Massive floods in Bavaria, Austria, Switzerland

Tuesday, August 23, 2005

Heavy rainfalls have caused massive floods in Southern Bavaria, Western Austria and Central Switzerland.

In Southern Bavaria authorities have declared a state of emergency. The city of Garmisch-Partenkirchen is cut off from the outside world. Near Augsburg a freeway had to be closed because a bridge was on the verge of collapsing after water had damaged the foundation.

In the Austrian states of Tyrol and Vorarlberg authorities are battling with floods that intensified during the night with record rainfall. In Vorarlberg a brook broke into a house and caused a gas explosion injuring six people. One person is missing after he and his car were swept away. In the capital of Tyrol, Innsbruck, all bridges over the Inn had to be closed. In Western Tyrol, landslides killed one man and injured another.

In Switzerland the cities of Bern and Lucerne were partially flooded. Mudslides killed two firefighters who were trying to evacuate a farm. In the canton of Zürich one man drowned, and a woman in Graubünden is missing after she too fell into a stream. The Swiss government estimates the floodings caused a damage of at least US$79 million.

Steel major Arcelor ready to reconsider Mittal’s offer

Monday, May 22, 2006

Luxembourg’s largest steel company Arcelor is ready to study Mittal Steel‘s improved takeover offer, the former said on Sunday, opening the door to possible talks with Indian steel magnate Laxminivas Mittal. Arcelor Chairman Joseph Kinsch told reporters after a meeting of Arcelor’s board that the company’s directors would be ready to examine the details of Mittal’s latest offer once it has been approved by the CSSF (Luxembourg’s financial regulatory body).

Until Sunday, Arcelor, the world’s second-largest steel company, had firmly rejected world-leader Mittal’s bid to take the former company over and form a global steel giant. The softening of Arcelor’s stance comes after Mittal Steel raised its hostile cash-and-equity bid by a third on Friday and dropped a key demand for family control over the combined entity.

Media reports had suggested that Arcelor was trying to find another company to rescue it from being taken over by Mittal Steel. Possible candidates included Russian tycoon Vladimir Lisin and Russia’s Magnitogorsk Iron & Steel Works (MMK). Mittal’s move on Friday came after the value of its initial offer fell more than 10 percent behind the market worth of Arcelor, as the latter announced a buyback of its own shares at above-market prices to ward off Mittal Steel.

Laxminivas Mittal, who has hinted that the bitter takeover battle might have a hint of racism involved in it, told the French newspaper La Tribune that he was sure that the attractive nature of his revised offer would enable him to obtain over 50% of the Arcelor shares. He added that he was of the opinion that the involvement of a Russian third party would not be in the best interests of Arcelor’s shareholders.

3 Ways To Deal With Financial Management}

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3 Ways to Deal with Financial Management

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Students Assignments Helps

Financial Management is that aspect of Finance which teaches you to manage the finances of a firm. Any firm would be down to ruins if it did not have a proper Finance Manager to guide it and control and balance its expenses. Money is one of the major factors without whose constant presence even dreaming for a firm’s success is useless.However, learning and understanding Financial Management is equally difficult too. Solely managing the Finances is not Financial Management, meeting the objective of the firms, is. In the process of learning the same, having difficulty in dealing with assignments is more than natural. This is precisely why you should seek Financial Management assignment help online whenever needed.3 ways to deal with Financial ManagementFinancial Management is one of the most difficult yet important aspects of running a company. Here are 5 ways to help you deal with it as a subject:1. Make notes, always.You must always make sure that you make notes when you’re being taught. This is so that you can opt for self help before actually seeking Financial Management homework help online. Notes will make it easier for you to look details up when your homework or assignment is due. Also, your pre exam preparation will be made easy with notes.2. Focus on homework and assignmentTo deal with Financial Management with the efficiency that you actually should, what you need to do is pay proper attention to its homework and assignment. Homework and assignments are assigned so as to develop your analytical and understanding abilities. Financial management if not understood properly can create a faulty future entrepreneur. Finance has is and always will be the most important aspect of any company. The goal should be to meet with all the financial needs and objectives of the company in the most efficient way imaginable.However, Finance management isn’t even half as easy a concept as you think it to be. The homework and assignment pertaining to the same is important but what is even more important is seeking Online Finance Management homework help at the right time from the right people. The online homework helping companies make sure that all your doubts are rendered clarity and that you are made to understand every concept with thorough detailing.3. Read, read and researchResearching about a chapter or subject or reading about it deepens your understanding of the same. This is because when you know the story behind the chapter or subject, you’ll surely will to understand it better. This willingness will probe you to work harder. Online homework help companies always see to it that your research work is complete.Even if you yourself do not do all the research, these companies help you with it and inform you of the same. This is why you must always seek Online Finance Management assignment help. Reading is the key to knowledge. Therefore, read more to understand more and deepen your knowledge about Finance Management.

