Author: SKYNEWS

The investor which swooped on WH Smith’s high street business earlier this year is in pole position to snap up the British operations of Claire’s, the accessories retailer which collapsed last month.Sky News has learnt that Modella Capital has agreed the outline of a deal with Claire’s new US-based owner, private equity firm Ames Watson, which paves the way for it to buy the UK chain. Modella is said to have edged ahead of rival bidders in recent days including Touker Suleyman, the Dragons’ Den judge, and HMV-owner Doug Putman in recent days.Ames Watson is understood to have been seeking…

Some of the biggest US technology companies have pledged billions of pounds of investment to turbocharge Britain’s artificial intelligence (AI) industry, as the two countries announce a landmark technology deal.Nvidia, Microsoft, Open AI and Google made a flurry of announcements to coincide with President Trump’s state visit to the UK. They include plans to build data centres and invest in AI research and engineering.Money latest: Tax warning over state pension Sir Keir Starmer described the agreement, which both leaders will sign over the coming days, as “a generational step change” in Britain’s relationship with the US. The deal will see…

Hollywood actor and Oscar-winning director Robert Redford, known for films including Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid, All The President’s Men and The Sting, has died at the age of 89.Redford, who was also the founder of the Sundance Film Festival, the largest independent film festival in the US, died on Tuesday morning. In a statement, his representative said he was “surrounded by those he loved”, at home in “the place he loved” in the mountains of Utah. “He will be missed greatly,” she added. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:29 Redford in Butch Cassidy…

The boss of Aldermore Bank, one of Britain’s biggest challenger lenders, is leaving to run Fairstone Group, a privately owned wealth management and mortgage provider.Sky News understands that Steven Cooper, a former boss of C Hoare & Co, the UK’s oldest private bank, will be named this week as Fairstone’s chief executive. The company has set Mr Cooper the target of replicating his performance at Aldermore by doubling Fairstone’s size by 2030.Backed by investors including TA Associates, Fairstone has roughly £20bn of assets under management, and a client base of more than 120,000 people.Under Mr Cooper, South African-owned Aldermore doubled…

Google is set to invest £5bn in the UK in the next two years, to support growing demands for AI services.The announcement, which comes as Google opens a new data centre in Waltham Cross in Hertfordshire, is expected to contribute to the creation of thousands of jobs, the US tech giant said. Chancellor Rachel Reeves described it as a “vote of confidence” in the UK economy.The news comes hours before Donald Trump lands in the UK for a state visit at which he and Sir Keir Starmer are widely expected to sign a new UK-US tech deal.It also follows reports…

Ricky Hatton’s family have paid tribute to the former world champion after his death at the age of 46. Hatton, nicknamed “The Hitman”, was found dead at his home in Hyde on Sunday morning. The death is not being treated as suspicious by police. During his career between 1997 and 2012, the British fighter won titles in the light welterweight and welterweight divisions. Image: Hatton’s family have described their loss and pain following the boxer’s death. File pic: PA In a tribute, released by Greater Manchester Police, the family said: “It is with the heaviest of hearts that we announce…

Blackstone, the private equity giant which owns stakes in Legoland and swathes of British real estate, will this week pledge to invest £100bn in UK assets over the next decade during President Trump’s state visit.Sky News has learnt that the investment group will unveil the commitment as part of a government-orchestrated announcement aimed at shifting attention back to the economic ties between Britain and the US. President Trump’s arrival in the UK this week will come against a febrile political backdrop, following Lord Mandelson’s sacking as US ambassador over his ties to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.Money blog: ‘I’m…

A new drone factory will open in Swindon to help produce the uncrewed air systems the UK has sent to fight Russia in Ukraine, the government will announce today.The 254,000-square-foot facility will be operated by Tekever and is due to open in 2026, Defence Secretary John Healey will say at a site visit later. It will create 1,000 jobs and bring core production of the AR5 drone to the UK for the first time, while increasing capacity of existing AR3 production.The UK has bought £270m in Tekever drones to help Ukrainian forces destroy advanced Russian air defence systems since Vladimir…

Actor Henry Cavill has suffered an injury during training ahead of filming for the remake of the Highlander film.The British actor, best known for TV series The Witcher, playing Superman in Man Of Steel, and more recently Sherlock Holmes in the Enola Holmes film series, was hurt just days before the film was due to start production. Filming for the reboot of the 1980s classic will now begin in 2026, according to The Hollywood Reporter.The cast includes Gladiator actor Russell Crowe, who worked with Cavill on Man Of Steel, as well as former Doctor Who star Karen Gillan, and Dave…

The UK government has announced more than £1.25bn in private US investment in the UK’s financial services sector ahead of US President Donald Trump’s second state visit.The new US investments are expected to create 1,800 jobs and boost benefits for millions of customers across the country, the UK government said. The deal secures £20bn in trade between the two nations – including an expected £7bn commitment from BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager.It is set to deliver more than £8bn in investment and capital commitments to the UK, with over £12bn flowing in the other direction – creating jobs and…