DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ What did King Richard III sound like? State-of-the-art technology re-creates voice of medieval monarch
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-18 | by ( Freddie Clayton | Freddie Clayton Is A Freelance Journalist Based In London. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

LONDON — Britain’s King Richard III was immortalized with the Shakespeare line, “A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse.”Now state-of-the-art technology has revealed what it may have sounded like if he did indeed utter those words just before his death in 1485 at the Battle of Bosworth. Just over 100 years later in 1592, Shakespeare vilified him as a hunchback, giving him the famous cry of despair about a horse as his last line. He was able to speak in public.”“Without the discovery of his mortal remains, this project would not have been possible,” she added. The skeleton also helped Morley-Chisholm find the actor that would eventually play the king’s avatar. “I think when people see it and hear it, then, you know, forget Richard.

Persons: King Richard III, Shakespeare, Yvonne Morley, Chisholm, ”, England, Richard, Morley, David Crystal, Crystal, “, King Richard III of England, Philippa Langley, ” Morley, Thomas Dennis, Dennis, Langley, Richard III, ” Mathew Morris, it’s Organizations: Theatre Royal, Liverpool John Moores University, NBC News, Alamy, University of Leicester's Archaeological Services Locations: Bosworth, York, Yorkshire, England, British, Leicester, London

☆ Elon Musk says ‘civil war is inevitable’ as UK rocked by far-right riots. He’s part of the problem
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-06 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

London CNN —Social media has played a big role in fueling the anti-immigration riots engulfing towns and cities in the United Kingdom. Musk later apologized for what he called his “dumbest” ever social media post. The UK government this week vowed to prosecute “online criminality” and has pushed social media companies to take action against the spread of false information. “Social media has put rocket boosters under… not just the misinformation but the encouragement of violence,” UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said Monday. It is unclear that the UK government has the tools to hold social media platforms accountable for their role in the riots.

Persons: Elon Musk, Tesla, “, ”, Axel Rudakubana, ” Isabelle Frances, Wright, Musk, White, dumbest, Tommy Robinson, Yvette Cooper, Keir Starmer, Peter Kyle, Rob Picheta, Lauren Kent Organizations: London CNN — Social, Institute for Strategic, IDS, CNN, BBC Radio, Facebook, Meta, Ofcom Locations: United Kingdom, ”, England, Israel, Gaza

RIYAK, Lebanon (AP) — Britain’s top diplomat said Thursday that his country could officially recognize a Palestinian state after a cease-fire in Gaza without waiting for the outcome of what could be years-long talks between Israel and the Palestinians on a two-state solution. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, for his part, has publicly rejected the creation of an independent Palestinian state after the war, and has even boasted in recent weeks that he was instrumental to preventing Palestinian statehood. A move by some of Israel’s key allies to recognize a Palestinian state without Israel’s buy-in could isolate Israel and put pressure on it to come to the table. Hamas has so far taken the position that its leaders would not leave the enclave as part of a ceasefire deal. The plan would include Britain training Lebanese army forces to carry out more security work in the border region, he said.

Persons: — Britain’s, David Cameron, “ can’t, ”, Cameron, ” Cameron, Benjamin Netanyahu Organizations: Associated Press, Palestinian, United Nations, Hezbollah Locations: RIYAK, Lebanon, Gaza, Israel, Palestine, United, British, Britain, U.S, Palestinian, Hamas, Lebanese

But the court ruled that the right to collective bargaining applies only when there is an “employment relationship” between the workers and the company. Deliveroo riders aren’t employees because their contract gives them the “virtually unfettered right” to pass deliveries on to someone else, the court said. Deliveroo welcomed the decision, saying it confirmed lower court rulings that the company’s riders are self-employed. “This is a positive judgment for Deliveroo riders, who value the flexibility that self-employed work offers,” the company said in a statement. “This dangerous false dichotomy between rights and flexibility is one that Deliveroo and other gig economy giants rely heavily upon in efforts to legitimize their exploitative business models.”

Persons: —, Uber, Deliveroo, Deliveroo ”, Nick Hawkins, ” Hawkins Organizations: Independent Workers Union of, European, Human, Deliveroo, Knights Locations: Independent Workers Union of Great Britain

SINGAPORE (AP) — Britain’s Prince William cheered on 15 finalists of his third Earthshot Prize in Singapore Tuesday ahead of the awards ceremony where five of them will win 1 million pounds ($1.2 million) each to scale up groundbreaking innovations to fight climate change. William spoke to the finalists — all whom are attending the ceremony for the first time for networking opportunities — at Gardens by the Bay, an artistic horticulture attraction. The winners are grouped into five categories: nature protection, clean air, ocean revival, waste elimination and climate change. The finalists included a U.S. company that found a way to recycle polycotton fabrics, which makes up half of all textile waste. Apart from the prize money, all 15 finalists will receive a year of technical support and resources to help them accelerate their ideas.

