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No Writer
Apr 20
Firefighters battle 'devastating' fire in historical building in Northern Ireland

A Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said they received a call about the incident shortly after 8pm on Sunday. "Currently, 42 firefighters from stations in Ballycastle, Ballymoney and Portrush are attending," the spokesperson said. Local residents have been advised to keep windows and doors closed and to avoid the area. Sinn Fein councillor Cara McShane said the fire is at the Antrim Arms, a former hotel, which she described as a "cornerstone of heritage in the town". "I am deeply concerned by the devastating fire at the Antrim Arms in Ballycastle," she said. Read more from Sky News:Eight children killed in shooting in LouisianaThe sole tourist town on Russia's Arctic coast "My immediate thoughts are with local residents and businesses who will be affected by this incident." Various crews are involved in tackling the blaze, including teams from Northland, Springfield and Kilrea.

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No Writer
Apr 19
Former Little Mix star Jesy Nelson's car stolen with children's essential hospital kit inside

The singer's baby twins, Ocean Jade and Story Monroe, suffer from spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) - a rare condition which causes progressive muscle wastage. On Sunday, she took to social media with a plea for help in tracking down her vehicle and offered a £10,000 reward for information. Nelson said the car, a black Land Rover Defender, with a JJ73SSY registration plate, was stolen from her driveway in Brentwood, Essex, in the early hours of the morning. "Please, if any of you have seen or know of any information can you DM me or contact the police," she said. "I have so much of my girls' hospital equipment in that car that's really needed." Nelson has been campaigning to raise awareness of SMA since her twins' diagnosis and recently shared her pride after the government fast-tracked plans to roll out screenings for the condition. The singer met Health Secretary Wes Streeting in January to discuss the life-changing impact early detection could have had on her children. Read more from Sky News:Public told not to approach 'dangerous' missing manRobot beats humans in half-marathon Nelson said in January that her daughters' diagnosis would mean they are unlikely to ever be able to walk or regain their neck strength. She told Sky News she had taken the twins to the GP three times because they weren't feeding properly but was told "they are absolutely fine". "It wasn't until they got their diagnosis that they were then like we've got to keep them in because they're very underweight and they need to go on feeding tubes... and now they are still on feeding tubes," she said. SMA causes muscle weakness, movement problems, problems with breathing and swallowing, muscle tremors, and bone and joint problems, according to the NHS.

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No Writer
Apr 19
Reform's Richard Tice responds to reported failure to pay £100,000 tax

It comes after he reportedly failed to pay nearly £100,000 in corporation tax. Mr Tice did not pay any tax on the profits he made from four shell companies between 2020 and 2022, The Sunday Times has reported. The companies were set up to receive dividends from his property investment firm and pass the money to their parent company, the newspaper said. It said Tisun Investments Ltd then transferred £1,113,000 to Reform UK between March 2020 and May 2022. In a statement on X, Mr Tice said his "long career with multiple businesses" meant his accounting was "bound to feature some errors". He said: "In a highly successful career spanning 40 years, I have done business in 12 countries across three continents, and been a director of more than 150 companies. "I have helped build thousands of homes, creating thousands of jobs and generating hundreds of millions of value for shareholders and investors along with many tens of millions of tax for HMRC. "I am very proud of this record. Throughout this career I have taken professional tax advice and have always paid everything that I was advised to pay. "Here's the reality: tax efficiency is a basic corporate responsibility and duty to shareholders. A long career with multiple businesses is bound to feature some errors. "Naturally, I am always happy to put things right and if numbers need rechecking, of course, I will pay what is owed - be that more or less." Dan Neidle, founder of Tax Policy Associates, wrote on X that "around £98k of corporation tax is due", plus "about £27k of interest". Reform's Treasury spokesperson Robert Jenrick said on Sunday morning that Mr Tice "thinks he may have overpaid tax because he paid it through his personal taxation, rather than through the company". He told the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme: "If it transpires that he's underpaid tax, of course he'll settle it. But that is not his position. He thinks he's paid the right tax, and that's absolutely right. "As far as I know, HMRC are not investigating. So there is no story." Reform UK last week said any oversight on Mr Tice's part was "a minor administrative error". The Boston and Skegness MP received at least £91,000 because his property investment company, Quidnet REIT Limited, did not pay the required 20% tax on the dividends before they were issued to him and his offshore trust in Jersey, The Sunday Times reported. Mr Tice said on X that "overall HMRC received the correct amount of tax due" and that any issue was due to "complex tax technicality around dividends to certain shareholder classes in REITs". Read more from Sky News:Attempted 'firebomb attack' at London synagoguePublic warned not to approach 'dangerous' missing man Labour Party chair Anna Turley said: "Richard Tice's credibility is in tatters and Nigel Farage needs to urgently explain why he remains Reform's deputy leader. "This is a major scandal that's not going away. Tice has called for others to resign over tax errors that involved less money than this."

