Sir Keir Starmer handed the invitation to the US president during a visit to the Oval Office. The newly elected Liberal leader Mark Carney said that the invitation "cut across clear messages" that the Canadian government was trying to send to the White House in response to their threats against Canada's sovereignty. "I think, to be frank, they [Canadians] weren't impressed by that gesture... given the circumstance. It was at a time when we were being quite clear about the issues around sovereignty." Explained: Who is Mark Carney? It comes as the Canadian prime minister has invited the King, who is Canada's head of state, to open its parliament later this month in a "clear message of sovereignty". It is the first time the sovereign has carried out this function in nearly 50 years and Mr Carney says it's "not coincidental". "All issues around Canada's sovereignty have been accentuated by the president. So no, it's not coincidental, but it is also a reaffirming moment for Canadians." The former Bank of England governor was re-elected after a campaign fought on the promise of standing up to American threats to Canadian statehood. He had refused to speak to Mr Trump until Canadian sovereignty was respected. It followed Mr Trump threatening to make Canada the 51st state of the US. Mr Carney justified making his first foreign trip as prime minister to the White House by stating Mr Trump had changed his intentions to annex Canada from an "expectation to a desire". "He was expressing a desire. He'd shifted from the expectation to a desire. He was also coming from a place where he recognised that that wasn't going to happen. "Does he still muse about it? Perhaps. Is it ever going to happen? No. Never." The high-stakes meeting in the Oval Office was not confrontational, with Mr Carney praising the president's approach as "very on top of the essence of a wide range of issues" and "able to identify the points of maximum leverage, both in a specific situation but also in a geopolitical situation". Since the meeting, tensions between the two countries have abated. Further negotiations on trade and security are expected soon. Given the deep economic integration of the two nations, neither side expects a deal imminently, but both sides concur that constructive talks have led to progress on an agreement. With greater goodwill between the two North American neighbours, Mr Carney also expressed optimism about Mr Trump's efforts to broker peace between Ukraine and Russia. The prime minister confirmed his view that the president was an "honest broker" and that his counterpart had been "helpful" in bringing momentum to a 30-day ceasefire between the warring nations. Despite a reset in relations between the United States and Canada, Mr Carney remained circumspect. His motto is: "Always plan for the worst." Read more from Sky News:Trump signs deals in Saudi Arabia - with murder long forgottenMenendez brothers' murder sentences reduced And to that end, nothing is being taken for granted: "We do plan for having no deal, we do plan for trouble in the security relationship. We do plan for the global trading system not being reassembled: that's the way to approach this president."

Reece Galbraith, 33, admitted to manslaughter over the deaths of Archie York, seven, and Jason "Jay" Laws, 35, after the blast in Violet Close in Benwell, Newcastle, on 16 October 2024. The former construction worker, who was also badly injured in the explosion, has been sentenced to 14 years. Six properties divided into two flats each were destroyed in the explosion, which led to a major emergency services response and made families homeless. Archie was asleep when the blast ripped through the home he shared with parents Katherine and Robbie and his baby brother Finley. Police investigating the explosion discovered that the flat operated by Galbraith and Laws was used as a "drugs lab" to produce cannabis concentrates, known as "shatter" or "butane honey oil", in a highly dangerous process. The product was then turned into cannabis edibles, also known as "gummies". 'You killed my son' Archie's mother, Katherine Errington, shouted "you killed my son" at Galbraith as she read her victim impact statement in court. She sobbed as she told the defendant: "You brought gas canisters into a building where families lived. You ran a drugs operation under the floor where my children slept. "You took risks for profit and didn't care who got hurt. You killed my son." She added her "entire world was shattered, literally and irreversibly" by the events of that day. More than 100 people displaced The court heard it destroyed six out of the 12 flats in the block and was followed by a "fierce fire" that caused so much damage the whole block has since been demolished. More than 100 people were displaced to temporary accommodation and 53 of the 80 residents will not be returning, while the financial impact is said to be about £3.7m. Prosecutor David Brooke KC said Laws had been using the flat for months and there was "little purpose" for it other than the production of cannabis. The court heard Galbraith was found walking away from the street immediately after the explosion asking about his friend. He suffered extensive burns and was in hospital for about a month, initially in an induced coma. Mr Brooke said Galbraith had been at the flat since about 6pm the previous evening and his fingerprint was found on one of the butane bottles at the property. A bag containing packages of cannabis sweets was found in Laws' car which had both his and Galbraith's DNA on some of the packets. 'Process is inherently dangerous' Experts found the explosion was caused by the ignition of liquid butane gas, which had been released and built up within the premises as part of the illegal "shatter" production. Mr Brooke said more than 100 butane canisters were found in the flat as well as other "sophisticated and expensive" equipment. The prosecutor said: "The process of making shatter is inherently dangerous because butane is highly flammable. "It is dangerous even to store butane bottles inside let alone use the liquid gas in a process like this. The liquid gas will expand a nominal 230 times as it becomes gas." At the time of the explosion, Galbraith was already being investigated for being concerned in the supply of cannabis. Officers later found 250 cannabis sweets, moulds and 300g of a sweet mixture when they searched his house. He was released pending further investigation. Police also found evidence on his phone that he was dealing in cannabis and cannabis sweets with Laws from at least as far back as November 2023. Jailing Galbraith, the judge, Mr Justice Cotter, said: "Archie York was just a seven-year-old with a wonderful and exciting life ahead of him. "You bear responsibility for all this loss and destruction."

