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PARIS — Boeing’s defense business announced on Monday the launch of an Unmanned Airborne Systems division, which will group all drone projects to better compete for military contracts.

"The new division establishes a single team focused on implementing a common strategy for unmanned systems and services," said Jim Albaugh, president of Boeing Integrated Defense Systems. The Seattle-based unit will have roughly $400 million in revenue in its first year, Albaugh said. He forecast double-digit growth for the business in the future default payday loan.

Projects include the ScanEagle, for battlefield reconnaissance; the Phantom Ray, meant for surveillance and aerial attack; and the A160 Hummingbird, a long-endurance helicopter drone.

Boeing IDS is headquartered in St. Louis and has 70,000 employees worldwide.

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ADELAIDE, Australia – The iconic Australian food spread Vegemite is getting a makeover.

Kraft Foods Australia announced Sunday that a creamier variation of the product would be on store shelves July 5 alongside the original, which has been a staple in pantries Down Under almost since its invention here in 1922.

"With such a well-loved, iconic brand, we wouldn’t create something using the Vegemite name unless we were absolutely sure Australians would love it," said Simon Talbot, Kraft Australia’s head of corporate affairs.

Vegemite – a salty, slightly bitter spread made from brewer’s yeast – is such a part of Australian lifestyle that it even made mention as a sandwich in the 1980s hit song "Down Under" by Men at Work. Australians spread it on toast or crackers, top it with tomatoes or avocados, use it to flavour soups and gravies, pack a jar when travelling and write home for more when living abroad.

Kraft decided to make a new product after conducting a census of 300,000 Australians and New Zealanders to find out how they use Vegemite, Talbot told The Associated Press on Monday.

"We received a wish list of what Australians would like and decided to create a new version to complement the original," he said.

The end result is a Vegemite mixed with cream cheese for a smoother, more spreadable consistency. Talbot said the new product was given to 600 homes for testing and came back with overwhelmingly positive results loan until payday.

"It’s a milder version, more suited to dipping celery or carrots, easy to spread," Talbot said. "It’s a different flavour profile but still distinctly Vegemite."

It’s not the first time Kraft Australia has blended cheese and Vegemite. Noticing that some consumers made sandwiches of Vegemite and a slice of cheese, the company briefly introduced Vegemite singles – a flavoured cheese – in 1991.

Vegemite was concocted 87 years ago by Australian chemist Cyril Callister for the Fred Walker Cheese Company in Melbourne, which wanted a vitamin B-rich spread that could compete with Britain’s popular Marmite.

Walker later partnered with American businessman James L. Kraft, and the company ultimately became Kraft Foods Australia, a division of the international U.S.-based company.

Kraft touts the still-unnamed product as "the new Vegemite experience."

Just like the original, which was named in a national poll in 1923, the new version will also be named by a public contest. Jars that go on sale next month will carry the label: "Name Me."

The contest is open-ended as Kraft selects the best name for the Vegemite partner.

"It’s in the hands of the Australian and New Zealand people," Talbot said.

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Booking a flight is getting a little more personal these days.

Under a new federal security program, all airlines will be required to ask for your name as it appears on your government-issued ID. Eventually, they also will ask for your date of birth and gender in an effort to bolster security and minimize the frequency of misidentifying passengers with people named on suspected terrorist lists.

The Transportation Security Administration will compare the additional information against government watch lists to decide whether travelers need extra screening — or are barred from flying altogether. Some airlines, including AirTran Airways, already have begun phasing in the program, called Secure Flight.

At Lambert-St. Louis International Airport, many travelers haven’t encountered the new requirements because the airport’s dominant carriers, American Airlines and Southwest Airlines, haven’t implemented them.

American says it will be begin gathering full names, dates of birth and gender sometime this fall. Southwest plans to start collecting the additional information by October.

All airlines are expected to be asking for names as they appear on IDs, dates of birth and gender by early 2010 for every domestic flight, said TSA spokeswoman Carrie Harmon. Similar information will be sought for all international flights by the end of 2010.

Before the Secure Flight program, airlines were responsible for matching travelers against the lists. The 9/11 Commission called for improvements to the matching process in 2004. The commission decided that matching "should be performed by TSA and it should utilize the larger set of watch lists maintained by the federal government."

Travelers have logged more than 58,100 complaints with the Department of Homeland Security’s Traveler Redress Inquiry Program since February 2007, Harmon said. Many contend people have had trouble boarding a plane because of watch-list issues, or that they have been needlessly singled out for additional screening.

Critics say the new program has its drawbacks.

"Secure Flight causes a lot of problems because it’s expensive and requires more data to be collected on everyone," said Chris Calabrese, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union’s technology and liberty program. "It may help some people who are erroneously matched on the watch list."