Financial Management Assignment Help Online experts assist students in doing better and help them in every way to make sure their academics improve. These sites have been proved to be very effective Financial Management Homework Help.

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Tobacco manufacturers and retailers fined over UK price fixing

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Several tobacco manufacturers and retailers in the United Kingdom have been fined a total of £225 million for price fixing. The fines were imposed by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) following an investigation lasting seven years. It is the largest penalty ever issued by the OFT for breaches of the 1998 Competition Act, with the case involving two major tobacco makers and numerous British supermarkets.

Together the manufacturers involved, Imperial Tobacco (whose brands include Golden Virginia and Lambert & Butler) and Gallaher Group (who own Silk Cut and Benson & Hedges among others) make almost 90% of all cigarettes and roll-ups sold in the UK. They were fined £112 million and £50 million respectively.

The supermarkets facing the largest penalties were Asda and The Co-operative Group, at £14 million each. Other stores fined were First Quench, Morrisons, Safeway, Shell garages, Somerfield, T&S Stores (now One Stop) and TM Retail. Also taking part in the price fixing were Sainsbury’s, though they received immunity from being fined after alerting the OFT and co-operating with the investigation. Some of the other companies also earned reductions in their fines through co-operation with the OFT.

Similar allegations against Tesco were not pursued due to a lack of evidence.

Imperial Tobacco denied the charges, claiming in a statement that its dealings with the retailers were simply legitimate “promotional arrangements”. They have said they are considering an appeal against the decision.

In a press release the OFT said that the fines would send out a strong message. “Practices such as these, which restrict the ability of retailers to set their resale prices for competing brands independently, are unlawful.” said Simon Williams, OFT Senior Director of Goods. “They can lead to reduced competition and ultimately disadvantage consumers.”

“This enforcement action will send out a strong message that such practices, which could in principle be applied to the sale of many different products, can result in substantial penalties for those who engage in them.”

Company Fine Notes
Imperial Tobacco £112,332,495 Manufacturer
Gallaher Group £50,379,754 Manufacturer
The Co-operative Group £14,187,353
Asda £14,095,933
Safeway £10,909,366 Now part of Morrisons
Morrisons £8,624,201
Somerfield £3,987,950 Now part of The Co-operative group
Shell £3,354,615
TM Retail £2,668,991
First Quench £2,456,528 Now in administration
T&S Stores £1,314,095 Now One Stop, part of Tesco
Sainsbury’s £0 Granted immunity from fines
Total £224,311,281

Eastern Conference wins 2008 NBA All-Star Game

Monday, February 18, 2008

Eastern Conference 134 128 Western Conference

The Eastern Conference defeated their Western Conference counterparts at the 2008 National Basketball Association All-Star Game held at New Orleans Arena in New Orleans, Louisiana on Sunday. The final score was 134-128.

The East took an early 11 point lead in the first 5 minutes, due to an injured Kobe Bryant only playing 2 minutes before sitting on the bench for the rest of the game. “There’s one player we really, really missed, and that was Kobe,” said West coach Byron Scott. The West later reduced the lead to 2 points, but at halftime, the East led 74-65.

