Author: SKYNEWS

Grammy-winning jazz singer Dame Cleo Laine has died aged 97.Dame Cleo was a leading figure of the British jazz scene for many years and worked with the likes of Ray Charles and Frank Sinatra. Her famed scat singing style, her remarkable range from tenor to contralto and her smoky voice made her Britain’s most successful jazz singer, earning her the nickname the First Lady of Jazz. Image: Cleo Laine performing in London in 2018. Pic: PA “It is with deepest sadness that we announce the passing of our dearly beloved mother, Cleo, who died peacefully yesterday afternoon,” her children Jacqui…

One of of the world’s most successful investors has warned that the UK is stuck in a “debt doom loop”. Hedge fund manager Ray Dalio, who founded Bridgewater Associates, was speaking as UK debt as a percentage of GDP (gross domestic product) rose to 101%. Long-term borrowing costs are higher than they have been at any point this century, giving the Chancellor Rachel Reeves little room to borrow more to fund spending, and thus requiring a focus on raising taxes instead.Mr Dalio told the ‘Master Investor’ Podcast with Wilfred Frost she risked alienating the very people who could help get the…

Firefighters are battling blazes that have broken out across several countries in southeast Europe, fuelled by dry conditions, high winds and extreme temperatures.A firefighter has died and thousands of people have been evacuated in a weekend that has seen dozens of fires scorch forests and burn houses to the ground. More than 50 wildfires have erupted in Greece in the past 24 hours, leading to evacuations in some Athens suburbs and a request to the EU for six firefighting planes.A politician in Turkey’s fourth-largest city of Bursa described the scene as “an apocalypse” as forests burned and more than 1,100…

Gregg Wallace has spoken about his sacking from MasterChef after inappropriate behaviour while working for the BBC – but insisted he is “not a groper, a sex pest or a flasher”.Wallace, 60, has apologised after a report, commissioned by the cooking show’s production company Banijay UK, found 45 out of 83 allegations were substantiated. In an interview with The Sun, he said: “I know I have said things that offended people… I understand that now – and to anyone I have hurt, I am so sorry.”I don’t expect anyone to have any sympathy with me but I don’t think I…

Darren McCaffrey talks to Deann Evans, managing director for EMEA (Europe, the Middle East and Africa) at ecommerce platform Shopify, about slower-than-expected sales. Samsung’s Annika Bizon, vice president of product and marketing, discusses a new line of devices.And Andy Lulham, chief operating officer at Verifymy, talks about tough new age verification rules online.:: Listen and subscribe to the Sky News Business Podcast here.

A campaign group for a third runway at Heathrow that gets funding from the airport has been distributing “incredibly misleading” information to households in west London, according to opponents of the expansion.The group, called Back Heathrow, sent leaflets to people living near the airport, claiming expansion could be the route to a “greener” airport and suggesting it would mean only the “cleanest and quietest aircraft” fly there. It comes as the airport prepares to submit its planning application for a third runway ahead of the 31 July deadline, following the government’s statement of support for the expansion. Image: A plane…

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…