AT&T Inc said on Saturday it agreed to buy Time Warner Inc for $85.4 billion, the boldest move yet by a telecommunications company to acquire content to stream over its network to attract a growing number of online viewers. The biggest deal in the world this year will, if approved by regulators, give AT&T control of cable TV channels HBO and CNN, film studio Warner Bros and other coveted media assets. The tie-up will likely face intense scrutiny by U.S. antitrust enforcers worried that AT&T might try to limit distribution of Time Warner material. AT&T will pay $107.50 per Time Warner share, half in cash and half in stock, worth $85.4 billion overall, according to a company statement. AT&T said it expected to close the deal by the end of 2017. Dallas-based AT&T said the U.S. Department of Justice would review the deal and that the companies were determining which Federal Communications Commission licenses, if any, would be transferred to AT&T in the deal. … [Read more...] about AT&T to buy Time Warner for $85 bln, create telecom-media giant
Telecom operators in india
Expose of labor abuse brews trouble for ‘slave-free’ Indian tea
Some Indian tea plantations stamped slavery-free are abusing and underpaying their workers, according to new data that experts said could erode consumer trust in ethically-sourced products. A study from Britain's Sheffield University, revealed exclusively by the Thomson Reuters Foundation on Thursday, showed certification schemes by groups such as Fairtrade and Rainforest Alliance are failing to stop labor exploitation. The report found little difference in the conditions of about 600 tea workers surveyed on certified and non-certified farms in Assam and Kerala, India's major tea producing regions. All lived below the poverty line and workers on certified farms were often treated worse, facing beatings and sexual violence and having wages and benefits withheld, the study said. The tea industry in India, the world's second-largest producer that employs 3.5 million workers, has faced accusations of abusive conditions before but this is the one of the first studies into the certified … [Read more...] about Expose of labor abuse brews trouble for ‘slave-free’ Indian tea
Air quality of HCMC, Hanoi reaches alarming levels
Environment Air quality of HCMC, Hanoi reaches alarming levels The Saigon Times Daily Wednesday, Dec 11, 2019,19:26 (GMT+7) Air quality of HCMC, Hanoi reaches alarming levelsThe Saigon Times Daily Motorcyclists wear face masks and eyeglasses when traveling on a street. The air quality index in HCMC and Hanoi City reached extremely unhealthy levels at 8.30 on December 11 – PHOTO: TNO HCMC – The air quality index (AQI) in HCMC and Hanoi City reached extremely unhealthy levels at 8:30 a.m. today, December 11, according to air quality monitoring app AirVisual. The AQI in HCMC was recorded at 178, while that of Hanoi amounted to 186, with both constituting red warnings, Thanh Nien newspaper reported. At 10 a.m., the index in HCMC climbed to 183, while Hanoi City’s index was at 196, nearing purple levels. According to the AQI ranking by AirVisual, Hanoi and HCMC were named among the world’s … [Read more...] about Air quality of HCMC, Hanoi reaches alarming levels
Commercial banks discuss M&As – again
The shareholders’ meetings of HDBank and PGBank were both organized on April 21. All of PGBank’s shareholders agreed on a plan to merge PGBank and HDBank, while 94.3% of shareholders agreed to do so for HDBank. The merger of two banks will start soon, with share conversion in July and the merger wrapped up in August. The schedule was a surprise to the finance community. Just days before, on March 29, when asked about the bank’s M&A plan, CEO of MBBank Luu Trung Thai said MBBank was still considering banks for the plan, including PGBank. Now, as PGBank has decided to merge with HDBank, MBBank will have to look for another partner. At the 2018 shareholders’ meeting, LienViet Post Bank stated it was considering raising charter capital, restructuring shareholders, completing an M&A, and restructuring credit institutions as requested by the State Bank. Duong Cong Minh, former chair of LienViet Post Bank, is now chair of Sacombank. Nguyen Van Huynh, who … [Read more...] about Commercial banks discuss M&As – again
Government approves Tuyen Quang-Phu Tho expressway project
The map shows the Tuyen Quang-Phu Tho Expressway (blue line). The expressway will be built after three years of delay (Photo: vnexpress.net) Hanoi (VNA) - The Government has approved the construction of an expressway connecting the northern provinces of Tuyen Quang and Phu Tho under the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) format after three years of delays. The expressway with 40.2km long, including 11km of road will be built in Tuyen Quang province and the rest in Phu Tho province. It will start in Tuyen Quang province's Tuyen Quang city and end at Phu Tho province's Phu Tho township. The expressway will link with the Noi Bai-Lao Cai Expressway. The four-lane road is designed with the speed of 80kph. The project is implemented under the public-private partnership model with a total investment of more than 3.2 trillion VND (138 million USD). It is expected to meet the increasing transport demand and reduce traffic congestion on the National Highway No. 2, shorten travelling time between … [Read more...] about Government approves Tuyen Quang-Phu Tho expressway project