Coca-Cola abandons Costa Coffee sale plans as Asda owner bids low January 14, 2026 US beverage giant Coca-Cola has reportedly scrapped plans to sell the world’s second-largest coffee chain after offers from private equity firms came in below expectations. The company brought talks with remaining bidders for Costa Coffee to a halt in December, ending an auction process which had lasted several months, according to the Financial Times. Sources [...]
BP shares fall as net zero plans trigger hit of up to $5bn January 14, 2026 Oil giant BP has warned it will take a hit of up to $5bn in the final quarter of 2025 as the value of green energy projects withered. The FTSE 100 firm said it expects a write-down of between $4bn and $5bn (£3.7bn), as it rethinks its strategy for transition assets and partnerships in the [...]
‘Ambition and delivery are not aligned’ – Starmer’s AI Action Plan, one year on January 14, 2026 Exactly a year ago, Keir Starmer, with the help of Matt Clifford, promised to “mainline AI into the veins” of the UK’s economy. The so-called AI Opportunities Action Plan, a 50-point blueprint unveiled in January 2025, was meant to turn that rhetoric into results, placing the UK on equal footings with the likes of China [...]
Should your business still be on X? January 14, 2026 Ofcom’s inquiry into the systemic risks posed by Elon Musk’s Grok AI for enabling the creation of sexualised images on X has created a significant, foreseeable liability for UK businesses, says Paul Armstrong Many UK businesses seem unwilling to admit it, but they are now operating in dicey waters on X, that. Is it time [...]
Why we should all talk about (and insure against) death January 14, 2026 Brits are naturally squeamish about death. But talking about the subject, and managing it financially, can be a gift for our loved ones.
Why socialist lawyers are coming for your Percy Pigs January 14, 2026 A leftie lawfirm with a history of employing Labour MPs is drumming up a class action lawsuit that could cripple M&S following a devastating cyber attack, says James Price Despite long, painful memories of being dragged by my mum around the clothes section and made to wait outside the changing room, Marks and Spencer is [...]
Sheffield United cut ties with data firm over takeover bid for rivals Wednesday January 14, 2026 Sheffield United have terminated their consultancy contract with Short Circuit Science after the data company was named the preferred bidder of rivals Sheffield Wednesday last month. The business founded by former professional poker player James Bord had been advising Sheffield United on new signings and recommended the recruitment of Ruben Selles as manager last summer, [...]
Mayfair-based The Arts Club plunges to £4m loss after wellness venture sours January 14, 2026 One of the swankiest private members clubs in central London has bemoaned a “challenging economic backdrop” after it suffered a loss of nearly £4m. Mayfair-based The Arts Club, which was founded in the 1860s by Charles Dickens and Anthony Trollope and has been frequented by the likes of Beyoncé, Jessie J and Pippa Middleton, incurred [...]
Worth taking a plunge with Issam and Lake January 13, 2026 A SMALL field of five have been entered for this weekend’s feature race, Ascot’s Grade One Clarence House Chase (3.30pm), with Willie Mullins’ Il Etait Temps heading the betting. He hasn’t been to Ascot before but judging by his recent performances at Sandown, last time when thumping Jonbon in the Grade One Tingle Creek, he [...]
Wendi looks a Goer for Snowden in Brown Advisory January 13, 2026 WITH the big week growing ever closer, it’s time to take another look at the ante-post betting markets for the Cheltenham Festival. I’m going to focus on the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase, where the market is dominated by the likes of Final Demand and Romeo Coolio for Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott. Final Demand is [...]