Apple to Acquire Beats Music & Beats Electronics

Apple announced it has agreed to acquire the critically acclaimed subscription streaming music service Beats Music, and Beats Electronics, which makes the popular Beats headphones, speakers and audio software. As part of the acquisition, Beats co-founders Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre will join Apple. Apple is acquiring the two companies for a total of $3 billion, consisting of a purchase price of approximately $2.6 billion and approximately $400 million that will vest over time.

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¿What is Surface Pro 3?

On Tuesday, Microsoft Corp. introduced Surface Pro 3 - the lightweight tablet that packs the power and performance you expect from a laptop.  Surface Pro 3 is a tablet and a laptop: multiple processor, RAM and storage options intersect with a sleek design that, with a simple snap or click, transform the device from a perfectly balanced tablet to a full-functioning laptop and back again - all in a beautiful package that is 30 percent thinner than an 11-inch MacBook Air. Its stunning 12-inch display and new, continuous kickstand provide the screen real estate and multiple viewing angles people need for work and play. And the new Surface Pen - completely redesigned with form and function in mind - delivers a precise, luxurious drawing and note-taking experience with a single click of the pen.

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AT&T to Acquire DIRECTV

AT&T  and DIRECTV announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which AT&T will acquire DIRECTV in a stock-and-cash transaction for $95 per share based on AT&T’s Friday closing price. The agreement has been approved unanimously by the Boards of Directors of both companies. The transaction combines complementary strengths to create a unique new competitor with unprecedented capabilities in mobility, video and broadband services.

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LATAM Airlines Group reports preliminary monthly statistics for April 2014

LATAM Airlines Group S.A. and its subsidiaries reported its preliminary monthly traffic statistics for April 2014 compared to April 2013. According to a company's statement, system passenger traffic increased by 4.1% while capacity decreased by 2.2%. As a result, the Company’s load factor for the month increased 5.0 points to 82.4%. International passenger traffic accounted for approximately 52% of the month’s total passenger traffic.

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Endesa announces 1Q14 results

According to the latests statement from Endesa, net earnings attributable to the company's controlling shareholders reached Ch$ 35,902 million, a decrease of 43% when compared to March 2013, mainly explained by a higher procurement and services cost and a greater negative exchange rate difference. Consolidated electricity sales declined by 7.2% to reach 12,905 GWh, mainly as a result of lower physical sales in Argentina and less non-regulated customer contracts in Chile.

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OECD: Global economy strengthening but significant risks remain

The global economy will strengthen over the coming two years, but urgent action is still required to further reduce unemployment and address other legacies from the crisis, according to the OECD’s latest Economic Outlook.  “Advanced economies are gaining momentum and driving the pick-up in global growth, while once-stalled cylinders of the economic engine, like investment and trade, are starting to fire again,” OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría said while launching the Outlook during the Organisation’s annual Ministerial Council Meeting and Forum in Paris.

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ECLAC launches free digital repository with more than 35,000 publications

More than 35,000 publications from the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) -from the first one released in 1948 to the most recent- can be consulted and downloaded digitally at the repository launched during the organization's Thirty-fifth session, held in the Peruvian capital.

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Alliance Boots buys Farmacias Ahumada (Fasa)

Alliance Boots today announces that it has signed an agreement to acquire Farmacias Ahumada ("FASA"). The acquisition comprises two main businesses, which together operate over 1,400 stores, with combined revenues of around £835 million. Farmacias Benavides is the third largest retail pharmacy chain in Mexico with around 1,000 stores, and Farmacias Ahumada is one of the three largest retail pharmacy chains in Chile with around 400 stores.

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Vevo launches its service in Mexico

Vevo has launched in Mexico, giving it a presence in 14 territories altogether. Mexico is the world's second-largest music video market with Mexican users having clocked up more than 500 million views on Vevo artist pages via the company’s YouTube partnership in the last month alone.

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Welcome to the "most customizable Firefox" ever!

Mozilla announced the launch of Firefox 29, which it calls its most customizable Firefox ever. It includes a new design, a customization mode, a new Firefox menu, new bookmarks, a new add-on manager, and enhanced sync powered by Firefox Accounts.

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Earnings of E-CL amount to US$24.8 million in the first quarter of 2014

Operating revenue was US$ 308.4 million, 8% higher than in the first quarter of 2013. EBIDTA was US$80 million, representing a 20% increase over the same period of the previous year.

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Banco Santander-Chile: Net income up 75.4% in 1Q14. ROAE reaches 23.9%

In the first quarter of 2014, Banco Santander Chile’s Net income attributable to shareholders
reached a record level for a quarter and totaled Ch$141,843 million (Ch$0.75 per share and
US$0.55/ADR), increasing 75.4% compared to 1Q13. The Bank’s ROAE reached 23.9% in 1Q14
compared to 15.0% in 1Q13.

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Colbún reported revenues of US$413.2 in 1Q14

According to the latest statement from power company Colbun, energy sales volume to customers under power purchase agreements during 1Q14 reached 3,004 GWh, 17% higher than contracted physical energy sales recorded during the same period of the previous year and 5% lower than 4Q13. The increase as compared to 1Q13 is due mainly to the new long-term supply contract with Codelco that started in Mar13, and to a lower extent to an additional short-term supply with the same free customer that started in May13. The decrease in contracted sales for the quarter versus the previous quarter is due mainly to the expiry of two contracts with free customers.

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Coca-Cola Embonor reported a 8.6% increase in its income during 1Q14

The company, one of the major bottlers in Chile, sold 65.1 millions of unitary boxes in the first three months of the year, increasing the consolidated sales volume of the firm in 3.5%. Net income increased 8.6%, reaching CL$114,470 millions.

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ECLAC Releases Estimates of Purchasing Power Parities for Countries of the Region

The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) has released the results for the 39 countries of the region that jointly participated in the International Comparison Programme (ICP), Round 2011. The report shows that the average GDP per capita in Purchasing Power Parities (PPPs) for Latin America is estimated equal to 12,443 dollars while for Caribbean is 16,351 dollars.

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Enersis increase its stake in Edegel

Enersis has signed a US$413 million purchase contract to increase its stake in Peru's Edegel from 37.5% to 58.6%.  Once completed the operation, Enersis will control 58.6% of the peruvian power company.

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Samsung is still the leader in the smartphone marker

The worldwide smartphone market began the year with an expected retrenchment from holiday quarter shipment volumes, but still posted a year-over-year increase in the first quarter of 2014 (1Q14). According to the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, vendors shipped a total of 281.5 million smartphones worldwide, up 28.6% from the 218.8 million units in 1Q13 but down -2.8% from the 289.6 million units shipped in 4Q13. The results beat IDC's forecast of 267.2 million units for the first quarter of 2014 by 5.3%.

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Skype Community has 2 million registered users

Microsoft is proud to announce that the Skype Community has reached a new milestone of two million registered users."We are thrilled that two million people from around the world have joined us to ask and answer questions, share stories and talk about Skype", the company recently sjare in a blog post.

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Xbox One goes to China

Microsoft Corp. announced that in partnership with BesTV New Media Co., a subsidiary of Shanghai Media Group, Xbox One will launch into China in September of this year. The all-in-one games and entertainment system will be the first of its kind to launch in the country, creating mutual opportunities for developers in China to bring their creative content to life both at home and abroad. Xbox One will offer content such as games, entertainment, education and fitness experiences.

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