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No Writer
Aug 31
Google renames Lake Ontario as 'Lake America' for US users after Trump order

It comes after Donald Trump ordered the name to be changed amid an escalating trade war with Canada. The Canadian province of Ontario is on the lake's north, west and southwest, while New York state is on its southern and eastern shore. President Trump made a similar proclamation in 2025, saying the Gulf of Mexico should be known as the Gulf of America. Google now marks it as "Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America)". The company said the decision to retitle the lake was because the US government's Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) had now formally changed the name. "People using Maps in the U.S will see 'Lake America,' those in Canada will continue to see 'Lake Ontario,' and those outside of the U.S. and Canada will see both names," Google said. "These updates follow our long-standing policy for bodies of water with names that vary from country to country, and are starting to roll out now." For UK users on Monday morning, it still appeared to be showing "Lake Ontario" only. President Trump signed the executive order to rename the lake on Thursday and suggested he might not be done. He told reporters at the White House: "If you think about it, we have a gulf and we have a lake. Now, all we need is an ocean. "So maybe we'll have to change the name of the Atlantic and/or the Pacific. Maybe we'll change them." The move to rename the lake was - unsurprisingly - met with derision in Canada. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney responded on X: "The name Lake Ontario comes from the Wendat word Ontari'io, which, appropriately, means 'the lake is beautiful, the lake is big'. "The name is more than 400 years old, predating both the Confederation of Canada and the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America." Read more from Sky News:Meet the unit of Russia defector fighting for UkraineAt least eight dead after ferry capsizes off northern Cyprus The relationship between the countries' governments is going through another bumpy patch after trade disagreements flared up again. Mr Trump imposed a 50% tariff on $20bn of Canadian imports this month, prompting Canada to retaliate "dollar for dollar" with an equal amount of tax on a range of US goods.

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Laura Bundcock, Royal correspondent
Aug 29
'No chance' Meghan's possible return to acting was reason for Sussexes' UK move, industry insiders say

The executives, who asked not to be named, also noted that while casting the duchess might generate interest, it would also be "risky". Harry and Meghan landed in the UK this week - just days after announcing they would relocate to the country with their children Archie and Lilibet. The couple stepped back from royal duties in 2020 and went to live in California. The surprise announcement sparked speculation - and the duchess was said to have had talks about a role in season three of Guy Ritchie's Netflix hit, The Gentlemen. One producer who has worked with Netflix told us: "You don't uproot your family for one role in a show." They added: "There's no chance the reason they're coming back is TV roles like The Gentlemen." As for whether Meghan could join the cast of the show, they added: "I think the producers have said, 'There's a part for two episodes, let's look into that' - but then decided, 'reverse, reverse, the publicity is terrible'. "I doubt the producers or Netflix are enjoying this kind of attention." Another told us that if she was cast, "I don't think people would stop watching because she is in it. They have a fanbase already and there is the possibility that Meghan could add some audience." The insiders agree the duchess would "attract publicity", which could generate "higher ratings" for shows. But casting her would come with its own set of problems, too, the industry insiders have told us. "You need actors who inhabit roles and are believable. How do you get over the fact she's a duchess?" said one. "I don't think Meghan would get a project greenlit just with her attached because, despite her being quite famous, it's quite an unknown, and she is divisive." Since the Sussexes left their lives as full-time working royals, their popularity in the UK has plummeted. Read more from Sky News:Four men plead guilty to Golders Green ambulance arson attackTeenager has dissolvable heart implant fitted in UK first There are practical issues too. "Imagine the security we would need on set," said another TV insider. When she married Prince Harry in 2018, Meghan ended her acting career to focus on her charitable causes and royal duties. She rose to fame on the screen playing paralegal Rachel Zane in the show Suits for seven series. Together, Harry and Meghan signed multi-million-pound deals with Spotify for a podcast series and with Netflix for programmes including the duchess's lifestyle show With Love, Meghan. Their podcast deal ended, and Meghan's Netflix show was not renewed for a third season, but it's reported that the Sussexes remain on a downgraded first-look deal with the streaming giant. 👉Listen to This Is Why on your podcast app👈 And the couple were executive producers on the documentary Cookie Queens, which was released in January. There is little precedent for women who marry into the Royal Family returning to their careers. When Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, married Prince Edward, she gave up her job working in PR. "It will be hard for Meghan to find the right roles. She's had success, and she's a good actress," another executive said. "But she's not Grace Kelly, who was a world-famous actress who became a princess."

