Niira Radia shuts down public relation firms Vaishnavi, Neucom

October 30, 2011 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Oct 30 (IANS) Niira Radia, the high profile public relations consultant who was alleged to have lobbied hard for a second stint for former Telecom Minister A. Raja’s has decided to shut down her companies Vaishnavi Com

munications and Neucom Consulting.

Vaishnavi has the public relations mandate for the entire Tata Group, while Neucom Consulting managed the account of Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries.

Radia, had been embroiled in the 2G controversy, after some tapes were leaked in which she was found lobbying for Raja and her close camaraderie with some important personalities in journalism, business and the government came out in the open.

Although there was no charge against her relating to the 2G scam, she was named as a witness by the Central Bureau of Investigation.

In a statement on the closure of her two PR outfits Radia said: “To give precedence to my personal priorities of family and health, I have decided against renewing any client mandates and to exit the business of communications consultancy.”

Reacting to Radia’s statement, the Tata Group said it had appointed Rediffusion, led by Arun Nanda, to manage its public relations and public affairs from November 1, 2011.

The websites of Vaishnavi and Neucom Consulting were also taken down.

An employee of Vaishnavi Communications said she had no idea of the closure. Some others said that a few senior executives of the two PR agencies could get inducted into the Tata Group and Reliance Industries.

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Iridium Names Thomas J. Fitzpatrick as CFO

April 6, 2010 By Leave a Comment

BETHESDA, Md., April 5, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Iridium Communications Inc.
(Nasdaq:IRDM) today announced the appointment of Thomas J. Fitzpatrick to the
role of executive vice president and chief financial officer (CFO) while Eric
Morrison will continue with the company, assuming the new role of senior vice
president, Iridium NEXT Financing and Planning.

“Tom Fitzpatrick is a seasoned CFO who brings to Iridium a strong track record
of experience leading finance and accounting organizations in public telecom
companies, and he is a terrific addition to our management team,” said Matt
Desch, Iridium CEO. “His experience in the financial management of a public
telecom operator is particularly relevant, as is his understanding of capital
markets and experience interacting with investors.”

Mr. Fitzpatrick will assume responsibility for all aspects of Iridium’s finance
organization, and he will join the management team in the company’s new McLean,
Va., headquarters office. He will assume his new role effective April 5, 2010.

Previously, Mr. Fitzpatrick was executive vice president and CFO of Centennial
Communications Corporation from 2002 to 2009. During his tenure, the company
experienced significant growth in revenue and operating profit, and he played a
key role in AT&T’s $2.7 billion acquisition of Centennial in November 2009.
While CFO at Centennial, the company raised more than $2 billion in senior and
high yield debt, and his management of Wall Street relationships facilitated a
substantial increase in public ownership of the company.

Prior to Centennial, from 2001 until 2002 Mr. Fitzpatrick was CFO for ICG
Commerce, a privately held Internet procurement services provider. From 2000
until 2001, he was CFO of Digital Access Inc., a broadband services provider.
Prior to 2000, Mr. Fitzpatrick was CFO of publicly-traded companies in the
information technology industry and vice president with Bell Atlantic
Corporation (now Verizon). He holds an MBA from Villanova University, a BS from
Pennsylvania State University and is a Certified Public Accountant.

“I want to thank Eric Morrison for his exceptional leadership as Iridium has
completed its transition to becoming a public company,” Desch said. “I am
especially pleased that we will now be able to leverage Eric’s considerable
talent and deep institutional knowledge as we work to secure the financing for
our next-generation satellite constellation, Iridium NEXT, and move on to the
subsequent phase of this important project. Now that we are a public company,
the CFO role needs to move into our headquarters location, and while I
appreciate that wasn’t possible for Eric and his family, our team is glad that
he will be continuing on in this pivotal role, based in our satellite and ground
operations center in Tempe, Ariz.”

