Author: SKYNEWS

Appointment reminders, invitations to health screenings and test results will now be received by patients on their phones.The government says moving to a more digital-focused NHS will mean 50 million fewer letters need to be sent out by the health service, saving an estimated £200m over the next three years. Instead, under the new plans, millions of people will be notified about appointments and other important notices via the NHS app on their phone or digital device.The app is set to become the go-to method for the NHS to communicate with people, the Department of Health and Social Care said.The…

Denim chaps and hot pants aren’t most people’s go-to outfit for standing outside on a drizzly June day in London but Beyonce fans with tickets to her Cowboy Carter tour joked they were enjoying their very own “rain-aissance”.Referencing the singer’s 7th studio album, for Wilfy – originally from Brazil – the weather wasn’t going to dampen his spirits. “We came to rock and this time I’m going to see her 5 times, so on Saturday I’ll be back. It’s Beyonce – this is a rain-aissance!”Her album Cowboy Carter may be responsible for the plethora of country-themed outfits, but this is…

A former McKinsey boss is among the candidates being considered to replace Sir Mark Tucker as the chairman of HSBC Holdings.Sky News has learnt that Kevin Sneader, who was voted out of the global consulting firm in 2021 following a string of crises, has been approached about the top job at the London-headquartered bank. City sources said that Mr Sneader was one of a number of people being considered by the board nomination committee assembled by HSBC.Money latest: Tesla takes $150bn hit as Musk-Trump row explodes The identities of the other contenders was unclear on Friday. Scottish-born Mr Sneader left…

Japan’s private space company ispace has said its latest uncrewed moon lander has probably crashed on to the surface, two years after another unsuccessful touchdown attempt.The Tokyo-based company declared the mission a failure on Friday, several hours after communication was lost with the lander, named Resilience. It follows its failed inaugural mission in 2023. CEO and founder Takeshi Hakamada issued an apology at a news conference. Image: Staff are shocked after the company announced they lost signal from the lander. Pic: Reuters “This is the second time that we were not able to land. So we really have to take…

The National Trust says it has taken down a piece of art featuring JK Rowling’s name after it was “tampered with by a member of the public”.It has urged people “not to damage or tamper with artworks” once they are finished and on public display. Between April and November last year, visitors to Derbyshire’s Hardwick Hall were invited to nominate a “contemporary Virtuous Woman”, whose name was then sewn into the fabric, before it was put on public show in February.Until recently, the artwork, A Virtuous Woman, has continued to be on display, featuring the Harry Potter author’s name, which…

Every Thursday, our Money blog team interviews chefs from around the UK, hearing about their cheap food hacks and more. This week, we chat to Ryan Honey, head chef at The Duke in Henley-on-Thames.The best chef in the UK is… Mark Birchall at Moor Hall, hands down. The guy has just bagged three Michelin stars, and if that doesn’t make him the best in the country right now, I don’t know what does.His food is next-level, the kind of stuff that makes chefs jealous.If you’re not dreaming of eating at Moor Hall, are you even serious about food? Check today’s…

Meta and search engine company Yandex have been “covertly tracking” Android users in the background of their devices, according to experts.Academics at the Radboud University in the Netherlands and IMDEA Networks said they discovered Meta and Yandex have been tracking Android users’ browser activity without their consent and then using the data in their apps. Meta said it was looking into the issue, while Yandex denied collecting any sensitive data.Gunes Acar, assistant professor at Radboud University, said the “covert” data collection was spotted in January.He said he discovered Meta’s apps, including Facebook and Instagram, and Yandex’s apps, such as Yandex…

Schroders has stepped back from a key financial sector taskforce led by the London Stock Exchange, even as the asset manager’s chair joins the board of the bourse’s parent company.Sky News has learnt that Schroders has downgraded its involvement in the Capital Markets Industry Taskforce (CMIT), which was established in 2022, following the recent change of leadership at the company. Sources said that while former Schroders chief executive Peter Harrison remained on CMIT’s board in a personal capacity, his successor, Richard Oldfield, was unconvinced that its priorities and those of CMIT were aligned.Money latest: Nearly half of landlords to raise…

A foot scanner that uses AI to recognise the warning signs of heart failure could be used at home to keep people out of hospital, researchers have said.The device takes and analyses almost 2,000 pictures a minute, in a similar manner to facial recognition, to calculate the level of fluid in the feet and ankles. Such water retention, known as oedema, is one of three major warning signs heart failure is becoming more severe and potentially life threatening.The AI scanner is roughly the size of a smart speaker and can alert healthcare professionals so they can take action, such as…

An actor who appeared in animated series King Of The Hill and hit show Parks And Recreation has been shot dead near his home.Jonathan Joss, 59, was found injured by police in San Antonio, Texas, on Sunday evening. Officers tried to save him but he was pronounced dead at the scene.The actor’s husband claimed the gunman shouted “violent homophobic slurs” before opening fire, and that Joss had pushed him out the way to save his life.”He was murdered by someone who could not stand the sight of two men loving each other,” alleged Tristan Kern de Gonzales on Facebook. He…