Shreenus Blog

Nokia's woes cast doubt over Finnish model

2012-05-17T02:43:00.002-07:00

By Ritsuko Ando HELSINKI (Reuters) - Troubles at Finlands Nokia Oyj arent just bad news for the company, its staff and shareholders. Theyre also a warning sign for the small Nordic countrys welfare model. Just as Nokias sure touch with well-designed, consumer-friendly products seems to have deserted it, fears are growing that Finland, whose reputation for innovation rested largely on the handset makers success, m ay be losing its competitive edge. While Finland remains one of the few triple-A rated countries in the euro zone, its reputation as an egalitarian society with a stellar education system belies worries about a decline in once-mighty export manufacturers and a rapidly ageing population. For the 5.4 million Finns, the message is stark: prepare for tougher times, later retirement or lower pensions. And for government, the need is to encourage business growth beyond traditional mainstays like forestry while balancing social commitments with economic realities. On Tuesday Finland reported a second straight monthly current account deficit. For 2011 as a whole, it posted a deficit of 1.3 billion euros due to slower export growth. 'Its useless to dream of achieving the same levels that we had between the booming years of 2001 and 2007,' said Handelsbanken economist Tuulia Asplund, referring to the years of strong industrial growth. Economists expect the economy to contract or barely expand this year. Many forecast growth of just 1 or 2 percent in the next few years - not bad compared with some more troubled European economies, but not enough to alleviate strains on the pension system in one of the regions fastest-ageing societies. With its baby-boom generation retiring and living longer, and without Norways oil or Swedens diverse and internationally successful corporate sector, Finlands welfare model looks particularly vulnerable. NOKIA RELIANCE HARD TO SHAKE Nokias downfall has hit business activity as well as national pride. At its peak, Nokia accounted for 4 percent of Finnish GDP and supported a myriad of companies as suppliers. Today it contributes closer to 1 percent, according to analysts. Electronics maker Elcoteq, which lost the bulk of its business when Nokia switched to cheaper Asian suppliers, filed for bankruptcy last October. Software firm Digia Oyj , another Nokia supplier, reported a 45 percent fall in first-quarter profit. Many Finns are still hopeful for a turnaround at Nokia, a former rubber boots maker whose rise helped transform Finland from a Nordic backwater. At a recent shareholder meeting in Helsinki, some investors were sentimental. 'It probably has nothing to do with numbers. I have to believe in it since it is this famous Finnish company,' said one shareholder, Tomi Lahti, when asked why he still held shares. The stock is down over 95 percent from its 2000 peak. It fell to around 2.20 euros on Wednesday, a level not seen since 1996. Some younger Finns, however, are eager to move on from Nokia. 'I think we generally need to start thinking with our own brains and not just rely on relics of the past that others built,' said Vilppu, a university student in Helsinki who didnt give his family name. NO SAVIOUR One ray of hope has been fast-growing Rovio, maker of Angry Birds, a simple yet addictive game in which players use a slingshot to attack pigs who steal birds eggs. Sales grew tenfold to $100 million in 2011. Last year it attracted $42 million from investors led by U.S.-based Accel Partners and it is aiming for an overseas stock market listing. Yet games companies dont hire or spawn a chain of suppliers in the way Nokia and other manufacturers do. Rovios headcount has risen by around 200 from 20 over the past year - an employment pinprick compared with the thousands of job cuts at Nokia and its suppliers. Last year, Nokia laid off around 3,000 workers in Finland. Economists say theres no 'silver bullet' solution. Some say looser bankruptcy laws would aid entrepreneurs, but its hard to see such a measure having a dramatic short-term impact. Theres also resistance to such a reform in Finland where fiscal responsibility is considered a virtue. The government is already investing heavily in encouraging new business. In 2011, it spent 610 million euros on research and development projects through state fund Tekes, in addition to efforts at universities and other institutions. Despite such funding, not a single company, excluding spin-offs from existing listed entities, has gone public on the Helsinki Stock Exchange since the 2007 listing of construction group SRV . Some wonder if the state does too much. 'The government should be geared to operate only where the market fails,' said Otto Toivanen, a Finn and professor of managerial economics, strategy and innovation at Katholieke Universiteit Leuven in Belgium. 'There should be more of an exercise, at least a mental exercise, of how businesses and entrepreneurs will act without government.' JOBS LOST FOREVER The state has played a particularly big role in traditional industries such as forestry and metals. State shareholdings, however, have not protected paper mills or steel makers from global competition. Papermakers Stora Enso and UPM-Kymmene have been closing mills and cutting jobs in recent years due to pricing pressure and weak demand. With some exceptions, such as the sale of Storas Summa Mill to Google Inc for a server farm, mill closures are often permanent. Finnish unemployment is not too high for Europe at 8.5 percent, but is at 24 percent for people under 24. 'Many of these jobs are lost forever,' said Sampo Bank Chief Economist Pasi Kuoppamaki. 'We need real industry to replace what weve lost.' The opposition Finns Party took advantage of such insecurity in last years elections. Its call to preserve a Finnish way of life appealed to rural voters in particular. The government, led by conservative Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen, is well aware of such sentiments. While it recently announced budget cuts for the next few years, it also mixed in stimulus measures such as corporate tax breaks to encourage R&D spending and adopted an English-language buzzword: 'growsterity'. Most economists believe Katainen will need to make tougher choices if the economy remains weak. 'We will need to prolong working life. It could mean raising retirement age, or it could mean starting working life earlier,' Kuoppamaki said, referring the long years Finnish youth stays in school. 'In any case, it would be difficult.' (Additional reporting by Eero Vassinen; Editing by David Holmes)

