Tory MPs urge PM to sanction UK banks in Hong Kong for China cooperation December 1, 2020 Boris Johnson should threaten to sanction UK financial services firms operating in Hong Kong to push back against Beijing’s draconian security laws, according to a new report from top Tory backbenchers. A report from Westminster’s China Research Group, which is led by Conservative MPs Tom Tugendhat and Neil O’Brien, says the UK should sanction banks [...]
High-profile tech founders back $111m London startup fund November 30, 2020 A string of big-name tech founders including former Google boss Eric Schmidt are backing a new fund to invest in startups in the US and across Europe. London-based Firstminute Capital today unveiled a $111m (£83m) venture capital fund after securing support from some of the world’s top tech executives. More than 70 founders of billion-dollar [...]
Today: UK to outline roadmap to removing Huawei equipment from its 5G networks November 30, 2020 The UK will today set out its plan to remove all “high risk” Huawei equipment from its 5G networks by 2027. The government announced earlier this year that it will be illegal to purchase Huawei equipment to use in UK 5G networks from the end of this year. All existing equipment procured from the Chinese [...]
Alibaba and Tencent circle ‘Netflix of China’ as tech regulation looms November 27, 2020 Alibaba and Tencent are both said to have held talks over a potential takeover of the streaming service dubbed the ‘Netflix of China’. The two tech titans have been in discussions with search giant Baidu over a deal to acquire a controlling stake in iQiyi, Reuters reported. However, talks are said to have stalled after [...]
Oppo Reno 4 Pro review: An all-rounder but no killer blow November 26, 2020 Last week I reviewed two new phones, one you’ve definitely heard of, and one you almost certainly haven’t. The latter was a handset from one of the biggest manufacturers in the world, Chinese firm Vivo, which has virtually no footprint in Europe (the camera-focused X51 is its first official launch over here). This week I’m [...]
Central Bank Digital Currencies, Stablecoins and developing regulatory trends November 25, 2020 It seems that the recent Covid pandemic has triggered a number ‘digitisation’ obsessions across the globe. The Central Bank issued Digital Currencies discussions feels at times like a new pandemic and despite the significant research and guidelines seeking to establish standards for regulating and issuing such currencies. At a high level, the G20, and the [...]
Chinese business group calls for ‘new chapter’ in UK relationship November 24, 2020 The chief executive of the UK arm of the Bank of China has called for a “new chapter” in the relationship between the two nations after a year of increasing political tension. Relations between the UK and China have soured this year, with both the domestic and overseas activities of the world’s second largest economy [...]
Telecoms firms to face hefty fines under new Huawei laws November 24, 2020 UK telecoms companies will face hefty fines if they fail to comply with the ban on Huawei under a new law submitted in parliament today. In July the government announced a total ban on Huawei, ordering network providers to remove all equipment made by the controversial Chinese tech giant by 2027. Under the new legislation [...]
UK considers removing British judges from Hong Kong high court November 23, 2020 Foreign secretary Dominic Raab is considering plans to remove British judges from Hong Kong’s high court in response to the region’s freedom of speech clampdown. Raab wrote in a new Foreign Office report that he and justice secretary Robert Buckland were reviewing “whether it continues to be appropriate for British judges to sit as non-permanent judges [...]
FTSE flattens mid-afternoon November 23, 2020 Cineworld, Tui, BA owner and pub companies lead FTSE vaccine bounce