Business

The New Zealand Commerce Commission, who promote competition in the New Zealand market, have released a report today that has shown that New Zealand's telecommunications sector is very expensive compared to other OECD countries. In the report, the Commerce Commission ranks various call plans, both cellular and landline, with other similar plans in the OECD. United Kingdom company, Teligen did the data gathering in November 2006. All prices exclude G.S.T. (Goods and Services Tax). The following data is for low mobile user plans. One of Vodafo

Canadian MP Belinda Stronach has officially announced she will not run for re-election in her riding of Newmarket—Aurora in the next federal election. She will re-join her father Frank Stronach's company Magna International Inc., a large auto parts company, as the executive vice-chairwoman. "My father is looking to the future, the company is facing important strategic decisions, and the Canadian and global auto sector and economy are in a period of great challenge," Stronach announced. "So I am stepping aside from elected politics for the time

Ottawa Senators winger Dany Heatley notched his 50th goal of the season in the Senators 6-3 win over the Boston Bruins Saturday night. It was the second consecutive 50-goal season for the talented winger. Heatley also picked up two assists in the game at TD Banknorth Garden in Boston. With the win over the Bruins, the Senators (48-25-9) locked-up home ice advantage over the Pittsburg Penguins (47-24-11) when they meet in the first round of the playoffs. Heatley's goal came at 5:15 of the second period and gave the Senators the go-ahead, break

David Carr, the first pick in Houston Texans history, and the first overall pick of the 2002 NFL Draft was signed Friday by the Carolina Panthers. Carr will serve as backup to current starter Jake Delhomme. Carr, a five-year starting quarterback for the Texans, completed 60 percent of his passes, but threw 65 interceptions and was sacked 249 times. He completed 68.3 percent of his passes last season, a career high. Carr was sacked 249 times in the past five seasons with the Texans, and was released by the organization after they made a trade w

In the NFL today, the New Orleans Saints traded a sixth-round draft pick to the Miami Dolphins for kicker Olindo Mare. Mare will compete with John Carney, the Saints 44 year old kicker who has had a hard time hitting field goals over 35 yards. The Saints visited with former Dallas Cowboy and Indianapolis Colts kicker Mike Vanderjagt, but never offered anything. The Saints also used kicker Billy Cundiff last year. Over the past ten seasons with the Dolphins, Mare amassed 1,048 points, while converting 245 of 303 field goals and 313 of 318 extra

In Estonia, a mouse made its nest in a cash machine and spent the weekend eating tens of thousands of kroons in bank notes. The critter was discovered after a customer making a withdrawal got half-eaten bills from the machine. Experts are now investigating how the rodent was able to get into the ATM.

Many lights in Sydney, Australia's largest city, were turned off for one hour at 19:30 local time (09:30 UTC) on March 31, 2007 to raise awareness of climate change. This Earth hour, which was organised by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), received support from the government of New South Wales, many environmental groups and some businesses. Many famous buildings such as the Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge and Luna Park took part. Organisers also hoped the event would encourage Australians to conserve energy, claiming if various electr

Today, several trade unions and women's organisations organised actions in public places and companies all over Belgium to promote equal pay for women. Volunteers handed out flyers about the issue at the Brussels Airport and the Brussels subway and in train stations, companies, hospitals and schools throughout the country. The third edition of the U.S.-inspired Equal Pay Day was called for by the socialist women's organisations zij-kant and the women-section of the trade union ABVV, in partnership with their Francophone equivalents, PS-women a

Eswar Prasad, a professor at the trade policy from the Cornell University, warns the United States legislators, that their bill could poison the relationship between USA and China. This warning was given regarding the U.S. bill, which is meant to force China to raise the value of its national currency yuan. Currently yuan has a value, which is about 40% lower than it should be, as stated by the legislators, which gives the Chinese trading companies a huge advantage on the international trading ground. Professor Prasad, who was a China trade

The United Kingdom has frozen all bilateral business deals with Iran until all 15 British sailors and marines, who were detained by Iranian forces on March 23 are released. "We will therefore be imposing a freeze on all other official bilateral business with Iran until this situation is resolved. We will keep other aspects of our policy with Iran under close review and continue to proceed carefully," said British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett to the House of Commons. Further evidence was also presented that the U.K. says proves that the

Bill Gates, co-founder and chairman of Microsoft Corporation, will be presented with an honorary degree from Harvard University, on June 7, during the university's 356th commencement proceedings. Gates is to deliver the commencement address for the event. Although Gates enrolled at Harvard in 1973, he left soon after to focus on the development of Microsoft. Gates is, nonetheless, a member of the Harvard Class of 1977. In a Harvard University Gazette article announcing the commencement event, the accomplishments of Gates, in both business and

Italian journalist Daniele Mastrogiacomo who was held hostage for 15 days, was traded for five Taliban prisoners, as confirmed by Italian and Afgani authorities. This likely represents the first time during the Iraq War or War in Afghanistan that prisoners were openly exchanged for a hostage. An Afghani government source said the swap "was an exceptional measure taken because we value our relations and friendship with Italy." The move received sharp criticism from allies of Italy. In Washington, a senior State Department official said the Uni