Business
Drax insiders privately raised concerns over its sustainability claims, court papers show
Posted on Wednesday February 04, 2026
Company publicly denied allegations that primary forests were being cut down to fuel UK’s biggest power plantSenior executives at Drax raised concerns internally about the validity of the energy company’s sustainability claims while it publicly denied allegations that it was cutting down environmentally important forests for fuel, court documents have revealed.Britain’s biggest power plant assured ministers and civil servants of the company’s green credentials as it scrambled to defend itself against claims in a BBC Panorama documentary that it had burned wood sourced from “old-growth” forests in Canada. Continue reading...
UK services sector job cuts continue as companies automate, PMI survey shows
Posted on Wednesday February 04, 2026
‘Longest period of job shedding’ in 16 years taking place as business activity grows at fastest rate since August• Business live – latest updatesCompanies in the UK’s services sector cut jobs last month, as they turned to “automation” rather than hiring new staff, a closely watched survey showed.The monthly purchasing managers’ index showed employment numbers fell more sharply in January compared with December, continuing a trend that started in October 2024. Continue reading...
Chinese carmaker Chery to launch fourth brand in UK
Posted on Wednesday February 04, 2026
State-owned company will sell under the Lepas brand, continuing its rapid expansion in the British marketBusiness live – latest updatesThe Chinese carmaker Chery is launching a fourth brand in the UK, continuing a push into the British market where it has rapidly become a major player.The state-owned company said on Wednesday it would sell cars under the Lepas brand, which is developing battery and hybrid SUVs aimed at younger families, mainly in the European market. Continue reading...
Opinion
Technology
Elon Musk calls Spanish PM a ‘tyrant’ over plan to ban under-16s from social media and curb hateful content
Posted on Wednesday February 04, 2026
Pedro Sánchez says urgent action needed to protect children from ‘digital wild west’, drawing anger from owner of XSpain has proposed a ban on social media use by teenagers as attitudes hardened in Europe against the technology, drawing personal insults against the prime minister from Elon Musk.The government is preparing a series of measures including a social media ban for under-16s, the prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, said, promising to protect children from the “digital wild west” and hold tech companies responsible for hateful and harmful content. Continue reading...
Pinterest sacks two engineers for creating software to identify fired workers
Posted on Wednesday February 04, 2026
Digital pinboard business cutting 15% of workforce as it invests heavily in AI Pinterest has fired two engineers who created a software tool to identify which workers had lost their jobs in a recent round of cuts and then shared the information, according to reports.The digital pinboard business announced significant job cuts earlier this month, with the chief executive, Bill Ready, telling staff he was “doubling down on an AI-forward approach”, according to a LinkedIn post by a former employee. Continue reading...
Sport
Manchester City v Newcastle United: Carabao Cup semi-final, second leg – live
Posted on Wednesday February 04, 2026
⚽ Carabao Cup updates,, 8pm GMT kick-off (first leg: 2-0)⚽ Live scoreboard | Follow us on Bluesky | And mail Scott1 min: Trippier’s first act of the evening is a fine block of O’Reilly’s shot, the City man having drifted in from the left.Newcastle get the game started. They’re chasing down a two-goal deficit. Continue reading...
Team GB’s best chance of Winter Olympics gold dealt major blow after helmets ban
Posted on Wednesday February 04, 2026
Skeleton crew’s helmets ruled ineligible on eve of GamesGreat Britain appeal to court of arbitration for sportGreat Britain’s best hopes of gold at these Winter Olympics have suffered a setback after skeleton’s governing body banned its new aerodynamic helmets for being the wrong shape.Team GB’s Matt Weston and Marcus Wyatt have dominated skeleton all season, winning all seven of the World Cup races between them, and are strong favourites to win gold and silver in Milan. Continue reading...