In praise of Clare Balding and her highlighter pen
Her talent for combining really nerdy detail with great empathy is irresistible.I’m by no means the first to enthuse about Clare Balding’s stellar presenting of the Olympics swimming coverage. Twitter...
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The chart Mitt Romney has to explain if he thinks "culture" makes Israel...
Your move, Mittens. As of 2010, the average Democratic state received $1.24 in benefits for every dollar of federal taxes paid, while the average Republican state received $1.49. If culture affects...
View ArticleThe British left shouldn't write off Romney yet
The left underestimated Reagan and Bush. It may be making the same mistake about Romney. In August 1999, I wrote a memo for Tony Blair entitled "Why George W Bush Will be the Next President of the...
View ArticleThe Lib Dems' money woes are growing
Clegg's party might need a spell in opposition just to balance the books.The Electoral Commission has published its accounts of political party income and expenditure. The table showing the financial...
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Young people’s wages: the numbers look scary… because they are scary
The squeeze on young people's pay is only going to get worse.The economic plight of young people has been one of the recurring themes of recent years – most importantly the rise of youth unemployment...
View ArticleAllianz second-quarter net income up 23.2 per cent
The insurer beats market expectations, with a 136 per cent surge in life and health insurance income. Allianz Group, Europe's largest insurer, has beaten market forecasts with a net income of €1.32bn...
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UK output to fall by 0.5 per cent in 2012
Weak demand will continue to suppress growth, according to the National Institute of Economic and Social Research.UK output will fall by 0.5 per cent in 2012, as growth will be supressed by weak demand...
View ArticleAlan White's Olympic diary: Ten reasons the Olympics have been absolutely...
The athletes! The facts! The medals! Ian Thorpe! The volunteers!Conscious I’ve been moaning too much this week; so as not to give a false impression: 1. The opening ceremony As Stephen Glover of the...
View ArticleRevealed: where Vince Cable got his RBS plan from
The problem is, he isn't really following it to the letter.Blogger Left Outside thought that the proposals by what the FT called "cabinet ministers" – "it's Vince Cable, everyone knows it's Vince!" –...
View ArticleThe Dark Knight Capital Rises
Knight Capital lost $10m a minute. Bane could learn a thing or two.Spoilers for The Dark Knight Rises follow. While the obvious cinematic comparison with an automatic trading system going rogue for...
View ArticleDo bloggers need a "kitemark" to gain their readers' trust?
Standards and boundaries could be helpful.Would a blogging kitemark give readers more trust in what they're reading? That's just one suggestion that bloggers - and the journalists' union, the NUJ -...
View ArticleThe bank run by Indian street children
The Children's Development Khazana helps Indian street kids guard their money.AFP, via Kottke: The Children's Development Khazana (treasure chest) opened its first office in New Delhi 2001 and has...
View ArticleCameron's decision to drop Lords reform will test the coalition like never...
Which will crack first, Cameron’s hold on his party or the glue that binds the coalition?So now we know. The reported abandonment of Lords Reform means the government’s legislative programme is being...
View ArticleIAG posts second-quarter loss of €95m
Job losses expected for the flagging Spanish airline Iberia.There's turbulence at the International Airlines Group (IAG), which today reported a second-quarter loss of €95m, compared to a profit of...
View ArticleThe Friday Arts Diary
Our cultural picks for the week ahead. Music Café Oto, London E8 – Evan Parker, John Edwards and Eddie Prevost, 7 August Evan Parker, Eddie Prevost and John Edwards launch their new trio CD – the first...
View ArticleNIESR forecast 0.5 per cent shrinkage in 2012
Return to growth in 2013, but stagnation continues.The National Institute for Economic and Social Research has released its quarterly economic forecast for Britain. It predicts the economy will...
View ArticleLabour must lead the way in restoring politics after its abuse by elites
Finding the balance of regulation after financial, media and political scandals is our challenge.A defining political challenge of our times is how we tackle the collapse in the public’s confidence in...
View ArticleKnocking press industry heads together
The latest on Leveson. One man who hasn’t had much time to enjoy the Olympics is press inquiry chairman Lord Justice Leveson. And as he reviews the stupendous amount of evidence that his wide-ranging...
View ArticleUS jobs figures come in well above expectations
163,000 new jobsThe US jobs figures have come in, revealing an extra 163,000 people in payroll employment. The consensus forecast was around 100,000 new jobs, and as Reuters reported, the range for...
View ArticleHelmet or no, cyclists will continue to die unless we rethink our roads
There are bus, taxi and bike lanes. Why not "car lanes"?Bradley Wiggins is a wonderful man and quite rightly beloved by all. But while his widely misreported views on cycle helmets are making the...
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