The blast happened late on Friday night local time, according to the Xinhua news agency, and it is believed around 247 workers were underground at the time. Nine people were said to be trapped below the surface on Saturday afternoon. Reports suggest that carbon monoxide levels had exceeded safe limits at the Liushenyu coal mine near Changzhi City. Intensive rescue efforts are under way, Xinhua said, while the cause of the explosion is under investigation. Among the injured, many were hurt by toxic gas, according to state media CCTV. The mine entrance features a steep slope of around 30 degrees, and all rescue supplies can only be transported in and out by mine cars. Chinese President Xi Jinping ​called for authorities to "spare no effort" in treating the injured and conducting search and rescue operations. He has also ​ordered a thorough investigation into the cause ⁠of the accident and strict ⁠accountability in accordance with the law. Read more from Sky News:SpaceX launches high-stakes test flightRed Arrows to fly in reduced numbers Earlier, Xinhua had reported that eight people had died, ⁠with more than 200 people safely ​brought to the surface. It did not explain ​the jump in the death toll. Executives of the ⁠company responsible for the mine have been detained, Xinhua reported. The Liushenyu coal mine is located in Shanxi, known as China's main coal mining province. The province's hundreds of thousands of miners dug 1.17 billion metric tons of coal last year - almost a third of China's total.

Rudi Douglas, a 39-year-old musician from Ireland, had been booked to play piano at the event before being asked to sing and eventually being joined by the pop star. Speaking to Sky News, Mr Douglas explained how he had been booked for the Monday event three or four weeks ago but wasn't told until last week what the occasion was. "I was just stunned, I was like 'Please let this happen'," he says. Originally booked just to play piano, Mr Douglas was asked to sing a few songs after Netflix staff heard him singing while warming up. He was in the middle of playing a few songs to draw people into the room when the pop star surprised him. The pair later sang five songs together, including All The Lovers and Spinning Around. It was a dream come true for the musician, who won tickets to see the star in 2018 after being in her top 0.1% of listeners on Spotify. At one point, Mr Douglas even had to remind his idol of the words. Read more from Sky News:Old engines force Red Arrows to fly with just seven aircraftWish You Were Here host Judith Chalmers has died While in the third verse of singing Dancing together, the musician recalls Kylie turning to him and saying, "What's the next bit?" The two didn't speak after the event, but Mr Douglas has no regrets. "We had a big hug and then she disappeared, and I think it was actually perfect like that… there's no other way I could show her how much I love her and her music than just playing it on the piano and singing it to her." The star spoke to Sky's Debbie Ridgard at the event about the struggles she's faced in her career ahead of the release of the Netflix documentary, Kylie, which looks back on her life.

Former Home Office minister Jess Phillips also condemned the "unduly lenient" sentence, saying it sends a "bad message". Southampton Crown Court heard two girls were raped in two separate incidents in Fordingbridge, Hampshire, with the first attack taking place on 26 November 2024 and the second on 17 January 2025. The three teenagers, two aged 15 and one aged 14, were given youth rehabilitation orders (YRO) and the two older boys were also made subject to intensive supervision and surveillance (ISS). Ms Phillips, who served as minister for safeguarding and violence against women and girls until earlier this month, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "It seems unduly lenient to me and has wider public interest beyond just the case itself in the message that it sends. "For those young women going through a rape trial like this will not have been a simple thing to do, it will have been many, many months, if not years, to achieve any sort of justice and I am afraid to say it sends a bad message." Ms Phillips added: "These young people it seems were essentially raping for content in order to put it on social media and share it to their friends gloating about raping these poor young women." A government spokesperson said the attorney general's office had received "multiple" requests for the sentences to be reviewed under the Unduly Lenient Scheme. They said: "We share the public's shock at the details of this horrific case, and our thoughts are with the young victims during this distressing time. "The law officers are urgently reviewing the case with the utmost care and attention." Hampshire's Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones has vowed to support the families of the victims if they wish to appeal the "leniency" of the sentences. She said: "Their sentences reflect a clear focus on rehabilitation rather than criminalisation. They are far too lenient. "As they stand, they offer little comfort to their victims as they try to rebuild their lives after such harrowing experiences." At the sentencing on Thursday, Judge Nicholas Rowland told the trio: "I have to remember that you are not small adults. I have to think how likely you are to do serious things again and I need to make sure you do not do serious things again in the future." Explaining his sentence, the judge added: "I should avoid criminalising these children unnecessarily and understand the effects of their behaviour and support their reintegration into society." He added that "peer pressure played a large part in what went on". Read more from Sky News:Three dead in two-vehicle crashIan Watkins murder trial collapses The judge praised the "bravery" of the two victims for giving evidence to the trial and for providing impact statements on how the offences had affected them. Jodie Mittel KC, prosecuting, told the trial that the girl in the November incident, who was 15 at the time, had visited the first defendant after meeting him on Snapchat. The prosecutor said that after performing sex acts on the boy, who was then 14, she became "scared and anxious" when the second defendant and the pair raped her while the incident was filmed. Ms Mittel said that afterwards videos of the incident had been sent around and other people made jokes about her, and she received messages calling her a "slag". The complainant in the January incident, who was 14 at the time, was raped in a field near to Fordingbridge recreation ground while the incident was also filmed.

