Pay no attention to the dysfunctional comms team behind the Downing Street curtain November 13, 2020 There’s a well-known warning in the world of theatre tech: if someone notices the lighting, you haven’t done your job. Yes, sometimes dazzling special effects are what make a show, but nine times out of 10 the audience only becomes aware of the tech if something goes wrong. The way you know you’re doing a [...]
When did central banks decide that abnormal monetary growth doesn’t matter anymore? November 13, 2020 With many countries’ economies still suffering from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, or even — as in the UK — still under large-scale lockdown, another fall in spending and output in the autumn is expected. Worryingly, policymakers around the world only seem to be concerned about the short-term impact of the lockdowns, and appear [...]
Full-fibre broadband firm Hyperoptic opens new London headquarters November 13, 2020 Challenger broadband firm Hyperoptic is set to move into new headquarters in London amid growing demand for next-generation internet services. The company will make the short hop from its current offices into two floors in Kings House in Hammersmith. It also has offices in Manchester, Reading and Belgrade in Serbia. Hyperoptic has grown steadily since [...]
Exclusive: Meet the 50 highest-growth startups in the UK November 12, 2020 A total 50 of the most promising high-growth tech firms in the UK have been named as the country’s top scaleup companies by tech group Silicon Valley Comes to the UK (SVC2UK). Global medical network Air Doctor, social enterprise Beam, which helps the homeless secure employment, and business and finance marketplace Funding Options were among [...]
Trump bans US investments in firms controlled by Chinese military November 12, 2020 Donald Trump has signed an executive order banning U.S. investments in Chinese firms that Washington says are owned or controlled by its military. The order could impact some of China’s biggest companies, including telecoms firms China Telecom Corp Ltd, China Mobile Ltd and surveillance equipment maker Hikvision. The move is designed to deter U.S. investment [...]
U.N chief to push G20 to further expand debt service suspension November 12, 2020 United Nations secretary-general António Guterres will push G20 leaders to expand debt service suspension to help developing and middle-income economies recover from the coronavirus pandemic. Addressing a virtual annual ministerial meeting attended by the Group of 77 – a collection of 134 developing countries – plus China, Guterres said: “Many developing countries are suffering from [...]
ECB turns to emergency bonds and ultra-cheap loans to control financial costs November 12, 2020 The ECB will use its emergency bond-buying and ultra-cheap loans to banks as the primary instruments to control financing costs, European Central Bank president Christine Lagarde told the ECB’s annual forum on central banking this evening. The EU heavyweight said financing costs for governments, households and businesses in the eurozone will stay “exceptionally favourable” until [...]
New FCA chief tells City: ‘We are committed to open markets’ post-Brexit November 12, 2020 The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is committed to maintaining open financial markets following the end of the Brexit transition period, warning that not doing so will disrupt the city. Speaking today at Mansion House in an address to city regulators, new chief executive Nikhil Rathi said the watchdog had been keeping its focus on readiness [...]
Home meal kits can help save hospitality now – and will be here long after Covid November 12, 2020 The hospitality industry has always had to adapt and move with the times. We’ve seen cycles of gastropubs, fine dining restaurants with white table clothes, American diners, with each generation of new chefs tweaking and perfecting the formula. But while these are trends driven by changing fashions, Covid means the industry must innovate to survive. [...]
G4S and Gardaworld trade blows as takeover spat continues November 12, 2020 G4S and Gardaworld have exchanged fresh blows as a long-running spat over a potential hostile takeover of the British security firm drags on. This morning the Canadian firm, which has been trying to engineer the purchase of G4S for months, said that North American regulators had cleared the way for the merger to go ahead. [...]
