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Moses Room
The Moses Room is a large committee room in the Palace of Westminster that is used by peers as their secondary debating chamber. ...
2008-10-09 12:00:00
Thursday in Westminster
Today in Parliament reports on Comons debate on the financial crisis, and debate in the upper chamber on Sir Ian Blair's ousting. ...
2008-10-09 12:00:00
SINGAPORE OCT 9
INT71International/Diaspora/EconomyGlittering start to Pravasi Bharatiya Divas meet in SingaporeBy Nirmala GeorgeSingapore Oct 9, IANS Leaders from India and Singapore Thursday urged members of the Indian diaspora and business leaders from across the globe to seize the opportunities offered by a booming India to boost trade and investment.At a glittering inaugural ceremony of the mini Pravasi Bharatiya Divas PBD, India's Minister for Overseas Affairs Vayalar Ravi said the 30 million-strong Indian diaspora across the globe was making their presence felt economically, socially and politically in the countries where they were present. Addressing more than 700 delegates attending the inaugural event, Ravi recalled that Indian NRIs had reached out and helped India when it was in the throes of its worst economic crisis in the early 1990s. He urged members of the Indian diaspora and the international business community to contribute and benefit from the boom in the Indian economy."The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas underlines the passion that the Indian and Singaporean governments share in encouraging international trade and investment for the mutual benefit of all the countries involved," Ravi said.Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister S. Jayakumar, who was the chief guest at the inaugural event, said holding the PBD in Singapore was a reflection of the excellent bilateral relations shared by the two countries. He said he had first mooted the proposal when he attended the PBD in January 2007 and had proposed that a satellite PBD be held in Singapore, a suggestion that had been taken up by the Indian government."Singapore is uniquely aware of the synergies in the region," Jayakumar said, adding that Indian businesses should use Singapore as a hub for reaching out to the entire Southeast Asian and Asia-Pacific region.The conference is being organised by the Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry SICCI and the Confederation of Indian Industry CII, along with the two governments.All of Singapore tops leaders will be addressing the formal sessions of the PBD conference which begins Friday. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will deliver the inaugural address while Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong will meet delegates over a luncheon session. In the afternoon Minister Mentor and the founder of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew will hold an interactive session with participants at the conference, while President S.R. Nathan will be the chief guest at a gala dinner Friday."This is perhaps the first time that all four top leaders of Singapore are attending an event and it shows the high regard that Singapore has for India," Ravi told journalists before the conference.Bilateral trade between India and Singapore has been growing at a fast pace in recent years, touching US$18 billion in 2007. In the first eight months of 2008, trade had already reached US$17 billion and was expected to cross US$24 billion by the end of this year. Nearly 3,500 Indian companies are registered in the city state and are using it not only for business in Singapore but in the broader Asia-Pacific region.--Indo-Asian News Serviceng/ak/vt 531 Words09101954
2008-10-09 10:00:11
Members' Lobby
The hallway situated next to the House of Commons Chamber at the end of the corridor leading to the Central Lobby is known as the Members' Lobby....
2008-10-09 10:08:15
Fiction or Fiction: IP Piracy Cost 750,000 American Jobs
Saying intellectual property theft has cost 750,000 American jobs, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce urged President Bush to sign legislation creating a copyright czar a czar on par with the nation's d...
2008-10-07 08:20:34
Britain is already in recession: Report
