Microsoft Lumia will replace the Nokia brand

Microsoft started dropping hints about its plans to kill off the Nokia and Windows Phone brands last month, and now the company is ready to make it official. Microsoft Lumia is the new brand name that takes the place of Nokia for the software maker. The name change follows a slow transition from Nokia.com over to Microsoft's new mobile site, and Nokia France will be the first of many countries that adopt "Microsoft Lumia" for its Facebook, Twitter, and other social media accounts. Microsoft has confirmed to The Verge that other countries will follow the rebranding steps in the coming weeks.

Microsoft's decision to drop the Nokia brand itself doesn't mean that Nokia is going away fully. Nokia still exists as a separate company without its phones business, and the Finnish firm now focuses on mapping and network infrastructure. Microsoft's choice to use Lumia as the Nokia replacement won't come as a surprise to many. Nokia's Windows Phone apps have been rebranded to Lumia recently, and holiday ads will be pushing Lumia instead of Nokia.

What's not clear is how Microsoft will handle the branding on its future Windows Phone. Existing Lumia devices carry the Nokia logo at the front and back typically, and Microsoft could opt for just Lumia or Microsoft at the front and back, or even the lengthier Microsoft Lumia combination. We'll likely have to wait until Microsoft announces a new Lumia after the rebranding exercise to understand exactly how the company will label its future Windows Phones.

Japanese businesses cut investment amid growth concerns

Japanese firms cut their investment in business expansion during the second quarter, indicating continued fears about Japan's economic growth.

Companies spent 7.7tn yen ($101bn; £62bn) on plant and equipment, a 7.8% decline from a year earlier, the ministry of finance said.

This was the first year-on-year decline in investment in four quarters.

Japan's economy is currently in a recession, and has contracted for three consecutive quarters.

"There are negative tendencies in the overseas markets due to concerns of a global economic slowdown," Junko Nishioka of RBS Securities told the BBC.

"That is driving the negative sentiment among Japanese manufacturers," she added.

Yen factor

A slowdown in key markets such as the US and Europe has dealt a double blow to the Japanese manufacturers.

First, demand from these two markets has declined, hurting growth in Japan's export-dependent economy.

To make matters worse, uncertainty about growth in the developed economies has seen investors flee to safe-haven assets such as the yen, sending the value to the Japanese currency to record levels in recent days.

The yen has remained strong despite two interventions by the government to try and weaken it.

Shifting base?

A strong currency not only makes Japanese goods more expensive to buyers but also hurts their profits when they repatriate their foreign earnings back home.

Analysts said that a strong currency was deterring firms from expanding their business in Japan.

"I think there are signs that Japanese manufacturers are shifting their productions lines overseas," Ms Nishioka said.

"Some surveys have indicated that as many as 40% of manufacturers were considering to shift abroad." she added.

7 Interesting Facts about Your Health

Get crushed

Crush garlic before cooking it, suggests the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. Heat damages the enzymes in the gloves that prevent blood clots. By crushing it, it minimizes the effect heat may have on it.

Take a scoop

Ice cream may help you get pregnant, thanks to a fat-soluble dairy compound, according to a Harvard School of Public Health Study.

Fat attack

A high-fat meal makes it harder for your heart to cope with stress notes a study in in the Journal of Nutrition. Blood pressure can rise after a meal high in saturated fats. So if you have a hectic schedule, pack a healthy lunch.

Main Squeeze

Grapefruit has always been a diet classic; now a study in the Journal of medicinal Food shows how the sweet-and-sour citrus may help weight loss. Citrus keeps insulin levels low, which might help your body burn more fat.

Cancer kicker

Two cups of beans a week cut your risk for colon cancer by 65% says search of the South African Cancer association.

Bye-Bye belly

Another reason to eat breakfast – it may give you flatter abs. Researchers have found that breakfast skippers have bigger tummies than those who regularly have a morning meal.