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No Writer
Aug 29
Conservative MP James Cleverly quits shadow cabinet to stand for London mayor

The former foreign secretary and Braintree MP said the capital needed "a champion, someone who understands its potential and is prepared to fight for its future". Sir James - who has served as shadow housing secretary since July 2025 - revealed on Saturday that he had told Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch of his decision to stand down. Writing for The Sunday Times, he said: "We need a credible big hitter putting themselves forward for Mayor of London." Politics latest: Burnham to abstain on assisted dying The former minister said he had stepped down to "concentrate fully on winning this race". He added: "I have told Kemi Badenoch that I will leave the shadow cabinet. Serving there has been a privilege, and I know there will continue to be strong voices around that table. "But to run the most effective campaign possible, I must be free to speak about every aspect of London's future and concentrate fully on winning this race." In a post on X, he said: "London needs more than an administrator. It needs a champion, someone who understands its potential and is prepared to fight for its future. "That's why I'm running to be the Conservative Candidate for London Mayor." Sadiq Khan has served as mayor of London since 2016 and is yet to confirm whether he will run for a fourth term. The next mayoral election is scheduled to be held in on 4 May 2028.

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No Writer
Aug 31
Ezri Konsa: Why Arsenal signed Aston Villa's top defender for £55m despite having so many defenders

Ezri Konsa could be primed for his Arsenal debut at, of all places, the club he has just departed, Aston Villa. Despite not playing any pre-season football in and around his £51m move to north London, Mikel Arteta says Konsa could be ready for a first Gunners outing at Villa Park. Transfer Centre LIVE! | Arsenal news & transfers🔴⚪Arsenal fixtures & scores | FREE Arsenal highlights▶️Got Sky? Watch Premier League games LIVE on your phone📱Not got Sky? Latest Sky Sports deals or stream PL games with no contract📺 Konsa is not the signing many expected from Arsenal this summer. Arsenal didn't really need a defender, it's one of their strongest areas of the pitch and the attack needed more attention. But they got him anyway. That does not make Konsa an unnecessary arrival; this could be the buy that helps shore up Arsenal's title defence. At 28 years old, Konsa is yet another example of the 'win now' stage of Arteta's Arsenal project. They've got the Premier League title but now the target is to create a dynasty. As a result, Arsenal have shifted their transfer policy. Around five years ago, it was about signing younger players who can grow into the team. But every year, Arsenal have been signing older and older players on average, as the desire - and the necessity - to win grows more and more. And in signing two 28-year-olds in Bruno Guimaraes and Konsa, Arsenal are buying older and more experienced players like never before. Experience is the key word - with all four of Arsenal's summer signings to date possessing Premier League football on their CVs. Yes, the average age of Arsenal signings in the 2024/25 season was at a similar level to the current transfer activity. But Arteta also promoted Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly, both 17 at the time, to the first-team squad that year. That would have significantly lowered the average age of Arsenal's first-team regulars. Konsa is also in the Arsenal team because of a small gap in the squad. William Saliba is currently a long-term absentee, while Jurrien Timber and Ben White have questionable fitness records, so a centre-back who could also cover at right-back was preferable. However, while Arsenal have some promising young defenders, namely Cristhian Mosquera and Marli Salmon, Mikel Arteta's desire to create a dynasty means no stone can be left unturned. Mosquera can cover at right-back but gave away a penalty in the Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain while playing that role. The margins against the very best are so fine. So Konsa was also brought in for his quality with and without the ball. The England defender is a classic Arteta signing through his duel-winning ability. The Arsenal manager recognises it as a crucial skill in the game and once said: "When I lose a duel, I am upset" at his players, as seen in the Amazon Prime documentary five years ago. Well, no Premier League player won more duels on the ground than Konsa, and the England international's lead at the top of this metric is quite significant. He's in a league of his own in this discipline. But while Konsa is an aggressive player off the ball, he's a calm player on it. Another metric Konsa topped in the Premier League last season is passing accuracy, but a closer look at his numbers recognise a specific skill. Konsa ranked second for forward passing accuracy, showing his ability to find gaps through the opposition. And given a lot of teams will stand off Arsenal and retreat into a low block, it's a good attribute for the Gunners to have. But Konsa is also effective when pressed. His 944 passes when under pressure was the sixth-highest out of any Premier League defender last season, while his retention rate - his ability to keep the ball - of 94.8 per cent was the best out of any player in the division. Arteta often speaks about having certain "rules" in the phases when they play out of the back and start attacks. Lose the ball and the team is in trouble and at risk of conceding. Play the right pass early and the gaps emerge for Arsenal's forward players to cause damage. So while Konsa's signing adds to the defensive solidity that makes Arteta's team what it is, it is also part of an overall plan to improve Arsenal from open play and create spaces earlier in the pitch for Arsenal to benefit from. And with any Arsenal defender, set-piece proficiency has to stand out - and Konsa has a boost in that department too. Konsa spent one season under the set-piece stewardship of Arsenal dead-ball guru Nicolas Jover while at Brentford in 2018/19, and both have been reunited back in north London. It is not the only connection the former England international has with the Arsenal squad. Bukayo Saka considers Konsa as part of his 'inner circle' of trusted friends and if Konsa is selected at right-back, it could lead to a promising partnership on the right-hand side. "Ever since I met him at England, we've just got on," Saka told reporters after the win over Coventry on Friday. "Not only because he's a brother to me, but I know the level of player he is and I'm excited for him to show it at this level." So while Saliba recovers from his injury on the back of a fourth PFA Team of the Year selection in a row, he may have a fight on his hands to displace Konsa when he returns to the Arsenal team.

