Author: SKYNEWS

Not for the first time, the veteran commentator Ray Snoddy came up with a deft turn of phrase.Mr Snoddy, the doyen of Fleet Street media writers during a near-35 year career on The Times and the Financial Times, told his followers on X last night: “Former Post Office chairman Henry Staunton would never win a prize as a stand-up comic but I know him to be a fastidiously honest man and when faced with the claims of a Tory minister – no contest.” He was referring to the extraordinary war of words that has blown up between Mr Staunton and…

One of the world’s most prolific cyber crime gangs has been taken down by law enforcement agencies including the FBI, Europol and the UK’s National Crime Agency.Lockbit is an extortion website that held its victims’ data for ransom – some of the biggest UK bodies affected were the Royal Mail and the NHS. Five Russians have been charged by US authorities and dozens of crypto accounts frozen.On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is joined by science and technology editor Tom Clarke and crime correspondent Martin Brunt to discuss what Lockbit is, Operation Cronos and what this means for other…

Four films about The Beatles are in the works – with each star getting a biopic to share their side of the story of the band that changed the world.The project marks the first time Apple Corps Ltd and The Beatles – Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Ringo Starr, and the families of John Lennon and George Harrison – have granted full life story and music rights for a scripted film. Coming from each band member’s point of view, the four theatrical feature films will intersect to tell “the astonishing story of the greatest band in history”. Image: Pic: AP British…

The founder of AJ Bell, one of Britain’s most successful retail investment platforms, is to take the helm of one of Britain’s fastest-growing sports nutrition, health and wellness brands as it speeds towards a London listing.Sky News has learnt that Andy Bell, who stepped down as chief executive of AJ Bell in 2022, is to become chairman of Liverpool-based Applied Nutrition. His appointment is understood to have been ratified at a board meeting on Tuesday.It will be Mr Bell’s first role since leaving the company he founded, with sources saying that he had already demonstrated his confidence in Applied Nutrition’s…

An injection that can “reduce the risk of harmful allergic reactions” in people with food allergies has been approved for use in the US.Certain adults and children aged one or over who have immunoglobulin E-mediated food allergies will be eligible to have the injection, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said. The jab uses omalizumab – sold under the brand name Xolair – to reduce the risk of anaphylaxis, a severe and life-threatening allergic reaction that can occur when a person is accidentally exposed to one or more foods.Xolair is already approved for the treatment of moderate to severe…

Malcolm In The Middle star Frankie Muniz has said “this is just the beginning” after he crashed on his debut in NASCAR’s Xfinity Series racing event.Muniz finished 33rd out of 38 racers after getting caught up in a multi-car crash, known as a “wreck”, on the 37th lap of the 120-lap United Rentals 300 at Daytona International Speedway in Florida on Monday. The 38-year-old, who was driving for Joey Gase Racing, reached as high as 13th place at one point before finishing early due to the crash.Nascar’s Xfinity Series posted on social media that Muniz had been “evaluated and released…

The price of baby formula is coming under fresh regulatory scrutiny – amid fears they remain “historically high”.The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) had previously identified a 25% price increase over two years – with just two companies, Nestle and Danone, accounting for 85% of sales. The watchdog’s decision to begin a market study, which should conclude by September, gives it the power to force suppliers to provide information on pricing and other issues. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:46 ‘Are families being exploited? Yes’ The CMA has previously relied on voluntary submissions.Last year, Sky…

Former Strictly Come Dancing star Robin ‘Bobby’ Windsor has died aged 44.A professional Latin and Ballroom dancer, he danced on the BBC show between 2010 and 2015, and was partnered with celebrities Patsy Kensit, Anita Dobson, Lisa Riley and Deborah Meaden. Image: Windsor in 2021. Pic: PA He also performed with Susanna Reid in 2011’s Children In Need special and This Morning host Alison Hammond in the 2015 Christmas Special.He had most recently appeared in stage show Come What May, a tribute to Moulin Rouge.His death was announced on the official Facebook page of Burn The Floor – a dance…

HMRC has been accused of using “dangerous and sinister” new tactics in a tax crackdown that has already been linked to 10 suicides.The government has recently come under pressure over the “Loan Charge” – controversial legislation which made tens of thousands of contractors who were paid their salaries through loans retrospectively liable for tax their employer should have paid. The clampdown has been branded on par with the Post Office Horizon scandal as the unaffordable bills have been linked to suicides and bankruptcies, while one woman had an abortion due to the financial strain she was under, a debate in…

Police are carrying out inquiries after a Star of David necklace on a statue of singer Amy Winehouse was covered with a sticker of a Palestinian flag.The sticker was discovered on Monday morning on the Camden Market statue depicting the musician, who died in 2011 at the age of 27. Camden Market said the sticker was “removed immediately” after it was discovered and that the incident had been reported to the police.”Camden Market remains, first and foremost, a place of diversity – a global destination that welcomes everyone,” they said in a statement on X.”Any form of discrimination on our…