Fast fashion: Shein raising funds at £100bn after IPO plans delayed amid Russia conflict April 3, 2022 Chinese fast fashion retailer Shein is reportedly eyeing a funding round at a valuation of some $100bn. The Gen Z e-commerce giant is in talks with potential investors to raise around $1bn, according to a report from Bloomberg, citing people familiar with the matter. Bosses are still mulling over the plans, with potential for details [...]
The Bad Guys review: Passable family film putting villains in the spotlight April 1, 2022 Once the home of giants including Shrek, Kung Fu Panda, and How To Train Your Dragon, Dreamworks has played it safe over the last few years, with competitor Pixar disappearing into the distance. Films like Boss Baby, Trolls, and The Croods are enjoyable, but they are glossy distractions for children rather than something worth remembering. [...]
The End: Govt tells TV and film industry £500m pandemic scheme will end within weeks April 1, 2022 The so-called UK Film & TV Production Restart Scheme, which was launched in July 2020, is wrapping up, despite sustained lobbying from parts of the industry. The £500m scheme, which helped TV and film productions through the pandemic, will close at the end of the month, the government said this afternoon. The Department for Digital, [...]
Morbius review: The most pointless, regressive superhero film in a decade April 1, 2022 After the excellent Spider-Man: Far From Home and the gift-wrapped fan-service of Spider-Man: No Way Home, Sony, which owns the rights to the web-slinger but temporarily loaned him back to Marvel Studios, takes the reins once more in spin-off Morbius. And it immediately confirms that it learned nothing from the partnership, taking no notes, perhaps [...]
Bloody Friday as cost of living onslaught starts for millions: Steepest rise in household bills in living memory begins today April 1, 2022 Today has been dubbed National Price Hike Day, when government bodies and private firms traditionally announce the increases in the cost of goods and services. This year, energy costs are set to skyrocket, with the cheapest energy tariff for a medium user surging to £1,971 – a staggering 118 per cent increase year on year. The [...]
Green energy pioneer and former New Age traveller Dale Vince steps down from Ecotricity April 1, 2022 Green energy pioneer and former New Age traveller Dale Vince has said he is stepping down as chief executive of wind power company Ecotricity to pursue a career in politics. Vince, who founded Ecotricity in 1995 while living in an old army truck in Gloucestershire, said he plans to sell Ecotricity to new owners, with [...]
Protestors block exits to seven oil facilities in bid for no-new-oil pledge April 1, 2022 Campaigners have blocked the exits to seven oil facilities near London, Birmingham and Southampton, in a bid to halt new oil and gas developments. Protestors from the Just Stop Oil Coalition and Extinction rebellion have planted themselves along roads to stop oil tankers from leaving the facilities. One protestor from London, Jack Johnson, said: [...]
The new normal? Air-purifying headphones to protect from pollution unveiled by Dyson March 31, 2022 With pollution in the capital remaining a hot-topic, Dyson has unveiled new air-purifying and noise-cancelling headphones. In wake of the pandemic, most people have become used to seeing face-masks in public. But Dyson’s new innovation may take some getting used to, as it launches its first foray into wearable technology. This comes after warnings from [...]
House price growth hits highest level since 2004 with record average of £265.3k March 31, 2022 Annual house price growth has increased to 14.3 per cent, from 12.6 per cent in February. According to Nationwide’s house price index, this was the strongest pace since November 2004. The price tag of the average home hit a new record of £265,312, an increase of more than £33,000 in the past year. Prices have [...]
The metaverse – a peep into the virtual world March 30, 2022 Crypto AM's Jonny Fry takes us by the hand and gently guides us through the mind-boggling world of the metaverse.