Bitcoin blues: Welsh IT worker accidentally threw away laptop containing $100m crypto-currency stash December 4, 2017 One unfortunate Brit may be watching bitcoin’s charge towards the $12,000 barrier with a sinking feeling after throwing out a laptop with an estimated $100m (£74m) of the crypto-currency locked in it. Welsh IT worker James Howells was an early bitcoin investor. But four years ago he threw out his old computer that had the [...]
De Beers lifts the curtain on plans for a blockchain-based diamond platform December 4, 2017 The world’s top diamond supplier has revealed plans to invest in a blockchain-based platform enabling a traceable record for its gemstones. Bruce Cleaver, chief executive of De Beers, said expectations are changing in the industry, with customers wanting to know more about their luxury goods – including an assurance that a diamond has been responsibly [...]
Sam Torrance: Return of megastar Tiger Woods is wonderful news for all of golf December 4, 2017 After four operations on injury problems which can be traced back to the last of his 14 Major victories almost a decade ago, Tiger Woods showed at the Hero World Challenge this week that he is back – and that is exciting. Woods, who finished tied for ninth in his first competitive 72 holes this [...]
Brexit: DUP leader Arlene Foster slams Irish “regulatory alignment” while London mayor Sadiq Khan and SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon call for wider use December 4, 2017 The leader of the DUP Arlene Foster has said she will not accept any regulatory divergence between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK after Brexit. UPDATE: Theresa May and Jean-Claude Juncker confirm no deal today While she backed a “sensible Brexit”, with a time limited transitional period and a deal to meet our [...]
Bitcoin swings to a fresh record high nearing $12,000 after Venezuela reveals plans for petro, an oil-backed cryptocurrency December 4, 2017 Bitcoin set a fresh high of more than $11,800 last night after the President of Venezuela announced plans to launch an oil-backed cryptocurrency called the petro. Nicolas Maduro’s cryptocurrency plans included few specifics, but would aim to overcome US-led financial sanctions. “The 21st century has arrived,” he said. Bitcoin’s price rose to more than $11,800 [...]
Bitcoin faces tighter UK regulation under money laundering plans December 4, 2017 The UK is looking to crack down on bitcoin by expanding European Union anti-money-laundering rules that force traders to disclose their identities and report suspicious activity to include cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin prices have rocketed more than 1,000 per cent this year, but despite digital currencies becoming more mainstream they are often still associated with cybercrime. The [...]
Terra Firma urges hedge fund H/2 to let it wash its hands of Four Seasons care homes December 4, 2017 Private equity firm Terra Firma has urged the hedge fund bondholder of Four Seasons care homes to take the group off its hands, accepting that it will make a loss. In a statement today, Terra Firma asked H/2 – which is Four Seasons’ largest creditor – to accept its stake in the 343-strong ailing care [...]
Brexit deal imminent as impasse reportedly broken on Irish border ahead of Theresa May and David Davis’s crucial meeting with Juncker and Barnier December 4, 2017 Today could see a breakthrough in Brexit talks, which would finally enable both sides to discuss trade and transition, as the UK appears to have made a concession around the Irish border. Green MEP Philippe Lamberts told reporters that he and colleagues were this morning shown a 15 page joint statement in which the UK [...]
Transport for London (TfL) says a large chunk of the capital’s Tube network is about to get a whole lot more reliable December 4, 2017 Around 40 per cent of London’s Tube network is about to get a significant boost in frequency and reliability, after Transport for London wrapped up a successful test of new signalling over the weekend. Engineers from TfL and Thales worked on testing trains on a new computer-based signalling and control system between Hammersmith and Edgware [...]
Media planning behemoth m/Six is evolving to a world of consumers control December 4, 2017 If 2018 is the Chinese Year of the Dog, then surely we’re fast approaching the EU’s Year of Regulation (and lots of it). There are acronyms aplenty for firms to get to grips with – from the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), to the updated Payment Services Directive (PSD2), with swathes in between. Much of [...]