Liz Kendall hails ‘Brit-maxxing’ as Labour bets £1.1bn on AI chip race June 9, 2026 Britain must stop listening to the “doubters, doom-mongers and naysayers” and double down on its strengths in AI, Liz Kendall said as she unveiled a £1.1bn package aimed to turn the UK into a global AI hardware powerhouse. Addressing London Tech Week attendees on Tuesday, the tech secretary embraced the conference’s now-familiar “London maxxing” mantra, [...]
Starmer: X is responsible for fake Farage and Bailey fight images June 9, 2026 Sir Keir Starmer has said tech firms must take responsibility for fake images depicting a brawl between Nigel Farage and Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey. Multiple AI-generated images of Farage and Bailey fighting have been spread on X, with the links appearing to lead to a scam. The Prime Minister’s spokesman said “there is [...]
Justice For Players hopeful of Fifa deal in football class action after Diarra settlement June 9, 2026 Justice For Players insists its multi-billion-pound claim against Fifa has been strengthened by the governing body settling with the man who triggered the class action, Lassana Diarra. Diarra’s lawyer Jean-Louis Dupont confirmed on Tuesday that his client had reached agreement with Fifa and the Belgian football federation over an out-of-court settlement in relation to the [...]
‘We do not accept the FCA’s characterisation’: Neil Woodford firm responds to watchdog June 9, 2026 Former star fund manager Neil Woodford’s comeback venture has hit back at the UK financial watchdog, arguing it ‘does not accept’ the regulator’s characterisation of the business after the FCA launched civil proceedings. W Four Point Zero FZE, which trades as W4.0 and is registered in the United Arab Emirates, rebuffed the Financial Conduct Authority’s [...]
Pret A Manger dumps US franchise agreement after just two years June 9, 2026 Pret A Manger has dumped the franchise agreement which it had launched to expand in the US after just two years, its latest accounts revealed. The coffee chain formed a joint venture, known as Empire JointStar, with its franchise operator Dallas Holdings in October 2023, in a bid to accelerate its expansion in the US. [...]
Private equity-backed Ryan breaks with billable hour tradition as AI reshapes sector June 9, 2026 Private equity-backed tax specialist Ryan says its value-based pricing is built for the age of AI, unlike competitors that depend on traditional hourly billing. Most of the professional services sector operates under the billable-hour system, in which the specific amount of time spent working on client tasks can be invoiced. But the rise in AI [...]
CMA launches antitrust probe into Hollywood’s mega merger June 9, 2026 The UK’s competition watchdog has launched a formal merger enquiry into Paramount Skydance’s anticipated $110bn (£86bn) acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery, escalating the regulatory hurdles facing a deal that has already triggered a fierce, multi-front corporate war over Hollywood jobs and executive payouts. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) announced Tuesday it has commenced its [...]
‘Reason to be optimistic’: Hospitality bosses say World Cup a lifeline for pubs June 9, 2026 Pub bosses are hoping for a much-needed boost from the World Cup this summer, as the hospitality industry warns of a crushing tax and cost burden. Leading pub chains Greene King and JD Wetherspoon have told City AM they are hoping for a “useful boost” to counteract the “layering of costs” they have faced in [...]
‘Course correction’: UK economy to contract as ‘energy shock catches up’ June 9, 2026 The UK economy is expected to contract despite a boost at the start of the year, with economists warning that the war in Iran’s energy price shock will now show up in fresh data. Economists believe that the UK economy declined by 0.1 per cent in April. Official figures will be published on Friday. The [...]
Government to invest £3m in five new cricket domes June 9, 2026 The Government is investing £3m into the construction of five new cricket domes as plans to increase participation in the sport ramp up. The state contribution will help communities in Birmingham, Derby, Newcastle, Bolton and Nottingham after an initial three domes were opened in the West Midlands, Bradford and Lancashire. A further £1.5m was committed [...]