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Karthick Dharman
Posted in: British ActressesThursday, 29 September 2011
Sunday, 25 September 2011
Saturday, 24 September 2011
Us Shutdown A Step Closer As Senate Kills Bill
WASHINGTON: The Senate voted on Friday morning to reject the House's stopgap spending bill, less than twelve hours after the House's Republican leaders had forced it through on their second try.
The Senate vote was 59 to 36 to table the House bill, effectively killing it. Some conservative Republicans joined in rejecting the measure . The House, in the wee hours of Friday morning, had passed its latest version of a stopgap spending bill after rejecting on Wednesday a nearly identical version of the legislation, which is needed to keep the government open after September 30 and to provide assistance to victims of natural disasters. The House vote was 219 to 203. The bill, to finance government operations for seven weeks after start of the fiscal year on October 1, faces problems in the Senate.
The Senate vote was 59 to 36 to table the House bill, effectively killing it. Some conservative Republicans joined in rejecting the measure . The House, in the wee hours of Friday morning, had passed its latest version of a stopgap spending bill after rejecting on Wednesday a nearly identical version of the legislation, which is needed to keep the government open after September 30 and to provide assistance to victims of natural disasters. The House vote was 219 to 203. The bill, to finance government operations for seven weeks after start of the fiscal year on October 1, faces problems in the Senate.
Posted in: Breaking News
Global Ceos Head For India
MUMBAI: India's significance as an emerging market is growing steadily with more global CEOs flying into the country to review operations and look at growth opportunities. While the trickle used to start closer to the winters, this year it seems to have picked up pace early. The latest to join the list is GlaxoSmithKline CEO, Andrew Witty who will be in Mumbai on September 26 for a two-day visit.
Around the same time the top leadership team of GE, including CEO Jeff Immelt, top bosses of Tokio Marine Holdings, Shuzo Sumi, and EMA Partners International, James Douglas, would also be flying down, while that of German giant Siemens Peter Loescher and Reckitt Benckiser, Rakesh Kapoor are already here. Other top bosses like that of Walt Disney and ANZ Grindlays were also on a visit here recently.
Sources said Witty will hold a review of the domestic company's operations and discuss future plans of the subsidiary. GSK India has 4.2% share of the Rs 60,000 crore organized retail market, and grew around 8% in August ( IMS Health). Overall, the pharma market had a growth of around 16%. One of the top products of the company, antibiotic drug Augmentin is the largest selling retail brand with sales of around Rs 240-odd crore. The company is ranked fourth in terms of market share and has been posting a strong growth over the last couple of years. In an attempt to improve access to medicine, Witty has been making key changes in the company's strategy, and `tier pricing' policy in developing countries like India is a step in this direction.
India is becoming a key driver for global companies, with its growing domestic market, steady growth rate and burgeoning middle class.
Emerging economies like China, Russia, Brazil and India are attractive to global companies across sectors as most developed markets are stagnant. As against this, emerging markets, particularly for pharma, are growing at a faster rate, mostly double-digit.
Not just the global CEOs, even celebrity Paris Hilton is in India this weekend to get a piece of the growing luxury market, and launch her exclusive line. Other CEOs slated to visit later this year include Jeffrey Joerres of Manpower group, and Ben J Verwaayen of Alcatel-Lucent France.
Around the same time the top leadership team of GE, including CEO Jeff Immelt, top bosses of Tokio Marine Holdings, Shuzo Sumi, and EMA Partners International, James Douglas, would also be flying down, while that of German giant Siemens Peter Loescher and Reckitt Benckiser, Rakesh Kapoor are already here. Other top bosses like that of Walt Disney and ANZ Grindlays were also on a visit here recently.
Sources said Witty will hold a review of the domestic company's operations and discuss future plans of the subsidiary. GSK India has 4.2% share of the Rs 60,000 crore organized retail market, and grew around 8% in August ( IMS Health). Overall, the pharma market had a growth of around 16%. One of the top products of the company, antibiotic drug Augmentin is the largest selling retail brand with sales of around Rs 240-odd crore. The company is ranked fourth in terms of market share and has been posting a strong growth over the last couple of years. In an attempt to improve access to medicine, Witty has been making key changes in the company's strategy, and `tier pricing' policy in developing countries like India is a step in this direction.
India is becoming a key driver for global companies, with its growing domestic market, steady growth rate and burgeoning middle class.
