Author: SKYNEWS

An AI-replicated Sir Michael Parkinson is set to host a new podcast, featuring a series of completely unscripted interviews with celebrities.Virtually Parkinson is a world-first podcast according to its producers, Deep Fusion Films, and has been made with the support and involvement of Parkinson’s family and estate. Known for his interviews with the world’s biggest stars, Parkinson died last year aged 88, following a brief illness.The eight-part show will use AI technology to synthetically recreate the late presenter’s voice and interview style, drawing from a back catalogue of over 2,000 of his interviews.The system – dubbed “Squark” – uses AI…

Former chancellor Jeremy Hunt has accused the independent fiscal watchdog of “political impartiality” ahead of its review that could be critical of the Conservative government. The previous government has been accused by Rachel Reeves, the current chancellor, of leaving a £22bn financial “black hole” between income and promised spending in the public finances. Ms Reeves said she only became aware of it upon entering government as information was withheld by the Tory government from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) – independent budget forecasters.The OBR review into the issue of possible withholding of information and the past government’s departmental spending…

Global climate action plans are “falling miles short” of what is needed to stop climate change from “crippling” economies, the United Nations has warned.Current national climate plans submitted by 168 nations to the UN will see global emissions of greenhouse gases in 2030 just 2.6% lower than in 2019, a new report has found. This marks only “marginal progress” since the same annual “Synthesis” report last year, when 2030 emissions were forecast to be 2.0% lower than in 2019.And it is “only a fraction” of what is “urgently needed”, it said, given emissions should plummet 43% by 2030 in order…

Strictly Come Dancing star Amy Dowden was rushed to hospital after last night’s main show – but has said she is feeling “much better”.The dancer, who also has Crohn’s disease, had returned to the show in August after receiving cancer treatment. A spokesperson for Dowden said: “Amy was feeling unwell and so an ambulance was called as a precaution. She is feeling much better and would like to thank the Strictly family for their love and concern.”We request Amy’s privacy in matters of health is kindly respected.”Dowden, who has not partnered a celebrity on the entertainment show since 2022, was…

Britain’s biggest energy retailers have told ministers that they will provide more than £500m of extra help for households as the government tries to deflect criticism over the winter fuel payments row.Sky News has learnt that EnergyUK, the industry body, is planning to make a joint announcement with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) in the coming days about an industry-wide package of support. Sources said it could be unveiled by Rachel Reeves as part of her inaugural budget next week.They added that the additional figure of over £500m would comprise both repayable and non-repayable measures, such…

An astronaut was taken to hospital shortly after returning to Earth from an extended mission on the International Space Station.The astronaut, who NASA did not name for privacy reasons, is suffering from an undisclosed medical issue. NASA initially said the entire crew was flown to Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola hospital out of precaution, but did not specify whether all or some of the crew had been experiencing issues.The other three crew members have left the hospital and returned to Houston, the space agency said.NASA said: “The one astronaut who remains at Ascension is in stable condition under observation as a…

Jeremy Clarkson has said he was told to cut down on work by his doctor after undergoing a heart operation.The 64-year-old revealed earlier this month that he was fitted with two stents – which improve blood flow to the heart – after a “sudden deterioration” in his health. Writing in The Sun on Friday, Clarkson said he didn’t find the operation scary, but “what is scary though is what came afterwards – the advice on how I must live my life from now on”.The former Top Gear host said “I am not allowed to have fun anymore” and that his…

The Premier League is drawing up plans to present its clubs with fresh proposals for a financial settlement with the English Football League (EFL) as soon as next month.Sky News has learnt that a meeting of the top flight’s shareholders on 22 November is expected to include a discussion on a range of new offers to be made to the rest of the professional football pyramid. The meeting will take place a month after the government introduced legislation paving the way for the creation of an independent football regulator that will have the power to impose a far-reaching financial deal…

Amid the hum of cooling fans and squelch of vacuum pumps, a new home for 12 quantum computers has opened in Oxfordshire, as part of a bid to put the UK ahead in a global race to harness the technology.Quantum computers promise to solve problems too hard for even the most powerful supercomputers – like those requiring vast numbers of parallel computations like complex weather simulations, the binding of drugs to their targets, or the vagaries of financial markets. While prototypes have proven that the weird world of quantum matter can be used to perform calculations – none are yet…

Rob Lowe has said he and actress Demi Moore “briefly had a thing” back in the 1980s, at the height of their Brat Pack fame.The 60-year-old West Wing actor was part of the hit coming-of-age movie St Elmo’s Fire alongside Moore, 61, in 1985. He told Kelly Ripa on the Let’s Talk Off Camera podcast: “Demi and I briefly, I’m not telling tales out of school – we briefly had a thing.” Image: The cast of St Elmo’s Fire. Pic: Columbia Pictures/Shutterstock The St Elmo’s Fire cast featured a host of hot young eighties stars including Molly Ringwald, Ally Sheedy,…