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No Writer
Feb 22
Armed man shot and killed after entering perimeter of Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence

The man was seen by the north gate of the Florida property at around 1.30am local time (6.30am UK time) on Sunday. He was carrying what appeared to be a shotgun and a fuel can, officials added. US media have identified the suspect as Austin Tucker Martin - a 21-year-old who was reported missing by his family a few days ago. Rick Bradshaw, the sheriff of Palm Beach County, said the man made it into Mar-a-Lago's inner perimeter. He is believed to have driven through the north gate of the estate as another vehicle was exiting. The man raised his shotgun to a shooting position after being confronted by a deputy and two Secret Service agents, who then "fired their weapons and neutralised the threat", the sheriff added. Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said the suspect was in his early 20s and from North Carolina. According to Mr Guglielmi, investigators believe he left North Carolina and headed south, picking up a shotgun along the way. The box for the gun was recovered in his vehicle. Investigators are working to compile a psychological profile while the motive is still under investigation. Suspect 'from family of Trump supporters', says relative The suspect's cousin, Braeden Fields, 19, spoke with a reporter from the Associated Press, stating: "We are big Trump supporters, all of us. Everybody." But he said his relative didn't discuss politics and was "real quiet, never really talked about anything". "He's a good kid," Mr Fields said, adding that Martin sent part of every pay cheque from his job at a local golf course to charity. "I wouldn't believe he would do something like this. It's mind-blowing." While Mr Trump often spends the weekends at Mar-a-Lago, he was at the White House with his wife Melania when the incident took place. White House praises Secret Service White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the Secret Service had acted "quickly and decisively to neutralise a crazy person" who had intruded into Mr Trump's home. She wrote on X: "Federal law enforcement are working 24/7 to keep our country safe and protect all Americans. It's shameful and reckless that Democrats have chosen to shut down their Department." Earlier this month, Democrats in the US Senate blocked a funding package for the Department of Homeland Security, which includes the Secret Service, over their opposition to an immigration crackdown that has triggered widespread protests and seen two people killed in Minneapolis. The FBI has asked residents who live near Mar-a-Lago to check any security cameras as they may have footage that could help investigators. Five days ago, US Capitol Police arrested a Georgia gunman armed with a shotgun as he sprinted towards the west side of the Capitol. Read more on Sky News:Trump sending 'great hospital boat' to GreenlandUS president announces new global tariffs Mr Trump previously faced a threat to his life when he was wounded during an assassination attempt during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on 13 July 2024. On 15 September 2024, a man with a rifle was captured after waiting near Mr Trump's golf course in West Palm Beach while the president played a round. He was sentenced to life in prison earlier this month.

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No Writer
Feb 22
Mainstream schools to receive extra funding for SEND pupils as part of £4bn package

Targeted interventions such as small-group language work will receive funding, and there will be help for staff to introduce adaptive teaching styles, as part of a major government overhaul to be announced on Monday. Some £1.6bn over three years will be provided to early years, schools and colleges through an "inclusive mainstream fund". Another £1.8bn over the same period will go towards creating an "experts at hand" service, made up of specialists such as SEND teachers and speech and language therapists in every area. Schools will be able to draw from this bank on demand regardless of whether pupils have education, health and care plans (EHCPs) - legal documents setting out the support children with SEND are entitled to - the Department for Education (DfE) said. A further £200m will be invested in SEND outreach teams for communities, and another £200m for local authorities to "transform how they operate in line with our reforms while maintaining current SEND services", the DfE said. Unions broadly welcomed the commitment to reform but warned they would be scrutinising the detail when the Schools White Paper is released to see whether the changes are enough. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer promised "tailored support" for families and an end to the "one size fits all system". "I've heard first hand the struggles and exhaustion faced by too many parents who feel they have to fight the system to get their child the support they need," he said. "But getting the right support should never be a battle - it should be a given." Read more from Sky News:BAFTAs red carpet: All the fashion from the starsCall for 'treason' probe into Andrew's Epstein links Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the government was "fiercely ambitious for children and young people with SEND", who deserve a system that "lifts them up, and that puts no limit on what they can go on to achieve". She said: "These reforms are a watershed moment for a generation of young people and generations to come, and a major milestone in this government's mission to make sure opportunity is for each and every child." But public service union Unison said the money "has to go where it's needed" and "exactly how that will happen under these new plans is not clear". Head of education at the union Mike Short said: "The broad themes in the White Paper are encouraging and cutting the disadvantage gap is key if every child is to achieve and thrive. "Any reforms must ensure there's enough funding to support all children and pay staff properly for the work they do." He added: "Ministers and schools must properly recognise and reward the vital role support staff play in delivering for children with SEND." The National Association of Headteachers welcomed the "principle" of more support for pupils in mainstream schools and said "along with this significant investment, we will be scrutinising the details closely and speaking to school leaders to weigh up whether it is sufficient". "There will always be some pupils whose needs are so great that they require support in a special school, and it's crucial the government's plans ensure all children get the support they need at the right time in the right setting," Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the union, said. Jon Sparkes, chief executive of learning disability charity Mencap, said: "The move to make mainstream schools more inclusive is welcome news. "Families must have their children's needs identified early and for them to be given the right help straight away, backed by services fully funded to do the job, and rights underpinned by law." The Institute for Public Policy Research think tank said "no plan will be perfect" but that reforms to the system should not become the next "political flashpoint" in Westminster. "The costs of delay are already being felt," associate director Avnee Morjaria said. "This must now be a moment for everyone to get behind a serious programme of reform."

