European markets follow Asian shares downward on fears that the plan to bailout Cyprus could trigger an escalation of the eurozone debt crisis. The EU and IMF want all bank customers to pay a levy in return for a bailout worth 10 billion euros ($13 billion). London’s 100 share index is 1% lower, while France… Continue reading Asian and European markets fall after Cyprus bailout deal
Year: 2013
Italy’s Ambassador Daniele Mancini may be declared persona non grata in India
The Supreme Court in India has said Italy’s Ambassador Daniele Mancini does not have legal immunity, in an escalating row over Rome’s refusal to return two marines charged with murdering two Indian fishermen. India’s Chief Justice Altamas Kabir said the court had “lost trust” in Ambassador Daniele Mancini. The court reiterated last week’s order for… Continue reading Italy’s Ambassador Daniele Mancini may be declared persona non grata in India
David Bowie tops UK albums after 20 years
The Next Day, David Bowie’s first album in a decade, has become the fastest-selling of the year in UK, hitting No. 1 spot in its first week. The Next Day is David Bowie’s first No. 1 since 1993’s Black Tie White Noise. The album sold 94,000 copies this week, according to the Official Chart Company,… Continue reading David Bowie tops UK albums after 20 years
Kim Kardashian about her pregnancy
Kim Kardashian has revealed that she isn’t finding her pregnancy as easy as she had hoped. “Being pregnant is not as easy as my sister [Kourtney Kardashian] made it look or as my mom [Kris Jenner] has made it look,” Kim Kardashian told E! News. “It’s a little painful at times….I’ve gotten sick a couple… Continue reading Kim Kardashian about her pregnancy
EU CO2 rules will save drivers cash
European drivers will save €3,800 over the lifetime of their cars if the EU imposes strict new CO2 standards on manufacturers, according to a recent study. It says if CO2 emissions from the average car were limited to 95 g per km, fuel use would be cut by a quarter. The innovations to the vehicle… Continue reading EU CO2 rules will save drivers cash
Nicos Anastasiades fights EU demands of bank levy in return for bailout
Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades says he is battling against eurozone demands that all bank customers pay a one-off levy in return for a bailout. Nicos Anastasiades said he shared people’s unhappiness with the terms, whereby all bank customers would pay a levy of 6.75% or 10% on their bank deposits. The EU and IMF have… Continue reading Nicos Anastasiades fights EU demands of bank levy in return for bailout
Journalist Abdiaziz Abdinur Ibrahim freed by Somali Supreme Court
The Supreme Court in Somalia has freed journalist Abdiaziz Abdinur Ibrahim, who was imprisoned for interviewing a woman who alleged she had been raped by security forces. Abdiaziz Abdinur Ibrahim, 27, and his interviewee were jailed in February after being convicted of offending state institutions. In early March the woman was freed on appeal, but… Continue reading Journalist Abdiaziz Abdinur Ibrahim freed by Somali Supreme Court
Steubenville high school football players Trent Mays and Ma’lik Richmond found guilty of rape
Steubenville high school football players Trent Mays and Ma’lik Richmond have been found guilty of raping a 16-year-old girl. Trent Mays, 16, and Ma’lik Richmond, 17, attacked the girl after a drunken party in the town of Steubenville, Ohio. Both wept as the verdict was read out. The case came to light via text messages,… Continue reading Steubenville high school football players Trent Mays and Ma’lik Richmond found guilty of rape
Kate Middleton’s shoe stuck in a grate at St Patrick’s Day parade
Kate Middleton’s shoe became stuck when standing on a grate as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attend a St Patrick’s Day parade today. Prince William was on hand to help his pregnant wife – but could not help having a little laugh as she tried to retrieve her shoe. The amusing scene was completed by… Continue reading Kate Middleton’s shoe stuck in a grate at St Patrick’s Day parade
Giorgos Katidis banned for life over Nazi salute
Greek football player Giorgos Katidis has been banned for life from playing for the national team after making a Nazi salute. AEK Athens midfielder Giorgos Katidis, 20, made the gesture to celebrate his winning goal during a Saturday match. The Greek football federation called it “a severe provocation” that insulted “all the victims of Nazi… Continue reading Giorgos Katidis banned for life over Nazi salute
Pope Francis delivers first Sunday Angelus prayer
Pope Francis I has delivered his first Angelus prayer and blessing before a crowd of many thousands gathered in St Peter’s Square in Rome. The pontiff also delivered off-the-cuff remarks, about God’s power to forgive, instead of reading a written speech. It was the Pope’s second official appearance before the general public since he was… Continue reading Pope Francis delivers first Sunday Angelus prayer
Olivier Metzner found dead in an apparent suicide
Olivier Metzner, one of France’s best-known criminal lawyers, has been found dead. His body was found floating off his private island in Brittany. A note was found at Olivier Metzner’s home and an investigation has been opened, with police treating the case as suicide. Olivier Metzner made his name in a series of high-profile cases,… Continue reading Olivier Metzner found dead in an apparent suicide
Shamrock Shake: McDonald’s St Patrick’s Day treat calories are equivalent to one and a half hamburgers
McDonald’s celebrates St. Patrick’s Day each year with their famous minty-green Shamrock Shake, which contains a whopping 820 calories. Shamrock Shake’s calories are equivalent to one and a half hamburgers at McDonald’s. Included in those calories are a hefty 23 grams of fat and 115 grams of sugar. Other menu options with the same nutritional… Continue reading Shamrock Shake: McDonald’s St Patrick’s Day treat calories are equivalent to one and a half hamburgers
