The recent news of China planning a railway line across multiple countries is another form of bridging the world together. This plan which adjoins seventeen countries on one single line raises the age old debate of the difference between a developing and a developed nation.

This transcontinental project which links the Kunming city in China to New Delhi all the way to Lahore and then to Tehran could finally be seen in action. The project has come about after facing many barriers and years of talks and agreements. China being the main initiator of the project intends to connect itself with Central Asia, Iran, Russia, Europe and Singapore. So, this pan – Asia assignment is that is going to be a must watch in the near future.

There would be problems that would come about with countries still being in the developing stages. When compared to its population, India is relatively a small country. However, it is also justified that it is better to build a rail network instead of highways which would prove to be more expensive. Additionally, this rail link would aid in efficient and easier transportation with all the relevant resources in place. This might also lead to an agreement that could easily cater to exports towards the Indian Ocean.

The project which has been in the pipeline for the last fifteen years has finally grabbed eyeballs after the initiation of the country’s internal high speed rail network. The fastest railway line in the world was opened in December between Wuhan and southern Guangzhou. Here, three hundred fifty kilometers per hour train was introduced that encompasses one thousand and sixty eight kilometers in only three hours. This is a reduction by more than seven hours cutting it down from the earlier 10.5 hours of traveling time.

However, this is just the beginning! In another two years, China would be known for having the largest high speed network of railways in the world. By 2012, the nation would be host to around forty two such rail links which would be running across thirteen thousand kilometers out of its hundred and ten thousand kilometers of land covered by rail.

Inspite of being advanced in this genre, the nation is humane enough to share it with the rest of the world. Hats off to the Chinese for that! However, it is yet to be seen as to how responsive the rest of the world is to this gesture.

This is especially for the developing countries. The foremost is whether the country would be able to rise that much of funds required for this purpose.

Secondly, in India how many would actually be able to afford such services? With major part of the population still living in rural areas, it would only cater to the urbanites. This surely would widen the gap between rural and urban India. But this does not mean that such initiatives should be taken. But a balance has to found between the two.

Thirdly, with so much of internal politics and corruption in India, would success surely be guaranteed? With some of the politicians in India being illiterate, how many would actually favor to this project? Also, there would be oppositions regarding being in hands with the world, yet the local people are being neglected.

Fourthly, even if China agrees to bear the expenditure for this, its demand for access to the country’s energy resources might pose a problem with the heavy load of population. This proposal is being known as the Resources for Technology might be opposed internally.

Lastly, the type of railway track and the materials involved have to be in sync throughout. With this, the standards would also vary. In such cases, renovations are also involved to a large extent.

All in all, if everything goes smoothly, the entire project is expected to be finished by 2025. In such a scenario, it would only take two days of travel from Beijing to London.

As I start writing this piece, I am well aware of the slits that it will open. But let me assure you all that my purpose is to share a few aspects of our upbringing. When compared to our generation, I wonder if the current generation of the fair sex has actually gained anything in the real sense of women emancipation and freedom. With more and more women becoming part of the workforce, is it really impacting the Indian family positively?

I am in mid forties and I still remember most of my peer group had mothers who were homemakers. I have personally felt which many children today are unaware off. We had our mother waiting for us at all times which played a very important role in our overall development. My father had a travelling job and my mother was one constant factor in our lives. Even amongst friends where fathers did not have a travelling job, mothers ensured the overall balance and were the unifying factor. Today, her place has been taken by housemaids. I wonder whether both parents manage to fulfill the emotional need of their children. Are housemaids bothered how much time children spend watching television and surfing the Internet? In our times, mothers ensured that we did our homework on time and where required guided us through teething problems. Today, a tutor is appointed for that where in again there is no supervision involved.

However, the biggest challenge for a couple is to balance work and home at the same time. In our times, mother being the homemaker and father as the breadwinner, ensured that this challenge was not faced in the first place. A mother of our times always ensured that her husband, children and the home was always in harmony with life. Did it not mean balanced or happier family unit? I agree that happiness is a relative factor when different families are compared but the fact is families then were much happier than today’s. They had lesser number of stress and work related factors to deal with. To say that children and relations between husband and wife are not affected in case of a working couple would be similar to avoiding the reality. Ever increasing divorce rates are symbolic of this symptom.

