Justices refused to hear the president's appeal against a 2023 jury verdict in favour of ‌E. Jean Carroll, which Trump had argued was the result of an unfair trial. Carroll, a former advice columnist for Elle magazine, alleged that Trump raped her in the dressing room of a Manhattan department store in around 1996. Trump denies her claims. The president's justice department has launched a criminal investigation targeting Carroll, focused on whether ‌the columnist committed perjury in testimony tied to the two civil lawsuits she won against Trump. This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version. You can receive breaking news alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News app. You can also follow us on WhatsApp and subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.

In a statement, her family said they were "deeply saddened" to announce that she had died peacefully at her home in Surrey, where she had lived for more than 50 years. The star had been living with cancer, they said. "The family is grateful for the care and support she received throughout her treatments, and ask that their privacy be respected at this time." Dame Penelope was known for her appearances in the sitcoms The Good Life and To The Manor Born, with the former earning her a BAFTA in 1977. She played snobbish social climber Margo Leadbetter in the series, opposite Paul Eddington as husband Jerry, and Richard Briers and Felicity Kendal as their self-sufficient neighbours Tom and Barbara Good. Kendal was among those sharing tributes, remembering her co-star as a "comic genius" who was "a joy to know and work with". Following the announcement, membership organisations SOLT (Society of London Theatre) and UK Theatre said West End theatres would dim their lights for two minutes in tribute, at 7pm on Wednesday. Sitcoms, theatre and famous ads Dame Penelope started her career on the stage and joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1963, but became a household name for her work in sitcoms, also starring in Executive Stress, No Job For A Lady, and Next Of Kin. In To The Manor Born, which first aired in 1979, she played the aristocrat Audrey fforbes-Hamilton, forced to sell her vast country estate, Grantleigh Manor, after the death of her husband - but managing to keep her butler and Rolls-Royce. The actress will also be remembered for a memorable staircase appearance in the 1977 Christmas edition of The Morecambe & Wise Show, as well as starring in dramas such as Death Comes To Pemberley. She also presented shows including Penelope Keith And The Fast Lady, about Edwardian "it girl" and motoring pioneer Dorothy Levitt, Penelope Keith At Her Majesty's Service, commemorating the 90th birthday of Queen Elizabeth II, and Penelope Keith's Hidden Villages and Coastal Villages. Her famous voice was also lent to adverts, for brands including Pimm's, Lurpak, and most famously, the Parker Pen Company - once named one of the 100 greatest adverts. The star succeeded Laurence Olivier as president of the Actors' Benevolent Fund after his death in 1989, leaving in 2022. Since 2000, Dame Penelope had worked mainly in the theatre, with her roles including Madam Arcati in Blithe Spirit and Lady Bracknell in The Importance Of Being Earnest. An ambassador for the former Prince's Foundation For Children & The Arts, she was made a dame for services to the arts and charity in 2014. The actress was married to Rodney Timson, a former police officer, and the couple adopted two sons. 'She helped Britain laugh at itself' Paying tribute, BAFTA described Dame Penelope as "a familiar face on stage and screen" and highlighted her history at the awards - winning the gong for best actress for The Norman Conquests / Saving It For Albie, as well as her award for The Good Life, and receiving a further three nominations throughout her career. Voiceover agency QVoice, which represented her, described her as "an exceptionally talented, multi-award winning actress for both stage and television", and added: "More importantly she was a much-loved client and friend. Our thoughts are with her family today." SOLT and UK Theatre co-chief executive Claire Walker said the star would "undoubtedly be remembered for many years to come as one of this country's most venerated actors". MP Jeremy Hunt was also among those sharing tributes, writing on X: "Incredibly sad to hear of the passing of Dame Penelope Keith CBE. She was a neighbour & friend where she was dearly loved by all who knew her in Milford. "She helped Britain laugh at itself, one of our best national qualities, & brought happiness to millions. RIP dear Penny." Many fans sharing tributes on X highlighted the Morecambe & Wise appearance along with her famous sitcom characters, and described her as "a national treasure".

