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November 30, 2011
MasterCard and Western Union Partner to Fuel Growth of Electronic Payments
Photos: MasterCard and the Western Union Company enter an agreement to offer consumers more choice and access to safe and convenient global financial services. Ajay Banga, President and Chief Executive Officer of MasterCard, left and Hikmet Ersek, President and Chief Executive Officer of Western Union meet at Western Union’s headquarters in New York City, Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2011. (Feature Photo Service).
• MasterCard and The Western Union Company today announced a global agreement that will make electronic payments, including prepaid cards and money transfers, more efficient and convenient for consumers around the world.
Today, an estimated 2.5 billion adults worldwide are financially underserved, and within the United States, more than a quarter of the adult population is excluded from the financial mainstream. Prepaid cards and money transfers are helping build bridges to provide consumers with reliable, convenient and affordable forms of financial services.
MasterCard and Western Union have been working together to provide prepaid card services for the past year. The expanded global relationship makes MasterCard the preferred brand for Western Union-sponsored prepaid programs around the world and makes Western Union the preferred money transfer service for MasterCard. Consumers will have access to a global network to transfer and load funds onto prepaid cards. Western Union and MasterCard prepaid cardholders will be able to reload their prepaid cards at MasterCard rePower locations as well as at participating Western Union(R) Agent locations.
Western Union and MasterCard are simplifying the transfer of money for consumers by making their electronic payment networks interoperable. Consumers using Western Union for money transfer services will be able to arrange for a money transfer to go directly to an eligible MasterCard. Senders will be able to pay for money transfers using a card or account backed by the MasterCard brand and move funds through a participating Western Union Agent location.
Hikmet Ersek, President and Chief Executive Officer of Western Union said, “This agreement sets the stage to globalize prepaid services. We’re opening up more options for consumers around the world by combining Western Union’s global network of money movement solutions with MasterCard’s world class global electronic payments network.”
“The primary focus of our global partnership is to enable greater financial inclusion for consumers and provide additional electronic payment options that create efficiencies in their daily lives,” said MasterCard President and Chief Executive Officer Ajay Banga. “We look forward to all of the benefits that our partnership will bring to consumers around the world.”
MasterCard is a global payments and technology company. While The Western Union Company is a leader in global payment services.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 7:18 AM | View the original post
November 27, 2011
Infiniti 2013 IPL G Convertible — Seductive Open-Air Style
Photos: Infiniti presents IPL G Convertible — Seductive Open-Air Style.
Infiniti has inroduced 2013 IPL G Convertible at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
Infiniti is the luxury division of automaker Nissan.
IPL G Convertible combines seductive style with a highly engaging driving experience, the company said. IPL G Convertible is available with an electronically controlled 7-speed automatic transmission.
Other standard IPL G Convertible interior features include a 13-speaker Bose Open Air sound system, Climate-controlled front seats, Infiniti Hard Drive Navigation System, Infiniti Voice Recognition for audio navigation, memory system for driver’s seat, steering wheel and outside mirrors, RearView Monitor and Rear Sonar System, the company elaborated.
Infiniti also introduced its innovative Backup Collision Intervention system at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The system has the ability to detect vehicular cross traffic and other rearward objects while backing up. If necessary, the system will automatically apply the brakes to help prevent a collision.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 3:56 AM | View the original post
November 18, 2011
Sheep in the Ariana Park, Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland
Photos: Sheep graze on the lawn of the Palais des Nations, the United Nations Regional Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, as part of an environmentally-friendly tradition held every year in October and November. The sheep’s grazing allows for the lawn to be naturally cut and for other organic maintenance work to be done. UN Photo / Jean-Marc Ferre.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 12:21 PM | View the original post
November 15, 2011
Coca-Cola to make $2 Billion long term Investment in India
Investment includes new infrastructure, partnerships, brand building and sustainability programs
Photo: The Coca-Cola Company hosted a 125th Anniversary Celebration Concert at Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta, GA, USA, on May 7, 2011. The concert was streamed online as a live ‘thank you’ to people around the world.
Coca-Cola will invest US$2 billion in India over the next five years, beginning in 2012, to further capture the opportunity in the Indian nonalcoholic ready-to-drink beverage market, the company announced.
• Coca-Cola informed GlobalGiants.Com that India is a strategic growth country for The Coca-Cola Company, ranking among its top 10 markets in volume globally and as the largest market in the Eurasia and Africa Group.
