An energetic tool to help manage business ambitions July 24, 2012 THE word legacy is somewhat overused. But Visi – the real-time energy monitoring technology, installed by EDF Energy at sports venues across the Olympic Park – has a business case that reaches beyond the Games. Visi (see screenshot right) helps energy managers understand and reduce electricity consumption. It will remain at the Olympic Stadium, Aquatics [...]
The coalition must press reset and make a positive case for austerity July 24, 2012 GEORGE Osborne’s fiscal strategy increasingly resembles alphabet soup: Plan A for austerity, Plan A+ for magic bullets, Plan B for debt and Plan I for infrastructure. Flexible planning is not necessarily a bad thing. What is a problem, however, is if revisions do not reflect changing economic circumstances but a weakness in the Treasury’s approach. [...]
Japan shows we can’t rely on inflation to tame rampant government debt July 24, 2012 THE DEBT problem currently afflicting the UK and Europe is essentially a question of political economy. Basically, there is a lot of debt around and everybody is wondering who is going to pay for it. All the economic theory in the world fails to get around this fundamental issue. Traditionally, bondholders took the hit when [...]
Push students into maths subjects or watch industry fail July 24, 2012 THE HOUSE of Lords select committee on science and technology has just published an insightful report into higher education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects. It rightly suggested that the jobs of the future will increasingly require people with the capabilities and skills that a STEM education provides. However, there is a mismatch [...]
As Spain nears a full bailout, will Germany accept fiscal union to save the Eurozone? July 24, 2012 YES Stephen Barber There is a good reason why markets have been unconvinced by the latest Eurozone intervention: policymakers continue to deal with symptoms while structural problems mount up. This is now the third summer in which investors have seen returns hit by a deepening euro crisis. Each time has resulted (eventually) in credible responses [...]
RAPID RESPONSES July 24, 2012 Mutual benefits [Re: It’s not all bad: Britain is becoming safer despite recession, Friday] Allister Heath is sceptical of mutuals’ ability to add something positive to the market for banking services. But the contribution of mutuals is simple – diversity. For too long, the banking sector has been dominated by a model that emphasises maximising [...]
Murray: Tears won’t return at Olympics July 24, 2012 BRITISH No1 Andy Murray has vowed to control his emotions when he returns to Wimbledon at the weekend seeking to overcome his Wimbledon final heartbreak by claiming gold at the London 2012 Olympics. The Scot broke down uncontrollably shortly after his four-set defeat to Roger Federer at the SW19 grand slam earlier this month, visibly [...]
Idowu troubled by BOA’s public injury enquiry July 24, 2012 LONDON 2012 medal hopeful Phillips Idowu is “incredibly disappointed” with the British Olympic Association over the organisation’s decision to make public their request to see his medical records. The triple jumper’s preparations for the Olympics have been an exceptionally frustrating experience during which a foot injury sustained early last month was followed by a hip [...]
Early start for London 2012 July 24, 2012 THE Olympics begin today – ahead of Friday’s opening ceremony – with a fixture between Team GB’s and New Zealand’s women’s football teams at the Millenium Stadium in Cardiff. Regardless of the outcome, Team GB will then play Cameroon, again in Cardiff, on Saturday, before Brazil at Wembley Stadium three days later. The men’s team, [...]
Bell believes batsmen hold the key to success in second Test July 24, 2012 ENGLAND’S Ian Bell concedes he and his fellow batsmen will have to be more potent if they are to save the series with victory in the second Test against South Africa. Alastair Cook’s 20th Test century proved a rare highlight when England were dismissed for 385 – a considerable contrast with South Africa’s 637-2 – [...]