The move - described by one source as a "pragmatic solution" to funding constraints - will form part of the long-delayed defence investment plan, which the government is finally expected to unveil on Tuesday. However, it will leave the Royal Navy without a like-for-like successor for its Type 45 destroyer. The £1bn warship is currently the only piece of British kit that can intercept ballistic missiles. Dan Jarvis, the defence secretary, is thought to have secured up to £1.5bn in additional money for the armed forces on top of some £13.5bn already fought for by John Healey, his predecessor. Yet the amount remains far short of the tens of billions of pounds of extra funding that military insiders say would be required to fix the UK's hollowed-out defences in time for a potential war with Russia by 2030 - a timeline that Sir Keir Starmer has used. Mr Healey quit earlier this month in protest at a failure by the outgoing prime minister to invest faster, and while his successor has spent the past two-and-a-half weeks tweaking the investment plan, the revised document is still set to leave the military wanting. Rather than wallow in despair, though, the army, navy and air force appear to be attempting to make the best of a less-than-optimum outcome. They need to do all they can, regardless of political priorities, to embrace new technologies and regrow credible fighting power at a time of mounting threats. "This seems to be the most pragmatic solution," the defence source said, referring to the announcement by the Ministry of Defence that the navy's six Type 45 destroyers will eventually be replaced by what the department is calling a "common combat vessel". There is not yet a contract for this ship - the model does not even have a name - but it will be a crewed frigate, which is smaller than a destroyer, and could well be an iteration of the new Type 31 variant that is already being built. The "common combat vessel" will be focused on defending against incoming missiles and drones, which is a core task of a destroyer, rather than anti-submarine warfare, which is a key role of an ordinary frigate. The proposed new warship is also expected to operate alongside a suite of uncrewed air, sea and sub-surface drones, including missile barges to provide a layered air defence. It means, in theory, this "hybrid" capability - which is apparently due to enter into service from the early 2030s, though these sorts of procurements have a sorry history of running late - should be able to perform the same air defence role as a Type 45, but at half the price, according to the defence source. As well as being good for keeping down cost, deploying budget warships also makes them more expendable in a fight. At present, the navy runs the risk of only having ships - such as its destroyers and its two £3bn aircraft carriers - that are deemed too expensive to deploy in hostile waters. "Our Royal Navy is a formidable force, operating to protect our nation and our allies in the Atlantic and beyond," Mr Jarvis said in a statement. "These common combat vessels will provide our dedicated sailors with hybrid ships that are designed and built for the increasing threats we face." Read more from Sky News:Search for survivors of Venezuela quakes continuesPrince Harry 'reconsidering bringing family on UK trip'Eleven people killed in skydiving aircraft crash The announcement spells the end of naval aspirations to acquire a next-generation destroyer, called the Type 83, which would have been even more costly than the Type 45. Tom Sharpe, a former naval commander, warned that there was a risk in betting on technology that was not yet proven to compensate for warships that the navy could no longer afford. "It does feel a bit defeatist," he said. The Royal Navy - once the most powerful naval force on the planet - has struggled in recent decades as a failure to invest earlier in a replacement fleet of frigates has left its remaining six or seven Type 23 vessels limping on or out of service. The Type 45 destroyers are newer, but they have suffered from engine woes that mean at any one time half, if not more, of the fleet is alongside in maintenance. Under the investment plan, the navy ultimately aims to acquire a total of 13 anti-submarine warfare frigates, a mix of Type 26 and Type 31 models. A prospective Type 32 variant is now thought to be dead. In addition, it is expected to receive at least six of these new air defence "common combat vessels" to replace the destroyers, along with a range of different types of much cheaper uncrewed platforms. Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, the previous chief of the defence staff, was scathing about how the armed forces had been allowed to whither under successive governments. In a sign of this decline, the UK is second from the bottom of a table that ranks which country is meeting its NATO commitments, propped up by Iceland, which does not have a military. "Hardly 'leading in Europe'," Sir Tony wrote in an article for The Times. "More 'NATO 31st' than 'NATO First'. Awkward." The former military chief was referring to the mantra of "NATO first" that runs through a sweeping review of defence that was published under the Starmer government in June 2025, underlining the priority Britain places on being a leading member of the alliance. That review set out plans to transform, regrow and modernise the military over the next decade. It should have been followed by the investment plan last autumn. However, the Strategic Defence Review was never properly funded, and the ambition that it envisaged was always unaffordable, meaning the Ministry of Defence would need to impose swingeing cuts at a time when the rest of Europe was regrowing their militaries at pace. The mismatch triggered months of wrangling, which delayed the release of the investment plan.