Mr. Morrison will be responsible for the financial management and planning of
Iridium NEXT. As Iridium intends to complete its financing activities this
summer, he will help Iridium transition into the development and project
management phase of the new constellation, currently planned to begin launching
in late 2014. Mr. Morrison has served as CFO of Iridium Communications Inc.
since Iridium Holdings concluded its transaction with GHL Acquisition in
September 2009. He was appointed CFO of Iridium Holdings in 2006. Mr. Morrison
was responsible for leading Iridium Holdings through its financial transaction
last year and for managing Iridium’s transition as a public company. Previously,
Mr. Morrison served as vice president of finance and treasurer of Iridium
Holdings. Mr. Morrison holds an MBA and a Masters of Accountancy from the
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He is a graduate of Southern
Illinois University and is also a Certified Public Accountant.

Additional information on Iridium’s management team can be found on the
company’s website at www.iridium.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release that are not purely historical facts may
constitute forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include statements
regarding Iridium NEXT. Other forward-looking statements can be identified by
the words “anticipates,” “may,” “can,” “believes,” “expects,” “projects,”
“intends,” “likely,” “will,” “to be” and other expressions that are predictions
of or indicate future events, trends or prospects. These forward-looking
statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that
may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Iridium to differ
materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or
implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties
include, but are not limited to, uncertainties regarding the development and
availability of financing for Iridium NEXT and other risks that affect our
ability to generate cash internally, as well as general industry and economic
conditions, and competitive, legal, governmental and technological factors.
Other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those
indicated by the forward-looking statements include those factors listed under
the caption “Risk Factors” in the company’s Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2009, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March
16, 2010. There is no assurance that Iridium’s expectations will be realized. If
one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if Iridium’s
underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from
those expected, estimated or projected. Iridium’s forward-looking statements
speak only as of the date of this press release and Iridium undertakes no
obligation to update forward-looking statements.

About Iridium Communications Inc.

Iridium Communications Inc. (www.iridium.com) is the only mobile satellite
service (MSS) company offering coverage over the entire globe. The Iridium
constellation of low-earth orbiting (LEO) cross-linked satellites provides
critical voice and data services for areas not served by terrestrial
communication networks. Iridium serves commercial markets through a worldwide
network of distributors, and provides services to the U.S. Department of Defense
and other U.S. and international government agencies. The company’s customers
represent a broad spectrum of industry, including maritime, aeronautical,
government/defense, public safety, utilities, oil/gas, mining, forestry, heavy
equipment and transportation. Iridium has launched a major development program
for its next-generation satellite constellation, Iridium NEXT. The company is
headquartered in Bethesda, Md., U.S.A. and trades on the NASDAQ Global Market
under the ticker symbols IRDM (common stock), IRDMW ($7.00 warrants), IRDMZ
($11.50 warrants) and IRDMU (units).

CONTACT: Iridium Communications Inc.
Marie Knowles
+ 1 (301) 571-6279
marie.knowles@iridium.com

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , ,

Major 7.2 quake near Mexico-U.S. border kills one

April 5, 2010 By Leave a Comment

(Reuters) – A major 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck near the Mexico-California border on Sunday, killing at least one person as it rocked buildings, ruptured a highway and panicked residents from Tijuana to Los Angeles.

U.S. | World | Mexico | Natural Disasters

One person died when a house in Mexicali collapsed, Alfredo Escobedo, director of emergency services in Baja California state, Mexico, said. He said others had been trapped in elevators, retaining walls collapsed in some places and electricity was out in several parts of the state.

“There are around 100 people injured,” Escobedo told Reuters, but he had no reports of people stuck under collapsed buildings.

Local newspaper La Cronica said two people had died.

The relatively shallow quake was centered in a lightly populated area in northeastern Baja California near the city of Mexicali on the U.S. border. It knocked down power lines, cut off most phone communications and tore big cracks in a highway linking Tijuana to Mexicali.

The U.S. town of Calexico, over the border from Mexicali, suffered substantial structural damage but no casualties, local Fire Chief Pete Mercado told ABC7 TV News in Los Angeles.

“We are a population of 40,000 people, bordered next to 1.5 million. So we have a significant amount of damage down in Mexicali,” he said. “I have not got an update from the Mexican side.”

