18/04/2013 World Business Report

Headlines: There's been a massive explosion at a fertilizer plant in

the small town of West, north of Waco in Texas. Dozens of people

have been taken to hospital and an emergency triage centre has been

set up at a football field near the plant.

Reports from the US say investigators have identified a

suspect in the Boston marathon bombings from video footage.

However Boston police denied reports that an arrest had been

made. Three people died in the twin blasts on Monday, dozens more

remain in hospital. The FBI has named a suspect they

have arrested in connection to the ricin letters sent to President

Obama and a US Senator as Paul Kevin Curtis from Missippi. The

letters were intercepted before reaching the White House or Senate.

The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu has told the BBC

that the flow of arms into Syria could alter the balance of power in

the Middle East. He also warned Israel has the right to prevent

weapons from falling into the wrong hands. That this row that is

developing as we are on air. There has been a massive explosion as a

fertiliser plant in Texas. The local emergency services are saying

there are many fatalities, at this point we have no idea as to what

that can constitute. We know that at least 100 people have been taken

to hospital. I have been speaking to a local resident. He is a local

plumber. He told me what he knew about this fire. It was a massive

explosion. I was just in the neighbourhood an hour before that.

I was headed home. It was about 8pm. We are expecting some rate

determined. I heard a clap of thunder, I thought it was under,

after that water here by Winshill. I live five miles east of town. It

hadn't started raining get, the firefighters were fighting the fire

and a blow up. It blew that water for miles. I live five miles away.

I can see the glow from my house. Is there a lot of smoke? The fumes

must be quite thick. Toxic fumes. It is like a maze. Several

helicopters are helping people out. There is like a war-zone. Do you

know how many people were to the facility or how many people may

have been caught up in this explosion? It happened around 8pm.

They may have been a few people there. They were definitely closed.

My friend's house burnt down. He lives across the block. His parents

were injured from broken glass. There were children playing

basketball and a park across the street. There is an apartment

complex with about 50 units. It is around 300 yards. Just about where

it is situated. If you go north and the to state there is around 25

miles from Dallas. Tell us about the people who live in this

community. We're proud about Czech Heritage. We were checks saddlers.

We still have a day of mourning when Germans invaded Czechoslovakia.

This is the worst and it has happened since then. This is

terrible. That was a local plumber talking about a massive explosion

as a fertiliser plant just outside of Dallas. Will keep you up-to-date

with this developing story. In the meantime, the latest financial news

The return of the not-so-smartphone. Can cheap and cheerful handsets

help stop the losses at Nokia? Plus - struggling to stay in touch.

Can Microsoft's latest offerings make up for a slumping PC market?

Welcome to World Business Report. Japan's exports have gone up in

March. Were they given a big boost by the weakest yen in a format used

king mac It's a very big day for the technology industry - with some

of the best-known names reporting results - two in particular who

have found themselves on the wrong side of a fast-changing business.

We'll talk about Microsoft in just a moment, but first - Nokia. It's

expected to reveal another quarter of losses. The once dominant phone

maker has seen sales fall over the past couple of years - as it

struggles to compete in the highly competitive smartphone. --

smartphone market. But for those millions of users reliant on

cheaper, simpler handsets - the sturdy Nokia is still king. Alice

Baxter reports. In cities like London the smartphone is king. It

is a market dominated by Apple and Samsung. For millions around the

world, Nokia is the brand of choice. That is because the phones like

this. It is simple, and at $20 it is widely affordable. It is the

humble mobile phone, rather than the smartphone, that has been

keeping the lights on for Nokia. It is hoping his new recently-launched

model will help build on its current success in the emerging

markets of the Asia-Pacific. Nokia has put a lot of effort into making

the phone fit the way people live. It builds and teachers to work with

that. Things like a torch so you can see a way of an unlit road. The

ability to use it one-handed because you may be ploughing a

field for the same time is using the phone. The radio, because for

many people that is their music. Two Some cards because people do

juggle at different times of the day. It provides as theservices to

help people understand where crops reverse, were they can sell for the

best prices at markets and so on. Despite the attention to detail,

Nokia faces increasing competition from those also wanting a slice of

these unconnected world markets. There are others tried to step on

its turf. We will see competitive devices from the likes of Samsung

try to draw than price points. They are always in for this area were

the next a billion people in these emerging markets will become mobile

users. While Nokia focuses on making an impact in the highly

profitable smartphone markets of North America and Europe... I am

excited and proud to introduce you to the Nokia loonier 800. It must

also fight to keep its current position among the growing number

of uses elsewhere in the world. From Nokia to Microsoft. Tough

times for this man - Steve Ballmer, chief executive of Microsoft. The

world's biggest software maker is still reliant on the PC for the

bulk of its profit - and it's a market that appears to be

collapsing. Sales of personal computers plunged 14% in the first

three months of this year - the biggest slump since records began.

