Author: SKYNEWS

A fancy dress manufacturer which traces its roots back to the 19th century is on the brink of insolvency after failing to find a buyer.Sky News has learnt that Smiffys, which is family-owned, is lining up PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC) as administrators, having tried to secure a sale in recent weeks. A notice of intention to appoint administrators was filed on Thursday.Smiffys, which was founded in 1894, ships more than 26 million items of fancy dress annually, according to the company’s website.It distributes 7,500 products to thousands of stockists around the world. The company is understood to have been beset by overstocking…

A battery-operated spoon has been launched which apparently enhances the salty taste of low-sodium food without the need for extra salt.The piece of cutlery – made of plastic and metal and being sold in Japan – is aimed at people struggling to reduce their salt intake, as researchers claim it promotes healthier eating. Excess sodium intake is linked to increased cases of high blood pressure, strokes and other conditions.In Japan, adults consume on average around 10g of salt a day – which is double the World Health Organisation’s recommended intake.The Electric Salt Spoon works by passing a weak electric current…

The daughter of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt has filed paperwork to legally change her name.Shiloh Jolie-Pitt submitted the petition in Los Angeles County Superior Court on 27 May, the day she turned 18, to change her name to Shiloh Jolie, the Los Angeles Times reported. Shiloh, who performs as a voice actor in the film Kung Fu Panda 3, is the third-eldest of the former couple’s six children.She is the first to file a petition for a legal name change, but some of the others have dropped the public use of their father’s last name in recent years, the…

Britain’s biggest water company has been told it faces a fine of more than £40m over the payment of a shareholder dividend in spite of its poor performance.Sky News has learnt that Ofwat notified Thames Water last month that it was minded to impose the penalty for breaching rules on the payment of dividends. The development will pile further pressure on Thames Water as it limps towards a potential temporary nationalisation under a debt mountain of more than £15bn.The fine being considered by Ofwat is notable because it is larger than the £37.5m payout made to shareholders last autumn, according…

A simple at-home spit test could be used to identify men at risk of developing prostate cancer and save thousands of lives, research suggests.Preliminary findings presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting in Chicago suggest it is more accurate than the standard blood test as an early assessment tool for the disease, which claims around 12,000 lives a year in the UK. The research could help “turn the tide on prostate cancer” by offering a cheap and easy-to-use alternative to screen for the disease, the researchers at the Institute of Cancer Research, London, and the Royal…

The first Muslim International Film Festival is taking place in London this week to champion “narratives of international Muslim filmmakers and highlight their compelling stories”.The programme includes eight feature films, two sets of short films, as well as panels and networking opportunities. Festival director Sajid Varda told Sky News it’s about changing depictions of Islam and Muslims.”For many years, as Muslim, we’ve never really seen ourselves reflected back on TV and film,” he said, speaking at the festival’s opening in London’s Leicester Square.”Many of the stories that have Muslim characters are very cartoonish, very tropey. It’s always those four key…

Superdry, the struggling London-listed fashion chain, has received a reprieve after the owner of its flagship store towed back from a challenge to its rescue plan.Sky News understands that M&G, the asset manager which had been contemplating a formal objection to Superdry’s restructuring plan, has decided not to proceed with the move. M&G owns Superdry’s Oxford Street store and had engaged lawyers from Hogan Lovells, the City law firm, to scrutinise the proposals.City sources said that British Land, which owns a handful of Superdry stores, would abstain on the restructuring plan, but had also opted against a formal challenge.Read more…

Mike Tyson has postponed his highly-anticipated boxing match with Jake Paul after falling ill on a flight last weekend.The boxing veteran was scheduled to face ex-YouTuber Paul, 27, in the ring on 20 July in Arlington, Texas. However, this has now been postponed after Tyson suffered ulcer problems while flying from Miami to Los Angeles last Sunday.The fight’s promoter said in a statement: “During a follow up consultation on Thursday with medical professionals on his recent ulcer flare-up, the recommendation is for Mike Tyson to do minimal to light training over the next few weeks and then return to full…

Launching his plans for Great British Energy, a state-owned clean power company, Sir Keir Starmer promised the new entity would reduce bills, create jobs and deliver increased energy security.Specifically, Labour’s press release for an idea first announced in October 2022 said: “Great British Energy will cut energy bills for good, as families face the threat of £900 annual energy price spikes under Tories.” That claim is based on analysis of fluctuations in the energy price cap set by Ofgem and the prospect of soaring energy prices, triggered by global events – specifically, the Russian invasion of Ukraine – being repeated.Labour’s…

Tesla shareholders have been urged to vote against plans to pay its chief executive Elon Musk up to $56bn (£44bn).The compensation package, if approved, would be the biggest ever for a chief executive in the US. However, proxy advisory firm Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) has warned the amount is “excessive” and said it would not help Musk to “focus” more on the company.It comes following concerns that the controversial billionaire has become distracted from running Tesla by his other business interests, including SpaceX and X, formerly Twitter.The electric carmaker has also been hit recently by falling revenue, product recalls and…