Mexicali is a prosperous city and a busy border crossing with the United States. Local industry is mainly agriculture, food processing plants and assembly-for-export plants. Images after the quake showed damaged but not collapsed buildings.

A series of aftershocks rocked the area around the epicenter, 30 miles to the southeast of Mexicali and close to the town of Guadalupe Victoria for several hours.

“It’s still shaking,” Nadia Camacho, a receptionist at a Mexicali hotel which had cracks in its floor and walls, said hours after the quake struck at 3:40 p.m. Pacific time (6:40 p.m. EDT). “We are all on alert. Nobody is inside the hotel, everybody’s outside.”

NERVES IN QUAKE-PRONE AREAS

The U.S. Geological Survey measured the quake at 7.2, a magnitude that can cause serious damage to urban areas.

Devastating earthquakes in Haiti and Chile this year have left many people nervous across tremor-prone Latin America.

An empty multistory parking garage under construction in Mexicali collapsed and broken gas pipes sparked a number of fires, Baja California civil protection official Eduardo Sandoval told Mexican radio.

In Tijuana, about 135 miles from the epicenter, a Reuters witness said the quake visibly jolted cars in a parking lot and shook a computer on her desk.

Some neighborhoods of San Diego reported minor structural damage and burst water pipes and callers to local radio said the rolling tremor made it hard to keep vehicles on the road.

“This was by far in recent memory the biggest jolt to our area,” said a commentator on local San Diego radio station.

People in Los Angeles, some 200 miles northwest of the epicenter, felt buildings swaying.

“I’m shaking like a leaf … the pool water was just going everywhere,” said Jean Nelson in Indio, California, outside Palm Springs, about 120 miles from the epicenter.

Southern California with its many active faults is prone to frequent quakes, and many residents fearfully anticipate the next big one. The last to cause major damage was the 6.7 magnitude Northridge quake in 1994 that left 57 dead, injured 9,000 and resulted in about $40 billion in property damage.

(Additional reporting by Robert Campbell and Tomas Sarmiento in Mexico City, Mary Milliken in Los Angeles and Jackie Frank in Washington; Writing by Robert Campbell and Catherine Bremer; Editing by Will Dunham and Chris Wilson)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , ,

Carlyle Taiwan TV deal hits hurdle before deadline

April 3, 2010 By Leave a Comment

TAIPEI, April 2 (Reuters) – Carlyle Group’s [CYL.UL] $1 billion deal to take a stake in mobile carrier Taiwan Mobile (3045.TW) has hit a regulatory hurdle and it was unclear if a June 30 completion deadline would be met, according to an official of the mobile firm.

Private Capital | Media | Telecommuncations Services

Under the deal, agreed last September, Carlyle will exchange its stake in Taiwan cable TV company Kbro for a 15.5 percent stake in Taiwan Mobile, while Taiwan Mobile will pay T$32.8 billion ($1 billion) via a share swap and cash. It will also assume T$24 billion of debt. [ID:nTP280376]

But the deal, which would create Taiwan’s largest pay TV operator, has run afoul of a law in Taiwan prohibiting state ownership of media bodies.

“It has suddenly become an issue that a company partially owned by the government cannot buy a media stake,” Josephine Juan, deputy spokeswoman at Taiwan Mobile, said on Friday.

“It is hard to say if we can close the deal before June,” she added. “We are still waiting for an approval from regulators.”

The problem has arisen because the city government of Taipei has an indirect interest in Taiwan Mobile via a stake in banking group Fubon Financial Holdings (2881.TW). Fubon’s controlling shareholder, the Tsai family, is Taiwan Mobile’s largest shareholder.

The broadcast regulator, the National Communications Commission (NCC), has proposed changing the law to allow for some indirect ownership. It could not be reached for immediate comment.

Carlyle declined to comment

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Nifty touches 52 weeks high, telecom, ifra sectors gain

September 7, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Mumbai, Sep 7 (ANI): The Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) touched a 52-week high of 4743.75 on Monday following early trends of good purchasing in all Asian markets.

