Softbank shares up on reports it will scale back Wework investment amid tech rout January 8, 2019 Shares in Softbank rose more than five per cent this morning following reports it has scaled back its new investment in Wework. The Japanese conglomerate reportedly plans to invest $2bn (£1.6bn) into the shared workspace startup, down from the original sum of $16bn. The investment will no longer involve Softbank’s prolific $100bn Vision Fund, the [...]
Time for a super-ministry to lead the fourth industrial revolution January 8, 2019 When I was elected to parliament, one of the first things that I campaigned on was the need to develop a comprehensive industrial strategy. The future of the country depends on a strong industrial base – not least because this is the starting point for the innovation that will maintain the UK’s position as a [...]
Apple analysts have let us down yet again January 8, 2019 Apple analysts, huh, what are they good for? Absolutely nothing. Say it again… Yep, that’s right, I just butchered one of the most powerful lyrics of the past 50 years. Lyrics immortalised by Edwin Starr in the 1970 Vietnam protest song, but for me it kind of grabs your attention and makes the point rather [...]
RBS invests in digital banking startup to rival Monzo and Starling January 7, 2019 The Royal Bank of Scotland has invested in digital current account aimed at students and young people that has set out to rival challenger banks Monzo and Starling. The £2m investment in fintech startup Loot was made through Natwest’s digital-only retail bank Bo, which is due to launch this year, and takes its total shareholding to 25 per [...]
Japanese billionaire businessman takes crown for most retweeted tweet January 7, 2019 A Japanese fashion billionaire has taken the crown for the most retweeted tweet of all time after receiving 4.5m retweets for a message he posted on the micro-blogging site on 5 January. Yusaku Maezawa, who founded Japanese online clothing retailer Zozo, also received 1.1m likes for his tweet and 293,000 comments. ZOZOTOWN新春セールが史上最速で取扱高100億円を先ほど突破！！日頃の感謝を込め、僕個人から100名様に100万円【総額1億円のお年玉】を現金でプレゼントします。応募方法は、僕をフォローいただいた上、このツイートをRTするだけ。受付は1/7まで。当選者には僕から直接DMします！ #月に行くならお年玉 pic.twitter.com/cKQfPPbOI3 — [...]
DEBATE: With Apple sales slowing and the share price tumbling, is China to blame? January 7, 2019 With Apple sales slowing and the share price tumbling, is China to blame? Neil Goddin, manager of the Kames Global Equity fund, says YES. Unlike the western world, the Chinese people are likely to support their country in the midst of a trade war by not buying American if they don’t need to. They would not [...]
Britain needs to step up to win the global AI healthcare race January 7, 2019 At this time of year, the news is invariably gearing up for a season full of stories about a crisis in hospital care. But away from the headlines, Britain is on the brink of a real global health success story – one we must capitalise on in 2019. It’s no stretch to say that the UK [...]
CES 2019: Tech firms set to chase Vegas lights for gadget bonanza January 6, 2019 This week marks the dawn of CES 2019, an annual trade show held in Las Vegas where startups and tech giants alike debut some of the world’s hottest new gadgets. Following on from last year’s most popular trend, voice assistants and artificially intelligent products are expected to take centre stage. Samsung is thought to be [...]
Mobile data use increases tenfold while landline phone use falls by half January 5, 2019 Landline telephone use has been halved in the last six years while mobile data has increased tenfold during the same period, according to a study by Ofcom. The number of minutes of calls made from a landline has decreased dramatically, from 103bn in 2012 to 54bn in 2017. During the same period the number of mobile [...]
Huawei punishes staff after Happy New Year tweet sent from an iPhone January 4, 2019 Huawei staff have reportedly been punished after Twitter followers were wished a happy new year from the official account via an iPhone. The tweet was posted on New Year’s Day, wishing followers a "Happy #2019", but the message included automated text telling users it came “via Twitter for iPhone”. While the company promptly deleted the tweet, [...]