Author: SKYNEWS

Children in the UK are suffering “the highest levels of poverty in living memory” – with basic toiletries including shampoo, soap and toothpaste now considered “luxury items”, Gordon Brown has said.Speaking to the Politics Hub with Sophy Ridge, the former prime minister said he was “shocked and ashamed” at the current levels of poverty in Britain, which he said had not been seen for “many, many years”. Mr Brown raised the plight of what he called “austerity’s children” – those who were born in the last 15 years “who are growing up poor, who probably have never known what it…

Temu is facing a fresh legal complaint filed by 17 companies in the European Union.The Chinese online retailer is accused of “failing to protect consumers” and “using manipulative practices which are illegal under recent EU legislation”, according to consumer group BEUC. Temu was only launched in September 2022, but has quickly become one of the most popular online marketplaces worldwide.In the UK, it was the most downloaded app in 2023 but it is now facing difficulties in the EU.The legal complaint alleges the company is breaking new rules that mean no matter where the company is based, products have to…

Manchester’s beleaguered Co-op Live arena has finally officially opened its doors after weeks of setbacks, cancellations and postponements. The venue was initially due to fully open with two Peter Kay stand-up shows on 23 and 24 April, but these dates were pushed back when problems emerged at a test event headlined by Ricky Astley. The Co-op Live’s new opening night was then due to be 1 May when US act A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie should have performed – but this was cancelled at the last minute as fans queued outside. Image: The view inside the Co-op Live, as seen…

The most dramatic aspect of Wednesday afternoon’s statement from International Distributions Services (IDS) is that the company’s board has indicated that it is minded to recommend Daniel Kretinsky’s offer to shareholders.That speaks to the depth of discussions that have evidently taken place between IDS and Mr Kretinsky’s EP Group since his original offer was rejected in April. The 15.6% “bump” – in the jargon – in EP Group’s offer is quite significant, as these things go, taking it to a level that is presumably satisfactory to IDS chairman Keith Williams and his colleagues.Money latest: UK economy in safe hands ‘whoever…

Hollywood stars have begun campaigning for Kevin Spacey to resume his acting career “after seven years of exile”.Sharon Stone, Liam Neeson and Stephen Fry are among the names speaking up for the Oscar-winner following the release of a Channel 4 documentary levelling fresh allegations against 64-year-old Spacey, which he denies. The Oscar-winning actor was one of Hollywood’s biggest names when allegations of sexual misconduct were made in 2017, leading Netflix to cut all ties with him at the height of his House of Cards fame.Despite being acquitted of numerous sexual offences after a trial in London, and winning a US…

Britain’s biggest banks are bracing themselves for talks with the Post Office over a new deal to allow millions of their customers to withdraw cash at its branches.Sky News has learnt that a group of lenders including Barclays and HSBC are in the process of forming a shared interest group to represent the industry in talks with the government-owned company during the coming months. The negotiations will be aimed at thrashing out a new Banking Framework Agreement, the latest iteration of which will expire at the end of next year.Roughly 30 banks and building societies participate in the existing deal,…

Bumble has apologised after it appeared to make fun of celibate women in a new advertising campaign.The dating app ran a billboard campaign with slogans including “you know full well a vow of celibacy is not the answer”, and “thou shall not give up dating and become a nun”. Social media users called the campaign “unbelievably insulting”, “patronising” and “tone-deaf”.The company has now apologised and admitted: “We made a mistake.”It added: “Our ads referencing celibacy were an attempt to lean into a community frustrated by modern dating and instead of bringing joy and humour, we unintentionally did the opposite.” X…

Gudrun Ure, the star of hit 1980s children’s TV show Super Gran, has died aged 98.Ure’s portrayal of Granny Smith – who gained superpowers after being struck by a magic ray – won her legions of fans across the globe. Ure lived in London and died at her home.Her death was confirmed by her niece, Kate McNeill.Ms McNeill said: “She had a very memorable voice. “I remember my husband was watching Casualty one night, and I went ‘that’s Gudrun’ as soon as I heard the voice.” Image: Pic: ITV/Shutterstock Ure was born in Scotland in Milton of Campsie, East Dunbartonshire,…

Representatives of Thames Water’s multinational syndicate of shareholders are poised to quit as directors of its corporate entities after refusing to inject the billions of pounds of funding required to bail it out.Sky News has learnt that a number of board members at companies connected to Kemble Water Finance, Thames’s parent, are expected to resign in the coming days. City sources described the move as “the logical next step” after the owners of Britain’s biggest water utility said they would not commit more than £3bn to help upgrade its ageing infrastructure and shore up its debt-laden balance sheet.A default on…

Astronomers have identified a planet as light and fluffy as candy floss – despite being far bigger than our solar system’s gas giant Jupiter.Scientists said WASP-193b is “basically super fluffy” because it has remarkably low density for its size. It’s thought to consist mostly of hydrogen and helium, according to a study published in Nature Astronomy.WASP-193b is the second least dense planet discovered by astronomers – but is proving a mystery to experts due to its size, which is around 50 per cent bigger than Jupiter.”The planet is basically super fluffy” because it’s made mostly of light gases rather than…