Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Credit Crisis Diary: 06/05/2009

Wednesday 06 May 2009 00:00 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

A new hotline to God

Good news for Cistercian monks from internet companies Telecomms Facilities and ntl:Telewest – at least those who are based in Caldey Abbey on Caldey Island.

Until now, the remote West Wales community has been beyond the reach of broadband internet services, but the two companies have now managed to link it up. Father Daniel, the Abbot in charge, is ever so grateful. "Patience is one of the characteristics of monastic life," he says, "but even the patience of the brothers was being tested by our slow dial-up internet service."

An offer you really can afford to ignore

Ping, an email arrives extolling the virtues of a surefire investment winner. "In delicate economic times, there's no more solid investment than land," it explains. Sounds good so far. Ah, here's the catch. "Especially when that land is some of the most fertile in Iceland," our friends at Nordic eMarketing add. Pretty sure we've had enough Icelandic investment opportunities for a while.

Apple set to take a bite out of Twitter

Heard the latest Twitter gossip? The micro-blogging service, founded by Jack Dorsey, right, a couple of years ago, has been linked to all sorts of suitors, with Google and Facebook generally assumed to be front-runners in the race to buy it up. Now, however, internet-based rumour-monger Gawker says the boys at Apple are closing in. Steve Jobs could even announce a $700m deal at the next Max Expo in June.

Happy birthday BP, not

The spat between BP and Greenpeace continues. Having had activists thrown out of BP's headquarters in December for trying to present the company with an ironic award for environmentalism, Greenpeace now plans to commemorate the oil company's 100th birthday with an advertising campaign. "Is BP going senile?" the ads will ask, before poking fun at its attempts to get oil from tar sands in Canada.

Ryanair's legal eagles swoop in

No one can say the budget airline Ryanair doesn't have a heart. It may be suing a French trade union for daring to take industrial action at Carcassonne Airport last year – the strike was illegal under French law, the airline claims – but it has at least pledged to give any damages it wins to a local cancer charity.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in