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No Writer
Aug 31
Jets' low flypast over packed Cape Town stadium divides aviation fans

Footage of the planes over Cape Town's DHL Stadium before a rugby match on Saturday has gone viral. Aviation app Flightradar 24 said it had analysed its data and found one aircraft was only 41 to 46ft (12.5 to 14m) above the roof. Fireworks were let off as the Embraer jets passed over the venue, which was hosting a rugby match between South Africa and New Zealand. A video from the stadium's roof, posted on X, reveals just how low the lead aircraft was. The planes' operator, Airlink, said the manoeuvre was within approved safety limits and had been planned with help from South Africa's civil aviation authority and air traffic control. "The two aircraft were flown by highly-experienced crew, with each comprised of three senior captains operating in the roles of commander, co-pilot and safety/technical office," it added. However, some aviation fans believe the stunt was a step too far. "Precision is one thing. Gambling hundreds of lives on the whim of a sudden wind change is something completely different," said Andrew Hill on the Flightradar24 website. Read more from Sky News:Google renames Lake Ontario as 'Lake America'At least eight dead after ferry capsizes off northern Cyprus Another user, Luigi, claimed there was "no margin for downdraft" or "turbulent air" over the roof. But others called it a thrilling sight and said the flypast wasn't dangerous due to the planning involved and the experienced pilots. "It was spectacular!" wrote a user on the Flightradar24 site. "Well done to the pilots and all involved in the planning and execution." "Very impressive and calculated fly-past by Airlink. Congratulations to all involved. Well done. Proudly SA," posted Theo can Zijl.

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No Writer
Aug 27
Peter Cullen, who voiced Eeyore and Optimus Prime, dies aged 85

Cullen, who gave voice to Eeyore and Optimus Prime in numerous TV shows and films, died surrounded by his family. The Canadian actor also voiced the titular character in the 1987 Predator movie. A family statement issued by his agent read: "Peter Cullen passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family - and held in the hearts of his many friends and countless fans worldwide. "His family asks that you honour his remarkable legacy by serving your communities and leading others with compassion, integrity, and loyalty and always remember, be strong enough to be gentle." Cullen first voiced Optimus Prime in the 1980s TV show The Transformers and its spin-off film The Transformers: The Movie (1986). He reprised the role in 2007 in the first live action film of the series directed by Michael Bay. He went on to appear as the shapeshifting truck robot in Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011), Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014), Transformers: The Last Knight (2017), Bumblebee (2018), and Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023), as well as numerous other TV projects. Read more from Sky News:Children who went missing from asylum hotels still unaccounted forRise in UK salmonella cases linked to imported eggs The actor also voiced Eeyore in series including the cartoon The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, which ran from 1988 to 1991, The Book of Pooh and My Friends Tigger and Pooh, as well as films such as The Tigger Movie (2000), Piglet's Big Movie (2003) and Pooh's Heffalump Movie (2005). Alongside his more famous roles, the actor provided the voice of the title role in King Kong (1976) and King Kong Lives (1986), as well as voicing Grundle and Ahgg in My Little Pony: The Movie (1986). In 2023, he won the lifetime achievement award at the Children's and Family Emmy Awards.

