Online Extra: From Russia with Technology?
The News Review:
- Online Extra: From Russia with Technology?
- Pharmaceutical industry protects flanks as US states close in
- News of the Muse
- Chelsea to focus on homegrown talent
- Slot into self-employment – 30 Jan 2006 – NZ Herald: The latest New…
- US, South Korea to launch free trade talks soon
Online Extra: From Russia with Technology?
BusinessWeek – Jan 30, 2006
After China and India, Russia is now the third-largest software outsourcing destination in the world. In 2005, software exports reached an estimated $1 billion, up from just $120 million in 2000 and a 33% increase from 2004. Most of these revenues are earned by home-grown software development companies, exporting services to Western clients. “Just three countries, India, China, and Russia, are big enough to become IT superpowers,” says Dmitry A. Loschinin, CEO of Russia’s largest software development company, Luxoft. “And in terms of geography Russia has a pretty big advantage. In the long term it will be a very good [outsourcing] destination for Europe… We simply mustn’t waste this chance — especially as other countries have achieved success without such a strong starting position,” Putin said. That’s music to the ears of Russia’s software developers. They argue that in India, government assistance has been crucial in fostering the industry. In contrast, Russia’s state has typically been more of a hindrance than a help. Software exporters complained that it was next to impossible to reclaim VAT on exports, thanks to outdated legislation and obstructive bureaucracy. And until the creation of a new Ministry for IT and Communications in 2004, government policy toward the sector lacked central coordination.
Pharmaceutical industry protects flanks as US states close in
International Herald Tribune – Jan 30, 2006
And some members of the council have complained that the pharmaceutical industry – in contrast to its splashy advertising campaign in California and its tough litigation strategy in Washington – is trying to kill cost regulation in West Virginia via slow death. "They've been successful in slowing down the process," said Foster, who does not serve on the panel but frequently attends its meetings. On a recent Friday afternoon, as the council discussed the soporific details of federal drug pricing and briefly considered a proposal that import cheaper drugs from Canada, the room was lined with industry lobbyists. Some were home-grown, others had flown in from out of town, but all were intent on the discussion's every nuance.
News of the Muse
Jerusalem Post – Jan 30, 2006
Similar to a local MTV in its 80’s heyday, the channel plays mostly music videos by Israeli artists mixed with concerts, commentary and archival clips from Israeli television, thus providing an alternative to the international programming of MTV and VH1. the channel presents its second annual AMI (Arutz Musika Yisraeli) Music Awards, a star-studded gala awards ceremony in the tradition of the Grammies with awards for Song of the Year, Band of the Year, Video of the Year, etc.
Chelsea to focus on homegrown talent
The Age – Jan 30, 2006
7million) announced last week. “What matters is that there is a point in time where Chelsea areself-sufficient,” he said. “One of the key aspects of our future business is to spend lesson transfers and grow more of our home-grown talent. Abramovich has invested about STG440 million ($A1. 05 billion) inChelsea, mostly buying in players, since taking over in July2003. Kenyon also said Chelsea were keeping an open mind on whether ornot to stay at Stamford Bridge. “The extension to the ground to get the capacity to 42,700 was amajor achievement,” he said.
Slot into self-employment – 30 Jan 2006 – NZ Herald: The latest New…
New Zealand Herald – Jan 30, 2006
“You have to be careful because if you hassle too much they can tell us to take it [the vending machine] away. But I’ve learned heaps. ” Currently there are 350 franchises in New Zealand, of which around 70 percent are home grown, says Simon Lord, publisher of Franchise NZ Magazine and website. Attitude, aptitude and being the right “fit” are all vital with franchising, explains Lord. “A fast food franchise manager needs different aptitudes to a Fastway courier or lawn mowing business. A franchise can fail if the wrong person is in the system, even with franchises as proven as McDonald’s,” he said. Lord says a major advantage of franchising is the backup support.
US, South Korea to launch free trade talks soon
Channel News Asia – Jan 30, 2006
Song, however, failed to confirm media reports the politically-sensitive trade talks would be formally launched in the coming week. “We have no fixed date yet,” she added. Seoul may announce the start of negotiations on February 2, Yonhap news agency said last week when Seoul decided to cut by half its protectionist quota for home-grown movies to facilitate trade talks with Washington. The quota system, adopted in 1966, forced Korean cinemas to show domestic movies on at least 146 days a year, amid complaints from Hollywood. Seoul promised Friday to cut the quota to 73 days from July 1. The decision was immediately “lauded” by US Trade Representative Rob Portman, but was also condemned by Korean movie producers, actors and directors as an “anti-cultural coup d’etat. ”
But South Korean President Roh Moo-Hyun said in a speech this month that striking an FTA with Washington was a top priority for his government.