Author: SKYNEWS

US pop star Lizzo has assured fans that she is not quitting the music industry – after an earlier statement where she said she is tired of being ridiculed online.The About Damn Time singer made headlines after she ended an Instagram post last week with “I didn’t sign up for this shit. I quit” – after saying she was being “dragged by everyone in my life and on the internet”. But in a new video on Tuesday, the 35-year-old clarified that she meant she was “quitting giving any negative energy attention” and not singing or songwriting.”What I’m not going to…

The Post Office’s IT helpdesk was instructing Fujitsu, the maker of faulty accounting software, to change sub-postmaster accounts more than a decade ago, according to leaked recordings.Two secret audio recordings with Post Office officials, obtained by Sky News, demonstrate how much the government-owned company knew about flaws with the Horizon IT programme, used by sub-postmasters to record branch transactions. Hundreds were prosecuted for theft and false accounting and many more borrowed large amounts, lost homes, and moved from their areas after incorrect shortfalls were generated by Horizon.Forensic accountants Second Sight was examining issues with Horizon in 2013, two years before…

Rebel Wilson claims she felt as if Sacha Baron Cohen “sexually harassed” her on the set of the film Grimsby, and believes he “gets off on making people feel uncomfortable”.The Australian actress made the allegations about the British comedy star in her memoir, Rebel Rising, which was released in the US yesterday.A representative for Baron Cohen describes her claims as “demonstrably false”, in a statement given to the PA news agency. Image: Wilson has made the allegations in her new memoir. Pic: Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP 2023 Wilson, 44, starred alongside Baron Cohen, 52, in the 2016 spy action comedy Grimsby,…

Trade groups have warned of higher food prices and empty supermarket shelves because of new post-Brexit border fees being introduced this month. A maximum charge of £145 will apply on imports of plant and animal products, such as cheese and fish, entering the UK through the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel from 30 April. Politics Live: Threat greater now than at end of Cold War, ex-defence secretary says The fees are intended to cover the cost of operating new border control posts required after Brexit, and will not apply to goods brought into the UK for personal use, the government…

Kiss have sold their music catalogue to the company behind ABBA’s hologram concerts.The US rock band, known for their black and white makeup, have also allowed Pophouse Entertainment Group to buy its trademark and face paint designs. The deal, which is subject to regulatory approval and reported to be worth around $300m (£237m), includes master recordings and publishing rights.There are plans for a biopic and Kiss-themed experience following the sale. Image: Pic: Ritzau Scanpix/Torben Christensen/Reuters The firm, which was founded by ABBA singer Bjorn Ulvaeus, previously agreed a deal with Kiss to turn members of the band into avatars similar…

The long-standing owner of Space NK, the high street beauty retailer, is preparing to put it up for sale with a price tag of more than £300m.Sky News has learnt that Manzanita Capital, a private investment firm, has approached investment banks about initiating a process that would see Space NK changing hands after more than 20 years under its ownership. Retail industry sources said on Thursday said that bankers were expected to be appointed in the near future, although it was unclear which firm would land the mandate.One said that based on Space NK’s financial performance, it could be worth…

A small Cheshire village is on the hunt for Harry Styles experts to lead tours for fans eager to see where the star grew up. Holmes Chapel has seen an increase in fans “coming to pay homage” to the singer, according to the community group Holmes Chapel Partnership (HCP). Now the group is looking for people with a “flair for storytelling” and a “good knowledge” of the village and its links to Styles to lead guided tours.The new Harry’s Home Village Tour will run on Saturday mornings in June and on weekdays in July, August and September.Last year, the group published…

The proportion of battery electric vehicles sold in the UK car market has shrunk, according to new industry figures.Some 15.2% of new cars registered in March were pure electrics, down from 16.2% during the same period last year, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said. The industry body said the “tough economic backdrop” of low growth, weak consumer confidence and high interest rates was making it harder for drivers to “invest in these new technologies”.Year-on-year sales of electric vehicles (EVs) did rise during the month, but this was mostly driven by fleet investment, rather than from private drivers,…

Tesla has reported a sharp fall in worldwide sales amid increased competition and slowing demand for electric vehicles.The carmaker said it delivered 386,810 vehicles during the first quarter of the year – down nearly 9% on the 423,000 it shipped from January to March last year. It marks the first year-on-year quarterly sales decline for the company in nearly four years.Tesla said the fall was “partly” due to disruption to shipping in the Red Sea region and an arson attack at its gigafactory in Berlin.It also blamed the phasing in of an updated version of its Model 3 sedan at…

Billie Eilish, Nicki Minaj and Jon Bon Jovi are among hundreds of musicians who have signed an open letter warning developers of artificial intelligence against using the technology to generate music.The list of around 200 artists, which also includes J Balvin and Sheryl Crow, signed an open letter written by the Artist Rights Alliance, an advocacy group, calling for AI developers, technology companies and digital music services to “cease the use of AI to infringe upon and devalue the rights of human artists”. The alliance, which is run by industry veterans, said in the letter it believes AI has “enormous…