Discover the craft behind Istanbul’s booming trade February 2, 2014 Turkey has a wealth of experiences on offer for travellers and holiday-makers IN THE ancient city of Istanbul, which straddles Europe and Asia across the mighty Bosphorus Strait, all eyes have been on the completion of the Marmaray sea tunnel, the first rail tunnel to link two continents. For the first time last month, passengers [...]
Did Google Glass just get a lot more wearable? January 28, 2014 Those spectacle wearing folk among you feeling ostracised by the fact that you wouldn’t be able to wear uber-geeky tech toy, Google Glass, because of your prescription needs, can pop the champagne corks now – welcome to the club – Google has created prescription frames which work with Glass technology. And we’re not [...]
Hollande suffers set back as employers reject jobs targets January 21, 2014 France's largest employers group has confirmed it will not agree to government hiring targets outlined in the so called "responsibility pact" proposed by President Francois Hollande. Medef president Pierre Gatz told France 2 television: I am not talking about written commitments. One million jobs, that is the consequence of the package of measures we expect [...]
France has ignored consumers and the digital economy is bearing the brunt January 17, 2014 PRESIDENT Francois Hollande would like us to think that France is about to bounce back. At a press conference yesterday, he detailed plans for a “responsibility pact” with business – a deal to reduce the burden of social levies on companies by €30bn (£24bn) by 2017, in return for businesses pledging to increase hiring and [...]
The Long View: Our digital technologies prove that freedom is more than just a rallying cry January 16, 2014 FREEDOM isn’t just a rallying call, it is a practical way to transform the world for the better. Letting people make their own choices scorns the arrogance of narrow elites, preferring instead the riches found in every individual’s contribution. That seismic shift opens huge, untapped reserves of human potential. And since it starts by recognising [...]
Letters to the Editor – 17/01 – Readers respond to our criticism of France’s failed socialist experiment January 16, 2014 Although I now live in China, I worked in France for 26 years, and have a lot of affection for the country and its people. Like Allister Heath, I feel sad to see the country going down the drain because it cannot rid itself of socialist dogma. The problem is that France is paralysed by [...]
The global economy is now at serious risk and investors aren’t prepared, says SocGen’s uber-bear January 15, 2014 If you've heard of Societe Generale's bear king Albert Edwards then you probably know that he thinks that loose monetary policy will result in uncontrollable inflation. Or as he puts it in a note published today, we will ultimately see inflation "spill like a tidal wave from the financial markets into goods, services and wages". [...]
78 per cent of economists agree that Uber’s price hikes are good for consumers January 15, 2014 A poll of academics has overwhelmingly concluded that using higher prices to allocate transport services is good for consumers. 78 per cent of the IGM Economic Experts Panel agreed with the statement: Using surge pricing to allocate transportation services — such as Uber does with its cars — raises consumer welfare through various potential channels, [...]
France has ignored consumers and the digital economy is bearing the brunt January 14, 2014 PRESIDENT Francois Hollande would like us to think that France is about to bounce back. At a press conference yesterday, he detailed plans for a “responsibility pact” with business – a deal to reduce the burden of social levies on companies by €30bn (£24bn) by 2017, in return for businesses pledging to increase hiring and [...]
Taxi unions turn violent in protest against Uber January 13, 2014 French airports saw union violence today as demonstrators hurled rocks and paint at travellers using the innovative taxi service, Uber. Entrepreneur Kat Borlongan, had the windows of her taxi smashed and tyres slashed while travelling from Charles de Gaulle earlier today. Five taxi unions have brought their strength to bear to protest against services provided [...]