Author: SKYNEWS

The owner of Royal Mail has said it is “minded” to accept a revised takeover bid by Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky. The latest offer from Mr Kretinsky’s investment firm EP Group values the Royal Mail parent company International Distribution Services (IDS) at £3.5bn. Money latest: UK economy in safe hands ‘whoever wins’ election, top bank chief saysMr Kretinsky’s firm already owns most of IDS as a 27.6% shareholder but wishes to buy the remaining shares.An earlier offer of £3.20 a share was rejected last month for being too low. But now he has offered £3.60 for each share. The day…

The UK’s largest consumer-owned wind farm is powering up in Scotland this month.Kirk Hill Wind Farm in South Ayrshire – part owned by more than 5,600 people and small firms – will have the potential to power around 20,000 households and businesses. The eight-turbine site, being pioneered by Ripple Energy, was funded via the £13.2m raised by members of the public and small businesses to build it in 2022.Not only will the owners be able to power their homes with up to 100% green energy, contributing to efforts to tackle climate change, but they are also expected to save thousands…

The window is closing to tackle public transport, bills and pollution in order to boost growth, improve lives and tackle climate change, the government’s official infrastructure adviser has warned.With much of British infrastructure ageing, decisions in the next five years will be critical in shaping the cheaper, greener and more secure future the public wants, the National Infrastructure Commission said in its annual review. It recognised progress in some areas, but criticised “significant deficiencies” in the UK’s infrastructure, including a failure to build reservoirs, too many homes being at risk of flooding, and under-investment in regional transport.It said people’s quality…

People as young as 18 will be able to get behind the controls of a train as part of a government proposal aimed at boosting staff. The plans were announced on Thursday as thousands of train passengers up and down the country have been facing delays and cancellations due to repeated strike action in recent months. The current age to be able to apply to become a train driver is 20.The government said “thousands of opportunities could open up for younger people as early as this summer”, if the proposal is approved.Read more:Train strikes: ‘Half a decade without a pay increase’Labour…

A former Post Office executive has said she was forced to block ex-boss Paula Vennells’ phone number after the ex-CEO called multiple times asking for help to avoid an independent inquiry into the Horizon IT scandal.Lesley Sewell, previously the company’s head of IT, told the Post Office inquiry on Thursday that former CEO Ms Vennells had reached out to her four times between 2020 and 2021. Ms Sewell said that she blocked Ms Vennells’ number due to discomfort with the contact.In her witness statement to the probe, Ms Sewell said that one of Ms Vennells’ emails referenced the need to…

The new British boss of Wefox, one of Europe’s biggest insurance technology companies, has warned investors that it could face collapse within months as it contends with a slew of regulatory and financial challenges.Sky News has learnt that Wefox believes it could become insolvent by the summer unless it can secure the sale of a number of its loss-making operations. The parlous state of the company, which was valued at $4.5bn (£3.6bn) in a funding round less than two years ago and whose lenders include Barclays and JP Morgan, makes it the latest giant of Europe’s tech scene to face…

Australia’s richest woman is reported to have made a demand that her portrait be removed from an exhibition.The portrait is currently on display at the National Gallery of Australia alongside a collection of other works by the award-winning artist Vincent Namatjira. Complete with double chin, it portrays mining billionaire Gina Rinehart in what some may say is an unflattering light.Responding to the reports, Mr Namatjira has said he “paints the world as he sees it”.Ms Rinehart has not publicly commented on the painting, Australian media is reporting. However, a spokesperson for the National Gallery said it “welcomes the public having…

A pilot scheme scrapping peak ScotRail fares has been extended for an additional three months, Scotland’s first minister has announced.The trial was initially introduced in October 2023 and was extended to run until the end of June. It will now remain in place until the end of September.The price cut sees rush-hour commutes between Glasgow and Edinburgh slashed by almost half, from £28.90 to £14.90.First Minister John Swinney made the announcement on Thursday during a visit to a Fife Expo at Edinburgh’s Waverley Station, part of the Levenmouth rail link opening celebrations. He said: “We know new rail investment can…

An American developer of woundcare technology is preparing to push the button on a London stock market flotation next month in a further signal of the City’s tentative recovery as a multinational listing venue.Sky News has learnt that AOTI – or Advanced Oxygen Therapy Inc – is drawing up plans to raise roughly $50m (£39.5m) from an initial public offering in London. City sources said the company expected to announce its plans in the first half of June.If successful, the flotation on the junior AIM market is likely to value AOTI at around £160m, the sources added.Based in California, AOTI…

Tom Brady has promised to be “a better parent” after a Netflix comedy special poked fun at his divorce.The seven-time Super Bowl champion appeared on The Roast Of Tom Brady, where comedians like Kevin Hart tore into his split from Gisele Bundchen in 2022 after 13 years. While the 46-year-old said he “loved when the jokes were about me,” Brady told The Pivot Podcast that he “didn’t like the way it affected my kids”.”It’s the hardest part about, like the bittersweet aspect of when you do something that you think is one way and then all of a sudden you…