British Steel is taken into public ownership to save UK supply
Posted on Thursday July 16, 2026

Scunthorpe factory expropriated from China’s Jingye and ministers will ask a valuer to assess compensation

British Steel has formally been taken into public ownership 15 months after the government stepped in to prevent the closure of its steelworks in Scunthorpe and the loss of 4,000 jobs.

Keir Starmer on Thursday said it was in the national interest for the government to take over the factory from its Chinese owner, Jingye, in one of the last significant actions overseen by him as prime minister after the Steel Industry (Nationalisation) Act received royal assent on Wednesday.

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Vodafone settles legal claim brought by 62 former franchisees
Posted on Thursday July 16, 2026

Agreement, without admission of liability, ends 19-month high court dispute that small-business owners said left them with large debts

Vodafone has settled a long-running legal claim filed by 62 of its former franchisees who alleged the mobile phone group “unjustly enriched” itself at their expense by up to £85m.

The small-business owners – some of whom said they had suffered suicidal thoughts because of the pressure exerted by the telecoms group – launched the high court claim in 2024 after running up large personal debts they said had been caused by their deals with the company.

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UK economy grew by 0.1% in May despite impact of Iran war
Posted on Thursday July 16, 2026

Rise in GDP follows a 0.1% decline in April, figures from the Office for National Statistics show

The UK economy returned to growth in May, despite the impact of the Iran war on energy costs, official figures show.

The Office for National Statistics said GDP rose 0.1% in May, in line with economists’ forecasts, after a 0.1% decline in April.

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‘Bizarre choice’: business and Labour puzzle over Shabana Mahmood as future chancellor
Posted on Thursday July 16, 2026

The home secretary, favourite to take over at No 11, has minimal economic credentials and many MPs would prefer Ed Miliband

Andy Burnham last month promised the UK he would bring “good growth in every postcode and hope in every heart” when he is installed as prime minister. Britain’s industry leaders also have a hope in their hearts: that Burnham will install a pro-business chancellor.

The energy secretary, Ed Miliband, was for several weeks seen as the most likely candidate to succeed Rachel Reeves but, after a brutal briefing battle and a backlash from big business, the home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, appears to have emerged as the frontrunner. Now businesses are scrambling to try to work out how she might run the economy if confirmed in the Treasury on Monday.

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TikTok facing UK investigation amid fears over age checks and harm to children
Posted on Thursday July 16, 2026

Ofcom concerned TikTok’s age verification is ineffective, leaving some exposed to posts on suicide, self-harm and pornography

TikTok is under formal investigation over concerns it has failed to protect children from harmful content, the UK’s online regulator, Ofcom, has announced.

The social media platform’s approach to checking the ages of users has sparked “particular concerns” at the watchdog, almost a year after measures to protect children from the worst of online content came into effect under the Online Safety Act.

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‘Keys to the kingdom’: hackers who gained access to heart of London transport network jailed
Posted on Thursday July 16, 2026

Thalha Jubair, 20, and Owen Flowers, 19, sentenced to five and a half years each for cyber-attack that cost Transport for London £39m

The data of millions of commuters was stolen, Londoners were left out of pocket and 27,000 Transport for London staff were forced to reset their passwords.

Over four days in 2024 a pair of teenage hackers had London’s transport network at their mercy. Thalha Jubair and Owen Flowers had burrowed into the heart of Transport for London’s IT systems and held the “keys to the kingdom”.

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The Open 2026: Rory McIlroy makes slow start, Suber takes early lead at Birkdale – live
Posted on Thursday July 16, 2026

️Updates from the first-round action at Royal Birkdale
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Bob Mac aside, it’s still a wee while until some of the more fancied stars take to the course. Time for a little scene setting, then. Ladies and gentlemen, on the tee, Ewan Murray …

A fast start for Bob MacIntyre! He sends his opening tee shot into the rough down the left, and only just finds the front of the green with his second. But he rolls in a 45-footer and birdie is not a bad way to start the week! Oban’s finest already has three top-ten finishes at the Open on his resumé, including a tie for seventh at Portrush last year. Keep an eye out.

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England v India: second men’s one-day cricket international – live
Posted on Thursday July 16, 2026

India set England target of 234 at Sophia Gardens
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3rd over: India 17-0 (Rohit 9, Gill 6) Archer continues, pitching full, finding swing, troubling both these master batters. Then he goes short, rushing Rohit into a top edge, and the catch is dropped by Gus Atkinson at long leg. Archer has been so unlucky, in all formats, since he returned from the IPL.

2nd over: India 11-0 (Rohit 4, Gill 6) Another lesson from Tuesday might be: don’t stray onto Shubman’s pads. Saqib Mahmood gives him a straight half-volley and pays the price as Gill’s wrists do the rest. But Saqib too finds the edge of Gill’s bat as another controlled nick squirts away for a single. Rohit comes to the party with a languid push for three, well retrieved by Harry Brook, two inches from the Toblerone. Dinesh Karthik reckons it should have been given as a four, so bear it in mind if England win off the last ball.

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