The TSA uses a subset of the terrorist watch list — the no-fly and selectee lists — to identify travelers who either are not permitted to fly or are subject to additional screening affordable car insurance.

Harmon said the no-fly and selectee lists contain about 16,000 people between them, with the no-fly list containing fewer than 2,500 individuals.

Auditors with the Government Accountability Office last month found that TSA had "made significant progress" toward reaching key Secure Flight milestones. But the TSA is still working on the system’s watch list matching capability, and cost and schedule estimates, the report found.

"Until these activities are completed," the GAO reported, "TSA lacks adequate assurance that Secure Flight will fully achieve its desired purpose and operate as intended."

TSA officials say traveler privacy will be protected. For instance, if a passenger’s name is not matched to watch lists, the data will be purged from the TSA systems after seven days.

Many passengers flying into Lambert recently said they weren’t troubled by the latest aviation security mandate.

Kate Spring of New Jersey said she was asked for her name as it appears on her ID when booking her flight to St. Louis on AirTran Airways. "If it’s for security, it doesn’t bother me a bit," Spring said while awaiting a ride outside Lambert’s Main Terminal.

The carrier, based in Orlando, Fla., began phasing in Secure Flight in mid-May, when it began asking travelers to furnish names in that manner, said AirTran spokeswoman Cynthia Tinsley-Douglas. AirTran will begin asking for dates of birth and gender information by Aug. 15.

Travelers have had questions about the name requirement but seem to be taking it in stride, Tinsley Douglas said. "We haven’t had too much push-back that I’m aware of."

But Bill Plachte of Denver said he doesn’t think the new security program will eliminate the problem of people being mistaken for those on watch lists.

"Because you’re not getting enough information," Plachte said after his Southwest Airlines flight arrived in St. Louis last week. "You’re not getting (Social Security) numbers. … They’re going halfway."

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Canada’s three biggest wireless carriers are set to jointly announce a new service that allows subscribers to use their mobile devices to send money back and forth as easily as they swap text messages – a tentative first step into the realm of mobile commerce.

Dubbed Zoompass, the PayPal-like service is set to be launched Monday by a company called EnStream, a joint venture involving Rogers Communications Inc., Bell Canada Inc. and Telus Corp.

Subscribers will be able to set up a Zoompass account and load it with money from their bank accounts or credit cards using pre-authorized payments.

After downloading a Zoompass application, they can then use their mobile device to send money to any other registered user for a 50 cent fee.

The catch is that subscribers won’t be able to use the service to wirelessly purchase items from retailers, although they will be able to use a special Mastercard to access money in their Zoompass accounts.

But the wireless companies behind Zoompass believe it’s only a matter of time before mobile devices will take on the roles of regular credit and debit cards, among other things.

"Think of it as a mobile wallet, with this as the cash part," said David Robinson, vice-president of new business planning for Rogers personal loans. "Credit cards come next. Then loyalty programs, keys and (personal) identification. "This is the beginning of mobile commerce."

Robinson said Rogers is in the midst of a trial project with Royal Bank of Canada and Visa that essentially consists of "downloading a real live credit card on a mobile phone." He said the system works like the "contactless" credit-card technology already in use at some gas stations and Tim Hortons outlets – but instead of flashing a credit card equipped with a tiny radio antenna, wireless subscribers would simply wave their devices. Similar mobile payment systems are already in use in other countries, including Japan and South Korea.

Robinson said it will take time for the idea of mobile payments to catch on in North America because merchants will need to update their systems with the necessary technology. Handset makers will also need to start producing devices with special chips.

"We think over time, as the functionality increases, this will become a material piece of business for us."

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The International Monetary Fund has raised its global growth estimates for 2010 to 2.4 pe rcent from 1.9 per cent in April because of stimulus measures taken in recent months, a G8 source who has seen the latest figures said.

The recovery will be gradual, however, and the risks to the outlook are on the downside, the source told Reuters on Thursday, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"The forecast for global growth in 2010 has moved to 2.4 per cent from 1.9 per cent in April," the source said. "The estimate has improved thanks to the impact of stimulus measures taken in recent months."

The source had access to an IMF briefing note for the G8 finance ministers' meeting in Italy this weekend which contained the figures.

In the note, the forecast for the global economy in 2009 is unchanged, with the IMF still expecting a contraction of 1 absolutely free credit report.3 percent, as outlined in its World Economic Outlook published in April.

"The note points to a better performance in the U.S. economy in 2009 and a worse one from Europe" compared to April IMF estimates of a 2.8 per cent fall and a 4.2 per cent drop respectively, the source added, without giving updated figures.

