[By NBC-1TV H. J Yook]Pliades 1B, the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES) Earth observation satellite, has captured its first images using e2v high performance imaging sensors. Two types of e2v sensors (for panchromatic and multispectral imaging) equip the satellites high-resolution optical imaging instrument; these were selected by Thales Alenia Space, who is providing the HR instrument to Astrium, developed under CNES contract. Pliades 1B has been designed to provide dual use optical observation coverage with a 70-centimeter resolution. It was launched into space from French Guiana on
[By NBC-1TV H. J Yook]UK-based BCS Global Networks Ltd is anticipating continued growth in 2013 after it secured several landmark achievements in 2012. The leading provider of managed videoconferencing, telepresence and visual collaboration enjoyed an exceptional year, winning multiple prestigious accolades, including a first time appearance in the Sunday Times Tech Track 100 - straight in at number 15 - while steadily expanding its customer base and channel network. Following unprecedented year on year growth since 2009, BCS Global believes it is witnessing a turning point in the acceptance o
[By NBC-1TV H. J Yook]City Index UK: Imperial Tobacco, the world's fourth largest cigarette maker, announced today that first quarter revenues grew by 2% to the end of December 2012, but deteriorating performance in Europe and Russia at the end of the quarter and into January -- thanks in part to higher competition and sales of black market cigarettes -- would mean that H1 (first half year) performance would see falling profits. Read Full Article at cityindex.co.uk: Imperial Tobacco earnings hit by black market cigarette sales The performance in Europe dragged on brighter performances in other
[By NBC-1TV H. J Yook]The collaborative work of medical scientists and physicians across the globe has resulted in a major medical milestone: the world's 1 millionth blood stem cell transplant, a procedure that has become a proven and essential therapy for many patients battling blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma, as well as other critical diseases. The Worldwide Network for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (WBMT) announced the landmark achievement today. The WBMT—a nonprofit scientific organization whose mission is promoting excellence in stem cell transplantation, stem cell donat
[By NBC-1TV H. J Yook]Pacific Biosciences of California, Inc., (Nasdaq:PACB), provider of the PacBio® RS High Resolution Genetic Analyzer, today recognized TSMC, the world‘s largest and premier dedicated semiconductor foundry as its ’Supplier of the Year' for 2012. TSMC is on the leading edge of semiconductor wafer processing and has been a trusted collaborator of Pacific Biosciences, manufacturing the key component of its proprietary SMRT® Cells for DNA sequencing on the PacBio RS system. “TSMC was selected as a premier supplier of Pacific Biosciences because of their extensive engineering ex
[By NBC-1TV H. J Yook]Pacific Biosciences of California, Inc. (Nasdaq:PACB) provider of the PacBio® RS High Resolution Genetic Analyzer, today announced it is releasing a new software upgrade that provides higher quality genome assemblies with near perfect base level accuracy in addition to other key features. The software upgrade extends the range of projects that uniquely benefit from the company's Single Molecule, Real-Time (SMRT®) DNA Sequencing method, and will be available to customers for download on January 31st. SMRT Analysis 1.4 includes a new hierarchical de novo genome assembly pro
[By NBC-1TV H. J Yook]LG Electronics Inc. (LG) today announced consolidated revenues of KRW 50.96 trillion (USD 45.22 billion) and a net profit of KRW 91 billion (USD 80.75 million) for full-year 2012. Despite a 6 percent revenue decrease from 2011, operating profits increased significantly in 2012 to KRW 1.14 trillion (USD 1.01 billion) from KRW 379 billion (USD 342.06 million) in full-year 2011. Fourth quarter 2012 consolidated revenues were KRW 13.50 trillion (USD 12.37 billion) with an operating profit of KRW 107 billion (USD 98.08 million). Unaudited consolidated financial results for the
[By NBC-1TV H. J Yook]City Index Australia: The rollercoaster ride on Wall Street for Netflix scaled new heights, with the company‘s stock climbing by $43.60 to close the day’s trading on the Nasdaq at $146.86. The favourable figures are the result of the company revealing better than expected earnings for the last three months of 2012 late on Wednesday. Netflix's 42 per cent rise is the biggest gain since the company went public over ten years ago; a time when investors were still reluctant to buy into internet companies due to the burst of the dot-com bubble. Its previous high came in Octobe
[By NBC-1TV H. J Yook]Samsung Electronics have revealed a 76 per cent increase in profits for the last three months of 2012, with sales of its Galaxy smartphones thought to be a key factor in driving growth. The Korean company's net income rose to a record 7.06 trillion won (4.2 billion), a substantial increase on the 4.01 trillion won recorded during the same period last year, smashing the expectations of many analysts. Last year was very successful for the company, as it became the world's main player in making smartphones, overtaking its main rival Apple, which saw shares tumble by 12.35 pe
[By NBC-1TV H. J Yook]Shares in Anglo American have rallied in London this morning (January 29th), as the company has announced it is writing off $4 billion (2.5 billion) after a review of one of its projects. Read Full Article at cityindex.co.uk: Anglo American shares rise as it announces $4bn project writedown(http://www.cityindex.co.uk/market-analysis/financi...) The Minas Rio iron ore project in Brazil has been subject to delays and cost overruns, which have forced the mining giant to raise its expenditure on the project to $8.8 billion. “Despite the difficulties, we continue to be confide