Motorola makes Apple pull some iPhones in Germany

 

Apple Inc. says it has withdrawn several iPhone and iPad models from its Internet store in Germany because of a legal dispute with Motorola Mobility.

 

The move is in response to a ruling Motorola won against Ireland-based Apple Sales International Inc., from a court in Mannheim, Germany.

 

The court ruled that Apple should not be using Motorola s mobile technology in the devices without a license.

 

The dapd news agency reports that Apple withdrew the products but said that Motorola Mobility Inc. has refused to license the technology even though Motorola agreed it should be an industry standard.

 

The devices withdrawn are the iPhone 3G, the iPhone 3Gs and the iPhone4 and UMTS-capable iPads but not the iPhone 4S. The products are still available in bricks-and-mortar stores.

 

Motorola said in a statment that “we are pleased that the Mannheim court has recognized the importance of our intellectual property and granted an enforceable injunction in Germany against Apple Sales International.”
 

Toyota aims to sell 9.58m in 2012

 

Last week, Japan s largest carmaker said it sold 7.95 million units worldwide in 2011, down 6.0 percent, as it wrestled with a strong yen while its supply chains were disrupted by the country s March quake-tsunami disaster and record flooding in Thailand.

 

But in 2012, global sales of the Toyota brand alone are expected to reach 8.58 million units, with its mini-car unit Daihatsu expected to sell 850,000 vehicles and truckmaker Hino planning to sell 150,000.

 

Toyota had been the world s biggest carmaker since 2008, but its 2011 figure left US giant General Motors, on 9.03 million sales, in top spot, with Germany s Volkswagen in second place on 8.16 million vehicles.

 

Toyota spokeswoman Amiko Tomita said the firm had been hit by one-off natural disasters in 2011, adding that it could benefit from a new car subsidy in Japan.

 

“We aim to sell more in emerging countries, mainly China, India, Brazil, Thailand, Indonesia,” she said.

 

“In China, we hope to boost our sales by 10.0 percent. We are hoping to do better in the USA where the market is improving. Toyota plans to boost its sales by 16.0 percent.”
 

China retail sales hit $74 billion during holidays

 

China said retail sales surged 16.2 percent year on year to 470 billion yuan ($74 billion) during the week-long Lunar New Year holiday, as consumers splashed out on food, wine and clothes.

 

Hundreds of millions of people journey across the country during the holiday to celebrate with their families and consumer spending typically soars during the period.

 

The commerce ministry said sales of clothes, jewellery and food rose 18.7 percent, 16.4 percent and 16.2 percent respectively, according to a statement posted on its website Saturday, the last day of the holiday.

 

The number of passenger trips on trains, planes, boats and buses was expected to reach 3.2 billion during the peak travel period from January 8 to February 16, up 9.1 percent from last year.

 

Authorities warned snow and rain in parts of southern and southwestern China could disrupt road and rail links as millions of people returned to work in the major cities, the Global Times reported.

Kareena to launch ‘Bebo’ range of handbags

Just recently, Kareena Kapoor was appointed as the brand ambassador for Laive handbags. One thing that the company noticed is that since the leggy damsel was signed on, the sales picked up. In response to this sudden rise in sales, the company has decided to come up with a special edition of the bag.

The said special edition will be titled Bebo, after the actress’s nickname. Currently, the actress is in talks regarding the bag line. As there are multiple aspects that need to be considered like the selling and marketing as well as Kareena’s involvement including her remuneration. As for the clutches, they will be a high- end collection in gold, silver, beige and black and will bear her signature.

Way to go ‘Bebo’!

Zardari asks Nawaz to support RGST

Replying to a letter by PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif, President Asif Ali Zardari sought his support regarding the Reformed General Sales Tax (RGST) Bill.

Zardari stated that it was the PML-N senator Ishaq Dar who had agreed to impose the tax through 15 amendments sent to the National Assembly.

