World Cup draw: Why Scotland have bookmakers running scared December 5, 2025 Scottish success is the result that bookmakers fear the most ahead of today’s 2026 World Cup draw, William Hill has said. Scotland booked their return to football’s biggest event, ending a 28-year absence, with a dramatic win over Denmark last month. Steve Clarke’s team are 125-1 outsiders to lift the World Cup but that hasn’t [...]
Netflix snaps up Warner Bros in blockbuster £54bn deal December 5, 2025 Netflix has clinched a blockbuster deal to take over Warner Bros in a major shake-up of the film and streaming industry. In an announcement on Friday, it was formally announced that Netflix would take over the major streaming and film company Warner Bros in an agreement worth $72bn (£54bn). Should the deal pass regulatory checks, [...]
Salary sacrifice: Millions of pension savers impacted by overhaul December 5, 2025 Millions of UK pension savers are set to be hit by salary sacrifice changes unveiled in the Budget, according to new figures. According to figures published by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), an estimated 7.7m employees use salary sacrifice to make pension contributions. This means employees effectively take a pay cut in exchange for higher [...]
Bank of England decision to cut interest rates could be ‘closer call’ December 5, 2025 The Bank of England’s expected decision to cut interest rates by 25 basis points could be a “closer call” than markets predict, analysts have said. Markets have all but priced in interest rates falling to 3.75 per cent at the Bank’s next decision in mid-December after a flurry of data points pointed to a continued [...]
London City Lionesses score deal as Mastercard doubles down on Kang December 5, 2025 Mastercard has expanded its partnership with Michele Kang’s stable of women’s football clubs by becoming a sponsor of London City Lionesses. The company has become official payments partner as part of a wider deal with the club that will see it offer cardholders and supporters “Priceless” matchday experiences, including meeting players and mascot opportunities. Mastercard [...]
Labour minister: Life is s**t for young people December 5, 2025 A Labour minister has offered a candid assessment of life in the UK in reaction to a news story about the costs associated with housing and raising children. In a post on X, Josh Simons, the parliamentary secretary for the Cabinet Office who co-founded the Labour Growth Group, said life for young adults wanting to [...]
Jamie Oliver to bring back Jamie’s Italian in the UK next year December 5, 2025 Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver is to relaunch his restaurant chain in the UK in 2026, seven years after its dramatic collapse. Jamie’s Italian is to be relaunched after a deal was reached between Oliver and Cain International-backed Brava Hospitality Group, which owns Prezzo. The chain operated around 40 sites across the UK at its height [...]
Visa shifts European HQ to Canary Wharf December 5, 2025 Payments juggernaut Visa is set to switch its European headquarters to Canary Wharf – hot on the heels of banking behemoth JP Morgan. The move from its current spot in Paddington comes amid a major resurgence in the London financial hub after a number of big firms snapped up offices in the district. Visa will [...]
LA Olympic Games passes $2bn in sponsorship deals December 5, 2025 The Los Angeles Olympic Games has seen sponsorship value pass $2bn, over two years out from the 2028 showpiece event. The LA28 company tasked with finding sponsors came into 2025 with two partners but is set to end the year with 15, with a value surpassing $2bn. The target figure of $2.5bn is well within [...]
Bank of England: Businesses cut staff at fastest pace since pandemic December 5, 2025 British businesses cut jobs at the fastest rate since the pandemic in the run-up to Rachel Reeves’ Autumn Budget. A closely-watched survey from the Bank of England, which quizzes finance directors on their staffing levels, showed employment in the private sector fell by 1.8 per cent in November – the steepest monthly decline since July [...]