Will NBA Europe’s format and salary cap comply with EU law? March 28, 2025 It wasn’t quite the papal white smoke, but the NBA made the clearest statement yet this week that it intends to launch a new league in Europe. In a joint appearance with the head of Fiba, basketball’s international governing body, NBA commissioner Adam Silver spoke of the “enthusiastic support” within both organisations to push ahead [...]
Lloyds sends 200 senior staff to Cambridge University for AI bootcamp March 28, 2025 Lloyds Banking Group has set out plans to send over 200 senior employees on an 80-hour AI bootcamp at the University of Cambridge. The FTSE 100 lender has joined with education technology firm Cambridge Spark for a “bespoke six-month training programme” to enhance AI capabilities across its management. The first cohort of 30 Lloyds leaders [...]
Trump slaps sanctions on WilmerHale over Robert Mueller connections March 28, 2025 WilmerHale is the latest Big Law firm slapped with an executive order over its connections with the man who investigated Russia's election meddling
Retail sales beat expectations as Brits keep shopping March 28, 2025 Retail sales volumes beat expectations in February as British shoppers seemed to loosen their spending habits, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Retail sales rose one per cent month-on-month after rising 1.4 per cent in January. Markets had expected a decline of 0.3 per cent. Annual retail sales growth came in at 2.2 [...]
Blackstone takes stake in UK airports group for £235m March 28, 2025 Blackstone has bought a 22 per cent stake in AGS Airports in a deal valued at £235m, it has been announced. The agreement sees AviAlliance offload some of its holdings in AGS, which owns Aberdeen, Glasgow and Southampton airport, although it will retain a majority 78 per cent stake. AGS was acquired by PSP, one [...]
British investor eyes 23andMe rescue as it files for bankrupcy March 28, 2025 A major British investor is exploring a potential rescue plan for 23andMe, after the consumer genetics company filed for bankruptcy protection in the US. Richard Magides, director of Singapore-based Zentree Investments, and one of the firm’s largest shareholders, had been reportedly increasing his take in the firm in the lead up to its Chapter 11 [...]
WH Smith agrees sale of UK high street chain to Modella March 28, 2025 WH Smith has agreed to sell its 233-year-old UK high street business to Modella Capital for around £76m. Modella Capita, which owns Hobbycraft, pipped a number of bidders to the prize including Alteri Investors, the owner of Bensons for Beds. The deal will transfer WH Smith’s 500 stores to the investor, with the high street [...]
Blue Orchid Hospitality granted permission to convert Atlas House to a luxury hotel March 27, 2025 Planning permission has been granted for Atlas House on King Street, Cheapside, currently vacant with prior uses as offices. The landmark Italianate-style property is to be transformed into a high-quality boutique hotel under the ownership of the award-winning Blue Orchid Hospitality group, part of the Integrity International Group, led by renowned hotelier and developer, Tony [...]
UK’s tech crown is slipping away March 27, 2025 The UK has slipped behind in the tech arms race, falling behind emerging tech heavyweights. A new global ranking has placed Britain as 13th overall for tech competitiveness, behind nations like Ireland, Singapore and Australia. Meanwhile, perhaps more alarmingly, no G7 nation – the group of the world’s most industrialised nations including the UK – [...]
Sky to overhaul call centres and cut around 2,000 jobs March 27, 2025 Sky has announced plans to shake up its call centres in a move which will see around 2,000 jobs put at risk of being lost. The media company, which is owned by US media giant Comcast, is looking to close three of its ten call centre sites. Its locations in Stockport, Sheffield and central Leeds [...]