The Obama administration launched a new Web site on Tuesday that U.S. officials hope will make citizenship and other immigration services more accessible.
The new Citizenship and Immigration Services Web site was unveiled Tuesday at an event with Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, as well as White House and Homeland Security staff.
Napolitano said USCIS' Web site gets 230,000 visits a day, therefore it is important that it be easy to use and provides ``the kind of information that people seek.''
The site was revised in 90 days using in-house resources, officials said. CIS officials could not immediately provide a total cost for the revisions. Parts of the service, including its Spanish-language sections, were still under construction.
Citizenship and Immigration Services is responsible for processing millions of applications for citizenship, immigration to the U.S. and legal residency as well as claims for asylum and refugee status.
One of the highlights of the new site is a tool allowing users to get e-mail updates or text alerts about the status of their cases, as well as to check them online with their case number.
www.ImmigrationDirect.com/USCIS
Agencies
Friday, September 25, 2009
Ford Motors on a hiring spree in India
Ford Motors has signed an agreement with the Tamil Nadu government for the $500-million expansion programme at its manufacturing facility at Maraimalai Nagar, a city suburb.
As part of its plan to expand its manufacturing facility in Chennai, car manufacturer Ford India has announced that it will hire 1,000 people. The expansion of the manufacturing unit will be completed by next year.
According to a company official, the company has already hired 400 people and the rest will be recruited by next year. On Thursday, the company signed an agreement with the Tamil Nadu government for the expansion by setting up new engine manufacturing units. As a part of its expansion plans, the company would double its vehicle production capacity to two lakh units per year. A new engine production unit with a capacity of 2.5 lakh is also being set up at a total invest cost of $500 million announced early last year.
The agreement was signed by Industries Secretary Farooqui on behalf of the government and Ford Managing Director Michael Boneham before Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi and U.S. Ambassador Tim Roemer among other officials.
Agencies
As part of its plan to expand its manufacturing facility in Chennai, car manufacturer Ford India has announced that it will hire 1,000 people. The expansion of the manufacturing unit will be completed by next year.
According to a company official, the company has already hired 400 people and the rest will be recruited by next year. On Thursday, the company signed an agreement with the Tamil Nadu government for the expansion by setting up new engine manufacturing units. As a part of its expansion plans, the company would double its vehicle production capacity to two lakh units per year. A new engine production unit with a capacity of 2.5 lakh is also being set up at a total invest cost of $500 million announced early last year.
The agreement was signed by Industries Secretary Farooqui on behalf of the government and Ford Managing Director Michael Boneham before Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi and U.S. Ambassador Tim Roemer among other officials.
Agencies
GM, Reva to jointly roll out more electric vehicles
The Indian arm of General Motors (GM) Thursday said it is partnering Bangalore-based electric car maker Reva to develop and produce electric vehicles for the Indian market.
According to General Motors India managing director Karl Slym, the initiative was "in line with government objectives to reduce fossil fuel dependence".
"We are going to work closely with the central and state governments in India to develop infrastructure for electric vehicles charging and providing specific financial benefits to consumers," Slym said.
Describing electric vehicles as "a growth area around the global automotive industry", GM's president of international operations Nick Reilly said: "This cooperation with Reva in India will accelerate GM's progress to meet the emerging needs in many parts of the world."
Reilly said his company was pursuing several energy alternatives and advanced technology options to meet the changing needs of customers around the world.
"Electrically driven vehicles, based on battery and hydrogen fuel cell technology, offer the best long-term solution for providing sustainable personal transportation," he added.
The two companies have already started the feasibility study of GM's vehicle platforms to produce electric cars and are expected to announce the details shortly.
Reva had launched its electric car in 2001.
GM India, which has been unaffected by the bankruptcy proceedings of its parent in the US, is central to the company's global growth strategy.
Agencies
According to General Motors India managing director Karl Slym, the initiative was "in line with government objectives to reduce fossil fuel dependence".
"We are going to work closely with the central and state governments in India to develop infrastructure for electric vehicles charging and providing specific financial benefits to consumers," Slym said.
Describing electric vehicles as "a growth area around the global automotive industry", GM's president of international operations Nick Reilly said: "This cooperation with Reva in India will accelerate GM's progress to meet the emerging needs in many parts of the world."
Reilly said his company was pursuing several energy alternatives and advanced technology options to meet the changing needs of customers around the world.
"Electrically driven vehicles, based on battery and hydrogen fuel cell technology, offer the best long-term solution for providing sustainable personal transportation," he added.
The two companies have already started the feasibility study of GM's vehicle platforms to produce electric cars and are expected to announce the details shortly.
Reva had launched its electric car in 2001.
GM India, which has been unaffected by the bankruptcy proceedings of its parent in the US, is central to the company's global growth strategy.
Agencies
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Is Silicon Valley seeing shift from Chips to Bricks?
Forget microchips. Silicon Valley sees a profitable future in the humble brick thanks to a low-energy production process that illustrates the greening of the US technology capital.
