Standard Chartered, which, as one of Hong Kong's three note-issuing banks, released the world's first $150 bill (in any currency) in the city, in 2009, was last week accused by New York's banking regulator of sustained violations of sanctions on Iran. Perhaps understandably, StanChart officials said they were "surprised" by the accusations. Standard Chartered came into being in 1969, when the Standard Bank of British South Africa and the Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China merged. Someone who would remember that marriage would be an employee who was hired by Standard Bank in May 1965 and continued to work for the merged company until 1979: John Major …
Colloquially known as "J-town" or "Jesus our saviour", Jos is the administrative capital of the Plateau State, and lately it could have done with a bit of divine intervention. In recent years it has seen clashes between its Muslim and Christian populations and last month a flood destroyed more than 200 homes and left at least 35 people missing. In Nigeria's days as a British colony, the city was an important centre for tin mining and attracted many families looking for work; families such as that of Panshak Zamani …
The Chelsea player started his football career at the age of 12 and has been a member of the Nigerian national team since 2005. A year ago today, Obi's father was kidnapped in Jos. Despite having been informed, Obi played the opening game of last year's Premier League season, against Stoke City. He made an announcement after the game calling for the people of Nigeria to help him find his father, who was released unharmed 10 days later. In the final of last season's FA Cup, Chelsea came up against a team that have an ingrained animosity towards the Londoners, according to Obi, and "always come after us", even if they are not having a particularly good spell: Liverpool …