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Aug 15
Hundreds gather for Bonnie Tyler procession in Wales ahead of funeral

The legendary Welsh rock singer, whose real name was Gaynor Hopkins, died aged 75 last month in Portugal. Fans lined Newton Road in the Mumbles, where she lived, to watch the procession as the singer was transported back to her former home. Others waited outside Tyler's home on nearby Mumbles Road, where floral tributes were laid. Among those waiting to pay their respects to Tyler was Carys Edwards, 18, who says the singer was "an inspiration to everybody". She said: "Her music touched a lot of people, especially me. "I'm quite surprised how many people came here today, but then not as well, because she was such an icon. "She was always coming home and making sure that she came back to her fans in Wales. "Her songs really did touch a lot of people here in Wales, we loved her a lot. "When we found out she passed away, it was such a heartbreak to all of us. We cried and everything." Carys' mother, Melanie Smith, 53, added: "Most importantly, she was a Swansea girl, and she didn't forget that." Michael Bone, 58, and his partner Alan Hawkins, 54, travelled from Derby to watch the procession. Mr Bone said: "We thought it'd be nice to pay our respects. "For me personally, it's because in my teens, her music was quite prolific, for me it was her most iconic period in the 1980s." Read more from Sky News:'What on earth is a bus gate? It cost me £35'Au Vodka founders to toast £500m windfall from Sazerac sale A celebration of Tyler's life for family and friends will take place at Swansea Minster on Monday, before the singer makes a final journey through her home village of Skewen, located just outside the town of Neath. Famous for her 80s hits Total Eclipse Of The Heart and Holding Out For A Hero, Tyler was nominated three times for a Grammy award, and represented the UK in the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest. She was awarded an MBE for her services to music by Queen Elizabeth II in 2023. Her final full live concert was at the O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire in London on 19 March.

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No Writer
Aug 15
Hundreds gather for Bonnie Tyler procession in Wales ahead of funeral

The legendary Welsh rock singer, whose real name was Gaynor Hopkins, died aged 75 last month in Portugal. Fans lined Newton Road in the Mumbles, where she lived, to watch the procession as the singer was transported back to her former home. Others waited outside Tyler's home on nearby Mumbles Road, where floral tributes were laid. Among those waiting to pay their respects to Tyler was Carys Edwards, 18, who says the singer was "an inspiration to everybody". She said: "Her music touched a lot of people, especially me. "I'm quite surprised how many people came here today, but then not as well, because she was such an icon. "She was always coming home and making sure that she came back to her fans in Wales. "Her songs really did touch a lot of people here in Wales, we loved her a lot. "When we found out she passed away, it was such a heartbreak to all of us. We cried and everything." Carys' mother, Melanie Smith, 53, added: "Most importantly, she was a Swansea girl, and she didn't forget that." Michael Bone, 58, and his partner Alan Hawkins, 54, travelled from Derby to watch the procession. Mr Bone said: "We thought it'd be nice to pay our respects. "For me personally, it's because in my teens, her music was quite prolific, for me it was her most iconic period in the 1980s." Read more from Sky News:'What on earth is a bus gate? It cost me £35'Au Vodka founders to toast £500m windfall from Sazerac sale A celebration of Tyler's life for family and friends will take place at Swansea Minster on Monday, before the singer makes a final journey through her home village of Skewen, located just outside the town of Neath. Famous for her 80s hits Total Eclipse Of The Heart and Holding Out For A Hero, Tyler was nominated three times for a Grammy award, and represented the UK in the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest. She was awarded an MBE for her services to music by Queen Elizabeth II in 2023. Her final full live concert was at the O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire in London on 19 March.

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Aug 14
Why Farage may face a second by-election despite Clacton win

