Pressure shifts back to Big Tech as Ofcom delays social media ban March 12, 2026 Tech firms have been warned to strengthen protections for young people online after MPs rejected a proposal to ban under-16s from social media this week. Communications regulator Ofcom and the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) have written to major platforms, asking for details of how they plan to improve safety measures for children. Companies like Facebook, [...]
Hundred auction: Welsh Fire spend big, Coles lands £390k contract March 12, 2026 Welsh Fire were the big spenders in the morning session of The Hundred auction, splashing £540,000 on Joe Root and Jordan Cox. Wicket-keeper-batter Cox – who was the leading run scorer in last year’s Hundred competition – fetched the highest price before the lunch break, being snapped up by the Cardiff-based franchise for £300,000. Former [...]
‘Cover up’: Starmer blames vetting amid process questions on Mandelson March 12, 2026 Sir Keir Starmer’s spokesman has blamed the vetting process inherited from previous governments for Lord Peter Mandelson’s appointment despite accusations that the Prime Minister did not follow ministerial procedures and oversaw a “cover up”. Starmer’s spokesman said the government was looking to reform the due diligence process and national security vetting procedure for major appointments. [...]
Hospitality sector braces for ‘devastating’ tube strikes March 12, 2026 London’s hospitality sector could face “devastating” disruption from upcoming tube strikes, sector leaders have warned. Members of the RMT union, which represents London Underground staff, will strike over 12 days between March and May, and hospitality intelligence firm Access Hospitality has warned sector bosses to prepare now to protect their revenue. The last set of [...]
England and Scotland World Cup games saved by Patriots owner Kraft deal March 12, 2026 Billionaire New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft has helped to resolve a row over security costs that was threatening England and Scotland games at this summer’s World Cup. Local authorities in Foxborough, near Boston, were refusing to grant a licence for seven fixtures due to be staged at the Gillette Stadium owing to fears the [...]
Revolut’s triumph reminds us what British tech sector is capable of March 12, 2026 There hasn’t been much good news around lately – between the UK’s miserable growth trajectory, war in the Middle East and the whiff of decay in Downing Street, it’s been hard to find the optimism. But when something genuinely impressive happens in British business, it’s worth pausing to take notice. And this week we had [...]
John Lewis boss: Labour must keep pledge to reform business rates March 12, 2026 Labour must honour its manifesto promise to fundamentally reform the business rates system, John Lewis boss Jason Tarry has said. The retail chairman said the changes at last year’s Budget were positive for retail but offered a “short-term” fix to a system which unfairly disadvantages physical retailers as opposed to online shops. Chancellor Rachel Reeves [...]
HPE leans on Juniper deal as AI drives demand for faster networks March 12, 2026 Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) is trying to prove that its $14bn (£10.45bn) takeover of Juniper Networks is already translating into momentum in one of the most competitive corners of the AI infrastructure market. Speaking at Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, Rami Rahim, the former Juniper chief executive who now runs HPE’s networking business, told [...]
Middle East war ‘could plunge UK into a recession’ March 12, 2026 The crisis in the Middle East could plunge the UK into a recession in the worst case scenario where oil prices surge higher over the next two months, analysis has shown. Oxford Economics research has indicated that a continued surge in oil prices would rattle “parts of the global economy”, with the UK set to [...]
Blitz Golf: Golf’s answer to T20 cricket coming to London March 12, 2026 When LIV burst into the sporting galaxy it promised to be “golf, but louder”. So what do you call golf that lasts just three hours and has been described as the sport’s version of Twenty20 cricket? The answer, it seems, is Blitz. Established in Australia back in 2018, Blitz Golf shot to prominence when cricketer [...]