Earlier, during the intra-day the Nifty registered the high of 4737.20 and low of 4679.30.

Indian markets were well-poised Monday taking cues from the positive global markets as all the sectoral indices were up, led by gains in realty, metals and auto stocks.

According to the market analysers, the US markets closed up and other Asian markets are positive.

Asian stocks rose for a third day, led by finance and technology companies, as the G-20 nations agreed on steps to shore up the global financial system.

The Sensex of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) was at 15862.98, up 173.86 points the 30-share index touched a high of 15877.12 and low of 15793.27.

Amongst the sectoral indices, BSE Realty Index was up 2.13 per cent, BSE Metal Index moved up 1.60 per cent and BSE Auto Index gained 1.30 per cent.

BPCL 6.28 percent, Reliance Communications 3.36% percent, TCS 2.56 percent, Tata Motors 2.30 percent and Reliance Capital 2.20 percent were amongst the Nifty gainers. (ANI)

Filed Under: Business News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Army confers Honorary Brigadier Rank on Dr ArvInd Lal

September 4, 2009 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Sep. 4 (ANI): Dr. Arvind Lal, Chairman and Managing Director of Dr. Lal Pathological Laboratories, has been awarded the Honorary Rank of Brigadier by the Armed Forces Medical Services.

President Pratibha Patil, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, granted this award to Dr Lal in recognition to his outstanding contribution in the field of health care.

Dr Lal, alumni of the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), is a pioneer in bringing Laboratory services in India at par with the Western world.

Dr Lal also worked as a Demonstrator (Lecturer) in the Department of Pathology in AFMC.

In 1977, Dr Lal took charge of the Pathology Laboratory founded in 1949 by his late father.

Dr Lal has revolutionized laboratory medicine in the country by introducing new tests, instruments and ICT systems i.e. Information, Communications-Technology systems.

A member of many expert and advisory bodies set up by the central and state governments and on the panel of several professional bodies and institutes, Dr Lal has served as a pathologist to many present and past Prime Ministers of India.

Conferred with the Padma Shri award by the President this year, Dr Lal is also a recipient of the Indira Gandhi Solidarity Award in 1994, Delhi Ratan Award in 2005, Lifetime Achievement Award in Medicine in 2003 and the International Business Council Award 1994. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Multi-billion dollar fraudster Madoff’s request for soft-touch prison rejected

July 15, 2009 By Leave a Comment

New York, July 15 (ANI): Wall Street’s biggest fraudster Bernard Madoff will serve his jail term along with an Israeli spy and an Islamic terrorist at a North Carolina prison, where he was transferred on Monday after the US Bureau of Prisons rejected his request to spend the rest of his life at the Otisville Correctional Institute, an easygoing prison.

Now Prisoner No 61727-054, Madoff, 71, is serving his 150-year sentence for running a 65 billion dollar ponzi scheme at the Butner Federal Correctional Complex, 480 miles from New York, where Madoff’s wife and two sons. adoff’s sons have cut off all contact with their father since he admitted to running Wall Street’s biggest fraud, but a Madoff adviser says that the estrangement is “lawyer enforced” because of the continuing investigation, Times Online reports.

The fraudster hopes eventually to receive visits from his sons.

The Butner complex comprises two mediumsecurity prisons and a low-security facility in the same place, which could make it easier for Madoff to transfer to a lower security jail in the future.

Among the inmates at the complex is Jonathan Pollard, the former US navy officer convicted of spying for Israel in 1987, who is scheduled for release in 2015. Omar Abdel-Rahman, the blind Egyptian sheikh jailed for life in 1995 for plotting a “day of terror” in New York.

Butner does house other white-collar criminals, such as John Rigas, the founder of Adelphia Communications, and his son, Tim, the company’s chief financial officer, who were convicted of fraud. Franklin Brown, the former vice-chairman of Rite Aid Corp, is serving a ten-year sentence at Butner.

