Entrepreneur recognised for her services to the beauty and cosmetics industry

British beauty entrepreneur and celebrity makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury has been made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE), as fellow fashion industry leaders are honoured for their contributions to dressing the nation.

The businesswoman features on the King’s Birthday Honours list in recognition of her services to the beauty and cosmetics sector.

The honour comes eight years after she was made an MBE, acknowledging her continued impact on the UK industry.

As founder, president, chairwoman and chief creative officer, Ms Tilbury is the driving force behind her eponymous makeup brand, established in 2013, which has since grown into a global beauty powerhouse.

Products including foundation, powder and setting spray have made significant inroads into the premium market, while the popular “Unreal” range has proved a hit with consumers seeking an Instagram filter-worthy complexion.

The company sits within Spanish premium beauty group Puig, which acquired it in 2020 for a reported sum of one billion US dollars (£750 million).

Ms Tilbury is widely regarded as one of Britain’s wealthiest beauty entrepreneurs, with an estimated fortune of £350 million, according to last year’s Sunday Times Beauty Rich List.

The 53 year old launched her brand following more than 20 years working as a celebrity makeup artist, having collaborated with some of the world’s most prominent supermodels, including Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Gisele Bundchen and Kendall Jenner.

Joining Ms Tilbury on this year’s birthday honours is Neil Clifford, chief executive of luxury footwear and accessories label Kurt Geiger, who has been made an OBE.

Mr Clifford has been vocal about his journey from shop floor employee with few qualifications to heading the British fashion brand, having worked his way up through the retail sector.

He took the helm at Kurt Geiger — renowned for its distinctive loafers and heels in bold designs — more than two decades ago, and is being recognised for services to fashion.

Also awarded an OBE for services to fashion is Sandra Choi, creative director and designer at Jimmy Choo.

Ms Choi is the niece of Jimmy Choo and has dedicated her more than 30-year career to the eponymous luxury brand, celebrated for its glamorous footwear and iconic stilettos.

Jimmy Choo was acquired by American fashion house Michael Kors for nearly £900 million in 2017, subsequently becoming part of the Capri Holdings group.

The Justice Department (DOJ) on Friday announced it has closed its antitrust investigation into Paramount Skydance’s proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, concluding the transaction is not likely to harm competition or American consumers.

The Antitrust Division said its eight-month review examined more than two million documents and found the deal could strengthen competition across the media and entertainment industry, including in streaming video, traditional television and theatrical film distribution.

“The extensive investigatory record reviewed by the Division suggests that the impact of the transaction will be to increase competition across the media and entertainment ecosystem, with benefits for American consumers and workers,” the department said.

The DOJ said the combined company would continue competing against larger streaming rivals including Netflix, Amazon and Disney and found no evidence the transaction would likely reduce consumer choice.

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The merger was approved by the Department of Justice on Friday. (Eric Thayer/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The department also disclosed that regulators reviewed a separate proposal involving Netflix before Paramount reached a definitive agreement with Warner Bros. Discovery. 

According to the DOJ, evaluating both proposals provided investigators with competing perspectives on the future of the media industry.

The decision drew criticism from Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., who urged state attorneys general to continue fighting the transaction.

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“This is terrible news for every American who doesn’t want Trump-aligned billionaires to control what they watch and how much they pay,” Warren wrote on X.

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Netflix agreed last year to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery’s film and television studios and streaming platform, HBO Max, in a cash-and-stock deal valued at $27.75 per Warner Bros. Discovery share.  (Anna Barclay/Getty Images / Getty Images)

Warren also alleged the merger “reeked of corruption and influence-peddling” and called on state officials to block the deal.

State attorneys general retain independent authority under antitrust laws, and the DOJ’s decision does not itself prevent additional legal challenges to the proposed transaction.

The merger still faces several hurdles to reach completion. (Mario Tama/Getty Images / Getty Images)

The merger still faces several steps before completion.

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Paramount announced Friday that it had extended debt exchange and tender offers connected to Warner Bros. 

Discovery and said it expects those offers to remain aligned with the anticipated closing timetable. The company also cautioned that the acquisition remains subject to closing conditions and other risks.

NEW YORK — WhatsApp experienced significant disruptions on Friday, leaving users across multiple countries unable to send messages, log in or access the popular messaging platform as reports of service failures surged.

The Meta-owned application, used by billions worldwide for personal and business communication, faced intermittent outages affecting both mobile apps and desktop versions. Service monitoring sites and social media platforms quickly filled with complaints from users encountering login errors, message delivery failures and complete app unresponsiveness.