The Coca-Cola Company’s portfolio in India includes Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Thums Up, Sprite, Fanta, Limca, Maaza, Maaza Milky Delite, Minute Maid Pulpy Orange, Minute Maid Nimbu Fresh, Burn, Kinley Water, Kinley Soda, Nestea, Schweppes, and GEORGIA Gold.
The Coca-Cola system has already invested over US$2 billion in India since it re-entered the country in 1993, and currently it directly employs more than 25,000 people. The system is estimated to have created indirect employment for more than 150,000 people in related industries through its vast procurement, supply chain and distribution system. The investments announced today by Coca-Cola will further catalyze economic growth and create new opportunities for the local community, the company said.
Ahmet C. Bozer, Coca-Cola’s President, Eurasia and Africa Group, said, “India is one of our most important growth markets as we work toward our 2020 Vision of doubling system revenues and servings this decade. The opportunity in the packaged beverage segment is immense, and our efforts in India are focused on being the beverage of choice all day, every day. If we continue to do the right things each day and at all times, it would not surprise me if India becomes one of the top five markets for the Company globally by the end of this decade.”
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 12:12 PM | View the original post
November 13, 2011
General Motors introduces 2013 Chevrolet Spark at the Los Angeles International Auto Show
• General Motors today introduced 2013 Chevrolet Spark ‘Mini Car’ (known as Chevrolet Beat in India) at the Los Angeles International Auto Show. According to GM, it is the only car in its segment to offer a seven-inch color touch screen radio capable of displaying smart phone-based navigation, media and contacts for hands-free calling.
The original version of the Spark [Beat] is already on sale in Europe, Asia, Australia, Mexico and South America.
“A sporty four-passenger, five-door hatch updated for United States and Canadian consumers, Spark is designed to excite first-time buyers and city dwellers with its bold styling and colors, affordability, the safety of 10 standard air bags, fuel efficiency and maneuverability,” the company announced.
Spark [Beat] is equipped with a 1.2L four-cylinder engine and five-speed manual transmission.
“Spark is for buyers who want much more than a ‘cute’ small car - they want a car that can be personalized, is dynamic and fashionable, and delivers a lot of value for the money,” said Chris Perry, vice president, global Chevrolet marketing and strategy. “Spark’s vibrant exterior and interior colors make a fashion statement, but it is also affordable, safe, maneuverable and very fuel-efficient.”
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 1:49 PM | View the original post
November 9, 2011
Nokia World 2011, London: Nokia Showcases New Phones, Services and Accessories at its Annual Event
Photo: Nokia World 2011, London. Credits: Nokia.
Photo: Nokia World 2011, London. Credits: Nokia.
Photo: Nokia Asha 200. Credits: Nokia.
Photo: Nokia Asha 303 and Nokia Lumia 800. Credits: Nokia.
Photo: Nokia Lumia 710 with Nokia Purity HD Stereo Headset by Monster. Credits: Nokia.
Photo: Nokia Lumia 710 with lead for Nokia Purity HD Stereo Headset by Monster. Credits: Nokia.
Nokia unveiled a bold portfolio of innovative phones, services and accessories at Nokia World 2011 in London. Nokia World is the company’s annual event for customers, partners and developers.
Nokia showcased its Lumia models — Nokia Lumia 800 and Nokia Lumia 710.
“The stunningly social Nokia Lumia 800 features head-turning design, vivid colors (cyan, magenta and black) and the best social and Internet performance, with one-touch social network access, easy grouping of contacts, integrated communication threads and Internet Explorer 9,” the company announcement said. “The purposely built, no-nonsense Nokia Lumia 710 can be personalized with exchangeable back covers and thousands of apps to bring the Lumia experience to more people around the world. The Nokia Lumia 710 is designed for instant social & image sharing, and the best browsing experience with IE9. It is available in black and white with black, white, cyan, fuchsia and yellow back covers.”
Nokia’s four new mobile phones feature stylish design, a rich social experience and location-aware technology. “The Nokia Asha 300, Nokia Asha 303, Nokia Asha 200 and Nokia Asha 201 blur the line between smartphones and feature phones, offering QWERTY and touch screen experiences, combined with fast and easy access to the Internet, integrated social networking, and messaging,” the company explained.
