Today in History – 31st Jul.
Today is Saturday, July 31, the 212th day of 2010. There are 153 days left in the year.
Today's Highlight in History:
On July 31, 1910, Dr. Hawley Harvey Crippen, whose wife, Cora, had disappeared from their London home, was arrested along with his mistress, Ethel Le Neve (posing as Crippen's son), aboard the steamship SS Montrose upon its arrival in Quebec, Canada. (Crippen was later convicted by a British court of murdering his wife and executed; Le Neve was acquitted of any involvement.)
On this date:
In 1777, the Marquis de Lafayette, a 19-year-old French nobleman, was made a major-general in the American ...
European shares little changed
European shares were little changed in early trade on Friday, with concerns over U.S. economic growth and downbeat comments from a Federal Reserve official prompting investors to stay cautious.
At 8:15 a.m., the FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares was flat at 1,046.88 points after opening lower and falling in the previous two sessions. The index was on track to record its best monthly gain since March.
"What I see in this market is a fight between macro-economic data and better-than-expected company results," said Koen De Leus, economist at KBC Securities.
"We are at a point where the technical picture has improved ...
US closes consulate in Mexico’s Ciudad Juarez
The United States has closed indefinitely its consulate in the violence-hit Mexican city of Ciudad Juarez while it carries out a "security review," officials said Friday.
"The US consulate general in Ciudad Juarez has closed to review its security posture," said a statement released by the US embassy in Mexico City.
"The facility will be closed all day on Friday, July 30, and remain closed until the security review is completed."
US officials added: "American citizens are advised avoid the area around the consulate general until it reopens."
J-Lo tipped for Idol judge role
Ellen DeGeneres is leaving American Idol after one season - and Jennifer Lopez is poised to step in.
A person familiar with negotiations for Lopez said she is close to signing a deal to join Fox TV's hit singing contest as a judge.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity.
Actor-singer-dancer Lopez, whose films include Selena and The Back-Up Plan, has appeared as a mentor on American Idol.
DeGeneres announced she is leaving the show after one season, following fellow judge Simon Cowell out of the door. Fox has yet to announce a replacement for Cowell.
"A couple months ago, I let Fox and the American ...
Mackerel fishing criticised in Norway
Norway is critical to what it calls irresponsible fishing for mackerel by Iceland and the Faroe Islands, and underlines the ban on landings of mackerel in Norway by vessels from the two nations.
- The irresponsible fishing for mackerel which Iceland and the Faroe Islands have initiated as an attempt to secure future quota shares is a serious threat to the mackerel stock, and undermines the cooperation to secure the necessary conservation measures. I consider this situation very seriously, and it has been the topic of discussions between myself and the European Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, Norwegian Minister of Fisheries and Coastal ...
Minority Dutch government ‘serious option’, MPs discuss options today
The chance is increasing that the Netherlands will have its first post war minority government, the Volkskrant reports on Friday, quoting sources close to the formation talks.
The paper says 'a serious option' to come out of this week's informal talks is a decision to proceed with a VVD CDA cabinet which has the formal support of the anti-Islam PVV in parliament.
This will allow the CDA to get round objections to ruling with the anti-Islam party, frees Wilders from the responsibility of having to find ministers and gives him free reign to continue his anti-Islam campaign, the paper says.
It would also be ...
Skilled migrants urgently needed, says German minister
With Germany industry facing a looming skills shortage, Economy Minister Rainer Brüderle revealed on Friday he was planning a major recruitment drive to attract skilled migrants.
That included encouraging German firms to pay cash incentives to lure foreign workers, he told daily Handelsblatt.
“The question of how Germany becomes lastingly attractive to skilled migrants is right at the top of my agenda,” he said.
That included encouraging payment of a Begrüßungsgeld or “welcome money” for guest workers.
“It is conceivable that some businesses who can afford it and have an urgent need, pay skilled foreign workers an incentive,” he said.
He ruled out, however, using taxpayers’ money to subsidise ...
Today in History – 30th Jul.
Today is Friday, July 30, the 211th day of 2010. There are 154 days left in the year.
Today's Highlight in History:
On July 30, 1945, during World War II, the Portland class heavy cruiser USS Indianapolis, which had just delivered components for the atomic bomb that would be dropped on Hiroshima, was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine; only 316 out of some 1,200 men survived the sinking and shark-infested waters.
On this date:
In 1792, the French national anthem "La Marseillaise" (lah mar-seh-YEHZ'), by Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle, was first sung in Paris by troops arriving from Marseille.
In 1864, during the Civil ...
Kate Hudson musing over love nest
Kate Hudson and Muse frontman Matt Bellamy are house-hunting together.
The 'Fool's Gold' actress and the British rock star are looking for a property in New York after dating for just four months.
The couple have been inseparable since meeting at the Coachella Festival in California earlier this year and believe the time is right to set up home.
A source told The Sun newspaper: "They're very loved-up, they just click.
"Kate's had a place in the city for five years but she wants somewhere bigger, so Matt's suggested pooling their resources."
Kate wants the home to have a playroom for her six-year-old son Ryder ...
Berlusconi rejects truce offer from party rival
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has rebuffed a peace offering from a party rival, potentially bringing forward a final showdown in his strife-torn centre-right government.
Berlusconi has been locked for months in open conflict with Gianfranco Fini, the lower house speaker and co-founder of his People of Freedom party, prompting growing speculation that his government could fall well before its term ends in 2013.
The prime minister is due to host a meeting of senior party leaders on Thursday evening, after final clearance of the government's 25 billion euro (21 billion pound) austerity package, at which a motion to censure Fini is ...