Author: SKYNEWS

The high street billionaire Mike Ashley is closing in on a deal to become the new British partner of Ted Baker, the struggling fashion chain.Sky News has learnt that Frasers Group has emerged as the preferred partner for the chain following the collapse of No Ordinary Designer Label (NODL), Ted Baker’s existing UK licensing partner. Retail industry sources said on Wednesday that Frasers and NODL’s administrators hoped to reach agreement on a deal in the coming days.Money latest: Struggling iconic tea brand launches £12m ad campaignIf completed, it will add Ted Baker to Mr Ashley’s sprawling empire of retail brands,…

Reality star Georgia Harrison has told MPs how the leaking of a video of herself having sex with Stephen Bear – filmed without her consent – spread like a “house fire”.Former Celebrity Big Brother winner Bear left prison in January, having served 10-and-a-half months of his 21-month sentence for sharing a film of him having sex with Harrison on his OnlyFans site.Harrison told MPs on the Women And Equalities Committee the video – recorded without her knowledge – “went viral to a point I can’t explain” as it spread round multiple sites and was circulated on WhatsApp.She added: “It absolutely horrified…

Brewdog’s co-founder and chief executive James Watt has revealed he is to step down from the top job after 17 years.He wrote on a LinkedIn post that he was to retain his 21% stake in the brewer and pub firm and become “captain and co-founder” – a newly created non-executive board role that would see him continue to offer oversight and advice. James Arrow, Brewdog’s chief operating officer, will succeed him.Mr Watt announced the decision just weeks after the TUC branded him “the worst employer of the month”.The union organisation said it reflected Brewdog’s decision this year to no longer…

The Chinese state has hacked the Ministry of Defence, Sky News understands.MPs will be told today of a massive data breach involving the MoD, targeting service personnel. The government will not name the country involved, but Sky News understands this to be China.The Chinese state is to be accused of two or three attempts at hacking MoD employees – including personnel.The cyberattack was on a payroll system with current service personnel and some veterans. It is largely names and bank details that have been exposed. All salaries will be paid this month.China’s foreign ministry said it “firmly opposes and fights…

The Eurovision Song Contest is already facing controversy over performers making political statements ahead of the big event in Sweden at the weekend.Bambie Thug, who will represent Ireland, has criticised organisers for asking the performer to alter a pro-Palestinian message before their performance in the first semi-final last night. Meanwhile, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has put out a statement expressing “regret” that former Swedish contestant Eric Saade, who is reportedly of Palestinian origin, was wearing a keffiyeh – a traditional scarf that has become a symbol of support – tied around his wrist as he sang.He is not competing…

Ian King talks to Craig Beaumont, chief of external affairs at the Federation of Small Businesses, about the UK coming out of recession.Sky’s economic and business editor Ed Conway joins Ian to talk about Russian profits from oil and gas.And Khanh Vu, co-manager of the VinaCapital Vietnam Opportunity Fund, speaks to Ian about Vietnam’s growing geopolitical influence.:: Listen and subscribe to The Ian King Business Podcast here. Source link

Boeing has called off its first-ever astronaut launch at the final moment after discovering a valve problem in the Atlas V rocket. The two NASA test pilots had just strapped into Boeing’s Starliner capsule at Cape Canaveral space station for a flight to the International Space Station on Monday night (US EST) when the countdown stopped – two hours before the planned lift-off. It was the latest delay for Boeing’s first crew flight, on hold for years because of capsule trouble.The Atlas V rocket is manufactured by the United Launch Alliance, which includes Boeing and Lockheed Martin.United Launch Alliance’s chief executive…

Travis Kelce is used to drama on the pitch – now he’s set to experience it on the small screen.Following girlfriend Taylor Swift into the world of entertainment, the NFL star is to take on his first major acting role in a new series by renowned producer Ryan Murphy, the creative powerhouse behind hit shows including Nip/Tuck, Glee, American Horror Story, and Pose. Kelce will appear alongside Niecy Nash-Betts, Courtney B Vance and British star Lesley Manville in horror drama Grotesquerie, being made by Disney’s FX and due to be released in the US in the autumn. Image: Pic: AP/John…

A “nationwide issue” with e-gates at airports has been resolved after causing travel chaos across the country, the Home Office has said.It said the system was back up and running and there was “no indication of malicious cyber activity”. Social media images and footage showed long queues at the passport scanning gates at several airports overnight.Passengers also reported being held on planes after they landed, while others said the delays caused them to miss trains. Image: Queues at Gatwick Airport. Pic: Paul Curievici/PA Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports were affected, as well as Manchester, Bristol and Southampton, along with Edinburgh,…

Social media platforms must do more to stop their algorithms from recommending harmful content to children, Ofcom has said.The regulator has published its draft children’s safety codes of practice laying out the new standards it will expect tech giants to follow to protect children under the Online Safety Act. But two mothers who believe their children died as a result of copying dangerous social media challenges say they feel “belittled” by Ofcom over its failure to listen to grieving parents.Sky News has spoken to the mothers of Archie Battersbee, who died aged 12 after a “prank or experiment” went wrong…