Vodafone set for £85m court showdown with ex-franchisees March 26, 2026 An £85m court battle between Vodafone and its former franchisees will kick off on Thursday over claims the telecoms giant imposed cuts on franchises which left managers facing closures and bankruptcy. The 62 ex-franchisees pursuing a civil action against Vodafone – recently renamed VodafoneThree – will launch their case at the High Court for the [...]
Being an MP is a miserable job – but why must they inflict it on the rest of us? March 26, 2026 With all the stress that comes with their own job, you'd think MPs would have more empathy for the rest of us, writes Emma Revell.
Consumer confidence collapses as Iran war provokes inflation fears March 26, 2026 Brits’ confidence in the state of the economy has plummeted since the outbreak of war in Iran, as shoppers tighten their purse strings amid fears of sharp price rises. Consumer sentiment over the UK’s economy has fallen to its lowest level on record, down from -30 per cent to -53 per cent, according to trade [...]
Ministers must ‘trade more’ in face of Iran war March 25, 2026 The government must keep the option of an energy bailout for businesses on the table if oil prices continue to spike, the British Chambers of Commerce boss will say in a speech urging ministers to “trade more, not less” in the face of the Iran war. Shevaun Haviland will warn of the “profound” impact that [...]
OpenAI sharpens its focus as Sora falls and funding web tightens March 25, 2026 OpenAI’s decision to shut down its Sora video tool and unwind its Disney partnership in the space of 24 hours is far from an isolated product call. It comes at a moment of rapid growth for the firm, which is handling heavy infrastructure demands alongside increasing scrutiny over how the AI boom it sits at [...]
Iran war throws gold’s shine under the spotlight March 25, 2026 The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has thrown gold’s safe haven status into question after the asset suffered a sharp selloff. The price of gold has tumbled by more than 15 per cent since the start of the Iran war, despite holding pre-war levels for the first initial 10 days of the conflict as [...]
BBC appoints former Google executive as director general March 25, 2026 Former Google executive Matt Brittin has been confirmed as the BBC’s next director general, taking over from Tim Davie at a pivotal moment for the broadcaster. Brittin spent nearly two decades at Google, most recently serving as president for Europe, the Middle East and Africa before stepping down in 2025. He will now lead the [...]
Caxton extends losses as Iran war slams markets March 25, 2026 London based hedge fund Caxton Associates has extended its losses as the Middle Eastern conflict continues to impact global markets. The fund’s losses rose by more than $1.3bn (£971.1m), with its $9bn macro fund, which is run by chief executive Andrew Law, is down 15 per cent this month to 20 March, according to two [...]
London Marathon could have 100,000 runners in 2027 March 25, 2026 Over 100,000 people could take part in the 2027 London Marathon amid reported plans to stage the major running race over two days. The London Marathon, a staple of the sporting calendar in the capital, could be split over two days from 2027 in what the Guardian reports is being dubbed the Double London Marathon. [...]
IAG and Ryanair ‘best equipped’ to manage airlines’ fuel rationing March 25, 2026 Ryanair and British Airways owner IAG are the two carriers best equipped to manage the crisis unfolding in the in the Middle East, according to a top investment bank which warned that potential supply rationing of jet fuel “could not be ruled out”. In a note published on Wednesday, Panmure Liberum said the pair of [...]