Persons: — Britain’s Prince William, William, —, Rania al Abdullah, Jack Ma, Stella McCartney, David Attenborough, Ngozi Okonjo, Yao Ming, Kate, couldn't, George, Hannah Waddingham, Sterling K, Brown, Bebe Rexha, Oscar, Cate Blanchett, Donnie Yen, Lana Condor, Mbatha, Robert Irwin Organizations: SINGAPORE, World Trade Organization, NBA, William’s Royal Foundation, MediaCorp, Sterling Locations: Singapore, Gardens, U.S, Indian, Sierra Leone’s, Freetown, Poland, Europe, U.K, Asia, London, Boston, Republic

☆ HS2: Britain's high-speed rail fiasco reflects grim economic reality
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Mark Thompson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

“Our plan will drive far more growth and opportunity here in the north than a faster train to London ever would,” he said Wednesday. Some of the alternatives Sunak highlighted were predicated on the delivery of HS2, said Henrietta Bailey, CEO of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce. “This is the biggest and most damaging U-turn in the history of UK infrastructure,” the High Speed Rail Group, which represents companies such as Siemens, Hitachi and Bombardier, said in a statement. “The decision … sends a hugely disappointing message about our commitment to completing major infrastructure projects in the UK,” said Stephen Phipson, chief executive of Make UK, which represents manufacturing firms. The country must hope that his latest policy reversal doesn’t deter investors and further undermine a struggling UK economy, perpetuating a doom-loop of weak growth and underinvestment.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Sunak, ”, Henrietta Bailey, Stephen Phipson, Mark Allen, ” Sunak, —, Liz Truss, he’s, Sunak blinked, James Mason, ” — Hanna Ziady Organizations: London CNN —, Leeds, Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, HS2 —, Conservative, Speed Rail Group, Siemens, Hitachi, Bombardier, Make, Investors, Treasury, Business Locations: England, United Kingdom, London, Germany, France, Italy, China, Japan, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Manchester, Britain, West, North Yorkshire

LONDON (AP) — Britain’s inquiry into the response to the coronavirus pandemic and its impact on the nation entered its second phase Tuesday, with political decision-making around major developments, such as the timing of lockdowns, set to take center stage. The first phase, which concluded in July, looked at the country's preparedness for the pandemic. An array of experts and politicians are set to testify during the current phase, which is due to end on Dec. 14. The decisions of Boris Johnson, who was prime minister during the pandemic, will be in particular focus. After Hallett's introductory statement, the inquiry heard emotional video testimonies from families who lost loved ones or whose children have suffered long-term physical and mental effects of the virus, so-called long COVID.

Persons: —, Lorelei King, Vincent Marzello, “, ”, Heather Hallett, Hallett, Boris Johnson, Johnson, Alan Organizations: Britain’s Locations: London, United Kingdom

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Britain’s Treasury chief is to announce a hike in the national minimum wage on Monday, as the governing Conservative Party tries to persuade voters it is on the side of those who are struggling financially. Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt has ruled out tax cuts, saying they would fuel inflation. The exact amount will be set after a recommendation by the Low Pay Commission, an advisory body. The right-of-center Tories, in power since 2010, are lagging far behind the center-left opposition Labour Party in opinion polls. Truss, whose plan for billions in unfunded tax cuts spooked the financial markets, is calling for the party to “revive Conservative values” such as “cutting red tape, lower(ing) taxes and trusting that markets will find the solutions we all want.”

Persons: Jeremy Hunt, Hunt, ” Hunt, “, Rishi Sunak, Sunak, Liz Truss, Boris Johnson, pocketbooks, Suella Braverman, Kemi Badenoch, James, Truss, ” Organizations: —, Treasury, Conservative Party, Conservatives, Low, Commission, U.K, Sky News, Labour Party, European Union Locations: MANCHESTER, England, Ukraine, Britain, Manchester

LONDON (AP) — Britain’s new defense secretary has suggested that British military training of Ukrainian soldiers, which currently takes place in U.K. bases, could move into western Ukraine. He added that U.K. defense companies should consider setting up production in Ukraine. “Particularly in the west of the country, I think the opportunity now is to bring more things in country, and not just training. We’re seeing BAE, for example, move into manufacturing in country,” he said, referring to the leading British defense and aerospace manufacturer. “I’m keen to see other British companies do their bit as well by doing the same thing.”___For more coverage of the war in Ukraine, visit: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

