Short and to the point this week – read these to improve your sense of what’s going on in the commercial world.

Application season is over and we are all now gathering around the TV to watch the summer Olympics! So far, we’ve seen McKeown go viral for dropping the F-bomb, Simone Biles return for Bronze and even caught Tom Daley knitting. But what else has been going on besides the Tokyo games?

Rishi Sunak is banning begging under new antisocial laws, raw sewage is flooding English waterways and Jeremy Corbyn is making headlines once more – but this time not as a Labour politician. More strikes are on the way, this time involving civil servants, schools and the Royal Mail. Plus, Landlords are being given new powers to evict tenants.

With less than a week to go until the biggest training contract application deadline of the year – 31 July – you may be head down, furiously working away on your applications. Take a brief pause to read this week’s selection of business and economic news – there’s every chance that you’ll be asked about some current news stories in an interview, so it’s worth keeping on top of what’s going on.

In a week in which France’s beloved Notre Dame burnt but was not completely destroyed, climate change protestors took to the streets (and railways) of London, and Parliament and universities take a much-needed recess over the Easter break, there are lots of interesting business news stories that aspiring lawyers should be aware of.

Forget the upcoming general election, Brexit confusion and the increasingly cold weather: today is everyone’s favourite day of the year – John Lewis Christmas Advert Day! 

There’s only one story this week: VW. Things have gone badly wrong for the global automotive giant, as it admits that it “totally screwed up” and heads start to roll.

As we are just weeks away from the EU referendum, the campaigning on both sides is reaching fever pitch, with one of the most hotly contested areas of debate the economic implications of in or out. 

While the shortened week may necessitate a more compact selection of stories, it is just as vital that you know about them. Read on, with all haste.

As the UK has officially entered into a technical recession for the first time in 11 years, following the economy’s biggest decline on record between April and June, it is vital that you remain up to date with the impact this will have on the business and legal worlds.

The small window of time between the football-related jubilation of Tuesday night and the football-related anxiety of Saturday afternoon is the perfect opportunity to distract yourself with some of this week’s biggest business stories. Here is our collection for this week.

As you might expect, the potential Brexit has dominated news headlines following confirmation that there will be a referendum in June on whether Britain will be staying in the European Union. Implications for businesses of all sizes is one of the key features of the debate - here is just a small selection of this week’s Brexit (and other) stories:

The European Commission is concerned about the introduction of TikTok Lite, the Scottish government is set to scrap environmental plans, new legislation has criminalised the creation of sexually explicit deepfakes and drug shortages are set to continue. Read on to find out more.

This week’s round-up is full of energy… literally. From the UK’s wind farms to the energy price cap falling, there’s lots for you to get stuck into in this regard. Plus, read the latest from streaming giant Netflix and social media mogul Meta. 

Another month, another scandal about the tax – or rather lack of tax – arrangements of the rich and famous. This time, it’s what are being termed the Paradise Papers; leaked documents revealing the offshore business affairs of millions of individuals and companies, including some very high-profile names. For other economic news, read on.

It’s the last month of the summer holidays. Before you know it, you’ll have spent it binge watching Love Island or sending memes! Why not take a break to read up on what’s been occupying the commercial scene this week. 

Immerse yourself this week in some quite depressing economic news – of EU budgetary demands, Tesco's massive hole in its profits and increased government spending.

Fake reviews are being banned, the Great British Rail sale is in full swing and the poverty gap is widening. Plus, Amazon is in trouble in France and the idea of compulsory military service is being floated in the UK. Read on for this week’s top stories.

It’s been party time in the UK this month, not the type with cake though – instead British political parties have gathered to announce their plans for the country. Plus, we’re talking about Black History Month, unicorns in Cambridge and a shoe brand that’s just been publicly listed. 

With just a week to go until the general election, the news cycle is dominated by politically linked stories, many of which also have a business/economic slant.