Euro slides to one-year low as ECB cuts rates to 0.05pc, but confirms stimulus programme September 4, 2014 The euro slid to 1.302 against the dollar, its lowest level since July 2013, after the European Central Bank cut interest rates from 0.15 per cent to 0.05 per cent and confirmed plans to start a programme of buying asset-backed securities. ECB president Mario Draghi hinted during a speech at Jackson Hole last month that the [...]
NHS funding should target the old for tax hikes and benefit cuts, says report September 4, 2014 Higher earners over the age of 40 should be targeted for "critical needs taxes" if the UK is to keep up with demands from an increasingly strained NHS, a new report has said. Charges and private insurance were rejected as possible solutions by the report, compiled by a commission within charity the King's Fund. "We [...]
Which European countries would be hardest hit by a Russian gas embargo? September 3, 2014 With relations between Europe and Russia at their worst point since the fall of the Berlin wall, the Institute of Energy Economics (EWI) has taken it upon itself to examine what would happen to various European nations if Russia imposed a gas export embargo in November 2014. The good news for the UK is that [...]
Scottish independence: That WEF report could boost Salmond’s plans to keep the pound September 3, 2014 Most of the UK media attention given to the new World Economic Forum (WEF) rankings has been focused on Britain edging up one place to take spot number nine for global competitiveness. However, there may be more to glean from the WEF's report than the UK's marginal improvement in competitiveness. Specifically, the WEF's rankings on [...]
Uber Germany ban sees signups skyrocket 590pc in 24 hours September 3, 2014 If the German taxi lobby was breathing a sigh of relief yesterday after a Frankfurt court issued a temporary injunction against Uber banning it across the country, it isn't any more. Uber Germany has seen signups in Hamburg alone soar a whopping 590 per cent in the last 24 hours. Rather than shunning the San [...]
Student movement launches global campaign to end the war on drugs September 2, 2014 Students for Liberty (SFL), the world's largest libertarian student organisation, has launched a campaign highlighting the failure of the war on drugs. Over the course of this month, the organisation will release videos, infographics and other materials in 18 different languages throughout North America, Europe, Latin America and Africa arguing that the prohibition of drugs [...]
Douglas Carswell’s birthday present to David Cameron: Ukip’s first Westminster win? September 2, 2014 The date of the Clacton by-election has been set for 9 October. Douglas Carswell will put himself before his constituents and see whether his decision to jump ship from the Tories to Ukip will be rewarded or punished. If the polls are anything to go by, Carswell is looking at a landslide victory – the [...]
Uber taxi app banned throughout Germany after Frankfurt ruling September 2, 2014 In what may be the severest crackdown on taxi app service Uber seen so far, Germany has banned the San Francisco-based company from operating throughout the country after a temporary injunction was issued by the Frankfurt regional court. Uber will be subjected fines of up to €250,000 (£198,000) if it defies the ban. The injunction [...]
Coding for schools: How to code like a five-year-old September 1, 2014 This week thousands of children returned to school to find themselves faced with a new subject: computer programming. England's five-year-olds are the only ones in the G20 to be taught programming, in a move the government hopes will turn the nation's children into budding tech entrepreneurs. But children at academies may be spared the new [...]
“Fear and loathing” at BBC as staff vote to strike (again) September 1, 2014 BBC staff have voted for strike action over redundancies and cuts at the BBC, according to the National Union of Journalists (NUJ). Members voted for strike action by a massive 73.6 per cent of the vote. The figure rose to 86.9 per cent of members when they were asked whether they should take action [...]