"I love the tough decisions," Tuchel said on the squad being announced, and he has been true to his word. Cole Palmer, Phil Foden, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Harry Maguire are the eye-catching names to have missed out on selection after Tuchel confirmed his 26-man squad for this summer's tournament in North America. Tuchel personally called around 50 players opn Thursday and Friday to inform them that they had/had not made his World Cup 26-man squad. World Cup 2026 fixture schedule and UK kick-off timesEngland's fixtures and routes to 2026 World Cup finalWorld Cup kits revealed!England's World Cup squad in full... Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford (Everton), Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), James Trafford (Man City). Defenders: Reece James (Chelsea), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), John Stones (Man City), Marc Guehi (Man City), Dan Burn (Newcastle), Nico O'Reilly (Man City), Djed Spence (Tottenham), Tino Livramento (Newcastle). Midfielders: Declan Rice (Arsenal), Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Kobbie Mainoo (Man Utd), Jordan Henderson (Brentford), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal). Forwards: Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Ivan Toney (Al-Ahli), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Marcus Rashford (Barcelona), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle), Noni Madueke (Arsenal). 'Most shocking squad since 1998' Sky Sports News' Kaveh Solhekol has described the squad as "probably the most shocking since 1998" and it is England's World Cup absentees, plus the leaks on the eve of Friday's announcement that have provided the biggest talking points. Furious Maguire posted on social media he was "shocked and gutted" to miss out on a squad Tuchel told players about on Thursday, with the steady stream of information allowing onlookers to piece together the personnel in advance. Foden and Palmer were the biggest names to miss after below-par club seasons with Manchester City and Chelsea respectively, plus a huge amount of competition in that area of the field. Real Madrid right-back Alexander-Arnold is another bold omission, albeit a more predictable one having not won a cap since last summer. On the absence of Palmer, Foden, Maguire and Alexander-Arnold, Tuchel said: "Difficult phone calls. I respect all of them. As players, personalities. All of them have been in camp, have been excellent. "To reduce it was difficult, sometimes painfully difficult. Even in the phone calls I felt the emotion. I called all the players who were in camp with us at least one time. A lot of them deserved to be with us. "In the end we went back to the evidence we had - in September, October, November, the leadership group and the team had very few changes in November... that felt we had a bit of fresh air, younger players who played with excitement, it was a good mix of young and old and brought the best out of the players. We want to recreate that spirit - that's why we rely heavily on the group that was with us in those three camps. "For some it was a positional thing and not bring[ing] five No 10s and making them play out of position." In-form Nottingham Forest forward Morgan Gibbs-White, Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton, Newcastle defender Lewis Hall, Man Utd's Luke Shaw and West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen are other notable absentees as Tuchel made an eye-catching first tournament selection. Toney earns shock recall The surprise name included is Ivan Toney, who has played just seven minutes of international football since Euro 2024. The former Brentford striker told Sky Sports in February that he still harboured hopes of being included in the World Cup squad and his 32 goals in 32 Saudi Pro League games for Al-Ahli this season have seen him earn a shock recall. He will provide the back up for captain Harry Kane alongside Ollie Watkins, who has also been recalled to the squad after scoring 10 goals for Aston Villa since being left out of March's internationals. Newcastle defender Tino Livramento has been selected despite missing the past month with a thigh issue, while similarly versatile Spurs full-back Djed Spence has been included despite breaking his jaw on Tuesday. Other notable inclusions include Man Utd midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, Arsenal duo Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke, Bayer Leverkusen defender Jarell Quansah, and the experienced duo of John Stones and Jordan Henderson. Bournemouth's Alex Scott will join up with England out in Miami, even though he has not been included in Tuchel's initial squad. It's understood Tuchel wanted to boost his playing options with the Arsenal contingent of players due to join up late with the rest of the squad because of the Champions League final. England will be without Rice, Saka, Madueke and Eze for their first pre-tournament friendly against New Zealand. England kick-off Group L against Croatia in Dallas on Wednesday June 17, before playing Ghana on Tuesday June 23 and Panama on Saturday June 27. On daring to dream about England's World Cup chances, Tuchel said: "I can dream. But very quickly you go back and chop it up into steps you can influence. "In March last year we said to the players 'let's try to win it'. I strongly believe if the energy and the commitment is right, this is really a brotherhood, the fans will notice and see. "Let's play with hunger, with excitement. The goal is clear. But the focus will now be on the 10 days of camp... otherwise it's a lot to digest." 