Butner was named one of America’s ten cushiest prisons by Forbes magazine.

The magazine noted, however, that it is “no Club Fed”. Federal prisons, sometimes dubbed Club Fed because of their easygoing rules and lack of a fence, are only for inmates serving less than ten years.

Madoff is likely to be held in solitary confinement, at least at the beginning of his sentence, because he is considered at risk of revenge attacks. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

SAIL Admit Card ~ Sail Jobs Recruitment ~ Sail Recruitment of Management Trainees Jobs 2009 ~ www.sail.co.in

July 7, 2009 By Leave a Comment

SAIL Admit Card ~ Sail Jobs Recruitment ~ Sail Recruitment of Management Trainees Jobs 2009 ~ www.sail.co.in

SAIL (Steel Authority of India Ltd.) invites application from young, energetic and result oriented persons for around 300 posts of Management Trainees (Technical).

Candidates having engineering degree :

  • in Production/Industrial Engg./Manufacturing can apply against Mechanical discipline
  • in Electronics & Communications can apply against Electronics and Telecommunication discipline
  • in Information technology can apply against Computer Science discipline

Important Links

* Eligibility Criteria & General Information
* Download Pay-In-Slip
* Download Registration Slip

Admit Card Download : SAIL Recruitment of MT (Technical) – http://www.sail.co.in/aboutus.php?tag=ManagementTrainees

Filed Under: Educational News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Import of Chinese handsets without security code banned

July 2, 2009 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, July 2 (IANS) The government has banned the import of Chinese handsets that do not have the international mobile equipment identity (IMEI) – a unique 15-digit security code – with immediate effect, a union minister said Thursday.

“The government has prohibited the import of mobile handsets without IMEI number or with all zeroes in its place with immediate effect,” Minister of State for Telecommunications Gurudas Kamat told the Rajya Sabha in a written reply.

IMEI helps the authorities identify the handset used for GSM network, while the electronic serial number (ESN) is used for CDMA network for the same purpose.

Earlier, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) had directed telecom operators to dosconect services to phones that do not have the IMEI code as such phones pose security threat.

The government’s move came after investigating agencies found that terrorists have been using non-IMEI mobile phones for their communications.

Around 30 million or 8 percent of India’s mobile phone subscribers use the cheap handsets that are generally imported from China and Taiwan.

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Sultan of Perak applauds Malay-Sikh community’s spirit

June 29, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Kuala Lumpur, June 29 (ANI): The Sultan of the Malaysian state of Perak, Azlan Shah, has saluted the Malay-Sikh community for its contributions to the country’s economic, cultural and political fields.

“They form an invaluable and integral part of our colourful social fabric and deserve due recognition for their contribution, as much as any other citizen, to Malaysia’s economic, cultural and political life,” The Star quoted Sultan Azlan Shah, as saying.

Speaking at the launch of a book titled ‘Sikh Community in Malaysia’, Sultan Azlan Shah applauded the way the Sikhs have managed to retain their distinct cultural identity, despite being a minority.

He said their strong religious beliefs, cultural practices and strong sense of community had undeniably afforded them resilience and distinction.

Sikhs made their entry into Malaysia in the 19th century and quickly became known for their gallantry in the security forces, he noted.

“Today, the community’s role and influence extends to other fields, with prominence in professions such as medicine and law,” Sultan Azlan said.

Later, Information, Communications and Culture Minister Dr Rais Yatim told reporters that the ministry would work to highlight the cultural heritage of other minority communities.

“We may start a series of shows on RTM highlighting the cultural and musical background of the Sikh community next week,” he added. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

TERI chief says Indian Army’s biggest enemy is climate change

June 28, 2009 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, June 28 (ANI/ Business Wire India): Dr. R.K. Pachauri, Director General of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and Chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), has warned the Indian Army that climate change could prove to be their biggest enemy, as melting snow could open a new passage for terrorists.

