Author: SKYNEWS

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…

London City Airport will on Thursday name its first permanent female chief executive as it targets approval of an expansion plan that would create nearly 1,500 jobs.Sky News understands that the Docklands airport has told staff that Alison FitzGerald, who has been co-CEO since January alongside finance chief Wilma Allen, has landed the role. Ms FitzGerald has worked at City Airport – the capital’s fourth-busiest – for more than a decade, becoming chief information officer and then chief operating officer. Image: A woman wearing a face mask walks by London City Airport, which suspended its operations during the pandemic. She…

This year’s Cannes Film Festival is getting under way with, as always, a French movie opening proceedings and celebrities lining the red carpet.Lea Seydoux is among the stars in The Second Act, which tells the story of actors working on a doomed movie production – a delightfully wicked way to kick off the world’s most famous film festival. Away from opening night, here are five more films playing at Cannes that are worth keeping an eye on.Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga Image: Anya Taylor-Joy as Furiosa in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. Pic: Warner Bros/ Domain Pictures A post-apocalyptic action…

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…