'Tuchel has kept to his word with big decisions' Analysis from Sky Sports News' Rob Dorsett: England's leakiest World Cup squad announcement ever. The news started breaking about 6pm last night when we heard from Maguire, who wasn't included. Then we got the news that Toney was in from out of nowhere. They are two of the big headlines, with the omissions of Palmer, Foden and Alexander-Arnold being the other big stories. England leaving out those high-profile names will send shock waves around world football. We've known for a long time that Tuchel has a problem at No 10. He's got an embarrassment of riches at No 10. He said all along he wouldn't be able to take all of them. He would take the tough decisions and leave big names at home if they weren't performing well or didn't fit into his plans. He's kept to his word on that in leaving Foden and Palmer out and Morgan Gibbs-White, who we need to mention. But is Gibbs-White ever going to get on the pitch? When it came to Palmer and Foden, I expected maybe one of them would make it and not both, because Tuchel has talked about his extensive No 10 options for a long time. He has a wealth of talent in that position. We knew Jude Bellingham and Morgan Rogers were going to go, but how many more No 10s did he need and how many could he fit in? The No 10 debate will go on and on. There is no doubt Tuchel has some really interesting questions to answer. It's been the most bizarre England squad announcement I've known in four tournaments. Tuchel has certainly put his stamp on things and he doesn't mind making the big decisions and leaving the big names out. 'Only Tuchel would have picked this squad' Sky Sports' News Kaveh Solhekol at Wembley: "I think it's very shocking, very surprising. "I think only Tuchel would've picked this England squad. "I think he's left out some of the most talented English players. "This is probably the most shocking England squad since 1998, when Glenn Hoddle left out Paul Gascoigne." Your views: Mixed reaction to Tuchel's squad... CallumH16: We have been used to squads being selected on the basis of form under Southgate, which is why I think this squad selection comes as such a shock. It's horrific from Tuchel! There are many players that haven't played enough minutes this season: Stones, James, Henderson, Livramento. Tom: We have had years of moaning about England managers being too cautious picking the obvious players. It's a breath of fresh air to have a manager going against the grain. Shows leadership and confidence. Mcgly 93: For years England fans used to go mad at managers for taking players all because of their name. There's an argument here that the gaffer has gone against that so fair play. We will see what happens however if it goes pear-shaped then its P45, do not pass go and do not collect 200... Joe: What an embarrassing day for English football! And I was there for the 98 squad announcement! AdamTilley: Has Tuchel been watching the Premier League this season?? Big Dan: Weakest England squad I've ever seen heading into a tournament! That defence is horrible to look at. Morgan Gibbs-White had to be included. Putting the Arsenal front three in is ridiculous, he's done that based on winning the league as all three have been poor. Gary McKnight: The first ever England manager (especially in my lifetime anyway) to not pick players on reputation. Tuchel hasn't caved in to outside pressure and I respect that. I trust that man! James: Everyone please calm down. We aren't used to a serial winner as manager. The vast majority of players left out of the squad are out of form. Morgan Gibbs-white and Lewis Hall are unlucky but the player ahead of them are also quality. What's next for England? England will depart for the United States on Monday, June 1, 16 days prior to their opening group encounter against Croatia (Wednesday, June 17). They will be based in Swope Soccer Village in Kansas City, Missouri during the tournament. England have World Cup warm-up matches with New Zealand on June 6 (9pm UK time) and Costa Rica on June 10 (9pm UK time) before their tournament opener against Croatia. England's World Cup Group L games England vs Croatia - June 17, Dallas, 9pm (UK time)England vs Ghana - June 23, Boston, 9pm (UK time)Panama vs England - June 27, New York-New Jersey, 10pm (UK time)World Cup key datesGroup stage: June 11-27Round of 32: June 28 to July 3Round of 16: July 4-7Quarter-finals: July 9-11Semi-finals: July 14-15Third-place play-off ('Bronze final'): July 18Final: July 19

Alan Milburn is due to publish an interim report next week that examines why almost one million 16 to 24-year-olds are not in employment, education or training (NEET). It will conclude that a "rising tide of mental ill health, anxiety, depression and neurodiversity" is a big factor in this economic inactivity. Speaking to The Times, Mr Milburn rejected claims that young people are "snowflakes" - and said the country is at risk "of just writing a whole generation off". According to the report, the rise of smartphones and social media has led to a "bedroom generation" that suffers from poorer sleep and lower levels of concentration. "Every one of a group of ten 12 and 13-year-olds told us they went to bed between midnight and 3am because they were scrolling on their phone," it will warn. The report will describe young people as different - and not worse, lazier or less intelligent than their peers in other age groups. "They have grown