The Office For Budget Responsibility has warned that dealing with UK's national debt faces the twin threats of rising interest rates and rising inflation as well as the potential for a recession at the same time as consumers are suffering post-Brexit "austerity fatigue", according to The Times.

The social media giants are making increasingly ambitious moves to switch from being where fans talk about the game, to where they watch it. The Drum claims stalling Sky Sports figures are systematic of falling tv audiences and suggests the massive audiences on social media could be the next natural homes for live sports rights, such as Facebook's deal to stream La Liga games.

The Campaign for Accountability is claiming Google is paying for favourable research, either directly or indirectly, to improve its public opinion, including projects with Oxford University and Edinburgh University, The Independent reports.

The British luxury smartphone maker, Vertu, has collapsed with debts of GBP128m. The BBC reports that 200 jobs are at risk after a last minute attempt to save the company with new investment failed.

Google has won a landmark case against the French government over back taxes. In a case that mirrored its run-in with the UK tax authorities, settled by mutual agreement for GBP130m, a French court found that Google could legally claim to be based in Ireland and that all ad sales made in France did not have to be taxed in the country, the BBC reports.

Former Chancellor George Osborne has told the advertising industry that it needs to develop a loud voice if it is to be heard by the Government during Brexit negotiations. The Drum reveals his advice was delivered at a recent Advertising Association event.

Channel 4's departing Chief Executive is defending the near GBP1m he earned in his final year. The channel pointed out to The Guardian that the pay award was made during a year in which it enjoyed record revenues of GBP995m and boosted income from its All4 catch-up service to GBP100m.

A third of Britons trust the media less than they did six months ago due to fake news, Netimperative reports. Newsflare research shows that nearly half of Britons, 42%, believe they have read fake news recently.

Channel 4 has admitted to Marketing Week that the tv advertising industry is in recession. After record figures in 2016, the broadcaster has revealed that, despite a short-lived rise in revenue during the recent YouTube boycott, revenues are currently lower than last year.

Controversial Sports Direct owner, Mike Ashley, has taken a 26% stake in trouble computer game retail chain, GAME, according to Sky News.