Asia / All Themes
China: Release Jailed Rights Activist Hu Jia
01.10.2008 12:08
humanrightswatch.org
Exonerate or Grant Medical Parole to Olympics Dissident The Chinese government should immediately exonerate or grant medical parole to imprisoned human rights activist Hu Jia, Human Rights Watch said just ahead of the sixth-month anniversary of his flawed conviction. Human Rights Watch also called on the government to cease the harassment and surveillance of HuÂ’s wife Zeng Jinyan and infant daughter Qianci.
China
Human Rights Protection
7 yrs old girl gets Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Award for Excellence in Animal Welfare
01.10.2008 08:33
b4uindia.com
Karunashram unit of People for Animals (Wardha) announces Ashraya Ananthanarayanan, a seven year old girl in Pennsylvania as the recipient of the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial award for excellence in animal welfare. K.L.Ramchander (OSK), ex Regional Director of Air India applauded Ashraya for her guts and gumption at such a tender age. Not one to shy away from injustice, Ashraya has taken every opportunity to champion the cause of animals. On receiving the award, Ashraya said, “Compassion is something everybody has. It''s just that sometimes we do not notice it ourselves or we do not have enough courage to bring it out. I believe that a person with a correct combination of values and character can bring about the revolution of peace in this world.” Ashraya learnt of Karunashram from Arthy and Ponnani, her parents. She immediately expressed her desire to help and donated Rs10, 000 from funds that she had raised from a dance recital. Karunashram and Ashraya share a unique relationship unaffected by distance. Last year, Ashraya was appointed the Child Ambassador of Karunashram in recognition of her fund raising efforts for the organization. There has been no stopping her ever since. In July, 2008, she received the Compassionate Kid award from PETA; the world''s largest animal welfare organization for rescuing a turtle from captivity. Ashraya hit the headlines in several newspapers for her brave act. Ashraya will also release her debut Piano CD in Dec 2008. It will be a joyful collection of Indian Classical songs and Western Classical on thespians. The proceeds of which shall go to help PETA, Karunashram and SEVA. Apart from being a young writer of the Amazing kids'' magazine of USA, she also plans to release her bud book in 2009 titled "THE RING OF HOPE" on compassion. Ashraya will also be featured in a book by Ninon de Vere De Rosa, the founder of Kids Talk Productions and in her TV Show as Voices of Tomorrow. For this tiny tot, there is no ''Next is what?'' She sure knows what''s next. Karunashram also announces the launch of V Pasta, a signature vegan dish by Ashraya to mark the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti. Available in Le Royal Meridien, Crepe Station, 5 The Restaurant, Royal Orchids and Moshes, V Pasta aims to celebrate the spirit of compassion in a dish. Earlier this year Karunashram also started the City''s Angel award to highlight the work of individuals towards animal welfare. Four Mumbaikars namely Anupama Hariharan, Shashi Iyer, Monika Mehta and Shilpa Mistry received the certificate of merit. Anupama Hariharan showed tremendous bravado in saving the life of a man who was hit by a vehicle on the Eastern express highway. Shashi and Shilpa, both suburbanites have constantly provided refuge to needy animals. Monika Mehta, a student of TISS initiated fostering and adoption services in association with Karunashram. Determined to fight a losing battle, Monika single-handedly organized the resources for ensuring adoption of puppies and kittens in Mumbai. Ravi Ramchander of Karunashram said that when their team first started work, they had no idea what they could do in Mumbai, as the shelter was based in Wardha. But the support from so many bright youngsters has infused fresh life into the cause and has made it possible to look beyond the periphery of the common towards something more uncommon. All we need is one brave person and one more. As Mahatma Gandhi said, “A coward is incapable of exhibiting love; it is the prerogative of the brave.” For more information on Karunashram, visit www.karunashram.com (ANI)
India
Economics & Finance
Audi starts production of new Audi A4 in India
01.10.2008 08:33
b4uindia.com