Xi Jinping delivers his first speech as China’s president
China’s new President Xi Jinping has said he will fight for “the great renaissance of the Chinese nation,” in his first speech as head of state. Closing the annual National People’s Congress, Xi Jinping urged delegates to reject extravagance and fight corruption. At a news conference later, new Premier Li Keqiang said sustainable economic growth… Continue reading Xi Jinping delivers his first speech as China’s president
President Nicos Anastasiades defends Cyprus bailout deal amid mass public anger
Cyprus’ President Nicos Anastasiades has said a big bailout, which has provoked mass public anger, was needed to avoid a “disorderly bankruptcy”. The 10 billion-euro ($13 billion) deal agreed by the EU was “a painful but controlled management of the crisis”, he said. Many Cypriots, shocked that the bailout imposes a levy on bank deposits… Continue reading President Nicos Anastasiades defends Cyprus bailout deal amid mass public anger
Lil Wayne visited Georgia Aquarium with his son just days before suffering uncontrollable seizures
Lil Wayne spent a day at an aquarium with his 4-old-son Dwayne just three days before he was rushed to hospital in LA while suffering uncontrollable seizures. According to TMZ, they visited the Georgia Aquarium on March 9 and checked out the Ocean Voyager exhibit. Lil Wayne, 30, has tweeted to say he is “good”… Continue reading Lil Wayne visited Georgia Aquarium with his son just days before suffering uncontrollable seizures
Larry Hagman’s Santa Monica ocean-front penthouse sold for $5.2 million
Larry Hagman’s Santa Monica ocean-front penthouse was put up for sale in January, two months after the star passed away following a yearlong battle with cancer. After 63 days on the market the home finally sold on February 28, according to property managers Surterre Properties. The penthouse had been listed at $5.2 million, but no… Continue reading Larry Hagman’s Santa Monica ocean-front penthouse sold for $5.2 million
Miley Cyrus gets new tattoo on her forearm
Miley Cyrus got a new tattoo on her forearm on Friday – a mini replica of Leonardo da Vinci’s anatomical heart drawing. Celebrity tattoo artist Kat Von D did the inking, tweeting the results on her Twitter page. “Just did the RADDEST tattoo on @MileyCyrus,” she wrote. “A miniature rendition of a da Vinci anatomical… Continue reading Miley Cyrus gets new tattoo on her forearm
Snooki and JWoww straddle Honey Boo Boo’s mother June Shannon at GLAAD Media Awards 2013
Jersey Shore’s Snooki and JWoww couldn’t help but get close to cuddly reality rival Mama June of Here Comes Honey Boo Boo fame on Saturday as they attended the GLAAD Media Awards. Snooki and JWoww posted snaps on their Instagram pages as they met June Shannon backstage at the 24th annual event in New York… Continue reading Snooki and JWoww straddle Honey Boo Boo’s mother June Shannon at GLAAD Media Awards 2013
Britney Spears new boyfriend is David Lucado
Britney Spears and rumored new lawyer boyfriend David Lucado were spotted leaving a house and heading off for a drive near her home in the Los Angeles suburb of Calabasas on Saturday. Despite taking on a new romance, Britney Spears told Harper’s Bazaar that having children had changed her focus: “I think things through a… Continue reading Britney Spears new boyfriend is David Lucado
Facebook adopts #hashtag from Twitter
Facebook announced they would be borrowing a page from Twitter’s manual and introducing hashtags (#) onto its site. According to The Week, no specific date has been announced for the introduction, but soon Facebook users who click on a word preceded by a hashtag will bring up all Facebook posts tagged with that hashtag. Hashtags… Continue reading Facebook adopts #hashtag from Twitter
St. Patrick’s Day 2013: parades and celebrations across US
Americans have started celebrating St. Patrick’s Day across the country on Saturday, one day before the March 17 festival. Chicago held its annual parade on Saturday morning and dyed the Chicago River green while New York held its famous parade greeted by thousands. Revelers, children and even pets were decked out in green to mark… Continue reading St. Patrick’s Day 2013: parades and celebrations across US
Pope Francis explains reason behind name choice: “I would like a poor Church, for the poor”
Pope Francis I has said he wants “a poor Church, for the poor” following his election as the next pontiff. The Pope said he chose the name Francis after 12-13th Century St Francis of Assisi, who represented “poverty and peace”. The pontiff urged journalists to get to know the Church with its “virtues and sins”… Continue reading Pope Francis explains reason behind name choice: “I would like a poor Church, for the poor”
David Brent is back: Ricky Gervais resurrects his character for Comic Relief 2013
David Brent made his big return on Comic Relief after he was off screens for 10 years. David Brent made famous appearing on The Office used his time back in the limelight to debut a political reggae song called Equality Street. Ricky Gervais resurrected his popular character for the fundraising fun and viewers learned that… Continue reading David Brent is back: Ricky Gervais resurrects his character for Comic Relief 2013
Ang Lee to direct pilot episode of new series Tyrant
Ang Lee takes on his first TV project as it was announced he will direct the pilot episode of new series, Tyrant. Tyrant marks Ang Lee’s first project since the 2012 film Life of Pi, which saw the Taiwanese filmmaker win his second Academy Award last month. The show follows an ordinary American family caught… Continue reading Ang Lee to direct pilot episode of new series Tyrant