Emerging economies like China, Russia, Brazil and India are attractive to global companies across sectors as most developed markets are stagnant. As against this, emerging markets, particularly for pharma, are growing at a faster rate, mostly double-digit.
Not just the global CEOs, even celebrity Paris Hilton is in India this weekend to get a piece of the growing luxury market, and launch her exclusive line. Other CEOs slated to visit later this year include Jeffrey Joerres of Manpower group, and Ben J Verwaayen of Alcatel-Lucent France.
Posted in: Breaking News
117 Indians Deported From Saudi Arabia
CHENNAI: More than 100 Indian nationals, who were deported from Saudi Arabia for not possessing valid documents, arrived here on Sept 22.
A total of 117 people, many residents of several states in northern India, arrived by a Saudi Airlines flight, airport officials said.
They were imprisoned in Saudi Arabia as they did not possess valid travel documents.
A total of 117 people, many residents of several states in northern India, arrived by a Saudi Airlines flight, airport officials said.
They were imprisoned in Saudi Arabia as they did not possess valid travel documents.
Posted in: Breaking News
Australian Varsity Seeks To Attract More Indian Students
NEW DELHI: With the Australian government easing visa norms, flow of students from overseas, including India, is expected to increase, the vice chancellor of the prestigious New South Wales University of Sydney believes. He also expects greater cooperation with universities and institutes in India.
"We are very delighted with the new visa regulations," Vice Chancellor Fred Hilmer told IANS after the announcement on the new visa norms Thursday. "The new policy will see an increase in the flow of students."
Hilmer, who was in India for the first alumni meet of the university in India, says the earlier regime was not competitive with other countries. Australia had tightened the visa regime, stating that many students came to the country to settle down by taking admissions in non-skilled vocational courses like cookery and hair-cutting.
The number of students going to Australia also went down significantly earlier this year following attacks on Indian students and tough immigration policies. According to Australian government figures, the numbers fell by almost 50 percent in January.
The vice chancellor said the attacks were a matter of the past and were not necessarily racial.
"We had no problems in the universities; it was in some vocational colleges. But the publicity was damaging. Now that is behind us and the atmosphere in Australia is friendly and safe," he said.
"We felt visa requirements in Australia were not in competition with other countries. It took too long, and the cost was too high," he said.
"We have 20 MoUs with Indian universities, I also met the VCs of Delhi University, Jawaharlal Nehru University and National Law University. We are looking forward to how we can get in student- and research-based collaborations," Hilmer said.
The New South Wales University is known for its courses in engineering, management, medicine and science. Out of an approximate 40,000 students, around 400 are Indian.
The university has some student exchange programmes and is looking forward to forging more ties. Some of the premier institutes being looked at are the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, and IIM Ahmedabad.
Under the new visa rules, the financial requirement for student visas will be eased and applicants will need around 36,000 Australian dollars less.
Post-study work visas will allow students to remain in Australia for two to four years after their course ends, depending on their level of qualification.
"I don't see racial bias. Australia is an immigrant country; we have people from different nationalities," he said.
Citing an example of diversity, Hilmer said: "We have a park in front of our library, and the only statue in that park is of (Mahatma) Gandhi. You won't have that if we were racial. We identify people on the basis of their work."
The university is now focussing on attracting more students from India through exchange programmes and research collaborations with Indian institutes.
"We are very delighted with the new visa regulations," Vice Chancellor Fred Hilmer told IANS after the announcement on the new visa norms Thursday. "The new policy will see an increase in the flow of students."
Hilmer, who was in India for the first alumni meet of the university in India, says the earlier regime was not competitive with other countries. Australia had tightened the visa regime, stating that many students came to the country to settle down by taking admissions in non-skilled vocational courses like cookery and hair-cutting.
The number of students going to Australia also went down significantly earlier this year following attacks on Indian students and tough immigration policies. According to Australian government figures, the numbers fell by almost 50 percent in January.
The vice chancellor said the attacks were a matter of the past and were not necessarily racial.
"We had no problems in the universities; it was in some vocational colleges. But the publicity was damaging. Now that is behind us and the atmosphere in Australia is friendly and safe," he said.
"We felt visa requirements in Australia were not in competition with other countries. It took too long, and the cost was too high," he said.
"We have 20 MoUs with Indian universities, I also met the VCs of Delhi University, Jawaharlal Nehru University and National Law University. We are looking forward to how we can get in student- and research-based collaborations," Hilmer said.
