Qantas IT jobs fly off to India

Good news for Indian IT/ITES sector. In one of the largest outsourcing deals ever in Australian Business history, QANTAS will spend $191 million outsourcing its computing operations to two Indian software companies, Tata Consultancy Services, the IT arm of India’s largest company, and its competitor Stayam. TCS will pick up $120 million over the seven-year life of the contract. Competitor Satyam Computer Service’s chunk of the work is worth $71 million. TCS will provide, airline’s operational systems, such as logistics and air logs, while Satyam will handle back-office systems like human resources and finance..

QANTAS will spend $191 million outsourcing its computing operations to two Indian software companies at a cost of up to 300 jobs, in what is understood to be the largest offshore IT deal in Australian history.

Mumbai-based Tata Consultancy Services, the IT arm of India’s largest company, the Tata Group, will pick up $120 million over the seven-year life of the contract. Competitor Satyam Computer Service’s chunk of the work is worth $71 million.

Project leader TCS takes responsibility for the airline’s operational systems, such as logistics and air logs, while Satyam will handle back-office systems like human resources and finance.

In handing over the work, much of it relating to older and expensive programs, the airline expects to save $100million over the life of the deal.

The Indian outsourcing companies will create 300 jobs. Two hundred will be in India and 100 in Australia.

technorati tags: Outsourcing, BPO, IT-Outsourcing, Australia, Offshore, Callcentre, News, India, News

Muslim cleric triggers outrage by blaming women for rape

Has he gone mad by blaming women for rape?

Australia’s most senior Muslim cleric has triggered international outrage for describing women who dress immodestly as “uncovered meat” who are inviting a sexual attack.

 Sheik Taj Aldin al-Hilali - the Mufti of Australia - condemned women who “sway suggestively”, wear make-up and no hijab or Islamic headscarf, in a Ramadan sermon to 500 worshippers, The Australian reported.

Islamic leaders are today meeting in Sydney to discuss his future and are considering whether to sack him from his role as the most senior cleric at the city’s largest mosque.

John Howard, the Prime Minister, said that the cleric’s comments were “appalling and reprehensible”.

He told reporters: The idea that women are to blame for rapes is preposterous. I not only reject the comments, I condemn them unconditionally.”

technorati tags: Australia, Islam, Islamism, Religion,

Brett Lee offered Bollywood lead

AUSTRALIA’S express pace bowler Brett Lee can’t get enough of India, with Bollywood acting offers, burgeoning business interests and music projects in the pipeline, reports said Monday.

Lee, in India for the Champions Trophy one-day tournament, is immensely popular and his fondness for the teeming cricket-infatuated nation has blossomed into a full-blown love affair.

The 29-year-old self-confessed Indophile says he was offered a lead role in a lavish Bollywood production when he visited Mumbai on his way home from Australia’s tour of Bangladesh last April. “He asked me if I wanted to play the major role with him,” Lee told The Australian newspaper in Mumbai.

Star Aussie paceman Brett Lee has Bollywood acting offers, burgeoning business interests and music projects in the pipeline in India.(AFP/File/Indranil Mukherjee)

 

“I said ‘mate, I’ve had no acting experience in my life’ and he told me that was OK, that they could sort that out.

“The only reasons I didn’t do it was, first, I would have needed to make sure it was the right sort of role for me.

“And second, they needed 50-odd days to film and I just didn’t have that time.

“But it’s something that, down the track, I would definitely like to be involved in.”

Business interests - he promotes watches and footwear - have lured Lee to Mumbai and New Delhi at least annually in recent years.

 

technorati tags: Bollywood, India, Australia, News, Cricket

I am game for Bollywood, says Miss Australia

Become beauty queen and Bollywood at your feet. She also wants to support Ganges cleaning scheme! Ram Teri Ganga Meili Hoagayi!

Proud of her Indian roots, Miss Australia Sabrina Houssami says she is not averse to acting in Bollywood films and has already received a few offers. The 20-year-old beauty, the second runner-up at the Miss World 2006 contest here, said she has not made up her mind on what to accept. She said she plans to concentrate on TV journalism for the time being. Sabrina’s mother is Indian and father, a Lebanese.

“I am very proud of my Indian roots. India is always very close to my heart. I have been to India 12 times so far and every time I go to India I feel as if I have come on a pilgrimage,” Sabrina Houssami said, as reported by wire services.

“I am also thinking of doing some work for bettering the environment and would like to support the Ganges Cleaning scheme. A clean environment is a must for a serene place like Rishikesh,” she said.

! Ram Teri Ganga Meili Hoagayi!

technorati tags: Bollywood, Sex, Sexy, SexyGirl, India, Australia