Covid: UK cases rise by 40 per cent in last week July 20, 2021 The number of Covid-19 cases in the UK has increased by more than 40 per cent over the last week as the virus spreads rapidly amid the easing of lockdown restrictions. The UK recorded 46,558 new positive cases today, according to the latest official figures, up 40.7 per cent compared to the same day last [...]
Amazon boss Jeff Bezos completes Blue Origin space flight July 20, 2021 Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos has landed safely back on Earth following the inaugural space flight aboard his company Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket. The world’s richest person and three crewmates were launched to the edge of space on a voyage that lasted roughly 10 minutes and 20 seconds. They blasted off from Blue Origin’s Launch [...]
Ministers urged to include online adverts in new safety bill July 20, 2021 The government has been urged to include paid-for online adverts in its new online safety bill amid concerns the pandemic has led to a “devastating” surge in scams. Ministers have outlined plans to hold tech companies liable for harmful material posted to their platforms, with the new laws set to be presented to pre-legislative scrutiny. [...]
BBC Three relaunch faces delay as Ofcom opens competition probe July 20, 2021 The BBC’s plans to relaunch BBC Three as a traditional TV channel have been put in doubt after Ofcom said it would launch a full competition investigation into the proposal. Earlier this year the public service broadcaster said BBC Three would return to screens six years after it was made online-only as part of a [...]
Fake reviews could be outlawed in consumer protection overhaul July 20, 2021 Paying for someone to write or host fake reviews online could be made illegal under new plans to ramp up protection for consumers. The government has unveiled proposals to crack down on fake reviews as part of a wider package of measures targeting “consumer catfishers” who use dodgy tactics to dupe online shoppers. It has [...]
Government scales back isolation advice as ‘pingdemic’ hits businesses July 20, 2021 The government has toned down its guidance on whether people should self-isolate when pinged by the NHS test and trace app amid concerns about staff shortages. Speaking to Times Radio this morning, business minister Paul Scully said the app was there to allow people to make “informed decisions”, but added that isolation was “obviously up [...]
Screenshot: Will a streaming overhaul tidy up the UK’s messy music sector? July 16, 2021 This week: **Media Moment of the Week: ‘Oh fiddlesticks’ **Could a streaming crackdown tidy up Britain’s messy music sector? Media Moment of the Week: ‘Oh fiddlesticks’ In a situation you wouldn’t have thought possible in 2021, the BBC somehow found a man in Nottingham on Monday morning who still didn’t know the result of the [...]
Revolut becomes UK’s most valuable fintech after bumper funding round July 15, 2021 Challenger bank Revolut has become the UK’s most valuable fintech company after seeing its valuation surge to $33bn (£24bn) following a fresh funding round. The British fintech favourite has secured $800m in new funding in a round led by Softbank’s Vision Fund and Tiger Global Management. It makes Revolut one of the most valuable fintechs [...]
Shares in Avast jump as cyber firm confirms NortonLifeLock merger talks July 15, 2021 Shares in Avast jumped this morning after the London-listed cybersecurity firm confirmed it is in advanced discussions over a possible merger with US rival NortonLifeLock. In a statement last night Avast said Norton could make a cash and share offer for the entire issued capital of the firm. However, it warned there was no certainty [...]
STV advertising revenue grows by a third thanks to Euros boost July 15, 2021 STV has posted a further rise in advertising revenue for the first half of the year as Euro 2020 coverage helped the Scottish broadcaster continue a recent run of good form. The network, which holds the channel 3 licence north of the border, said total ad revenue grew 32 per cent to the end of [...]