The New South Wales University is known for its courses in engineering, management, medicine and science. Out of an approximate 40,000 students, around 400 are Indian.
The university has some student exchange programmes and is looking forward to forging more ties. Some of the premier institutes being looked at are the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, and IIM Ahmedabad.
Under the new visa rules, the financial requirement for student visas will be eased and applicants will need around 36,000 Australian dollars less.
Post-study work visas will allow students to remain in Australia for two to four years after their course ends, depending on their level of qualification.
"I don't see racial bias. Australia is an immigrant country; we have people from different nationalities," he said.
Citing an example of diversity, Hilmer said: "We have a park in front of our library, and the only statue in that park is of (Mahatma) Gandhi. You won't have that if we were racial. We identify people on the basis of their work."
The university is now focussing on attracting more students from India through exchange programmes and research collaborations with Indian institutes.
Posted in: Breaking News
Japan Launches New Spy Satellite
TOKYO: Japan launched a new spy satellite into orbit on Friday, officials said, in its latest effort to beef up surveillance against the threat of North Korean missiles.
The Japanese H-2A rocket carrying a new information-gathering optical satellite lifted off at 1.36pm (0436 GMT) from the Tanegashima Space Center in southwestern Japan.
"The rocket was launched successfully and the satellite was separated into an orbit around the earth later," Naoki Takarada, an official of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), said by telephone from Tanegashima.
It was Japan's latest effort to build an intelligence-gathering system following North Korea's missile launch in 1998 over the Japanese archipelago.
In defiance of international pressure, North Korea launched again what was believed to be a three-stage Taepodong-2 missile in April 2009, with an estimated range of 6,700 kilometres (4,100 miles).
Japan currently has three information-gathering satellites in orbit and the latest satellite will replace one of them which has passed its use-by date.
The three are all optical satellites, which can capture images in daylight and in clear weather.
In the next two years, Japan plans to launch two radar satellites, which can capture images at night and in cloudy weather.
The development cost of the fourth satellite has reached 36 billion yen ($470 million) with its launch expenses amounting to 10 billion yen, according to the government.
The rocket had been initially scheduled to be sent into orbit on August 28.
But the state-run JAXA and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries had to postpone the launch three times due to poor weather conditions with the approach of a powerful typhoon and the discovery of a system glitch.
The Japanese H-2A rocket carrying a new information-gathering optical satellite lifted off at 1.36pm (0436 GMT) from the Tanegashima Space Center in southwestern Japan.
"The rocket was launched successfully and the satellite was separated into an orbit around the earth later," Naoki Takarada, an official of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), said by telephone from Tanegashima.
It was Japan's latest effort to build an intelligence-gathering system following North Korea's missile launch in 1998 over the Japanese archipelago.
In defiance of international pressure, North Korea launched again what was believed to be a three-stage Taepodong-2 missile in April 2009, with an estimated range of 6,700 kilometres (4,100 miles).
Japan currently has three information-gathering satellites in orbit and the latest satellite will replace one of them which has passed its use-by date.
The three are all optical satellites, which can capture images in daylight and in clear weather.
In the next two years, Japan plans to launch two radar satellites, which can capture images at night and in cloudy weather.
The development cost of the fourth satellite has reached 36 billion yen ($470 million) with its launch expenses amounting to 10 billion yen, according to the government.
The rocket had been initially scheduled to be sent into orbit on August 28.
But the state-run JAXA and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries had to postpone the launch three times due to poor weather conditions with the approach of a powerful typhoon and the discovery of a system glitch.
Posted in: Breaking News
China Fails To Get Tibetan Refugees Deported From Nepal
KATHMANDU: An outcry by human rights groups and a tough ruling by Nepal's Supreme Court demolished the bid by Chinese authorities to compel Nepal's government into handing over to them a group of 23 Tibetan refugees, who had escaped from Tibet to Nepal earlier this month.
"We had been asking the government to release the 23 Tibetans who had been arrested by police," said advocate Indra Prasad Aryal, whose petition on Wednesday was the final straw that made Nepal's new Maoist government knuckle under pressure and free the detained group.
"Initially, state officials told us they would release the detainees. However, when the period of detention lengthened, we were alarmed, especially after the officials told us the Chinese authorities were asking them to deport the group. As for the refugees, they told us they faced torture if they were sent back, and possibly even hanging."
