Sports Direct accuses Debenhams administrators of conflict of interest April 10, 2019 Sports Direct doubled down on its calls for the administration of Debenhams to be reversed this afternoon, as it mulls potential legal action following Mike Ashley’s failed bid to take control of the retail chain. Lawyers from the sportswear retailer said today that the appointment of administrators and the subsequent pre-pack administration only happened because Ashley’s own [...]
After Brexit, will Britain remain a land of opportunity? Apprentice star Mark Wright shares his views on startups and the economy April 9, 2019 Winning a reality TV show isn’t normally considered a recipe for success. The stars of such programmes usually end up plastered across the tabloids, followed by performing in a Christmas pantomime somewhere in rural England. But the BBC’s The Apprentice is an altogether different beast. With the backing of business mogul Lord Alan Sugar, the [...]
Theresa May to travel to Paris and Berlin for critical Brexit talks April 8, 2019 Theresa May will head to Berlin and Paris on Tuesday in an eleventh hour bid to convince EU leaders to grant another delay to Brexit. The Prime Minister will meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron just a day before a crunch Brexit summit in Brussels. The EU will use that [...]
Google scraps AI ethics board after just a week amid controversy over board member April 5, 2019 Google has scrapped its AI ethics board only a week after forming it following a controversy over its choice of board members. The tech giant last week unveiled its newly-formed Advanced Technology External Advisory Council (ATEAC) to oversee the ethical development and use of its AI research and products. Read more: Here's how much Google [...]
MPs slam BBC over ‘chaotic’ handling of freelance presenter tax system April 5, 2019 MPs have launched a scathing attack on the BBC over a “muddled and chaotic” approach to freelance workers that left hundreds of presenters liable to tax investigations. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) last year launched an inquiry after it emerged the complex employment status of the broadcaster’s freelancers could mean tax laws were being broken. [...]
Google UK employees earned £226,000 on average last year April 3, 2019 Staff at Google’s UK offices earned an average of £226,000 last year after the firm paid out more than £340m through its share scheme. The tech firm paid £829m to its employees in the year to the end of June, up from £657m the previous year. The company, which currently has three main offices in [...]
Audioboom posts record quarterly revenues as it cashes in on podcast boom April 3, 2019 Podcast platform Audioboom has posted a surge in quarterly profits as appetite for on-demand listening continues to grow. The London-listed firm saw its revenue rise 180 per cent year-on-year to $4.6m (£3.5m) in the three months to the end of March. Read more: BBC removes podcasts from rival Google service Audioboom said it has boosted [...]
The European Union is on the backfoot, but few seem to notice April 2, 2019 There is a very bad habit that many of our broadcasters have of focusing on what might befall us. It reminds me of Frankie Howerd in Up Pompeii bemoaning “woe is me, woe is me” – as if he might warn his master against leaving the Empire without a deal. It would be refreshing were there [...]
Digital advertising firm Teads posts revenue rise as it looks to fend off tech giants April 2, 2019 Digital advertising firm Teads has posted a 30 per cent jump in revenues for the full-year as it looks to win back market share from Facebook and Google. The media platform pulled in revenues of €365m (£314m) last year after extending its reach to 1.4bn global monthly users and more than 90 per cent of [...]
UK risks ‘trashing relationship with Europe’ over Brexit, says Siemens boss April 2, 2019 Britain is at risk of ruining its “fabulous” relationship with Europe due to the crisis over its failure to secure a Brexit deal, the Siemens chief executive has said. Jurgen Maier, the UK boss of the German manufacturing giant, urged MPs to reach an agreement, warning of the impact on business if the UK crashes [...]