UK set to face ‘sluggish’ growth in the face of sticky inflation and Bank of England interest rate hikes
Hamilton promoter Reach 4 Entertainment jumps on higher forecasts February 18, 2020 Shares in Reach 4 Entertainment (R4E) jumped as much as 17 per cent this morning after the theatre marketing firm upped its forecasts for full-year trading. R4E, which runs marketing campaigns for West Ends shows such as Hamilton and The Lion King, said it expected to report revenue and profit “significantly” ahead of market expectations. [...]
BT unveils new flexible TV packages in bid to beef up content offering February 18, 2020 BT today rolled out a string of new flexible TV packages as it looks to flex its muscles in the increasingly cut-throat content wars. The telecoms giant has unveiled a range of subscription options that allow customers to choose the TV shows, films and sport they want, with the flexibility to change their package each [...]
Former Amazon executive admits turning off Alexa for ‘private moments’ February 17, 2020 A former senior Amazon executive has admitted to turning off his Alexa whenever he wants some privacy due to concerns the company was listening in on his conversations. Robert Frederick, who served as senior manager of Amazon Web Services, told BBC Panorama: “I don’t want certain conversations to be heard by humans. Conversations that I [...]
Kantar boss ousted ahead of departure as Bain lays down the law February 17, 2020 Kantar chief executive Eric Salama has been ousted just months ahead of his planned departure as new owner Bain Capital turned its fire on the market research firm’s long-serving boss. Salama announced in December that he would step down from the company in 2020, citing “personal priorities” after he was stabbed in an attack in [...]
Trump issues fresh warning over ‘untrustworthy’ Huawei February 17, 2020 US President Donald Trump has launched a fresh attack on Huawei, warning his country could cut intelligence sharing with any ally that cooperates with the Chinese tech firm. Trump told the US ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell that “any nation who chooses to use an untrustworthy 5G vendor will jeopardise our ability to share intelligence [...]
Times Radio poaches veteran BBC presenter John Pienaar February 17, 2020 Times Radio has hired veteran BBC journalist John Pienaar, marking the nascent radio station’s first major poach from the embattled public service broadcaster. Pienaar, who is currently deputy political editor of BBC News, today confirmed he will join Rupert Murdoch’s new venture as drive time presenter. Times Radio, which will launch later this year, is [...]
Barclays boss Jes Staley ‘ready to talk to FBI’ about Jeffrey Epstein February 16, 2020 Barclays chief executive Jes Staley is ready to tell US authorities everything he knows about Jeffrey Esptein following revelations that British regulators are probing his links with the paedophile financier. Lawyers for Epstein’s victims have urged the banking boss to speak with the FBI and hand over any information he has on his former client. [...]
Times Radio circles BBC stars ahead of hiring spree February 16, 2020 Times Radio is said to be making generous offers to some of the BBC’s biggest stars as Rupert Murdoch’s new radio venture looks to lure in top talent. The station, which will launch later this year, is in talks with Radio 4 Any Questions host Chris Mason and has approached Today programme frontman Nick Robinson, [...]
Business group guru John Longworth plots new pro-Brexit rival to CBI February 16, 2020 Former British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) chief John Longworth is said to be plotting the launch of a new business lobby group to take on the CBI. Longworth left the BCC in 2016 shortly after the organisation suspended him for saying the UK’s future could be “brighter” outside the European Union. A new group would [...]
Youtube TV withdraws from App Store in blow to Apple February 16, 2020 Youtube TV is set to become the latest subscription service to cut ties with Apple’s App Store amid complaints about the hefty fees charged by the tech giant. The TV streaming service last week told customers that from next month it will no longer accept payments through Apple in-app purchases. The iPhone maker takes a [...]