Brick maker Calstar Products is backed by venture capitalists whose vision is to create buildings less expensively and in a way that saves energy. “We think it is time for a second industrial revolution,” said Paul Holland, a partner at Foundation Capital, which invested $7 million in Calstar. EnerTech Capital led another round that raised $8 million for the business.
Currently about 40% of US energy use goes toward the heating, cooling and general operation of buildings. Silicon Valley is finding high-tech ways to make ageold materials, pursuing carbon dioxide-eating concrete, windows that insulate better than walls, and wood substitutes.
The field is still new. Venture investments in green buildings have waxed and waned with the recession, but involved 45 deals worth about $350 million the past year, according to Cleantech Group LLC.
Bricks have been made pretty much the same way for 3,000 years, until Calstar’s scientists came up with their new technique, said Chief Executive Michael Kane. Ordinary bricks are fired for 24 hours at 1,100°C as part of a process that can last a week, while Calstar bricks are baked at temperatures below 100°C and take only 10 hours from start to finish, Kane said.
Lower energy costs mean higher profit, allowing the company to pay for its research and compete against large companies that have economies of scale. The new bricks — which the Brick Industry Association says are not actually bricks — will sell for the same price as traditional claybased ones.
Agencies
Brick maker Calstar Products is backed by venture capitalists whose vision is to create buildings less expensively and in a way that saves energy. “We think it is time for a second industrial revolution,” said Paul Holland, a partner at Foundation Capital, which invested $7 million in Calstar. EnerTech Capital led another round that raised $8 million for the business.
Currently about 40% of US energy use goes toward the heating, cooling and general operation of buildings. Silicon Valley is finding high-tech ways to make ageold materials, pursuing carbon dioxide-eating concrete, windows that insulate better than walls, and wood substitutes.
The field is still new. Venture investments in green buildings have waxed and waned with the recession, but involved 45 deals worth about $350 million the past year, according to Cleantech Group LLC.
Bricks have been made pretty much the same way for 3,000 years, until Calstar’s scientists came up with their new technique, said Chief Executive Michael Kane. Ordinary bricks are fired for 24 hours at 1,100°C as part of a process that can last a week, while Calstar bricks are baked at temperatures below 100°C and take only 10 hours from start to finish, Kane said.
Lower energy costs mean higher profit, allowing the company to pay for its research and compete against large companies that have economies of scale. The new bricks — which the Brick Industry Association says are not actually bricks — will sell for the same price as traditional claybased ones.
Agencies
Ex-lovers most popular online search on the Net
Most people look for their long lost love on the internet, a new survey has found.
The study found that one out of four people are using social networking sites like Facebook to search a childhood sweetheart.
Search engine Ask Jeeves claims that 9% even confessed trying to know details of a one-night stand.
Nearly 37% said that they wanted to learn about their ex to just “see what they were doing these days”, reports the British tabloid the Sun.
Surprisingly, 4% even looked for former flames just to inform them how happy they were without them, while 3% searched to find out how miserable their ex were.
Apart from searching for previous lovers the poll also suggested that a trend of “vanity searching”, which means looking for yourself on the net, has become increasingly popular.
Agencies
The study found that one out of four people are using social networking sites like Facebook to search a childhood sweetheart.
Search engine Ask Jeeves claims that 9% even confessed trying to know details of a one-night stand.
Nearly 37% said that they wanted to learn about their ex to just “see what they were doing these days”, reports the British tabloid the Sun.
Surprisingly, 4% even looked for former flames just to inform them how happy they were without them, while 3% searched to find out how miserable their ex were.
Apart from searching for previous lovers the poll also suggested that a trend of “vanity searching”, which means looking for yourself on the net, has become increasingly popular.
Agencies
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Henning Kagermann joins Wipro board of directors
Wipro has announced that the former CEO of SAP AG, Henning Kagermann, would be joining its board from October 27 this year. Kagermann, who retired as CEO of the global business software maker SAP in May 2009, is currently president of Acatech (German Academy of Science and Technology). He would be joining Wipro’s 10 other board of directors.
Commenting on his appointment, Mr Kagermann said, “I have for long admired Wipro as a company as much for its innovative approach to business as for its strong commitment to values. I am excited at the prospect of guiding the company as it prepares for its next phase of growth.”
With the addition of Mr Kagermann, seven of the 11 directors of Wipro will be independent directors that include Ashok Ganguly, BC Prabhakar, PM Sinha, Jagdish N Sheth, N Vaghul and William Arthur Owens.
Wipro chairman Azim Premji said: “We are delighted to welcome Mr Kagermann to our board. He brings in a unique combination of academic perspective, technical expertise and leadership experience. I am sure that Wipro will benefit from his rich knowledge, insights and wisdom.”
This is the second time that Wipro has inducted a former CEO of a global technology company onto its board. It earlier inducted William Arthur Owens, former CEO Nortel Networks in July, 2006. Besides Wipro, Mr Kagermann is currently a member of the supervisory boards of Deutsche Bank AG, Munich Re, Deutsche Post in Germany and in Nokia Corporation.
