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China urges tough atomic watchdog
China has urged the UN's nuclear watchdog to help developing nations to build safer power stations. Analysts believe China wants to ramp up its exports of nuclear technology. China is the world's biggest builder of power stations, and officials have hinted that they would like to expand their building plans overseas.
China refuses to commit to EFSF
China has said it cannot commit to investing in the EFSF - European Financial Stability Fund until the situation with Greece has been clarified. European leaders hoped that China would buy EFSF bonds, injecting capital in the region's financial markets.
FDA officials in China to plug new food safety law
The new U.S. food safety law will require foreign growers and manufacturers to prove their products are safe before they're shipped to the United States. Food and Drug Administration officials went to China to explain what that country's problem-plagued food system will have to do to measure up.
Over deliver and become valuable
by Chris Crossland
So here we are in an environment of economic uncertainty and the question is who is going to survive. It is my opinion, that it is those individuals and businesses that become valuable to their customers that will continue to flourish and develop.
One of the best ways to do this is to have an understanding of how you or your business is perceived by your customers or clients, and to nurture that perception.
It is not enough just to do the task at hand, and then invoice the customer. Doing enough is not enough anymore, because others do more and are constantly raising customer expectations. Just giving "good value" is not going to be enough anymore.
Now the old fashioned mindset of doing more for less is something, which causes great distress. The problem here is that significant number of low quality business owners still operate on the basis of short changing customers and delight in ripping them off, rather than providing customers with outstanding customer service.
Thankfully as this recession bites even harder these organizations will crumble and disappear. The main reason is that there are many, many new companies who go the extra mile at every level of the organization and make customers feel really special.
The moment your customer needs you and wants to work with you to develop new opportunities is the moment you have actually succeeded and have become valuable.
It is not enough just to fulfill an order at the right time at the right price. It is not enough to do just enough. This is the time we have to go the extra mile to provide that extra service -- do something extra within the cost model that ensures your customers really recognize you as a valued supplier.
This can easily be achieved by building flexibility into the cost structure. I recommend that within the pricing structure a small percentage is included that enables your business to go the extra mile without having to be constantly concerned about the cost implications.
I recommend that this small percentage is then used on a regular basis in such away that the customer feels that they are special, and that you really value their business.
Having in the past used this technique with clients' pricing strategy, it was possible on a regular basis to provide senior sales staff with the ability to allocate cash to a particular client's specific interests. This was highly regulated but worked exceptionally well. During a business relationship, clients would identify charitable interests that were important to them, and it was then possible to show support throughout the year. The beauty of this pricing strategy was that these amounts were built in from the outset. The joy was that the pricing strategy included this so in effect the clients were getting back something that was built into the price structure anyway.
The effect was to reinforce the relationship and change the perception of the supplier -- they had become valued partners.
This is just one example of how you can consider ways of becoming more than just a supplier, and shows how the correct pricing structure can help deliver to the customer more than just the service or product they are paying for.
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© Trey Ryder
FREE LAWYER MARKETING ALERT: If you'd like to receive Trey Ryder's weekly Lawyer Marketing Alert, send an e-mail to [email protected]. Write "Subscribe LMA" in the subject line and write your name and e-mail address in the body of the message.
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Federal judge allows Sprint antitrust suit against AT&T, T-Mobile merger
A judge for the US District Court for the District of Columbia on Wednesday denied a motion to dismiss a suit by Sprint to block the merger of AT&T and T-Mobile USA. AT&T and T-Mobile argued that Sprint failed to properly allege that the merger would cause it "antitrust injury," thus it lacked standing to challenge the merger under 15 USC § 16. However, Judge Ellen Huvelle held that Sprint had stated a plausible claim that the merger would cause it injury in the market for acquiring mobile devices.
Solyndra subpoena for White House
US lawmakers vote to subpoena the White House over an investigation into failed solar-panel maker Solyndra. The energy department approved a $528m loan in 2010 to Solyndra, which later closed, laying off 1,100 workers. Republicans say the White House has repeatedly denied or delayed requests for thousands of documents relating to the loan.
Attack on French satirical paper
A petrol bomb guts the offices of French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, after it named the Prophet Muhammad as "editor-in-chief" for its next issue.
Occupy Wall Street arrestees reject deals, say they will fight charges
Most of the protesters arrested last month during a march on Union Square rejected deals to dismiss the charges against them, choosing instead to take their cases to trial.
Russia and China come bottom of bribe-paying survey
Companies from Russia and China are most likely to pay bribes when doing business abroad, a survey suggests. The two scored worst out of 28 countries in a poll of 3,000 business executives conducted by anti-corruption group Transparency International (TI). The Netherlands and Switzerland came top, while the UK ranked eighth, just ahead of the US and France. Bribery was reportedly most common to win public sector works and construction contracts.