INT28International/EconomyBritain is already in recession: ReportLondon, Oct 7 DPA Britain is already in a "worsening recession" and is facing the dual threat of slowing growth and rising unemployment, a survey of 5,000 companies by the British Chambers of Commerce BCC said Tuesday. The report said sales and profits had plummeted over the summer amid a worsening economic outlook and the prospect of rising unemployment as confidence had "collapsed" across all sectors of the industry. The business association said it was clear that Britain was in a "worsening" recession and urged the government and the Bank of England to take urgent action to avoid a "major" recession. It urged the central bank to cut interest rates by 0.5 percent this week, while the government was told to slash business taxes. The report warned that unemployment was expected to increase by between 300,000 and 350,000 over the next two years, which would take the total over two million. "The alarming results point to worsening dangers of major economic downturn and rising unemployment. The results support the view that a UK recession has started and the downturn is getting worse. The domestic economy is under immense pressure," said David Kern, the BCC's economic advisor. The Bank of England is due to announce an interest rate decision Thursday amid speculation that rates could be cut from the current five percent to stimulate the economy amid ongoing turmoil. Both the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development OECD and the European Union EU have said that Britain will enter a recession this autumn.--DPAdkg281 Words07101245
2008-10-07 03:00:00
Amarnath Samiti doing more harm than good, say Jammu residents
NAT7National/Kashmir/Politics/EconomyAmarnath Samiti doing more harm than good, say Jammu residentsJammu, Oct 7 IANS Many people in Jammu have stopped rallying around the Shri Amarnath Sangharsh Samiti, saying protests organised by it have already cost them too much economically and now it is meddling in their social affairs as well."We are a tolerant society, we were asking for restoration of land to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board and not the unwanted tags which have come partly because of the utterances of the Samiti leaders and partly by deliberate misrepresentation of facts," bemoaned Daisy Sharma, a businessman here."My shop remained closed for more than two months, but I had to shell out fees for my children and also pay salaries to my employees, and now I am told that the agreement that the Samiti signed with the government is a watered down version of the first order of land allotment to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board," he said. In retaliation to Kashmir's boycott of Jammu traders, the Samiti has now said Kashmiri children should be refused admission to educational institutions here. People here say such utterances have only damaged the Samiti's image. The Samiti, a conglomerate of 30 social, religious, political and business organisations, spearheaded over two months the agitation against the cancellation of land allotted for pilgrims to the Amarnath shrine.This led to an economic blockade of the valley and caused a communal divide between Hindu-dominated Jammu and Muslim-dominated Kashmir. But Jammu residents say they are hurt about being dubbed as "Hindu communalists", virtually being clubbed with right wing mobs who are attacking Christians and their churches in Orissa, Karnataka and Kerala. Anil Kumar Padha, a local businessman, could not make it to marriage of his closest friend, Ashraf Malik, in Budgam in the Kashmir valley. "My family did not allow me to go there in the prevailing atmosphere of fear and suspicion between the two regions. So I had to make an excuse for not attending."A majority of Jammu residents believe the Samiti may have done more harm than good to the region. Students here could not appear in all-India entrance examinations and the economy suffered a loss of over Rs.100 billion, says local traders' body chief Rajender Motial. Worst of all, relations between the Jammu region and Kashmir valley in terms of the political, religious and social landscape have hit an all-time low. Rekha Choudhary, head of the political science department in Jammu University, said: "The losses have not only been in terms of economy. What is more worrying is the communal divide and response to separatist calls by Muslims in the Jammu region." She says there was complete loss of faith and trust between the two regions, which is "visible to a great extent between the communities". People are blaming the Samiti's tough stand during the agitation and some incidents of Kashmiri drivers being beaten up for the boycott of Jammu products by Kashmiri traders. So much so that National Conference president Omar Abdullah last week blamed the Samiti and the alleged economic blockade of the valley in the Jammu region for the rise of separatist forces in the Kashmir valley. "The economic blockade injected a new life into the Hurriyat Conference and the separatists," Abdullah declared at a rally of his party workers. "It is time the Samiti saw the writing on the wall. It is not required. It has damaged Jammu's cause and that of the whole state," National Conference's provincial president Ajay Sadhotra told the media. The Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry too has asked everyone not to meddle in trade relations between the Jammu region and Kashmir valley. "It would be prudent if the trade is left alone out of the political discourse," chamber president Ram Sahai has said in a statement. This was seen as a rebuff to the Samiti, who had warned the government of dire consequences if Jammu's products were not bought by Kashmiri traders. Ram Sahai has had to hear persistent taunts from his Kashmiri counterparts that his chamber was part of the Samiti that enforced an "economic blockade" of the valley. That was cited as the reason for Kashmiri traders saying "no trade" to Jammu businessmen. --Indo-Asian News Servicebj/pg/sk/jg777 Words*07101155
