Ecigarettes backed as a last resort by the American Heart Association August 25, 2014 Ecigarettes should be a last resort solution to quitting smoking, according to the American Heart Association (AHA). In the group's first policy statement on the devices, AHA said established quitting methods like nicotine patches should be the first port of call for those looking to give up regular cigarettes but if they failed "it is [...]
In graphs: London house prices up 19.3 per cent, UK 10.2 per cent August 25, 2014 As we reported earlier, UK house prices were up 10.2 per cent in the twelve months to June, according to Office of National Statistics (ONS) data. This was slightly lower than the figures of 10.4 per cent for the 12 months to May but still staunch growth. The news is that growth has slowed, corroborating the [...]
French government dissolved as Hollande goes on the offensive August 25, 2014 His name is rarely written without a negative adjective, usually beleaguered, but Francois Hollande is going on the offensive. The French President, whose approval ratings are unlikely to give pollsters vertigo, has responded quickly to a left-wing revolt in his cabinet. Manuel Valls, ally and prime minister, tabled the resignation of his government paving the [...]
Is the ECB considering quantitative easing? August 25, 2014 European markets are up this morning after European Central Bank (ECB) president Mario Draghi gave a doveish speech in Jackson Hole (Friday). The ECB, Draghi implied, could be gearing up for more monetary stimulus, in order to address the ongoing stagnation in the Eurozone economy. Inflation in the Eurozone has been perilously low of late, [...]
Financial markets at risk of cyber attack says watchdog August 25, 2014 In the Batman film The Dark Knight, the Joker ransacks the Gotham city stock exchange with a cocktail of automatic weaponry, knives and laptops. In the real world, the threat to the financial markets from cyber attacks is not so easily spotted. In an interview with the Financial Times, the head of global watchdog the International Organisation [...]
EU referendum: Cameron considers threatening EU with Brexit August 25, 2014 David Cameron is likely to issue an unveiled threat to EU powers by raising the prospect of a British exit. According to information obtained by The Times, the prime minister and his advisors are "actively considering" making a stand, although the timing is yet to be confirmed. The announcement would be aimed at strengthening Britain's bargaining position, [...]
UK house prices may be rising, but it’s better to buy than to rent August 25, 2014 It is cheaper to handle the costs associated with buying a house rather than paying rent according to data from Halifax. While this fact is not new – Halifax's data suggests it's been the case since 2009 – it is interesting that despite a rise in house prices over the last year (up 10.2 per cent [...]
Ebola: Briton with the disease to be flown home August 24, 2014 A Briton who contracted the Ebola virus in Sierra Leone is to be flown back to the UK for treatment. The patient, who is as yet unnamed, is currently on an RAF flight destined for London. Once arrived, he or she will be taken to the Royal Free Hospital in London. According to reports, the [...]
Aviation alerts hit red as Iceland met office says eruption cannot be excluded August 24, 2014 Aviation alerts have been set to red in Iceland as rumblings beneath a glacier betray the some geological malcontent. Although some sources are reporting that eruptions are ongoing, that is not what was on the Icelandic met office's website at pixel time: Presently there are no signs of ongoing volcanic activity. The aviation color code [...]