Argentina tightens dollar exchange controls
Argentine government has imposed new restrictions on the purchase of US dollars, in an attempt to reduce capital flight and tax evasion. People wanting to exchange Argentine pesos for dollars must now explain where they got the money, and show they have paid their taxes. Billions of dollars worth of capital have been flowing out of the country as wealthy Argentines seek to protect their money from inflation and a possible devaluation of the peso. The government says the annual rate is around 10% but some independent experts put it as high as 25%.
Crack cocaine case review may free inmates
Many inmates could be released or see their sentences sharply reduced as judges review crack cases starting Tuesday. Congress voted last year to ease sentencing guidelines for crack cocaine. But a decision last summer to revisit old cases sparked new controversy.
BP agrees to pay Texas $50m for pollution
With the agreement, BP clears another hurdle in the way of its plan to sell the 406,540 barrel-per-day refinery, which accounts for 2.2 percent of U.S. capacity.
UN agencies sign agreement to combat human trafficking
The UN agencies dealing with fighting crime and aiding refugees signed a joint agreement on Tuesday to work more closely to combat migrant smuggling and human trafficking. The memorandum, signed by Yury Fedotov, the executive director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and Antonio Guterres, the UNHCR - UN High Commissioner for Refugees pledged to coordinate the two agencies' resources to better target criminals involved in human trafficking. Speaking at the memorandum signing in New York, Fedotov praised the agreement.
Kirin buys Brazil's Schincariol in record deal
Kirin Holdings Co. agreed to buy out shareholders in Brazilian beer maker Schincariol Participacoes e Representacoes, completing its biggest acquisition as it seeks growth in emerging markets. Japan's largest brewer will pay 2.35 billion reais ($1.35 billion) for the 49.54 percent stake, giving it control of all outstanding shares, the company said.
Expert calls for increased efforts to combat Somalia piracy
Pirates off the Somalia coast have increased their area of operation and use of violence despite unprecedented efforts to reduce piracy, a UN official said Monday. Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Taye-Brook Zerihoun told the UN Security Council that in order to successfully combat piracy, member states must increase security and legal action against pirates and provide further support to the Somalian economy. Zerihoun stated that although recent efforts in the international community have reduced the instances of piracy in the East African region, many nations have failed to prosecute accused pirates. He suggested that Somalia needed support for its own maritime law enforcement.
Can Groupon's I.P.O. be saved?
Two accounting professors argue that Groupon should postpone its initial public offering, scheduled for later this week, until it gets its financial reporting in better order. Is Groupon's "business model" really is anything more than a half-baked plan? While Andrew Mason, Groupon’s chief executive, makes a compelling argument for how the company delivers customer and merchant value, he is less convincing as to how Groupon will deliver value at an appropriate cost, and actually make money. Groupon's latest prospectus, filed on Tuesday, shows negative shareholder equity and negative working capital. The rush to the capital markets raises many questions. First and foremost, why are Groupon investors in such a hurry to cash out? What's the rush? Is there something lurking behind the scenes of which we are unaware? Why not wait until the markets stabilize and the company gets its financial reporting house in order? If all is well and the company has a viable long-term model, doesn't it make sense to wait until the market can better value the company?
Supreme Court hears arguments on ineffective assistance of counsel
The US Supreme Court heard oral arguments Monday in two cases regarding ineffective assistance of counsel. In both cases, the court is being asked to determine how poor legal advice from attorneys to clients regarding plea bargaining should impact subsequent guilty verdicts. In Lafler v. Cooper, respondent Anthony Cooper was convicted of assault with intent to murder for shooting a woman in her thigh and buttocks after his attorney advised him to not take a plea offer in the belief that there could be no finding of the requisite intent. The US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit held that the attorney's advice was unconstitutional as it amounted to ineffective assistance of counsel. One of the points argued by the state was "that when asserting an ineffective assistance claim, a defendant must show deprivation of a substantive or procedural right, and this Court has already held that a defendant has no right to a plea bargain."
Most of the $19.9bn Madoff case vs JPMorgan gets tossed
The decision by Judge Colleen McMahon is one of the largest setbacks for the trustee, Irving Picard, who has spent nearly three years liquidating Bernard Madoff's assets.
ICTY sentences Seselj to 18 months for contempt of court
The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia on Monday convicted former Serb nationalist and war crimes suspect Vojislav Seselj of contempt and sentenced him to 18 months in prison for revealing the names of protected witnesses in a book he authored. The tribunal filed an indictment against Seselj in February 2010 for disclosing the names, occupations and places of residence of 11 protected witnesses in violation of the tribunal's order.
Visa, MasterCard seek fee suit dismissal over payment issue
Visa Inc. and MasterCard Inc., the world's biggest payment networks, will try to persuade a federal judge to dismiss multibillion-dollar lawsuits accusing them of price fixing because the merchants suing don't directly pay the fees at issue.