In a detailed reply, President Zardari said that the PML-N should come up with suggestions on how to deal with issues the country was facing at the moment. He said that the PML-Ns reservations with the accountability bill would also be addressed. The PML-N had insisted that the head of the accountability commission should be a sitting judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

The president also said that the government has nothing to do with petroleum prices as they were linked to the international market. He added that an elaborate business plan was being developed for national institutions, such as Pakistan Railways and Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), to make them more profitable.

The PML-N chief had earlier written a letter to the president, extending full support of his party if the government agreed to the PML-Ns agenda.

‘Munni’ Malaika shoots Zandu Balm commercial with Suriya and NTR Junior

Malaika Arora Khan made the whole nation swoon to her beats with ‘Munni Badnaam‘ earlier this year, so much so that it even boosted the sales of Zandu Balm. The actress in fact was even roped in by the makers of Zandu Balm for a special promotional campaign.

Malaika recently shot for the Zandu Balm commercial in 3 different languages namely Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. While the Hindi commercial features only Malaika, in the Tamil one, she would be seen alongside South superstar Suriya and in the Telugu one alongside NTR Junior.

Apparently, all the three commercials have been shot atop a train a-la ‘Chaiyyan Chaiyyan’ and have been choreographed by Prabhudeva.

Opposition is not anti-Govt, claims Gilani

I have not given the government in charity; the whole House gave me the vote of confidence, said Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday while addressing the federal cabinet.

Gilani said changes in the cabinet were unavoidable, adding that more decisions will be taken in order to ensure good governance.

The Premier maintained that the Opposition motions by the government The cabinet was also considering the governments strategy on the Reformed General Sales Tax (RGST).Referring to the sacked ministers’ issue, Gilani said that both the federal minister were dismissed for their mudslinging at each other in media.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Gilani sacked Religious Affairs Minist
er Hamid Saeed Kazmi who was under scrutiny over mismanagement in this years Haj arrangements, and Science and Technology Minister Mohammad Azam Khan Swati, who submitted a statement in the Supreme Court alleging Kazmi of corruption.

Car sale surges by 18pc

The demand of new cars in Pakistan showed 18 percent growth in November as compared to the last year.

According to JS research, the farmers income is also improving due to increase in prices of cotton, rice and others yields.

The report further says that purchasing power of the common man has also improved, which caused rise in car demand. The report shows the sales of used cars decreased in November as compared to October.

Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) Rejects RGST

Lahore, News Trends :- The Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) will not support the federal government on the issue of the Reformed General Sales Tax (RGST) and will not allow the government to increase the burden on the masses, party Chief Nawaz Sharif has said while
addressing a public gathering in Sheikhupura on 11th December. Nawaz Sharif took a right stand and suggested the Pakistan People’s Party-led government should focus on eliminating corruption instead of increasing taxes. He urged the need of a revolution needed to combat the troubles faced by the people, and to fight unemployment, poverty and injustice.

An IMF team is present in Islamabad to ensure implementation of tax reforms. The reforms in the general sales tax to be introduced through proposed General Sales Tax Act, 2010 would help achieve the desired target of documentation of economy and would remove exemptions available to various sectors. Some informal sectors are also to be brought under GST regime which is even more than formal sector. Documentation required through the proposed legislation would not only to document each and every transaction after import or local production at all levels but also to help document annual turn over of the businesses for determination of income tax liability of the registered entities.

There is no doubt the State is in dire need of increasing its tax revenues by broadening its tax base which has increasingly became distorted and narrow-based due to poor Government policies. But it is duty of the Government to keep the tax burden as low as possible and increasing the numbers of taxpayers simultaneously ensuring that taxes are applied equally and fairly to everyone. The government should rather reduce tax rates on income and business profits that help to sharpen incentives to work and create wealth in the economy as a strategy to enhance long-run growth. Tax base should be broadened by levying Direct taxes on “pay as you earn” basis instead of levying frequent indirect taxes like RGST which is highly inflationary and passed on by the suppliers to the final consumers, or highly taxing the people through escalation of prices of oil, electricity and gas etc. The overall taxes that a person pays can be reduced by proper planning and making appropriate adjustments; it should be governed by people’s ability to pay, that is, wealthier individuals or firms with greater incomes should pay more in tax while those with lower incomes should pay comparatively less and every sector of the economy should be taxed.