Indian couple sentenced for UK immigration scam

2012-05-17T02:21:00.000-07:00

An Indian citizen who arrived as a student in 2000 and went on to perpetuate a series of immigration scams to earn hundreds of thousands of pounds by helping many Indian citizens and others to stay in Britain illegally, has been jailed for 10 years.

Vijay Sorthia, 35, will be deported to India at the end of his 10-year sentence, while his 31-year-old his wife, Bhawna Sorthia, who helped him carry out the scams, was jailed for 15 months and also faces deportation to India.

The couple have three children.

The sentences were pronounced in the Isleworth Crown Court yesterday.

When Sorthia was arrested at his house in north-west London in May 2010, officials of the UK Border Agency (UKBA) found over 330,000 pounds in cash. Sorthia and his wife ran an immigration advisory company called Migration Gurus.

UKBA spokesman Adam Edwards said: "Mr Sorthia had dozens of clients who had applied to the Home Office for extensions to their visas, claiming to be 'highly skilled migrants'. They were mainly Indian and most of them were already here".

Sorthia had accreditation as an adviser with the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC), which is linked to the Home Office.

The accreditation enabled him to assist individuals with claims for asylum, as well as immigration, residence and citizenship applications.

Edwards added: "What the couple did was set up a number of cover companies with bank accounts registered in their own names which would provide clients with pay slips and wage payments to make it look like they were employed as things like IT specialists and earning much more than they actually were".

Between 2008 and 2010, the couple helped more than 160 'clients' illegally gain visa extensions by providing them false documents to claim that they were highly skilled migrants.

Fifteen clients who benefited from the Sorthia scam have also been convicted and sentenced between 8 to 10 months in prison. Fourteen of them have been banished from UK.

The 'clients' reportedly paid the couple between 3,000 pounds and 4,000 pounds for their service. "When officers searched Sorthia's property they found approximately 330,000 pounds in cash," Edwards said. Most of that money, 270,000 pounds, was in a holdall in the back of a cupboard but other bundles of money were also
discovered, which had clients' numbers and names on them.

UKBA's senior investigating officer Robert Coxhead said: "Vijay and Bhawna Sorthia knowingly flouted the UK's
immigration laws. They ran a sophisticated scam designed to help people who would otherwise have no right to be here to stay in the UK.

"The amount of cash found at their home illustrates how lucrative this was, and we will now begin the process of
stripping them of those assets using the Proceeds of Crime Act".

