Satyam board rejects Low bids

The Satyam bidding process can be ended on Monday,there is no winner in this situation.Board members has rights to reject all low priced bids(below expected).An officials involved in the Sale process.The board also told that rejects if its price doesn't meet our expectations.

They told it may be wrong to view as a distress sale and the board members are not willing to sell with low price.Now we are expected to sale with our expected price and its share holders.There are four bidders in the Satyam bidding process -- L & T, Tech Mahindra, Wilbur Ross Associates and CTS (Cognizant).There may be 3 bids only receive on Monday with Wilbur Ross and CTS are likely to joint in the bidding process.No proper official confirmation from any bidders now.

Satyam staff updated the real time information which leads to data room kept open till sunday evening.Full disclosure prepared for every thing and answers for all queries from the bidders.

Finally Satyam got a new line by Tech Mahindra.Among these three bidders, Tech Mahindra bids Rs 58 per share and takes 31% market share in the cash dealing.Finally they pays Rs.1,756 crore to buy 31 percent share in the Company.Tech Mahindra won the Satyam Computers

sports gonzaga against in portland last week

Gonzaga (25-13) has lost three of its last four games after dropping two games on the road against Portland last weekend, and a non-conference game with Arizona at Patterson Baseball Complex on April 20. The Bulldogs surrendered three seventh-inning runs to the Wildcats before falling 8-7. Ryan Wiegand hit a grand slam and Ernesto Ortiz doubled three times in the losing effort. Conference play continues for Gonzaga today with a three-game series with Santa Clara in California. The Buldogs return home for a non-conference battle with Washington State on April 28. Catcher Tyson Van Winkle was named West Coast Conference Player of the Week for the second time this season. The junior finished the week batting.722 (13 of 18) with nine RBIs, on six doubles and one home run. The Vancouver, Wash. native elevated his batting average 43 points to a team-best .387. Van Winkle was also named player of the week Feb. 22.

Women's tennis :
Three Bulldogs earned All-WCC accolades for their performances this spring, setting a program record for players honored. Freshman Kristina Zauere earned second-team honors, while senior Aglaya Kokurina and sophomore Rika Mehndiratta were honorable mentions. Zauere and Kokurina also became the school's first doubles team to receive WCC honors.
Men's tennis :
Gonzaga (10-16) closed out regular season with a 4-1 conference victory over Santa Clara at the Conference Championships in San Diego. Stefan Feddersen, Scott Sullivan and Zach Peach earned singles victories for the Bulldogs. Roman Dojcak and Sullivan won a doubles match, as did Connor Feeney and Feddersen. Jake Davis led the Bulldogs with 13 singles wins on the season.The win over the Broncos came after to back-to-back 4-1 losses to Portland and Loyola Marymount at the Conference Championships.
Academic performance :
The NCAA recognized four Bulldogs sports teams for top academic performance, the school announced April 22. Men's soccer, men's tennis, men's track and women's golf garnered NCAA Public Recognition awards for its success on the most recent multi-year Academic Progress Rates (APR). The awards are given each year to teams that score in the top 10 in each sport with their APRs.
Men's rowing Gonzaga defeated Washington State on April 18 to claim its 19th Fawley Cup Victory in the last 20 years. The Bulldogs swept the Cougars in all seven races on the 2,000-meter course at Medical Lake. The team earned a pair of victories at the George Washington Invitational on April 11. The Junior Varsity 8+ and Freshman 8+ squads each oner race on the Potomac River. The team travels to Sacramento, Calif., for the WIRA Championships May 2-3.

Source : http://media.www.gonzagabulletin.com/media/storage/paper375/news/2009/04/24/Sports/Sports.Briefs-3725589.shtml

IPL 2 -- AB De Villiers Shines Today

Delhi Dare Devils play the Chennai Super kings today at Durban,South Africa.Both the teams have strong tournament favourites.Delhi has a strong batting with Captain sehwag,opener Gambhir and South africa AB De Villiers
Opponent Chennai Super kings also in good form with Captain MS Dhoni,Fast bowler comprising Gony,Flintoff,L Balaji and Spin specialist Muralitharan
AB De Villiers scores first 100 of IPL cricket Season 2
De Villiers completed 105 in just 51 balls against Chennai Super kings.He got a good patnership 50+ with Tiwary.
Delhi dare devils sets a target of 190 to win
Score board (De Villiers 105 not out,Dilshan 50,Tiwari 9)
Chennai Super Kings needs 190 to win

CSK started to bat second.They started the game very well.Parthiv and hayden had a good partnership, but parthiv out for 16, Hayden scored 57, Suresh Raina 41 out,A Flintoff 16 out,finally Morkel and Badrinath are standing in the grease

CSK 166 for 5 in 17.3 overs

Current Run rate:9.22
Required Run rate:12.00

Chennai Super Kings needs 24 runs in 2 overs

Finally Delhi Dare devils beat Chennai Super Kings by nine runs in their IPL 2

Delhi Dare Devils 189 for 5 (AB De Villiers 105 not out,Dilshan 50) won against Chennai Super Kings 180 for 9 (M Hayden 57)

IPL Season 2 T-20 Cricket 18th April 2009

The Indian Premier League 2009, which is the second edition of the most popular Twenty20 tournament, will begin on April 18 in South Africa. The first match will be played between Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bangalore in Cape Town. The revised IPL Schedule has been released by IPL Chief Lalit Modi.

The semi-finals will be held at Pretoria and Johannesburg. Final will be held at Johannesburg on May 24. There will be eight venues in the IPL Season II. The day matches will begin at 4 PM and the night matches will begin at 8 PM. All matches are according to the Indian Standard Time (IST).
The eight teams in the fray are: Rajasthan Royals (RR), Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Kolkata KnightRiders (KKR), Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Deccan Chargers (DC), Mumbai Indians (MI), Delhi Daredevils (DD) and Kings XI Punjab (KXIP).

The detailed Schedule of IPL Season II (2009) in South Africa with ground venue and IST:

April 18: RR vs RCB (Cape Town) - 4 PM
April 18: MI vs CSK - 8 PM
April 19: KKR vs DC(Cape Town) - 4 PM
April 19: DD vs KXIP (Cape Town) - 8 PM
April 20: RCB vs CSK (Port Elizabeth) - 4 PM
April 21: RR vs MI (Durban) - 4 PM
April 21: KKR vs KXIP (Durban) - 8 PM
April 22: DD vs CSK (Durban) - 4 PM
April 22: RCB vs DC (Cape Town) - 8 PM
April 23: KKR vs RR (Port Elizabeth) - 4 PM
April 24: KXIP vs RCB (Johannesburg) - 4 PM
April 25: KKR vs CSK (Cape Town) -4 PM
April 25: DC vs MI (Durban) - 8 PM
April 26: RR vs KXIP (Cape Town) - 4 PM
April 26: RCB vs DD (Port Elizabeth) - 8 PM
April 27: KKR vs MI (Cape Town) - 4 PM
April 27: CSK vs DC (Durban) - 8 PM
April 28: DD vs RR (Pretoria) - 4 PM
April 29: MI vs KXIP (Durban) - 4 PM
April 29: KKR v RCB (Durban) - 8 PM
April 30: DD v DC (Pretoria) - 4 PM
April 30: RR vs CSK (Pretoria) - 8 PM
May 1: RCB vs KXIP (East London) - 4 PM
May 1: MI vs KKR (Durban) - 8 PM
May 2: RR vs DC (Johannesburg) - 4 PM
May 2: CSK vs DD (Port Elizabeth) - 8 PM
May 3: MI vs RCB (Durban) - 4 PM
May 3: KXIP vs KKR (East London) - 8 PM
May 4: DC vs CSK (Port Elizabeth) - 4 PM
May 5: DD vs KKR (Durban) - 4 PM
May 5: KXIP vs RR (Durban) - 8 PM
May 6: MI vs DC (Pretoria) - 4 PM
May 7: KXIP vs CSK (Pretoria) - 4 PM
May 7: RCB vs RR (Pretoria) - 8 PM
May 8: DD vs MI (East London) - 4 PM
May 9: DC vs KXIP (Bloemfontein) - 4 PM
May 9: CSK vs RR (Port Elizabeth) - 8 PM
May 10: KKR vs DD (East London) - 4 PM
May 10: RCB vs MI (Johannesburg) - 8 PM
May 11: DC vs RR (Bloemfontein) - 4 PM
May 12: RCB vs KKR (Pretoria) - 4 PM
May 12: KXIP vs MI (Pretoria) - 8 PM
May 13: DC vs DD (Durban) - 4 PM
May 14: MI vs RR (Durban) - 4 PM
May 14: CSK vs RCB (Durban) - 8 PM
May 15: KXIP vs DD (Kimberley) - 4 PM
May 16: CSK vs MI (Johannesburg) - 4 PM
May 16: DC vs KKR (Port Elizabeth) - 8 PM
May 17: RR vs DD (Kimberley) - 4 PM
May 17: KXIP vs DC (Johannesburg) - 8 PM
May 18: CSK vs KKR (Pretoria) - 4 PM
May 19: DD vs RCB (Johannesburg) - 4 PM
May 20: CSK vs KXIP (Durban) - 4 PM
May 20: RR vs KKR (Durban) - 8 PM
May 21: DC vs RCB (Pretoria) - 4 PM
May 21: MI vs DD (Pretoria) - 8 PM

