Emerging Lions excite Geech May 28, 2009 BRITISH and Irish Lions head coach Ian McGeechan admits he cannot wait to see the class of 2009 in competitive action for the first time tomorrow. McGeechan has named nine Lions debutants, including 21-year-old Ireland centre Keith Earls and England flanker Joe Worsley, for the opening match of their tour of South Africa. And the [...]
Three MPs out over expenses May 28, 2009 THREE more MPs said yesterday they would not stand at the next election after they became caught up in the expenses scandal. Conservative MP Julie Kirkbride and Margaret Moran, Labour MP for Luton South, both said they would quit politics after facing “enormous pressure” from “unbearably intense” media scrutiny. Tory MP Kirkbride faced a showdown [...]
Catt: BaaBaas cameo is not my swansong May 28, 2009 VETERAN fly-half Mike Catt has dismissed suggestions that tomorrow’s run-out for the Barbarians is set to be his final hurrah in professional rugby. Catt was expected to call time on his glittering 17-year career when he turns out for the star-studded Baa Baas against his former England team-mates at Twickenham. But the 37-year-old insists he [...]
Market forces should be let loose on GM May 28, 2009 IT is a sign of our troubled and confused times that the US government will end up owning a majority stake in General Motors (GM), the ailing car giant that is heading into bankruptcy. It remains unclear what exactly will happen to Vauxhall, the UK division of Germany’s GM-owned Opel, but it seems likely it [...]
Lacroix close to the brink May 28, 2009 HAUTE couture firm Christian Lacroix yesterday filed for protection from its creditors after the credit crunch hit consumer demand for extravagant and expensive fashion. Lacroix, which is owned by Falic Group, a duty free retailer, and employs 125 people, said it hoped to continue to operate by getting court permission to go into administration and [...]
Murray foe in clay-court form taunt May 28, 2009 THE MAN standing between Andy Murray and a career-best performance at the French Open has vowed to exploit the British No1’s weakness on clay. World No65 Janko Tipsarevic admits he is the underdog for this afternoon’s third-round clash and could end up being “eaten alive”. But the Serb says he is not scared of third [...]
HANSEN LEADS AT LONDON GC May 28, 2009 DANE Anders Hansen shot an opening round 65 to take the overnight lead in the European Open at the London GC, Ash, Kent. Hansen leads namesake Peter Hanson, of Sweden, and South Africa’s Thomas Aitken by a single shot with no fewer than eight players following at five-under. World No5 Henrik Stenson struggled to a [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING May 28, 2009 FINANCIAL TIMES TERRA FIRMA INJECTS MORE CASH INTO EMITerra Firma has been forced to inject more cash into EMI for the second time in six months, after the debt-laden UK music group behind the Beastie Boys and Depeche Mode missed targets imposed in its banking covenants. Guy Hands’ private equity group injected £28m into EMI [...]
Dell slump better than feared May 28, 2009 Computer maker Dell yesterday reported that its quarterly profits had fallen by almost two-thirds as the worldwide recession continues to hit sales of computers. The world’s second-largest maker of personal computers made a net profit of $290m (£182m) in the three months to 1 May, down 63 per cent from $784m a year ago. Revenues [...]
Toyota sales fall by a quarter May 28, 2009 Toyota’s sales in Japan fell by around 25 per cent compared to last year the firm said yesterday. Katsuaki Watanabe, Toyota’s president, said domestic vehicle production would exceed 11,000 units a day in June and July. Toyota’s Prius Hybrid, unveiled last week, received record orders exceeding 80,000 before sales started. Japan’s top three car makers [...]