Labels: News
Labels: News
There is a prediction that there will be another tsunami hitting on July 22 nd .
It is also when there will be sun eclipse.
Predicted that it is going 2 be really bad and
countries like Malaysia (Sabah & Sarawak), Singapore, Maldives, Australia, Mauritius, Si Lanka,
India, Indonesia, Philippines, Japan and Certain Costal Parts of China are going 2 be badly hit.
Please try and stay away from the beaches in July. Better 2 be safe than sorry.
Please pass the word around.
Please also pray for all beings.”
Labels: News
So many people around the world want to know that "What is the Net Worth of Ratan Tata"?
TATA Group is running 96 businesses and out of which 28 Companies are publically listed on the various stock exchanges.
Tata Group is world's top 50 Group according to Market capitalization and Reputation.
Have you ever thought why Ratan tata's name is not in the list of
billionaire' s club? why Ratan Tata is not a billionaire on the Forbes magazine list of billionaire people of the world?
The reason is that, TATA Group's 96 companies are held by its main Company "TATA Sons" and the main owner of this TATA Sons is not Ratan Tata but various charitable organizations developed and run by TATA Group.
Out of which JRD TATA Trust & Sir Ratan Tata Trust are the main. 65% ownership of TATA Sons which is the key holding company of the other 96 TATA Group Company is held by various charitable organizations.
So this 65% ownership ownership of Tatasons Limited is not reflected on Ratan Tata's personal Financial Statement but on the various charitable organizations. and this is the reason why Ratan Tata is not in the list of Billionaire club.
if we put this 65% ownership of Tata Sons in Ratan TATA's own personal financial statement then Ratan Tata's Net worth can become more than $ 70 billion. and that's much more than the Warren Buffet's Current Net Worth of $ 62 billion, the world's richest person according to Forbes magazine 2008.
However, it doesn't mean that Ratan Tata is poor. In one interviews he had told the reporter that, "I have my own Capital". He is the chairman of Tata Group so obviously he earns lots of money every year as a bonus, remuneration and salary. However, Ratan Tata's Net worth is not $ 1 Billion.
He is not a billionaire on paper. but in reality he is the richest
person of the world. His net worth in reality is more than Bill Gates and Warren Buffet.
SO the good thing about Tata Group is that, They do Charity out of their Money...
And that is the reason TATA Group has generated so much of Goodwill over last 5 generations.
Labels: News
NEW DELHI: The much-awaited bookings for Tata Motors's Rs one-lakh car Nano opens tomorrow across the country for a limited period of 17days.
It is understood that Tata Motors itself has sold over 75,000 booking forms from its 218 outlets across the country, although the forms are available at over 30,000 locations across 1,000 cities at company dealerships, branches of State Bank of India and other preferred financiers, and outlets of Westside, Croma, World of Titan and Tata Indicom.
When contacted, a company spokesperson said 'response is progressively increasing everyday', but declined to divulge details.
In a statement the company said it has joined hands with 18 banks and financial institutions to help customers with the booking process and to provide retail finance facilities. The booking amount ranges between Rs 2,850 and Rs 4,110 among different banks.
While the interest rates on the loan amount would vary between 9% and 14.25%, customers would have to spend Rs 3,468-Rs 4,431 as insurance premium, the company said.
Labels: News
When lightning hit the world's tallest tower! For as long as half hour lightning hit the tower and the thunder sounded all over the neighouring areas! An unforgettable night!
Labels: News
Abhishek Bachchan's marathon seven-city promotional tour for the movie Delhi-6 kept the security staff busy in managing his fans and led to some moviegoers missing their films but the actor exuded confidence in getting his name listed in the record books.
As the actor rushed from one city to another in his attempt to get the feedback of audiences in different cinema halls, his fans were there all the time.
"It is really exciting to get first hand response about your movie. The cinema halls were running packed wherever I went," the junior Bachchan told reporters.
His target cities are Ghaziabad, Noida, Delhi, Gurgaon, Faridabad, Chandigarh and Mumbai.
The actor reached a Noida cinema 10 minutes before schedule only to see a over 500-strong crowd gathering around the hall, literally threatening to disrupt the event. Though Bachchan had initially planned to interact with the audience, he had to rush out within 10 minutes.
Many of the moviegoers were also caught in the crowd and missed their show as the tight security made their entry difficult.
