Dr. Ajith Kumar V.V
With more than 6,500 locations across the country, Taco Bell is one of the top fast-food chains in the U.S. A recent Harris Poll anointed it “America’s favorite Mexican restaurant.”Much of Taco Bell’s innovation was initiated under the watch of former CEO, Brian Niccol. But in 2018, Niccol left the chain to helm one of Taco Bell’s biggest competitors — Chipotle. He has since moved Chipotle’s headquarters into Taco Bell’s backyard. Some say recent turnover in top management could mean trouble for Taco Bell in the years ahead.
Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2019/04/20/how-taco-bell-outpaced-kfc-and-pizza-hut-at-yum-brands.html
Dr. Ajith Kumar V.V
ConocoPhillips is pulling out of UK exploration and production after selling its North Sea oil and gas assets to Chrysaor for $2.68bn (£2bn).The sale will boost Chrysaor's production by about 72,000 barrels a day to 177,000 - making it one of the UK's biggest operators. The deal, expected to complete in late 2019, requires regulatory approval. ConocoPhillips said it would retain its London‐based commercial trading business. It will also keep its 40.25% interest in the Teesside oil terminal. The assets being purchased by Chrysaor include two new operated hubs in the UK Central North Sea ‐ Britannia and J‐Block - and an interest in the Clair Field area located west of Shetland.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-47975042
Dr. Ajith Kumar V.V
If there’s a market where Netflix is concerned about plan pricing as Disney begins its big push into the video streaming market, it’s not the U.S. It’s India. Netflix has raised its prices on plans in the U.S. and recently announced intentions to do the same in Brazil, Mexico and some countries in Europe, but it is struggling to lower its price tier in India as it looks to add more subscribers in a country that has more than 460 million internet users. In India the Netflix basic monthly subscription plan costs much more than Amazon Prime Video’s plan and roughly twice as much as Hotstar, the country’s largest video streaming service, which is owned by Disney.
Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2019/04/17/netflix-not-concerned-about-lower-prices-except-in-one-huge-market.html
Dr. Ajith Kumar V.V
Dubai Municipality has announced several investment opportunities in the emirate's public parks, such as the event spaces, and the allocation of different areas for restaurants and small shops. Investors are being sought for Creek Park, Mamzar Smart Park, Mushrif Park, Zabeel Park and Safa Park in addition to the Quranic Park recently opened by Dubai Municipality in Al Khawaneej at a total cost of about AED130 million, a statement said.
Source: https://www.arabianbusiness.com/banking-finance/418166-dubai-offers-investment-opportunities-in-major-public-parks
Dr. Ajith Kumar V.V
Bank Lombard Odier & Co Ltd has announced it has become the first Swiss private bank to receive a license to operate at the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), the capital’s international financial hub.This marks the bank’s second location in the UAE, it said in a statement.
Source: https://www.arabianbusiness.com/banking-finance/417798-first-swiss-bank-wins-licence-to-operate-at-abu-dhabi-financial-hub
Dr. Ajith Kumar V.V
The world's largest aeroplane by wingspan has taken flight for the first time. Built by Stratolaunch, the company set up by the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen in 2011, the aircraft is designed to act as a flying launch pad for satellites. The idea is to fly the plane to 10 km (6.2 miles) before releasing satellites into orbit. Its 385 ft. (117 m) wingspan is the length of an American football field. If successful, such a project would be a cheaper way to launch objects into space than rockets fired from the ground.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-47923697
Dr. Ajith Kumar V.V
Star Wars fans can finally take a vacation to a galaxy far, far away. Galaxy’s Edge, the newest Disney theme park adventure, is opening in about month in California and in Florida in August. On Saturday 13 April, 2019, during Star Wars Celebration in Chicago, executives from Walt Disney’s Imagineering and Lucas film revealed details about what fans can expect once park doors open.
Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2019/04/13/disneys-star-wars-land-galaxys-edge-is-beyond-your-wildest-dreams-says-actor-josh-gad.html
Dr. Ajith Kumar V.V
Two former executives of The Abraaj Group, which collapsed last year in the world’s biggest private-equity insolvency, were arrested on U.S. charges of defrauding investors, with one defendant nabbed after arriving in New York with his wife and son to look at colleges. Arif Naqvi, the founder and ex-chief executive officer, was arrested Wednesday in the U.K. and is awaiting possible extradition to the U.S. Mustafa Abdel-Wadood, a former managing partner, was apprehended Thursday in New York and remains in a federal lockup.
Source: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-04-11/abraaj-group-ceo-naqvi-charged-with-fraud-conspiracy-in-n-y
Dr. Ajith Kumar V.V
Abu Dhabi Retirement Pensions and Benefits Fund agreed to invest $300 million in Abu Dhabi National Oil Co.’s midstream pipeline assets, following investments from KKR & Co. and BlackRock Inc. The fund will acquire a 3 percent stake in Adnoc Oil Pipelines, with BlackRock and KKR together holding 40 percent and Adnoc 57 percent, according to a statement.
Source: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-04-14/abu-dhabi-pension-fund-to-invest-300-million-in-adnoc-pipelines?srnd=premium-middle-east
Dr. Ajith Kumar V.V
UAE-based retailer Lulu Group International intends to set up a sourcing and logistics facility in Nigeria to export local agricultural produce to its various operations across the GCC, India and Far East. The plan was discussed during a meeting between Muhammedu Buhari, President of Nigeria, and Yusuff Ali MA, chairman of Lulu Group during the Annual Investment Summit being held in Dubai.
Source: https://www.arabianbusiness.com/retail/417416-uae-retail-giant-eyes-nigeria-to-set-up-logistics-hub