In Corzine comeback, big risks and steep fall
The collapse of MF Global, and the discovery that hundreds of millions of dollars were missing from the firm's customer accounts, have cast a dark cloud over Jon S. Corzine's legacy and reputation. When Corzine joined MF Global last year it seemed like a strange choice — the firm had none of the glamour, let alone the profits or footprint of Goldman Sachs, the bank he ran during the 1990s. On Wall Street, it was as if a manager of the New York Yankees was making a comeback in the minor leagues. Corzine not only presided over Goldman but later served in the United States Senate and then as governor of New Jersey.
Google acts on 'pedophile' claim
A business owner accused in a Google review of being a pedophile and a thief. Toni Bennett said he had planned legal action to force Google to delete the false posting after the firm said it did not qualify for removal. The message was placed on Google's Places review service 18 months ago. The move comes amid calls on the internet giant to address the rapidly growing problem of fake online reviews. Google said that it did not comment on individual cases. "We have rules against things like hate speech or impersonation, but we're not in a position to arbitrate disputes," a company statement said. "However, we've built a free system that allows business owners to claim their listing, which means that they can then respond to reviews and share their side of the story." Google later removed the posting.
US: Russia, China top cyber spies
China and Russia are the most active perpetrators of economic cyber-espionage against US companies, a US intelligence report says. The report specifically cited Chinese "actors" and Russian intelligence as the top culprits. Online spying is seen as "a quiet menace to the economy".
Women urged to put their stamp on Arab Spring
Asharq Al-Awsat, Pan-Arab daily, London, England
AL chief met Syria opposition group
Egyptian Gazette, English-language, Cairo, Egypt
Ultra-Orthodox spitting attacks on Old City clergymen becoming daily
Haaretz, Liberal daily, Tel Aviv, Israel
Crackdown in Syria persists after Arab League initiative
JPost, Conservative, Jerusalem, Israel
Greek PM faces new call to resign
BBC News, Centrist newscaster, London, England
Under fire, Greek PM calls for unity
CNN International, London, England
Tensions rise ahead of Egypt vote
Daily Express, Conservative tabloid, London, England
Dwarfism: Seven-year-old girl with rare form weighs the same as an 18 month toddler
Daily Mail, Conservative daily, London, England
Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner at Twilight hand and foot print ceremony
Daily Mail, Conservative daily, London, England
Papandreou could drop Greek bailout referendum
EuroNews, International news, Ecully Cedex, France
G20 CANNES SUMMIT: G20 leaders struggle to overcome euro crisis
France 24, Issy-les-Moulineaux, France
Protesters shut Oakland port
Hurriyet Daily News, (Liberal, English-language), Istanbul, Turkey
Settle euro crisis, urges Barack Obama
Independent The, London, England
Georgia lets Russia into WTO
Moscow News The, Independent, Moscow, Russia
Benjamin Netanyahu seeks cabinet support for Israeli strike on Iran
Telegraph The, Conservative daily, London, England
Michael Jackson death: the trial of Doctor Conrad Murray
Telegraph The, Celebrity news, London, England
BMA orders Chatuchak evacuation
Bangkok Post, Independent, Bangkok, Thailand
Collapse threatens Greek government
China Post, English-language daily, Taipei, Taiwan
A Dilemma for Seoul's New Mayor
Chosun Ilbo, Conservative daily, Seoul, South Korea
Qantas diverts flight to Dubai over engine trouble
Hindustan Times, New Delhi, India
Jobless man kills wife, son; arrested
India Times, Conservative daily, New Delhi, India
'Suteki na Kanashibari (Once In a Blue Moon/A Ghost of a Chance)'
Japan Times, Independent centrist, Tokyo, Japan
Stumbling US Presidential candidate faces more scandals
New Zealand Herald, Conservative daily, Auckland, New Zealand
Debt woes dominate agenda as G20 meets
People's Daily Online, English-language, Beijing, China
Germany's quest for a bargain... to the grave
Straits Times, Pro-government, Singapore
Fry boils at Qantas glitch
Sydney Morning Herald, Centrist daily, Sydney, Australia
Forbes2011 The World's Most Powerful: No.1 is Barack Obama but Steve jobs has not been accepted
Taiwan News, English-language daily, Taipei, Taiwan
China Vice-Premier Li: Global risks rising
The Economic Times, Business, Mumbai, India
Greece backs off referendum, as concern grows for Italy
Canadian Broadcasting Centre, Toronto, Ontario
Greece backs off referendum, dealing blow to euro-zone equality
Globe and Mail The, Centrist daily, Toronto, Canada
Rio Tinto Chairman Says It is Europe that is Down Under, not Australia
International Business Times, Business news organization, New York, U.S
BRAZIL: "Occupy" Movement Rolls to Rio
IPS Latin America, International cooperative of journalists, Rome, Italy
Greek about face on vote, ECB rate cut boost shares
Reuters, Business News, New York, U.S
Greek prime minister faces knife-edge survival vote
Reuters, World News, New York, U.S
VIDEO: Rogue zoo keepers fight move of Toronto elephants to California
Toronto Star, Toronto, Ontario
Sudan troops seize key rebel town
BBC News, Centrist newscaster, London, England
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