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No Writer
Apr 19
RBC Heritage: Matt Fitzpatrick pips Scottie Scheffler in play-off to claim second PGA Tour victory of the season

Fitzpatrick took a three-shot lead into the final day at Harbour Town Golf Links and posted two birdies in his first three holes to extend his advantage, with the Englishman seemingly in control of the tournament when he was still three ahead with four holes to play. Scheffler closed with back-to-back birdies and then found himself in a play-off when Fitzpatrick bogeyed the par-four last and slipped back to 18 under, ending a run of 14 straight pars for the overnight leader. Final leaderboard: RBC Heritage (external site)PGA Tour: Latest headlines and highlightsLatest PGA Tour results and scheduleGet Sky Sports or stream golf with no contract The players returned to the par-four 18th for the first extra hole, the fourth play-off in five years at the Signature Event, where Fitzpatrick fired his approach to 12 feet and rolled in the birdie to claim his second RBC Heritage win in four years. "I felt like I got off to a great start," Fitzpatrick said. "I knew Scottie [Scheffler] was going to make a few birdies on the final stretch. I kind of had to hang in there a little bit." Victory lifts Fitzpatrick to a career-high of world No 3 and makes him just the fourth Englishman in history to register multiple PGA Tour titles in the same season, following on from Sir Nick Faldo, Justin Rose (twice) and Luke Donald. How Fitzpatrick pipped Scheffler in PGA Tour play-off Fitzpatrick extended his overnight advantage with a 10-foot birdie at the first but failed to take advantage of the par-five next, where Scheffler tidied up from close range to get back within three. A 15-foot birdie from Fitzpatrick at the third restored a four-shot buffer, with both players burning opportunities to pull further clear at the par-four fourth before Scheffler burned another six-foot chance at the next. The pair continued to trade pars until Scheffler signed off a bogey-free front nine with a six-foot birdie at the ninth, taking him to 16 under, with both him and Fitzpatrick missing the green in regulation at the 10th before securing close-range pars. Nothing could separate the two as they pushed forward in pars, with Fitzpatrick holing from 15 feet to save par at the 11th and Scheffler producing a gutsy save from 10 feet at the 14th to avoid falling further behind. Si Woo Kim - playing in the group ahead - temporarily cut the lead to two when he rolled in from 12 feet at the par-five 15th, where Scheffler produced a brilliant up and down from the sand to make a birdie and join the Korean in tied-second. Scheffler rattled in from 10 feet at the 16th to reclaim solo second and move within a shot of Fitzpatrick, who edged closer to the finish line in pars before a clunky chip from the back of the final green led to a two-putt bogey. Fitzpatrick composed himself to find the green in regulation on the first play-off hole, where Scheffler finished short of the green and left himself a tester for par, as the Yorkshireman coaxed in for birdie to claim a second PGA Tour win in three starts. Scheffler's runner-up finish is his second in as many weeks, seven days on from ending a shot behind Rory McIlroy at The Masters last Sunday, while Kim was two strokes back in third spot after a final-round 68. "This was one of those weeks where anytime Fitzy [Fitzpatrick] needed something to happen, he made something happen," Scheffler said. "He definitely earned the win, and he just played great golf." Ludvig Åberg finished in fourth spot on 13 under alongside Collin Morikawa and Harris English, while Bud Cauley claimed seventh ahead of Rickie Fowler, Gary Woodland - who finished his week with a hole-out eagle, Patrick Cantlay and Kurt Kitayama. Keegan Bradley and Xander Schauffele both ended the week on 10 under, while Viktor Hovland - briefly in tied-second early on the final day - posted a five-over 76 to finish in tied-42nd alongside Ryder Cup teammates Shane Lowry, Sepp Straka and Robert MacIntyre. What's next? The PGA Tour heads to Louisiana for the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, a two-man team event at TPC Louisiana where Fitzpatrick will partner his brother Alex Fitzpatrick as Andrew Novak and Ben Griffin return as defending champions. Watch the Zurich Classic of New Orleans throughout the week live on Sky Sports. Early coverage begins on Thursday from 1pm ahead of full coverage from 8pm. Get Sky Sports or stream golf with no contract.

