Microsoft slams UK move blocking Activision takeover as ‘bad day for Britain’ April 27, 2023 Microsoft’s vice chair and president has slammed the UK competition watchdog’s decision to block the software company’s 68.7bn dollar (£55bn) takeover of gaming firm Activision Blizzard, calling it a “bad day for Britain”. Brad Smith said the UK regulatory environment compared unfavourably with the EU and warned the “English Channel has never seemed wider”. He [...]
Fans slam ‘disgraceful’ Coronation concert ticket chaos, leaving thousands disappointed April 26, 2023 Tickets for the Coronation concert went on sale yesterday but the ticketing system meant many people who thought they have bagged tickets were later told they actually hadn’t. The Coronation concert takes places on Sunday 7 May with Lionel Ritchie, Take That, Katy Perry and opera singer Andrea Bocelli some of the names performing. An [...]
Sunak arrived late to the business charm offensive and still can’t catch up April 26, 2023 Rishi Sunak spent Monday flirting with business leaders, but Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves are still winning the battle to court corporates.
British American Tobacco to pay over £512m in North Korea sanctions case April 25, 2023 British American Tobacco has agreed to pay more than $635m (£512m) to US authorities after a subsidiary pleaded guilty to charges that it conspired to violate US sanctions by selling tobacco products to North Korea and commit bank fraud, a US court filing and the company said on Tuesday. The tobacco sales at the heart [...]
Is the CBI is “finished”? City grandee and AJ Bell chair Baroness Morrissey says so April 25, 2023 The crisis-hit CBI is “finished” after the organisation admitted it failed to sack workers who sexually harassed female colleagues, City boss Baroness Helena Morrissey has said. Firms have deserted the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) in their droves after two rape allegations and a series of claims of a toxic work culture surfaced, reported by [...]
Wrexham’s promotion: ‘Feelgood fairy tale’ or ‘brand-building exercise that sticks in the craw’? Our writers debate April 25, 2023 Wrexham clinched the National League title at the weekend, securing their promotion to the English Football League two years after being bought by Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. But is the story, which has been played out in a reality TV series as well as on the pitches of England and Wales, an [...]
Why 2023 is the year of the litmus test for women’s rugby, cricket and football April 24, 2023 On Saturday afternoon more than 50,000 fans will descend on Twickenham Stadium to not only watch England’s final match of the Women’s Six Nations against France but also be part of history. Because the fixture is set to smash all previous records for attendances at a women’s rugby match and set a new standard in [...]
Emergency alert: Review to probe why some phones did NOT buzz as Three customers left out April 24, 2023 A review will be conducted to find out why some mobile phones did not receive the test of a new national emergency alert system on Sunday. The cabinet office said the “vast majority of compatible phones” received the alert as part of what was said to be the biggest public communications exercise carried out in [...]
CBI exodus: Which firms have quit or suspended their relationship with the lobby group? April 21, 2023 A slew of top firms have quit or suspended engagement with the CBI today after the lobby group was rocked by new allegations of sexual abuse.
Sick of Myself film review: Self-obsession made into an artform April 21, 2023 Self-obsession is made into a literal artform in Sick of Myself, a new jet-black comedy from Norway. Kristine Kujath Thorp plays Signe, a shallow young woman who is jealous of her boyfriend Thomas’ (Eirik Sæther) sudden success as a modern artist. After a tragedy at work gains her the attention she craves, Signe puts her [...]