In a week marked by significant developments, from political unrest to regulatory changes, several key stories emerged. China's President Xi Jinping made a rare reference to a recent military purge, while the UK's app economy is set to change following agreements by Apple and Google. Meanwhile, hospitality bosses urged the government to scrap proposals for a holiday tax in England, and a report highlighted the bombardment of children with weight loss drug advertisements online. In Tehran, rallies for the Iranian revolution were overshadowed by discontent.
President Xi Jinping addressed the recent removal of China's top military general, General Zhang Youxia, who was accused of "serious violations of discipline and law," a euphemism for corruption. Speaking in a virtual address on Tuesday, Xi stated the past year had been "unusual and extraordinary," adding that the army had "undergone revolutionary tempering in the fight against corruption," according to BBC World.
In the UK, Apple and Google agreed to alter their app stores following an intervention from the UK markets regulator, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). The tech giants committed to not giving preferential treatment to their own apps and will be transparent about how others are approved for sale. This follows the CMA's statement seven months prior that Apple and Google held an "effective duopoly" in the UK app market, according to BBC Technology. Sarah Cardell, the CMA's head, said the proposed commitments "will boost the UK's app economy."
Hospitality and leisure bosses, numbering 200, urged the government to scrap plans for a tax on holidays in England. The government considered allowing local leaders to introduce a "modest" tourist tax, or visitor levy, to raise revenue. Major holiday providers, including Butlin's, Hilton, Travelodge, and the owner of Alton Towers theme park, warned the government that the proposals would drain money from local businesses, according to BBC Business. "Holidays are for relaxing, not taxing," the bosses stated.
A report by the children's commissioner for England revealed that children are routinely exposed to advertisements for weight loss injections and pills online. The report found young people were "bombarded" with ads for products claiming to change their bodies and appearance, despite such advertising being banned. Dame Rachel de Souza, the children's commissioner, said the posts were "immensely damaging" to young people's self-esteem and called for a ban on social media advertising to children, according to BBC Technology.
In Tehran, the anniversary of the Iranian revolution was marked by both celebration and discontent. While fireworks and chants of "God is greatest" filled the night sky, shouts of "death to the dictator" were also heard from within the city, according to BBC World. Lyse Doucet, the BBC's chief international correspondent in Tehran, noted the discordant note in this year's celebrations.
Discussion
AI Experts & Community
Be the first to comment