Money for Queen frozen at £7.9 million

£7.9 million, that will be the Queen's budget to run her household for the coming year. This amount of money has been the same for twenty years. This change came after the Queen was reported to ask for an increase in funding. The government and the Queen later agreed that it would be inappropriate in this economical climate to raise this sum of money. 70 percent of the £7.9 million is used to pay staff salaries. The money is also used for entertainment during state visits.

The Queen asked for a raise while we are all in a economic crisis? Stupid! She gets £7.9m, is that not enough? The normal people deal with £2.000 a month and the Queen has trouble with £658.000 a month? What is this for kind of world? Start buying less expensive cloths, shoes, purses and make-up. That might work.

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Raise of pension age to perhaps 70

The government wants to raise the pension age to 66 and in the far future to 70. Nick Clegg said that this would stop people being "cast on the scrap heap" and would help "reinvigorate what retirement means". Unions think this will mean a work-till-you-drop system. The UK life expectancy is currently 77 years for men and 81 for women.The pension age raise to 66 will not happen before 2016.

I think it is ridiculous that the government wants to raise the pension age to probably 70. Although it will take decades it will affect the people eventually. If you look at the life expectancy ages of 77 years for men and 81 for women it is just stupid to think you can ask them to work until 70. Why would they work for their pension if they can only enjoy it for about seven years? The most annoying thing about this is that only the poor will suffer from this measure. The rich bankers can still start to retire at 50 and sail away to a sunny country. Very unfair if you ask me...

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Increasing tuition fees universities

The government is planning to change the funding of universities. This could allow universities to charge tuition fees higher than the current maximum of £3,225 per year. Now 80% of the students in England and Wales expecting to apply to university. If this change in tuition fees goes ahead two-third of the students might change their mind.If fees rise to £5,000 per year, the survey suggests a limited deterrent. But £7,000 is the limit, because only 45% of the students would want to apply in that case.

I think it is wrong to charge such high fees for any kind of education. If this raise in fees goes ahead it will mean that only the upper-class will be able to pay for it. This will be a huge blow for the middle-class because they can no longer grow in education. The only way they could allow this kind of raise is when the government helps the middle class. They should get the same system as in Holland and give the middle class a grant.

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NICE calls for trans-fats ban in foods

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence(NICE) said that trans-fats should be eliminated from food in England. Trans-fats is damaging to health and can cause cardiovascular diseases. These diseases comprise heart disease and stroke, which are the biggest cause of death in the UK. If trans-fats are eliminated it will save 40,000 lives and £1 billion on health care.

I think it is an excellent idea of NICE to take this measure. I think many people do not know that trans-fats are dangerous to your health. When it is banned in foods people are not able to damage themselves with it any more. This is the first step to healthier food and I am glad. If I could decide I would say that more dangerous fats should be eliminated and while we are on it, why not force everyone above 120 kilo's to a diet or a gym?

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Employers urged to let staff watch England match

Wednesday will be the last chance for England to guarantee their place in the knockout stages of the World Cup in South Africa. Two-third of the firms in England have not made any arrangement to let the staff watch this thrilling match. Unions have urged bosses to give the staff a few hours off or they should let them watch the match at work. This measure is taken to avoid any tensions between employers and employees. Bosses could claim back their time afterwards. In that way everyone wins.

I think it is a good thing to let the employees watch this important match for England. I think that even if you do not give your employees the opportunity to watch this match, they would still watch it in secret. If you are a boss it is better to give them two hours off and claim that back later, otherwise it will cost you a lot more because the employees will watch it in your time. Besides, if you are a boss you are also interested in the national team! I am a girl and I am interested, so no excuse can be made!

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Loss of bees will cost the UK £440m a year

Bees and other pollinators (insects who pollinate crops) are very important for the economy of the United Kingdom. The bees are decreasing in number and scientist are warning for a disastrous blow to the economy. 13 percent of the country's income comes from farming. If bees continue to decline this will cause enormous troubles in that sector. Scientist are trying to find the solution for this growing problem. Several public and charity organisations are funding their research, up to £10 million is invested already.

I never realised that bees are that important. If you would ask me to describe those yellow/black insects I would say 'annoying' rather than 'useful'. But it turns out that they could cost the government a lot of money! If the bees, wasps and moths will become extinct, what will happen to us? I never thought that would be a blow for the economy. I totally agree with the scientist, save the bees!

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16-year-old boy convicted of murder

A 16-year-old boy from London killed an old friend after he was called "a pussy" on facebook. This boy had tried to fight Salum KoSalum Kombo before, but his friends stopped him just in time. That night in December it all went wrong. They met outside a fish bar and walked away from the group of friends. The 16-year-old grabbed a knife and stabbed Salum to death. The boy claimed he was acting in self-defence, but there was no evidence which could proof that. The teenager is going to be in jail for a minimum of fourteen years.

This reason to murder someone is ridiculous. If you have to murder everyone who calls you "pussy" or any other insulting word, the world would be empty in no time. It will clear up the mess though. Seriously, it is very disturbing that a teenager of 16 years old is able to kill a former buddy to proof that he is not a pussy. The most surprising thing about this article is that I do not read anything about the teenager feeling guilty. Does this boy have any conscience? I think the jury made the right decision with giving him 14 years in jail. I hope he will come out of jail a lot wiser.

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Apology for Bloody Sunday

Prime Minister David Cameron said "I am deeply sorry" on the report of Bloody Sunday. This report showed that the killings on Bloody Sunday were unjustified and unjustifiable according to the Prime Minister. On this day thirteen marchers were shot dead in Londonderry when British paratroopers opened fire on crowds at a civil rights demonstration. It happened on 30 January 1972 and is called Bloody Sunday ever since. It took twelve years and cost £195 million to complete this report.

It is sad that it took thirty-eight years to make an apology. The report had taken 12 years to complete and the surviving relatives were left for thirty-eight years with questions about this terrible disaster. I think it is unbelievable that the government had to take so much time to find out that they were wrong. I think this is the problem of every government, admitting that they are or were wrong is unthinkable.

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No unlimited data for O2 users...

UK phone network O2 is planning to scrap unlimited data for smartphones. They claim that its inevitable because many costumers switch to data-intensive smartphones. This results in poor service, download speeds and network coverage. O2 thinks that this measure will only effect 3% of its customers. The new charges will be brought in on 24 June, on the same date that Apple launches the iPhone 4. They think that other networks are likely to follow O2.

This measure would be a disaster for many people. I can hardly believe that only 3 percent of O2's costumers will be affected by the new charges. If I look around me everyone is going online with his or her phone! If this is a new trend that will be followed by other networks it will be a catastrophe. Technology is very far, I think we should invest money into further development of the mobile network. In that way we can still have unlimited data. Students around the world are used to unlimited data, you can't take that away from them.

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Unhealthy living in Scotland

New research discovered that 97% of the Scots have an unhealthy lifestyle. They have at least one of the risk factors which are smoking, drinking, poor diet, physical inactivity and obesity. A large group of 55 percent of the Scottish people have three or more of these risk factors. The true picture might be worse due to respondents who didn't admit that they had a problem, researchers say. Scotland has the highest death rates from cancer, heart disease and stroke of the UK, this shows how dangerous this lifestyle actually is.

97% of the Scots have an unhealthy lifestyle, how is that possible? This percentage is almost impossible to believe. What drives these Scots to be so irresponsible for their own lifestyle? Aren't there any gyms in Scotland? These questions tumble in my head when I read this article. The government should definitely do something about this huge problem. I heard from a Scottish man that drinking is a serious problem in Scotland. I think that the government should take responsibility for this problem and organise a campaign on this madness.

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