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Sachin: We are here to win Champions League

admin — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 09:26:53 +0000

With cricket reeling from match-fixing allegations, the Champions League Twenty20 tournament will be played under strict anti-corruption controls amid hopes the gloom surrounding a sport that has slumped to one of its lowest points will be lifted.

The International Cricket Council’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit, a local security firm and ground officials will all be on alert, organisers say, when 10 teams compete in South Africa for the title in the two-week tournament from Friday.

The Indian Premier League is represented by the Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore. Australia has the South Australian Redbacks and Victorian Bushrangers, and the host nation will field the Warriors and Highveld Lions.

New Zealand domestic champions Central Stags, Sri Lanka’s Wayamba Elevens and Guyana of the West Indies complete the line-up.

Despite talent shortage in IT, India will remain competitive: Infosys CEO

admin — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 09:25:32 +0000

Despite a shortage of talent in the Information Technology sector in India, the country would remain competitive at least for the next five to 10 years, a top official of Infosys said here today.

“Globally there is shortage of IT talent…it is there even in the United States and also in India. But India will continue to be competitive for at least the next five to 10 years,” Infosys CEO and Managing Director Kris S. Gopalakrishnan told reporters in Chennai.

Stating that salaries offered would be the same for one employed locally in an offshoring site to one who shifts base from India, he said there would be additional charges by means of visa transportation and family transportation.

Asked whether the US market was passing stringent laws to restrict Indian companies setting up off shore facilities in the US he said the market there is one of the most open in the world, a reason why most Indian companies have maximum percentage of business coming from there.

Nasscom terms U.S. move discriminatory

admin — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 09:23:43 +0000

Terming the outsourcing ban threat by the State of Ohio in the U.S. as “discriminatory’, the Indian information technology industry on Wednesday said any such move was against the policy of open markets and hampers promotion of free trade. The IT industry has decided to register its opposition with the U.S. administration besides seeking help from the Indian government to take the matter with the American government.

“Ohio State’s proposed ban on outsourcing of government IT projects comes at a time when the November elections to the U.S. Congress and Ohio governorship are drawing nearer. There is more such electoral rhetoric that can be expected in the next few months,” the National Association of Software and Service Companies (Nasscom) said in a statement. Through an executive order last month, Ohio Governor Ted Strickland prohibited the expenditure of public funds for services provided offshore. Pointing out that globally, governments were beginning to see the benefits that could be reaped out of employing IT in public services, Nasscom said India too was opening up not only in IT, but also other areas, representing a growth market for global and domestic companies.

Prime Minister’s remarks termed anti-poor

admin — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 09:21:04 +0000

The steering group of the Right to Food Campaign on Wednesday expressed its “shock” at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s statement asking the Supreme Court not to interfere with policy and said it showed how “completely anti-poor” the government was.

In a press release here, the Campaign — a conglomeration of rights and civil society groups — said that when, under the Constitution, people had the Right to Life as well as the right to approach courts, “the statement showed that the head of the Executive, does not want the Fundamental Right of the people to be realised, and worse, interferes with their right to get justice.”

“We are glad that the Prime Minister has finally spoken up on the food issue, as it has ended up further confirming that this government is completely anti-poor,” said the Campaign.

“While we agree that ideally the role of the courts in policy making should be limited, the citizens have a right to approach the Supreme Court in situations like the present scenario when the Executive has failed to ensure that the rights of people are protected. It is indeed ironic that while the same Prime Minister treated the delay in preparations for the Commonwealth Games as an emergency, the response to the hunger situation in the country is yet to come,” it said.
Read More : www.thehindu.com/news/national/article621572.ece

Labor must build anew, Gillard says

admin — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 09:18:35 +0000

PRIME Minister Julia Gillard has called on Labor MPs to build on the future and not dwell on the past at the party’s first caucus meeting since being returned to power.

But she faced a call from the rank and file for Labor to be more respectful of Westminster traditions, in a clear criticism of the way in which Kevin Rudd was dumped as leader.

Addressing the caucus at Parliament House in Canberra today, Ms Gillard delivered her report card on the outcome of the August 21 election, saying Labor had picked up some messages during the campaign.

Labor MPs would be asked to contribute to a serious review of the election and the party’s future direction, she said.

While Labor scored a number of first-term achievements, including insulating the economy from the worst of the global financial crisis, it was clear from the election that the party had to “renew our sense of purpose”, she said.