Fact remains that the role of motherhood, her softness, emotions and family instincts has been imparted to women by nature herself. Am I wrong in saying that? If not, then why it is that only women have the child bearing capacity?

And is it not a fact that families with both spouses working has resulted in more nuclear families in India? The fact is that for all its failings, joint families did offer definite security blankets to its members and women and children in particular.

There is no doubt that ability to work has lead to more women emancipation and enhanced her ability to be able to support herself and her family financially. Most importantly, it has made her financially independent. But is it not a fact that it has added onto to her responsibilities and caused excessive physical demands on her? Is it not a fact that balancing work and life may be more challenging for women than men because of how nature made them? She cannot avoid the responsibility of child bearing and the related upbringing factors especially during those critical years of growth. She must also go for work and look after family commitments on both sides as well as look after the needs of her children.

Or is it that today’s women are happy being a part of this struggle and demand that it places on her very being? Only women can respond to that.

I have seen our (and those of our peer-group) mother play the most important role in our upbringing. They (more than father) prepared us to face all challenges and situations that life had to offer. I see her aging gracefully and I have never seen her complaining probably because she was not working. Being a homemaker did not mean that her family exploited her and her rights as women were compromised. I saw her take rest when she wished to rest and has till date the command and respect over the family that only a women can have. She has never had regrets being a homemaker. She continues to be the one unifying factor for the entire family that anyone can call without worrying that she might be busy in office. And this is not only about me. I can vouch for my friend’s families as well. And I am sure that majority in mid forties, including women, would agree to my statements.

I feel this is best responded by women of today. Were their mothers happier as homemakers or they (children) are better off as working women?

Up in the Air is the one of the Oscar buzzes this year…so we thought why not make it a buzz at Abhinav! As an Oscar nominated movie with lead nominations, it is but obvious that there are a lot of expectations from the audience as well.

So let’s analyse! George Clooney is a Senior Executive whose job is to fire people, but with a sense of compassion. So, his job includes traveling all the time gaining mileage points with the Airlines. With a non – committed approach towards life, some might feel that the protagonist has lost touch with one of the most important essence of life which is known as “family”.

The movie goes through the normal roller coaster of demonstrating doomed personal relationships, family reunions and a predictable ending where the protagonist is stranded with a feeling of getting what he deserves. However, the viewer is left wondering whether his perspective is responsible for the unhappy situation that he finds himself in?

There are predictable scenes when it comes to the importance of family and the need for companionship. However, it is still not clear as to why families, friends and society at large pity those who do not wish to be emotionally committed? Is it that a man (or women) must get married, have children and grow old with a companion to earn his share of stripes from the society? And those who do not fall into this bracket are doomed to be unhappy souls destined for a lonely death?

There is no doubt that it is human nature to seek companionship and experience the pleasure of having a family. However, it is an individual’s choice to be committed or not? And if he/she prefers to be committed, there is no question of failing the responsibility, faith and trust that comes with it.

Based on the choices that an individual makes, the society at large might develop various opinions about the individual. Some might term him as being selfish and irresponsible. Others might call him as being scared of commitment because it might pose certain restrictions for the individual.

On the other hand, there are some who would simply say that it is the business of the concerned individual. So, no other individual except for the one that the concerned individual has designated has the right to comment. After all, we come alone in this world and so, we leave the world as loners.

But let’s not forget that any movie always portrays something that the viewer could take back home. Also, the unusual always sells…and so the movie being the story about a loner surely sells to such an extent that it has created quite a buzz! And more so, the fact that this article has came up clearly shows the talking tongues. Thus, mission accomplished!

U.S. is one of the most visited countries in the world, thus it is obvious for the country to have strict rules and regulations when it comes to shipment of various goods! Therefore, it comes important for you to check out with the U.S. embassy or a U.S. immigration consultant to earn a little knowledge about what are the things the country prohibits from importing along with visitors.

The U.S. has restrictions on many items and thus does not allow migrants or travelers to bring these items. For example, it does not allow any product made out of wildlife to import across the U.S. border. However, there may be many occasions when people tried to break this rule, putting themselves into miserable situations. Remember, if you try to breach these rules, you may find yourself at risk of being detained or confiscated.

