Editorial: Can buy now pay later firms be blamed for consumers’ poor decisions? February 15, 2022 It is tempting to think of buy now, pay later as financial innovation. In truth it is not; it’s merely a new adaptation of an unsecured credit agreement. For all the adverts and branding, buy now pay later operators offer you the chance to pay in three instalments, rather than one. Firms make money from [...]
‘Vast majority’ of footballers reject biennial World Cup plan, says players’ union Fifpro February 15, 2022 Plans to make football’s World Cup a biennial event have received a major blow after global players’ union Fifpro said its members overwhelmingly opposed the idea. The proposal, which has caused a stand-off between world governing body Fifa and European federations and clubs, was rejected in a survey of male players by Fifpro. “The vast [...]
Virgin Media O2 commits £10bn investment in UK as London boasts largest 5G footprint February 15, 2022 Virgin Media O2 has revealed that its 5G network has now hit two thirds of the capital, giving London the largest 5G footprint within the group. The telecoms giant has committed to investing at least £10bn in the UK, and has delivered 5G to more than 2,000 sites across the country last year. It has [...]
Fifpro boss Jonas Baer-Hoffmann on player power, biennial World Cups, Super League and Qatar February 15, 2022 There is a common thread that connects the two biggest football stories of the last 12 months, the failed European Super League breakaway and debate over biennial World Cups. It can also be seen in concerns about player welfare, disagreements over economic models and what global players’ union Fifpro says is a tidal wave of [...]
Apple whacked with another £4.2m antitrust fine by Dutch watchdog February 14, 2022 Apple faces another setback today after the Dutch antitrust watchdog fined it €5m (£4.2m) for failing to allow software app makers to use non-Apple payment methods for dating apps on the App store. The tech giant failed to meet the deadline set by the Authority of Consumers and Market (ACM), and represents the fourth time [...]
Champagne toasts record year thanks to post-pandemic buzz and US sparkle February 14, 2022 Champagne sales reached an all-time high last year, thanks to the post-pandemic boom and a United States surge. While French producers already said last year they expected a sales record, they now confirmed 2021 sales hit $5.7bn (£4.2bn), 14 per cent above the pre-pandemic high. Exports reached 180 million 0.75 litre bottles, up 37 per [...]
EU deepens investigation into Gazprom’s European business amid supply concerns February 14, 2022 EU antitrust regulators will intensify information gathering on Gazprom's European business, amid the continent's growing supply crisis.
Telecom chiefs call on EU lawmakers to make Big Tech ‘share the burden’ of investment February 14, 2022 Chiefs at Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefónica and Vodafone have called on European lawmakers to push Big Tech to contribute to expanding internet infrastructure.
Crypto markets unmoved by Super Bowl interest February 14, 2022 The Bitcoin price starts the week above $42k, around the same as this time yesterday and also this time last week.
New research shows pandemic causes surge in gambling addiction in women February 14, 2022 The pandemic has led to a wave of gambling addictions in people with no history of addiction - particularly single mothers - a new report by the Centre for Labour and Social Studies (CLASS) has revealed.