2008-10-07 02:04:10
West Bengal industrialists, common people regret Tata pull out
NAT89National/Society/BusinessWest Bengal industrialists, common people regret Tata pull outKolkata, Oct 3 IANS Tata Motors' decision to pull out from West Bengal is the "worst possible thing" to happen to the state, said industrialists and commoners Friday, voicing disappointment over the auto major's decision to take its Nano small car factory elsewhere."I am extremely depressed and disturbed at this decision. All our hopes for the project are shattered today," Indian Chamber of Commerce president and Patton Group managing director Sanjay Budhia told IANS."I am still hoping against hope that something miraculous can happen. International repercussions of this decision are not at all good and will have their negative impact on future investments in the state. We have lost our face completely," Budhia said expressing the all-round disillusionment.Announcing the pull-out, Ratan Tata said Friday: "We have taken the regretful decision to move the Nano out of West Bengal. This is a decision that we have taken with great deal of sadness. We've taken this decision today because we've a timeline to meet and assurances to keep. We did not see any change on the horizon." Tata Motors took up the project to construct the factory for Nano, priced at Rs.100,000 $2,500 in Singur, 40 km from here, a couple of years back. But it experienced constant resistance from the Trinamool Congress-led 'unwilling farmers'. It finally suspended work Sep 2 fearing the safety of its workers.Originally scheduled to roll out this month, the company signalled it was considering a pull-out and talking to other state governments for an alternate location following intense protests by the Trinamool Congress. The protesters had originally demanded return of 400 acres to farmers who had to part with their land for the project against their will."This is a sad happening. We have to think of something else now to move forward in the path of industrialization," Harshavardhan Neotia, Ambuja Realty Development Ltd. chairman, said.A similar concern was echoed by common people.Nayonee, a research scholar, said: "This is not desirable. This is extremely regressive for the state. All the political parties should have acted more responsibly. It's a failure of the political system.""We hoped that the project will come up here. But now that they have rolled back, we have a question to ask the state government. What will they do with the land they have acquired in Singur from us" asked Mihir Mal, a resident of Beraberi in Singur, who lost his land for the project.Cutting across age groups and political leanings, people of the state had hoped for industrialization."This is not at all good for the state. All our hopes are shattered. I have a small kid, I thought with industrialization the state will prosper and they will have a better future ahead of them. But now it seems impossible," Malabika Chatterjee, a housewife, said.A young banker said: "This is the worst possible thing that could happen in West Bengal at a time when industrialization is the need of the hour for the state."--Indo-Asian News Serviceag-sb/rn/vt551 Words*03102242
2008-10-03 13:08:15
Labour strategist Mandelson makes stunning return to cabinet Second lead
INT47International/PoliticsLabour strategist Mandelson makes stunning return to cabinet Second leadBy Dipankar De SarkarLondon, Oct 3 IANS In his first cabinet reshuffle, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown Friday asked European Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson - a high-profile political strategist - to join his government in the key position of Business Secretary. The move marks a stunning return to politics by Mandelson, and is an affirmation of Brown's confidence in his business acumen in the midst of a global financial crisis. “There is no politician who knows more about business,” said Robert Harris, a senior British journalist and close friend of Mandelson. “To me, it shows that the economic conditions will get worse next year. It is a serious move that confirms that these are serious times we are living in,” he added. In another surprise move in Friday's reshuffle, Brown recalled former British foreign secretary Margaret Becket - the first woman in that post - into the cabinet. Brown was also expected to announce several heavyweight “big business ambassadors” for his government, including Vodafone