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The new owner of Purplebricks, the online estate agent, is finalising plans to cut more than 100 jobs in a bid to improve its financial performance.

Sky News understands that Strike, a rival operator, is close to rubber-stamping plans to axe roughly 15% of Purplebricks’ 695-strong workforce prior to the takeover.

Sources close to the company said on Thursday that a consultation process signalled after the deal closed in May would reach a conclusion next week.

In total, between 100 and 120 jobs are expected to go, they said.

Despite a softening UK housing market which has been affected by a protracted string of Bank of England base rate increases, Purplebricks is said to have fared better than expected at the time of Strike’s purchase.

Once worth well over £1bn, the online property group was worth little more than £2m when Strike agreed to buy it.

Strike’s main backers include Sir Charles Dunstone, the Carphone Warehouse and TalkTalk co-founder.

“This restructuring process will involve certain roles being made redundant as we shift to a scalable, lower-cost operating model following the sale to Strike,” a Purplebricks spokesman said.

“However, we have also proposed a significant number of new roles, specifically designed to enhance our specialised workforce focused on delivering an exceptional customer journey.”

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He added: “Since the acquisition by Strike, Purplebricks has seen an uptick in weekly instructions and has achieved number one market share nationally for three of the past six weeks.

“This consultation is about ensuring Purplebricks has the right operating model going forward, providing a solid foundation for continued success in the estate agency industry.”

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Man banned from every Boots store

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Man banned from every Boots store

A shoplifter has been jailed and banned from every Boots store after stealing £107,000 worth of goods from the high street chain.

Liam Hutchinson, 32, of no fixed address, was sentenced to a year in prison at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.

He was also issued with a criminal behaviour order, banning him from every Boots store in the UK for 10 years – and the London borough of Kensington and Chelsea for five years.

Metropolitan Police detectives trawled through hours of CCTV footage to find that Hutchinson had committed 99 shoplifting offences at Boots stores in the borough between May and August 2025.

Hutchinson stealing from shelves in Boots on CCTV. Pic: Met Police
Image:
Hutchinson stealing from shelves in Boots on CCTV. Pic: Met Police

Often stealing large quantities of razors and electrical items, his crimes cost the retailer £107,000 in revenue, Sergeant Jack Vine, of the Met’s volume crime team said.

“We recognised the impact Hutchinson’s actions were having on the retailer, and through working with staff, we built a strong case of evidence against him, which has been reflected in his sentencing,” he added.

“This result should act as a warning that this type of behaviour will not be tolerated, and that we will come down hard on those who show a complete disregard for the law, terrorise retail workers and cost businesses thousands of pounds.”

Liam Hutchinson being caught by officers in bodycam footage. Pic: Met Police
Image:
Liam Hutchinson being caught by officers in bodycam footage. Pic: Met Police

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Nicky Harrop, head of security, fraud, and contract management at Boots, said the company have been investing “significantly” in anti-theft measures to make sure stores “remain a safe and respectful environment” for customers and staff.

The Met says it is prioritising shoplifting, having solved 163% more cases in London compared to the same time last year.

It is also dedicating up to 80 additional officers across London’s West End, with 90 more in high-risk theft areas.

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Sky News coverage to be featured on MSNBC as part of commercial agreement

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Sky News coverage to be featured on MSNBC as part of commercial agreement

Sky News has reached a multi-year deal with one of the most influential US news networks, which will see it pay for use of its cross-platform coverage. 

The channel’s live broadcasts, TV packages and online journalism are to be used by MSNBC as part of a commercial agreement, the details of which were not disclosed.

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All Sky News’ British and foreign TV coverage is included in the agreement, which will begin on 1 October, further bringing the reporting to a US audience.

MSNBC will have no role in the commissioning of Sky coverage, and no MSNBC programming will be taken by Sky News, as part of the arrangement.

MSNBC is building up its operations ahead of its planned spin-off from NBC News and parent company Comcast.

The new, separated entity will be named Versant and be a public company with shares traded on a stock exchange.

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Comcast is also the parent company of Sky News. Sky’s relationship with its sister news organisation NBC will be unaffected by the deal.

More than 500 journalists work for Sky News from 11 bureaus, including Moscow, Beijing, Jerusalem, and Johannesburg.

MSNBC is a major cable news network, watched by an average of 1.2 million viewers a day, so far this year, with its average viewer watching for more than eight hours a week.

Its YouTube and TikTok channels have more than 6.2 billion views combined so far this year.

“In this moment of consequential and historic news events happening around the world that are rapidly reshaping our collective future, we are honoured to bring Sky News’ premium, on-the-ground reporting and roster of top journalists to the MSNBC community,” said MSNBC president Rebecca Kutler.

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Man arrested in connection with airports cyber attack

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Man arrested in connection with airports cyber attack

A man has been arrested in the UK by the National Crime Agency (NCA) as part of an investigation into a cyber incident which caused chaos at European airports.

Flights were cancelled at Brussels Airport, and several more were delayed at Heathrow, Berlin, and Dublin, among others, leaving passengers stranded.

The incident, which was reported on 19 September, hit the systems of Collins Aerospace, which operates check-in and boarding systems.

Passengers reported being unable to check in online, queuing for hours, and their flights eventually not taking off.

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NCA officers, supported by the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit, arrested a man in his 40s in West Sussex on Tuesday evening on suspicion of Computer Misuse Act offences. He has been released on conditional bail.

Collins Aerospace, whose network was affected, runs systems for several airlines at multiple airports across the world. Pic: PA
Image:
Collins Aerospace, whose network was affected, runs systems for several airlines at multiple airports across the world. Pic: PA

Deputy director Paul Foster, head of the NCA’s National Cyber Crime Unit, said: “Although this arrest is a positive step, the investigation into this incident is in its early stages and remains ongoing.

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“Cybercrime is a persistent global threat that continues to cause significant disruption to the UK.

“Alongside our partners here and overseas, the NCA is committed to reducing that threat in order to protect the British public.”

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