Renewable energy to be competitive with fossil fuels by 2020 as prices drop January 13, 2018 The cost of generating renewable power is falling at an “unprecedented” rate, and by 2020, all renewable technologies will be price competitive with traditional fossil fuels, a new report says. Since 2010, the cost of generating power from onshore wind has fallen by around a quarter, while solar photovoltaic (PV) electricity costs have dropped by [...]
A speech by London mayor Sadiq Khan was disrupted by protesters calling for his arrest January 13, 2018 A group of Donald Trump-supporting protesters disrupted a speech today by Sadiq Khan, declaring a plan to make a citizen’s arrest of the London mayor. Khan was set to begin a speech on gender equality at the left-leaning think tank the Fabian Society when a group called the White Pendragons called for Khan’s arrest as [...]
Carillion: Trade credit insurers pull cover as Carillion “hangs by a thread” January 13, 2018 Euler Hermes and other trade credit insurers have stopped writing new coverage for suppliers to embattled contractor Carillion, sending a signal the company is at risk of collapse, according to reports. Tokio Marine HCC and MGA Nexus also said they would not insure deliveries to the firm, Insurance Insider reported. Trade credit insurance protects firms [...]
Open Banking: NatWest warns fraudsters could scam customers through new Open Banking regulations January 13, 2018 As Open Banking comes into effect today, NatWest has warned customers of the risks the new regulations could bring. New Open Banking rules give customers of nine banks, including RBS-owned NatWest, the ability to share their financial data from personal current accounts electronically with other banks and businesses. The plans aim to make it easier [...]
Markets roundup: Pound sterling hits its highest since the Brexit vote as FTSE 100 smashes records January 12, 2018 The pound partied hard this afternoon following reports of good news for Brexit negotiators – as the FTSE 100 ended the week by breaking another record Sterling began the evening more than one per cent higher against the dollar, while it mustered a 0.2 per cent rise against the euro as reports the Spanish and [...]
Fracking at Preston New Road: Cuadrilla “encouraged” by gas discovery at its Lancashire site January 12, 2018 Fracking firm Cuadrilla Resources said it has discovered a “very sizeable quantity” of natural gas at its exploration site in Lancashire as it prepares to drill what will be the UK’s first horizontal well in shale rock. The fresh data, acquired by recovering some 375 feet of core samples from a well at the Preston [...]
TfL extends Addison Lee’s London licence by another five years as Uber’s licence battle continues January 12, 2018 Transport for London (TfL) has extended Addison Lee’s licence to operate in the capital for another five years, as Uber’s battle to regain its licence continues. Minicab firm Addison Lee said today that its licence “has been routinely renewed by Transport for London”. A spokesperson for the firm said: “Addison Lee looks forward to continuing [...]
Opinion: Should we be pleased that housing has been promoted to cabinet or should we be taking it out of party politics altogether? January 12, 2018 Take housing out of government control says Glynis Frew The government is beginning to view the importance of housing in the context of national prosperity more so than ever before. Encouraging proposals were announced at the Budget and just this week it was confirmed that housing would at long last have meaningful cabinet representation, for [...]
London’s mayor Sadiq Khan sets sights on Elizabeth Line extension east of Abbey Wood to Ebbsfleet | City A.M. January 12, 2018 The £14.8bn Elizabeth Line is currently on track to be fully open by the end of next year, and the mayor is now eyeing a previously mooted extension to the railway. Sadiq Khan has outlined in his draft London plan, setting out how he thinks the capital should look like over the coming years, that [...]
Facebook share price falls on plans to overhaul its news feed to show fewer posts from businesses January 12, 2018 Facebook is rejigging the algorithm for its news feed to make posts from users’ friends and family more prominent than content from businesses and brands. Shares in the company fell more than four per cent to $180.18 at US market open. The social media giant’s founder and boss Mark Zuckerberg announced the change last night, [...]