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Fox News and parent company Fox Corp have agreed a $787.5m (£633m) settlement with voting machine firm Dominion, averting a high-profile defamation trial.

The settlement was announced at the 11th hour, after the 12-person jury had been selected and just as both sides were due to deliver their opening statements in Delaware Superior Court.

Dominion, which sells electronic voting hardware and software, had been suing Fox News Network and its parent company Fox Corp over the channel’s coverage of false vote-rigging claims following the 2020 US election.

Lawsuit live updates: News conference as Fox News and Dominion settle defamation case

Dominion had sought $1.6bn in damages but settled for less than half that amount, with one of its lawyers, Justin Nelson, saying outside the court: “The truth matters, lies have consequences.”

He added: “Over two years ago, a torrent of lies swept Dominion and election officials across America into an alternative universe of conspiracy theories causing grievous harm to Dominion and the country

“Today’s settlement represents vindication and accountability.

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“We must share a commitment to facts.

“Misinformation will not go away, it may only get worse.

“This litigation cannot solve all problems, all of us remain ever vigilant to find common factual ground.

“Today represents a ringing endorsement for truth and for democracy.”

The deal means Fox will not have to risk seeing some of its best-known figures called to the witness stand, including Rupert Murdoch, the 92-year-old media mogul who serves as Fox Corp chairman, and Fox CEO Suzanne Scott, as well as on-air hosts including Tucker Carlson, Sean Hannity and Jeanine Pirro.

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Fox said in a statement: “We acknowledge the court’s rulings finding certain claims about Dominion to be false.

“This settlement reflects Fox’s continued commitment to the highest journalistic standards.

“We are hopeful that our decision to resolve this dispute with Dominion amicably, instead of the acrimony of a divisive trial, allows the country to move forward from these issues.”

The settlement still needs the approval of the Judge, Eric Davis.

Emails, texts and other documents produced as part of the lawsuit showed that many of the controversial right-wing network’s hosts, executives and producers did not believe the vote-rigging allegations but aired them anyway.

Dominion argued that Fox News made the claims to boost its faltering TV ratings.

According to a copy of the lawsuit, Dominion claimed the news channel “sold a false story of election fraud in order to serve its own commercial purposes, severely injuring Dominion in the process”, adding: “If this case does not rise to the level of defamation by a broadcaster, then nothing does”.

Dominion had also said evidence showed a big gap between what was being aired and the doubts expressed by Fox hosts privately.

A filing revealed in February that one of the channel’s most popular hosts Tucker Carlson, for example, texted on 16 November 2020 saying that Trump lawyer Sidney Powell “is lying” about having evidence of election fraud.

Mr Murdoch had also expressed doubts about one of the network’s commentators Lou Dobbs, Dominion’s filing said, describing him as “an extremist”.

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‘No survivors’ in munitions factory explosion after 18 reported missing, police say

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'No survivors' in munitions factory explosion after 18 reported missing, police say

There are no survivors from a factory explosion that ripped through a munitions plant in rural Tennessee, police have confirmed.

Eighteen people were missing after the huge blast, but Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis has now confirmed all died.

It happened on Friday morning at Accurate Energetic Systems, a company which supplies and researches explosives for the military.

Officers guard the gate at Accurate Energetic Systems military explosives plant. Pic: Reuters
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Officers guard the gate at Accurate Energetic Systems military explosives plant. Pic: Reuters

It scattered debris over at least half a mile (800m) and was felt by residents more than 15 miles (24km) away, Mr Davis said.

Aerial footage showed the company’s hilltop location smouldering and obliterated by smoke for much of Friday, with just a mass of twisted metal, burned-out shells of cars, and an array of debris left behind.

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Emergency services have been unable to fully attend the site due to secondary blasts.

Mr Davis described it as one of the worst scenes he had ever seen.

“What we need right now is we need our communities to come together and understand that we’ve lost a lot of people,” he said.

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The cause of the blast, which occurred about 60 miles southwest of Nashville, is not yet known but Mr Davis said it could be days, weeks or even months before foul play is ruled out.

Guy McCormick, a supervisory special agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said experts need to make the area safe before specialist investigators begin combing through the remains.

He said the safety and security of the scene could change quickly because of the heat and pressure caused by the explosion.

Signs near the site on Saturday asked for prayers for the families.

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Terry Bagsby, 68, who works at a petrol station nearby, said people in the close-knit community were “very, very sad”.

“I don’t know how to explain it… Just a lot of grief,” he added.

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Diane Keaton, star of Annie Hall and The Godfather, has died

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Diane Keaton, star of Annie Hall and The Godfather, has died

Actress Diane Keaton, who starred in films including The Godfather and Annie Hall, has died aged 79.

Keaton’s daughter, Dexter Keaton White, confirmed her death to Sky’s US partner network NBC News.

With a long career, across a series of movies that are regarded as some of the best ever made, Keaton was widely admired.

She was awarded an Oscar, a BAFTA and two Golden Globe Awards, and was also nominated for two Emmys, and a Tony, as well as picking up a series of other Academy Award and BAFTA nominations.

Diane Keaton, with her best actress Oscar for Annie Hall in 1978. Pic: AP
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Diane Keaton, with her best actress Oscar for Annie Hall in 1978. Pic: AP

Her best actress Oscar was for the Woody Allen film Annie Hall which is said to be loosely based on her life.

