Thursday, July 3, 2014 Ian Narev, the CEO of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, this morning “unreservedly” apologised to clients who lost money in a scandal involving the bank’s financial planning services arm. Last week, a Senate enquiry found financial advisers from the Commonwealth Bank had made high-risk investments of clients’ money without the clients’ […]
Alabama wins 2010 American football college title
Friday, January 8, 2010 Heisman trophy winner Mark Ingram scored a one-yard touchdown and Trent Richardson scored from two yards to cement the University of Alabama’s first national American football title since 1992 in the 2010 BCS National Championship Game over the University of Texas at Austin yesterday in Pasadena, California. The Crimson Tide defeated […]
€8bn bank bailout in Ireland
Monday, February 2, 2009 The government of Ireland plans to inject €4 billion each into the Bank of Ireland and the Allied Irish Bank. An insurance scheme to underwrite bad debts would also be created and the banks will attempt to raise €1 billion from shareholders. The two banks have been in need of recapitalization […]
Media round-up: April Fools’ Day 2008
Tuesday, April 1, 2008 Many media outlets traditionally deliberately spread hoaxes on April Fools’ Day, including notable quality sources such as National Geographic and Science. Presidents Sarkozy and Bush were victims of April Fools’ Day stories. The popular British tabloid The Sun wrote that French President Nicolas Sarkozy is to undergo stretch surgery to make […]
Lebanon goodbye to Syrian forces
Tuesday, April 26, 2005 Lebanon region map As the last forces in the final Syrian pullout from Lebanon left, Bekaa Valley residents danced, waved flags, raised banners and cried tears of brotherhood in celebration. Tuesday afternoon’s Masnaa border crossing marked the exit from Lebanon of the last Syrian Army remnants, leaving 29 years of occupation […]
President Obama names 16 recipients of the 2009 Presidential Medal of Freedom
Saturday, August 1, 2009 President Barack Obama United States President Barack Obama has named the 16 recipients who are to receive the 2009 Presidential Medal of Freedom. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest honour a civilian can receive. The medal is awarded to those who make significant contributions to the security and national […]
Brazil’s Minas state stops sales of Toyota Corolla
Friday, April 23, 2010 Minas, one of the largest states of Brazil, has stopped the sale of the Toyota Corolla over safety concerns. The move was made after nine Corolla customers reported that their cars automatically accelerated. The state public prosecutor’s office said in an online statement on Tuesday that the problem is blamed on […]
Facebook hired PR firm to discredit Google, reveals leaked correspondence
Thursday, May 12, 2011 Facebook hired a public relations firm to systematically discredit Google by paying two journalists to plant negative pieces in U.S. newspapers, leaked correspondence discloses. The new revelations are likely to increase tension between the two companies, which are already fierce rivals. The social network has confirmed the validity of the leaked […]
EF-3 tornado strikes western Massachusetts
Sunday, June 5, 2011 The EF3 tornado in Springfield rips through a neighborhood behind an office building. Image: Matt Putzel. Three tornadoes struck western Massachusetts on Wednesday according to the National Weather Service’s (NWS) Taunton, Massachusetts office, the biggest and longest being an EF-3 on the Enhanced Fujita scale according to meteorologists at the agency. […]
Chula Vista, California becomes model for blight control laws in the US
Tuesday, October 14, 2008 A recently developed residential neighborhood in Chula Vista, California. Image: Catalan. The San Diego, California suburb of Chula Vista has responded to the recent housing crisis with an aggressive blight control ordinance that compels lenders to maintain the appearance of vacant homes. As foreclosures increase both locally and throughout the United […]