May 22: 1st Semi Final (Pretoria)
May 23: 2nd Semi Final (Johannesburg)

May 24: Final (Johannesburg)

Refer: desihotmasala.com/2008/09/ipl-season-2-match-schedule-2009.html

Indian Christians can hope from these elections

The political scenario is becoming more complicated day by day. The old alliances are breaking up. Every party wants to go alone to face the electorate, hoping to gain and be in a better bargaining position to make alliances for the future government. New regional parties are appearing, moved by the desire to acquire statehood or by the need to resolve regional problems. Most probably the two national parties, Congress and BJP will suffer a loss. There is a lot of talks about a third front, around the communist party and Dalit parties, hopeful to put up a government without the Congress and BJP, but among them there are too many self proclaimed candidates for prime minister. The real battle will be in the second half of May, when the results will be known and the leaders will start working out coalitions, promising ministerial berths right and left. One survey published on The Times of India said that the Congress will emerge as the single largest party with 144 seats, but will find the BJP just a step behind with 137. If the Congress will be able to convince the present allies it will get 257 seats but it will fall still short of the required majority of 272 in a house of 543 members. Will the Christian community gain from the present election? The question is particularly relevant in places where they suffered persecution in the recent past like in Orissa.

Two events may have some bearing on this question.
First the chief minister of Orissa, Naveen Patnaik, with his party, had broken away from the BJP. Second the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) has a new leader in Mohan Madhukar Bhagwat. The first event was greeted with great enthusiasm by the Archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar, Raphael Cheenath. He said that the church is happy to see Orissa’s ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) parts ways with ally Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Violence against Christians in Orissa by Hindu rightwing activists last year, particularly in Kandhamal district, is believed to be one of the reasons behind the collapse of the BJD-BJP alliance in the state. “The Kandhamal incident may be one of the reasons for breaking the alliance” Cheenath acknowledged. Communist Party of India-Marxist general Secretary, Praksh Karat, has said his party leaders met Orissa Chief Minister and BJD chief, Naveen Patnaik, following the attack on Christians by rightwing Hindu groups and told him that “it is untenable for him to continue with the BJP”.

For further details visit at www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=14998&size=A

Govt awaits EC - sop to diamond workers

In an effort to attract lakhs of diamond workers ahead of Lok Sabha elections, the Gujarat government has asked the Election Commission (EC) to clear a major sop to implement a group insurance scheme for them. It comes close on the heels of a file pending with the EC to clear a stipend of Rs 2,500 per month for four months for select 15,000 diamond workers wanting to upgrade their skills. Meant to provide a risk cover of Rs 1 lakh to each diamond worker who dies in an accident, or faces permanent or partial disability, interestingly, the state government is unable to implement the group insurance scheme despite the fact that it hurriedly issued a government resolution (GR) on February 27, just three days before the Lok Sabha elections were announced. A senior official of the state industries department said, "Unless the EC clears the file implementing the GR, we cannot deposit the premium to director, insurance. We will have to come up with a special order fixing the premium, and for this, we need EC's nod." He added, "It is a humanitarian demand. The EC should have no objection to this." Senior officials in the chief electoral officer, Gujarat State, however, said, "We cannot allow the industries department to implement the group insurance scheme, as it would amount to influencing the voting pattern. It is surprising why the government was so indifferent in implementing the scheme just before the elections were announced." The view is strong in the government that the EC should have "little objection" in clearing the two files, seeking to provide sops to the diamond workers, when it has already allowed implementation of the Centre's 6th pay commission recommendations for the state's 3.13 lakh pensioners. "Nearly half of the 10 lakh diamond workers are jobless," a senior official conceded. "Many have committed suicide. They urgently need attention." Majority of diamond workers hail from Amreli, Bhavnagar and Banaskantha districts, though they work in units in far away Surat or Ahmedabad. Due to recession, a large number of diamond polishing units have closed down and the workers have been forced to return to their home districts. The government had come under heavy criticism ahead of the polls for failing to announce a relief package for them.

For further details visit at timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Surat/Govt-awaits-EC-nod-for-sop-to-diamond-workers/articleshow/4406799.cms

India _ marathon vote marred by Maoist attacks

With Maoist insurgents stepping up attacks, Indians began voting in a month-long general election on Thursday with signs an unstable coalition may emerge in the middle of an economic slowdown. The ruling Congress party-led coalition appears to lead against an alliance headed by the Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), but both may need the support of a host of smaller and unpredictable regional parties to win office. The fear among investors is that the world's largest democratic exercise involving 714 million voters and hundreds of parties will lead to the rise of a "Third Front" government of communist and regional groups. The uncertain vote comes as a once-booming India reels from a crunch that has cost millions of jobs. It has ignited fears of political limbo just as India balances needs to help millions of poor with worries over its biggest fiscal gap in two decades. Highlighting growing militant threats, Maoists killed five election officials in a landmine blast in Chhattisgarh state. Ten police were killed in other attacks across India's central and eastern "red belt" where Thursday's election was centred.

For further details visit at uk.reuters.com/article/featuredCrisis/idUKISL398919

P&O Calais boycott after French blockade

The Pride of Dover was on a trial run to the Belgian port of Ostende today after the largest operator of cross-Channel ferries declared that it had lost patience with the French Government for its failure to stand up to protesting trawlermen. P&O Ferries said that its crews had worked into the early hours to clear a backlog of around 700 trucks, 300 cars and seven coaches from its main terminal at Calais, in northern France, after the lifting of a blockade by fishermen seeking larger cod quotas. But even though services from Calais and Dunkirk were back to normal today, the port of Boulogne was still blocked by trawlers, and P&O said it was taking nothing for granted and was sending a ferry to test out Ostende, 50 miles (80km) up the Channel coast from Calais. After two days of blockades that left thousands of UK hauliers and holidaymakers stranded, it appeared that the French Agriculture Ministry had managed to buy off the fishermen with a €4 million grant to compensate them for days when they are unable to work because they have already reached EU-imposed quota limits. Services to Calais and Dunkirk were running normally today, but P&O, the dominant operator, warned against complacency given the long history of direct action by French workers. By last night, there were about 450 lorries stacked up on the M20 in Kent ready to cross into France. "The fishermen are trying to keep the initiative, so they've lifted the blockade at Dover and Calais but not Boulogne. I think they want to keep us guessing," said Brian Rees, spokesman for P&O, the dominant ferry operator.

