‘Constructive’: US and China meet in bid to cool tensions June 18, 2023 US secretary of state Anthony Blinken and China’s foreign minister Qin Gang met today in Beijing to begin a two-day set of talks. Whilst neither side expects a major breakthrough to emerge, US officials said the main goal is to stabilise a relationship that has become extremely tense. The talks come at a time of [...]
Vodafone and Three days away from announcing a UK merger June 7, 2023 Vodafone and the owner of Three network, CK Hutchison, will announce a long-anticipated merger that will see them become the UK’s biggest mobile operator, according to reports. Talks are now in the final stage and an announcement is expected “as soon as Friday or early next week”, according to reports from Reuters. The new company [...]
Mark Kleinman dissects the CBI’s rescue plan – plus the boss of Vashi’s vanishing act and Man U’s other battle June 1, 2023 In five days time, Rain Newton-Smith must deliver the performance of her career. At an extraordinary general meeting of the CBI, she will seek to convince thousands of its members that it should survive the maelstrom which has brought it to the brink of collapse. The cards appear stacked against her. Already, the CBI’s principal [...]
Only four water companies fined by watchdog over sewage spills May 30, 2023 The Environment Agency (EA) fined just four water companies for breaching an overflow permit that they used to dump sewage into rivers and the sea between 2018 and 2022 despite over 300,000 sewage spill incidents, the Financial Times has reported. According to official data obtained through a Freedom of Information request submitted by the FT, [...]
Capita wins £565m in government contracts – despite major data breach May 25, 2023 Capita was today confirmed as the government’s chosen partner in two contracts worth a combined total of £565m – despite two recent major data breaches, the impact of which is still being investigated. The firm said the investigation and clear up will cost between £15m and £20m – this includes “further steps [taken] to ensure [...]
Investment in solar power set to outshine oil for first time May 25, 2023 The IEA announced that investment in solar power will this year exceed that of oil for the first time ever amid the global push towards renewables.
Chancellor to discuss food prices with CMA May 23, 2023 Today the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt will meet with food manufacturers to discuss the cost of food and explore ways to ease pressure on households. The government says Hunt will raise concerns about high prices of food in the UK and discuss measures the government and industry could put in place to help households. Hunt said: [...]
Sainsbury’s bets on style with plans for a new online fashion marketplace May 21, 2023 Sainsbury’s is reportedly planning to launch a new online marketplace for high street fashion brands in a move which will pile pressure on department stores like John Lewis. Looking to diversify its product range whilst capitalising on a strong web traffic presence – and vast distribution networks – Sainsbury’s is looking to stock a range [...]
UK retail giant set to ditch central London office space amid job losses May 1, 2023 John Lewis is looking to cut its office space by over 50 per cent after the company seeks to drastically cut costs benefiting from a loose hybrid working approach. The John Lewis Partnership, which also owns Waitrose, first announced its plans to move offices last year, waiting until the lease of its current Victoria HQ [...]
WPP chief says use of AI in advertising is an ‘opportunity’ not a threat April 27, 2023 Contrary to some commentators’ fears, chief of WPP Mark Read has called artificial intelligence a “massive opportunity to optimise creative” work rather than representing a threat. Speaking to the Financial Times, Read revealed the advertising giant has already been using artificial intelligence and automation to “amplify” its creative work for some years. He added that [...]
