The economy grew by 0.8% in May but remains 3.1% below its pre-pandemic peak, according to the Office for National Statistics. The figure was just over half of the 1.5% growth predicted by economists and it was also lower than the 2% growth seen in April, when restrictions eased for non-essential retailers, hairdressers, pubs and
Business
Amazon’s proposed merger with MGM is facing a lengthier probe before the Federal Trade Commission, as lawmakers call for careful scrutiny of the $8.5 billion deal. The Information, citing unnamed sources, reported on the FTC investigation and that its review could take six months or more. Reuters also confirmed the extended probe. The FTC’s new
Tony Hayward, the former BP chief executive, is plotting the flotation of a new ‘blank cheque’ company that will seek to capitalise on booming investor appetite for companies exposed to the world’s multi-trillion dollar shift to cleaner energy. Sky News has learnt that Mr Hayward is in advanced talks to list Energy Transition Partners, a
Los Angeles County inn Friday reported 1,107 new Covid-19 infections, double the number it reported a week ago and the county’s highest daily figure since March. Those higher cases counts are being detected despite a big fall in testing since the start of the year. There are 320 people with COVID-19 currently hospitalized; an increase
Pension watchdogs are scrutinising the collapse of Ralph & Russo, the upmarket British-based fashion brand which is now at the centre of a legal fight. Sky News understands that The Pensions Regulator is examining the treatment of the company’s retirement scheme in the period before administrators were called in in March. The status of the
UPDATE, 11:04 AM PT: Joe Biden signed a wide-ranging executive order signaling that his administration will take an aggressive stance toward antitrust enforcement, with calling on federal agencies to take more than 70 actions to counter the wave of consolidation across the economy. Standing with Biden as he signed the executive order was the new
Business leaders say employers should be willing to be flexible on working hours on Monday, to enable football fans to celebrate England’s Euro 2020 victory… or recover from defeat. England face Italy in the tournament on Sunday night in their biggest game for men’s football since the 1966 World Cup final. The match will be
Barry Diller Thursday slammed burgeoning efforts by streaming services to supply films to their platforms, saying “the definition of movie is in such transition it doesn’t man anything anymore.“ He made the remarks to NPR on the sidelines of the Allen & Co. mogul retreat in Sun Valley, Idaho. “These streaming services have been making
Rishi Sunak is urging workers to return to the office – at the same time as ministers are planning emergency measures to cut quarantine numbers. The chancellor says he wants as many people as possible, especially younger staff, to go back to normal working as soon as work-from-home guidance is lifted on 19 July. But
Shonda Rhimes is sticking with Netflix. The Bridgerton creator has extended her partnership with the streamer. The deal, which extends the multi-million dollar deal she signed in 2017, covers Rhimes, her production company Shondaland and her producing partner Betsy Beers. In addition to television, it will cover feature films as well as potential gaming and
Global stock markets have plunged on a cocktail of concerns about the global economy and anxiety over how central banks are responding to inflation. London’s FTSE 100 Index fell by about 150 points, or more than 2%, as the sell-off wiped away any overnight cheer brought about by England’s Euros victory against Denmark. That saw
Google is facing another antitrust lawsuit from a coalition of attorneys general as the government officials target the tech giant for its business practices, claiming that it is trying to gain an unfair advantage for its own streaming services via its app store. The lawsuit is the second filed by the coalition, after the attorneys
A measure to help alleviate the HGV driver shortage crisis by extending the hours they can legally work is facing a fierce backlash from the haulage sector. Transport minister Baroness Vere announced the relaxation of the safety rule, via her Twitter account, following repeated warnings from the Road Haulage Association (RHA) this summer of a
EXCLUSIVE: Transgender actress, model, activist and creative Jari Jones has signed with CAA for representation. Jones made history with the film Port Authority at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival. In addition to playing the role of Naomi, Jones also served as a producer and script consultant, marking the first time a Black trans producer had
Top executives at financial firms could see their pay linked to progress on diversity under measures being discussed by UK regulators. In a joint paper, the Bank of England, Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) said they wanted to prompt banks, insurers and other firms they regulate to act more quickly to
Shortly before tip off of the first game of the 2021 NBA Finals, league commissioner addressed the media. Specifically, he addressed the turmoil at one of the league’s premiere TV partners, ESPN, surrounding hosts Rachel Nichols and Maria Taylor. Asked about the controversy over Nichols leaked comments regarding ESPN and Taylor, Silver called the situation
The commitment from Vauxhall’s owner Stellantis to build electric vehicles at its Ellesmere Port plant is a second jolt of good news in five days for a British car industry adjusting fast to the electric revolution. After Nissan revealed its plans for a new electric vehicle and a battery “gigafactory” at its Sunderland base last
Vauxhall’s parent firm has revealed a new electric vehicle future for its Ellesmere Port plant, removing a years-long threat of closure from the factory. Stellantis confirmed on Tuesday that a government grant, coupled with a £100m investment of its own, would at least safeguard the 1,000 jobs left at the site. Ellesmere Port in Cheshire,
The Talk co-host Amanda Kloots, wife of the late Broadway actor Nick Cordero, shared an emotional message on Monday marking the one-year anniversary of her husband’s death due to complications from Covid-19. He was 41. The Tony-nominated Cordero appeared in stage productions of A Bronx Tale, Bullets Over Broadway, The Toxic Avenger, Rock of Ages
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has confirmed that people in England will no longer be instructed to work from home from later this month. The move is part of Mr Johnson’s plan to scrap the remaining coronavirus restrictions on 19 July. He said: “The government is no longer telling people it is necessary that they should