Stokes' career has been defined by numerous super-human spells with bat and ball - none more so than his match-winning, unbeaten 135 in the 2019 Ashes Test at Headingley - but news of his retirement on the fourth afternoon preceded a chaotic few hours in which he and others from England's top order somewhat gifted their wickets to leave the team in a hole at 103-4, chasing 373, at the start of day five. Rather than see Stokes' farewell innings, and the possibility of him inspiring another remarkable run chase to close his international career, those who took up the free tickets on offer for day five - the stands somewhat sparse - instead witnessed just a Jamie Smith (60 off 90 balls) half-century as the only real resistance offered. Scorecard: England vs New Zealand, third Test, Trent BridgeGot Sky? Watch England vs NZ live on the Sky Sports appNot got Sky? Get instant access with NOW - no contract He and Gus Atkinson (19) shared in a 75-run partnership for the seventh wicket, showing perhaps what could have been possible had England batted a bit more sensibly and set things up the previous evening - New Zealand's depleted pace attack aiding their cause. But by that point the game was long gone for England, who had lost Stokes (30 off 20), Jacob Bethell (0), Harry Brook (21 off 9) and Ben Duckett (36 off 42) the previous evening, with Emilio Gay (10) added in the fourth over of the day and then Joe Root (18) run out four balls later. Brook's dismissal, holing out to deep fine leg late on the fourth evening, had prompted New Zealand, in comments picked up on the stump mic, to ponder 'What are they doing?' They might not be the only ones as this final Test defeat - as well as Bazball and its future - is dissected following a seventh loss in their last nine and England's first defeat at home in a three-Test series or more since 2012. England's slim hopes of a famous final-day victory rested largely with Root, but within four overs both he and Gay were gone, with the brilliant Nathan Smith (2-64) - the series' leading wicket-taker with 16 - first claiming Gay's edge through to the keeper. Root was then the first of two run-outs from the final day, with New Zealand's impeccable fielding effort in keeping with their superb showing throughout the series in all facets of the game. Henry Nicholls, while seemingly losing his footing, still managed to get his throw off when tumbling backwards, seeing the back of Root with a direct hit. Smith and Atkinson countered a touch, while New Zealand's inexperienced and ailing attack was further hampered when Will O'Rourke pulled up with a hamstring injury midway through the morning session. Smith played a few shots at one end - including a glorious straight six off Mitchell Santner that hinted at a welcome return to form with the bat - while Atkinson dug in for 70 balls at the other to bring the runs required below 200. Santner eventually accounted for Atkinson, lbw, just before the lunch interval, where Sky Sports' Stuart Broad pondered: "I don't quite get the logic of watching Gus Atkinson face 70 balls, blocking it, and Harry Brook getting 20 off nine!" After the interval, England's tail meekly subsided, Jofra Archer edging Smith behind before Santner this time superbly threw down the stumps to dismiss Josh Tongue (2) shortly after Smith brought up an 87-ball fifty with three boundaries in a row. The match and series then reached its inevitable conclusion as Smith holed out in the deep off Santner, potentially triggering the end of Bazball, four years on and at the same venue at which it was born with a stunning final-day run chase against the same opponents. Stokes explains decision to retire mid-game "There are a few people with a few questions but I hope that it can be respected is that the most important person who can make the decisions is myself. "I didn't take the decision lightly or rush into it - I had a number of people who I trust to talk through these things. "I tried this whole week to see if I could get myself ready to see myself going beyond that but I couldn't. "I told a few people I'm close with about my decision the night before, and then the team in the morning. "I told my comms team to come up with a plan because I had quite a lot to concentrate on over the last two days. "I look at the way the last two and a half weeks have unfolded. It's obviously been interesting, but I can look back one day and have a laugh that there was a bit of controversy over my last game for England. "You could relate that to me as a player - a little bit hit and miss at times - and with this [announcement], something pretty simple ended up being complicated. "But I've thoroughly enjoyed every single time I've walked on the field and will look back with fond memories at everything, even if there is a bit of controversy here and there." McCullum: I tried to talk Stokes down England head coach Brendon McCullum: "Stokes has had an impact on so many people, not just since he's been captain but throughout his career. "He is a leader of men - people follow him. He's made such a significant impact over the last four years. He is going to be missed. "We've been speaking for a couple of weeks, but when he confirmed to me yesterday that he was going to retire, I tried to talk him down. It became pretty obvious he had made his decision and was at peace with it. "Your emotion then leads on to sadness, really, because you've been on this journey together for four years. It's been a real thrill. I feel privileged to have worked intimately with Stokesy during that time and consider him a good friend. "I hope his next chapter is as great as his last." England vs New Zealand - results and schedule All times UK and Ireland, all games live on Sky Sports First Test (Lord's) - England won by 115 runsSecond Test (The Kia Oval) - New Zealand won by 253 runsThird Test (Trent Bridge) - New Zealand won by 160 runs Watch day five of the third Test between England and New Zealand, live on Sky Sports Cricket on Monday from 10.15am (first ball 11am). Stream cricket and more with NOW - no contract.

