Former Bankia board focus of criminal probe July 4, 2012 THE FOCUS on why nationalised Spanish lender Bankia went ahead with a stock market listing intensified yesterday as the country’s national court opened a criminal investigation into the float naming 33 former board members as suspects. The probe, launched following a complaint by small Spanish political party Union Progreso y Democracia, accuses Bankia, its parent [...]
The rise and fall of Spain’s Bankia July 4, 2012 Q How did Bankia come about? A Formed in January 2011 from the merger of seven small regional savings banks (cajas) which had lent aggressively into Spain’s property bubble it became the country’s fourth largest lender overnight, with over 4,000 branches, 25,000 employees and massive exposure to the property bubble. Q What went wrong? A [...]
EUROPE’S TALLEST TOWER CELEBRATES OPENING July 4, 2012 THE SHARD, the latest tower to dominate London’s skyline, will be inaugurated today as it celebrates its external completion at a record height of 309.6m. Lasers will beam from the 95-storey London Bridge skyscraper to buildings including the London Eye and Tower Bridge. It was designed by Renzo Piano and developed by Sellar Property with [...]
Murray’s on Tsong ahead of semi-final showdown July 4, 2012 BRITISH No1 Andy Murray has admitted he will have to be at his best if he is to advance beyond France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to reach the final at Wimbledon for the first time in his career. World no5 David Ferrer had already yesterday forced Murray to perform to the peak of his powers during his [...]
I can’t see what’s so bad about Arsenal July 4, 2012 Robin van Persie’s decision to announce his exit from Arsenal was an interesting one in terms of his timing. He’s saying that he doesn’t believe that the club’s going forward, but they’ve just spent around £20m on Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud, so I don’t see what Arsenal are doing wrong. They’ve just proven they’re [...]
Meeting told Van Persie it was time to go July 4, 2012 ARSENAL captain Robin van Persie has blamed a “disagreement” over the direction in which the North London club is heading for his refusal to sign a new contract. Van Persie yesterday revealed he would not be extending his stay at the club, making his exit inevitable, and though it remains unclear if he will be [...]
Edgbaston rain halts England’s hopes of topping one-day rankings July 4, 2012 YESTERDAY’S one-day international between England and Australia at Edgbaston was abandoned before the bowling of a solitary ball because of persistent rain. The original 2pm start was replaced by a 28 overs match planned for 6pm, but further rain also cancelled that. The development means England can no longer win the series 5-0 and overtake [...]
Millar makes Team GB Olympic squad July 4, 2012 CYCLING: Former drugs cheat David Millar has been named alongside Mark Cavendish, Bradley Wiggins, Chris Froome and Ian Stannard in Team GB’s road cycling team for London 2012. “We have selected the five riders who we believe are on the best form and will give us the fastest team for the race, said British Cycling [...]
Cavendish crash prevents Tour victory July 4, 2012 CYCLING: Britain’s Mark Cavendish crashed just 2.6km from the edge of the Tour de France’s 214.5km fourth stage from Abbeville to Rouen. Germany’s Andre Greipel won with a sprint finish, though overall Fabian Cancellara still leads Britain’s Bradley Wiggins by seven seconds.
Tottenham secure Sigurdsson move July 4, 2012 FOOTBALL: New Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas has made his first signing for the club in the form of Iceland international midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson’s £8m arrival from Hoffenheim.
