London’s businesses can lead a UK-wide economic recovery June 12, 2020 As the focus shifts from the immediate health crisis of Covid-19 to slowly easing the lockdown, the capital’s business leaders are committed to playing their part. Early this week, I brought together some of London’s most prominent businesses, representing all sectors of the economy, to map out solutions that support a business-led recovery. From Heathrow, [...]
Government faces fresh calls to relax two-metre rule to save hospitality industry June 12, 2020 The government should relax the two-metre social distancing rule, overhaul business rates, and create an Autumn bank holiday if it wishes to help businesses recover from the coronavirus lockdown, according to MPs and representatives from the hospitality industry. The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Hospitality and Tourism today said that companies in the hospitality industry had [...]
New poll finds Brits turn away from city life as attraction wanes June 12, 2020 There could be a dramatic shift in working life as cities become less attractive to Britons, a new poll has found. In an online survey by Ipsos Mori, 44 per cent of Britons say they expect cities to become less attractive places to live in the next few years. Just 19 per cent say their [...]
Seven drivers of growth: Unlocking potential and growing your business in turbulent times June 11, 2020 | City Talk In a world disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, lockdown and a looming recession it may be hard to focus on growth. But analysing the exciting possibilities of a business for long-term success is a necessary, if difficult, challenge on the road back to the new normal and will require leaders to think differently about their [...]
Microsoft trumps Amazon in refusal to sell facial recognition software to police June 11, 2020 Microsoft has become the third tech giant to declare a moratorium on selling its facial recognition software to police, as companies weigh in on the global debate surrounding the latter’s use of violence against communities of colour. Though it does not currently sell its technology to police, Microsoft president Brad Smith said that it will [...]
Brexit: Boris Johnson and Ursula von der Leyen to hold summit on Monday June 11, 2020 Prime Minister Boris Johnson and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will hold a virtual meeting on Monday to discuss the trajectory of post-Brexit trade negotiations. Joining the pair will be President of the European Council Charles Michel and EU Parliament President David Sassoli. The UK and EU have also agreed to an “intensified [...]
Biden calls on Facebook to rethink fact-checking policy before US election June 11, 2020 Democratic US presidential candidate Joe Biden has called for Facebook to fact check political advertisements on its platform ahead of the November ballot. In an open letter addressed to Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg, Biden said there should be a two-week pre-election period during which all political ads must be fact-checked before they are allowed to [...]
Priti Patel row: Matt Hancock says he ‘abhors identity politics’ from Labour June 11, 2020 Matt Hancock has said he “abhors” the identity politics he says Labour is pushing, after a group of opposition MPs told home secretary Priti Patel she was “gaslighting” BAME communities. The letter, signed by dozens of BAME Labour MPs, expressed “dismay at the way [Patel] used [her] heritage and experiences of racism to gaslight the very [...]
Apple commits $100m to racial justice initiative June 11, 2020 Apple chief executive Tim Cook has today revealed the firm will spend $100m on a company programme dedicated to racial justice. “The unfinished work of racial justice and equality call us all to account,” Cook said in a tweet. “Things must change, and Apple’s committed to being a force for that change.” It follows in [...]
HPE boss warns of Huawei cyberattacks June 11, 2020 Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s (HPE) managing director has warned of “data loss, privacy breaches and cyberattacks” if the government proceeds with Huawei technology in its 5G rollout. Speaking to City AM, Marc Waters said: “Securing the future of the UK’s mobile networks is a vital issue. Data loss, privacy breaches, and cyberattacks on individuals, organizations and [...]