IMS designates Pace in numero uno slot
Pace Plc, a renowned name in UK’s set top box market, according to a report by the market research and consultancy firm IMS Research puts the firm in number one position in the industry, after witnessing the entire list of sales of pay TV set top boxes during 2009.
It was a report stated by IMS that makes use of the figures from global sales to calculate the position of the businesses.
Virgin media seeks to spread its wings
Cable broadband provider Virgin Media believes that investment in broadband is practical, and soon devises plan to work on similar grounds.
Virgin Media claims of supporting the plan via a chat with power companies with a view to using the poles that they use to deliver electricity to homes all around the country and it is the rural areas that are of interest to Virgin Media.
The company is all set and geared up for the government’s big industry meet up.
BBC shields its staffing levels
The BBC seems to be tangling itself up with the amount of staff that it aims to send at various occasions to cover events. Presently the current figure for Glastonbury, Wimbledon and the World Cup, is over 750.
Each member of the BBC staff working at these events has a role to play in the production of both TV and radio content.
However, through an early report, it came out through the National Audit Office (NAO) that the BBC does not do enough to show that its coverage of major events actually provides the TV License payer with good value for money.
The cost of owning a house has gone down by 4% in past two years
According to a research report, the cost of owning a house has dropped down by 4% in the past two years. This has declined as a result of smaller mortgage payments in Scotland. A study conducted by Bank of Scotland suggests that the cost to run a house fell by 388 Euros.
This cost has dropped to 8562 Euros from 8949 Euros in between April 2008 and April 2010.
The housing costs are now about 28% of the average earnings. It has been reduced from 32% two years ago. A drop of 19% in the mortgage payments equates to around 735 euros in Scotland.
Councils bid farewell
The Auckland City Council will be extinct after the new super city at Auckland. The council has been giving its last goodbyes and is expected to spend over $200,000 for their farewell bash which is staff only and their smaller departments. The council will also have a $120,000 book on the last 20 years of the council history.
Comviva sets up office in Miami to penetrate Latin America and Caribbean markets
Leading VAS enabler, Comviva has announced the opening of a new office in Miami. By setting up new an office in Miami, the company is looking forward to capture the Latin American and Caribbean markets. Apart from that, the company has also informed that it has appointed Max Padró as General Manager to head the region.
Bank of England warns other banks of some serious challenges
The Bank of England has warned all the Banks in UK to stay alert to face some serious challenges in the near future. The Bank of England has also said that the banks should build up their reserves further in order to tackle the problems.
In the Financial Stability report, the Bank unveils that the financial crisis has increased doubts about the strength of some European banks.
It has warned that it is a very difficult period of time for the domestic banks. It advised the Banks to fulfill their demanding future regulatory requirements.
Fire in UC-Berkeley dorm injures 2 students; 200 students evacuated
According to reports from the officials of the Berkeley Fire Department and the University of California (UC) at Berkeley, a three-alarm fire in an eight-story residential dormitory of the UC Berkeley campus on Saturday morning resulted in minor injuries to two students.
In addition, the nearly 200 students residing in the dorm were evacuated to Griffiths Hall, another dormitory on the University campus.
Nintendo’s Reggie Fils-Aime inadvertently leaks 3DS’ launch window
With widespread speculations already making rounds since long about whether Nintendo will release the 3DS this year or the next, Nintendo’s Reggie Fils-Aime made an inadvertent confirmation of the 2011 release at the latest Late Night show with Jimmy Fallon.
During the demo of Donkey Kong Country Returns on the show, Fallon asked Reggie about the 3DS release, Reggie instantly let the 3DS launch window slip – saying that the device would hit the market in 2011.
Oil spill team jittery about Tropical Storm Alex
Despite the fact that the path of the Tropical Storm Alex will likely bypass the area around the devastating Gulf of Mexico oil spill, BP officials in charge of cleaning up the spill have, nonetheless, geared up for any last-minute exigency.
French finance minister optimistic about Euro and Greece
French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde has described the Euro as a credible as well as solid currency.
Christine Lagarde also said in an interview with the BBC that she was optimistic debt-laden Greece would be able to slash its public debt.
Lagarde’s comments emerged as the Euro slipped to a 19-month low against the pound on Thursday. Sterling was trading at €1.2351 against the Euro in morning trading, the lowest since November 2008.
