Author: SKYNEWS

One of the astronauts who was stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) has said some of the blame for what went wrong lies with him. Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams splashed down off the coast of Florida earlier this month after more than nine months onboard the ISS. The two astronauts docked at the ISS on 5 June last year, expecting to be there for just eight days.Instead, issues with Boeing’s long-awaited Starliner meant NASA decided to leave them waiting in orbit for months. Image: Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore. Pics: NASA Please use Chrome browser for a more…

For those who’re on modest means, the cost of the licence fee going up by £5 on 1 April of all days is a bit of a bad joke.Certainly, for residents at St Crispin Retirement Village, it’s hard to see the funny side. Among them is 83-year-old Stan Fritton who, since last November, has been embroiled in a battle over how much he and his neighbours should be paying for the BBC.Their accommodation coming under one roof, they previously paid £7.50 each, qualifying for an accommodation for residential care (ARC) licence.They then turned a former storage room into one of…

Richard Chamberlain, who starred in the TV medical drama “Dr Kildare” and the 1980s mini-series “Shogun”, has died at the age of 90, his publicist said.Chamberlain became a heartthrob as the handsome Dr James Kildare in the medical drama that ran from 1961 to 1966. Photoplay magazine named him “most popular male star” three years in a row from 1963 to 1965.His breakout role in Dr Kildare marked the start of a six-decade career that spanned theatre, films and television.The California-born actor was dubbed the “king of the mini-series” after appearing in several TV dramas in the 1980s. This included…

The first orbital rocket launched from mainland Europe took off from Norway on Sunday – but crashed into the sea and exploded 40 seconds later.The unmanned Spectrum rocket blasted off from the Arctic Andoeya Spaceport, on Sunday at 12.30pm local time before it was terminated less than a minute later. Isar Aerospace, the German company that built the rocket, had warned that the launch could end prematurely. It maintained that despite being short, the flight had produced extensive data that its team could learn from.”Our first test flight met all our expectations, achieving a great success,” Daniel Metzler, Isar’s chief…

Stock markets have plummeted as the 2 April implementation day of US tariffs ticks closer.Benchmark stocks in Asia were rattled at the lack of progress in halting US President Donald Trump’s taxes which are due to come into force on US imports from Wednesday. After delays, 25% tariffs are to be levied on all cars entering the US on what Mr Trump has called “liberation day”.Trade barriers are also expected to be announced on countries deemed to be giving the US a bad deal on trade.In Japan, the Nikkei stock index lost nearly 4% at points before closing 3.86% down,…

The “bowcaster” used by Chewbacca in the original Star Wars trilogy has sold for more than $750,000 at auction – while the medal given to Luke Skywalker at the end of “A New Hope” has fetched over $370,000.”Chewie’s” weapon, which featured in all of the first three Star Wars films between 1977 and 1983, sold for far more than its estimate of between $250,000 and $500,000 (£193,203 to £386,407). The item sold for $768,600 (£593,985) and is a real Horton crossbow, which was modified to give it a futuristic look so it could serve as a laser weapon.Some of the…

A rapid test harnessing the power of AI is set to transform the diagnosis of a lung condition that affects 3 million people in the UK.Two thirds of those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) don’t even know they’ve got it, but it’s the second most common cause of emergency hospital admissions. Until now, confirmation has required a spirometry test involving forced exhalation. It can take half an hour or more, and that’s once you’ve managed to get an appointment.Dr Simon Rudland, a GP in Suffolk, is excited about the potential to provide quick, accessible diagnosis.”Spirometry is delivered out of…

Company bosses hiring in the gig economy could face up to five years in prison if they fail to check if their employees can legally work in the UK, the Home Office has said.The employers could also be banned from operating as company directors, have their business closed down, or be hit with fines of up to £60,000 for every worker who isn’t checked as part of the government crackdown. The announcement comes as Home Secretary Yvette Cooper prepares to speak to Sky News breakfast show Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips today.Her department has said “thousands” of companies which hire…

The television production company founded by broadcaster Jake Humphrey and former racing driver David Coulthard is in talks with potential buyers about a sale.Sky News has learnt that Whisper Group, which was established in 2010 and won a BAFTA for its coverage of the Women’s Euros in 2022, is working with advisers on a deal. The company is said to be open to a range of options, including the sale of a majority or minority stake to either financial investors or a strategic buyer.Corporate financiers at KPMG are orchestrating talks with potential bidders.Whisper is already 30%-owned by Sony Pictures Television,…

A British-built Mars rover stuck on Earth since the start of the war in Ukraine may soon be on its way after the UK Space Agency agreed to pay for its ride down to the Red Planet.The European Space Agency’s Rosalind Franklin rover was supposed to land on Mars in 2023. But the rocket powered system designed to ferry the fragile rover down to the planet’s surface was being built under contract by Russia’s space agency Roscosmos.After the invasion of Ukraine, ESA cancelled the contract, leaving the Rosalind rover, designed to search for signs of past life on Mars, stranded.The…