Software giant Microsoft confirmed on Wednesday that its Windows Phone team accomplished the development on Windows Phone 7 and turned over the code to its hardware partners so that they could integrate the operating system with their devices.

Terry Myerson, corporate vice president at Windows Phone Engineering confirmed through a posting on The Windows Blog that Windows Phone 7 reached the release-to-manufacturing point.

Commenting on the move, he added, “Windows Phone 7 is the most thoroughly tested mobile platform Microsoft has ever released.”

The latest reports claim that the market is abuzz with the news that Burger King is considering sale. The No. 2 hamburger chain in the US is believed to be considering the sale way and the news is rife that it is also in talks with numerous perspective buyers.

On Wednesday, a source, who claims to well versed with the developments confirmed that 3i Group Plc is one of the potential buyers and has shown interest in the burger chain.

Manufacturing in China has picked up its pace in August. The upward growth indicates that the country is slowly stepping out of economic downturn.

According to a Government-supported report, the purchasing managers’ index results have been better than expected.

The output index increased from 51.2 to 51.7 and new order index rose from 50.9 to 53.1. The export-order index has jumped from 52.1 to 52.2.

As per Mizuho Securities Asia Ltd., a surge in manufacturing has been noted because many factories in China restart their operations following July maintenance.

Advertising watchdog, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), has extended its jurisdiction to cover the online marketing and ads.

Starting from March 1, 2011, online marketing and ads will be subject to the strict advertising rules introduced by the ASA.

Marketing statements on social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter will also be scrutinized by the advertising watchdog.

It has been reported that Adelaide Casino is planning to invest $250 million in order to accomplish its wish to spread out itself to the banks of the River Torrens. This investment will also be backing the plans of the Government for the redevelopment of Adelaide Oval and the growth of a Convention Centre in the riverbank area.

It has been planned that new bars will be introduced in the casino and more gaming facilities will be provided. The discussions for the same are in progress, said Adelaide Casino General Manager David Christian.

UK DVD rental service LoveFilm has struck a deal with MGM that aide user to watch Hollywood studio's films online.

The deal will help LoveFilm users to stream older MGM movies for free, while the latest titles will be coming in handy at pay-per-view basis.

LoveFilm, a firm known to proffer DVD rental and online movie streaming services across UK, Germany and Scandinavia, will launch nearly 4,100 MGM titles, including Tarzan, The Philadelphia Story, The Graduate, Thelma & Louise and Quantum of Solace to its clients.

CSL is planning to expand its business. It wishes to open new outlets in Stoke-on-Trent and Lincoln.

The reason for this expansion is to employ as many as 300 people in 15 stores that will be opened in the coming five years.

CSL is the UK’s fastest growing sofa maker, which already has 16 outlets in northern parts of England. It now wants to establish its store in other parts of the UK as well.

It is mainly focusing on Midlands and southern regions of England. The stores are slated to come up by the end of 2010, that is during Christmas time.

The recent figures have claimed that the number of disposable plastic bags given to customers by leading UK supermarkets has marked a significant slip in the fourth straight year.

The total has been recorded to be lower by over 43% touching 6.1 billion in the year to May compared to 10.6 billion posted in 2006, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) claimed.

The figures highlight the plunge of over 37% recorded in the year to May 2009. Over the same period, the net weight of material used has lowered by more than 50%.

Asil Nadir, ex-business tycoon, who fled the UK almost two decades ago to his original home in Cyprus after his Polly Peck business submerged, is now reported to return back to the UK to face fraud charges levied against him.

The 69-year-old ex-tycoon was scheduled to land at Luton Airport at around noon. As per the reports, he had to submit his newly issued British passport to Serious Fraud Office investigators.

Sales are said to have improved in the final quarter at the Punch's managed pubs by 2.6pc in the last 12 weeks. The same is said to have fallen by 2pc over the year. Last year, the owner of these pubs is said to have sold pubs worth £300m, and lessened its debt to £3.1bn from £684m.

The earnings however might come out to be deteriorating by around 11pc as a result of lower margins on beer and Punch spending almost £2m a month to sustain the struggling tenants.

John Wood Group’s Chief Executive said that the Scottish oil services heavyweight was in the process of striking a deal worth $200m acquirement, which is going to be its best and biggest deal so far.

Allister Langlands said that the Company concerned is one of the potential targets that the firm is eyeing as a fraction of its plans, so as to fashion up expansion in major areas of the world.

The Aberdeen-based Company is as well in discussions in regards to smaller deals.

The State Attorney General, along with Virginia’s Ken Cuccinelli, has directed the online classified advertising website to remove the entire adult services content from its list since they think that the list features advertisements on flesh trade and trafficking children.

A bipartisan congregation of prosecutors from 17 states forwarded a memo to Craiglist officers to demand an immediate action on ending the misery of women and kids who may be the victims of these ads.

As the wagers received heavy profits on Monday, the shares of the Allied Farmers gained 10%. Allied National Finance having debt of $130 million went into receivership.

On receiver’s request, the Allied Nationwide Finance was not allowed to trade on stock exchange on Monday.

The Company’s assets and loan books are now under the possession of McGrathNicol’s Kerryn Downey and Andrew Grenfell.

On Friday, the shares of the Allied Farmers slipped by 2.6%, but eventually came out of loses on Monday.

According to New Zealand Winegrowers Chairman Stuart Smith, declining profits is one of the most important challenges grape-growers and wineries are facing at present.

He said that the present condition is difficult for the grape and wine sector.

Export of different wines went up by 5% in the last year to a price of $NZ1.04 billion.

Because of the abundant growth of 285,000 tonnes in 2009 and 2008, the industry has now an oversupply of wine.

Competition watchdog of Australia, Graeme Samuel has been able to secure a fraction of $50 million fortune in discount store chain DFO, which had been in danger because of a bad business deal that had been struck.

The stake in the parent firm of DFO, which Mr. Samuel owned, had been kept in a blind trust for the head of the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission and ex-AFL Commissioner.