Author Archive: Jeremy Parkinson
Obama reluctantly signs sequester
After last minute discussions failed to reach a consensus, the American Congress was unable to prevent a wave of unpalatable cuts coming into effect. President Obama has since signed off on the sequester, which will see over $85bn wiped from the federal budget over the year. When the cuts were conceived in 2011, they were […]
The Latest Tablet Xperience… Sony’s Tablet Z
An innovative new gadget was introduced to the tablet world at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain. Introducing… Sony’s Xperia Tablet Z. This 10.1” tablet replicates the straightforward, angular design aesthetic of Sony’s Xperia Z Smartphone. It’s just 6.9mm – making it the thinnest 10.1” tablet available – and weighs in at a trivial […]
US home sales hit 5 year high
New figures from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development reveal that sales of new single-family houses in January rose 15.6 percent above the December 2012 rate, and 28.9 percent from the same time last year. Over 437,000 single family homes were purchased in January, exceeding the forecast of 381,000. Sales have been boosted […]
UK loses triple A rating for the first time in over three decades
The pound slipped to a two-year nadir as news that Moody’s Investor service became the first ratings agency to downgrade the UK from its triple A score since 1978. Domestic and foreign-currency government bond ratings have had their scored lowered to an AA1, though the outlook on these ratings remains stable. In a statement the […]
Novartis scraps payout
Departing chairman of Novartis, Daniel Vasella was set to receive a payout of $78m over six years, supposedly for consulting services and a very strict non-compete agreement. But the generous ‘golden gag’ package- as the payout has been dubbed by the media- caused waves of protests in Switzerland, a country on the verge of a […]
“Bey”by got Back!
It’s been a big year for the beloved vocal powerhouse, Beyoncé Knowles. She’s returning to NOLA, headlining the 2013 Essence festival. This will be Knowles’ third highly publicized performance of 2013. The Essence Music Festival, which has happened every 4th of July weekend since 1995, is the biggest celebration of African American music and culture […]
‘Made in’ labels raise controversy in Europe
The European Commission has announced plans to demand global manufacturers importing goods into the EU to apply a ‘made in’ label to all their products or risk sanctions. The World Trade Organisation is a staunch critic of such labels which it describes as making little sense in a world of globalised supply chains. Similar regulations […]
Rejoice, Google Stockholders!
Heads are being held high in the offices of Google, Inc. as of late. Google’s stock rose 2.6% on February 1, closing at a record $775.60. This surpassed Google’s previous all-time high of $774.38, which it reached in October 2012. The company is also expected to be nearing the end of a three-year antitrust investigation […]
Britain’s electrified ring fence
The British chancellor has proposed a ring fence separating high-street retails banking from investment banking branches within institutions will need to be ‘electrified’ with severe sanctions. Osborne will publish the Banking Reform Bill giving regulators the power to split banks up if they do not comply fully with new rules designed to protect British taxpayers. […]
China proposes development zones for business in US
China has been planning a proposal to convert over $1tn of Chinese-owned land in the US into ‘development zones’ that could see the establishment of Chinese business and citizens in North America. The proposal would mean China would own American businesses, infrastructure and valuable land. In exchange for the investment the US government would guarantee […]