She appeared in several other Allen projects, including Manhattan, as well as all three Godfather movies, in which she played Kay, the wife and then ex-wife of Marlon Brando’s son Michael Corleone, played by Al Pacino, opposite him as he descends into a life of crime and replaces his father in the family’s mafia empire.

With Woody Allen in 1978. Pic: Adam Scull/PHOTOlink.net/AP
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With Woody Allen in 1978. Pic: Adam Scull/PHOTOlink.net/AP

Keaton was the kind of actor who helped make films iconic and timeless, from her heartbreaking turn as Kay Adams-Corleone to the “La-dee-da, la-dee-da” phrasing as Annie Hall, bedecked in the now famous necktie, bowler hat, vest and khakis.

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Keaton also frequently worked with Nancy Meyers, starting with 1987’s Baby Boom.

Their other films together included 1991’s Father Of The Bride and its 1995 sequel, as well as 2003’s Something’s Gotta Give.

In 1996, she starred opposite Goldie Hawn and Bette Midler in The First Wives Club, about three women whose husbands had left them for younger women.

Keaton (centre) with Goldie Hawn (L) and Bette Midler at the premiere of  The First Wives Club in 1996. Pic: AP
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Keaton (centre) with Goldie Hawn (L) and Bette Midler at the premiere of The First Wives Club in 1996. Pic: AP

More recently, she collaborated with Jane Fonda, Mary Steenburgen and Candice Bergen on the Book Club films.

‘Brilliant, beautiful’

Diane Keaton. Pic: AP
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Diane Keaton. Pic: AP

The unexpected news was met with shock around the world.

Her First Wives Club co-star Midler wrote on Instagram: “The brilliant, beautiful, extraordinary Diane Keaton has died. I cannot tell you how unbearably sad this makes me.

“She was hilarious, a complete original, and completely without guile, or any of the competitiveness one would have expected from such a star. What you saw was who she was … oh, la, lala!”

Actor Ben Stiller paid tribute on X, writing: “Diane Keaton. One of the greatest film actors ever. An icon of style, humor and comedy. Brilliant. What a person.”

Kate Hudson, whose mother is Goldie Hawn, posted simply: “We love you so much Diane.”

In her Instagram tribute, Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony award-winning actress and producer Viola Davis said: “No!! No!!! No!! God, not yet, NO!!! Man… you defined womanhood.

“The pathos, humor, levity, your ever-present youthfulness and vulnerability – you tattooed your SOUL into every role, making it impossible to imagine anyone else inhabiting them.

“You were undeniably, unapologetically YOU!!! Loved you. Man… rest well. God bless your family, and I know angels are flying you home.”

Keaton never married. She adopted her daughter Dexter in 1996 and a son, Duke, four years later.

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Donald Trump threatens to impose additional 100% tariff on ‘extraordinarily aggressive’ China

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Donald Trump threatens to impose additional 100% tariff on 'extraordinarily aggressive' China

Donald Trump has announced the US will impose an additional 100% tariff on China imports, accusing it of taking an “extraordinarily aggressive position” on trade.

In a post to his Truth Social platform on Friday, the US president said Beijing had sent an “extremely hostile letter to the world” and imposed “large-scale export controls on virtually every product they make”.

Mr Trump, who warned the additional tariffs would start on 1 November, said the US would also impose export controls on all critical software to China.

The president added that he was imposing the tariffs because of export controls placed on rare earths by China.

He wrote: “Based on the fact that China has taken this unprecedented position, and speaking only for the USA, and not other nations who were similarly threatened, starting November 1st, 2025 (or sooner, depending on any further actions or changes taken by China), the United States of America will impose a tariff of 100% on China, over and above any tariff that they are currently paying.

“It is impossible to believe that China would have taken such an action, but they have, and the rest is history. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

President Trump says he sees no reason to see President Xi as part of a trip to South Korea. Pic: Reuters
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President Trump says he sees no reason to see President Xi as part of a trip to South Korea. Pic: Reuters

Mr Trump said earlier on Friday that there “seems to be no reason” to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in a scheduled meeting as part of an upcoming trip to South Korea at the end of this month.

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He had posted: “I was to meet President Xi in two weeks, at APEC, in South Korea, but now there seems no reason to do so.”

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The trip was scheduled to include a stop in Malaysia, which is hosting the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit, a stop in Japan and then the stop to South Korea, where Mr Trump would meet Mr Xi ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.

Mr Trump added: “There are many other countermeasures that are, likewise, under serious consideration.”

The move signalled the biggest rupture in relations in six months between Beijing and Washington – the world’s biggest
factory and its biggest consumer.

It also threatens to escalate tensions between the two countries, prompting fears over the stability of the global economy.

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Sky’s Siobhan Robbins explains why Donald Trump didn’t receive the Nobel Peace Prize

Friday was Wall Street’s worst day since April, with the S&P 500 falling 2.7%, owing to fears about US-China relations.

China had restricted the access to rare earths ahead of the meeting between Presidents Trump and Xi.

Under the restrictions, Beijing would require foreign companies to get special approval for shipping the metallic elements abroad.

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