Amazon’s virtual home assistant Echo comes to the UK September 14, 2016 Amazon has launched its virtual home assistant Echo in the UK and Germany, its first markets for the device outside the US, which lets users control their home and do tasks online via simple voice commands. The device, priced at £149.99 or £99.99 for Prime members, is powered by Amazon's Alexa, an artificial intelligence voice assistant similar to [...]
George Osborne vows to safeguard his flagship Northern Powerhouse policy, after City A.M. reveals think tank plan September 14, 2016 George Osborne has vowed to protect his flagship Northern Powerhouse policy, just a day after City A.M. revealed he would launch a think tank dedicated to the project City A.M. reported the former chancellor's plans on Tuesday, just hours after David Cameron announced plans to leave parliament all together. And speaking to The Sun, Osborne [...]
Romania’s first bitcoin exchange BTCXchange closes a month after being put up for sale September 14, 2016 The first order-book bitcoin exchange to launch in Romania shut down its operations this week, almost a month after it was first put up for sale. BTCXchange closed on Monday after failing to find a buyer, local news group Bihon reported, after being put up for sale on 18 August. However, the cause of the [...]
Before the bell: What you need to know before the US market open September 14, 2016 US seeds company Monsanto has accepted a takeover offer from German chemicals company Bayer, marking the biggest deal of 2016. Meanwhile, stocks are floating on a sea of green. Here's what you need to know before the US market open at 2:30pm London time. US stocks are pointing higher in the pre-market. The S&P is up by 0.2 per [...]
Ford warns on profit for 2017, blaming increased spending on electric vehicles and driverless cars September 14, 2016 Ford Motor said today that its profit in 2017 will decline from its result for this year, because it has ramped up spending. The car manufacturer said it has increased spending on emerging opportunities and other costs – including electric vehicles and driverless cars. Last week, the company lowered its 2016 pre-tax profit forecast to [...]
Jeremy Corbyn clashes with Theresa May over her flagship grammar schools plan September 14, 2016 Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has clashed with Theresa May over her plans to push for new grammar schools, increasing the pressure on her flagship reforms. Earlier today London mayor Sadiq Khan called on May to drop to her first major policy as Prime Minister, which she has described as a key part of Britain becoming “the great meritocracy”. [...]
Finance watchdog slaps former Barclays wealth and investment management boss Andrew Tinney with ban September 14, 2016 A former boss of Barclays wealth and investment management has been told by the regulator he should be banned from working in any senior management positions at financial institutions. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) found that Tinney failed to carry out his job with integrity and accused him of willfully obscuring a report criticising Barclays senior management. Tinney, who now works in the [...]
Former BBC Trust vice-chair condemns “brutal” government treatment of Rona Fairhead September 14, 2016 The former vice-chair of the BBC Trust has bemoaned the “pretty brutal” treatment of Rona Fairhead after she resigned from her role as chair of the organisation last night. Fairhead has been chair of the regulation body since October 2014. With the Trust due to be scrapped, she was set, with the approval of the previous government under [...]
Uber launches driverless car pilot in Pittsburgh September 14, 2016 Uber users in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania could be in for a surprise today – their car could turn up with no-one in the driver's seat. The tech firm has made self-driving Ubers available for the first time in the US city – although they will come with a safety driver "to make sure the ride goes [...]
Labour has secured a top role in overseeing the Brexit process, with a party MP set to chair a new select committee September 14, 2016 Labour has secured a plum role in the oversight of government Brexit policy, with an MP from Jeremy Corbyn's party set to chair a new select committee on leaving the EU, following an agreement between party whips. Read More: Chuka Umunna to bid for Home Affairs committee leadership The committee will shadow David Davis' new Department [...]