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Edinburgh Film Festival Expands Industry Offerings With UK Film Conference Launch
The Edinburgh International Film Festival is unveiling an expanded industry programme anchored by a newly created one-day symposium called the UK Film Conference, which will focus on the state and prospects of independen
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Starbucks Korea raided by police after ‘Tank Day’ campaign sparks public outrage
South Korean police have raided the headquarters of Starbucks Korea as part of an investigation into a marketing campaign that critics say trivialised the country’s 1980 Gwangju pro-democracy uprising. Investigators searched the Seoul offices on Tuesday and reportedly also searched the homes of company executives, following complaints from relatives of victims of the crackdown, in…
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ALEX BRUMMER: Britain’s creative crown jewels are under mortal threat from US mega-mergers
Alex Brummer warns that a wave of “mega-mergers” in the media industry threatens the future of independent, trustworthy TV news on both sides of the Atlantic. He argues that as viewers increasingly abandon traditional broadcasters for streaming services and unreliable social media sources, consolidation among major broadcasters risks undermining a pillar of modern democracy and…
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German factory orders rise faster than expected; Asian shares fall on tech pullback – business live
Germany’s factory orders rose more sharply than expected in June, offering a bright spot for Europe’s largest economy despite disruption linked to the Iran war, even as Rheinmetall, the country’s biggest defence company, cut its outlook after losing a major government contract. The mixed signals came as Asian shares fell amid a pullback in technology…
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Edinburgh’s Industry Programme Returns With High-Profile Names & UK Indie Focus
The Edinburgh Film Festival’s industry programme is returning in an expanded form this year, anchored by a new one-day symposium called the UK Film Conference, dedicated to the state of independent British filmmaking. Festival director Paul Ridd said the initiative grew out of the increasing strength of the festival’s competition strands, offering a chance to…
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Healey urged to be bold on borrowing in first test of Burnham’s growth pledge
New chancellor John Healey is exploring how to increase public investment ahead of his first budget in 12 weeks, without breaching Treasury fiscal rules, as he faces pressure from economists to be bold. His immediate priorities are short-term spending pressures, including funding Andy Burnham’s VAT cut on energy bills and plugging a £5bn gap in…
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Council wants pubs in London’s Soho and West End to ban standing
Westminster council has drawn up a draft licensing policy that discourages “vertical drinking” in pubs and bars across Soho and the West End, one of Europe’s busiest nightlife districts, effectively pushing venues towards table service instead of the traditional practice of ordering and standing at the bar. London mayor Sadiq Khan has attacked the proposals…
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Charlie Puth Partners Up With Lucky Brand
Charlie Puth has become a brand ambassador for Lucky Brand, the American denim and casual-wear label, fronting campaigns across in-store displays, online platforms, paid media and social channels. The partnership positions the Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter and producer as the face of a company known for vintage-inspired denim and a laid-back aesthetic, with both sides framing…
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Cashing in on SpaceX: ‘Every chance I get, I’ll sell a little more’
Andre Lavoie, an early SpaceX engineer who joined in 2009, says he plans to gradually sell his stake in the company after 17 years of accumulating stock now worth around $23m. His comments highlight a wider pattern following SpaceX’s Nasdaq listing in June, the largest IPO in history, which valued the company at more than…
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Chinese router vendor denies its firmware contains backdoors – but pauses downloads to fix security issues anyway
Chinese Wi-Fi router maker Zbtlink has denied claims that its devices contain a hidden backdoor, even as it quietly pulled firmware downloads to fix unspecified security vulnerabilities. The allegation came from threat-intelligence firm VulnCheck, whose CTO Jacob Baines said a Zbtlink router on his desk was continuously trying to reach a command-and-control server online, describing…