Author: SKYNEWS

Scientists have discovered a new medicine that they say offers hope of substantially slowing the progress of motor neurone disease (MND).The drug, named M102, works by protecting nerve cells damaged by MND. Preclinical studies of the drug conducted with mice show improvement in movement and nerve function.Researchers are now hopeful the drug can be tested on humans with the neurological condition, for which there is currently no cure.MND causes the messages from motor neurones – the nerve cells that transmit signals from the brain and spinal cord to muscle – to gradually stop. This leads to muscles becoming weak and…

BBC chair Samir Shah has written a detailed letter to MPs following controversy over the editing of a speech by Donald Trump.Following a backlash, both BBC director-general Tim Davie and BBC News chief executive Deborah Turness have both stepped down from their roles. Mr Trump is also understood to have threatened the corporation with legal action over the editing together of two pieces of video from his speech on 6 January 2021 in the BBC’s flagship late-night news programme Panorama.While the original programme received no complaints, Mr Shah confirmed in his letter that over 500 complaints had been received since…

Former Tesco boss Sir Dave Lewis is to become the new chief executive of Diageo, the struggling FTSE 100 drinks giant.The world’s largest spirits maker, which counts Guinness and Johnnie Walker whisky among its stable of brands, said he would assume the role in January. The search for a new boss began in July when Debra Crew was effectively ousted after two years in charge.Money latest: BA partnership with Musk’s Starlink The company’s share price fell 40% during her tenure as the industry grappled a drastic decline in the number of people drinking at home following the COVID pandemic and,…

Former UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon has urged Donald Trump to return to global efforts to fight climate change.The White House has claimed “climate goals” are “killing other countries and would have killed America” without Mr Trump’s intervention. Speaking to Sky News before the COP30 climate talks, which start today in Brazil, Mr Ban said: “The climate crisis does not care where you are living, [whether in] United States or China or European countries.”If we live together, we all live. If we die, we all die together.” Image: Former UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon. Pic: Reuters He called it “deeply regrettable” that…

Davina McCall has revealed she has had breast cancer, nearly a year after she had surgery to remove a brain tumour.The TV presenter revealed the diagnosis in a video posted to her Instagram on Saturday, saying she was “very angry” when she found out, but now is in a “much more positive place” after undergoing surgery to remove the tumour three weeks ago.”I found a lump a few weeks ago. It came and went but then I was working on The Masked Singer and Lorraine, the TV show, and Lorraine Kelly had put signs on the backs of all the…

The telecoms billionaire Sir Charles Dunstone is seeking new investors to take a big stake in Five Guys Europe, the casual dining brand he launched in Britain more than a decade ago.

The COP climate summit in Belem opened with a diplomatic double-whammy.The Prince of Wales and Sir Keir Starmer reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to fighting climate change and urged the rest of the world to do so, too. But as the tropical rain beat down on the tarpaulin roof of this temporary summit venue, it’s hard not to feel the air going out of the process. Image: The Prince of Wales is passionate about fighting climate change. Pic: Reuters Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 3:05 COP30: India’s climate refugees Sir Keir and Prince William’s presence doesn’t…

Former Top Gear and Fifth Gear presenter Quentin Willson has died.The Leicester-born car dealer and motoring journalist joined the BBC in 1991, appearing alongside the likes of Jeremy Clarkson and James May until the original format was cancelled 10 years later. He then moved to Channel 5 to present its rival motoring show, Fifth Gear.The 68-year-old died on Saturday following a short battle with lung cancer, his family said. Image: Pic: PA In a statement, they described him as a “true national treasure” who “brought the joy of motoring, from combustion to electric, into our living rooms”. The broadcaster created…

Sir Alan Bates has told Sky News that the government’s new Capture Redress Scheme is “half-baked”.The Post Office scandal campaigner, who may also be a victim of Capture, accused officials of not learning lessons from previous compensation failures. Capture was a piece of faulty computer software used in about 2,500 branches between 1992 and 1999 before the infamous Horizon scandal.Many sub-postmasters made up potentially false accounting shortfalls from their own pocket, with dozens, at least, convicted of stealing. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:56 Sir Alan Bates reaches settlement with govt Sir Alan welcomed the…

Donald Trump declared a questionable “national energy emergency” when he entered the White House. Soon, he may have one for real.The president promised his America would “drill, baby drill” to new levels of prosperity by making the most of its reserves of oil and gas. Mr Trump has now axed hundreds of billions in tax breaks and grants for low-carbon power and clean energy research and given them instead to fossil fuel investments. Image: Construction continues on Revolution Wind but the project is not yet connected to the grid. Pic: Reuters There’s no better example than Revolution Wind, one of…