Author: SKYNEWS

Thousands of members of actors’ trade union Equity are being asked whether they would support industrial action over artificial intelligence protections.The organisation has launched an indicative ballot among about 7,000 members working in film and TV. Performers are being asked whether they are prepared to refuse to be digitally scanned on set in order to secure adequate artificial intelligence protections.It will be the first time the performing arts and entertainment trade union has asked this whole section of its membership to vote in a ballot. Image: The Hollywood strikes took place in 2023. File pic: AP The announcement follows the…

The energy regulator has confirmed plans for a massive upgrade to the UK’s energy grids, adding £108 to customer bills by 2031.Ofgem said on Thursday that the £28bn investment over the next five years would bolster resilience in the transition to a renewable energy future and that much of the bill would be offset by increased efficiency. It pointed to estimated savings for households of around £80 because of the planned investment in gas and power infrastructure, leaving a net additional contribution of £28.Money latest: Is property still a good investment? Ofgem said the £28bn sum formed part of an…

British arable farmers are facing a revenue loss of more than £800m after one of the worst-ever harvests on record, analysis shows. Crop production this year was hit by the hottest spring and summer on record as well as drought conditions, leaving farmers with 20% less revenue, according to an estimate by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) thinktank. The estimated loss of £828m is based on researchers looking at “per-hectare yield” figures for wheat, spring and winter barley, oats and oilseed rape and crop area estimates for the UK.They compared current farm gate prices to government figures for the…

Matthew Perry’s parents have criticised the “jackals” involved in dealing drugs to the star – and accused a doctor of being “among the most culpable of all” ahead of his sentencing today.Emotional victim impact statements by Perry’s mother Suzanne and stepfather Keith Morrison, and father John and stepmother Debbie, have been submitted to the US district court for Central California ahead of Salvador Plasencia’s hearing. They say “no one alive and in touch with the world” could have been unaware of the Friends star’s struggles with addiction, and that the doctor broke his vows “repeatedly” to “feed on the vulnerability…

Cash-strapped Thames Water has revealed a further rise in its debt pile while recording a return to profit on the back of inflation-busting hikes to bills.The UK’s largest supplier said the 31% rise to customer bills since April had allowed it to increase capital investment by 22% to £1.3bn amid demands it improve performance in preventing sewage spills and stopping leaks. Thames Water said it recorded a 20% drop in pollution incidents over the six months to the end of September, and leakage performance was holding steady despite the “extremely dry summer”.Money latest: How much is a fair restaurant tip?…

Apple’s head of artificial intelligence and machine learning has stepped down from the company. John Giannandrea, the current senior vice president for machine Learning and AI strategy, will be replaced by former Microsoft AI executive Amar Subramanya. Mr Subramanya has overseen the development of Gemini, Google’s AI and spent two decades in the industry. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 3:03 UK ‘drops’ Apple encryption demands Mr Giannandrea will stay on as an advisor to Apple until he retires next spring.”We are thankful for the role John played in building and advancing our AI work, helping Apple…

It’s a debate that’s torn families apart for years – with selection boxes thrown in rage, and stony silences around the dinner table.But now, the public have spoken and settled the matter once and for all: Die Hard is not a Christmas film. That’s according to 44% of those who responded to a new poll by the British Board of Film Classification, anyway.They narrowly outnumbered the 38% who argued that the Bruce Willis blockbuster is festive – with another 5% declaring it’s their favourite Christmas movie of them all.A further 17%, who presumably have been embroiled in this debate before…

The Bank of England has warned of heightened risks to the UK’s financial system but cut the amount of money that banks need to hold in reserve in case of shock.The twice-yearly financial stability report highlights a series of pressures, from higher government borrowing costs to risks around lending to major tech firms and record stock market valuations – particularly in areas exposed to artificial intelligence (AI). “Risks to financial stability have increased during 2025,” the Bank’s financial policy committee (FPC) said.”Global risks remain elevated and material uncertainty in the global macroeconomic outlook persists. Key sources of risk include geopolitical…

Weight loss injections have been conditionally recommended for treating obesity by the World Health Organization (WHO) for the first time.WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the new guidance “recognises that obesity is a chronic disease that can be treated with comprehensive and lifelong care”. While he said medication can’t solve obesity on its own, the jabs could help millions overcome it – and reduce its associated harms.According to the health agency, more than one billion people around the world are affected by obesity. By 2030, it says that figure will rise to two billion.Read more: Ozempic to Mounjaro – what…

Sir Salman Rushdie has told Sky News that Charlie Kirk’s murder was a “consequence of US gun culture”.In an interview with Sky News lead presenter Wilfred Frost, Sir Salman said he thought the assassination of Mr Kirk, a conservative US activist, was an “appalling act of violence”. “But it seems to me to be a characteristic or a consequence of America’s terrifying gun culture,” said the Booker-prize-winning author, who survived an attempt on his life at the Chautauqua Institution in New York in 2022.”When you have a situation where there are more guns in private ownership than there are people…