The 27-year-old was injured when he collided with a goal post in the 2-2 draw against Leicester in the Premier League on Sunday. There is no suggestion the player's condition is life-threatening and it is understood the coma will help restrict his movement and regulate his heart rate. Awoniyi was taken to hospital on Monday after further investigations by the Forest medical team before having abdominal surgery that night. Forest said on Tuesday the Nigeria international was "recovering well". Awoniyi had only been introduced as a substitute five minutes earlier when he collided with the post while stretching to reach a cross from Anthony Elanga in the closing stages of the match at the City Ground. Elanga had been in a clear offside position when he took possession of the ball earlier in the move, but was not flagged by the assistant referee until after Awoniyi's collision. Match officials are directed to keep their flag down when there is a possibility of a goal, allowing the play to be checked by the assistant video referee (VAR) if necessary. But the directive has been criticised by fans and commentators as needlessly allowing a passage of play which could also put players at risk of injury. Awoniyi had tried to carry on playing despite lengthy treatment. Nottingham Forest said the seriousness of his injury validated owner Evangelos Marinakis's decision to go onto the pitch after the match, claiming reports of a confrontation with head coach Nuno Espirito Santo was "fake news". Read more from Sky News:Canadians 'weren't impressed' by Trump's UK state visit offerUK near bottom of child happiness and wellbeing league table Forest said the owner's reaction was one of "deep care, responsibility, and emotional investment in one of our own". A club statement added: "In the final 10 minutes of the game, when he saw our player clearly in discomfort, struggling through visible pain, it became increasingly difficult for him to stay on the sidelines. "His deep frustration at seeing our player lying on the ground in severe pain - something no one with genuine care could ignore - triggered him to go onto the pitch. "The truth of the matter is there was no confrontation, with Nuno or with others, either on the pitch or inside the stadium. "There was only shared frustration between all of us that the medical team should never have allowed the player to continue."

The musician and model, whose full name is Casandra Ventura, did not look at Combs as she took to the witness stand in court in Manhattan, New York. Over about six hours, the 38-year-old, who is eight months pregnant with her third child with husband Alex Fine, at times became emotional as she alleged she was degraded by her former partner during their 10-year on-off relationship. Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial: Day 2 - As it happened Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty and strenuously denied allegations of sexual abuse. His lawyers argue that although he could be violent, he never veered into sex trafficking and racketeering, and that all sexual encounters were consensual. Ms Ventura, who is the central witness in the prosecutors' case, began by telling the jury how Combs was violent to her over the course of their relationship, giving her black eyes and bruises. The hip-hop star became increasingly controlling, she said, and was allegedly abusive over the smallest perceived slights. "You make the wrong face, and the next thing I knew I was getting hit in the face," she said. Ms Ventura was 19 when she signed to his label, Bad Boy, she said, and 22 when, during the first year of their relationship, Combs first proposed a "freak off" - a sexual encounter with a third party. Her "stomach churned", she said, and she was "confused, nervous, but also loved him very much" and wanted to please him. She described him as "charming" but "polarising". 'There was no space to do anything else' Throughout her time on the stand, she gave graphic details of these drug and drink-fuelled encounters with male escorts, saying Combs would watch and masturbate, and often record the encounters and watch the videos back. They could last for hours or even days, she said - telling the court the longest went on for four days. They ended up becoming weekly events and took priority over her music career, jurors heard. While she had hits with singles Me & U and Long Way 2 Go in 2006, and signed a 10-album deal with Bad Boy, jurors heard she only released one album. "Freak-offs became a job where there was no space to do anything else but to recover and just try to feel normal again," Ms Ventura said. Each time, she added, she had to recuperate from lack of sleep, alcohol, drugs "and other substances", and "having sex with a stranger for days". Read more:The rise and fall of Sean CombsDiddy - a timeline of allegationsEverything you need to know about the trial Alleged violence detailed in court Ms Ventura told the court she began feeling as if she could not say no to Combs's demands because "there were blackmail materials to make me feel like if I didn't do it, it would be held over my head in that way or these things would become public". She was also worried about potential violence, she told the court. When asked in court how frequently Combs became violent with her, Ms