Brexit: UK to leave EU with a deal on 31 January January 9, 2020 MPs today backed Boris Johnson’s Brexit Withdrawal Agreement Bill (WAB) by majority of 99, clearing the way for the UK to leave the European Union with an exit deal on 31 January. Parliamentarians voted 330 to 231 in favour of the bill, which implements an exit deal agreed with the EU last year. After three [...]
Willie Walsh to step down as chief executive of British Airways owner IAG January 9, 2020 Willie Walsh, the outspoken CEO of British Airways’ owner International Airlines Group (IAG), is to step down, in a move likely to elicit a sigh of relief among politicians, union bosses and rival airline chiefs alike. IAG said this morning that Walsh, 58, would quit as chief executive in March, and officially retire on 30 [...]
Sun launches US website in bid to boost online audience January 9, 2020 The Sun has quietly launched a US version of its website as the British tabloid looks to emulate its online success across the pond. The paper, which is part of Rupert Murdoch’s News UK empire, announced in a tweet yesterday that Sun US is now live, though the rollout was accompanied by limited fanfare. Read [...]
Journalists’ union hits back at Harry and Meghan in royal reporting row January 9, 2020 The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) today hit back at the Duke and Duchess of Sussex after the Royal couple launched its latest attack on the media over alleged misreporting. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle sent shockwaves through the nation yesterday when they announced plans to step back as senior members of the Royal family. [...]
Ukrainian jet shot down by Iranian anti-aircraft missile, say reports January 9, 2020 The Ukrainian Airlines jet that crashed on Tuesday outside Tehran was shot down by an Iranian anti-aircraft missile, according to US media reports. All 176 people on board were killed after the Boeing 737-800 crashed shortly after taking off from Tehran’s international airport on Tuesday. US magazine Newsweek today said a Pentagon official, a senior [...]
Just one in 10 Brits trusts Huawei amid China spying fears January 9, 2020 While the UK is yet to decide whether or not it will allow Huawei to participate in the country’s 5G network, it seems the public may already have made up its mind. Just one in 10 Brits said they trust the controversial Chinese tech firm, according to a new survey from Yougov, while 22 per [...]
Netflix rival Quibi to launch short video platform in April January 9, 2020 A new streaming service hoping to shake up the crowded on-demand market with its bite-size videos has announced that it will launch in the US in April. Quibi, which has raised an eye-watering $1bn (£766m), has assembled some of the biggest names in Hollywood to produce original shows that are 10 minutes or shorter. Read [...]
Apple’s iPhone sales surging in China, government data shows January 9, 2020 Sales of Apple’s iPhone in China jumped over 18 per cent year-on-year in December, according to government data. China is gearing up for the Lunar New Year in late January – a major holiday for gift-giving in the country. Read more: Apple rekindles relationship with Imagination Technologies with new deal Apple shipped roughly 3.2 million [...]
The best (and weirdest) new gadgets from CES 2020 January 9, 2020 As difficult as it is to believe, 2019 has actually ended, slinking out of time’s backdoor like a scolded cat and into the history books under a chapter titled ‘Bloopers and Outtakes’. Of course, the annual changing of the calendar guards heralds many things – reflection, resolution, vegan steak bakes – but it’s also a [...]
Total value of UK M&A deals rises by £15bn in 2019 January 9, 2020 The total value of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) deals completed by the UK financial services industry rose almost £15bn in 2019, even though the number of such deals dropped considerably. According to data from Big Four auditor EY, financial firms completed £39.8bn worth of deals last year, up from £24.9bn in 2018. Read more: Financial [...]