Everything Matter
Archive for February, 2012
Stricken cruise ship: Now 1,000 must share two showers
Feb 29th
Here are the latest reports on Stricken cruise ship: Now 1,000 must share two showers
After three sweltering days without power, eating only emergency rations and washing with bottled mineral water, they will no doubt be desperate for a proper shower and rest. But when the 1,049 passengers and crew on board the stricken Costa Allegra finally reach the Seychelles today, they are likely to face further chaos. There will be only two showers available to them at the port. The guests – who each paid more than £2,500 for the trip – could then face ferry trips to reach some of the 400 hotel rooms booked for them by Costa Cruises, as…
Toddler killed by window blind cord 11th in two years
Feb 29th
Here are the latest reports on Toddler killed by window blind cord 11th in two years
A British toddler has become the latest child to die after getting tangled in window blind cords. Josh Wakeham, who was 22-months-old, was killed after the string became wrapped round his neck as he looked out of the window. His death comes less than a week after an inquest heard how two-year-old Emily Warner died after becoming trapped in a cord in her bedroom. Shocking figures show there have been 22 deaths in Britain caused by blind cords since 1999 – with half of the cases occurring since the start of 2010. Yesterday, as a campaign warning of the dangers posed by window blind cords was launched, Josh’s parents spoke of their devastation. It is believed he may have struggled to free…
Berlin opposes any pooling of bailout funds to protect EU
Feb 29th
Here are the latest reports on Berlin opposes any pooling of bailout funds to protect EU
DEREK SCALLY in Berlin GERMANY HAS rejected as “pointless” ongoing demands to boost the euro zone firewall to protect the single currency bloc against potential shocks. Ahead of today’s summit in Brussels, Berlin officials dismissed expectations of progress, saying that market concerns about Italy and Spain’s finances were diminishing and, with that, the need to bolster the…
Kenny to explain Irish decision on holding referendum to other leaders
Feb 29th
Here are the latest reports on Kenny to explain Irish decision on holding referendum to other leaders
ARTHUR BEESLEY in Brussels TAOISEACH ENDA Kenny will set out the reasons for the fiscal treaty referendum to his European counterparts at an EU summit and declare his determination to win the vote. The summit begins in Brussels at teatime this evening and continues tomorrow morning. Although Mr Kenny will sign the fiscal treaty at a ceremony tomorrow, his signature is subject to the…
Romney boosted by tight victory in Michigan
Feb 29th
Here are the latest reports on Romney boosted by tight victory in Michigan
LARA MARLOWE in Columbus, Ohio FOR ONCE, Mitt Romney found the right words. “We didn’t win by a lot, but we won by enough and that’s all that counts,” he said of his victory in Michigan on Tuesday night. “A week ago, the pundits and the pollsters, they were ready to count us out,” a palpably relieved Romney said of his near-death experience at the hands of Rick Santorum. In the event, Romney won his home state by a margin of three percentage points, at 41 per cent to 38 per cent for Santorum. In 2008, Romney defeated John McCain by nine percentage points in Michigan. So symbolic was the Michigan contest, that Romney’s 20-point victory over Santorum in Arizona was scarcely commented upon. As…
Irish treaty referendum causes stir in French election
Feb 29th
Here are the latest reports on Irish treaty referendum causes stir in French election
RUADH�N Mac CORMAIC in Paris THE GOVERNMENT’S decision to put the EU fiscal treaty to a referendum has pushed the issue centre-stage in France’s election campaign, with politicians from the right and left calling for Paris to follow suit. The Socialist Party’s S�golene Royal, who is campaigning for the presidential frontrunner, Fran�ois Hollande, said France should follow Ireland’s example and call a plebiscite on the pact. “Leaders are very wary about referendums at the moment, but I think that…
James Murdoch to step down from his UK role
Feb 29th
Here are the latest reports on James Murdoch to step down from his UK role
NEWS CORP moved to distance James Murdoch from its scandal-hit British newspapers, announcing yesterday that he would step down as executive chairman of News International, its UK press business. For the first time since Rupert Murdoch bought into the UK newspaper market in 1969, no member of his family will have any direct role in the management of News Corp’s UK press assets, which include the Times�, the Sunday Times�and the Sun�. Two senior British politicians linked the…
Putin accuses rivals of ’sacred sacrifice’ murder plot
Feb 29th
Here are the latest reports on Putin accuses rivals of ’sacred sacrifice’ murder plot
S�AMUS MARTIN in Moscow IN A BIZARRE speech to the All Russia People’s Front, a think-tank for his United Russia Party, Vladimir Putin has accused his opponents of being ready to sacrifice a well-known person so as to blame the act on the authorities. The prime minister said he suspected that opposition forces would “select a sacred sacrifice and bang him” in order to allege the crime had been committed by the security forces and put the blame on the government. The use of the word grokhnut�(to bang) in tough-guy slang means to kill and would be regarded as unpresidential parlance in most countries, but Mr Putin has used rough talk before, in keeping…