The veteran politician, who was deputy Labour leader under Gordon Brown, explained on the Electoral Dysfunction podcast how the process of investigating the Reform leader will now continue after he won the Clacton by-election today. Mr Farage resigned as Clacton's MP over scrutiny surrounding the £5m he was given by Thailand-based crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne before he decided to stand to become an MP in 2024. He has maintained it was for personal reasons - namely security - and not political, which is allowed under the rules. Politics latest: Farage £5m gift inquiry reopened He said he wanted the people of Clacton to decide if they still had faith in him, and declared that they did after he won the by-election his resignation triggered with a larger majority than in 2024. The parliamentary standards commissioner had to pause the investigation into whether Mr Farage had broken Commons rules by failing to declare the money when he resigned, but shortly after he won the by-election, it was announced the inquiry has been resumed - in keeping with the rules. Baroness Harman said: "The standards commissioner will decide whether or not it's a breach of the code - I would think it's almost inevitable it is, and almost inevitable that he would decide it's a serious breach. "I think it's most likely the standards commissioner would propose a sanction which is more than a 10-day suspension from the Commons - which would trigger the possibility of a recall petition, where if 10% of the voters in Clacton vote for a recall petition that will trigger another by-election." She added she thinks 10% would be reached judging by the 26.7% of voters who chose Count Binface rather than Mr Farage in this week's by-election. And Baroness Harman said she thinks all the main parties would stand a candidate, unlike this time when they boycotted it. "I think at that point it will have been established that he has broken the rules seriously in relation to trying to keep this £5m secret, that the voters in Clacton, if they re-elect him don't care about that," she said."But I think voters in other parts of the country might not agree with the voters of Clacton and might think this man is not suitable to be prime minister." Pollster Luke Tryl, executive director of More in Common, also told the podcast there is a danger for Mr Farage in accepting the £5m in that people will see him as "the same as the rest of the political class", when he has tried to appear anti-establishment. He added: "I think that the danger of this £5m is that people compare it to things like the freebies, they compare it to some of those, I mean, I've had groups where people have compared it to the PPE scandal, and they just start to go, 'oh, goodness, this is going to be more of the same as well'."

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Aug 15
Crouch guides Coppull home in Hungerford to complete big-race double

The three-year-old Clive Cox-trained colt finished third in the July Cup last time out but a bold plan to move up to seven furlongs was landed in fine style for his jockey, who also completing a treble on the card. Crouch delivered Coppull in eyecatching style, too, peeling away from the main group towards the far side two-and-a-half furlongs from home at the head of a three-strong breakaway, a path which proved quicker to the line. It proved a masterstroke as the Bated Breath colt stayed on too strongly to land the £93,571 pot by one-and-a-quarter lengths at 15-2 from Prince Of India (14-1) with a further three-quarters of a length back to another of the breakaway trio, the 5-2 favourite Symbol Of Honour. 'Exciting' Sun Goddess looks the part in Phoenix StakesUnbeaten star Bow Echo in shock retirement after setback Cox, who was credited by Crouch with the decision to go far side, said victory over seven furlongs had given them options for the remainder of the season. "He was unlucky not to be a place closer at least in the July Cup but he always gave me the impression he would stretch another furlong, even as a two-year-old where he ran so well in the Coventry," he told ITV Racing. "He's got a lot of class and he reminds me an awful lot of Lethal Force who won this race back in 2012 and he went on to be champion sprinter the year after he won this. "He's still quick enough for six furlongs and while I'm not convinced he likes it really soft, with the dry summer we've had we've got choices now. "If he comes back all right we could still run in the Haydock Sprint Cup and that would be with a bit of confidence after today. And we still have the Park Stakes [Group Two over seven furlongs at Doncaster] which obviously he would have a penalty in." Melbourne Cup next stop for Wine Dark Sea after Freer success Wine Dark Sea made every yard of the running to land a gamble in the Highclere Thoroughbred Racing Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury and set up a possible tilt at the Melbourne Cup. Connections have recently sold a share in the four-year-old gelding to Australian Bloodstock and victory under Hector Crouch was enough to earn a place in the Flemington race. Making all under Crouch, Wine Dark Sea, who was well backed from 13-2 into 7-2, never looked like being pegged back and stayed on well in the straight to pull clear of the staying-on Tabletalk to win by a length and a half. William Haggas' 2-1 favourite Dubai Honour was a neck further back in third. Winning trainer Harry Charlton confirmed the Melbourne spectacular was the next stop for the improving four-year-old with the horse set to go into quarantine on September 9. "The intention today was to finish third which would help with the ballot qualification for the Melbourne Cup and he has done more than that," said Charlton. "The Aussies who I'm dealing with were saying finish third and they won't change his handicap mark. It is very different how they do it." Wine Dark Sea ran out an impressive winner of handicaps at Ascot and Carlisle earlier in the season but could manage only fifth when well supported at Newmarket's July meeting. Charlton was inclined to put that disappointment down to the rigours of a stiff finish and long journey to the Cumbrian track. "Although he won on the bridle at Carlisle he broke the track record carrying top weight so you can't have an easy race, particularly travelling eight hours in a heatwave. The 10 days later we just saw a slightly flat horse. "My brother [Tom] trains in Australia and has a Melbourne Cup runner as well. I have a team going down with the horse and you train out of the quarantine barn at Ballarat."

