Business

WhatsApp is right not to back down in its opposition to UK government proposals that could allow encrypted messages to be scanned, online privacy campaigners have said. Robin Wilton, director of internet trust for the Internet Society, told Sky News that any requirements in the upcoming Online Safety Bill that would weaken user privacy would

Mark Boggett from Seraphim Space discusses why Britain’s space sector is attracting more investment than any country other than the US and China. Also joining Ian on today’s show are Jette Nygaard-Andersen from the gambling firm Entain and brickmaker Forterra’s chief executive, Stephen Harrison. :: Listen and subscribe to The Ian King Business Podcast here.

US motor vehicle safety regulators have opened an investigation into a Tesla model after getting two complaints that the steering wheels can come off while being driven. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says the probe will look into Tesla’s Model Y SUV after the cars were delivered to customers in both cases with

BMW, the German car manufacturer, is applying the finishing touches to plans to invest hundreds of millions of pounds into its Oxford plant, securing future production of the iconic Mini in Britain. Sky News has learnt that BMW hopes to announce its decision later in the spring, with one industry insider saying on Wednesday that

Britain’s power system operator has, for the first time ever, ordered two of five emergency coal-fired generators to produce electricity to help prevent the lights going out. National Grid ESO made the announcement hours after it activated contingency plans as a precaution over fears supplies may struggle to keep up with demand during the current

Manchester United bidders are due to meet with the club in the next two weeks and gain access to accounts – enabling offers to end the ownership of the Glazers. Sky News understands the two declared bids are now progressing two weeks after the deadline to declare interest – from Qatari hopeful Sheikh Jassim bin

Support for energy bills from the government is expected to continue for three months from April, protecting consumers from an average increase of £500. Sky News understands the chancellor will cancel a reduction in support that would have seen typical annual bills rise from £2,500 to £3,000. In recent days, the government has asked energy

Ian King speaks to AJ Bell about how more British companies are listing on the US stock market. Plus, hear from the pharmaceutical company Indivior’s chief executive about efforts to tackle an opioid crisis. And find out more about the Black Founders Fund – a scheme aimed at tackling the lack of black talent in

The Chinese owner of Thomas Cook is plotting an outright sale of the British holiday brand three years after it rescued the name from corporate ignominy. Sky News has learnt that Fosun Tourism Group is in preliminary discussions with a number of potential purchasers of the online travel agent (OTA). Fosun, which is part of

Looking at recent headlines, one could be forgiven that there is a host of UK-listed companies packing their bags and preparing to head to New York. Today brought news that CRH, the world’s biggest supplier of building materials, is moving its main listing from London to New York – in the process depriving the FTSE

Household bills could rise if the government further delays its plan to rid the power network of polluting fossil fuels by 2035, the National Audit Office (NAO) has warned. Energy officials committed to the target almost 18 months ago, but their plan to deliver it was delayed by the energy crisis as they focussed instead

Drivers leasing new electric cars are being overcharged by hundreds of pounds each month, it has been claimed. Companies have been accused of failing to reflect the strong resale value of cleaner cars when they set their prices, according to clean transport campaign group Transport & Environment (T&E). The monthly cost is typically based on

Shares in Manchester United have fallen by as much as 12% following a report that the club’s owners want bidders to raise their offers if the team is to be sold. A source had told the Financial Times on Saturday that the Glazer family was not happy with the sums on the table following the

The food system “remains resilient”, the environment secretary has insisted, as she conceded fruit and vegetable shortages will likely continue for another two to four weeks. Responding to an urgent question in the House of Commons as the crisis leaves some supermarket shelves bare, Therese Coffey said: “I am led to believe by my officials

A British company that burns wood to create electricity is the latest power giant to post soaring annual profits amid the energy crisis of 2022. Gas prices reached record highs last year as Russia squeezed supplies to Europe in response to sanctions for its invasion of Ukraine, accelerating the shift away from fossil fuels and

Bentley will end production of its “iconic” 12-cylinder petrol engine in April next year. More than 100,000 W12s have been built at the firm’s factory in Crewe, Cheshire over the past 20 years. The British luxury car manufacturer announced on Wednesday it will halt production of the famed W12 engine, launched in 2003, as it

Bills will rise by an estimated £500 a year despite an expected reduction in Ofgem’s household energy cap, analysts expect. The energy regulator will cap the amount households pay on electricity and gas bills each year at £3,294 from 1 April, Cornwall Insights has forecast – a drop from the previous cap of £4,279 effective

The boss of one of the UK’s largest fish and chips chains has told Sky News that industry prices are stabilising but yet to reach their peak. James Lipscombe, chief executive of The Chesterford Group which runs 38 takeaways and restaurants under several brands, spoke of a mammoth effort to maintain sales volumes as the

Charging customers higher electricity prices has helped the UK wing of the French state-owned energy giant turn a profit. While an overall loss was recorded at EDF (Électricité de France) earnings rose at its UK operations, it said in its 2022 annual results. Core profits in the UK electricity-producing entity hit £1.12bn, up from a

An estimated 91.2% of card payments last year were contactless, according to data covering spending when the technology was available. Analysis of habits by debit and credit card users at Barclays showed face-to-face or in-store spending using contactless was up from 82.6% achieved the previous year. The bank credited much of the “tap and go”