The current record-holder in the category of the greatest number of public appearances by a film star at different cities in 12 hours promoting the same film is five by Jorgen Vogel and Daniel Brohl (Germany). They walked the red carpet, signed autographs and introduced the film Ein Freund von mir (Germany 2006) at cinemas in Munich, Berlin, Hamburg, Dusseldorf and Cologne, Germany, on Oct 22, 2006. They were accompanied by the director of Ein Freund von mir Sebastian Schipper.
Labels: News
Top call: The Union Minister for Communication & Information Technology, Mr A. Raja (centre), flanked by the CMD of BSNL, Mr Kuldeep Goyal, and the DoT Secretary, Mr Siddhartha Behura, at the launch of BSNL 3G mobile services in Chennai on Sunday. - R. Raghu
BSNL (Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd) launched 3G mobile services from Chennai on 22/02/09 Sunday.
The national launch of the third generation mobile service in Chennai enables a range of upgraded services, including rich voice, data and video services, to the subscribers.
3G makes possible video streaming applications such as Live TV, movie downloads, high speed data download on mobile phones with 3G services enabled.
Callers can also see each other on their mobile phone screens, according to a press release from BSNL.
The new service will offer data speed of 2 Mbps against 144 Kbps available now over the GPRS and EDGE enabled mobile networks.
The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Mr M. Karunanidhi, launched the service with an inaugural call to the Union Minister for Communication and IT, Mr A. Raja, the release said.
BSNL is the first mobile company to launch the service in Chennai. Chennai Telephones has installed 25 stations (Node-Bs) in the city for the initial launch and these would be expanded fast.
BSNL plans to invest over Rs 2,700 crore to provide 3G service in important cities, commercially important towns and all the district headquarters.
The Communications Minister said BSNL plans to cover more than 700 cities with 3G services. The mobile network has been expanded making India emerge the second largest mobile telephone market after China.
Over 360 million mobile connections have been provided and this is expected to double by 2012. Teledensity has reached 34 per cent in January 2009 up from 12.74 per cent in 2006.
New initiatives such as bringing down tariff to 40-50 paise a minute, mobile number portability — allowing subscribers to retain their number while changing operators — are in the pipeline.
Labels: News
Salma Hayek Marries French Billionaire
Salma Hayek has married French businessman Francois-Henri Pinault, Monday's online edition of the weekly French newsmagazine Le Point reports.
Hayek, 42, and Pinault, 46, were married on Saturday – St. Valentine's Day – in the City Hall of the Sixth Arrondissement in central Paris, according to the publication, which is owned by the Pinault family.
Sixth Arrondissement Mayor Jean-Pierre Lecoq subsequently confirmed the report to the French news agency Agence France-Presse.
There had been recent reports that the couple – whose daughter, Valentina Paloma Pinault, was born in Los Angeles in September 2007 – had reunited after they had called off their marital engagement in July 2008.
The two had originally announced their engagement in March 2007.
Romance Rekindled
Friends of the couple tell PEOPLE that a Paris trip in September (when Hayek attended the Balenciaga fashion show) and another in November helped rekindle the pair's relationship. Adds a source, they were "very evidently in love with each other, very affectionate in public" together at the Dubai Film Festival in December.
Only last week, Hayek, who's been appearing on NBC's 30 Rock, told TV host Rachael Ray that when she kisses Alec Baldwin on the show, "I keep telling Francois, 'I imagine I was kissing you.' "
Pinault is CEO of the luxury giant PPR and the son of one of France's richest men, Francois Pinault, whose fortune last year was estimated to be $16.9 billion by Forbes magazine.
Besides his daughter with Hayek, Pinaut also has two children from a previous marriage.
Labels: News
TEHRAN, Iran (CNN) -- Iran Tuesday successfully launched its first satellite into orbit, a step hailed by Iran's president as a "source of pride" for the Islamic republic, according to state-run news outlets.
Reported satellite launch took place on the 30th anniversary of the Islamic revolution in Iran.
Reported satellite launch took place on the 30th anniversary of the Islamic revolution in Iran.
U.S. Department of Defense officials confirmed the launch, and the State Department expressed "grave concern."
"Developing a space launch vehicle that could ... put a satellite into orbit could possibly lead to development of a ballistic missile system," State Department acting spokesman Robert Wood told reporters. "So that's of grave concern to us."
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is expected to discuss Iran in meetings Tuesday with British Foreign Secretary David Miliband and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
On Wednesday officials from the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China will meet in Germany to discuss next steps on Iran. Wood said that Undersecretary William Burns, who is representing the United States, will seek input and discuss some ideas the Obama administration has about how to move forward. Two U.S. officials confirmed that Iran had launched a low-earth orbit satellite, CNN Pentagon Correspondent Barbara Starr said.
