Blithe Spirit review: Judi Dench leads spooky nostalgia fest January 14, 2021 Welcome to cinema’s New Normal. While big blockbusters are optimistically waiting for us in the spring, the first quarter of the year is strategically filled with independent releases that have adopted a dual release format – in cinemas if we have them, on VOD if not. Produced by Sky, Blithe Spirit (starring Dame Judi Dench) [...]
Google completes $2.1bn Fitbit takeover after antitrust probe January 14, 2021 Google today said it has completed its $2.1bn (£1.5bn) takeover of Fitbit, more than a year after the deal was announced. The tie-up was subjected to a lengthy investigation by regulators amid concerns about Google’s market power and the use of people’s health data in targeted advertising. But the European Commission last month cleared the [...]
The zombie token apocalypse lurches on January 14, 2021 Each week, another crypto project ‘moons,’ and many more leave bag holders ‘rekt,’ ever wonder what’s behind these sudden moves? The Initial Coin Offering (ICO) era reminds many people of scams, over-inflated valuations at launch, and dead on arrival projects that rely on market makers to appear alive, which is akin to an overextended billionaire [...]
FTSE 100 and Wall Street on the rise on Biden stimulus hopes January 14, 2021 The FTSE 100 and Wall Street rose today on the news that President-elect Joe Biden will tonight unveil a fresh trillion stimulus package to boost the US’ flagging economy. Biden is expected to reveal details of the deal, which is expected to top $1.5 trillion, in an television address tonight. London’s premier index rose 0.5 [...]
Weinstein prosecution of A&O partner scrapped because of ill health January 14, 2021 Proceedings against an Allen & Overy partner that relate to an NDA agreement he helped negotiate on behalf of Harvey Weinstein have been scrapped. The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) has permanently stayed proceedings against Mark Mansell because he is suffering from ill-health. Medical experts on both sides agreed the continuation of proceedings, and in particular [...]
888 to beat profit expectations as betting shop closures accelerate shift to online gambling January 14, 2021 Online gambling platform 888 Holdings expects to beat profit and revenue expectations for last year after more customers signed up while betting shops were closed during the coronavirus pandemic. 888 said today that revenue and adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation will be “moderately ahead” of previous forecasts. The betting site said the [...]
One Night In Miami – Muhammad Ali fiction shines a powerful light January 14, 2021 Based on the Kemp Powers play of the same name, Amazon’s One Night In Miami, a big hope for the 2021 awards season, is centred on the real life meeting of four African-American icons in the hours after Muhammad Ali’s (Eli Goree) 1964 title victory over Sonny Liston. Instead of partying, Ali met with friends [...]
Grab raises $300m to fund financial services expansion January 14, 2021 Southeast Asian ride-hailing app Grab has raised $300m (£220m) to help fund further expansion of its rapidly-growing financial services arm. The series A funding round was led by South Korea’s Hanwha Asset Management, while existing investors K3 Ventures and GGV Capital also participated. Grab, which also offers food delivery services, said the cash injection followed [...]
SRA backs down on high profile sexual misconduct case January 14, 2021 The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has decided not to appeal a High Court ruling that followed a high-profile case featuring jagerbombs, a magic circle law firm and alleged sexual misconduct. The SRA will not appeal a High Court ruling in favour of an ex-Freshfields partner who allegedly took advantage of a junior colleague. The SRA [...]
Brexit: Michel Barnier says new UK-EU border friction here to stay January 14, 2021 Much of the post-Brexit trade disruption and regulatory issues in the past two weeks will not be fixable, according to the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier. Barnier said today that many things “changed for good” when the UK left the EU’s single market and customs union on 31 December, adding that “there are mechanical, [...]
