News In Detail

'People's Car' Nano to be launched tomorrow

NEW DELHI: History will be created in Mumbai on Monday when Tata Motors launches the world's least expensive car, Nano -- a car that can redefine personal transportation in modern India.

Described as "People's Car" by Tata Group Chairman Ratan Tata, Nano's commercial launch will mark a milestone in a journey, which was replete with controversies, hurdles and criticism from competitors.

As far as customers are concerned, they can expect to own a car coming at a price between Rs 1.20 lakh and Rs 1.30 lakh, depending on the version of Nano, although bookings will start only in April second week.

According to dealer sources, if the company keeps the ex-factory price at Rs 1 lakh, as promised by Tata, then the base model could easily have an on-road price of Rs 1.20 lakh after adding taxes such as excise duty, education cess and road tax, along with transportation cost, local taxes, insurance and registration fees and a lifetime parking fees (wherever applicable).

Last month, Tata Motors had appointed public sector lender State Bank of India as the sole booking agent for the world's least expensive car from the stable of Tatas. The booking amount is reportedly fixed at Rs 70,000.

Ever since the idea of making a car costing only Rs 1 lakh for Indian passengers was conceived way back in 2003 by Ratan Tata, his dream had to face challenges -- both technical and political.

At a time when input costs were soaring, keeping cost of production of a comfortable mini car powered by a 623cc engine giving a competitive mileage, was a challenge big enough.

While Tatas were able to overcome it, the group was unable to beat political challenge from Trinamool Congress and had to shift manufacturing base from the original location at Singur in West Bengal to Sanand in Gujarat.

It delayed not only the original plans for the commercial launch of Nano by about five months, but also affected its availability.

Till the time the Sanand facility is ready by 2010, Nano will be produced from Tata Motors' factories at Pantnagar in Uttarakhand and Pune in Maharashtra in limited numbers.

After the launch in Mumbai, Nano would be displayed at the company's dealerships from the first week of April, while the bookings would start from the following week. The booking process and other details of the Rs one lakh car would be announced on the day of launch.

While critics had been sceptical about the car meeting safety and emission norms, Tata had said during the unveiling of Nano on January 10, 2008, in Auto Expo in Delhi that the car would meet Bharat Stage-III emission norms and could also meet the stringent Euro 4 norms. The car has also gone through a full frontal crash test as per standard norms, he said.

Besides, the European version of the car was unveiled in the first week of this month at the Geneva Motor Show. The company plans to roll out the car by 2011, complying with Euro V emission norms and some added features.

The Nano is eight per cent shorter than Maruti 800, the cheapest car on offer currently in India, on bumper to bumper length, but is 21 per cent more spacious, Tata had claimed in Auto Expo. The 623cc Nano comes with a 33 HP petrol engine, but a diesel variant would also be launched soon.

The Nano would come in three variants -- standard and two deluxe models with air conditioning.

Source From:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Tata-Motors-to-launch-Nano-in-Mumbai-tomorrow/articleshow/4300303.cms

H-1B visa restrictions to end in two years

The US government's controversial restriction on companies from hiring skilled foreign workers with non-immigrant H-1B visas will continue for only two years, the immigration department has said.

As part of a stimulus package passed last month for revival of the economy, US President Barack Obama signed a new law, named "Employ American Workers Act", which makes it difficult for the companies having received government bailout funds to hire H-1B foreign workers.

However, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), in a circular issued with its invitation of H1-B applications for the next fiscal, has now made it clear that the EAWA requirements are not permanent and would "sunset two years from the date of enactment."

EAWA, which prevents a company from displacing US workers when hiring H-1B specialty occupation workers if the company received stimulus funds, took effect on February 17, 2009 and it applies to any "hire" taking place before February 17, 2011.

The Act defines "hire" as an employer permitting a new employee to commence a period of employment; that is, the introduction of a new employee to the employer's US workforce.

USCIS has said that it would begin accepting H-1B visa applications from April 1 for the next fiscal 1 and would subject the applications to various terms and conditions related to EAWA.

Source From :http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20090088417&ch=322200930900PM

IPL's semis and final in India not possible: Modi


MUMBAI: IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi has ruled out the possibility of hosting at least the semifinals and final of Twenty 20 league in India.


"We explored all possibilities of moving the semifinals and final to India. But it would have been too exhausting for the players. Players have to go back to England for the World Twenty20 Cup (beginning on June 5)," Modi said.

The second edition of the IPL would be held abroad, most probably in England from April 10 to May 24, following the decision to this effect taken by the Cricket Board on Sunday.

Modi said that the Twenty 20 event would be a loss making venture for the Board as it had made all arrangements, including logistics
, centrally.

"Cost is not an issue. We will cover it all. We are not concerned whether we make a profit or loss. We need the continuity," he said.

He also said it was upto the franchises on the number of players they wanted to take to the host country in the second edition.

"The franchisee owners have option to take any number of players. They can try to limit the number of players that are going to take up," he said.

Modi made it clear that the event cannot be held in more than one country because of logistical reasons.

"In a tournament of this magnitude the 49 matches cannot be held in more than one country. Logistics come into account. It is a mammoth task and it is going to only one country," Modi said.

source From :http://ipl.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4300827.cms

Jade Goody dies in peace

Seven years after becoming Britain's best known reality TV star who lived out her most intimate moments in front of the camera, Jade Goody died quietly in her sleep at home early Sunday, her publicist Max Clifford said. She was 27.

Goody, who was ill with cervical cancer, died at her home in Upshire, a village in southest England, at 3.14 a.m. GMT with her mother Jackiey Budden, husband Jack Tweed and family friend Kevin Adams by her side.

Goody's mother said: "My beautiful daughter is at peace."
Clifford said it was "ironic" that Goody had died on Mother's Day. The television star had struck media deals worth nearly a million pounds to secure the future of her two young sons - Bobby, five and Freddie, four.

"I think she's going to be remembered as a young girl who has, and who will, save an awful lot of lives," he said in a reference to the fact that cervical cancer testing has increased in Britain following her public battle with the disease.
"She was a very, very brave girl. And she faced her death in the way she faced her whole life - full on, with a lot of courage."

It was also ironic that Goody, who had spent most of her celebrity life in front of the camera, died quietly - away from the glare of lights and camera.

Goody, a working class woman from south London who worked as a dental
nurse, shot to fame in 2002 when she appeared on the reality TV show "Big Brother" and made an immediate impression with her feistiness.

But she became controversial in the celebrity version of the same show in 2007, when Channel 4 network expelled her after thousands of viewers complained she had racially bullied Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty, who was on the same show.
Goody, who had called the Bollywood star "Shilpa Poppadum" angered fans in India, who burnt Goody's effigies during a visit by then Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown.

But before the incident could turn into a diplomatic row, Goody apologised, made up with Shetty, undertook a tour of India and bounced back into the public eye.

It was in India, while Goody was making an appearance on the Indian version of Big Brother, that British doctors told her she was suffering from cervical cancer.

She flew back home for treatment but the cancer spread to her liver, bowels and groin. Goody then allowed a television channel to film her being treated in hospital in a reality show called Jade. In tandem, British tabloids reported her every move and statement on a daily basis.

She married her long-time boyfriend Jack Tweed last month and was christened with her sons this month. Jade told IANS exclusively last month that she felt "honoured by India's love" and relayed "a big thank you" to the thousands who had sent her letters, emails and cards.

Source From: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Entertainment/Jade-Goody-dies-in-peace/articleshow/4300244.cms