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No Writer
Feb 22
Call for 'treason' probe into Andrew's Epstein links - as searches at ex-duke's former home continue

Tom Tugendhat has suggested a parliamentary probe into Andrew and Peter Mandelson's links to Epstein, telling The Sun on Sunday: "This goes beyond what a court could reasonably consider. Parliament must consider what it means for the country. "If the worst is proved, do we need to revisit treason laws written 700 years ago?" Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson suggested the UK government is open to taking further steps regarding the fallout from Andrew's arrest. "We're not ruling anything out around this," she told Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips. She also said the government would look "at any sensible proposals" when asked about the possibility of an independent judge-led inquiry. But, Ms Phillipson added, the government would not be setting out further steps until police "have been able to do their work", with a live investigation under way. Ms Phillipson confirmed the government will "keep available" the option of removing Andrew from the royal line of succession, plans which had emerged on Friday. Reform UK's Treasury spokesman Robert Jenrick will support a possible government bill to remove Andrew from the line of succession, he told Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips. "If the government brings forward this bill with the support of the King, then we will back it," Mr Jenrick said. He also said he was open to a parliamentary probe into both Andrew and Mr Mandelson, who is being investigated for potential misconduct in public office. "The King serves this country extremely well," Mr Jenrick said but added that Andrew had "disgraced the Royal Family, and he's disgraced our country in the process". "And whatever happens, whether he's ultimately prosecuted or not, he should now just go off, lead a private life and allow the King and the rest of the Royal Family to continue doing the good job that they do for us." Read more: What exactly is misconduct in public office? The Sunday Times reported Metropolitan Police officers assigned to Andrew were instructed to provide security for a dinner party at Epstein's residence in New ‌York in 2010. The newspaper cited emails from the Epstein files that appear to detail arrangements for Andrew to stay with the ​late paedophile financier in December 2010, along ‌with his two protection officers from the Met Police. Police ‌said they have not identified any wrongdoing by the protection officers at this stage. Asked to respond to Sunday's reports, the Met Police said it had no further comment. Read more from Sky News:Three dead and four others injured in crashTrump sending 'great hospital boat' to Greenland Royal biographer and historian Andrew Morton told Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips the fallout surrounding Andrew could have particularly grave consequences for the Royal Family because there is "no end in sight". Mr Morton, who wrote a biography of the late Princess Diana, said there was very little the King could do to stop the fallout, as he publicly let the police lead on the matter, and there was now "blood seeping under the doorway on a regular basis". Mr Morton said he expected police investigating Andrew would have looked at "the money trail" - including Sarah Ferguson borrowing money from Epstein. "The money side of things will be, I would have thought, front and central in this investigation," he said. Mr Morton added: "This is a turning moment for the monarchy." Thames Valley Police has said the searches at Royal Lodge in Windsor would continue until Monday. On Sunday, images showed cars with police officers still moving in and out of Royal Lodge, a few miles from Windsor Castle. The former prince was arrested on Thursday, with Thames Valley Police later releasing a statement saying it had "arrested a man in his sixties from Norfolk on suspicion of misconduct in public office". Andrew was released from the Aylsham police station after 11 hours of questioning. Andrew has always strenuously denied any wrongdoing.

