UK startup BenevolentAI is embarking on major expansion in the US, opening a New York office August 9, 2017 One of the UK’s most promising artificial intelligence startups is expanding its business into the US as part of ambitious expansion plans. BenevolentAI, whose technology helped researchers find a drug treatment which could delay the onset of motor neuron disease, is opening a new office in New York and has hired a former Google scientist [...]
Trump promises “fire and fury like the world has never seen” if North Korea continues US threats August 8, 2017 President Donald Trump issued a warning against North Korea today that the country would be met with “fire and fury” if it continues threats against the US. The UN Security Council unanimously agreed to impose tough new sanctions on North Korea over the weekend, prompting Pyongyang to promise “thousands-fold” revenge against the US, which it [...]
Kaylen Hinds interview: Former Arsenal youngster on why he traded hometown club for Wolfsburg and Bundesliga August 8, 2017 In 1983 England striker Luther Blissett traded Watford for a life in the foothills of the Alps when he joined European giants AC Milan. His impression of the city renowned for its envied art collection, imposing cathedrals and high fashion? “No matter how much money you have here, you can’t seem to get Rice Krispies,” [...]
Momentum in digital payments M&A continues as FairFX grabs CardOne for £15m and raises an extra £26m August 8, 2017 Activity in the digital payments sector is staying heated, as online travel money provider FairFX has stumped up £15m for current account business CardOne. The acquisition is a new step forward in FairFX’s aim to become a digital banking services company. At the moment the business, which sponsors Sky Sports’ coverage of Formula One, focuses [...]
TP Icap reveals 175 job cuts as it turns its attention to “integration and synergy targets” August 8, 2017 The world’s largest interdealer broker TP Icap announced this morning it has cut 175 jobs in the first half of the year. Tullett Prebon took on around 1,500 brokers when it swallowed Icap’s global broking division to form TP Icap in December. The merger was subject to scrutiny by both the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) [...]
Nissan to offload electric battery business to Chinese private equity firm GSR Capital including Sunderland plant in the UK August 8, 2017 Nissan and NEC have announced the sale of their rechargeable electric battery joint venture to a Chinese private equity firm. Automotive Energy Supply Corporation (AESC) was set up by Nissan and NEC back in 2007 to produce lithium-ion batteries for the car firm, but today Nissan said it is offloading the unit to GSR Capital, [...]
Google chief executive Sundar Pichai’s note to staff in full about the anti-diversity memo and surrounding storm August 8, 2017 Google have made public a note sent to staff by top boss Sundar Pichai, in which he responds to a storm around diversity. A memo written by a Google engineer circulated among staff and was then made public, causing a backlash among current and former staff and more widely in the tech industry. In it, [...]
Quarto Books (QRT) share price rises 27 per cent after mystery takeover approach August 8, 2017 Shares in book publisher Quarto leapt more than 27 per cent this morning after the company announced it was in talks about a potential takeover bid from a mystery buyer. The London-listed company said it had received an initial approach which “the board considers to be attractive and reflective of the inherent value of the [...]
Google chief Sundar Pichai fires staff member who blamed biological differences for lack of women at the top August 8, 2017 Google has fired an employee who said biological differences were the reason fewer women were employed at the top of the firm. The male software engineer wrote the comment in an internal memo. The comment broke Google’s code of conduct, the firm’s chief executive Sundar Pichai said in an email to staff. Read more: Google’s [...]
Liverpool jumps to the top of ESPN’s greatest sporting city 2017 August 8, 2017 Liverpool has leapfrogged Manchester and London to take the title of Britain’s greatest sporting city of 2017. The accolade, awarded by ESPN and produced in conjunction with the University of Bath, considers the best place to be in Blighty if you are a sports fan. Leicester tumbled down the rankings, losing last year’s top spot [...]