Downdetector and similar tracking tools recorded sharp spikes in outage reports, with problems noted in the United States, United Kingdom, South Africa, the Philippines, Italy and other regions. The timing during peak usage hours amplified frustration for individuals relying on WhatsApp for daily coordination, work discussions and family connections.

Scope and Nature of the Issues

Users reported various symptoms, including “unexpected error, invalid request” messages, inability to log in and frozen desktop applications. One user in the United Kingdom described seeing repeated login failures on both the app and web version. Others noted the Windows PC app becoming unresponsive, preventing normal operation.

The disruptions appeared to affect core functions such as messaging, voice calls and media sharing. Some users were unexpectedly logged out and faced difficulties signing back in. The global scale of the outage suggested backend infrastructure or network issues at Meta rather than localized problems.

Meta had not issued an immediate official statement on the cause or expected resolution time. The company’s service status pages showed no widespread alerts initially, creating a common disconnect between official monitoring and real-world user experiences during partial outages.

User Reactions and Impact

Frustration spread rapidly on alternative platforms like X, where users shared screenshots of error messages and sought confirmation that others were affected. The @status_is_down account actively tracked the situation, confirming reports from multiple countries and noting the specific error messages users encountered.

Businesses relying on WhatsApp for customer service and internal communication faced immediate challenges. Families separated by distance reported difficulties staying in touch, while communities using group chats for coordination experienced disruptions. The outage highlighted the platform’s central role in modern communication, particularly in regions where it serves as a primary messaging tool.

Meta’s History with Service Disruptions

Meta platforms, including Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, have faced notable outages in the past, sometimes affecting billions of users simultaneously. Previous incidents have been attributed to configuration changes, server overloads or backbone routing problems. The company typically resolves such issues within hours and provides post-incident explanations.

WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption and widespread adoption make reliability especially critical. Even brief downtime can have significant personal and economic impacts, particularly for small businesses and users in developing markets where alternatives may be limited or more expensive.

Technical Context and Possible Causes

While Meta has not confirmed details, outages of this nature often stem from issues with authentication servers, content delivery networks or internal database synchronization. The simultaneous impact on mobile and desktop versions points to a core service problem rather than platform-specific bugs.

Users attempting basic troubleshooting steps such as restarting apps, clearing cache or switching networks reported mixed results. Some found temporary relief by using web versions or alternative connections, while others remained locked out entirely.

Broader Implications for Digital Communication

The incident underscores growing dependence on a handful of major technology platforms for everyday communication. As services like WhatsApp become integral to personal relationships, commerce and information sharing, even short disruptions can create widespread inconvenience and highlight infrastructure vulnerabilities.

In an era of increasing digital reliance, such events raise questions about redundancy, backup systems and the need for diversified communication methods. While Meta invests heavily in reliability, the global scale and complexity of its services make complete prevention of outages challenging.

Company Response Expectations

Meta has a track record of addressing major outages promptly once identified. Engineering teams typically work quickly to restore service, followed by transparency reports detailing root causes and preventive measures. Users are advised to monitor official Meta channels or help centers for updates.

For those still experiencing issues, patience is recommended as fixes are implemented progressively. Avoiding repeated failed login attempts can help reduce additional server load during recovery.

What Users Can Do

Affected individuals should try standard troubleshooting: restarting devices, reinstalling the app, clearing cache or using alternative networks. For critical communications, having backup methods such as SMS, email or other messaging apps is advisable.

Businesses should maintain contingency plans for platform disruptions, including diversified customer contact channels. Personal users can prepare by ensuring important contacts are available through multiple methods.

Looking Ahead

As Meta works to fully restore service, normal functionality is expected to return progressively across regions. The outage will likely be analyzed internally to strengthen resilience against similar incidents in the future.

Friday’s disruption to WhatsApp serves as a notable reminder of digital infrastructure’s role in daily life. While inconvenient, such events often lead to improvements that benefit users long-term. In the meantime, affected individuals continue seeking alternatives and sharing experiences as they await resolution.

The global scale of the WhatsApp outage on June 12 highlighted both the platform’s reach and the challenges of maintaining uninterrupted service for billions of users. As recovery efforts continue, the incident adds to ongoing discussions about technology dependence and the importance of reliable digital communication tools.

