EU targets Amazon in e-commerce antitrust probe July 17, 2019 Amazon is the subject of the EU’s latest antitrust probe, with the European Commission accusing the tech giant of abusing its dominance in e-commerce. The investigation, which began today, could see CEO Jeff Bezos’ retail behemoth lumped with a multi-billion dollar fine similar to other penalties issued to tech giant Google. Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said: “European consumers [...]
The new A35 isn’t Mercedes-AMG’s hottest hatchback, but it certainly isn’t tepid July 16, 2019 The hot hatch has reached boiling point. Very soon, Mercedes will reveal a new AMG A45, with the most powerful four-cylinder engine ever. Its scorching 416hp bests a 288 GTO – Ferrari’s mid-1980s poster car – in a game of Top Trumps, and may well get from 0-62mph in less than four seconds. A supercar-slaying [...]
New York and London top rankings for strongest business brands July 15, 2019 London has been ranked the city with the second strongest business brand globally, missing out only to New York. The Big Apple topped the list of global cities with the strongest brands for attracting businesses and investors, according to research by Saffron Brand Consultants. Read more: London listings triple in second quarter after Brexit extension [...]
Music streaming firm Roxi plans London float as it looks to take on Spotify July 15, 2019 British music streaming firm Roxi Music has appointed advisers for an initial public offering (IPO) on the London Stock Exchange later this year. Roxi, which boasts a string of celebrity backers including Alesha Dixon, Sheryl Crow and Robbie Williams, said it will float on the Aim market in the fourth quarter 2019. Read more: Music [...]
Microsoft opens flagship London store on Oxford Circus July 11, 2019 Microsoft opened its flagship store on Oxford Circus today, marking the US tech giant’s first major retail location in Europe. The new store offers a string of hands-on customer experiences, including a McLaren Senna racing car experience, a gaming lounge and a digital learning hub offering coding lessons for children. Read more: Microsoft and Oracle [...]
BBC appoints new Radio 4 controller as it doubles down on Sounds July 9, 2019 The BBC has appointed Mohit Bakaya as the new controller of Radio 4, as the current boss of 5 Live takes over the broadcaster’s troubled on-demand service BBC Sounds. Bakaya, who currently serves as commissioning editor for factual at Radio 4, will take over from Gwyneth Williams, who has led the corporation’s flagship station since [...]
Inheritance tax faces a shake-up with number of proposed changes July 6, 2019 Under proposed changes to the inheritance tax, the current rules on gift-giving could be cut down from seven years to five. A review of the system ordered by chancellor Philip Hammond claimed the period in which executors are required to account for gifts given within seven years of death should be reduced to five. Read [...]
Fintech champions face an uphill climb if they want to expand into America July 4, 2019 When did you last pay with a cheque? I’d be willing to bet that many of you don’t even know where your cheque book is, and if you do, that it’s probably gathering dust. If you’re living and working in a UK city, you’re totally accustomed to new ways of banking – from Apple Pay [...]
Saudi Aramco holds talks to restart IPO plans July 2, 2019 Saudi Arabia has restarted plans to float its biggest asset, it has been reported, after the Saudi Aramco IPO was put on hold last year. The company, which is the world’s most profitable, has discussed a potential initial public offering (IPO) with bankers, according to Bloomberg. Read more: Saudi Aramco beats records as investors bid [...]
Apple boss Tim Cook brands reports he fell out with designer Jony Ive ‘absurd’ July 2, 2019 Apple chief executive Tim Cook has hit out at reports he fell out with departing design chief Sir Jony Ive, calling the claims “absurd”. Ive, the British designer behind the iPhone, iPod and iMac, announced last week he was leaving Apple to set up an independent design company. A report in the Wall Street Journal [...]