Total of 11,000 Audi A4 models to be produced by 2015. Audi is continuing to make its mark on the Indian automobile market. The company today announced the start of local assembly of the new Audi A4. “The successful model, which was launched on the Indian market in July this year, is the second Audi model to be produced at the Group plant in Aurangabad after the Audi A6. By 2015 we will have built a total of some 11,000 Audi A4 and 7,000 Audi A6 models in India, while investing over ?30 million in our Indian production site,” said Frank Dreves, Member of the Board of Management for Production at AUDI AG. “India is one of the most important future growth markets for Audi. Compared with last year, our vehicle sales in the first eight months of this year grew by over 190 percent to some 700 units,” stated Peter Schwarzenbauer, Member of the Board of Management for Marketing and Sales at AUDI AG. “We are in a great position to establish the Audi A4 successfully in the long term on the Indian market. We are also making excellent process with our dealer network, which is currently being expanded to twelve locations.” 50 employees work in CKD (Completely Knocked Down) production, which takes place in an exclusive part of the Group plant in Aurangabad. Assembly is in accordance with the worldwide quality standards of AUDI AG. Cutting-edge technology and highly skilled employees are the key to efficient production: the Indian team has been intensively prepared for their jobs with extensive training at the Audi plant in Neckarsulm (Germany) in the following areas: production, electronics, logistics and quality. “The outstanding infrastructure at the plant, highly developed working processes, a large pool of skilled workers and favorable logistical conditions combined with our Audi philosophy of “Vorsprung durch Technik” have resulted in Audi A4 CKD production starting two months ahead of schedule,” said Frank Dreves, Member of the Board of Management for Production at AUDI AG. By 2015 Audi plans to have built a total of over 18,000 cars in Aurangabad, around 11,000 of which will be Audi A4 models. In 2009, the first full year of production, 640 Audi A4 sedans will be assembled in a single-shift operation, as will 380 Audi A6 models. Audi aims to sell 1,000 units of the whole model range this year, 3,000 units per year by 2010 and 10,000 units per year by 2015. The Audi A4 will be the key contributor in achieving these targets. (ANI)
India
Economics & Finance
Money India launches a news website on consumer finance
01.10.2008 08:32
b4uindia.com
Venturian Media Limited a leading global online publishing and marketing company today announced the launch of their Indian consumer finance news and comparison site www.money-india.com which offers free and comprehensive tools for helping consumers to make better and faster choices when searching for the right product to suit their needs. Ross Travill, Marketing Director at Venturian said: “Our model is based on simplicity and offering a faster route to product application. Today''s lifestyle means that consumers often need to make decisions quickly and don''t have the time to look at multiple, often confusing offers meaning they end up with an unsuitable product. Our smart comparison tools cut through the noise and give the facts on the best products available saving our user''s time as well as money.” The site launched earlier this month and has already established itself as the number one destination for Indian consumers looking to find the cheapest and latest offers on credit cards, loans, insurance and banking products with its instant popularity proving to be a draw for India''s largest financial services companies looking to feature their products. Agreements have been signed already with Kotak, ICICI, Barclays, Deutsch Bank and Tata AIG with many more in the pipeline. Money India is expecting complete coverage of the Indian marketplace by early next year with their impartiality and commitment to best practice ultimately benefiting the consumer. Additionally, a dedicated news team based in Hyderabad and headed up by Sharat Prabhakar, a former Manager for South East Asia at New Corporation will be providing interactive news, insight and analysis aimed to appeal to a broad cross section of readers from educating the layman to professional and topical debate on the issues faced by the industry. Mr Prabhakar commented: “There is a lot of disinformation in the marketplace meaning that too often people are entering in to unsuitable credit arrangements, ultimately leading to a vicious cycle whereby borrowers default and therefore lenders are more likely to keep interest rates higher in order to compensate. Our aim is to educate consumers in to making sensible choices by only working with reputable lenders. By making people aware of the small print before they apply this will be beneficial to all stakeholders.” Whilst the Indian retail banking sector is still not as evolved as some other nations Prabhakar feels that Money India has launched at exactly the right time for the consumer with an increasing presence from Global lenders and the relaxing of previously tight anti-competition legislation – “Competition is finally increasing here too which is great news for the consumer providing they''re properly educated. Even government owned banks are waking up from a deep sleep and finding that in order to survive in this brave new world where customer is king they need to compete.” (ANI)
India
Economics & Finance
Protesters demand immediate relief for Kandhamal victims
01.10.2008 08:32
b4uindia.com