The West trailed by 13 at the beginning of the fourth quarter, but rallied behind New Orleans point guard Chris Paul, who had seven assists in the final period. With 2:48 remaining, Brandon Roy scored a layup on an assist from Paul, giving the West a 122-119 lead, their biggest lead of the game.

The East then answered back with two three-pointers from Ray Allen, before Chris Paul tied the game with a three-pointer of his own. However, the East would then take the lead and the game with layups from Dwyane Wade and Allen, as well as a driving dunk from LeBron James. A Brandon Roy three-pointer put the game within three points with 8.7 seconds left, but 3 free throws from Ray Allen sealed the win for the East.

“The fourth quarter was crazy,” said Chris Paul. “We were down 13. We picked up the intensity. We took the lead a few times but Ray Allen was unbelievable the way he shot the ball. And that last dunk by LeBron, we had two people on him but that still wasn’t enough.”

With 27 points, 8 rebounds, and 9 assists, James was named the All-Star Game’s Most Valuable Player for the second time in his career. Some television commentators also considered Ray Allen a likely choice for the award, with 14 of his 28 points coming in the final 3 minutes of the game. “I think Ray Allen had a heck of a shooting night,” James said after being presented the award.

Contents

  • 1 Other All-Star events
    • 1.1 T-Mobile Rookie Challenge
    • 1.2 Haier Shooting Stars Competition
    • 1.3 Playstation Skills Challenge
    • 1.4 Foot Locker Three-Point Shootout
    • 1.5 Sprite Slam Dunk Contest
  • 2 Related news
  • 3 Sources

General Motors automobile sales plunge by 45%

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

General Motors Corporation (GM) announced on Wednesday that it saw a 45% drop in United States vehicle sales for its cars in March.

Executives from several auto firms, however, said that there was some hope for the auto industry to stabilise, as car sales rebounded in the last week of March.

“The market is starting to show small signs of life which need to be nourished like seedlings,” said the vice president and chairman of Chrysler LLC Jim Press. “It’s too early to see a trend, but spring shows signs of hope.”

Other automobile manufacturers also saw their car sales slip: Chrysler and the Japanese Toyota both reported a 39% loss, whilst Ford Motor Company sales fell 41%.

Annualised sales of vehicles in the car industry in the US are predicted to have dipped below nine million in March, compared to February’s 9.12 million, which was the lowest number since 1981.

“Auto makers are pulling every lever in their effort to attract buyers, as evidenced by the new programs from Ford and GM. The typical incentive programs simply do not resonate in today’s economy,” Jesse Toprak, an analyst for Edmunds.

Ford shares gained 2.3% to a level of US$2.69 in early trading at US stock markets on Wednesday, while stocks for Toyota’s US depository increased 5.9% to $67. GM shares slipped 1.6% down to $1.92.

10 Vitally Important Supplement Tips}

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10 Vitally Important Supplement Tips

by

Charles Funkel

Your health is your biggest property. Starting from a few solid exercises to even medical measures, you do it all to stay fit and healthy. Even though there is a multitude of ways that affect your health routine, your regular diet happens to be the thing of great concern. Hence, youve got to choose your dietary supplements wisely.

But how can you choose your diet wisely when you have no idea about what your body actually needs, and what it doesnt? Therefore, you need to talk to a health care practitioner with knowledge in natural remedies, who generally performs a blood test to diagnose your health and prescribes you the right nutrition along with some extra supplements. Here are 10 vital science based supplement tips for you.

Dont Take Supplements & Drugs Together

If you are ill and under a medical treatment, you would likely be taking prescription drugs. In this situation, taking supplements could harm your body. For instance, taking a herbal supplement like ginger can make your blood excessively thinner when you are prescribed to take Coumadin, a blood thinner. So its better to ask your physician if you would take the supplements.

Consume the Prescribed Calcium

If your physician has advised you to take 1500 milligrams of calcium a day, it means you need to consume a total amount of 1500 milligrams calcium including your food and supplements, not only supplements. Never misunderstand such advices.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5sYV7JaUI0[/youtube]

Say NO to Unhealthy Fillers

A majority of commercial supplement products available on the market contain fillers, which are pretty much harmful to the health. Dont ever purchase the product if it contains fillers like Butylated Hydroxytoluene, FD&C Blue No.2, FD&C Red No.40, FD&C Yellow No.6, Polysorbate 80, Sodium Benzoate on the ingredient label.

