Author: SKYNEWS

Idris Elba, ice dancers Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, as well as England’s victorious women’s football and rugby teams, are among 1,157 people recognised in the New Year Honours list.Sir Idris, 53, who is known for his roles in The Wire and Luther, is knighted for services to young people, having founded the Elba Hope Foundation. He said: “I receive this honour on behalf of the many young people whose talent, ambition and resilience has driven the work of the Elba Hope Foundation.”I hope we can do more to draw attention to the importance of sustained, practical support for young…

Octopus Energy Group is on the brink of selling a big stake in its software arm, Kraken Technologies, at a valuation that will cement its status as one of Britain’s biggest private companies.Sky News has learnt that Octopus Energy has lined up a syndicate of investors to buy between 10% and 20% of Kraken. Sources said an investment was likely to value Kraken at between $9bn (£6.67bn) and $10bn (£7.4bn).D1 Capital Partners, a leading investor in technology businesses, the fund management giant Fidelity and an arm of Canada’s Ontario Teachers Pension Plan are said to be among those participating in…

The guitarist and keyboard player for The Cure, Perry Bamonte, has died.The band said Bamonte died aged 65 “after a short illness at home”, in a statement on their website, which they said was posted with “enormous sadness”. The statement said: “Quiet, intensive, intuitive, constant and hugely creative, ‘Teddy’ was a warm hearted and vital part of The Cure story.”Looking after the band from 1984 through 1989, he became a full member of The Cure in 1990, playing guitar, six string bass and keyboard on the Wish (1992), Wild Mood Swings (1996), Bloodflowers (2000), Acoustic Hits (2001), and The Cure…

The UK economy grew by just 0.1% in the third quarter of this year, weaker than the 0.2% growth in GDP for the previous three months, new official figures reveal.The 0.2% figure, for April to June, was itself revised down by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), from its earlier estimate for the period of 0.3 per cent. The cyberattack on Jaguar Land Rover, which halted production for weeks, appears to have played a part in the July to September slowdown.”Today’s updated figures paint the same picture as our initial estimate, with growth continuing to slow in the third quarter,”…

Brigitte Bardot was the sultry film siren who helped ignite a sexual revolution, a woman whose cultural significance extended beyond her acting career.The French star, who has died aged 91, came to embody a new kind of female sexuality on screen that was bold and unapologetic. Image: Brigitte Bardot at a London Hotel for a photocall in 1959. Pic: PA She was so famous that she became known simply by her initials.Emmanuel Macron said Bardot “embodied a life of freedom”. Image: Brigitte Bardot pictured in 1959. Pic: Sam Levin/Regie Du Film/Del Duca/Kobal/Shutterstock Image: 1963 film Le Mepris (Contempt). Pic: Everett/Shutterstock…

It wouldn’t be Christmas without at least one gift so misguided we question whether our loved ones know us at all. Now a survey by Which? has revealed the most disappointing Christmas presents received in the UK, with used pyjamas and rotten fruit among the underwhelming gifts reported. The consumer group surveyed more than 2,000 members of the public in January 2025 about their gifts last Christmas, and also asked them about the worst gifts they had ever received.The latter question led to answers like the used PJs, a rotten coconut and pineapple, marmite-scented deodorant and a Tottenham Hotspur book…

Fed up with it getting dark at 4pm? Well after today, the days will start to get a little longer.The 21 December marks the winter solstice, the shortest day and the longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. Daylight will last for almost eight hours in London, which is eight hours and 49 minutes shorter than the June solstice – the longest day of the year.The actual moment of the solstice will occur at 3.03pm in the UK, but most people mark the whole day. Solstice is recognised by holidays and festivals in many cultures around the world.…

The Bayeux Tapestry will be insured for around £800m when it comes to the UK next year.The Treasury will back the cover for the priceless artefact under the Government Indemnity Scheme – an alternative to commercial insurance that allows art and cultural objects to be shown in the UK. Indirectly backed by the British taxpayer, the indemnity will cover it for damage or loss during its transfer from France and while it is on display.The 70m fabric depiction of the 1066 Norman invasion and Battle of Hastings is not far off 1,000 years old.It depicts the battle which saw William…

Some of Britain’s biggest public sector pension schemes are in talks to take a stake in Center Parcs as its Canadian owner finalises a recapitalisation of the holiday parks giant.Sky News has learnt that bodies including the Greater Manchester Pension Fund (GMPF), the London-based Local Pension Partnership (LPPI) and the Edinburgh-based Lothian Pension Scheme are among those which have been in negotiations about buying between 15% and 20% of the company. The GMPF, which is part of the Northern LGPS, is the UK’s single-biggest biggest local government pension scheme, with well over £30bn under management and responsibility for the retirement…

Space is an alien environment for humans.Our bodies are built for gravity; take it away and there are profound changes to our biology.Muscles and bones that keep us upright on Earth become weak.Body fluid that’s normally pooled in our legs floods into our upper body, changing the shape of the heart and damaging the eyes.And genes that are inactive on Earth suddenly switch on.Others go silent.These are some of the lessons learned from 25 years of studying astronauts living and working on the International Space Station (ISS). Image: The International Space Station seen from a docking craft. Pic: NASA And…