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No Writer
Feb 22
Why context matters – Sky News Explains YouTube series relaunches

In each episode of the new long-form series, our reporter Olive Enokido-Lineham will break down one topic and get to the context behind the story. She'll be speaking to our correspondents from around the world and experts on that particular topic. Watch our full episode at the top of this article. Before re-launching Sky News Explains, Olive specialised in verification and open-source investigations (OSINT). Her stories include investigations into the war in Gaza, to verifying videos from Ukraine and Syria. Olive also produced the Sky News documentary Escaping Putin, which follows a Russian soldier who fled from the army and the anti-war activists behind it. For the first episode of Sky News Explains, Olive looks at how Donald Trump reinvented the US immigration agency ICE. ICE has been in the news for months, but the agency itself is over 20 years old. Olive looks at who ICE are, how their tactics have changed and why Trump has given them so much money and power. In the episode, Olive analyses footage of ICE agents and data. She talks to former ICE acting director John Sandweg, and two of our US correspondents Mark Stone, in Washington DC and Martha Kelner - who reported from Minneapolis following the shooting of Renee Good.

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Gemma Peplow, culture and entertainment reporter
Feb 22
BAFTAs red carpet 2026: All the fashion from British and Hollywood stars

Emma Stone, Kate Hudson, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jessie Buckley, Teyana Taylor, Timothee Chalamet, Michael B Jordan, Carey Mulligan and Rose Byrne were among the stars on the BAFTA Film Awards red carpet this year. One Battle After Another was the big winner, with acting prizes for Buckley and British rising star Robert Aramayo. Here are all the outfits as the stars arrived ahead of the ceremony.

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No Writer
Feb 22
Mexican drug lord 'El Mencho' killed in military operation

The leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, whose real name is Nemesio Ruben Oseguera Cervantes, died on Sunday. Oseguera Cervantes was wounded in an operation to capture him in Tapalpa, Jalisco, around two hours' drive southwest of Guadalajara, on Sunday, the Defence Department said in a statement. He died while being flown to Mexico City, the statement added. The state is the base of the cartel known for trafficking large quantities of fentanyl and other drugs to the US. During the operation, troops came under fire and killed four people. Three others, including Oseguera Cervantes, were wounded and later died, the statement said. Two more people were arrested, and armoured vehicles, rocket launchers and other firearms were seized. Three members of the armed forces were also wounded. The US Embassy in Mexico said on X that Mexican special forces carried out the operation "within the framework of bilateral cooperation, with U.S. authorities providing complementary intelligence". Roads blocked and cars set on fire The killing of Oseguera Cervantes set off several hours of roadblocks, with vehicles torched in Jalisco and other states. Such tactics are commonly used by the cartels to block military operations. Videos posted on social media showed plumes of smoke billowing over Puerto Vallarta, a major city in Jalisco, and people running through the airport of the state's capital in panic. In Guadalajara, the state capital, flaming vehicles blocked roads. Mexico's second-largest city is set to host matches at the World Cup this summer. The US State Department warned US citizens in Jalisco, Tamaulipas, Michoacan, Guerrero and Nuevo Leon states to remain in safe places while security operations are carried out. Read more from Sky News:Iran's regime may be ready to strike a deal with TrumpVirtual reality offers escape to Gaza's children Jalisco governor Pablo Lemus told residents to stay at home and suspended public transportation. School in the state was also cancelled for Monday. On Sunday, United Airlines said it had cancelled flight operations to Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara. American Airlines told Reuters in a separate statement it has cancelled flights to and from PVR and GDL for the remainder of Sunday. Air Canada said it was suspending flights to Puerto Vallarta "due to an ongoing security situation". Reaction to operation Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum recognised the efforts of security forces and called for calm in a post on X. US Deputy Secretary ‌of State Christopher ​Landau called the drug lord's killing ⁠a "great development ⁠for Mexico, the ‌US, Latin America, and ‌the world". Posting on X, Mr Landau added: "I'm watching the scenes of violence from ⁠Mexico with ​great sadness and ​concern." The US State Department had offered a reward of up to $15m for information leading to the arrest of El Mencho. Oseguera Cervantes has been heavily involved in drug trafficking since the 1990s. He was convicted of conspiracy to distribute heroin in the US District Court for the Northern District of California in 1994 and spent almost three years in prison. Following his release from custody, Oseguera Cervantes returned to Mexico and continued drug trafficking operations. Since 2017, he has been indicted several times in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. One of Mexico's most powerful criminal organisations The Jalisco New Generation Cartel is one of the most powerful and fastest-growing criminal organisations in Mexico. In February, the Trump administration designated it as a foreign terrorist organisation. The cartel carried out a daring assassination attempt in 2020 with grenades and high-powered rifles against the then-head of the capital's police force, who is now head of federal security, in the heart of Mexico City. The DEA considers it to be as powerful as the Sinaloa cartel, one of Mexico's most notorious criminal groups. The cartel has a presence in all 50 US states and is believed to be one of the leading suppliers of cocaine to the US market. Like the Sinaloa cartel, it earns billions of dollars from the production of methamphetamines and fentanyl.