"For 2010, the IMF note suggests an improvement for the United States along with a slight increase in the estimate for Europe" compared with April's expectations of zero growth and a contraction of 0.4 per cent respectively.

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Luxury goods groups need to brace themselves for at least two more years of pain, with big-ticket items such as cars and watches suffering most, even if some U.S. brands and retailers are seeing signs of recovery.

Luxury goods executives told the Reuters Global Luxury Summit this week they were doing their best to preserve cash and cut costs, delaying store openings and cutting advertising.

It will probably take longer than first thought to reverse negative trends as consumers feel uncomfortable spending $40,000 on a Chopard watch or $400,000 on a Lamborghini while thousands are losing their jobs and the economic future remains uncertain.

“I think the crisis is very deep,” said Lamborghini Chief Executive Stephan Winkelmann, adding the sports car maker had cut production by 30 percent this year.

“A lot of companies are going out of business,” he said.

Global luxury goods sales are set to drop by at least 10 percent this year and remain sluggish in 2010, industry experts and analysts predict. Consultants Bain & Co do not see a full recovery before 2012.

“In my opinion, turbulence will last long, maybe two years,” Hermes Chief Executive Patrick Thomas said.

Watchmakers could see the worst in the autumn, said Swiss luxury timepiece maker Parmigiani Fleurier, as overstocked retailers will not want to place major orders before the pre-Christmas season.

Burberry predicted so-called “aspirational” consumers were unlikely to return to buying expensive items any time soon best payday advance. The British luxury brand has axed 15 percent of staff and cut inventories by 19 percent.

U.S. fashion company Liz Claiborne said it expected sales to remain under pressure for some time as even shoppers who could still afford to splurge had become more thrifty.

“It’s not a matter of ‘what she can afford to spend?’ It’s ‘what’s the price that she can get it at?’” said Liz Claiborne Chief Executive William McComb.

EMERGING, BUT NOT ENOUGH

The longer term prospects of the luxury industry remain attractive as the number of affluent buyers is set to rise further and several regions such as central Asia, Siberia, Latin America and India have not yet been fully tapped.

But this is unlikely to be enough to make up for the pain in established markets, especially as the slowdown is forcing luxury groups to hold back investments in the newer frontiers.

“Emerging markets growth is likely to contribute the bulk of future luxury goods market growth but it is not likely to offset the impact of lower macro-economic growth in the next 5-10 years and bring us back to luxury goods market growth of the past 5-10 years,” Bernstein Research said in a note. 

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The Toronto stock market drifted to a flat close Tuesday but the market found support from the energy sector as oil prices closed at their highest level in seven months.

The S&P/TSX composite index slipped 1.26 points to 10,547.86, stalling for a second day as investors worry the three month old rally may have run its course.

Hopes for higher energy demand from Asia and recovering global economies helped push the July crude contract on the New York Mercantile Exchange up $1.92 to US$70.01, the highest close since early November.

The oil price jump helped push up shares of Calgary-based Suncor Energy Inc. (TSX: SU), a major oilsands operator, by 90 cents to $38.66.

Oil prices have more than doubled from just four months ago and the rally in energy stocks has helped push the TSX up over 35 per cent since the lows of March 9.

But the weakening on markets this week is suggestive of a market split on the outlook for later this year.

"You have a lot of people that are on the sidelines that are not believers in this rebound/recovery story, you have lot of people who don't think the economic recovery will take shape any time in late 2009 or early 2010," said Paul Vaillancourt, director of asset allocation at Franklin Templeton Managed Solutions.

"And then you have others that think absolutely this is the beginning of a new bull market because the indexes worldwide have rallied 30, 40 per cent from the lows. So you have this dichotomy."

For his part, Vaillancourt believes the markets are “appropriately priced" at current levels, which are still well off the highs of just above the 15,000-mark about a year ago.

U.S. dollar weakness made for another volatile day for the Canadian currency, which was up 1.11 cents to 90.65 cents US. It has swung wildly in recent weeks, but has gained ground generally on higher energy prices, seen by money traders as a good thing for Canada's resources-dependent economy.

The TSX Venture Exchange climbed 12.14 points to 1,143.96.

New York markets were mainly weaker for a third day as the U.S. Treasury Department gave approval for 10 of the largest U.S. banks to repay US$68 billion in government bailout money.

The money came from the $700-billion emergency rescue fund created by Congress at the height of the financial crisis in October.

The Dow Jones industrial average moved 1.43 points lower to 8,763.06.

The Nasdaq was up 17.73 points to 1,860.13, supported by positive news from chip maker Texas Instruments Inc., which raised expectations for its second-quarter profit and revenue and its shares ran ahead $1.25 to US$21.02.

