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Police launch murder investigation after three people found dead in family home in Co Antrim
Police have launched a murder investigation after the bodies of three people were found in a family home in Ballymena, Co Antrim.

The three people were related and found in the building in the Old Cullybackey Road area.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) initially said there is no ongoing risk to the public.

Later it released further information, calling on people not to speculate about what had happened.

Mid & East Antrim District Commander Superintendent William Calderwood said: "The bodies of a male and two females were discovered at a home on the Old Cullybackey Road at around 9am this morning, Monday July 13.

"The cause of death has not yet been formally established and post-mortem examinations will take place in due course.

"As such, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time, and I would ask that the public avoid speculation."

"However, I want to reassure the public that we do not believe that there is any ongoing risk, and at this stage we are not seeking anyone else in relation to the deaths," he added.

"Our thoughts this evening are very much with the family and friends of those who have died."


World Cup: Ex-Spanish PM under fire for saying France has 'no French players'
A former Spanish prime minister has come under fire for saying France's World Cup team had "no French players".

Mariano Rajoy, a member of Spain's conservative Popular Party, made the comment ahead of Tuesday's World Cup semi-final between Spain and France.

"They've won every match they've played at this World Cup and are currently top of the FIFA rankings.

"They also have an exceptionally strong squad. That said, one thing they don't have is any French players," Mr Rajoy wrote in a column for Spanish outlet El Debate on 10 July.

On Monday, French foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot told French broadcaster BFM TV that "France has no skin colour.

"Any contrary claim stems from stupidity, racism or a combination of the two."

The remarks by Mr Rajoy, who was prime minister from 2011 to 2018, were condemned by Spain's governing Socialist party.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez referenced the comments without naming his predecessor, writing on X: "There are those who still measure belonging by surname, place of birth, or skin color.

"Others measure it by our roots in a country and our will to contribute to it. Playing soccer. Caring for our elders. Or opening businesses.

"France, we'll see you in the semifinals. May the best one win and may racism lose."

Also on Sunday, French Football Federation president Philippe Diallo wrote on X that "Mariano Rajoy's remarks about the French team carry intolerable whiffs of racism," adding that "they also raise questions about the deplorable climate that gives rise to such sentiments.

"Our players do not need a certificate of nationality from a former Spanish prime minister."

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Earlier this month, French captain and star player Kylian Mbappe condemned a Paraguayan senator over remarks she made following her country's loss to France in the round of 16.

Celeste Amarilla, a senator from Paraguay's Liberal Radical Party, posted a series of comments on X mocking the French player's origins, upbringing, education and appearance after France won on 4 July with a penalty by Mbappe.


Senators demand Pentagon reveals outcome of Minab school strike probe
Senators have demanded the US military urgently reveals the findings of its probe into a deadly missile strike on an Iranian school.

At least 156 children and teachers were killed in the incident in Minab on 28 February, the first day of the war, according to Iranian officials.

The girls' school was next to a compound used by Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps.

An initial US military investigation is understood to have found that its own Tomahawk missile was likely responsible.

According to Reuters sources, out-of-date intelligence was used by those creating "targeting packages".

More than two dozen Democratic senators have signed a letter demanding the investigation's findings are released within the next week, that Congress is briefed, and recommendations are made to stop a repetition.

"There is no justification for withholding an unclassified accounting ​of what happened, what went wrong, and what the Department is doing to prevent recurrence," the letter said.

They want Central Command chief Admiral Brad Cooper and defence secretary Pete Hegseth to provide an unclassified version of the findings to Congress and the public.

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'Utter horror and carnage' at school hit by missiles

"When a US strike kills civilians, the Department owes Congress, the American people, and the victims' families a clear accounting ‌of what happened and a credible plan ​to prevent future failures," the letter states.

If America's military is culpable, the senators said it would be the largest loss of civilian life since more than 400 people were killed when an air raid shelter was mistakenly bombed in Iraq in 1991.

A Pentagon official said the investigation was "ongoing" and no updates were currently available.

Admiral Cooper testified in May that the investigation was "complex" as the school was on an active Iranian missile base.

Donald Trump claimed in March, without evidence, that Iran had Tomahawk missiles and has suggested it may never be clear who was responsible.