• Nokia told GlobalGiants.Com that these devices comprise the new Asha family of Nokia mobile phones. “Derived from Hindi - meaning ‘Hope’ - Asha signifies Nokia’s focus on positive user experiences and connecting millions of people to new opportunities that help them reach their aspirations,” the company elucidated.
Nokia also showcased the latest versions of Nokia Maps and Nokia Drive for Windows Phone. These and other map-related applications introduced at Nokia World aim to make Nokia Maps relevant for commuters and to find interesting places in the city where people live. In addition to its world-class, free walk-and-drive navigation for more than 100 countries worldwide, the Nokia Public Transport application tracks public transportation directly on a mobile device in more than 430 cities worldwide, including up-to-the-minute updates on bus and train routes for 45 cities.
“Eight months ago, we shared our new strategy and today we are demonstrating clear progress of this strategy in action. We’re driving innovation throughout our entire portfolio, from new smartphone experiences to ever smarter mobile phones,” said Stephen Elop, Nokia President and CEO. “From the Nokia Lumia 800 to the Nokia Asha 201, we are bringing compelling new products to the market faster than ever before. I’m incredibly proud of these new devices - and the people of Nokia who have made this happen.”
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 12:39 AM | View the original post
November 7, 2011
Miss Venezuela, Ivian Sarcos, is Miss World 2011
Photos: Miss World 2011 Final, November 6, London. All Photos © Copyright Miss World Ltd.
On November 6, at the 2011 Miss World Final in Earls Court, London, Miss Venezuela, Ivian Sarcos, was crowned the 61st Miss World by the reigning Miss World, Alexandria Mills of USA.
Miss Philippines, Gwendoline Ruais was the 1st runner up and Miss Puerto Rico, Amanda Perez, the 2nd runner up.
Narrowed down from top 15, the top 7 comprised Korea, Venezuela, England, Philippines, Puerto Rico, South Africa and Scotland. The 15 semi finalists included Indonesia, Korea, Italy, Sweden, Zimbabwe, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Venezuela, Philippines, US VI, Spain, Puerto Rico, South Africa, Scotland and England.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 1:55 AM | View the original post
November 4, 2011
G20 Summit Concludes in Cannes, France
Photo: President Barack Obama (USA) and President Nicolas Sarkozy (France) during G20 Summit in Cannes, France. Credits: France Diplomatie / F. de la Mure / MAEE.
Photo: President Nicolas Sarkozy (France), Chancellor Angela Merkel (Germany), and President Barack Obama (USA) during G20 Summit in Cannes, France. Credits: France Diplomatie / F. de la Mure / MAEE.
Photo: Prime Minister Stephen Harper (Canada), Prime Minister Julia Gillard (Australia), and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh (India) during a working session at the G20 Summit in Cannes, France, Friday, Nov. 4, 2011. Credits: France Diplomatie / F. de la Mure / MAEE.
Photo: President Hu Jintao (China) and President Nicolas Sarkozy (France) during a working session at the G20 Summit in Cannes, France, Friday, Nov. 4, 2011. Credits: France Diplomatie / F. de la Mure / MAEE.
“We, the Leaders of the G20, met in Cannes on 3-4 November 2011. Since our last meeting, global recovery has weakened, particularly in advanced countries, leaving unemployment at unacceptable levels. In this context, tensions in the financial markets have increased due mostly to sovereign risks in Europe; there are also clear signs of a slowing in growth in the emerging markets. Commodity price swings have put growth at risk. Global imbalances persist,” said the final communique of the G20 Leaders Summit.
“Today, we reaffirm our commitment to work together and we have taken decisions to reinvigorate economic growth, create jobs, ensure financial stability, promote social inclusion and make globalization serve the needs of the people…”
The G20 has become the number one forum for economic policy coordination. Since the end of 2008, it has met on a regular basis: in London in April 2009, Pittsburgh in September 2009, Toronto in June 2010 and in Seoul in November 2010. It met for the sixth time on 3 and 4 November 2011 in Cannes, France.
The main emerging and developed economies, the G20 countries, account for 85 percent of global output and two thirds of the world’s population. Its members are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union. Spain is a permanent guest. This year, the French Presidency has invited the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Singapore and the African Union Presidency.
To carry out its work, the G20 draws on the expertise of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, the United Nations (UN), the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the World Trade Organization (WTO), and the Financial Stability Board (FSB).
|GlobalGiants.Com|
A Suggestion for the Financial Stability Board (FSB):
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 12:14 PM | View the original post