The court was told that following their arrest in May 2010, the couple sold their London house and transferred
466,000 pounds out of the country and went to India. They were arrested again after they returned to Britain in
July 2011.

Sorthia was convicted of obtaining or seeking to obtain leave to enter UK by deception on or before 24 October 2004, conspiracy to defraud between 1 April 2008 and 30 September 2010, possession of 332,000 pounds of criminal property, removing criminal property from England and Wales and possessing articles for use in fraud.

Bhawna was convicted of being concerned in an arrangement to facilitate the acquisition, retention, use or control of criminal property by Vijay Sorthia and others before 30 September 2010, removing criminal property from England and Wales and possessing articles for use in fraud.

Sentencing the couple at Isleworth Crown Court, Judge Andrew McDowall said Sorthia's actions risked 'undermining' Britain's immigration controls and 'eroding public confidence' that migrants had arrived lawfully.

He warned: "During difficult economic times, it becomes easier for those who are motivated by racial motives to start casting aspersions against those that are properly and legitimately in the country by trying to paint everyone of that ethnic group as tainted in some way, over the wrongdoings done by a limited number."

Allu Sirish behind three hot girls

2012-05-17T02:10:00.000-07:00

Allu Sirish gave a new life to at least three forgotten beauties of Tollywood. They are Archana, Madhu Shalini and Nikhita. These three are unsuccessful heroines in Tollywood even after acting in quite a few movies and shows no inhibitions in exposing their hot bodies. Though Nikitha getting some roles in Kannada, Archana and Madhu Shalini confined themselves to stage shows, and functions to make their living expenses.

There comes South Scope calendar shoot like oasis in desert. Allu Sirish who often spends time with these girls in pubs and private parties, influenced them to go bold for the shoot. These hot beauties didn’t let go the opportunity wasted and exposed maximum to get the attention. The trick worked in their favour, now it is heard that everyone is getting calls from producers to cast them. Leading the pack is Archana with at least three offers.

Allu Sirish who is very good at promoting the products, already created enough curiosity by releasing limited copies of South Scope calendar. Now he is promoting these three hot girls with his distinctive vision.

Deepika-Ranbir break-up out in the open

2012-05-17T02:07:00.000-07:00

It is by now well known that Bollywood love birds Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone have broken up their relationship. Though both were busy with their respective film assignments, they stopped seeing each other when in Mumbai and in between shoots.

Recently, a party was hosted by jewellery designer Maheep Kapoor and fashion designer Nandita Mahtani and the top celebs of Bollywood were invited.

Shah Rukh Khan, Karan Johar, Arjun Rampal, costume designer Shabina Khan and Ritesh Deshmukh. Sonam Kapoor, Nandita, Dino Morea were present at the party. Ranbir discovered that Deepika was also present at the party and both of them tried their best to avoid each other. The cold vibes between the estranged love birds were felt by all attending the party.

Lara Dutta launches yoga DVD for pregnant women

2012-05-16T04:16:00.001-07:00

Lara Dutta is one of the fittest ladies out there. She has been practising yoga for over 12 years and continued through her pregnancy period. However, the former Ms Universe understood that since she was pregnant her routine would need to be modified. Lara Dutta has been a yoga practitioner for 12 years and when she became pregnant, she didn’t feel the need to stop with her daily exercises. But she understood that given the changes her body was undergoing, the routine needed to be modified to a specific prenatal routine. Lara is a veteran in the Fitness DVD scene and has had a successful run with the first three DVDs in the ‘H.E.A.L with Lara’ series. Her yoga instruction, Tonia Clarke is a certified pre-natal yoga teacher backed up her view that there was a market for a quality yoga DVD that’d help women stay fit through the three trimesters of pregnancy. The fitness DVD will be presented by Temple Wellness in association with Bheegi Basanti Entertainment.

The DVD is approximately 50 minutes long and comprises of a 30-min prenatal routine followed by two meditation techniques – Sohan and Har har. Prenatal yoga focusses on asanas and positions that helps create more space within the womb for the baby. It also helps beat lethargy and keeps the mood swings in check. According to the former Miss World the routine will benefit both the mother and her unborn child.