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No Writer
Apr 20
Eight children killed in shooting in Louisiana

Local police, who responded to a call shortly after 6am, say they were shot in a "domestic disturbance" at different homes. Shreveport police spokesperson Chris Bordelon said 10 people were shot in total and some of the eight children who died were related to the gunman. He said the suspect stole a car while fleeing the scene of the shootings and was shot and killed by police during a chase. Mr Bordelon said the crime scene extended across three locations, adding: "This is an extensive scene unlike anything most of us have ever seen." At a news conference outside a home where one of the shootings occurred, officials requested patience and prayers from the community. Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith said: "I just don't know what to say, my heart is just taken aback...I cannot begin to imagine how such an event could occur." The city's mayor, Tom Arceneaux, said: "This is a tragic situation - maybe the worst tragic situation we've ever had," adding: "It's a terrible morning." In a statement, state police said their detectives have been asked to investigate and that no officers were harmed in the shooting of the suspect. Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry said in a statement he and his wife were heartbroken. "We're deeply grateful to the law enforcement officers and first responders working tirelessly on the scene," he added.

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Apr 18
Kanye West's FC Basel concert cancelled

Swiss media had previously reported that the controversial rapper was due to perform at St. Jakob-Park, the home of football club FC Basel, in June. But on Saturday, the club announced that they had backed out of plans after a "thorough review". It is the fourth of West's European shows to be cancelled in the past fortnight. He was due to appear at the Silesian Stadium in Chorzów on 19 June, his first performance in Poland for 15 years, but the venue said on Friday it would not go ahead "due to formal and legal reasons". And earlier this month, his Wireless festival appearance was blocked after the UK government denied him entry to the country. Read more from Sky News:Civil servants knew weeks ago Mandelson failed security vettingEngland fans face inflated prices for travel to World Cup games Earlier this week, West himself announced his planned concert at the Orange Velodrome in Marseille, France, on 11 June would be postponed "until further notice". FC Basel, one of Switzerland's best-known football clubs, said in a statement: "FCB received an enquiry ⁠and considered it. "However, after thorough review, we have decided not ‌to proceed with the project, as we cannot, in accordance with our values, provide a platform ‌for the artist in question within this context." West recently wrote on his social media that he is "looking forward to the next shows". Fury over West's previous antisemitic comments have returned ahead of the rapper's scheduled European tour this summer. He has since apologised for his behaviour, which he attributed to a brain injury.

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Faye Brown, political reporter
Apr 19
Louise Haigh to set out economic polices that can 'unite Labour' in new intervention