Ventura responded: "Too frequently." The rapper "would mash me in the head, knock me over, drag me, kick me", she said. "Stomp me in the head if I was down". Ms Ventura also told the court that Combs kept cash, jewellery, guns and "sometimes tapes from cameras" in safes at several properties in New York, Los Angeles, Miami and Alpine, New Jersey. "The guns came out here and there. I always felt it was a little bit of a scare tactic," she told the court. Towards the end of her first day of evidence, a surveillance video made public last year, which showed Combs allegedly beating Ms Ventura at a Los Angeles hotel in 2016, was played to jurors in court for a second time. "How many times has he thrown you like that before?" prosecutor Emily Johnson asked her. "Too many to count," Ms Ventura replied. On Monday, prosecutors in their opening statement told the court that while Combs's public persona was that of a "charismatic" hip-hop mogul, behind the scenes he was violent and abusive. His defence lawyers argued that the case is really about nothing more than the rapper's sexual preferences, which they said should remain private, and do not make him a sex trafficker. The trial is to last about eight weeks. Ms Ventura is set to continue giving evidence on Wednesday.

Malcolm McHaffie, head of the Crown Prosecution Service's Special Crime Division, said after considering a number of witness statements they have concluded that there is "insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction". Politics live: Minister responds to Canadian PM's criticism of Trump state visit offer He added: "The Crown Prosecution Service's function is not to decide whether a person is guilty of a criminal offence, but to make fair, independent, and objective assessments about whether it is appropriate to present charges for a criminal court to consider. "Based on the careful consideration of this evidence, we have decided that our legal test for a criminal prosecution has not been met." Mr Lowe was suspended by Reform UK and reported to police following allegations that the MP threatened violence towards party chairman Zia Yusuf. He always denied wrongdoing and claimed he was the victim of a witch hunt after speaking out against party leader Nigel Farage in the media. In a lengthy statement following the CPS's decision, the Great Yarmouth MP said he was referred to the police in "a sinister attempt to weaponise the criminal justice system against me - putting not just my political future, but my liberty at risk". He said this was "all because I dared to raise constructive criticisms of Nigel Farage, stood firm on deporting illegal migrants, and pushed for Reform to be run democratically - not as a vehicle to stroke one man's ego". Reform responded "with a brutal smear campaign", he said, claiming figures in the party briefed journalists he had dementia. Farage 'a coward and a viper' Mr Lowe said: "I am ashamed to have shared a parliamentary platform with them. Ashamed to have trusted them. Ashamed to have called them friends. Farage is no leader - he is a coward and a viper. I feel deeply embarrassed that I ever thought he was the man to lead. "It's my view that the police process was weaponised to silence a party colleague who raised reasonable concerns. "If Farage were ever to control the vast power of the British state, I believe he would not hesitate to do to his adversaries what they have tried to do to me. With real power, I fear he would wield that immense responsibility to crush dissent - as he has done time and again over the years. "Smearing my innocent staff in a pathetic attempt to attack me was disgusting, alongside briefings to journalists from senior Reform figures suggesting I had dementia - the lowest, vilest tactics I have seen in my 67 years. They are not fit to lead. They are not fit to be MPs." Mr Lowe went onto say that "for the good of our country, Nigel Farage must never be prime minister". In a hint at his political future he added: "When the time soon comes, we will work together to advance a political movement that is credible, professional, decent, democratic and honest. There will, very soon, be an alternative to the rotten leadership of Reform. "You'll be hearing a lot more from me, very soon." Sky News has contacted Reform UK for comment. The row poses danger for a party that has its sights on entering government at the next election after a meteoric rise in the polls. It broke out in March after Mr Lowe gave an interview to the Daily Mail in which he said it was "too early to know" if Mr Farage will become prime minister and warned Reform remains a "protest party led by the Messiah" under the Clacton MP. Soon after, Reform UK announced it had referred him to police and suspended him, alleging he made "verbal threats" against chairman Zia Yousaf. The party also claimed it had received complaints from two female employees about bullying in his constituency offices, which he also denied. Mr Lowe was one of the five Reform MPs elected to parliament in July and now sits as an independent. He was previously the chairman of Southampton Football Club before entering politics. During Mr Farage's online falling out with Elon Musk in January, in which the world's richest man said Reform needed a new leader, Mr Lowe drew praise from Mr Musk.

