The UK-based technology firms mobilized $3.6 billion (£2.5 billion) funds from venture capitalists (VC) in 2015 and this is 70 percent higher than $2.1 billion in 2014. London technology companies accounted for more than half of the mobilized VC funds. The increasing investor appetite for technology startups and fintech firms has been the main factor that propelled the VC funding.
Europe
HBO Planned to Launch Streaming Service in Spain to Rival Netflix
HBO planned its Internet channel in Spain at the end of this year, enabling people in Spain to access HBO streaming service. The company will challenge Netflix at new vanguard of European market.
High employment rate propels German GDP
Record high employment rate and domestic spending propelled German GDP rate by 1.7 percent in 2015, according to the German authorities' calculation.
Brent Crude plunges below $30, Lowest Since 2004
Brent oil prices fell on Wednesday, dropping below $30 a barrel to touch $29.96 for the first time since April 2, 2004.
Casualties In French Regulator Approved Drug Trial: 1 Brain Dead, 5 Others Hospitalized
Biotrial Private Facility has been conducting trial of a pain killer over 90 volunteers. Six of them have fall sick and one of them has got severe brain injury. Volunteers rarely fall sick while undergoing through such trials, since the drug must go through several tests over animals with wide range of dosage. Paris prosecutors have initiated investigations to unearth the cause behind the regulator approved trial.
Latest News
Several firms from Canada, China and Europe among 77 renewable energy firms have submitted bids for solar projects in Australia. The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has shortlisted 22 projects, which will have capacity of 766 megawatts at combined project cost of $1.68 billion. The solar energy projects developers will also receive a grant of $30 million for each project from the Australian government.
Standard & Poor's (S&P) has downgraded credit rating of Tata Steel's bonds. S&P cited reasons such as the poor operating performance and high leverage at Tata Steel for downgrading. Indian steel industry is suffering from glut in production and surging imports.
Bank of England has been keeping its interest rates at the lowest point at 0.5% since March 2009. However, some signals of the interest rate upsurge will be a shock to some people in Britain.
UK's second largest retailer J Sainsbury Plc registered revenues for the third quarter as per the forecasts. The total retail sales of Sainsbury were up 0.8 percent excluding fuel and were down 0.7 percent including fuel as against the analysts' average forecast of 0.6 percent decline for the quarter. However, Sainsbury has surpassed the forests for Christmas sales.
The United Nations (UN) has received funding of $250million and needs additional $500 million for education programs for over one million Syrian children. Gordon Brown, the former UK Prime Minister and UN envoy for global education, is committed to mobilize money in next month. Brown has decided to raise money from the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos and other international conferences.
Israeli's Tactical Robotics Ltd. has successfully conducted another test flight for AirMule Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) last month. The drone is designed for search and rescue operation in an area which is unaccessible for helicopter.
Rents in London were up over eight percent, while overall national average was 4.8 percent in 2015. Majority of millennials prefer rented accommodation rather than buying a house or flat. Millennials are not bothered about maintenance works and other mortgage tension these days. The Generation Rent also considers buying a property is very expensive.
The weakening business confidence coupled with global economic challenges is impacting the UK manufacturing sector in more negative way. Despite odds forecast for 2016, majority of manufacturing firms in the UK are going ahead with their investment plan for technology and innovation. About 44 percent of UK companies participated in a survey expressed their concerns about challenging 2016 year.
Amazon.com expand its business to delivery service. The company will fully acquire French delivery company, Colis Privé. This acquisition will put Amazon head-to-head with FedEx, DHL and UPS.
