Author: SKYNEWS

TikTok has been fined €530m (£452m) because it was illegally sending user data to China, Ireland’s privacy watchdog said on Friday.Ireland’s Data Protection Commission found the social media app’s data transfers to China broke strict data privacy rules in the EU. It also fined the company for not being transparent with users about how their data was being processed.TikTok has been ordered to comply with the rules within six months.The Data Protection Commission is TikTok’s powerful lead regulator in the EU because TikTok’s European headquarters are based in Dublin. “TikTok failed to verify, guarantee and demonstrate that the personal data…

One of Harvey Weinstein’s accusers broke down in tears and swore on the witness stand as a sexual abuse trial continues. Warning: This article contains references to sexual assaultMiriam Haley claims the former Hollywood mogul forced oral sex on her in July 2006.The case is being retried after the appeals court overturned his conviction last year.She was working as a production assistant at the time.Weinstein has strenuously denied all allegations, and Ms Haley also testified at Weinstein’s initial trial. Image: Miriam Haley. AP file pic Image: Harvey Weinstein on Wednesday as he appeared for his retrial. Pic: AP The 48-year-old…

The owners of Hovis and Kingsmill, two of Britain’s leading bread producers, are in talks about a historic merger amid a decades-long decline in the sale of supermarket loaves.Sky News has learnt that Associated British Foods (ABF), the London-listed company which owns Kingsmill’s immediate parent, Allied Bakeries, and Hovis, which is owned by investment firm Endless, have been involved in prolonged discussions about a combination of the two businesses. City sources said this weekend that the talks were ongoing, but that there was no certainty that a deal would be finalised.Bankers are said to be working with both sides on…

Grand Theft Auto VI, the most hotly anticipated title in gaming history, has been delayed.Take-Two Interactive pushed the release of the blockbuster title to May 2026 on Friday. The video game was previously expected to be released in autumn this year and is expected to be an instant hit with billions in sales every year, according to analysts.Its predecessor, Grand Theft Auto V, is one of the best-selling video games of all time, selling more than 200 million copies since its release in 2013.”With every game we have released, the goal has always been to try and exceed your expectations,…

Russell Brand has been granted bail after appearing in court charged with sexual offences including rape.During the brief hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, the 49-year-old spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth, and address, also confirming to the judge that he understood his bail conditions. Image: Russell Brand outside Westminster Magistrates’ Court. Pic: Reuters Brand, who has been living in the US, was charged by post last month with one count each of rape, indecent assault and oral rape – as well as two counts of sexual assault – in connection with incidents involving four separate women between…

NatWest Group has revealed its first quarter profit rose by 36% – as the British lender prepares to return fully to private ownership for the first time since its 2008 financial crisis bailout.The high-street lender delivered £1.8bn in operating profit before tax, beating market forecasts of £1.6bn. The results come as the government’s stake in NatWest fell below 2% on Thursday, having reduced its shareholding from nearly 40% in December 2023 – described as an “inflection point” by the bank’s boss.NatWest’s return on tangible equity – a key measure of banking profitability – reached a robust 18.5%, prompting executives to…

Apple says devices sold in the US will no longer come from China, as the tech giant tries to mitigate the impact of Donald Trump’s tariffs.Most iPhones will be sourced from India instead, with iPads coming from Vietnam, to prevent dramatic price rises for American consumers. Unveiling financial results from January to March, the company said the US president’s escalating trade war has had a limited impact on its performance so far.However, Apple CEO Tim Cook believes the tariffs will add £677m in costs during the current quarter – assuming Trump’s policies don’t change. Please use Chrome browser for a…

The daughter of murdered MP Sir David Amess has praised “swift action taken by law enforcement” after counter-terror police confirmed they are investigating claims the band Kneecap called for people to kill their MPs.The Metropolitan Police revealed on Thursday that its Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit has found “there are grounds for further investigation into potential offences” in connection to two videos of the rap group. The first, believed to be from a Kneecap gig at London’s Kentish Town Forum in November 2024, allegedly shows one member of the band shouting: “Up Hamas, up Hezbollah”.The second, thought to be from…

Every week our Money blog interviews chefs from around the UK, hearing about their cheap food hacks and more. Today we chat to Kray Treadwell, a Michelin Young Chef of the Year winner who owns and runs 670 Grams in Birmingham.I don’t believe that all of these places that claim to be zero-waste use absolutely everything… especially when the ingredients taste like crap, and they then try and make it into something for no reason. If it’s not tasty don’t use it – we have bins for a reason! I hate it when customers give criticism… I’d rather that you…

Judging by the headlines, Sir Keir Starmer’s predecessor has gone for the jugular.”Net zero is doomed to fail, warns Tony Blair,” wrote The Times; “Blair blows hole in Labour’s net zero plans,” said The Independent; “Net zero is doomed, Blair tells Starmer,” cheered The Daily Telegraph. Clearly a direct attack on one of Sir Keir’s central missions for government, and on the eve of local elections, no less.Yet at the despatch box later – “in full head teacher mode,” according to our politics team – Mr Starmer scolded the house.”If you look at the details of what Tony Blair said,…