Shoppers shun UK high streets despite lure of Boxing Day sales

Fewer shoppers have headed to UK high streets in search of Boxing Day bargains, with central London suffering a significant decline in visitors as many decided to shun the traditional start of the sales.Footfall at the country’s high streets and shopping centres fell on Friday morning, running slightly behind last year, according to figures from the monitoring company MRI Software. Across all UK retail destinations footfall slipped by 0.3%.Following on from a decline in Boxing Day activity in 2024, there were 2

AI boom adds more than half a trillion dollars to wealth of US tech barons in 2025

A stock market boom in artificial intelligence companies has added more than half a trillion dollars to the wealth of America’s tech barons in the past year, data shows.The top 10 US founders and bosses of some of the world’s largest technology companies saw their finances swell to nearly $2.5tn, up from $1.9tn, in the year to Christmas Eve, according to figures from Bloomberg.Elon Musk, already the world’s richest man, has again proved to be one of biggest winners as the AI gold-rush has pushed US stock markets to record highs

Apple seeks to appeal against £1.5bn ruling it overcharged UK customers

Apple is seeking to overturn a landmark £1.5bn court ruling on behalf of millions of UK customers, which found the company overcharged them for years in its App Store.The iPhone maker has applied to the court of appeal to challenge a verdict that campaigners heralded as the start of a “tidal shift against big tech”.It is one of a cluster of cases heading towards trial in 2026 as consumers realise the mounting cost of paying up to 30% commission – what campaigners call the “Apple tax” – on apps and in-app purchases, which more people rely on for activities from fitness to dating.The appeal, if allowed, involves one of several class action suits against Apple and Google in which consumers, small businesses and entrepreneurs are demanding over £6bn in combined compensation

‘Undermines free speech’: Labour MP hits back at US government over visa ban on UK campaigners

A senior Labour MP has accused the Trump administration of undermining free speech after Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, announced sanctions against two British anti-disinformation campaigners.Chi Onwurah, the chair of parliament’s technology select committee, criticised the US government hours after it announced “visa-related” sanctions against five Europeans, including Imran Ahmed and Clare Melford.Ahmed leads the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), while Melford is chief executive of the Global Disinformation Index (GDI), both of which have clashed directly with Elon Musk, the owner of X and a former adviser to the US president.Onwurah said on Wednesday: “Banning people because you disagree with what they say undermines the free speech the administration claims to seek.“We desperately need a wide ranging debate on whether and how social media should be regulated in the interests of the people

Boxing Day Test 2025: Australia v England fourth Ashes Test, day two – live updates

7th over: Australia 22-1 (Head 12, Weatherald 0) The new batter Jake Weatherald leaves his first three deliveries, prompting Atkinson to move around the wicket. The chance almost reaps an instant reward when Weatherald is beaten by a jaffa. Batting still looks extremely tough when the bowlers get it in the right areas.Atkinson gets rid of the nightwatchman with an excellent delivery. It straightened off the seam to take the edge, and Jamie Smith took a good catch to his right

Scandal-rocked Michigan to hire Kyle Whittingham as next football coach

Michigan have reached an agreement with Kyle Whittingham to become the school’s next head football coach, according to a report by ESPN, turning to one of the most experienced figures in the sport to steady a program throttled by scandal.Whittingham, 66, has agreed to a five-year deal that is expected to be formally announced later on Friday, ESPN’s Pete Thamel and Dan Wetzel reported. The move comes weeks after Whittingham stepped down from his long-held position at Utah, where he spent 21 seasons as head coach and became the most successful figure in the program’s history.At Utah, Whittingham compiled a 177-88 record and led the Utes to consistent relevance at the national level, including an unbeaten 13-0 campaign in 2008. His overall winning percentage of 66