No such thing as a free lunch: Councils forced to make up £26m school meals shortfall August 19, 2014 The government's free school meals policy has come under fire from the Local Government Association (LGA) after new research showed councils were having to divert money from other budgets to make good on the promise. While the government has made around £150m available for councils to fund the scheme, announced by Nick Clegg at [...]
Merkel backs Baltic states but rules out combat troops August 19, 2014 German Chancellor Angela Merkel has pledged to support the Baltic states against a possible Russian threat but refused to commit to the deployment of ground troops. Speaking in the Latvian capital Riga, Merkel said she supported "enhanced preparations" to deploy NATO forces to the region in case of an imminent threat. She reassured the Latvian [...]
The fat lie: Britain’s rising obesity unmasked August 18, 2014 New research suggests the UK's rise in obesity has not been caused by, as many have suggested, high-fat foods and sugary drinks but by a lack of physical activity. Conducted by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), the briefing paper argues against the claim that calorie consumption has been the primary cause of the UK's [...]
Uber ban suspended: Berlin court upholds opposition to taxi app prohibition August 18, 2014 Uber has received some welcome news from Berlin's Administrative Court. Last week, the Berlin State Department of Civil and Regulatory Affairs said Uber risked passenger safety through the use of “unverified drivers in unlicensed vehicles” and consequently banned the popular taxi app. The company had been threatened with fines of up to €25,000 for each [...]
Cameron unveils ‘family test’ for government policy August 18, 2014 David Cameron has announced that government policy will soon be subject to a "family test". Every domestic policy will now be required to examine its impact on the family, as well as cost-effectiveness and environmental impact. Speaking to BBC Breakfast, the Prime Minister said the government would "help people who come together stay together". Cameron [...]
London ranked world’s most influential city, while New York takes second place August 18, 2014 Forbes magazine has given London's stellar reputation as a global capital of business, finance, culture another boost by naming it the world's most influential city. In the list of the world's most influential cities, London topped the lot, with New York coming a close second and Paris trailing a poor third. "The United Kingdom may now [...]
Julian Assange confirms plans to leave Ecuadorian embassy August 18, 2014 Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has confirmed plans to leave the Ecuadorian embassy, after widespread rumours he was planning to give himself up. The 43 year old Australian had taken refuge in the embassy for two years and is reportedly suffering from heart and lung problems. Ecuador's President Rafael Correa, a self-declared enemy of "corrupt" media [...]
Westminster and Holyrood set to clash over fracking August 15, 2014 Moves to liberalise the regulations for fracking natural gas face a rough ride north of the border, with Scotland's energy minister Ferus Ewing pledging to oppose plans that would prevent householders from objecting to drilling under their homes. The Department of Energy and Climate Change is running a consultation over whether to allow companies to [...]
Legalise medical marijuana: Colombian President labels war on drugs a failure August 15, 2014 Colombia's President Juan Manuel Santos has voiced his support for the legalisation of medical marijuana, which the Colombian congress is expected to vote on later this year. Speaking at a drugs policy forum, Santos told the audience: We look favorably on the initiative on the medical and therapeutic use of marijuana. It's a way to [...]
UK economy grows 0.8 per cent in second quarter August 15, 2014 UK GDP expanded 0.8 per cent in the second quarter and 3.2 per cent annualised, beating analyst expectations and contrasting starkly with the stagnating Eurozone. The increase in output – of more than three per cent year-on-year – marks the strongest such increase since the last quarter of 2007. Output in the services sector, which [...]
