Google and Apple face enforced changes to how they operate their mobile phone platforms, after the UK’s competition watchdog ruled the companies require tougher regulatory oversight.
The Competition and Markets Authority has conferred “strategic market status” (SMS) on the tech firms after investigating their mobile operating systems, app stores and browsers.more
The hack of Jaguar Land Rover has cost the UK economy an estimated £1.9bn, potentially making it the most costly cyber-attack in British history, a cybersecurity body has said.more
River Island and New Look are among a growing number of high-street fashion brands that have closed retail stores in 2025 — and more may be yet to come.more
Holland & Barrett, British Gas owner Centrica, and Starbucks franchisee EG Group are among the firms being named and shamed for failing to pay some of their staff the minimum wage.more
The latest analysis shows that electric vehicle sales in Europe will surpass those of petrol and diesel vehicles by 2028. According to the report's authors, electric vehicles' market share will exceed 50% by 2032.more
A major legal claim has been filed in the UK against pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson, accusing the firm of knowingly selling baby powder contaminated with asbestos.
The claim involves 3,000 people and focuses on internal memos and scientific reports, which have been seen by the BBC.more
Royal Mail has been fined £21m after almost a quarter of first-class post arrived late, Ofcom has announced.
It is the third-largest fine the communications watchdog has ever issued and follows its investigation after Royal Mail missed its targets for both first and second-class post in 2024/25.more
An estimated 1.4 million adults in Britain have a gambling problem, according to landmark figures released days after the chancellor hinted at plans to increase taxes on the £11.5bn betting and gaming industry.
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The drones cruise at 232ft, carrying burgers and chips, fresh meat and eggs, with the packages dropped on a biodegradable string, but locals call the noise "very stressful" and compare it to helicopters.more
Rishi Sunak has taken up advisory roles at tech giant Microsoft and artificial intelligence start-up Anthropic.
The former prime minister - who remains the MP for Richmond and Northallerton - said he was "delighted" to be working "with two of the world's leading tech firms" and planned to donate his earnings to a charity he founded.more
Google may have to make changes in the UK so people have more choice over which search engine they use, following a landmark decision from the regulator.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has designated Google with "strategic market status" under a law which came into force in January.more
Britain has announced the signing of a £350 million ($468 million) contract to supply the Indian Army with Lightweight Multi-Role Missiles (LMMs) produced by Thales in Northern Ireland.
The deal marks a major step in the expanding defence and industrial collaboration between the United Kingdom and India.more
Pubs and bars in England and Wales could see extended opening hours as the government launches a fast-track review on "outdated" licensing rules.
The plans could make it easier for venues to serve food outside and host more live music, in a bid to "remove unnecessary barriers".more
The EU has announced plans to hike tariffs on imported steel in a move the UK's steel industry has said could be "perhaps the biggest crisis" it has ever faced.
The commission has set out plans to cut the amount of steel that can be imported into the bloc by half - beyond which the new 50% tariffs will apply.more
Lidl will close the vast majority of its stores for three days over the Christmas period, as the supermarket becomes the latest major retailer to give staff a longer festive break.more
Nearly 30 million people in the UK who bought an Apple or Samsung smartphone between 2015 and 2024 may be entitled to about £17 if the consumer campaign group Which? is successful in a case against US tech giant Qualcomm.more
Elon Musk is the first person in history whose net worth has been estimated at over $500 billion, Forbes reported yesterday. The entrepreneur is therefore halfway to becoming the world's first billionaire.more
Starbucks has said it will cut about 900 US jobs and close its worst performing stores there, as well as shutting some UK stores as part of a cost-saving move.
Most of the stores earmarked for closure are in North America and its chief executive said the revamp would reduce wait times and help revive sales.more
Under the settlement, Amazon is to pay a fine and refund approximately 35 million Prime shopping service customers. This will cost the company a total of $2.5 billion, Reuters reported today. The settlement applies to individuals who purchased the service between 2019 and 2025.more
Amazon is planning to close its 19 UK grocery stores less than five years after it launched the till-free sites in London.
Amazon said five of the stores earmarked for closure would be converted in to Whole Foods stores, a fresh and whole food brand which Amazon owns.more
Bosses at the clothing and homeware chain Next are forecasting years of “anaemic” growth across the UK, with the retailer claiming that regulation, government spending and higher taxes will hurt jobs and productivity.more
On 1 January 2026, Jakub Jankowski, a Polish national, will become the president of Inter IKEA Group, the company has announced. Jankowski has been working at IKEA since 2001 and is currently the managing director of Ikea Industry.more
The UK government announced $205 billion in investments from American businesses, including a deal for the first British-built US Air Force aircraft in over 50 years. Blackstone Inc. will invest £90 billion, while other companies like Palantir Technologies and Prologis will create 7,600 jobs. more
Food and drink prices are rising at their fastest rate since January last year in a painful new supermarket squeeze on household budgets.
Latest official figures show the inflation rate for food and non-alcoholic drinks rose to 5.1% in August, up from 4.9% in July. more
