Can a team of retail veterans solve Argos’ catalogue of woes? July 31, 2026 The death of the Argos catalogue in 2021 after nearly half a century prompted a period of mourning for many in Britain – including the retailer’s new owner. “I used to sit around the kitchen table putting green shield stamps into books,” Richard Pennycook said on Friday, referring to the original iteration of the catalogue. [...]
Boozy lunches still on the menu: Law firms bankroll juniors to schmooze clients in the City July 31, 2026 The long lunch, a cornerstone for corporate workers wooing clients in the City, has been considered to be on the decline with the rise of hybrid working, stretched budgets, and a new cohort of young professionals opting for alcohol-free options. But at law firms, this tradition is not off the menu; instead, it is being [...]
Padel chief: A sport which succeeds in London gets noticed around the world July 31, 2026 Ahead of the London Premier Padel P1 in August Luigi Carraro makes the case for the capital and why sport loves the city. What I have always loved about London is that it knows a sport worth watching when it sees one. The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games was no better example of that [...]
The GCC’s AI strategy: Inside the region’s $150bn race July 31, 2026 Understanding the GCC’s AI strategy is essential for unlocking opportunities from the UK-GCC Free Trade Agreement and the region’s $150bn AI push. AI is a powerful accelerant for solving complex challenges. The GCC’s AI strategy calls for heavy investment in digital infrastructure, and the UK-GCC FTA is creating new opportunities to capitalize on it. What’s [...]
Burnham says Infantino ‘wrong man’ to lead Fifa as Brits back World Cup boycott plans July 31, 2026 Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said Gianni Infantino is the “wrong man” to lead Fifa as Brits back Uefa plans to boycott the next World Cup. The football-loving Prime Minister told reporters in Sheffield on Friday that Fifa’s plans to sell of stakes in the World Cup to private investors, spearheaded by Infantino, “was an [...]
Darts star Beau Greaves gets eyes insured by Specsavers for £1m July 31, 2026 Women’s darts sensation Beau Greaves has had her eyes insured for £1m by opticians Specsavers. The stunt came after Greaves, a 22-year-old from Doncaster who wears glasses, won a third Women’s World Matchplay at the weekend when she beat Fallon Sherrock 6-5 in the final at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool. Like Littler won the [...]
Rightmove: Housebuilders face worst conditions since financial crisis July 31, 2026 The boss of property portal Rightmove has warned that UK housebuilders are facing the worst conditions since the 2008 financial crash. Johan Svanstrom, the FTSE 250 firm’s chief executive, said on Friday that new home developments are at “historically low levels due to continued softer build rates”. The property platform said growth in its new [...]
China’s mega London embassy to go ahead after High Court blocks challenge July 31, 2026 Plans for a new Chinese super embassy in central London will go ahead after the High Court blocked a challenge to the controversial site. The Royal Mint Court Residents’ Association (RMCRA) had initiated legal action against the government’s housing department and Tower Hamlets council over concerns the embassy could enforce “draconian” Chinese laws in the [...]
Fifa crisis: Uefa exec Nasser Al-Khelaifi ‘not interested’ in ousting Infantino July 31, 2026 Nasser Al-Khelaifi, the Paris Saint-Germain president and high-ranking Uefa executive, has no interest in leading a Fifa coup against Gianni Infantino, according to his camp. Infantino’s future as Fifa president has been plunged into doubt by the civil war triggered by plans to sell off stakes in a new commercial subsidiary to private investors, including [...]
Revolut will become $1 trillion company by 2035, says early VC backer July 31, 2026 Revolut will secure a price tag of $1 trillion within a decade, an early backer of the fintech has claimed. The digital banking juggernaut is in the midst of a secondary share sale at an expected valuation of $115bn and was last valued at $75bn in November 2025, when it landed investment from chip giant [...]