For further details visit at www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/travel/news/article6104458.ece

bed and breakfast for disabled veterans :Mendenhall

Sgt. Stanford Mendenhall’s bones are as brittle as a man’s twice his age. He takes about 20 different types of medication each day to combat everything from congestive heart failure to full-body seizures. But he never complains. Mendenhall thanks the Lord for each day he spends with his wife, Linda. Because after returning from a tour of duty in Iraq a few years ago, doctors told him his exposure to depleted uranium would soon claim his life.

In April 2006, Mendenhall purchased a house in Camden so he could spend his last days on Earth with his mother. Then, he received a second lease on life. After attending a mass spiritual healing in France with thousands of other disabled troops, Mendenhall’s health took a turn for the better. He decided it was time to make a difference. So Mendenhall began converting the house he bought at 213 Clifton St. into a bed and breakfast for disabled veterans and their families. He and his wife envisioned a place where people could come and relax while becoming acclimated to living in the country again. Stanford wanted his fellow veterans to experience the town where he grew up. “We feel that there is a need for it, and we feel that they could heal here,” Linda said. The couple contacted the Alabama Bed and Breakfast Association and obtained a business license from the state. All they needed was approval from Camden’s Adjustment Board to open a business in a residential zone. According to local ordinances, a bed and breakfast qualifies as a special exception to opening a business in a residential zone. Soon, the neighbors that the Mendenhalls had shared drinks with on front porches and waved at across the sleepy, tree-lined street became stiff opposition to the bed and breakfast. In fact, opposition grew so much that the board held a hearing on March 31 so residents from the neighborhood could voice their concerns. The Mendenhalls could not attend this hearing due to a previous commitment. The couple did plead their case at another hearing Tuesday night in Camden, and Ken Crosswhite, who lives across the street from the proposed bed and breakfast, spoke on behalf of the opposition.

For further details visit at www.selmatimesjournal.com/news/2009/apr/15/bed-and-breakfast-may-be-blocked/

Mid Wales as having more ‘hidden gems’ but is closed to tourism

ONE of the world’s leading guidebooks has criticised the policy of a Welsh council to shut its tourist offices. The new Lonely Planet guide to Great Britain heralds Mid Wales as having more “hidden gems” than any other part of the country but says the recent closures of tourist offices have left it “increasingly closed to tourism”. Elsewhere in the guide – which the Western Mail has been given an exclusive first glimpse of – highlights include Anglesey’s “great” coastal walking, Blaenavon World Heritage Centre, Dylan Thomas’ Laugharne, and Cardiff’s matchday atmosphere followed by a pint of Brains Gold. But the guide is less than complimentary about other parts of Wales. Bangor is described as “a place to stop, not stay, with decent eating options but virtually no worthwhile accommodation”, while Conwy is labelled a “major letdown”.

Of Bangor, the guide’s author David Atkinson says: “Despite its large student population, it’s hardly a cultural hotspot. Indeed, it feels rather low key overall and acts primarily as a transport hub for the region. “The city is the last stop before crossing to the Isle of Anglesey – stock up and push on.” Of Conwy, he adds: “Conwy is all about the castle. The approach to the castle gate is highly theatrical, with three bridges spanning the river. “But while the castle, one of Wales’ finest and a Unesco World Heritage Site, remains one of the essential visits in North Wales, the town of Conwy itself feels like a major letdown. “The regeneration of the run-down Conwy Quay has stalled and the town feels eerily quiet after 5pm when the majority of day visitors have departed and the shop shutters have been pulled down. “A place to visit, not stay, the best of the accommodation lies out of town, or at the nearby and more go-ahead town of Llandudno.”

For further details visit at www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2009/04/15/mid-wales-has-hidden-gems-but-is-increasingly-closed-to-tourism-according-to-new-lonely-planet-guide-91466-23387638/

Muriya tied-up with Gulf Property World

Muriya Tourism Development Company has tied-up with Gulf Property World one of Oman's leading Estate Agents to highlight Muriya's destinations 'Jebel Sifah' and 'Salalah Beach' offering luxury freehold properties, world-class facilities and amenities in stunning locales of Oman.

Gulf Property World (GPW) specialise in sales, lettings, marketing and management of quality properties in Oman and has grown in a short span of time since it opened its first branch in Jawharat Al Shatti- Shatti Al Qurum, in 2007. GPW has now opened a second outlet in Markaz Al Bahja- Seeb, and will be highlighting Muriya's freehold properties in both branches during 'Muriya's Week at Gulf Property World' from the 4th-11th April 2009. Both GPW branches will showcase Muriya's two integrated tourism complexes 'Jebel Sifah' and 'Salalah Beach', and staff will be able to provide progress updates and answer any queries of interested clients.

Source:www.ameinfo.com/192665.html

Italian Stocks - Factors - on April 15

The following factors could affect Italian markets on Wednesday. Reuters has not verified the newspaper reports, and cannot vouch for their accuracy. New items are marked with (*).

FIAT
Chrysler LLC's first-lien lenders are preparing acounter-offer for the U.S. Treasury that might include equity in a Chrysler-Fiat alliance and some cash in exchange for abandoning their claim to some $7 billion in debt, sources with knowledge of the matter said.
A2A
The group's management board met on Tuesday to discuss its core shareholders' plan to dismiss the company's supervisory board, sources said.
SMALL AND MID-CAPS
KME
Output at KME Group, one of the world's leading makers of copper and copper alloy products, fell sharply in the first quarter due to weak consumer demand, its senior executive told

For further details visit at www.forbes.com/feeds/afx/2009/04/15/afx6291549.html

Flight Festival - World’s Largest Model Electric flight Draws Crowds

More than 400 of the world’s most skilled model pilots and hobby enthusiasts will gather for the 8th Annual Southeast Electric Flight Festival (SEFF) – the world’s largest electric flying festival, April 30- May 3, in Andersonville, GA, near Atlanta. The four-day event, sponsored by the Academy of Model Aeronautics, broke the Guinness Book of World Records last year for the most model planes in the sky at one time. It features a premiere 1,700 ft. grass runway, wide open skies, and thousands of spectators. The action begins each day at sunrise and includes flying contests, music, food and lots of model planes including sport planes, hotliners, park flyers, 3D planes, gliders, jets and helicopters - on the ground and in the sky. A candy air drop and a kid’s make-and-take fly zone will entertain young fans while Friday and Saturday’s noon flying show will impress the entire crowd. “Flyers of every kind flock to the festival to share in the action and celebrate electric flight,” said Jeff Meyers, SEFF founder and event coordinator. “SEFF is a world-class event with 1,800 electric flying machines, cutting-edge technology and the most-skilled model pilots.” Model aviation has changed dramatically during the last several years as the quiet battery and electric-motor technology have opened new doors for model-flying enthusiasts. Every day, more electric models enter the marketplace that are smaller in size and capable of slower airspeeds more suited to confined areas. “Electric-powered model planes are the fastest growing segment in the radio aircraft hobby,” said Dave Mathewson, President of AMA, the world’s largest model aviation organization that dates back to the mid-1930s. “More model pilots are getting involved in the aviation sport with easy-to-fly and inexpensive electric models.”New to SEFF this year is the Foamy Challenge for the most unusual “flying thing” built out of foam; the Extreme Speed, a twice-daily half hour speed show with planes that fly 100 miles per hour and faster; and the SEFF Ultimate Destruction Combat, an event that judges modelers on their combat skills. SEFF takes place at Mac Hodges’ Field, 428 Neil Hodges Rd. in Andersonville, GA, 31711. Pilot Registration is $25, RV Parking is $20 for the weekend, and spectator admission is $3 per day.

