Instagram is reportedly considering spinning off its short-form video feature, Reels, into a standalone application. The move, revealed by Instagram chief Adam Mosseri in a meeting with staff this week according to tech publication The Information, could intensify competition with TikTok, whose future in the United States remains precarious. TikTok, owned by Chinese firm ByteDance, […]
Microsoft’s popular online chat and phone service Skype will officially close its doors in May 2025, according to a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter). Users are advised to migrate their accounts to Microsoft Teams Free “over the coming days” to maintain their existing chats, contacts, and calls. “Starting in May 2025, Skype will no […]
President Donald Trump has given fresh hope for a rapid trade agreement with Britain, declaring that threatened tariffs “wouldn’t be necessary” if negotiations progress as he anticipates. The remarks came at a joint press conference with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who visited the White House seeking closer economic ties, clarity over US sanctions policies […]
Ambitious plans to promote timber as a primary building material and spur economic growth were outlined at the Timber in Construction (TiC) Summit in London. Environment Minister Mary Creagh announced an updated TiC Roadmap, designed to accelerate the UK’s adoption of timber-based builds, reduce carbon emissions, and ease the nation’s housing shortage. Under this expanded […]
A centuries-old craft at the heart of British manufacturing is under mounting pressure to navigate complex global trading obstacles, as fresh data reveals that 80% of UK-produced saddles are shipped overseas—particularly to the USA, Europe and Australia. Despite the prestige and international regard for British leatherworking, industry leaders warn that post-Brexit regulations, export financing, and […]
The Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, must use her upcoming Spring Statement to unveil targeted measures that will keep the UK’s late-stage entrepreneurial firms from seeking more fruitful investment avenues abroad. Simon Gleeson, a Partner at leading audit, tax and advisory firm Blick Rothenberg, argues that failing to support home-grown unicorns and pre-IPO companies could damage the […]
Nearly half of UK adults claim to have experienced some form of workplace discrimination, according to a major new survey by HR software provider CIPHR. The findings, from a poll of 4,000 UK adults, highlight a persistent culture of bias in hiring and day-to-day employment practices, affecting individuals from all backgrounds and industries. Almost one […]
Nationwide, First Direct, Lloyds and Halifax all confirmed widespread app and online banking disruptions on Friday, leaving many customers unable to access their pay as salaries and bills moved in and out of accounts. This is the second consecutive month that major banks have experienced IT failures around the end-of-month payday rush. According to service […]
Jana Denzel, a Harley Street dentist and contestant on the BBC’s The Apprentice, dramatically departed the show after producers reprimanded him for describing a black person as “coloured.” Although the BBC insists his exit was unrelated to the remark, Dr Denzel – who had already undergone diversity training – says the other candidates were simply […]