Rahul Dravid: Fitness secrets of the Wall

2012-05-16T04:13:00.005-07:00

When Rahul Dravid called it a day, it marked the end of an era for Indian cricket. A lot has been said about his ability to play marathon innings so we decided to delve into his fitness regime to figure out what kept the man ticking for so long. And here’s what we found out:

Fitness Regime

The Wall usually got up at 6 am for a metabolic run followed by a meditation session. A metabolic run consists of a variety of high intensity short sprints, a training regimen followed by elite athletes around the world. On match days he followed this up with shadow practise. Obviously all international cricketers have to be in shape but Dravid was in a class of his own when it came to taking care of his body.

http://health.india.com/fitness/rahul-dravid-fitness-secrets-of-the-wall/

Sonam Kapoor says quit smoking or opt for electronic cigarettes

2012-05-16T04:10:00.000-07:00

Smoking’s not cool and Bollywood finally seems to have woken up to that harsh reality. Recently, Bollywood actress Sonam Kapoor went on record registering her support for electronic cigarettes. She posted on a micro-blogging website, “Smoking is seriously not good! There are electric cigs available now. A lot of my friends are using it.” Now e-cigarettes are one of the most successful nicotine replacement therapies. Sonam Kapoor added that she felt it was hypocritical that the government which took such stringent measures to curb smoking on ld.

Spring of romance is blowing in B-Town these days

2012-05-16T03:55:00.001-07:00

Its the season of love which had started in bollywood these days each actor is ready and excited to romance other co-star on on screen as well as off screen not all but some of them.We don’t know what had happened to all the actors and actress of B-Town why they all are eager to romance with each other on screen but some want it off screen as well.
Firstly if we talk about Shahid Kapoor he is very much eager to romance Sonakshi Sinha on screen we don’t know what’s going on in the mind of Shahid after break up with Priyanka Chopra but it seems that Sonakshi Sinha has no interest in Shahid Kapoor after what the makers of Mausam had done with her at the beginning they had decided to cast Sonakshi Sinha as the love of Shahid in Mausam but at the last moment they drop her and Sonam Kapoor has entered in to the film makers felt that it will be a good pair .
http://bollywoodtopstories.wordpress.com/

Bollywood actress Nupur Mehta denies any role in match fixing

2012-05-16T03:50:00.000-07:00

NEW DELHI: Bollywood actress Nupur Mehtaon Monday rubbished allegations that she was involved in match fixing in last year's World Cup semifinal between India and Pakistan at Mohali and threatened to sue the London daily.

The Sunday Times carried out a sting operation on a Delhi-based bookie who claimed that the 2011 semifinal was rigged. The paper said that a Bollywood starlet was used to lure Pakistani players to under-perform, but did not name her.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/top-stories/Bollywood-actress-Nupur-Mehta-denies-any-role-in-match-fixing/articleshow/12234583.cms

New Website for Women's and Children's Health

2012-05-16T03:28:00.000-07:00

6 FEBRUARY 2012 | GENEVA - WHO and partners are launching a new web site on results, resources and oversight related to women's and children's health. The site will track progress on the implementation of the recommendations of the Accountability Commission and inform the international community about the work of its independent Expert Review Group (iERG). The website will also serve as a global database for the accountability issues related to women's and children's health.

http://www.who.int/pmnch/media/membernews/2012/20120206_accountability_website/en/index.html

