Messi targeting Madrid after gunning down Osasuna |
- Messi targeting Madrid after gunning down Osasuna
- Japan’s budget airlines to spur passenger traffic to 7 year high
- Foreigners ‘praising’ Malaysia for efficient handling of MH370 crisis, deputy minister claims
- UK Channel 5 float expected to net £700m
- Nikon to fix camera flaws cited by China state TV programme
- Arsenal have stomach for title fight, says Wenger
| Messi targeting Madrid after gunning down Osasuna Posted: 16 Mar 2014 06:37 PM PDT
Messi overtook Paulino Alcantara to become Barca's all-time leading scorer in all forms of football with his second goal of the afternoon before completing his hat-trick to take his tally for the club to 371. Victory moved Barca back to within four points of Real Madrid at the top of La Liga with both sides set to meet at the Santiago Bernabeu next Sunday. And Messi is hoping that a win in the Spanish capital will put his side right back in the La Liga title race. "I hope we see a good version of Barcelona and we can get a positive result, which we need to still be in there fighting for La Liga just a point behind," he told Barca TV. "We have a unique opportunity to cut the gap on Madrid. It will be a very difficult game because we are playing away from home and Real Madrid is a great team playing with a lot of confidence. It will be difficult, but it all depends on us." The Argentine's first hat-trick of 2014 means he has now scored 12 times in his last nine games and he believes he is slowly getting back to his best after missing the last two months of 2013 due to a hamstring injury. "I feel good, as I have said before, little by little I am getting better after the injury. There were very difficult moments because I had a run of injuries, but I am feeling good and hopefully I can maintain this level until the end of the season." Barca boss Gerardo Martino hailed his compatriot's display as his side returned to winning ways in La Liga after a shock 1-0 defeat to Valladolid last weekend. "There is nothing that needs to be said about Messi. He continues to play games like this and break records." However, despite such a resounding scoreline, Martino insisted Barca's display hadn't affected his thinking over what starting line-up to go with against Real Madrid. "Today doesn't generate any doubts in my mind ahead of the Bernabeu. The performance doesn't affect how I think we should play there. "I always have in mind what I think about the team independent of the result and I have almost decided upon the team for next week. "To have a good performance ahead of the game at the Bernabeu is positive, but we can't get carried away. It is not easy to score seven goals, but we can't think we have gone from a disaster to spectacular in the space of a week. "This is a squad full of important figures and some have to be left out. It is not easy to manage because they are all so good. However, I can't get carried away by this game and it will not affect my thinking too much." — AFP  |
| Japan’s budget airlines to spur passenger traffic to 7 year high Posted: 16 Mar 2014 06:34 PM PDT
Domestic travel may increase by as many as 2 million passengers to 93 million passengers this year, as Spring Airlines Japan Co. becomes the latest budget carrier to start flights amid an expanding economy, said Ryota Himeno, an analyst at Barclays Securities Japan Ltd. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's efforts to reduce regulations and spur growth are helping boost travel, said Tony Fernandes, chief executive officer at Sepang, Malaysia-based airline AirAsia Bhd. "It's a classic economic theory of reducing the price and increasing demand," said Fernandes, who is planning to start a new venture in Japan next year, after selling his stake in AirAsia Japan to ANA Holdings Inc., which re-branded the carrier as Vanilla Air and started flights in December. "The timing is excellent for Japan with the new economic thinking." An increase in domestic air passengers this year will be the third straight gain, rebounding from a 17-year low of 78 million in 2011, according to figures from the transport ministry. Japan is the world's fastest-aging nation, with 25.8 percent of its population over 65 years, a proportion that's double the segment under 15 years, census data show. The increase in domestic passengers has also spread to ANA and Japan Airlines Co., the nation's two biggest carriers, who are also flying more travelers. ANA owns Vanilla and has a 39 percent stake in Peach, while Japan Air has a stake in the Jetstar affiliate. ANA shares rose 8.1 percent this year through March 14, while those of its competitor fell 4.1 percent. — Bloomberg |
| Foreigners ‘praising’ Malaysia for efficient handling of MH370 crisis, deputy minister claims Posted: 16 Mar 2014 06:24 PM PDT
