
No Writer
May 5
Attacks on British Jews 'a crisis for all of us', says PM

The prime minister will meet senior figures from across public life to discuss growing antisemitism in Britain, which was brought into the spotlight last week by a terror attack in north London. Essa Suleiman, 45, has been charged with attempted murder after two Jewish men were stabbed on Wednesday in Golders Green. The incident also saw the UK's terror threat level raised to severe. Sir Keir described the incident as "utterly appalling" but said it was not isolated. "It is part of a pattern of rising antisemitism that has left our Jewish communities feeling frightened, angry, and asking whether this country, their home, is safe for them," he said. The prime minister will hold meetings with leaders from business, civil society, health, culture, higher education and policing and ask them to reflect on how they can move forward "at pace" to tackle antisemitism in their sector. He will also focus on the domestic security implications of the Iran war, including a heightened threat to Jewish communities, during a ministerial meeting of the Middle East Response Committee. Politics Hub: Follow the latest "It is not enough to simply say we stand with Jewish communities," Sir Keir will say later. "We must show it. And that responsibility lies with each and every one of us. That is what today is about. Because only by working together can we eradicate antisemitism from every corner of society." Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has called for pro-Palestine marches to be banned because of their impact on Britain's Jewish community. Sir Keir has suggested some could be stopped and wants "tougher action" against protesters who use certain phrases during pro-Gaza demonstrations. He has said protesters at the marches have a responsibility to call out those chanting "globalise the intifada", which critics believe is a call to use violence against Israelis and Jewish people more widely. But the Stop The War coalition has defended the marches, saying they pose "no threat" to the Jewish community and are attended by "thousands of Jewish people, often in a Jewish bloc".

News image template
No Writer
May 5
Chelsea: Blues are in a mess - who would want the manager's job at Stamford Bridge, asks Paul Merson

Chelsea suffered a sixth Premier League defeat in a row for the first time since 1993 with the 3-1 defeat at home to Nottingham Forest, a result which means it is now impossible for them to finish in the top five and qualify automatically for the Champions League. There is also the increasing likelihood that they will struggle to finish high enough to make either of the other two European competitions, after defeat to a Forest side showing eight changes saw them drop to ninth, with a visit to Anfield to play Liverpool up next. Speaking to Sky Sports, Merson discussed Chelsea's predicament and how they are going to struggle to come through it. He also considered who might be the next manager at the club, suggesting the top coaches in the world won't want to come to Chelsea anymore. Read on for the Magic Man's thoughts on Chelsea in full... Carragher: Chelsea look like a broken clubChelsea 1-3 Nottingham Forest - Match report and reactionAs it happened | Teams | StatsLive Premier League table | Watch FREE PL highlights'Brighton was bad, Forest defeat even worse' I was at Stamford Bridge. Wow. I thought the defeat to Brighton was bad, but it got even worse against Nottingham Forest. It was terrible. Chelsea finishing the season strongly and potentially winning the FA Cup seems a million miles away. I know it's a one-off game but Man City look far too strong for Chelsea. The game against Forest was a massive opportunity for Chelsea. they could have really closed in on sixth, which could still be a Champions League spot. But now, Brentford are above Chelsea and we've had 35 games this season. That is extraordinary for me. 'The project isn't working' Chelsea have gone with a project that if it doesn't work, you've had it. The players all have six-, seven- and eight-year deals. If that doesn't work, it becomes so hard to sell a player. It's going to be a real struggle to get anyone out the door. Also, they have brought all these players in on lesser money on longer-term deals, but in the end, they have to give them big money. None of it makes any sense. They have just given Moises Caicedo big money, Reece James had a new deal and Cole Palmer signed a new deal, but they were already on long-term deals. I just can't see how it works. You might be able to sell players that perform, but if it doesn't work out, wow. And this hasn't worked out for Chelsea. They are now stuck with this team for the next five years. Transfer Centre LIVE! | Chelsea news & transfers🔵Chelsea fixtures & scores | FREE Chelsea highlights▶️Got Sky? Watch Chelsea games LIVE on your phone📱Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW📺'I can't see a way out of this mess' I just don't know how Chelsea are in this mess and I honestly can't see a way out. Even if they get rid of players, how does that look for Financial Fair Play? Alejandro Garnacho hasn't pulled up any trees. they won't be getting their money back on him. Enzo Fernandez has appeared to court a move to Real Madrid. So, he seemingly wants to go, but I can't see how they get £100m for him unless he goes and wins the World Cup again. Where does the money come from? How can this work for Chelsea? You can't sit here and honestly say they will just sell a load of players and start again. If there are players they want to let go, they will probably have to pay them off to go. That will cost money. If they want new players in, that will cost money. They are stuck. 'Who would want the Chelsea job?' The next manager appointment is critical but it's going to be such hard work for whoever comes in. They are one of the youngest teams in the league and the players are outrun every week. They have just lost six league games on the trot and have 20 players in the squad all on six-, seven-, eight-year deals. They are probably not going to finish above Brentford, Brighton and Bournemouth this season, Maybe even Everton and Fulham with the way things are going. I really worry for Chelsea. Where are they going to be next season? I don't care how good the new manager is, the players are not performing. The bare minimum is to run around but they are outrun in every game. I could understand if the players were 30, 31 or 32, but they are not. These players are at the start of their careers. Who takes this job? It wasn't that long ago that Chelsea was the best job in the world for a manager. It's not now. I don't see the days of Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti, Antonio Conte and Thomas Tuchel, that calibre of manager wanting the job anymore. A top manager only has to have a look at the issues I just stated to know it's a club that's not in a good place.