The New Physics of Bicycles

2012-05-16T02:24:00.000-07:00

Some of the great mysteries of science hide in plain sight—and, in this case, roll on two wheels. As hands-free cyclists know, a bicycle in motion can recover from wobbles with no steering input, or even with no rider at all. But physicists have never agreed on how this self-balancing act works. Some argue the rotating wheels act like a gyroscope to help the bicycle correct itself; others believe the “trail” (the angle between a bike’s steering axis and its point of contact with the ground) forces the bike into a stabilizing turn. Now American and Dutch engineers have built a bicycle that defies both theories

http://discovermagazine.com/2012/jan-feb/26

Faster than the Speed of Light

2012-05-16T02:20:00.001-07:00

Einstein, relativity, and much of 20th-century physics have come under assault from an esoteric but far-reaching experiment. A collaboration of 174 physicists fired bursts of neutrinos from the headquarters of CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, in Geneva, Switzerland, to a detector in Gran Sasso, Italy. They tracked 16,111 of the ghostlike particles and measured how long they took to complete the trip. After three years of experiments and intense analysis, the team reported in September that the neutrinos were arriving one 17-millionth of a second early. http://discovermagazine.com/2012/jan-feb/01

Guyana - the Amazon Adventure’ fast becoming destination of choice for visitors

2012-05-16T02:12:00.001-07:00

- tourist arrivals up by 20% in the First Quarter
PROOF that ‘Guyana – the Amazon Adventure’ is fast becoming the destination of choice for visitors the world over, the Ministry of Tourism has reported a record high of 36,352 arrivals in the first quarter, or a 20 percent increase over last year’s international arrivals. “It is clear that the country’s interest in tourism is very aggressive at this moment. This steady increase is testimony to the continued investment in the country’s Tourism Sector and the aggressive marketing strategies used,” Tourism Industry and Commerce Minister (acting), Irfaan Ali explained.
The Unites States remained the top market with a total of 18,500 visitors for a share of 49% of the total tourist arrivals during the first quarter of this year, while visitors from the Caribbean accounted for 8670 or 35.3% of the total arrivals.

http://www.guyanachronicleonline.com/site/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=43620:-guyana-the-amazon-adventure-fast-becoming-destination-of-choice-for-visitors&catid=4:top-story&Itemid=8

2012-05-16T02:05:00.001-07:00

Solang Valley is the best bet for those who want to indulge in some adventure this summer...

If you are someone who craves for some adrenaline-pumping action, loves to look life in its eyes and live it by the second, Solang Valley is the place to be this summer. Located in the picturesque Himachal Pradesh, barely few kilometres from Kullu, this valley is best known for the array of adventurous sports - parasailing, paragliding, parachuting, zorbing, horse riding and skating.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/travel/Summer-of-adventure-in-Solang-Valley/articleshow/12981854.cms

WORLD EDUCATION FAIR'12

2012-05-16T02:01:00.000-07:00

Informative Seminars on

STUDY IN	TIMINGS
SCHOLARSHIPS & LOANS	11.00 am
SINGAPORE	11.30 am
CANADA	12.00pm & 2.30pm
USA	12.30pm & 3.00pm
UK	1.00pm & 3.30pm
NEW ZEALAND	1.30 pm
AUSTRALIA	2.00 pm
FRANCE	4.00 pm
SWITZERLAND	4.30 pm
VISAS	5.00 pm

Sat, 19th May'12
10.00 am to 5.30 pm
at J W Mariott, Juhu
Mumbai

http://www.worldeducationfair.com/ads/mumbai/index.htm?gclid=CPWTure4hLACFQR66wodpSQ9kg

Health benefits of black pepper

2012-05-16T01:54:00.003-07:00

From an omelette, pasta to a vegetable stir fry,black pepper can enhance the taste factor.
Black pepper has more healthy properties than most people know about. Black pepper is a spice that has the potential to make food more beneficial when used in various recipes and as a table spice. In Kerala, many start their day with a cup of black coffee with a pinch of black pepper powder. The aroma of freshly ground black pepper is difficult to ignore.
We get our black pepper from the pepper vine that can grow in tropical climate. The pepper vines actually bear fruit-small white flowers that turn into berries called peppercorns. And thepeppercorns are collected as whole berries or as ground black pepper.
Research studies have shown that black pepper has quite a handful of healthy properties.
It has the ability to enhance the function of the digestive tract. Black pepper is a great way to combat this. More than just a spice, it has been shown to improve digestion and stimulate the secretion from the taste buds. This taste bud stimulation tells the stomach that it's supposed to increase its own digestive juices, namely hydrochloric acid. This, in turn breaks down protein in the stomach, improving the process of digestion. Black pepper is known to have a great amount of antioxidant properties. It also has benefits against bacterial growth, particularly in the intestinal tract.
So, just add freshly ground black pepper powder to your dish and see the difference.

