Bloomberg James Murdoch played to concerns about the post-Brexit UK economy in advocating for the approval of 21st Century Fox Inc.’s bid for pay-TV company Sky Plc, as the government committed the deal to months of additional scrutiny. The Fox CEO and son of billionaire Rupert Murdoch, speaking to an audience of broadcast industry top brass, responded to a decision hours ...

Bloomberg Facebook Inc. has given special counsel Robert Mueller extra details on political ad spending from a Russian group that tried to sow discord online ahead of last year’s US presidential election, according to a person familiar with the matter. The social network provided copies of ads and explained how they were targeted and who bought them, said the person, ...

Bloomberg Paris authorities will make it mandatory for all landlords renting their homes through Airbnb Inc. and other online platforms to register before offering lodging, as the city seeks to increase control and crack down on those who unlawfully rent, Le Figaro reported. The measure is meant to curb a housing shortage in the city, the newspaper said, citing the ...

Bloomberg Blue Apron Holdings Inc. Chief Executive Officer Matt Salzberg said the company is keeping its focus on home cooking and related products, a narrow purview that will help shelter it from competitive threats like Amazon.com Inc. The meal-kit company, which at one point suggested it could become an alternative to or even eventually replace grocery stores, is now concentrating ...

Bloomberg A dusty attic at the Zenith watch factory in Switzerland bears witness to the company’s near-death experience and rebirth. Four decades ago, a gutsy foreman hid the dies and punches used to shape the myriad tiny parts that make up a mechanical timepiece, defying orders from the US owners to junk them. The move saved the company when the ...

There are few economic problems more frustrating than the stubborn gaps in wages and unemployment rates between blacks and whites. Despite decades of trying to reduce or eliminate these gaps, black workers continue to experience higher unemployment rates and lower wages than whites. That’s true even after correcting for age, education and occupational differences. This is not a formula for ...

The first street protests against Emmanuel Macron’s proposed labor market reforms have been underwhelming. Several major unions stayed away. Estimates of the turn-out varied—from 223,000, according to fairly reliable police figures, to 500,000, according to the CGT, France’s biggest union, which called for the march. Whatever the real number, French unions are divided, and this helps Macron’s reform efforts. This ...

With China’s decision to phase out gas- and diesel-fuelled vehicles, the end is nearer for the internal combustion engine. For their nation to reap the full benefits of this revolution, Chinese leaders will need to continue to be bold. Nations that account for almost 80 percent of the world auto market are now planning or considering plans to end over ...

Catalonia’s separatist leaders say they will declare independence from Spain within 48 hours of victory in the independence referendum they’ve called for October 1. Spain’s highest court has ruled the referendum unconstitutional, and the government is determined to disrupt the ballot. A toxic combination of festering frustrations, nationalist myth, and mismanagement by Madrid has brought Spain to this point. Climbing ...

The competition to host HQ2, as Amazon’s planned second headquarters is called, has captivated the nation. The lucky city can expect an economic bonanza: 50,000 jobs, plus the tech ecosystem that the online retail giant’s presence will inevitably attract. But the winner doesn’t have to be a big metropolis. On the contrary, Amazon has the power to create an entirely ...