I had the great pleasure of interviewing David Cook, the Communications Director for Cisco, Asia Pacific, Japan and Greater China, this week. Responsible for communications across a very complex and diverse region, David had some terrific insight toward internal communications as a skill in its own right, and he talked about how authenticity, honesty, and sincerity are vital for success within this core business function.
The South Korean robotics industry experienced record growth last year in output, sales and exports, as increased investments in manufacturing facilities raised productivity levels and technical expertise for 395 firms surveyed by the Korea Association of Robot Industry.
According to the survey, combined sales for the 395 firms nearly doubled to 1.93 trillion won in 2010 (US$1.827 billion) from 2009 to 2010.Total production volume and exports also shot up by 75 percent and 137 percent to around 1.78 trillion won and 229 billion won, respectively.
A year and a half has passed since a devastating earthquake killed more than 300,000 Haitians and left a million more homeless. Today, between 300,000 to 650,000 Haitians remain stuck in temporary camps across the country as a housing crisis threatens to leave more than 94 percent of households in rural areas in debt while a further 80 percent of households living below the poverty line will be caught in the debt cycle as well.
Cisco Systems Inc. revealed plans to shed about 9% of its staff in a bid to trim its operating costs and improve the company’s profitability.
The networking equipment maker said the impending cuts will save the company about $1.3 billion in restruturing charges over several quarters. Some 2,100 employees will be leaving the company on a voluntary early-retirement programme, while the remaining 4,400 employees would be laid off.
Wynn Resorts Inc. CEO Steve Wynn launched into an astonishing rant on US President Barack Obama and the White House administration on Monday, while fielding questions at a conference call meeting with investors on his company’s quarterly earnings.
Describing the current administration as “the greatest wet blanket to business, progress and job creation in my (his) lifetime,” Wynn proceeded to blame the administration for hampering business confidence in Las Vegas, particularly that of his own personal ambitions for expansion.
Rupert Murdoch was attacked during a parliamentary hearing on Tuesday by an angry protestor – with a pie. The CEO was called a “greedy billionaire” by the 26 year old man who tossed a shaving cream pie at the CEO of News Corporation.
Murdoch appeared stunned but unharmed.
In a report from CNN;
Murdoch’s wife, Wendi Deng, who was seated behind him, leapt to her feet and smashed the attacker’s hand with her own.
What does it take to become a millionaire?
The funny thing is; sometimes in life, you don’t have to be clever to be rich. Throughout history, the biggest brains, inventors and entrepreneurs lived as paupers. While the simplest of folkes struck it rich with ideas a 5 year-old could have come up with. I guess that’s what they call “dumb luck”.
Here are the 10 weirdest million dollar ideas:
1. Ashleymadison.com: A dating website for people to have an affair
China may be the world’s largest auto market; but despite its rapid growth in the past two year, the country still lags behind Germany, Japan and the United States in terms of technology, development environment, innovation and talents, according to Fu Yuwu, vice chairman with the Society of Automotive Engineers of China.
Speaking at the eighth China Changchun International Auto Expo, Fu identified the lack of talent in China as the main roadblock for the continued advancement of the country’s auto industry.
The National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD) became the first Middle Eastern financial institution to issue a Samurai bond last week when it sold 10 billion yen (US$127 million) of 15-year bonds – with a fixed coupon rate of 2.6 percent.
In a press statement, NBAD said that its issuance of the Samurai bond was part of its strategy to diversify its funding sources while extending its liability profile.
Hundreds of petrol stations across South Africa are running dry as fuel strikes enter into its second week with little to no end in sight.
The strikes began last Monday when tens of thousands of workers in the petroleum, chemical and pharmaceutical industries stopped working, demanding a 13 percent wage increase –more than the 4 to 7 percent offered by employers.
