Twitter on cyber attack alert after warning of possible state-backed hack for the first time December 13, 2015 Twitter has issued a warning about a potential state-sponsored hack for the first time ever. The social media company sent out email warnings to users feared to have been affected, suggesting that hackers may have been after IP addresses, email addresses or phone numbers, which Twitter only began collecting some months ago. Cyber attacks have [...]
COP21 Paris climate summit: UK business welcomes landmark climate change agreement as an “exciting opportunity” December 13, 2015 UK business welcomed the landmark climate deal in Paris, with the CBI describing the outcome of the Paris talks as an “exciting opportunity for business”. The first universal agreement on climate change was finally reached this weekend, following weeks of negotiations and extended deadlines. 195 nations committed to cutting emissions in a deal calling for [...]
When will the Night Tube be introduced? One in twenty Londoners have given up hope that Transport for London will ever introduce 24-hour underground services December 13, 2015 Poor, embattled Night Tube. It has yet to see the light of day despite being set to launch this autumn, as clashes between Transport for London and trade unions put paid to these plans. After months of delays, some Londoners have even begun to give up hope that we’ll ever see it. A new survey [...]
AIM-listed biotech firm Benchmark to buy shrimp food manufacturer Inve Aquaculture from RBS and Rabobank for $342m December 13, 2015 Benchmark Holdings, which operates numerous sustainable biotechnology and agriculture companies, will tomorrow announce its takeover of fish food business Inve Aquaculture from Royal Bank of Scotland and Rabobank. AIM-listed Benchmark paid $342m (£225m) – $300m in cash and the rest in shares – for Inve, which manufactures nutrition and health products for shrimp nurseries in 70 countries. [...]
Facebook’s German office in Hamburg attacked by vandals who scrawled “dislike” graffiti December 13, 2015 Facebook's offices in Germany have been attacked by vandals who scrawled a wall of the buliding with "Facebook Dislike" in red spray paint. The office in Hamburg in the north of Germany was pelted with rocks and windows were smashed by a group of around 15 to 20 people dressed in black and wearing masks, AFP reports, citing a [...]
Fintech predictions 2016: Blockchain and bitcoin unicorns will give way to “thoroughbreds” December 13, 2015 More good news for bitcoin, and the blockchain technology that it builds upon: At least five startups with $1bn valuations are expected to emerge within the next year, according to M&A advisers Magister Advisors. The advisers have been gazing into their crystal ball for next year, and foresee good times ahead for bitcoin firms, predicting [...]
Geminid meteor shower UK 2015: How, where and when to watch tonight’s spectacle but will cloudy weather cover up the stunning views? December 13, 2015 Star gazers will be treated to a spectacular show tonight, when the spectacle of the Geminid meteor shower appears over the skies of Britain. The annual event is said to be the biggest meteor shower of the year, with as many as 120 meteors filling the sky every single hour at its peak, which just happens to be this evening. [...]
NORAD Santa tracker 2015: Where is Father Christmas right now? Track Santa and his reindeer live as they fly over the world to deliver presents on Christmas Eve December 13, 2015 Want to keep a close eye on exactly when Father Christmas will reach your chimney this year? Well, you’re in luck: US air defence is lending their satellite and radar technology to kids hoping to track his progress across the globe live for the 60th year in a row. Yes, really. In an unlikely burst [...]
Cashless Britain: Mobile payments are transforming our society – cash could be obsolete in the UK by 2020 December 13, 2015 A woman waves her watch at the automated barrier to gain entry to the train. When she exits she will do the same and her fee will be automatically calculated. Apart from the one-time set-up of her account, she has nothing else to do. No ticket to order, no card to carry, no ticket to [...]
Japan’s super fast bullet trains will soon be in India after $12bn deal agreed between Shinzo Abe and Narendra Modi December 13, 2015 Japan 's famous bullet trains, which can hit speeds of more than 200 mph and put most of the rest of the world's transport to shame, will soon make travelling in India a lot faster after a deal was struck between the two countries. On a visit to India, Japan's premier Shinzo Abe agreed a deal with his [...]