Author: SKYNEWS

The “bowcaster” used by Chewbacca in the original Star Wars trilogy has sold for more than $750,000 at auction – while the medal given to Luke Skywalker at the end of “A New Hope” has fetched over $370,000.”Chewie’s” weapon, which featured in all of the first three Star Wars films between 1977 and 1983, sold for far more than its estimate of between $250,000 and $500,000 (£193,203 to £386,407). The item sold for $768,600 (£593,985) and is a real Horton crossbow, which was modified to give it a futuristic look so it could serve as a laser weapon.Some of the…

A rapid test harnessing the power of AI is set to transform the diagnosis of a lung condition that affects 3 million people in the UK.Two thirds of those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) don’t even know they’ve got it, but it’s the second most common cause of emergency hospital admissions. Until now, confirmation has required a spirometry test involving forced exhalation. It can take half an hour or more, and that’s once you’ve managed to get an appointment.Dr Simon Rudland, a GP in Suffolk, is excited about the potential to provide quick, accessible diagnosis.”Spirometry is delivered out of…

Company bosses hiring in the gig economy could face up to five years in prison if they fail to check if their employees can legally work in the UK, the Home Office has said.The employers could also be banned from operating as company directors, have their business closed down, or be hit with fines of up to £60,000 for every worker who isn’t checked as part of the government crackdown. The announcement comes as Home Secretary Yvette Cooper prepares to speak to Sky News breakfast show Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips today.Her department has said “thousands” of companies which hire…

The television production company founded by broadcaster Jake Humphrey and former racing driver David Coulthard is in talks with potential buyers about a sale.Sky News has learnt that Whisper Group, which was established in 2010 and won a BAFTA for its coverage of the Women’s Euros in 2022, is working with advisers on a deal. The company is said to be open to a range of options, including the sale of a majority or minority stake to either financial investors or a strategic buyer.Corporate financiers at KPMG are orchestrating talks with potential bidders.Whisper is already 30%-owned by Sony Pictures Television,…

A British-built Mars rover stuck on Earth since the start of the war in Ukraine may soon be on its way after the UK Space Agency agreed to pay for its ride down to the Red Planet.The European Space Agency’s Rosalind Franklin rover was supposed to land on Mars in 2023. But the rocket powered system designed to ferry the fragile rover down to the planet’s surface was being built under contract by Russia’s space agency Roscosmos.After the invasion of Ukraine, ESA cancelled the contract, leaving the Rosalind rover, designed to search for signs of past life on Mars, stranded.The…

Grand Theft Auto VI is the most anticipated game of the year.The long-awaited sequel by developer Rockstar Games is expected in the autumn – 12 years on from the record-breaking GTA V. While gamers excitedly await its release, the industry itself is buzzing with anticipation over rumblings the base game could command a premium $100 (about £80) price point and still achieve colossal sales.Setting this precedent could lead to other game publishers wanting a slice of the action by increasing their own starting prices.However, the GTA series boasts two winning ingredients that some other games do not have – brand…

More than 130 programmes have received nominations for this year’s BAFTA TV Awards.Baby Reindeer leads the nominations with eight, while Mr Bates vs The Post Office, Rivals and Slow Horses each have six. Scroll down for the full list of nominees for the main BAFTA TV Awards, which take place on Sunday 11 May. The BAFTA TV Craft Awards, which recognise technical work, take place separately on Sunday April 27.CHILDREN’S: NON-SCRIPTEDBooSnoo! Production Team – Visionality, Mackinnon & Saunders / Sky KidsDisability And Me (FYI Investigates) – Matt Peacock, Marshall Corwin – Fresh Start Media / Sky KidsOperation Ouch! Production Team…

The clocks go forward this Sunday, marking the beginning of the daylight saving period. It will mean the time jumps to 2am as the clocks turn to 1am on 30 March – and yes, bad news, you will lose an hour of sleep. But the extra hour of daylight will mean longer, lighter evenings from next week.”Spring forward, fall back” has been part of our calendar for more than 100 years – but whether we should continue the practice is hotly debated.But why do some people get so up in arms about the clocks changing – and why do we do…

WH Smith has sold its 233-year old high street business to the owner of Hobbycraft in a £76m deal.Sky News revealed in January how a sales process was under way for the arm, which employs roughly 5,000 people and has 480 stores. Modella Capital won the final stage of the auction process in a run off against Alteri investors – both specialists in turning around troubled retailers.Money latest: Time running out for EV drivers to save £195The deal will see the WH Smith name erased from town centres to become TGJones. The sale allows the WH Smith business to focus…

There aren’t many people who could greet Prince William by cheekily saying “great hair”, but Kaleb Cooper, one of the most famous names in British farming right now, got away with it as he joined William to talk about the state of the industry.Kaleb, star of the Amazon Prime series Clarkson’s Farm, joined William to talk to young farmers about their challenges and mental health, and shared with Sky News his thoughts on the pressures facing the community right now. He told Prince William: “I think there’s a worry with everyone about where they see farming in 10 years’ time…