There were no indications of any weapons activity on the two-stage rocket, although the rocket is capable of launching long-range weapons, the officials said.
"I wouldn't think of this in terms of highly advanced technology," one U.S. official said. But it does suggest Iran's two-stage rockets are increasingly reliable.
The Pentagon said Tuesday the launch is "clearly a concern of ours."
"Although this appears to be satellite, there are dual-use capabilities that could be applied to missiles, and that's a concern to us and everybody in region," Department of Defense spokesman Geoff Morrell said.
The launch of the satellite Omid -- which means "Hope" in Farsi -- was timed to coincide with the 30th anniversary celebrations of the Islamic revolution in Iran, according to Iranian media reports.
Iran said the satellite had already completed its first mission -- to transmit a message from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who spoke at the launching ceremony Monday night.
In his message, Ahmadinejad congratulated the nation and said the successful launch improves Iran's status in the world, the Islamic Republic News Agency reported.
He stressed that both the satellite and the Safir rocket used to launch it were made entirely by Iranian technicians.
Iranian Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar said that despite the small size of the Omid satellite, it will open the way for an Iranian space program. He said Tehran plans to launch another satellite in the future.
In August, Iran performed a test of a rocket capable of launching a satellite into orbit. Iranian officials declared that mission a success, but U.S. officials disputed that.
Labels: News
Note: references using Indian numerical system of crores and lakhs have been converted to Western system.
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To the Board of Directors
Satyam Computer Services Ltd.
From B. Ramalinga Raju
Chairman, Satyam Computer Services Ltd. January 7, 2009
Dear Board Members,
It is with deep regret, and tremendous burden that I am carrying on my conscience, that I would like to bring the following facts to your notice:
1. The Balance Sheet carries as of September 30, 2008
a. Inflated (non-existent) cash and bank balances of 50.40 billion rupees ($1.04 billion) (as against 53.61 billion reflected in the books).
b. An accrued interest of 3.76 billion rupees which is non-existent.
c. An understated liability of 12.30 billion rupees on account of funds arranged by me.
d. An overstated debtors position of 4.90 billion rupees (as against 26.51 billion reflected in the books)
2. For the September quarter (Q2) we reported a revenue of 27.00 billion rupees and an operating margin of 6.49 billion rupees (24 pct of revenues) as against the actual revenues of 21.12 billion rupees and an actual operating margin of 610 million rupees (3 percent of revenues). This has resulted in artificial cash and bank balances going up by 5.88 billion rupees in Q2 alone.
The gap in the Balance Sheet has arisen purely on account of inflated profits over a period of last several years (limited only to Satyam standalone, books of subsidiaries reflecting true performance). What started as a marginal gap between actual operating profit and the one reflected in the books of accounts continued to grow over the years. It has attained unmanageable proportions as the size of company operations grew significantly (annualized revenue run rate of 112.76 billion rupees in the September quarter, 2008, and official reserves of 83.92 billion rupees). The differential in the real profits and the one reflected in the books was further accentuated by the fact that the company had to carry additional resources and assets to justify higher level of operations -- thereby significantly increasing the costs.
Every attempt made to eliminate the gap failed. As the promoters held a small percentage of equity, the concern was that poor performance would result in a take-over, thereby exposing the gap. It was like riding a tiger, not knowing how to get off without being eaten.
The aborted Maytas acquisition deal was the last attempt to fill the fictitious assets with real ones. Maytas' investors were convinced that this is a good divestment opportunity and a strategic fit. Once Satyam's problem was solved, it was hoped that Maytas' payments can be delayed. But that was not to be. What followed in the last several days is common knowledge. I would like the Board to know:
1. That neither myself, nor the Managing Director (including our spouses) sold any shares in the last eight years -- excepting for a small proportion declared and sold for philanthropic purposes.
2. That in the last two years a net amount of 12.30 billion rupees was arranged to Satyam (not reflected in the books of Satyam) to keep the operations going by resorting to pledging all the promoter shares and raising funds from known sources by giving all kinds of assurances (Statement enclosed, only to the members of the board). Significant dividend payments, acquisitions, capital expenditure to provide for growth did not help matters. Every attempt was made to keep the wheel moving and to ensure prompt payment of salaries to the associates. The last straw was the selling of most of the pledged share by the lenders on account of margin triggers.
3. That neither me, nor the Managing Director took even one rupee/dollar from the company and have not benefitted in financial terms on account of the inflated results.
