Business

Driverless cars are coming to London – some time this year. Waymo, Google’s driverless car division, has confirmed its self-driving cars will be fully operational by the end of 2026, assuming regulators give the go-ahead. The phrase “Q4” was mentioned: corporate code for the last few months of the year. There are around 24 Waymo…

Tesla is to axe production of two electric vehicle (EV) models as part of a shift towards robotics after the company reported its first ever decline in annual revenue. Chief executive Elon Musk told analysts on a conference call that the company would stop selling its older Model S and Model X vehicles and convert…

Santander has announced plans to close 44 bank branches, placing almost 300 jobs at risk. The lender said its move was a continuing response to the changing needs of its customers as more people bank online. News of the fresh closures come less than a year after it revealed plans to shut 95 sites. Santander…

A third of international travellers say they are less likely to visit the US if proposals to scrutinise social media accounts are brought in, according to a survey. It suggests proposals to screen visitors’ social media accounts and family histories – as announced last month – could cut tourism spending by $15bn (£10.8bn) and impact…

The owners of the RAC have begun selecting bankers to spearhead a £5bn stock market listing which could become one of the London market’s biggest of 2026. Sky News has learnt that the breakdown recovery service’s trio of shareholders have picked investment banks including Goldman Sachs to lead a flotation. Money latest: The UK’s chicken…

Free artificial intelligence training is being made available to everyone in the UK as the government steps up efforts to prepare the workforce for rapid technological change. However, ministers acknowledge the programme will only succeed if businesses and workers choose to adopt it. From today, adults can access short, practical courses through the government’s upgraded…

Two major broadband altnets are close to finalising a merger that will propel them into the ranks of the sector’s largest players amid growing financial pressure to consolidate. Sky News understands that Truespeed and Freedom Fibre are in advanced talks about a tie-up. One industry source cautioned that the negotiations could yet fall apart, but…

Almost 1,600 jobs have been saved and a further 600 lost after the owner of Revolution bars went into administration. The Revel Collective, which revealed on Monday that it had filed notice of an intention to appoint administrators, said it had since formally appointed FTI Consulting. Money latest: BBC to use iPlayer to catch licence…

A consumer tech rental service which has struck partnerships with Apple, Dyson and Sony’s PlayStation brand has landed £30m in new financial backing and an alliance with LG, the Korean electronics giant. Sky News has learnt that Raylo, which was founded in 2018, will announce on Tuesday that the American financial services giant Citibank has…

The British operations of Claire’s, the accessories retailer, have collapsed into administration just four months after their last brush with insolvency, putting more than 1,000 high street jobs at risk. Sky News understands that insolvency practitioners from Kroll were formally appointed as administrators to Claire’s UK and Ireland earlier on Monday. It comes three weeks…