America is embracing the opportunities of AI while the rest of the world frets October 25, 2016 The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) continues to generate concerns. The latest furore emerged at the start of this week. Researchers in the top ranked University College London computer science department claimed that an AI algorithm correctly predicts the outcome of 79 per cent of cases heard at the European Court of Human Rights. The current fear [...]
As the government gives the go-ahead to expand Heathrow, should it have approved Gatwick too? October 25, 2016 Paul Wait, chief executive of the Guild of Travel Management Companies, says Yes. There is a simple but solid economic argument that a runway at Gatwick should be approved alongside one at Heathrow. Increased capacity at both airports would offer greater connectivity for passengers travelling to both short haul and long haul destinations, and offer businesses [...]
Britain’s tech sector is a world leader – and its future is brighter than ever October 25, 2016 Technology has transformed our lives, communities, cultural experiences and our economy. But the UK isn’t just a consumer of innovative technology, we’re a creator too. British industry has quickly become a key player in the tech world and this was plain to see during my visit to the technology cluster, Tech City, in East London. [...]
How Theresa May can achieve a truly radical housebuilding revolution October 25, 2016 Today, so many leaders are judged on how much they achieve in their first 100 days in office, a concept first associated with US President Franklin D Roosevelt. But as this milestone passes for Theresa May, what can we expect from the government when it comes to its promise of a radical approach to housing? [...]
Employers must approach maternity leave for premature newborns more sensitively if they want to retain staff October 25, 2016 Legislation around maternity leave has been put under the spotlight this week, as more than 105,000 people have signed a petition calling for the government to extend the length of time granted for parents who have premature babies. Current law stipulates that employers must grant up to 52 weeks maternity leave. An employee can choose [...]
Resurgent protectionism threatens both the US economy and share prices – and not just if Trump wins October 24, 2016 Protectionism – the practice of shielding a country’s industry from foreign competition – and the prospect of a descent into a beggar-thy-neighbour global trade war is one of the biggest risks to investment returns over the next decade. Indeed, politicians are already succumbing: according to the Global Trade Alert initiative, the number of protectionist measures enacted [...]
We’ll never have a better health system unless we’re brutally honest about the NHS’s failings October 24, 2016 It was heart-rending to witness. Back in January, sitting at my grandmother’s hospital bedside, a new patient entered the ward. Her name was Anita Richardson, a 42 year-old grandmother from Rochester. Visibly frail and frightened, Anita and her family explained how she’d been visiting her GP frequently over the previous 10 months, complaining of shoulder then back [...]
As Wallonia blocks the EU’s trade deal with Canada, should Britain be concerned about its own prospects in Brexit talks? October 24, 2016 Denis MacShane, the UK’s former minister of Europe, author of Brexit: How Britain Left Europe, and senior adviser at Avisa Partners, Brussels, says Yes. Europe (including the UK) has 7 per cent of the world’s population, but 30 per cent of its trade and 30 per cent of its foreign direct investment. In 1950, global trade amounted to [...]
Spooking investors: Why this earnings season is like Halloween October 24, 2016 Trick or treat! When you think about it, corporate earnings season is similar to that children’s favourite, Halloween. Expectations usually run high, but you never know if the door you are knocking on will yield a delicious surprise or be a complete let-down, as the sweets are either from last year or there’s none left. [...]
Theresa May’s government is failing to treat small businesses as partners October 24, 2016 Small businesses wait an average of 72 days to be paid, while a staggering £26 billion is owed in the private sector according to The Asset Based Finance Association and BACS respectively. And with cash flow being the main cause of business failure, it makes perfect sense for the British government to get serious about [...]