4. None of the board members, past or present, had any knowledge of the situation in which the company is placed. Even business leaders and senior executives in the company, such as, Ram Mynampati, Subu D, T.R. Anand, Keshab Panda, Virender Agarwal, A.S. Murthy, Hari T, S.V. Krishnan, Vijay Prasad, Manish Mehta, Murali V, Sriram Papani, Kiran Kavale, Joe Lagiola, Ravindra Penumetsa; Jayaraman and Prabhakar Gupta are unaware of the real situation as against the books of accounts. None of my or Managing Director's immediate or extended family members has any idea about these issues.
Having put these facts before you, I leave it to the wisdom of the board to take the matters forward. However, I am also taking the liberty to recommend the following steps:
1. A Task Force has been formed in the last few days to address the situation arising out of the failed Maytas acquisition attempt. This consists of some of the most accomplished leaders of Satyam:, Subu D, T.R. Anand, Keshab Panda and Virender Agarwal, representing business functions, and A.S. Murthy, Hari T and Murali V representing support functions. I suggest that Ram Mynampati be made the Chairman of this Task Force to immediately address some of the operational matters on hand. Ram can also act as an interim CEO reporting to the board.
2. Merrill Lynch can be entrusted with the task of quickly exploring some Merger opportunities.
3. You may have a restatement of accounts' prepared by the auditors in light of the facts that I have placed before you.
I have promoted and have been associated with Satyam for well over twenty years now. I have seen it grow from few people to 53,000 people, with 185 Fortune 500 companies as customers and operations in 66 countries. Satyam has established an excellent leadership and competency base at all levels. I sincerely apologize to all Satyamites and stakeholders, who have made Satyam a special organization, for the current situation. I am confident they will stand by the company in this hour of crisis.
In light of the above, I fervently appeal to the board to hold together to take some important steps. Mr. T.R. Prasad is well placed to mobilize support from the government at this crucial time. With the hope that members of the Task Force and the financial advisor, Merrill Lynch (now Bank of America) will stand by the company at this crucial hour, I am marking copies of this statement to them as well.
Under the circumstances, I am tendering my resignation as the chairman of Satyam and shall continue in this position only till such time the current board is expanded. My continuance is just to ensure enhancement of the board over the next several days or as early as possible.
l am now prepared to subject myself to the laws of the land and face consequences thereof.
(B. Ramalinga Raju)
Labels: News
The construction of an exact copy of the Taj Mahal has sparked a diplomatic fracas between India and Bangladesh - raising the vexing issue of whether or not it is possible to claim copyright on a building.
Ahsanullah Moni, a Bangladeshi Film Director has announced his 'Copycat version of Taj Mahal' project on 3rd week of December 2008. The project was cost about USD$ 56 Million, and is being built 20 mile northeast of Capital Dhaka. Indians was upset, "You can't just go and copy historical monuments" an official of Indian High Commission in Dhaka told to press.
A replica of the Indian landmark Taj Mahal is seen under construction at Narayanganj district, some 30 kilometers northeast of Dhaka, capital of Bangladesh, Dec. 9, 2008. A Bangladeshi film-maker built a replica of the Taj Mahal inspired by neighboring India's famous monument
Original stays Original...This is no where near the Taj....Comparitively the Bibi ka Maqbara @ Aurangabad is much better and a bit closer to being somewhat similar to the Original Taj....
Labels: News
Ksenia Sukhinova, born August 26, 1987 in Nizhnevartovsk, Russia, is a beauty queen who won the Miss Russia 2007 and Miss World 2008 pageants.
On December 13, Ksenia was crowned the new Miss World at the finals in Johannesburg, South Africa. She is the second Russian contestant to win Miss World, the first was Julia Kourotchkina in 1992.
Sukhinova also won the contest’s top model award and was third in the swimsuit competition. Ksenia is absolutely stunning with measurements being 5”10’, with blonde hair and sparkling blue eyes. Her name is also often misspelled Ksenya or Kseniya.
Labels: News
Shah Rukh responded by announcing that he would shoot an entire film, tentatively titled "Happy New Year", in Malaysia next year.
"There is a film I am planning some time in August and September and will send a team down to look around," The Star Online quoted him as saying.
He would also help develop the Malaysian movie industry that has had directors like Phani Mazumdar and Ritwik Ghatak making films.
On how he felt about his Datukship, the actor said that it was an honour not only for him but also for all actors from India.
"I am very happy that I have found a big space in the hearts of people here," he added.
Resplendent in a black baju Melayu, samping and songkok, the traditional Malaysian attire, he received the state award from Melaka Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob, the royal constitutional head of the state.