Source :www.pr-inside.com/world-s-largest-model-electric-flight-r1183028.htm

Maritime insurance premium shoots up

MAERSK Nigeria Limited has reacted to the hijack of one of its vessels, saying the crew and their families needed a lot of support at the trying times. The company's vessel, Maersk Alabama, a 1,100 container carrying vessel was hijacked off the coast of Somalia recently. The call came amidst reports that three of the pirates were killed during an operation carried out by the U.S Navy to rescue the captain that was abducted by the sea thieves. " This morning, at around 05.00 UTC, Maersk Alabama, a 1,100 TEU container vessel, was attacked by pirates and presumed hijacked. The U.S. flagged vessel has a crew of 20 U.S. nationals and is owned and operated by Maersk Line Limited in the U.S. The vessel is deployed in Maersk Line's East Africa service network and was enroute to Mombasa, when it was attacked approximately 500 kilometres of the Somalia coast. Our initial concern is to ensure proper support of the crew and assistance to their families. At this point in time we do not have any further information," Nigerian media adviser to Maersk Line, Bolaji Akinola, said recently. Agency report on the current situation reveals that Maersk Alabama has remained much the same throughout since the attack. The ship's crew members were said to have been accounted for and are safely aboard the vessel. However, until two days ago, the ship's captain remained in the custody of the pirates, who departed in one of the ship's encapsulated life boats on April 8.

Meanwhile the killing of three Somali pirates in the dramatic U.S. Navy rescue of a cargo ship captain has sparked concern for other hostages and fears that the stakes have been raised for future hijackings in the busy Indian Ocean shipping lane. Sunday's rescue of Capt. Richard Phillips followed a shootout at sea on Friday by French navy commandos, who stormed a pirate-held sailboat, killed two pirates and freed four French hostages. The French owner of the vessel was also killed in the assault. The two operations may have been a setback for the pirates, but they are unlikely to quell the brigands, who have vowed to avenge the deaths of their comrades.

Source :www.ngrguardiannews.com/maritime/article01/indexn2_html?pdate=150409&ptitle=Maritime insurance premium shoots up after U.S., Somali pirates' onslaught

Lawson demonstrates latest analysis IMB 2009 Global trade Fair

Lawson Software announces that it will attend the IMB 2009 Global Trade Fair for the Clothing and Textile Processing Industry, which will be held in Köln (Germany) April 21-24, 2009.

Lawson will demonstrate its industry solutions including Lawson Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), QuickStep Fashion, Fashion Planning Workbench, and in particular recently announced Lawson M3 Analytics. This solution helps manufacturing companies in the clothing industry simplify deployment of a complete package of business intelligence tools without having to develop analytics tools in-house. The application includes a specific set of pre-configured key performance indicators (KPIs) and pre-built scorecards providing companies with a more complete, measurable view of their operations in only a few weeks. “Now more than ever, management needs timely information to make better decisions fast,” said Andrew Dalziel, marketing director Fashion at Lawson. At IMB 2009 Lawson will also make public the findings of a newly commissioned survey on sourcing strategies and performance of sportswear companies called ‘The Supply Chain Performance in the Sportswear Sector: Analysis of Key Performance Metrics’. This report helps identifying the hidden costs of outsourcing, the key performance metrics that can help sportswear companies benchmark themselves and how IT can help attain both right quality and low costs. "IMB is the world’s leading trade fair for the clothing and textile industry. It provides us with an excellent opportunity to interact with our customers, discuss the current challenges the industry is facing, offer an appropriate infrastructure and a good business process platform,” Dalziel continued. “These times favor those companies who can reduce time-to-market, manage inventories better, and respond faster to changing market conditions.”
Lawson is well positioned in the fashion industry serving over 350 customers in the apparel, footwear, home textiles and accessories industry around the globe.

Source :www.fibre2fashion.com/news/textiles-technology-news/newsdetails.aspx?news_id=71334

Mobile banking reached - unbank masses

Mobile banking in India has a marked substantial improvement viewed by the government as a potent tool for financial inclusion. Still, there are many hurdles before it can fulfill its objective of reaching to the unbanked masses .

For further details visit at www.merinews.com/catFull.jsp?articleID=15765077

Infosys Q4 net up 29%; sees Q1 topline - 5% sequential drop

Infosys Technologies, India's second largest software services exporter, has reported a 29 per cent increase to Rs 1,613 crore for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2009 as compared to the corresponding quarter of last fiscal. The topline has moved up by 24 per cent to Rs 5,635 crore meeting its guidance. EBIDTA has moved up almost 26 per cent to Rs 1663 crore. On a sequential quarter basis, the net profit has dropped by 1.7 per cent while its topline was also down by 2.7 per cent, a clear indication of tough times ahead for the Indian software services sector. EBIDTA on a sequential quarter was also down by almost 10 per cent. “The pricing for the quarter declined by 3 per cent,” said S.D. Shibulal, Chief Operating Officer, Infosys even as it added 37 new clients during the fourth quarter. The company which sets the tone for the India's software services sector earnings has said that during the next quarter it will grow its topline in the range of 10.8-12.9 per cent on a year on year basis, while on a sequential basis it will be drop of around 5 per cent. For the fiscal 2009, the company reported a net profit growth of 28.5 per cent to Rs 5,988 crore while its topline moved up by 30 per cent to Rs 21,693 crore. Infosys also added that its FY10 topline will grow in the range of 1.7% - 5.7%.

S Gopalakrishnan, CEO and Managing Director, Infosys admitted that many of their clients are impacted by the financial crisis and added that "they are looking at Infosys to help them reduce their expenses and optimize their businesses.”Infosys added that going ahead it will tough on the people front. The company during the fourth quarter effected a goss addition of 4,935 employees (net 1,772) and 28,231 employees (net 13,663) for the year by Infosys and its subsidiaries taking the total headcount to 1,04,850 employees as on March 31, 2009.

Source : www.business-standard.com/india/news/infosys-q4-net29-sees-5-sequential-drop-in-q1-topline/58555/on

India company says on track for inaugural race in 2011,

Construction of India's Formula One track would not be affected by the global financial meltdown and it would be ready for its inaugural race in 2011, according to the head of the construction company building it. "The progress is very nice...I'm absolutely, absolutely confident (it will be completed)," Samir Gaur, managing director of India's JPSK Sports Pvt Ltd, who are building the track, told Reuters. "The track will be ready in 2011." The company has been floated by Jaiprakash Associates, a diversified group with market capitalisation of $2.8 billion that is controlled by Gaur's family. Jaiprakash is India's largest builder of dams with interests in hospitality, engineering, construction and energy. The track would be located around 50 km from the capital New Delhi and near Greater Noida, a fast growing satellite town.There had been doubts whether work would be delayed due to the financial crisis, especially after Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone said last October the inaugural race had been postponed from 2010. "The race was pushed back from 2010 because of the Formula One calendar," Gaur said. "From what we understand, they had scheduled an India race only in 2011." The funds for the track have been secured and work would progress as planned, he added

For further details visit at in.reuters.com/article/topNews/idINIndia-39048520090415

Who is India’s top two general insurers?

It's time for a change of guard at India's top two general insurers - National Insurance Company and New India Assurance. The heads of both these companies are set to retire later this year. CNBC-TV18's Vivian Fernandes and Vidhi Godiawala report. The Chairmen of India's top two general insurance companies are retiring this year. V Ramasaamy, CMD of National Insurance Company, will hang up his boots in May. B Chakraborty of New India Assurance retires in September. The search committee comprising the head of the insurance regulator J Harinarayan, his predecessor CS Rao, and a Finance Ministry official have already arrived at a shortlist. Contenders for the top job include NSR Chandra Prasad currently Director and General Manager at New India Assurance and RK Kaul, General Manager at National Insurance Company as replacements. A Finance Ministry official confirmed these recommendations, but also said the Appointments Committee is yet to take a view. He was sure of a decision being taken before Ramasaamy retires, by when the government would not be bound by the election code. Meanwhile, there is buzz in the industry that M Ramadoss, currently CMD of Oriental Insurance is aiming for the top slot at New India Assurance. The Finance Ministry official said a decision might be left to the next government.

