Author: SKYNEWS

A collection of bondholders in Thames Water are mobilising to protect their interests amid an intensifying battle to avert the company’s nationalisation.Sky News has learnt that Class B bondholders were notified on Thursday they would no longer be part of the same group as the Class A noteholders represented by Jefferies, the investment bank, and law firm Akin Gump. One bondholder source said a potential clash of interests between the two groups of lenders was the reason for the split.The Class B bondholders are said to account for hundreds of millions of pounds of Thames Water’s debt – a small…

Jabs used for weight loss and treating type 2 diabetes could help people with alcohol abuse problems, according to a study.The injections led to a 50% lower rate of alcohol intoxication in people taking them compared to those who had not been prescribed them, researchers found. They also found off-label use of the drugs could help people addicted to opioids.In a study published in the journal Addiction, the researchers looked at glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA), which they said included the drug Ozempic, and/or glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) drugs, which they said include brand name Mounjaro.Such drugs may help…

The case of two brothers who were convicted of killing their parents in their Beverly Hills mansion in 1989 has been thrust back into the spotlight thanks to a Netflix drama telling their story.Lyle Menendez, 56, and his 53-year-old brother Erik are serving life in prison without parole for the shotgun murders of their father and mother – Jose and Kitty Menendez. But weeks after the release of a Netflix drama about the brothers called Monsters and a new documentary, their family has called for their release.But what is the case for the brothers’ freedom? Is there new evidence, and…

Britain’s new National Wealth Fund has struck a £1bn deal with two of Britain’s biggest high street lenders to retrofit thousands of homes to upgrade their energy-efficiency.Sky News has learnt that the government-backed vehicle has agreed with Barclays and Lloyds Banking Group to provide partial guarantees on loans to housing associations across Britain. An industry source said the deal, one of the first to be unveiled since the National Wealth Fund’s (NWF) creation, would be announced within days.One banking insider said the partnership between the NWF and the two high street lenders would enable a substantial number of homes to…

A new rule that will force businesses to make it easier for customers to cancel unwanted subscriptions and memberships is to be introduced in the US.The “click-to-cancel” rule will ban retailers and businesses from misleading consumers about subscriptions and require them to obtain people’s consent before charging for memberships, auto-renewals, and programmes linked to free trials. In the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) last major rulemaking before the 5 November election, the agency also said that businesses must let customers end subscriptions as easily as they start them. X This content is provided by X, which may be using cookies and…

Kate Moss has made her Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show debut, following her daughter on the catwalk – as the US lingerie brand brought its famous show back after six years.Some of the world’s most famous models and musicians took part in the fashion show in New York, including sisters Gigi and Bella Hadid, Tyra Banks, and Adriana Lima. Valentina Sampaio and Alex Consani also made history as they became the first transgender models to walk the famous Victoria’s Secret runway. Image: Gigi Hadid (pictured) and her model sister Bella both took part. Pic: Reuters/Andrew Kelly Image: Alex Consani is one…

UK inflation has eased to 1.7%, dipping well below the Bank of England target for the first time since 2021.It’s a drop from the 2.2% recorded in last month’s Consumer Prices Index (CPI). Analysts had expected a fall, but only to 1.9%. The Bank of England (BoE) has been trying to bring inflation down to its target of 2% by keeping interest rates higher.Money blog: Shock fall puts inflation below target for first time in three yearsIt recently trimmed the base rate to 5% and today’s inflation figure is expected to increase the likelihood of further cuts – welcome news…

Archaeologists have discovered a secret tomb at the Treasury monument in Petra, Jordan – one of the Seven Wonders of the World.A long-buried tomb containing the remains of 12 ancient skeletons and grave offerings were found beneath the monument after research teams used remote sensing technology. The discovery comes more than two decades after similar tombs were found on the other side of the famous monument, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and attracts more than a million visitors a year.The Treasury sits as the centre of an entire city carved by hand into the walls of a desert…

A Countdown champion has appeared in court accused of stabbing a rival contestant at a quiz event.John Cowen, 30, appeared in the dock at Preston Crown Court, accused of wounding with intent and two counts of possession of a bladed article, prosecutor Mercedeh Jabbari told the court. Cowen, who appeared on the daytime TV quiz show in 2017, allegedly attacked Thomas Carey with a knife at the Countdown In Blackpool 2024 event at the Wainwright Club in Hornby Road in the Lancashire resort on 14 September.Mr Carey, a Cambridge maths graduate and fellow Countdown champion, was taken to hospital for…

The CBI, the struggling business lobbying group, is in talks to sub-let parts of its vast London headquarters as it continues to seek cost-cutting opportunities in the wake of last year’s near-collapse.Sky News has learnt that the CBI has approached some of its trade association members to gauge their appetite to lease parts of the 25,000sq ft Cannon Place office it moved into in 2014. Sources said the discussions were at an early stage, and the outcome was uncertain.Since its brush with insolvency last year, triggered by an exodus of corporate members which were horrified by a sexual misconduct scandal,…