Ajoy Misra is Tata Global Beverages New MD

The Board of Directors of Tata Global Beverages Limited announced at its meeting today Mr. Ajoy Misra, presently the Deputy CEO and Executive Director of Tata Global Beverages Limited (TGBL) be elevated and appointed as the CEO and Managing Director of TGBL effective 1st April 2014, in place of Mr. Harish Bhat, who will step down at close of business on 31st March 2014 and move into a senior advisory position in the Tata Group.

The appointment of Mr. Misra  is Tata Global as the Managing Director will be subject to all required statutory approvals and the approval of the members of the Company.
                                                           

                 
The GEC, which also includes Mistry, took on the responsibility for all the roles earlier performed by both the group corporate centre (GCC) and the group executive office (GEO). It works closely with and partners the boards, CEOs and senior managements of various Tata companies.

Mistry had created GEC last year handpicking a team of young executives, both internally within the group and from outside. Other members of the GIC include NS Rajan, who leads the strategic function of human resources; Mukund G Rajan, who oversees brand, communication, ethics and corporate sustainability; Madhu Kannan, heading business development and public affairs and Nirmalya Kumar, who is responsible for strategy at the group level and bringing customer centricity to the fore across group companies.

Ajoy Misra will function as Managing Director-Designate with immediate effect till he formally takes over as Managing Director. The board has also decided that Harish Bhat would be appointed as a non-executive director on the board of Tata Global Beverages with effect from April 1. 

Ukraine's PM Azarov And Government Resign

Ukraine's President Viktor Yanukovych has accepted the resignation of the prime minister and his cabinet amid continuing anti-government protests.

Mykola Azarov had offered to step down as prime minister to create "social and political compromise".

"We have to change not only the government, but the rules of the game as well," declared boxer-turned-politician Vitaly Klitschko. "We are sure the struggle will continue," he said.
                                                           

   
The 66-year-old Ukraine's PM Azarov tendered his resignation as parliament met for an emergency session to work out a deal that would satisfy the opposition and end protests in the capital Kiev and in other cities in which six people have been killed.

Yanukovych's announcement comes only hours after Azarov submitted his resignation and as the national parliament met in an emergency session aimed at ending the crisis

In a first step, lawmakers voted overwhelmingly to repeal sweeping anti-protest laws whose passage this month angered anti-government demonstrators.

MPs applauded in Ukraine's parliament as the result of the annulment vote was announced.

Swiss Watchmaker Raymond Weil Dies at 87

ZURICH (AFP) - Mr Raymond Weil, founder of the watch brand of the same name and one of the great innovators of the Swiss watch industry, has died at 87, the company said on Monday.

It is with great sorrow and regret that we announce the passing of Raymond Weil, the founder and honorary president of RAYMOND WEIL Geneve, maker of Swiss luxury timepieces. He passed away peacefully at age 87, on January 26, 2014.        

   

Raymond Weil was a pioneer and entrepreneur in the watchmaking industry. In 1976, in the middle of the most severe watch industry crisis, Weil was courageous enough to found his own company and turned his idea of what Swiss watchmaking should be into actual timepieces that would bring a new dimension to the industry.  He was the first person to look at watches as a luxurious accessory. His vision was to create high quality watches with superior design at affordable prices.

Weil’s creations were immediately praised by watch enthusiasts, amateurs and connoisseurs alike and he gradually put together an international network based on very strong and personal human connections and friendly relationships.  Weil was an extraordinary man who was kind, affable and above all sincerely generous. He was a precursor in the international development of the Swiss watchmaking industry during a key period when this industry needed to be renewed.

He traveled the world and became an exceptional ambassador for the city of Geneva and for Switzerland. He knew how to create a personal, professional and most importantly a friendly connection that even today following generations continue to immortalize and to pursue his approach of the business.

RAYMOND WEIL Genève is known to be one of the few watch brands to bear the name of the founder and still operate as a family business. His son-in-law Olivier Bernheim is at the helm and two grandsons Elie and Pierre Bernheim are the chief officers of the company today.

Australia Won ODI Series Against England By 4-1

Australia won the series 4-1 and became No. 1 ODI side again this week

In a week of exchanges at the top of the table, Australia have taken back the No. 1 position in ICC ODI team rankings from India after defeating England in the 5th and final ODI at Adelaide, winning the series 4-1.

England, needing 218 to win, folded out for 212 after a dramatic collapse at the end of their innings.

With 15 overs left in the game, England were on course for a win, needing only 70 runs and with 7 wickets still in hand. However, a brace from James Faulkner, accounting for well set Joe Root and Eoin Morgan, started a slide for England.                  

