WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING
FINANCIAL TIMES
SMARTPHONES IN HACKING RISK
Certain smartphone models running Google’s Android operating system have security flaws that could allow hackers to steal personal information or record conversations, researchers said this week. In a demonstration at the Black Hat security conference in Abu Dhabi, a UK researcher showed how a vulnerability in the web browser on an HTC Android phone allowed him to install an application that gave him broad control over the phone.
MICROSOFT LINKS WITH SINA ON MESSAGING
Microsoft has joined forces with Sina, China’s largest online news portal and microblogging site, in a deal that could help the US group’s instant messaging service grow into a sizeable player in the country’s internet industry. MSN China, a joint venture that runs the service in the country, and Sina on Thursday started to link their instant messaging tools and blogging sites.
OIL FIRE LINKED TO ROLLS-ROYCE JET INCIDENT
An oil fire could have caused the Rolls-Royce engine of a Qantas A380 superjumbo to break apart after take-off last week, European regulators have revealed, in the first official comment on possible causes of the famous aircraft’s worst safety scare.
CHINESE BUYING DRIVES COPPER TO RECORD
Chinese buying has driven the price of copper to a record high of nearly $9,000 a tonne and traders warned that prices could rise a further 25 per cent next year to more than $11,000 as demand continues to outpace supply. The red metal is a crucial cog in the global economy as its use in electronics and construction means it is found in almost every appliance.
THE TIMES
WAL-MART OFFERS FREE SHIPPING FOR CHRISTMAS
As the Christmas holiday shopping wars heat up, Wal-Mart has dealt what it hopes will be a killer blow to its rivals by offering free shipping for online orders on 60,000 products, with no minimum purchase required. The move will increase pressure on other online retailers to follow suit, as customers become conditioned to ever more favourable terms for purchases.
UK SHARES ARE FALLING OFF THE RADAR OF BIG INVESTORS
The typical British defined-benefit pension fund now has just one sixth of its assets invested in home-grown shares. The annual “Purple Book” snapshot of the industry from The Pensions Regulator, published yesterday, showed sharp reductions in investment in British equities.
The Daily Telegraph
CARE HOME FEES UP BY 20PC IN FOUR YEARS
More than 20,000 pensioners were forced to sell their homes to pay for care last year, according to new government figures. But far more families could find themselves facing spiralling care fees, since most local councils interviewed by the BBC said they had considered reducing their spending on care for the elderly. They blamed severe budget cuts and an ageing population.
“TOO BIG TO FAIL” BANK RULES TO BE UNVEILED AT G20
The world’s largest banks will learn more details of the plans by international regulators to ensure that financial institutions considered “too big to fail” become less of a risk to the global banking system, in particular banks that are “systemically important”.
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
APPLE’S IAD HELPING RIVALS
Apple’s iAd interactive mobile ad service is having an unintended impact on rivals: It’s largely helping their businesses by generating broader advertiser interest in mobile phones and gadgets. When Apple launched iAd last July, some industry executives worried that they would lose mobile advertising business to the Cupertino, California company.
NISSAN RECALLS MORE THAN 600,000 VEHICLES
Nissan Motor is recalling more than 600,000 vehicles in North and South America and Africa due to steering or battery cable problems. The Japanese auto maker said yesterday that the steering recall affects 303,000 Frontier pickup trucks and 283,000 Xterra sport utility vehicles in the US, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil and other Latin American countries.