Ms Haigh, an influential figure within the soft-left Tribune group, will speak at an event next week alongside the Labour MP Chris Curtis - a former YouGov pollster seen as a rising star from within the 2024 intake. Mr Curtis chairs the Labour Growth Group (LGG), a caucus of around 100 Labour MPs who are broadly loyal to Sir Keir Starmer but believe the government must be more radical to bring about growth that puts more money in people's pockets. While from different wings of the party (the LGG defines itself as moderate), the pair will outline polices they believe can unite both the party and Labour's wider voter coalition. They want to challenge the assumption that Labour MPs, who have forced the government into several U-turns, are unmanageable and nothing can unite them. Speaking together on a panel at the Good Growth Foundation's National Growth Debate, they are expected to make the case for a revamp of council tax and stamp duty as well as regulatory reform to encourage investment and support businesses to grow. They will argue that this is not about left or right, but a plan that pitches Labour against the status quo rather than as its defenders, with an economy that rewards hard work and takes on profiteering. Tuesday's event will also hear from senior cabinet ministers including Chancellor Rachel Reeves, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband and Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister Darren Jones. It follows a difficult week for the government after another turn in the Peter Mandelson vetting scandal led to fresh calls for the prime minister to resign. An LGG source told Sky News: "People are fed up of week after week of firefighting when we need to be talking about how we're going to change the country. "This concept that government can't do that because the PLP (Parliamentary Labour Party) can't be united is nonsense. There's an agenda that can unite Labour MPs and the country and they're (Chris and Lou) going to show that this week." Read more from Faye Brown:Government YouTube drive to fight 'conspiracy theorists'Ban on step-incest porn in government climbdown Ms Haigh was forced to resign in November 2024 after it emerged she had pleaded guilty to an offence related to incorrectly telling police that a work mobile phone was stolen in 2013. However, she remains well respected by colleagues who credit her with Labour's railway nationalisation. Last year she was involved in reviving the Tribune group, which has been pushing for the government to have bolder, more progressive policies. Sky News understands that Ms Haigh is leading a piece of work for the Tribune group on tax and institutional reform. She has previously called for an overhaul of the Office for Budget Responsibility, and is expected to expand on that in the coming weeks. In a sign of frustration coming from all factions of the party, the LGG has separately drawn up a blueprint for how Labour could cut taxes and incentivise small businesses as part of an overhaul of its economic strategy. As Sky News reported last month, the report will be published following May's local elections, which are expected to be disastrous for Labour and will pile further pressure on the government for a change of direction. Growth debate 'to define next decade of politics' Labour's manifesto has pledged to grow the economy, but there have been concerns the chancellor's self-imposed fiscal rules will make that difficult to achieve. The war in the Middle East has posed another blow, with experts predicting the UK will be harder hit than other advanced economies. The Good Growth Foundation's (GGF) director is Praful Nargund, who stood as Labour's candidate in Islington North at the general election, which Jeremy Corbyn held onto as an independent. As well as running the GGF he is a skills adviser to the Department for Work and Pensions. The think tank is campaigning for a fairer economy that prioritises growth which improves living standards. Nick Thomas-Symonds, the minister in charge of EU relations, will not give a public address but will host a private roundtable on the UK-EU relationship at the event. The event will also hear from opposition figures, including the Conservatives' shadow chancellor Mel Stride, Liberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper, and the Green Party's Treasury spokesperson Adrian Ramsay MP. Attendees will include business leaders, unions, campaign groups and think tanks as well as MPs. Mr Nargund said the event "isn't another economics conference about GDP numbers" but about "kicking off a debate about how we give people back a stake in growing the economy". He added: "The perma-instability of the last few years, let alone the last few months, hasn't just meant the relentless pressure of rising bills. "It's robbed people of the agency and choices they once took for granted. We're here to lead the fight to give that back, so that people can once again feel that they contribute to, and help shape, the economy they live in."

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Apr 19
European Darts Grand Prix: Gerwyn Price picks up record-making 10th European title with 8-6 win over Ross Smith