         

James Faulkner and Clint McKay kept it tight in the end, giving little room to any of the late hitters. Ravi Bopara, who remained defiant despite watching the batting collapse at the other end, was victim of a very fortuitous stumping from Matthew Wade, and was out by a mere frame with England just 9 runs away from the target.

Some mindless running and loose shots cost England the match and made Australia Won ODI Series  the No. 1 ODI team in the world after their reign earlier this week following India’s 2nd consecutive loss in New Zealand, had lasted just over two days, with the Perth loss putting them back at No.2.

Earlier, Australia too struggled on a sluggish wicket, and were guilty of throwing away their wickets against a disciplined England attack. Only a balanced innings from George Bailey pushed them to 217, which turned out to be enough in the end.

18 More Fishermen Arrested By Sri Lankan Navy

New Delhi: Sri Lanka navy on Monday arrested 18 more Indian fishermen after it had arrested 22 fishermen on Sunday from the Palk Strait. The development comes even as Tamil parties are mounting pressure on the Indian government to secure the release of over 220 fishermen detained in Sri Lanka.

The fishermen from Jagadapattinam in Pudukottai District were arrested by Sri Lankan Naval personnel on Sunday morning for allegedly fishing in their country's territorial waters and taken to Kangesanthurai Port along with their six boats, officials said quoting information received by them.
                                               

“As per our count, 272 fishermen are in the custody of the government,” said U. Arulanandam, a fishermen’s cooperative representative, who has often travelled to Sri Lanka to help the fishermen with legal formalities.

The fishermen left on Sunday afternoon from Sangumal, near here, and were fishing near Katchatheevu, when they were arrested, said S.P. Royappan, president of the district country-boat fishermen’s association, Pamban.

The navy had on Sunday arrested 22 fishermen from Jagadapattinam and remanded to judicial custody. The arrests caused tension in Pamban area as most of the fishermen go for fishing in country boats, which can not go very far.

The fishermen alleged that the Sri Lankan navy personnel were not allowing them to fish peacefully. Meanwhile, fishermen who went for fishing in mechanised boats returned without fishing on Monday. They alleged that the Sri Lankan navy, brandishing guns, asked them to return. 

Shane Warne to Mentor Australian Spinners in World T20

Sydney: Former Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne has been appointed as a consultant to work with Australia's spin bowlers ahead of the World Twenty20 tournament in Bangladesh in March.

The 44-year-old legendary leg-spinner will join Australia's squad in March during their tour of South Africa .

The leg-spin great is to work with the Australian team in the lead-up to the World Twenty20 tournament in March, coaching the side's spinners.
                                                   

He will join the Australian staff in a consultancy role when the Twenty20 squad assembles in South Africa after the Test series for three internationals against the Proteas.

"I'm excited to be working with Australia's spinners in South Africa," Warne to Mentor said in a statement.

He will be present for three Twenty20 matches, their final preparation before flying to Bangladesh for the start of the World Twenty20 on March 16.

"I'm excited to be working with Australia's spinners in South Africa," said Warne.

"I'm looking forward to helping them with some intense bowling preparation ahead of the World Twenty20, where we'll specifically work on tactics and mindset."

AAP Leader Apologises For Remarks Against Kerala Nurses

Kochi: Aam Admi Party (AAP) Executive Member Kumar Viswas, whose alleged derogatory remarks against Kerala nurses sparked a controversy, today tendered an apology, saying it was never his intention to hurt the feelings of any one.

In a statement sent to the AAP's Kerala unit, he said he had never tried to 'intentionally hurt the sentiments of anyone'.                                  

"It has come to my knowledge that an old video-clip of one of my Kavi-Sammelan has hurt the feelings of many of my friends residing in Kerala. I must say that I don't appreciate any discrimination based on religion, region, gender, caste or creed. I never tried to intentionally hurt the sentiments of anyone", he stated.

Viswas said jokes delivered in a kavi-sammelan are scripted and presented in a jocular and lighthearted manner without an intention to harm anybody's feelings. "But if some words of mine have hurt the sentiments of my friends, I apologise to them from depth of my heart", he said.

Yesterday, Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had demanded an apology from the APP leader Apologises for his remarks.

In a letter to AAP leader and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Chandy had wanted him to prevail upon Vishwas to withdraw the remarks and tender an apology.

"It is most unfortunate that the Aam Aadmi Party is tightlipped regarding the derogatory remarks on Malayalee nurses," he had said.