WPP makes net zero pledge for entire $60bn supply chain April 22, 2021 WPP has pledged to reach net zero carbon emissions across its entire supply chain by the end of the decade in what it said was the most ambitious approach in the ad industry. The holding group said its own operations will be net zero by 2025, with all electricity to be renewably-sourced. Across its supply [...]
MI5 joins Instagram in bid to bust ‘martini-drinking stereotypes’ April 22, 2021 MI5 is joining Instagram to improve transparency and counteract “martini-drinking stereotypes” about British spooks. The account — @mi5official — will host Q&As with serving intelligence officers, promote job opportunities and show never-seen-before archive material. It will also show historical exhibits from MI5’s museum, located in the basement of its headquarters on Millbank in Westminster, for [...]
Informa pins hopes on exhibition return as it swings to £1.1bn loss April 22, 2021 Informa today said it was hoping for a gradual return of exhibitions this year after the Covid-19 shutdown pushed the events group to a hefty loss. The FTSE 100 company swung to a £1.1bn pre-tax loss in 2020, compared to a profit of £318m the previous year. Adjusted operating profit came in at £268m, down [...]
Booze brand Pernod Ricard set to toast full-year profit growth April 22, 2021 Pernod Ricard today said it forecast strong profit growth for the full year after cashing in on boosted demand for its drinks in the third quarter. The French booze group, which owns brands including Absolut vodka and Beefeater gin, posted sales of €1.9bn (£1.6bn) in the three months to the end of March, up 19 [...]
Gupta’s business empire sued by rival Tata over £100m steel deal April 22, 2021 Sanjeev Gupta’s business empire is reportedly being sued by rival Tata over a £100m deal that made him one of Britain’s biggest steel magnates. Tata has filed a commercial court claim against Gupta’s GFG Alliance — parent company of Liberty Steel — over alleged mispayments, the Daily Telegraph reported. The case is said to relate [...]
Credit Suisse plunges to hefty loss as Archegos collapse takes its toll April 22, 2021 Credit Suisse today posted a hefty loss for the first quarter after suffering a multi-billion-pound hit from the collapse of US hedge fund Archegos. The lender reported a pre-tax loss of 757m Swiss francs (£593m), down from a 1.2bn franc profit last year but marginally ahead of analyst expectations. The figures were dragged down by [...]
Brit Awards 2021 to go ahead in person with key worker crowd April 22, 2021 The Brit Awards 2021 will go ahead in person next month as planned with a limited audience made up mainly of key workers, organisers have announced. The annual music jamboree will take place at the O2 Arena on 11 May in front of a live audience. It will also be broadcast on ITV and ITV [...]
Sir James Dyson has moved back to UK, docs show, as tax row continues April 21, 2021 Sir James Dyson has moved back to the UK, Companies House documents show, amid a row over texts the billionaire vacuum cleaner maker exchanged with Boris Johnson over tax problems during the pandemic. The documents, which were first reported by the Telegraph, show that Dyson’s new residence is in the UK. He had moved to [...]
EU sets out plans to curb facial recognition in Big Brother crackdown April 21, 2021 The EU has set out plans to regulate the use of “risky” artificial intelligence (AI) such as facial recognition with hefty fines for companies that breach the rules. The draft rules, published by the European Commission today, mark the first international efforts to curb the use of technology that critics warn could be used by [...]
UK to force tech firms to disclose device security plans amid cyber fears April 21, 2021 Tech firms could be forced to tell customers how long their products will be guaranteed to receive security updates under draft new laws outlined today. Manufacturers including Apple, Samsung and Google would have to make upfront disclosures for smart devices such as phones, speakers, fridges and doorbells. The plans form part of efforts to beef [...]
