UK gives go-ahead to second-ever shale gas permit

By Karolin Schaps and Susanna Twidale LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's government approved its second-ever shale gas fracking permit on Thursday, overruling a local authority decision and boosting the country's position as Europe's most promising shale gas exploration ground. Britain's Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Sajid Javid gave the go-ahead for shale gas company Cuadrilla to carry out hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, at a site in northwest England.