Analysis: Does Google’s ad clampdown leave Brits at risk of fraud? August 18, 2021 In what Google described as a “significant additional measure” to protect both its users and legitimate advertisers, and to prevent scammers exploiting its various platforms, the multinational tech giant recently announced its intention to clamp down on financial fraud by forcing all financial services advertisers to demonstrate that they are authorised by the Financial Conduct [...]
Fastest annual increase since 2004: House prices climb by 13.2 per cent August 18, 2021 House prices rose by 13.2 per cent over the year to June, the fastest annual increase since 2004, according to official figures. Across the UK, the average house price in June was a record £266,000. It increased from £255,000 in May and beat the former £256,000 record which was set in March, the Office for [...]
Rail passengers to be hit with largest fare hike in a decade August 18, 2021 UK train passengers can expect the largest fare rise in a decade. Increases are usually linked to the previous July’s Retail Prices Index (RPI) measure of inflation, which was confirmed as 3.8 per cent for July 2021 by the Office for National Statistics today. No announcement has been made on what will happen to fares [...]
Triple-lock: How Boris and Rishi can both have their cake and eat it August 18, 2021 Is the triple-lock on its last legs? That question seems increasingly relevant in Whitehall. Average earnings rose by 8.8 per cent last month, including bonuses, according to figures published by the ONS yesterday. Moreover, earnings figures released next month are expected to set next year’s increase in the State Pension. So why is this relevant? The [...]
Afghanistan evacuation flight lands in UK as troops race to get remaining Britons out August 18, 2021 A flight carrying evacuated UK nationals and Afghans has landed in England as British troops race to get remaining Britons and eligible locals out of Afghanistan. The Royal Air Force (RAF) aircraft landed at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire at about 11pm on Tuesday night. It is one of a number of flights out of [...]
Obsolete: Mastercard to phase out magnetic strips on cards by 2033 August 18, 2021 Mastercard is phasing out the magnetic strip that has been the vital element of all credit and debit cards since the 1960s. The financial services giant has said that the strip is on the verge of becoming obsolete with merchants and consumers increasingly relying on chip technology to conduct transactions securely. Modern chip cards have [...]
Pingdemic: Hancock was urged to ‘tweak’ Covid-19 Test and Trace app August 17, 2021 Former Health Secretary Matt Hancock was reportedly asked whether the NHS Covid-19 app should be amended to alert contacts of positive cases from two days back rather than five days, but no change was made. The app was tweaked earlier this month amid the so-called “pingdemic”, which had seen hundreds of thousands of alerts sent [...]
London cab driver stuck in Kabul with pregnant wife fears for their lives August 17, 2021 A British man stranded in Kabul with his pregnant wife has said he fears they will not escape Afghanistan. Mohammad, whose name has been changed to protect his safety, said he hopes UK authorities might be able to help his family by escorting them across the Afghan capital to the airport – which he says [...]
Watch: China tightens control of tech sector August 17, 2021 China moved on Tuesday to tighten control of its technology sector, publishing detailed rules aimed at tackling unfair competition and companies’ handling of critical data. Watch the full report.
French Riviera on fire: Thousands evacuated as crews battle wildfires near Saint-Tropez August 17, 2021 Thousands of people were evacuated from homes and vacation spots near the French Riviera as firefighters battled a fire racing through surrounding forests, the latest of several wildfires that have swept the Mediterranean region. At least 22 people have suffered smoke inhalation or minor fire-related injuries in the blaze that started on Monday evening about [...]