Microsoft's attempts to move with the times, its Windows phones and

Surface tablets as well as its latest Windows 8 operating system,

have not been a hit. All this is likely to weigh on the company's

quarterly results later today. From New York - Samira Hussain reports.

Shoppers at this Manhattan electronics store have many choices.

As they look the new devices for the million Web surfing,

increasingly they are not looking at these - instead they are looking

at these. As consumers move away from traditional desktops and

laptop computers, in favour of smart phones and tablets, companies

that depend on the strength of the personal computing market like

Microsoft unmarked struggling in a post computer environment. The

trend is worrying for a company whose core business is personal

computers. From January to March this year, 73.6 personal computers

were shipped worldwide. That is down 40% from the same time last

year. -- 14%. Microsoft's answer? Windows eight. By giving the

operating system the look and feel of a smartphone, it was hoping to

reinvigorate PC sales. It has not done much. It would be wrong to say

that the PC is dead. It is still a large number. It is correct to say

that it is in decline and that Abbotts Ann smart phones -- tablets

and smart phones. The company has not said how will they have sold,

but estimates around one million units. Compare that to be 1.5

want anything it stays on a desk. I'm a desktop person. I have a

laptop and a tablet. It is still far from becoming obsolete. Despite

recent stumbles, Microsoft still has time to regroup its offerings

in this new touch-screen world. As is almost all from me. A slightly

smaller version of the programme during to -- due to the breaking

story in Texas. The markets in Asia - we also have earnings from Google

The spring snow has led to some good news. Two sheet worth more

than �1,000 each have been found alive along a fence were there were

covered with six feet of snow. They were lost and now they have been

found. The sheep were missing for more than three weeks in the snow.

A man walking his dog Spot them. He told the farmer the good news. He

could not believe it. Neither could his son. He had taken pictures of

the field were the Rams were last seen 23 days previous. We were

sitting at the dinner-table, the phone rings, he says he has found

the ship. Did you believe it? would have to see it to believe it.

For most of the time, the sheep had been completely covered in snow.

Only in recent days did it start to thought. Two rams were found alive,

another was dead. Had you think she survived? Probably the dyke he

created air holes. It took them to survive. At the end of the day, it

was a miracle. His survival skills Coming up on Breakfast - Charlie

Stayr and Louise Minchin will have all the day's news, business and

sport. Breakast's Tim Muffett also speaks to Keith Luxon who ran the

marathon in Boston and now says he's determined to compete in

London too. The top stories this hour: There's

been a massive explosion at a fertilizer plant in the small town

of West, north of Waco in Texas. Dozens of people have been taken to

hospital and an emergency triage centre has been set up at a

football field near the plant. was struck to the explosion. We had

the nursing home evacuated. There are at least 100 injured at the

hospital that we know of. There will be many fatalities. Right now

the fire is still going on. We cannot be seen. We're waiting for

rescue team. Reports from the US say

investigators have identified a suspect in the Boston marathon

bombings from video footage. However Boston police denied

reports that an arrest had been made. Three people died in the twin

blasts on Monday - dozens more remain in hospital.