International Trade and Industry Ministry (MITI) deputy minister Datuk Hamim Samuri said investors "have no reason" to lose confidence on the safety of the country following findings that the missing plane's communication systems were disabled manually and was deliberately flown off course. "Foreign countries are praising Malaysia for the search and rescue operation… it will not affect imports and exports," he said, adding that Malaysia is viewed as a "conducive" environment. As such, he said that the case of the missing jet, though unresolved after 10 days, has not impacted Malaysia's investment climate. On March 8, the jumbo jet carrying 239 people made a sharp turn from its last communication with air traffic controllers in Kuala Lumpur before it would have to come into contact with Vietnamese controllers and flew westward instead, away from its intended route to Beijing. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced on Saturday that search and rescue efforts in the South China Sea would be called off and pointed to two corridors where the plane could possibly be located based on satellite data: a northern arc from northern Thailand to the border of Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan in central Asia, or a southern one from Indonesia to the southern Indian Ocean. He said the plane was diverted due to "deliberate action" but stopped short of saying it was hijacked. Najib also dropped another bombshell when he revealed that the final satellite communication with the plane occurred at 8.11am on March 8, indicating it continued flying after its transponder was disabled and the engine performance data link with MAS was severed more than seven hours earlier. It was also confirmed that military radar definitively tracked MH370 as it changed course and headed west towards the Indian Ocean. Shortly after the PM's announcement, police arrived at the Shah Alam, Selangor home of MH370 captain Zaharie Ahmad Shah, which they proceeded to search. Despite its efforts so far, Malaysia has come in repeatedly for criticism over its handling of the MH370 search and investigation, most frequently being labelled slow and disorganised. |
| UK Channel 5 float expected to net £700m Posted: 16 Mar 2014 06:23 PM PDT
Desmond is working with investment bankers from Goldman Sachs on the possible floatation, Sky News said on its website, adding that the bank had taken the idea of listing Channel 5 to Desmond in recent weeks. Media reports in January said Desmond had hired Barclays to look for buyers for the television network and was expecting to raise about £700 million (RM3.8 billion) through the sale. Sky News said Barclays' concurrent sale had drawn interest from more than 20 potential buyers, including Discovery Communications, Scripps Networks, Viacom and British Sky Broadcasting Group, the owner of Sky News. Citing banking sources, Sky News said seven parties remained in the auction last week. Channel 5, which broadcasts 'Big Brother', was bought by Desmond's Northern & Shell media group in 2010 for £103.5 million (RM564.7 million) and made a profit of £20.6 million (RM112.4 million) in the first half of 2013, up from a loss of £16.1 million (RM87.8 million) a year earlier. Representatives at Northern & Shell, British Sky Broadcasting, Discovery, Scripps and Viacom could not be reached for comment outside of regular business hours. — Reuters |
| Nikon to fix camera flaws cited by China state TV programme Posted: 16 Mar 2014 06:19 PM PDT
The Japanese camera maker would service its D600 digital cameras even after warranties expired, spokesman Ryota Satake said by phone, after China Central Television showed hidden-camera footage of customers demanding refunds and exchanges while local service staff blamed dust and smog for the spots. Nikon's alleged defects were highlighted in a broadcast on Saturday marking World Consumer Rights Day, an annual programme that has previously targeted companies including Apple Inc. and Volkswagen AG. The show also alleged that a business owned by Datang's Gohigh Data Networks Technology Co. helped plant software in mobile phones to collect private information. "I'm sure some of the big Western multinationals are breathing a collective sigh of relief that they weren't targeted," Torsten Stocker, partner at consulting firm A.T. Kearney, said by phone yesterday. The programme, which is watched closely by foreign companies and prompts some to prepare emergency responses plans, "didn't go for as spectacular or as big a target as in previous years", Stocker said. "Maybe they are just trying to show that they are looking at a broad range of companies, not just foreign companies." Class-action suit Shares of Nikon fell 3.5 per cent to ¥1,698 as of 9.04am in Tokyo, extending this year's decline to 15 per cent. The Nikkei newspaper reported on March 10 that US customers had raised a class-action lawsuit against Nikon claiming D600 defects. Satake said the manufacturer was aware of the D600 camera issue and "aims to offer the same standard service for customers all over the world". The company posted a statement on February 26 saying it would provide free service for the D600 after warranties run out, including cleaning and a free exchange of parts. The Chinese broadcast highlighted the statement as insufficient to address a recurring defect in the camera. Gohigh said in a statement on its website that a unit conducts mobile-application promotion services and that the company was "urgently verifying related details". Boosting protection State media increasingly plays a role in advocating on behalf of consumers as concern grows over China's food and drug safety. Milk tainted with melamine, a toxic chemical used to make plastic and tan leather, was blamed for the deaths of at least six babies in 2008, with tens of thousands of children hospitalised. The government last year investigated companies that paid doctors to drum