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Aug 15
More than 100 arrested in Morocco after social media call for another migrant mass crossing to Ceuta

Moroccan police blocked the attempt two weeks after more than 72,000 people descended on the Spanish enclave on the tip of northern Africa. At least 96 died in that incident - many by drowning - and it led to a diplomatic spat between Spain and Italy over border security. A source in Morocco's interior ministry said nearly all of those arrested on Saturday - 109 - were from sub-Saharan Africa. The other two were Moroccans. They were detained in or around Fnideq, the Moroccan city opposite Ceuta. Police used tear gas to disperse people on hills about two miles from the border, according to Spanish news agency EFE. Images showed scores of police, some in riot gear, escorting migrants from the area. Moroccan authorities said earlier this week they were monitoring social media posts urging another mass crossing on 15 August and would prosecute organisers and participants. There was a heavy Spanish police presence on Ceuta's streets on Saturday, but it was calmer than in the days after the mass crossing. Soldiers and more than 500 extra police have been sent from mainland Spain, bringing the total to more than 1,600 officers in a city of around 80,000 people. A barrier has also been installed in the sea to try to prevent another mass crossing. "We'll continue to deploy whatever personnel are necessary to restore normality as soon as possible and prevent events like those ‌of July 30 from happening again," interior minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said on Thursday. Most of those who breached the border returned to Morocco in the days after the influx, according to Spanish authorities, but Mr Grande-Marlaska said about 5,000 were still in Ceuta. He said all would be returned to Morocco - except in rare cases of extreme vulnerability. Many of those remaining are camping in makeshift shelters on the beach. However, Sky News was told this week that about 75 had made it to southern Spain via boat. The crisis sparked anti-immigration rhetoric across Europe and diplomatic tensions within the EU over border policy, with Spain accusing some partners of an "unhelpful and polarising" response. Read more from Sky News:Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon kill 11 people including three childrenTrump dismisses concerns about conditions on US aircraft carrier Italy temporarily suspended its open-border Schengen agreement with Spain, re-imposing controls for air and sea until at least 15 August In return, Spain said passport, nationality, and visa checks would be conducted for Italian passengers and visitors from other countries arriving from Italy ‌until 7 September.

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Aug 13
Nick Reiner, son of Hollywood director Rob Reiner, denies murdering parents after allegation of lying in wait

Nick Reiner, 32, pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of his father and mother, Rob and Michele Reiner, in the family's home in the affluent suburb of Brentwood. Grand jury charges unsealed on Wednesday replaced last year's original murder case, adding what prosecutors referred to as a "special circumstance" - the accusation that he lay in wait for the couple before the fatal stabbing attack. He was also charged with using a deadly weapon, a knife. The bodies of Rob Reiner, 78, and Michele Singer Reiner, 70, were found at their home on 14 December. Nick Reiner was arrested the following day. If convicted, he could face the death penalty or be jailed for life with no chance of parole. A decision about whether to seek the death penalty will be made later, prosecutors said. Los Angeles County district attorney Nathan Hochman said it was "a profound betrayal by someone who was loved and trusted by the very people he is accused of killing". He added: "We hope that by having a grand jury return an indictment in this case it will bring us one step closer to a trial and achieving justice." Read more:Messi's doubts over playing futureRod Stewart gigs off after surgery Rob Reiner's films include When Harry Met Sally, A Few Good Men, and This Is Spinal Tap. Michele Reiner was a photographer and producer. In April, Nick's brother Jake discussed how hard it was to cope with the death of his parents.

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Aug 13
'A hammer blow to young people': Businesses fume at proposed zero hours reforms

Youth unemployment is already at its highest level in more than a decade, and Andy Burnham has made getting more youngsters into work or training one of his first priorities as prime minister. Ministers argue their proposed reforms will help millions of workers who face uncertainty over their weekly hours and earnings and even support economic growth because it will improve employee "wellbeing and engagement". But Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, said they will only serve to add more strain on businesses still reeling from the government's decision to raise employers' national insurance contributions. She warned: "Adding further costs when youth unemployment is soaring risks being a hammer blow to young people's job prospects, at precisely the time businesses across the country need to be creating more opportunities." Ms Dickinson's concerns were echoed by Kate Shoesmith from the British Chambers of Commerce, saying: "We are already facing a youth unemployment crisis – now is not the time to make it even more costly for employers to hire." UKHospitality chairwoman Kate Nicholls said the government should instead be seeking ways to "reduce the cost of employing people", and that young people would be most impacted by a zero-hours contracts ban. Read more from Sky News:UK braces for 37C highsTrump's press secretary to leave Reforms 'will give workers greater security' According to the government's impact assessment published yesterday, the direct cost to employers of a ban may be between £350m and £2.9bn per year. It is consulting on whether to apply the policy to anyone working 48 hours a week, but its preference is for it to be between eight and 20 hours. The proposals would mean workers get payments of between £5m and £1.2bn because of the right to payments for shifts getting cut or moved at short notice. A government spokesperson maintained it was "absolutely committed to ending exploitative zero-hours contracts". "These reforms will give workers in every postcode greater income security and predictability of hours," they added. The proposals have been welcomed by the Trades Union Congress, which accused critics of "scaremongering". "These are common-sense reforms, which bring us closer to the European mainstream," it said.