Source :www.moneycontrol.com/india/news/cnbc-tv18-comments/who-is-likely-to-head-indias-top-two-general-insurers/393283

India's PM - Old style battle

With a combined age of 157, the two men vying for the post of India's prime minister are having a high old time lobbing ageist stones at each other from their respective glasshouses.

Incumbent Manmohan Singh, 76, of the ruling Congress Party and 81-year-old L.K. Advani of the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have both made efforts to appear the more spry and energetic on the campaign trail. The Oxford-educated Singh underwent multiple heart bypass surgery in January, but made a speedy recovery and has not missed the chance to bring up the five years he has on his opponent. Singh attributed Advani's accusation that he was India's "weakest" prime minister to his rival's "ripe old age" and suggested he change astrologers as he was clearly too old to change his views. Advani, meanwhile, has been photographed lifting weights in front of supporters and has tried to reach out to younger voters with a blog. Although both were born in present day Pakistan, they took markedly different routes to reach the corridors of power in New Delhi. Unlike Advani, a career politician with activist roots, Singh is regarded as an accidental prime minister, a technocrat with an unblemished reputation who rescued India from the brink of bankruptcy but seemed destined to keep a low profile. His anointment in 2004 by Sonia Gandhi, after she refused the post, has led Advani to label Singh a puppet of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty. The challenge of heading a rocky coalition government means Singh has been criticised for his low-key leadership style. "It's a little unfair," said sociologist Andre Béteille, who worked with Singh at the Delhi School of Economics. "He has had to accommodate too many pressures from too many sides."Known for his unflappable demeanour, Singh trained as an economist and headed India's central bank, amongst other government positions, until former prime minister P.V. Narasimha Rao made him finance minister in 1991 in the midst of an economic crisis. Singh is widely praised for phasing out India's rigid socialist economic system in favour of greater liberalisation. Advani jumped straight into politics as a teenager by joining the Rashtriya Swayamasevak Sangh (RSS), a right-wing Hindu outfit that has groomed many BJP leaders. The self-professed Hindi film buff is considered a hawk by detractors who see his unabashed pro-Hindu policies as incompatible with multi-faith, officially secular India. Opponents ridicule his commitment to building a Hindu temple over the remains of a razed mosque in northern India -- still a key BJP manifesto pledge despite pressing issues of a slowing economy and dire poverty.

For further details visit at www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jAUBgwok2_0E0wA273_FYMZRB6Ag

Round-Up - EA Sports Cup

Drogheda United, Shamrock Rovers, and Galway United all recorded wins as the EA Sports Cup got underway. Shelbourne stunned Dundalk, Sporting Fingal beat Monaghan United, FC Carlow edged past Cobh Ramblers, and Limerick were too strong for Wexford Youths.

Bray Wanderers 0-2 Drogheda United
Alan Matthews enjoyed victory for the first time with The Boynesiders as they got their cup run off to a good start on Easter Monday. Brian King, who was the best player on the pitch, opened the scoring on 57 minutes when he reacted quickly to William Woods' original effort on goal.
The Carlisle Grounds outfit boasted a host of new faces, but never really got going despite John Mulroy and Daryl Robson coming close to scoring. With time ticking down, King slid a pass through to James Chambers to wrap up the win with a well-taken finish and ensure Drogheda advance to the next round.
Galway United 2-2 Salthill Devon (5-3 on penalties)
Ian Foster's side were pushed all the way into a penalty shoot-out in order to beat local rivals Salthill Devon in a gripping match on Monday. After James O'Shea and Declan Edwards fired The Tribesmen into an early lead, it looked as though it would be plain sailing for the home team. However, they hit some choppy water in the second-half. Enda Dunne and Marcen Maranck bagged a goal each to force the game into extra-time, where not much happened and a shoot-out was needed to crown a winner. Alan Murphy, Edwards, Sean Kelly, David Cooke, and Paul Sinnott were all successful from the spot, but the miss from Salthill's Ray Winters ultimately decided this tie.

For further details visit at www.setanta.com/uk/Articles/Football/2009/04/13/LOI-EA-Sports-Cup-Round-Up/gnid-48424/

Australian parliament examines to cover sporting events.

Australia's Senate will this week examine a critical dispute between sports administrators and global media over the use of digital technology to cover sporting events. The issue has become increasingly controversial, sparking media boycotts of major events as sports bodies seek to impose strict conditions on how games are reported on platforms such as the Internet and mobile phones. The Senate will hear from media executives and sporting chiefs in what is believed to be the first parliamentary inquiry anywhere into a global issue set to shape the way sports fans follow games in the digital era. Media organisations argue that reporting sports events has been an integral part of news coverage for more than 150 years and has played a crucial role in promoting games internationally. They say press freedom means they should have still have unfettered access to report sport regardless of what technology is used, pointing out that means of communication have changed regularly over the centuries. The News Media Coalition, representing a raft of international media groups, said in its submission: "Clearly event organisers have legitimate commercial interests which they need to protect and pursue.

"However, it is equally clear that there is a genuine public interest in a free flow of independently gathered and represented news material to the public including the fans that are unable to attend the event themselves." Sports administrators, however, say it will jeopardise their lucrative rights deals if all media can send text, pictures and video to digital platforms without tough restrictions. In a written submission, Cricket Australia (CA) accused some media organisations of "exploiting CA copyright material under the guise of news reporting by displaying large volumes of content for unlimited amounts of time."
It says such actions threaten CA's media rights, its main income stream, under which organisations such as broadcasters and mobile phone companies pay for exclusive in-depth access to matches. News agencies, including AFP, have boycotted Australian cricket series against South Africa, Sri Lanka and New Zealand in recent years, refusing to accept news coverage restrictions that CA says protect its commercial interests. There have been similar stand-offs at last year's Indian Premier League Twenty 20 tournament and the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France, which was resolved just before the event began. The Senate hearing will attempt to find a balance between the competing interests and report back to parliament by May 14.

Source:www.lankabusinessonline.com/fullstory.php?nid=1681780457

youngsters helped put together £75,000 sports and play area

YOUNG people have helped build a £75,000 playground and sports area through a massive community fundraising campaign. An opening ceremony is planned for the site in the walled garden next to Cramond House next month. The local youth group, Sunday Plus, which is based at Cramond Kirk, helped raise thousands of pounds towards the cost of the play equipment through events such as car boot sales. It was boosted by a £45,000 grant from the local Waste Management fund, as well as a grant from Edinburgh Airport. It was also given £5000 by the Almond Neighbourhood Partnership. The playground features modern play equipment, as well as a football and basketball area for older children and teenagers. Cramond community council chairman Bill Scholes said the project had been a great success.He said: "The young people have done a wonderful job, and it's great to see them putting so much effort into something worthwhile. "It's all been installed now and it's already proving very popular. There are lots of mothers and children there at the weekend. It's been quite cleverly designed."

For further details at news.scotsman.com/scotland/Game-youngsters-put-together-75000.5166998.jp

Sports Ministry to train monitors - course held on May 1to12

At least 150 sports officials of the country's 18 provinces will attend the course for monitors, which shall be held from May 01 to 12, in Lubango city, southern Huíla province. This was said to ANGOP last Monday, in Luanda, by the national sports director, Raimundo Ricardo. The director, who was in Lubango city over the weekend, met with local government officials, from whom he obtained guarantees for holding the aforementioned upgrading course. He also explained that the activity will happen under sports generalisation programme dubbed “Despontar”. The course, which will count on the assistance of national lecturers, follows a similar activity that began on April 07 in the north-eastern Lunda Norte province and will end next Thursday. According to him, the participants to the course will learn about the right to play sports, leisure, methodology and sports planning. On the fringes of the lessons, workshops shall be held under the topics “The importance of journalism for the sports development” and “sports as a factor for development”. The “Despontar” programme, meant for training, was launched in 2008 in the central Bié province and is being implementing countrywide. The first phase comprises the sports of football, basketball, gymnastics, athletics, volleyball and disability sport, whilst the second phase expects the increase of sports.