The refugees, including five women, were travelling in two different groups from Tibet with the aim of proceeding to India, where, under the Central Tibetan Administration, the Tibetan government in exile, they could be placed in appropriate religious schools or monasteries. While two members were in their 40s, 13 were between 18 and 28 years and the rest minors between 13 and 17.
The largest group of 20 fugitives was arrested in Bajura district, western Nepal, after crossing the Tibet-Nepal border in Humla district. Later, three more were arrested in Barabise, Sindupalchowk district, north-central Nepal.
Though in the past Nepal used to hand over such fugitives to the care of the UN refugee agency in Nepal, it has been increasingly under pressure from the Chinese government to crack down on them and even deport them to China. Police reportedly told the Human Rights Organisation of Nepal, the rights group Aryal is associated with, that the Chinese had asked Nepal that the issue be treated as one of trafficking and the group be handed over to the Chinese authorities.
While rights groups and western diplomats were urging the new Maoist government to free the Tibetans, the protests received a boost when Aryal filed a writ in court and the judge, Bharat Raj Upreti, ordered the government to stay the deportation till he had given his verdict.
"We had a strong case and would have won," Aryal told TNN. "We had a precedent 14 years ago when a Shia Muslim from Pakistan sought to stay his deportation, saying he would face torture if sent back. Realising its case was weak and also realising the negative international buzz it would create and affect the image of the government, the home ministry decided to release the Tibetans."
On Thursday, immigration authorities handed over the fearful group to officials of the UN refugee agency.
"Chinese authorities have taken advantage of political instability, the rise of the Maoists, and the need for resources to develop Nepal's infrastructure to gain an unprecedented leverage over Kathmandu's treatment of its long-standing Tibetan community," the Washington-based International Campaign for Tibet said.
"Beijing's influence over the Nepalese government, border forces, the judicial system and civil society at a time of political transition in Nepal means that Tibetans in Nepal are increasingly vulnerable, demoralized and at risk of arrest and repatriation."
"We had been asking the government to release the 23 Tibetans who had been arrested by police," said advocate Indra Prasad Aryal, whose petition on Wednesday was the final straw that made Nepal's new Maoist government knuckle under pressure and free the detained group.
"Initially, state officials told us they would release the detainees. However, when the period of detention lengthened, we were alarmed, especially after the officials told us the Chinese authorities were asking them to deport the group. As for the refugees, they told us they faced torture if they were sent back, and possibly even hanging."
The refugees, including five women, were travelling in two different groups from Tibet with the aim of proceeding to India, where, under the Central Tibetan Administration, the Tibetan government in exile, they could be placed in appropriate religious schools or monasteries. While two members were in their 40s, 13 were between 18 and 28 years and the rest minors between 13 and 17.
The largest group of 20 fugitives was arrested in Bajura district, western Nepal, after crossing the Tibet-Nepal border in Humla district. Later, three more were arrested in Barabise, Sindupalchowk district, north-central Nepal.
Though in the past Nepal used to hand over such fugitives to the care of the UN refugee agency in Nepal, it has been increasingly under pressure from the Chinese government to crack down on them and even deport them to China. Police reportedly told the Human Rights Organisation of Nepal, the rights group Aryal is associated with, that the Chinese had asked Nepal that the issue be treated as one of trafficking and the group be handed over to the Chinese authorities.
While rights groups and western diplomats were urging the new Maoist government to free the Tibetans, the protests received a boost when Aryal filed a writ in court and the judge, Bharat Raj Upreti, ordered the government to stay the deportation till he had given his verdict.
"We had a strong case and would have won," Aryal told TNN. "We had a precedent 14 years ago when a Shia Muslim from Pakistan sought to stay his deportation, saying he would face torture if sent back. Realising its case was weak and also realising the negative international buzz it would create and affect the image of the government, the home ministry decided to release the Tibetans."
On Thursday, immigration authorities handed over the fearful group to officials of the UN refugee agency.
"Chinese authorities have taken advantage of political instability, the rise of the Maoists, and the need for resources to develop Nepal's infrastructure to gain an unprecedented leverage over Kathmandu's treatment of its long-standing Tibetan community," the Washington-based International Campaign for Tibet said.
"Beijing's influence over the Nepalese government, border forces, the judicial system and civil society at a time of political transition in Nepal means that Tibetans in Nepal are increasingly vulnerable, demoralized and at risk of arrest and repatriation."
Posted in: Breaking News
