International Business Times

The Internet Is Killing Bookstores -- In China Too

s.song — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 16:01:52 +0000

In China, as in the rest of the world, increasing numbers of people are purchasing books online or in e-book format for their handheld devices. Many bookstores have become vestigial attachments to cafes and fast-food restaurants, and the physical spaces of Internet booksellers such as Amazon China, Dangdang.com and used-book retailer kongfz.com tend to be wedged into corners.

As E-commerce Slows Down, China's Alibaba Rolls Out A Mobile Local App

s.song — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 20:18:38 +0000

Alibaba, the parent company of the enormously popular Taobao (the Chinese equivalent of eBay), underwent a major restructuring this January. Alibaba has also revealed its plans for growth in the future. Specifically, moving forward, the company hopes to replicate its success with Taobao in the mobile lifestyle sector.

This June, Alibaba (PINK:ALBIY) plans to roll out a “revolutionary, industry-changing local lifestyle product”, Alibaba Vice President, Director of Development and of local lifestyle Zhang Jianfeng said.

Arsenic Found In Beer: German Researchers Reveal Study That Found Arsenic In Hundreds Of Samples Of Beer

Cvand003 — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 15:46:46 +0000

German researchers report that they've found arsenic in hundreds of samples of beer, some at levels more than twice of what's allowed in drinking water.

Details of the research, which was discussed Sunday in New Orleans at the 245th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society, revealed that the filtering process of beer in Germany is responsible for the slightly elevated levels of arsenic that was discovered.

China's H7N9 Bird Flu Outbreak Prompts Shanghai McDonald's To Slash Chicken McNugget Prices

Cvand003 — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 13:07:26 +0000

McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) is slashing chicken McNugget prices at its Shanghai, China, restaurants amid rising concerns that the bird flu outbreak may have compromised the safety of the city's poultry market.

While the fast-food chain had previously sold a McNugget meal for 36 yuan ($5.80), the popular meal is now selling for 20 yuan ($3.22), nearly half its original price.

Proposed ‘COOL’ Rule That Would Say Where US Grocery Meat Was Slaughtered Has Canada And Mexico Exporters Seething

Angelo.Young — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 19:17:48 +0000

Walk into a typical U.S. grocery store today and you can often choose to buy an avocado grown in Mexico, or Chile or California, thanks to decade-old food labeling rules that for the first time in the U.S. required countries of origin to be displayed on many agricultural products.

KFC Announces Original Recipe Boneless Chicken With 'I Ate The Bones' Ad Campaign [VIDEO]

Cvand003 — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 16:40:49 +0000

A $3,700 iPhone? A $10 Starbucks Latte? Annual Survey Breaks Down The Cost Of Things Worldwide [GRAPHIC]

Angelo.Young — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 17:40:52 +0000

Where in the world does an iPhone cost $3,700? Where can you find a $2 pack of Marlboro cigarettes? How about a $10 Starbucks latte grande? Five-star hotel accommodations for $100 a night? Answers: Russia for the iPhone, South Africa for the Marlboro smokes, Oslo for the Starbucks latte and Mexico City for the fancy hotel suite.

Is Scope Bacon Mouthwash Real? Viral Video Not Just An April Fools' Day Prank

casac8 — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 17:01:18 +0000

Scope Bacon mouthwash. It's not a combination of words that most people ever expected -- or wanted -- to read.

But it appears that it may be one of the newest dental hygiene to hit the market, if a new viral video and online marketing campaign by the breath-freshening company is to be believed.

Panasonic Won't Trade On NYSE After July, Japan-Based Electronics Maker Proceeds With $2.7 Billion Restructuring, No Layoffs Disclosed

msingleton — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 18:13:50 +0000

Consumer electronics giant Panasonic Corporation (NYSE: PC) said Thursday it will pull its equities from the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE:NYX) as it proceeds with a $2.7 billion restructuring that aims to reverse years of losing market share to Chinese and South Korean rivals.

The Japan-based company said it will apply to voluntarily delist its American Depositary Shares from the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE:NYX) and terminate the registration of those ADRs with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Panera Pay-What-You-Want Experiment: What Panera Bread Locations Are Offering The Pay-What-You-Want Promotion?

Rebecka Schumann — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 18:56:01 +0000

Imagine enjoying one of Panera’s famous bread bowl soups for only a fraction of the price—that dream is now a reality for St. Louis residents whose Panera Bread Café locations are offering the company's pay-what-you-want promotion, the AP reported Wednesday.

The St. Louis-based chain began its “Meals of Shared Responsibility” experiment in 48 locations this week, letting customers pay as much or as little as they’d like for their meal.