A robot tax is a tempting but misguided response to our public funding crisis January 10, 2018 The threats posed by automation are now a common topic for futurologists. The reality is that automation has been quietly progressing for some time, and while we are a long way off a Skynet-style singularity, the development of artificial intelligence means robots are not only taking our current jobs, they are going to take more. [...]
Southern rail franchise faces spending watchdog criticism for giving passengers “worst service” on Britain’s rail network January 10, 2018 The huge Southern rail franchise has been criticised by parliament’s spending watchdog as failing to deliver value for money, with passengers experiencing the worst service performance on the national rail network. Major disruption to the Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern (TSGN) franchise has resulted in the assessment given in a National Audit Office report out [...]
World Bank warns 2018 could be last hurrah for strong global growth as it upgrades forecasts January 9, 2018 An acceleration in the global economic expansion this year threatens to be a last hurrah for rising prosperity if governments allow the productivity slowdown to continue, according to the World Bank. The organisation, which focuses on promoting international development, predicts global GDP growth will edge up to 3.1 per cent in 2018 from an estimated [...]
Who is the new City minister? Salisbury MP John Glen takes reins from Steve Barclay as Theresa May’s reshuffle concludes January 9, 2018 Salisbury MP John Glen has been named the new City minister, as Theresa May’s reshuffle concludes. Glen, who will have responsibility for Brexit, takes the reins from Steve Barclay at a critical point in the withdrawal process. He is the 11th economic secretary to the Treasury in the last decade, with the role being held [...]
Great Britain set record medal target for Winter Olympics at Pyeongchang 2018 January 9, 2018 UK Sport has set British and Northern Irish athletes the target of winning an unprecedented five medals at next month’s Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. The funding body is confident that a vast increase in investment over the four-year cycle from £14m to £32m will result in the best ever Winter Games for the country’s Olympians [...]
Kodak shares rise on intention to launch Bitcoin and Ethereum rival cryptocurrency KODAKcoin January 9, 2018 Shares in camera company Kodak jumped more than 40 per cent today after the company announced its intention to launch its own cryptocurrency. KODAKCoin will be a partnership between Kodak and Wenn Digital, with the aim of ensuring photographers get paid for their work. Using a blockchain platform called KODAKOne, the project will keep a [...]
Donald Trump to attend World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos January 9, 2018 Donald Trump is to be the first US president to attend the Davos World Economic Forum in 18 years, it was confirmed today. The conference in Switzerland typically attracts attendees including billionaires, top business leaders and Hollywood stars. It is unusual for presidents to attend in person, though vice-presidents sometimes represent the US at the [...]
Solving the gender pay gap means making stay-at-home fatherhood sexy January 9, 2018 If we are going to solve the gender pay gap in the workplace, more women need take the role of men in the home seriously. All too often, women are quick to deem men useless or incompetent when it comes to childcare or housework. But while division of labour is a factor, this should not [...]
Latest Mifid II hiccup: European regulator Esma delays revealing list of stocks set to be affected by dark pool volume caps January 9, 2018 In the latest wobble in a massive regulatory shake-up, the European regulator has delayed revealing a list of stocks which will be affected by new dark pool volume caps. The European Securities and Markets Authority (Esma) blamed exchanges for suppling “incomplete data”, and said it hoped they would remedy this so a list could be [...]
Liam Fox says up to 40 “continuity” trade deals will be in place by point of Brexit January 9, 2018 International trade minister Liam Fox has guaranteed that the UK will have deals in place with all its current trading partners by the point of Brexit. Fox made the claim as part of the government’s efforts to have its Trade Bill pushed through parliament. The bill is one of nine new pieces of legislation that [...]