Buyers highlight key aspects before investing in new projects

2012-05-16T01:47:00.002-07:00

Delhi/NCR

Despite the Indian real estate sector witnessing a steady growth, consumers today continue to be cautious before investing in a new project. With a large pool of developers to choose from, buyers are quick to point out the factors that they consider important before investing in a new project.

In a recent survey conducted by MagicBricks.com, aspects such as budget, developer’s reputation, project amenities, layout of the apartment, location, payment schedule and date of possession top the list of a buyer purchasing an apartment.

http://content.magicbricks.com/buyers-highlight-key-aspects-before-investing-in-new-projects?fromSite=toi&utm_source=toi&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=toi-mb-whitelabel

Why Rupee has been the worst performing currency among emerging market peers in Asia

2012-05-16T01:43:00.001-07:00

The noise over the falling rupee is a lot louder these days than the Sensex, justifiably so. The sliding currency threatens India's place at the high table among potential economic leaders of tomorrow.

Part of it is due to investors' flight to safety to US assets amid a worsening European Union crisis. But policy makers can't blame international developments for all the ills. They slept at the wheel when macro-economic conditions deteriorated over the years - be it the current account deficit, or the fiscal deficit.

It was taken for granted that overseas investors will forever be pouring money into India, irrespective of its macro-economic conditions. That was not to be.

While the global liquidity tide for years enabled India to enjoy the privilege of a 'growth market', along with China, India's weak fundamentals are getting exposed when the tide is turning.

Imprudent subsidies boosted consumption without consumers realising how much it would actually cost if market prices were charged.

It is time that the rupee is allowed to depreciate and left to find its own level that could slow imports and help raise exports. Foreign investors who are holding back investments because of unfriendly tax proposals should be lured.

Popular Bikes in India

2012-05-15T03:00:00.000-07:00

TVS 2012 New Apache

Price: Rs. 80,000

http://autos.maxabout.com/twid0000322/tvs-apache-rtr-180-menace.aspx

Honda CBR150R

Price: Rs. 1,34,000

http://autos.maxabout.com/twid0000395/honda-cbr-150r.aspx

Bajaj New Pulsar 200NS

Price: Rs. 90,000

http://autos.maxabout.com/bikes/bajaj/pulsar-2008/pulsar-200

Bajaj Pulsar 220F

Price: Rs. 85,000

http://autos.maxabout.com/twid0000353/bajaj-new-pulsar-220-dts-fi.aspx

KTM 200 Duke

Price: Rs. 1,30,000

http://autos.maxabout.com/bikes/ktm/duke/duke-200

Yamaha New R15

Price: Rs. 1,19,600

http://autos.maxabout.com/twid0000206/yzf_.aspx

Egypt – where time and tide wait

2012-05-15T02:40:00.000-07:00

By Svetlana Baghawan

Egypt is a timeless diva. She bedazzles her visitors with her moods: Sedate in Luxor, playful in Hurghada, opulent in Cairo, glamorous in Alexandria, or ever-mysterious and smiling as the Nile. In Cairo you can explore the treasures of the national museum, shop for perfumes, spices, jewelry or artifacts at the winding Khan-el-Khalili Souk, sip thick Turkish coffee at the famous El-Fishawi Café (cafe of mirrors) and sip gurgling shisha and sample local delicacies like vine-covered minced rolls, or stuffed doves, or explore the Pyramids of Cheops at Giza.

For More Details Click on the below link

http://in.lifestyle.yahoo.com/blogs/traveler/egypt-where-time-tide-wait-101213921.html

Most Elegible Princes Around The World

2012-05-15T02:27:00.000-07:00

1. Prince Harry

Of: Wales

Age: 27

For More Details click on the below link