up drug sales, and cracked down on crime rings selling adulterated meat. A tougher consumer protection law, which increases penalties for fraud and false advertising, took effect on Saturday. It stipulates that most products sold online, through TV marketing, by telephone and mail should be returnable within seven days without the need to provide a reason, the official Xinhua News Agency reported in October. Last year's CCTV "315 Gala" accused Apple of offering Chinese consumers warranties that weren't comparable to those available in other markets. The company was then lambasted by the People's Daily newspaper for arrogance and poor customer service. The SAIC followed by calling on local authorities to increase their supervision of clauses in Apple's warranty policies. Apple, Volkswagen Apple later changed its policy to offer full replacements of its iPhone 4 and 4S models and reset the warranty to one year. Previously, the company provided new parts and didn't extend the warranty. Apple's chief executive officer Tim Cook issued a public apology to Chinese consumers on April 2. Volkswagen, Europe's largest automaker, announced a vehicle recall after the show aired complaints from customers of abnormal vibrations, loss of power and sudden acceleration in models fitted with a direct-shift gearbox. Local companies have also been targeted. Anhui Jianghuai Automotive Co. recalled more than 100,000 vehicles after last year's programme alleged it sold cars with rusted chassis. The automaker's shares slumped 10 per cent, the most in more than four years, in Shanghai on the next trading day. — Bloomberg |
| Arsenal have stomach for title fight, says Wenger Posted: 16 Mar 2014 06:17 PM PDT
Wenger's side have often been accused of lacking the mental strength and physical power to survive the gruelling battle for supremacy at the top of the table. There has never been any questioning the Gunners' technical ability and that class was clear for all to see as Czech midfielder Tomas Rosicky took just 72 seconds to open the scoring at White Hart Lane yesterday with a sublime half-volley from an acute angle. But Wenger's players spent the remaining 88 minutes engaged in the kind of trench warfare from which they rarely seem to emerge unscathed. This time it was different. Arsenal centre-backs Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker subdued fired-up former Gunners striker Emmanuel Adebayor, while the rest of their team-mates threw themselves into the fray with abandon. "The two centre-backs were exceptional. I think they are one of the best partnerships in the country," Wenger said. "Today we had to be tough because Adebayor was sharp like he always is against us. We needed a good defensive performance and we got it from Mertesacker and Koscielny. "Mentally in the last three games against Everton, Bayern and Tottenham, we have had to be absolutely focused and that is where our defenders have done very well. They kept their focus for 90 minutes. "In the dressing room now you can see it means a lot. We had a disappointing result against Stoke and that was still in our minds. To stay in the race it was vital to win here." By the time the dust had settled on the 999th match of Wenger's Arsenal reign, the Gunners were firmly back in the title shake-up. They trail leaders Chelsea by just four points, with a game in hand, and a titanic showdown with Jose Mourinho's men looms at Stamford Bridge next weekend. And Wenger acknowledged Rosicky's brilliant strike had set the stage for one of the most important games of the season. "It will go in my collection of great goals, I told Tomas that," Wenger said. "It gets us a bit closer to Chelsea and makes the game next week even more interesting. "It is a four point gap and we have a game in hand. We will see what happens, but the next game is a very big one." While Arsenal have renewed hope of a first league title since 2004, fifth placed Tottenham were left to rue a lack of cutting edge as they suffered a third defeat at the hands of their hated neighbours this season. There were few dissenting voices when boss Tim Sherwood claimed his side deserved at least a point from a strong showing that saw them dominate possession and have 17 shots to Arsenal's seven. But Sherwood conceded their bid to qualify for the Champions League looks destined to end in failure. "I think it was difficult (to make the top four) anyway," he said. "I'm a winner, I want to win every match, but anyone who has seen this game knows we didn't deserve to lose. "This was always going to be a tough period for us but there's no crisis." Just three months after taking over from Andre Villas-Boas, Sherwood has had to endure mounting speculation that he could be replaced in the close-season. But he believes the club's chairman Daniel Levy needs to have more realistic expectations about Tottenham's ability to compete with the league's superpowers. "Liverpool are a great example. In Brendan Rodgers' first season they finished seventh, but look at them now, challenging for the title," Sherwood said. "It is a building process and requires patience. Whether that is something Tottenham want to do and whether they think I'm the person to rebuild it I don't know. "I'm always on trial. I knew that would be the case and it's a challenge I relish." — AFP |
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