Brown: I will solve scandal May 19, 2009 PRIME minister Gordon Brown last night pledged to end the “gentleman’s club” of parliamentary regulation, as he said all Labour MPs who broke the rules on expenses would not stand at the next general election. Brown said the House of Commons must be subject to independent regulation for the first time in history, after Speaker Michael [...]
SHELL SHAREHOLDER REVOLT HERALDS TIDE OF ACTIVISM May 19, 2009 OIL giant Shell yesterday became one of the biggest victims of a shareholder revolt on executive pay as just under 60 per cent of investors voted against its pay policy. To a collective gasp at the company’s simultaneous annual meeting in London and the Hague, shareholders expressed their anger that in spite of Shell missing [...]
AT LONG LAST May 19, 2009 MICHAEL Martin yesterday bowed to growing pressure over his role in the expenses scandal and announced he would resign as Commons Speaker. In a remarkably brief 34 second statement to the house, Martin said the Commons was “best when it is united”. “In order that unity can be maintained, I have decided I will relinquish [...]
US shares rocked in housing data shock May 19, 2009 THE Dow and S&P 500 slipped yesterday as financial shares sank and on disappointing housing data, but the Nasdaq rose as investors snapped up technology shares ahead of results from Hewlett Packard. After a choppy session, financial shares fell as the US Senate passed a bill to curb sudden credit card interest rate increases and [...]
No sign of vertigo as banks take the FTSE 100 higher May 19, 2009 THE FTSE 100 continued its upward momentum yesterday, propelled up by financials and miners, although gains were limited by figures that showed new US housing starts fell to record lows. The index closed 0.8 per cent, or 35.80 points, higher at 4,482.25, with investors showing no sign of vertigo from the recent hefty rises. “Despite [...]
Victory won’t scare Aussies May 19, 2009 IN terms of Test cricket, there is little more England can do now before the Ashes series starts in Cardiff on 8 July. My advice to Andrew Strauss’ men following their comprehensive series success over the West Indies this last fortnight is to savour the moment and take confidence from your victory. It’s true the [...]
Captain Strauss is target for Ashes, admits Ponting May 19, 2009 AUSTRALIA captain Ricky Ponting has begun the mind games ahead of this summer’s Ashes series by admitting his side will target England skipper Andrew Strauss. Strauss struggled to contain the Australian pace attack during the tour Down Under in 2006-07, averaging 24.70 in a series in which England were whitewashed 5-0. But since taking over [...]
England snub Cipriani again May 19, 2009 ENGLAND manager Martin Johnson last night defended his latest snub to Danny Cipriani, after omitting the Wasps fly-half from the squad for the upcoming Tests against Argentina. Cipriani has been left out in favour of the uncapped but in-form Sam Vesty – one of six untried players in a 34-man squad depleted by injury and [...]
Floyd Jnr sidesteps P4P hopes May 19, 2009 BOXING: Floyd Mayweather Jr insists retaining the pound-for-pound crown is not top of his list of priorities when he makes his eagerly awaited comeback against Juan Manuel Marquez in Las Vegas on 18 July. Mayweather takes on the acclaimed world No2 in a 144lb contest, but insists it is the glory of winning which inspires [...]
Messi blasts Man Utd over Tevez May 19, 2009 FOOTBALL: Barcelona star Lionel Messi has raised the temperature ahead of next week’s Champions League final by blasting Manchester United’s treatment of Carlos Tevez. United look set to let Argentina striker Tevez leave after two years on loan at Old Trafford – a decision that mystifies his international colleague Messi. He said: “I have no [...]
