Washingtonpost-insider November 08

View on the Web. Tuesday, November 19, 2013 The Switch is your daily technology and tech policy newsletter. You may have opted-in to the newsletter under its former name, Tech News Daily. To change your newsletter preferences, click here. Xbox One: What to know about Microsoft’s new console Microsoft is set to release its next-generation console, the Xbox One, on Friday — just a week after the PlayStation 4 hit store shelves. The Xbox is $100 more than Sony’s new console: $499, likely because of the included Kinect, vs. $399. And it will have to have a good first day of sales to outdo the PlayStation’s early numbers — 1 million units of the PlayStation 4 were sold in its first 24 hours, Sony reported. Read full article >> Sony: ‘Blue Light of Death,’ other issues affect fewer than 1 percent of consoles Sony said Tuesday that reported problems with the PlayStation 4 are affecting fewer than 1 percent of the customers who have picked up the console since its launch last week. News about the problems have cropped up on social networks and in news articles ever since the launch. But company spokesman Dan Race said in a statement that while Sony is working to troubleshoot a number of small issues with the console, it hasn’t received any indication that there is a single, widespread problem plaguing the device’s launch. Read full article >> Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer conducts his final shareholders meeting Steve Ballmer wrapped up another duty as he heads closer to the end of his 13 years as Microsoft’s chief executive: his final annual shareholder’s meeting. While much of the meeting was focused on the new products that Microsoft is planning, including the Xbox One, top executives from the firm took the time to acknowledge Ballmer’s tenure. The executive said in August that he would step down from the company within 12 months. Read full article >> The Switch: 12 questions you were too embarrassed to ask about Bitcoin This has been a big week for Bitcoin. On Monday, the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs held the first-ever Congressional hearing on Bitcoin. Later in the day, the currency's value reached an all-time high of more than $800. Read full article >> Innovations: In the battle for smartphone supremacy, size doesn’t matter. Shape does. Seemingly out of nowhere, shape -- not screen size or color -- has emerged as the new battleground in the smartphone wars. In October, Samsung unveiled the first-ever “curved display” smartphone (the Galaxy Round) and in November, LG followed with another curved display phone that also happened to be flexible (the G Flex). And now come rumors that Apple is bringing two new curved iPhones to market sometime late next year. It’s now all about shape, as companies begin to develop and deliver phones that are “curved,” “round,” “flexible,” and even “bended.” Read full article >> Computer giant Lenovo plays down China roots Computer giant Lenovo wants to tweak its image. That means emphasizing its global reach as the largest maker of personal computers and de-emphasizing its main roots in China — where it has 35,000 employees. Read full article >> Featured Comics Read Dilbert View other Comics

Asia in wallstreet journal November 06

• Arrest Is New Twist in Chinese Corporate Rivalry
• Thai Senate Is Set to Reject Thaksin Amnesty
• Asia Consumption Story Turns Pricey

China's Rising Risks

• 

China's Rising Risks

The Wall Street Journal takes a look at the Chinese financial system where debt has surged and cracks are beginning to show.

• Part 1: Banks Feel Strains After Credit Binge
• Part 2: Banks, Bonds Joined at the Hip
• Part 3: Banks Work Around Lending Limits
• Part 4: The Rock Star of Chinese Debt Analysis
• Part 5: Debt Drags on Growth
• Part 6:In China, a Big Bet on Smaller Borrowers
• Part 7:China's Credit Levels Echo U.S. Crisis

China Real Time

• China's Top for Expats (When You Don't Count the Pollution)

China is a great place for expatriates - if you don't ask about the air.

• Blasts in Shanxi Kill at Least One
• Arrest Is New Twist in Rivalry
• See All

India Real Time

• The Best of WSJ's Tendulkar Coverage

The best of our recent coverage on Indian sporting legend Sachin Tendulkar, starting with that historic 2011 Cricket World Cup.

• Photos: India's Mars Mission
• Gandhi's Spinning Wheel Sells for £110,000
• See All

RSS Feed

Japan Real Time

• Fukushima Watch: Japan Nuclear Facility Cited for Security Failures

While Japan's nuclear watchdog has been trying to promote “a culture of safety” for the industry ever since the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant accident, a new issue has been raised at the Monju fast-breeder reactor complex. Namely, a failure to adhere to proper security in order to prevent any theft of nuclear materials such as plutonium.

• Mrs. Watanabe Goes on JGB Shopping Spree
• BOJ Minutes Show Ripples of Fed U-Turn on QE
• See All

RSS Feed

Korea Real Time

• Intelligence from North Korean Defectors Declines

Intelligence gathered from North Korean defectors-a key source of information about the North-has deteriorated in recent years, according to an official South Korean government report.

