…over fees charged for card transactions made by people visiting Europe MasterCard, which said it would “fully co-operate” with regulators, could be fined up to $740 million, or 10% of its 2012 revenue, if found guilty. The credit card firm said that it always aimed “to balance the interests of both consumers and retailers”. The investigation will examine payments made by p…
UEFA has confirmed that yellow cards rules used by the Champions League will not be changed for at least three years. Seven players are suspended for the Chelsea vs. Bayern Munich final after six were cautioned in the semi-finals. The rules are different for Euro 2012 when UEFA will wipe the slate clean for yellow cards after the quarter-finals. A UEFA spokesman said: “Different rules can a…
…fast pass-and-move football, and robust physical presence on the ball has made the Spanish team appear almost unstoppable over the last half decade. Having first captured the European Championships in 2008, to overcome the psychological nightmare of decades of underachievement, they went on to clinch the World Cup two years later and cement their status as the dominant force in international footb…
Despite winning the gold medal at the European championships in Helsinki, Finland, French runner Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad still seemed far from happy. As the 27-year-old steeplechaser crossed the finish line a 14-year-old female dressed as the Championships’ mascot “Appy” stood nearby with a gift bag to congratulate him. But rather than celebrate his 8.33.23-minute victory th…
…ies chose not to back it. Wednesday’s vote is seen by most observers as the final blow to the treaty in its current form. It means no member states will be able to join the agreement. A total of 478 MEPs voted against the deal, with 39 in favor. There were 165 abstentions. EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht said work on tackling piracy would continue. “Today’s rejection does no…
…rman Dax, 2.91%; the French Cac 40 index, 3.06%; and the Spanish IBEX, 4.91% at the close. Bank shares in particular rose sharply on the news, with French banks Credit Agricole and Societe Generale up 8.44% and 7.76% respectively, while in Germany, Deutsche Bank rose 7.06% and Commerzbank, 5.25%. In London, Lloyds Banking Group rose 6.69%. However, the euro fell back against the dollar to $1.2571…
Euro MP David Martin has said the controversial Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) should be rejected by the European Parliament. David Martin, the British MEP responsible for its report on ACTA, said the treaty threatened civil liberties. His comments came less than three months after the previous rapporteur, Kader Arif, resigned from his post in protest at the plans. To date, 22 EU memb…
that banks had made progress in improving their financial situation, and noted the European Central Bank was providing support. The proportion of loans that have gone bad at Spanish banks hit a record 8.37% in March. That was according to figures from the Bank of Spain on Friday. European stock markets had a shaky start on Friday as concern continued over Greece and Spain Despite rising bad debts…
…eeks,” Mario Draghi said. High borrowing costs have been at the centre of the eurozone crisis, with countries needing bailouts when the yields on their 10-year bonds have been consistently above 7%. Bond yields are taken as indicators of what interest rate governments would have to pay to borrow money. European markets have fallen after the ECB president Mario Draghi said the bank would com…
The controversial Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) is back under scrutiny as the European Parliament prepares to carry out a series of key votes. ACTA seeks to curb the spread of illegally downloaded copyrighted material online. However, critics say it is a potential threat to freedom of speech online. To date 22 member states have signed the treaty – but it is yet to be formally…
alled the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), sets the ceiling at just over one trillion euros, that is, 1.03% of EU gross national income (GNI). The biggest items of spending, accounting for about 80% in total, are agriculture and cohesion funds – aid for Europe’s poorer regions. France is especially keen to maintain agriculture spending, while cohesion is a big issue for the ex-co…
on Euros ($1,320 million). ESO director general, Tim de Zeeuw said: “This is an excellent outcome and a great day for ESO. “We can now move forward on schedule with this giant project.” 2012 marks the 50th anniversary of the founding of the ESO. It is supported by 15 countries: Austria, Belgium, Brazil, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain,…
…ore he is due to leave the country. The South African was one of the star attractions at the 2012 Olympics in London, becoming the first double amputee to run at an Olympics by taking part in both the 400m and 4x100m. Oscar Pistorius then won gold medals in the T44 400m and T42-46 4x100m at the Paralympics, as well as silver in the T44 200m. The International Paralympic Committee said it would dis…
tock markets, despite the mobilization of leaders and governors of central banks were trying to calm the markets concerns regarding the specter of a new crisis, according to AFP. Hong Kong SE fell by 7.24% Tokyo Stock Exchange registered a fall of over 4% in mid-session, the stock exchange in Hong Kong fell by 7.24% after session opening, the Sydney Stock Exchange registered a 5% lost and Seoul a…