“Climate change poses new threats to India. Melting snows in the north open up passages for terrorists, just as melting glaciers affect water supply in the subcontinent’s northern part, sharpening possibility of conflict with our neighbours. Changing rainfall patterns affect rain fed agriculture, worsening poverty which can be exploited by others,” Dr. Pachauri said while delivering the keynote address at the convocation ceremony at the Military College of Telecommunication Engineering, Mhow.

He cautioned that climate change might force millions of ‘climate refugees’ across India’s border, posing a new challenge to nation’s armed forces.

“Our defence forces might find themselves torn between humanitarian relief operations and guarding our borders against climate refugees, as rising sea-levels swamp low-lying areas, forcing millions of ‘climate refugees’ across India’s border,” he added.

As the Chief Guest, Pachauri presented the Chief of Army Staff Trophy and other awards to the winners.

In his Valedictory Address, Dr. Pachauri complimented the officers for the exemplary work they have done during various natural calamities across the length and breadth of the country.

He praised the Corps of Signals for their good work in the field of modern communications and computer networks and their remarkable use of advanced systems of Optical Fiber, Satellite Communications, and other networks to conduct its operations, including Low Intensity Conflict Operations and UN missions.

The Commandant, Military College of Telecommunication Engineering in his farewell address, exhorted the passing out officers to apply their knowledge in their units and to keep abreast with the latest in the field of technology. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

CII welcomes appointment of Nilekani as head of UIDAI

June 27, 2009 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, June 26 (ANI): CII today welcomed the Government’s announcement on creating the UID Authority of India (UIDAI), under the aegis of the Planning Commission, and begin the process of allocating unique identification number to the citizens of India.

CII acknowledged the move to appoint Nandan Nilekani to lead this initiative, and said that Nilekani’s technological acumen and managerial prowess will help deliver a project of this magnitude.

Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, CII said: “This move will bestow the benefits of Information Technology to the common man and will also help establish citizenship, thus enhancing security at various levels.”

“This would further bring transparency in different delivery channels help in mapping diverse requirements of the Nation and in turn, assure better planning and strategization for the Country,” he said.

“CII believes that as there is a worldwide consensus that the governments will need to leverage the massive potential of Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) to deliver most services of interest to citizens and will also accelerate the pace of placing India at a higher position in the global e-readiness graph,” he said. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Teens more safety conscious than previously thought: Study

June 27, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Washington, Jun 25 (ANI): An Internet survey has shown that teens may be a bit more safety conscious than previously thought.

The survey, released by Cox Communications, and carried out by Harris Interactive, asked 655 13- to 18-year-olds about their online and cell phone behaviour, specifically addressing issues of cyberbullying and sexting.

For the purposes of the study, cyberbullying was defined as “harassment, embarrassment, or threats online or by text message,” while sexting referred to “sending sexually suggestive text or e-mails with nude or nearly-nude photos.”

Not surprisingly, the vast majority of teens (72 percent) have a social-networking profile, while 73 percent use cell phones and 91 percent have an e-mail address.

The study raises an interesting contradiction. Fifty-nine percent of the teens say that posting personal information or photos on public blogs or social-networking sites is either “somewhat unsafe” or “very unsafe”.

Only 7 percent say it’s “very safe”, while 34 percent say it’s “somewhat safe”.

Yet, when asked about their own behaviour, 62 percent of the kids post photos of themselves, 50 percent share their real age, 45 percent the name of their school, and 41 percent the city where they live.

When it comes to more private information, only 4 percent post their address, 9 percent “places where you typically go”, and 14 percent post their cell phone number.

“Though they are aware of the risks, many teens expose personal information about themselves online anyway,” CBS News quoted the study’s executive summary as explaining.

The study was in partnership with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and “America’s Most Wanted Host” John Walsh. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

BSE crosses 140 points on opening trade

June 22, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Mumbai June 22 (ANI): The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) benchmark sensex crossed over 140 points in opening trade, thanks to the capital inflows by foreign funds, and signals of stability from the other Asian markets.

Continuing its rising pace for the second consecutive session, the 30-share index, which was pitched at 256.36 points in the last session, collected another 140.40 points, to register 14,662.29 in opening trade.

