Army launches investigation into video showing soldiers using Jeremy Corbyn picture for target practice April 3, 2019 The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has launched an investigation after footage emerged showing British soldiers firing at a poster of Jeremy Corbyn. The video, first reported by Sky News, shows four soldiers firing weapons into the distance, and later pans round to show a poster of the Labour leader being used as the target. A [...]
UK services sector shrinks for first time in over two years April 3, 2019 The UK’s crucial services sector contracted in March amid widespread reports of Brexit uncertainty constraining demand, bringing to an end over two-and-a-half years of growth. Aside from a brief dip seen after the European Union referendum, the latest reading of the services purchasing managers’ index (PMI), which gives an overall view of the sector, was [...]
Audioboom posts record quarterly revenues as it cashes in on podcast boom April 3, 2019 Podcast platform Audioboom has posted a surge in quarterly profits as appetite for on-demand listening continues to grow. The London-listed firm saw its revenue rise 180 per cent year-on-year to $4.6m (£3.5m) in the three months to the end of March. Read more: BBC removes podcasts from rival Google service Audioboom said it has boosted [...]
Tory whip quits as Theresa May begins Brexit talks with ‘Marxist’ Corbyn April 3, 2019 A Tory has resigned the whip this morning after Theresa May committed to working with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn to deliver Brexit. Read more: Pound rises on May-Corbyn Brexit talks MP Nigel Adams has quit his position in the government’s Whips Office, accusing May of being on course to failing to deliver Brexit and failing [...]
Drinks giant Diageo launches equal parental leave to boost diversity April 3, 2019 British drinks giant Diageo has revealed plans to give men and women equal parental leave in a bid to boost diversity in the workforce. Parents will be eligible for 52 weeks parental leave with the first 26 weeks fully paid, regardless of gender or sexual orientation, the company announced today. Read more: We need dads [...]
DEBATE: Should the audit and consultancy arms of the Big Four firms be divided, as proposed by MPs? April 3, 2019 Should the audit and consultancy arms of the Big Four firms be divided, as proposed by MPs? YES, says Rachel Reeves MP, chair of the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee. We have two major problems in the audit market today: a lack of competition and quality. The Big Four’s dominance has led to a precarious [...]
If there is something fishy about online influencers, why do we take the bait? April 3, 2019 Social media influencer, Yovana Mendoza, provided an amusing diversion from Brexit last week. The 20-something vlogger built a very lucrative personal brand around veganism. She amassed over 3m followers on YouTube and Instagram by advocating a raw vegan diet and 25-day water fasts. All seemed to be going well until a competitor observed and filmed [...]
Malaysia sells 1MDB-linked superyacht to casino operator for $126m April 3, 2019 The Malaysian government has sold a superyacht allegedly bought with money stolen from state fund 1MDB to casino firm Genting Malaysia Berhad for $126m (£95.6m). The 92m superyacht Equanimity is one of a number of assets allegedly bought by fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho with money embezzled from the fund, and the sale marks Malaysia’s [...]
Pound rises on May-Corbyn Brexit talks April 3, 2019 The pound rose to $1.3184 this morning after the announcement last night by Prime Minister Theresa May that she would work with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn over Brexit. The pound, which rose sharply on the news, had fallen as low as $1.2997 in the past week. Talks between May and Corbyn could start as early [...]
The Copyright Directive might have noble aims, but it is plagued by a lack of clarity April 3, 2019 Last week, the European Union inched closer to finalising new rules governing the use of copyright material on the internet. Set out in the Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market, the rules set out to curb the power of big tech firms by levelling the playing field between content creators and those who [...]