Bollywood filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt led a protest march to the United Nations information centre in New Delhi on Wednesday demanding immediate relief for the victims of ongoing violence in Kandhamal District of Orissa. Bhatt met the Director of the United Nations information centre Shalini Dewan and conveyed his concern about the need to extend urgent help to those suffering in Kandhamal. Bhatt said Dewan had given him assurance that adequate steps would be taken to provide relief to those suffering. “We came here with folded hands and bended knees to the United Nation because it is in the charter of the UN to provide urgent relief to those who are internally displaced. This is the 60th year of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and I wanted to plead to Shalini Dewanji to exhaust all possibilities to deliver urgent help to brothers and sisters who have been crying for help for quite some time,” said Bhatt. The protest saw the participation of a number of victims of Kandhamal violence seeking security. The victims claimed there was no end to atrocities committed on them and the Government''s apathetic attitude had forced them to come here. “Ever since August 23rd, when the riots started, our houses have been burnt. A lot of people have been murdered too. As a result, we had to hide ourselves and seek shelter in forests. Then we approached the relief camps. But even there, we were not provided security. A lot of people were poisoned. We do not have any secure place to stay. The Government has done nothing for us. So we came here seeking security,” said Sudesh Kumar, a victim. The attacks on Christians continue unabated in Orissa despite the State Government making desperate efforts to control the sectarian mayhem in the tribal-dominated region since the killing of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and four of his associates on August 23. Though additional companies of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel have been deployed, residents complain that as soon as there is any laxity in the security arrangement, incidents of violence start taking place. The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) has been requested to visit the region to assess the situation where Christian missionaries are accused of forcibly converting lower class Hindus to Christianity to escape discrimination, which has been vehemently denied by the missionaries. The team would examine the steps taken by the Orissa government to bring the situation under control where the locals are still living in fear of violent attacks. Many Hindu nationalists say they are determined to fight Christian missionaries accusing them of converting Hindus to Christianity. Meanwhile, Christian missionaries say that lower-caste Hindus convert willingly to escape discrimination of the caste-system. Communal violence spread out of Kandhamal to Karnataka as well where at least 20 churches have been burnt by Hindu mobs in the past 10 days. The Central Government has asked the State Governments of Orissa and Karnataka to do more to stop religious violence. (ANI)
India
Social Life
Bollywood in a fix as junior artists strike for better wages
01.10.2008 08:32
b4uindia.com
Indian film industry is in a spot as junior artists and workers ofBollywood began their strike on Wednesday in Mumbai to press their demand for better wages. They decided that they would not go to the sets of the films till their demands are met. They have also launched a non-cooperation movement demanding better wages and settlement of dues. The strike has led to the cancellation of many shooting schedules. The striking workers and the junior artists said that the producers had agreed to ten per cent wage increase since January 2008 and are demanding payment of their dues since then. “The workers are demanding that they should be given wages at increased rates. The producers have increased the wages since January 10 this year. It has been nine months but our workers are not getting it (increased wages). So we have started this non-cooperation. We do not want mediators because they eat up all the money and it does not reach our workers,” said Prem Singh Thakur, vice-chairman of the Allied Mazdoor Union. Thousands of striking workers and junior artists belonging to about 22 unions have joined hands against producers to fight for realization of agreed higher wages. One of the film producers acknowledged that the producers’ bodies had agreed to the wage increase but said that the problem can be resolved through dialogue as strike is not going to help either of the sides. “The demands are clear and straight. All four producer bodies have signed this that the payment should be made and that too at the new rate and the payment should be through the union so that there are no issues such as over billing, shift cutting. The main issue is that the new rate that is issued should be considered. If we increase our workers payment by ten per cent and we had agreed to this, then why not pay them,” said Sheetal Talwar, film producer. Months ago Hollywood was also facing troubles when its writer''s guild went on strike, which according to a financial report incurred huge losses to the industry. (ANI)
India
Social Life
Stampede in Chamunda Devi temple mars ‘Navratri’ festival revelry
