US labelled a “flawed” democracy over collapsing public trust January 25, 2017 The US has been branded a “flawed democracy” thanks to crumbling confidence in its government and institutions. Experts behind the Economist Intelligence Unit's annual Democracy Index rank the governance of countries worldwide, but have this morning cut the status of the American system for 2016. Previously a part of the top level “full” democracy group, [...]
Government starts hunt for company to build HS2 trains in £2.75bn contract January 20, 2017 It's full steam ahead for HS2: the government's now after a company to sign a £2.75bn contract to make a fleet of high speed trains for the project. Up to 60 high specification trains to transport passengers at around 225mph on the new rail service, will be needed. The government said hundreds of jobs will be [...]
The company behind the Airlander “flying bum” is planning to IPO in London January 16, 2017 The British company behind the world's biggest airship is planning to list on London's junior market. Hybrid Air Vehicles, the maker of the Airlander hybrid aircraft nicknamed the flying bum for its appearance, will seek to raise £50m with a float pencilled in for the end of 2017 or early 2018 on London's Alternative Investment Market. HAV [...]
The 9 most anticipated videogames of 2017 January 4, 2017 Red Dead Redemption 2 Release: Late 2017 Platforms: PS4, XBO (PC unconfirmed) Not much is known about Rockstar’s horse-bothering sequel, but the announcement of a follow up to 2010’s open world cowboy simulator was enough to inspire frenzied excitement among fans. You can expect a huge multiplayer world, pistols at dawn, horses and a scene [...]
Up a bit, down a bit: Last minute changes to Lifetime Isas prove they’re a bad idea, says former pensions minister December 14, 2016 A former pensions minister has hit out at the government's last-minute fiddling with Lifetime Isas, saying it is proof the initiative "has not been properly thought through". Steve Webb lamented the news the Treasury will scrap exit fees on Lifetime Isas in the first year of their existence. “This announcement is a further sign that the [...]
Apple bought 9 startups in 2016. Here’s what they do December 8, 2016 Apple buys a lot of companies, but it doesn't talk much about them, making it hard to keep track. So we put together nine of its acquisitions reported this year. This list is not exhaustive, we know for sure some purchases have never been revealed. As expected, artificial intelligence companies remain the dominant category, but [...]
British American Tobacco’s newest e-cigarette has been launched in the UK December 1, 2016 A new electronic cigarette has launched in the UK from tobacco giant British American Tobacco (BAT) designed for consumers who've written off vaping. Vype Pebble, BAT's release, follows a launch by rival Philip Morris as the companies step up their stakes in the alternative cigarette market. Vype's researchers targeted consumers looking for something different from traditional cigarette-shaped or bulky vapour devices. Read more: [...]
Toyota revs up electric car credentials with new in-house company November 17, 2016 Toyota is revving up its electric car credentials with the creation of an in-house venture company responsible for developing electric vehicles (EVs). It will be a virtual organisation, made up of four people: one from each of Toyota Industries Corporation, Aisin Seiki Co. Ltd., Denso Corporation and TMC. The body will be independent from other [...]
Mitsubishi Motors gears up for an electric car revolution with no Brexit road bumps in sight November 7, 2016 “One of the things we did when we launched the Outlander plug-in hybrid electric vehicle [PHEV] was accentuate the ordinary aspect of it,” says Mitsubishi Motors’ managing director Lance Bradley. It may not sound like a hugely appealing marketing attribute, but Bradley believes it has worked. “People either expect a milk float or the Starship [...]
Airport expansion: What happens next? October 25, 2016 Decision day is here and the government is set to announce its decision on airport expansion in the coming hours, but what happens after that? There have been concerns that more delays are on the cards after Theresa May said the final vote on the government’s preferred option won’t be until the end of 2017/18, but [...]