The S&P 500 was up 3.29 points at 942.43.

The U.S. banks, which weren't named, have been eager to get out of the program to escape government restrictions such as caps on executive compensation.

Experts have said such repayments show some stability has returned to the banking sector, which was thrown into chaos last fall with the collapse of Lehman Brothers.

Also focusing investor attention this week is speculation that the U health insurance.S. Federal Reserve could begin raising interest rates sooner than thought has grown because U.S. Treasuries continue to weaken, forcing yields higher.

The yield is a widely used benchmark for home mortgages and other loans.

The U.S. 10-year Treasury was down two basis point from late Monday – its highest level this year – to 3.87 per cent, partly over the uncertainty caused by Monday's move by the U.S. Supreme Court to order a stay on the deal to sell Chrysler to Italian automaker Fiat. However, investors found some reassurance from Fiat's statement that it is committed to buying a controlling stake in the distressed U.S. automaker.

Elsewhere on the Toronto market, the base metals sector was one per cent higher as bullish sentiment over commodities pushed the July copper contract in New York up 11.25 cents, or five per cent, to US$2.3655 a pound.

Sherritt International Corp. (TSX: S), a Toronto-based nickel miner, coal producer and power company, rose six cents to C$4.95.

Thompson Creek Metals Company Inc. (TSX: TCM) increased its production guidance on Monday in response to recent improvements in the molybdenum market. Its shares moved up 80 cents to $11.62.

Inmet Mining Corp. (TSX: IMN) shares fell $4.04 to C$44.50 after it said Monday that it has signed a deal to raise $300 million by issuing 6.75 million common shares in a bought deal

Shares in Potash Corp. (TSX: POT) gained $2.67 to $127.50 after the president and CEO predicted 2010 will be a "record year" for the fertilizer industry as farmers worldwide, who have been cutting fertilizer use in response to the global recession, re-enter the market in droves.

The August bullion contract in New York was up $2.20 to US$954.70 and the gold sector was the biggest decliner, down 2.3 per cent. Barrick Gold Corp. (TSX: ABX) faded $1.09 to C$39.77.

Financials were also a weight, down 0.7 per cent.

In other corporate news, Heritage Oil Ltd. (TSX: HOC) announced an all-stock reverse-takeover agreement with Genel Enerji A.S., an oil company with interests in Iraq. The deal will see Heritage issue 260 million ordinary shares in exchange for the entire share capital of Genel. Based on Monday's closing price of Heritage shares on the TSX, the deal is valued at about $3.02 billion. Its shares rose 57 cents to $12.19.

Air Canada (TSX: AC.B) shares were ahead four cents to $1.45 after the carrier reached a tentative deal with three of its unions on pension funding which calls for a 21-month moratorium on pension funding, with management agreeing to let employees become part-owners of the airline.

Canada's largest cheesemaker, Saputo Inc. (TSX: SAP) reported slightly lower net profits for the latest year and fourth quarter, but the company saw a sharp jump in revenues, mainly from the acquisition of the Neilson Dairy business in southern Ontario. Its shares rose 35 cents to $22.05.

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Hanfeng Evergreen Inc., a producer of slow and controlled release fertilizers in China, says it will build another polymer coated urea production line with its 50-50 joint venture partner, Shandong Mingshui Great Chemical Group.

The expansion will cost about $5 million, with each partner paying their share, Hanfeng, which trades in Toronto, and its partner, known as Minghua, said yesterday.

"Since construction commenced at the first 100,000 (tonnes a year) PCU facility, we have experienced significant demand from our existing customers for slow release products," said Jianzhong Shi, president of Minghua saving account payday loan. "Hanfeng and Minghua have agreed to construct the second 100,000 (tonne) facility as we expect customer orders will outstrip our production capacity in the near term."

Construction of the new line, to begin in August, is scheduled for completion in the third quarter of 2010.

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Introduced: 1982

Beer style: American-style light lager.

Market share: Bud Light has 47 percent of the premium-light segment.

Advertising: Bud Light’s "Real Men of Genius" campaign has earned more than 100 advertising awards since it was launched in 2000. Five Bud Light commercials have captured the top overall spot in USA Today’s "Ad Meter," which polls consumers on how much they like each year’s Super Bowl ads cheap business cards.

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NEW YORK — Chrysler LLC is planning on resuming production at the majority of its plants by the last week of June, said Steven Landry, a company executive. No list of plants or timeline was provided.

Chrysler idled all of its factories almost immediately after it filed for bankruptcy protection as it sought to reduce excess inventory easy fast payday loans.

Before it filed for bankruptcy in April, Chrysler idled its Ram pickup assembly plant in Fenton. The plant is scheduled for permanent closure by the end of September.

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