Porsche has announced it has already beaten its annual record for most cars sold. The carmaker sold 128,978 cars worldwide in the 11 months to November – already beating the 118,868 sports cars sold in the whole of last year. Porsche marketing and sales chief Bernhard Maier said that last month alone was up 39%… Continue reading Porsche beats its annual record for most cars sold
Category: Business
Delta Air Lines buys Virgin Atlantic stake from Singapore Airlines
Delta Air Lines has agreed a deal to buy Singapore Airlines’ 49% stake in Virgin Atlantic for $360 million. Virgin Group and Sir Richard Branson will retain a 51% shareholding, and the Virgin brand will remain in place, the new partners said in a joint statement. The deal is subject to regulatory approval in the… Continue reading Delta Air Lines buys Virgin Atlantic stake from Singapore Airlines
HSBC to pay $1.9 billion fine for money laundering
HSBC is to pay US authorities $1.9 billion in a settlement over money laundering, the largest paid in such a case, the bank has confirmed. A US Senate investigation said the UK-based bank had been a conduit for “drug kingpins and rogue nations”. Money laundering is the process of disguising the proceeds of crime so… Continue reading HSBC to pay $1.9 billion fine for money laundering
Italian stocks fall sharply after Mario Monti plans to resign
Italian stocks have fallen sharply, reacting to news that Prime Minister Mario Monti plans to resign and former premier Silvio Berlusconi is to run for office again. The main Italian stock index fell 3.1%. Other indexes throughout Europe were also lower, with banks the worst hit among shares. Mario Monti became the leader of a… Continue reading Italian stocks fall sharply after Mario Monti plans to resign
John Mahama wins Ghana’s presidential election
Ghana’s incumbent President John Mahama has been won presidential election, the electoral commission has announced. The commission said that John Mahama had won 50.7% against opposition leader Nana Akufo-Addo on 47.74%. However, the opposition NPP says it will contest the result, accused the governing NDC party of conspiring with commission staff to fix Friday’s poll.… Continue reading John Mahama wins Ghana’s presidential election
Romania’s ruling coalition wins parliamentary elections
The ruling coalition of Prime Minister Victor Ponta is projected to win Romania’s general election. Exit polls gave his Social Liberal Union (USL) about 57% of the vote, as compared with just 19% for President Traian Basescu’s Right Romania Alliance (ARD). Victor Ponta said: “This is a clear victory with an absolute majority.” But he… Continue reading Romania’s ruling coalition wins parliamentary elections
Barack Obama weekly address: he won’t back down on taxes as Republicans in the House block cuts for middle-class
Republicans in the US House of Representatives are blocking a bill that would prevent a tax increase on the first $250,000 of income earned by all Americans, President Barack Obama said on Saturday. The Democratic-controlled Senate has approved the measure, but Barack Obama said House Republicans have “put forward an unbalanced plan that actually lowers… Continue reading Barack Obama weekly address: he won’t back down on taxes as Republicans in the House block cuts for middle-class
Romania votes in parliamentary elections
Polling stations have opened in Romania in the country’s parliamentary elections. Opinion polls suggest a large win for the governing coalition led by Prime Minister Victor Ponta and Senate President Crin Antonescu. But the result could trigger renewed political instability as Romania negotiates a vital loan agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Victor Ponta… Continue reading Romania votes in parliamentary elections
Silvio Berlusconi confirms he will run for prime minister in 2013
Silvio Berlusconi has confirmed he will run for prime minister again in 2013. Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi told reporters in Milan that he was “running to win” – and that his decision came after his People of Freedom party had not found a leader who was as well known as him. Silvio Berlusconi,… Continue reading Silvio Berlusconi confirms he will run for prime minister in 2013
More than 38 million Americans make their online holiday shopping from a toilet
A new survey has revealed that approximately 16% of online holiday shopping in the U.S. is conducted from a toilet. More than 38 million Americans, with men found more likely than women, are accused of the clandestine multitasking according to calculations based on 2,104 online adults surveyed in November. “Smartphones and tablets have enabled consumers… Continue reading More than 38 million Americans make their online holiday shopping from a toilet
ECB cuts euro growth forecasts
The European Central Bank (ECB) has revised down its eurozone growth forecasts for 2012 and 2013 as “economic weakness extends into 2013”. ECB President Mario Draghi said the bank expected the bloc’s economy to shrink by about 0.5% this year, before recovering later in 2013. He said weak consumer and investor sentiment was weighing on… Continue reading ECB cuts euro growth forecasts
Rolls-Royce in talks with Serious Fraud Office over possible bribery and corruption
Rolls-Royce has announced that it is in talks with the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) over possible bribery and corruption. “It is too early to predict the outcomes, but these could include the prosecution of individuals and of the company,” Rolls-Royce said. The British aircraft engine manufacturer said it had passed on information about alleged malpractice… Continue reading Rolls-Royce in talks with Serious Fraud Office over possible bribery and corruption
Citigroup cuts 11,000 jobs worldwide in its consumer banking division
Citigroup announces it is cutting 11,000 jobs worldwide in an efficiency drive, with most of the jobs being lost in its consumer banking division. The bank said the move, which will see its headcount shrink by 4%, would cost it about $1 billion in pre-tax charges. Shares in the bank rose 7% following the announcement.… Continue reading Citigroup cuts 11,000 jobs worldwide in its consumer banking division
