Sports Direct owner Mike Ashley tightens hold on Hugo Boss
The retail billionaire Mike Ashley has given the latest indication that his summer shopping spree may be far from over, after he increased his stake in the luxury giant Hugo…
‘Humiliated’: Sainsbury’s store pauses AI scanning after false shoplifting accusation
Sainsbury’s has paused the use of AI face scanning in one of its stores after a customer was wrongly identified as a shoplifter and ejected from the shop. “I was…
Virgin takes step towards running Channel Tunnel rail services
Virgin’s plans to run rail services between London and Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam have moved closer after it was granted track access by the UK regulator. The company has been…
Virgin Trains gets go ahead to run services to Europe in new blow to Eurostar monopoly
Virgin Trains has been granted track access by the rail regulator to run new services between London and Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam in 2030, in a step forward for its…
Burnham hails importance of local businesses as he issues update on support plans
Mr Burnham will tell small business owners he has their back, and said there is ‘more to do’ to ‘deliver jobs and growth in every postcode’ Andy Burnham will consult…
Sports Direct owner buys Harvey Nichols department store chain
The owner of Sports Direct has bought Harvey Nichols out of administration after the upmarket department store chain warned it could run out of money if it did not find…
RSC postpones Othello while leading actor Sharon D Clarke has cancer treatment
The Royal Shakespeare Company has announced that it will postpone its radical production of Othello starring Sharon D Clarke, while the Olivier-winning actor undergoes treatment for cancer. The production, directed…
Man, 102, dies after alleged pub assault
A 102-year-old man has died after allegedly being assaulted at a south Wales pub. Phillip Ormerod, from Cwmbran, Torfaen, was taken to hospital in a critical condition following the incident…
Voices: ‘It’s shocking’: Readers slam water firms over leaks amid drought crisis
As almost three-quarters of England faces drought and a fifth heatwave looms, our readers say water companies have little right to demand restraint from customers while mains leaks go unfixed…
Millions face higher water bills as suppliers allowed £3.4bn extra spending
Millions of households in England and Wales face higher bills after water companies were given the green light to spend £3.4bn more than planned, including to support new homes and…