Tech giant’s vice president and country manager for UK and Ireland recognised for services to technology and the digital commerce industry

Amazon’s UK chief has been honoured in the King’s Birthday Honours list.

John Boumphrey, who is originally from Wirral and has headed up the Silicon Valley tech giant’s UK operations since 2020, is the latest business figure to be made an OBE. Amazon’s vice president and country manager for UK and Ireland has been recognised for services to technology, consumer and the digital commerce industry.

Mr Boumphrey has overseen the group’s UK and Ireland operation, which employs approximately 75,000 people, having previously headed its European fashion division.

He also played a key role in launching Amazon’s Multibank donation centres in 2022, alongside former prime minister Gordon Brown. The initiative connects surplus goods donated by Amazon and other businesses with those in need, via a network of local charities and care professionals.

The honour comes despite the company facing criticism from trade unions and politicians in recent years over working conditions, particularly within its warehouse network.

Amazon currently operates 32 warehouses across the UK, having opened its most recent facility in Northampton earlier this week.

The company also announced plans for a new site in Kettering, saying its latest openings are set to generate thousands of new jobs.

Earlier this year, the global retailer revealed plans to cut around 16,000 roles — including some in the UK — as part of a wider drive to streamline its business.

Elsewhere in the corporate world, a number of other prominent business leaders have also received recognition in the honours list. Among those honoured was Nick Wilkinson, the former chief executive of Dunelm, who was awarded an OBE for his services to retail.

Aline Santos Farhat, Unilever’s chief brand officer and chief diversity and inclusion officer, was equally recognised with an OBE.

Entrepreneur who inspired Netflix film named in King’s Birthday Honours list for services to finance, business and charity

Entrepreneur Dave Fishwick, the inspiration behind Netflix’s Bank of Dave film, has credited self-belief and determination as the driving forces behind his success after he was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).

Fishwick was raised in a working-class family in Nelson, Lancashire, before amassing his fortune through minibus sales and subsequently establishing an independent lending firm to help people in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis.

Upon learning of his inclusion in the King’s Birthday Honours list on Friday, the 55 year old businessman-turned-philanthropist said: “It’s just wonderful that His Majesty the King has spent some time looking at what we’ve been doing and seen fit to award us an OBE.

“It’s just unbelievable. And from a lad from Burnley, who set off with absolutely no qualifications whatsoever – I left school at 16, absolutely useless.”

Upon leaving school, Mr Fishwick had little option but to head straight into labouring on building sites for just under £30 a week. He kept three jobs on the go simultaneously, selling clothes at Smithfield Market in Manchester each morning, working on building sites during the day, and spinning records at nightclubs in the evenings.

Mr Fishwick harboured ambitions of working with cars, but couldn’t stretch to even a gallon of petrol. Undeterred, he toured dozens of garages seeking old part-exchange vehicles he could take away, renovate and sell, retaining a share of the proceeds.

“I did it again and again, and that just shows sometimes you’ve got to think outside the box, because you can start with absolutely nothing, and it’s not where you start that matters, it’s where you finish that counts,” he told the Press Association.

“This award from the King just shows that if you put your mind to it, you can achieve anything, and you can come from the north, you really can come from the north of England and still have opportunities like lots of people do in the south.”

He was honoured with his OBE for services to finance, business and charitable causes.

Mr Fishwick established Burnley Saving and Loans in 2011, with the tale of its success and his investigations into loan sharks forming the basis of 2023’s Bank of Dave, featuring Rory Kinnear, alongside its 2025 follow-up Bank of Dave 2: The Loan Ranger.

“If Dave from Burnley with absolutely nothing can make it happen, then you can too,” he said.

“So it’s really important that we get the message out that if you put your mind to it, self-belief, determination.”

The proceeds from Burnley Savings and Loans, which operates under the tagline “Bank on Dave”, support worthy causes, predominantly throughout Lancashire.

Mr Fishwick attributes his ongoing achievements to his “right-hand man” David Henshaw, his wife Nicky and the production team behind Bank of Dave, as he embarks on fresh ventures, including becoming ambassador for 6,000 community banks across America.

When questioned about his future plans, Mr Fishwick expressed his desire to maintain his advocacy work and distribute financial guidance. He also revealed he had been approached to appear on Strictly Come Dancing – though confessed he has no dancing ability whatsoever.

“I’ve been offered the jungle (I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! ) and lots of other things, but that’s not something I’d want to do,” he said.

“But the dancing, I’m thinking maybe next time, because that just sounds fun, doesn’t it?”.