The 43-year-old actor held the estimated 1,000 guests at the investiture spellbound as he received the Darjah Mulia Seri Melaka (DMSM), conferred on him in conjunction with the 70th birthday of the royal chief October 11.
Shah Rukh was tied down by a busy work schedule and could not fly in from Mumbai to receive the award in October or on the later date, Nov 29.
He arrived at the venue, Dewan Seri Negeri, at 10.55 a.m. and kept smiling and waving to his fans as he was escorted into the hall, Bernama, the official Malaysian news agency reported.
The actor was the focus of attention of the local and foreign photographers as well as guests who clicked away on their camera phones from their seats in the hall.
With the title akin to British knighthood, Malaysia could claim "personal ownership of a global product from India, the inestimable Datuk Shah Rukh Khan," the prestigious New Straits Times said Monday.
Nursing an arm injured during a film shoot last Friday, Shah Rukh flew in Saturday on a brief visit to be the first foreign actor to receive the award amidst rapturous ovation and took a rickshaw ride through Malacca, winning hearts of the citizenry.
The newspaper ridiculed critics at home, particularly some local artistes, who asked "what has he done that we have not?" saying the award to Khan had "evoked rather more bluster than it warranted."
"Those tasting sour grapes for being overlooked or ignored by such honours should wash their mouths out with soap. Certainly, these medals are intended as tokens of a state's appreciation for services rendered. In this case, the service rendered was simply in being adored."
Justifying the decision of the Malacca state to confer the award on Shah Rukh Khan, the editorial said: "Sadly for them, the answer is not what Shah Rukh has done but who he is. And who he is, is not just a fabulously successful 43-year-old film star with global recognition and vast masses of devoted fans".
"Nor is he just a talented and hard-working entertainer with more bankable cultural-crossover appeal than any other Bollywood stars of his generation (with the possible exception of Hrithik Roshan, who is taller and dances better but lacks Shah Rukh's political clout)," it added.
Labels: News
It also hiked prices of Brooke Bond Red Label tea and Taj Mahal tea by 8-14 per cent between mid-October and early November, stockists said. The FMCG major also soft launched Knorr culinary pastes in Maharashtra, made packaging changes and introduced promotion offers on select products. The price hike move comes even as other FMCG firms were considering options to pass on the benefit of a fall in prices of raw materials such as soda ash and palm oil to consumers.
Amid price hikes, HUL has also launched Red label Tea in an experimental "standing pouch" in 200 gm, priced at Rs 40. Introduced in the Mumbai market in the first week of November, the price point for tea in this new packaging is lower than the regular packaged tea, which is priced at Rs 70 for 245 gm or Rs 280 a kg.
The new "standing pouch" aims to offer consumers "a value proposition during the prevailing economic slowdown", a company official said, but declined to be quoted.
Apart from packaging, there has been no change in quality or blend of tea, the official claimed. "The standing pouch Red Label was first test-launched in Madhya Pradesh before being launched here. We are already seeing good sales off take," the official said.
HUL also introduced new packaging for its Lux international soaps, while hiking the price by about 6 per cent to Rs 18 (100 gm unit).
HUL launched Pond Age Miracle Daily Resurfacing Cream in a new 10 ml pack priced at Rs 150. A premium product, the cream was earlier available only in 50 gm pack priced at Rs 525. The new stock-keeping unit is aimed at providing "value packs" to consumers, and is in response to the launch of the 30ml pack of Olay Total Effects launched by rival Procter & Gamble.
Available in a gift pack, HUL is also including a "free" photo album with the product as a promotional offer.
Home & Personal Care
| | Lux | | Breeze | |||
| | Lifebuoy | | Dove | |||
| | Liril | | Pears | |||
| | Hamam | | Rexona | |||
| | Surf Excel | Fair & Lovely | ||||
| | Rin | Pond's | ||||
| | Wheel | Vaseline | ||||
| | Aviance | |||||
| | Sunsilk Naturals | Pepsodent | ||||
| | Clinic | Closeup | ||||
| | Axe | | Lakme | |||
| | Rexona | |||||
| | Ayush | |||||
FOODS
| Brooke Bond | Brooke Bond Bru | |||||
| | Lipton | |||||
| Kissan | Kwality Wall's | |||||
| Annapurna | ||||||
| Knorr Pureit Water | ||||||
Labels: News

















