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Sarah Taaffe-Maguire, business and economics reporter
Aug 26
One in two Britons back Israeli settlement trade ban - regardless of who they vote for

A survey carried out by YouGov pollsters showed 50% favoured the measure. Only a minority (16%) of the 6,142 people surveyed on Wednesday opposed an embargo, while 34% did not know. While backing for a ban was strongest among Labour, Lib Dem and Green voters, the policy had cross-party support. The majority of surveyed Conservative and Reform voters said they "strongly support" a prohibition. About a third of the governing Labour party MPs (140) in June had signed a letter calling for an Israeli settlement trade ban. The government confirmed in July it was working towards a ban on imports and exports to illegal Israeli settlements. Both services and goods will be prohibited from flowing to and from the outposts, the trade minister at the time, Sir Chris Bryant, told MPs of the Business and Trade Committee. The policy will be announced in September, according to reporting in The Times and Middle East Eye. How would it work? Exactly how a ban is implemented is unclear but the current sanctions regime could be used, Sir Chris told the committee last month. Another difficulty arises from identifying where goods come from. "We all know perfectly well that it's very difficult to enforce [customs rules] because [Palestinian] territories and the settlement areas and, and the rest of Israel... goods travel in and out very easily, both heavy machinery and foodstuffs and so on," Sir Chris said. Also considered by the UK government, though ultimately rejected, was pausing its trade agreement with Israel. The Department for Business and Trade undertook an impact assessment on suspending the UK-Israel Trade Partnership Agreement, the 2019 post-Brexit continuity arrangement through which Israeli imports mostly enter the UK tariff-free. Attempts to access the impact assessment have been denied by the department, in part, on international relations grounds. "Disclosing the information would be likely to prejudice the UK's relationship with Israel," the department told Sky News. What are settlements? Israeli settlements, in areas like the West Bank, have long been opposed by the UK government, which believes them to be a breach of international law and a threat to a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine. Settlements have rapidly expanded in recent years, with more planned by the Israeli government. Palestinians face increasing attacks and, in the past weeks, have had homes besieged. Creating settlements can involve confiscating land and displacing Palestinians, which is illegal under the Geneva Convention, as is the moving of Israeli civilians into territory Israel occupies. Israel disputes this, saying it cannot be classed as an occupying power, as no country owned the land before it took the territory in 1967, and it has not transferred its population to the territories; people move freely.

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No Writer
Aug 29
Today of Sky Sports Racing: Two-year-old Trophy up for grabs at Ripon

3.05 Ripon - Clash Of Hearts has leading claims Clash Of Hearts comes here with the form in the bank after bringing up his first win at Pontefract in empathic fashion. He then ran a credible race at Glorious Goodwood in a nursery and most recently was fifth in the Group Three Acomb Stakes at York where he was just over five lengths behind the well-fancied winner, Haffner. Rogue Jewel is two from two for The Rogues Gallery team and brings course and distance form to the race as he bought up his second win here at the track just recently. He looks promising for Ed Bethell. Impressive scorer Pure Mint represents Simon & Ed Crisford under Harry Davies after bolting up here last month. The Crisfords pose a strong record here having taken out three of the last six renewals and they should be respected here with this son of Minzaal. 3.40 Ripon - Top rated English Oak bids to bounce back Top-rated English Oak bids to bounce back in the Ripon Rowels Handicap. Rated 102, he is 9lb higher than any of his nearest rivals. This Royal Ascot winner looks to have the class angle here and, if he is able to put the disappointing 16th of 18 behind him from the Golden Mile at Goodwood last month, he should take all the beating. Thunder Roar is back down to his last winning mark of 93 which is very interesting as he went up to 100 in the meantime, but has since tumbled back down the weights to the mark which saw him score at Ayr last September. Lincoln winner of 2024 Mr Professor has his third start for Kevin Philippart de Foy and comes here off the back of a second at Kempton. 4.35 Chepstow - Revelance faces 4lb rise in Chepstow Mile Series Final Top weight Revelance faces a 4lb rise in the valuable Chepstow Mile Series Final Handicap, which sees the winner take home just over £20,000. She took out her Chepstow Mile Series Qualifier here at the beginning of August in cosy fashion under a cool Eddy Greatrex ride. In second that day was Nakaaha and she must give her 7lb this time, which seems a big swing considering the margin last time. Spirit Of The Bay won here in July and then ran a credible third in the aforementioned race. Rating, Too Much Trevor and Redhot Whisper all come here off the back of wins at the track and cannot be discounted.

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