News image template
No Writer
May 5
Separatist group tries to trigger referendum on province leaving Canada

The group, called Stay Free Alberta, required 178,000 signatures for the province to consider such a vote, which could go to a province-wide ballot as early as October. Alberta premier Danielle Smith said she would move forward with the question of separation if enough names were gathered and verified, but added that she personally does not support oil-rich Alberta leaving Canada. A "yes" vote in a referendum would also not automatically trigger independence, as negotiations with the federal government would have to take place. Daniel Beland, a political science professor at McGill University in Montreal, said some indigenous groups, who are already using the courts to prevent an independence referendum, would use venues such as the courts to stop independence from happening. A judge in Edmonton, Alberta, is expected to rule on a court challenge launched by a group of Alberta First Nations who say a separation of the province would violate treaty rights. Mr Beland said a referendum would likely lose, as support for independence is "rather low" at less than 30% and even lower if the focus is only on hard-core supporters. He added that, considering recent reports of a large data breach involving an Alberta separatist group, the formal verification process is especially crucial to make sure the signatures are authentic. Mitch Sylvestre, the head of Stay Free Alberta, said as he delivered the names to the Elections Alberta office in Edmonton on Monday: "This day is historic in Alberta history. It's the first step to the next step." He said most papers were handled five times to verify the signatures. More than 300 supporters waving the provincial flag and chanting "Alberta strong" came to witness the delivery of the signatures. The push for independence predates Mark Carney's premiership and is related to "economic, fiscal, and political grievances about the seemingly unfair treatment of Alberta by the federal government", according to Mr Beland. "These concerns increased during the Justin Trudeau years but they have peaked and even declined since he left office," he explained. Read more from Sky News:Two killed after car ploughs into crowd21 dead in fireworks factory blast Alberta premier Ms Smith has accused previous federal governments lead by the Liberal Party of Canada of introducing legislation that hamstrings Alberta's ability to produce and export oil, which she said has cost the province billions of dollars. She also said she doesn't want the federal government getting involved in provincial issues. Mr Carney's federal government did not immediately respond to the separatist group submitting the signatures to the petition.

News image template
Bethany Minelle, arts and entertainment reporter
May 4
Britney Spears pleads guilty to reckless driving

She did not attend the hearing Ventura County Superior Court on Monday and entered the plea via her lawyers. It means the star has escaped jail time, instead being sentenced to one day which the judge said was served when she was arrested. The 44-year-old pop star has also been sentenced to one year of probation, a drink driving class and a fine. Her summary probation is informal and means she won't be required to make regular meetings with a probation officer. Spears had been charged with a single misdemeanour count of driving under the combined influence of alcohol and at least one drug on Thursday. A representative for the singer said in April that Spears had voluntarily checked into a rehabilitation facility ⁠after the arrest. On 4 March, Spears was arrested after she was pulled over for driving her black BMW fast and erratically near her home, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) said. Read more from Sky News:Peter Kay show bomb hoax suspect removed from courtSAG-AFTRA reaches tentative deal with studios in bid to avoid strikes At the time, the CHP said the singer was arrested and taken to a Ventura County jail after taking a series of field sobriety tests during which she seemed to be impaired. In a statement issued to Sky News' US partner NBC, a representative for Spears described the incident as "completely inexcusable". After the hearing her lawyer, Michael A. Goldstein, told reporters: "I don't think anybody's happy about pleading guilty to anything, but under the circumstances, to get this behind her, I think everybody is pleased with the result. "We appreciate the district attorney recognizing the positive steps that Britney is taking to help herself." District Attorney Erik Nasarenko said after the hearing that Spears had taken "full responsibility" . Sky News has contacted Spears's representatives for comment.

