Alibaba approved for private bank in China: regulator
Shanghai Sept 29, 2014 -
Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba, which completed the world's largest stock offering earlier this month, has received approval to set up a private bank, it was announced Monday.
The China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC) said Alibaba would be the majority shareholder with a 30 percent stake in a private bank to be established in the eastern province of Zhejiang, where the company is head ...
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Activist investor urges Yahoo-AOL tie-up
New York (AFP) Sept 26, 2014 -
An activist investment firm Friday urged Yahoo to explore a tie-up with online rival AOL, saying such a deal could help the struggling Internet pioneer "unlock" value for shareholders.
Starboard Value LP, which said it had acquired a "significant" ownership interest in the company, said in an open later to Yahoo chief Marissa Mayer that bringing together the two early Internet giants could l ...
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Fashion made-in-China: fine for everyone but the Chinese
Milan (AFP) Sept 28, 2014 -
It has been called fashion's dirty little secret but according to Miuccia Prada, soon everybody will be doing it.
Made-in-China's just fine with Prada's supremo and a host of other influential industry figures.
But for Chinese companies and designers seeking to become global style players, producing high-end clothing on home soil is complicated.
Trade barriers, brand perception issue ...
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Intel to buy stake in two Chinese firms
New York (AFP) Sept 26, 2014 -
US semi-conductor maker Intel said Friday it will invest $1.5 billion in two Chinese cell phone part companies.
The California firm said it would acquire a 20 percent stake in a holding company that owns Spreadtrum Communications and RDA Microelectronics, according to an Intel statement.
The transaction should be finalized early next year.
The two Chinese companies specialize in part ...
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'Anti-Facebook' social network gets viral surge
Washington (AFP) Sept 28, 2014 -
In a matter of days, the new social network Ello, described as the "anti-Facebook" for its stand on privacy and advertising, has become perhaps the hottest ticket on the Internet.
Created last year as a "private" social network, Ello (www.ello.co) recently opened its doors on an invitation-only basis.
Because of the limited supply and strong demand, the invitations have been selling on ...
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Turkey's Erdogan dismisses new iPhone: 'Same as the last'
Istanbul (AFP) Sept 28, 2014 -
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, known for his hostility to social networks and mobile technology, on Sunday brushed off the frenzy surrounding Apple's new iPhone 6, saying it was much the same as its iPhone 5 predecessor.
Erdogan said that he had seen the lines snaking round an Apple sales shop in New York during his visit last week to attend the UN General Assembly.
"This brand ...
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Search for MH370 to enter new phase
Sydney (AFP) Sept 29, 2014 -
The search for Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 enters a new underwater phase this week almost seven months after the jet went missing, with two specialist ships to join the hunt.
MH370 disappeared en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8 with 239 people onboard and no trace of the Boeing 777-200 has been found despite a massive air, sea and underwater search.
Authorities have sinc ...
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BlackBerry narrows loss, sees turnaround progress
Ottawa (AFP) Sept 26, 2014 -
BlackBerry on Friday reported it narrowed its loss in the latest quarter, and expressed optimism that its major restructuring and new business-friendly devices would help fuel a turnaround.
Releasing fiscal second-quarter results, chief executive John Chen said the struggling Waterloo, Ontario-based smartphone and tech group could return to profitability next year.
In a statement he expr ...
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Ireland narrowing wave energy field
Edinburgh, Scotland (UPI) Sep 26, 2014 -
Wave energy pioneer Pelamis said Friday it was put on the short list of companies slated for a role alongside Irish utility company ESB.
The Irish government aims to install its first wave energy project, the five megawatt WestWave facilities, by 2018. It's already secured support from the European Commission.
Pelamis Wave Power said it's been selected as one of the developers se ...
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A year on, foreign firms still await FTZ reform bonanza
Shanghai (AFP) Sept 29, 2014 -
China on Monday hailed the first anniversary of its first free-trade zone (FTZ), but foreign companies expressed disappointment over the pace of pledged reforms as they await real business opportunities.
The FTZ was set up in China's commercial hub Shanghai with the promise of a range of financial reforms, including full convertibility of the yuan currency and freer interest rates - both of ...
