Will we mourn the loss of WH Smith from the high street? September 29, 2025 So long then, WH Smith, a firm which has graced our high streets for more than a century – even though it never intended to. Founded as a small newspaper kiosk in Mayfair in 1792, the business grew massively in the mid-19th century, spurred by the rapid expansion of the railways, which allowed consumers up [...]
Trump threatens 100 per cent tariff on UK films to ‘protect Hollywood’ September 29, 2025 President Donald Trump has renewed his threat to impose a 100 per cent tariff on “any and all” films produced outside the USA, a move that has sparked concern across the British film industry. In a post on Truth Social on Monday, Trump criticised foreign movie production as “stealing candy from a baby”, and accused [...]
Roblox: Hugely popular gaming platform surges in value September 29, 2025 Gaming platform Roblox surged in value in the UK in 2024 as it extended its popularity among Gen Alpha. The business, which is the most popular in the UK among young gamers aged eight to 12, is part of the wider US group founded by CEO David Baszucki and Erik Cassel. Roblox has more monthly [...]
Will the ‘Brit card’ ID redefine privacy in the UK? September 29, 2025 Just last week, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced plans for a new digital ID system, or so-called ‘Brit card’, aimed to provide UK citizens and legal residents with a smartphone-based identity card. By the end of the current parliament in 2029, digital ID is set to become mandatory for ‘right to work’ checks. The government [...]
Wingstop creates 1,000 UK jobs as sales and profit jump September 29, 2025 Wingstop has created 1,000 jobs in the UK as its sales and profit surged before being taken over, it has been revealed. The UK franchise of the US restaurant chain increased its headcount from 1,230 to 2,216 during the nine months to the end of 2024, new accounts filed with Companies House show. Its turnover [...]
UK veterans drive defence tech boom September 29, 2025 Defence tech startups are booming across Europe, powered by an influx of UK military veterans and record levels of VC investment. Yet, a new report found critical gaps in space tech and AI chips could leave the country exposed. The State of Defence Tech 2025 report has revealed that defence startups have secured $1.5bn (£1.12bn) [...]
UK second most at risk from debt crisis of all major economies September 29, 2025 The UK is the second most likely major economy to face a debt crisis in the next two years, a fresh survey of financial professionals has found, as investors remain unconvinced by the country’s growth prospects and efforts to keep a lid on spending. According to a Deutsche Bank poll released on Monday, France is [...]
Rachel Reeves warns ‘harder choices’ coming at Budget September 29, 2025 Chancellor Rachel Reeves has warned that her choices will be “harder” at this year’s Budget, with questions being raised on whether she will row back on Labour manifesto tax commitments to plug a £30bn shortfall. In a speech at the Labour Party conference, Reeves said that “harsh global headwinds” and the effects of her Tory [...]
Club World Cup left Chelsea with less than two weeks’ pre-season September 29, 2025 Winners Chelsea were among the teams hardest hit by participating in the Club World Cup, exposing their players to greater risk of injury, according to a report by footballers’ union Fifpro. Reaching the final of the revamped competition in the US this summer left Chelsea with just 13 days of pre-season preparations before beginning the [...]
Astrazeneca to ‘upgrade’ US listing in latest blow to London Stock Exchange September 29, 2025 Astrazeneca has laid out plans aimed at “upgrading” its US listing in the latest blow to the London Stock Exchange. The Cambridge-based pharma giant said it would replace its existing Nasdaq listing of American Depositary Receipts (ADRs), a type of listing for trading overseas shares, with a direct listing of ordinary shares on the New [...]