Patent cliff fuels Novartis’ $1.5bn swoop for London biotech July 6, 2026 Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis has agreed to buy London-based biotech Myricx Bio for up to $1.5bn (£1.1bn) as global drugmakers continue deploying billions into promising biotech firms ahead of an estimated $450bn wave of patent expiries over the next decade. The deal will see Novartis pay $1.1bn upfront, with a further $400m tied to development [...]
M&S to face shareholder grilling over cyber attack recovery July 6, 2026 Marks and Spencer is set to take a grilling from shareholders over whether it has made a meaningful recovery from the cyber attack which wiped out nearly a third of its profit. The FTSE 100 retailer will face investors at its annual general meeting on Tuesday, where it will expect to be quizzed on whether [...]
Burnham told to launch £100bn tax reform package July 6, 2026 Andy Burnham has been urged to introduce sweeping tax reforms that could generate over £100bn in extra government revenue by a group of influential economists, which includes his own heavyweight adviser Jim O’Neill. A letter signed by O’Neill, who was formerly a Treasury minister and Goldman Sachs executive, urged the next Prime Minister to introduce [...]
London Lions in EuroLeague franchise bid – but may have to quit Super League Basketball July 6, 2026 London Lions are in talks to buy an expansion franchise in EuroLeague basketball when the continent’s premier competition adds four new teams next year. London is a priority market for EuroLeague as it advances its plans to grow to 24 teams for the 2027-28 season – part of a comprehensive rearguard action against the NBA’s [...]
‘In fine fettle’: Pall Mall’s RAC waiting list grows as posh club toasts profit boost July 6, 2026 The Royal Automobile Club has seen a rise in its waiting list as the posh Pall Mall private members’ club toasted a surge in profitability. The institution, which was founded in 1897 as a motoring club and later spawned the roadside assistance business RAC, saw its waiting list increase by 7 per cent in 2025 [...]
FCA eyes tougher AI rules as Brits turn to chatbots for financial advice July 6, 2026 The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has called for greater powers to regulate artificial intelligence after warning the UK’s financial rulebook must evolve to keep pace with the number of consumers turning to chatbots for advice on their money. In a new review published on Monday, the watchdog said AI will become “a defining force” in [...]
All England Club slap down wealthy Indian Jindal over Wimbledon empty seat post July 6, 2026 The All England Club has slapped down a member of the billionaire Jindal family after the Indian bemoaned empty seats at Wimbledon. Parth Jindal, whose investments includes Indian Premier League cricket team Delhi Capitals, took to social media to berate the empty seats on the showcourts of Wimbledon. “Never seen so many empty seats at [...]
IFS and Chelsea reaffirm partnership but AI firm won’t be front-of-shirt July 6, 2026 Industrial AI firm IFS has reaffirmed commitment to its global partnership with Chelsea but will not remain the Premier League club’s front-of-shirt sponsor. IFS appeared on the front of Chelsea’s shirts for the latter part of last season, having signed a three-year contract with the US-owned West London side in February. But their expanded partnership, [...]
Pubs toast England World Cup victory over Mexico July 6, 2026 British pubs served more than six million pints during England’s World Cup victory against Mexico in the early hours of Monday morning. The UK’s hospitality sector was handed a boost after the government decided to allow pubs to stay open until 5am, having initially extended licensing hours until only 1am. The country’s pubs made the [...]
Financial services activity ‘drops rapidly’ as investors alarmed by Burnham July 6, 2026 Business activity across the financial services sector – one of the chief drivers of economic growth across the UK – has dropped sharply as confidence slumps, according to a new survey. Financial services firms, including banks and insurers, said business volumes had nosedived in the second quarter of the year. While the net reading for [...]