Coronavirus: Contact-tracing app to launch on 24 September September 11, 2020 The NHS coronavirus contact-tracing app will be rolled out in England and Wales on 24 September, the government confirmed today. The app will allow people to check in at hospitality venues by scanning QR codes using their smartphone. This will allow NHS test and trace to contact customers telling them to self-isolate if there is [...]
Biotech seeks to seize the moment September 11, 2020 | City Talk Biotech was outperforming the broader market before the pandemic hit – since then its relative performance has been stronger still. So proclaims a timely publication showcasing investment trends, performance and opportunities published last week by the UK BioIndustry Association (BIA), which seeks to ‘lift the lid’ on one what is naturally an R&D-heavy sector. Biotech [...]
France calls on EU to adopt digital tax in 2021 if OECD talks fail September 11, 2020 France has called on the European Union to implement a digital tax by the first quarter of 2021 if an agreement cannot be reached within the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) framework. Speaking at a Eurogroup meeting of eurozone finance ministers in Berlin this morning, French finance minister Bruno Le Maire reiterated the [...]
Social media abuse to be made illegal under new online harms proposals September 11, 2020 Sending abusive messages over social media, messaging services or email could be made illegal under new proposals tabled today. The Law Commission has outlined a number of reforms designed to protect people from harmful behaviour online. The reforms, set out in a consultation paper, would criminalise any communications likely to cause harm. This includes personal [...]
Microsoft: Russian hackers target US election again September 10, 2020 Hackers linked to Russia, China and Iran are attempting to spy on people tied to both President Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden, Microsoft has said. The tech firm has said that both presidential campaigns are at risk from hackers as the Russian group which hacked the 2016 Democratic campaign is again involved in [...]
Facebook hits back at Irish watchdog over data inquiry September 10, 2020 Facebook has criticised the Irish data regulator for issuing proceedings against the firm over how it transfers data between the EU and the US, following the scrapping of a major EU ruling this summer. The Irish Data Protection Commission (IPDC) is said to have given Facebook until the end of September to appeal its decision, [...]
India’s Reliance to woo Amazon with $20bn retail stake September 10, 2020 Indian digital giant Reliance is said to be considering offering Amazon a $20bn stake in its retail arm, as it tries to recruit more major tech brass to its roster of backers. Reliance is willing to sell a stake of up to 40 per cent in its retail business to the e-commerce giant, a person [...]
London Tech Week: Let’s call time on the capital’s tech ‘not spots’ September 10, 2020 Walking through east London this summer, the beating heart of the UK’s tech ecosystem had become a ghost city, with empty streets, co-working spaces and cafes. Like most industries, the Covid-19 pandemic has driven the sector behind closed doors. Yet, bubbling below the surface is a defiant community of tech entrepreneurs that will prove absolutely [...]
London’s startup scene is under threat – here’s how we can safeguard our entrepreneurs September 10, 2020 Following one of the biggest economic upheavals in living memory, London is now resetting itself. But our capital’s startups have taken a bruising in the last few months and their recovery requires urgent action. The impact has not been uniform, as some investment is still flowing. But investors have been backing portfolio companies, or in [...]
Microsoft appoints new UK boss as Rose shifts to Europe September 9, 2020 Microsoft has appointed its UK chief operating officer Clare Barclay as the country’s new chief executive, as current boss Cindy Rose switches focus. Barclay, who has been at the software giant for more than two decades, will oversee Microsoft’s commercial product, service and support offerings in the UK from 1 October. Her former roles include [...]