Prior to joining Acatech, Mr Kagermann was CEO of SAP AG, till 2009. Kagermann joined SAP in 1982 and was initially responsible for product development in the areas of cost accounting and controlling. Later, he oversaw the development of all administrative solutions, including human resources, as well as industry-specific development for banking, insurance, public sector, and healthcare.
His duties also included finance and administration as well as the management of all SAP regions. He has been a member of the SAP Executive Board since 1991.
Prior to joining SAP AG, Dr Henning Kagermann was Professor of Physics and Computer Science at the University of Tu Braunschwieg & University of Mannheim, Germany.
Agencies
Commenting on his appointment, Mr Kagermann said, “I have for long admired Wipro as a company as much for its innovative approach to business as for its strong commitment to values. I am excited at the prospect of guiding the company as it prepares for its next phase of growth.”
With the addition of Mr Kagermann, seven of the 11 directors of Wipro will be independent directors that include Ashok Ganguly, BC Prabhakar, PM Sinha, Jagdish N Sheth, N Vaghul and William Arthur Owens.
Wipro chairman Azim Premji said: “We are delighted to welcome Mr Kagermann to our board. He brings in a unique combination of academic perspective, technical expertise and leadership experience. I am sure that Wipro will benefit from his rich knowledge, insights and wisdom.”
This is the second time that Wipro has inducted a former CEO of a global technology company onto its board. It earlier inducted William Arthur Owens, former CEO Nortel Networks in July, 2006. Besides Wipro, Mr Kagermann is currently a member of the supervisory boards of Deutsche Bank AG, Munich Re, Deutsche Post in Germany and in Nokia Corporation.
Prior to joining Acatech, Mr Kagermann was CEO of SAP AG, till 2009. Kagermann joined SAP in 1982 and was initially responsible for product development in the areas of cost accounting and controlling. Later, he oversaw the development of all administrative solutions, including human resources, as well as industry-specific development for banking, insurance, public sector, and healthcare.
His duties also included finance and administration as well as the management of all SAP regions. He has been a member of the SAP Executive Board since 1991.
Prior to joining SAP AG, Dr Henning Kagermann was Professor of Physics and Computer Science at the University of Tu Braunschwieg & University of Mannheim, Germany.
Agencies
Why is Sun Micro losing $100 mn a month?
Oracle Corp Chief Executive Larry Ellison said Sun Microsystems Inc is losing about $100 million a month as European regulators delay approving his company's $7 billion purchase of the struggling hardware maker.
"The longer this takes, the more money Sun is going to lose," Ellison said on Monday evening during a dinner at one of Silicon Valley's most prominent speaker's forums, the Churchill Club.
Sun's revenue has tumbled since April when Oracle agreed to buy the world's No. 4 computer server maker in April as rivals IBM and Hewlett-Packard Co have poached customers amid uncertainty about its future.
Oracle has pledged to boost investment on development of Sun's products, but the hardware company has cut spending prior to the deal's closing as sales have plunged. Last month it reported a quarterly loss of $147 million.
Ellison, the world's fourth-richest man according to Forbes, said he expects the deal will eventually be cleared by European regulators as it was in the United States, without any conditions.
The European Commission is conducting an in-depth probe into whether the competition would be stifled by the combination of Oracle's database, the world's top seller, and Sun's MySQL database, which is widely used to run popular websites.
Legal experts have said Oracle may need to make concessions, including the divestiture of the MySQL software business, and that it is unclear how long European approval would take.
European regulators have until January 19, the deadline set by the Commission, the competition watchdog of the 27-country European Union. That would put Oracle months behind its original plan for closing the deal by the end of August.
Agencies
"The longer this takes, the more money Sun is going to lose," Ellison said on Monday evening during a dinner at one of Silicon Valley's most prominent speaker's forums, the Churchill Club.
Sun's revenue has tumbled since April when Oracle agreed to buy the world's No. 4 computer server maker in April as rivals IBM and Hewlett-Packard Co have poached customers amid uncertainty about its future.
Oracle has pledged to boost investment on development of Sun's products, but the hardware company has cut spending prior to the deal's closing as sales have plunged. Last month it reported a quarterly loss of $147 million.
Ellison, the world's fourth-richest man according to Forbes, said he expects the deal will eventually be cleared by European regulators as it was in the United States, without any conditions.
The European Commission is conducting an in-depth probe into whether the competition would be stifled by the combination of Oracle's database, the world's top seller, and Sun's MySQL database, which is widely used to run popular websites.
Legal experts have said Oracle may need to make concessions, including the divestiture of the MySQL software business, and that it is unclear how long European approval would take.
European regulators have until January 19, the deadline set by the Commission, the competition watchdog of the 27-country European Union. That would put Oracle months behind its original plan for closing the deal by the end of August.
Agencies
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