• As It Happened: Samsung's Analyst Day
• South Korean Businesses Quit Kaesong
• See All

RSS Feed

Southeast Asia Real Time

• Philippines Braces for Super Typhoon

Philippine disaster officials have hoisted the highest warning alert level over a "super typhoon" that could directly hit the central part of the Southeast Asian country on Friday.

• Vietnam’s Nuclear Energy Plan Likely Part of Russia Talks
• Hackers Strike Philippines, but Singapore Threats Appear to Fizzle
• See All

RSS Feed

News by Country and Region

News from the Wall Street Journal and Dow Jones Newswires

Top of Form

Bottom of Form

Asia News

• Samsung Joins the 1%

Samsung Electronics promised to boost its dividend yield to 1%, but investors still aren't satisfied.

• 

Smithfield Owner Shuanghui Plans $5 Billion IPO

China's biggest pork producer, Shuanghui International, is following up its acquisition of Smithfield Foods with a planned US$5 billion listing in Hong Kong, one of the biggest in the city in recent years.

• Myanmar Says Beer Spat With Partner Purely Commercial

A Myanmar military-controlled conglomerate said its tussle with its Singaporean partner over a beer joint venture is a purely commercial dispute, rejecting recent media depictions of the matter as a test of Myanmar's investment laws.

• Weaker Yen Supports Tokyo Shares

Asian stock markets were mixed Wednesday with Bank of Chongqing struggling in its debut in Hong Kong, while a weaker yen supported shares in Tokyo. The Nikkei rose 0.8%.

• 

One Killed in China's Shanxi Province Blast

Several explosions authorities believe were caused by homemade bombs left at least one person dead and eight others injured outside a provincial headquarters for the Communist Party in northern China.

• State Bank of India Raises Lending Rates

State Bank of India, the country's largest lender by assets, has increased the interest rates it charges on floating-rate loans.

• 

Samsung Lifts Dividend

Samsung will target a dividend yield of about 1% for 2013 and says the company will put more emphasis on shareholder return.

• Recap: Live Blog
• Heard: Samsung's Dividend Yield Isn't Enough
• Indonesia Growth Rate Slows

Southeast Asia's largest economy saw the slowest growth in nearly four years, with GDP expanding 5.62% in the third quarter.

• Perth Mint Mulls Expansion

Factory presses at Australia's The Perth Mint have been running round-the-clock as a steadying of precious-metal prices kindles demand from mom-and-pop investors globally.

• 

Weaker Yen, U.S. Sales Drive Toyota

Net profit at the world's largest auto maker surges in latest quarter, fueled by a weaker yen and strong U.S. sales

• World Watch

World Watch

• ADM Moves to Damp GrainCorp Bid Opposition

Agribusiness company Archer Daniels Midland's grains head Ian Pinner says Australian farmers would benefit from wider access to foreign markets if the 2.9 billion dollar acquisition of GrainCorp Ltd. is approved.

• 

Banks Woo Investors Down Under

Australia's big lenders have delivered stronger earnings and maintained enviable credit ratings despite several years of weak credit growth. Commonwealth Bank is the latest to impress investors.

• Huishang Bank IPO Raises $1.19 Billion

The Chinese lender priced its shares near the lower end of the range in its Hong Kong initial public offering, while Bank of Chongqing shares fell in their trading debut, amid concerns about bad loans on the mainland.

• 

Li Ka-shing Eyes Fortum

The Hong Kong billionaire is scouting European utility assets again, eyeing Nordic company Fortum's electricity distribution business in Finland, which could be worth more than $2 billion

Madarsa Board Rajasthan Para Teachers Result 2013-District wise-Merrit list

Madarsa Board Rajasthan Para Teachers Result 2013-District wise-Merrit list

Madarsa Board Rajasthan Para Teachers Result 2013 Results have been declared and the  district wise lists are posted on the Official website of Rajasthan Madarsa Board. Final list may be out after the counseling and verification of documents and antecedents of the candidates.	Alwar	First Counseling List	Second Counseling List
Madarsa Board Rajasthan Para Teachers Result 2013	Baran	First Counseling List	Second Counseling List
Results have been declared and the  district wise lists are posted on the Official website of Rajasthan Madarsa Board. Final list may be out after the counseling and verification of documents and antecedents of the candidates.	Banswara	First Counseling List	Second Counseling List
Madarsa Board Rajasthan Para Teachers Result 2013	Ajmer	First Counseling List	Second Counseling List
Results have been declared and the  district wise lists are posted on the Official website of Rajasthan Madarsa Board. Final list may be out after the counseling and verification of documents and antecedents of the candidates.