Author: SKYNEWS

As is the way with these things, the stock exchange announcement of the £2.52bn takeover of Redrow by Barratt Developments was brimming with optimism, trumpeting the “uniquely compelling opportunity” to “create an exceptional UK homebuilder in terms of quality, service and sustainability that builds high-quality, sustainable homes and communities” and address “the country’s need for homes”.Yet one didn’t have to look very far to find what cynics will say is the true rationale behind the UK’s second-largest housebuilder by stock market value acquiring the seventh-largest player. Money latest: How much you need to retire ‘comfortably’Barratt also reported adjusted pre-tax profits…

A castle used to house contestants on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here is among Wales’s most at-risk historical buildings, new data shows.Gwrych Castle near Abergele in Conwy was used as the location of the reality series hosted by Ant and Dec in 2020 and 2021. The series was forced to relocate from its usual location in Australia due to travel restrictions in place during the pandemic.Cadw, the Welsh government’s historic environment service, published the full list of 2,708 at-risk buildings and structures in response to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request.The body’s aim is to protect Wales’s…

The world’s largest offshore wind developer has scaled back development targets and announced hundreds of job cuts as the renewable industry struggles under the pressure of rising costs. Orsted, the company developing the Norfolk coast windfarm, Hornsea 3, also suspended shareholder payments in an effort to strengthen its balance sheet. In common with the industry more broadly, Orsted has been hit by high inflation, raised interest rates, project delays and supply chain difficulties in recent years.Up to 800 jobs are to go as the company – which owns a big chunk of the UK offshore wind energy capacity – pulls…

Erectile dysfunction drugs such as Viagra could be inadvertently cutting the chances of men developing Alzheimer’s disease, research suggests.Alzheimer’s Research UK called the findings “encouraging,” saying the chance of repurposing drugs to tackle the condition could help “accelerate progress and open up new avenues to prevent or treat dementia-causing diseases”. However the charity said more research is needed to confirm the results and examine the impact the drugs could have on women and others.In the study, published in the journal Neurology, University College London (UCL) experts examined the medical records of 269,725 men aged over 40 – with an average…

Artists including Central Cee, Raye, Potter Payper and Dave have been recognised at the MOBO Awards.Celebrating black music in the UK and internationally, the 26th MOBOs ceremony also saw special achievement prizes awarded to Soul II Soul, Sugababes and Ghetts. Fresh from being announced as the most nominated artist ever for this year’s Brit Awards, Raye saw off competition from stars including joint nominations leader Little Simz and previous winner PinkPantheress to pick up the MOBO for best female. Image: Sugababes at the MOBO Awards. Pic: PA Central Cee was named best male, beating the likes of Stormzy – who…

Three former bosses of Nectar are returning to the loyalty scheme arena after hatching a deal to buy a big stake in the world’s largest shoppers’ rewards network.Sky News understands that bd-capital, a private equity firm co-founded by Richard Baker, the former Boots chief executive and one-time Nectar chairman, will announce on Thursday that it has struck a deal to buy a big stake in TLC Worldwide. David Johnston, another bd-capital executive who previously ran Aimia – which at the time was Nectar’s owner – will become chairman of TLC.Following the deal, which industry sources estimated was worth in the…

An adult who had contracted measles has died in a hospital in Ireland, the country’s health service executive (HSE) has said.It is the first confirmed measles case in Ireland in 2024. There were four measles cases reported in the country in 2023 and two in 2022.While no cases were reported in 2021, there were five recorded in 2020, the HSE said, with no deaths reported in any of those years.The adult died in a hospital in the Dublin and Midlands health region. Read more: What are the symptoms of measles?”HSE public health teams, along with the HSE measles national incident…

Olly Alexander, the UK’s Eurovision act, has shared a snippet of his new track Dizzy, which he will perform at the song contest in May.The Years and Years frontman was announced last December as the UK’s entry for the 68th edition of the singing competition. Posting a photo of himself on a swing on social media on Wednesday, Alexander announced the name of the song and said “my brand new single is coming March 1st!!”Alexander added: “I actually can’t wait to perform this on the Eurovision stage.” X This content is provided by X, which may be using cookies and…

Breakaways are being taken away for good, leaving us with just a couple of months to get our hands on the iconic chocolate biscuit bar.Nestle has announced Breakaways will be discontinued from March after 54 years on British shelves. The historic chocolate digestive biscuit bar sealed in its classic yellow wrapper is getting axed alongside Yorkie Biscuit bars due to a decline in sales, Nestle says.If you love regular Yorkies, don’t stress – Nestle has promised they are “staying for good”.The treat makers have vowed to replace the outgoing bars with “exciting new products” later in the year. Image: Yorkie…

Rowan Atkinson has been blamed for “damaging” the reputation of electric vehicles (EVs) and contributing to slow sales.The Mr Bean actor was name-checked in the House of Lords on Tuesday during its environment and climate change committee meeting. Thinktank Green Alliance gave its views on the main obstacles the government faces in its bid to phase out petrol and diesel cars before 2035, and said a comment piece by the Johnny English star published in June 2023 was damaging to the cause.The pressure group told peers in a letter that was shared: “One of the most damaging articles was a…