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Aug 15
The Hundred: Trent Rockets target two titles at Lord's on Sunday but SunRisers Leeds and Manchester Super Giants stand in their way

Rockets' men's and women's sides advanced directly to the finals after topping their respective tables during the group phase, winning 13 of their combined 16 matches. The Midlanders already have the Hundred Helix trophy sewn up - a new prize awarded to the best-performing franchise across the men's and women's competitions. The Hundred finals - all you need to know ahead of SundayLatest Sky Sports deals or stream cricket with no contractListen to latest episode of the Sky Sports Cricket podcast Now, though, Rockets, want to secure individual men's and women's glory, live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Mix. The women are up first at the Home of Cricket as they take on defending champions SunRisers Leeds from 2.15pm - SunRisers triumphed a year ago under their Northern Superchargers name - before the men play Manchester Super Giants from 6pm. Rockets women have never won The Hundred before. In fact, this is their first final, after four group-stage exits and a defeat in the eliminator across the first five editions. Rockets men, meanwhile, are one-time champions, prevailing in 2022 before their now-captain Billings began his love affair with this tournament and led Oval Invincibles to three successive Hundred titles, capped off with a win over Rockets in the 2025 final. Billings 'very proud' of Hundred success Invincibles let Billings go ahead of the auction as they began a new era under their MI London moniker, allowing Rockets to swoop for him. It has been an extremely shrewd acquisition, with Billings now on the brink of four in a row. The Rockets skipper said: "It is impressive. It's something I'm very proud of and to have the opportunity to win another one, albeit with a different team, is very pleasing. You want to be in this stage of the tournament every year so it's not lost on me. "The opportunity we have, I never take it for granted, playing here at the Home of Cricket. As a young kid growing up, you dream of occasions like this and playing at Lord's. As you get older, you start to appreciate these things a little more, I suppose. "I think we might be one of the oldest teams in the competition. We have a lot of guys who have played in finals before, been successful in finals. We have had brilliant energy throughout this competition." Billings' opposite number on Sunday will be Jos Buttler, who has stepped up to captain Super Giants since South Africa's Aiden Markram exited for personal reasons. Buttler has stepped up with the bat, too - plundering 311 runs, including four fifties, and he cracked 33 off 20 balls in the eliminator win over SunRisers on Friday night. Billings, whose side beat Super Giants by six wickets while amid a run of six straight wins during the group stage, said of his weekend opponents: "They're a very good team. "Jos [Buttler] is arguably the best white-ball player ever to represent England and the leading record run-scorer ever in T20 cricket. They've got a lot of variety in their side as well. But I think it's all about us, to be honest. "We topped the group. We beat them in Manchester, which definitely gives us confidence. We will absolutely respect them. But, as a team, winning the league stage gives us a lot of confidence. We've been the best team from a record point of view." Can Gibson's SunRisers deny Gardner more Lord's glory? There will definitely be a triumphant England captain in the men's final, either Billings or Buttler, and there could also be one in the women's. SunRisers' Dani Gibson - one of only three English skippers in the women's competition this term, alongside London Spirit's Charlie Dean and MI London's Hollie Armitage - will be hoping to get the better of Rockets' Australian leader Ash Gardner. Gibson was in the England team beaten by an Australian outfit containing Gardner in the Women's T20 World Cup final at Lord's in July. Gardner also has fellow 2026 World Cup winners Kim Garth and Beth Mooney with her at Rockets, although there are members of that victorious squad in the SunRisers' ranks in Phoebe Litchfield and Annabel Sutherland, the leading run-scorers in the women's Hundred this term. Gardner said: "There are definitely some fantastic memories here at Lord's. It's nice coming back to the same dressing room and hopefully that brings some good energy. Having a few Australians in the side helps because we know what big occasions require. "Sunday is a new game and a different challenge but there are plenty of positive memories to draw on and confidence in the things we've done well throughout the season." Gibson added of playing Rockets, who have England skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt in their line-up: "They've got some great names but I think every team has great names. It's just making sure that we prep well and play the conditions that we're going to get here. "Adapt quickly, communicate well and enjoy playing." Watch The Hundred finals, at Lord's, live from 2pm on Sunday on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Mix. The women's match between Trent Rockets and SunRisers Leeds starts at 2.15pm with the men's between Trent Rockets and Manchester Super Giants under way at 6pm. Stream cricket contract-free with NOW.

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