Author: SKYNEWS

British police are reportedly investigating the sexual abuse of a child’s avatar in the metaverse – prompting the NSPCC to warn that tech firms must do more to protect young users.Online abuse is linked with physical abuse in the real world and can have a devastating impact on victims, the charity’s campaigners said. The comments were made in response to a report published by Mail Online that officers are investigating a case in which a young girl’s digital persona was sexually attacked by a gang of adult men in an immersive video game.It is thought to be the first investigation…

Andrew Lloyd Webber said he once called a priest to his London home to help remove a poltergeist.The acclaimed composer, whose hit West End musicals include The Phantom Of The Opera, claimed the spirit would place theatre scripts in an “obscure room”. The spooky activity came to an end after a priest had visited the 19th-century property he owned in Belgravia, he said.In an interview with The Telegraph, Lord Lloyd Webber was discussing whether any of his theatres were haunted.The 75-year-old said he had never seen a ghost – but had witnessed some unusual activity at his home. He said:…

Price cuts to lure shoppers helped supermarkets rake in record revenues ahead of Christmas, according to industry data.Kantar Worldpanel, which tracks sales and prices among chains, said £13.7bn passed through tills or via websites over the four weeks to 24 December. It took average household grocery spending to an all-time high of £477 across the month, the report said, an increase of £28 on 2022.The research noted a 2% rise in sales volumes – a statistic that will be particularly welcomed by chains.It said that almost a third of all spending over the four-week period was made on items with…

Fossils once thought to be the skulls of teenage Tyrannosaurus Rexes actually belonged to a different species of dinosaur, scientists have concluded.First unearthed in Montana, US, in 1942, the remains have been the subject of debate as to whether they were from junior T. Rexes or from Nanotyrannus lancensis – smaller relatives of the iconic dinosaurs. According to research from the Milner Centre for Evolution at the University of Bath, the fossils were from adult dinosaurs, meaning the 66-million-year-old remains are more likely from the Nanotyrannus.The university’s Dr Nick Longrich said he was “pretty blown away” by the findings, based…

Eurovision organisers have teased an apparent Caribbean appearance at this year’s contest.”New Year! New News!” they announced, in a message shared with more than 1.3 million followers through the official Instagram page, alongside a clip showing crystal clear waters and golden beaches. “We’re thrilled to confirm that THE CARIBBEAN is coming to the Eurovision Song Contest 2024,” the post said. “Stay tuned, we can’t wait to tell you more.” Image: Olly Alexander will represent the UK this year. Pic: Millie Turner/Invision/AP The 2024 event takes place in Malmo in Sweden, with Olly Alexander recently announced as the UK’s act.Could he…

Philip Jansen, the outgoing BT Group boss, has been approached about becoming the next chairman of WPP, the FTSE-100 marketing services giant.Sky News has learnt that Mr Jansen, who is to step down from the telecoms company in the spring, is one of a number of prospective candidates to have been sounded out in recent weeks about the post. City sources said on Monday that WPP’s search was not yet at an advanced stage and there was no certainty that Mr Jansen or WPP would decide to progress his candidacy further.His impending exit from BT has prompted speculation about his…

Google and Amazon must do more after a British woman made a suicide pact with two people she met online and used the internet to buy poison, a coroner has said.Chloe Macdermott, 43, died in May 2021 after buying a lethal substance from the US on Amazon.An inquest at Inner West London Coroner’s Court was told earlier this month she had “formed an association” with two people.A day later, she contacted them while her husband was away and “an agreement was made to act that night”.Coroner Paul Roger, recording a conclusion of suicide, issued a prevention of future deaths report…

Hollywood actor Jeremy Renner said he had “so many things to live for” as he detailed his recovery one year after his near-fatal snowploughing accident.The Avengers actor, 52, broke more than 30 bones and had multiple operations after he was accidentally run over by his six-tonne snowplough while trying to help his nephew on 1 January 2023. Discussing his recovery, Renner told CNN: “I’m just so blessed that I have so many things to live for.”I have a giant family, I have a 10-year-old daughter. I would’ve disappointed and really messed up a lot of people’s lives if I would’ve…

A British buyout firm is hoping to triumph in a two-way battle for Princes Foods, one of Britain’s biggest tinned produce manufacturers.Sky News understands that Epiris wants to secure a deal to buy Princes within days. Epiris has been bidding against Italy’s Newlat in recent weeks, with both said to remain in the running.Princes produces tinned fish and fruits, as well as a range of soft drinks and sunflower oil under the Flora brand.The auction is the latest attempt by Mitsubishi Corporation, the giant Japanese conglomerate which owns Princes, to offload the company. An earlier process conducted this year failed…

COVID vaccines could soon be sold on the high street, according to retailers.One industry leader said it was in talks with vaccine suppliers and the scheme could be introduced as soon as next year. A Superdrug spokesperson said the firm is speaking “with suppliers about potentially offering a private COVID vaccination service in 2024.”Ensuring healthcare is as accessible as possible for people is our priority and we’re interested in offering a private COVID vaccination.”Currently we are gathering information to assess whether it’s a viable option.” A Boots spokesperson said: “We would like to offer private COVID vaccinations and we are…