Vodafone joins Apple and Google in slamming UK government’s Investigatory Powers Bill, warning that the snoopers’ charter risks undermining trust January 7, 2016 Vodafone has slammed the government’s so-called snoopers’ charter, warning that the proposed legislation to monitor communication risks undermining trust in British telco firms. Vodafone has expressed concern that authorities’ power to tap into and access its network would be a “major imposition on the freedom of an operator”. In a submission to the Draft Investigatory [...]
Prime Minister David Cameron says he will not rule out imposing a new tax on sugary drinks January 7, 2016 Prime Minister David Cameron has left the door open to putting a new tax on sugary drinks, telling reporters this afternoon that he would not be "in the business of ruling things out" when it comes to tackling obesity. At a press conference in Hungary, Cameron said that while he would like to avoid imposing any [...]
Facebook Messenger app passes 800m users and David Marcus predicts decline of SMS and text messaging January 7, 2016 Facebook is predicting the decline of SMS in 2016 as it revealed its Messenger app has passed the 800m user milestone. David Marcus, the vice president of Facebook messaging products said there is still "much more opportunity ahead" and the app, which launched in March 2014, was still in its early days. The figures mean Messenger [...]
Danish central bank raises interest rate (but it’s still negative) January 7, 2016 The Danish central bank has raised one of its key interest rates – but it's still in the negative. The bank said today it was hiking its deposit rate to minus 0.65 per cent, up from minus 0.75 per cent. It's not exactly earth-shaking – but it is one of the first European central banks to [...]
North Korea’s ambassador summoned by Asia minister Hugo Swire over reported nuclear test January 7, 2016 The Democratic People's Republic of Korea's ambassador in London was summoned by Asia minister Hugo Swire to the foreign office today, following the reported nuclear test. North Korea's ambassador, Hyon Hak Bong, was summoned after North Korea reportedly tested a miniaturised hydrogen bomb. Read more: North Korea announces fourth nuclear bomb test in 10 years Following [...]
Chinese stock exchanges in Shenzhen and Shanghai suspend their circuit-breakers January 7, 2016 We learned this morning that Chinese market circuit-breakers are like buses: you wait ages for one and then two come along at once. But clearly two of the country's largest stock exchanges have had enough: today the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges issued statements saying they're scrapping the circuit-breaker. They're suspending their suspensions The circuit-breaker [...]
Bitcoin price soars past $450 on the back of China turbulence January 7, 2016 Bitcoin is having a roaring start to 2016 so far. While the pound has fallen to a five-year low against the dollar amid another turbulent day in China, bitcoin has benefited from the drama to go on a tear to $450 and beyond, hitting its highest point since Christmas. The cryptocurrency started the day at [...]
Labour London mayoral candidate Sadiq Khan increases lead over Conservative rival Zac Goldsmith, according to new poll January 7, 2016 Labour's London mayoral candidate Sadiq Khan has extended his lead against Tory rival Zac Goldsmith, according to a new poll. A poll by YouGov has found that Khan has increased his lead by five points since November, up to 31 per cent from 26 per cent. Goldsmith, meanwhile, is unchanged on 24 per cent, with [...]
China Securities Regulatory Commission scraps stock circuit breaker rule as FTSE 100 and global markets tumble January 7, 2016 We learned yesterday morning that Chinese market circuit-breakers are like buses: you wait ages for one and then two come along at once. But clearly two of the country's largest stock exchanges have had enough: China Securities Regulatory Commission stock exchanges issued a statement saying it is scrapping the circuit-breaker, which has halted trading on the country's stock markets twice [...]
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn meets with British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) and Confederation of British Industry (CBI) nearly four months after taking the reins of the Labour party January 7, 2016 Jeremy Corbyn is apparently launching a charm offensive to woo British businesses this week, meeting with executives at both the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) and the Confederation of British Industry for the first time since being selected as Labour leader last September. A BCC spokesman confirmed to City A.M. that Corbyn met privately with BCC director [...]