The leading Asian markets like Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was up 2.25 percent, while Japan’s Nikkei rose 0.30 percent in morning trade.

According to experts, pick up in buying by foreign funds, sparked by firming trends in the Asian markets and covering-up of short positions by speculators mainly influenced the trading sentiments but this trend was confined to a few sectors only.

The shares of Reliance Communications were in good demand and traded 3.16 percent higher at Rs 314.80 amidst speculations of its strategic alliance with China mobile.

The Sensex also gained from the raise in the shares of Reliance Industries by 0.25 per cent at Rs 2,044.70, Reliance Infra 1 per cent at Rs 1,274.90, BHEL 1.79 per cent at Rs 2,128, Grasim Industries 1.38 per cent at Rs 335.10, L and T 2.81 per cent at Rs 1,538.15, Mahindra and Mahindra 1.04 per cent at Rs 745, ICICI Bank 2.36 per cent at Rs 730.60.

Following the trends of BSE the National Stock Exchange (NSE) index Nifty moved up 38.65 points to 4,352.25. (ANI)

Filed Under: Business News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Avaya GlobalConnect sees business in newer verticals

May 20, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Mumbai, May 20 (ANI/Business Wire India): Avaya GlobalConnect, India’s leading enterprise business communications solutions provider today unveiled its strategic roadmap in India for 2009.

The company announced its renewed focus on technology solutions for the BFSI, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Hospitality and other verticals.

Aiding this move is the introduction of Avaya’s new technology solution, Avaya AuraT, a breakthrough architecture that easily integrates communications across multi-vendor, multi-location and multi-modal businesses.

Anil Nair, the newly appointed Managing Director of Avaya GlobalConnect, said on the occasion, “Our strategy of verticalization is of course helping us reach out to more domestic customers and expand our market base. This market traction is now fuelled by the fact that in the current economic downturn, Avaya Aura protects investments made, simplifies complex multi-vendor networks, reduces infrastructure costs and quickly delivers voice, video, messaging, presence and web applications to employees everywhere.”

This announcement coincides with Avaya GlobalConnect’s biggest annual three-day customer event iComm 2009 being held in Mumbai from May 20-22, 2009. This will serve as a perfect platform for vendors and customers to connect and demonstrate technology and solutions that spell business benefits to enterprises.

iComm 2009 will also showcase the new solution Avaya Aura among other emerging technology solutions and trends in customer service for enterprises across verticals. It will give industry professionals a real-time experience of the power of communications solutions and technology.

Avaya GlobalConnect has been recognized as the Market Leader for Enterprise Telephony and Contact Centers for seven years in a row by Frost and Sullivan. A subsidiary of Avaya Inc., the company has maintained leadership in other areas as well including Unified Communications. (ANI)

Filed Under: Business News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Janet Jackson ‘wardrobe malfunction’ fine may be reinstated after Supreme Court’s order

May 5, 2009 By Leave a Comment

London, May 5 (ANI): The US Supreme Court has ordered a re-examination of an appellate court’s decision to quash a fine over Janet Jackson’s “wardrobe malfunction” during 2004′s Super Bowl.

It was in July last year that the appellate court ruled that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) acted “arbitrarily” in fining CBS TV 550,000 dollars in September 2004, for airing the glimpse of Jackson’s breast during the broadcast.

As many as 90 million viewers are said to have seen the incident during the half time show.

The malfunction happened while Jackson was performing alongside Justin Timberlake, who reached for her bra.

Broadcaster CBS received around 542,000 complaints regarding the malfunction.

However, the 3rd US Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia has now been directed to consider reinstating the fine imposed by the FCC.

The order comes after a high court ruling last week that upheld the FCC’s policy that subjects broadcasters to fines against even single uses of swear words on live television, reports the BBC.

That ruling will be reviewed in view of the Supreme Court’s order in the case. (ANI)

Filed Under: Entertainment News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Official Washington prefer more-breezy, fly-in, fly-out casual partying events

May 2, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Washington, Apr.30 (ANI): Socialising and partying in official Washington has undergone a change in the last decade and a half.

