Time Out boss: Tech giants have destroyed internet freedom February 19, 2021 The unbridled power of tech giants such as Google and Facebook has destroyed the concept of freedom on the internet, the chief executive of Time Out has said. In an interview with City A.M., Julio Bruno said that while tech companies had given us “a lot of good things”, they now exerted too much control [...]
Huawei loses legal case against HSBC over Meng Wanzhou extradition February 19, 2021 Huawei has lost a legal bid to force HSBC to disclose documents, marking a setback in the tech giant’s efforts to prevent the extradition of its chief financial officer to the US. Meng Wanzhou faces charges of bank fraud over claims she misled HSBC over Huawei’s dealings in Iran, causing the bank to violate US [...]
Screenshot: Will Facebook regret going nuclear over Australian news? February 19, 2021 This week **Media Moment of the Week: A jumbo jab mix-up **Will Facebook regret going nuclear in Australia? **Arm’s getting chippy Media Moment of the Week: A jumbo jab mix-up When Liam Thorp received a text inviting him for his first Covid jab he was confused, given the healthy 32-year-old is pretty low down the [...]
Publisher Future lifts profit forecasts as it completes Go Compare deal February 19, 2021 Magazine publisher Future today said it expects full-year profit to come in ahead of previous forecasts as it completed its £600m takeover of price comparison site Go Compare. The media group, which owns titles such as Country Life, Four Four Two and Tech Radar, reported strong trading in the four months to the end January [...]
Public sector borrowing hits £8.8bn in first January deficit for a decade February 19, 2021 Public sector net borrowing ballooned to £8.8bn last month, marking the first January deficit for a decade. The figure is £18.4bn more than in the same month last year and is the highest January borrowing amount since records began. Public sector borrowing is now estimated to have reached £270.6bn in the first 10 months of [...]
Rishi Sunak to extend business rates relief and furlough February 19, 2021 Rishi Sunak is set to extend business rates relief and the furlough scheme into the summer, offering further support to companies battered by coronavirus restrictions. In his Budget next month the chancellor is expected to announce that the year-long business rates holiday for the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors will continue beyond the previous end-date [...]
Barclays to keep ‘significant presence’ in Canary Wharf despite pandemic February 18, 2021 Barclays chief executive Jes Staley today insisted the bank will keep a “significant presence” in Canary Wharf despite a shift to home working prompted by the pandemic. Staley last year prompted speculation that Barclays could cut down its office space in the financial hub after he said the outbreak of Covid-19 could make large offices [...]
British music exports to hit £1bn by 2030 amid song rights boom February 18, 2021 The value of British music exports could double to £1bn by 2030 if the UK cashes in on the surging value of music rights and growth in new markets after Brexit, according to a new report. The rise of streaming services such as Spotify has fuelled a boom in music assets, with global revenues from [...]
Barclays to resume dividend as Covid loan provision hits £4.8bn February 18, 2021 Barclays today said it will resume its annual dividend as the banking giant’s profit suffered a less severe hit from the pandemic than expected. The bank announced a dividend of 1p per share, as well as a £700m share buyback, after regulators banned payouts last year following the outbreak of Covid-19. It came as Barclays [...]
Australian prime minister blasts ‘arrogant’ Facebook over news ban February 18, 2021 Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has hit back at Facebook over its decision to block news in the country, saying the company’s actions were “as arrogant as they were disappointing”. The social media site last night cut off access to news pages and links in Australia in retaliation to draft new laws that would force [...]