Sky News meteorologist Dr Christopher England said: "Potentially turning quite hot again across the south-east this weekend, although details are uncertain at this stage, and it probably won't be anything like as hot as recently, with highs of around 30C more likely." He noted that it probably won't be as humid either, adding that a heatwave next week, rather than over the weekend, is more likely. Heat records were broken on three consecutive days from Wednesday, reaching a provisional peak of 37.3C in Santon Downham in Suffolk on Friday. Since then, the Met Office has revealed the new June provisional record temperature of 37.7C was recorded in Lingwood, Norfolk, on Friday, beating the 37.3C at Santon Downham. Hundreds of schools and nurseries were forced to shut and there was a hosepipe ban in Kent. The heatwave shattered the long-standing record for June temperatures, dating back to the summer of 1976, by more than 1C. This was notable, since such records are generally broken only by a fraction of a degree. During the recent heatwave, seven people died in water-related incidents, following on from 15 in May. Several hospitals declared critical incidents, with University Hospital Southampton forced to cancel a number of planned operations and some outpatient appointments. The heatwave was driven by a "heat-dome" - an area of high pressure that stalls over a region and traps heat - settling over western Europe, with extreme conditions felt across the continent. The record-breaking ‌heatwave across Europe has caused hundreds of excess deaths and disrupted daily life for more than a week, as concerns grow over the spread of wildfires. There was a warning that the heat was likely to build again from the start of next week in countries such as France and Germany, which were among the worst hit over the past few days. In Croatia, a red alert was issued on Monday for regions including the capital Zagreb and tourist destinations Split and Dubrovnik. Dozens of firefighters, along with ​four aircraft, attempted to contain a wildfire burning pine forests on the tourist island of Vis in the Adriatic Sea. Read more from Sky News:Man charged with murder after body found at stone circleUK to replace fleet of destroyers with 'budget warships' In neighbouring Serbia, a warning was issued that temperatures would hit 39C ​on Monday. Scientists have said the heatwave, which started on 20 June, was the worst recorded in Europe, and the blistering conditions have disrupted power generation, ‌damaged infrastructure and overwhelmed healthcare systems. Human-driven climate change, largely caused by burning fossil fuels, is making such extreme heatwaves more frequent and intense. France has reported 1,000 excess deaths during the heatwave. The French public health agency said most of the heat-related fatalities involved older people and warned the number was expected to rise. Luca Mercalli, the president of Italy's Meteorological Society, said temperatures were set to soar again from Sunday. "The areas affected look broadly the same as ⁠in the first wave, including France, Spain, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and to some extent Britain," he said.

