Author: SKYNEWS

Artists are boycotting America’s Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in protest at changes made by Donald Trump.Several performers have cancelled shows at the iconic venue in Washington DC after the president made himself chairman and replaced board members with political loyalists. One musician told Sky News it was “authoritarianism coming for arts institutions”. Image: The Kennedy Center in Washington DC The Kennedy Center stage is seen as a showcase for the best of American performance art.It hosts more than 2,000 shows per year, including its annual honours ceremony, which celebrates artists who have made significant contributions to US culture.…

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Not quite, says the Met Office. This large glowing spiral was spotted in the night sky across the UK and Ireland on Monday evening. Image: Ivinghoe Beacon in Buckinghamshire. Pic: Keeley Williams Image: The swirl above Castleford in West Yorkshire. Pic: Jake Gill Stargazers from as far north as Denmark and as far south as Milan in Italy noted the cloud-like spiral was visible for several minutes before fading.The Met Office explained in a post on X that the phenomenon was likely caused by frozen exhaust smoke from Elon Musk’s SpaceX Falcon 9…

Tesla sales across Europe plunged 40% last month, raising further questions over the extent drivers are being put off by its chief executive Elon Musk’s politics.Data covering the EU, Britain and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) nations on Tuesday showed a rise in overall new electric car sales during February, but Tesla lagging behind its peers. It sold fewer than 17,000 cars compared to over 28,000 in the same month in 2024, with a market share of 1.8% compared to the 2.8% seen 12 months ago.Money latest: What can we expect in the spring statement tomorrow?The European Automobile Manufacturers Association…

Disney’s use of CGI to create the seven miners at the heart of the live-action remake of Snow White And The Seven Dwarves has left little people feeling “disregarded” and “erased,” according to a disability activist.Comedian, model and content creator Fats Timbo, who has spoken about being bullied as a child, told Sky News she believes Disney has missed a golden opportunity to educate children in what is likely to be their first encounter with someone with dwarfism. Image: Fats Timbo is a comedian, model, author and content creator Timbo, who has dedicated her activism to raising the profile of…

Bird flu has been detected in a sheep in England for the first time, the government has said.The single case was identified somewhere in the historical county in Yorkshire during a routine check of livestock on a premises where the H5N1 virus, also called avian influenza, had previously been confirmed in captive birds. No further infection of the virus was detected in the remaining flock, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) said.”While this is the first time this virus has been reported in a sheep, it is not the first time influenza of avian origin has been…

The chief executive of National Grid has claimed that Heathrow Airport had enough power from other substations despite Friday’s shutdown.Around 1,300 flights were affected after a fire knocked out an electricity substation in Hayes on Thursday evening. Operations were not able to resume until Friday evening. John Pettigrew from National Grid said there were two other substations “always available for the distribution network companies and Heathrow to take power”. Image: The aftermath of the substation fire. Pic: Reuters Image: The substation fire In his first comments since the disruption, Mr Pettigrew told the Financial Times: “There was no lack of…

Bonnets at the ready, with 2025 marking two and a half centuries since Jane Austen’s birth, does “bad lad” Mr Darcy still do it for Gen Z?From erotic audio books to one-woman comedy shows, an Austen invasion is under way this year with various reinterpretations of her work being offered up from those savvy enough to spot a marketing opportunity. Many promise their own modern twists on classics like Pride & Prejudice but does Austen’s work really need updating to appeal to modern tastes?Nichi Hodgson – whose book The Curious History Of Dating: From Jane Austen To Tinder compares Regency…

Bonnets at the ready, with 2025 marking two and a half centuries since Jane Austen’s birth, does “bad lad” Mr Darcy still do it for Gen Z?From erotic audio books to one-woman comedy shows, an Austen invasion is under way this year with various reinterpretations of her work being offered up from those savvy enough to spot a marketing opportunity. Many promise their own modern twists on classics like Pride & Prejudice but does Austen’s work really need updating to appeal to modern tastes?Nichi Hodgson – whose book The Curious History Of Dating: From Jane Austen To Tinder compares Regency…

Clean-up teams are in a race against time to remove billions of plastic pellets that are building up on England’s east coast before they are washed back out to sea.The pellets – called nurdles – were spilled from containers on board a ship that collided with a tanker off the coast of Grimsby a little over a week ago. Strong winds have blown the plastic pieces – about the size of a lentil – 50 miles south and they’re now being scattered on the nature-critical beaches of Norfolk and Lincolnshire. Image: Nurdles on the beach in Norfolk We walked for…

Campaigners say a new 100% council tax premium on second homes in England will do little to ease the housing crisis, with one group describing it as a “naked cash grab”.Exclusive Sky News data shows around 75% of councils in England will introduce the discretionary charge from April – essentially doubling the council tax on properties classed as second homes. England follows in the footsteps of Wales, which already charges a premium.Government data shows there are around 557,000 second homes in England. Hotspots such as Cornwall, Torbay, Norfolk and Somerset are introducing the tax – but there are many towns…