Drone strikes and noise disputes: The soaring risks of the global data centre boom September 18, 2026 As data centres scale, consume more power, and draw tighter community scrutiny, insurance risks are becoming increasingly complex. As AI infrastructure grows, so do legal risks: large lawsuits involving data centres more than tripled from four in all of 2021 to 14 in the first half of 2026, according to a Howden report. Planning and [...]
City watchdog targets London crypto traders in latest clampdown September 18, 2026 The City watchdog has targeted three London premises suspected of illegal peer-to-peer crypto trading as it increases its scrutiny of digital assets. In a joint operation with HMRC and the Metropolitan Police, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said on Thursday it had issued three cease-and-desist letters to individuals trading through UK businesses, ordering them to [...]
Labour warned UK at risk of foreign tech giants ‘pulling the plug’ September 18, 2026 Labour has “no plan” if foreign technology companies or governments cut Britain off from systems underpinning critical services, the Liberal Democrats have warned, after ministers acknowledged the risks posed by the UK’s reliance on overseas tech. Victoria Collins, the Lib Dems’ tech spokesperson, accused the government of handing “contract after contract to foreign tech oligarchs” [...]
Howard Buffett to succeed father Warren as Berkshire Hathaway chair September 18, 2026 Berkshire Hathaway has named Howard Buffett as chair as his father Warren Buffett steps down after six decades at the helm of the conglomerate. Howard’s elevation comes as billionaire Warren moves into the role as chairman emeritus of the company, according to a letter published to shareholders on Friday. The elder Buffett will also remain [...]
US law firms outpace London rivals in race for larger City offices September 18, 2026 American law firms with offices in London are taking up more space than their homegrown rivals as they push to aggressively expand. Since 2020, more than 70 per cent of the 22 legal firms relocating office in London took up more space as they expanded headcount, with 14 of those US companies, according to new [...]
Kylian Mbappe receives shares in On as he jumps ship from Nike deal September 18, 2026 Swiss sportswear brand On has pulled off a marketing coup by luring Real Madrid and France striker Kylian Mbappe from Nike to launch its football products. Mbappe, who was previously on a £13m-a-year contract with Nike, is working alongside former Arsenal, Barcelona and France star Thierry Henry to develop On’s forthcoming football range. The 27-year-old [...]
Summer of sorrow: Property sector bears brunt of August administration spike September 18, 2026 Nearly 2,000 businesses went into insolvency in August as economic pressures and ongoing geopolitical tensions weighed on British firms. According to new figures the Insolvency Service released on Friday, 1,946 firms went into insolvency in England and Wales in August, flat compared to July and down from 2,007 in August 2025. The data showed that [...]
Rishi Sunak calls on PM Andy Burnham to restore £35m pledge for cricket domes September 18, 2026 Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has urged current PM Andy Burnham to reinstate the £35m funding commitment to building all-weather “cricket domes” he made when he was in No10. Sunak pledged the sum in 2024 to create 22 of the facilities around the country but the Labour government scrapped the funding, labelling it “fantasy”, after [...]
Former Labour deputy joins Palantir as tech giant targets UK growth September 18, 2026 Former Labour deputy leader Tom Watson has joined Palantir as a senior vice president as the US tech firm looks to expand its work with the British government while facing mounting scrutiny over its public sector contracts. Watson, who served as an MP for 18 years and held ministerial roles under Gordon Brown, will work [...]
Tories consult senior barrister over ‘outrageous’ Wandsworth tax hike September 18, 2026 Kemi Badenoch has said the Conservative party has consulted a senior barrister to challenge the government over local funding cuts, following the recent controversy over looming tax hikes at Wandsworth Council. Wandsworth Council, which is Tory-run, has recently announced that taxes will rise by 94 per cent for ‘band D’ residents, resulting in taxpayers having [...]