Author: SKYNEWS

A defiant Rachel Reeves has urged Labour MPs to unite behind this week’s budget – but appeared to admit they might not like all of her policies.Addressing the Parliamentary Labour Party last night, the chancellor described politics as a “team sport” and insisted that tomorrow’s announcements will be “fair”. Backbenchers are said to have become increasingly frustrated at the prospect of further tax hikes, which come against a backdrop of falling opinion poll ratings.Ed Conway: Three things the budget boils down to Image: Rachel Reeves. Pic: PA Ms Reeves argued the budget should be regarded as a package – and…

“Drill, baby, drill” was Donald Trump’s campaign pledge – and he’s following through with a proposal to expand fossil fuel production, which environmentalists say would have devastating consequences.The Trump administration has tabled a plan to open federal waters off the coasts of California, Florida, and Alaska to oil and gas drilling for the first time in decades – including areas that have never been touched. A total of one billion acres of water would be offered for lease under the proposal. That’s equivalent to more than half the total land mass of the US. While the rest of the Western…

Indian film star and Bollywood icon Dharmendra has died aged 89.One of the nation’s most popular actors, he was a defining presence in Indian cinema in the 1970s and 1980s. A senior police official who spoke to Dharmendra’s doctor confirmed the star’s death, just days before his 90th birthday, on condition of anonymity. Image: Dharmendra casting his vote in Mumbai, India, last year. Pic: AP Now, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has joined those paying tribute to the Punjabi icon, who also worked as a producer and politician.Mr Modi said: “He was an iconic film personality, a phenomenal actor who brought…

If you’ve ever spent your morning commute daydreaming about starting afresh with your career, this feature is for you. Each Monday, we speak to someone from a different profession to discover what it’s really like. This week, we chat to relationship coach Lorin Krenn…

It was the showdown nobody wanted. But in the end, it saved the climate summit.As the clock ticked past the deadline of 6pm on Friday in Belem, Brazil, the issue that, rightly or wrongly, came to define this year’s UN climate talks was still unresolved.The great, unanswered question was how to talk about fossil fuels: two words pathetically controversial for a summit trying to tackle climate change, given they are the main cause.But it had taken 28 COP meetings to even name those words in a deal. Finally, the promise came in Dubai in 2023 to “transition away from fossil…

Sydney Sweeney says she finds it challenging to accept help when it’s offered to her, saying it’s viewed as a “sign of weakness”.Speaking to Sky News about her new film Christy, which is based on the life of boxer Christy Martin, the US actress says it was a common feeling between her and the character she portrays. “I have a really hard time with asking for help and my friends recently have really pointed that out to me, and they’re like, ‘Sydney, it’s okay to ask. Like, you can’. There’s nothing wrong with it, but I have really a hard…

Ovo Energy, one of Britain’s biggest domestic gas and electricity suppliers, is preparing to take an axe to its workforce next week as part of efforts to convince regulators that it has a viable turnaround plan.Sky News has learnt that Ovo, which serves about four million customers across the UK, is drawing up proposals to cut hundreds of jobs as early as Wednesday in a bid to save millions of pounds in costs. The redundancies – the precise scale of which could not be ascertained this weekend – are said to form part of a revised business plan submitted to…

There’s a lot going on at TikTok right now. As well as online safety updates and new features, the company is introducing sweeping changes to how it moderates the platform’s content. At the same time, there’s an intense focus on online safety, particularly here in the UK.With all that going on, Sky News got a rare, exclusive sit-down with one of TikTok’s senior safety executives, Ali Law.The increasing role of artificial intelligence One of the biggest changes happening at TikTok is around artificial intelligence.Like most social media companies, TikTok has used AI to help moderate its platform for years – it…

A woman has been charged with fraud offences over the alleged sale of Oasis tickets.Rosie Slater has been charged with 11 counts of fraud by false representation, Staffordshire Police said. The 32-year-old, of Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, has been granted unconditional bail and is due to appear in court at North Staffordshire Justice Centre on 11 December.The charges relate to the alleged sale of Oasis tickets in May.Read more from Sky News:Scotland fans caused ‘extremely small earthquake’ in Denmark winFirst saplings planted from felled Sycamore Gap treeIt comes as ministers confirmed plans to make it illegal for tickets to concerts, theatre, comedy,…

The biggest external investor in Curve, the digital wallet provider, has filed a legal challenge aimed at overturning its £125m sale to Lloyds Banking Group.Sky News has learnt that IDC Ventures issued a petition in the High Court on Friday seeking to overturn the deal, which was formally announced by Britain’s biggest high street lender following months of negotiations. The legal claim alleges “serious failures by key directors and investors”, including Curve founder and chief executive Shachar Bialick, and chairman Lord Fink.In it, IDC alleges that directors and Hanaco, another major Curve shareholder, had “undermined shareholder rights, concealed material information…