Trulli laughs off shortcuts plan January 14, 2010 FORMULA ONE: Lotus driver Jarno Trulli has dismissed proposals to introduce shortcuts as impossible. F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone this week floated the idea that drivers be allowed five shortcuts per race in order to increase overtaking and improve the spectacle for television audiences. But Trulli said: “This is not a game, this is a sport. [...]
Schumacher return excites Alonso January 14, 2010 FORMULA ONE: Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso is itching to renew his rivalry with returning seven-time champion Michael Schumacher. Alonso ended Schumacher’s five-year winning run in 2005 and beat him again in 2006, which proved the German’s last season. “When Michael left it was not the same beating the others,” said Alonso. “To beat a legend is [...]
Clarke in the chasing pack January 14, 2010 GOLF: Darren Clarke fired an opening round 63 to lie one shot off the lead in a weather-affected Joburg Open. The Ulsterman carded a bogey-free round to join four other players on eight-under-par – one behind home favourite Neil Schietekat. England’s Simon Khan and David Lynn are also on eight-under with Clarke and South Africans [...]
Rocket races into last four January 14, 2010 SNOOKER: World No1 Ronnie O’Sullivan cruised into the semi-final of the Masters at Wembley after a 6-3 win over Peter Ebdon. The Rocket, a four-time winner, stormed into a 4-0 lead at the interval before Ebdon hit back with two frames. But O’Sullivan upped the tempo again and sealed the match in the ninth frame [...]
US regulators failed to act January 14, 2010 REGULATORS failed to protect the American public from the global financial crisis, one of its leading watchdogs said yesterday. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation chairwoman Sheila Bair told the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission that regulators had acted too slowly to stop the problems with sub-prime mortgage lending. “Not only did market discipline fail to prevent [...]
Hart leaves QPR after five games January 14, 2010 FOOTBALL: Paul Hart last night left Queens Park Rangers by mutual consent after just five games in charge of the west London side. The ex-Portsmouth boss reportedly fell out with on-loan Spurs midfielder Abel Taarabt after Tuesday night’s 3-2 FA?Cup defeat to Sheffield United. Hart spent just 28 days at Loftus Road and was the [...]
JANUARY SALES January 14, 2010 James on verge of Stoke move STOKE boss Tony Pulis expects to complete the signing of England goalkeeper David James from Portsmouth in the next 24 hours. The 39-year-old shot-stopper, who has recovered from a recent calf injury, is thought to be keen to leave financially-stricken Pompey in order to have guaranteed first-team action ahead [...]
Hopes of rival Cadbury offer melting away January 14, 2010 CADBURY remained defiant last night in the face of a hostile takeover bid by Kraft, as hopes of a rival offer appeared to fade. Hershey emerged as a potential rival to Kraft after its board authorised a bid for the chocolatier. “In recent times they have reaffirmed their interest,” Cadbury chairman Roger Carr said yesterday, [...]
The chances of a Hershey counter-bid are slim January 14, 2010 THOSE Cadbury shareholders hoping Hershey will take Kraft on in a bidding war are likely to be disappointed. The maker of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups is going to find it awfully hard to fund a takeover, as its enterprise value is estimated at around $10bn (£6.1bn) compared to Cadbury’s $21.3bn. Simply raising the funds in [...]
Fee income at top legal firms dives January 14, 2010 INCOME at the UK’s top ten law firms plunged more than 10.5 per cent in their second quarter (Q2), compared with the previous year, new figures show. The poor results for 2009 Q2 were reflected across the industry, with the top 100 firms dropping 5.7 per cent. Firms including Allen & Overy and Linklaters reported [...]