Last year, Sky News filmed them as they watched the country debate whether to change the law to allow it. Now, the pair meet each other for the first time to let the country watch them debate. Warning: This article contains descriptions of assisted dying and suicide throughout Meet Clare My name's Clare and I live on a farm in North Devon. I've got two fabulous daughters, Chloe and Izzy. I have stage 4 breast cancer. I've been campaigning for the assisted dying bill [Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill] to pass through Parliament. I'm looking forward to meeting Philip. I hope it's not going to be an argument. Meet Philip The name's Philip, and I'm from the Midlands where I live with my wife Pauline. I was given six months to live last year, I should be dead right now. I've got pancreatic cancer. I'm against assisted dying - or assisted suicide, as I call it. I feel terribly sorry for Clare. I want nobody to be suffering. The pair meet in Bristol - halfway between their addresses. After greeting with a hug, Philip tells Clare his mother died of cancer when he was a young teenager. Philip: She said, 'God, please either heal me or take me.' I realised that my mum must have believed and trusted in God. Now I keep saying to the doctor that I pray God will stop the cancer growing. Clare: I think I'm similar about Mother Earth. Whilst I'm not a Christian, I've always had this acceptance and understanding that I'm part of a natural cycle. I don't have that need to fight death as much as I'm hearing from you. Philip: I'm not aware of fighting, because in my terms, it would be a sheer waste of time. Clare tells Philip she would like a "good death". Clare: In my garden, with my daughters, preferably one of them playing her guitar - it's my paradise. I would like to have the choice, whether I took it up or not at the last minute, at a time and place of my choosing, when death is close, to be able to take something to hasten my death. Philip: There could be a cure for what you and I have got, but we just don't know. You don't know what miracle is around the corner, and if you commit suicide, you're robbing yourself of that opportunity. Both agree that breaking the news of their diagnoses to their children was the hardest part of cancer. Clare says the disease has turned her liver "20 shades of grey". Clare: It's pretty much gone to all my bones, except for my hands and feet. Philip: Horrible. Clare: Then there's also the treatment. Did you have any Docetaxels? Philip: I'm very grateful I have refused it all. Clare: Have you not had any chemotherapy? Philip: I've had nothing. Philip warns Clare that if the Terminally Ill Adults Bill is approved, vulnerable people could be pressured into taking their own life. He'd rather leave his death in God's hands. Philip: I want to do what God says. So, I'm against assisted dying on those principles of the fact that no matter what safeguards you put in, you're breaking, what I understand to be God's plan and purpose. Clare: When I got my diagnosis, the first thing I said to my consultant was, "well, thank goodness I can take my own life". I'd been very consistent, and I was on my own in the room, nobody else with me. And I think I'm a sort of bright, intelligent person. Philip: I didn't say you weren't. Clare: I really understand the power of coercive control, the insidious nature of it. Philip: I feel sorry for the poor suckers who are with you. Clare: My daughters? Philip: They've got to live with the fact that you died and they let you. Clare: My daughters are completely supportive of assisted dying. Clare says dying should be a personal choice. Clare: It's not about other people with terminal life-limiting disease or people with disabilities. It's purely an option for Clare Turner. Philip: If they alter the law for Clare Turner, they've got to alter it for everybody. Clare: At the moment, over 300 people with terminal illnesses take their own life in pretty miserable situations, quite often alone, every year. Philip: It's financial. If it's costing hundreds of thousands to look after you, just think what we could save if we bumped 20 of you off. Clare: I find that quite offensive, Philip. Clare: I guess I'm just not a cynical person. Philip: I'm not a cynical person. I'm facing reality. I see how it's been applied in other countries. Show me Canada and Belgium have never altered their laws with regards to assisted suicide. You can't. They've altered them totally. Before they say goodbye, Clare gifts Philip honey made by bees that visit her garden. Philip gives Clare a box of chocolates called Heroes. "Anybody who is battling with cancer is a hero not to quit," he says. Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK

