Place names
If François Hollande is elected French president this week, he will join a very small group: world leaders whose surnames match the names of foreign countries (although Holland is strictly only a region of the Netherlands).
— The closest world leader currently to bear this distinction is Co-Prince Joan Enric Vives Sicilia, the head of state of Andorra, whose surname matches the name of a former kingdom. Nahas Angula, prime minister of Namibia, nearly bears the name of a neighbouring country.
— France has, however, had a prime minister called France: Pierre Mendes France, leader of the Radical Socialists and PM between 1954 and 55.
Going with the flow
Water companies in the south-east complained that record April rainfall is failing to replenish water supplies because it has failed to reach their boreholes. What happens to rain when it falls on land in Europe?
57% taken up by plants or evaporates
28% runs into streams and rivers
15% enters the groundwater and eventually reaches the sea by underground flow
Pension pots
The Office of National Statistics calculated the UK’s total pensions liability at £7.1 trillion, five times GDP. Where does the liability fall?
Personal pensions £326 bn
Defined contribution schemes in private workplaces £386 bn
Defined benefit schemes in private workplaces £1440 bn
Public sector (funded) £313 bn
Public sector (unfunded) £852 bn
State pensions £3,843 bn
Split decision
Judge Sir Paul Coleridge launched a campaign to oppose easy divorce. How recent a phenomenon is the rise in divorce?
Number of divorces in England and Wales
1860 103
1880 278
1900 515
1910 596
1920 3,090
1930 3,563
1940 7,755
1950 30,870
1960 23,868
1970 58,239
1980 148,301
1990 153,386
2000 141,135
2010 119,589
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