Author: SKYNEWS

The company at the centre of a viral video at a Coldplay concert has released a tongue-in-cheek clip on social media – featuring Gwyneth Paltrow as a “temporary spokesperson”.Astronomer was thrust into the spotlight after two of the tech firm’s senior executives were filmed embracing on a kiss cam during a gig in Boston. Andy Byron subsequently resigned as chief executive officer – while the woman in the video, Kristin Cabot, stepped down as chief people officer a few days later. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:28 Tech boss resigns after viral Coldplay concert video…

The owners of Hovis and Kingsmill are closing in on a definitive agreement to merge two of Britain’s most famous grocery brands following months of talks.Sky News has learnt that Associated British Foods (ABF), the London-listed company which owns Kingsmill’s immediate parent, Allied Bakeries, has proposed paying roughly £75m to acquire Hovis from its long-term private equity backers. Banking sources said that a deal could be formally agreed to combine the businesses as early as the end of next week, although they cautioned that the complexity of the transaction meant that the timing could yet slip.Confirmation of a tie-up would…

Ethical hackers have shown Sky News how new age verification systems can be bypassed on pornographic websites in a matter of seconds.On Friday, toughened rules came into force that mean companies hosting adult content online must block under-18s using “highly effective age verification”. That could include AI tools that use pictures to estimate someone’s age, bank or ID checks, or more technical solutions using browser cookies.But hours later, two ethical hackers demonstrated just how simple it is to get around the measures designed to protect young people on the internet.Using widely available technology, Chris Kubecka and Paula Popovici quickly accessed…

The woman who went viral after she was seen embracing a colleague at a Coldplay concert has resigned.Kristin Cabot plunged her head into her hands and turned her back after appearing on giant screens at the gig in Boston. In a statement, the tech firm Astronomer confirmed she has stepped down as chief people officer.She was in the arms of Andy Byron at the time, who also resigned as the company’s chief executive officer a few days ago. Coldplay’s lead singer Chris Martin poked fun at the couple as they tried to hide from the camera – quipping: “Either they’re…

Some of the North Sea’s biggest independent oil producers are examining bids for the upstream operations of Prax Group, the energy conglomerate whose collapse has triggered the closure of one of Britain’s few remaining oil refineries.Sky News has learnt that Enquest and Serica Energy have been in talks with administrators handling the insolvency of parts of the group about submitting offers for its exploration and production arm ahead of a deadline on Thursday evening. Ithaca Energy, another independent player, has also held discussions about an offer but has decided not to lodge one, according to a source close to the…

“People always think: ‘Oh, that’s not going to happen to me, it’s not going to happen to my child,'” says Ellen Roone. She’s sitting in her peaceful garden in Cheltenham, bumblebees trundling around in the bushes behind her.”I didn’t expect it to be my child.” Image: Ellen Roome Jools, Ellen’s son, was 14 years old when he took his life in 2022. It’s thought he had been watching harmful content online when he died.Ellen was the one who found him.Jools was funny, into martial arts – in fact, he was a black belt in kung fu at just 10 years old…

A series of MasterChef filmed last year, before allegations against presenters Gregg Wallace and John Torode were upheld, will be broadcast.Both Wallace and Torode will still feature in the upcoming series, but it is understood that the edit will focus on the contestants. The amateur series of MasterChef will be aired on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 6 August, but no decision has been made yet on airing the celebrity series and Christmas special, with plans to be confirmed later this year, the BBC said.A spokesperson for the broadcaster said airing the series “has not been an easy decision…

The chairman of AO, the online electrical goods retailer, has been interviewed to become the next chair of state-owned broadcaster Channel 4.Sky News has learnt that Geoff Cooper, a former boss of the builders’ merchant Travis Perkins, is among the candidates in the running to take on the post in the coming months. Whitehall insiders said that Mr Cooper was now one of the shortlisted contenders awaiting news of whether they would get the nod from Ofcom, the media regulator and culture secretary Lisa Nandy.In recent weeks, Sky News has revealed that those vying to replace Sir Ian Cheshire include…

Donald Trump has declared the United States is going to “win” the artificial intelligence race, as his administration unveiled its AI Action Plan.The new blueprint is designed to speed up the building of energy-intensive data centres – which run AI products – by loosening environmental rules, while also vastly expanding the sale of AI technologies overseas. The plan, which includes 90 recommendations, comes as America attempts to maintain its edge over China, with both superpowers investing heavily in the industry to secure economic and military superiority.It calls for the export of US AI software and hardware abroad, as well as…

Black Sabbath have paid tribute to their former frontman Ozzy Osbourne after the megastar died at the age of 76.Osbourne’s death on Tuesday morning was announced in a statement, which said he died surrounded by his family. His death came just weeks after he reunited with his Black Sabbath bandmates – Tony Iommi, Terence “Geezer” Butler and Bill Ward – and performed a huge farewell concert for fans.The band paid tribute to him on Instagram by sharing an image of Osbourne on stage at the farewell gig in Birmingham and writing “Ozzy Forever”. Instagram This content is provided by Instagram,…