On Wednesday morning, Israeli airstrikes hit homes in Jabalia, in northern Gaza, killing at least 53 people, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. The Indonesian Hospital said 22 of those who died were children. The Israeli military refused to comment on the strikes, but had warned local residents to evacuate late on Tuesday night due to Hamas infrastructure in the area, including rocket launchers. Middle East latest - Trump to meet Asia's richest man in Qatar On Tuesday, nine missiles hit the European Hospital and its courtyard in the south of the Palestinian territory, killing at least 16 people, the Gaza health ministry said. Israel said it had hit a "Hamas command centre" beneath the hospital in Khan Younis. Hamas denies exploiting hospitals and civilian properties for military purposes. Security Council urged to 'prevent genocide' The United Nations' top humanitarian official briefed the Security Council on Tuesday evening, warning they must "act now" to "prevent genocide", a claim that Israel vehemently denied. Tom Fletcher, head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, accused Israel of "deliberately and unashamedly" imposing inhumane conditions on Palestinians by blocking aid from entering Gaza more than 10 weeks ago. The UN and aid groups have rejected Israel's attempt to control aid distribution. "It is a cynical sideshow. A deliberate distraction. A fig leaf for further violence and displacement," Mr Fletcher said about the proposal. Blast threw hospital staff to the floor British surgeon Dr Tom Potokar who is based at the European Hospital in Gaza described hearing "one extremely loud explosion followed very, very rapidly by a number of others". He told Sky News' Gareth Barlow that he rushed outside and saw "a huge crater in the entrance to the hospital" and "quite a few wounded lying around". He said the hospital is "barely functional" after suffering internal damage with "rubble on the floor... bits of ceiling coming down, water leaking from the roofs, and large cracks in the actual walls". Colleague Milena Chee was in the intensive care unit when she says a "very strong and loud blast" threw her to the floor, adding staff were "very scared and shocked". Describing the impact of Israel's aid blockade on Gaza, Ms Chee said: "There is no medical supplies whatsoever. There is no tissues to wipe our hands when we wash them. Now there is even no water. We lack soap, cleaning materials, medications, supplies, consumables, whatever you can think about... it is lacking." Earlier, a well-known Palestinian photojournalist died following a separate attack on the Nasser Hospital, also in Khan Younis, said the ministry. Hassan Aslih - one of two patients who died - had been accused by Israel of working with Hamas and was recovering from an earlier airstrike. Aslih, who has hundreds of thousands of followers on social media and previously worked with several Western news organisations, was said by the Israelis to have recorded and uploaded footage of "looting, arson and murder" during Hamas's 7 October 2023 attack into Israel that triggered the war in Gaza. At least 160 journalists and media workers have been killed in Gaza since the start of the war, according to the International Federation of Journalists. Gazan officials accuse Israel of deliberately targeting journalists. Israel denies this and says it tries to avoid harm to civilians. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has spoken on the phone to Edan Alexander after he was released by Hamas on Monday, as part of ongoing efforts to achieve a permanent ceasefire with Israel. The 21-year-old was believed to be the last living American hostage in Gaza. Read more:Timeline: Key events of war in GazaPope raises Gaza in Sunday message Some 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage in the 7 October attack on southern Israel, according to Israeli figures. Israel's response has killed more than 52,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, and destroyed much of the coastal territory. Gaza's health ministry records do not distinguish between civilians and combatants. An aid blockade since March has left the population at critical risk of famine, according to the World Health Organisation, which warned on Tuesday that hunger and malnutrition could have a lasting impact on "an entire generation".

