How to stop disease spreading: The humble banana could contain a miracle cure for all deadly viruses, including HIV, Hepatitis – and the flu October 23, 2015 The world is going to need a lot of bananas in the future. Scientists have found a way to edit the fruit's genes to protect our cells against deadly viruses, with the hope that one day this could lead to the creation of a whole new generation of medicines. By interfering with the DNA code for a [...]
Thousands of self-employed people facing HMRC fines for late tax returns, say accountants October 23, 2015 Thousands of self-employed Londoners face fines of up to £1,600 at the start of next month for failing to file their tax returns on time, according to City accountants Perrys. Last year approximately 700,000 people in the UK missed the government’s 31 October submission deadline. This year, the fines are estimated to hit as many as 890,000 people. And with 680,000 London workers registered [...]
Liberal Democrat London Assembly leader Caroline Pidgeon announces bid to become Mayor of London October 23, 2015 The leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, Caroline Pidgeon, today launched her campaign to become the Liberal Democrats' candidate for Mayor of London in the 2016 election. Visiting the Gower nursery school in Islington, she outlined the problems in London she would tackle if she got the job, including affordable childcare in the [...]
Tata Steel and the UK government commit £9m to help Scunthorpe steel workers October 23, 2015 The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, alongside Tata Steel, have announced an initial support package of up to £9m to support Scunthorpe steelworkers and the local community. Tata Steel announced earlier this week that it was cutting up to 1,200 jobs in Scunthorpe and Scotland as it scales back operations. Some 900 jobs will go in Scunthorpe [...]
Eurozone business growth unexpectedly accelerated in October – but not enough to temper stimulus expectations October 23, 2015 A new survey has shown business growth in the Eurozone unexpectedly strengthening, but not enough to temper expectations that the European Central Bank (ECB) will boost its monetary stimulus programme. "Unless the PMI business activity and price indices pick up significantly in coming months, the combination of relatively weak growth and deflation signalled by the survey will [...]
Take the stairs up from the Tube? You’re climbing the equivalent of Mount Everest in months at these Underground stations October 23, 2015 When it comes to your daily commute are you a stander or a stair-taker? If you opt for the latter, you could be scaling the equivalent of one of the world's highest mountains with every step. Walking up the stairs instead of taking the lift from London's deepest Tube station Hampstead adds up to 320 steps [...]
Google/Alphabet’s $5bn share buyback was the geekiest ever, and maths fans will love it October 23, 2015 Don't say Google – now known as Alphabet – doesn't know how to have a bit of fun. Of course, it's the geeky type of fun that will bring a smile to the face of maths whizzes, or anyone who enjoys a good in-joke. While a massive jump in earnings yesterday gained the most headlines, and a $5bn share [...]
Alzheimer’s risk can be predicted by your ability to navigate through a virtual maze October 23, 2015 Scientists believe they can use virtual reality to predict a person's risk of developing Alzheimer's, decades before the disease actually begins. By testing how well a group of people in their 20s were able to navigate their way around a computerised maze, they found that those with a known genetic link to Alzheimer's found the [...]
UK property prices: As house prices continue to rise, people have just stopped moving house October 23, 2015 Hot on the heels of Deutsche Bank calling the top of the capital's housing market, a survey by Knight Frank has suggested the number of people moving house has fallen to the lowest level since it began its survey in April 2014. The upmarket estate agent, which conducted its study with Markit, said just 4.6 per cent of households [...]
Sadface, aubergine, unicorn: Room service by emoji? Aloft’s downtown Manhattan hotel launches “text it” October 23, 2015 Peak emoji could be on the horizon – after a New York hotel has launched the world’s first emoji-only room service menu. Sadface… Whether you're a die-hard emoji fan, or perhaps too inebriated/exhausted/lazy to actually ask for room service, guests at Aloft's downtown Manhattan hotel can now text an emoji of what they want to the hotel’s front desk. [...]