The artificial intelligence influencers that you should be following March 18, 2021 Artificial intelligence (AI) is the ultimate manifestation of the promise of technology to improve our lives. Within our lifetimes AI will become omnipresent across every segment of economic activity and within every field of human endeavour. But AI is not a single genus but a constellation of technologies that must work together in harmony. By [...]
Consider ‘all the options’ to save Liberty Steel jobs, says Ed Miliband March 18, 2021 The government should look at “all the options” when it comes to saving jobs at Sanjeev Gupta’s Liberty Steel, shadow business secretary Ed Miliband has said. Speaking to the BBC, the former Labour leader said that the jobs under threat were “crucial for communities up and down the country”. About 5,000 jobs are understood to [...]
There is no defence for air passenger duty; it is a regressive tax which hurts the poor and does nothing for climate change March 18, 2021 Such has been the tax-raising, big-spending nature of the Budget and its aftermath that those who prefer low taxes and a small state have to find the rays of light where we can. The Chancellor’s willingness to cut the domestic rate of air passenger duty should be seen in this light – it is a [...]
Watchdog slams rule-breaking influencers over ‘unacceptable’ social media ads March 18, 2021 The UK advertising watchdog has ramped up the pressure on social media influencers over their continued failure to mark posts as adverts. Under the current rules online stars are required to clearly state when their posts are sponsored or when a brand has provided them with free products. But a three-week monitoring exercise carried out [...]
UK audit shakeup: Big Four face FTSE client caps, new watchdog and a clampdown on directors March 18, 2021 Big Four dominance in the UK audit market may be diluted under new plans announced today that would see stricter regulation of the sector and executives at major firms. The government hopes the proposals, published in a consultation today by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), will lead to greater transparency in [...]
Consumers to splash cash on haircuts and holidays – but retailers might have to wait longer for post-lockdown boom March 18, 2021 Consumers have big plans to spend when coronavirus restrictions are lifted, although retailers may have to wait until more vaccinations are rolled out before they benefit from a bounce back in trade. Brits are planning to spend more on holidays, haircuts and days out when the latest lockdown rules are eased, according to the latest [...]
Tech entrepreneur raises £130m for acquisition vehicle as SPAC craze hits London March 17, 2021 Tech entrepreneur Vin Murria is set to announce she has raised £130m for a London-listed acquisition vehicle to pursue a takeover in the software industry as the interest in “blank cheque” companies booms. Murria, who became chairman of Marwyn Acquisition Company 1 (Mac 1) last year, is expected to announce the fundraise tomorrow in what [...]
More than 2,000 TfL bus drivers have caught Covid-19 since October March 17, 2021 More than 2,000 Transport for London (TfL) bus drivers contracted Covid-19 in the four months between October and January, new data from the operator has shown. According to figures collected from the contractors which run the capital’s bus services, 2,017 of around 25,000 drivers caught the virus in that period. The operator only started collecting [...]
US Fed surprises with 6.5 per cent growth prediction and leaves interest rates on hold March 17, 2021 US Fed surprises with 6.5 per cent growth prediction and leaves interest rates on hold
Dominic Cummings’ committee hearing shows why he didn’t last in government March 17, 2021 Dominic Cummings’ Westminster committee hearing today was a vintage performance. One for the purists, Cummings hit on some of his favourite topics as he lashed out at the Whitehall blob, name dropped obscure scientific figures and made a case for Aria, the UK’s new science agency. As he spoke of the need for “very odd people” [...]
