Georgia pulls forces out of rebel region August 11, 2008 Georgian forces pulled out of the breakaway South Ossetia region yesterday after three days of fighting, with Russia saying its troops controlled most of the separatist capital Tskhinvali. A Georgian convoy of troops and artillery left South Ossetia through Ergneti, a village just inside Georgian held territory south of Tskhinvali. “They have been withdrawn, completely,” [...]
UBS set for £2.7bn more credit crunch write-offs August 11, 2008 UBS IS expected to write off €3.5bn (£2.7bn) in assets damaged by the credit crunch tomorrow, as the interim banking results season limps to a close. The Swiss banking giant, which had significant exposure to US subprime mortgages, has endured a year of gloom, posting writedowns of $37bn since the beginning of the credit crunch [...]
Collins Stewart profits slump as bidders circle August 11, 2008 Profits at Collins Stewart, the broker, are expected to have more than halved, according to analysts awaiting the group’s interim results tomorrow. Collins Stewart, which is in takeover discussions, could report profits as low as £25m, from £52m in the first half of 2007. The credit crunch has hit small cap brokers hard, with many [...]
Westwood hits out after nightmare 77 August 8, 2008 British hope Lee Westwood last night launched a scathing attack on Oakland Hills after struggling to a seven-over-par 77 on the opening day of the US PGA Championship. Westwood came into this final Major of the season with high hopes of success after his third place in the US Open and second place finish at [...]
Messi green light sparks perfect start August 8, 2008 Superstar striker Lionel Messi played a starring role for Argentina in their Olympic opener with Ivory Coast after his club Barcelona gave him permission to play. The 21-year-old scored one goal and created another to hand the South Americans a 2-1 win over the Ivory Coast. Messi was given the green light to play by [...]
Dream debut for Pietersen as England hit back in style August 8, 2008 Harmison praises skipper as shell shocked Proteas are put to the sword Recalled Steve Harmison heaped praise on Kevin Pietersen after the new England captain enjoyed a dream debut in charge at The Oval yesterday. Fired-up England responded to a passionate Pietersen team talk with a superb bowling and fielding performance to skittle out the [...]
RUM at the top August 8, 2008 The Caribbean spirit is entering the ranks of the premium tipples, writes Timothy Barber What do you think about when you think about rum? For lots of folk, the answer is one of two things: a glass of Bacardi and coke, or pirates. Okay, so a few people know that it forms the basis for [...]
Could now be the moment to enter the dragon? August 8, 2008 As the Olympics begin, China has never been more intriguing, says Samantha Downes It was once a region where only the least risk-averse would fear to tread, but China has emerged as a magnet for investors’ cash. In the last decade the communist-run country has emerged as the world’s second largest economy. Its willingness to [...]
Rivals move to impeach Musharraf August 8, 2008 Pakistan’s ruling coalition will move to impeach President Pervez Musharraf on charges of plunging the country into a political and economic crisis, party leaders said yesterday. They also warned Musharraf, a former general who first came to power in a 1999 military coup, against any attempt to dismiss the government. The move is likely to [...]
Informant says Maddy stolen to order August 8, 2008 An informant told police in London that Madeleine McCann was stolen to order by an international paedophile ring, according to newly released documents. The unnamed source said a spotter took photographs of her while she was on holiday with her family in Portugal and sent them to the group in Belgium. The ring then ordered [...]