For further details visit at www.portalangop.co.ao/motix/en_us/noticias/desporto/Sports-Ministry-train-monitors,c6989138-f968-4531-a4fd-5e177e0c2c32.html

Arena Animation launches - 25 months 'Animation Pro’

Arena Animation, the global leader in hi-end Animation Training, has announced the launch of Animation Pro – a 25 month, comprehensive Animation program with focus on Animation Design & Principles. The course fulfills the oft-requested requirements from the industry for in-depth knowledge and deeper specialization from freshers poised to enter the industry.

Animation Pro has been designed to cater to various avenues in the Animation industry. The intensive curriculum spans over four Semesters, with subjects ranging from Animation Design & Visualization, Pre Production for Animation, Production for Animation & Post Production for Animation. It also incorporates training on the 2 most popular tools used in the Animation industry - FLASH & MAYA. Mr. Anuj Kacker, Global Head, Arena Animation, “Animation Pro is an intensive program with experiential learning, designed to give every student the competitive edge in the world of animation. It will give students a unique opportunity to benefit from an exhaustive curriculum, in an inspiring environment, trained by competent faculty and guided by interaction with industry experts.” Animation Pro is a specialist program, aimed at training students and making them proficient in the animation industry with in-depth knowledge to enter industry as well-trained, professional animators. Students are required to prepare an e-project after each semester. Through project-based work in conjunction with theoretical and practical experience, students would get an opportunity to explore different ways to put ideas into practice for developing their portfolios and demo show reels.
On course completion, students of Animation Pro would be able to get openings as 2D Digital Animators, 3D Modelers, Rigging Artists, Lighting Artists, Texturing Artists, 3D Animators etc. in the Entertainment Industry, Television Software Production Houses, Animation Studios, Film Production Houses, Web Design Studios & e-learning companies.
About Arena Animation:
Arena Animation is a Pioneer, Trendsetter and Global Leader in Animation education. Arena has an extensive network of centers & has trained over 2,50,000 students globally since its inception in 1996. Arena offers industry relevant courses on Animation & Multimedia to students aspiring for global careers in this New Age industry. It trains students as well as professionals in the latest industry relevant courses backed by alliances with world leaders, a world-class faculty and the latest technical educational tools. Arena’s students are placed as Graphic Designers, Web Designers, 2D/3D Animators, 2D/3D Designers, AV Editors, Technical Trainers, 3D Modelers, Multimedia Programmers, Compositors, Visualizers, Content Developers and Pre and Post Production executives in blue chip animation studios and entertainment companies like Prime Focus, Rhythm & Hues Studios, Crest Animation Studios, EFX, UTV Toons, Toonz Animation, Nipuna Services, Prasad Studio, Colour Chips, Ramoji Film City, Green Gold Animation, DQ Entertainment, Paprikaas Animation Studios, UshaKiron TV, Sony TV, Google India, NDTV, TOI, DD Sports, Discovery Channel, Divya Bhaskar, Asianet Satellite Communications, ETV, NDTV, Zee Sports and Zee TV to name a few.

Source: press-releases.techwhack.com/35197-animation-pro

Manmohan singh - Shreyas to join politics

Shreyas Talpade attended PM Manmohan Singh’s meeting held for a select crowd in Mumbai yesterday, because he is keen to join After Sanjay Dutt, now Shreyas Talpade is keen to join politics. His political ambitions became pretty evident when he attended a hush-hush meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and leading dignitaries from various fields, which was held yesterday afternoon at a suburban five star hotel.
A source said, “Shreyas idolises PM Manmohan Singh for the way he maintains a dignified silence despite provocation from opposition leader, L K Advani. Shreyas believes that such a quality is rare to come by and also a must-have for a true leader. So when he heard that Manmohan Singh was attending a meeting in Mumbai, he couldn’t resist it. He requested filmmaker Subhash Ghai, who had received an invitation to the event, to take him along.”
The actor felt honoured at being just at arm’s length from the person he admired the most. Recalling the excitement of seeing Manmohan Singh in person, Shreyas gushed, “Though I did not get a chance to meet our Prime Minister, I thoroughly enjoyed listening to his speech on various topics like the 26/11 issue and the economic meltdown. It was well thought-out and well-spoken.” Shreyas sprung a surprise and said, “I want to get involved in active politics and that is the reason why I attended this meeting. Don’t be surprised if I become a candidate in the next elections. I am deeply concerned about our nation, especially after 26/11. Also, looking at the current scenario, I strongly feel that every citizen should be given military training and made to work six months for the country.” Interestingly, Shreyas had contested elections during his college days, when he had bagged only four votes. Shreyas chortled, “That was a time when I felt I should try my hand at everything, so I stood for college elections too. It was a great experience.”

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Entertainment/Bollywood/Shreyas-to-join-politics/articleshow/4399099.cms

During election campaign high demand in Bicycles

Riding bicycles, hundreds of Samajwadi Party (SP) workers went round this southern Orissa city while campaigning for April 16 polls.

Elections 2009 - Comprehensive coverage
With their party symbol "bicycle" embossed in red and green clothes tied to the cycles, over 400 slogan shouting SP workers wearing head banners were seen proceeding in serpentine columns to seek votes for their party. The scene drove one to believe that the campaigners were not only making the voters aware of their party symbol "bicycle", but also showcasing the bicycle rental service prevalent in this silk city. Bicycles are in high demand for electioneering also in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, which is barely 20 km along the NH-five, where the election symbol of the main opposition Telugu Desam party (TDP) is also same as that of SP.
Earlier, TDP workers used to hire rental cycles from here and ride along the highway to neighbouring Srikakulam district during every election for campaign and holding rallies.
Proprietors of cycle rental units here agree that their income during elections increase. Earlier TDP was hiring the bicycles and this time the bicycles are being taken by SP, which has fielded its nominee Saroj Patnaik in the Berhampur assembly segment. An interesting aspect of the bicycle rental service is that it is considered the easiest mode of communication in this growing city for the commoners.

Source: www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/004200904141322.htm

Election 2009 - General election fever is missing!

General Elections 2009 are approaching fast, most of the party candidates have been finalised but the election fever is yet to begin. The usual political hulla gulla is strangely missing in two major states Uttar Pradesh and Uttrakhand.

Source :www.merinews.com/catFull.jsp?articleID=15765562

Kuwait election held on May 16

Registration for candidates to the Kuwait parliament, known as the General Assembly, will start on Tuesday after the cabinet on Monday decided the election would be held on May 16.
The need for elections comes after the previous assembly was disbanded by the ruling emir, Sheikh 'Sabah A-'Sabah, on March 19. The emir said some members of parliament had abused democracy and were a threat to stability. He said the decision to dissolve the government was made in order to “safeguard the security and stability of the country.” The emir’s comment referred to the attempt by a number of parliamentarians to question Prime Minister Sheikh Na’sr Mohammed Al-Ahmad A-‘Sabah over mismanagement, constitutional violations and misuse of public funds by his office. Analysts say that dissolving the parliament and heading for new elections will not solve fundamental differences of opinion between the government appointed by the emir and MPs from both the Islamic and liberal camps. One solution to shore up political stability and obstruct the option of grilling the prime minister would be to re-merge the position of prime minister and crown prince, which was split in 2003. The last assembly lasted for only 10 months, a record low for any of the previous 12 parliaments since Kuwait embraced parliamentary democracy in 1962. Of the 12 assemblies, two were suspended for a total of 11 years while four were dissolved and fresh elections held within the stipulated period of two months.