01.10.2008 08:32
b4uindia.com
A day after the stampede that killed at least 147 devotees, a handful of devotees came on Wednesday to offer prayers on the second day of the nine-day Navratri festival at the Chamunda Devi temple in Rajasthan. The stampede occurred at the Chamunda Devi temple, inside a fort on top of a hill near Jodhpur. Few devotees came to the temple to offer prayer for nine day Hindu festival of "Navratri". The devotees who came to offer prayers said that lack of proper facilities in handling large crowds lead to the tragic incident killing many. “Every year I come here but the rush that was there on Tuesday was unusual. There were long queues. Some people spread the rumour that a wall has fallen and the authorities also could not handle the unruly crowd. There were few policemen on the spot and so the incident happened. It was destined, so it happened,” said Ankit, a devotee. The devotees feel that the structure needs infrastructural change to receive such huge crowds. “They should restructure the facilities for incoming and outgoing devotees totally. The temple receives 25,000-3000 devotees. The changes might cost 50-60 lakh rupees,” said Shubash, another devotee. There was a huge rush of Hindu devotees as they thronged the historic temple to mark the first day of the nine-day Navratri festival and the stampede occurred when there was rumor of a wall collapse, witness said. Last month, a stampede outside a mountaintop Hindu temple in Himachal Pradesh killed at least 145 pilgrims. Authorities then ordered an investigation into that disaster, which occurred after rumours of a landslide triggered panic among pilgrims who ran down a narrow mountain trail from the Naina Devi temple in Himachal Pradesh, only to meet thousands of people walking up. (ANI)
India
Social Life
Defence Minister Antony says government, armed forces do not differ on pay hike
01.10.2008 08:32
b4uindia.com
Defence Minister AK Antony today dismissed reports of differences between the Central government and the armed forces over the recommendations of the Sixth Central Pay Commission (CPC) on salaries of Armed Forces personnl. . Antony disclosed that the government was ready to add Rs 6,000 crore as further commitment over and above the Pay Commission’s recommendations. “I just want to clarify that this talk of differences between the armed forces and the government is not right,’’ Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor had said after Navy Chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta was reportedly pulled up by the Defence Minister for crossing the line by refusing to accept the pay panel’s recommendations. According to Antony, the three Services chiefs have already submitted detailed aspects of changes in the salary structure. Last Saturday, addressing the concerns of the personnel belonging to three wings of the armed forces, the Centre had ordered release of their ad-hoc arrears for the current year this week. The development paved the way for the 1.5 million personnel to take home the revised pay on October 1. The central government has also constituted a three-member committee, headed by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, to look into the pay-related anomalies of the Services. Other members on the high-level committee include the Defence Minister and Finance Minister P Chidambaram. Following the CPC notification last month, Navy Chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta, Air Force Chief Fali Homi Major and Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor had reportedly expressed their disappointment over the “disparities” between their emoluments and their civilian counterparts in the Police Services and the Indian Administrative Service. . The Defence Minister intervened on behalf of the armed forces by writing to the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and the Finance Minister, seeking resolution of the four “core issues” raised by the defence Services. (ANI)
India
Social Life
''Tibet issue'' to be resolved through non-violent Gandhian principles: Rinpoche
01.10.2008 08:32
b4uindia.com
Tibetan Prime Minister in-exile Samdhong Rinpoche has said that the Tibetans issue shall be resolved through the non-violent Gandhian principles. Rinpoche said this while paying tributes to Mahatma Gandhi on the eve of his 137th birth anniversary in Dharamsala, the seat of the Tibetan government in-exile, on Wednesday. “Peace and non-violence is the only way to resolve any problem and Tibet is also to be resolved from that,” said Rinpoche. Rinpoche also sent out a message of peace and non-violence to the Tibetans across the world. The Tibetan ''freedom struggle'' against China is influenced by Mahatma Gandhi''s message of non-violence and uprightness. Gandhi''s decades-long non-violent movement has inspired leaders across the world including exiled Tibetan leader Dalai Lama, South Africa''s Nelson Mandela and US civil rights leader Martin Luther King, who led movements against injustice and suppression in their respective countries. Gandhi, who several times resorted to "fast unto death" to extol Hindus and Muslims to stop rioting, has been the symbol of India''s secularism and a strong advocate against the deep rooted casteist discrimination in Hindu society. Gandhi was born on October 2, 1869 in Porbandar. A lawyer by profession, he struggled for India''s independence from British rule through peaceful non-violent ways. (ANI)
