Sunday, December 21, 2008
Sonia, Shah Rukh Khan among world’s 50 most powerful people
CONGRESS PRESIDENT Sonia Gandhi and actor Shah Rukh Khan have been ranked among the 50 most powerful people in the world by prestigious US-based mag- azine Newsweek in a list topped by US Pres- ident-elect Barack Obama. Pakistan army chief Ashfaq Parvez Kayani is placed 20th on the list of the glob- al “power elite” in the magazine’s January 2009 issue. Obama is followed by Chinese President Hu Jintao, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, German Chancellor Angela Markel and Russia’s Vladimir Putin. Placing Sonia Gandhi at 17th spot, the magazine says, “In the world’s largest democracy, she is the queen.” The magazine describes Shah Rukh Khan, who occupies 41st spot, as the ‘King of Bollywood’. “It’s not just that his (Shah Rukh Khan’s) romantic flicks make gazil- lions it’s where those gazillions come from. Khan is huge in the Muslim world, even in Pakistan and Afghanistan, where the mul- lahs ban his films. (The movies thrive on the black market.)” “Their main appeal is certainly the song-and-dance numbers, but Khan makes devoutly secular films where love trounces bigotry,” the magazine says, adding that Sonia Gandhi gives Khan’s DVDs to visi- tors, especially Muslim. “Here’s hoping tolerance will leap from reel life to real life.”
Steady Data Show Drop in Americans on Move
Despite the nation’s reputation as a rootless society, only about one in 10 Americans moved in the last year — roughly half the proportion that changed residences as recently as four decades ago, census data show.
Skip to next paragraph The monthly Current Population Survey found that fewer than 12 percent of Americans moved since 2007, a decline of nearly a full percentage point compared with the year before. In the 1950s and ’60s, the number of movers hovered near 20 percent.
The number has been declining steadily, and 12 percent is the lowest rate since the Census Bureau began counting people who move in 1940.
An analysis by the Pew Research Center attributes the decline to a number of factors, including the aging of the population (older people are less likely to change residences) and an increase in two-career couples.
The Pew analysis is drawn from census data and a survey, which found that 63 percent of Americans said they had moved to another community at least once in their lives, while 37 percent said they lived in the community where they were born.
According to the census’s American Community Survey, New York retained first place in the proportion of residents who were born in the state — more than 81 percent — with upstaters generally less mobile.
The top five also included Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Ohio, generally Rust Belt states with older populations.
Skip to next paragraph The monthly Current Population Survey found that fewer than 12 percent of Americans moved since 2007, a decline of nearly a full percentage point compared with the year before. In the 1950s and ’60s, the number of movers hovered near 20 percent.
The number has been declining steadily, and 12 percent is the lowest rate since the Census Bureau began counting people who move in 1940.
An analysis by the Pew Research Center attributes the decline to a number of factors, including the aging of the population (older people are less likely to change residences) and an increase in two-career couples.
The Pew analysis is drawn from census data and a survey, which found that 63 percent of Americans said they had moved to another community at least once in their lives, while 37 percent said they lived in the community where they were born.
According to the census’s American Community Survey, New York retained first place in the proportion of residents who were born in the state — more than 81 percent — with upstaters generally less mobile.
The top five also included Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Ohio, generally Rust Belt states with older populations.
Drop in Americans on Move
Despite the nation’s reputation as a rootless society, only about one in 10 Americans moved in the last year — roughly half the proportion that changed residences as recently as four decades ago, census data show.
Skip to next paragraph The monthly Current Population Survey found that fewer than 12 percent of Americans moved since 2007, a decline of nearly a full percentage point compared with the year before. In the 1950s and ’60s, the number of movers hovered near 20 percent.
The number has been declining steadily, and 12 percent is the lowest rate since the Census Bureau began counting people who move in 1940.
An analysis by the Pew Research Center attributes the decline to a number of factors, including the aging of the population (older people are less likely to change residences) and an increase in two-career couples.