How Mitt Romney is coping with not being president
Former Republican candidate Mitt Romney has retreated into “seclusion” after his failed presidential run and has so little to do he is offering to change bedpans for sick friends to ease his boredom. In a huge step down from the campaign trail, Mitt Romney is said to have reached out to a friend going through… Continue reading How Mitt Romney is coping with not being president
Borut Pahor wins Slovenia’s presidential election
Borut Pahor, former Slovenian prime minister, has won an emphatic victory in the country’s presidential run-off election. With almost all votes counted, Borut Pahor polled 67% to incumbent President Danilo Turk’s 33% in a poll following days of protests over the economy and alleged government corruption. On Friday a number of people were injured as… Continue reading Borut Pahor wins Slovenia’s presidential election
Pier Luigi Bersani and Matteo Renzi in Italian centre-left Democratic Party poll
Italians have been voting in the final round of the contest for the leadership of the centre-left Democratic Party. The run-off vote pitches veteran party leader Pier Luigi Bersani against Florence Mayor Matteo Renzi. With the party leading opinion polls, the winner has a good chance of becoming Italy’s next PM in elections scheduled for… Continue reading Pier Luigi Bersani and Matteo Renzi in Italian centre-left Democratic Party poll
Timothy Geithner and John Boehner in fiscal cliff talks stalemate
Timothy Geithner, the US treasury Secretary, has said there will be no deal to avert a “fiscal cliff” unless Republicans accept a tax hike for the wealthy. But House Speaker John Boehner has dismissed a 10-year plan, which aims to raise $1.6 trillion through tax rises and spending cuts, as “silliness”. The two men met… Continue reading Timothy Geithner and John Boehner in fiscal cliff talks stalemate
Slovenia votes in presidential run-off poll following days of protests against government corruption
Slovenians are voting today in a presidential run-off following days of protests over budget cuts and alleged government corruption. The vote pits incumbent Danilo Turk against former PM Borut Pahor, who is favored to win by opinion polls. On Friday, a number of people were injured as protesters clashed with police in the capital Ljubljana.… Continue reading Slovenia votes in presidential run-off poll following days of protests against government corruption
Forbes Highest Paid Musicians 2012: Dr. Dre tops the list with $100 million
Dr. Dre has topped a Forbes list of the 25 highest-paid musicians in 2012. Dr. Dre, 47, became one of the leading names in rap in the early 1990s with N.W.A. and has worked with artists including Eminem and Snoop Dogg. The producer’s headphones business, Beats by Dre, helped him make $100 million in pre-tax… Continue reading Forbes Highest Paid Musicians 2012: Dr. Dre tops the list with $100 million
One dollar bill could be replaced by coins saving $4.4 billion over the next 30 years
US Congress is kicking around the idea of replacing the dollar bill with dollar coins, as federal auditors have determined that the move could save taxpayers roughly $4.4 billion over the next 30 years. Experts say that while it would be expensive to replace machines, the fact that coins can stay in circulation for up… Continue reading One dollar bill could be replaced by coins saving $4.4 billion over the next 30 years
Powerball jackpot: What $500 million can buy you?
So you just won $500 million in the Powerball lottery. What would you spend it on? 4,166 Hermes Matte Crocodile Birkin Bags with price tag of $120,000 2,150 2012 Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speeds at $232,290 each 2,080 2012 Aston Martin Virage cars at $240,357 each 377 Diamond Crypto Smartphone covered with 50 diamonds at $1.3 million 333… Continue reading Powerball jackpot: What $500 million can buy you?
Eurozone unemployment rate hits new record high in October, while consumer price rises slowed sharply
Eurozone unemployment rate hit a new record high in October, while consumer price rises slowed sharply. The jobless rate in the recessionary euro area rose to 11.7%. Inflation fell from 2.5% to 2.2% in November. The data came as European Central Bank President Mario Draghi warned the euro would not emerge from its crisis until… Continue reading Eurozone unemployment rate hits new record high in October, while consumer price rises slowed sharply
Neat Freaks: TLC chronicles the weirdest and wackiest sanitation habits
Neat Freaks, a new TLC special, chronicles the weirdest and wackiest sanitation habits that seem perfectly normal to many clean-obsessed people. The one-hour show features Alfreta, a woman who not only cleans her own bathroom, but all the public bathrooms, and strangers’ houses she visits as well. “I clean once a day, but once a… Continue reading Neat Freaks: TLC chronicles the weirdest and wackiest sanitation habits
Barack Obama and Mitt Romney discussed America’s leadership in the world at White House lunch
Barack Obama has met defeated Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney for a private lunch at the White House. Barack Obama and Mitt Romney discussed “America’s leadership in the world” and how to preserve it, the White House said. Mitt Romney left after just over an hour and the two said they would stay in touch.… Continue reading Barack Obama and Mitt Romney discussed America’s leadership in the world at White House lunch
Barack Obama and Mitt Romney to have lunch at White House
President Barack Obama is to have lunch at the White House with defeated Republican election rival Mitt Romney, officials have confirmed. Thursday’s face-to-face will be their first meeting since Barack Obama overcame Mitt Romney in the November 6th election. On election night Barack Obama pledged to meet Mitt Romney for talks on how to “move… Continue reading Barack Obama and Mitt Romney to have lunch at White House