The US group said it was to create a Comcast focused on its business services, wireless and broadband operation. The media and theme park empires would be hived off to form the separately-listed NBCUniversal. Money latest: A threat to house sales "NBCUniversal is a premier global media and entertainment company, anchored by its growing theme parks division, Universal film and television studios, NBC and Telemundo networks, Peacock, and Bravo", a statement to the market said. "In addition, NBCUniversal's global portfolio will include Sky, our European media business. Together, these businesses will be powered by a portfolio of world-class intellectual property, a deep content library, extraordinary content creation capabilities, and exceptional strength across sports, news and entertainment. "With iconic brands, valuable intellectual property, global distribution and leading creative talent, NBCUniversal will be strongly positioned to compete and grow in an evolving media landscape." Brian Roberts, chairman and co-chief executive of Comcast Corporation, added: "This is a very exciting day for our company. "The transaction we are announcing will unlock a more entrepreneurial management approach and open up a multitude of new opportunities for each business." Shares, 17% down in the year to date and trading at levels not seen for 13 years last week according to LSEG data, were more than 25% up in US pre-market trading. Comcast said the split was expected to be completed in about a year's time. Comcast shareholders ​will own stock in both ​companies after the deal closes. The spinoff was widely seen as confronting the fast-changing shifts in the entertainment sector, with streaming becoming the main battleground. Sky has been in talks with ITV for months over a £1.6bn deal for its media and entertainment arm. It is aimed at creating a UK-focused streaming giant amid the challenge posed by bigger, established US platforms such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. The deal on the table includes the ITVX platform, along with ITV's free-to-air channels, but not ITV's studio operations.

His predecessor, John Healey, stood down earlier this month in protest of the overdue defence investment plan (DIP). The extra £13.5bn of investment expected with it fell "well short" of what was needed, Mr Healey said. Mr Jarvis has spent the last two weeks "refocusing" the defence blueprint - expected to be published before July's NATO Summit - to prioritise getting kit to troops on the front line, officials said. The UK's elite commandos have been promised £500m for rapid boats and strike drones as part of changes, with a focus on Arctic region - amid anxiety about Russian activity in the region. In the 2024/25 financial year, the UK spent £60.2bn on defence. The new high-speed commando insertion craft - special vessels used to covertly transport troops from the rapid-response force - will be used for such operations as the seizing of Russian shadow fleet tankers. Earlier in June commandos were involved in taking over a Russian oil tanker in the Channel in the first operation of its kind. Mr Jarvis said: "We're investing in new lethal strike drones, high-speed boats and amphibious transport ships to give our commandos the equipment they need to stay ahead of adversaries and defend us. "The defence investment plan will prioritise getting the latest kit into the hands of our frontline forces, so they can continue their vital work in an increasingly dangerous world." The plan, originally due last year, has been delayed by government wrangling over the budget. Announcing the "shifted" focus, the Ministry of Defence said the DIP will see the UK work with NATO ally Norway in the High North. Outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer has vowed to publish the DIP before the NATO summit on 7 July in Turkey, despite most major policy and spending commitments being paused until his successor is confirmed. But defence chiefs will want to ensure the plan has the backing of the new PM, widely expected to be Andy Burnham, who recently became an MP again after the Makerfield by-election.

Sky Sports News understands that Kane and his family are very happy in Munich and his sole focus right now is on England at the World Cup. Barcelona are exploring how to finance a possible deal for the Bayern Munich striker. Transfer Centre LIVE!| Latest on YOUR Premier League club!Got Sky? Watch Sky Sports LIVE on your phone📱No Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW📺 It is believed both Bayern and Kane are relaxed about his contract situation, despite only having a year left on his current deal. Kane has just scored his 70th goal this season for club and country. He scored 61 club goals and made seven assists in 51 games in the 2025/26 season. The last player to score that many goals in all competitions was Cristiano Ronaldo for Real Madrid back in the 2014/15 campaign. Kane has won three trophies this season - the German Super Cup, Bundesliga and DFB Pokal, as well as winning the European Golden Shoe by being the leading goalscorer across Europe's top five leagues. This is his second European Golden Shoe - only a handful of players have two, and only Lionel Messi (6) and Ronaldo (4) have more. Neville: Any club in the world would want 'golden' Kane Sky Sports' Gary Neville: I can see why Barcelona would want him. I can see why any club in the world would want him that is trying to win trophies at an elite level. Harry Kane is as reliable as you can get. In football and in life, you want reliability. You want players who you know are going to deliver for you. He does that. I describe him as gold. He's incredible and you know exactly what you are going to get. England also know exactly what they are going to get and I'm sure he will be fit and firing for the [World Cup] knockout phase. This is where the tournament starts for real. All the best teams are through. It matters now and every chance you miss or every mistake you make you know it is potentially going to cost you or send you through. Tuchel has said England will step up, and we know Kane will step up.