The Pew analysis is drawn from census data and a survey, which found that 63 percent of Americans said they had moved to another community at least once in their lives, while 37 percent said they lived in the community where they were born.
According to the census’s American Community Survey, New York retained first place in the proportion of residents who were born in the state — more than 81 percent — with upstaters generally less mobile.
The top five also included Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Ohio, generally Rust Belt states with older populations.
Skip to next paragraph The monthly Current Population Survey found that fewer than 12 percent of Americans moved since 2007, a decline of nearly a full percentage point compared with the year before. In the 1950s and ’60s, the number of movers hovered near 20 percent.
The number has been declining steadily, and 12 percent is the lowest rate since the Census Bureau began counting people who move in 1940.
An analysis by the Pew Research Center attributes the decline to a number of factors, including the aging of the population (older people are less likely to change residences) and an increase in two-career couples.
The Pew analysis is drawn from census data and a survey, which found that 63 percent of Americans said they had moved to another community at least once in their lives, while 37 percent said they lived in the community where they were born.
According to the census’s American Community Survey, New York retained first place in the proportion of residents who were born in the state — more than 81 percent — with upstaters generally less mobile.
The top five also included Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Ohio, generally Rust Belt states with older populations.
Companies Cut 401(k) Match,In Need of Cash
Companies eager to conserve cash are trimming their contributions to their workers’ 401(k) retirement plans, putting a new strain on America’s tattered safety net at the very moment when many workers are watching their accounts plummet along with the stock market.
When the FedEx Corporation slimmed down its pension plan last year, it softened the blow by offering workers enriched 401(k) contributions to make up for the pension benefits some would lose. But last week, with Americans sending fewer parcels and FedEx’s revenue growth at a standstill, the company said it would suspend all of its contributions for at least a year.
“We will have to work more years and retire with less money,” said Lee Higham, a 44-year-old senior aircraft mechanic at FedEx, who has worked there for 20 years. “That’s what we are up against now.”
FedEx is not the only one. Eastman Kodak, Motorola, General Motors and Resorts International are among the companies that have cut matching contributions to their plans since September, when the credit markets froze and companies began looking urgently for cash. More companies are expected to suspend their matching contributions in 2009, according to Watson Wyatt, a benefits consulting firm.
When the FedEx Corporation slimmed down its pension plan last year, it softened the blow by offering workers enriched 401(k) contributions to make up for the pension benefits some would lose. But last week, with Americans sending fewer parcels and FedEx’s revenue growth at a standstill, the company said it would suspend all of its contributions for at least a year.
“We will have to work more years and retire with less money,” said Lee Higham, a 44-year-old senior aircraft mechanic at FedEx, who has worked there for 20 years. “That’s what we are up against now.”
FedEx is not the only one. Eastman Kodak, Motorola, General Motors and Resorts International are among the companies that have cut matching contributions to their plans since September, when the credit markets froze and companies began looking urgently for cash. More companies are expected to suspend their matching contributions in 2009, according to Watson Wyatt, a benefits consulting firm.
new nokia 6600
The 6600 Slide isn’t the brainiest Nokia we’ve seen. Like its sibling, the 6600 Fold, it’s a Series 40 handset, so lacks the IQ of the forthcoming N96. But it crams a lot into its tiny, gleaming steel case, including a very high-res screen and a 3.2MP camera.
Quality camerawork
The camera is proficient, as you’d expect from Nokia, and handily packs autofocus to improve image quality further. There are limited special effects and video recording too, but otherwise it’s a straightforward, point-and-shoot snapper.It’s also a quad-band phone with dual-band 3G and, like most high-end Nokia phones, packs an FM radio. Since this is a Nokia Series 40 operating system, everything is very speedy and responsive too.The banana-fingered may find the keys a little too diddy for comfort, but at least they’re regularly shaped, if not widely spaced. The 6600 Slide has a great, smooth sliding mechanism, and its size, though small, fits in the hand perfectly.