Source: www.themedialine.org/news/news_detail.asp?NewsID=24840

China's forex reserves by $2.8 billion over 7 times that of India

China's central bank said on Saturday that its foreign exchange reserves rose 16 percent year-on-year to $1.9537 trillion by the end Money of March. On the other hand, India's forex reserves stood at $255 billion. China's reserves, already the world's largest, increased by $7.7 billion in the first quarter - $146.2 billion less than the same period last year, AP reported quoting the People's Bank of China's Web site. In case of India, inflows by foreign institutional investors (FIIs) and a weak dollar have pushed up forex reserves by $2.8 billion. Easing credit growth has also resulted in a lower growth in money supply. This is because a dip in loans slows down the ‘multiplier effect’ , which occurs when money lent by a bank is spent and comes back to the banking system in the form of new deposits creating fresh money. Analysts believe China holds up to 70 percent of its foreign reserves in US dollar-denominated assets, including Treasury securities. According to figures released by the Reserve Bank of India foreign currency assets rose $3 billion, the value of gold in reserves dipped $169 million. The level of special drawing rights - currency with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) - remained unchanged during the week. China's reserves have ballooned as the central bank buys up dollars generated from its huge trade and influx of foreign investment.

Source :economictimes.indiatimes.com/Chinas-forex-reserves-over-9-times-that-of-India/articleshow/4388439.cms

Exchange - BASF SE Offers To Buy 20% Equity In Ciba India

German chemicals company BASF SE (BAS.XE) is making an open offer to buy 20% equity shares in Ciba India Ltd. (532184.BY) from shareholders at INR237.13 per share, the Bombay Stock Exchange said Saturday. Ciba India is a subsidiary of chemical manufacturer Ciba Holding AG (CIBN.VX). Ciba Holding holds 69.28% of the equity shares of Ciba India.

BASF's open offer to shareholders of Ciba India follows its global acquisition of Ciba Holding. As per local stock exchange rules, BASF has to buy additional 20% equity shares from shareholders of Ciba India because the global buy indicates an indirect acquisition of the Indian unit. BASF holds 95.8% of Ciba Holding shares. Ciba India in a note to the Bombay Stock Exchange said that JM Financial Consultants Pvt Ltd. will be managers of the offer on behalf of BASF. This offer will open on June 4 and close on June 23, 2009.

Source :online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20090411-700176.html

Tuberculosis: In 3 Chicago hospitals Doctor-in-training may have exposed hundreds of children, infants to TB

A Northwestern University doctor-in-training potentially exposed hundreds of patients, including infants, at three Chicago-area hospitals to tuberculosis in what is being called an unusual case of a medical-care provider putting patients' health at risk.

The 26-year-old female pediatric resident was diagnosed Tuesday with TB at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago after experiencing symptoms consistent with the infectious disease, hospitals and the Chicago Department of Public Health said. Symptoms of "active" TB include coughing, night sweats, fever, chills and weight loss. As of Friday evening, no patients or workers related to this case had been diagnosed with TB. The three hospitals—Northwestern, Children's Memorial and Evanston—said they believe the risk to patients is "minimal" from the resident, whose identity was not released. However, hospitals are continuing to notify patients Friday who may have been exposed to the resident over the past 10 months. Tuberculosis is a bacterial disease that usually affects the lungs but can also affect the brain, kidneys, spine and other body parts. The disease, which can be fatal if left untreated, remains common in many developing countries and is still found in the United States. The pediatric resident most recently was at Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago, where she came in contact with at least 150 children and infants and more than 300 workers, hospital officials said. Her work rotations also affected more than 100 patients, including 17 newborns, at Northwestern Memorial's Prentice Women's Hospital between Nov. 3 and 21.

For further details :www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-sat-tb-northwestern-0411-apr11,0,6820599.story

The third day of protest - Tamil demonstrated

About 200 Tamils demonstrated in front of parliament on Wednesday, the third day of protests calling for Britain's help in securing a cease-fire between Sri Lankan forces and Tamil Tiger separatists. Seven people have been arrested, mainly for public disorder offences, police said. Two were arrested under the Terrorism Act on suspicion of carrying articles supporting proscribed literature. The demonstration in Parliament Square was peaceful and numbers appeared to be dwindling by Wednesday morning, the Scotland Yard police spokesman said.

The day before scuffles had broken out when officers moved protesters off a major bridge into the square. The demonstration began on Monday, when 3,000 people began to occupy Westminster Bridge and the road leading to it alongside parliament's clock tower, popularly known as Big Ben. The British Tamils Forum said the protest had been organised by Tamil students who fear thousands of civilians could be killed if the Sri Lankan military continues its offensive against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in a no-fire zone in a northeastern coastal area. The United Nations says tens of thousands of people are being held as human shields by the LTTE, and has urged the Sri Lankan military to protect them during a final offensive. Palitha Kohona, permanent secretary at the Sri Lankan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told BBC radio on Tuesday the government could not stop the offensive until LTTE agreed to lay down arms. "The government wants to preserve the civilians, we want the civilians out, but the only decent thing that the LTTE can do now ... is to let the civilians go," he said.

Source :uk.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUKTRE5360D520090408

Moldovan opposition officials refuse vote recount:

A Moldovan opposition leader said on Wednesday that election officials had refused a request for a recount of a weekend parliamentary election won by the ruling Communist Party.

"They have just informed us that the Central Election Commission has rejected this. They have broken off the agreement we reached with (Moldovan President Vladimir) Voronin," Vlad Filat, leader of the Liberal Democrats, said in an interview. He expected "some very serious repression" after violent opposition protests on Tuesday. "I am not ruling out arrests both of political leaders and participants," he added.

Source : www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE5371FA20090408

Gambhir, Bhajji stars of India's NZ

Opener Gautam Gambhir stood heads and shoulders above his fellow and rival willow-wielders with a whopping 445 runs, while Harbhajan Singh led the bowlers' chart with 16 wickets in India's first Test series triumph in New Zealand in 41 years.

Gambhir averaged 89, scoring two centuries and a fifty to be the top-scorer of the three-match series, which India won 1-0. His highest was the 167-run knock that he hit in the second innings of the drawn third Test. Sachin Tendulkar was a distant second with 344 runs at an average of little over 68. The veteran right-hander scored a hundred and a couple of fifties. New Zealand depended heavily on Jesse Ryder to score and he didn't disappoint averaging 65 for his 327 runs that included a double-hundred. The mercurial right-hander was the hosts' top-scorer in the series followed by Ross Taylor, who contributed 322 runs at an average of 64. Taylor struck two hundreds. Rahul Dravid the next highest scorer, accumulating 314 runs at an average of 62 after scoring four fifties during the series. Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who was laid low by a back strain during the second Test, also had a fairly decent outing with the bat, averaging 77 for his 155 runs in the two matches he played. Meanwhile, Harbhajan's 16 scalps, that included a six-wicket haul in the third Test, were the most by a bowler in the series. Kiwi pacer Chris Martin was second with 14 wickets but coming at an average of 32, they were a tad too expensive.

