How would you like to pay for that, madam? October 17, 2018 | City Talk The global payments industry is dramatically improving due to technology. Mobile has changed everything. Payments are getting faster and smarter. Competition is intense. And payments are revolutionsing markets in the developing world even faster than in the developed world. In just the next seven years, the McKinsey Global Institute estimates that widespread adoption and use [...]
Uber launches new UK safety features as employment appeal looms October 17, 2018 Ride-hailing firm Uber has today launched a slate of new safety features in the UK and 23 other European countries, as it heads towards a court of appeal hearing regarding workers' rights at the end of the month. The Uber app will now house a safety centre from which passengers and drivers can share their trip details [...]
UK foils more than 10 cyber attacks per week, says GCHQ October 16, 2018 The UK has faced more than 10 cyber attacks per week on average in the last two years, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) today revealed, with most coming from “hostile” nation states. Since it became operational in 2016, GCHQ’s cyber crime defence centre has been forced to defend Britain against 1,167 threats, 557 of which [...]
Not everything was awesome at Instagram, co-founder says in first public remarks since stepping down October 16, 2018 Instagram’s Kevin Systrom said people do not leave their jobs “because everything is awesome”, three weeks after stepping down amid rumours of a fallout with Mark Zuckerberg. In his first public remarks since leaving the company, Systrom said there were reasons for his departure, but gave no details. Read more: Facebook loses $11bn after Instagram [...]
Tesla shares rise as SEC settlement gets nod of approval from US judge October 16, 2018 A settlement deal between Tesla, its chief executive Elon Musk and the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) was today given the all-clear by a US judge. Musk had agreed to pay a fine of $20m (£15.1m) and step down from his role as Tesla chairman for three years, while Tesla also paid out a similar fine. The [...]
Uber set to be valued at $120bn when it goes public next year October 16, 2018 Ride-hailing giant Uber could be valued at $120bn (£90.8bn) as part of its upcoming public listing in 2019, skyrocketing from its last valuation in August. Several US banks have raised Uber's valuation ahead of its intended initial public offering (IPO), sources told the Wall Street Journal, which has been suggested for an early 2019 slot. Should [...]
Digital bank Oaknorth hires ex-Bank of England director October 16, 2018 Challenger bank Oaknorth has hired former Bank of England director Martin Stewart to join its advisory board. Working with the fintech as an independent adviser, Stewart was previously the director of banks, building societies and credit unions at the Bank of England. Oaknorth said it hopes that by bringing Stewart on board, it can better serve [...]
London business benefits scaleup Perkbox travels across the channel October 16, 2018 Employee engagement scaleup Perkbox, which taps companies such as Ikea, Odeon and Deliveroo to provide benefits and discounts to small business employees, has today made its first foray outside of the UK to launch in France. The London company, which has approximately 250 employees under its own wing, is set to open up a new [...]
Google joins the list of firms deserting Saudi conference over missing journalist October 16, 2018 Google became the latest name in a long list of high-profile companies to drop out of an investment conference in Saudi Arabia late last night, amid building criticism of the state's handling of a missing journalist. A well-known critic of Saudi Arabia's policies, US resident and Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi was last seen entering [...]
Menswear styling tech startup Thread raises $22m October 16, 2018 Fast fashion startup Thread will today announce the close of its series B funding round at $22m (£16.7m), which includes backing from Balderton Capital, Beringea and H&M’s investment arm H&M Co:Lab. The round will also be complemented by a crowdfunding raise on Crowdcube later this year, providing everyday investors access to shares in Thread on [...]