The presidents of Germany, Austria, Romania and the Czech Republic were among those who cancelled their trips. Ukraine has not set a new date yet. There is also a threat that leaders may boycott Euro 2012 football matches in Ukraine next month. Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleksandr Dykusarov said: “As a number of European heads of state cannot take part in the 18th summit of Centra…
…ise may be found because Hungary is struggling to service its debts and wants to reach a new deal with the EU and International Monetary Fund on a standby loan. Hungary’s total debt has risen to 82% of its output, while its currency, the forint, has fallen to record lows against the euro. The EU Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner, Olli Rehn, has already warned that Hungary could face…
…ly enforce the agreement, the EU will need to play a role if the treaty is to be effective in enforcing intellectual property protection across several countries. So far, the treaty has been signed by 22 EU member states. However, Germany has held off from backing the agreement, citing the need for “further discussion”. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said his country would wait for…
George Soros warns European leaders they have a “three-month window” to save the euro. The billionaire investor said he believed Greece would elect a government willing to abide by loan conditions imposed by the EU in this month’s elections. But George Soros said the German economy would begin in weaken in the autumn, making it much harder for Chancellor Angela Merkel to provide…
…e credit markets were “effectively shut” to Spain, inflaming worries that the country would be forced to join Greece, Portugal and Ireland and seek outside help. Spain has to find at least 80 billion Euros ($100 billion) to strengthen its banks’ capital buffers. A key test will come on Thursday, with Spain due to auction up to 2 billion Euros of bonds. Spain's economy minist…
ow Jones was 0.5% lower. In Madrid, the market slipped 2.5% while the Milan index was down 2.27%. The euro was also driven lower, falling to a six-week low against the pound. The euro was down 0.6% to 84.74 pence. The new deal for Cyprus, unlike previous agreements, does not require the approval of the Cypriot parliament. The uncertainty over the future of Cyprus in the eurozone was sparked a week…
…to receive an honorary award for achievement in world cinema from the European Film Academy The Oscar-winning actress will be a guest at the European Film Awards on 1 December in Malta. Helen Mirren, 67, won the Academy Award for best actress for her role in The Queen in 2007. She was nominated for an Oscar again in 2010 for her role as Tolstoy’s wife in The Last Station and is tipped to pi…
ion”. UK Chancellor George Osborne said the aim of protecting the interests of EU states not signing up to the banking union “has been achieved”. Under the deal, banks with more than 30 billion euros ($39 billion) in assets will be placed under the oversight of the European Central Bank. The ECB would also be able to intervene with smaller lenders and borrowers at the first sign…
Senior EU officials are warning that it is proving harder than ever to reach an agreement on the European Union’s next multi-annual budget. Ministers are meeting on Monday for further talks and EU leaders will hold a special summit in November to try to strike a budget deal. The European Commission has proposed an overall budget of 1,033 billion euros ($1,337 billion) for 2014-2020. Senior…
ing on life-saving aid programmes,” it adds. In the year 2010-11, Spain cut its aid budget – the sixth largest in Europe – by nearly a third. Greece cut its much smaller programme by 40%, the Data study says. A new report by the aid watchdog Data shows that European debt crisis has led to cuts in government development aid to poor countries The report is published as part of a l…
…onymous boasted of stealing Stratfor’s confidential client list, which includes entities ranging from Apple Inc. to the U.S. Air Force to the Miami Police Department, and mining it for more than 4,000 credit card numbers, passwords and home addresses. Austin, Texas-based Stratfor provides political, economic and military analysis to help clients reduce risk, according to a description on its…
The family who now lives in the home where Jodi Arias killed her ex-boyfriend Travis Alexander is now treated to a constant stream of unwanted visitors who drive past the…
Apple among America's big tax avoidersApple has been accused by US Senate of being "among America's largest tax avoiders". A Senate committee said Apple had used "a complex web of offshore entities" to avoid…
Oklahoma tornado kills at least 51 people as two entire schools flattened in MooreAt least 51 people have been killed after a huge tornado tore through Oklahoma City suburbs, with the death toll likely to rise. Worst hit was Moore, south of Oklahoma City,…
Travis Alexander case: Jodi Arias' attorneys file motion for mistrialYesterday, Jodi Arias' defense attorneys filed a motion for mistrial as one of their character witnesses scheduled to testify during the May 20, 2013, penalty phase on Arias'…
Richard DeCoatsworth: Philadelphia police recommended bringing charges of witness intimidation against former officerRecent reports revealed that Philadelphia police last year recommended bringing charges of witness intimidation against former officer Richard DeCoatsworth, once hailed as a…
Oklahoma tornado kills one person and injures dozensAt least one person is reported dead and at least 21 others injured in a series of tornadoes that have torn through Oklahoma and Kansas. The worst damage was caused by a…
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