In The News Today

Story 1

One of the world’s biggest banks, HSBC, is to cut 30,000 jobs in order to cut costs and save hundreds of millions of pounds. This news comes despite the bank reporting a rise in pre-tax profits compared to the same period last year.

In total the cuts at HSBC, who are known for touting themselves as “The world’s local bank”, will see a 10% reduction in their current workforce. The bank had previously announced that 5,000 jobs were to go, but has now added a further 25,000 job cuts to that number.

They also plan on withdrawing their services in up to 20 countries as part of the cost-cutting exercises they have put forward.

Story 2

The lawyer of Anders Behring Breivik, the Norwegian behind the recent attacks at Utoeya island, has stated he believes his client is most likely insanse. Despite this assertion, he claims he isn’t sure yet if his client will actually plead insanity.

In total, 76 people were killed and others were injured when Breivik opened fire on them at a youth camp on Utoeya island and also after a bomb was detonated in the capital, Oslo.

Both attacks were at locations currently associated with the Labour government. The buildings that were bombed are part of the government and the youth club was run by the Labour Party.

Story 3

A further two patients have passed away after it was discovered that saline solution at Stepping Hill Hospital had been contaminated on purpose.

This news comes after three other patients, one woman and two men, were found to have been killed under the same circumstances previously.

A nurse who works at the hospital, Rebecca Leighton, has been arrested and is currently being questioned over suspicions of her involvement with the murders.

Security has been heightened at Stepping Hill Hospital since the deaths came to light as suspicious. Staff are now required to do much of their work in pairs, and access to the storage room for the drugs cabinets has been limited to a single keyholder.

Story 4

After being launched as a Swedish startup in 2008, Spotify soon shot to fame, reaching as many as 10 million users in under 2 years. And now the music streaming service is set to make the journey across the Atlantic to the US after recently launching there following a long series of setbacks.

Spotify can also boast that up to 10% of their users (around 1 million) are paid subscribers.  Paying for the service allows unlimited tracks to be played, removes advertisements and also allows higher quality streaming.

Critics are giving the service a mixed response so far, many claim that it doesn’t incentivise the music industry enough. Others believe that it will actually help shape the industry for the better.