Source : cricket.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Gambhir-Bhajji-stars-of-Indias-series-triumph/articleshow/4373833.cms

Kiwi coach Moles - Bond's comeback plans

Shane Bond's plans of working towards a Test comeback in case the rebel Indian Cricket League fails to honour his contract have delighted national coach Andy Moles, who feels the pacer's return would be a big boost to the Kiwi attack. Bond has expressed his renewed commitment to domestic cricket after the global economic slump forced the ICL to cancel its tournament this year, thereby putting a question mark on its future amid reports that the cash-strapped league was contemplating releasing its contracted players. The right-arm speedster, who has been barred from playing for the national team because of his association with the ICL, has indicated that he plans to play a full season for his state side Canterbury in 2009-10. "If he was available I'm sure the selectors would look favourably because he gives us that extra pace," Moles was quoted as saying by the New Zealand Press Association. The 33-year-old Bond played the last of his 67 ODIs against West Indies at the World Cup two years back, while he featured in the last of his 17 Tests against South Africa in Johannesburg in November, 2007. Another ICL-aligned pacer, Daryl Tuffey, who took 23 first-class wickets at an average of 18.91 for Auckland this season ahead of the State Championship final, was also on the radar of the Kiwi coach. Meanwhile, New Zealand Cricket chief executive Justin Vaughan welcomed the prospect of ICL players return to the national fold. "You want your national team to include the very best players and I think it's quite clear we haven't been able to do that in recent times," he said.

Source : cricket.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Bonds-comeback-plans-please-Kiwi-coach-Moles/articleshow/4373893.cms

BJP prime minister L K Advani nomination file on gandhinagar

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) prime ministerial candidate L K Advani will file his nomination papers from Gandhinagar constituency on Wednesday.

According to sources, Advani will be accompanied by Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi.
Advani will be seeking a fifth term from Gandhinagar after his victory from this constituency in 1991, 1998, 1999 and 2004. His main rivals are Congress nominee Suresh Patel and noted danseuse Mallika Sarabhai, who is making her electoral debut as an Independent. Patel is Congress MLA from Kalol for the second time. The Gujarat police have already made tight security arrangements in view of Advani's visit. The collectorate's office has been turned into a virtual fortress in preparation for Advani's nomination filing.Intelligence agencies have warned of increased threats to Advani.

Source :timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Advani-to-file-nomination-from-Gandhinagar-today/articleshow/4373422.cms

T20 World Cup - Symonds in 30-man Aus Preliminary squad

Embattled all-rounder Andrew Symonds and three uncapped cricketers were drafted in Australia's preliminary 30-member squad for the ICC World Twenty20 scheduled in England in June. Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland said the selectors had been advised that Symonds, who has been working through a counselling process, had reached a point where it was appropriate to consider him for international selection, subject only to fitness and form.
"Cricket Australia and Andrew have been speaking, as have members of the team leadership group, and we are satisfied he is committed to doing the things needed of an Australian international cricketer," Sutherland said of the troubled all-rounder who is battling poor form, injuries and alcohol-related problems.
Australia will prune the list and name a 15-member squad on May 5.
National Selection Panel Chairman Andrew Hilditch said the "dynamic" Symonds would add a lot of value to the squad. "Andrew Symonds has been made available for selection by Cricket Australia and joins the squad of 30. At his best Andrew is one of the most dynamic Twenty20 players in the world and his progress will be monitored leading up to the selection of the final 15," Hilditch said. Western Australia spinner Aaron Heal, South Australian stumper Graham Manou and Victorian batsman Rob Quiney are the three uncapped players in the squad.
"When picking the squad we have had regard to the performance of our Australian players in their limited games in Twenty20 cricket at international level and also the outstanding performances of our interstate cricketers during the KFC Big Bash," Hilditch said.
He some of the players named in the list were recovering from injuries and their progress would be monitored on a regular basis. "The squad includes Shaun Tait, Shane Watson, Brett Lee and Shaun Marsh all who are currently recovering from injuries. Shaun Marsh has from all reports now made a full recovery from his hamstring injury and Shane Watson has resumed cricket with the intention of resuming bowling during May in preparation for potential selection in the World Twenty20 final 15. "The recovery from injury of Brett Lee and Shaun Tait will be carefully monitored in the next few weeks prior to the final selection," he said.
Preliminary squad:
Nathan Bracken, Michael Clarke, Callum Ferguson, Brett Geeves, Brad Haddin, Ryan Harris, Shane Harwood, Nathan Hauritz, Aaron Heal, Moises Henriques, Ben Hilfenhaus, Brad Hodge, James Hopes, David Hussey, Mike Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Jason Krejza, Ben Laughlin, Brett Lee, Graham Manou, Shaun Marsh, Ricky Ponting, Robert Quiney, Peter Siddle, Andrew Symonds, Shaun Tait, Adam Voges, David Warner, Shane Watson, Cameron White.

Source : cricket.ndtv.com/cricket/ndtvcricket/storypage/ndtv/id/spoen20090089589/story03042009_114300.html

Price of tickets cause for concern

Take me out to the ballgame ... because I can’t afford it.

The high price of going to a game is now the No. 1 problem in Major League Baseball, a new Associated Press-Knowledge Networks poll of fans shows.
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Soaring salaries and steroids dominated fans’ worries in past AP surveys. But with opening day less than a week away, the nation’s recession is delivering the biggest blow.
“Like every election, it’s the economy,” said New York Yankees star Mark Teixeira, who signed a $180 million, eight-year contract in the offseason. “In tough times, disposable income may not be there.”
In other poll results:
l Nearly 60 percent of fans said no player who used steroids or performance-enhancing drugs should get into the Hall of Fame. l 85 percent said all 104 names on the list of players who tested positive for drugs in 2003 should be made public. So far, only Alex Rodriguez has been identified.
l 60 percent said they were not interested in the World Baseball Classic — the preseason tournament involving major leaguers that was won by Japan for the second time. But the cost of tickets, concessions, parking and everything else added up to fans’ main concern. The toll of attending a game was tops at 45 percent, followed by player salaries (29 percent), steroids/drugs (19 percent) and the length of games (6 percent).
“It’s gone up like everything else. The last game we went to, we paid $50 for a seat. That’s pretty steep,” Robert Neel, a retired director of admissions at the University of Cincinnati, said at spring training in Florida.
That would make for a cheap seat at either of the two new ballparks opening in New York. At the $1.5 billion Yankee Stadium, a ticket in the lower deck between the bases goes for a minimum of $350 and tops out at $2,625.
At the Mets’ Citi Field, it’s $18 just to park.
The average ticket price in the majors was $25.43 last year — up 11.7 percent over the previous season, according to The Team Marketing Report. The 2009 cost hasn’t been determined, but the increases typically outpace the inflation rate.
MLB said two-thirds of the 30 teams lowered either their average ticket price or some level of seats. The Toronto Blue Jays went even further, offering a season ticket in the upper deck for $76 — less than $1 per game for all 81 home dates.
“The prices at the concession stands are insane,” Cleveland fan Larry Jameson complained at spring training in Goodyear, Ariz. “Eight bucks for a beer. My wife bought a T-shirt. It cost her 22 bucks. She was going to get me a golf shirt. It was 55 bucks. I said forget about it, we need a plane ticket home.” Margaret Costello, a retired teacher from Sandusky, Ohio, assessed blame across the board. “I’m not happy about the prices,” she said this week at the Indians’ new camp. “Every sports team in America, every professional athlete, is out of line.
“We have people losing their jobs, and CC Sabathia — I love him, he was my favorite — he gets more millions than a third-world country’s national budget?” she said.
“I’m here for spring training, but I think this is the last time. Every year, I get more disillusioned with the millionaire players. Now, with Americans really in a financial bind, these guys keep getting richer? It has to stop.”
Sabathia, who signed a $161 million, seven-year deal with the Yankees, accepted that sentiment.
“I’m not surprised with the economy being so bad and the way things are, the price of a ticket is probably going to be high. Hopefully they’ll still come out and support us,” he said.
Overall, almost 60 percent of poll respondents said going to a game was more expensive than other entertainment they might consider. Yet there was no indication they would stay away because of the prices — only 11 percent who went to a game in 2008 said they aren’t likely to go back this year.

Source : www2.ljworld.com/news/2009/apr/03/poll-price-tickets-cause-concern/?sports