The U.S. is much concerned about the safety of its public, community health, or its animal and plant life. Thus, the items that may become a threat to the nation’s health, as well as political interests are restricted. However, these items may be imported into the U.S. on special permit. The items that are prohibited in the U.S. include firearms; certain pets, fruits, textiles, and vegetables; and animal products. Below is a list of animal products that you are not allowed to take with you when traveling or migrating to the U.S.:

• Ivory products. However, an antique made of ivory is allowed to import.
• Wild bird products
• Sea turtle products
• Spotted cat and marine mammal furs
• Certain crocodile leather
• Certain coral on jewelry

So, before you set to visit the U.S., make sure what are the things you are allowed to bring and which are not. Talk to the concerned U.S. authority, or contact an Immigration and Visa Consultant for the same!

Fine! You have the perfect documentation, your intend to migrate to a new country is right, your application form is ready… but still there is something that needs to be taken care of… It is your IMMIGRATION AIM! This should top your list of priorities! For instance, if you are planning to have sponsorship from your fiancé, aim for a K-1 Visa and forget about the other options. Similarly, think only about getting a Student Visa, if you are intending to study in the prospective country, while ruling out other options. It has been said that only double minded people opt for more than one Immigration aim. This only leads them to more confusion!

Once you are through with your aim, you next step should be to start finding out as to what all you need to get your visa. Many of you must be thinking that what is wrong in having multiple Immigration aims as it may provide you with multiple options to choose from. Here you may be wrong! Have a look:

• First of all, traveling in two boats at once would only do more harm! It will create a state of confusion, leading you no where! Having one Immigration plan at one time would ensure that you do justice to it and fulfill all the mandatory requirements perfectly.
• You would face the interview with your Immigration officer in a confident manner as you would be having just one aim in your mind. Multiple aims would only make the officer more suspicious. This often leads to a visa denial.
• There are chances that you may end up ruining your documents and losing them in the process, while going for two Immigration aims at one time.

These are just a few examples. Worse things could happen while choosing multiple Immigration plans. Therefore, it is always advised that one should go for a singular aim and take assistance from an experienced Immigration expert to commence it in the best possible way.

In an attempt to meet the demands of French teachers in British Columbia, Canada, the recruiters of the province is eyeing at European skills. The recruiters are hoping to address the shortage of French teachers by traveling to job fairs in Europe.

British Columbia is in need of French teachers who could teach French in both English and French school systems. Recruiters like Janet Stewart traveled Paris and Brussels in Europe and attended job fairs at the end of 2009 in a hope to draw teachers to British Columbia who could deliver core French and French-immersion programs in English, as well as French schools.

Earlier, Quebec had been the reliable source of French-speaking teachers, but of late, the province is not producing sufficient number of teachers who could teach French. Thus, slowly the education sector, like many other industries are relying on foreign skills to address the labor shortage.

British Columbia is running short of speech-language pathologists; French-immersion teachers; education specialists; and teachers for areas like music, physics and special education. However, it is seen that teachers from foreign countries are not flocking as much as other skills immigrate do in various other sectors. This is because the province has not yet worked on some of its bureaucratic complications when it comes to gaining British Columbia certificate.

The executive director for British Columbia Chapter of Canadian Parents for French, Robert Rothon asserts the need of French teachers and said that the shortage of the teachers in the province has diminish the growth of French-immersion programs!

In an effort to help the earthquake stuck Haiti, the Canadian government has decided to come up with a plan that would ensure priority processing for the immigrants from Haiti. For this purpose, the rules for the refugees are thought of being revised so that the Haitian refugees could be permitted to live in Canada.

To begin with the relief operation, three military air planes carrying those evacuated from Haiti have already been brought to Montreal. These consisted of two hundred and seventy two people. The evacuees have been selected by the Canadian Embassy staff in Haiti for transport.

On the other hand, according to reports, four Canadians have also died in the massive earthquake with thirteen others injured and others consisting of almost five hundred and fifty people have been found. However, around one thousand four hundred and fifteen Canadians are still missing. A total of around six thousand Canadians were living in Haiti but only seven hundred people were registered with the Port-au-Prince embassy.

The Canadian government is also expected to consider policies that would allow Haitians who have Canadian relatives to come and live in Canada. However, deciding on whom to permit would be a major task.

Additionally, immediate amends include free passage of Haitians including those who are not traveling via commercial flights. With this, the government has permitted transports for aid purposes to stop in Canada for refueling purposes without the passengers to have a temporary visa for residency. The first two planes to have stopped by include that of a Russian and Chinese transport that were permitted to land based on the above grounds.

