UK must make tech firms pay for news, says competition watchdog April 13, 2021 The UK must introduce a new code to ensure news publishers are fairly compensated for the use of their stories on tech platforms, the competition watchdog has said. Daniel Gordon, senior director of markets at the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), said his organisation agreed with the principles behind a new Australian law requiring tech [...]
China issues warning to tech firms after record Alibaba fine April 13, 2021 Chinese authorities have issued a stark ultimatum to more than three dozen tech companies, warning them to stop engaging in any practices that fall foul of new regulations. The country’s market regulator, which last week slapped Alibaba with a $2.8bn fine, said it summoned 34 companies including Tencent, JD.com and Tiktok owner Bytedance. The State [...]
Grab finalises $40bn US listing through largest ever Spac deal April 13, 2021 Ride hailing and food delivery firm Grab today finalised a merger with Altimeter Growth to go public in the US at a valuation of just under $40bn (£29bn). The tie-up represents the largest ever Spac (special purpose acquisition company) deal ever made amid a frenzy of blank cheque deals on Wall Street. The Singapore-based startup, [...]
Tracking tech firm Buddi homes in on £500m London float April 13, 2021 A British tech firm that makes trackable wristbands is gearing up for a £500m stock market float in London. Buddi, which was founded by serial entrepreneur Sara Murray, has appointed Zeus Capital to oversee a listing later this year. The company produces wristbands that can be worn by vulnerable people. The bands can be connected [...]
Edinburgh Festival to go ahead this year with outdoor venues April 13, 2021 The Edinburgh International Festival will go ahead this year as an in-person event, with performances moving outside to conform with coronavirus safety measures. Organisers have drawn up a plan for the iconic arts festival to run between 7 and 29 August in the Scottish capital. A number of covered stages will be set up across [...]
UK urged to use new telecoms suppliers after Huawei ban April 13, 2021 The UK must ensure smaller telecoms suppliers play a major role in the country’s 5G network following the decision to ban Chinese tech firm Huawei, according to a new report. The vendor diversity task force, which was set up last year to lead the search for a replacement to Huawei, said smaller equipment makers should [...]
David Cameron ‘open to questions’ over Greensill lobbying April 13, 2021 David Cameron has said he will cooperate with a government inquiry into a lobbying row linked to collapsed finance firm Greensill. Boris Johnson yesterday announced an independent review into the way the former prime minister lobbied health secretary Matt Hancock and chancellor Rishi Sunak on behalf of Greensill and how contracts were awarded. The inquiry [...]
JD Sports beats profit forecasts as it shakes off pandemic hit April 13, 2021 JD Sports today reported full-year profits well ahead of market expectations as trading proved resilient despite the impact of store closures. The fashion retailer booked profit before tax and exceptional items of £421m in the year to the end of January. This was down from £439m the previous year but well ahead of market expectations [...]
Former culture minister Ed Vaizey ‘in the running’ for Ofcom chair role April 12, 2021 Former culture minister Ed Vaizey is said to be under consideration for a shortlist of candidates to chair media regulator Ofcom. Officials and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) will this week start finalising the list of applicants for the position ahead of final interviews later this month, Bloomberg reported. However, it [...]
Buzzfeed UK revenue falls as pandemic hits digital advertising April 12, 2021 Buzzfeed UK’s revenue dropped last year as the online media group battled the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the online advertising market. The website’s UK division, which also covers its international operations outside the US, posted a 16 per cent decline in revenue to £18.9m in 2020. However, Buzzfeed said an aggressive cost-cutting strategy [...]