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US-led Syria strikes on IS hit entrance to main gas plant: NGO
Beirut (AFP) Sept 28, 2014 -
The US-led coalition against jihadists in Syria struck late Sunday the entrance to the country's main gas plant, in an apparent warning to Islamic State (IS) militants to abandon the premises under their control, a monitor said.
"The international coalition has for the first time struck the entrance and prayer area of the Coneco gas plant. It is under IS control, and is the largest in Syria, ...
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Writers and readers go mobile and social at Wattpad
San Francisco (AFP) Sept 28, 2014 -
Allen Lau considers himself living proof that love of good writing is alive and well in the age of streaming video and terse text messages.
He offers as further evidence the 32 million people who each month visit online literature social network Wattpad, which he and Ivan Yuen launched eight years ago as an online venue for writers and readers to connect.
"Wattpad is the world's largest ...
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Maverick Synfuels Introduces Maverick Oasis
Research Triangle Park NC (SPX) Sep 29, 2014 -
Maverick Synfuels has introduced the first small-scale, modular methane-to-methanol production plant that can be co-located at the methane source. The Maverick Oasis system allows producers to monetize biogas and natural gas (including associated or flare gas, and stranded gas reserves), as an alternative to producing electricity or venting destructive greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
...
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Large-scale solar chiefs hit Canberra to defend Renewable Energy Target
Canberra, Australia (SPX) Sep 29, 2014 -
Heads of companies behind Australia's major large-scale solar projects are today taking their fight to save the Renewable Energy Target (RET) all the way to Canberra.
Business leaders from solar companies including First Solar, Fotowatio Renewable Ventures (FRV) and SunPower are heading to the nation's capital to meet with key ministers and parliamentarians.
"We'll be telling them th ...
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Southampton scientists grow a new challenger to graphene
Southampton, UK (SPX) Sep 29, 2014 -
A team of researchers from the University of Southampton's Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC) has developed a new way to fabricate a potential challenger to graphene.
Graphene, a single layer of carbon atoms in a honeycomb lattice, is increasingly being used in new electronic and mechanical applications, such as transistors, switches and light sources, thanks to the unprecedented proper ...
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South Australia to reap benefits from higher Renewable Energy Target
Canberra, Australia (SPX) Sep 29, 2014 -
South Australia is poised to reap huge benefits in investment and jobs by increasing its renewable energy target to 50 per cent by 2025, the clean energy industry says.
"By boosting the target, South Australia is demonstrating commitment to attracting investment and jobs to its rural and regional communities," Clean Energy Council Policy Director Russell Marsh said.
"The state is sho ...
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Renewables critical to achieving Energy Green Paper goals
Canberra, Australia (SPX) Sep 29, 2014 -
The Federal Government's new Energy Green Paper is a welcome contribution to the discussion on the future of Australia's energy sector, the clean energy industry says.
"Anything that contributes towards a mature discussion of energy policy is a good thing," Clean Energy Council Acting Chief Executive Kane Thornton said.
"Our system for generating and delivering energy is undergoing a ...
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State policies are effective in reducing power plant emissions
Boulder CO (SPX) Sep 29, 2014 -
A new study led by the University of Colorado Boulder found that different strategies used by states to reduce power plant emissions - direct ones such as emission caps and indirect ones like encouraging renewable energy - are both effective. The study is the first analysis of its kind.
The findings are important because the success of the Environmental Protection Agency's proposed Clean ...
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Paraffins to cut energy consumption in homes
Leioa, Spain (SPX) Sep 29, 2014 -
40% of the total consumption of energy in Europe takes place in buildings, so reducing this consumption is becoming increasingly important. Integrating renewables into the energy supply for buildings is a further step towards moving towards this aim.
The UPV/EHU research group ENEDI has developed a modular device based on paraffins that allows thermal energy to be stored, thus reducing the ...
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Smart meters could cause conflict for housemates
Nottingham, UK (SPX) Sep 29, 2014 -
Arguments about whose turn it is to do the washing up, negotiating rights to the TV remote control and disputes over noise - as many students returning to university for the new academic year are about to learn the hard way, sharing a house can be a tricky business.
And now research from academics at The University of Nottingham has revealed that new technology to allow people to monitor t ...
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