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Gemma Peplow, culture and entertainment reporter
Feb 22
British rising star Robert Aramayo beats Timothee Chalamet and Leonardo DiCaprio to acting BAFTA - as One Battle After Another named best film

Aramayo won the award for his performance in I Swear, which tells the real-life story of Tourette's campaigner John Davidson, while Irish actress Jessie Buckley was named best actress for her performance in the Shakespeare biopic Hamnet. Paul Thomas Anderson's comedy-thriller One Battle After Another, starring DiCaprio, Teyana Taylor, Chase Infiniti and Sean Penn, was the biggest winner of the night, picking up six BAFTAs including best film, best director, and supporting actor for Penn. Accepting the best film award, Anderson - who had earlier almost dropped his BAFTA for best adapted screenplay - said it was a "tremendous honour", adding: "Anybody who says that movies aren't good any more can piss right off because this is a great f***ing year." Prince William, who is president of BAFTA, and Kate were in the room to cheer the winners on, alongside other stars including nominees Emma Stone and Kate Hudson, music stars Little Simz, Stormzy and Jessie Ware, and Kylie Jenner - here in the UK to support her boyfriend Chalamet. Snacks for the stars Host Alan Cumming brought some humour to the show, offering snacks to the A-listers - Jammie Dodgers for Chalamet and Jenner, Twiglets for Rose Byrne, and an oaty flapjack for DiCaprio (who said it sounded "fantastic"). During his speech, Aramayo was cheered on by his dad, and became emotional as he told the BAFTAs audience: "I honestly cannot believe that I have won this award." The 33-year-old, who grew up in Hull, thanked fellow nominee Ethan Hawke, and said: "Everyone in this category blows me away. "When I was in school, Ethan Hawke came in to speak to us in Julliard and he gave an amazing talk on longevity as an actor, about protecting your instrument and avoiding self-destructive behaviours, and it had a great impact on everyone in the room. "So to be in this category with you tonight is incredible. Thank you, Ethan." The award was his second of the night, coming not long after he had accepted the rising star prize - the only one to be chosen by a public vote - and I Swear also picked up a third award for its casting. 'Nuclear bad fake tan' In contrast to Aramayo, Buckley was the favourite to win the best actress award after picking up the prize at the Critics Choice Awards and Golden Globes earlier this year. She is the first Irish star to take home the prize. "As a little girl, I never in a million years thought I would get to make a film," she said in her speech. Recalling her early days as an actress, she said: "I had nuclear bad fake tan on, white hoop earrings, a polka-dot red skirt and had the audacity to say one day I wanted to be like Judi Dench." Buckley, who rose to fame on the talent show I'd Do Anything, coming runner-up in the series' search to find a lead to play Nancy in the 2009 West End revival of the British musical Oliver, said it was "nuts" to be on stage, winning a BAFTA, and paid tribute to the "women past, present and future who taught me and continue to teach me how to do it differently". Addressing her fellow nominees, the Irish actress said: "You are all just radical and you are doing it for the naughty girls, and I'm in awe of all your incredible performances." She also dedicated the award to her daughter, saying: "It's the best role of my life being your mum and I promise to continue to be disobedient so you can belong to a world in all your complete wildness as a young woman. I am very grateful for this." Read more on the BAFTAs:The full list of winnersThe best red carpet fashion Wins for Sinners and Frankenstein Paul Mescal plays Shakespeare alongside Buckley, who plays his wife, Agnes, in Hamnet. The film tells the story of the death of their son, Hamnet, from the plague, and how Shakespeare was inspired to write Hamlet. Buckley's win was one of two for the film, which also picked up the prize for outstanding British film. Producer Sir Sam Mendes acknowledged the other nominees in the category and said: "We are not great as an industry or a culture for patting ourselves on the back, but perhaps we should." Elsewhere, period vampire horror Sinners, starring Michael B Jordan, picked up three awards, including best supporting actress for British star Wunmi Mosaku, and the prizes for original screenplay and score. Frankenstein, starring Jacob Elordi, also won three - for costume, make-up and hair, and production design.

