Author: SKYNEWS

Administrators to The Body Shop are aiming to clinch a sale of the stricken cosmetics retailer by the end of the month, even as its former owner veers away from making an offer for it.Sky News has learnt that FRP Advisory, which was appointed to handle the chain’s insolvency in January, has asked for indicative bids by next Tuesday. Sources said FRP wanted to seal a sale of The Body Shop’s remaining British business before the end of June.Aurelius, the investment firm which took control of the retailer only weeks before administrators were called in, is not expected to submit…

Taylor Swift has kicked off the UK-leg of her tour in Edinburgh.The pop megastar put on a colourful show for her fans in Murrayfield Stadium on Friday. On the first of 15 stops in the UK, Swift wowed more than 70,000 fans with a show running over three hours.Catch up: Taylor Swift’s Murrayfield Stadium performance as it happenedFriday is the first of three shows in Scotland before she moves on to Liverpool and Cardiff, with two stretches in London.Fans sang along through the night as Swift moved through a grand tour of her 11 albums.Read more from Sky News:Netherlands may…

It is impossible to overstate the significance of British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch’s acquittal by a San Francisco jury.Dr Lynch, the founder and former chief executive of Autonomy, was cleared on Thursday night of criminal charges that he fraudulently inflated the FTSE-100 software company’s revenues prior to its $11bn takeover in 2011 by Hewlett-Packard. Odds stacked against himVery few people in Dr Lynch’s position – a British businessman extradited to the United States to face federal trial – would have been brave enough to face trial and plead not guilty.The vast majority of defendants to US criminal charges tend to…

Checking our bodies for unusual lumps and bumps has become a normal way of looking after our health.But what about considering how our genes might predispose us to cancer or cognitive decline? Should we find out – even in cases where we are powerless to stop it?It’s been more than a decade since the so-called “Angelina Jolie effect”.In 2013, the actress announced she’d had a double mastectomy, having tested positive for faults in the BRCA1 gene, which gave her an 87% chance of developing breast cancer and a 50% chance of ovarian cancer. She later had her ovaries and fallopian…

Taylor Swift has smashed a triumphant set in front of an enormous crowd in Edinburgh on her record-breaking Eras tour – telling fans it was “the wildest way to welcome a lass”. As she welcomed the crowd, the US megastar announced it was officially the highest-attended stadium show in Scottish history. “Oh hi,” she casually told the more than 70,000 people who came to see her perform.See more: Swift’s Eras tour in Edinburgh in picturesThe 34-year-old star initially took to the stage in a diamante-encrusted corseted leotard and bejewelled cowboy boots. She later admitted: “This tour has been the most…

A key co-owner of Asda has sold his stake to a private equity company, making it the majority owner.Zuber Issa, the co-chief executive, sold his 22.5% share in Asda to private equity backer TDR Capital. Money blog: Victorian island forts – complete with helipads and nightclubs – up for saleNow TDR is the majority owner, controlling 67.5% of the supermarket group.The deal is set to be completed in the third quarter of this year, the company said. Image: Pic: iStock Ownership scrutinyPrivate equity firms acquire businesses, invest to improve financial performance and seek to sell them on for a profit.…

More than a hundred cases of E.coli have been detected in the UK as a result of a single outbreak.At least 37 people have been admitted to hospital as a result – and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has warned cases are likely to rise. The 113 cases recorded so far include people aged from two years old to 79, with the majority of the infections in young adults.But what is E.coli, what are the symptoms of infection – and what has happened in previous outbreaks?What is E.coli? Short for Escherichia coli, E.coli is a bacteria that is commonly…

Jennifer Aniston became emotional during a recent interview when she was asked about the hit show Friends.The sitcom launched both her career and that of her late co-star, Matthew Perry. Aniston was part of the ensemble cast from 1994-2004 alongside Perry, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer and Matt LeBlanc.The comedy was a huge hit, dominating prime time, raking in awards and regularly attracting huge audience viewing figures across its decade-long run on NBC in the US. It was also popular around the world, including in the UK. Image: The cast of Friends – David Schwimmer, Lisa Kudrow, Matthew Perry,…

The BBC’s content arm is among the suitors vying to buy the television production company which owns the rights to The Gruffalo.Sky News has learnt that BBC Studios is participating in a sale process for Magic Light Pictures, which has won three BAFTAs and secured a quartet of Oscar nominations. The auction is being run by Gotham Street, a specialist media deals boutique.A number of other bidders are also said to be involved in the process given the quality of Magic Light’s content library, which includes a number of works by The Gruffalo’s creators, Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.The Gruffalo…

YouTube says it is introducing new restrictions on videos featuring guns after repeated calls by campaigners to limit potentially traumatising material.From 18 June, the video-sharing platform said it will prohibit any videos demonstrating how to remove firearm safety devices. YouTube, which is owned by Google, will also restrict videos showing homemade guns and automatic weapons for users under 18.While campaigners have welcomed the initiative, they said YouTube must show it is taking “real action” to prevent children from being exposed to potentially traumatising content or material which could encourage violence.Gun-related injuries have been the leading cause of death for children…