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Octopus Energy crowned Britain’s Most Admired Company

Octopus Energy has been named Britain’s Most Admired Company 2025, becoming the youngest business ever to win the prestigious accolade. The UK’s largest energy supplier took the top prize at a ceremony held at the London Stock Exchange, beating long-established corporate heavyweights that in some cases have been operating for more than a century. In addition to the overall title, Octopus collected six gold sector awards and two silver sector awards, underlining the scale of...

US tariffs push Canada towards Europe and China as investors look beyond Washington

Canada is actively reshaping its global trade and investment strategy in response to continued US trade tariffs, with investors and policymakers increasingly turning their attention towards Europe and China rather than waiting for a reversal in Washington. According to leading audit, tax and business advisory firm Blick Rothenberg, uncertainty created by US trade policy is accelerating a strategic shift in Canadian capital flows and diplomatic priorities. Melissa Thomas, a director at the firm, said Canadian...

Ex-Dyson engineers plot electric boiler to rival heat pumps — but admit high energy costs remain a hurdle

A pair of former Dyson engineers have raised millions of pounds to bring a battery-powered electric boiler to market, positioning it as a lower-cost, lower-disruption alternative to heat pumps for millions of UK homes. Wiltshire-based Luthmore was founded in 2022 by Craig Wilkinson and Martin Gutkowski, both ex-Dyson engineers who previously worked together on projects including the vacuum maker’s abandoned electric car programme. Their ambition is to replace gas combi boilers in small and medium-sized...

Net zero reliance on China ‘puts 90,000 UK jobs at risk’, think tank warns

Britain’s heavy reliance on China for net zero technologies such as batteries could put as many as 90,000 manufacturing jobs at risk in the event of a major supply chain shock, according to a new report. Analysis by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) warns that a severe disruption to battery component supplies, lasting as little as a year, could cripple the UK’s automotive industry, sharply reducing electric vehicle production and threatening factory jobs...

US ambassador warns Iran at emergency UN meeting that Trump is ‘man of action,’ ‘all options are on the table’

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz warned Iran during an emergency meeting of the Security Council that President Donald Trump ‘is a man of action’ who has ‘made it clear all options are on the table to stop the slaughter.’  Waltz said Thursday that, ‘We all have a responsibility to support the Iranian people and to put an end to the regime’s neglect and oppression of the Iranian nation.’  Iran has been plunged into turmoil amid...

Government to give cash payouts to people in financial crisis

The government is to roll out a new £1bn-a-year support scheme designed to give people on low incomes direct access to emergency cash when they face sudden financial shocks. The Crisis and Resilience Fund, which launches in April, will run for an initial three years and replace the temporary Household Support Fund that has been extended repeatedly since its introduction during the pandemic in 2021. Under the new scheme, individuals will be able to apply...

Starmer poised to ban under-16s from social media as government hardens stance on child safety online

Sir Keir Starmer is preparing to back legislation that would ban under-16s from social media platforms, signalling a decisive shift in the government’s approach to online child protection. The Prime Minister, who had previously voiced doubts about adopting Australia-style age restrictions, has now dropped his opposition and confirmed that all options are being considered, including a mandatory ban for under-16s. Speaking on Thursday, Starmer said the government needed to “better protect children from social media”,...

Lindsey Graham returns to Israel for talks with Netanyahu amid Middle East tensions

Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who visited with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem less than a month ago, said in a Thursday post on X he was going to Israel to meet with the foreign leader and his team. ‘I am traveling to Israel to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his team at this crucial time in the history of the Middle East. The goal is to build on...

BBC close to landmark deal to produce original shows for YouTube

The BBC is close to agreeing a landmark partnership with YouTube, signalling a significant strategic shift as the public broadcaster looks to reach younger audiences on the platforms they increasingly favour. Under the proposed arrangement, the BBC would create original, bespoke programmes designed specifically for YouTube, with the option for successful formats to later migrate to its own platforms, including BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds. The move is intended to ensure the corporation remains relevant...

Soho House secures funding to complete $1.8bn takeover deal

Soho House has secured fresh financing to complete its $1.8 billion take-private deal, stabilising a transaction that had been thrown into doubt just weeks ago. The London-based private members’ club group said it has now locked in alternative funding to replace a $200 million shortfall, clearing the way for a consortium led by MCR Hotels to complete the acquisition. In a regulatory filing, Soho House confirmed that Morse Ventures, owned by Tyler Morse, chief executive...