John Paulson, founder of Paulson & Co. Photograph: Chip East/Reuters Misplaced optimism by US hedge fund manager John Paulson about the ability of the US to bounce back from recession is costing his wealthy investors dearly, it emerged today. Amid fears on Wall Street about the faltering recovery in the world’s biggest economy, Paulson & [...]

The Anglo Irish Bank is said by many to be undermining Ireland’s economy. Photograph: Julien Behal/PA They have become known as zombie hotels, a potent symbol of the profligacy of the past decade that has plunged the Irish economy deep into crisis. Across the Republic there are currently an estimated 300 hotels built in the [...]

Foreign Secretary William Hague, and his former aide Christopher Myers. Photograph: Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images The stories emerged almost simultaneously. Shortly before the election, the Fleet Street grapevine learned that the New York Times had sent a team of Pulitzer prize-winning reporters to London to produce what it hoped would be the definitive account of the [...]

The sudden turnaround at Crocs Inc after management changes shows that the world never stopped loving its ugly – but comfy – plastic shoes. Photograph: Alex Segre/Rex Features Crocs were dismissed as a fashion fad, a flash in the pan and as the ugliest shoes ever invented. But the brightly coloured plastic footwear once sported [...]

Howard Falcon-Lang The fossil footprints showed five slender toes, suggesting an ancient reptile made the tracks, since amphibians sport four stubby toes on each “hand.” A tiny reptile scampering along an Outback-like environment snagging insects some 318 million years ago left behind footprints...