Meta and Google face first trial over child safety claims February 9, 2026 The world’s largest social media giants are heading into a series of lawsuits in the US, accusing them of harming children with their addictive algorithms. The opening arguments begin this week in LA County Superior Court in the first case to be heard in front of a jury, alleging that Meta’s Instagram and Google’s YouTube [...]
Wetherspoon boss backs Reform pub package – and defends dog policy February 9, 2026 Sir Tim Martin, chairman of JD Wetherspoon, has called on hospitality firms to back Reform’s proposed pub support package, arguing it would “utterly transform” the landscape for pubs. In a stock exchange release, Martin said Reform’s proposals would offer pubs “tax parity” with supermarkets. “By eliminating the tax differential between supermarkets and the hospitality industry, [...]
Top hotel chain calls for Liverpool Street scheme to be rejected February 9, 2026 A top hotel group has called for Network Rail’s £1.2bn Liverpool Street redevelopment to be rejected or deferred, warning that it might not ever be completed. James Francque, global head of transactions at Hyatt, said the scheme is “not financially viable, offers limited operational benefit, and carries a high risk of non-delivery.” “For these reasons, [...]
Landowners hit as government pushes through 5G rent cuts February 9, 2026 Mobile network operators are set to cut rents on around 15,000 existing phone masts from April, Morning Wire understands, dragging decades-old agreements into a new regime that has already allowed payments to landowners to be cut by up to 90 per cent. The move will bring legacy mast contracts, many signed with farmers, schools, hospitals [...]
Tesco snaps up shuttered Amazon Fresh sites in convenience store push February 9, 2026 Tesco plans to open over 70 Express stores across the country by March next year, including at least five new sites in London. In a statement released today, the supermarket chain confirmed it had acquired five former Amazon Fresh stores across the capital. These sites – in Kensington High Street, Hounslow, Moorgate, Aldgate East, and [...]
LIV Golf open to PGA resolution and in talks over team sales, says president February 9, 2026 LIV Golf chiefs insist they remain open to working with the PGA Tour amid apparently receding prospects of a merger of interests but are focused on the next phase of their business, including the sale of stakes in two teams. More than two and a half years after a “framework agreement” was announced for the [...]
Cabinet rallies around Starmer as Scottish Labour leader calls on PM to quit February 9, 2026 Every Cabinet minister, alongside former deputy leader Angela Rayner, has given public backing to Sir Keir Starmer’s position, following a speech from the Scottish Labour leader calling for the PM to step down. Possible leadership contenders, also including Wes Streeting, Shabana Mahmood and Ed Miliband, have posted supportive messages on social media in quick succession. [...]
Octopus boss: UK risks ‘falling behind’ without China energy ties February 9, 2026 The boss of Octopus Energy has warned that the UK risks being “left behind” in the clean energy race if it fails to work more closely with China on renewable technology, claiming the country should not ignore China’s advances in wind and clean power manufacturing. He argued that collaboration could cut energy bills and strengthen [...]
Luke Littler attracts Meta to darts with Oakley glasses partnership February 9, 2026 Tech giant Meta has entered the darts market by joining world champion Luke Littler’s ever-growing stable of partners. The deal saw Littler don a pair of Oakley Meta glasses to record his throws in a practice session filmed for social media. It sees Oakley and Meta join Xbox, fast fashion brand Boohoo, Target Darts, KP [...]
Horner in talks with MSP Sports Capital over £450m Alpine F1 stake February 9, 2026 Former Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner could return to the Formula 1 grid as a team owner at Alpine. A 24 per cent stake in the French team owned by Otro Capital has been at the heart of a number of sale discussions over recent months, with Horner involved in those. But the [...]