Dont Take Supplements Every Day

Natural health care practitioners advise not to take supplements every single day. You should take supplements 6 days and avail a one day rest. Natural remedies suggest that you generally get all the essential nutrients from your diets, not supplements.

Avoid Unrealistic Expectations

Products advertising to offer you overnight or quickest results are most likely fakes, dont purchase those. Remember, supplements are only a part of the total healthy eating program. You would achieve good results only when you eat good foods, do exercises and add proper supplements, rather than taking a pill that offers you overnight health gains.

Dont Go for Multi-level Marketing Companies

Multi level marketing companies are a waste since their products are normally doubly priced. You would end up losing a lot of money when going for those items. Instead, choose a local health food store and purchase the proper supplements at significantly lower costs.

Research and Become Educated

Research reveals the truth. You should always do some research about the specific nutrient to know its best form. For example, di tocopherol is a form of Vitamin E but its a chemical, whereas mixed tocopherols are natural source of vitamin E. Become an educated health consumer.

Avoid Mega-dosing

You need to understand that a small amount of supplements is good for your health. Consuming more supplements can be harmful. For example, overdose of Vitamin A during pregnancy can cause birth problems and an overdose of Vitamin B-6 (more than 250 mg per day) can lead to neurological problems.

Dont Rely Only on Supplements

Natural health practitioners recommend you not to rely only on supplements. They are supplements so they would fill in the insufficiency in the nutritional value of the diet, rather than providing the total nutritional requirement.

Dont Take Supplements to Lose Weight

If you want to lose weight, eat healthy and do regular exercises. Eat fewer calories than you can burn. Dont expect your supplements to lose your weight even though certain natural items like Herbal Tea and Glucomannon are believed to metabolize your body fat up to some extent.

Charles Funkel takes great interest in studying the functions of enzymes on the various functions of the body. She believes that

Syntol

is effective in improving the metabolic functionalities of human body. She has several articles online on the effectiveness of

Trevinol

.

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New legal British tender revealed

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

For the first time in 40 years, the Royal Mint has chosen a new set of designs for the reverse of the coins, first introduced in the Coin Design Competition 2005. The designer, Matthew Dent of Bangor, North Wales, was paid £35,000 (GBP) for his designs, which depict the Shield of the Royal Arms spread over the six denominations below £1, with the entire shield embossed on the £1 coin.

The new coins are expected to come into circulation this summer – and Mr Dent envisions a success: “I can imagine people playing with them, having them on a tabletop and enjoying them. I felt it was important to have a theme running through from one to another.” he said, referring to the puzzle-like nature of the new design, which requires the coins to be arranged in a particular way to see the Shield of the Royal Arms.

The chief executive of the Royal Mint, Andrew Stafford, has said that the obverse of the coins will still depict the portrait of the Queen, like it has since 1998. The old coins will remain legal tender until they slip out of circulation.

MG Rover sold to Nanjing Auto

Friday, July 22, 2005

Administrators PriceWaterHouseCoopers (PWC) have announced that the British car company MG Rover and its engine manufacturer Powertrain Ltd has been sold to Chinese company Nanjing Automobile for an unknown sum of money. The company beat bids from Shanghai Automotive (SAIC), despite being the smaller of the two.

MG Rover collapsed this Spring, after struggling to make a profit for several years.

SAIC had tried to buy only the engine plant and then transfer it to China, but in June Nanjing Automobile approached PWC with a combined bid for both the car manufacturing company and Powertrain. This Monday SAIC bid for both but the offer was inferior to Nanjing’s.

Nanjing has indicated that it too will move the engine production plant to China, along with some car manufacturing. However it also intends to continue building cars in Britain, and establish an engineering research and design centre there in an effort to expand its sales globally. Nanjing intends to start hiring at once.