Taking the Mickey: Disney hikes subscription costs 27 per cent – even as users fall by 11 million August 10, 2023 Disney has upped subscription prices and is rolling out an ad-supported plan despite losing subscribers since February. Current users of the Disney+ advertising-free plan now face a 27 per cent price hike for the streaming service, which features Disney classics and the Marvel franchise movies among other shows. Disney+ is set to launch a new [...]
Persimmon slashes number of homes built as rate rise rattles business August 10, 2023 Persimmon has cut the number of homes it’s building by more than a third as the housebuilder faces up to rapidly rising mortgage rates and a slowdown in consumer confidence. The construction company built a total of 4,249 homes in the first half of the year down from 6,652 homes compared to the same period [...]
OneSavings Bank profits slump as customers race to refinance mortgages August 10, 2023 Profit at OneSavings Bank (OSB) Group slumped in the first half of the year as the lender dealt with a £180m hit from changing customer behaviour. Pretax profit at the FTSE-250 listed specialist bank fell 71 per cent to £76.7m from £268.1m in the same period last year. The bank announced a dividend of 10.2p, [...]
Deliveroo raises guidance for year despite orders slipping August 10, 2023 Deliveroo upped its guidance for the year to a range of £60-80m, ahead of previous range of £20-50m, as the group shows signs of weathering the economic storm. Total revenues rose five per cent to £1.02bn up from £972.9bn as the group increased the cost of payment fees it charges customers. The food delivery business, [...]
Executives ‘sleepwalking into cyber catastrophe’, warns cybersecurity boss August 10, 2023 The cyberattack on the Electoral Commission should “serve as a wake-up call to executives”, the boss of a cybersecurity firm has warned. Suid Adeyanju, chief executive of British cybersecurity company Riversafe, said an underestimation of the threat of cyberattacks meant executives were “sleepwalking into a cyber catastrophe”. His comments came after the Electoral Commission revealed [...]
Labour risks green investment climate with ‘wobbling’ over net zero, energy boss warns August 9, 2023 The Labour Party needs to "stop wobbling" and commit to the "significant economic and social opportunity" presented by net zero, the boss of Good Energy has warned.
Sky drops Oscars coverage after 20 years August 9, 2023 UK film enthusiasts will no longer be able to watch the Oscars coverage via Sky as the TV giant has reportedly relinquished its two-decade hold on broadcasting the prestigious LA awards ceremony. Sky is set to end its deal to show the Oscars and Disney, the rights holder, is reportedly in advanced talks with an [...]
Five amazing wines to buy this August August 9, 2023 CANDOVER BROOK BRUT £37 CANDOVERBROOK.CO.UKBursting onto the English wine scene with a gold medal from the International Wine Challenge and Best Newcomer at the Wine GB Awards, Candover Brook is one to watch. This sparkling Brut is beautifully balanced with a delicate fruity, floral finesse. ISOLE E OLENA CEPPARELLO 2020 £80 BERRY BROS & RUDDAn [...]
Gatwick Airport expecting ‘severe disruption’ as fresh August Bank Holiday strikes announced August 9, 2023 Gatwick Airport is facing “severe disruption” with fresh industrial action later this month, as 230 ground handlers and passenger assistance workers will walk out in a feud over pay. Members of the Unite Union will strike on eight separate days – between Friday 18 August and Monday 21 and Friday 25 and Monday 28 – [...]
Humble Grape’s founder on the best London restaurants to book now August 9, 2023 Arriving in the UK from South Africa with £50 in his pocket, James Dawson spent three nights sleeping rough on a park bench after his planned job in social work was cancelled. Now he is the founder and owner of Humble Grape with six locations across London and last year purchased the South African restaurant [...]