up in a digital world that has rewired how they communicate, form relationships and manage stress," it will say. "They have fewer experiences of workplaces, and they present with higher levels of anxiety and depression." COVID is also thought to have played a factor, as many 16 to 24-year-olds would have been in high school or college during lockdown closures. Mr Milburn believes the UK's one million NEETs could plug labour shortages in the British economy, as long as employers are willing to make accommodations for them. Speaking to the newspaper, he went on to warn that welfare reforms will be a "necessity" to help younger generations enter the world of work. Figures from the Office for National Statistics suggest youth unemployment reached 16.2% in the three months to March - the highest level in 11 years. Read more from Sky News:SpaceX launches high-stakes test flightRed Arrows to fly in reduced numbers A report published earlier this week also identified social media as a driver of a so-called quitting culture among this age group. The research, based on conversations with 400 young people, found some enjoyed "the dopamine hit of a new job but then get bored very quickly and want to move on". Authors also warned that many students don't believe that school adequately prepares them for life or work - with secondary years dominated by exam pressure, and a focus on university education rather than alternative routes.

Chalmers, who was 90, died on Thursday evening. Her family said she had become seriously ill in recent weeks. In a statement to Sky News, they said she died peacefully at home, surrounded by her family, after living with Alzheimer's in her final years. Chalmers' family said: "After living an extraordinary life that involved over 60 years in broadcasting and countless adventures all over the globe, Judy sadly passed away last night, surrounded by the family she loved so much after suffering with Alzheimer's for some years. "We will miss her greatly but she leaves behind a giant suitcase of the happiest of memories." Fans paid tribute on social media, with one calling her "a national treasure". Chalmers, who was born in Gatley, Cheshire, started working for the BBC when she was just 13. In the 1960s, she presented two BBC radio programmes, Family Favourites and Woman's Hour. She also presented the BBC's Come Dancing from 1961 to 1965. In 1974, Chalmers started presenting ITV's travel programme Wish You Were Here...? - a gig she kept until 2003. In the 1980s, she was a regular host of the Miss World contest on ITV, as well as the BBC's Children's Television Club which later became Blue Peter. In 1994, she was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her services to broadcasting. Read more from Sky News:Why could we have a record-breaking heatwave?Burnham backs Mahmood's tough immigration stance In 2008, her son, Mark Durden-Smith, hosted a new version of the show, called Wish You Were Here...? Now & Then, which saw locations from the show's original series revisited to see how they had changed. She leaves behind her husband, former sports commentator Neil Durden-Smith, their two children, and six grandchildren.

Alan Milburn is due to publish an interim report next week that examines why almost one million 16 to 24-year-olds are not in employment, education or training (NEET). It will conclude that a "rising tide of mental ill health, anxiety, depression and neurodiversity" is a big factor in this economic inactivity. Speaking to The Times, Mr Milburn rejected claims that young people are "snowflakes" - and said the country is at risk "of just writing a whole generation off". According to the report, the rise of smartphones and social media has led to a "bedroom generation" that suffers from poorer sleep and lower levels of concentration. "Every one of a group of ten 12 and 13-year-olds told us they went to bed between midnight and 3am because they were scrolling on their phone," it will warn. The report will describe young people as different - and not worse, lazier or less intelligent than their peers in other age groups. "They have grown up in a digital world that has rewired how they communicate, form relationships and manage stress," it will say. "They have fewer experiences of workplaces, and they present with higher levels of anxiety and depression." COVID is also thought to have played a factor, as many 16 to 24-year-olds would have been in high school or college during lockdown closures. Mr Milburn believes the UK's one million NEETs could plug labour shortages in the British economy, as long as employers are willing to make accommodations for them. Speaking to the newspaper, he went on to warn that welfare reforms will be a "necessity" to help younger generations enter the world of work. Figures from the Office for National Statistics suggest youth unemployment reached 16.2% in the three months to March - the highest level in 11 years. Read more from Sky News:SpaceX launches high-stakes test flightRed Arrows to fly in reduced numbers A report published earlier this week also identified social media as a driver of a so-called quitting culture among this age group. The research, based on conversations with 400 young people, found some enjoyed "the dopamine hit of a new job but then get bored very quickly and want to move on". Authors also warned that many students don't believe that school adequately prepares them for life or work - with secondary years dominated by exam pressure, and a focus on university education rather than alternative routes.