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Diana Magnay, international correspondent
Feb 22
As protests resume in Tehran, Iran's regime may be ready to strike a deal with Trump

Pro-and anti-regime activists protested at five universities in Tehran on Saturday, in some instances facing off against each other. At the Ferdowsi University in Mashhad, Iran's second city and birthplace of Ayatollah Khamenei, video shows a large gathering of anti-regime protestors chanting "so much crime all these years" and "death to this rule". These demonstrations are nowhere near the scale of the protests six weeks ago which saw uprisings in towns and cities across all Iran's 31 provinces, but it is brave to be coming out at all given the authorities' crackdown in January. The numbers killed then are still unclear, but the US-based Human Rights Activists Agency (HRANA) says they have verified at least 7,015 fatalities and have thousands more cases under review.The government has admitted to 3,117 deaths including around 200 security personnel. Donald Trump has said he believes 32,000 people were killed. The 40th day is an important moment in the mourning process in Iran. During the revolution in 1979, 40th day commemorations became flashpoints for fresh protest, sparking renewed crackdowns and killings and further cycles of unrest. As a result, the Iranian regime has been wary of allowing mourners to gather for commemorative rituals. Last week, clashes around the 40th day took place in Abdanan, a city near the border with Iraq. Videos show people chanting "death to Khamenei" as they remembered Alireza Seydi, a 16-year-old boy killed on January 8th. In another video from the city, the sound of gunfire echoes across the valley. It is difficult to tell what exactly the response of the authorities has been to this latest unrest. Internet is back but it is patchy. On Tuesday, the Ayatollah gave a speech saying some of those who took part in the January protests had been "naive and inexperienced" and were deceived by the rioters, but that they were still "part of us, they were our children". Given the US military build-up across the Middle East, the Iranian authorities appear not to want to provoke Donald Trump by being heavy-handed with protesters - but, instead, to focus minds on further negotiations on Iran's nuclear programme which they say could take place next week. Read more:How Iran might be preparing for a potential US strikeUK has not agreed to let US strike Iran from British bases They are signalling that they are prepared to work towards a deal but that they stand ready to fight should the US strike. Now it is up to Donald Trump to decide whether and how long he is prepared to wait for a deal, and what he does if he fails to get one.

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No Writer
Feb 22
Trump sending 'great hospital boat' to Greenland to 'take care of the sick'

The US president threatened, at one point, to take the Arctic island by force in the interests of "national security". However, in late January he announced "the framework of a future deal" on Greenland and its security following talks with NATO secretary general Mark Rutte. Now, Mr Trump has claimed he is sending a boat to "take care of the many people who are sick" in Greenland, which has a universal public healthcare system. He announced the plan at a dinner for Republican governors at the White House. Mr Trump posted on Truth Social: "Working with ‌the fantastic Governor of Louisiana, Jeff Landry, we are going to send a ​great hospital boat to Greenland to take care of the many people who are sick, and not being taken care ​of there. It's on the way!!!" Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry reposted Mr Trump's message on X - and added: "Thank you, President [Trump]! Proud to work with you on this important issue!" The US Navy has two hospital ships, the Mercy and the Comfort, which support forces on deployments and provide disaster and humanitarian relief. The White House and ⁠Mr Landry's office have not made any further comment on the post - or revealed whether the ship had been requested by Denmark ‌or Greenland. Denmark's prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, said in a Facebook post on Sunday that she was "happy to live in a country where there is free and equal access to health for all. Where it's not insurance and wealth that determine whether you get proper treatment". "You have the same approach in Greenland." Aaja Chemnitz, one of the two Greenlandic politicians in the Danish parliament, wrote on Facebook: "Donald Trump wants to send a hospital ship to Greenland. "It seems rather desperate, and does not contribute to the permanent and sustainable strengthening of the healthcare system that we need." Read more:NATO starts mission to strengthen presence in ArcticWhy Trump has insisted the US 'needs' Greenland Denmark maintains control of the territory's foreign affairs and defence. Troels Lund Poulsen, the country's defence minister, told Danish broadcaster DR on Sunday that the ship was not needed. "The Greenlandic population receives the healthcare it needs," said Mr Poulsen. Mr Trump's post came hours after Denmark's Joint Arctic ​Command said it had evacuated a crew member of a US submarine off the coast of Greenland after the person needed medical treatment. The submariner was retrieved by a Danish Seahawk helicopter that had been deployed on an inspection ship.

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No Writer
Feb 22
Cheapest day to travel has changed - and it could save you 18% on flights | Money newsletter

In the next edition, we reveal the cheapest day to fly on holiday with savings of up to 18% (and the day has changed from last year). Every week subscribers get early access to our Money Problem feature, weekend long reads and, in our popular Money in your pocket section, a rundown of the best deals currently on the market for broadband, mortgages, savings, bank switching and energy. So join our growing Money community - and thanks to the tens of thousands of you who already have.

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