The FBI has named a suspect they have arrested in connection to the

ricin letters sent to President Obama and a US Senator as Paul

Kevin Curtis from Missippi. The letters were intercepted before

reaching the White House or Senate. The Israeli Prime Minister,

Benjamin Netanyahu has told the BBC that the flow of arms into Syria

could alter the balance of power in the Middle East. He also warned

Israel has the right to prevent weapons from falling into the wrong

Now it is time for our newspaper review. What's making headlines

around the globe? The Independent follows suit with many of the

world's papers by looking at the funeral of former British Prime

Minister Margaret Thatcher. El Pais says the Spanish government

has acknowledged Venezuelan election results after previously

demanding a recount. Greece's poor are struggling to

survive with many children going hungry at school. The International

Herald Tribune says savings have been used up and the economy is in

free fall. The Daily Telegraph's business

pages look at how Apple shares have dropped below $400 after one of its

suppliers posted disappointing Joining us is Rolake Akinkugbe, the

Yesterday, it was a huge national event. To reflect that fact, so

many British papers have got what they call souvenir additions. We

are looking at the Independent. Very graphic, is said lovely

picture. I would say that is an understatement. People were saying

it was essentially a state funeral in all but name. Even international

observers would associate this as a brat -- grand British event. One of

the interesting things is not since 1965 has the Queen attended a

funeral of a former Prime Minister. It is quite significant. Very

interesting elements. Did you appreciate the circumstance?

quintessentially British. St Paul's Cathedral, what else could be more

quintessentially British? What else was interesting was the people who

attended. 170 countries were represented. However much she think

of policies, in her desk, she unified quite a wide spectrum of

people. Let's have a look at some other papers. A major broadsheet in

Spain. Spain jaws line and devotes lined canvas back with this whaler.

-- draws line with the Venice whaler. The interesting thing is

that famous whaler has recalled the Spanish ambassador. The problem is

Spain has jumped ahead of the EU by endorsing Nicolas Maduro. -- Venice

whaler. It was a very tight race. I suspect this were just Fatah out

after a couple of weeks. Nigeria -- de think a former colonial power

should be intervening in the first place? -- do you think. Venezuela

is an important oil producer. That is a factor. A really poignant

story about how tough things are in Greece for people. It focuses on

Pete -- our children going to school hungry. One little boy is

racked with pain he is so hungry. The family admitted they ran out of

savings. They were trying to survive. There were living on

pastor and automatic -- tomato ketchup. This is there really sad

story. -- a very sad story. We were talking about a real poverty. We

have seen stories in the past of people queuing for food. This is a

reflection on what is going on are a much larger scale. It is really

sad that there is -- it is for -- It is a difficult question. You

have to strike a real balance. You to think about what you have to

give up in order to safe sustainable growth. Then is to be

questioning affects to make it easier for the economy to bear the

brunt. -- cushioning effect. What is the government to read to

support those at the bottom of the ladder? Apple's shares were at a

peak a couple of months ago. Yesterday, they dipped under $400.

We watch these things like a hawk. This is a case of getting people's

appetite. As a technology company, you have to keep innovating. If you

are not enervating, at the consumers get worried. --

innovating. As a consumer, if he expected a new model of a phone to

get out, you would hold of spending and wait for the future. One of the

interesting things about the shares is the one of Apple's suppliers

they are not getting as much orders. That is an interesting thing. It

shows how sensitive how markets are right now. It reflects a broader

global economic climate around demand. One of your main stories is

not here. This seems to be the problem that has blighted the

fortunes of Nokia. They have not kept up with their research and

development. I absolutely. It might be an opportunity for others to

come in and innovate what Apple is going through this. The only way

for Apple to go it is downhill. The most viable company in the world,

there is only one direction. A panic taxi drivers are being

urged to get training. What are they up to? This is really

interesting. I know some parts of the world where taxi drivers get

mental tests. This is training courses from a safety point of view.

Essentially, in terms of the numbers of cars on do road in urban

areas, have be populated areas, it is about time this happens. The

taxi union has rejected the idea say it will hinder the driver's

work. There needs to be a system to ensure that people on the roads are

Very quickly, let's show you some new footage of the massive

explosion that we had been telling you about this morning. It has

taken place in Texas. It happened in a very small Tehran. This is

footage that was taken by passes by. This is a family in their car.

They're just passing by. You concede a reflection of somebody

with a video camera or a large mobile phone. That is the five. UCD

moment of the explosion. -- den at UC. Their talks of hundreds of

people being taken to hospital with serious injuries. -- There you see.

It looks terribly grim in terms of the number of people have been

seriously injured, so far. A nursing home were scented very

close by to do us fertiliser plant. There are schools dotted around the

area as well. We had been speaking with the emergency services. They