Arsenal were confirmed as champions when Manchester City were held to a 1-1 draw by Bournemouth on Tuesday, sparking jubilant scenes of celebration among players, staff and fans. The outpouring of emotion followed three consecutive second-placed finishes and a nail-biting race for this season's crown with Pep Guardiola's side, who were a goal away from taking it to the wire. But in an interview for Sky Sports News ahead of Arsenal's final game against Crystal Palace, live on Sky Sports on Sunday, Arteta has told actor and Arsenal fan Tom Hiddleston that he was able to visualise lifting the trophy as early as two months ago. Live Premier League table | Top scorers | FREE PL highlightsPremier League 26/27 dates - when are fixtures released?Got Sky? Watch Premier League games LIVE on your phone📱No Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW📺 "I imagined winning it many times," said Arteta. "Especially because we've been very close in a few seasons. "But this time, especially, there was something. I've done a lot of visualisation over the last few months. "I could close my eyes and I could get to that picture immediately, and that was different to the other seasons. "Not from the beginning of the season, it was more around March, April when I started that. "I knew that was the moment that was going to define the season. "And, OK, what are the things that you can learn from the past that we didn't have, or which I did that can be done in a different way to help the players to get over the line?" Asked by Hiddleston what exactly he visualised, Arteta added: "It was a picture of myself lifting the trophy. That was it. "I think I had to believe in myself to be able to transmit that conviction and energy to the team." Arsenal's players and staff celebrated their success wildly at the club's training ground on Tuesday before heading into central London, where they were joined by their manager. Meanwhile, thousands of fans gathered at the Emirates Stadium, where there was an appearance from Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Jurrien Timber and Eberechi Eze in the early hours of the morning. "It's incredible," said Arteta. "I've been dreaming about this moment for a long time, but when it actually happens, it's different to anything that I imagined. "I could never expect such a joy and togetherness, and something that happens organically in the manner that it happened straight after we won it. It was magical to witness that." Arteta also revealed he used a recent speech by Hiddleston on Sky Sports News, in which he referenced a Billie Jean King's quote that pressure is a privilege, to motivate his players during the run-in. "It's beautiful what you said, in the manner that you articulated it," Arteta told Hiddleston. "You said it in such a powerful way that it was so easy to put it into words and explain it to the boys." 'Now we have to go to the next level' With the Premier League title secured, attention is already turning towards next Saturday's Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest. Arteta says he and his players are determined to add a historic European success to their domestic triumph having reached the final without losing any of their 14 games. "We have raised different standards now," he said. "This is where we are right now, and now we have to go to the next level, and the next level is going to happen in six days in Budapest, to go and win the Champions League, and we know that. "Our only focus now is to achieve that goal. The energy has been incredible around the place with the boys, with everybody, because we have a lot of families, a lot of people who know each other, a lot of people connected in and around the club. "And you see the joy, but you see as well the ambition. We've done that, but now we want this one. "And with the journey that we had in the Champions League this season, I think we need to be very confident. that we have the ability to go and win it." 'I enjoy the difficult times too' Arteta added that Arsenal's past disappointments make their success this season all the sweeter and praised his coaching staff, which was bolstered by the addition of Gabriel Heinze last summer, as the best in the world. "I enjoy that part as well," he said. "I love it. Why is it not happening? Trying to figure it out and dissect what is not right, find it and change it. "That's what makes you a better coach, and to have that curiosity, first of all to be humble enough to look at yourself before criticising players. "What haven't I done right? Why is this not clicking? Why is this not happening in the manner I thought it would play out? "And then find a way. And then, when it happens, it's more rewarding than before, because you've been able to identify things and that's not easy to do. "But in order to do that as well, you need to surround yourself with the best. And I feel lucky that, in my opinion, I have the best coaching staff in the world and some of the very best staff in the world, to open your eyes, to guide you, to make you think, to open new possibilities as well. "I think that's very important and they deserve a lot of credit."