Trials and tribulations: As Three announces a controversial ad-blocking experiment on some customers’ devices, is the technology gaining acceptance? May 29, 2016 In June, mobile carrier Three is to conduct an ad-blocking trial on the devices of some of its UK customers. Of course, it's only a trial. Three will invite 500,000 customers to partake for 24 hours. But Three's project could set a precedent which could threaten the revenue streams of online publishers and broadcasters which [...]
Israel’s elections are another nail in the coffin for Middle East stability March 22, 2015 Let us be clear. It isn’t that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu managed to win an upset re-election victory in Israel’s parliamentary elections last week that spells the definitive end of the Middle East peace process; it’s the manner in which he did so. With the last opinion polls before the election showing him decisively losing [...]
Snooper’s Charter will undermine UK tech firms February 1, 2016 London’s technology scene is booming. To get an understanding of the scale of this growth, just consider that investment in the sector was ten times higher in 2015 than it was in 2010, with over $2bn (£1.4bn) of venture capital invested in the city last year. Half of this came from the UK, with 29 [...]
Why America must now save tragic Europe from itself April 4, 2016 Thessaloniki – I sit, as I write this, perched atop my glorious hotel, in this lovely, vibrant northern Greek city, staring lovingly into the wine-dark sea that is Homer’s Aegean. At the height of the euro crisis last year, things became so bad that café life – the glory of modern Greece – ground to a [...]
Oh, BoJo: Emails reveal Mayor of London Boris Johnson to be a diplomatic nightmare on Iraq visit January 15, 2016 Mayor of London Boris Johnson's trip to Iraq last year left the Foreign Office staff picking up a hotel bar tab, officials blocking his request for a visit to the front-line and Johnson driving a sports car out of a showroom, correspondence has revealed. The correspondence, released under freedom of information laws, show the difficulties officials [...]
Jeremy Clarkson: Former Top Gear frontman helps Amazon Prime promote drone delivery November 29, 2015 Amazon has hinted at delivery by air drone and has called in none other than former Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson to lend a hand. According to an accompanying FAQ page, which was put live today, Prime Air drones will be able to deliver packages of up to five pounds in 30 minutes or less, [...]
The Oscars 2016 by numbers: The cost of the Academy Awards in advertising, security and bling February 24, 2016 Oscars season is here again. But how much cash is shelled out – and by whom? Here’s everything you need to know. Oscar statuette: between $500 and $900 each The estimated cost of the famous Oscar statuette is a closely-guarded secret. “We have agreed with the Academy to never discuss [cost of] producing the statuettes,” [...]
Did Israel spy on the US’s private Iran talks? Here are the two sides of the story March 24, 2015 Senior White House officials have accused Israel of spying on talks between the US, Iran and other world powers over the Middle Eastern country's nuclear programme, but Israel denies the claims. The private meetings in question took place last year and involved the UK, Germany, France, China and Russia. The aim was to persuade Iran [...]
PayPal sets up cyber security centre in Israel and buys startup CyActive March 11, 2015 Online payments company PayPal yesterday announced it was establishing a cyber security centre in Beersheba, Israel, and has bought local startup CyActive to help to launch the development. PayPal, which is due to be spun off from eBay later this year, did not disclose financial details, but Israeli media have said the purchase was worth [...]
Bond movie Spectre boosts bottom line for Cineworld, as revenues up 11.9 per cent in most recent results November 24, 2015 Cineworld Group today unveiled a 11.9 per cent increase in total revenues for its 46 weeks to 19 November 2015. The cinema chain also reported growth of 10.8 per cent in box office takings, thanks in particular to the release of the latest Bond film Spectre. Speaking to City A.M., Israel Greidinger, Cineworld’s deputy chief [...]