Persons: —, Grant Shapps, “, Rishi Sunak, Shapps, ” Sunak, Ben Wallace, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, ”, “ I’m Organizations: Sunday Telegraph, Ukraine imminently, Britain’s Royal Navy Locations: Ukraine, russia, ukraine

LONDON (AP) — Britain’s immigration minister argued Tuesday that international refugee rules must be rewritten to reduce the number of people entitled to protection, as the Conservative government seeks international support for its tough stance on unauthorized migration. Britain’s government has adopted an increasingly punitive approach to people who arrive by unauthorized means such as small boats across the English Channel. Sonya Sceats, chief executive of campaign group Freedom from Torture, said: “LGBTQI+ people are tortured in many countries for who they are and who they love. The U.K. has sought international allies in its attempts to stop Channel crossings and toughen refugee laws, with limited success. British authorities also leased a barge to house migrants in a floating dormitory moored off England’s south coast.

Persons: Suella Braverman, ” Braverman, “, Braverman, ”, Braverman’s, Sonya Sceats, Alejandro Mayorkas, General Merrick Garland Organizations: —, Conservative, Nations Refugee Convention, American Enterprise Institute, Conservatives, U.S, Homeland Locations: Washington, Cambridge, Britain, France, Rwanda

☆ Brexit, the Disaster No One Wants to Talk About - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Michelle Goldberg | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

Seven years ago, Brexit was an early augur of the revolt against cosmopolitanism that swept Donald Trump into power. But while America can’t stop talking about Trump, many in the U.K. can scarcely stand to think about Brexit. “It’s so toxic,” Tobias Ellwood, a Tory lawmaker who has called on his colleagues to admit that Brexit was a mistake, told me. “Those voters do not want to have a conversation about Brexit,” said Joshua Simons, the director of Labour Together, a think tank close to Labour leadership. He cites a point that a mentor of his, the political philosopher Danielle Allen, made after the 2016 vote.

Persons: I’ve, Brexit, Donald Trump, Trump, —, “, Tobias Ellwood, ”, Sadiq Khan, “ I’m, Joshua Simons, Simons, there’s, Danielle Allen, ” Simons Organizations: Tory, London, Labour Party, Labour, European Union Locations: U.S, U.K, Midlands, Northern England

☆ London’s Coronation Countdown: Travelers Arrive, Others Flee
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-29 | by ( Isabella Kwai | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

U.S. travelers — Britain’s biggest inbound market — are expected to lead next week’s swell of arrivals. Flight bookings from the United States to Britain are about 10 percent higher in May compared to in May 2019, before the pandemic, according to VisitBritain. According to Hopper, the booking app, they are also more expensive — round-trip airfares from the United States to London over coronation weekend averaged $733 in mid-April, 21 percent higher than a year earlier. After the coronation dates were announced, searches for Airbnb rentals in London during the coronation weekend surged, according to the company, which reported U.S. travelers among the top guests in London around the coronation dates, along with travelers from Britain, France, Australia and Germany (the company declined to share booking numbers). By late March, hotel bookings in London on the booking platform Expedia were 60 percent higher for the coronation weekend compared to the same time last year.

☆ Coronation of Britain’s King Charles to be held next May
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-11 | by ( ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON — Britain’s King Charles III will be crowned at London’s Westminster Abbey next May in a ceremony set to follow the traditional pageantry used for anointing monarchs over the last 1,000 years, Buckingham Palace announced on Tuesday. Charles, 73, automatically became king on the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth, last month, but the grand coronation ceremony for him and his wife, Camilla, the queen consort, will now take place on Saturday, May 6. Kings and queens of England, and later Britain and the United Kingdom, have been crowned at Westminster Abbey since William the Conqueror in 1066. Charles is the 41st monarch in a line that traces its origins back to William, and he will be the oldest monarch to be crowned. Charles is king and head of state not only of the United Kingdom but of 14 other realms including Australia, Canada, Jamaica, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.

☆ Bank of England hikes rates but avoids more aggressive steps to tame inflation
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-22 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

LONDON — Britain’s central bank raised its key interest rate by another half-percentage point Thursday, avoiding more aggressive steps to tame inflation that the U.S. Federal Reserve and other banks have taken. The U.K. decision comes during a busy week for central bank action marked by much more aggressive moves to bring down soaring consumer prices. Also Thursday, the Swiss central bank enacted its biggest-ever hike to its key interest rate. Surging inflation is a worry for central banks because it eats away at consumers’ purchasing power. This month, Sweden’s central bank raised its key interest rate by a full percentage point, while the European Central Bank delivered its largest-ever rate increase with a three-quarter point hike for the 19 countries that use the euro currency.

Search resuls for: "— Britain’s"

14 mentions found