Author: SKYNEWS

Former Post Office chairman Henry Staunton said it is “pretty obvious what was really going on” after the government refuted his claims that he was told to stall compensation to Horizon scandal victims. In a new statement issued to Sky News, Mr Staunton insisted there was “no real movement” on the payouts until after the airing of ITV drama Mr Bates Vs the Post Office earlier this year. He said: “It was in the interests of the business as well as being fair for the postmasters that there was faster progress on exoneration and that compensation was more generous, but…

Ian King speaks to the business minister Kevin Hollinrake following new plans to crack down on companies that fire and rehire workers on less favourable terms.He’s also discussing Currys as shares surge after a Chinese e-commerce giant is confirmed as the latest would-be buyer.Plus the managing director of Wizz Air is on, as the company grows its fleet to 200, claiming its new aircraft makes it the youngest in Europe.:: Listen and subscribe to The Ian King Business Podcast here. Source link

Satellite images that can monitor the earth and measure climate risks such as flooding, famine, forest fires and detect hazardous pollutants in air and water can be invaluable to scientists, governments, and industry.This is exactly the data that Bengaluru based Pixxel Space provides to its clients. Its hyperspectral satellite cameras can detect invisible gas leaks, crop diseases and infestations, health of crops and soil, underground oil leaks, or the moisture content in a forest that could potentially light up.Awais Ahmed, 26, founder and chief executive, tells Sky News: “Human eyes can see things in the red, green and blue which…

The BAFTAs have come down heavily on a “social media prankster” who crashed the awards ceremony on Sunday night. The man, who BAFTA does not wish to be named, joined director Christopher Nolan, producer Emma Thomas, and actor Cillian Murphy on stage as they claimed the most prestigious award of the night. He stood behind Thomas, Nolan’s wife, while she delivered the acceptance speech as Oppenheimer won Best Film.Dressed in a black suit and tie, the gatecrasher seemingly blended in with the movie trio as none of them, nor the audience or security reacted to his presence on stage.Wearing a…

A crackdown on so-called fire and rehire tactics by employers has been criticised as “tinkering around the edges” by the leader of the Trades Union Congress (TUC). Its general secretary spoke up as the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) confirmed the creation of a new statutory code covering the practice, also known as dismiss and re-engage. Fire and rehire refers to when an employer fires a member of staff and offers them a new contract on new, often less favourable terms.It said the code, subject to parliamentary approval, would prevent rogue use of the tactic by employers as employment…

Actor Jeremy Renner was met with a standing ovation at an awards ceremony in LA at the weekend, just over a year on from a serious snowploughing accident that left him with more than 30 broken bones.On stage at the People’s Choice Awards, the Marvel star reflected on a “heck of a journey” since the incident on New Year’s Day in 2023. Renner, 52, presented the first award of the night, and was met by rapturous applause and a standing ovation from the audience. Image: Renner attended the premiere of his docuseries Rennervations in April 2023, his first public appearance…

The owner of the London Stock Exchange is plotting a multimillion pound pay rise for its chief executive amid a debate about whether FTSE 100 bosses’ incentive packages are damaging the competitiveness of Britain’s economy.Sky News has learnt that London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) is consulting with its major shareholders about a revised pay policy that would give boss David Schwimmer the opportunity to earn almost double his current maximum package of £6.25m. Last year, Mr Schwimmer was paid just over £4.7m, of which £1m was his base salary, £1.4m his annual bonus and nearly £2m in the form of…

Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch has hit out at the former Post Office chairman after he alleged he was told to “stall” spending on compensation for Horizon scandal victims ahead of the next general election.Henry Staunton, who was ousted by the business secretary last month, used an interview with The Sunday Times to suggest that the alleged request from a senior Whitehall civil servant was linked to concerns about the cost of the payouts. He also told the paper that Ms Badenoch told him that “someone’s got to take the rap” for the Horizon scandal and that he discovered his sacking…

A bidding war for Currys could be on the cards after a second declaration of takeover interest.China’s e-commerce platform JD.com, not to be confused with UK-based JD Sports Fashion, confirmed on Monday it had held preliminary talks with the electricals retailer. Its statement said that “it is in the very preliminary stages of evaluating a possible transaction that may include a cash offer for the entire issued share capital of Currys.”Money latest:The bad habits that cause most argumentsIt followed confirmation at the weekend that a possible cash offer by US-based Elliott Advisors, that valued Currys at £700m and was first…

Trisha Goddard, best known for hosting the talk show Trisha, has revealed her cancer has returned after previously being diagnosed in 2008 and recovering from the illness. The 66-year-old has been diagnosed with secondary breast cancer – meaning the disease started in the breast and spread to another part of the body – for which there is treatment but no cure. In her case, the cancer is in her bones, specifically her right hip, she said in an interview with Hello! magazine.Goddard was told of the news 19 months ago but has only now opened up about it.The presenter, who…