The current system of taxation is completely ineffective – which needs to be revolutionized by bringing more people in the tax-net. Corrupt, inept, dollar-hungers and downright cheesy characteristics sums up the personal attributes of the vast majority of Pakistani politicians and generally the closed club of Pakistan’s ruling elite, barring few gentle exceptions. They formulate the policies keeping in view their personal interests instead of that of the nation. Policies are modified even for one person or one class. Due to these reasons a good tax culture could not find roots in Pakistan. Only poor of the poorest and salaried class persons comes in the net of taxation and “elite club” is always exempted from all sorts of taxes. The MNAs, MPAs, Minister and other Government dignitaries who want taxes from the poor public, themselves do not pay taxes. Pakistan’s Taxation system is characterized by widespread tax evasion, and annual tax evasion by the “Elite Club” comprising politicians, military and civil bureaucracy, and some businessmen stands at around Rs.1000 billion. Just imagine many ministers – majority of whom are feudal lords with big land holdings – including Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani, paid taxes based only from their salaries as lawmakers, not from their private fortunes. There are even ministers who have paid less than 10,000 rupees (US$117 ) as their annual income tax. Due to a non-transparent process and weak accountability system, public sector expenditures are officially misused by the ruling elite, thereby, kickbacks and pilferage of revenue is in connivance with the public officials.

The state is responsible to provide basic fundamental rights and facilities but has totally failed to fulfill expectations of the poor people. People are more frustrated when they see the ruling elite’s social life and their living standards. If you go down in the markets or any other public places and listen to people’s views, you would wonder whether our politicians are in touch with their people or doing something for them. This is in sharp contrast to the common people. We should admit that non state actors, militants and extremists have again consolidated their positions due to the government’s poor policies. This is perhaps the last chance for our ruling elite to mend their ways and restructure their policies and politics in line with the people’s expectations. To impose a Reformed General Sales Tax on an already highly impoverished society is not the answer, especially since this is more likely to worsen an already untenable situation as legions of micro-businesses react to the new tax by shifting to the informal sector. The correct response is to strengthen direct taxation, especially on the wealthy land-owning elites who dominate Pakistan’s quasi-feudal society. Introducing land value taxation and strengthening tax compliance among rich people and companies should be the medium term priorities. They should keep in mind; only a surfer knows the feeling.

In the end, I would humbly request my brothers and sisters countrymen for God sake; your vote is your voice and there is more power in it then in most things you do. It is a lost pleasure, the power of that voice. Use it. It should make no difference if that one comment does not carry the decisive power, but it will resound in Pakistan. Raise your voice for an independent judiciary; rule of law and social justice, rake over coals the renegades and traitors. Choose your brave and honest heroes out of your own rows, salute them, and help them help you! Due to our constant wrong use of vote or avoiding its use, corrupt politicians have created the issue of survival of Pakistan and Pakistani society. On the one hand people are committing suicides due to starvations and financial hardships and on the other hand assets of a few politicians, bureaucrats, and some businessmen are expanding with each past day. Stand for your rights and social justice from today. God will help us, Inshallah.

Govt. to face tough time on RGST, says Nisar

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, the opposition leader in the National Assembly (NA), claimed on Wednesday that the government would have tough time on the issue of Reformed General Sales Tax (RGST) in the NA.

While talking to the journalists here, he said that the government took dictation from abroad, adding that the RGST is being imposed ignoring the facts.

He said that the ruling party, Pakistan People’s Party, bans those party leaders who speak the truth. Trend Pk

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