Tory MPs to scrutinise UK’s relationship with China amid anger over Covid-19 response April 25, 2020 Top Tory MPs have today launched a new research group aimed at reassessing the UK’s relationship with China amid concerns over the country’s handling of the coronavirus crisis. The China Research Group will gather and share information on Chinese foreign and industrial policy, as well as its ownership and development of new technologies. MPs said [...]
Facebook launches group video chat feature in blow to Houseparty April 24, 2020 Facebook today unveiled a new group video call feature for its Messenger app in a move that could sound the death knell for pandemic rival Houseparty. The joinable group calls, dubbed Messenger Rooms, will allow up to 50 people to discover and drop into “rooms”. The rooms, which can be created directly from Facebook or [...]
How and when will the UK coronavirus lockdown end? April 24, 2020 This week health secretary Matt Hancock confirmed the coronavirus outbreak has passed its peak, sparking speculation about an exit strategy from the UK lockdown. However, officials have poured cold water on the idea that Britain could return to normal soon. Last week the government said the UK coronavirus lockdown would continue for at least another [...]
Burberry to keep paying furloughed staff during Covid-19 crisis April 24, 2020 Burberry today said it will keep paying employees who are unable to work because of store or site closures during the coronavirus crisis. The luxury brand said it would not make use of the government’s furlough scheme — which pays 80 per cent of salaries for non-working staff — for jobs in the UK, where [...]
Google to cut marketing budgets by up to half and freeze hiring April 24, 2020 Google is said to be slashing its marketing budgets by as much as half as the tech giant begins to feel the impact of the coronavirus crisis. In internal emails seen by CNBC, Google told marketing employees the budgets would be cut in the second half of the year, while new hiring would be frozen [...]
Pearson holds dividend as school closures hit revenue April 24, 2020 Education publisher Pearson today said it will pay out a dividend for 2019 even as the closure of schools and test centres pushed down revenue in the first quarter. The FTSE 100-listed firm reported a five per cent decline in year-on-year revenue in the first three months of the year, which it said was a [...]
Google forces advertisers to prove identity in transparency push April 23, 2020 Google today said it will require all advertisers to complete a verification process before buying ad space on its platform as the tech giant looks to improve transparency. In a blog post published today, Google said advertisers will need to submit personal identification, business incorporation documents or other information that proves who they are and [...]
Daily UK coronavirus deaths drop to 616 April 23, 2020 The daily UK coronavirus death toll has dropped to 616, according to the latest figures. The figures mark a decrease from the 759 deaths reported yesterday, and take the total to 18,738. Daily deaths have gradually fallen over the last couple of days, with 823 announced on Tuesday. It comes after health secretary Matt Hancock [...]
Independent furloughs staff and cuts pay as Covid-19 hits ad revenue April 23, 2020 The Independent today said it will furlough some of its staff and cut pay for others as the Covid-19 crisis decimates advertising revenues for news organisations. The digital-only newspaper said all employees earning more than £37,500 would have their pay slashed 20 per cent, while some would be placed on paid leave under the government’s [...]
Green light for £250m Netflix and Amazon film studio complex in Kent April 23, 2020 Developers have been given the green light to build a £250m film complex in Kent to provide much-needed studio space for streaming giants such as Netflix (NFLX) and Amazon (AMZN). Local councillors last night approved plans for Ashford International Film Studios, which will boast 240,000 square feet of production space. Derelict railway works The complex, [...]