The victory in Germany marked Price's 10th title which sees him join just Michael van Gerwen on 10 or more titles and become the second of all-time. However, it was another moment of heartbreak for Smith who had made it into his fourth Euro Tour final but suffered another defeat. Premier League darts: Latest schedule and results ✅Darts in 2026: Key dates, calendar, results 📅Got Sky? Watch on the Sky Sports app 📱Not got Sky? Get instant access with NOW 📺 There was not much separating the two in the final as Price's early 3-0 lead with a double break was matched by Smith with two breaks of how own to level the match at 3-3. They key moment arrived in the 11th leg when Price found another break of throw as Smith went astray on his doubles to move 6-5 ahead. That proved enough as the Welshman then held his throw well and wrapped up another European win on D12. For Price, the history-making victory is one that he wants to push on from, especially as he faces Gian van Veen on Night 12 of the Premier League Darts in Liverpool on Thursday, live on Sky Sports. "I think me and Ross probably both tried a bit too hard in that game," Price said. "We have both had great tournaments and I was just struggling to get over the winning line. "Thankfully, I won this one and it will give me a bit of confidence going forward. "I have in the PDC about 12 years now so one a year on average is not that great is it so I need to buck my ideas up. "I have got a tough game against Gian van Veen up next in Liverpool in the Premier League but I can go there now full of confidence and build on this." Price beats Nijman and Schindler on way to final Price made it into another Euro Tour final with a strong 7-4 win over Wessel Nijman. Both players were in fine form and it showed in a classy clash, holds of throw becoming the name of the game as they took big swings at each other with both their scoring and sublime doubling. They key moment came in the eighth leg when Price found the only break of throw in the contest which sealed a two-leg advantage and proved too much for Nijman to overcome. Gerwyn Price also held off the loud partisan crowd as he came through a 6-5 last-leg thriller against Martin Schindler. The German crowd were right behind their No 1 and his doubling was giving them cause for delight. However, as Price took three legs on the spin to get right back into the contest, he hit back against each one of Schindler's clutch moments to seal the win on D5. Smith defeats Ratajski and Aspinall Smith booked his spot in the final with a battling 7-5 win over Krzysztof Ratajski. Ratajski was scoring well but his doubling went completely astray as he missed 15 out of 20 attempts at the outer ring. That allowed Smith to romp into an early lead then keep the 'Polish Eagle' at a slight distance to get over the line. Smith started his night by pulling off a big 6-4 win over Nathan Aspinall in the quarters. It was not the electrifying contest expected as Aspinall could not find his lofty heights from the afternoon, but Smith's doubling was strong enough to break his opponent's throw and hold on to take out D2 to make it through. Noppert pulls Ratajski up on clicking his flights Meanwhile, Ratajski pulled off a tense 6-5 win over Danny Noppert in the quarters, the 'Polish Eagle' holding his nerve in a leg last decider. There was some annoyance from Noppert as he believed that Ratajski was clicking his flights while waiting to throw but Ratajski said he was shocked that 'The Freeze' brought it up after the match because there was nothing in it. "I didn't expect it because I don't hear it," he said. "It was my fault, I was in shock and I missed three darts at a double after this because I didn't know what happened." Elsewhere, Nijman started his evening with his first ever win over Michael van Gerwen, the 'Green Machine' sub-par as nearly every other dart seemed to go astray. Three breaks of throw across eight legs meant that Nijman's 83 average looked more than good enough as the Dutch up and comer beat the Dutch heavyweight. 2026 Elten Safety Shoes European Darts Grand Prix: ResultsSaturday schedule Saturday April 18Round TwoAfternoon Session (1300 local time, 1200 BST)Krzysztof Ratajski 6-4 Mike De DeckerJermaine Wattimena 6-3 Kevin DoetsWessel Nijman 6-2 Ryan SearleDanny Noppert 6-5 Oskar LukasiakChris Dobey 6-2 Andrew GildingNiko Springer 6-3 Gary AndersonStephen Bunting 6-3 Mickey MansellJosh Rock 6-3 Keane Barry Evening Session (1900 local time, 1800 BST)Ross Smith 6-3 Cameron MenziesGerwyn Price 6-4 Dave ChisnallNathan Aspinall 6-1 Jeffrey de ZwaanJames Wade 6-3 Kim HuybrechtsJoe Cullen 6-3 Gian van VeenMichael van Gerwen 6-2 Michael UnterbuchnerMartin Schindler 6-5 Damon HetaJonny Clayton 6-1 Valters Melderis Sunday schedule Afternoon Session (12pm) Joe Cullen 2-6 Krzysztof RatajskiDanny Noppert 6-4 Niko SpringerJames Wade 3-6 Nathan AspinallJosh Rock 5-6 Ross SmithMichael van Gerwen 6-5 Jermaine WattimenaStephen Bunting 3-6 Wessel NijmanJonny Clayton 1-6 Martin SchindlerGerwyn Price 6-4 Chris Dobey Evening Session (6pm) Quarter-finals Krzysztof Ratajski 6-5 Danny NoppertNathan Aspinall 4-6 Ross SmithMichael van Gerwen 2-6 Wessel NijmanMartin Schindler 5-6 Gerwyn Price Semi-Finals Krzysztof Ratajski 5-7 Ross SmithWessel Nijman 4-7 Gerwyn Price Final Ross Smith 6-8 Gerwyn Price Who will win this year's Premier League Darts? Luke Humphries will be defending his title and you can watch the action every single Thursday until May on Sky Sports. Stream darts and more top sport with NOW.

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