Friday, December 19, 2008
latest news on general motores
President Bush tossed General Motors and Chrysler a temporary lifeline from the taxpayers on Friday, announcing $13.4 billion in emergency loans to prevent the collapse of the companies, with another $4 billion to become available in February. The president’s plan gives carmakers until March 31 to restructure. G.M.'s Wagoner Discusses Bailout Related Stocks Jump, Then Slide Back, After Auto Bailout (December 20, 2008)
Members of the United Automobile Workers in Warren, Mich., learn about coming layoffs from General Motors. The White House is seeking concessions from workers and management.The loans, conditioned on G.M. and Chrysler undertaking sweeping reorganizations plans to show that they can return to profitability, are meant to keep the companies afloat until March 31. At that point, the Obama administration will determine if the automakers are meeting the conditions of the loans and thus will continue to receive government aid or must repay the loans and face bankruptcy. “These are not ordinary circumstances,” Mr. Bush said in televised remarks that quickly touched off a debate over the fairness of his plan. “In the midst of a financial crisis and a recession, allowing the U.S. auto industry to collapse is not a responsible course of action.”
Members of the United Automobile Workers in Warren, Mich., learn about coming layoffs from General Motors. The White House is seeking concessions from workers and management.The loans, conditioned on G.M. and Chrysler undertaking sweeping reorganizations plans to show that they can return to profitability, are meant to keep the companies afloat until March 31. At that point, the Obama administration will determine if the automakers are meeting the conditions of the loans and thus will continue to receive government aid or must repay the loans and face bankruptcy. “These are not ordinary circumstances,” Mr. Bush said in televised remarks that quickly touched off a debate over the fairness of his plan. “In the midst of a financial crisis and a recession, allowing the U.S. auto industry to collapse is not a responsible course of action.”
China in Economic Perils
The ruling Communist Party threw itself a big party on Thursday. The country’s leadership marked the 30th anniversary of the reform era that transformed China into a global economic power and, in doing so, changed the world.
At a triumphant ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, President Hu Jintao invoked Deng Xiaoping, who consolidated power in 1978 and began “reform and opening.” Mr. Hu emphasized the party’s unwavering focus on economic development. “Only development makes sense,” said Mr. Hu, quoting Deng.
But beyond the oratory, Mr. Hu and other Chinese leaders are now facing a new era in which Deng’s export-led economic model, as well as his iron-fisted political control, face unprecedented challenges. Global demand for Chinese goods has slumped, unrest is on the rise in the industrial heartland, and China is scrambling for a new formula to preserve stability and ensure growth
rampant pollution and income inequality that posed environmental and social challenges to long-term development. Now, those priorities seem eclipsed.
Instead, leaders are restoring tax breaks for exporters and pushing down the value of China’s currency to encourage exports. At the same time, they are casting about for ways to spur domestic demand and wean China’s economy off its dependence on foreign markets swept up in the global financial crisis.
At a triumphant ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, President Hu Jintao invoked Deng Xiaoping, who consolidated power in 1978 and began “reform and opening.” Mr. Hu emphasized the party’s unwavering focus on economic development. “Only development makes sense,” said Mr. Hu, quoting Deng.
But beyond the oratory, Mr. Hu and other Chinese leaders are now facing a new era in which Deng’s export-led economic model, as well as his iron-fisted political control, face unprecedented challenges. Global demand for Chinese goods has slumped, unrest is on the rise in the industrial heartland, and China is scrambling for a new formula to preserve stability and ensure growth
rampant pollution and income inequality that posed environmental and social challenges to long-term development. Now, those priorities seem eclipsed.
Instead, leaders are restoring tax breaks for exporters and pushing down the value of China’s currency to encourage exports. At the same time, they are casting about for ways to spur domestic demand and wean China’s economy off its dependence on foreign markets swept up in the global financial crisis.
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