In defence of The Hundred, by co-chair of Welsh Fire Sport Business Welsh Fire co-chair Mark Rhydderch-Roberts dissects The Hundred season, and urges doubters to give it a go. After a frenetic 27 days and a gripping and sold out Finals Day last Sunday at Lord’s, the 2026 Hundred tournament has concluded. Despite the best efforts of some to focus on a marginal decline in total attendances, [...]
Revolut lands fresh banking licence after wrestling with Europe friction Fintech Revolut has been granted a new full-fat banking licence with approval from the European Central Bank following previous friction with the prudential regulator. The $75bn fintech giant – which is currently undergoing a secondary share sale expected to value it at $115bn – revealed on Monday its European arm will accelerate its continental push under [...]
El Nino heatwaves to ‘fuel inflation next year’ Economics The ‘Super El Nino’ triggering record temperatures across Europe could add a full percentage point to inflation next year, hampering central bank efforts to slow down price rises, a top investment bank has warned. According to an analysis by Jefferies, harsh weather unleashed by the meteorological phenomenon will pose “an inflationary threat” next year and [...]
New mixed gender trophy introduced for coming Hundred season June 1, 2026 The Hundred will this season introduce a new team trophy as the franchise cricket tournament seeks to further expand its reach. The trophy, demonstrated at a kit launch at the Oval yesterday, will see men’s and women’s results combined, akin to a Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship that combines two driver performances. Fans will have the [...]
Gilt rout sparks calls for Bank of England to slow ‘unusual’ bond sale programme May 7, 2026 The Bank of England should slow the pace of its costly approach to unwinding quantitative easing, which is pushing up government borrowing costs and weakening the public finances at a time when both are under significant pressure, several top economists have said. The calls follow the UK’s sovereign debt being swept up in a dramatic [...]
ECB inflation survey points to sharp surge in prices May 4, 2026 Major increase identified in ECB’s longstanding expert study, but hopes it will be short lived depend on Iran war ending Timely insight into inflation flashed across traders screens on Monday from the European Central Bank, as rising oil prices were back at the top of the agenda with tensions spiking higher in the Gulf. The [...]
Hundred cricket stake sales help Glamorgan clear debts March 2, 2026 Glamorgan’s sale of a stake in The Hundred franchise Welsh Fire has wiped the county cricket club’s debts, despite making a loss last year. The England and Wales Cricket Board sold eight minority stakes in eight Hundred franchises, handing the majority stakes to host counties. Glamorgan’s divestment saw them enter into a 50-50 partnership with [...]
‘Very clever’ – Mandelson shared sensitive advice with Epstein at height of Eurozone drama February 3, 2026 Peter Mandelson sent Jeffrey Epstein sensitive advice concerning the liquidity of the UK financial system and the stability of the euro that had been shared with Prime Minister Gordon Brown. In the exchange, which took place in May 2010 at the height of the Eurozone debt crisis and in the turbulent political aftermath of the [...]
Sussex CCC forced to prove financial stability after ECB loan February 2, 2026 Sussex County Cricket Club will need to prove their financial stability to the England and Wales Cricket Board after entering into an agreement with cricket’s governing body. The three-year financial framework agreement will see the county receive a points deduction ahead of the 2026 season, a suspended fine of £100,000, and a further suspended points [...]
Does predictability of Ashes dilute cricket’s crown jewel for fans and sponsors? January 8, 2026 And there it is. Another Ashes over, another series defeat for England down in Australia. Brendon McCullum’s side may have ended their winless run at the MCG in one of the two-day Tests but the overall picture remains the same. It’s almost predictable; England head Down Under full of optimism and come back with their [...]