The following article contains images some readers may find distressing. The Scottish SPCA said the trap had been intended for rodent control within a communal bin store in the city's Ashgill Road area. The animal welfare charity said it was alerted to the "distressing incident" by a local resident. The bird's belly and right wing was found to be stuck to the trap, with glue also present on its face and around its eye. A rescue officer was able to free the magpie using vegetable oil, but it had to be euthanised due to its severe injuries. The incident has prompted renewed warnings over the use of glue traps, which are trays coated with a sticky adhesive typically used to ensnare rodents and animals classed as vermin. Last year, the Scottish parliament passed the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill - making it illegal to buy or possess the traps. The use of glue traps is also banned in England and Wales, but the sale is not. Those working within Glasgow's cleansing team have previously highlighted the city's rat problem. Chris Mitchell, GMB convenor for cleansing, recently posted a video of rodents scurrying down a street. And earlier this month, Mr Mitchell called for the council to declare a health and safety emergency amid fears the warm weather may cause the number of rat sightings across the city to spike. Read more from Sky News:Could AI translate animal sounds into words?Woman killed by alligator in lake Glasgow City Council - which is already extending its pest control team as part of agreed investment in frontline services - said the best way to deter rats is to ensure all food waste is properly disposed of in a bin. A Scottish SPCA special investigations inspector said: "The Scottish SPCA does not support the use of glue traps. These devices are indiscriminate and cause unnecessary suffering to any bird or animal caught in them. "People setting these traps are obliged to check them regularly to prevent suffering, but there is no practical way of enforcing this. Too often they are placed incorrectly, putting non-target species such as birds at risk. "It's an outdated and inhumane method of pest control that has no place in a compassionate, modern society." If you spot a trap you suspect is illegal, contact the Scottish SPCA on 03000 999 999.

The company lost £66m in pre-tax profit in the year ended in March as luxury goods sales fell across the world and the company weathered an "uncertain" environment and a "difficult macroeconomic backdrop". A year earlier, it recorded £383m in profit. Money blog: £30 broadband rule explained It's suffered in recent years with the share price falling to such an extent the business was removed from the FTSE 100, the index of most valuable companies listed on the London Stock Exchange. Despite the financial performance, the company was upbeat, with chief executive Joshua Schulman saying "I am more optimistic than ever that Burberry's best days are ahead and that we will deliver sustainable profitable growth over time". What cuts are being made? The retailer did not specify any shop closures - in the past year, it closed 26 and also opened 26 stores - but did highlight shift cuts and consolidations. "We don't have a store closing programme, per see," Mr Schulman told investors The night shift at Burberry's Castleford factory will be cut, it proposed, saying the shift has resulted in overproduction. "Significant" investment in the facility will be made, however, as the ambition is to scale up British production "over time", Mr Schulman said. Changes to the retail network across the world will be made with shop staff being scheduled around "peak traffic". Burberry will be "realigning" shop staff, he said, "so that we can offer the best service" at the busiest times. There will also be a "simplification" of Burberry's regional structure and a "rebalancing" of central and regional responsibilities to reduce duplication and "accelerate decision making" through the retail network. But the majority of changes will be made to "office space teams" around the world, the CEO said. Commercial and creative teams have already been consolidated, Burberry's annual results said. What's gone wrong? Aside from the global slowdown in luxury goods sales over recession fears, additional headwinds have come in the form of President Trump's tariffs. "Clearly, the external environment has become more challenging since mid-February", Mr Schulman told investors. Tariff risks were higher than first planned, the annual results said. It led the US market to be described by Mr Schulman as "choppy" since February when Mr Trump began announcing tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China, as well as on goods such as steel and cars. Sales also fell in the Asia Pacific region by 16%, the results showed. Criticism was levelled at the 2021 British government decision to withdraw VAT refunds for overseas visitors, "which has made the UK the least competitive destination in Europe for tourist shopping", the results read. "Business in our UK home market continues to be seriously impacted" by the move.

Christopher Elias, 45, from Neath Port Talbot, appeared at Swansea Magistrates' Court on Wednesday charged with refusing to answer a question relating to the qualification to serve on the jury. He was charged in relation to the collapse of the first Ysgol Dyffryn Aman school stabbings trial, after a teenage girl attempted to murder two teachers and a pupil at the school in April 2024. A 14-year-old girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was detained for 15 years last month for the attempted murders of Fiona Elias, Liz Hopkin and the pupil following a retrial at Swansea Crown Court. The first trial collapsed in October, after what the judge described as a "great irregularity" in the jury which had "irretrievably compromised" its ability to consider the matter. Read more from Sky News:Nottingham Forest striker in induced coma after surgeryWoman jailed after buying holidays and gifts on company card District Judge Christopher James adjourned the case until 2 June at Cardiff Magistrates' Court. "You'll be granted unconditional bail until that date," he said.