Business

Boeing should be fined almost $25bn and face criminal proceedings over two fatal 737 MAX 8 crashes, according to relatives of some of the 346 victims who argue the company is guilty of the “deadliest corporate crime in US history”. The plea was revealed in a letter to the US Department of Justice (DOJ), a

UK inflation has eased to 2% – increasing the prospect of an interest rate cut this summer. The consumer prices index (CPI) rate for the year to May was confirmed by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on Wednesday. The figure indicates that prices are still rising, but at the slowest pace since spring 2021.

There was “possibly a criminal conspiracy” at the Post Office, according to an independent forensic accountant drafted in to investigate the controversial Horizon accounting system. Ian Henderson, one of the two forensic accountants from Second Sight paid by Post Office (POL) to review sub-postmaster convictions involving Horizon in 2012, told the public inquiry into the

Grocery inflation has eased for the 16th month in a row, according to industry data released ahead of the general election also showing a price war aimed at luring fans during Euro 2024. Kantar Worldpanel – which tracks supermarket till prices, sales and market share – said its measure of grocery inflation slowed to 2.1%

China may target the European Union’s pork producers in retaliation for EU tariffs on its electric cars. The world’s second largest economy revealed on Monday that it had launched an investigation into imports of pork for human consumption from the bloc. The Commerce ministry inquiry was in response to a complaint by Chinese pork producers

Fuel retailers have been accused of using the “distraction” of the general election to keep petrol and diesel prices “persistently high”. The RAC said the cost of filling up at the pumps was “far higher” than would normally be expected as wholesale costs had fallen since the end of April. The average price of a

One of London’s most prominent venture capital investors will this week change its name following the death and resignation of its two co-founders. Sky News understands that Hambro Perks, which counts a stake in What3Words, the location-mapping service, among its holdings, is to rebrand as Salica Investments. An announcement about the change of name will

The founders of Melrose Industries, one of Britain’s most prolific and lucrative investment groups, are preparing to list a new vehicle in London next month as they hunt a new wave of takeover targets. Sky News has learnt that Simon Peckham is spearheading the launch of Rosebank Industries, with talks under way to raise more

Alan Bates, the campaigner who highlighted the Post Office scandal, will be given a knighthood after being recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours list. Other famous faces on the list include artist Tracey Emin and cyclist Mark Cavendish, who will be given a damehood and knighthood, respectively. Former prime minister Gordon Brown has received the

Latitude Festival has dropped its sponsor, Barclays, after a number of musicians and comedians dropped out in protest over the bank’s ties to the Israel-Hamas war. Latitude Festival told Sky News: “Following discussion with artists, we have agreed with Barclays that they will step back from sponsorship of Latitude Festival”. Comedians Joanne McNally, Sophie Duker,

Tesco says it has recorded a “strong” rise in retail sales in the latest quarter – buoyed by easing inflation. The UK’s largest supermarket also said its market share was growing at its fastest rate than at any time in the last two years. The grocery giant reported sales grew across the group, including Ireland,

Tariffs are rarely a good idea. The imposition – or raising of tariffs – invariably invites retaliation from the country or countries whose goods or services you are targeting. They also, invariably, hurt consumers. Donald Trump‘s trade wars with China made for populist politics but ultimately pushed up prices for ordinary Americans. Worse still, they

The owner of some of London’s best-known restaurants, including The Wolseley, has called for fresh help from restructuring advisers more than two years after its parent company emerged from administration. Sky News has learnt that Minor Hotels has drafted in AlixPartners to advise on cashflow issues at Wolseley Hospitality Group. The project is said to

Demand in the housing market tailed off last month as hopes of a Bank of England rate cut faded, according to an industry report released just hours before a major housebuilder issued a profit warning. A monthly study by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors’ (RICS) pointed to a drop in prices during May. At

England’s Professional Footballers’ Association has launched legal action over plans for a Club World Cup due to concerns over player burnout. The PFA – which represents Premier League players among others – said the decision “was taken without negotiation or engagement with player unions”. It called the tournament “a tipping point for the football calendar and