Temporary Visas are a great option to consider, if you are unable or struggling to immigrate to New Zealand on permanent basis! There are a number of options that come under the Temporary Visa Category- Work Permit; Study Visa; and Working Holiday Visa. Let’s find out what are these visa options and what they may require you to meet as prerequisites.

• Work Permit: This temporary visa is for you, if a New Zealand employer is offering you with an employment opportunity. In other words, Work Visas are issued by the Immigration New Zealand to workers from overseas in order to meet specific skills shortages in the country. This visa is granted only for the duration as per the employment contract, or for maximum three years.
• Study Visa: If you are intending to take a short course in New Zealand and that may require you to stay there over three months, you need to obtain a Study Visa for you! This visa will also allow you to work up to twenty hours on a week. However, if you are going to take a short course that requires you to stay in the country for less than three months, then you will not be required to apply for a Student Visa, a visitor visa will work.
• Working Holiday Visa: Under this type of visa category, citizens from certain countries are given the opportunity to undertake short-term employment in New Zealand, while traveling the country. This visa is usually granted for one year, however, with an exception of two years for UK citizens. This doesn’t permit an individual to undertake permanent employment.

To know more about the various New Zealand visa options, contact an Immigration and Visa Consultant!

According to the recent Annual Report released by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, Australia, following are some of the highlights that are described in the same:

• 171 318 people were granted migration visas, out of which 67% were granted under Skill Stream, the category of Family Stream occupied 32.9% and 0.1%  were placed under the special eligibility component.
• The number of Employed Sponsored Visas enhanced by a heavy margin of 60% in 2008-2009. The report showed the number reached 38 026.
• 101 280 Subclass 457 Visas were granted, the number that showed an increase of 8% as compared to the previous year. It is believed that the Subclass 457 Visa provides a gateway towards getting a PR in a country. The report proved this fact as 39 170 subclass 457 visa holders were given a PR status.
• ‘Pacific Seasonal Worker Pilot Scheme’: Tonga and Vanuatu were invited to be a part of this scheme. 50 workers from Tonga and 6 workers from Vanuatu arrived in Australia. Other two countries that are part of this scheme are Kiribati, Papua New Guinea
• 356 251 student visa applications were finalized which means an increase of 18.3% than the last year. Out of them, 72.7% were offshore and the remaining was onshore. In addition, 188 150 applications for Study Visa were registered through online medium that represents an increase of 34.3% as compared to the last year.

Australia has sincerely shown some of the positive outcomes as far as Immigration is concerned. The report clearly depicts that it is one of the prospective destinations for various facets like studying, traveling, business ventures, to name a few.  If you are one of those applicants who are planning to immigrate to Australia, it would be wise to hire the services of an Immigration expert today!

Hawaii tops my chart of some of the most steaming destinations in the US. Thinking about the wonderful beaches, fresh aroma and the brewing destinations in itself gives me goose bumps when I think about this wonderful destination! In addition, it is a magnificent place for all the love birds and honeymoon couples out there. Re-discover your love in the blissful ambiance of Hawaii and fly to this enchanting place.

Las Vegas grabs the second position! It is applauded as the “Entertainment Capital of the World.” It offers a 24-hour excitement and fun for people of all age groups. Who said steaming destinations are only for the young generation! People from all over the world flock in numbers and enjoy the piping hot aura of the place with their loved ones. Love here, is in the air all the time! Some of the most enthralling places to visit in Las Vegas are Bellagio Fountains, Mirage Volcano, Forum Shops at Caesars  Palace, and Stratosphere Tower, to name a few!

Texas comes next! Its USP is its rocking night-life. The place offers a gamut of options in the form of best bars, clubs and restaurants. My favorite is the area of Deep Ellum. Just drop in to Sol’s Taco Lounge and enjoy the best ever margarita!

Last, but definitely not the least is Florida. If you are a beach lover and enjoy diving with your loved ones in the blue waters, then this place is surely meant for you! Of course, nothing can beat an evening with your loved one watching the cozy sunset! Miami adds a cheery on its cake as its night life is truly out of this world. The festive atmosphere of Miami is perfect for any rake personality out there!

Just visit USA and live your life to the fullest!