G30 says broken financial system needs fixing

NEW YORK, Jan 15 (Reuters) - The Group of 30 countries on Thursday called for changes in international financial regulation to help avoid future meltdowns, but its recommendations were vague and non-binding.

Your story incorrectly states that the G30 is a “Group of 30 countries.” It is not. The Group of Thirty is a group of individuals from the private and public sectors and academia from a variety of countries, but not thirty countries.

Please correct it.

N.F.

We corrected: GBU Editor

Paul Volcker, in a 2008 photo. Volcker, a former Federal Reserve Chairman, chairs the G30’s steering committee. REUTERS/John Gress

Paul

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Australia refuses Japan on whaling activist block

Japan will also come under pressure to end whaling at a meeting of the IWC next week in Chile, with anti-whaling nations to argue that the yearly cull of close to 1,000 whales poses a threat to species still recovering from near-extinction.

The meeting in Chile to which you refer occurred last June. Please see here and correct this and future stories:
Caroline P.

Eastwood wins box office race with ‘Gran Torino’

The suburban drama, in which Eastwood plays a grumpy old man who takes on Latino gang members “Dirty Harry”-style, earned an estimated $29 million in the three days since it opened nationally on Friday, distributor Warner Bros. Pictures said.

The grumpy old man in the movie doesn’t take on Latino gang members. He takes on Asian gang members. I don’t even have to comment on how bad the mistake is for reuters…

E.Z.

Several readers pointed out this one. We corrected: GBU Editor

The theatre marquee with the film’s title is reflected in the back window of a 1972 Gran Torino automobile on display at the world premiere of director Clint Eastwood’s new film “Gran Torino” on the Warner Bros. studio lot in Burbank, California December 9, 2008. REUTERS/Fred Prouser

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I think you meant BIDEN.

Kath

Ouch. This was an online desking error. We corrected: GBU Editor

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Fire forces evacuation of 11,000 homes in Colorado

BOULDER, Colo. (Reuters) - Three windblown wildfires have destroyed at least two structures, jumped a major road and forced the evacuation of 11,000 homes outside Boulder, Colorado, fire authorities said on Wednesday.

Your story contains a major error: 11,000 homes WERE NOT evacuated. That is the number of homes that were alerted to the fire through the reverse-911 system.

Wayne S.

We corrected: GBU Editor

A brush fire burns near Carbon Canyon park in Brea, California November 16, 2008. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni

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August date for Quentin Tarantino World War II movie

The director’s oddly spelled World War II epic “Inglourious Basterds” stars actor Brad Pitt, and production began in Europe in October.

What, no spell check on your typewriters? It is clear that no one with any knowledge of English wrote and/or edited the Quentin Tarantino story.

S.B.

That’s the spelling Tarantino is using for the title; hence our story’s reference to it as “oddly spelled.” GBU Editor

REUTERS photo by Christian Hartmann

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Salmonella outbreak sickens 388 across US- CDC

Salmonella-contaminated dry pet food sickened at least 79 people, including many young children, in October and November.

Your story says pet food sickened people. Is this for real? Or is it a blooper? May I be first to declare it!

M.E.

Several readers noticed this. Yes, it’s for real. People handled the contaminated food, and got salmonella: GBU Editor

Veterinarian expert Svetlana Holoshnya of St.Petersburg’s region
laboratory holds up a test-tube with Salmonella bacteria obtained from
U.S. poultry March 12, 2002. REUTERS/Alexander Demianchuk

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The reporter in this story about topless sunbathing says sunbathers in Sydney “will have to wait and see whether a new, more prudish standard is set for them.”

Is it your job to report news, or to pass moral judgments? In my view your characterization of the objection of some to topless sunbathing as “prudish” fits the category of judge, instead of reporter. Report the news, and let the viewer make the moral judgments.

P.E.

“Prudish” is a subjective description. We should have gone with a more neutral term: GBU Editor

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Retailers’ holiday sales plummet

NEW YORK - Retailers’ sales fell as much as 4 percent during the holiday season, as the weak economy and bad weather…

Plummet? You really need to use the word plummet when talking about 4%? Wow.

i know you want to catch the attention of readers. But honestly… plummet? You are not helping the economy by using terms like that.

K.B.

4 % is a “plummet”???!! Maybe if everyone expected 100% positive growth! Your editors blew it on the headline for this story. Shame on you for perpetuating the myth of a total disaster.

Bob S.

A number of readers objected to this word, but I think it was fair. The 4 percent figure included groceries, but for many retailers the declines were much, much steeper.

The story mentioned that women’s apparel sales fell 22.7 percent, sales at specialty electronics and appliance chains fell 26.7 percent, etc. That sounds like a plummet to me: GBU Editor

REUTERS photo by Mike Segar

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Obama, daughters cause stir on Hawaii outing

HAWAII KAI, Hawaii,  Dec 26 (Reuters) - Barack Obama, trying to enjoy the last semblance of normal life before he becomes U.S. president on Jan. 20, caused a commotion when he took his daughters to a shopping mall in Hawaii on Friday.

It made for a surreal scene — the president-elect, daughters Malia, 7, and Sasha, 10 and family friends eating at a table at the mall watched by a crowd of onlookers and surrounded by anxious-looking Secret Service agents.