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 […]
Google announces new database service on blog
Wednesday, October 26, 2005 On Monday, Google published on their blog that they are testing a new product named Google Base, in which users will be able to upload their own articles to a database. This allegedly will complement the current services offered by Google. Examples of contributions may include recipes, scientific findings, and other […]
Bank of America declares 1.2 million account records “lost”
Monday, February 28, 2005 Charlotte, North Carolina — One of the biggest domestic banks in the United States, Bank of America, has admitted to losing computer tapes containing 1.2 million federal employee accounts, including the accounts of several U.S. senators, in a statement by the bank. According to the Pentagon, most of the accounts belong […]