Big tech faces break-up as Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google accused of ‘monopoly power’ October 7, 2020 Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google have all abused their market power and could face a potential break-up, according to a damning new report backed by US Democratic politicians. In a 449-page recommendation released yesterday, the US House Antitrust Committee set out a roadmap for cracking down on the tech giants. The report follows a 16-month [...]
Billionaires’ wealth swells to record $10.2 trillion during pandemic October 7, 2020 The world’s billionaires got a whole lot richer during the pandemic, seeing their collective fortunes rocket to a record height of $10.2 trillion (£7.9 trillion) in the height of the coronavirus crisis. The super-rich cashed in on lockdown shopping trends and a V-shaped economic rebound to boost their wealth more than a quarter from April [...]
Amazon Music launches podcasts as it puts Spotify in its sights September 16, 2020 Amazon Music today said it will add podcasts to its streaming service at no additional cost, as the ecommerce giant looks to muscle in on the booming on-demand audio market. Amazon said it will launch podcasting in the US, UK, Germany and Japan on all tiers of its subscription service. The offering will include existing [...]
Amazon to create 7,000 new UK jobs in latest expansion push September 3, 2020 Amazon today said it will create a further 7,000 new permanent roles across the UK, taking total new jobs this year to 10,000. The Silicon Valley tech giant has already added 3,000 jobs this year across its fulfilment centres, sort centres and delivery stations. The new roles will be spread over 50 sites, including corporate [...]
Amazon expands Morrisons range as it beefs up grocery deliveries August 19, 2020 Amazon today said it will offer the full range of Morrisons products for delivery as the ecommerce giant ramped up its presence in the UK grocery market. The strengthened deal means Morrisons customers will be able to do their full shop through the main Amazon website. Amazon Prime customers will be offered free same-day delivery [...]
Amazon to create 3,500 new jobs as it plots return to office August 18, 2020 Amazon today unveiled plans to create 3,500 new jobs as it gears up to return to office life with an expanded physical presence across the US. The new corporate jobs will be based in the ecommerce giant’s tech hubs in Dallas, Detroit, Denver, New York, Phoenix and San Diego. Amazon said it plans to invest [...]
Coronavirus: Amazon donates £500,000 to Fleabag theatre fund August 13, 2020 A fund set up by two Fleabag stars to support theatre workers affected by the coronavirus crisis has received a £500,000 donation from Amazon Prime Video. Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Olivia Colman said they were “utterly blown away” by the “extraordinary” level of support. The donation forms part of a $6m (£4.6m) commitment from the US [...]
Amazon Fresh: What does the expansion mean for UK supermarkets? July 28, 2020 Amazon’s announcement that it will offer free grocery deliveries for Prime customers represents a step up in competition between the internet giant and the UK supermarkets. The US company, which bought upmarket grocery chain Whole Foods in 2018, will offer free Amazon Fresh delivery in London and the South East from today. Plans are in [...]
CMA clears Amazon’s £442m Deliveroo stake despite delivery firm’s coronavirus turnaround June 24, 2020 Britain’s competition watchdog has provisionally cleared Amazon’s £442m investment in Deliveroo, saying that it is “not likely to result in a substantial lessening of competition”. The Competition and Markets Authority has been looking into whether the deal would damage competition in either restaurant delivery or online convenience grocery delivery. The decision to let the investment [...]
Amazon unveils $2bn net zero venture capital fund June 23, 2020 Tech giant Amazon today announced a $2bn (£1.6bn) venture capital fund to help the firm reach its commitment to be carbon neutral by 2040. The Climate Pledge Fund, as the initiative is known, will be used to back sustainable services and technologies that will allow Amazon and other countries to meet their climate targets. Last [...]