More than 23m Britons think they may be due compensation for mis-sold car loans, UK poll finds

More than 23 million people believe they could be due compensation for a mis-sold car loan, according to a poll before this month’s supreme court decision.Borrowers, banks and the government are anxiously awaiting the ruling, which could trigger one of the biggest redress schemes since the £50bn payment protection insurance (PPI). The PPI saga forced UK banks to compensate people who had bought often worthless insurance cover.The survey, conducted for the consumer law firm Slater and Gordon, found that 45% of people think they might be entitled to a payout over a car finance plan taken out between 2007 and 2021.The car loans scandal has been rumbling on for more than a year, but ballooned in October when a court of appeal judgment vastly expanded a Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) investigation into potentially harmful commission arrangements

UK carmakers on track to meet EV sales target despite intense lobbying to lower quota

Carmakers are on track to meet existing UK electric car sales targets despite having successfully lobbied the government to water them down.Electric car sales made up 21.6% of sales in the first half of 2025, only marginally below the 22.06% share needed to meet existing rules once concessions are taken into account, according to an analysis by New AutoMotive, a thinktank.The Conservative government under Rishi Sunak brought in the zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate

Elon Musk’s ‘America’ party could focus on a few pivotal congressional seats

The new US political party that Elon Musk has boasted about bankrolling could initially focus on a handful of attainable House and Senate seats while striving to be the decisive vote on major issues amid the thin margins in Congress.Tesla and SpaceX’s multibillionaire CEO mused about that approach on Friday in a post on X, the social media platform he owns, as he continued feuding with Donald Trump over the spending bill that the president has signed into law. On Saturday, without immediately elaborating, the former Trump adviser announced on X that he had created the so-called America party.“One way to execute on this would be to laser-focus on just 2 or 3 Senate seats and 8 to 10 House districts,” wrote Musk, who is the world’s richest person and oversaw brutal cuts to the federal government after Trump’s second presidency began in January. “Given the razor-thin legislative margins, that would be enough to serve as the deciding vote on contentious laws, ensuring they serve the true will of the people

Minister demands overhaul of UK’s leading AI institute

The technology secretary has demanded an overhaul of the UK’s leading artificial intelligence institute in a wide-ranging letter that calls for a switch in focus to defence and national security, as well as leadership changes.Peter Kyle said it was clear further action was needed to ensure the government-backed Alan Turing Institute met its full potential.In a letter to ATI’s chair, seen by the Guardian, Kyle said the institute should be changed to prioritise defence, national security and “sovereign capabilities” – a reference to nation states being able to control their own AI technology.The call for new priorities implies a downgrading of ATI’s focus on health and the environment, which are two of three core subjects for the institute, alongside defence and security, under its “Turing 2.0” strategy

Izak Rankine is born to play to full houses as his talent ensures Adelaide stay on song | Jonathan Horn

A fine singer, Izak Rankine plays his football like he’s taking requests. Adelaide were nearly five goals down halfway through the second quarter against Melbourne. If they had lost, they would have coughed up third spot and been in the ruck of teams on 40 points including ninth-placed Fremantle. Rankine stepped up on stage, showcased his full suite of talents and tilted the game the Crows’ way.Rankine got his five goals when Adelaide needed them most and he got them in so many different ways

Wimbledon organisers apologise after line-calling system turned off in error

Wimbledon organisers have apologised after the electronic line-calling system was turned off in error at a crucial moment in Sonay Kartal’s match on Centre Court.The British No 3’s opponent, the 34-year-old Russian veteran Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, accused the All England Club of home bias and said a game had been stolen from her when the AI-enhanced technology missed a call.Pavlyuchenkova, on game point, became convinced that a Kartal shot had landed long but there was no “out” call by the system which controversially replaced line judges this year.The umpire, Nico Helwerth, who did not know the system had been turned off, said the technology was “unable to track the last point”, which had to be replayed.“I don’t know if it’s in or it’s out