India
Social Life
Blood clot dissolving drug could save patients even 4.5 hrs after stroke
01.10.2008 08:32
b4uindia.com
A drug that dissolves blood clots in the brain can benefit patients up to 4.5 hours after a stroke, suggests a new study. Till date, the useful limit for administering thrombolytic drugs was believed to be just three hours. “These new insights will benefit tens of thousands of patients whose cerebral circulation could be restored,” said the study director, Professor Dr. Werner Hacke, Medical Director of the Neurology Clinic at Heidelberg University Hospital. In the study, 826 patients in 130 European stroke centres who were treated in the clinic between 3 and 4.5 hours after a stroke were injected with either the thrombolytic drug alteplase or a placebo. Initially, CT scan ruled out Cerebral haemorrhage as a cause of the stroke. Almost 52 percent of the patients treated with alteplase responded well to treatment and suffered no or only slight impairment, while in the placebo group, there were only 45 percent responders. The mortality rate was very low and identical in both groups (8 percent). Thus, researcher suggested that stroke patients could be treated with thrombolytic drugs even after three hours. “But having more time does not mean that we can take more time”, warned Professor Hacke. He added that patients with signs of a stroke should still be brought to the hospital and treated as soon as possible. Previous analyses clearly showed that patients respond best the earlier they received treatment. Also, the study will set an important course – there had been no positive study on acute stroke therapy for more than 12 years, and ECASS 3 is just the second acute study ever to have a positive result for strokes. “This study will have an impact on the entire field of stroke treat-ment. It has finally been demonstrated again that stroke can be treated and this will encourage many researchers and companies to continue to work in this field,” said Professor Hacke. The results of the study, namely “European Cooperative Acute Stroke Study 3” (ECASS 3) have now been published in the “New England Journal of Medicine”. (ANI)
India
Health & Beauty
News & Gossip : Lara gets a touch of Hollywood
01.10.2008 08:21
bollyvista.com
Its sure going to be interesting to see our sensuous star Lara Dutta on screen in her upcoming film ...
India
Show Business
News & Gossip : Saif Ali Khan sets the record straight!
01.10.2008 08:21
bollyvista.com
Recently, there have been reports in the news that Saif Ali Khan had a tiff with photo journalists in ...
India
Show Business
News & Gossip : Katrina is the changing face of Bollywood
01.10.2008 08:21
bollyvista.com
After being touted as the goddess of luck, Katrina Kaif is undoubtedly the goddess of B Town. ...
India
Show Business
News & Gossip : Dino Morea misplaces his iphone
01.10.2008 08:21
bollyvista.com
In todays day and age of fast communication, loosing one of your communication devices handicaps ...
India
Show Business
Bombay Stock Exchange launches currency derivatives
01.10.2008 06:39
b4uindia.com
The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) launched its currency derivatives segment in dollar-rupee currency futures on Wednesday in Mumbai. Top officials of Security and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) said that in today''s business environment, organizations, irrespective of their nature of business face currency risk. They added that by the introduction of trading in currency derivatives, market, would prove to be an excellent opportunity to hedge currency risk for the players. C.B Bhave, chairman of SEBI congratulating the exchange on launching the currency derivatives, assured the investors that both Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and SEBI are monitoring the market. "I have no doubt on the geniuses of the traders in Bombay. They will take this exchange path. I congratulate BSE on starting this currency derivates platform. People have already started demanding that their restrictions that have been put on currency trading should be relaxed. RBI and SEBI are working together on monitoring what is happening. The exchange is also taking note of the demands in the market place," said Bhave. He added that discussions are on to bring about relaxation in the currency trading norms. With the introduction of the currency derivatives, participants would now no longer have to depend on over-the-counter products such as forwards, swaps and options only to hedge their currency risks. Currency derivatives are used by many enterprises in international trade to hedge their risks against fluctuations in currency prices. (ANI)
India
Economics & Finance
English