Chairman Sir John Bond - a step that underscores the British leader's pro-market credentials. Mandelson, having given up his parliamentary seat in 2004 in order to take up the post of European Trade Commissioner, would have to be given a peerage and a seat in the House of Lords - the upper chamber of parliament - if he returns to the government. Brown's move to bring Mandelson back to London from his high-profile international job in Brussels follows a lacklustre performance by the Labour government over the past year, marked by a series of byelection defeats and opinion poll reversals. Mandelson was among the chief architects of Labour's 1997 general election win that overturned 18 years of Conservative Party rule in Britain and helped rebrand an ossified left-wing party as the market-friendly New Labour. This is his second return to the government. Mandelson, who was a strong supporter of former prime minister Tony Blair, first resigned from government in December 1998 when it was revealed that he had bought a London home in 1996 with the help of an interest-free loan from Geoffrey Robinson, a millionaire Labour supporter. Robinson, who went on to become a minister under Blair, was the subject of a government inquiry but Mandelson failed to inform the public about the loan as he should have under British parliamentary traditions. Brought back in 1999 as the Northern Ireland Secretary, Mandelson resigned again in 2001 after allegations that he pulled strings to help Indian billionaire Srichand Hinduja gain British citizenship. Mandelson strongly denied any impropriety and an independent enquiry later concluded neither Mandelson nor anyone else had acted improperly. --Indo-Asian News Servicedds/dg 489 Words*03101846
2008-10-03 09:00:07
Mandelson makes stunning return to British cabinet Lead
INT44International/Politics/BusinessMandelson makes stunning return to British cabinet LeadBy Dipankar De SarkarLondon, Oct 3 IANS European Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson, considered a key Labour strategist, is to be appointed business secretary in a stunning return to the British cabinet Friday.In other moves in Friday’s reshuffle reported by the British media, current Business Secretary John Hutton replaces Des Browne as defence secretary.Another surprise inclusion in the cabinet is old Labour hand and former foreign secretary Margaret Beckett, who is likely to be made the public face of the ruling party on policy issues, the BBC said.Prime Minister Gordon Brown is also expected to announce several heavyweight “big business ambassadors”, including Vodafone chairman Sir John Bond, to underline his pro-business credentials in the midst of a global financial crisis. Mandelson’s job as European Union trade commissioner is expected to be taken up by Geoff Hoon, the Labour chief whip.Having given up his parliamentary seat in 2004 in order to take up the post of trade commissioner, Mandelson would have to be given a peerage and a seat in the House of Lords - the upper chamber of parliament - if he returns to the government.Brown’s move to bring Mandelson back to London from his high-profile international job in Brussels follows a lacklustre performance by the Labour government over the past year, marked by a series of byelection defeats and opinion poll reversals.Mandelson was among the chief architects of Labour’s 1997 general election win that overturned 18 years of Conservative Party rule in Britain and helped rebrand an ossified Left-wing party as the market-friendly New Labour.This is Mandelson’s second comeback to the government.Mandelson, who was a strong supporter of former prime minister Tony Blair, first resigned from the government in December 1998 when it was revealed that he had bought a London home in 1996 with the help of an interest-free loan from Geoffrey Robinson, a millionaire Labour supporter.Robinson, who went on to become a minister under Blair, was the subject of a government inquiry but Mandelson failed to inform the public about the loan as he must under parliamentary traditions.Brought back in 1999 as the Northern Ireland secretary, Mandelson resigned again in 2001 after allegations that he pulled strings to help fast-track a British citizenship application from Indian billionaire Srichand Hinduja.An independent enquiry later concluded neither Mandelson nor anyone else had acted improperly. -Indo-Asian News Servicedds/pg/vt427 Words*03101717
2008-10-03 07:02:12

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Thursday in Westminster

SINGAPORE OCT 9

Members' Lobby

Fiction or Fiction: IP Piracy Cost 750,000 American Jobs

Britain is already in recession: Report

Amarnath Samiti doing more harm than good, say Jammu residents

West Bengal industrialists, common people regret Tata pull out

Labour strategist Mandelson makes stunning return to cabinet Second lead

Mandelson makes stunning return to British cabinet Lead