A message to SpinVox sceptics: stop the sniping August 3, 2009 RECENTLY, there’s been a bit of controversy surrounding SpinVox, the UK-based voice to text messaging company led by Christina Domecq. Certain bloggers and journalists have accused the firm of not paying suppliers, and of not possessing the intellectual property that can convert spoken voice mails into text, instead relying on an army of call centre [...]
Chelsea rubbish Cole rumours August 3, 2009 FOOTBALL: Chelsea have ruled out the sale of Joe Cole, following reports that Tottenham were planning a £10m bid for the England midfielder. “Chelsea is not, and will not be, considering any offers for Joe Cole,” said a club statement. “Our sole focus, as is Joe’s, is to complete his rehab and get him fit [...]
Woods savours 69th Tour win August 3, 2009 GOLF: Tiger Woods admitted his Buick Open victory in Michigan was extra special after recovering from a nightmare start. The world No1 shot a disappointing opening 71 before hitting back with rounds of 63, 65 and 69 to finish on 20-under-par and win by three shots. “This one feels good,” Woods said after a 69th [...]
RFU ban Bath trio but cut bans to nine months August 3, 2009 FORMER Bath trio Michael Lipman, Alex Crockett and Andrew Higgins were last night banned for nine months after being found guilty of failing to submit to drug tests. But the Rugby Football Union reduced their sentences from 15 months on the basis of good character and concerns over legal advice they were given. And the [...]
Benitez lines up Aquilani to replace Real-bound Alonso August 3, 2009 LIVERPOOL boss Rafael Benitez has wasted no time in replacing Xabi Alonso by closing in on the signing of Roma’s Alberto Aquilani. Reports in Europe suggest Benitez has already had a £15.2m bid for the midfielder accepted by the Italian club, while his representatives were thrashing out a deal with big-spending Real over the future [...]
Arsenal told to pay 12m for Chamakh August 3, 2009 BORDEAUX have told Arsenal to double their £6m offer for Marouane Chamakh or forget about signing the Morocco striker. Chamakh, 25, is furious at his club’s hard-line stance and is threatening to leave for nothing next summer when his contract expires. But the French champions’ president Jean-Louis Triaud is determined that their prize asset will [...]
Williams make objection to Schumacher’s testing August 3, 2009 MICHAEL SCHUMACHER has been blocked in his bid to test Ferrari’s car – by a disapproving Williams team. Ferrari last week wrote to governing body the FIA and their nine rival teams, requesting special permission for Schumacher to familiarise himself with the current F60 model ahead of the European Grand Prix, where he is standing [...]
Discharged Massa vows to make speedy return to track August 3, 2009 FELIPE MASSA says he is determined to return to racing as soon as possible after being discharged from his Budapest hospital bed following brain surgery. In his first interview since his horror crash in qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix, Massa admitted remembering nothing about the incident, which occurred when he was hit by a [...]
Defiance of Clarke and North send England’s victory prospects south August 3, 2009 ENGLAND captain Andrew Strauss admitted his disappointment after a resolute stand between Michael Clarke and Marcus North denied the home side a 2-0 lead in the Ashes series. Fifth-wicket pair Clarke (103 not out) and North (96) put on 185 as Australia comfortably batted out the final day to secure a draw in the third [...]
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON HSBC’S RESULTS? August 3, 2009 HENK POTTS BARCLAYS WEALTH“Messy numbers, with various accounting changes, but definitely ahead of expectations and sentiment towards the sector continues to improve. Household, the US business which is largely in run-off mode, was the largest source of upside surprise with lower provisions and lower realised losses.” DAVID BUIK BGC PARTNERS“HSBC’s tier one capital stands at [...]