News image template
No Writer
May 5
Two pubs closing every day after 'sheer weight' of tax rises

The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) said 161 had shut their doors for good in that period, equating to about 2,400 job losses. It's also a 26% jump on the same time last year. The body blamed tax increases and rising labour costs, including the increase to the minimum wage. Wales was the only part of the UK which saw a net gain in its number of pubs – rising by three to 2,901. Rachel Reeves had been warned measures she unveiled in her budget last November would put pubs at risk, and months later she announced they would receive business rates support to help them cope. But the BBPA said more needed to be done to save Britain's pubs and, in the meantime, will be hoping this summer's World Cup – with longer opening hours – will give them a much-needed boost. Chief executive Emma McClarkin said even pubs doing good trade were having their profits "wiped out by a disproportionate tax burden and huge costs". "For too many, the sheer weight of taxes and regulatory costs have forced them to shut up shop, which will only hurt communities, workers, and the wider economy," she warned. The UK Spirits Alliance, which represents hundreds of distillers across Britain, urged the government to carry out a "proper review" of excise duty. "Spirits offer higher profit margins and help keep us afloat, yet we have the highest rate of excise duty in the G7," a spokesperson said. Read more from Sky News:Two dead after car ploughs into crowdStars reach settlement over film lawsuit The government insisted it was backing the sector and indicated there was more support to come as part of its programme for revitalising town centres. "We are backing Britain's pubs – cutting April's business rates bills by 15% followed by a two-year freeze, extending World Cup opening hours and increasing the Hospitality Support Fund to £10m to help venues grow," it said. It also pointed to a cut to alcohol duty on draught pints, a cap on corporation tax and cuts to interest rates, but there are fears there could be hikes ahead due to the war in Iran.

News image template
No Writer
May 5
Lewis Hamilton: Ferrari driver says 'challenging' Miami F1 Sprint weekend 'won't define us'

Hamilton was consistently a few tenths adrift of Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc throughout the Sprint weekend in Miami and failed to finish any session in the top five. He was classified in sixth, ahead of Leclerc, in Sunday's race due to a 20-second time penalty for the Monegasque driver for cutting several corners on the last lap following his hit with the barriers. F1 2026 standings | F1 2026 Calendar | F1 Gossip ColumnDownload the Sky Sports app for expert analysis, best video & more📱Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW📺 "A challenging weekend for us. With the contact I was pretty much stuck in no man's land and couldn't extract more from the car," Hamilton wrote on Instagram. "Tough to take especially given all the hard work the team has put in, but this won't define us. It's how we keep going. We're taking what we can from these past few days and putting everything else behind us. We move forward." Hamilton started the season off strongly in Australia and China, claiming his first Ferrari podium in Shanghai, but has lacked performance compared to Leclerc at the last two races in Japan and Miami. He was four tenths behind Leclerc in Sprint Qualifying, then dropped away from the leading drivers on his way to seventh in the Sprint. The team made set-up changes to his car for Qualifying which brought Hamilton to within two tenths of Leclerc but the seven-time world champion had contact with Alpine's Franco Colapinto on the opening lap of the Grand Prix, so ran a largely lonely race. "Obviously it's not a good weekend at all. Seventh and seventh [sixth after Leclerc's penalty]; no-man's land in both races," Hamilton told Sky Sports F1. "Particularly with the damage, there was nothing I could do. Really unfortunate because the team worked so hard so to come away with so few points… we have to move on from here. "It was just contact. I was unlucky with Max spinning and I had to go to the right of him. I had a good Turn One and I was in a good position and then the only place I could go was right. "I lost positions from there and then I think it was Franco that hit me and I lost a lot of performance from there." Hamilton: I'm going to have a different approach The next F1 race in Montreal has historically been one of Hamilton's best tracks on the calendar, with six pole positions and seven wins at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. He took his maiden F1 pole position and win at the Canadian Grand Prix in 2007 with McLaren. Ferrari effectively brought a new car to Miami with 11 significant upgrades and Hamilton says his performance "doesn't truly reflect the hard work the team has done" but they may need to change their preparation for a race weekend. "I'm going to have a different approach for the next race," he said. "The way we're preparing at the moment is not helping. We'll see how that goes for the next race." Formula 1 next heads to Montreal for the Canadian Grand Prix and another Sprint weekend. Watch live on Sky Sports F1 on May 22-24. Stream Sky Sports with NOW - no contract, cancel anytime

bottom of page