India News Clips
 

India - First indigenous nuclear-powered submarine launched for trials http://www.thehindu.com/2009/07/27/stories/2009072757640100.htm Date: 27/07/2009 | K.V. Prasad VISAKHAPATNAM: At the stroke of noon on Sunday, India demonstrated its capability to indigenously build and operate a nuclear-powered submarine with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh launching INS Arihant for sea trials here. Tugged gently from its dry-dock base, the 110-metre-long, 11-metre wide vessel can displace 6,000 tonnes of water. Its journey towards the sea is the first step before eventual induction into the Navy that Dr. Singh said marked “years of hard work, dedication and perseverance.” Aware that India’s entry into the exclusive club will create ripples in the region, the Prime Minister said it was incumbent upon the country to take all necessary steps to keep pace with global advances. “We do not have any aggressive designs nor do we seek to threaten anyone. We seek an external environment in our region and beyond that, conducive to our peaceful development and the protection of our value systems. Nevertheless, it is incumbent upon us to take all measures necessary to safeguard our country and keep pace with technological advancements worldwide. It has rightly been said that eternal vigilance is the price of liberty,” Dr. Singh said in his address. India, he said, now joined a select group of five countries, which possess the capability to build a nuclear-powered submarine. That the construction of a submarine was a highly demanding task in itself was known, but for a country to develop its first nuclear submarine was a “special achievement.”

Kerala seeks Gulf countries' help to rehabilitate returnees http://www.newkerala.com/nkfullnews-1-77472.html Thiruvananthapuram, July 21: Kerala has sought the Gulf Cooperation Council's (GCC) help to rehabilitate thousands of Gulf returnees who lost their jobs in the wake of the global slowdown. "The economic crisis still continues and the labour class in the GCC countries is struggling hard. The indications are that 2010 would also see high levels of job loss in these countries and it is here that we need help," state Finance Minister Thomas Isaac said here at a conference on the global economic crisis. Kerala has over two million people working outside the country, of them close to 90 percent are employed in the GCC countries.

India to have 3rd largest online population by 2013 http://www.hindu.com/2009/07/27/stories/2009072757211800.htm New Delhi: The number of internet users worldwide is expected to touch 2.2 billion by 2013 and India is projected to have the third largest online population by then, a report by technology and market research firm Forrester Research said. “The number of people online around the world will grow more than 45 per cent to 2.2 billion users by 2013 and Asia will continue to be the biggest Internet growth engine... India will be the third largest internet user base by 2013 with China and the U.S. taking the first two spots, respectively.” Globally, there were about 1.5 billion internet users in 2008. Titled ‘Global Online Population Forecast, 2008 to 2013,’ the report said, “In some of the emerging markets in Asia such as China, India and Indonesia, the average annual growth rates will be 10 to 20 per cent over the next five years (2008-13).” The number of internet users In Indian was estimated to be 52 million in 2008. In the next four years, about 43 per cent of internet users globally are anticipated to be from Asia, with China accounting for about half of that population.

Indian Owned Iron and Steel Company ArcelorMittal faces labour trouble in Canada http://www.headlinesindia.com/business-news/iron-and-steel/arcelormittal-faces-labour By Gurmukh Singh | Monday, July 13, 2009 Toronto: Labour trouble is brewing at ArcelorMittal Dofasco, the Canadian subsidiary of the global steel giant, with its slag-recycling workers on the warpath over contract terms. The steelworkers at the company's plant at Hamilton near Toronto are employed by MultiServ, a Pennsylvania-based US company, which has a slag-recycling contract with ArcelorMittal Dofasco. The steel workers have voted for strike after failing to reach an agreement over renewal terms for their contract. The contract for 150 of them expired on July 4. After voting for strike when the workers showed up for work at the plant on Friday, they were "escorted out" of the plant by supervisors for MultiServ. The workers said they came to work despite their decision to go on strike from July 4 because they wanted to resolve the issue with their employers. Tony De Paulo, leader for United Steelworkers, said MultiServ wants to cut their wages by 15 percent and reduce pension and other benefits. He said MultiServ "is a very profitable company that is using the current economic conditions as an excuse to make long-term and structural changes to their livelihood. This is just a snapshot of what's happening all over. There is no way the union is giving those concessions." But a spokesperson for the Pennsylvania-based firm said they are "ready and willing to get back to the bargaining table and work together on an agreement that both of us can accept and which will preserve our price competitiveness in an increasingly cost-conscious steel industry that has been hit hard by the economic downturn." Headquartered at Hamilton near here, ArcelorMittal Dofasco has operations in Canada, the US and Mexico. It produces hot rolled, cold rolled, galvanised, tinplate steels, tubular products and laser-welded blanks that are used in the auto, construction, energy, packaging and manufacturing sectors. Its subsidiary, Quebec Cartier Mining Company (QCM), has extensive iron ore mining operations in Canada. Originally known as Dofasco Inc, it merged with the global steel giant to become its subsidiary in North America. (IANS)

Chevrolet Spark LPG: First Look http://zigwheels.com/Features/Chevrolet-Spark-LPG-First-Look/Chevrolet_200906-1-1 We take a closer look at what the Chevrolet Spark LPG has on offer. GM makes good cars. That may be quite a statement coming from us at testing times for the General, but it remains a fact. They may not be in the best of health in the United States but GM India is all hale and hearty - a point stated and re-stated time and again by GM India President and Managing Director Karl Slym. Testament to that has been the company sticking to launch schedules for their new products - first, the Chevrolet Captiva SUV with AWD and an autobox and now the latest from the Chevrolet stables - the Spark LPG. The cute little Spark has always been a great value for money proposition in its segment - attractive design, sporty interiors and a peppy engine make for a brilliant small car. Then General Motors also had some ultra-awesome warranty and service schemes for all their vehicles adding even more value. As if that was not enough, GM has gone ahead and played the LPG move with their tiny tot. The concept of offering a factory-fitted LPG kit isn't exactly new - even in the small car segment. Maruti has already done it with the Wagon R Duo and Hyundai with the Santro LPG. But what really sets the Spark apart is that the integration of the LPG is an extremely well executed affair. The kit itself is Europe-based and after extensive testing has been certified by both the DOE and ARAI. The system uses modern sequential injection technology instead of the venture-type injection that most other kits use. This should translate into better fuel economy as well as seamless power delivery. But, as General Motors claims, this also ensures no backfire or loss in power while switching from petrol to LPG operation. ARAI figures place the Spark LPG's mileage at 13.72 kmpl, which, coupled with the large 26.2 litre tank capacity translates into a pretty huge operating range on LPG. The Chevrolet Spark LPG has also successfully undergone European ECE R32 rear crash tests to ensure safety even during mishaps. The toroidal LPG tank fits snugly in the spare wheel well in the car's boot while the spare wheel itself has to make do with hanging around in the boot - though it doesn't eat up too much space there. Access for refilling the LPG tank is on the rear right just under the tail lamp. Along with the LPG kit, Chevrolet has also revamped the interiors of the Spark - which now comes with beige trim as a result of increased customer feedback. GM India will be offering the Spark LPG in two variants - LS and PS, with a whopping 3 year/1,00,000km warranty - the same as on the petrol version. Priced at Rs 3,69,338 (ex-showroom, Thane), GM has just injected a huge dose of value for money into the already potent Spark. Mind sets and psychological blocks aside, the Chevrolet Spark LPG is on its way to making the small car an even bigger success for the General!