Curfew lifted from entire Kashmir Valley

admin — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 09:17:02 +0000

Curfew was lifted on Thursday from all parts of the Kashmir Valley on the eve of Eid-ul-Fitr.

“Curfew has been lifted from all parts of Srinagar city, and Anatnag and Bijbehara towns in south Kashmir in view of Eid-ul-Fitr,” a police official told PTI.

Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated on Friday or Saturday, depending on the sighting of the new moon, which marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadhan.

Curfew was imposed in Srinagar city on Tuesday and in Anantnag and Bijbehara towns on Wednesday after violent protests broke out in these areas over the killing of four persons allegedly in police firing at Palhalan in Pattan area of Baramulla district, 30 kms from here, on Monday.

Meanwhile, a police spokesman said several incidents of stone-pelting and arson were reported from different parts of Srinagar and Budgam district late last evening.

“Some miscreants torched a car at Ompora in Budgam district,” he said.

A 55-year-old civilian, identified as Ghulam Mohammed Guroo, was injured when he was apparently hit by a brick during a stone pelting incident at Bemina, the spokesman said.

Karunanidhi confident of DMK coming back to power

admin — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 09:04:02 +0000

Urging party workers and leaders to ignore criticism levelled with an ulterior motive by Opposition leaders, DMK president and Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on Wednesday exuded confidence that the party would see through the implementation of the Kalaignar Housing Scheme by coming back to power after the next elections.

Any apprehension on the continuity of the six-year project, the implementation of which has just commenced, was unwarranted.

“We are certain to come to power again. I hope to be alive till all the 21 lakh enumerated beneficiaries are provided with concrete houses. Have I let any of the schemes unaccomplished?” Mr. Karunanidhi asked while addressing a public meeting that saw a huge turnout of exuberant party workers. Taking a dig at CPI Leader Nallakannu’s article in a vernacular daily questioning the feasibility of the Kalaignar Housing Scheme, Mr. Karunanidhi said the negative thought had arisen in the mind of the respected leader owing to his predicament of having to please his alliance leader.

Pakistan loses 2-0 to England in T20 series

admin — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 10:18:30 +0000

Pakistan’s disastrous tour of England hit a new low after making its worst Twenty20 total to lose by six wickets for its second defeat in the two-match series here.

Reeling from match-fixing allegations that have resulted in three of its players being suspended by the ICC, Pakistan was bowled out for 89 and then England reached 90-4 in 14 overs to win a record-equaling seventh straight T20 match yesterday.

Pakistan’s previous lowest T20 total was 125-9 at Australia in February.

Tim Bresnan took 3-10, while England teammates Ryan Sidebottom, Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann took two wickets each.

England captain Paul Collingwood made 21 and Eoin Morgan 18 not out in front of 5,821 people, just over a third of Sophia Gardens’ capacity.

“It was irresponsible and immature the way we played,” Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi said.
Read More: www.thehindu.com/sport/cricket/article620871.ece

Less than 10% Indians exposed to basic financial services: Investcare

admin — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 10:15:03 +0000

Samar Vijay, founder director, Investcare, tells why Indians have not realised the full potential of the opportunities in the sector.

What prompted you to venture into the business of personal finance? How has been the response of Indian customers?

India is at the threshold of a major change – primarily because of rapid shift in its demographic composition and secondly because of the resulting push from common people for the quality service.

Finance industry is no different, and is in fact one of the major drivers of matured and developed market. The sheer size of Indian market and its potential makes this, a compelling venture. The good news is that there seems to be insatiable appetite for quality and hence the reward for improvement.

How did you prepare yourself before getting into this business?

Wayne Swan says Labor committed to mining tax

admin — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 09:51:54 +0000

TREASURER Wayne Swan today said the mining tax would not be on the tax summit’s agenda next year because the Government was in the process of designing the measure and preparing legislation for parliamentary approval.

“But I am involving all members of the Parliament, including the Independents, in the discussion,” he told ABC Radio.

Mr Swan said Labor was committed to the tax, and a panel chaired by former BHP Billiton chairman Don Argus was looking at it in greater depth.

“Tony Windsor and the Independents will have views about the design of that tax which they can express to the Government but we have to move forward with legislation.”

The Opposition says the agreement which secured a Labor minority government had failed at the first hurdle.

“Labor is already sliding away from the deal they made with the country Independents,” Opposition frontbencher Christopher Pyne told ABC Radio.