"I don't think it was us," the president said last month, adding: "Somebody said it was our missile, ​maybe it wasn't our missile but I have seen nothing to lead me ​to believe it was."

Sky News has been to Minab to look at the evidence and speak to victims. Watch our documentary at 9pm on Thursday.


US states sue to block Paramount's $110bn merger with Warner
Twelve US states have sued to block Paramount from acquiring Warner Bros. Discovery in a $110bn deal.

The states argued cinemas and moviegoers could face higher prices if the merger goes ahead, as Paramount and Warner Bros. currently compete for the best release dates and screens at thousands of cinemas across the US.

The lawsuit represents a significant obstacle for the deal, which is seen as one of the biggest media mergers in history.

"After this merger, for every dollar generated by wide-release theatrical films and basic cable channels in ‌this country, the combined company will pocket more than a quarter," the states said in the lawsuit.

They added: "This merger, in short, would create a media behemoth."

Paramount said the lawsuit distorts settled antitrust law and is based on a misrepresentation of competition in the entertainment industry.

The deal was cleared by US federal antitrust watchdogs last month, with critics saying Paramount's political connections helped the positive outcome.

Paramount CEO David Ellison's father, billionaire Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, has cultivated ties with Republican President Donald Trump.

All the state attorneys general involved in Monday's lawsuit are Democrats.

The deal was cleared by the Department of Justice last month as it said it would benefit workers and consumers.

But Hollywood workers have criticised the deal, fearing it would hurt jobs, while cinema owners opposed it, worrying ‌it would result in fewer films.

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If allowed to move forward with the deal, Paramount would control 27% of the distribution market for films that appear on screens across America, 30% of blockbuster film distribution and 27% of the market for basic cable channels, the states said.

Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon and Washington joined the lawsuit alongside California.


Dozen arrested by counter terror police over suspected threat to Islamic event
Twelve people have been arrested over an alleged "extreme right-wing terrorism" threat to an Islamic event in Suffolk.

The arrests, including three on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder, follow an investigation by Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) London in connection to the event at Shrubland Hall at the weekend.

Organisers of the UK Ijtima event, which ran from 9 to 13 July, were advised to close slightly earlier than planned as a precaution due to the "potential serious threat" and the 15,000 attendees left safely, police said.

The suspects arrested included a 27-year-old man in Ipswich, a 35-year-old man in Greater Manchester, two 42-year-old men in Essex and five men in Surrey, aged 27, 29, 55, 60 and 82, on Sunday,

In addition, a 33-year-old man in southeast London and a 31-year-old man and a 48-year-old woman in east London were arrested on Monday.

Three of the men, the 82-year-old, the 55-year-old and the 60-year-old, were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder. The 82-year-old man has since been released on bail.

The woman was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.

Eight of the men were arrested and detained under section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000 and remain in police custody.

Commander Helen Flanagan, head of CTP London, said: "After becoming aware of a potential serious threat towards the Islamic event in Suffolk, we have moved extremely quickly to make a number of arrests in various locations across the country.

She added: "I know this news may be concerning to the public and particularly those in the Muslim community, given that we believe the intended target was an Islamic event. But as we have shown, we will not hesitate to act if there is any potential threat, no matter who or what the potential target may be.

"Sadly, this activity is a stark reminder that the threat level in the UK is at 'severe', so we urge the public to remain vigilant and report anything if it doesn't look or feel right."

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the response of the police in tackling a "credible threat" to the UK Ijtima festival had "undoubtedly saved lives".

"I know this is deeply concerning news for British Muslims," she added.

"We must stand against hatred and we must unite around our shared belief in a country that is open, generous and tolerant to all our communities."

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Police are carrying out several searches across the country linked to the arrests.

Assistant Chief Constable Alice Scott from Suffolk Constabulary, which is supporting the operation, said: "We understand that the arrests and the context behind them may well cause some concern amongst our local communities.

She added: "The situation was declared a major incident early on Sunday morning with a multi-agency response convened to ensure a safe and properly co-ordinated departure from the event of the 15,000 attendees. The major incident status was withdrawn earlier today.

"This was a complex and fast-moving scenario with the priority of all the agencies working together to ensure the safety of all the attendees."

Suffolk Police said there would be extra officers patrolling at Shrubland Hall and the surrounding areas to reassure the community.


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