England v Australia third Ashes Test preview: Joe Root comes home to Headingley needing to disprove the captaincy burden August 21, 2019 It’s hardly a new debate – in fact, it’s one nearly as old as the game itself – but Joe Root will still want to nip it in the bud this week as he returns home to Headingley. England begin the third Ashes Test against Australia in Leeds tomorrow needing to win at least two [...]
Facebook risks hit to advertising revenue as it unveils new privacy feature August 20, 2019 Facebook has unveiled a new feature that gives users greater control over their personal data, in a move that could impact the social media firm’s advertising revenue. The tech giant said it will allow users to prevent information about their browsing activity from being passed on to third parties for advertising. Read more: Twitter and [...]
Hipgnosis snaps up Chainsmokers catalogue as spending spree continues August 20, 2019 Music royalties specialist Hipgnosis has continued its recent run of strong form, securing the rights to the music catalogue of The Chainsmokers. Read more: Hipgnosis bags rights to music catalogue of Ed Sheeran songwriter Hipgnosis said it has acquired 32 songs by the DJ duo, who have bagged 55 number ones and rack up 41m [...]
Twitter and Facebook shut down network of Hong Kong misinformation accounts linked to Chinese state August 19, 2019 Facebook and Twitter have taken down a wide-ranging network of social media accounts and profiles linked to a Chinese state operation to create division among and about the Hong Kong protests. Twitter said more than 900 accounts were discovered as part of a “significant state-backed information operation” to plant misinformation about the protests. A total [...]
5G fisticuffs: EE files complaint over Three’s ‘real’ network advert August 19, 2019 Mobile operator EE has fired the latest salvo in an escalating clash between telecoms firms, filing a complaint with the advertising watchdog over a campaign promoting Three’s 5G network. EE has raised concerns about newspaper and social media adverts that claimed Three’s network provided the only “real” 5G service. Under advertising rules, a brand must [...]
Boris Johnson urged to recall parliament amid no-deal Brexit ’emergency’ August 18, 2019 One hundred MPs have urged Boris Johnson to recall parliament from the summer recess because of the “grave economic emergency” Britain faces in the event of a no-deal Brexit. MPs from across the political divide wrote to the Prime Minister to demand updates from the government over its no-deal Brexit preparations following leaked revelations in [...]
The ASA’s puritanical ban spree is a flagrant assault on free speech August 16, 2019 When the Committees of Advertising Practice (CAP) first announced that it would ban “gender stereotypes that are likely to cause harm, or serious or widespread offence” in December 2017, I noted that crackdowns on adverts are often veiled attacks on free speech. The ads that the CAP and the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) were flagging [...]
Chinese forces exercise on Hong Kong border as Trump suggests meeting with Xi August 15, 2019 Chinese paramilitary forces have been carrying out exercises on the border with Hong Kong today as the political crisis in the territory roles on. News agency Reuters reported that hundreds of members of China’s People’s Armed Police could be seen conducting an exercise at a sports stadium in Shenzhen today. Parking spaces at the stadium [...]
Fleet Street veteran David Montgomery sets newspapers in sights as he plots takeover spree August 14, 2019 Veteran Fleet Street executive David Montgomery is poised to launch a media takeover spree, with struggling publisher JPI Media slated as his first major target. Montgomery has set up a company called National World, through which he is said to be planning a series of deals to snap up struggling newspaper groups. Read more: Shares [...]
Hong Kong protests: US wades in by telling China to allow city to ‘exercise autonomy’ August 14, 2019 The US has urged China to allow Hong Kong to “exercise a high degree of autonomy,” as police and demonstrators clashed again today in the wake of Chinese authorities describing the 10-week anti-government protests as “near terrorism”. In a statement, the US State Department said: “We condemn violence and urge all sides to exercise restraint, [...]