Sony Ericsson Vivaz coming to AT&T
Reports have emerged that the Sony Ericsson Vivaz was approved by the Federal Communications Commission (USA) last February, and was slated for AT&T Telecommunications Corporation.
The Sony Ericsson Vivaz for AT&T will reportedly run Symbian^2. It will feature a 3.2-inch resistive touchscreen with a resolution of 360 by 640 pixels, a 720MHz processor with an integrated PowerVR GPU, an 8MP camera with LED flash, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
F&C REIT to launch first open-ended property fund
F&C REIT is going to set up an open-ended real estate fund in a bid to acquire discounted commercial properties.
The fund, which will be managed by Julian Smith and Guy Glover of F&C REIT, is structured as a non-Ucits Retail Scheme. It will be launched over a four-week period, starting June 28, with a fixed price of 100p per unit.
Commenting on the prospective of the fund, Smith said, "As the economy slowly recovers, we anticipate the demand for property will increase and, given low cash returns, believe that the opportunity cost and yield for commercial property is very attractive.”
Lloyds TSB to reduce overdraft charges
Banking giant Lloyds TSB will reduce the overdraft charges on its current accounts from 2nd of December this year.
The fee for a bounced cheque will be hacked by 50 per cent, from £10 to £5. The hacked overdraft fees will affect both daily and monthly fees. Customers who go over their overdraft limits without permission will have to face the daily and monthly fees on their accounts cut from December.
Lloyds TSB had been facing criticism from customers as well as banking lobby groups for high overdraft charges.
G20 Plan May Lead to Uneven Playing Fields for Banks
The CEO of Deutsche Bank reported on Sunday that G20 plan with its sole aim to give elasticity to the countries in its capital system will lead to some problems in the future.
The G20 summit was held in Toronto, Canada and it can create irregular playing fields for the stockpiles and banks.
"If you don't have a coordinated approach to regulatory systems, then there's the risk of regulatory arbitrage", said Josef Ackermann to Reuters.
BBC Trust Approves Project Canvas
The BBC has got the approval for the project, through which it would be able to meet the demand for internet TV. Project Canvas is the result of the joint venture of BBC, BT, ITV, Channel 4, Five and TalkTalk, to create the Internet Protocol Television hallmark.
After the extensive meetings and discussions, the governing body of BBC Trust made its final decision.
Prince Harry Shows Off His Throwing Arm
It was Saturday morning and everyone at Citi Field was preparing for their match, when Britain’s Prince Harry arrived at the field, just before New York’s match with Minnesota Twins.
He came with a Mets cap on his head and a white T-shirt that gave him the look of a sportsperson.
There, he got an opportunity to show the players around him that he can also toss a useful baseball pitch.
He was looking a bit anxious at the field, but gave a remarkable throw to the Mets catcher, Rod Barajas.
Housing Benefits to be Capped
The payments for housing benefit are to be restricted to £400 a week for a house and £280 a week for a flat.
The Chancellor said the new caps were required, as the cost of the payments had increased 50% to £21bn in the last 10 years. Some people were getting £104,000 a year in housing benefit that defines rewards would be abridged.
Other reforms planned comprised restricting and re-setting local housing payments and re-adjusting hold up for mortgage interest expenses.
Young Scot Working at US Summer Camp Killed by Drunk Driver
A Young Scotswoman, who had just started her work at an American summer camp, was killed by an assumed drunk driver, in what her manager called a ‘tragic, senseless’ mishap.
Emily Lewis, 21, from Aberdeen, had been successful in getting a dream summer job in the office of Camp Echo Lake in Warrensburg, New York state, and was enjoying time off with some of her colleagues on Thursday.
Feared: Teen Canoeist May Have Drowned in Lake District
A canoeist, who is perceived to be in his late teens, is feared to have drowned after failing to come back on the surface of the Lake District.
He was not seen after he entered the water whilst paddling for almost 200 meters from the Shore of Ullswater Lake.
A major search had been launched with concerned members of the public helping police divers, a coastguard group and Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team.
Police had been called to the event west of Pooley Bridge just after 2pm on Saturday.
It is considered that the young man is from the Lancashire area.