Washington doesn’t demand or even want a sit-down dinner with an evening port.

According to Politico, partygoers tend to prefer more-breezy, fly-in, fly-out casual events, like birthday parties for A-list reporters and staffers.

Faced with the most terrifying economic crisis since the Great Depression, two wars, the looming collapse of the auto industry, a swine flu epidemic and even a few pirate attacks, the city’s new establishment hasn’t had the time – or perhaps the inclination – to elect a new power hostess.

“The first 100 days, the economy wasn’t solved and the new hostess hasn’t been identified,” says journalist Margaret Carlson, who has a knack for bringing people together.

Its essentially par for the course that every incoming administration reshuffles the Washington deck – effectively determining who’s powerful and who’s not. But as any decent lobbyist will tell you, access is the key to power, and few control the access to the city’s political hierarchy more directly than the reigning social chair.

The doyennes of yesteryear — Democratic powerhouse Esther Coopersmith, the well-known Sally Quinn, and Beth Dozoretz, a friend of the Clintons, remain social fixtures. These women still host fabulous parties.

Several years ago, two new party players – Juleanna Glover and Nancy Jacobson Penn – popped up on the horizon, offering food, drink and expansive homes for White House officials, members of Congress, senators, Capitol Hill staff, lobbyists, reporters and even then-Vice President Dick Cheney.

Glover, a Republican, was more than willing to throw a party for anyone from the newly minted head of CNN’s Washington bureau to visiting A-listers such as businessman John Tisch.

Jacobson Penn, conveniently a Democrat, used her impressive Rolodex to transform her palatial Georgetown home into a sort of social foxhole for Democrats in a town that was run by Republicans.

Between them, Glover and Jacobson Penn had the social cartography of political Washington covered.

Still, the grandeur of a Katharine Graham soiree is missing – the utter sophistication and French chefs replaced by appetizers from Costco.

So who’s in line for the new throne?

Communications guru, avid party-thrower and overall Washington political scene expert Jim Courtovich says that “the list is still emerging.” (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Plans for public database scrapped, but net surfers to be monitored in Britain

May 2, 2009 By Leave a Comment

London, April 28 (ANI): The British Home Secretary has scrapped plans for a public database, but has asked communications firms to monitor and record all internet contacts between people.

According to a report by BBC News, announcing a consultation on a new strategy for communications data and its use in law enforcement, Jacqui Smith said there would be no single government-run database.

But, Smith but wants details to be held and organised for security services.

The new system would track all e-mails, phone calls and Internet use, including visits to social network sites.

Communications data is an essential tool for law enforcement agencies to track murderers and paedophiles, save lives and tackle crime.

But, Smith also said that “doing nothing” in the face of a communications revolution was not an option.

The Home Office will instead ask communications companies – from internet service providers to mobile phone networks – to extend the range of information they currently hold on their subscribers and organize it so that it can be better used by the police, MI5 and other public bodies investigating crime and terrorism.

Ministers say they estimate the project will cost 2 billion pounds to set up, which includes some compensation to the communications industry for the work it may be asked to do.

“Communications data is an essential tool for law enforcement agencies to track murderers, paedophiles, save lives and tackle crime,” Smith said.

“Advances in communications mean that there are ever more sophisticated ways to communicate and we need to ensure that we keep up with the technology being used by those who seek to do us harm,” she explained.It is essential that the police and other crime fighting agencies have the tools they need to do their job, However to be clear, there are absolutely no plans for a single central store,” she added.

Communication service providers (CSPs) will be asked to record Internet contacts between people, but not the content, similar to the existing arrangements to log telephone contacts.

The CSPs will also be asked to record some third party data or information partly based overseas, such as visits to an online chatroom and social network sites like Facebook or Twitter.

Security services could then seek to examine this data along with information which links it to specific devices, such as a mobile phone, home computer or other device, as part of investigations into criminal suspects. (ANI)

Filed Under: Science News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
« Older Posts